lord william cecill and mannars baron of roos ... ros, william cecil, lord, 1590-1618. 1616 approx. 1 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a18326 stc 4908.5 estc s3238 33143212 ocm 33143212 28297 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a18326) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 28297) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1885:6) lord william cecill and mannars baron of roos ... ros, william cecil, lord, 1590-1618. 1 sheet ([1] p.). by r. barker, [london : 1616] imprint suggested by stc (2nd ed.). declaration of style and title as ambassador to the king of spain. reproduction of original in: society of antiquaries. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng ros, william cecil, -lord, 1590-1618. great britain -foreign relations -spain. spain -foreign relations -great britain. great britain -history -james i, 1603-1625. broadsides -london (england) -17th century. 2007-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-09 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-10 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2007-10 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion lord william cecill and mannars baron of roos laufull heyre of the baronies of burghley and earldome of excetor , ambassader extraordinary for the sacred and royall maiestie of the most illustrious kinge of great brittaine to his very louing brother the most illustrious catholique kinge of spaine . anno .1616 . a translate of a letter from don lewis de harro chief counsellor and minister of state to his majesty of spaine sent unto the king of scots at brussels concerning the affaires in england, publication of the articles of peace and marriage with france, &c. méndez de haro, luis, 1598-1661. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a87125 of text r211534 in the english short title catalog (thomason 669.f.23[30]). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 4 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a87125 wing h803 thomason 669.f.23[30] estc r211534 99870251 99870251 163686 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a87125) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 163686) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 247:669f23[30]) a translate of a letter from don lewis de harro chief counsellor and minister of state to his majesty of spaine sent unto the king of scots at brussels concerning the affaires in england, publication of the articles of peace and marriage with france, &c. méndez de haro, luis, 1598-1661. charles ii, king of england, 1630-1685. 1 sheet ([1] p.) s.n., [london : 1660] dated at end: 1659. annotation on thomason copy: "feb. 2. 1659". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng charles -ii, -king of england, 1630-1685 -early works to 1800. spain -history -17th century -early works to 1800. a87125 r211534 (thomason 669.f.23[30]). civilwar no a translate of a letter from don lewis de harro chief counsellor and minister of state to his majesty of spaine sent unto the king of scots méndez de haro, luis 1660 699 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. 2007-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-09 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-10 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2007-10 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a translate of a letter from don lewis de harro chief counsellor and minister of state to his majesty of spaine sent unto the king of scots at brussels concerning the affaires in england , publication of the articles of peace and marriage with france , &c. may it please your majesty , since it hath pleased the almighty lord thus to blesse and crown your majesty with patience in long sufferings , in which you have been a strict observer of those graces , precepts and qualities so eminent in your royal father , that even his and your greatest enemies are driven to confess , that amidst the multitude of your thoughts ( as the psalmist delivers it ) gods comforts doth delight your soul , and whilest evil men who are the tormentors in this life solace themselves with all your earthly pleasures , it is your greatest care to preserve and keep unto your self the testimony of a good conscience , which will ever surmount and triumph above all the adversities of this lower world , and at last that furious zeal which hath now dominion in your kingdoms , will burn , and as a canker at the root of their hopes shall destroy your opposers ; from hence great sir , the nations murmure , and your faith in those long sufferings gives you firm hopes that the day of your redemption is nigh , for this never fails in the consent of all nations , vox populi , vox dei : and therefore since god hath shewed unto the people a mark of his high displeasure by your exile , they are upon return , by which your majesty is encouraged to say amen . but this is not altogether my affair , the transact promulgation of the articles of peace and marriage with his majesty of france is unalterably true , and what therein concerns your majestie is also decreed , as i hope hath already in part appeared by the present forces of your own subjects drawn out by your majesties servants , and if need require there is other helps designed for you , yet finding an unwillingnesse in your councel to alarm your countries with forraigners ( if possibly avoided ) i must forbear to urge the kindnesse of my master , otherwise there had been a freedom answerable to your majesties ( i am sorry that i have occasion to say ) necessities , which indeed is rather a shame to your own subjects , of whom the heathens can with some remorse discourse , and amongst the christians under his catholick majestie ( although there wants union with you in matters of religious worship ) you are pitied in that the foundation is laid in christ our lord ; let your enemies therefore feare and tremble as in the presence of the lord , for the justnesse of your cause heightens my belief of their astonishment . and were it not for their present interest in ill gotten goods ; i dare positively affirm there were no enemie to give you battel , but the wonder is at an end in that such as these are foretold by that unerring spirit in the prophets and apostles , which saith , that covetousnesse is the root of all evil . in conclusion the forwardnesse of this dispatch is occasioned through great desires of yeelding any thing which may contribute to your majesties consolation : pure and intire affections are pardonable , although hastilie scattered before princes , and in confidence of that i can as well hope for as plead my excuse . his majesties congratulations followed with all the ambassadors , councellors , commanders , ministers of state , and monsiur le prince are amply in this expresse declared as a demonstration of great joy for your majesties hopeful restauration : and that your successe may fill the world with admiration , and convince all subjects of that sin , is the prayer of him who is in great truth , 1659. your majesties most humble and faithful servant , lewis de harro . the french king's declaration of vvar against the crown of spain translated out of french. france. sovereign (1643-1715 : louis xiv) 1689 approx. 6 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a49218 wing l3115a estc r2483 13439899 ocm 13439899 99563 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a49218) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 99563) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 464:20) the french king's declaration of vvar against the crown of spain translated out of french. france. sovereign (1643-1715 : louis xiv) louis xiv, king of france, 1638-1715. 1 sheet ([1] p.) printed by edward jones, in the savoy [london] : 1689. caption title. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng france -history -louis xiv, 1643-1715 -sources. france -foreign relations -spain. spain -foreign relations -france. broadsides -england -london -17th century 2007-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-01 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-03 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2008-03 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the french king's declaration of war against the crown of spain . translated out of french. ordonnance of the king. the sincere desire which the king hath had to maintain the truce concluded in the year 1684. induced his majesty to dissemble the conduct of the ministers of spain in the courts of all the princes of europe , where they laboured nothing more than to excite them to take up arms against france . his majesty was not ignorant , how far they were concerned in the negotiation of the league of ausbourg ; and was likewise informed of the part the governor of the spanish low-countries had , in the prince of orange's enterprize against england ; but not being able to believe , that he acted therein by the order of the king his master , who was obliged by so many reasons of religion , of blood , and the safety of all kings , to oppose such an usurpation , his majesty had hoped , he should have been able to induce the catholick king to joyn with him for the re-establishment of the lawful king of england , and the preservation of the catholick religion against the union of the protestant princes ; or at least , if the state of affairs in spain did not permit his catholick majesty to enter into the like engagements , to observe an exact neutrality ; to which end , his majesty hath , since the month of november last past , caused several proposals to be made to him , which were well received , whilst the success of the prince of orange's enterprize seemed doubtful , but these favourable dispositions disappeared so soon as it was known at madrid , that the king of england had left his kingdom , and nothing was then there talk'd of but a war against france . his majesty understood at the same time , that the spanish ambassador was daily with the prince of orange , and sollicited him to have the english declare war against france : that the governor of the spanish low-countries raised troops with great diligence ; that he promised the states-general to joyn them with their forces at the beginning of the campagne , and sollicited them , as well as the prince of orange , to send forces to flanders , in order to put those countries into a posture to make war upon france . all these advices made his majesty think , he ought in prudence to know , what he was to depend upon . he therefore gave order to the marquis de rebenac , his ambassador at madrid , to demand of the ministers of the catholick king a positive answer , offering him the continuance of the truce , upon condition , he would oblige himself to observe an exact neutrality , and not to assist directly or indirectly his majesty's enemies ; but the evil councils having prevailed , his majesty was informed , that the resolution was taken , to favour the usurper of england , and to joyn with the protestant princes . his majesty understood likewise , almost at the same time , that the prince of orange's agents had received considerable sums of money at cadiz and madrid ; that the troops of holland and brandenburg were entred into the principal places of the spaniards in flanders ; and that the governor of the low-countries for the king of spain , did sollicite the states-general to cause their forces to advance to brussels : all these advices added to the answer , which the marquis de rebenac received at madrid , leaving his majesty no room to doubt , that the intention of the catholick king is to joyn with his enemies ; his majesty hath thought , he ought to lose no time to prevent his evil designs ; and hath resolved to declare war against him , as well by sea as land , as he doth by these presents . his majesty , for this effect , commands and enjoyns all his subjects , vassals and servants , to fall upon the spaniards , and hath expresly forbidden , and doth forbid , their having henceforward any communication , commerce or intelligence with them , upon pain of death . and to this end , his majesty does revoke all permissions , passports , safe-guards , and safe-conducts , that may have been granted by himself , or his lieutenant-generals , and other his officers , contrary to these presents , and hath declared , and does declare them to be null , and of no effect and force , forbidding all persons whatsoever to have any regard thereunto . his majesty orders and commands the lord-admiral , mareschals of france , governors and lieutenant-generals for his majesty in his provinces and armies , mareschals de camp , colonels , captains and commanders of his forces , as well horse as foot french and foreigners , and all other his officers to whom it shall appertain , to cause the conten●s of these presents to be put in execution within the extent of their respective powers and jurisdictions : for such is his majesty's pleasure . he wills also , and enjoyns , that these presents be published and affixed in all the towns , as well maritime as others , and in all the ports , harbors , and other places of his kingdom and the territories under his obedience , where it shall be needful ; to the end , none may pretend cause of ignorance . given at versailles the 15 th . day of april , 1689. signed lovis , and underneath le t●llier in the savoy : printed by edward jones . 1689. a lamentable relation of a fearfull fight at sea, upon our english coast, between the spaniard and the hollander who after their first meeting and fight which was on friday the sixt of september last past, and the finall fight on friday being the eleventh of october following, the event whereof you may hear in this following ditty : to the tune of, let us to the wars againe / by martin parkin. m. p. (martin parker), d. 1656? 1639 approx. 7 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a08965 stc 19250.7 estc s1615 20235983 ocm 20235983 23883 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a08965) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 23883) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1711:27) a lamentable relation of a fearfull fight at sea, upon our english coast, between the spaniard and the hollander who after their first meeting and fight which was on friday the sixt of september last past, and the finall fight on friday being the eleventh of october following, the event whereof you may hear in this following ditty : to the tune of, let us to the wars againe / by martin parkin. m. p. (martin parker), d. 1656? 1 broadside. by m.f. for tho. lambert, printed at london : [1639] attributed to martin parker by stc (2nd ed.). date of imprint suggested by stc (2nd ed.) in double columns. without music. reproduction of original in the national library of scotland. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng ballads, english. spain -history, naval. netherlands -history, naval. 2007-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-08 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-09 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2007-09 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a lamentable relation of a fearfull fight at sea , upon our english coast , between the spaniard and the hollander , who after their first meeting and fight which was on friday the sixt of septembr last past : and the finall fight on friday being the eleventh of october following : the event whereof you may hear in this following ditty . to the tune of , let us to the wars againe . in every place where men did meet , the talk was of the spanish fleet , which the stout dutchmen with great boast , besieg'd upon our english coast : now every severall expectation is satisfi'd by this relation . great pitie t is that any pen should note such hate twixt christian men . it was a pittifull conclusion , of christian bloud so much effusion , that who the storie reads or hears , if he can scape the shedding tears , t is what the writter could not misse , when he the storie wrote of this . great pitie this that any pen , should note such hate twixt christian men . this spanish navie ( as t is said ) to th'cardinall infanto's aid , was carrying men and money store , hoping to land on flanders shore : but their intention now is voide , the dutch hath them almost destroy'd . great pitie t is that any pen , should note such hate tvvixt christian men . the hollender who long hath been against the spaniard armde with spléene , waits all occasions that he may , to circumvent him any way , as now for him he laid a traine to catch him far enough from spaine . great pitie t is that any pen , should note such hate tvvixt christan men . the spaniards being pestered sore , with what they could have wisht on shore , unarmed men for sea unfit , few of them being preparde for it , and lying long on our cold clime , many were thrown ore board that time : great pitie t is that any pen should note such hate tvvixt christian men . the hollender with fresh supply , insulteth ore his enemie , vowing the totall overthrow of th'spanish navie at one blow . to say the truth their odds was much ; fourescore spaniards , sixscore dutch. great pitie t is that any pen , &c. on friday morning that sad time , this bloudy battell was in prime , the stately admirall of spaine , weigh'd anchor , and put forth to th' main , the hollend admirall did the like , one did against another strike . great pitie t is that any pen should note such hate tvvixt christian men . a certain space they did abide , fighting all stoutly on each side , so that the ordinance of the dutch , hath lower deale spoild very much . out of the town the people fled , yet many cattle were struck dead . great pitie t is that any pen should note such hate tvvixt christian men . at last the spanish navie stout , ( orecome with force ) was put to rout , and of their ships full twentie foure , were gravelled on our english shore , at dover and at other ports , where ships for saftie oft resorts . great pitie t is that any pen should note such hate twixt christian men . eight of the spanish ships that day were burnt and utterly cast away , the admirall when he did see his ship perforce must taken be , he with a manly resolution , set it on fire in the conclusion . great pitie t is that any pen should note snch hate tvvixt christian men . it was a spictacle of woe , ( grant lord that time the like nere show ) to sée men from a fired ship . how they out of the port-holes scip , each one pronouncing this good word , have mercy on my soule o lord. great pitie t is that any pen should note such hate tvvixt christian men . what losse the hollander hath had , was not in this relation sad , mentiond at all , but at the last , will bring to memorie things forepast , but certainly we may coniecture , that canons preach a bloudy lecture . great pitie t is that any pen should note such hate tvvixt christian men . a thousand men or rather more , are of the spaniards swom on shore , at dover , deal , and waymouth , they are living all this present day , this was the fiercest fight at sea , that hath been fought this many a day . great pitie t is that any pen should note such hate tvvixt christian men . a multitude the sea cast up , which all had tasted of deaths cup , some without heads , some wanting armes , some legs , all shewing what great harmes proceed from that inveterate spléene , which hath long time inventing been . great pitie t is that any pen , &c. i oft have heard that winters thunder , to us produceth sommers wonder , the fourteenth of ianuary last , thunder and lightnings made us agast , and now this thundring on the main , hapt on our coast'twixt holland and spain great pitie t is that any pen , &c. o that all christians would accord , to fight the battell of our lord , against the infidel and turke , that upon our dissention worke , he counts it a most politicke matter , alwayes to fish in troubled water . but god grant peace , and right all vvrongs , by giving right , vvhere right belongs . finis . by martin parkin . printed at london by m. f. for tho. lambert . a memorial delivered to the states-general by the marquess of castell moncayo, envoy extraordinary of spain, at the hague, may 9th, 1684. avaux, comte d' (jean-antoine de mesmes), 1640-1709. 1684 approx. 7 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a26254 wing a4268 estc r30712 11413941 ocm 11413941 47740 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a26254) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 47740) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1453:53) a memorial delivered to the states-general by the marquess of castell moncayo, envoy extraordinary of spain, at the hague, may 9th, 1684. avaux, comte d' (jean-antoine de mesmes), 1640-1709. 1 sheet. printed for richard morris ..., london : 1684. imprint from colophon. reproduction of original in the university of london. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng spain -foreign relations -1516-1700. great britain -foreign relations -1660-1688. france -foreign relations -1643-1715. 2008-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-12 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-12 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a memorial delivered to the states general , by the marquess of castell moncayo , envoy extraordinary of spain , at the hague , may 9th . 1684. the marquess of castell moncayo , envoy extraordinary of spain , doubts not but that your lordships deputies ( which were present at the conference held this day by the ministers of the high allies ) have made a sincere and true report of that which was there debated : nevertheless , he hath thought fit to put in writing that which was there represented by discourse ; viz. that the said envoy extraordinary of spain was extreamly troubled and perplext , by reason he knew not whether or no he ought to concur in the same sentiments with the ministers of the high allies , or with those of this state ; without due reflection on his majesties pleasure and resolutions . the spanish affairs being transacted without regard to the interest of spain , or that which respects its monarchy ; without concern for its honour , or that which is due to the king thereof ; proposals of a peace or a truce , and the partaging of the spanish netherlands being made in such a manner , as if they belonged to the states-general , and not to his catholick majesty . but having also considered that there were present at the aforesaid conferences , besides your lordships deputies , the ministers of many other princes and states , who seem cordially to embrace the interests of his catholick majesty , and who have the same esteem for the king his master's friendship , as the king his master has for theirs : the said subscribed envoy extraordinary therefore is fully resolved to understand the opinion and sentiments of the said ministers , though perhaps he may meet with a mortification in desiring the same thing from your lordships deputies ; which mortification will be the more intollerable to the said subscribed envoy , by reason of the lecture your lordships deputies have made of the french ambassadors last memorial : in which the ministers of the high allies have taken notice that he says , knowing that this state is more inclined to accept of a truce than a peace ; which if your lordships think consists more with your interest , his most christian majesty gives your lordships the choice , to conclude either a peace or truce , according to the conditions specified in his ambassadors memorial , the 29th . of april . as if it belonged to this state , and not to spain , whom france makes war upon ; or as if this state had received a full and ample power from spain to treat of an accommodation with france . the said envoy extraordinary of spain desires to know , that if france gives to your lordships the choice of a peace or a truce , whither your lordships be masters of luxemburg , and of all the other places and towns which france demands , and pretends to retain , or if they belong not to the king his master , or if by this choice france may think that your lordships will induce his catholick majesty to agree to the unjust and impracticable conditions of france . the said subscribed envoy extraordinary hath several times declared , and now doth declare unto your lordships , that if your lordships shall continue to promote such a design , it will be wholly in vain , and of no effect , and the reasons which he hath already alledged , which concern this state , and the allies of his most catholick majesty , as may appear by their minister disapproving the late measures your lordships have taken . if then the perswasions of your lordships will be wholly ineffectual to cause his catholick majesty to consent to the proposals of france , as the said envoy extraordinary hath already declared , and now doth declare unto your lordships , how can your lordships then undertake to dispose of that which is not your own , the so doing belonging to him to whom it appertains , and who hath declared he will never agree to such conditions . if france think that your lordships may constrain his catholick majesty to comply with terms wholly inconsistent with his interest , which if it be done directly , it will leave this glorious example to posterity . that those arms which were first rais'd for the defence of the spanish netherlands , were afterwards instrumental in its oppression ; and if indirectly by withdrawing your troops , then this state will be the first that will feel the effects of such a resolution . and the said envoy most instantly prays your lordship to consider , that his catholick majesty is their friend , their allie , and their confederate , but not their pupil ; and , that if your lordships continue to treat your allies as they do , perhaps they wo'nt have one left , when they stand in need of many . his majesty could not worse resent the measures your lordships have taken , than by your granting france all that he pretends to ; for undoubtedly , if such a grant should take place , this state would be utterly lost without the future hope of a recovery . however , his catholick majesty taking to heart the liberty and welfare of this state , is content to hazard the rest of his dominions , ( he having lost the best part thereof ) and by his constancy and patience , will do what in him lies to hinder this state from sinking , which turbulent spirits endeavour to compass . the ministers of the high allies have sufficiently exposed to your lordships , of what importance luxemburg is to this state , and to the empire , and what consequences may follow to both if it be lost , with the disposition and readiness that there is to succour it : therefore , since that we are morally assured of its making a vigorous defence , as vienna has done , and that those troops which besiege it are not equal in number to those which besieged vienna , and those which may raise the siege are not at such a distance as those which relieved vienna ; i 'm sure the cause is as just , and we have the same god to confide in . in the name of god then , let us not delay to succour a place whose conservation imports christendom as much as vienna . london , printed for richard morris , at the sign of st. paul in holborn . 1684. articles of peace between the two crowns of france and spain concluded at aix-la-chapelle, the second of may, 1668 : translated out of french. treaties, etc. spain, 1668 may 2 france. 1668 approx. 15 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a49205 wing l3103 estc r16132 13354868 ocm 13354868 99225 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a49205) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 99225) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 464:16) articles of peace between the two crowns of france and spain concluded at aix-la-chapelle, the second of may, 1668 : translated out of french. treaties, etc. spain, 1668 may 2 france. france. treaties, etc. spain, 1668 may 2. 16 p. printed by e. o. for william cook ..., london : 1668. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng france -foreign relations -spain. spain -foreign relations -france. 2006-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-02 john latta sampled and proofread 2007-02 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion articles of peace between the two crowns of france and spain , concluded at aix-la-chapelle , the second of may , 1668. translated out of french. licensed june 25. 1668. roger l'estrange . london , printed by e. o. for william crook , near essex-house without temple-bar . 1668. artcles of peace between the two crowns of france and spain , concluded at aix-la-chapelle , the second of may , 1668. i. first , it is covenanted , and agreed , that for the future , there shall be a true , firm , and inviolable peace , confederacy , and perpetual alliance and amity , between the most christian and catholick kings , their children born , or to be born hereafter , their heirs , successors , and inheritors , their kingdoms , states , countryes and subjects ; and that they shall mutually love one another , as kind brethren , that the one shall promote with all his ability the good , honour , and reputation of the other , really avoiding according to their power , the prejudice of one another . ii. in pursuance of this good re-union , as soon as the ratification of the present treaty shall be exchanged , the peace between the said kings shall be published , and from the time of the said publication , there shall be a cessation of arms , and all acts of hostility , as well by land as by sea and fresh waters , and generally in all places , where their majesties forces wage war , as well among their companies and armies in the field , as in the garrisons : and if the said cessation be opposed by the taking of any place , or places , be it by assault surprize , or private intelligence ; and in like manner , if there be any prisoners taken , or other acts of hostility committed by any accident not foreseen , or of those that cannot prevent it contrary to the said cessation of arms , the departing from the agreement shall be really repaired on either side , without delay or difficulty , restoring without the least diminution , that which they possessed , and setting the prisoners at liberty without any ransom or charge . iii. in consideration of this peace , the most christian king shall keep , remain seized with , and effectually enjoy all places , forts , and posts that he hath gained , obtained , or fortified by armes during the last years campagne : that is to say , the fortress of charleroy , the towns of binch and atthe , the places of doway , the fort of scarpe being comprised , turney , oudenard , lille , armentieres , courtray , bergues and furnes , and all their bailiwicks , castlewicks , territories , governments , provostships , appurtenancies , dependancies and annexations , by what name soever they be called , as far as ever they extend . iv. the said places , towns , and places of charleroy , binch , atthe , doway , fort of scarpe , turney , oudenard , lille , armentieres , courtray , bergues and furnes , their balliwicks , castlewicks , governments , provostships , territories , domains , seignories , appurtenancies , dependancies and annexations , by what name soever they may be called , shall appertain by virtue of this present treaty of peace , to the said lord the most christian king and his successors , having right thereunto , irrevocably and for ever , with the same rights of soverainty , propriety , royalty , patronage , gardianship , jurisdiction , nomination , prerogatives and preheminencies , over the bishopricks , cathedrals and other churches , abbies , priories , dignities , cures , and all other beneficies whatsoever , being within the extent of the said country , places , and bailiwicks granted , of what abby soever the said priories hold land , and have dependance upon , and all other rights that have heretofore appertained to the catholick king , though they be not here particularly recited , without any future trouble to his most christian majesty , by what pretence soever , of right , nor disturbed indeed by the said catholick king his successors , or any prince of his house , or by any person whatsoever , or upon any pretence or occasion that may happen in the said soverainty , propriety jurisdiction , authority , possession and enjoyment of all the said countries , towns , places , castles , lands , seignories , provostships , domains , castlewicks , and bailiwicks , together with all the places and other things thereunto appertaining . and to this purpose the said catholick king , as well for himself , his heirs and successors , having right thereunto , renounceth , quitteth , granteth , and conveyeth , as his plenipotentiary in his name by the present irrevocable treaty of peace , hath renounced , quitted , granted , and conveyed , perpetually , and for ever in favour , and for the advantage of the said most christian king , his heirs , successors , and such as are concerned , all the rights , actions , pretences , royalty , patronage , gardianship , jurisdiction , nomination , prerogatives and preheminencies over the bishopricks , cathedral churches , and other abbies , priories , dignities , cures , and other beneficies whatsoever , being within the limits of the said countries , places , and bailiwicks granted , of what abbies soever the said priories hold lands , and have dependance upon , and in general , without retaining or reserving any thing to himself , all other rights , that the said catholick king , or his heirs , and successors , have , pretend , or can have , and pretend unto , upon what ground or reason sover , over the said countries , places , castles , forts , lands , seignories , domains , castlewicks and bailiwicks , and over all places depending thereupon , as is before mentioned , all the laws , customes , statutes and constitutions to the contrary notwithstanding , on those confirmed by oath , in which , and in the abrogatory clauses of abrogation , it to expresly abolished by this present treaty for the confirmation of the said renunciations , and concessions , which shall stand in force , and take place , insomuch that the particular expression or specification shall not disanul the general , nor the general , the particular ; perpetually excluding all exceptions , upon what right , title , cause , or pretence soever they can be grounded : the said catholick king declares , consents , wills , and intends , that all men , vascals , and subjects of the said countries , towns , and lands , granted to the crown of france , as before mentioned , be , and remain quit , and discharg'd for the present , and for ever , of their faith , homage , service , and oath of fidelity , which all and every of them might have made to him , and the catholick kings his predecessors ; together with all obedience , subjection , and vassalage , that by reason thereof might be due unto him , from them ; the said catholick king requiring , that the said faith , homage , and oath of fidelity , be made null and voyd , as if they had never been made or given . v. the said most christian king immediately after the publication of the peace , shall withdraw his forces from the garrisons of all places , towns , castles , and forts of the county of burgundy , commonly called la-franche-comtè , and shall really , effectually , and bonâ fide restore to his catholick majesty , all the said county of burgundy , without any retention , or reservation . vi. the said most christian king shall make restitution of all the places , forts , castles , and posts , that his forces have , or might have enjoyed , unto the day of the publication of the peace , in what place soever scituated to the catholick king , those places , and forts which ought to remain by this present treaty , with his most christian majesty , as hath been above specified , excepted . and in like manner his catholick majesty shall make restitution of all the places , forts , castles , and posts , which his forces could have been possessed of , to the day of the publication of this peace , in what place soever they be , to his most christian majesty . vii . their majesties agree , that all kings , potentates and princes , that will freely enter into the like obligation , would give their majesties their promises and engagements of warranty , as to all the contents of this present treaty . viii . it hath been consented to , agreed , and declar'd , that hereby there is to be no revocation of the treaty of the pyreneans ( with a reservation as to the portugal , with whom the said catholick king hath since made a peace , ) only so far as it hath been otherwayes disposed of in this treaty , by the concession of the above said places ; so that the parties can acquire no new right , nor receive any prejudice upon their respective pretences in any thing , whereof there is no express mention made in this present treaty . ix . and for the further confirmation of this treaty of peace , and of all the clauses and articles herein contained , the said present treaty shall be published , ratified and registred in the court of the parliament of paris , and in all other parliaments of the kingdom of france , and court of accompts of the said city of paris ; so in like manner the said treaty shall be ratified , published and registred , as well in the great council and other councils and court of accompts of the said most catholick king in the low-countryes , as in the other councils of the crowns of arragon and castile : the whole affair being managed according to the form of the treaty of the pyreneans in the year 1659. the expedition whereof shall be mutually given by each other , within three months after the publication of this present treaty . which clauses and articles above named , together with the contents of every one of them , have been treated of , agreed upon , passed and covenanted between the above said plenipotentiaries of the said most christian and catholick kings , in the name of their majesties , which said plenipotentiaries by virtue of their power , ( the copies whereof shall be annexed unto this present treaty ) have promised , and do promise upon the obligation of all and every the goods , and estates , present , and for the future , of the kings their masters ; that they shall be inviolably kept and performed by their majesties , and to cause them to be ratified , firmly and simply without any addition , and to compleat the ratifications by authentick letters , sealed , where all the present articles shall be inserted verbatim , on the last day of may next ensuing inclusively . first , his most christian majesty at brussels , in the hands of the governour of flanders , and his catholick majesty at saint germains en laye , in the hands of the said most christian king , and sooner , if possibly . furthermore the said plenipotentiaries have promised , and do promise , in the said names , that the said letters of ratification being perfected , the said most christian king , as soon as can be , and in the presence of such person or persons , as the said catholick king will please to delegate , shall solemnly swear upon the cross , the holy evangelists , the canons of the mass , and upon his honour , fully , really , and bonâ fide to observe and accomplish all the contents of the articles in this present treaty , and the same shall be also performed , as soon as it can possibly , by the said catholick king and the queen regent his mother , in the presence of such person or persons , as it shall please the said most christian king to depute . in witness whereof , the said plenipotentiaries have subscribed the present treaty with their names , and caused the seal of their arms to be set thereunto . dated in the imperial city of aix-la-chappelle , the 28 day of may , 1668. and in the name of his holiness , and the said electors and princes of the sacred empire , they have also subscribed these present articles with their names , and caused the seal of their armes to be affixed thereunto , signed augustine franciotti , arch-bishop of trebisond , plenipotentiary to his holiness . the baron of scheneborn in the name of his electoral highness of mayenee . francis egon of furstenberg , in the name of his electoral highness of colen ; and the chevalier semising in the name of his highness of munster . we therefore allowing of the forementioned treaty , in all and every the particulars and articles therein contained , and declared , have accepted , approved , ratified and confirmed , do accept , approve , ratifie and confirm the same , as well for our selves , as for our heirs , successors , kingdoms , countries , lands , seignories , and subjects , promising the performance of the contents hereof , upon the faith and word of a king , and upon the obligation and engagement of all and every our estates for the present and the future , to keep and observe them inviolably , without doing any thing directly or indirectly , in any manner or kind whatsoever to the contrary . in witness whereof , we have signed these presents with our hands , and have caused our seal to be set thereunto . given at st. germain's en laye the 26th . day of may , in the year of our lord 1668. and of our reign the 26th . signed lewis , and underneath de lionne . finis . by the king a proclamation touching tobacco. england and wales. sovereign (1625-1649 : charles i) 1627 approx. 14 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 3 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a22435 stc 8853 estc s122709 33152843 ocm 33152843 28979 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a22435) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 28979) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1876:85) by the king a proclamation touching tobacco. england and wales. sovereign (1625-1649 : charles i) charles i, king of england, 1600-1649. [2] leaves. by bonham norton and iohn bill, printers to the kings most excellent maiestie, imprinted at london : m.dc.xxvi [1626, i.e. 1627] caption title. imprint from colophon. allowing importation of spanish tobacco as part of the royal monopoly; requiring sealing of tobacco by commissioners in london. "giuen at our court at whitehall, the seuenteenth day of februarie, in the second yeere of our reigne of great britaine, france, and ireland. reproduction of original in: society of antiquaries. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp 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tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng tobacco industry -virginia. tobacco industry -bermuda islands. monopolies -great britain -early works to 1800. great britain -commerce -spain -early works to 1800. spain -commerce -great britain -early works to 1800. great britain -colonies -commerce. great britain -history -charles i, 1625-1649. 2003-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-12 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2003-12 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion honi soit qvi mal y pense royal blazon or coat of arms ❧ by the king. ❧ a proclamation touching tobacco . whereas our most deare father , of blessed memory , deceased , for many weighty and important reasons of state , and at the humble suit of his commons in parliament , did heretofore publish two seuerall proclamations ▪ the one bearing date the nine and twentieth day of september , in the two & twentieth yeere of his highnesse reigne of england , france , and ireland , and of scotland the eight and fiftieth , and the other the second day of march then next following , by both of them vtterly prohibiting the importation & vse of all tobacco , which is not of the proper growth of the colonies of virginia , and the sommer-ilands , or one of them , with such cautions ▪ and vnder such paines and penalties , as are in those proclamations at large expressed . and whereas our sayd father , by another proclamation bearing date the thirtieth day of december , in the seuenteenth yeere of his highnesse reigne of england , did straitly charge all and euery person or persons , of what degree or condition soeuer , that they should not from the second day of february then next following , presume to sowe , set , or plant , or cause to be sowen , set , or planted within this realme of england , or dominion of wales , any sort or kinde of tobacco whatsoeuer , and that they , or any of them should not maintaine and continue any old stockes or plants of tobacco formerly sowen or planted , but should foorthwith destroy and roote vp the same . and wheras we , finding the said proclamations to be grounded vpon many weighty reasons and considerations , did since our accesse to our crowne , by our proclamation lately published , renew and confirme the said former prohibitions : neuerthelesse , because the immoderate desire of taking of tobacco hath so farre preuailed in these our kingdomes , as that it cannot on a sodaine bee vtterly suppressed , and the difference , or , at least , the opinion of difference betweene spanish or forreine tobacco , and tobacco of the plantations of virginia , and of our owne dominions , is such , that our subiects can hardly be induced totally to forsake the spanish tobacco ; whereby it commeth to passe , that where wee were willing to haue suffered losse in our customes , so as the sayd forreigne tobacco might haue been kept out , the same is secretly , and by stealth brought in in great quantities , and many great quantities of tobacco are set and sowen within this our realme of england and dominion of wales , and so the mischiefe , intended to be redressed , is not auoided , and yet our reuenue in our customes is much diminished . wee therefore , taking into our princely consideration , as wel the present estate of these times , and how many important necessities doe at this instant presse us , that by all good meanes wee should husband our reuenue to the best , and also considering the many inconueniences which doe and will arise , both to our selues and to our subiects , by the secret importation of spanish tobacco , and planting of english tobacco , whereby diuers of our subiects haue taken liberty to themselues , for the desire of priuate gaine , without respect to the publique , to make such frequent sale of the same , as that thereby not onely our plantations abroad are much hindered , but our customes also are much impayred , wee haue thought fit , by the aduice of our commissioners for our reuenue , as our first part of proceeding concerning tobacco , to restrain● wholly the planting of tobacco within these our realmes , or any the iles thereto belonging , and to forbid the importation of forreine tobacco . and yet to giue way to the infirmitie of our subiects for the present , by the allowing the importation of some smal quantity of spanish or forreine tobacco , not being of the growth of the english plantations , not exceeding the quantitie of fiftie thousand weight in any one yeere to bee brought in by our owne commissioners onely , and to our owne particular vse onely , and not otherwise . and to the end that the extraordinary liberty now taken , may be restrained , the said colonies or plantations not hindered , nor our selfe deceiued in our customes , wee haue likewise by the aduice aforesaid , thought it requisite , to imploy some persons of trust and qualitie to be our commissioners in this seruice , to , and for our owne proper vse , and vpon accompt to be giuen to us for the same . wee doe therefore hereby publish and declare our royall will and pleasure , that , notwithstanding the seuerall proclamations before mentioned , we are well contented to giue way to the importation and sale of so much spanish and forreine tobacco , as shall not exceede the quantitie of fifty thousand weight in any one yeere , as aforesaid , and that the same shall bee our owne merchandise and commodity , and be managed and disposed of by our owne commissioners , or such as they shall appoint for our vse , and not otherwise . and , because that no man shall presume , by colour of this our licence or toleration , to import any other , or greater quantity of spanish or forreine tobacco , nor vtter or put the same to sale , to the preiudice of our seruice hereby especially intended , and to the ouerthrow of our colonies and plantations abroad , wee doe hereby straitly charge and command , that no man , other then our owne commissioners , for our owne proper vse , presume to import any forreine tobacco into our realmes of england or ireland , or any parts thereof . and for their better assistance therin , and the preuention of all abuses , wee haue thought fit , and so ordaine , and doe by these presents publish our royall pleasure , that all tobacco that shall from hencefoorth be imported into this our realme of england , whether it be spanish , or of the growth of virginia , the sommer-ilands , or the west-indies , or other adiacent ilands , beeing english plantations , shall be brought into our port of london onely : also that there shall bee three seuerall seales kept by our commissioners in some conuenient place , where they shall appoint , vnder three lockes , whereofthree of our commissioners shall keepe three seuerall keyes , wherwith both all such forrein tobacco , as shal be so imported , as aforesaid , as also such other tobacco of the growth of virginia , and the sommer-ilands , and other the said plantations as shall be imported , shall be sealed , that is to say , for that of virginia , and the sommer-ilands , a seale engrauen with our armes , and for that of the other english plantations , a seale engrauen with a lion and a crowne , and for the other forreine tobacco , a seale engrauen with a broad arrow and a portcullice , without paying any thing for the sealing of the tobacco of virginia , and sommer-ilands , and other the said plantations , but onely what the parties themselues shall thinke fit to allow for the sealers paines , waxe , and threed . and we doe hereby will and command , that no person or persons whatsoeuer , whether denizen , or stranger , or borne within any of our realms or dominions , doe presume , attempt , or goe about to counterfeit the said seales , or any of them , and that no person or persons whatsoeuer , other then our commissioners , their deputie or deputies doe presume , attempt , or goe about to import any spanish or forreine tobacco whatsoeuer , or to buy , vtter , or sell any tobacco , of what sort soeuer , but such as the roule thereof shall be sealed with one of the seales aforesaid , or to import any other , or greater quantitie of spanish tobacco , then the said fiftie thousand weight onely in any one yeere , or to sowe , set , or plant , or cause to be sowen , set , or planted in any of his , or their grounds , any tobacco whatsoeuer , within our realmes of england , or ireland , or dominion of wales , or any isles or places belonging thereto , or permit , or suffer any old stockes formerly set to continue , vpon paine of forfeiture vnto us , of all such tobacco as shall be imported , set , sowen , planted , suffered , vttered , or put to sale , contrary to the true meaning of these presents , and to haue the same english tobacco vtterly destroyed , in whose hands soeuer the same shall be found , and vpon such further paines and penalties , as by the lawes and statutes of this our realme of england , or by the seueritie , or censure of our court of star-chamber , or by our prerogatiue royall may be inflicted vpon the offenders for their contempt of this our royall command , the one moitie of all which fines to be imposed vpon any the said offenders , wee are graciously pleased shal be bestowed vpon the persons that shall informe against them for the same ; and that such person or persons as shall discouer any planting of tobacco within our realme of england , or other our realmes or dominions , shall haue his charges expended in following of suite against the offendors , allowed out of our part of the fines to be imposed , besides his moitie aforesaid . and further , that euery person or persons , that shall discouer the falsifying , or counterfeiting of any the seales aforesaid , shall haue an hundred crownes for such his discouery out of our part of the fine to be imposed for the same , besides the one moity for himselfe , as aforesaid . and for the better execution of our will and pleasure , we doe hereby command , all and singular customers , comptrollers , searchers , waiters , and other officers , attending in all , and euery , or any of our ports , creekes , or places of lading , or vnlading , for the taking , collecting , or receiuing of any our customes , subsidies , or other duties to take notice of this our pleasure . and we doe hereby command , and giue power and authority vnto our said commissioners , and those whom they shall thinke fit to imploy in our said seruice , and euery , or any of them from time to time , and at all times when they shall thinke fittest , with a constable , or other officer , for their assistance to search any ship , or other vessell or bottome , riding or lying within any port , hauen , or creeke within their seuerall charge and place of attendance , for all tobacco , imported contrary to the intent of this our proclamation , and the same being found , to seize and take to our vse , as also to take notice of the names , and apprehend the bringers in , and buyers of the same , to the end they may receiue condeigne punishment for their offence . and further , to take speciall care , that no more of the said spanish , or other forraine tobacco , shall be imported , then the said fifty thousand weight onely , in any one yeere , and that the same be brought into our port of london onely , as aforesaid , vpon paine that euery of the said officers that shall be found negligent , corrupt , or remisse herein , shall lose his place , and entertainement ▪ and vndergoe such paines and penalties , as by the laws , orthe censure of our said court of star chamber may be inflicted vpon them for the same . and likewise we doe hereby ordaine , will and appoint , that it shall and may be lawfull , to and for our said commissioners , authorised , as aforesaid , to import the said fifty thousand weight of spanish or other forraine tobacco , by him , or themselues , or his , or their deputy or deputies with a constable , or other officer , for their assistance , to enter into any suspected place or places , at such time or times , as they shall thinke to be most conuenient , and there to search , discouer , and finde out any tobacco , imported , vttered , plan●ed , set , sowed , sold or vented , not marked , or sealed , as aforesaid , contrary to the true meaning hereof , and all such tobacco so found to seize , take away , & dispose of & the owners thereof , or in whose custome the same shal be found , to informe , and complaine of , to the end they may receiue punishment , according to our pleasure herein before declared . and further , we doe by these presents , will and require , all and singular mayors , sheriffes , iustices of peace , bailiffes , cōstables , headboroughs , customers , controllers , searchers , waiters , and all other our officers , and ministers whatsoeuer , that they , and euery of them , in their seuerall places and offices , be diligent and attendant in the execution of this our proclamation , and also ayding and assisting , to our said commissioners thereunto by us appointed , or to be appointed , and to their deputies , as well in any search for discouery of any act , or acts to bee performed , contrary to the intent of these presents , as otherwise in the doing , or executing of any matter or thing for the accomplishment of this our royall command . and lastly , our will and pleasure is , and we doe hereby , charge and command our atturney generall , for the time being , to informe against such persons in our court of star-chamber , or exchequer-chamber , as the case shall require from time to time , whose contempt and disobedience against this our royall command , shall merit the censure of these courts . giuen at our court at whitehall , the seuenteenth day of februarie , in the second yeere of our reigne of great britaine , france , and ireland . god saue the king. ¶ imprinted at london by bonham norton and iohn bill , printers to the kings most excellent maiestie . m.dc.xxvi . a terrible sea-fight related in the copie of letter sent to i.m. councellour, pensioner, and bailiffe to the citie of batavia : concerning the great fight betweene nine east india ships of the hollanders and three great gallions, which happened about goas bare in the east indies, the 20.30 of september, 1639. a. s. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a11214 of text s4867 in the english short title catalog (stc 21479.5). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 15 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a11214 stc 21479.5 estc s4867 23980885 ocm 23980885 27051 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a11214) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 27051) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1840:14) a terrible sea-fight related in the copie of letter sent to i.m. councellour, pensioner, and bailiffe to the citie of batavia : concerning the great fight betweene nine east india ships of the hollanders and three great gallions, which happened about goas bare in the east indies, the 20.30 of september, 1639. a. s. individuell människohjälp (organization) [13] p. printed by thomas harper for nathaniel butter, london : 1640. signed at end: a.s. "with priuilegio." "imprimatur. philip. minutolius"--p. [13]. signatures: [a]² b¹ c⁴. reproduction of original in the british library. eng netherlands -history, naval. spain -history, naval -17th century. goa (india : state) -history. a11214 s4867 (stc 21479.5). civilwar no a terrible sea-fight: related in the copie of a letter sent to i.m. councellour, pensioner, and bailiffe to the citie of batavia. concerning a. s 1640 2879 5 0 0 0 0 0 17 c the rate of 17 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the c category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2002-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-11 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2002-11 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-12 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a terrible sea-fight : related in the copie of a letter sent to i. m. councellour , pensioner , and bailiffe to the citie of batavia . concerning the great fight betweene nine east india ships of the hollanders , and three great gallions ; which happened about goas bare in the east indies , the 20.30 . of september , 1639. god is my helper london , printed by thomas harper , for nathaniel butter . 1640. with privilege . a true relation of a great sea-fight between the hollanders and spaniards . after that we had set out sail from batavia's rode , the 15.25 . of iuly , 1639. we have speedily performed our voyage ( god be thanked ) as farre as to the baixos de padua , which are very dangerous rockes and sands ; but by the negligence of the captains and masters of the pinaces , little rotterdam and david , ( which were sent out before to cast out every houre the lead ) we were led with the whole fleet towards the said rockes ; insomuch that our commander , looking out by day , upon the bank behinde the gallerie , perceived a great alteration of the water ; wherefore he charged his pilot to cast out the lead ; which having done , found first of all fourteene , afterwards nine , and at last six fadomes of water , that we could see some of the rockes lie under water . the admirall perceiving this , made three or foure shots , to give warning to the fleet , and that the pinnaces should come backe againe : and thus sailed back again from thence , as they came thither , thanking god almightie for his gracious keeping and protection . from thence we set our course towards the malabaerish coasts ; which having got in sight , about cananor , and mont fremosa , we sailed along the wall ; where , in divers tides , we met with two small vessells of black-moores , but they had free passe of the directour barent pieters , one whereof was bound for cananor , & the other for calicut , which advertised us , that daman and dieu , being two strong forts , and belonging to the portugals , were besieged by the great mogoll , and they beleeved that daman was surrendered alreadie . after that the foresaid vessels had departed from our commander , we went on again in our voiage , and the 18.28 . of september , about evening , came in sight of us about goas bare , the pinnaces armuyen and valkenburg , which at night came aboord of the admirall , relating unto him the newes , which they had received upon wingurla ; because they had arrived upon wingurla about eleven or twelve daies before our comming . the next day after our commander calling together the generall counsell , communicated unto them that same , what he had understood by the principalls of the aforesaid pinnaces ; namely that three gallions lay in the bay of goa veille , under favour and safeguard of the fort mormagon , being not yet readie to go to sea & fight . further , he desired the councell to consider upon , what was best to do for the good and profit of the companie . after manie disputations and consultations , the councell departed againe from aboord in the evening , with order , that when the commander , two or three houres before day light , did light againe a candle , they , together with the militarie officers , should come aboord againe of the admirall . having met together again , they unanimouslie resolved to surprize the enemie without delay ▪ that he lay with the gallions under the protection and favour of the fort mormagon , the greatest difficultie was , that we knew not the depth or situation of the harbour : wherefore order was given , that the pinnace david should betake it self to the right , and the pinnace little rotterdam to the left hand , saile forward , and cast continually out the lead : having come close to the walls , some boats were set out to cast out the lead continually in like manner , and to give warning unto us . afterwards order was given , that the ship zierick-sea should saile out before : upon which the commander himselfe went : him followed armuyen , valckenburg , franiker , bredamme , and the ships new harlem , and middelburg , should come as nigh as possibly they could ; because the enemie lay so close under the wall , and the depth of the harbour was unknown unto us ; and the said ships drew so deep water , and had also in them the cargozoen for wingurla . in this order about noon , with the sea winde , we sailed towards the enemie ( being under sail , the vice-commander william tiberius , who died the same morning , was set without the ship ) having come under the fort , they shot most fiercely out of the fort , upon the fleet : but we answered them in like manner . seeing those of the fort verie perplext , and timerous , ( because we were not above a musket shot from the fort ) we sailed to and fro along a wall or trench , which was drawn towards another small bulwark , from whence they made likewise some shots . being come neere unto the ships , we found them to be the three great gallions ; namely , bon iesus , bon ventura , and s. sebastian : bon ventura lay ready for to fight , but not readie for sailing : the other two had none or few canons in them , lying yet without carriages , because they expected us not so soon : yet afterwards we heard , that many free men , together with some voluntiers , came out of goa to affoord their aid and helpe in the making ready of the aforesaid gallions , thinking to come out against the pinnaces armuyen and valkenburg , which they had first perceived , but missed of it . zierick-sea sailing out before , passed by the forts ; and the ships armuyen and valckenburg in like maner . the commander with his boat departing from the ship zierick-sea , gave order , that franiker and bredamme should make towards the gallion , bon ventura carrying about 80. brasse pieces of ordnance , let their anchors fall ; from which gallion they shot fiercely upon us , having come on the side of him , and being not halfe a musket shot from it , they shot crosse thorow and thorow our pinnace , that it looked like a window where the glasses are beaten out : and thus we continued above three hours long , shooting against the said gallion ; insomuch that the pinnace franiker received more shots then the whole fleet together : all the row horses , and pieces of ordnance in the sterne were shot in pieces ; insomuch that we could not make one shot more from the sterne against the enemy , what care soever i tooke , and what encouragement soever i gave to the remainder of our men ( because i my selfe in person went continually to and fro , and the shipper was upon the deckes ) for we had in that pinnace about 20 men kild , and about 40 wounded ; insomuch that after the fight , we had not men to man the boat : whereupon presently afterwards were sent unto us to aid us , 20 men from other ships . amongst the dead were divers of our officers ; as namely , the upper pilot , high boats-man , the cooke , the cookes mate , gunners mate , one or two quarter masters : and all the other officers for the most part , wounded : our shipper was hurt in his belly , in the head , and in one of his hands ; but god be thanked ) he hath recovered , and is now well againe ; i scaped free with a blew blow , and some other small hurts , i cannot give sufficient thankes unto god almightie for his gracious protection and keeping . bredamme next to us received the most shots , the shipper iohn symons symein was in the first beginning kild with a shot thorow his body . yet after this bloudy fight god almighty by his gracious help and assistance granted unto us the victory , unto whom is due all glory , praise , and thanksgiving now and for evermore . the pinnace little rotterdam , whilst we were shooting against bon ventura , laid aboord the gallion bon iesus , which lay before bon ventura , mastered the same , and set up the princes flagges ; because very few men were in her . our commander seeing this , went into the gallion called bon iesus , and called to the portugals in bon ventura , that they should have good quarter , if they would yeeld : whereunto they , as stout souldiers , would not condiscend nor heare of it upon no termes , but answered the commander , that he should do his best : whereupon our commander gave order , that the cable of bon iesus should be chopt off , which drove directly to the belly of bon ventura , so that his blind mast turned crosse our bon iesus . the admirall asking them the second time , whether they would yeeld , or else he would fire them both ; namely , bon iesus , and bon ventura . whereupon they answered , that they would not yeeld : whereupon the commander gave order , that bon ventura and bon iesus should be set on fire ; notwithstanding they desisted not with their fierce shooting , till at last the fire got into the●r gun-powder , and was blown up . bon iesus after that it was on fire , drove a little off from the other . whist all this passed , the gallion saint sebastian was likewise fired by the ship armuyen : so that all three together at once were on fire , without the losse of any of our pinnaces or ships , that the generall and councell of india had ordained the pinnaces , bredamme , little roterdam and david for fire ships . i am of opinion , if we should have laine with the pinnace franiker twenty paces neerer to the gallion , it would likewise have been in danger to be blowne up , because our fore-mast , and some ropes were likewise blowne up into the aire ; all our ropes and cords are spoiled , tha● they hung like cut yarne . after that bon ventura was blown up , some boats have been in the ferry-water , to knocke the portugals in the head that lay in the water : yet after that they had kild some of them , our commander bid them to give quarter ; insomuch that we got prisoners above 100 men , about 50 white , and 50 negroes , amongst which were two or three priests , and four lords of the crosse , or fedalges : the captaine of the gallion was likewise taken up : our commander entertaines the said lords and patres at his owne table in the cabinet . at night we tooke up again our anchors , and sailed againe out of the bay close under the fort mormagon , out of which divers shots were made , because they could very well see us by the flame of the burning gallions : yet at last we got out of their shot , and cast anchor within two or three leagues of the wall . the upper merchant , peter bad-neighbour is chosen by the councell vice-commander in place of the deceased tiberius . the second of october , new stile , sailing towards wingurla , we met two saile of ships , after which we pursued with the whole fleet ; but being our ships were so battered and spoyled , we were faine to desist from pursuing any further after them ; and order was given that we should goe with the pinnace franiker towards wingurla ; where we arrived the fourth of october . afterwards came newes that the pinnace bredamme had driven a small vessell to the wall ; out of which the portugals fled and made the vessell to leake : yet the bredammes boat comming in haste to it , got into it , and kept it above water with pumping , till all the goods , consisting of ivorie , or elephants teeth , and other goods , were taken out of it , which were brought aboord of the commanders ship . another gallion was pursued after the 2.12 . of october , by the pinnace armuyen , which the same night overtooke the gallion ; and after that our pinnace had fought a good while with it , it gave the slip againe , and escaped . by nine prisoners taken by the pinnace armuyen with the boat of the said gallion , we understand , that it had in her above 80 dead , but was manned with above 400 men , being the gallion which went last yeare towards daman : the other vessel that was chased to the wall , came out of mosambique . the 10.20 . of october the ships middelburg , armuyen and bredamme , received order to go towards cotcheyn to crosse there , and to lie in wait for the enemies vessels , which by this present might passe by goa ▪ the vice-roy within goa , is departed out of this life ; in whose place by election , succeeds don antonio teles , who last yeare was admirall of the enemies fleet the said vice-roy reports , that hee will come with all his fregats about 60 in number to visit us , which we long to see . there hath divers been aboord of the admirall , a priest borne at antwerp , to treat about the releasing of the prisoners ; but hitherto he hath effected nothing , what further herein will be done , time will shew ▪ after the departure of the d. caen , came hither upon wingurla , a mogoller , who was hired by the portugals to massacre the great governour mameth radia , together with all the hollanders , and some of the chiefest merchants ; for the execution whereof , hee should be rewarded with eleven or twelve thousand pageden , who ended his life as followeth : the aforesaid mogoller , with a traine of 25 persons , comming into wingurla himselfe , together with another mogoller , sitting on horse-back , came before the lodging of the great governour mameth radia , who , at that time , was come to wingurla to view his fregats : the mogoller asking for him , was answered by the mameths servants , that he lay and slept . at which the mogoller replied , that he himselfe must see it ; who going with another towards his chamber , ( because hee was well knowne , and had been alwayes very familiar with the governour ) opened the curtains , and found him playing with his childe . the mogoller drawing his sable , chopt off one of his hands , thinking to turne off the blow with it , as also gave him a great wound in the neck ; insomuch that he presently after died : from thence the mogoller rode towards the lodging , to massacre the netherlanders ; he was twice beaten backe from the moat : in the mean time an alarme rose amongst the governours people , which flockt together about foure hundred strong , kild fifteen or sixteen of the mogollers men , took prisoners three or foure . the mogoller betook himselfe to flight ; after whom they pursued with their naked sables : whereupon the said mogoller leaping with his horse into the water , thinking to swim over the river , was seen by some of the governours servants , which were in a house not farre from the shore ; they seeing their fellow-souldiers run with their naked sables after him , stopt him , and shot him with a peece down from the horse , the rest gave him many cuts and blowes after he was dead . given at wingurla , the 11.21 . of october . 1639. a. s. imprimatur . philip . minutolius . printed for nath. butter , august . 8. 1640. the process, and pleadings in the court of spain upon the death of anthonie ascham resident for the parliament of england, and of john baptista riva his interpreter, who were kill'd by john guillim, william spark, valentine progers, jo. halsal, william arnet, henrie progers. who are all in close prison in madrid for the said fact, except henry progers, who fled to the venetian ambassador's hous, and so escaped. / sent from madrid from a person of qualitie and made english. hierro, agustín de, 17th cent. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a86339 of text r202579 in the english short title catalog (thomason e636_3). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 40 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 10 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a86339 wing h1944 thomason e636_3 estc r202579 99862809 99862809 114986 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a86339) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 114986) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 98:e636[3]) the process, and pleadings in the court of spain upon the death of anthonie ascham resident for the parliament of england, and of john baptista riva his interpreter, who were kill'd by john guillim, william spark, valentine progers, jo. halsal, william arnet, henrie progers. who are all in close prison in madrid for the said fact, except henry progers, who fled to the venetian ambassador's hous, and so escaped. / sent from madrid from a person of qualitie and made english. hierro, agustín de, 17th cent. howell, james, 1594?-1666. r. w. [4], 15, [1] p. printed by william du-gard, printer to the council of state, london : 1651. a translation, by james howell, of an unidentified work by agustín de hierro, whose name appears on a3r. dedication signed: r.w. the words "john guillim, .. henrie progers." are bracketed together on title page. annotation on thomason copy: "july. 9th". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng ascham, antony, d. 1650. riva, john baptista, d. 1650. guillim, john, 17th cent. spark, william. progers, valentine. arnet, william. progers, henry. halsal, john. great britain -foreign relations -spain -early works to 1800. spain -foreign relations -great britain -early works to 1800. a86339 r202579 (thomason e636_3). civilwar no the process, and pleadings in the court of spain upon the death of anthonie ascham resident for the parliament of england, and of john bapti hierro, agustín de 1651 6648 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 b the rate of 5 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2007-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-07 angela berkley sampled and proofread 2007-07 angela berkley text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the process , and pleadings in the court of spain upon the death of anthonie ascham resident for the parlament of england , and of john baptista riva his interpreter , who were kill'd by john guillim , william spark , valentine progers , jo. halsal , william arnet , henrie progers . who are all in close prison in madrid for the said fact , except henry progers , who fled to the venetian ambassador's hous , and so escaped . sent from madrid from a person of qualitie and made english . london , printed by william du-gard , printer to the council of state . 1651. to his truly honored friend sr w. butler knight . sir ! your desires to mee are equivalent to decrees , which i shall bee alwayes readie to put in execution , as far as i can , and never bee found in a contempt ; therefore , according to the contents of your last , i have sent you by this post the plea , concerning the english gentlemen that are under close restraint here in the king's prison , for the death of mr ascham , and your old acquaintance john baptista riva his interpreter ; wee cannot conjecture yet what will becom of them , for the church stand's firm for them ; and you well know what predominant influences the church hath in this clime . the lord cottington , and sir edward hide are parted , and departed from this court , the first to vallodolid , the other for flanders , and since that time mr fisher appear's abroad in som lustre with his coach and lackies , whereas before hee kept retir'd and invisible . catalunia is like to bee reduc'd this summer , for there are mightie forces both by land and sea to that purpose . no more now , but that i am alwaies your readie and most real servant r. w. madrid this 8th of maie , 1651. the whole discours analys'd . this plea doth partition it self into sundrie particulars . 1. the manner and circumstance of the fact is punctually related , with the names and distinction of the actors . 2. the atrocitie and hainousness of the fact is aggravated , beeing committed upon the person of a publick minister of state , viz. the ambassador or resident of england , whose person should merit more particular respect in the catholick court in regard of the precedencies which were alwayes given in england to the spanish ambassadors . 3. divers testimonies are produc'd how that the persons and office of ambassadors are sacred , &c. 4. it is proved that this publick minister had the safe conduct , and consequently the protection of his catholick majestie , which make's the offence reflect upon him , and is punishable by his own royal justice , and so the delinquents are not to bee transmitted elswhere for their punishment . 5. a parallel twixt the death of ascham and abner , who had king david's safe conduct . 6. the holie church cannot protect so proditorious a murther , as it is prov'd by forcible reasons . 7. important arguments for a sudden execution of justice upon the offenders , &c. the learned and elaborate charge of doctor don augustin de hierro , knight of the order of calatrava , and fiscal ( or attorney general ) of the council roial against don john guillim , william spark , valentine progers , and william arnet , jo. halsal , englishmen , who saie they are , and are detained in the roial prison of this court , for having traiterously , and upon propens malice kill'd anthonie ascham ambassador , or resident of the parlament of england , who came and entred into this court by virtue of the safe conduct of the king our lord ( whom god preserv ) and john baptista riva a genuës , beeing interpreter , or secretarie of the said resident . the immunitie of the church , which they pretend , cannot avail them , nor ought the plea of that immunitie hinder the imposing and executing upon the said delinquents the punishment that correspond's with their offences , as will bee proved in the ensuing charge . the accusation or charge . the disaster and death of charls stuart king of england hapned the 9. of febr. 1649. the parlament of england governing the kingdom afterwards , sent an embassage to the king our lord ( whom god guard ) and besoldus saith , that qui à belli ducibus , gubernatoribúsque provinciarum liberis mittuntur , sunt legati . those who from generals of war , and free governors of provinces are sent anie where , are ambassadors . i could produce a cloud of authors upon this argument , who treat of and declare , who have capacitie to send ambassadors , as the earl of fontanar don christoval de benevente in his advertencies to princes and ambassadors , the dissertations of don john vella , conrado bruno , and the count don juan antonio de vera in his book , call'd the ambassador , do amply aver : but whether the person sent lately by the parlament of england was an ambassador or agent , or resident , as the delinquents term him , or most properly an orator ( for hee came to deprecate peace ) whether hee was all these , or anie of these it matter 's not ; for anie of these may style him a legate , and make him deserv that title ; and the same securitie is due to all those titles , as hotoman upon this theme resolv's the point , with others . 2. this ambassador , or resident sent by the parlament of england , call'd anthonie ascham , arrived at the bay of calis the 24 of march , 1650. with an interpreter , and three or four servants , and not meeting there with the duke of medina celi , hee went in quest of him to the port santa maria , and did let him know that hee was sent by the parlament of england in qualitie of an agent to the court of spain . the duke lodg'd him thereupon , and according to his accustomed attention and prudence , by which hee alwayes operate's , sent to tell him , that in regard it was the first negotiation between spain and the parlament of england , hee could do nothing in the business , till hee had first given an account to his majestie , as hee did the 27 of march , which came to madrid the second of april , and the same daie the king referred the letter to his council ; and the fourth of april there was order sent to the duke , to treat him as resident , and see him convoi'd to the court accordingly in safetie . the twentieth of april the resident ( having been sick before ) began his journey , beeing accompanied by the camp-master d. diego de moreda , and the second of june they came to toledo , whence the camp-master sent to the court for further order , and order was sent that hee should pursue his journey , and that the resident might take a hous where hee pleas'd in the court : so they arriv'd at court sundaie following at five in the evening , and munday next after , at six in the morning john baptista riva , who was ( hee sayed a genuës went in company of a servant of the camp-master , to hieronymo de la torre knight of the order of calatrava , and secretarie of state , the said riva complain'd of the illness and incommoditie of the lodging : but when the resident and his train lighted at their lodging , 't was observ'd there passed by som that went muffled , thereabouts , who were over-heard to say , essos son , these are they : so riva delivered the secretarie two letters from the parlament , saying that the resident came under the protection of his majestie . the secretarie answered , they had don ill not to have given account at the verie point of their arrival , the resident beeing the person hee was , & being in the catholick court hee was secure enough ; and hee would advertis his majestie of his coming accordingly , which hee did within a quarter of an hour , charging the camp-master's servant , that hee should tell his master , to continue in assisting the resident ; but an hour and half before this , the fore-mentioned delinquents , did proditoriously , out of propens malice , murther the said resident , and the said john baptista riva , according to the circumstances which shall follow . now these men well knew , that the said resident came to treat of peace , and they spontaneously confess they knew it , and that hee entred into this court , by order from his majestie , and with his pass-port ; so that besides , the treacherie and malice of the act , they committed capital treason , crimen laesae majestatis in primo capite : now for everie offence , there is a corresponding punishment , and for this certainly there is undoubted pain of death ; therefore they have made themselvs unworthy of the immunitie of the church , which they pretend . the business briefly doth branch it self into two articles . first , the grievousness of the delict is to be considered , and the qualitie of the person upon whom it was committed , one , who had a safe conduct from his majestie , therefore it is crimen laesae majestatis , and perpetrated in a most trecherous and malicious manner . secondly , the church cannot give them sanctuarie , therefore the pain of death is to be executed upon them according to the merit of the delict ; in declaring the circumstances , whereof i will leav all curiosities , and go to the pitch of the business , without extending my self to any extravagant impertinencies . the first article . touching the necessity and utilite of embassies , besoldus prosecut's this subject at large , together with pascalio benavente , & marsellaert , in their learned dissertations . but pedro erodo may be said to comprehend all , in these elegant words . legatorum munus perquam utile est , ac perquam necessarium , nam sine iis nec foedera iniri possunt , nec belli leges , pacisque dici , inimicitiae essent immortales , insidiae , caedes , incendiáque ubique essent . the function of ambassadors is most profitable and necessary , for without them , there can no confederation be made , nor any lawes of peace or warr enacted , enmities would prove immortall , slaughterings , perfidiousness ; deceipt and combustions would be every where . this so necessary and profitable a ministerie , was justlie called santo officio y ministerio de los angeles , the holy office , and ministerie of angels ; and the persons of those , who did exercise it , were held for sacred in all men's opinions . sancti habebantur legati , eorúmque corpora sancta sunt . ambassadors were held holy , and their bodies are holy , saith marcus varro ; therefore they should be protected from all humane injurie . cicero also sayeth , sentio jus legatorum tum hominum praesidio munitum esse , tum etiam divino jure vallatum : i hold the right of ambassadors not only to be fortified with humane safe-guard , but entrenched with divine safetie ; i could muster up a whole squadron of autors , both modern and ancient upon this subject , specially king don alonso , who mak's this security of ambassadors his own , and defend's it so ; and this securitie is due to any ambassadour , though he be suspected and fals , as frier don goncalez resolve's the point in his historie of china , and besoldus also , and although the said ambassador com to deceiv and collude , or that he bee an enemie , yet having a safe conduct , he is to be protected , as the count de la roca sayeth , fides enim quando promittitur , etiam hosti servanda est contra quem hellum geritur , quantò magis amico pro quo pugnatur . and if this securitie be due to an ambassador , that com's to intrap , yea , to an enemie , how much more to an english friend , in whose countrie the ambassador of spain hath , and alwaies hath had the pre-eminence of the ambassadors of all other princes . now that england should still be our friend , in statu quo nunc , and that peace should bee continued with her , proceed's from right , for peace is not only made with the king , but with the kingdom also , and although the first exspire's , the last remain's . for , put case that a peace be concluded with a countrie , without including the king , either by carelesness , or som other accident , yet the peace stand's good , for so the polish magistates answered the emperor ferdinand the 2. faltando el rey , se conservan con el reyno , the king failing , yet peace is to be conserv'd with the kingdom . so bodin hold's , and urgeth a pregnant example to this purpose , lib. de repub. cap. 4. fol. 63. where he allegeth the answer , which the ambassadors of france made to edward the fourth , king of england , desiring aid from france against som rising subjects of his , by virtue of the league between them , which answer was , that the king of france could not help him ; for confederations twixt france and england , were made twixt the kings and kingdoms , so that though king edward was dispossessed thereof , yet the league and amity remain'd still with the kingdom , and with the king regnant . just so the peace twixt the kings and kingdoms of spain with england , though charles stuart , the king , be wanting , yet it may be kept intire with the kingdom : and his majestie himself insinuat's so much unto us , continuing still his ambassador in england ; for when a peace is established twixt kings and kingdoms , people , persons , and vassals , though the king fail , and the kingdom receiv a differing form of government , yet the peace hold's good still , becaus it aim'd principally at the people and persons of both nations , and upon these terms , the peace was renewed twixt spain and england , 1630. as the french mercurie relate's . therefore these delinquents fail'd much in the foresaid reverence , due to the sacred persons of ambassadors , as also to the safe conduct of his matie , by laying violent hands upon his person much more by murthering him : joab did treacherouslie kill abner who came with david's safe conduct , whereupon david said to all the people that were about him , scindite vestimenta vestra , and reinforcing his sorrow , levavit david vocem suam , & flevit super tumulum abner , flevit autem & omnis populus ; david lifted up his voice upon abner's tomb , and wept , yea , all the people wept : moreover david erected a tomb for abner , beeing so treacherously kill'd , notwithstanding that hee had his safe conduct , and the privilege of an ambassador . the romanes rais'd statues to ambassadors that were kill'd . interfecto legato statua debetur , saith besoldus , through all his chapter of legations . moreover it is observable that david did not onely weep , but hee burst out into this deprecation , si ante occasum solis gustavero panem vel aliud quidquam , if before the setting of the sun , i taste bread or anie thing els , &c. now , this sorrow of david did much pleas the people , populus audivit , & placuerunt iis cuncta quae secerat rex in conspectu totius populi : as the holie text hath it , the people heard , and were pleas'd with everie thing that david did . here it is to bee observed , that the people were to bee satisfied herein ; nor was a bare sorrow onely satisfactorie for this murther , but a due punishment must expiate the offence , which in regard that david himself could not do it in his life time , hee left it in charge to his son solomon in these words , facies ergò juxta sapientiam tuam , & effudit sanguinem belli in pace ; thou shalt do according to thy own wisdom ( exaggerating his speech with a reason ) and hee shed the bloud of war in peace . so his catholick majestie ( god guard him ) hath don out of a resentment hee had of this treacherous murther , by recommending the business to so great a tribunal ; facietis ergò juxta sapientiam vestram , effudit sanguinem belli in pace ; proceed according to your own high prudence , by punishing these delinquents , who have murtherd the ambassador of the parlament of england , though hee came with a roial pasport , and so shed the bloud of war in time of peace . moreover this death of the ambassador , by hindering the procedure of his embassie is no single offence , but it reflect's upon manie . as the great civilian saith ; si quis autem legationem impedit , non unius , sed multornm profectum avertit , & sicut multis nocet , à multis arguendus est . whosoever shall impede an embassie , hee avert's not the benefit of one man , but of many , and as hee hurt 's manie , so hee is to bee argued by manie . now manie are the accusers of these men , manie are interressed in the business , and most especially the king , our liege lord , who gave a passport , and allowed of the ambassador , and of the parlament of england that sent him : therefore these men had need to have manie lives to lose , for to satisfie so manie whom the business concern's ; so magalotti hath it , that the punishment is to bee double , in regard of the persons concern'd . but hence may result a question , whether the punishment bee to bee inflicted where the delict was perpetrated , and the king's securitie violated , or whether the murtherers bee to bee sent to the ambassador's master , whom hee represent's : this was an old difference twixt romulus and tacius , who reign'd together as pedro aerodo relate's the business briefly , yet elegantly . romulus was of opinion that the offenders were to bee sent to the ambassador's master . but this transferring of the offendor to the partie offended , was alwaies held to proceed rather from vrbanitie then justice , as it appear's in the case of rincon and fregoso , which is amply related in the annals of the emperor charls the fifth , it was a loud clamorous business , whereof all the corners of christendom did ring , and everie chronicler hath it , therefore i will not molest you with so trite a thing . tacius was of differing sentiment ; for hee would have the delict to bee punish'd where it was perpetrated , and the reasons which the doctors give , is , becaus the lord of the territorie is the more interressed , and obliged to punish the offence on the partie , to vindicate his own wrongs , as in this caus his catholick majestie is most injur'd , becaus his roial passport is violated , and why should hee have recours to a forrein power , to desire justice , when by the law of nations hee may avenge the affront at home by his own . and it is most fitting they should receiv punishment in this court , rather then anywhere els , where in regard of the greatness of our king , there are continually so many ambassadors residing , whose securitie may bee much confirmed by the exemplarie punishment of these delinquents , and in particular , the verie ambassadors of england themselvs who are sojourning here now , though opposites to the dead ambassador , in regard of the dissentions now in england , all which must bee don by a just infliction of punishment . but the delinquents think to scape by the immunities of the church , where they fled , and sheltered themselvs from so grievous and atrocious a crime , aggravated by so manie circumstances , by so manie accusers and interessed persons ; nor according to their defence , do they confess to have committed anie offence or sin at all ; but they vaunt to have performed an heroick act . now 't is a rule that jactantia aggravat peccatum ; boasting of mischief , make 's the sin the wors . st augustin in defineing sin , saith , that it is dictum , factum vel concupitum contra legem aeternam , a thing spoken , don , or wish'd against the eternal law ; him followed thomas aquinas , and citing gregorio de valentia , father granados pursueth the opinion , and vasquez . sin also is defin'd transgressio legis , a transgression of the law , now the delict of murther is opposite to all laws , both divine and humane ; as also to violate the securitie of an ambassador , much more to murther him , is condemn'd by all laws of heaven and earth ; therefore this can bee no other then a delict , and much more precisely a sin , and a sin non nominandum , an infandous sin , much less an heroick action , or exploit of gallantrie . the second article . that these delinquents cannot make themselvs capable of the protection of anie sanctuarie , will bee justified by two mediums , in form of a syllogizing argument . hee who commit's crimen laesae majestatis , a crime of high treason , cannot have the protection of the church ; but these delinquents have committed a crime of high treason ; ergò , they cannot have the protection of the church . the second argument is of no less force . hee who commit's a treacherous murther cannot have the protection of the church ; but these delinquents have committed a treacherous murther ; ergò they cannot have the benefit of the church . for proof of the first , ambrosinus , bosius , and julius clarus their opinions are cleer , gambacarta , diana and others concur with them ; among other high treasons they instance in killing the kings eldest son , his brother , or anie of the race roial , or the king's wife ( becaus shee is the one half of him ) or a privie counsellor of his , &c. as also hee who violate's the king's salvo conducto , whereon they insist much . now touching that large bull of gregory the 14th touching the immunities of the church , it is the opinion of all the civil doctors on this side the alps , that it is not available in all provinces , nay , it hath been petition'd against by divers , and to this daie , it is not put generally in practice , they are the words of evia de bolanos in his curia filippica , it was petition'd against in portugal , nor could this bull take footing in spain , which never had such exorbitant privileges , but observed the common canonical right , which make's more for the reverence of the church . and whereas it may bee alleg'd that the said safe conduct was not to bee observed by the said delinquents , becaus it was not publish'd and that it binde's onely from that time ; whereas it may bee alleg'd also that the king's safe conduct is onely by roial letters , or som publick instrument ; all this is of little or no validitie at all ; for the delinquents voluntarily confess , that they had notice by letters from england , that this resident was to com to treat of peace ; and correspond with spain . the delinquents besides may aver , that the observation of this salvo conducto did not aim at them beeing no vassals here ; but this argument is of little vigor likewise , for all people , whether vassals or no vassals are oblig'd to observ the laws in the territories of that prince where they sojourn ; and if this law take's hold on the natural vassals of anie countrie , much more on strangers , who must not bee encouraged by anie immunitie to com , and offend in another countrey , without incurring the same severitie of law . nor will it will serv their turn , to saie that all treasons are either in odium or contemptum regis , neither whereof could induce them to that act , becaus they were militant in his majestie's armie , and serv'd him with all exact fidelitie , for all this concur'd in joab , for hee was ever faithful , and a confident of king david's , and son to his sister serviah . for proof of the second argument of our discours , viz. that hee who commit's a treacherous , or proditorious murther , cannot have the protection of the church ; the determination of his holiness clement the 8th shall serv , who saith , that not onely hee who kill's one proditoriously , but hee who kill's a reconciled enemie , is deprived of the benefit of sanctuarie ; now these delinquents destroi'd this publick minister of state per insidias , appensatè , animo deliberato , & proditoriè , fraudulently , by forecast , with a deliberate minde , and proditoriously , therefore they are far from deserving the shelter of the holie church . the sacred scripture take's us out of all doubt by the act of holie and religious solomon , when in execution of the just commandement of david his father hee consulted how to punish joab for having slain abner , who had david's safe conduct , for which hee fled to the church and to the altar , fugit ergò joab in tabernaculum domini & apprehendit cornu altaris , and banaias , who had the charge of executing him , returning with this news to solomon , hee answered vade interfice eum , go and kill him ; banaias going again to joab , told him the king's command , and bid him com out , joab replied , i will not com out , but i will die here ; thereupon banaias going back to solomon to inform him what joab had said , the king rejoin'd : fac sicut locutus est & interfice eum , do as hee hath said and kill him . so banaias the son of jehoida went up to the altar , and assaulting joab , hee kill'd him ; now 't is a great question among the theologues whether solomon sinned in doing this : abulensis excuseth him giving this reason ; quia non illi profecit tenuisse aram , quia nullum homicida insidiator habet praesidium , becaus the altar could not profit him , in regard that no treacherous manslayer hath anie protection ; add hereunto what gaspar sanchez and ruperto allege touching the same fact , nihil debet illi fides altaris , qui per dolum occidendò proximum omnem fidem perdidit ; the faith of the altar oweth him nothing , who lost all faith in slaying his neighbor feloniously . but cajetan with others finde no way how to excuse solomon touching this business , in regard that hee might by his praetorian troops , and veterane souldiers have taken him both from the altar and the tabernacle , and so without anie note of violating religion , hee might have dispatch'd him in som prophane place , as the priest joiada commanded athalia to bee taken out of the temple , and kill'd without . this is a great and precise lesson for the lords alcaldes , for they need not fear to put these men to death ; in regard they are not now materially in the church . to prove the minor of the second syllogism , viz. that these men did fraudulently , of set purpose , with a deliberate minde , and proditoriously murther the ambassador of the parlament of england shall bee thus prov'd . certain men espied the said ambassador , lighting at his lodging the same night hee came , the next daie william spark , and henry progers ( who is fled ) spoke with john baptista riva the ambassador's servant , and henry going down , said to william , let 's go here below ( where the other three delinquents were ) and said , let 's kill the resident for a destroier of our nation ; so they swore among themselvs , that if one died , all would die with him in so heroick an act : whence this circumstance may bee drawn , that this murther was committed by former consultation , and with a deliberate minde : what is formerly related , is confessed by the delinquents themselvs , and that they came to perform this exploit two by two ; for beeing com to the lodging , two remain'd at the foot of the stairs , two on the top , and two entred . william spark went in first , seeing two sitting at the table , hee pulld off his hat , and said , i kiss your hands , which is the resident ? and when they knew who hee was , don john guillim came , and snatching him by the hair , with a naked dagger hee gave him a thrust that overthrew him ; then came william sparks , and gave him another , so that they gave him five stabs in all , john baptista riva thinking to retire to his chamber , there went four of them after him , and gave him four wounds , whereof hee presently expired , whereby it appear's most evidently , that the murther of the ambassador was committed , per insidias , appensatè , animo deliberato , & proditoriè , therefore the church cannot protect them . it was don proditoriously ; in regard that prodere est unum actibus ostendere , & aliud in mente gerere , unde homicidium proditorium est caedes hominis nibil tale suspicantis , as augustin barbosa affirm's . just so was abner kil'd by joab , according to the text , he killed abner in a dishonourable way , viz. fraudulently , when he spoke to him peaceably , therefore joab deserv'd to be depriv'd of the immunitie of the temple ; and just so was this ambassador kill'd , and it may well bee thought , they deserv not the shelter of the sanctuarie , as joab did not . but me think's i here the delinquents , to extenuate their delict , whisper that they kill'd the said ambassador for an heretick , for a disturber of the publick peace , who particularly fomented the death of the king , and the change of gouernment , and they did operate this to vindicate the death of their king , upon a regicide , an enemie to his countrie , and on an impostor . moreover , one of the delinquents saith , that in this rebellion hee kill'd a brother of his , with whom hee had particular enmitie , to these arguments i may say , as john garcia said in his gloss . nobilit . adducuntar leviuscula quaedam argumenta quae meritò subtaceri poterant , sed satisfaciendum est doctis pariter ac indoctis . certain light arguments are alleged , which might have been spar'd , but wee must satisfie the unlearned , as well as the learned , and concerning the first , they say , they kill'd the ambassador for an heritick , so was their king , who they pretend hee had help'd to murther ; but the catholick church never held yet , that it was lawfull to kill a man , only for his religion ; besides this ambassador had a royall pass-port , and was attended all the way from the sea-side by his majestie's servant ; and ministers of any religion may have pass-ports for their safetie as john huss had , and as charls the emperour gave luther . they say , this ambassador came to seduce and deceiv by a book of his which was found among his papers , and a medall which hee had , which had on the one side nebart , and on the other xii . and the word obstricti , and they say it signifie's those xii . which gain'd nebart , and occasion'd the warrs : hence they inferr , that hee came to deceiv , there was also found a crown stab'd with a poniard . this same argument joab propounded to david , when hee said , ignoras abner filium ner , quoniam ad hoc venit ad te , ut deciperet te , ut sciret exitum tuum , & introitum tuum , & nosse omnia quae agis , thou know'st not abner the son of ner , for hee is com hither to deceiv thee , to know thy going out , and thy coming in , and to prie into all things thou do'st , as the sacred text tell's , but this could not excuse joab for killing abner , who came hither all the way with a safe conduct , and it is the prerogative only of that prince who gave him the safe conduct , to know the cause of his coming . to com now to a conclusive point , and finall period of this plea , the punishment of these men for having fraudulently , by propense malice , with a deliberate mind , and proditoriously murthered the ambassador of the parlament of england , according to the foregoing circumstances , and by their own spontaneous confessions , i say the speedy chastisement of these men to death ( notwithstanding the depending process , touching the immunitie of the church ) is required by six parties that are interessed therein . viz. 1. by god himselfe . 2. by the king . 3. by his subjects . 4. by the publick cause . 5. by the fiscall of the council . first , god require's it , who watcheth over all crimes specially those of blood , which crie out for vengeance more then anie , therefore the procrastination hereof would be offensive to his divine majestie . secondly , the king ( whom god preserve ) require's speedie execution , in regard som grave doctors do doubt whither it was a sin in david to delay the punishment of joab till after his death , by bequeathing the execution of justice to his son solomon , as a legacie . thirdly , the subjects of the king , our liege lord , require a hastning of the punishment , becaus it trouble's them to see hard before the king's eyes , and in his catholick court , so horrid and sudden a murther committed . quando accidunt aliqua mala & horrenda quae sunt penitus inopinata , solent homines nimiùm turbati , etiamsi ad illos mala illa non pertineant , quia ergo mors abner erat malum quoddam rarum & inopinatum , subitò illo audito turbati sunt omnes israëlitae , when som horrid , unexpected , and unusuall mischiefs happen , people use to be strangely troubled , though it nothing belong's unto them , therefore because abner's death was a kind of extraordinarie sudden mischief , all israël was troubled at it , as abulensis speake's upon the 2 of kings . fourthly , the publick caus requir's a sudden execution of justice upon these delinquents , becaus they murthered two men by fraud ; quorum opera utilis videbatur futura reipublicae , whose negociation was to bee profitable to the common-wealth , as gaspar sanchez sayeth . lastly , the fiscal require's justice for god , for the king , for his fellow-subjects , for the publick-caus , and for himself , who conclude's with cokier in his treatie de legato . ac perde has animas , patriam bonus eripe noxâ . to shut up all , the justified ▪ an● cries out for speedie justice , in regard that these delinquents murthered an ambassador of the parlament of england , now to everie ambassador , there is owing an extraordinarie respect , specially to the ambassadors of england ; they slew him , though they knew that hee had his majestie's safe conduct , they slew him in the catholick court , where the right of nations useth to be kept inviolable , and more solemnly then anywhere else , whereby they committed not only a soul trecherous murther , but treason in a high degree against his majestie ; they surprised the ambassador and his secretarie at dinner , a harmless hour , they came in like friends ; wherefore it may justly be inferr'd , that this murther was committed , por insidias ▪ animo deliberato , appensatè & proditoriès by fraud , with a deliberate mind , by fore-cast , and trecherously ; touching the circumstances , their own spontaneous confessions make them good ; therefore both god , the king , all the vassals of this court , the publick-caus , and the fiscal of the council , demand a speedie and actual execution of justice upon them , notwithstanding the depending process , and pretentions touching the immunities of the church . salva in omnibus , &c. such was the charge in the court of spain , which was delivered , with much aggravation , by the said doctor hieronymo hierro , knight of the order of calatrava , against john guillim , william spark , valentin progers , jo. halsal , william arnet , and henrie progers , who are detain'd still in prison , for killing anthonie ascham , resident for the parlament of england , and john baptista riva his interpreter , all except henrie progers , who being formerly known to the venetian ambassador , fled to his hous for protection , and so made an escape ; the suit is still depending , and no resolution taken , in regard the church stand's so earnestly for them , in so much that it is not known when it will be determined . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a86339e-910 stylo novo . the ioyfull returne, of the most illustrious prince, charles, prince of great brittaine, from the court of spaine together, with a relation of his magnificent entertainment in madrid, and on his way to st. anderas, by the king of spaine. the royall and princely gifts interchangeably giuen. translated out of the spanish copie. his wonderfull dangers on the seas, after his parting from thence: miraculous deliuery, and most happy-safe landing at portsmouth on the 5. of october ... relacion de la partita del principe de walia. english almansa y mendoza, andres, 17th cent. 1623 approx. 55 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 25 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a18465 stc 5025 estc s107749 99843445 99843445 8180 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a18465) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 8180) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1132:06) the ioyfull returne, of the most illustrious prince, charles, prince of great brittaine, from the court of spaine together, with a relation of his magnificent entertainment in madrid, and on his way to st. anderas, by the king of spaine. the royall and princely gifts interchangeably giuen. translated out of the spanish copie. his wonderfull dangers on the seas, after his parting from thence: miraculous deliuery, and most happy-safe landing at portsmouth on the 5. of october ... relacion de la partita del principe de walia. english almansa y mendoza, andres, 17th cent. [2], 46 p. printed by edward all-de for nathaniell butter and henry seile, london : 1623. chiefly a translation of: almansa y mendoza, andres. relacion de la partita del principe de walia. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng charles -i, -king of england, 1600-1649. great britain -foreign relations -spain -early works to 1800. spain -foreign relations -great britain -early works to 1800. great britain -foreign relations -1625-1649 -early works to 1800. spain -foreign relations -1621-1655 -early works to 1800. 2006-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-05 ali jakobson sampled and proofread 2007-05 ali jakobson text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the ioyfull returne , of the most illvstrious prince , charles , prince of great brittaine , from the court of spaine . together , with a relation of his magnificent entertainment in madrid , and on his way to st. anderas , by the king of spaine . the royall and princely gifts interchangeably giuen . translated out of the spanish copie . his wonderfull dangers on the seas , after his parting from thence : miraculous deliuery , and most happy-safe landing at portsmovth on the 5. of october stil . veteri , to the vnspeakable ioy of both nations . testified no lesse by triumphall expressions of the spanish ambassadours , ( here now residing ) as by the lowd acclamations of our owne people . london : printed by edward all-de for nathaniell butter and henry seile . 1623. the returne of prince charles from spaine . as no transitory glories can bee greater than to see kingdomes married to kingdomes in commerce , confederacie , and honourable vnion : so , next vnto that , ( or rather first aboue that , because this second is a roote , from whence those cedars of blessings more often arise , ) no chaines can bee made of purer gold , than those by which , two princes potent and neighbouring nations are linked together in holy and honourable bondes of wedlocke . our most excellent prince therefore ( charles ) heire apparent to all the kingdomes of our royall soueraigne king james ( his father , ) hauing that care ( due to all princes ) to lengthen out his name , by leauing a royall propagation behind him ; did by the consent of the king his father , depart in priuate from england , in march last , with a small traine , of which the then lord marquesse , now duke of buckingham , next to his highnesse was chiefe . his princely desires seruing him as wings to flye ouer the dangers of the seas , into spain , there to behold that admirable lady of the world , ( for birth , beauty , and all the richest ornaments , both of minde and body ) the infanta of spaine , ( donna maria ) sister to philip the fourth king of spaine , &c. and not onely to behold her , but also , that by presenting to her faire eyes , a prince , equall to her in all excellencies of perfection , there might from their mutuall enter-viewes one of another , a heauenly fire of loue be kindled , out of which might shine a memorable glory to both the nations . england could not trust the sea with a greater masse of treasure , yet ventured she to lock it vp in the bosome of the deepe : france in a short time had gotten into her possession a richer flower than her owne flower deluce , and but for a short time kept it : for neither seas , nor land had charmes strong enough to hold the vnbounded spirit of our prince , vntill he had arriued at that place , to which the brauery of his resolution had vowed to carry him . the heauens had vndertaken to waft him vnto spaine , and there , after many weary iourneys , did they safely bring him to the king of spaines court , at his royall city of madrid . what exultations were made at his arriuall , what generall acclamations shouted out his welcomes : his magnificent entertainements , princely feastings , with all the curiosities of kingly triumphs , that either sumptuous expences , quicknesse of inuention , or the custome and quality of that countrie could bring forth , haue beene already so shrilly sounded out of the trumpet of fame , that here againe to proclaime them , were to set vp a candle , after a firmament of lights had showne them to the world . now albeit , ( aboue these temptations , ) there was in the young king , and our prince ( of themselues ) sufficient allurements , not to haue them parted asunder , ( they being as darlings one to another ; ) for they were a paire of sweet-sounding instruments , set to one tune , and equally strung with the same number of yeares , ( or not much differing : ) all their thoughts , wishes , recreations , speeches and actions , being lines meeting in one center , and their often-infolded armes , the circumference to that center . nay more , albeit , that high-borne princesse , donna maria the infanta , through the naturall magicke of her beauty , sweetnesse of voyce , variety of languages , with all the rarest and most princely comportments , fitting to her birth was able to fasten , such a power vpon our prince , that he well might beleeue no countrie in the world but spaine was worth his abiding in it . adde likewise to this boundlesse ocean of delight , other cleere-running streames falling into their current , as the continuall and endeerde embraces of the infante cardinall , and the infante don carlos ( brothers to the king : ) bring vp besides to these , all the honors , complements , congratulations , attendances , and courtly regards bestowed daily vpon our prince , by grande's , conde's , and lords of state ; the least of which by it selfe , but all of them knit together , being of vertue to make any man consent to be drawne away in so golden a chariot : yet there was a heape of kingdomes ( one day to be his owne ) which beckond to haue him come and feele their embraces . hee might as farre as from the court of england , to that at madrid in spaine , heare his royall father ( king iames ) often wish , to haue his princely charles againe by his side . not that he feared any malitious danger could fall vpon him , ( there , ) but rather at his being parted from thence , when those two inuincible pirats of the sea , ( the windes and the waues ) should fall out and fight one against another , might play the traitor and take him from vs. hee might heare the lords of his fathers most honourable priuie councell , lamenting for his abscence : the nobility discontentedly sighing , the cleargy still praying for him : the gentry complaining , and the common people more than madde in their longings , to haue him make a quicke returne home . thus , were the warning-pieces , which continually were shot off to giue him notice , how much the kingdome ingenerall languished for him . this was his owne country-musicke , striking vp of purpose to haue his princely eare listen to the tunes . these were a mixture of ten thousand voyces , ( like ecchoes ) dwelling in euery hill , peer , promontory , and cape at sea , betweene vs and spaine , hollowing to our charles ( like so many merry whistling windes ) to haue him come aboord , and make for england . but before we can make our eyes so happy , as to behold him , we must awhile looke into spaine . and there obserue what care the king of spaine took , for the preparation of his highnesse iourney : appointing attendants and officers befitting the state of such a persons ▪ this that followes being verbatim translated out of a short spanish relation of that entertainment , printed at madrid . a relation of the departure of the most illustrious prince of wales , from madrid the ninth of september this present yeare . 1623. stilo nono . to don alonso neli de reibadeneyra , lord of vega de porras , neere to valladolid . the wonder of cordoua ( seneca , romes master , ) said , that the first point of ingratitude , was to bee forgetfull of a benefit . those which i receiud from don francesco de reibadeneyra , a knight of the order of santiago , father to your worthines , i cannot in gratitude passe ouer in silence , for acknowledging whereof , i may well say ( that the sonne of reason and recognition rose in me early ) and moreouer by an hereditary bequeathment , sonnes put their fathers in mind , what i stood endebted in to yours , whereof i now pay a part , laying at the feete of your censure , ( for the discharge of my office , in respect of your wit , and more then humane parts ) this last discourse , of the departure and magnificences of the prince , except the shallownesse of my owne braine abate some graines of the due estimate . fare you well . andrez de mendoza . the comming of the illustrious prince of wales into these kingdomes , being the strangest occurrent that in a royall person the world hath for many ages seene , which dasht and obscured all ancient patternes and examples , it astonished whole nations , and raised vp assured hopes of great prosperities and opinions , of his comming amongst men , being so diuersly conceiued , beyond the bounds of ordinary discourse , as in sundry of my relations hath beene reported , wherein are discouered and reuealed many points of vrbanity , greatnes , and gallantrie , i thought my selfe likewise obliged to write of his departure , comprehending ( as you shall see ) so many circumstances of pleasure , and contentment . for which , the ninth of september was constituted , and by the conde de oliuares , as chiefe master of the horse , councellor of estate , and the kings neerest confident ; order was giuen , that hee should bee accompanied by twelue gentlemen wayters , to serue and attend him , conde de villa mor , de meiorada , de villa franqueza , and catillana , d. iohn de sabe , ara the gallant , d. diego de zarate landi , d. ioseph de samano , d. antonio zapata , d. garcia de castro , d. iuan de cordoua , d. aularo de guzman , d. pompeio de farsis , all persons of renowned and great quality ▪ they and their seruants , with all honourable apparence , of coaches , horse-litters , iewels , liueries , and gallantry , manifesting the greatnes of their persons , by vndertaking it with that obseruance & cheerefulnes , which vsually they shew , in any thing commended to their care . the carriages were committed to the licentiate don lewis de paredes alcayd of the pallace and court , and his care and diligence herein was but requisite , for so great prouisions as belonged to the king and the infantes , besides those of the prince which hee had in charge , and the preparing of the wayes , and opening of passages , to the licentiated iuan de queniones , lieutenant to the corrigidor of madrid , who in this , as in all other things , shewed his affection and desire to serue the king ; then to prouide victuall , to minister iustice to both parts , and to gouerne a company so necessary to be ruled and ordered , as such a number of coachmen , littermen , and muleters , was referred to the licenciate , don diego franco , de garnica alcayd , which was not one of the least seruices that euer hee performed . the cardinall zapata , the marques de aytona , and the conde de gondomar , counsellors of estate , were appointed to accompanie , and to assist , in whatsoeuer was necessarie to bee consulted or treated of , in the behalfe of the king ; for as there is no action of princes , which is not subiect to great variety of accident , and new reasons giue occasion of present debatements , points of state must necessarily bee scand and discust ; the conde de monterrey , president of italy , so rare and famous in vnderstanding ; was commaunded to attend his highnes , for the contentment hee had giuen herein since his comming , and the great acceptance which the prince made of his seruice ; and hee was commaunded to ioyne with the counsell of estate , to treat of any matter that should come in question , and for secretarie there was ordained don andres de prada , and losudà knight of the order of saint iohn , one that also deserued higher employments . the kings house , furnisht with double officers , from the highest to the least , at the disposition of the conde de baraias , his mayordome , or steward . the priuy chamber and all belonging to it , was commended to the duke of buckingham , who attended in that place , and most of the gentlemen there attending were of the english nation , and the offices being inferiour to ours , it was the lesse inconuenient , they should come for the time vnder forraine obedience , then to oblige so great nobilitie , to new orders and customes : the seruants and pages of condi de olivaries , attended and serud the duke , as they had done since the first day of his arriuall . horses , and mules of carriage , with whatsoeuer to them belonged was referred to the charge of d. francisco zapata , one of the kings ryders , who was confident of his owne experience : and amongst so many and sundry persons that went along in this troop , there were d. iacynto castelin , and don antonio de farsis : d. gieronimo de tapia , and d. manuel gutienes the kings pages , the chiefe of the order of calatraua , the rest were of the order of st. iago . the lieuetenant to the great post-master , sanctiago de saldanna and his officers , and the spanish , and almaine guardes , were vnder baraias command , and whatsoeuer else belongs to so many lords : all which stroue to the vttermost , in adorning their owne persons , and enriching their seruants liueries . his maiestie presented to the prince : and the marques flores de auila his principall rider , and a gentleman of his chamber , in his name , deliuerd eighteene spanish genets , sixe barberies , sixe breeding mares , and twenty foles , all couered with clothes of crymson veluet , garnisht and garded with gold lace , and scutchions of his armes , and one of them had a saddle of fine lambskinnes , the other furniture set and embroyderd with most rich pearle , beseeming well both his maiestie , and his highnesse , and two stallions , with their mares , and a pistoll , sword and dagger , set with diamonds of great value and estimation , fourescore small shot , the like number of cross-bowes , with which the duke of medina sidonia had serued , and a sword , and pistoll , with which the duke of ossuna once serued his maiestie : and an hundred selected swords , amongst all those of the court , and the prince gaue the marquesse of flores , a rare iewell of diamonds . to the duke of buckingham were giuen twelue spanish gennets , foure moriscos or barberie horse , foure mares , and ten foales couered with mantles of crimson veluet , garnisht with gold , and of swords and handpeeces , about fiftie : with a girdle of diamonds of the value of thirty thousand crownes . and to the captaine of the guard , baron of kensington , two hundred buttons of diamonds , and foure horses , and with them certaine slings . and to the estimation of fifty 1000. duckets in iewels amongst the english gentrie : a gift and largesse correspondent to so great a monarch . the queene our lady and mistres besides linnen , presented to the prince , fiftie skins of ambar vnshauen , and an hundred and fiftie cabretanes , or of young kids : their sent and perfume amounting to a great sum of crownes . the conde d'olivares ( besides diuers pictures and other rich vtensils of the house ) presented his highnes with three chains of needle worke , so rich as proper only for a prince . don layme manuel de cordeues marquesse of belmonte , gaue him foure barbary horses , and his highnes commanded a very faire chaine , to be giuen him that brought them . his maiestie and his highnesse went twice , to take leaue of the lady infanta , and of other royall persons , to the monasterie of the descallsas ; where they were entertained with teares of ioy , and his maiestie commanded that the marques of villena , and the prince of esquilache , should enter , with other lords , that had sisters and daughters there . and her highnes gaue vnto the prince , many boxes of sents , flowers , and other things of great curiosity and riches . the embassadors , grandes , and counsellors of estate , went to take leaue of his highnes ; by whom they were honor'd , and he thanked them for the care & paines they tooke , in all the meetings for his dispatches : and hee sent to visit all religious and graue persons , ecclesiasticall and secular of the assembly , to whom he gaue the like thankes : for as in greatnesse , so is hee in no manner of vrbanitie defectiue . on thursday at seuen of the clocke in the morning , in the presence of the counsell of estate , betweene the hands of the illustrious patriarke of the indies , his highnesse with the king of spaine , performed some ceremonies of the matrimoniall capitulations , and those of the conuention of the state. the day after , in the euening , about fiue of the clocke , his maiestie went for the prince in publike , wearing a blacke sute , and iewels , for the sorrow of the princes departure , and his highnesse ware no iewels at all . the concourse of people was so great , that neither any respect of his maiestie , nor feare of the guards could keepe them back , so dearely spaine loues her kings . the loue of the , prince , is growne so naturall : and his confidence , & tractabilitie in treaties , hath so augmented it ; as also the spaniards are so easily wonne with affabilitie , an infallible effect of their demerit and valour . and so likewise , as beeing sonne to a most absolute & vnderstanding king , his highnesse knew how to imitate with such admirable sufficiency . the queene and the infanta , accompanied with all the ladies of the court , the wiues and ladies of embassadors , ladies , & menima's [ which are certaine yong nobilitie ] expected thē ; who being entred , they went & receiued him without the tarrima . and all turning towards her , hee first tooke leaue of the queene of spaine , without an interpreter in the french tongue : and afterwards by meanes of his embassador ordinarie , who interpreted for the infanta , with whom hee continued about halfe an houre . and all the english lords and knights kissed the queenes , and the infanta's hands . where being conducted and accompanied by the lords infantes , to his coach , and the duke of infantado , the conde de oliuares , the duke of buckingham , and the earle of bristoll , the spaniards on the side of his highnesse , and the english on the kings side , they went to the descalsa's , to take their last leaue of his highnes , leauing behinde them this great and famous place . they returned by night . and afterwards his highnes gifts and presents were made knowne , such as beseemed a prince , to persons who shall be made knowne ; wherein he shewed the greatnesse of his person , and the desire and respect they bare to his maiesty , and ought to shew and manifest . to the king our lord hee gaue a sword set with diamonds , which in the least estimate must needs be held a great gift : and his maiesty gaue him that deliuered it , a iewell correspondent to the maiestie of a king. to the queene our mistresse , hee sent a faire and relucent diamond , which was esteem'd to bee of twenty caracts weight : and a triangle , and two eare rings of diamonds , as big as an indifferent beane , great in value , but greater in art and workmanship : and the queenes maiestie gaue to the keeper of the wardrobe that brought them , three thousand crownes . to the lady infanta a string of two hundred & fifty great peare-fashioned pearles , of rare perfection , and of fiue caracts : and one with a diamond which cannot be valued : and two little peare-pearles for the eares , of inestimable value : and other two pearles for the same parts , maruellous great . to the two chiefe ladies of the chamber , the duchesse of gandia , and the countesse of lemos . to the chiefe mayor-domos or stewards : the duke of infantado , and the conde of benauente , iewels of diamonds . and the duke gaue fiue hundred ducats to him that brought them : and to seuenteene ladies and minima's seuenteene iewels , as estimable for value , as for art. to the lord infante don carlos a poynted diamond , in a cup , set in a ring , as a true present from a prince to his highnesse . to the lord cardinall infante a pectorall of topazes , diamonds , and a pendent pearle , which might supply the absence of the peregrina . to the conde de oliuares , a great diamond called a portugues , and it was sometime don sebastians , it is of eight caracts , with a pendent pearle of great price . and the conde gaue to the keeper of the wardrobe , to mr. endimion porter , & mr. thomas carey of his highnesse chamber , iewels of good value , and each of them sixe excellent swords , with all their furniture . to the countesse of oliuares , a crosse of very great diamonds in forme of a columne . and to the lady maria de guzman her daughter , a ring worth a great summe of crownes . to the admirall of castilia a great iewel , & his excellency gaue a 1000. crowns to him that brought it , & to the marquesse of carpio the like . to the duke of hixan : to the marques of mondexar : to the kings confessor , and to the bishop of segouia foure iewels of diamonds worthy of such persons , and him that gaue them . and to all the gentlemen of the chamber , rings with faire diamonds , and to the counsellors of estate , stones of double the greatnesse . to foureteene of the kings pages , so many chaines , and sixe and fifty thousand ryals to the inferiour officers that waited . to the guard of archers foure thousand crownes ; and to euery one was giuen a very good ring . and also to don melchior of alcazar , whose obseruance & attendance deseru'd it . to the conde de la puebla del maestre , a chaine of a thousand , an hundred and seuenteene diamonds ; & a iewell with forty seuen more , with his owne picture . the duke of buckingham gaue to don rodrigo de aguiar , and don pedro ares , seruants to the conde de oliuares , two sutes of apparell , and crosses of diamonds double the value . the like were giuen to don iuan de santacruz , and don pedro de vega : and to thirteene pages , thirteene chaines of gold : and to the inferiour officers and seruants , a great summe of money : and to all that carried horses , or any other thing into england , great gifts of money and chaines , reseruing still , the shewing them a further fauour there . the prince did the like to the gentlemen-waiters to the king. to marco antonio darroque , and to don iuan de fonseca rabelo , attendants about the kings person , to each of them a thousand fiue hundred crownes . on saturday by faire day-light , they departed , the prince , the king , and the infantes , and in a manner , all the court , and euery ones family ; to san lorenço , or the escuriall , whither they came that day . and the day following , there were shewed to his highnesse , accompanied with the royall persons , the pantheon , sepulchers , vestrie , quire , libraries , cloisters , and gardens : who admired it , as it well deserues : and to all those lords it seem'd not onely greater then the fame that went of it , but then any conceit or imaginatiō they could haue therof : and in reason , it was exalted with the title of the eighth wonder of the world , and the epilogue and conclusion of all the rest . monday following , being the eleuenth , ( while they that were to goe the iourney ; came on to the rest of the company ) vvas spent in seeing the fresneda , & the boscages , as also in hunting there . tuesday morning was spent after the same manner : and his maiestie determining with their highnesses , to accompany them to the groue of balsayn : when his highnes requested him , hauing respect to the queenes being great with child , that he would no longer continue his absence ; his maiesty resisted , but in the end was ouercome by his highnesse : for his iust demand required no lesse . they departed from the escuriall ; and in a little field not farre off the place ordain'd for their taking of leaue ; they alighted , & so sitting down for the space almost of halfe an houre , conuersed . afterwards they embraced , and the queene , the infanta , with the brothers , don carlos , and infante cardinall , came to doe the like : then all the english lords and gentlemen kissed the kings hand , and the spaniards the princes : by both whom they were vouchsafed great honours . and returning to embrace againe , with wonderfull demonstrations of loue , a trophee was commanded to be erected , with an inscription of all that succeeded , in this place where they took leaue . the prince departed to lye at guardarama in his coach , with the duke of buckingham , conde de monterrey , conde de gondomar , & his fathers embassador leager : and the king and their highnesses went to madrid . and this night the admirall of castile and leon , in his maiesties name , with a great traine and show of followers , was sent post to visit the prince , and one of the english lords was likewise sent by his highnesse to the king of spaine . on wednesday hee went to dine at balsayn , where hee tooke great delight in the house and boscages ; as also in the rare and strange situation . and about foure of the clocke in the euening , he entred into segouia , where all the country came flocking in to see him . he admired the building of the church , and of the palace , when , vpon the opening of the coach , they gaue him a welcome with all their artillerie , which was much and good . and lighting on foote , hee viewed all the house , extolling the memory of prudent philip the second , the re-edifier thereof , delighting to see his armes quartered , with those of these kingdomes in the scutcheons of the second great hall. the worke of don henriques the third , who married with a neece of the kings his progenitors . the conde de chinchon alcayd of that royall house , and the treasurer of the money mint , was appointed to entertain him : which hee performed with the greatnesse of his quality , and singular wit and discretion : who attended him at the gate , accompanied with his lieutenant , the guard , and the captaine of the alcazar or palace , and withall their seruants set forth in all brauerie , and hee offered him the chiefe and double key , because the principall key of the fuerca is onely presented to the kings person ; or else obtaining it by plea of homage . his highnesse was pleased to merender , or make his collation , and the conde serued him , with a number of delicates , and certaine trouts of extraordinarie greatnesse . also don sancho giron , a knight of the order of alcantara , corrigidor , ( the glory of talauera , his countrie ) was ready with a present of milke confections , of that citie , so celebrated , which he esteemed , and for it sent him great thankes . afterwards the whole citie in ranke and order , with mace-bearers , came to kisse his hand , whom he honor'd , discouering himselfe to them , and not permitting the ceremony of a kisse , hee imbraced them with shew of great ioy and contentment . then he went downe to see the mint-house : where also the count himselfe offered him the keyes ; and the alcazar , or palace , gaue him a full salue . all the stamps were imployed , and wrought of all sorts in his presence , and here , after he had admired the form and maner thereof , the conde de chinchon serued him in founts , with more then three thousand crownes , telling him , how it was the fruit of those gardens , in doubles , of an hundred , eight , foure , two , and plaine plates , ryals of fifty & of eight , and from them to halfe ryals : he accepted of this seruice ; and among those knights and gentlemen , that delighted in the beauty of the coyne , he imparted some ; the rest with much contentment , hee disperst among the people , who beheld him , with many acclamations and benedictions . being returned to the palace , when he had supt , the place was girt round about with lights & fires : and the palace with a number of torches , & some great ones very artificiall , which yeelded much light : an excellent inuention : and he presented him with a gallant mask of thirty & two knights , which might wel haue appear'd in the court , wherin there were liueries of cloth and silkes , mounted on excellent iennets . the palace discharges al their artillery , which was mingled with the sound of bels , trumpets , and musical instruments , which took vp a great part of the night . they had prouided buls , and twelue lanciers ; but the haste of the iourney could not admit of this seruice . his highnesse gaue to chinchon a iewell worth 3000. crownes , and hee to him that brought it , a chaine worth three hundred . he cōmanded money to be giuen among the officers of the house , and 200. crownes to the masters of the artillerie , and as many to don iuan de torres , a pregnant and witty poet , who dedicated vnto him certaine ingenious and elegant verses : and to andres de mendoça , author of this relatiō , who presented him with a congratulation of his happy espousals in the latine tongue , three thousand ryals , with many honours and manifestations of contentment . and about fiue in the morning , hee cheerefully departed frō agasaxo , being receiued into that citie : hee dined at santa maria de nieua , & the day following , at santiustie , and lay at olmedo : on saturday he dined at valdestillas , & by two came to valladolid , where the whole chancerie , citie , and vniuersitie kissed his hand , with a great traine and company , whom he honored with signes of ioy and gladnesse : he was entertained by those lords with brauery and gallantrie , wherein they shewed affection to serue their king , & by celebrating the ioy of the prince his cōming , which his maiestie formerly manifested : amongst whom , the marquesse de los velez , & the conde de aluade aliste , exemplified themselues , in the great traine of seruants , the glorious apparell of their owne persons , and in the riches of their liueries ; al which he honoured as they deserued , and as hee well knowes how to performe it . his highnes went to see the kings garden , hee was much delighted with the pictures of raphael de vrbino , and michael angelo , and with the alabaster fountaine , which the illustrious great duke of tuscan gaue to my lord cardinall , the duke of lerma ; he was serued with it : it is the portrature of cain and abel . and his highnesse took great contentment in the rich shops of the citie , which honoured him with festiuities of fires , ( for he would stay for no other solemnities ) and leauing among the officers of the palace & the garden , testimonies of his magnificence , he departed to duennas , where , by order , the duke of cea , vice-admiral of castilia , entertained & feasted him ; and in palencia he was receiued & feasted by the bishop , to whom he gaue a great iewell , & to his best , and inferiour seruants , a liberality of mony : from whence he departed to carrion . hee visited the antiquities of the citie , and so went to fromista , and hauing entertainement in the marquesses house , by his order , he was serued with a great sumptious dinner : the like was shewed him in alguilar de campo , by the marquesse thereof : and in herrera rio de pisuerga . the constable of castilia and leon , presented him with the like , for his own honour , and the eminency of his family , omitting nothing , wherin he may testifie it . and thus the author cuts off the thread of his narration , reseruing the rest for some more elegant pen , till his comming to london . with licence from the lord gançalo perez de valençuela . in madrid by the widdow of alonso martin , 1623. thus far runnes the printed spanish relation : what ensued after , you shall now heare , from the report of some of his highnesse traine , that attended in the voyage . and thus it beginnes . he arriued at saint andera on saint mathews day : not farre off from this port , the prince dined ( hauing not yet made his entry into the towne ) whilst he sat at dinner ( circled about with all his noble company ) a double newes saluted him at the boord , and both of them good : the one was , that his sister ( the princesse palatine ) was safely brought to bed of a sonne ; the other was , that the whole fleet ( vnshaken by any dangerous sea-bruizes ) was arriued in the hauen of saint andera . in the afternoone of the same day that the newes was brought , about foure of the clocke , he was with all honor receiued and welcomed into the towne : being entertained vpon the way , not only with multitudes of people testifyng much affection in their faces , and vttering no lesse in their spanish tongues , that it came from their hearts : but to render this ioy more substantially , he was first all the way he came along presented with vollies of musketeeres , and at the towne with a ringing peale of ordnance . he was no sooner in the towne , but his desire was to take a view of his fleet , being attended by many great lords of spaine who had come along to saint andera with him ; the conde of monterey being a principall ; with many english of good quality . how soone are ioyes turned into sorrowes ? safetie into dangers ? a shining forenoone into a gloomy euening ? his highnesse after all that feasting and triumphing in saint andera , being desirous to go aboord that goodly ship ( the admirall of his fleet ) called the prince , ( a title due to it for the brauery and princely building of it ) spent so much time , that the euening drew on apace , and with the euening a more threatning enemy : for not onely the tyde resisted his comming backe ( his highnes being then in his own barge , & his owne watermen rowing in it ) but a storme began to arise , and the billows to swel high , before the watermen had gottē halfe way frō the ships to the towne , the distance between the shore and the ships being at least a spanish league . the watermen were strong , cunning , and couragious , but the furious waues taught their oares another māner of practise then euer they were put to vpon the thames . to the town they could not possibly get , against a wind and tyde so raging , or if they had ventured , it had been dangerous , in regard a huge barke ( to saue her selfe ) lay very neere the mouth of the harbour : to the shore they were as fearefull to put , it being full of rocks ; to the ships back againe to flie for succour , night ( a darke night ) being spred ouer that horizon , denied that comfort , for if they should misse the ships , they were in doubt to be carried into the maine , the channell where the fleet anchored , running with an impetuous and irresistable torrent . in this full-sea of horrors , the prince resolued to turn back towards the ships , and to fall in vpon the first they could fasten , rather then trust to the mercy of the rockes , vpon euery one of which sat ineuitable destruction . what could hope trust to here , where neither the watermens skill , nor strength , could incourage them to bring safety to their master ? the clouds opened , and discharged their artillery of raine , lightning , and thunder : elements of contrary nature , warring one vpon another , whilst the waters ( which were called vp , to decide the controuersie ) quarrelling with the winds , made the vproare more horrid and tempestuous . and so much greater was the danger , by how much the night ( by reason of the storme ) grew darker and darker : yet at last , that omnipotent arme , which can teare vp rocks from their center , and that voyce which can call in the winds ; and still them with the mouing of his finger , sent a doue with an oliue branch in her bill , as an assurance of comfort . for by casting out a roape from a ship called the defiance , ( which with much hazard of life , one of the princes watermen catched hold off ) by spying a light in the same ship , his highnesse and all in the barge with him , ( praise be giuen to the almighty pilot , that stood at helme ) were , with vnspeakable ioy receiued into that shippe , and there tooke vp his lodging till the next morning : nothing at all daunted at these terrors , sithence dangers to noble minds are but the triumphs of their constant sufferings . the next day ( being satturday ) his highnesse was brought to shore , and dined in a house appointed for him and his company ; where after dinner , he tooke leaue of the spanish commissioners , and others , who had waited on him thither ; and a little before the euening , went aboard his ship , called the prince , with a full resolutiō to make the compasse of those woodden walles , the prince of englands court , and in that sea-chamber of presence euen to dwell , without any remoue , vntil it should please god to send a prosperous winde , fit to carry him into england . on sunday ( which was the 14 of september ) his highnesse inuited the spanish commissioners , and other gentlemen to a feast aboard , as a farewell to them before they set forward to madrid ; and at their returne from his shippe , where they had such royall entertainment , as the time and place could conueniently prepare , the whole fleete in their passage by euery particular ship , bestowed vpon them a sea-salutation and farewell , from the mouthes of their artillery , whose ecchoes met them vpon their very landing on the shore . leaue we those lords of spaine , fitting their iourney backe againe to madrid , and let vs returne to our prince ; whose progresse ( after the king of spaine had taken leaue of him at campillo ) ending at s. andera ( or s. andrew ) the time vntill he set sayle for england , was thus entertained . on the 10 of september , his highnesse came to the towne ; on the 11. his whole fleete , ( being eight ships of his maiesties nauy royall , and two pinnaces ) safely arriued in sight of the towne : the 12.13.14.15.16 . and 17. went away ( as before is related ) in entertainments on shore and aboard , in surueying , and making ready the fleete ; and last , in that last farewell giuen to the spanish commissioners , which was on the 14 of september ; after whose departure , his highnesse continued aboard foure dayes , before he weighed anchor , which was with much ioy , eleuation of voyces , thundring of drums , and trumpets , and that excellent musicall tumult of mariners , nimbly running vp and downe to set forward so royall a businesse . anchors now are weighed , all the linnen brauery of swelling sailes , courting the winds to speed them in their iourney : spanish people stand vpon the shore ; our prince and english noble men vpon the deckes , taking leaues one of another in dumbe shewes , with lookes , hands , and hats ; and now suppose that for nine dayes & nights together you behold his highnesse and his noble attendants , flying apace towards england with the wings of prosperous winds . but on the 29. day of september ( being michaelmas day ) the seas grew churlish , the windes angry , and to auoyd their fury , the whole fleet was forced to put into the iland of silley , from whence they came into saint maries sound , and then on the third of october , being accompanied onely with a side-wind , they came merrily forward ; and within two dayes after , that is to say , on the fifth of october , ( being sunday ) at nine of the clocke in the morning , his highnesse , ( with vnspeakable ioy of all within reach of such happy tidings ) landed at portsmouth . yet before he could meet this happinesse of landing , a misfortune had a minde to crosse him , but heauen would not suffer it : for one of the ships in the fleet had like to ouer-set him , but the malice of this danger ended in his preseruation . being thus then in health and safety set vpon the shore , let vs with the same speed follow him to london , which he himselfe makes , to glad with his presence , the eyes of his royall father . but the ioy ( that he was come ) being swifter then he could be himselfe , put both the countrey , ( all the way that it came ) and the city , ( when euen after midnight it was entred into it ) into such in-vtterable expressions of affectionate gladnesse , such vnlimitable & violent inundations of ioy , that the people ( to remember the comfort they receiued in their prince ) seemed to loose their owne being , and to forget that they were themselues : men , women , and children made but one consort , and the musicke of that consort , sounded nothing but the prince is come , our charles is come . from the noble man to the artificer , if contention had arose , which of them was fullest of good wishes , of glad welcomes , of lowd-resounding acclamations for his comming , it had beene hard to decide the difference . so many bels were heard ringing for a whole day together , that a stranger but newly ●●●ring the citie , might haue thought here , 〈◊〉 ●eene spoken no other language , all language else being drowned . so infinite were the bonefires , so costly , and so high flaming , that had they all beene seene burning in the night-time , that weeke might haue boasted , it had gotten one day more than any other weeke in the yeere , so vniuersall was the light . the day was foule and rainy , but there were artificiall sun-beames in euery streete to dry vp the showres . what need i busie my selfe againe to draw forth this english master-peece of ours , when euery man carries the picture of it in his bosome ! it will be a legacie for yong men when they grow old , to reade ( by the fire side ) the chronicle of this day to their children . let vs leape therefore from land againe and behold at sea one remarkable accident , with which his highnesse happily encountred in his passage homewards . and that was this . about a day before they put in at silley , a great thundring of ordnance beat round about the aire , in so much that in a short time after , the fire of the peeces was a farre off easily discerned . the fleet approching neerer and neerer , certaine dunkerkers & hollanders were at it pell mell : hereupon two ships of his highnesse fleet , called the seauen starres and the rainbow ( being the formost of the rest ) gaue them a shot and haild them ; vpon which first came vp foure shippes singled from the rest , who being asked what they were ? they answerd men of warre , and of dunkerks : our men bid them goe to the lee-ward , and speake to the prince of england ; they presently did so , and went vnder our princes sterne . then came vp 5. ships more , they being likewise hailed , came ; & being demanded what they were ? they answered , holland men of warre ; these also were bidden to go to the lee-ward , and speake to the prince of england . these comming then vnder the princes sterne , as the other had done before ; his highnesse commanded them to hoyse out their boates , and the captaines of either side to come aboard : they did so ; and the cause of their fighting being examined by the prince , it was found that the foure dunkerkers comming out for them , made after them , & chased them to fight . his highnesse vnderstanding by their own relations the truth of their quarrell , told them that since it was their fortune to fall into his company , hee would perswade them to bee at peace , and to giue ouer the chase , and to bid farewell one to another . the hollander seemed vnwilling to this , vrging rather the contrary ; but his highnesse ( out of a noble desire to saue the shedding of bloud ) vsed many gracious mediations to draw them to peace , and preuailed so much at that time , as that they parted friends & vpon equall termes ; and for preuention of returning to their quarrell , his highnes set them one from the other some good distance off , and so let them goe . the names of the shippes that were in the english fleete , their burthen , and what noble gentlemen vnder the prince were commanders .   burthen . ordn. 1 the prince-royall , in which came his highnes : the earle of rutland being admirall . 1200. 55. 2 the saint andrew , in which was the lord morley vice-admirall . 0898. 42. 3 the swift-sure , in which the lord windsor was rere-admirall . 0700. 42. 4 the saint george , in which sir francis steward was chiefe commander .     5 the defiance , in which sir sacuile treauer commanded . 0700. 40. 6 the bonauenture , sir william sentliger commander . 0674. 34. 7 the rainbow , commanded by sir henry palmer . 0650. 40. 8 the antilope , commanded by captaine lone . 0450. 34. 9 the charles , vnder the command of captaine harris . 0140. 14. 10 the seauen starres commanded by 0140. 14. the numbers of peeces of ordinance , carried in the whole fleete , amount to 315. memorable therefore for euer amongst vs , bee the fift day of october , for our prince his ioyfull arriuall here in england , after so many tempests at sea , and hazardous aduentures by land , in his passage through other kings dominions : as those two other fift daies stand remarkable to the end of the world ; viz. the fift of august , and fift of nouember ; the first for the particular preseruation of our king ; the second , for the generall deliuery of our country . let one red letter more bee now added to our calendar , & an anniuersary held with thanksgiuing to god , and with belles and bonefires , testifying the ioy of the people in memory of so inestimable a happinesse . and now to shut vp this short discourse with a matter worthy obseruation : what an vnexpected comfort was mixed with the misfortunes of those 9. prisoners . ( 7. men and 2. women ) when the very sound of a princes name stayed the hand of the law from striking them ? ioy did so transport the soule of the whole kingdome , that death was loth to do his office euen vpon those poore condemned wretches : mercy set a portcullis before the gates of iustice , so that when her sword was vpon drawing to cut off the liues of 9. miserable creatures , the very breath of our princes comming put the blow by : in stead of that charitable bell , which at the end of euerie sessions , is with a dolefull sound rung out after mid-night , to put condemned persons in remembrance of their end , which is to be the next morning , the poore soules were cheered vp , with peales from a thousand belles long before breake of day , so that in stead of being cald downe out of the iayle to go to their deaths , they came as ioyfully from their dungeon , as if they had beene to haue gone to a wedding . neither hath this abundant grace and mercy of the prince giuen glad hearts and thankfull tongues to these 9. only ( their pardons being now signd ) but it flyeth like a gentle gale of wind , into all the prisons of the land , to fanne comfort , and freedome , to all such as lie imprisoned or condemned for petty crimes . last of all , to saue the reader a labour of turning ouer leaues , to satisfie himselfe , with a briefe calender how time went away with the prince after hee came to port saint andera , let him bee thus informed ; that his highnesse came to that towne , on the 10. of september , ( this yeare 1623. ) the whole fleete came and met him there on the 11. day . in feasting the spanish commissioners , surueying his fleete , taking leaue , and other correspondencies required in a designe of such state , 6. dayes more were spent . on the 18. day he put to sea ; on the 29. day he put into the sillies ; and on the 5. of october , landed at portsmouth ; so that hee continued at sea , in his comming homewards , 18. daies . his iourney by land from madrid , till he came to saint andera . on the eighth of september , 1623 , stilo veter . the prince comming from madrid , was accompanied with the king of spaine , his two brothers , &c. to campillo , where they tooke leaue , that towne being but eight miles from madrid . from saint lorenzo to guadarama , leagues 2 from guadarama to segouia , 6 from segouia to s. maria de nieua , 7 from sancta maria de nieua to olimedo , 8 from olimedo to valladolid , 8 from valladolid to pasencia , 8 from pasencia to carrion , 7 from carrion to herrera , 8 from herrera to reynosa , 8 from reynosa to la puente de nieuas , 8 from puente de nieuas to port st andera , 7 number of leagues 77. there came along with the prince , in one of the shippes of the fleet , an ambassador , called don diego de mendoza , a gentleman of a noble family , and kinsman to the duke of infantado ; who comes to congratulate with his highnesse father our king , and vpon his returne is to goe into allemaine , flanders , and france , to giue account to their maiesties and highnesses of these happy concordances , carrying with him iewels and other prouision for his person . fjnjs notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a18465-e190 those of his maiesties chamber being all of the chiefe nobility of spaine . a place of the court so called . a monastery of bare-legd friers . some rare iewell so called , a place of pleasure in spaine . an officer of great place . betweene dinner and supper a collation of some fruits and iunkets . a hideous night . the spanish lords feasted in the princes ship , for a last fare-wel . the practise of princes. published by a. ar ar., a. 1630 approx. 58 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 12 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a20838 stc 722 estc s100204 99836052 99836052 295 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a20838) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 295) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 819:08) the practise of princes. published by a. ar ar., a. 22, [2] p. printed [by the successors of giles thorp], [amsterdam] : in the yeare 1630. a puritan attack against charles i and his spanish policies. place of publication and printer statement from stc. cf. folger catalogue, which gives signatures: a-c⁴. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng great britain -politics and government -1625-1649 -early works to 1800. great britain -foreign relations -spain -early works to 1800. great britain -foreign relations -1625-1649 -early works to 1800. spain -foreign relations -great britain -early works to 1800. spain -foreign relations -1621-1665 -early works to 1800. 2006-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-04 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-05 jason colman sampled and proofread 2006-05 jason colman text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the practise of princes . published by a. ar. prov. 29.4 . the king by judgment stablisheth the land : but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it . printed in the yeare 1630. when the children of israell had sinned against the lord , he delivered them over in the hands of spoylers , and sould them into the hands of their enimies round about , so that they could not stand before them , levit. 26. deut. 28. iudg. 2. our estate is so , we have transgressed his laws with an high hand , and yet we have not hearts to lament it as we should , nor eies to see the hand of god goe out against us in all we sett our hands unto , both in peace and warre ; but we attribute all to secondary causes , & looke not to the lord against whom we have sinned : some of us can see that our best nobility and valiantest captains and souldyers , are cutt off by indirect means , and our wealth and honour consumed , to our great reproach and ignominie . yet we do not observe it as we should , and what a fearfull estate our land now stands in , this short treatise doth shew amongst them that beare sway , or at least might be heard by the rulers , all seek their own , and no man that is christs . some of them pretend to be conversant for him in superficie boni , but it is indeed in alto mal● . where is there amongst us anie that will stand for the cause of christ ? so that i may say : there is but a step between us and death . hester will interpose hirself for her countrye , and if she perish she perish ; the fire of gods wrath is ready to break in upon us , therefore if the fewel of sin be not taken away the wrath of gods will never ceasse till we be all consumed . what true heart will not bring help to quench this fire ? alas it will be vain to bring water when the house is burnt to ashes . who will not at least crye when he seeth his mother murdering , i will conclude with the apostles words : lord save us else we all perish . a. ar. the practise of princes . wisdom in the proverbs which all divines acknowledge to be the sonne of god , the eternal word , by which the father made the world , saith there , by me kinges raigne , and princes decree justice : by me princes rule , and the nobles and all the iudges of the earth . where , though it be true that god infused into divers heathen princes and iudges zealous of virtue and justice , some beams of this wisdom , who may therefore be saide , in som sort , to rule by it ; yet wee are not to understand that every king and governour , that ruleth & iudgeth by unlawful policie or wicked counsell , doth it by this wisdom . jeroboam , vainly fearing that the peoples going up to ierusalem would make them revolt , tooke counsaile for the setting up of calves in bethel and dan , wherin he and his counsel did not rule by this wisdom but by a divelish policie , which indeede was rather folly then true wisdom , for it made god his enemie ▪ and was the sodaine overthrow of his howse ; as the like earthly policies were of the families of saul , ahab , absolon , achitophel , haman and others . the meaning therefore of that place is , that all kings , princes , iudges and governours , that judge and rule well and happily , they judge by or according to that wisdom which is gods word : therby keeping theire people ( what in them is ) in the true worship and feare of god ; as did david , iehoshaphat , hezekiah and josiah , wherin they are truly gods vicegerents , seeking his kingdom , and the righteousnes thereof , and whereby theire owne kingdoms are kept in peace , and the neighbouring kingdoms come to feare them , as they did iehoshaphat , therefore wisdō saith , by me kings raigne : not by any polices or subtiltie but by me , who am gods wisdom . which is there found most true , where princes square theire counsels by gods word , and labour that theire people may be governed in all matters of faith and salvation by his revealed will ; and where , as they ought , theire owne lawes and governement tend to the same ende : for therefore the throne of a king is called , the throne of the lord and the kingdoms of this world the kingdoms of our lord and of his christ . but besides those general rules in the law and the gospel , which shew princes what should be the end and scope of al their lawes and government ; and by which ( where kings doe so esteeme of them ) their people are bridled and kept in awe , as by that word , which stilled the raging of the sea , and the madnes of the people ; and which is the rod of his strength ; this wisdom in holy writ , and especially in that booke of the proverbs , hath left unto all princes divers speciall rules whereby they ought to square all their actions and government , which may be called the princes principles , or the practise of princes : which should be regarded as christs charge to christian kings , and euer observed , because they are gods immutable wisdom , which he hath left to be a sure guide to all princes to the ende of the world ; and wherof in a more special manner that may seeme to be saide , by me kings raigne , &c. now therefore hearken o children unto me . if al the children of wisdom ought so to doe , princes more especially , their calling beeing of the greatest waight , deeply concerning so many thousands of people , and standing most in neede of that wisdoms help , which is the sonne , and the prince of the kings of the earth . al princes are as much bound to observe his lawes and directions , as theire meanest subiects are to regard theirs , for he is the king of kings , and all his rules and directions are perpetuall lawes ; so immutable and irrevocable that all designes and determinations that are contrary unto them , how faire a shew soever they make of wisdom and a probable good , they are but meere wickednes , and can not establish the prince that puts them in practise , but rather tend to his undoing : for that is one infallible principle left us by wisdom , a man can not be established by wickednes , and therefore the lord saith , woe to the rebellious children , that take counsell , but not of me , and cover with a covering but not of my spirit : which walke to strengthen themselves in the strength of pharaoh , and trust in the shadow of egypt as asa also sought a league with syria , and relyed on it , and not on the lord , , and was therefore punished , wherefore wisdom saith , it is an abhomination to kings to commit wickednes : for the throne is established by justice : by carrying themselves justly towards god and their people , therefore state policies that stand not with pietie must needes overthrow it . such are all temporisings . in matters of religion , with princes and people of a contrary faith , and seeking , or favouring middle waies of reconcilement , such as halt betweene god and baal , betweene christ & antichrist , like the arminians of our time : which euer grow from bad to worse , & make but the adversaries abroade and at home more insolent , and god to give us over to be deceived by their practises . as wee may see in the fruite of that treatie with spaine ; wherin king iames , who had euer favoured the papists , and slacked the execution of lawes against them , at last to attaine his ends first with spaine , and then with france , permitted aide to goe to the archduches , and after to the french king against the rochellers : more manifestly connived at poperie , favored the ould countesse , divers lords , & others , the freinds therof ; frowned on the religious opposers of their practises , in court & parliament ; suffered not the lawes , to be executed on priests & iesuits but suffered them in a manner openly to dispute , preach and write , and in som sort forbad preaching & writing against them : all which could not but make israel to sinne , many to leave their love and zeale of the truth , others to fall to poperie , arminianisme , temporising or neutralitie ; which things , it seemes were also donne and suffered , to binde them a by those favors from practising against his life , as they had done against the life of queene elizabeth . howsoeuer neither by those fauours , nor yet by urging and pressing fruitles traditions and ceremonies , and silencing such as groaned under them , were theire number lessened , and drawne nearer to our religion ; but rather multiplied and made to affirme , that the most learned , and wise on our side , did hereby shew theire good opiniō of popish religion . in so much that fisher the iesuit grew so insolent in print , as to incite the king , by the example of the french king henric 4. to let in the iesuits , saying , that besides thanks & presents from peru , china , &c. he purchased 2000. pounds for his fame . but he knew the kings timerous nature ; and therfore as b. white observed , he had his ende in mentioning that instance knowne to the world direfull and tragicall , & a hope by that trope to intrude by terrour for how they requited that kings loue the dolefull catastrophe shevved , therefore he addeth , male ominatis parcite verbis . knowing that mē would be ready to infer that king iames was like to finde no better requital of papists for his politik favouring of them : which is alwaies just with him to permit , who saith , he that vvil saue his life viz. by ungodly temporisings shal loose it . the king knew that though he should call the best protestants , puritans , wrong them and theire religion ; yea see it suffer never so much injurie and losse from others ; yet there was no danger of them ; ( much lesse that a king should neede to burne paraeus his workes ; though he meant to deserve evill ) for religion bindes theire hands . but must they therfore have the more injuries heaped on them to please the papists ? or because papists are bloodie , if crossed in religion , must kings therefore temporise with them , and not rather trust in gods protection , as queene elizabeth did ? that which men doe , in an unjust policie , to prevent an evil , is in gods justice suffered to be the cause that brings it on them , as gen. 11.4 . ioh. 11.48 . and accordingly , it seemed so probable , that king james died by the practise of such papists and popelings , as every day lulled him asleepe with tales , flatteries , wine , jests , songs , and catches , while the palatinate was loosing ; that the parliament desired to have it sifted out , but this proceeding for him was dashed in such sort , as he , to his owne hurt , had oft crushed the indeauours of many parliaments by prerogative , wherein he haveing by checks and scornes prevailed against the councels and priviledges of parliaments , and refused to let them rid him of such flatterers and secret enemies , as neither truly feared the lord nor the king , but midled with jesuited spirits , given to change , religion and government , as beeing of the spanish faction , that was true in him which the preacher saith , j saw a time that man ruleth over man to his ovvne hurt . in so much that some saide better is a poore and vvise child , then an old and foolish king , that vvill be no more admonished . but certainly he had greate abilities of understanding and judgment , if feare of the papists power and practises , and an unlimited desire of peace with them , had not made him use many temporising policies , pleasing to them , and greivous to his best subjects . howsoeuer his policies , of that kinde , found no better fruite then the increase of papists and the emboldening of them here , the shamfull losse of the palatinate , the undoing of his posterity there , the danger of loosing his only sone in spaine , the more violent persecution of the protestants 〈◊〉 germanie and france , to the losse of many freinds abroade , of 〈◊〉 subiects hearts at home , and his owne fame every where . in further proofe whereof , i neede say the lesse , seeing vox populi , votiva angliae and tom tell-troth have said so much : yet som men make a god of him , and urge his sonne to follow his fathers wisdom , as if wee had not yet had mischeife enough by the reviveing romish and spanish factions . but god graunt it may be a warning to him , and all other protestant princes , to abandon all such fruitles and drangerons policies , as favour divers religions , together with the treacherous promoters of them ; & to hearken in such cases to that which the wisdom of god saith . trust in the lord with all thy heart and leane not to thine owne understanding . cease from thine owne wisdom . aske counsell of god at his oracles , for therefore wisdom saith to such a one as hath not so consulted with gods word , as he ought ; heare councell and receive instruction , that thou maiest be wise in the later ende : and for policies and counsels that stand not with gods word ; my sonne heare no more the instruction that causeth to erre from the words of knowledge . wisdom saith , in the multitude of the people is the honour of a kinge , and for the want of people commeth the destruction of the prince ; that is , whether he lack people , or haveing multitudes want theire hearts , which rhehoboam found true , when embracing evill counsaile , and seeking to be a more absolute lord over them , then his father , he thereby lost the most of them , and so his greatest strength under god , whereby he was exposed to the more danger of all foraigne enemies . which proves it to be one of the most traiterous offices that can be , in councellours to alienate the heart of a kinge from his subiects . here therefore questionles , they can not be excused , who incensed the king against his subjects in parliament . i know som lay greate fault in the knights and burgesses for delaying the graunt of the subsidie of tunnage and poundage , considering the kings wants . the truth is , they had beene worthy of greate blame , if the necessity , that compelled them to it , had not pleaded for them : which was to get som things , before that grant , reformed , which did eate at the roote of religion & state , & which they thought they should never be once suffered to speake of , much lesse to question & sift out , if the customes were once granted , for they knew that many great crimes of lust , murder , oppression , & the like , could not get hearing , much lesse justice , when they had been laid to the duke and his confederates in former sessions and sittings of parliament , as well since the death of king iames , as before ; & that also in matters of treacherie in religion and state , as about the losse of the palatinat , treasure , shipping , munition and honour , in the expedition to cales , rees , rochel , and in other designes : wherin they of that faction , under publik pretences seemed to be private agents for rome , france & the howse of austria , and divers of them manifest introducers of arminianisme , which they used as a shooing-horn to draw on popery & division , though they know that a kingdom divided in it selfe can not stand . in this last sitting , divers things of these kindes , were manifested against som bishops and others , when now the house beeing ready to declare them to the king they that were sick of the parliament , to shoulder out theese proceedings and finde them other worke , animated the officers of the custom howse , & som others , to use all extremity ( & among others against a burgesse then sitting in parliament ) who beeing therefore questioned in the howse of cōmons , they that got them the kings protection on purpose to engage him in that cause as their manner is in others ) had then pretence to crie out , that the kings prerogatiue was infringed , & he obliged to adjourne the parliamēt : which well perceiving that by such divises & shifts they should be prevented ( as they had often beene ) of questioning delinquēts , & that the assemblie was like to be therefore dissolved , began to protest more openly and plainly against such whisperers : who in the meane while , as men guiltie , and unable to stand the triall , laboured uncessantly , by all the pretences that could be invented , to prove the commons contemners of regal authority , & the king obliged on point of honour to dissolve that assemblie . yet afterwards theire greatest enemies that counted them litle better then traitours , could not prove theire demur insuffifient , nor that they had dōne any thing against the lawes , whence it came to be held honourable in them all to choose rather to abide in prison , then to gaine offered libertie by beeing bound to the good behauiour : which may be an argument to the king , that those men , incensed him against them , to save their owne treacherie from cōming to triall ; & that this was the ende of getting theire freinds chosen knights and burgesses , as also of all theire intelligences in the howse , guarding the kings eares , and preventing all parliament complaints & procedings , by a prevaricating exposition of them , & even of the verie talke of another parliament . many of them had got theire honours and offices of the duke by such services to him & therefore now , to save theire owne stakes , and maintaine that pride , they have made all this division , and left the king to get money and hearts where and how he can ; while in the meane time , they account these councels and services trustie , honourable , and meritorious ; and thus as wisdom saith , many wil boast every one of his owne goodnes : but vvho can finde a faithfull man ? only by pride doth man make contention . and hence it was that they ever geered and scorned the best indeavours of the parliamēt : & therefore though they be many , and of greate wit , no marvaile , if yet theire wisdom have failed them in many greate designes , for as wisdom saith , a scorner seeketh wisdom and findeth it not . a wicked man diggeth up evill , and in his lips is like a burning fire : setting whole kingdoms in division and combustion . a frovvard person sovveth strife , and a tale-teller makes division amonge princes : he divideth the head from the members , and the peeves and princes one from another . he shutted his eyes to devise vvickednes , he will not be brought to see what is evill , nor suffer others to see it , but to prevent good men with cunning speaches , he moveth his lips and bringeth evill to passe . if any thinge be neuer so litle amisse in his adversaries , he aggravates , and repeates it , to keepe them from discovering his owne greater faults : so he makes a man an offendour for a vvord , and turnes aside the just for a thinge of naught , and therefore wisdom saith , he that justifieth the vvicked , & he that condemneth the just , even they both are an abhomination to the lord. now since it is apparant , that such are the achans that trouble our israel , through the secret love they beare to the vvedge of gold & babylonish garments , to honours , proffits and romish superstition , and that many such are got aboute the king ; partly by reason of king iames his treatie for a match with spanie , which made him broock none , but such as praised and furthered it , his favouring of papists , both which drew them , and other church-papists , lukewarne newters and temporisers aboute him , partly through the craft of gondomar , the duke his mother and other agents of rome , spaine and france who intruded , into places of counsaile and trust , instruments best fitting themselves and theire owne endes , partly through the match with france , for seeing the french king is such a manifest freind & champion of antichrist , a protestants peace and alliance with him can not be so safe as it was with his father , nor much better then with spaine ; partly by suffering the duke , the papists , arminians and theire supporters , bishops and others ; with other delinquents to passe unquestioned , or at least unpunished ; & principally by reason that by lies & devises , they have daubed up matters , as they did the losses at the i le of ree , guarded the kings eares and suffered them to give effectuall hearing to none but themselves ; hence it came to passe with him , as wisdom saith , of a prince that hearkens to lies , all his servants are vvicked . every one growes , and hopes to shuffle off his wickednes , as others have donne : and even those , who , if they lived where religion and justice were truly maintained , would be honest men ; they yet , to keepe theire places , proffits and honours , and to get greater , are not only faine to connive at the practises of such as the duke was , who could helpe them to honour & offices , but evē to excuse and justifie many of them ; as wisdom saith . every man is a freind to him that giveth gifts , they blinde the eyes of the vvise : so that vvhen the vvicked come up the man is tried , what he is , as many lords spirituall and temporall have beene who are found too light , while ( though it be true ) that he that receiveth gifts overthrovveth the land , yet for honour or proffit they temporise or connive when delinquents prevaile and a romish or spanish faction is revived , though god , religion , prince , people , state & all loose by it , which hath filled the land with many secret murmures and groanes ; in so much that some , who are reckoned wise men , have not sticked to infer , that there is no likelihood that god shoult ever give a blessing to such mens counsailes , as have either assisted the duke and his faction in theire projects of betraing the palatinate , the french protestants and the religious indeauours of parliament men and other good subjects ; or connived at these vile practises , and so justified him and his confederates : for ( say they ) such counsellours as could not see these practises , which every mechanical fellow and very ploughmen perceived ( beeing so many , so frequent and so apparant ) they are blind guides unfit to be about kings : and such ( say they ) as percived them , and did not lay themselves and theire fortunes downe at the kings feete , to shew him the trechery and danger , but connived to get or keepe preferment , they were cowardly and mercinarily base , and unfaithfull to god , religion , theire king countrie and the verie state , wherin they were chosen watchmen . where in policie poperie is connived at , neutralitie and arminianisme favoured , delinquents borne out , and parliaments for theire sakes dissolved , the king must needes have such servants , and them ever false cum privilegio : for if he hearken to them that say that these are good policies , to hearkens to lies : & god saith of a prince that hearkens to lies , all his servants are vvicked . men , that take his word , say , that therefore as theire roote must needes prove rotten , so things can never goe wel with the christian world , much lesse with the religion and state of england , till the councell which hath beene so dukified , be in a manner wholy changed , they therefore count them fooles , who thinke if god should take the king away issules , & that the injured king and queene of bohemia should come to the crowne , things must needes mend ; saying that could not be , unles the councell were also changed , and made examples to keepe others from the like treacherie and temporising , for ( say they ) if a king be constant to religion , they also can make greate shew of defending religion ( as the duke and others d●d ) thereby to get trust , that they may under hand betray it . and people ( say they ) had the like hopes when king iames died , seeing our king , that now is , make greate preparations , and for ought wee know with sincerity : but , by the practise of the duke and his faction , retaining all his fathers counsell which for the most part were hispanolished , frenchified , roman●sed or newtralised , and suffering som worse , both spirituall and temporal , to be added unto them , al those forces weere soone brought to nothing , things are growne a greate deale worse , and , to the greater greife of all goodnes and good men , without gods speciall mercie remediles ; seeing that a king who only heares and sees things in such mens reports can not know the truth , and that no man dares speak for a free parliament , that may sift it out , much lesse for an effectuall reformation , for as wisdom saith of such potent counsellours , when the vvicked rise up , men hide themselves : but when they perish the righteous increase . a man that hardeneth his neck when he is rebuked shall sodainly be destroied , and can not be cured ( as god manifested in the duke ) when the righteous are in authority , the people rejoice , but when the wicked beareth rule , the people sigh . rehoboam was not strengthened by such counsellors , but weakened . a king and his people are a body politik , and the parliament his representative body : now as in a body , if the faculty of the braine in one side be stopped , that it can not descend through the sinewes to the senses of moveing in the limbes and members , then those parts have the dead palsie , and the man becomes as it were halfe dead , and as unable to doe any service effectually , as our men were at the palatinate , cales , ree , rochel and in the parliament howse : so is it with the body politick of greate britain , through the practise of som iesuited spirits , who , beeing disguised in the sheepes clothing of a protestant outside , & gotten into the place of favourits & counsellors , have cuningly infected many ; both bishops and others ; in whom and by whom , the braine for the most part , is ill affected and the reciprocall passages betweene the head and the members are stopped ; so that the right facultie can not descend , through the sinewes , the peeres , iudges and bishops , to the senses of moveing in the kings body the parliament ; and so his ma tie . giveing no life and strength to that body and the best members thereof , nor they meanes to him , the whole body is halfe dead , & so unable to offend adversaries , that it can not defend it selfe , but must needes perish , if those ill humours in the braine of counsell be not by his maiestie purged and removed , whereas if he did agree with the parliament , and had a counsell favouring the moveing indeauours of the same , he must needes grow dreadfull to them , who now hope to see his kingdom ( by these continued divisions ) easely conquered ; witnes the popes bull to the present french king , given at rome , septemb. 4. 1626. now then seeing that it is cleare , that in these things , the kings ma tie . himselfe ( who is ruled and abused by them ) is not the least sufferer ; but hath cause to say of them , as old iacob did of simeon and levi bretheren in evill ; jnto their secret let not my soule come ; and that thus divided from his people , which under god are his strength , he must nedes be in more danger of foraigne enemies , & forced to treate with them on harder conditions , which is one of the secret ends , that som of these whisperers had to helpe the catholike cause ( at least under a pretext of zeale to the kings prerogative , which zeale they used both as an instrument to worke division , and a cloake to cover theire treacherie to our religion , and theire secret favour to rome and her champions ) what true subject but wil pray and indeauour that the king may see & expell these dangerous counsellors ? which is the ende of these few collections , and reflecting the light of that wisdom , on theire practises , which saith , blessed is he that shall not be offended in me but wisdom is justified of her children , practises so desperatly persisted in , that there seenes to be eniuitie , jelousie and emulation betweene france and spaine , whether shall ( by theire meanes ) hold the continued honour of cousening , & in the end of conquering us , wherein yet i should abhor to be so plaine , & indeede to medle at all , if the many greate and manifest wrōgs done to god , religion , my king & countrie , with the extreme danger the three later stand in , did not seeme to crie out of silence & banking , & to call to me for plaine dealing what ever it cost me , as isa . 1.23 . ezech. 22.27 . for 1. what a miserable thing it is , to see wicked counsellors get such a hand over theire king , that he is wholy ruled by them , and dares not doe or say any thing , but what they like ? nor favour a good man and his cause further then they admit ? as it was with zedekiah , who durst not be knowne of the talke he had with ieremie , but was forced to faigne a busines , and an answer to stop the mouths of his princes and councellors , so verie a child they made of him ; though it be saide , woe to thee o land whose king is a child : when with a couragious & constant frowne , he might have dispersed them all , and have saved himselfe and the citie , by beeing perswaded by ieremie . 2. wisdom saith of a true king the pleasure of a king is in a wise servant ( this wise man is one truly religious , not an achitophel ) but his wrath shall be toward him that is lewd . such as are our seditious whisperes , the seedesmen of division . righteous lips are the delight of kings , and the king loveth him that speaketh right things . and againe : a king that sitted in the throne of judgment , chaseth away all evill with his eyes . he lookes with indignation on wicked men , as considering , that he sits in the throne of the lord , to doe that which is right , and best for gods service and kingdom . a wise king scattereth the wicked , and causeth the wheele to turne over them . and why should wee not pray and hope that god may give our king this grace , seeing wisdom saith , the kings heart is in the hand of the lord , as the rivers of water : he turneth whithersoever it pleaseth him ? for he saith to kings , cast out the scorner , and strife shall goe out : so contention & reproch shall ceasse , and on the other side , he that loveth purenes of heart , for the grace of his lips , the king shall be his freind . wisdom also sheweth that it is for a kings honour and safety to have wicked men sifted out , and cut off or expelled , saying , the glory of god is to conceale a thinge : but the kings honour is to search out a thinge : to let such come to triall . take the drosse from the silver , and there shall proceede a vessel for the finer . take away the wicked frō the king , and his throne shall be established in righteousnes ; as if he saide , otherwise it must needes totter . o but these cunning achitophels have many goodly pretences , shewing , that it is wisdom in kings to keepe downe and suppresse these puritans , as they were ever pleased to call the gentlemen of the lower howse , and all that crie out for reformation , or trouble themselvs with such matters as the treatie and match with spaine , the increase of poperie and arminianisme , the losse of the palatinate , and of shipping and honour in the seas ; transportation of mumunition and corne , the rochellers , or the like , and thereby ( say they ) taxe the wisdom and government of theire king and his councell , whē indeede this suggestion , & the like , is but a cloake to cover theire treacherie , love to superstition , and hate of our religiō , yet want they not a disguise of pretended love to the booke of common praier , the hierarchie , and such traditions and ceremonies thereof , as doe not offend poperie ; as if that were sufficient to make them protestants and good states men whose hearts and practises are for rome : for as wisdom saith , hatred may be couered by deceite , but the malice thereof shall be discovered in the congregation ; that is , in an publick and free assemb●ie ; which shewes the good use and necessity of parl●aments , which these mens practise could never endure , and therefore they have stil got them dissolved , by hooke or by crooke , let what would follow , either at home to the joy and furtherance of the papists and arminians , & the extreame weakning of the king and kingdom ; or abroade to the undoing of our freinds and religion in germanie , the palatinate , france and denmarke : whereby our bisshops , and theire abettors , have shewed they had rather all these should fall , then theire owne faction and glorie , though poperie and pelagianisme have every where thriven by it , what care they ? that beeing in many of them the maine ende of these theire practises ; witnes cosens protected for al his cosening devotions published , and palpable superstition erected ; and theire suffering the appealers booke to passe two or three yeares , and the author to be rewarded , that so schollers in the universities , to get promotion , might in like manner corrupt and be corrupted , and so corruption might spread from these fountains to all parts of the land , watered by them and when they doubted that in parliament , it might be questioned and they for suffering and furthering it ; to prevent that , they get the king to call it in sleigthly ( not a search to be made for it , as for other bookes , not left as this to be freely sold in shops by any that would ) and to forbid all disputes , preaching and writing on both sides , knowing they could thereby hinder all that should write against those errors , and let bookes and disputes passe , which defended the same ; as they after did dr. iacksons second part , printed before the parliament , but somwhat kept in till it was dissolved , whence it appeares that though these were points they durst not maintaine in parliament , and therefore errors ; yet theire drift was to save and further them , and to engage the king further and further in the cause , that so the parliament might not medle with them , or if they did , it might be pretended , the howse tooke the matter out of his hand , taxed his government , and undervalued his prerogative , that so he , incēsed thereby , might shew the arminians more favour . and the like ends have they that get kings , in pretended policie , to connive at poperie , and stay the execution of lawes against papists , suffer ordināce , victuals and other provision of war , to be daily transported to the enemies of our religion ; that so if never so litle shew be made of reforming these things before a parliament , and yet parliaments complaine of them , or of theire agents in court , church-papists trecherous favourits & delinquents , straight it might be pretēded the matter is taken out of the kings hand , and his government and prerogative is taxed and infringed , thereby to put off reformation , incense his majestie and get them more favour . and still to saue these practises from comming to triall , and therewithall to put men out of heart in theire trading , make them sell theire ships and therein the wals of the land , they euer finde the parliaments other worke in case of customs priviledges and other matters , and then informe the king that in those things his prerogative is by them grossly infringed , and he obliged to dissolve the assemblie . the reasons , why the howse of austria and the french have of late prevailed , are cheifely two , first because they had care to suffer none to be of theire councell of state , agents abroade , nor generals and commanders in war ; but such as they knew were sure to theire religion , and would strive all they could to maintaine and propagate the same . in all theire treaties and warres , this was ever one main ende , they aimed at , as appeareth by gondomars practises in his treating with england ; and the care and zeale of theire generals of bavaria , tillie , spinola and the rest ; as he saith that writes the seidge of breda ; against them it was thought fit our forces should be bent , not for affectation or desire of soveraignty , but for the reestablishing of religion , and regaining what they usurped . now if they had seene like true zeale and care in the english councell and generals , for the protestant religion , they never durst have attempted so much as they have : but they grew confident that england , then the strongest of all protestant states ( and most likely to worke , romes ruin if truly zealous ) could not to any purpose helpe the palatinate , the french protestants , nor the king of denmarke ; much lesse hurt the proceedings and conquests of romes champions spirituall or temporall , knowing the kings dispositiō , and that she and they had the duke and other secret freinds in england , who one while would hold the kings hands ( easily kept from drawing his sword ) under vaine pretexts of hope to set all right by treatie , while they of the palatinate and the french protestants were loosing and bleeding ; and another while when they could with no colour use that course any longer , would in counterfeyt zeale get forces raised , with greate shew of ayding and defending religion and the freinds thereof , but with secret purpose to bringe them , for romes sake , to nothing ; as besides delaies , the lame commissions procured , the popish leaders and instruments imploied , and munition and victuals to the enemies transported , sufficiently manifested ; that so at last england might be glad of peace with france and spaine on hard conditions . and in the meane while , they could , with gifts , presents , flateries , promises , and som small supplies and services , make shew that they were greate freinds and agents to the king for the king and queene of bohemia , theire issue , the king of denmarke , and the rochellers ; the easier to cousen them all , and get the fault laid on the parliament , that stroue most to remove such deceitfull practisers , as by working these things , seemed to hope a rebellion would follow ; and then romish champions might be called from france or spaine to take a side , and get all , as wisdom saith , a seditious person seeketh only rebellion , therefore a cruell messenger shall be sent against him . kings can not binde them from such practises by shewing them favour : for papists wil forfeit all other bands to strengthen those of theire religion . secondly because in germanie france and spaine , the popish clergie , high and low , have ever had free libertie to speake and write unto princes , and others for the defence and propagation of theire owne religion , and rooting out of theire adversaries , and to reprove all such as failed therein , and get them punished , while in the meane time , the duke and other theire secret freinds in england , so laboured , and by the helpe of the bishops obtained , that protestant preachers writers should not doe the like for theire religion , no not though it were by gods undeniable word ; and that if any did , it should be never the better , yet till there be the like care & zeale both in the counsell of state and in the clergie , things can never go well with our religion and state , nor they be enabled to stand against the zeale and practises of a contrarie religion and kingdom . ministers are christs embessadors and agents : and therefore ought to have free libertie to speake in the word of the lord to kings & statesmen ( so it be in good and reverent sort ) for things pertaining to the furtherance of christs kingdom , and against such practises as hinder the same . they ought rather to have had this privileidge then gondomar , the dukes mother , & such others as on the contrarie laboured for the kingdom of antichrist , and till they have it , princes can not say rightly that christ hath his embassadors or kingdom received in theire courts . which som undertake to prove , can not be till the hierarchie and dominion of the lord bishops ( never by christ ordained but forbidden ) be overthrowē , as dangerous to protestant princes and states ; because the greate places thereof , are only baites to make som divines temporisers , instruments and freinds of such trecherous arminians , church-popelings and delinquents , as can prefer them ; and others to spend theire zeale in maintaining the hierarchie and the fruitles dominiō , traditions and ceremonies thereof . out of all which , he that wil , may see , that the losses , dishonours and troubles that have befallen this land , and indeede our religion and brethren also in the palatinate , germanie , france and other parts , have cheifely sprunge from these two fountains . 1. a corrupt councell and clergie in england , that were more for the duke and his confederates that helped them to honours , offices and preferments , thē for the religion and state divided , and kept low , by his and theire practises ; which the pope , the howse of austria , and the french king , perceiving , tooke that for a time of persecuting , conquering and depelling all protestants . 2. a vaine policie of suppressing such preachers , writers and parliament men , as sought to discover the mischeife of trecherie , and obtaine effectuall reformation . in the later ( if not in both ) the power and flatterie of the bishops were principall helpes , theire seeming holy habit , reverence , and authority , countenanced the projects of the duke and his cōfederates , while for preferment , they stuck fast to him and them in court and parliament : and theire power and hierarchie served to terrifie , suppresse and stop the mouthes of such ministers & writers , who otherwise might by theire sermons and bookes have discovered the homebred enemies , and obtained releife for the freinds of our religion , which is the service christ gets by lord bishops and theire hierarchie ; who hereby shewed , that they will sooner let religion , prince , state and all go downe , then theire owne usurped dignities and hopes of further preferment , for these and other courtiers and dukanists , that have stil pretended the kings power and prerogative , have not strengthened , but rather weakened and debased the same . 1. by those fruitles expeditions that they caused abroade ; which were so forecasted that the sailers and souldiers , neither comming to good service nor theire pay , should refuse to serve the king any more , or to be governed by his officers , but be readier to spoile theire countrey when they returned . 2. by those dangerous divisions that they have procured and nourished at home . and while they got his majestie to suffer divers ambitious divines for advancement , to broach anew , the doctrines of pelagius , and to erect popish superstition , to the treading under foote as wel of the divine law , as of the parliamēt , have they by al these things gotten the king and his lawes to be more reverenced , or lesse ? surely lesse witnes the generall murmurs of his subjects throughout the whole land , and divers bold outrages of sailors and unpaide souldiers . would it not greive any true subject to see how the kings authority was of late despised in that outrage in fleetestreete , backed by the templers ? wherin som observed a just judgment of god , that as the king suffered divines , who are , or should be , gods lawiers and souldiers , to tread gods authority & law under foote , by slighting som proofs of scripture , and sophisticating others ; so god suffered souldiers , templers and other innes of court men to spurn against his lawes and authority . god , that oft payes by retaliatiō , suffers people to deale so with princes , as they deale with him , and theire servants to bee alike faithfull to them in theire service , as they are to him in his . if people see theire princes cast away the word of the lord in divers things , they wickedly grow as careles of gods word , which enjoines subjection to princes , and which otherwise stilleth the madnes of the people , and keepes them in aw , god causeth the prince that feares him , and sincerely furthers his word preached , to be by his people reverenced , loved , feared and enriched with presents and gifts , as jehoshaphat was : he therefore that doth it not , but rather the contrary , he must needes finde the contrary ; him he suffers to be molested with enemies , and the rebellions of his owne vassals , as were salomon , rehoboam , jeroboam , ioram and others , wherein that is fulfilled , which the lord saith , those that honour me , i will honour , and those that despise me shall be lightly esteemed : looke then on the dishonours and losses of the state abroade , the troubles , divisions and outrages at home , and confesse them to be the fruits of theire councels , who stand for connivance at poperie , favouring of arminians , and protection & honouring of delinquents temporall & spirituall . but though i should reckon up all the fruits of theire counsailes , some men would yet commend them for wise counsellors , as our arminians , and ambitious temporisers and popelings doe , who have all thriven by them , for as wisdom saith , they that forsake the law praise the wicked : but they that keepe the law set themselves against them . wicked men understand not judgment , but they that seeke the lord understand all things . it is fit indeede that kings should have theire counsell : for where no counsell is , the people fall : but where many counsellors are , there is health , that is , if they be honest men , and true as the old men that counsailed rehoboā faithfully ; divers greate matters of state may be better carried by such privy counsellors , then by a parliament , which is more publick & open : but if they be achitophels , and as the yong men that gave wicked counsell , temporisers or false to the religion and state , they seeme to serve ; then the more they are , and the more wit they have , by so much the worse they beeing such as wisdom describeth . when the wickid are increased , transgression is increased , but the righteous shall see theire fall . such as neither , feare the lord nor the king , but meddle with them that are given to change religion and government ; for such while they rule theire king are all princes to his hurt : and so wisdom saith , for the transgression of the land many are the princes thereof . they are the sinnes of the land , which raigne in the light of the gospell , as drunkennes , adulterie , prophanenes , oppression and the like , that provoke god to suffer them to be intruded , & to prevaile against the zeale and care of so many parliaments . not all the base trecherie of delinquents , nor the wisdom of so many hundred men , oft set in parliament , to discover them , suffice to make the king , see theire practises , and the danger of defending them , much lesse the necessity of expelling them , when the sinnes of the nation hold them up . if our sins had not supported them , to plague us , god , that maketh men to be of one minde in a howse , would have made our kings , as our parliaments , to heare see and abhor them ; and not have suffered them to be so deafe and blinde on that side , to the breeding of such longe and dangerous divisions betweene the head and members of the parliament : but for sinne , he taketh away the speech from the faithfull counsellors , and judgment from the ancient . hence it was that god suffered the duke to get so many to be created and made earles , vicounts , barons and bishops , & them to be brought into the parliament to uphold his faction , and carrie out his partie in the upper howse by multitude of voices , after the popes example in the counsell of trent . a strange way and merit to atcheive honour , if i miscall it not , beeing so attained by them that justifie the wicked for a reward , what true honour have such men ? it is ● greate honour indeede to a mā to be made a peere of the realme , and by virtue thereof , to sit as a iudge in parliament , to heare causes , and to stablish and ordaine lawes ; matters so greatly concerning a nation : but that is , if it be for the right furtherance of gods kingdom , true religion and justice , and the manifest good of the common wealth ; herein they are gods , in a laudable sense and worthy reverence : but if by them these things shall goe backward , and the contrary be brought forward ; if a man shall attaine and hold honours for favouring poperie arminianisme , or neutralitie , or for conniving at such practises as those of the duke , or for justifying delinquents , and getting parliaments for theire sakes dissolved , or for overthrowing theire lawes and priviledges , is there true honour in such a one ? it is indeede as if one attained or held honours by murders , treasons , adulteries , thefts , lies and the like ; or by slobering them over , as som write of the smothered murder of marques hambleton and others , and as if a man should get the honour to be a iudge by overthrowing the lawes . and they that get or hould honours and offices by getting parliaments thus dissolved , and providing that there may be no more , or at least not free to touch all ill practises and persons ; it is , as if one should get the honour of a iudge for overthrowing the court of justice , or for providing that no causes might be heard , or at least that divers might not come to true judgment , but either be smothered and throwen out , or carried by corrupted voices . what poore ploughman haveing the knowledge and feare of god , is not much happier then such greate ones with theire thus bought offices and honours ? and yet who sees not , that those who for such services to the duke and his faction , have beene made earles , vicounts and barons are exceding many , and three fould more then the ancient nobilitie ? at least then those of them that have constantly distasted such vile practises , and all communion with them ? the like might be saide of bishops , deanes and heads of colledges . and therefore i am perswaded , that who so lives but a few yeares shall see a greater rot of nobilitie and prince-like clergie , then ever was seene in this land , which i write not as prophesying ( for god forbid that i should be so arrogant , as to make my selfe a prophet or the sonne of a prophet ) but as gathering it from the never failing word and truth of god in such places of that of isaiah , woe unto them that speake good of evill , and evil of good , which justifie the wicked for a reward , and take away the righteousnes of the righteous man from him . therefore as the flame devoureth the stuble , and as the chaffe is consumed of the flame , so theire roote shall be as rottennesse , and theire bud shall rise up like the dust , &c. a good christian should rather refuse & lay downe offices and honours , then take or hold them on such conditions . and yet god knowes verie few have of late yeares attained or hold any greate offices or honours , but on such termes , or at least by reason of some participation with them . witnes those furthest from court , and least infected , the leiftenants , deputie-leiftenants , iudges , iustices , majors , aldermen and other officers , made to further or exact , and wringe from the people , benevolences and loanes , and to straine for them or imprison such as stood out , or make them serve as souldiers , or lodge and maintain such unruly and unpaide souldiers , as were billited , in theire townes and villages , for no other service then to punish them : things set a foote to hinder the calling of parliaments , breede divisions , if not rebellions , make the land weary of warres for defence of religion ; and so to save the trecherie of the duke and his confederates from comming to triall : who in the meane while have ever found the commons new greivances to put the old accusations and proofes out of theire mindes . many greate complaints have beene made against such men : god graunt the king , may give them an effectuall hearing in a free parliament , least otherwise men fearing to be imprisoned & crushed , as others have beene , should not speake what they know ; and so trecherie should still prevaile , and hinder the king of the happines following the due execution of justice : for the throne is established by iustice . a kinge that iudgeth the poore in righteousnes his throne shall be established for euer . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a20838-e230 prov. 8.15 . 1. king. 12 26. 2. chro. 17 10. 1. chro. 29 ●3 . ●●u . 11.15 ●●●l . 22.8 psa . 65.7 psa . 110.2 reu. 1.5 . prov. 12.3 . esa . 30.1 . and chap. 31 1. ● . chro. 16 pro 16.12 . a the papists . see the replie to fishers praefac . mat. 10 . 3● pro. 1.5.9 . pro. 24.21 eccles . 8.9 . chap. 4.13 . pro. 3.5 . pro. 23.4 . pro. 19.20 . vers . 27. pro. 14.28 1. king. 12 by depriving them of their priviledges to reform abuses in church and common-wealth . mar. 3.24 . pro. 20.6 . and ier. 5.1 pro. 13.10 pro. 14.6 . chap. 16.27 28.30 . isa . 29.21 . pro. 17.15 pro. 29.12 pro. 19.6 . isa . 1.23 . pro. 28.12 . pro. 29.4 . pro. 29. pro. 28 . 2● gen. 49.6 . mat. 11.6.19 . ier , 38 . 2● . eccles . 10.16 . pro. 14.35 . chap. 16.13 . chap. 20. ● , 20.26 . pro. 21.1 . chap. 22.10 11. pro. 25.1.2 pro. 26.26 ●eidge of breda pa. 8 pro. 17.11 . 2. cor. 5.20 . mat. 20.2 1. pet. 5.3 mat 22.34 2 , tim. 2.4 2. chro. 17 5. 1. king. 11.14 . chap. 26 12.15 2. king. 9.14 . 1 sam. 2.30 . pro. 28.4.5 pro 11.14 . & chap. 15.22 . pro. 29.16 . pro. 24.21 pro. 28.2 . psa . 68.6 . ioh. 12.20 . psa . 82.1 6. isa . 5.20.23.24 . psa . 1.4 . ●ro . 29.14 a choice narrative of count gondamor's transactions during his embassy in england by that renowned antiquary, sir robert cotton, knight and baronet ; exposed to publick light, for the benefit of the whole nation by a person of honour. vox populi scott, thomas, 1580?-1626. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a70986 of text r10208 in the english short title catalog (wing s2083). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 61 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 19 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a70986 wing s2083 estc r10208 11907078 ocm 11907078 50733 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a70986) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 50733) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 511:12, 684:11) a choice narrative of count gondamor's transactions during his embassy in england by that renowned antiquary, sir robert cotton, knight and baronet ; exposed to publick light, for the benefit of the whole nation by a person of honour. vox populi scott, thomas, 1580?-1626. rowland, john, 1606-1660. cotton, robert, sir, 1571-1631. [7], 31 p. : port. printed for john garfield ..., london : 1659. dedication signed: john rowland. erroneously attributed by the editor to cotton. first published, 1620, with title: vox populi. reel 684:11 lacks portrait. reproduction of original in huntington library. item at 684:11 has wing number c6484 (entry cancelled in wing 2nd ed.). eng gondomar, diego sarmiento de acuña, -conde de, 1567-1626. great britain -foreign relations -spain. spain -foreign relations -great britain. great britain -politics and government -1603-1625. a70986 r10208 (wing s2083). civilwar no a choice narrative of count gondamor's transactions during his embassy in england· by that renowned antiquary, sir robert cotton, knight and scott, thomas 1659 11024 26 0 0 0 0 0 24 c the rate of 24 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the c category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2005-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-05 taryn hakala sampled and proofread 2006-05 taryn hakala text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion portrait of count gondamor the ryght honorable diego sarmiento de acũna earle of gondomor extraordinarie ambassadour from the catholike king of spaine to his maiestie the king of great britannie . ao . 1622. jusculptum a simone passeo eidemque comin dd. are to be sould by thomas jennier a choice narrative of count gondamor's transactons during his embassy in england . by that renowned antiquary , sir robert cotton , knight and baronet . exposed to publick light , for the benefit of the whole nation . by a person of honour . london , printed for john garfield , at the printing press for pictures , near the royal exchange in cornhil , over against popes-head alley , 1659. to the right worshipful , sir vvilliam pastons , knight , and baronet . sir , the general voice is , that you are a great lover of rarities , whence it is that i dedicate this to you , and i hope you will make my apologie your self , with that of seneca , non malè meruit , sed benè judicavit : the age is full of voluminous books that are able to make the reader nauseate , were he not recreated by diversion ; this i present you with , is but small , yet were it wyer ▪ drawn to its full length , it would make a huge volume : for it includes the actions of king james , earl gondamor , bishop bancroft , sir walter rawleigh , and some other famous men , of whom several histories might be compiled : i may compare it to gold , that in a small quantity is of more worth than a great deal of base coin , for it comprehends much matter in a few words . and for the farther commendation , it bears in the frontispiece the name of that ever famous antiquary , sir robert cotton , who was never wont to treasure up any thing but what was rare ; nor can i certainly say , whether it were pen'd by himself or not . i insist the more upon him , because it was my chance to be one whom he vouchsafed to take by the hand a little before his death , i being sent to him by my lord privie seal , to acquaint him that by my lords mediation , the king was reconciled to him : but his answer was , that his heart was broken , and that it was now too late : whereby it appears that princes are sometimes abused , and mis-informed , to the ruine of the best men . sir walter rawleighs unfortunate end proves the same , who was circumvented by the cunning practises of earl gondamor , whereby to the unspeakable detriment of posterity , he was prevented from setting forth the second part to compleate the worlds history , which he had made ready for the press . gondamor is yet fresh in memory of many men , who knew him when he lay leiger here from the king of spain ; and i never heard or read of any embassadour that acted his part with more dexterity for his masters glory and advantage than he did , for however he had to deal with a very wise prince ( as he sayes ) yet like another mercury he could soon with his facetious words and gestures pipe king james a sleep , and did sometimes take hold of the helm himself , and was very near to have run the ship a ground , or to have split her upon the rocks , the influence of his ill aspect , and eclipsing the sun-beams is hardly over unto this present age . don caro columbus who was sent hither , was thought by many judicious men , to be the more prudent , and that gondamor was but a buffon compared with him : yet when he departed , he was fain to leave this motto behind him , revertar , emplying , that he had not accomplished what he came about : but gondamor put a period to what he had designed ; and perhaps it had been better for our nation if that politick spaniard had never tr●d upon english ground . i should be injurious to your patience if i should detain you longer in the suburbs : therefore i hasten to subscribe my self , your worships very humble servant , john rowland . a choice narrative of count gondamor's transactions during his embassy in england . his catholick majesty had given commandement , that presently upon the return of signior gondamor , his leiger embassadour from england , ( 1618. ) a special meeting of all the principal states of spain , ( who were of his council ) together with the presidents of the council of castile , of aragon , of italy , of portugal , of the indies , of the treasure , of war , and especially of the holy inquisition , should be held at mouson in aragon , the duke of lerma being appointed president , who should make declaration of his masters pleasure , take account of the embassadours service , and consult touching the state and religion respectively , to give satisfaction to his holiness nuncio , who was desired to make one in this assembly , concerning certain overtures of peace and amity with the english , and other catholick projects which might engender suspition and jealousie betwixt the pope and his majesty , if the mistery were not unfolded and the ground of these counsels discovered afore-hand . this made all men expect the embassadors return , with a kind of longing that they might behold the issue of this meeting , and see what good for the catholick cause the embassadours employment had effected in england , answerable to the general opinion conceaved of his wisdome , and what further project would be set on foot to become matter for publick discourse ; at length he arrived and had present notice given him from his majesty , that before he came to the court he should give up his account to this assembly , which command he gladly received as an earnest of his acceptable service , and gave thanks that for his honor he might publish himself in so judicious a presence ; he came first on the day appointed to the council chamber , ( except the secretaries ) not long after all the council of state and their presidents met , there wanted only the duke of lerma , and the popes nuncio , who were the head and feet of all the assembly . these two stayed long away for divers respects , the nuncio , that he might express the greatness of his master , and lose the sea of rome , no respect by his over-sight , but that the benches might be full to observe him at his approach . the duke of lerma to express the authority and dignity of his own person , and to shew how a servant put in place of his master , exacts more duty of his fellow servants then the master himself ; these two stayed till all the rest were weary of waiting , but at length the nuncio supposing all the council set , lanched forth and came to road in the council chamber , where after mutual discharge of duty from the company , and blessing upon it from him , he sate down in sollemn silence grieving at his over-sight , when he saw the duke of lerma absent , with whom he strove as a competitor for pompe and glory . the duke had sent before , and understood of the nuncio's being there , and stayed something the longer that his boldness might be observed , wherein he had his desire , for the nuncio having a while patiently driven away the time with several complements , to several persons , had now almost run his court-ship out of breath , but that the duke of villa hermosa , president of the council of aragon , fed his humour by the discharge of his own discontentment , upon occasion of the duke of lerma his absence , and beckned signior gondomor to him , using this speech in the hea●ing of the nuncio , after a sporting manner ; how unhappy are the people where you have been , first for their souls , being hereticks , then for their estates , where the name of a favourite is so familiar ; how happy is our state where the keyes of life and death are so easily come by , ( pointing at the nuncio ) hanging at every religious girdle , and where the doors of justice and mercy , stand equally open to all men without respect of persons ; the embassadour knew his ironical stroak to be intended only as a by-blow at the nuncio , but fully at the duke of lerma , ( whose greatness begun now to wax heavy toward declension ) and therefore he returneth this answer . your excellency knoweth , the estate is happy where wise favourites govern kings , if the kings themselves be foolish , or where wise kings are , who having favourites , either foolish , or the wiser sort , will not yet be governed by them . the state of england ( howsoever you hear of it in spain or rome ) is too happy in the last kind , they need not care what the favourite be , though for the most part he prevent all kind of suspition in that kind , being chosen rather as a schollar to be taught ▪ and trained up , then as a tutor to teach : of this they are sure no prince exceeds theirs in personal abilities ; so that nothing could be added to him in my wish , but this one , that he were our vassal and a catholick . with that the noise without gave notice of the duke of lerma's entrance , at whose first approach the whole house arose , though some later then other , as envy had hung plummets on them to keep them down ; the nuncio only sate unmoved , the duke cherished the observance of the rest with a familiar kind of carriage , too high for curtesie as not neglecting their demeanors , but expecting it , and after a filial obeysance to the pope his nuncio , sate down as president under the cloth of estate , but somewhat lower , then after a space given for admiration , preparation , and attention , he began to speak in this manner . the king my master ( holding it more honor to do , then to discourse , to take from you the expectation of oratory , used rather in pulpits and schools then in councils , ) hath appointed me president in this holy , wise , learned , and noble assembly , a man naturally of a slow speech , and not desirous to quicken it , by art or industry ; as holding action only proper to a spaniard as i am by birth , to a souldier as i am by profession , to a king , as i am by representation ; take this therefore briefly , for declaration both of the cause of this meeting , and my master his further pleasure . there hath been in all times since the worlds foundation , one chief commander or monarch upon the earth , this needs no further proof then a back looking into our own memories and histories of the world ; neither now is there any question ( except with infidels and hereticks , ) of their own chief commander in spirituals , in the unity of whose person , the members of the visible church are included . but there is some doubt of the chief commander in temporals , who as the moon to the sun might govern by night , as this by day , and by the sword of justice , compel to come in , or cut off , such as infringe the authority of the keys : this hath been so well understood long since by the infallible chair , as that thereby upon the declension of the roman empire , and the increase of romes spiritual splendor , ( who thought it unnatural that their sun should be sublunary ) our nation was by the bishop of rome , selected before other people , to conquer & rule the nations with a rod of iron . and our king to that end adorned with the title of catholick king , as a name above all names under the sun ( which is ) under gods vicar general himself , the catholick bishop of souls ; to instance this point by comparison ; look first upon the grand signior , the great turk , who hath a large title but not universal , for besides that he is an infidel , his command is confined within his own territories , and he stiled not emperour of the world , but of the turk and their vassals only . amongst christians , the defender of the faith , was a glorious stile , whilst the king , to whom it was given by his holiness , continued worthy of it , but he stood not in the truth , neither yet those that succeed him , & beside it was no great thing to be called , what every christian ought to be , defender of the faith , no more then to be stiled with france , the most christian king , wherein he hath the greatest part of his title common with most christians ; the emperour of rome , russia , germany , extend not their limits further than their stiles which are local , only my master the most catholick king , is for dominion of bodies , as the universal bishop for dominion of souls , over that part of the world which we call america ( except where the english intruders usurp ) and the greatest part of europe , with some part of asia , and africa , by actual possession , and over all the rest by real and indubitable right , yet acknowledgeth this right to be derived from the free and fatherly donation of his holiness , who as the sun to the moon lends lustre by reflection to this kingdome , to this king , to this king of kings my master , what therefore he hath howsoever gotten , he may keep and hold , what he can get from any other king , or commander , by any stratagem of war , or pretence of peace , he may take , for it is theirs only by usurpation , except they held of him from whom all civil power is derived , as ecclesiastical , from his holiness ; what the ignorant call treason , if it be on his behalf is truth , and what they call truth , if it be against him is treason ; and thus all our peace or war , our treatises , marriages , and whatsoever intendment else of ours , aims at this principal end , to get the whole possession of the world , and to reduce all to unity under one temporal head , that our king may truly be what he is stiled , the catholick & universal king ; as faith is therefore universal , & the church is universal , yet so as it is under one head the pope , whose seat is and must necessarily be at rome , where saint peter sate ; so must all men be subject to our and their catholick king , whose particular seat is here in spaine , his universal every where . this point of state , or rather of faith , we see the catholick roman religion hath taught every where , and almost made natural ; so that by a key of gold , by intelligence , or by way of confession , my master is able to unlock the secrets of every prince , and to withdraw their subjects allegiance , as if they knew themselves rather my master his subjects in truth , then theirs , whom their birth hath taught to miscal soveraign ; we see this in france , & in england especially , where at once they learn both to obey the church of rome , as their mother , to acknowledg the catholick king as their father , & to hate their own king as an heretick and an usurper ; so we see religion , and the state are coupled together ; laugh and weep , flourish , and fade , and participate of eithers fortune growing upon one stock of pollicy : i speak this the more boldly here in this presence , because i speak here before none but natives , persons who are partakers both in themselves & issues , of these triumphs of antient rome , and therefore such as besides their oaths it concerns to be secret ; neither need we restrain this freedome of speech from the nuncio his presence , because besides that , he is a spaniard by birth , he is a jessuit by profession and order , devised by the providence of gods vicar , to accomplish this monarchy the better , all of them being approriate thereunto ▪ and as publick agents , and privy counsellors to this end , whereas the wisdome of this state is to be beheld with admiration , that in temporal wars , it imployes , or at least trusts none but natives ; so in castile , portugal , or aragon : so in spirituals , it imployes none but the jesuites , and so imployes them that they be generally reputed ▪ how remote soever they be from us , how much soever obliged to others , yet still to be ours , and to be of the spanish faction , though they be polonians , english , french , and residing in these countries and courts ; the penitents therefore , and all with whom they deal and converse in their spiritual traffick , must needs be so too , & so our catholick king must needs have an invisible kingdome and an unknown number of subjects in all dominions , who will shew themselves and their faiths , by their works of disobedience , whensoever we shall have occasion to use that jesuitical vertue of theirs ; this therefore being the principal end of all our councils , according to those holy directions of our late pious king phillip , the second , to his son now surviving , to advance the catholick roman religion , and the catholick spanish dominion together , we are now met by his majesties command , to take an account of you ( signior gondomor ) who have been embassadour for england , to see what good you have effected there , towards the advancement of this work , and what further project shall be thought fit to be set on foot to this end , and this is briefly the occasion of our meeting . then the embassdour who attended bare-headed all the time , with a low obeysance began thus ; this most laudable custome of our kings , in bringing all officers to such an account , where a review and notice is taken of good and bad service upon the determination of their imployments , resembles those roman triumphs , appointed for the souldiers , and as in them it provoked to courage , so in us it stirs up to diligence ; our master converseth by his agents with all the world , yet with none of more regard then the english , where matter of much diversity is often presented through the several humors of the state , and those of our religion and faction , that no instruction can be sufficient for such negotiations , but much must be left in trust to the discretion , judgment , and diligence of the incumbent : i speak not this for my own glory , i having been restrained , and therefore deserved meanly , but to forewarn on the behalf of others , that there may be more scope allowed them to deal in , as occasion shall require . briefly this rule delivered by his excellency , was the card and compass , by which i scaled to make profit of all humors , and by all means to advance the state of the romish religion , and the spanish faction together , upon all advantage either of oath or the breach of them , for this an old observation but a true , that for our piety to rome , his holiness did not only give , but also bless us in the conquest of the new world ; and thus in our pious perseverance , we hope still to be conquerors of the old . and to this end whereas his excellency , in his excellent discourse , seems to extend our outward forces , & private aims , only against hereticks , and restrain them in true amity with those of the romish religion : this i affirm sure , because there can be no security , but such princes as are now romish catholicks , may turn hereticks hereafter , my aims have ever been to make profit of all , and to make my master , master of all , who is a faithful and constant son of his mother rome : and to this end i beheld the endeavours of our kings of happy memory , how they have archeived kingdomes and conquests by this policy , rather then by open hostility , and that without difference , as well from their allies and kinsfolks , men of the same religion and profession , such as were those of naples , france , and navarr , though i do not mention portugal now united to us , and savoy that hardly stept from us , as of an adverse and heretical faith ; neither is this rule left off , as the present kingdome of france , the state of venice , the low countries , bo●emia , now all labouring for life under our plots , apparently manifest this way ; therefore i bend my engines in england , as your honours shall particularly hear ; neither should i need to repeat a catalogue of all the service i have there done , because this state hath been acquainted with many of them heretofore by the intercourse so wrought , that the state should be rather rob'd and weakned ( which is our aim ) then strengthened , as the english vainly hope ; besides in a small time , they should work so far into the body of the state , by buying offices , and the like , whether by sea or land , of justice civil or ecclesiastical , in church or state , all being for mony exposed to sale , that with the help of the jesuites , they would undermine them with meer wit , without gunpowder , and leave the king but a few subjects , whose faiths he might relie upon , whilst they were of a faith adverse to his , for what catholick body that is sound at the heart , can abide a corrupt and heretical head . with that the duke of medina dell rio secco , president of their council of war , and one of the council of state , rose up and said , his predecessors had felt the force and wit of the english in eighty eight ; and he had cause to doubt , that the catholicks themselves that were english , and not fully jesuited , upon any forraign invasion , would rather take part with their own king , though an heretick ; than with his catholick majesty , a stranger . the embassadour desired him to be of another mind ; since first , for the persons , generally their bodies by long disuse of arms were disabled , and their minds effeminated by peace and luxury , far from that they were in 88 , when they were daily flesh'd in our bloud , and made hearty by customary conquests : and for the affections of those whom they call recusants , ( quoth he ) i know the bitterness of their inveterate malice , and have seen so far into their natures , as i dare say they will be for spain a●ainst all the world : yea ( quoth he ) i assure your honours i could not imagine so basely , of their king and state as i have heard them speak , nay their rage hath so perverted their judgements , that what i my self have seen and heard proceed from their king beyond admiration even to astonishment , they have sleighted , misreported , scorned and perverted to his disgrace , and my rejoycing , magnifying in the mean time our defects for graces . here the duke pastrana , president of the council of italy , steps up and said , he had lately read a book of one cambdens , called his annals , where writing of a treaty of marriage long since , betwixt the english elizabeth , and the french duke of anjowe ; he there observes , that the marriage was not seriously intended on either side , but politickly pretended by both states counterchangably , that each might effect their own ends : there ( quoth he ) the english had the better , and i have some cause to doubt , since they can dissemble as well as we , that they may have their aims under ▪ hand as we have , and intend the match as little as we do : and this ( quoth he ) i beleive the rather , because their king as he is wise to consult and consider , so he is a constant master of his word , and hath written and given strong reasons against matches made with persons of contrary religion ; which reasons no other man can answer , and therefore doubtlesse he will not go from , nor counsel his son to forsake these rules , laid down so deliberately . your excellency mistakes ( quoth the embassador ) the advantage was then on the side of the english , because the french sought the match ; now it must be on ours , because the english seek it , who will grant any thing rather than break off ; and besides have no patience to temporize or dissemble in this or any other design , as the french have long since well observed ; for their necessities will give them neither time , nor rest , nor hope elsewhere to be supplied : as for their king i cannot search into his heart , i must beleive others that presume to know his mind , hear his words , and read his writings , and these relate what i have delivered : but for the rest of the people , as the number of those that are truly religious are ever the least , and for the most part of least account , so it is there ; where if an equal opposition be made betwixt their truly religious and ours , the remainder which will be the greater number , will stand indifferent , and fall to the stronger side where there is most hope of gain and glory , for those two are the gods of the magnitude and multitude ; now these see apparently no certain supplies of their wants , but from us . yes ( quoth the duke ) for even now you said , the general state loathing the match , would redeem the fear thereof with half their estates ; it is therefore but calling a parliament , and the business were soon effected . a parliament ! ( sayes the embassadour ) nay , therein lies one of the chiefest services i have done , in working such a dislike between the king and the lower house , by the endeavours of that honourable earl , and admirable engine , a sure servant to us , and the catholick cause whilst he lived , as that the king will never endure parliament again , but rather suffer absolute want , than receive conditional relief from his subjects ; besides , the matter was so cunningly carried the last parliament , that as in the powder-plot the fact effected should have been imputed to the puritans , the gteatest zealots of that calvinian sect ; so the propositions which dam'd up the proceedings of this parliament , howsoever they were invented by romish catholicks , and by them intended to disturbe that session , and yet were propounded in favour of the puritans , as if they had been hammered in their forge , which very name and shadow the king hates , being a sufficient aspersion to disgrace any person to say he is such , and a sufficient bar to stay any suit , and utterly to cross it , to say it smells of , or enclines to that party : moreover , there are so many about him who blow this coal , fireing their own stakes ; if a parliament should enquire into their actions , that they use all their art and industry to withstand such a council , perswading the king he may rule by his absolute prerogative without a parliament , and thus furnish himself by marriage with us , and other domestick projects without subsidies , when levying of subsidies and taxes have been the only use princes have made of such assemblies : and whereas some free minds amongst them resembling our nobility , who preserve the priviledge of subjects against soveraign invasion , call for the course of the common law , ( a law proper to their nation ) these other time-se●vers cry the laws down , and up the prerogative ; whereby they prey upon the subjects by suits and exactions , milk the state and keep it bare , procure themselves much suspition amongst the better and more judicious sort ▪ and ha●e amongst the oppressed commons ; and yet if there should be a parliament , such a course is taken , as they shall never chuse their shire knights and burgesses freely , who make the greater half of the body thereof ; for these being to be elected by most voices of the free-holders in these countries where such elections are to be made , are carried which way the great persons , who have lands in these countries , please ; who by their letters command their tennants , followers , and friends , to nominate such as adhere to them ▪ and for the most part are of our faction , and respect their own benefit or grace , rather than their countries good ; yea , the country-people themselves , will every one stand by the great man , their lord , or neighbour , or master , without regard of his honesty , wisdom , or religion , that which they aim at ( as i am assured by faithful intelligence , is to please their landlord ) and so to renew their lease ; in which regard they will betray their country and religion too , and elect any man , that may most profit their particular : therefore it is unlikely there should ever be a parliament , and impossible the kings debts should be paid , his wants sufficiently repaired , and himself left full-handed by such a course ; and indeed , as it is generally thought , by any course but by a marriage with us ; for which cause , whatsoever project we list to attempt , enter safely at the door , whilst their policy lies asleep , and will not see the danger : i have made tryal of these particulars , and find few exceptions in this general rule . thereby i and their own wants together , have kept them from furnishing their navie , which being the wall of their island , and once the strongest in christendom , lies now at road , unarm'd , and fit for ruine ; if ever we doubted their strength by sea , now we need not ; there are but few ships or men able to look abroad , or live in a storm , much lesse in a sea fight ; this i effected by bearing them in hand , the furnishing of their navie bred suspition in my master , and so would avert him from the match , the hope of which , rather than they would lose , they would lose almost their hope of heaven . secondly , all their voyages to the east indies , i permit rather with a colourable resistance than a serious , because i see them not helpful but hurtful to the state in general , carrying out gold and treasure , bringing home spice , silks , feathers , and the like toyes , and insensibly wasting the common stock of coin and bullion , while it fills the custom-house , and some private purses , who thereby are enabled to keep this discommodity on foot by bribes , especially so many great persons ( even states-men ) being adventurers and sharers in the gain ; besides this , wasteth their marriners , not one of ten returning , which i am glad to hear , for they are the men we stand in fear of . thirdly , their west indian voyages , i withstand them in earnest , because they begin to inhabite there , and fortifie themselves , and may in time perhaps raise another england , to withstand our new spain in america ; as this old england opposeth our present state , and clouds the glorious extents thereof in europe : besides , there they trade for commodities without waste of their treasure , and often return gold for knives , glasses , and the like trifles , and that without such loss of their marriners , as in other places ; therefore i crossed whatsoever intendments were projected for virginia , or the bermudoes , because i see they may be hereafter really helpful unto them , as now they serve for drains to unload their populous state , which else would over-flow its own banks , by continuance of peace , and turn head upon it self , or make a body fit for any rebellion . and so far i prevailed herein , as i caused most of the recusants , who were sharers , to with-draw their ventures and discourage the work ; so that besides private persons unable to effect much , nothing was done by the publick purse : and we know by experience , that such voyages and plantations are not effected without great means to sustain great difficulties , and with an unwearied resolution and power to meet all hazards and disasters with strong helps and continual supplies , or else the undertaking prove idle . fourthly , by this means likewise , i kept the voluntary forces from venice , till it was almost too late to set out , and had a hope that work of secrecy , should have broken forth to action , before those could have arived to succour them . fifthly , i put hard for the cautionary towns , which our late king philip , of happy memory so aimed at , accounting them the keyes of the low countries , that they might be delivered to his catholick majesty , as to the proper owner ; and had perhaps prevailed , but that profest enemy to our state and church who dyed shortly after , gave council to restore them to the rebellious states , as one that knew popular common-wealths to be better neighbours , surer friends , and less dangerous enemies , than monarchs ; and so by this practice rescued them from my hands , and furnished the exchequer from thence for that time ; neither was i much grieved at this , because the dependancy they had before of the english , seemed now to be cut off , and the interest the english had in them and their cause , to be taken away , which must be fully and finally effected , before we can hope either to conquer them , or england , who holding together are too strong for the world at sea ; and therefore must be disunited before they can be overcome . this point of state is acknowledged by our most experienced pentioner , and sure friend , mounsier barnevel● , whose succeeding plots for this end , shall bear witness for the depth of his judgement . sixtly , but the last service i did for the state , was not the least , when i underwrought that admirable engine , rawleigh , and so was the cause , his voyage threatning much danger and damage to us was overthrown , and himself returning in disgrace , i pursued almost to death ; neither ( i hope ) need i say almost , if all things hit right , and all strings hold ; but the determination of my commission would not permit me longer to stay to follow him to execution , which i desired the rather , that by concession i might have wrung from the inconsiderate english , an acknowledgment of my masters right in those places , punishing him for attempting there , though they might prescribe for the first foot ; and this i did to stop their mouths hereafter , and because i would quench the heat and valour of that nation , that none should dare hereafter to undertake the like , or be so hardy as to look out at sea , or breath upon our coasts ; and lastly , because i would bring to an ignominious death , that old pirate , who is one of the last now living , bread under that deceased english virago , and by her flesht in our blood and ruin : to do this i had many agents , first , divers courtiers who were hungry and gaped wide for spanish gold ; secondly , some that bare him at the heart for inveterate quarrels ; thirdly , some forraigners , who having in vain sought the elixer hitherto , hope to find it in his head ; fourthly , all men of the romish faith , who are of the spanish faction , and would have been my blood-hounds to hunt him or any such to death willingly , as persons hating the prosperity of their country , and the valour , worlh , and wit of their own nation ; in respect of us and our catholick cause ; lastly , i left behind me such an instrument composed artificially , of a secular understanding , and a religious profession , as he is every way adopted to scrue himself into the closet of the heart , and to work upon feminine levity , who in that country , have masculine spirits , to command and pursue their plots unto death . this therefore i account as done , and rejoyce in it , knowing it will be very profitable to us , grateful to our faction there , and what though it be cross to the people , or the clergy , we that only negotiate for our gain , & treat about this marriage for their own ends , can conclude or break off when we see our time , without respect of such , as can neither profit us , nor hurt us ; for i have certain knowledg , that the commons generally are so effeminate and cowardly , that they at their musters , which are seldome and slight , only for the benefit of their muster masters of a 1000 souldiers , scarce a hundred dares discharge a musket , and of that hundred , scarce one can use it like a souldier ; and for their arms they are so ill provided , that one corslet serveth many men , when such as shew their armour one day in one place , lend them to their friends in other places to shew , when they have use ; and this if it be spied , is only punished by a mulct in the purse , which is the officers aim , who for his advantage , winks at the rest , and is glad to find and cherish by connivance profitable faults , that increase his revenues ; thus stands the state of that poor miserable country , which had never more people and fewer men ; so that if my master should resolve upon an invasion , the time never fits as at this present , security of this marriage , and the disuse of armes having cast them into a dead sleep , a strong and wakning faction being ever amongst them ready to asist us , and they being unprovided of ships , or arms , or hearts to fight , an universal discontentment following all men : this i have from their muster masters , and captains , who are many of them of our religion , or of none , and so ours ready to be bought and sold , and desirous to be my masters servants in fee . thus much for the state particularly , wherein i have bent my self to weaken them and strengthen us , and in all these have advanced the catholick cause , but especially in procuring favours for all such as favour that side , & crossing the other by all means ; and this i practice my selfe , and give out to be generally practised by others , that whatsoever success i find , i still boast of the victory , which i do to dishearten the hereticks , and to make them suspitious one of another , especially of their princes best states-men , and to keep our own in courage , who by this means increase , otherwise would be in danger to decay . now for religion , and such designs as fetch their pretence from thence , i beheld the policy of that late bishop of theirs , bancroft , who stirred up and maintained a dangerous schisme , betwixt our secular priests and jesuits , by which he discovered much weakness to the dishonour of our clergy , and prejudice of our cause ; this taught me as it did barnevelt in the low countries , to work secretly and insensibly betwixt their conformists , and non-conformists , and to cast an eye as far as the orcades , knowing that business might be stirred up there that might hinder proceedings in england , as the french ever used scotland to call home the forces of england , and so to prevent their conquests , the effect you have partly seen in the earl of argile , who sometimes was captain for the king and church , against the great marq. huntley , and now fights under our banner at bruxels , leaving the crosses of st. george , and st. andrew , for the cross of st. james : neither do our hopes end here , but we dayly expect more revolters , or at least such a disunion as will never admit solid reconcilement , but will send some to us , & some to amsterdam , for the king ( a wise and vigilant prince ) labouring for a perfect union betwixt both the kingdomes which he sees cannot be effected ; where the least ceremony in religion is continued diverse , sharp & bitter brambles from thence arising , whilst some striving for honour more then for truth , prefers their own way and will before the general peace of the church , and the edification of souls , he i say seeks to work both churches to uniformity , and to this end made a journey into scotland , but with no such success as he expected , for divers of ours attended the train , who stirred up humors and factions , and cast in scruples and doubts to hinder and cross the proceedings , yea those that seem most adverse to us , & averse to our opinions by their disobedience and example , help forward our plots , and these are incouraged by a factious and heady multitude , by a faint and irresolute clergy , many false brethren being amongst their bishops , and the prodigal nobility , who maintain these stirs in the church , & that thereby they may safely keep their church livings in their hands , which they have most sacrilegiously seized upon in the time of the first deformation , and which they fear would be recovered by the clergy , if they could be brought to a brotherly peace and agreement , for they have seen the king very bountiful in this kind , having lately increased their pentions , and setled the clergy a competent maintenance , and besides out of his own means which in that kingdome is none of the greatest , having brought in and restored whole bishopricks to the church , which were before in lay-mens hands , a great part of the nobilities estate consisting of spiritual lands , which makes them cherish the puritanical faction , who will be content to be trencher fed with scraps and crums , and contributions , and arbitrary benevolence , from their lords , and lairds , and ladies and their adherents and followers . but ( quoth the inquisitor general ) how if this act of the kings , wherein he is most earnest and constant , should so far thrive , as it should effect a perfect union in the church and common-wealth , i tell you it would in my conceit , be a great blow to us , if by a general meeting , a general peace should be concluded , and all their forces bent against rome , and we see their politick king aims at this . true ( quoth gondamor ) but he takes his mark amiss howsoever he understands the people and their inclination better then any man , and better knowes how to temper their passions and affections , for besides that he is hindered , there in scotland underhand , by some for the reasons above recited , and by the other great ones of ours , who are in great place and authority amongst them , he is likewise deluded in this point , even by his own clergy at home in england , who pretend to be most forward in the cause , for they considering if a general uniformity were wrought , what an inundation would follow , whilst all or most of theirs would flock thither for preferment , ( as men pressing towards the sun for light and heat ) and so their own should be unprovided ; these therefore i say , howsoever they bear the king fairly in hand , are under hand against it , and stand stiff for all ceremonies , to be obtruded with a kind of absolute necessity upon them , when the other will not be almost drawn to receive any , when if an abatement were made , doubtless they might be drawn to meet in the midd'st ; but there is no hope of this with them , where neither party deals seriously , but only for the present to satisfie the king , and so there no fear on either side , that affections and opinions , so divers , will ever be reconciled and made one , their bishop of st. andrews stands almost alone in the cause , and pulls upon himself the labour , the loss and envy , of all with little proficiency , whilst the adverse faction have as sure friends , & good intelligence about the king , as he hath ; and the same post , perhaps , that brings a packet from the king to him , brings another from their abettors to them , acquainting them with the whole proceedings and councils , and preparing them aforehand for opposition , this i know for truth , and this i rejoyce in as conducing much to the catholick good . but ( quoth the nuncio ) are there none of the heretical preachers busie about this match , me thinks their fingers should itch to be writing , and their tongues burn to be prating about this business , especially the puritanical sort , howsoever the most temperate , and indifferent , carry themselves . the truth is my lord , ( quoth the embassadour ) that privately what they can , and publickly what they dare , both in england and scotland , all for the most part , except such as be of our faith , oppose this match to the uttermost , by prayers , counsels , speeches , & wishes ; but if any be found longer tongued than his fellows , we have still means to charm their sauciness , and to silence them , to expel them the court , to disgrace them , and cross their preferments , with the imputation of pragmatick puritanism : for instance , i will relate this one particular ; a doctor of theirs , and chapline in ordinary to the king , gave many reasons , in a letter , against this marriage ; and propounded a way how to supply the kings wants otherwise : which i understanding , so wrought underhand , that the doctor was committed , and hardly escaped the danger of this presumptious admonition ; though the state knew his intent was honest , and his reasons good : wherein we on the other-side ( both here , and with the arch-duke ) have had books penn'd , and pictures printed directly against their king and state , for which their embassadors have sought satisfaction of us in vain , not being able to stay the prince , or so much as to touch the hem of the authors garment . but we have an evasion which hereticks miss , our clergy being freed from the temporal sword , and so not included in our treaties and conditions of peace , but at liberty to give any heretical prince the mate when they list , whereas they are lyable to accompt and hazard , and are muzled for barking , when ours may both bark , and bite too : the council-table , and the star-chamber , do so terrifie them as they dare not riot , but run at the stirrop in excellent command , and come in at the least rebuke ; they call their preaching in many places standing up , but they crowch and dare not , stand not up , nor quest , behave themselves like setters , silent , and creeping upon their bellies , lick the dust which our priests shake off from their beautiful feet . now ( quoth the duke of lerma ) satisfie me about our own clergy how they fare ; for there were here petitions made to the king , in the name of the distressed , afflicted , persecuted , and imprisoned priests , that his majesty would intercede for them , to free them from the intollerable burdens they groan under , and to procure their liberties ; and letters were directed from us to this end , that you should negotiate this demand with all speed , and diligence . most excellent prince , ( replyed gondamor ) i did your command , with a kind of command my self , not thinking it fit to make it a suit in your name , and my masters ; i obtained them liberty to walk up and down , to face , and out-face their accusers , judges , magistrates , and bishops , and to exercise their functions , almost as freely , altogether as safely as at rome : here the nuncio objected , that he did not well in procuring their liberty , since they might do more good in prison , than abroad ; because in prison , they seemed to be under persecution ▪ and so were pitied of others , and pity of the person prepares the affection further ; besides , then they were careful of their own lives to give no offence , but abroad they might be scandalous in their lives , as they use to be in rome , and spain , and other catholick countries ; and so the opinion of their holiness ▪ which upholds their credit , and cause , against the married clergy , would soon decay . but the embassadour replyed , he considered thes● inconveniences , and besides a superiour command , he saw the profit of their liberty , more than of their restraint ; for now they might freely confer , and were ever practising , and would doubtless produce some work of wonder ▪ and besides , the reason of their authority , and means to change places ▪ did apply themselves to many persons , whereas in prison they could only deal with such as came to be taught , were their own before ; and this ( quoth he ) i added as a secret , that as before they were maintained by private contributions from devout catholicks , even to excess ; so much more now shall they be able to gather great sums to weaken the state , and furnishing them for some high attempt , by the example of cardinal wolsey , barrelling up gold for rome ; and this they may easily do , since all catholicks rob the heretical priests , and with-hold tythes from them by fraud or force , to give to these of their own , to whom it is properly due : and if this be spied , it s an easie matter to lay all upon the hollander ; and say , he carries the coin out of the land ( who is forward enough indeed in these practises ) and so ours shall not only be excused , but a flaw made betwixt them to weaken their amities , and beget suspition betwixt them , of each others love . but amongst all these priests , ( quoth the inquisitor ) did you remember that old reverend father , bauldwin , who had a finger in that admirable attempt made on our behalf against the parliament house ; such as he , deserving so highly , and ventering their liv●s so resolutely for the catholick cause , must not be neglected , but extraordinarily regarded , thereby to encourage others to the like holy undertakings . holy father , ( quoth gondamor ) my principal care was of him , whose life and liberty , when i had with much difficulty , obtained of the king , i solemnly went in person , atended with all my train , and divers other well-willers , to fetch him out of the tower , where he was in durance : as soon as i came in his sight , i behaved my self after so lowly and humble a manner , that our adversaries stood amazed to see the reverence we give to our ghostly fathers ; and this i did to confound them and their contemptuous clergy , and to beget an extraordinary opinion of holiness in the person , and piety in us ; and also to provoke the english catholicks to the like devout obedience , that thereby at any time these jesuites whose authority was somewhat weakned since the schism betwixt them and the seculars , and the succeeding powder-plot , may work them to our ends , as masters their servants , tutors their schollars , fathers their children , kings their subjests , and that they may do this the more boldly and securely , i have somwhat dash'd the authority of their high commissioners ; upon which , whereas there are divers pursevants , men of the worst kind , and condition , resembling our flies , and familiars , attending upon the holy inquisition ; whose office and employment is to disturb the catholicks , search their houses for priests holy vestments , books , beads , crucifixes , and the like religious appurtenances ; i have caused the execution of their offices to be slackened , so that an open way may be given to our spiritual instruments , for the free exercise of their faculties ; and yet when these pursevants were in greatest authority , a small bribe , in the country , would blind their eyes , or a little greater at the court , or in the exchequer frustrate and cross all their actions , so that their malice went off like squibs , making a great crack to fright children , and new born babes , but hurt no old men of catholick spirits ; and this is the effect of all other their courses of proceedings in this kind , in all their judicial courts , whither known catholicks ( convicted , as they term them ) are often summoned and cited , threatned and bound over , but the danger is past so soon as the officer hath his fee paid to him , then the execution goeth no further ; nay , upon my conscience , they are glad when there are offendors in that kind , because they are bountiful , and the officers do their best to succour them , that they may encrease , and so their benefit and gain come in freely . and if they should be sent to prison , even that place for the most part is made a sanctuary to them , as the old romans were wont to shut up such by way of restraint , whom they meant to preserve from the peoples fury ; so they live safe in prison till we have time to work their liberty , and assure their lives , and in the mean time , their place of restraint is as a study unto them , where they have opportunity to confer together as in a colledg , and to arm themselves in unity against their single adversaries abroad , ( but quoth the inquisitor general ) how do they for books when they have occasion either to write or dispute ▪ my lord replyes , gondamor , all the libraries belonging to the romish catholicks , through the land , are at their command , from whence they have all such collections as they can require , gathered to their hands , as well from thence , as from all the libraries of both universities , and even the books themselves if that be requisite . besides i have made it a principal part of my employment , to buy all the manuscripts and other ancient and rare authors , out of the hands of the hereticks ; so that there is no great schollar dies in the land , but my agents are dealing with his books ; in so much as even their learned , isaac causabons library was in election without question to be ours , had not their vigilant king ( who foresees all dangers , and hath his eyes busy in every place ) prevented my plots ▪ for after the death of that great schollar , i sent to request a view and catalogue of his books , with their price , intending not to be out-bid by any man , if mony would fetch them , because ( besides the damage that that side should have received by their loss , persecuting the same story against cardinal baronius ) we might have made good advantage of his notes , collections , castigations , censures , and criticismes for our own party , and framed and put out other under his name at our pleasure ; but that was fore-seen by their prometheus , who sent that torturer of ours , the bishop of winchester , to search and sort the papers , and to seal up the study , giving a large and princely allowance for them ▪ to the relict of causabon , together with a bountiful pention , and provision for her and hers , but this plot failing at that time , hath not ever done , nor had the university of oxford so triumphed in their many manuscripts given by that famous knight sir thomas bodly , if either i had been then imployed , or this course of mine then thought upon ; for i would labour what i might this way or any other way , to disarm them , & either to translate their ●est authors hither , or at least to leave none in the hands of any , but roman catholicks , who are assuredly ours ; and to this end , an especial eye should be had upon the libraries of one sir robert cotton an ingrosser of antiquities , that whensoever it comes to be broken up either before his death or after , the most choice and singular pieces might be gleaned or gathered up ; neither let any man think that descending thus low to petty particulars is unworthy an embassadour , or of small avail for the ends we aim at , since we see every mountain consists of several sands , and there is not more profitable conversing for states-men , then amongst schollars and their books , especially where the king for whom we watch is the king of schollars , and loves to live almost altogether in their element . besides , if by any means we can continue difference in their church , or make them wider , or beget distaste betwixt their clergy and common lawyers , who are men of greatest power in their land , the benefit will be ours , the consequence great , opening a way for us to come in between , for personal quarrels produce real questions . as he was further prosecuting this discourse , one of the secretaries , who waited in the chamber without desired entrance , and being admitted , delivered letters which he had newly received of a post , directed to the president , and the rest of the council , from his catholick master ; the contents whereof were to this effect . right trusty and wel-beloved cousins and counsellors , we greet you well ; whereas we had a hope by our agents in england , and germany , to effect the great work of the western empire , and like on the other side to surprize venice , and so incircling europe at one instant , and infolding it into our arms , make the easier road upon the turk in asia ▪ and at length reduce all the world to our catholick command : and whereas to these holy ends , we had secret and sure plots and projects on foot in all these places , and good intelligence in all courts ; know we that , we have received late and sad news of the apprehension of our most trusty and able pentioner , barnevelt , and of the discovery of other our intendments ; so that our hopes are for the present adjourned , till some other more convenient and auspicuous time ; we therefore will you presently ▪ upon sight hereof , to break off your consultation , and repair straight to our presence , there to take further directions , and proceed as necessity of the time , and cause , shall require . with that his excellency and the whole house , struck with amazement , crossed their fore-heads , rose up in sad silence , and brake off this treaty abruptly , and without tarriance took horse and posted to the court , from whence expect newes the next fair wind . in the mean time , let not those be secure whom it concerns to be rouzed up , knowing that this aspiring nebuchadnezzar , will not lose the glory of his greatness , who continueth still to magnifie himself in this great babel , until it be spoken , thy kingdome is departed from thee , dan. 4. finis . a narrative of the wicked plots carried on by seignior gondamore for advancing the popish religion and spanish faction heartily recommended to all protestants by rich. dugdale, gent. scott, thomas, 1580?-1626. 1679 approx. 70 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 11 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a58828 wing s2086 wing d2472_cancelled estc r22577 12571699 ocm 12571699 63475 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a58828) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 63475) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 314:6 or 778:16) a narrative of the wicked plots carried on by seignior gondamore for advancing the popish religion and spanish faction heartily recommended to all protestants by rich. dugdale, gent. scott, thomas, 1580?-1626. lerma, francisco de sandoval y rojas, duque de, 1552-1625. gondomar, diego sarmiento de acuña, conde de, 1567-1626. dugdale, richard. [4], 16 p. printed by t.b. and are to be sold by robert clavel ..., london : 1679. sometimes attributed to richard dugdale. cf. wing and nuc pre-1956 imprints. the projected marriage between prince charles, afterwards charles i and maria, the infanta of spain, entered largely into the negotiations here reported. "the president's [i.e. the duke of lerma's] speech requiring the ambassador to give an account of his plots and wicked intrigues against england": p. 3-3 [i.e. 5]. the ambassador's reply: p. 3 [i.e. 5]-16. item at reel 314:6 identified as wing d2472 (number cancelled). reproductions of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng gondomar, diego sarmiento de acuña, -conde de, 1567-1626. great britain -foreign relations -spain. spain -foreign relations -great britain. 2005-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-11 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-07 ali jakobson sampled and proofread 2006-07 ali jakobson text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a narrative of the wicked plots carried on by seignior gondamore for advancing the popish religion and spanish faction . heartily recommended to all protestants by rich. dugdale , gent. ephes . v. 11 , 12. have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness , but rather reprove them ; for it is a shame even to speak of those things , which are done of them in secret . london , printed by t. b. and are to be sold by robert clavel at the peacock in st. paul's church-yard , 1679. the preface . courteous reader , this following narrative has run all the hazards and risks of fortune , it breathed for a long time in the obscure shadow of a country and loyal divines study , after the death of that worthy and eminent person , a relation to the great e. of strafford , it fell into the ●ands of one of his younger sons , who being a man of business , and a da●ty frequenter of westminster-hall , that great mart and exchange of law , this lay hundled up , among some bundles of insigni●icant and worthless papers , till it pleased god to confine this gentleman to his chamber , by a distemper , which though it was so severe as to deny him to act abroad , yet it did not so at home : under this imprisonment ( for restraint is such to active spirits ) he reviewed his long neglected writings , and being unwilling like the rable of the town , to condemn and exceute upon a bare presumption of guilt : he calls all to a single scrutiny and examination : the multitude here , as in the world , proved trash and refuse , only this manuscript , like moses among the reeds , was preserved alive , because it was of a very fair and beautiful countenance : perils and manifold sorts of death attend writings as well as their authors , and gods providence is as legible in the extraordinary preservation of useful and profitable books , as in raising up and protecting persons of invincible resolution and courage , to be the publcik instruments of the churches and kingdoms deliverance ; of this advantageous nature and consideration , i take these following sheets to be , for herein are evidently discoursed and unridled the designs of the spanish match , the strategems of the comprehensive statesman gondamore , and of his faithful adherents the jesuites ; for the introduction of his masters religion and empire into these nations together , the negotiations betwixt spain and great britain were , in king james raign ; the unaccountable state-secrets and mysteries , these exercised and distressed the combin'd heads and wits of our great council , raised the fears and jealousies of the people , and prepared them to entertain those groundless suggestions , which afterward both gave rise and support to our late civil wars . the designs of the catholick bishop and monarck , in all these treaties of mariage , were to enslave us to a false and foppish religion and a tyrannical government , and though pretences of commerce and friendship swom at the top , yet these were the great motives , which lay at the bottom . to compass these , perjuries and the violation of the mariage-oath with an heretical prince , would be a sacred and meritorious action , and if the antichristian beast could be drawn in , as the giant did the cattle into his den , backward , and by the tayl , 't is no matter , how much reason and morality is affronted ; nay , his holiness , out of the plenitude of his power , will indulge his faithfullest adherents to renounce even in extremis at the very point of death , some essential and reproachful articles of their faith ( as the lawfulness of deposing * kings and soveraign princes ) that the whole system may with the less suspition be glibly swallowed down and entertained . the dimensions of hercules were exactly calculated by the measure of his foot , and the magnitude of a limb may discover to the intelligent the true bulk of a sumetrical and well built body ; and the horrid lies and immoralities , rapines and murders , assassinations and massacres approved of in this small pamphlet , for the effecting of the romish design , may sufficiently instruct such ( of the villanous and pernicious nature of the whole ) as have cast out the two devils of prejudice and of a blind and implicite faith in that arch-fanatick of europe and divider of kingdoms ; for he it is ( and for this lesson i must acknowledg my self intirely indebted to this paper ) who sows the tares of division betwixt the gown-men of this nation : sets the lawyer to quarrel the divine : the two temples to deprecate the church , and westminster-hall to envy the princely and magnificent structure of the abby . read this discovery with seriousness , and i am confident , it will prove very instructive in many important particulars : 't was its misfortune to lie so long in obscurity , and so was it too to breath first of all in an air , infected with the stench of such an infinite number of puny , insect and imperfect libels : here is nothing in this but what is masculine , the argument is weighty , the style passant and expressive , the discovery of the popish designs in that juncto of affairs clear and palpable , and that it may be serviceable in this to the publick-weal is the only design and hearty wish of him , who is reader , a hearty well-willer to the wellfare and prosperity of this nation richard dugdale . a narrative of the popish strategems carried on by seigniour gondamore the spanish embassador , &c. his catholick majesty having given commandment , that presently upon the return of seigniour gondamore , the leiger embassador from england , a special meeting of the principal states of spain , who were of his councel , together with the presidents of the council of castile , of aragon , of italy , of portugal , of the indies , of the treasure of war , and especially of the holy inquisition , should be held at monson in arragon , the duke of lerma , being appointed president , who should make declaration of his majesties pleasure , take an account of the embassadors service , and consult touching the state and religion respectively , to give satisfaction to his holiness's nuntio , who was desired to make one in this assembly , concerning overtures of peace and amity with the english , and other catholick princes , which might engender suspicion and jealousie betwixt the pope and his majesty ; if the mystery were not unfolded , and the ground of those counsels discovered aforehand : this made all men expect the embassadors return with a kind of longing , that they might behold the issue of this meeting , and see what good for the catholick cause the embassadors employment had effected in england , answerable to the general opinion received of his wisdom , and what further project would be set on foot to become matter for publick discourse . at length he arrived , and had present notice given him from his majesty , that before he came to court , he should give up his account to this assembly , which command he gladly received , as an earnest of his acceptable service , and gave thanks , that for his honour he might publish himself in so judicious a presence . he came first upon the day appointed to the councel chamber ; not long after all the councel of state , and the president met , there wanted only the duke of lerma and the popes nuntio , who were the head and feet of all the assembly . these two stayed long away for divers respects : the nuntio , that he might express the greatness of his master , and loose the see of rome no respect by his over-●●ght , but that the benches might be full at his approoch . the duke of lerma to express the authority and dignity of his own person , and to shew how a servant put in place of his master exacts more service of his fellow-servants than the master himself . these two stayed till all the rest were weary of waiting , but at length the nuntio supposing all the council sat , launced forth and came to roade in the council chamber , where after mutual discharge of duty from the company , and blessing upon it from him , he sate down in solemn silence , grieving at his oversight , when he saw the duke of lerma absent , with whom he strove as a competitor for pomp and glory . the duke had sent before , and understood of the nuntio's being there , and stayed something the longer , that his boldness might be observed , wherein he had his desire ; for the nuntio having a while , patiently driven away the time with several complements to several persons , had now almost run his patience out of breath ; but the duke of villa hermosa ( president of the council of arragon ) fed his humour by the discharge of his own discontentment , upon the occasion of the duke of lerma his absence , and beckoned seigniour gondamore to him , using this speech in the hearing of the nuntio , after a sporting manner . how unhappy are the people , where you have been ; first , for their souls , being hereticks , then for their estates , where the name of a favourite is so familiar ? how happy is our estate , where the keys of life and death are so easily come by ( pointing at the nuntio ) hanging at every religious girdle , and where the door of justice and mercy stand equally open to all men , without respest of persons : the embassadour knew the ironical stroak to be intended as a by-blow to the nuntio , but fully at the duke of lerma ( whose greatness began now to wax heavy towards declension ) and therefore he returned this answer , your excellency knoweth the state is happy , where wise favourites govern kings , if the kings themselves be foolish , or if the wiser sort will not yet be govern'd by them , the state of england ( howsoever you hear of it in spain or rome ) is so happy in the last kind , they need not care much what the favourite be ( though for the most part , he be such as prevents all suspition in that kind , being rather chose as a scholar to be taught than a tutor to teach ) of this they are sure no prince exceeds theirs in personal abilities , so that nothing could be added to him in my wish , but this one , he were our vassayle and a catholick . with that the noise without gave notice of the duke of lerma his entrance , at whose first approach the whole house arose , though some latter than others , as if some had hung plummets on them to keep them down , the nuntio only sate unremoved : the duke received the obeysance of the rest with a familiar , kind of carriage to high for courtesie , as one not neglecting such demeanors , but expecting it , and after a filial observance to the popes nuntio , sate down as president under the cloath of state , but somewhat lower , then after a space given for admiration , preparation and attention . the presidents speech , requiring the embassador to give an account of his plots and wicked intreagues against england , and what success he met with . the king my master ( holding it more honourable to do , than to discourse , to take from you the expectation of oratory , used rather in schools and pulpits than in councels ) hath appointed me president in this holy , wise , learned and noble assembly , a man naturally of a slow speech , and not desirous to quicken it by art or industry , as holding action only proper to a spaniard , as i am by birth , to a souldier as i am by profession , to a king as i am by representation , take this therefore briefly for a declaration , both for the cause of this meeting , and my master his further pleasure . there hath been at all times from the worlds foundation , one chief commander , or monarch upon the earth , this needs no further proof than a back-looking into our own memories and histories of the world , neither now is there any question ( except with infidels and hereticks ) of that one chief commander in spirituals , in the unity of whose person , the members of the visible church is included , but there is some doubt of the chief commander in temporals , ( who as the moon to the sun ) might govern by night , as this by day , and by the sword of justice , compell to come in , or ●ut of , such as infringe the authority of the keys : this hath been so well understood long since by the in●allible chair , as that thereby upon the declension of the roman emperours , and the increase of romes spiritual splendour ( who thought it unnatural , that their suns should be sublunary ) our nation , was by the bishop of rome selected before other people , to conquer and rule other nations with a rod of iron , and our kings to that end adorned with the stile of catholik kings , as a name above all names under the sun , ( which is ) under gods vicar general himself the catholick bishop of souls : to instance this point by comparison , look first upon the grand seignior , the great turk , who hath a large title but not universal , for besides that he is an infidel , his command is confin'd within his own territories , and he is not stil'd emporor of the world , but of the turks and of their vassayles , only among christians the defender of the faith was a glorious stile , whilst the king to whom it was given by his holiness continued worthy of it , but it stood not in the truth , neither yet those that succeeded him ; and besides it was no great thing to be call'd what every good christian ought to be , defendor of the faith , no more than to be stiled with france the most christian king , wherein he hath the greatest part of his title common with most christians . the emperor of russia , rome and germany extend not their limits further than their stiles , which are local , only my master the most catholik king is for the dominion of bodies , as the universal bishop for the dominion of souls over all that part of the world , which we call america , ( except where the english intruders usurp ) and the greatest part of europe , with some part of asia and africa by actual possession , and over all the rest by real and indubitable right , yet acknowledgeth his right to be derived from the free and fatherly donation of his holiness , who ( as the sun to the moon ) bestows lustre by reflection , to this kingdom , to this king of kings , my master ; what therefore he hath , howsoever gotten , he may keep and hold ; what he can from any other king , or commander , by any stratagem of war , or pretence of peace he may take , for it is theirs only by usurpation , except they hold of him , from whom all civil power is derived , as ecclesiastical from his holiness : what the ignorant call treason , if it be on his behalf , is truth ; if against him , it is treason : and thus all our peace , our war , our treaties , marriages , or whatsoever intendment else of ours , aimes at this principal end , to get the whole possession of the world , and to reduce all to unite under our temporal head , that our king may truly be , what he is stiled the catholick and universal king : as faith therefore is universal , and the truth universal , yet so as they be under our head the pope , whose seat is , and must necessarily be , at rome , where st. peter sate ; so must all men be subject to our and their catholick king , whose particular seat is here in spain , he is universal every where , and almost made natural , so that by a key of gold , by intelligence , or by way of confession , my master is able to unlock the secrets of every prince , and to withdraw their subjects allegiance , as if they knew themselves more my masters subjects in truth , than theirs , whom their birth hath taught to miscall soveraigns , we see this in france and in england , and especially , where all at once they learn to obey the church of rome , as their mother , to acknowledge the catholick king , as their father , and to hate their own king as an heretick and usurper : so we see religion and the state coupled together , laugh and weep , flourish and fade , and participate of eithers fortunes , as growing upon one stock of policy : i speak this the more boldly in this presence ; because i speak here before none but natives , persons who are partakers , both in themselves and issues of the triumphs , above all those of antient rome , and therefore such ( as besides their oaths ) it concerns to be secret , neither need we refrain this freedom of speech from the nuntio his presence ; because , besides that he is a spaniard by birth , he is also a jesuite by profession , an order raised by the providence of gods vicar , to accomplish this monarchy the better , all of them being appropriate thereunto , and as publick agents and privy councellors to this end ; wherein the wisdom of the state is to be beheld with admiration ; that as in temporal war it imploys , or at least trusts none , but natives in castile , portugal and arragon : so in spirituals , it imploys none but jesuites , and so imploys them , that they are generally reputed , how remote soever they are from us , how much soever obliged to others , still to be ours , and still to be of the spanish faction , though they be polonians , english , french , and residing in the countrys or courts : the penitent therefore , and all with whom they deal and converse in their spiritual traffique must needs be so too , and so our catholick king must needs have an invisible kingdom , and an unknown number of subjects in all dominions , who will shew themselves and their faith by their works of disobedience , whensoever we shall have occasion to use their jesuitical vertue and policy : this therefore being the principal end of all our counsels ; ( according to those holy directions of that late pious king philip the second , to his son succeeding ) to advance the catholick roman religion , and the catholick spanish dominion together . we are now met by his majesties command to take an account of you , ( seignior gondamore ) ) who have been embassador for england , to see what good you have effected there , towards the advancement of this work ; and what further projects shall be thought fit to be set on foot to this end ; and this breifly is the occasion of our meeting . then the embassador , who attended bare-headed all the time , with alow obeysance , began thus , this laudable custome of our king in bringing all officers to such an account , where a review is taken of good and bad services , upon the determination of their imployments , resembles those roman triumphs appointed for the souldiers ; and as in them it provoked to courage , so in us it stirs up to diligence , our master converseth by his agents with all the world , yet with none of more regard than the english , where matter of such diversity is presented ( through the several humours of the states , and those of our religion and faction ) that no instruction can be sufficient for such negotiations , but much must be left in trust to the discretion , judgment , and diligence of the incumbent ; i speak this not for my own glory i having been restrained and therefore deserved meanly ; but to forwarn on the behalf of others , that there may be more scope allowed them to deal in , as occasion shall require ; breifly this rule delivered by his excellency was the card and compass by which i sayled , to make profit of all humours , and by all means to advance the state of the romish faith , and spanish faction , together upon all advantages of oaths and the breach of them ; for this is an old observation and a true one , that for piety to rome his holiness did not only give , but bless us , in the conquest of the new world , and thus in our pious observance , we hope still to be conquerors of the old ; and to this end , whereas his excellency in his excellent discourse seems to extend our outward forces and private aims , only against hereticks , and to restrain them with true amity with these of the romish religion : this i affirm that since there can be no security , but such princes though now romish catholicks may turn hereticks hereafter , my aimes have ever been to make profit of all , and to make my mr. master of all , who is a faithful and constant son of his mother rome ; and to this end i beheld the endeavours of our kings of happy memory , how they have atcheived kingdoms and conquests by this policy , rather than by open hostility , and that without difference , as well from their allies and kinsfolks , men of the same religion and profession ; such as were those of naples , france and navar , though i do not mention portugal now united to us , nor savoy , ( that hardly fly'd from us ) as of an adverse and heretical faith , neither is this rule left off , as the present kingdom of france , the state of venice , the low countries and bohemia ( now all labouring for life under our plots ) apparently manifest ; this way therefore i bent my engines in england , as your honours shall particularly hear ; i shall not need to repeat a catalogue of the services i have here done , because this state hath been acquainted with many of them heretofore , by entercourse of letters , and messengers ; these only i will speak of that i have of late done , since the return of the lord roos from hence , and may seem most directly to tend to those ends formerly propounded by his excellency that is , the advancement of the spanish state , and romish religion together : first it is well observed by the wisedom of our state , that the king of england ( who is otherwise one of the most accomplish'd princes that ever reigned ) extreemly hunts after peace and so affects the true name of a peace-maker , as that for it he will do or suffer any thing , and withall they have beheld the general bounty and munisicence of his mind , and necessity of the state so exhausted , as it is unable to supply his desires , who seeks to have that he may give to others , upon these advantages they have given out directions , and instructions both to me and others , and i have observed them as far as i was able . and for this purpose , whereas there was a marriage propounded betwixt them and us ; ( ( how soever i suppose our state too devout to deal with hereticks in this kind in earnest ) yet i made that a cover for much intelligence , and a means to obtain what i desired , whilst the state of england longed after the marriage , hoping thereby ( though vainly ) to setle peace , and fill the exchecquer ; here the aroh-bishop of toledo , inquisitor-general , stept up and interrupted gondamore , saying that marriage was not to be thought on , first for religions sake , lest they should endanger the soul of the young lady , and the rest of her company might become hereticks . secondly , for the state , least by giving so large a portion to hereticks , they should enrich and enable themselves for war , and impoverish and weaken the catholicks . to the first objection the popes n●●●io answered , that his holiness for the catholick cause would dispence with the marriage ; and urged these following reasons . first that there was valuable danger , in the hazarding of one for the gaining of many , perhaps of all . secondly that it was no hazard since women ( especially young ones ) are too obstinate to be removed from their opinions , and abler to win solomon to their opinions , than solomon to work them to his faith. thirdly it was great advantage to match with such , from whom they might break at pleasure , having the catholick cause for a colour , and besides if need were , to be at liberty in all respects , since there was no faith to be kept with hereticks ; and if his holiness may dispence with the murder of such , and dispose of their crowns , as what good catholick doubts but he may ; much more he may , and will he in their marriages , to prevent the leprosy-seed of heresy , and to setle catholick-blood in the chair of state : to the second objection the embassador himself answered , saying , that though the english generally loathed the match , and would as he thought buy it off with half their estates , hating the nation of spain , and their religion ( as appears by an uproar and assault a day or two before his departure from london by the apprentices , being greedy to vent their own spleen , in doing him or any of his a mischeif ) yet two sorts of people unmeasureably desired the match might proceed . first , the begging and beggarly courtiers that they might have to furnish their wants . secondly , the romish catholicks , who hoped thereby , at least , for a moderation of fines , and laws , perhaps a toleration ; and perhaps a total restauration of their religion in england ; in which regard quoth he , i have known some zealous persons protest ; that if all their friends , and half their estates could procure the service of our lady ; if she came to be married with the prince they would use the means faithfully to ●ight under her colours when they might safely do it , and if it came to portion they would under-hand contribute largly of their estates to the spanish collector , and make up half the portion of themselves , perhaps more : so by this marriage it might be so wrought , that the state should be rather robb'd , and weakened ( which is our aim ) than strengthened ; as the english vainly hope ; besides in a small time they should work so far in the body of the state by buying offices and the like , either by sea or land ; of justice civil or ecclesiastical , in church or state , ( all being for money exposed to sale ) that with the help of jesuites they would undermine with meer wit , ( without gunpowder ) and leave the king but a few subjects , whose faith he might rely upon , while they were of a faith adverse to his : for what catholick-body that is sound at the heart , can abide a corrupt and heretical head , or ruler ? with that the duke medina des rio setto president of the council of war , and of the council of state rose up and said , his predecessors had felt the force and wit of the english , in 88. and he had cause to doubt the catholicks themselves that were english , and fully jesuited , upon any foreign nation , would rather take part with their own king , though an heretick , than with his catholick-majesty a stranger . the embassador desired him to be of another mind , since , first for their persons , generally their bodies , by long disuse for arms were disabled , and their minds effeminated , by peace and luxury , far from what they were in 88. when they were flesht in our blood , and made haughty in customary conquests ; and for the affection of those whom they call r●cusants , ( quoth he ) i know the bitterness of their inveterate malice ; and have seen so far into their natures , as i dare say , they will be for spain against all the world ; yea , ( quoth he ) i assure your honours , i could not imagine so basely of their king and state , as i have heard them speak ; nay , their rage hath so perverted their judgments , that what i my self have seen and heard from their king beyond admiration , even to astonishment , they have sleighted , misreported scorned , and perverted to his disgrace , and my rejoycing ; magnifying in the mean time our defect for grace . here the duke pastrane , president of the counsel , for italy ; steps up and said he had lately read a book of one cambdens called his annals ; wherein writing of a treaty of a marriage long since , between english elizabeth , and the french duke of andiou : he there observes , that the marriage was not seriously intended on either side , but politickly pretended by both states counterchangeably , that each might effect their own ends , there the english had the better ; and i have some cause to doubt , since they can dissemble , as well as we ; that they have their aimes under hand as well as we ; and intend the match as little as we do , and this ( quoth he ) i believe the rather because the king as he is wise to consult and consider ; so he is a constant master of his word , and hath written , and given strong reasons against matches made with persons of contrary religion ; which reasons no other man can answer : and therefore doubtless he will not go from , nor counsel his son to forsake those rules laid down so deliberately . your excellency mistakes ; ( quoth the embassador ) the advantage was then on the side of the english , because the french men sought the match ; now it must be upon ours , because the english seek it , who will grant any thing rather than break off ; and besides , they have no patience to temporise and disemble , in this or any other design , as the french long since have well observed ; for their necessities will give them neither time nor rest , nor hope elsewhere to be supplyed . as for their king , i cannot search into his heart , i must believe others that presume to know his mind , hear his words , and read his writings , and these relate what i have delivered : but for the rest of the people , as the number of those , that are truly religious , are ever the least for the most part of least account : so is it there , where if an equal opposition be made betwixt their truly religious and ours , the remainder will be the greatest number and will stand indifferent , and fall to the greatest side , where there is most hope of gain , and glory : for those two are the gods of the magnitude , and of the multitude : now these see apparently no certain supplies for their wants , but from us . yes , quoth the duke , for even now you said the general-state loathing the match , would redeem the fear thereof , with half their estates : it is therefore but calling a parliament , and the business were soon effected . a parliament ( quoth the embassador ) nay , therein lies one of the principle-services i have done , in working such a dislike between the king and the lower-house : by the endeavour of that honourable-earl and admirable-engine , a sure servant to us , and the cause whilst he lives , as the king will never endure a parliament again , but rather suffer absolute want , than receive conditional releif from his subjects : the matter was so curiously carried the last parliament , that is in the powder-plot , the fact effected should have been imputed to the puritans , the ( greatest zelots of the calvinian-sect ) so the propositions which damn up the proceedings of this parliament ( howsoever they were invented by roman catholicks , and by them invented to disturb that session ) yet were propounded in favour of the puritans , as if they had been hammored in their forge , which very name and shadow the king hates : it being a sufficient aspersion to disgrace any person , to say he is such , and a sufficient bar to stop any suit , and utterly to cross it , to say it smels of , or enclines to , that party : moreover there are so many about him , which blow this coal fearing their own states . if a parliament should enquire into their actions , they use all their art , and industry to withstand such a council : perswading the king he may rule by his absolute prerogative , without a parliament : and thus furnish himself by a mariage with us , and by other domestick projects without subsidies , when leaving off subsidies , and taxes have been the only use princes have made of such : and whereas some free-minds among them , resembling our nobility ; who prefer the priviledg of subjects against sovereign invasion ; call for the course of the common-law ; ( a law proper to their nation ) there is other time servers cry the laws down , and up the prerogative ; whereby they pray upon the subjects by their suites , and exactions ; mulct the state , and keep it poor ; procure themselves much suspioion amongst the better and judicious sort , and hate amongst the oppressed commons ; and yet if there should be a parliament such a course is taken , as they shall never chuse their sheire knights and burgesses freely , who make the better-half of the body thereof ; for these being to be elected , by most voices of the free-holders in the country , where such elections are to be made , are carried which way the great persons who have lands in these countries please ; who by their letters command their tennants followers and friends , to nominate such as adhere to them , and for the most of them are our faction ; and respect their own benefit and gain , rather than their countries-good : yea the country people themselves , will every one stand , for the great-man their lord , or neighbour , or master , whithout regard of his honesty , wisdom and religion . that which they aim at , ( as i am assured by faithful intelligence ) is to please their landlords , and to renew their lease , in which regard they will betray their country and religion too : and elect any man that may most profit their particular : therefore it is unlikely there should be a parliament , and impossible the kings debts should be paid , his wants sufficiently repaired , and left himself ful-handed by such a course : and indeed ( as it is generally thought ) by any other course than with a marriage with us : for which cause whatsoever project we list to attempt , enters safely at the door , whilst their policy lyes asleep , and will not see the danger , i have made tryal of these particulars , and found few exceptions in these general rules ; thereby i and their own wants together have kept them from furnishing their navy , which being the wall of their island , and once the strongest in christendom lies now at road , unarm'd and fit for ruine : if ever we doubted their strength by sea , now we need not , there are but few ships or men able to look abroad , or to live in a storm much less in a sea fight . this i effected by buzing in their ears , the furnishing a navy bred suspition in my master , and so would avert his mind from this match , the hope of which rather than they would loose , they would almost loose their hope of heaven . secondly , all their voyages to the east indies i permitted rather with a colourable resistance , than a serious ; because i see them not helpful but hurtful , to the state in general ; carrying out gold and silver , bringing home spice , silks , feathers and such like toyes : an insensible wasting the common stock of coyn and bullion , whilst it fills the custom house , and some private houses , who thereby are unable to keep this discomodity on foot , by bribes especially : so many great persons being venturers and sharers in the gain : besides this wasteth the mariners , not one of ten returning , which i am glad to hear ; for they are the men we stand in fear of , as for the west-indian voyages i withstood them in earnest , because they began to inhabit there , and to fortifie themselves , and may in time there perhaps raise another england to withstand a new spain in america : as this old england opposeth our state , and clouds the glorious extent thereof in europe : besides , there they trade for commodities , without wast of their treasure , and often return gold for knives , glasses , or the like trifles , without such loss of their mariners as in other places : the refore i crost whatsoever intendments were projected for virginia or burmoudos , because they may be hereafter really helpful unto them , as now they serve for dreyns to unload their populous state , which else would overthrow his own banks by continuance of peace and turn head upon it self , or make a body fit for any rebellion : and so far i prevayled therein , as i caused most of the recusants who were to go thither to withdraw their ventures and discourage the work : so that besides private persons unable to effect much , nothing was done by the publick purse : and we know by experience such voyages and plantations are not effected without great means , to satisfy great difficulties , and with an unwearied resolution and power to meet all hazards and distastes , with strong help and continual supplies , or else the undertaking proves idle : by this means also i kept the voluntary forces from venice , until it was almost too late to set out , and had hopt that work should have broken forth to action , before these would have arrived to succor them : i put hard for the cantionarie towns , which our late philip of happy memory so much aimed at , accounting them the keys of the low countries , that they might be delivered to his catholick majesty , as to the proper owner , and had perhaps prevailed , but that the profest enemy to our state and church , who dyed shortly after , gave counsel to restore them to the rebellious states , as one that knew popular commonwealths to be better neighbours , safer friends , and less dangerous than monarchs , and so by this practice wrested from my hands , and furnish'd the exchequer from thence , for that time , neither was i much grieved , because the dependency they had before of the english seem'd to be cut off , and the interest that the english had in them to be taken away , which must now fully and finally be effected before we can either hope to conquer them , or england , who holding together , are too strong for the world at sea ; and therefore must be disunited , before they can be overcome . this point of state is acknowledged by our experienced pentioner and sure friend monsieur barn●velt ; whose suc●eding plots to this end shall bear witness for the depth of his judgement . but the last service i did for the state , was not the least ; when i under-wrought that admirable engine rawley ; and was the cause his voyage ( threatning much danger to us ) was overthrown and himself returning in disgrace : i pursued almost to death , neither ( i hope ) need i say almost , if all things hit right , and all things hold , but the determination of my commission would not permit me longer to stay to follow him to execution , which i desired the rather , that by confession i might have wrung from the inconsiderable english an acknowledgment of my masters right in those places , punishing him for attempting there , though he might prescribe for the first foot ; and this i did to stop their mouths hereafter ; and because i would quench the heat and valour of that nation , that none should dare hereafter to undertake the like , or be so hardy to look out at sea , or breath upon our coast . and lastly , because i would bring to an ignominious death , that old pirate , who is one of the last now living , bred under that deceased english virago , and by her flesht in our ruine ; to do this i had many agents . first , diverse courtiers , who were hungry and gaped wide for spanish gold. secondly , some that bare him a grudg at the heart for inveterate quarrels . thirdly , some foreigners , who having in vain sought the elixir hitherto , hoped to find it in his head . fourthly , all men of the romish faith , who are of the spanish faction ; and would have been my blood-hounds to hunt him or any such to death willingly , as persons hating the prosperity of their country ; and the valour , worth and wit of their own nation , in respect of us and our catholick cause . lastly , i left behind me such an instrument composed artificially of a secular understanding , and a religious profession , as he is every way adopted to screw himself into the closset of the heart , and to work upon feminin● lenity , who in that countrey have masculine spirits to command and pursue their plots unto death , this therefore i count as done , and rejoyce in it , knowing it to be very profitable for us , grateful to our faction there ; and for the rest , what though it be a cross to the people , or that clergy , we that only negotiate for our own gain , and treat about this marriage for our own ends , can conclude or break off when we see our own time , without respect of such as can neither profit us , nor hurt us , for i have certain knowledge that the commons generally are so effeminate and cowardly that at their musters ( which are seldom , or sleight , only for the benefit of their mustermasters ) of thousand souldiers scarce an hundred dare discharge a musket , and of that hundred scarce one can use it like a souldier ; and for their armes they are so ill provided that one corslet serves many men , when such as use their arms upon a day in one place , lend them to their friends in other places , to shew them when they have use , and this if it be spied is only punished with a mulet in the purse , which is the officer's aim , who for his advantage winketh at the rest , and is glad to find and cherish by co●nivance profitable ●aults , which increase his revenue , thus stands the state of that poor miserable country , which had never more people and fewer men : so that if my master would resolve upon an invasion , the time never fits as at this present security of this marriage , and disuse of armes having cast them into a deep sleep , a strong and weakning faction being ever amongst them ready to assist us , and they being unprovided of ships and armes , or hearts to fight , an universal discontentment filling all men : this have i from their mustermasters and captains , who are many of them of our religion , or of none , and so ours , ready to be bought and sold , and desirous to be my masters servants in fee. thus much for the state particularly , wherein i have bent my self to weaken them and strengthen us , and in all these have advanced the catholick cause , but especially in procuring favours for all such as favour that side , and crossing the other by all means , and this i practiced my self and give out to be generally practised by all others that whatsoever success i find i still boast of victory , which i do to dishearten the hereticks , and to make them suspicious one of another , especially of their prince , and of their best statesmen , and to keep our own in courage , who by this means increase , but otherwise would be in danger to decay . now for religion , and for such designs as ●etch their pretence from thence , i beheld the policy of that late bishop of theirs ( bancroft ) who stood up and maintained dangerous schisme between our secular priests ond jesuites , by which he discovered much weakness to the dishonour of our clergy , and prejudice to our cause , this taught me as it did ( barnevelt ) in the low countries , to work secretly and insensibly between the conformist and nonconformist , and to cast an eye as far as the orcades , knowing that business might be stirred up there that might hinder proceedings in england , and so to prevent their conquest . the effect you have partly seen in the earl of argyle , who sometime was captain for the king and church against the marquess huntley , and now fights under our banner at bruxels , leaving the crosses of st. george and st. andrew for the staff of st. james . neither do our hopes end here , for we daily expect more revolters , at least such a disunion as will never admit solid reconcilement , but will send some to us , and some to amsterdam , for the king , a wise and vigilant prince , labouring for a perfect union betwixt both the kingdoms , which he seeth cannot be effected where the least ceremony of religion is continued , divers sharp and bitter brawls from thence arising , whilest some striving for honour more than for truth , prefers their own way , and will , before the general peace of the church , and the edification of souls ; he , i say , seeks to work an uniformity betwixt both churches , and to this end made a journey into scotland , but with no such success as he expected , for divers of ours attended the train and stirred up humours and factions , and cast in scruples and doubts to hinder and cross the proceeding ; yea those that seem most averse to us , and averse to our opinions by their disobedience and example , helped forward our plots , and these are encouraged by a faction and heady multitude , by a false and irresolute clergy ( many false brethren being amongst the bishops ) and by the prodigal nobility who maintain these stirrs in the church , that thereby they may keep the church-livings in their hands , which they have most sacrelegiously seized upon in the time of the first deformation , and which they fear would be returned by the clergy , if they could be brought to peace and agreement , for if they have seen the king very bountiful in this kind , having lately increased their pensions , and settled the clergy a competent maintenance , and besides out of his own means which in that kingdom is none of the greatest , having brought in and restored whole bishopricks to the church , which were before in lay-mens hands , a great part of the nobilities estates consisting of spiritual lands , which makes them cherish the puritanical faction , who will be content to be trencher-fed , with scraps , and crums , and contributions , and arbitrary benevolences from the l●i●rds , and lords , and ladies , and their adherents and followers . but ( quoth the inquisitor-general ) now if this act of the king wherein he is most earnest and constant should so prevail as it should effect a perfect union both in church and commonweal . i tell you it would in my conceipt be a great blow to us , if by a general meeting a general peace should be concluded , and all their forces bent against rome , and we see their politick king aimes at this . true ( quoth gundamore ) but he takes his mark amiss , howsoever he understands the people and their inclination better than any man , and better knows how to temper their passions and affections , for ( besides that he is hindred there in scotland underhand by some for the reasons before recited , and by other great ones of ours who are in great places and authority amongst them ) he is likewise deluded in this point by his own clergy at home in england , who pretend to be most forward in the cause for they considering if a general uniformity were wrought , what an inundation would follow , whilst all or most of theirs ( as they fear ) would flock hither for preferment ( as men pressing to the sun for light and heat , and so their own should be unprovided , these therefore ( i say ) howsoever they bear the king in hand , or underhand against it , and stand for all ceremonies to be obtruded with a kind of absolute necessity upon them , when the other will not be almost drawn to receive any , when if an abatement were made , doubtless they might be drawn to insert in the midst , but there is no hopes of this with them , where neither part deals seriously , but only for the present to satisfy the king and so there is no fear on our side , that affections and opinions so diverse will ever be reconciled and made one : the b. of st. andrews stands almost alone in the cause , and pulls upon himself , the labour , the loss , and the envy of all with little proficiency , whilst the adverse faction have as sure friends and as good intelligence about the king as he hath , and the same post , that perhaps brings a packet from the king to him brings another from their abettors to them , acquainting them with the whole proceedings and counsels , and preparing them aforehand for opposition , this i know for truth , and this i rejoyce in , as concerning much the catholick good. but ( quoth the nuntio are there none of the heretical preachers busie about this match , methinks their fingers should itch to be writing , and their tongues burn to be prating of this business , especially the puritanical sort , howsoever the most temperate and indifferent carry themselves . the truth is my lord ( quoth the embassador ) that privately what they can , and publickly what they dare , both in england and scotland all for the most part ( except such as are of our faith ) oppose this match to the utmost by prayers , counsels , speeches and wishes , but if one be found longer tongued then his fellows , we have still means to charm their sausiness , to silence them , and expell them the court , to disgrace them , and cross their preferment with the imputation of pragmatick puritanism , for instance i will relate this one particular , a doctor of theirs , and a chaplain in ordinary to the king , gave many reasons in a letter against this marriage , and propounded a way , how to supply the kings wants otherways , which i understanding , so wrought under●●●nd , that the doctor was committed , and hardly escaped the danger of his presumptuous admonition , though the state knew his intent honest , and his reasons good , wherein we on the other side ( both here and with the arch-duke ) have books penned , and pictures printed directly against their king and state , for the which their embassadors have sought satisfaction of us in vain , not being able to stay the print , or so much as to touch the hem of the authors garment : but we have an evasion , which heretioks miss , our clergy being freed from the temporal sword , and so not included in our treaties and conditions of peace , but at liberty to give any heretical prince the slip when they list , whereas theirs are lyable to accompt and hazard , and are mussed for barking , when ours may both bark and bite too ; the counsel-table and the star-chamber do so terrifie them , as they dare not riot , but run at the stirrop with excellent command , and come in at the least rebuke : they call their preaching in many places standing up , but they crouch and dare not stand up , behaving themselves like sitters silent , creeping upon their bellies lick the dust , which our priests shake from their beautiful feet . now ( quoth the duke of lerma ) satisfy me about our own clergy , how they fare , for there were here petitions made to the king in the name of the distressed , afflicted , persecuted and imprisoned priests , that his majesty would interceed for them , to free them from the intollerable burdens they groaned under , and to procure them their liberties , and letters were directed from us to that end , that you would negotiate that demand with all speed and diligence . most excellent prince ( replyed gondamore ) i did your command with a kind of command my self , not thinking it fit to make it a suit in your name , or my masters , i obtained them liberty to walk freely up and down , to face and out-face their accusers , judge magistrates , bishops , and to excuse their function almost as freely , altogetheras safely as at rome . here the nuntio replyed , that he did not well in his judgment , in procuring their liberty , since they might do more good in prison than abroad , because in prison they seemed to be under persecution , and so were pitied of others , and pity of the person prepares the affection further , besides then they were careful over their own lives to give none offence , but abroad they might be scandalous in their lives , as they use to be in rome and spain and other catholick countries , and so the opinion of their holiness , which upholds their credit and cause against the married clergy , would soon decay . but the embassador answered , he considered those inconveniences , but besides a superiour advantage arose from the profit of liberty more than of restraint , for now they might freely confer and were ever practising , and would doubtless produce some work of wonder , and besides by reason of their authority and means to change places did apply themselves to many persons , whereas in prison they could only deal with such as came to be taught , and were their own before ; and this ( quoth he ) add as a secret , that as before they were maintained by private contributions to denounce catholicks even to access ; so much more now shall they be able to gather great sums to weaken the state , and furnish them for some high attempt , by the example of cardinal woolsey , barrelling up gold for rome , and this they may easily do , since all catholicks rob the heretical priests , and hold tithes from them by fraud or force , to give to theirs of their own , to whom it is properly due , and if this be spyed , it is an easy matter to lay all upon the hollander , and say , he carryeth the coyn out of the land ( who are forward indeed in such practises ) and so ours shall not only be excused , but a flaw made betwixt them , to weaken their amities , and to get suspition betwixt them of each others love. but amongst all these priests ; ( quoth the inquisitor general ) did you remember , that old reverend father baldwin , who had a finger in that admirable attempt made on our behalf against the parliament house ? such as he deserving so rightly , adventuring their lives so resolutely for the catholick cause , must not be neglected , but extraordinarily regarded , thereby , to encourage others to the like undertaking . holy father ( quoth gondamore ) my principal care was of ●im , whose life and liberty when i had with much difficulty obtained of the king ; i solemnly went in person attended with my trayn , and diverse other well-willers to fetch him out of the tower , where he was in durance ; as soon as i came into his sight , i behaved my self after so lowly and humble a manner , that our adversaries stood amazed to see the reverence we gave to our ghostly fathers ; and this i did to confound them and their contemptous clergy , to beget an extraordinary opinion of holiness in the person , and piety in us ; and also to provoke the english catholicks to the like devout obedience , that thereby at any time their jesuites ( whose authority was somewhat weakened , since the schism betwixt them and the seculars , and the succeeding pouder plot ) may work them to our ends , as masters their servants , tutors their scholars , fathers their children , kings their subjects ; and that they may do this the more boldly and securely ▪ i have somewhat dasht the authority of their high commission ; upon which whereas there are diverse pursevants ( men of the worst kind and condition ) resembling our flies and familiars , attending upon the inquisition ▪ whose office and imployment , is to disturb the catholicks , searching thier houses for priests , holy vestments , books , be●des , crucifixes , and the like religious appurtenances . i have caused the execution of their offices to be slackned , that so an open way may be given to our spiritual instruments , for the free-exercise of their faculties : and yet when these pursevants had greatest authority , a small bribe in the country would blind their eyes , or a little greater at court , or in the exchequer frustrate and cross all their actions , for that their malice went off like squibs , made a great crack to fright children and new-born babes , but hurt no old men of catholick spirits ; and this is the effect of all other their courses of proceedings in this kind , in all their judicial courts , whether known catholicks committed as they stile them , or often summoned and cited , threatened and bound over , but the danger is past so soon as the officer hath his fee paid him , then the execution goeth no further : nay , upon my conscience they are as glad when there are offenders in that kind , because they are bountiful , and the officers do their best to favour them , that they may encrease ; and so their reuenue and gain come in freely . and if they should be sent to prison , even that place for the most part is made a sanctuary to them ; as the old romans were wont to shut up such , by wayes of restraint , as they meant to preserve from the peoples fury , for they live safe in prison , till we have time to work their liberty , and assure their lives , and in the mean time their place of restraint is as it were a study to them , where they may have opportunity to confer together as in a colledge , and to arm themselves in unity against the single adversary abroad . but ( quoth the inquisitor general ) how do they for books , when they have occasion either to write or to dispute my lord ( replied gondamore ) all the libraries belonging to the roman catholicks through the land , are at their command , from whence they have all such collections as they can require gathered to their hands , as well from thence as from all the libraries of both vniversities , and even the books themselves if it be requisite ; besides , i have made it a principal part of my imployment , to buy all the manuscripts and other rare and antient authors out of the hands of the hereticks ; so that there is no great scholler dyes in the land , but my agents are dealing with his books , in so much as even their l●arned isaac causabons library was in election to be ours , had not their vigilant king ( who foreseeth all dangers , and hath his eye busie in every place ) prevented my plot ; for after the death of that great scholer , i sent to request a catologue of his books , with the price , intending not to be outvied by any man , if money would have fetch'd them : because , beside the damage that side should have received by the less prosecuting the cause against cardinal baronius , we might have made a good advantage of his notes , collections castigasions , censures and crit●cisms for our party , and framed and put out others under his name at our pleasure ; but this was foreseen by their prometheus ; who sent that torturer of ours , the b. of winchester , to search and sort the papers , and to seal up the study , giving a large and a princelike allowance to the relict of causabon ; with a bountiful pention and provision for her and hers ; but this plot fayling at that time , hath not ever done so ; nor had the vniversity of oxford so triumphed in their many manuscripts given by that famous knight sr thomas bodly , if either i had been then imployed , or this course of mine than thought upon ; for i would labour what i might this way or any other way to disarm them , or either to translate their best authors hither , or at least to leave none but in the hands of roman catholicks , who are assuredly ours , and to this end a special eye would be had upon the library of one sr. robert cotton ( an ingrosser of antiquities ) the most choice and singular pieces might be gleened , and gathered up by a catholick hand : neither let any man think that descending thus low to petty particulars is unworthy an embassador , or a small avail for the ends we aim at , since we see every mountain consists of several sands , and there is no more profitable conversing for statesmen , than amongst schollars , especially the king , for whom we watch is the king of scholars , and loves to live altogether almost in their element : besides if we can by any means continue differences in their church , or make them wider , or get distast betwixt their clergy and common-lawyers , who are men of greatest power in the land , the benefit will be ours , and the consequent great , opening way for us to come between , for personal quarrels produce real questions . as he was prosecuting this discourse one of the secretaries ( who waited without the chamber ) desired entrance , and being admitted , delivered letters , which he had newly received from the post , directed to the president and the rest of the council from his catholick majesty , the contents whereof were to this effect . right trusty and well beloved cousins and councellors ▪ we greet you well , whereas we had a hope by our agents in england and germany to effect that great work of the western empire , and likewise on the other side to suppress europe , at one instant , and infoulding it in our arms , make the easier road upon the turks in asia , and at length reduce all the world to our catholick command ; and whereas to this end we had secret and sure plots and projects on foot in all those places , and good intelligence in all courts ; know now that we have received late and sad news of the apprehension of our trusty and able pentioner barnevelt , and of the discovery of other our intendments , so that our hopes are at present adjourned till some other more convenient and more auspitious time , we therefore will you presently , upon the sight hereof , to break up your consultations , and repair straight to our presence , there to take further directions , and proceed as necessity of time and cause shall require . with that his excellency , and the whole house stook with amazement , crost their foreheads , rose up in a sad silence , and brake up this treaty abruptly , and without tarrianee , took horse , and posted to court , from whence expect news the next fair wind. in the mean time let not those be secure , whom it concerns to be roused up , knowing that this aspiring nebuchadnezar will not loose the glory of his greatness , who continueth still to magnify himself in his great babylon , until it be spoken , the kingdom is departed from thee , daniel 4. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a58828-e150 * vid. concil . lateran . magnum sub innocentio 30. can. 30. de hereticis , where the legality of the popes power to depose princes is asserted , and this declaration thus authoritively made ( denyed by the late dying conspirators ) is a sufficient ground of falth , except they will grant , the catholick church both representative and vertual to be fallible , which concession vvould stab popery in its vitals , and kill it at a blow . the present estate of spayne, or a true relation of some remarkable things touching the court, and gouernment of spayne with a catalogue of all the nobility, with their reuenues. composed by iames wadsworth, gent. late pensioner to his maiesty of spayne, and nominated his captaine in flanders. wadsworth, james, 1604-1656? 1630 approx. 124 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 48 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a14621 stc 24929a estc s119416 99854623 99854623 20050 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a14621) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 20050) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1369:1) the present estate of spayne, or a true relation of some remarkable things touching the court, and gouernment of spayne with a catalogue of all the nobility, with their reuenues. composed by iames wadsworth, gent. late pensioner to his maiesty of spayne, and nominated his captaine in flanders. wadsworth, james, 1604-1656? [6], 84 p. by a[ugustine] m[athewes] for ambrose ritherdon, at his shop, at the signe of the bull head in pauls-church-yard, imprinted at london : 1630. printer's name from stc. a variant of the edition with imprint giving richard thrale and ambrose ritherdon as publishers. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. some print faded and show-through; some pages stained. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng spain -social life and customs -early works to 1800. spain -nobility -early works to 1800. spain -court and courtiers -early works to 1800. 2003-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-07 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-01 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2004-01 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the present estate of spayne , or a true relation of some remarkable things touching the court , and gouernment of spayne , with a catalogue of all the nobility , with their reuenues . composed by iames wadsworth , gent. late pensioner to his maiesty of spayne , and nominated his captaine in flanders . imprinted at london by a. m. for ambrose ritherdon , at his shop , at the signe of the bull head in pauls-church-yard . 1630. to the right honourable the nobility , and gentrie of england , addicted to history , or trauaile . it is not the worth of the booke , that hath made mee presume so far , as to dedicate it to your honours seruice , supposing it a worke , worthy of your patronage : for it is your strong defence that can ouersway the calumnious obloquies of detractors , as also the worlds malignitie , so as it may take no iniury . that hath made mee beseech you , to shadow it vnder your wings , not esteeming the value of the thing , but the good mind , and meaning of the giuer , who is willing to doe as eschines did to socrates , who hauing nothing meete to gratifie him withall , gaue euen himselfe , whom you shall alwayes finde ready , your deuoted seruant , iames wadsvvorth . the index . a relation of all the dukes grandes of spayne . page 1. the grandes of italy . p. 11. marquesses grandes of spayne . p. 14. earles grandes of spayne . p. 15. marquesses of spayne which are not grandes . p. 16. earles of spayne which are not grandes . p. 22. the high counstables of spayne . p. 30. the admiralls of spayne . p. 30. the lords lieutenants of spayne . p. 31. vicounts of spayne . p. 32. archbishops and bishops of spayne . p. 33. knights of the noble order of the golden-fleece in spayne . p. 39. knights of the order of saint iames in spayne . p. 40. knights of the order of calatraua . p. 42. knights of the order of alcantara . p. 43. knights of the order of christ in portugall . p. 44. knights of the order of montesa in valentia . p. 45. knights of the order of saint iohn . p. 45. a scedule of the offices of which the king of spayne allowes his priuie councell to dispose of as in their owne donation . p. 46. his embassadours abroad . p. 48. councels of spayne . p. 49. priuiledges of the nobility of spayne . p. 5● . priuiledges of the constables of spayne . p. 54. the order which the king of spayne obserues in his chappell , and the gouernment thereof . p. 56. the state of the king and queene at meales . p. 60. the order and manner of the kings and queenes going abroad in their coach. p. 65. the manner of the kings riding foorth on horse-backe , to any publicke actes . p. 67. a scedule of the parish churches , and monasteries of friars in madrid . p. 69. certaine other speciall briefe obseruations concerning the king and state of spayne . p. 71. the kings audience to embassadours . p. 72. the demeanor of the spaniards in these times . p. 73. the king of spaynes reuenues , and his forces at sea and land. p. 75. cities in spayne . p. 80. ports and circuit . p. 82. the brasse-coynes . p. 84. errata . pag 2. line 25. read gacasa for gacara . barrameda for barameda . pag 5. line 26. read velascos for vecascos . pag 8. line 22. read pentaranda for peniferanda . pag no. read ●elues for lelues . for other faults i int●eat the reader to correct . a relation of all the dvkes , grandes of spayne , marquesses , earles , knights of seuerall orders , together with the arch-bishops , and bishops , their seuerall titles , dignities , offices , priuiledges and yeerely reuenues . atedious preamble or a prolix exordium is oftentimes rather offensiue , then any way delectable to the reader : therefore to auoyde occasion of distaste in this kinde , i will briefely betake my selfe to the relation of those particulars which shall in due order present themselues to the readers view and aspect , and first . of the dukes grandes of spayne . the first is the duke of san lucar the maior , or of alpechin , earle of oliuares , lord high steward to his maiesty of spaine , sumiller du corps , or chiefe squire to his body ; the said office belongs to the house of burgundie , of which the king himselfe is chiefe . the said dukes mansion or dwelling house is in siuill , his estate and reuenues are in andalusia , valued at sixescore thousand duckets a yeere , besides offices . he is lineally descended from the house of the guzmanes , whose sonne in law ( the marques of torall ) is head of the said house , and also one of the grandes of spaine , and master of the kings horse . this said marques of torall his ancestors did always heretofore refuse all offices , and places of dignity in court , being expressely forbidden by their progenitors success●iely , holding and accounting it an indignity to their noble pedegree ; this being their motto in their scutcheons . reyes de nos , y nos node reyes , ( kings come from us , wee not from kings ) his house or mansion of antiquity , is in the kingdome of leon ; his reuenues , in former times were not aboue eight thousand , but now valued at sixty foure thousand duckets a yeere beside offices . the duke of medina sidonia , marques of san lucar of basrameda , of cacara in affrica , and earle of niebla his house and estate are in the kingdome of siuill , his yeerely reuenues with his fishing of tunnie , are valued at three hundred thousand duckets a yeare . he is one of the prime branches of the house and family of gusmanes . this duke ( being once enstalled in his dukedome ) frequents not the kings court , but liues in courtlike state within his owne precinct at san lucar of barrameda : his father was generall of the fleete , anno dom. 1588. the sonne of this great duke ( by vertue of a dispensation from the pope ) hath married his aunt , both by father and mother , and t is doubtfull , whether her beauty or riches had greatest power in this vnnaturall coniunction . the duke of medina caeli , marques of cogolludo , earle of the port of saint mary : is chiefe of the familie of cerdas : his mansion or dwelling house is in cogolludo : his estate in the kingdome of toledo , and siuill ; and by estimation worth foure and forty thousand duckets a yeere . this duke is of the blood royall of castilla , and layes claime to the kingdome of castilla , and his accustomed manner is euery yeere vpon twelfe-day to deliuer a petition to his maiesty by right of priuiledge in that behalfe , which petition the king fauourably receiues , and withall answeres in these words , nos lo oymos , we heare you : and so referres it to the councell royall where it ceaseth for the present without any further proceedings in this case . the duke of lerma , marques of deniae , earle of ampudia , lord of the house of sandubal , and rojas ; his houses and mansions are in lerma and denia , his estate and reuennewes in castilla and valentia , and are worth two hundred and threescore thousand duckats a yeare . this said duke and his eldest sonne , ( the duke of vceda , ) heire apparant to the dukedome aforesaid , are both dead and the duke of cea ( grandchild to the duke of lerma aforesaid , and lord lieutenant of castilla , enioyeth all the aforesayd estate which ( with his owne ) amounteth to three hundred and fourty thousand duckets a yeare . the said lerma , perceiuing himselfe disfauoured by the king , procured a cardinals hat for his owne safety . and the said dukes fauourite , marques of siete , yglesias , don rodrigo calderon ( captaine of his maiesties guard ) being attainted of high treason ; ( according to the accustomed manner of spayne , for execution of such malefactors ) had his throat cut in the open market place at madrid , and all his goods confiscated to the king : amounting to the summe of three millions of duckets , or rather more . moreouer his children and successors of his linage were proclaimed ignoble , and neuer afterwards hereditarie to the aforesaid demeanes . this marques as hee was going to the place of execution , had one going before him with a bell and a dish in his hand , begging money for masses to be said for his soule ; saying these words . doc good for the soule of this man , who the other day was so rich , and now in so poore and lamentable estate . the duke of feria , marques of safra , earle of villa alba , chiefe of the family of feigueroas ; his house is in safra , his estate in estremadura , his rents are fifty thousand duckets a yeere . this dukes grandmother was of the house of the dormars , heere in england , and a lady of honour to queene mary , who was married to king philip , the second of spayne , and the sayd lady was married to this dukes grandfather , at that same time and so went ouer into spayne . the duke of infantado , marques of cenete and santillana , earle of saldana , lord of the royalty of mansanares , chiefe of the house of mendosas ; his mansion or dwelling house is in the citty called guadalaxara , and his estate lies in the kingdome of toledo , and the mountaines of old castilla : his rents are a hundred thousand duckats a yeere . the old duke is dead and now the young heire enioyes the dukedome , being some twenty yeeres of age , this is one of the prime dukes of spaine . the duke of frias , marques of berlanga , earle of haro , and lord of the house of the seuen infantes of lara , constable of castilla , and iustice maior of spayne : hee is chiefe of the house of velascos : his house is in the citty burgos , and his estate in old castilla , in the mountaines of biscay , and the hilles of soria , his rents are fourescore thousand duckats a yeare . the duke of medina riosecco marques of modica , earle of melgar , vicount cabrera , in catalunia and esterlin ; admirall of castilla , and chiefe of the house of enriques . his mansion or dwelling house is in vallodolid , and his estate in the province of campos , catalunia ; and sicilia , his rents are sixescore thousand duckats a yeare . the duke of alba and guesca , marques of cori● , earle of saluatierra , vicount of saldices , and lord of valde corneja , of the family of the toledos , counstable of nauarre by inheritance , his mansions or dwelling houses are in salamanca , and alba : and his estate in old castilla , nauarre and andalusia : his rents are a hundred thousand duckets a yeare . the duke of alcada , ( of the house of gansules , marques of tarifa , earle of hornos , lieutenant or lord president of andalusia , and lord chiefe notarie of the same . he is chiefe of the family of riueras , his mansion or dwelling house is in the citty of siuill , and his estate in the same kingdome ; his rents are fourescore thousand duckets a yeare . the duke of alburquerque , marques of guelma , and culiar , earle of ledesma , chiefe of the family of the cueuas . his house is in culiar , and his estate in old castilla , his rents are fifty thousand duckets a yeare . the duke of escalona , marques of villena , earle of santistc●an , lord garganta , chiefe of the family of pachecos , his houses are in toledo and escaloni● , and his estate in the prouince of the m●ncha in the kingdome of tolledo . his rents are worth a hundred thousand duckets a yeare . the duke of osuna , marques of penafiel , earle of vrenia , head of the family of girones , lord chiefe notarie of castilla : his house is in osuna , his estate in andolusia and old castilla : his rents are fourescore thousand duckats a yeere . the duke of arcos , marques of cades and lara , earle of marchena , chiefe of the family of the ponces of leon : his house in seuill , and his estate in the said kingdome ; his rents are fifty thousand duckets a yeare . the duke of bei●r , marques gibraleon , earle of benalcasar ▪ chiefe of the house of the sunigas and soto maior ▪ his mansion or dwelling house is in seuill , and his estate in the said kingdome : his rents are threescore and ten thousand duckets a yeere , this duke is of the blood royall . the duke of gandia , marques of lombay , earle of oliba , head of the family of the borjas : his house is in valentia , and his estate in the same kingdome : his rents are fifty thousand duckets a yeare . the duke of cesa , balna and soma , marques of poca , earle of cabra , palamos , and oliueto , vicount of disnacar , admirall of naples ; high constable of the castle of ferxo : he is head of the house of cordobas ; his mansion or chiefe dwelling house , is in cordoba , and his estate in the kingdome of naples , and catalunia . his rents are sixescore thousand duckets a yeare . the duke of maqueda and naxera marques of elche , earle of valentia and triuinio , chiefe of the house of the manrriques de lara , and cardenas . his houses are in toledo , and naxera : and his estate in the kingdome of leon and estremadura : his rents are fourescore and ten thousand duckets a yeare . the duke of segorbe and cardona , marques of comares , lord of lucena , earle of pradas , constable of arragon , head of the arragones and cardonas ; of the blood royall of arragon : his house is in valentia , his estate in the said kingdome catalunia and andalusia : his rents are sixescore thousand duckets a yeare . the duke peniaranda , marques of banesia , earle of miranda , chiefe of the family of the auellanedas , and likewise allied vnto the house of s●niga , his house is in peniaranda , and his estate in old castilla : his rents are yeerely fourty thousand duckets a yeere . the duke of yjar , his house is in saragosa , and his estate in arragon ; his rents are twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the duke of villa hermosa , earle of ribagosa , of the linage of arragones , his house is in saragosa , and his estate in arragon : his rents are foure and twenty thousand duckets a yeare . the duke of beraguas , marques of iamayca , admirall of the indies , allied to the house of toledo : his house is in saragosa : and his estate in arragon , and the indies , estimated to be worth thirty thousand duckats a yeare besides his admiralls place , which is worth twenty thousand duckets a yeere more . the duke of pastrana , prince of eboli , of the house and family of siluas in portugall : this house is in pastrana ; his estate in the prouince of alcarria , his reuenues are worth forty thousand duckats a yeare . the duke of villa franca , is of the house of tolledo , but being not desirous to reteine the title of a duke , assignes it to his sonne , and is only contented with the name don pedro of toledo . his sonne is duke of fernandina , marques of villa franca , prince of montalban ▪ and earle of peniramiro . this don pedro , was he that was taken prisoner comming for england , in the yeare 1588. and his sonne did lately take saint christophers iland . their mansions or chief dwelling houses are in toledo and villa franca : and their estates in naples and galisia , valued at sixecore thousand duckets a yeare . all these are dukes grandees in spayne , and hold their priuiledges and dignities successiuely by inheritance , and so doe the constables and admirals , within the king of spaynes dominions . now for their estates & yerely reuenues , none of them can sell , but may ( if necessity and occasion require ) morgage the same for the payments of their debts ( by yearely portions ) till satisfaction bee made , and then the right owner , or his suruiuing heire , must repossesse the same without any impediment or contradiction . another obseruation concerning these grandees is , that none of them must be married without the kings leaue and licence : which if they doe obtaine , and are married , their espoused ladies must not loose their virginity within sixe miles of the kings court , the first night after they are married . furthermore no grandee , nobleman or gentleman of worth , may be arrested for debt , but must pay their debts as the abouesaid grandees . neitheir can any stranger be arrested for debt if he can but produce two witnesses , that will be deposed and take their oath , that he is descended from the loynes of gentle-parents in his natiue countrey . also no souldiers can be billeted vpon any of the nobility , nor gentry of spayne . the grandees of italy which may at their owne pleasure bee covered before the king. the duke of paliano , prince of sonino , counstable of naples ; of the house and linage of colona romana : his mansion or dwelling house is in rome , his estate and reuenewes are in the adiacent borders called campana roma , and are valued at a hundred thousand duckets a yeare . marques spinola , chiefe campmaster of the armies in flaunders and generall in the palatinate ; now gouernour of millain : generall of the king of spaynes forces there , knight of the noble order of the golden fleece : his house is at gen●ua , some estate of land he hath in spayne , but his gre●test reuenewes are in money ; by relation two or three millions ; but not certainely know●n . his sonne for the reward of his ser●ice at the palatinate , was made a cardinall commonly called cardinall spinola . the duke of braciano , lord of the house of vrc●●● romana his house is in rome ; his estate in the aforesaid ●ampana roma●ia and tuscana : and is worth fourescore thousand duckets a yeere . the prince of bisiniano , had a faire estate and many titles , but now all are come to nothing but a bare title ; although hee was heretofore head of the house of saint seberina : he is called by the name of don tiberio carasa . the prince of malfeta , of the house of gonsaga , graund iusticer of naples , earle of guastala , and campo bassa : his house is in guastala ; his estate in naples and lombardie : his rents are seuenty thousand duckets a yeare . the prince of melsi , of the house of oria , great protonotario or pronotarie of naples ; his house is at genoua , and his estate lyeth in the kingdome of naples : his rents are two hundred thousand duckets a yeare . the prince of asinly , lord of the house of leyba ; his house is at naples , and his estate in the said kingdome : his rents are fourty thousand duckets a yeere . the duke of montalto , prince of paterno , is of the family of moncada and arragon : his house is at palermo , and his estate lyes in the kingdomes of naples and scicilie : his rents are a hundred and fourty thousand duckets a yeare . the duke of terra noua , prince of gastelbitrano , is of the house and family of zallauia and arragon , his house is at palermo , and his estate in the kingdome of scicilie : his rents are seuenty thousand duckets a yeere . the marques of pescara and vasto , is of the house and family of a●alus , his house is at naples , and his estate in the same kingdome : his rents are thirty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of sexto , of the family of spinola , his house is at genoua , his estate in the kingdome of naples : his rents are seuenty thousand duckets a yeare . the duke of monteleon , is of the house and family of pinatelo , his house is in the city of naples , and his estate in the same kingdome and calabria : his rents are fourty thousand duckets a yere . the prince of castillon , of the house and family of gonsaga , his house is at castillon , and his estate in lombardie : his rents are twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the duke of salmoneta , is of the family of gaetana , his house is in rome , and his estate neere thereunto adioyning , his rents are thirty thousand duckets a yeare . the prince of butera , is of the house of brangifort , his house is in palermo , and his estate not farre distant from it : his rents are fourescore thousand duckats a yeare . the prince of sulmona , is of the house of burgense ; his house is at rome , and his estate in the kingdome of naples , his rents are twenty thousand duckets a yeare . marquesses grandes of spayne . the marques of astorga , earle of trastamara and santa maria , of the house of villa lobos , head of the linage of osorios , hee hath his house in astorga , and his estate in the kingdome of leon , and in the prouince of campos : his rents are fourty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of aguilar , earle of casteneda , is of the house of manrriques of lara : his house is in aguilar , his estate in leon ; and his rents are foure and thirty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of mondesar , earle of tendilla , of the linage of mendosas ; his house is in mondesar and his estate in the prouince of alcarria : his rents are thirty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of pliego , is of the house of aguilar , hee holdes his mansion or dwelling house in cordoba , and his estate is in alcarria and andal●si● , his rents are a hundred thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of veles and molina adolantado , or lieutenant of murcia , is of the house of fajardos ; his house and his estate are in murcia , and his rents are sixe and fourty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of santa cruz or the holy-crosse , is of the house of bacan : his mansion or dwelling house is in the viso , his estate in andalusia : and his rents are thirty thousand duckets a yeare . the marques of velada , of the linage and house of toledo and auila , his house is in auila , his estate in the kingdome of toledo : his rents are thirty thousand duckets a yeare . of the earles grandes of spayne . the earle of benauente , duke of villaon , earle of luna and mayorga . he is of the house of pimentele and holds his mansion or dwelling house in valladel●d ; his estate is in campos in the kingdome of estremadura : and his rents are a hundred thousand duckets a yeare . the earle of lemus and andrada marques of sarria , earle of villalba of the house of the castres : his mansion or dwelling house is in monforte delemus , his estate in galisia : his rents are fifty thousand duckats a yeere . the earle of oropesa , and deloptosa marques garandilla lord of cebolla : hee is of the house and linage of toledo , his mansion or chiefe dwelling house is in oropesa , his estate lyeth in the kingdome , of toledo , his rents are seuentie thousand duckets a yeare . the earle of albadelista is of the linage of the enriques ▪ his mansion house is in camora , and his estate in old castilla , his rents are thirty thousand duckets a yeare . the earle of altamira , is of the house and linage of moscoso : his mansion or dwelling house is in altamira : his estate in galisia , his rents two and twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of monterry , is of the house of sunigas , his house is in salamanca , his estate in galisia , his rents are thirty thousand duckats a yeare . marquesses of spayne , which are not grandees . the marques of ayamonte , of the linage of sunigas , and soto maior ; his house and estate are in siuill : and his rents six and twenty thousand duckats a yeere . the marques of tauara , of the house of pimenteles , his house is in valladolid ; his estate in old castilla : and his rents sixeteene thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of carpio earle of armuz of the house of haro ; his mansion or dwelling house is in carmona : his estate in andalusia , and his rents are foure and twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of camarasa , earle of ricla , of the house of cobos ; his house is in valladolid , and estate in arragon : and his rents are fiue and fourty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of cortes , of the linage and house of toledo , his house is in cortes , his estate is in navarra ▪ his rents are fifteene thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of montemayor , of the linage and stocke of silhas , he hath his house in monte-mayor ; his estate in the kingdome of toledo , and his rents are eighteene thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of montesclaros of the linage of mendosas he holds his chiefe house for residencie in guadalaxara : his estate lyeth in the prouince of alcarria , and his rents are sixeteene thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of nauas , earle of risco , is of the house and linage of auilas , hee hath his mansion or chiefe dwelling house in auila , and his estate is in aquella comarca : his rents are sixe and twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of stepa , of the centurions of genoua , hath his house in siuill , and his estate in the same kingdome : his rents are fifty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of caracena , of the linage of carillos and toledo ; holds his house in caracena , and his estate in castilla : his rents are sixeteene thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of malpica , of the linage of the riveras , holdes his house in madrid , and his estate in the kingdome of toledo : his rents are fourty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of ladrada , of the linage and house of cuebas , holdes his house in ladrada , and his estate in the kingdome of murcia : his rents are twelue thousand duckats a yeare . the marques caniete , of the linage and house of mendosas ; holds his house in cuenca , and his estate in aquella comarra : his rents are thirty foure thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of falces , of the house of peralta , hath his mansion house in mansilla , and his estate in nauarra : his rents are eight thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of aytona , of the house of moneada and cardona ; holdeth his chiefe mansion in valentia , and his estate in the said kingdome , his rents are thirty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of delualle , of the house and family of fernan cortes , his house is in mesico , in the west indies , and his estate lyeth in noua hispania , new spaine , his rents are seuenty thousand duckats a yeere . the marques of fromista , of the linage of enrriques ; his house is in fromista ▪ his estate in campos ; his rents are ten thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of cerralbo , of the house of toledo , and pachecos , hath his mansion house in cerralbo , and his estate in old castilla : his rents are ten thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of ardales and algaua , of the house of guzmanes , hath his house and estate in seuill : and his rents are thirty fixe thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of p●obera , of the house of sandas , hath his mansion house in salamanca , and his estate in old castilla , his rents are sixe thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of veteta , of the house of cardenas his house is in lerena , and his estate in estremadora : his rents are fifte●ne thousand duckets a yeare . the marques of alcanisas , of the house of manrriques and almansas ; hath his house in alcanises , and his estate in old castilla : his rents are fifteene thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of auila-fuente , of the house of cunigat , hath his house in auila-fuente , and his estate in old castilla ▪ his rents are eighteene thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of mota , of the house of v●●oas , hath his house and estate in toro , and his rents are sixteene thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of villa manrriques , of the house of sunig●s , his whole estate is in old castilla : and his rents are twelue thousand duckats a yeare , the marques of lansarote , lord of fuerte-ventura , of the house of roj●as and herreras his house and estate are in the canarias : his rents sixe thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of aum●n , of the house of velascos and herrer●● , hath his house in aunion , and his estate in castilla , his rents are two and twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of guadalcazar , of the house of cordouas , hath both his house and estate in andalusia : and his rents are ten thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of ynojosa , of the linage of the mendosas , hath his house in madrid , and his estate in gastilla : and his rents are twenty thousand duckets a yeare . the marques of villar , of the linage of pimenteles and suniga , hath his house and estate in gast●lla : and his rents are sixe and twenty thousand duckets a yeere . the marques of iodar , of the house of carana jales , he hath his house in iodar , and his estate in andalusias : his rents are ten thousand duckets a yeare . the marques of salinas , of the house of velascos , hath his house in madrid , and his estate in the indies : his rents are fifty thousand duckets a yeare . the marques of the valles , of the house acunia , hath his house and estate in old castilla , and his rents are sixeteene thousand duckats a yeere . the marques of flores de auila , of the house of cunigas , hath his house in salamanca , and his estate in old castilla : his rents are eight thousand duckets a yeare . the marques of pobar , of the house of auilas and guzmanes , hath his house and estate in andalusia ▪ and his rents are sixteene thousand duckets a yeare . the marques of pardos , of the house of cerdas , hath his house in toledo , his estate in castilla , and his rents are thirty thousand duckets a yeare . the marques of mirabel , of the house of auilas , hath his house in placencia , and his estate in placencia : his rents are foureteene thousand duckats a a yeare . the marques of guardia , of the house of meijas , his house is in guardia , and his estate in andalusia : his rents are thirty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of almacan , earle of monteagudo , hath his house in almacan , and his estate in olde castilla : his rents are thirty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of moya of the house of pachecos , and lord of the houses of the soid ▪ hath his house in valentia , and his estate in cuenca : his rents are sixeteene thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of fuente , of the house of sandobal , hath his whole estate in andalusia : and his rents are ten thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of laguna , of the house of cerdas , hath his whole estate in leon ; and his rents are twelue thousand duckats a yeare . the marques calanda , of the house of alasones , in arragon : his rents are foure thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of nauarres , of the house of borjas , hath his house and estate in valentia : and his rents are twelue thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of almenara , earle of cocentana , his house and estate are in valentia and castilla : his rents are twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of villamicar , of the house of rojas , and sandobal , his rents are twelue thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of loriana , his house is in auila , and his estate in castilla , and his rents are worth ten thousand duckets a yeare . the marques of orani , of the linage of silu●● , his whole estate is in cardena , and his rents are tenne thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of tabara , of the house of pimenteles , hath his house in valladolid , and his estate in castilla : his rents are worth sixeteene thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of ielbes , of the house of pimenteles , his whole estate is in castilla ▪ and his rents are twelue thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of malagon , earle of villa lonso , of the house of vlloas , his house is in zero , and his estate in castilla ▪ his rents are sixe and thirty thousand duckats a yeere . the earles of spayne , which are grandes . the earle of salinas and ribadeo , duke of villa , franca , of the linage of silbas : hath his house in madrid , and his estate in galicia , vizcaya and naples : his rentes are thirty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of aguilar , lord of cameros , of the house of arelanos : hath his house in aguilar , his estate in rioja , and his rents are fifteene thousand duckats a yeare . the earle aranda , of the house of burrcas , hath his house in saragosa , and his estate in aragon : his rents are thirty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of almenara , in valentia , his rents are sixe thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of alcaudete , of the house of cordouas , hath his house in alcaudete , and his estate in the kingdome of cordoua : his rents are eighteene thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of alba●da , of the house of milanes , in valentia , his rents are sixe thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of aymon , of the house of cordouas and leon , hath his house in cordoua , and his estate in granada : his rentes are sixe thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of debelchite , of the house of ysares , hath his house in valentia , and his estate in arragon : his rents are eight thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of castellar , head of the house of sahabedras , his house and estate are in seuill : and his rents are sixeteene thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of castro , of the house of mendosas , hath his house in castro , and his estate in old castilla : his rents are twelue thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of cifuentes , of the house of siluas , hath his house in toledo , and his estate in alcarria : his rents are eight thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of chi●chion , head of the house of bouadillas , hath his house and estate in tolledo : and his rents are forty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of corunina , of the house of mendosas , hath his house in guadalaxara , and his estate in alcarria : his rents are tenne thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of fuensalida , marques of val●arrota , of the house of ayalas , hee hath his house in toledo , and his estate in that kingdome estremadura and andalusia , his rents are seuenty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of gelbes , of the house of portugals , hath his house in seuill , and his estate in castilla : his rents are ten thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of gomera of ayales , suares , and castilla , his house and estate are in the canaries : his rents are fourteene thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of guirra , of the house of pachecos and castillas , hath his house and estate in new castilla : his rents are sixe thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of villamediana , of the house of tarsis , correo mayor . hath his house in valladolid , his estate in andalusia , and his rents are fourescore thousand duckats a yeare with his office . the earle of fuentes , of the house of heredias , his house is in caragosa , and his estate in arragon , his rents are eight thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of medillen of the house of portocarreros , hath his house in medillen , and his estate in estremadura : his rents are thirty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of ciruela , of the house of velascos hath his house in rea , his estate in old castilla , and andalucia : his rents are foureteene thousand duckats a yere . the earle of morata , of the house of lunas , hath his house in caragosa , his estate in arragon : his rents are eight thousand duckats a yeere . the earle of casarubios of the house of chazones , hath his house and estate in toledo : and his rents are sixeteene thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of onate , of the house of guebaras , hath his house in onate , and his estate in guipuzcoa : his rents are eighteene thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of puebl● , of maestre , of the house of cordonas , his house is in lerena , and his estate in estremadura : his rents are sixteene thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of orgaz of the house of ayalas and mendosas , hath his house in san-tollala and his estate in the kingdome of toledo and vizcaya : his rents are eighteene thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of palma , of the house of portocarreros hath his house in hecija , and his estate in the kingdome of cordeba : his rents are fourteene thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of pliego , of the house of carrillos , hath his house in guadalaxara , and his estate in cuenca , his rents are eight thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of punio en rostro , of the house of arias , hath his house in madrid , and his estate in the kingdome of toledo : his rents are twenty thousand duckets a yeare . the earle of paredes , of the house of manrriques , hath his house in paredes , and his estate in old castilla : his rents are sixeteene thousand duckats a yere . the earle of salazar , of the house of relascos , hath his whole estate in old castilla ; and his rents are twelue thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of ribadabia , of the house of mendosas , hath his house in valladolid , and his estate in galicia : his rents are ten thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of sastago , of the house of arragon , hath his house in caragosa , and his estate in arragon : his rents are sixeteene thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of santisteuan , chiefe of the house of venauides , hath his house in vbeda , and his estate in gaen : his rents are fifteene thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of galues , of the house of cerda● , hath his house and his estate in galicia : and his rents are sixe thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of varajas , head of the house of sapatas , hath his house in madrid , and his estate in aquella-comarca : his rents are thirty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of nieua , of the house of enrriquez , hath his house in nieua , and his estate in old castilla : his rentes are twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of ayamor and fernandina , duke of villa real in the kingdome of naples : and of the house of diaquez : hath his house and his estate in vizcaya : and his rents are twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of lodosa , of the house of mendozas and nauarros , hath his whole estate in nauarra : and his rents are nine thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of cantillana , of the house of vicentelos , hath his house in ceuill , and his estate in andalusia : and his rents are twentie thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of aninober , of the house of leyuas , hath his mansion or chiefe dwelling house in toledo , and his estate in old castilla : his rents are eight thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of castrillo , of the house of abellanedas , hath his house in aranda , and his estate in old castilla : and his rents are ten thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of villa-nueua of anuedo , of the house of vlloas , hath his whole estate in old castilla : and his rents are eight thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of arcos , of the house of figueroas and mendosa , hath his whose estate in that kingdomes of toledo and andalusia , his rents are twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of puebla and montalban , of the house of telles and girones , hath his house in puebla , and his estate in toledo : his rents are twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of baylen , of the house of ponces of leon , hath his house in baylen , and his estate in andalusia : his rents are twelue thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of osor●● , of the house of manrriques , hath his house in osorno , and his estate in old castilla : his rents are sixeteene thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of graxal , of the house of vegas , hath his house in graxal , and his estate in campos : his rents are twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of villamor , of the house of albarados , hath his house in madrid , and his estate in castilla : his rents are two and twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of villauor , of the house of guzmanes , hath his house and estate in castilla : and his rents are twelue thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of villaflor of the house of enriques , hath his whole estate in castilla : and his rents are eight thousand duckets a yeare . the earle of fuenti-duenia of the house of lunas , hath his house in fuenti-duenia , and his estate in olde castilla : his rents are twelue thousand duckets a yeare . the earle of fuensaldana , of the house of viueros and lunas , hath his house in valladolid : and his estate in old castilla : his rents are ten thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of mayalden , prince of esquilache , of the house of borjas , hath his whole estate in the kingdome of naples : and his rents are thirty thousand duckets a yeare . the earle of fuente elsauco of the house of dezas , hath his house and estate in toro : and his rents are twelue thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of salba-tierra of the house of ayalas and sarmientos ; hath his whole estate in galicia : and his rents are sixeteene thousand duckets a yeare . the earle of villa-alba of the house of ayalas , hath his house and estate in toledo : and his rents are twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of gondomar , of the house of sarmientos and acunia : hath his house and estate in galicia , and his rents are nine thousand duckats a yeare . the earle of penaranda , of the house bracamonte ; hath his house in penaranda , and his estate in old castilla , his rents are eight thousand duckets a yeare . the earle of villa-longa , of the house of franquesa ; hath his house in villa-longa , and his estate in old castilla ; his rents are sixe thousand duckets a yeare . the earle of villar , of the house of torres , and portugall : hath his house in ia●n , and his estate in the same prouince : his rents are nine thousand duckets a yeare . the constables of spayne . 1. the constable of castilla , the duke of frias . 2. the constable of arragon , the duke of cardona . 3. the constable of nauarra , the duke of alba. 4. the constable of naples , earle of paliano . the certainty of their meanes , in respect of their offices and priuiledges is not knowne and therefore cannot well bee truely determined ; but they are thought to exceed the admiralls in all respects both of dignities , priuiledges and reuenewes of their offices . the admiralls of spayne . the duke of medina of rioseco , admirall of castilla , his reuenewes of office are fiue and twenty thousand duckats a yeare . 2. the brother to the duke of infantado , bishop of siguen●a , is admirall of aragon , his office is valued at eighteene thousand duckats a yeare . 3 the admirall of valentia , his estate and reuenues by office are valued at sixteene thousand duckets a yeare . 4 the duke of beraguas , admirall of the indies , his estate and reuenues by office are valued at twenty thousand duckats a yeare . the lords lieutenants or presidents of spayne , commonly called adelantados . 1. the duke of lerma and zea adelantado , or lord lieutenant of castilla , his reuenues of office are worth sixe thousand duckats a yeare . 2. the duke of alcala-adelantado of andalusia , his office is valued at eight thousand duckats a yeare . the marques of velez-adelantado of murcia , his office is worth seauen thousand duckats a yeare . the cardinall and arch bishop of toledo-adalantado of cacorla , his reuenues are included in his arch-bishoppricke , as appertaining to the same . the adelantado of galicia , his reuenues by office are sixe thousand duckats a yeare . the prince of asculi , adelantado of canuria his place by office is valued at foure thousand duckats a yeare . vicountes of spayne and the value of their lordships , of which they are vicounts . of toriza , at foure thousand duckats a yeare . of peralta , at foure thousand duckats a yeare . of rosa , and earle of aranda , at sixe thousand duckats a yeare . of sol , vicount of castros , at eight thousand duckats a yeare . of disnajar , and duke of sesar , at eight thousand duckats a yeare . archbishops and bishops of spayne , and their yearely demeanes . first , the infanto don ferdinando ; third brother to the king of spayne , is cardinall of toledo , primate and metropolitane of all spayne , and next vnto the pope , thought to bee the greatest prelate in all christendome for wealth and dignities : insomuch that his reuenues are thought to bee worth not so little , as foure hundred thousand duckets a yeere . don alphonso , in his time of reigning did conquer toledo , with the sword from the moores , in the yeare 1083 , and was the first king that established this a●ch-bishoprick , in this great state and estate ; and since his time , it hath beene much inriched by the large bounty of kings and many noble men of spayne , insomuch that now besides the primacie , and chauncery of castilla ; it hath beene in great credite and authority throughout all europe , and is serued with foureteene dignities and channons , with prebends : fifty portionists and other extraordinary channons , besides chaplaines , priests , clearks , chaunters , and other officers that haue stipends or fees , at the least sixe hundred . besides it is exceeding rich in plate . the archbishop of seuill , his estate is valued at a hundred thousand duckats a yeare . of sant-iago , at fourescore thousand duckats a yeare . of valentia at fifty thousand duckats a yeare . of granada , at seuen and twenty thousand duckats a yeare . of burgos , at forty thousand duckats a yeare . of saragosa , at thirty thousand duckats a yeare . of taragona , at fiue and thirty thousand duckats a yeare . bishops within the precincts and iurisdiction of toledo , their yearely reuenues . the bishop of guenca is worth in estate fifty thousand duckats a yea●e . of siguenta , at fifty thousand duckets a yeare . of osma , at thirty thousand duckats a yeare . of cordoba , at fourty thousand duckats a yeare . of iaen , at twenty thousand duckats a yeare . of segou●a , at sixe and twenty thousand duckets a yeare . of auila , at foure and twenty thousand duckats a yeare . of seuill . the bishop of malaga , his estate is worth thirty thousand duckats a yeere . of cadiz , at fifteene thousand duckats a yeare . of canar●a , at twelue thousand duckats a yeare . of granada . the bishop of almeria , is worth sixe thousand duckats a yeare . of guadix , at eight thousand duckats a yeare . of valentia . the bishop of cartagena , is worth tenne thousand duckets a yeare . of origuela , at eight thousand duckats a yeare . of segorbe , at tenne thousand duckats a yeare . of balbastro , at sixe thousand duckats a yeare . of burgos . the bishop of caloborra , is worth twenty thousand duckats a yeare . of palentia , at sixeteene thousand duckats a yeare . of pamplona , at thirty thousand duckats a yeare . bishops within the precincts and iurisdiction of san-diago , their yearely reuenues . the bishop of coria , is worth foure and twenty thousand duckats a yeare . of astorga , at twelue thousand duckets a yeare . of samora , at twenty thousand duckats a yeare . of salamanca , at twenty thousand duckats a yeare . of oriense , at eight thousand duckats a yeare . of tuy , at foure thousand duckets a yeare . of vadajoz , at sixe thousand duckats a yeare . of lugo , at eight thousand duckats a yeare . of ciudad-rodrigo , at twelue thousand duckats a yeare . of taragona . the bishop of lerida , is worth tenne thousand duckats a yeere . of tortosa , at foureteene thousand duckats a yeare . of barcelona , at eight thousand duckats a yeare . of girona , at twelue thousand duckats a yeare . of vrgel , at seuen thousand duckats a yeare . of viqui , at fiue thousand duckats a yeare . of caragosa . the bishop of taragona , is worth sixe thousand duckats a yeare . of iaca , at eight thousand duckats a yeare . of guesca , at ten thousand duckats a yeare . of valuastro , at nine thousand duckets a yeare . of albacarin , at sixe thousand duckats a yeare . these following are exempted and free of themselues . the bishop of leon , is worth fourteene thousand duckets a yeare . of obiedo , foure and twenty thousand duckats a yeare . of vallodelid , at foureteene thousand duckets a yeare . the bishoppricke of placentia although it fall vacant in the popes moneth of election , yet not withstanding it is at the kings disposure : where yee are to note that the king of spayne , and the pope , doe diuide the yeare b●tweene them by monethly course , for the donation of bishoppricks and other spirituall liuings : but yet this of all the rest is excepted to bee only in the kings gift , although it happen to fall voyd in the popes moneth . now vpon the election of any bishop , either by the king or the pope , the sayd bishop must enter into bond to pay such yeerely pensions as hee shall be appointed by the king or the pope , which of themsoeuer giue his bishoppricke . these pensions doe most commonly amount vnto a third part of the bishops yerely reuenues , and must bee payd to such persons as they shall thinke fitting to receiue the same . these pensioners must be apparrelled in blacke , and vnmarried , and so must continue : some of them are of gentle birth , and education , and must ●e well disposed to pie●y , and religion , vpon which approbation they are admitted . knights of the noble order of the golden-fleece . philip , duke of burgundie , and earle of flaunders , was the first institutor of this order , in the tenth yeare of his dukedome , vpon an oath which he had taken to wage war with the infidells of siria , and to conquer iury. this said order had ( for patron and protectour ) saint andrew ; and the remembrance of this order was and is to bee solemnized for the space of three dayes together once euery yeare . the first day of which solemnity the knights of that order were to be apparelled with scarlet , or red coloured robes , in token that heauen is purchased by effusion of blood and martyrdome . the second day they were to bee clothed in blacke , representing mourning for the defunct , which haue dyed in the warres . the third day they were to be clad with white vestures , in honour of the purity of the virgine mary . these knights ( to shew that they are distinguished from other orders of knighthood ) doe weare a chayne of gold made after the fashion of fuzells , with a fleece ramme , hanging at it . the king of spayne , is chiefe of this order , as he is head of the house of burgundie . there are foure and twenty knights in number of the said order , which are princes of the most noble families , in burgundie , spaine , flaunders and netherlands . in spaine , charles the kings brother and the duke of alba , the duke of osuna , the duke of arcos , the duke of escalona , the duke of medina , sidonia , the duke of b●jar , the duke of cardona , and the marques of pescara and bastos . in italy , marques spinola , and other noble princes . in germanie , diuerse of the house of austria , and other princes , as the duke of bauaria , and the duke of nubourke . in flaunders , the duke of ascott , and some others . knights of the order of saine iames. the master and chiefe of this order , is the king of spayne , as annexed to his crowne , and hee is the onely perpetuall gouernour and administrator of the same order . the originall cause of the institution of this order , was , to secure those which went in pilgrimage to santiago in galicia , who in former times had beene much oppressed and molested by the moores . also the nobility of spayne , did ioyne with the monkes of saint augustine , for the establishing of that order : and they did get it confirmed by pope alexander , anno. 1175. the principall agent for the obteining of this confirmation was pedro fernandes de puente o fuente calada , who afterwards was master of the said order . this order hath ninety foure lord-ships , or dignities belonging to it of different reueneues , but in all they are worth three hundred thousand duckets a yeare . these dignities are bestowed ( vpon certaine knights of the said order ) ( by the king ) according to his fauour , and their desertes . the patron of this order is santiago , and they are gouerned by the rule of saint augustine . the badge by which the knights of this order are knowne , is a crosse made of red veluet in the fashion of a sword . when any knight of this order , is enstalled , it is performed with great solemnity ; the master of the order , inuesting him with a white robe ( or his deputy in his absence ) and giuing vnto him a sword , the rest of the knights alwayes giuing their attendance at the performance of such actes . this is done at some church or religious house , belonging to the patron of the same order . these knights ( in case of necessity ) are bound to serue their king in the warres seuen yeares , vpon his maiesties commaund , and so are the knights of all other orders . knights of the order of calatraua . of this order his maiesty of spayne is head , as he is of the order aforesaid . to this order , doe belong fifty lordships or dignities : but in regard some of them are but of small alowance , two of them are ioyned together , so that now they are bestowed but vpon fiue and thirty persons : the yearely reuenewes of all doe amount vnto a hundred and twenty thousand duckets a yeare ; and they obserue the rule of saint benedict as their patron . this order had its beginning , anno , 1158 in the time of the king don sancho the desired . the badge whereby these knights are knowen , is a red crosse with a wauing or cheuerne circle about it . knights of the order of alcantara . the king is likewise master of this order and vnto it are belonging eight and fifty lordshippes and dignities : but because some of them are vnited two in one , there are but one and fourty of them : they are worth a hundred thousand duckats a yeere : and they doe also obserue the order of saint benedict as their patron . this order had its beginning in the yeare , 1212. when the king of leon , did win the city of alcantara , from the moores , he gaue it to the knights of this order to defend the same . this order had its adoption or filiation from that of calatraua , but since they were exempt from it by a bull , from po●e iulio the second . the badge whereby these knights are distinguished from them of calatraua , is , in that these weare a greene crosse in fashion , but not in colour like to that of calatraua , because that is red . his maiesty of spayne , is perpetuall administratour of these three aforesaid orders . now the benefit of these three mastershipps of the aforesaid orders , the king often lets them to the fucares , ( the great marchants of spayne , ) for three hundred thousand duckats a yeare , which goes into his owne purse . moreouer , these said fucares , are to pay vnto those which are professed knights of these orders and haue no dignity , to each of them twelue thousand marauedis yearely , to buy them bread and water . this authority is confirmed to the king by the popes apostolicall bull. knights of the order of christ the king himselfe and the duke of beragansa , are the chiefe heads of this order , vnto which belong fourteene lordships or dignities , by estimation worth foure and twenty thousand duckats a yeare and more . this order had its beginning in the yeare 1320. and was both approoued of , and established by the authority of pope iohns bull , and in the yeare 1323. the demeanes and reuenues thereof were increased and bettered by the king don manuel . the knights of this order , doe acknowledge onely christ , to be their supreame patron and protector : but vnder him the pope , and the king as his vicegerent . the badge these knights weare , is a red crosse , with a white line , drawne through the middle of both parts of it . knights of the order of montesa in valentia . the chiefe of this order , is the marques of nauarres : and vnto this order belong thirteene lordships or dignities , which are estimated to be worth twenty thousand duckats a yeare . this order is much decayed in respect of what it hath beene : thy follow the rule of saint benedict , and it was confirmed by pope benedict the thirteenth . knights of the order of saint iohn . the chiefe of this order , is the great master of the iland of malta , and the knights of this order haue for their reuenues ( with the priorates ) eight hundred thousand duckats a yeare , in demeanes vnto them apperteining , their lordshipps are , 134. a scedule of the offices of which the king of spayne allowes his priuie counsell to dispose of , as in their owne donation . the viceroy of naples . the viceroy of sicilia . the viceroy of arragon . the viceroy of valentia . the viceroy of portugall . the viceroy of nauarra . the viceroy of sardinia . the viceroy of peru. the viceroy of mexico . the viceroy of the east indies . the viceroy of catalunia . generalissimo of the sea. generall of the gallies of naples . generall of the gallies of genoua . generall of the horse of spayne . generall of the artillery of spayne . generall of the horse of flaunders . generall of the artillery of flaunders . generall of the horse of millan . generall of the hombres , or men at armes of millan generall of the plate galleones . generall of the fleetes . admirall of the fleets . generall of the gallies of sicilie . generall of the gallies of portugall . generall of the gallies of catalunia . campmaster generall of spayne . campmaster generall of flaunders . campmaster generall of portugall . gouernour of millain , with the title of generalissimo . gouernour of galicia , with the title of generall . generall of the forces of the lower palatinate . gouernour of oran , in affrick . gouernour of alarache . gouernour of mammora . gouernour of brasi●l . gouernours of diuers places in the east and west indies , and ilands , in the ocean and mediterranean sea , and other frontiers in barbarie . gouernours of the strong castles of the spaniards in flaunders viz. antwerp , gaunt , and cambray , with diuers other petty gouernments throughout the king of spayne his dominions . embassadours . the king of spayne his embassadour at rome . the embassadour in germany . the embassadour in england . the embassadour in fraunce . the embassadour in flaunders . the embassadour in venice . the embassadour in genoua . the embassadour in sauoy . the embassadour in florence . besides these embassadours hee hath diuers others agents in germany , and elsewhere . also the councell haue the choosing of spia maior , or grand spie , which is a place of dignitie in spayne . all these places and offices of worth , dignity , and eminence , are ( by the kings permission ) in the power and donation , ( vpon consultation ) of the councell of state : but the rest which doe not principally concerne the state , they are referred to the councell of warre , to the councell of italy , the councell of the indies , the councel of portugall , the councell of nauarre , the councell of arragon , the councell of galicia , which are all depending on the councell of state. there are certaine other councels , which are not subordinate to the councell of state , but are absolutely subsisting of themselues , by vertue of their owne authority , as first , the councell of inquisition . the president of which is called the grand inquisitor , and most commonly is the kings confessor , and by his order a dominican friar . this councell is rather superior then inferiour , to the councell of state for they determine matters of themselues ( concerning matters of religion ) without imploring the assistance of the kings prerogatiue ) only acknowledging the popes supremacie as christs vicar-generall . next vnto this is the councell royall of castilla , on court royall of iustice : the president of which court in many respects ( as the equity of causes requires ) is equall with the king. he hath continuall insight , into the gouernment of spayne , and hath full power and authority in himselfe to rectifie and reforme by iustitiary correction , any delinquent that shall transgresse against the lawes of the kingdome . moreouer if any magistrate , or any others that beare office in the kingdome ( vpon complaint made vnto him , and sent for by vertue of his warrant ) bee found faulty in the administration of iustice ; it is in his power to punish the magistrate , or officer according to his delict and offence in that behalfe . there are subordinate to this counsell , the chaunceries of valladolid and granada , and the audi●ncia , or court of iustice in seuill : and moreouer it hath the ordination of threescore and odde corrigidores , or gouernours of prouinces , cities , and townes in spayne . in a word , it is a councell of the greatest priuiledge and authority in spayne , and therefore the king preferres none to bee president of that councell , but such a one as he is well assured of his loyall allegiance to himselfe ; and his fidelity and vprightnesse of conscience in the administration of iustice , for the good and tranquillity of his common weale . the next is the councell of camera , or the kings priuie-chamber , which councell by the kings speciall direction and licence withall , haue the priuiledge to dispose of , and bestow all church-liuings , which are in the kings gift , as arch-bishopricks , bishopricks , denaries , rectories , &c. the king himselfe hauing the same authority from the pope of rome . also the councell of orders , which doe onely treate of the seuerall orders of knighthood , and their priuiledges , and likewise haue power and authority to question and decide controuersies , if there bee any such occurrences betweene the said knights of orders . next is the councell of hacienda , commonly called the kings exchequer . next the councell of accompts , which doe onely meddle with the kings r●uenues , rents , and subsidies . also the councell of crusada , commonly called the popes bull , by vertue of authority whereof , in the popes name the king of spayne , do●h yearely send out a priuiledge throughout his kingdome of spayne , that the inhabitants therein from the age of seauen yeares to threescore , shall haue free leaue and liberty to eate grossura , that is grosse meates , viz. liuers , lights , necks , and such like partes of any kinde of flesh ; on saterdayes all the yeare long , and likewise whitemeates in lent , as butter , cheese , milke , egges , and the like ; and vpon all fasting dayes throughout the yeare : also by vertue of the said bull they obteine diuerse pardons , indulgences , ●nd grace● from the pope , for one whole yeare : and so from yeare to yeare : paying for the same dispensation yearely to the king , one shilling in siluer : all this the pope giues to the king , as an extraordinary token of his louing fauour to him : the summe in all amounting to aboue two millions of duckats a yeare . all this the aforesaid councell doth order ; and receiue the sayd moneys from the collectors thereof to the kings vse . lastly , the councell of descargos called the councell of discharge , doth at the death of any king of spayne , treate of the kings debts ( if hee oweth any ) and likewise , they doe take care to see the last will and testament of the said deceased king performed . priuiledges of some of the nobility of spayne . the duke of igar , doth euery new-yeares day dine with the king , by vertue of his priuiledge graunted to that posterity , by the former kings of castilla ; as a requitall of their good seruice done in the warres against the moores : and likewise hee is to haue the same sute of apparrell that the king weares the same day . the duke of arcos , is to haue the same sute the king weares vpon our lady day in september , although he be not that day at the court. the marques of villena , is to haue the cup the king drinkes in euery twelfe day , if he be then at court. the countesse of cabra , as customary and by right of priuiledge due vnto her , is to haue yearely the same apparell that the queene weares vpon easter day : or else fifty thousand marauedis in lue of it . the countesse of palma , hath the same priuiledge vpon our lady day in september . the earle of oropesa , by his place is to beare the kings naked sword before him throughout all the kingdome of castilla , vpon occasion of parllaments , publique actes or meetings : and in the kingdome of arragon , the earle of sastago enioyes the same priuiledge : but in their absence , the master of the kings horse is to performe the same office . amongst the grandes of spayne , there is no precedency of place in publique actes , but only the constable of spayne is to haue the first place , and next vnto him the admirall , and the rest ( according to our english prouerbe ) first come , first serued . the admirall of castilla , ( when he hath any occasion to goe to the councell royall ) hath his sword by his side ; which is not lawfull for any of the grandes to doe besides himselfe , and the president of the said councell placeth him on his left hand . the duke of medina-coeli , his priuiledge is euery yeare vpon twelfe day to petition to the king by way of clayming right and title to the kingdome of castilla , as heire apparant to the same , which his maiestie gratiously receiues , and giues answere in these words , wee heare you : and so referres it to the councell royall of castilla , where it rests without any further proceedings . the libertyes of the prouince of biscaj , haue this priuiledge that when the king in progresse , or vpon any other occasion commeth into the same , he is to haue one foote bare , and his only stile of that prouince is lord of biscaj , and not king. likewise the nobility and gentry , of the said prouince , are not to be a●tainted nor attached vpon any crime , or default , but by vertue of a warrant vnder his maiesties owne hand . the priuiledges of the constables of spayne are these . if in former times there happened any difference betwixt party and party , either concerning religion , or publique affaires , the parties at controuersie were to try themselues in the cause by dint of sword ( the king himselfe being present ) and the constable was only to bee iudge in the cause , as it happened in seuill , in the time of the catholicke king ferdinando and elizabeth his queene , betwixt two in combate : of which don ferdinandes of vellasco was iudge . also when there is any open warre in spayne , and that the king giues battaile , the constable in his owne person is to bee in the for front of the armie , and to lead them in the field , and vpon a retreat hee is to bring off the reare , although in former times the lords of biscaj had the same place : and after them the masters of santiago , bu● now it only and properly belongs to the constables of spayne . moreouer the constable in time of warre is to quarter the armie for their lodging , and likewise to prize the victualls for the campe ; for assistance wherein hee is to appoint certaine marshalls and other officers to see the same performed . also all proclamations doe issue foorth in the name of the king and his constable , which priuiledge none of the nobility haue but himselfe . also the said constable in time of warre hath his kings at armes , heraulds , and sargeans at armes ; and he himselfe may weare an estoque or tucke , which none else weare but the king : and for his fee he is to haue one dayes pay in a moneth throughout the whole armie of souldiers : and this money is payd by the king out of his owne purse , and not by the souldiers . also ▪ the constable although hee bee neither duke nor earle , yet he may weare a coronet in his scutcheon of armes , by vertue of the priuiledge of his place . lastly , oliuares the kings fauourite hath this by right of priuiledge from the king , that if any of his maiesties seruants haue any occasion to speake with him , they must kneele ; and most commonly they haue accesse to him as hee lyeth in his bedde . the order which the king obserues in his chappell , and the gouernement thereof . none are to sit with their hatts on in the kings chappell but grandes , bishops , embassadours of kings : and of sauoy and venice ; together with the chaplaines of honour , and his maiesties preachers . at the right hand of the high-altar , there is a bench couered with carpets , standing close to the wall , which affronts the body of the church , vpon which forme or bench the bishops haue their places when they are present at seruice . neere vnto the altar ( on the same side ) is placed a faire cannopie with curtaines , in which the kings chayre is set , hauing a short forme or stoole before him , with a cusheon to leane vpon , as also vpon the ground to kneele vpon , but first there is a carpet spread vpon the ground , which are all sutable to the colour , of the colour of the altar , vnlesse the king mourneth . next to the kings curtaine is set a stoole couered with veluet , whereon the lord high steward of the kings house sits , ( with his hat on ) although he be no grande : and behind him doe stand two archers of the guard. a little lower on the same side is a long bench couered with veluet or tapestrie for the grandes to sit vpon . on the left hand of the high-altar standeth a cathedrall chayre for the kings chiefe chaplayne , which chayre also serues for ●he bishopps ( which celebrate masse ) to be inuested in . right ouer against the kings feate is a rich chayre of state , placed for the popes nuncio if hee be a cardinall : if he be none then either cardinall sapata , or cardinall spinola , possesse that place being present . next vnto this is a long forme couered with veluet for the popes nu●tio , ( if he be not a cardinall ) and the embassadours from other countreys , and before them is set another forme couered with veluet for them to leane vpon when they kneele . below this are two long formes standing one before another , and reaching almost to the end of the chappell ; and these are also couered with veluet for the chaplaines of honour to sit vpon with their surplesses , and the kings preachers to sit vpon with their heads couered . behind these formes next to the wall stand the nobility ( which are not grandes ) and gentry with their heads vncouered , amongst whom do stand the reteiners to the embassadours . neere vnto the kings canopie , doe stand two deanes of the chappell , and masters of ceremonies ; who are to giue notice to the dignity that celebrates masse ; to carry the gospell and pax to the king to kisse , which when they are brought , the curtaines are drawne : and before the dignitie ( which bringeth these to the king ) doe walke foure stewards or controulers , with their staues in their hands , and so conducting him in the same maner to the altar againe , returne to their places behinde the embassadours where they stand . the king doeth oftentimes giue way to his brother to sit with him vnder the canopie : and also to some one of the bloud-royall , who is neere allied vnto him to sit in a backe chayre behind his : who also hath the honour of kissing the gospell and pax , with the king and his brother . at the lower end of the chappell ●ight against the high-altar are foure tribunalls or casements one aboue another in order . in the lowest the queene sits to heare masse being accompanied with her children , infantes of spayne , the ladies of honour , and others her attendants . this her casement or tribunall is made so close that shee may see , and yet not bee seene as shee sits in it . in the second tribunall next aboue the queenes , made in forme and fashion like to the first , there are certaine formes on which the nobility and gentry take their places , where they may sit couered , because it is not accounted as part of the chappell . in the other two aboue these , doe sit the ladies and others of the queenes seruants , where also strange ladies and gentlewomen , which come to heare masse may take their places . there is no passage to the two vppermost tribunalls , but through the queenes quarter . yearely vpon twelfe day ( in memoriall of the three kings of the east ) the king offers at the high-altar , three siluer challices gilt with gold : of which one is dedicated to the escuriall , the second remaines in the chappell , and the third is giuen to some poore parish church at his maiesties pleasure and direction . likewise it is a custome in spayne , for the king after the first yeare of his coronation , yearely to offer at the high-altar so many crownes as he is yeares old , which money is distributed to the poore by his maiesties almesmoner . when the king goes to the chappell , his guard of spaniardes , and germanes ▪ with their holberts in their hands do make a guard for his person , from the presence to the chappell : the spaniards taking the right hand file as the king goes to the chappell , and the germanes at his returne backe . now for his order of going to the chappell , first goe the deanes of the chappell , and masters of the ceremonies : next vnto them the gentrey of the court : then the titulars , and after them the stewards and controwlers with staues in their hands , next againe vnto them goe the grandes two and two together , then next ( if there be any ) some of the bloud royall , then the king and his brother , or if his brother be absent , and a cardinall present , hee goes on his left hand . now in order follow the popes nuntio , and the embassadours : and after them the master of the horse , the lord high steward , and captaine of the guard : and last of all the guard of archers , or pentioners , follow without obseruing any order . in the same manner likewise the king commeth from the chappell , only the king ( as hee comes out ) hath his hat in his hand , till hee commeth to the middest of the chappell , and then puts it on : which done stepping two paces forward , speakes to those of the bloud royall ( immediately going before him ) to be couered , and going forward two paces more , turnes about and biddeth the embassadours be couered , so going to the chappell doore beckens to the next grande vnto him , to be couered ; which grande beeing obseruant with low obeysance puts on his hatt , and after him all the rest of the grandees . and so the king goes to dinner . the state of the king , and queene , at meales . alwayes at festiuall times they vse to dine in publicke . first , for the queenes seruice , her table is placed at the vpper end of the presence , the place being a boarded ascent a foote higher , then the other part of the floore ; and ouer the table hangs a rich cannopie of state. this table is couered with a carpet , vpon which a cloath is layd , and vpon this a leather carpet , and also a cloath vpon that : at the vpper end of the table a seruice is layd for her maiestie , vpon the first napkin are two loaues set , one white , and another somewhat courser , which most commonly she eates of . these two loaues are couered with a napkin , and a plate dish vpon that , and then all is againe couered with a wrought tablecloath of needleworke , her meate is brought vp in this manner ; first , goe before three corporalls of the three guards of the spaniards , germanes and burgundians : after them two seargeants at armes , with their mases of siluer , and gilt , in which are ingraued the armes of castilla and leon : next vnto them goe foure stewards or controulers with staues in their hands , and then the lord high-steward with his hatt on ; now the first course is brought vp by the guard , and being brought to the queenes table the lord high-steward placeth it thereon : which done the queene commeth out herselfe , and sitting downe one of the chaplaines sayes grace , and heereupon there is accesse graunted to all strangers into the presence , to see her dine , whilest shee is at dinner there are three ladies of honour attending vpon her person , as they all doe in their dayly courses . one of these ladies vncouering of the meate dishes , deliuers them to a second , who presents them to the queene , and if the queene bee silent thereat , the second layd deliuers the dish of meate ( and so one after another in due order ) vnto the third who carues thereof to the queene , and so giues it to a minino a noblemans sonne , though somewhat lesse in person , yet in degree aboue the pages , who carrieth away the same out of the presence , which first and second dishes are most commonly for the chaplaine of honour , who doeth weekely waite in his turne . these ladies are richly attired , with towells vpon their shoulders . now if the lady aforesaid presenteth a dish of meate to her maiestie , which she doeth not desire to eate of , shee lifteth vp her head , in token she likes it not , and thereupon it is taken away . for euery dish of meate that the queene doth taste of , she hath a cleane trencher and napkin deliuered vnto her : and the number of dishes doth not exceede aboue twenty vpon a feastiuall day . when her maiestie hath any desire to drinke , she beckeneth with her head to one of the three ladies then attending , who ( vnderstanding her meaning by the signe ) beckens to one of the mininos to goe for it : who presently goes , being conducted by one of the controulers , or stewards , to the presence doore , where hee departs from him ; and then a yeoman-vsher attends him to the plate-cubboard , where he takes a glasse or cup of water , ( with a bearing plate whereon it stands ) and returnes backe to the aforesaid lady in the same maner that hee went from her ; and then the lady and he doe both kneele downe to the queene ; and the lady taking the bearing plate and cup in her right hand , and vncouering the cup with her two middle fingers of her left hand : and the bearing plate with her fore-finger and thumbe of the same hand , holds the cup or glasse still in her right hand , powring foorth a little water out of the cup into the bearing plate ; which she doth taste of , and then presents it to the que●ne , who drinkes thereof which done the lady with due obey san●● rising , takes the cup from the queene , couering it in the same manner as before she did vncouer it , and she so d●liuereth it to the minino , who carrieth it backe in the same manner hee brought it . the second course is brought in as the first ; with which when the queene hath ended , her fruite and banquet is in like manner serued in by the mininos , who deliuer it into the ladies hands to place vpon the table , of which when the queene hath with content tasted , the mininos take it away . then the ladies and mininos take away all but the first cloth that was layed , and then a bason and ewre is brought by one of the ladies , who powreth out the water while the queene washeth , and one of the grandes attending with a towell , doth cast one end of it to the queene , and so departes , and thus dinner being ended , all depart to their owne repasts , or dinners . but we must note that all the while the queene is at dinner all the grandes ( then present ) do stand couered with their backes against the wall , and so doe the ladies on the other side , which doe not for the present attend the queenes person , each lord in the meane time courting and conferring with his beloued ladies : and likewise the ladies with their affected lords ; and so the ladies that waite , doe sometimes take occasion to greet and salute their louers , whom they intend to make their lords and husbands . now all this while drummes are beating , trumpets sounding , and lowd musicke playing below in the great court. the king is serued in the same manner of state , ladies attendants only excepted , in whose place the gentiles hombres de la boca , or gentlemen-tasters , doe performe their offices : but if the king and queene dine together then the attendants waite on both sides . the order and manner of the kings and queenes , going abroad in their coach. first a little before they goe to their coach , the drummes beate and trumpets sound to giue notice to the nobility , and gentrey at court , to be ready with their attendance , then not long after the king and queene goe to their coach in this manner . the queene goes on the kings right hand , and before them go the groomes of his maiesties bed-chamber , and the gentiles hombres de la boca , or tasters to the king , with the stewards , controulers , and the rest of the officers of his maiesties house-hold with the mininoes and pages . after them , next follow the lord and lady hie chamberlaines , and the ladies and maides of honour , and at their going into the coach , one of the quirries puts down the boote , & then going to the coach side , the king himselfe armes the queene into the coach , and placeth her on his right hand ; and after going in himselfe , is helped in by the chiefe sumillier du corpes , gentleman , or squire of his body . sometimes the kings brothers & sisters ( being present ) and the kings chiefe fauourite doe ride in the coach with them : and the boote of the kings coach being put vp againe by one of the quirries : they which before did attend the king and queene ( going into their coach ) take another coach by themselues and ride next before the king ; and after the kings coach , doth ride the ladie high-chamberlaine , and other ladies , and maides of honour in other coaches , those noblemen which are the best beloued friends affording them their willing and ready assi●●ance vpon such occasions , which at other times is not vsuall with them , neither permitted : after they are all setled in their coaches , this order is obserued . first , rides the captaine of the guard , with a truncheon in his hand and often without his cloake . then follow the two guardes of spaniards and germanes , after them the stewards , and masters of the horse in their coaches : and next to them the kings coach with sixe horses , and his footemen on both sides ; and his pages with their hats in their hands , en querpo or without cloakes next to the boote of the coach of each side : and oftentimes with their hands vpon the same . after the kings coach ride some of the mininoes on horsebacke without cloakes also , some two of them each carrying a piece of taffata for the kings hat , and some things of the queenes . after these follow the lady chamberlaines and other coaches of ladies , with their guardians or keepers ( which are old men on horseback by them ) and so the rest of the attendants as they follow . the manner of the kings riding foorth on horsebacke , to any publicke actes , meetings and assemblies . first , warning giuen of his going abroad as before , his horse is brought from his stable to the court gate in this manner . first of all before the horse , goe all the masters , groomes , lackies and other officers of the stable on foote , and vncouered , in number about a hundred persons . next is the kings horse led by a lackie , and on each side two quirries bare headed . after the horse next followes the master of the kings horse , well mounted , and hauing his head couered : and after him followeth his lieutenant with his hatt off , and then the three guardes , of spaniards , germanes , and burgundians . when his maiestie is on horsebacke he goeth out of the court in this manner . formost of the company goe all the subordinate or inferiour officers on foote , and vncouered ; and if it bee to any feasts ( as iuego de zor●s and iuego de cauias , as the baiting of bulls , and dar●ing of reeds ( on horseback ) there ride before him trumpeters and drummers , with kettle drums vpon mules . at such times and vpon such occasions the queene rides abroad with him : both of them being royally a●tended with the p●●●es and gentrey belonging to the court. but if hee goeth to any other publicke meetings , then attend vpon him all the gentlemen of his house and court. the magist●●●e of the town●●●th●ll the titulars , burgesses of parliament ▪ ( w●i●● in castilla , are but sixe and thirty ) kings at armes , mace-bearers , with the armes of castilla and leon : the lords stewards or controulers , next after all these the lord-high-steward with his ensignes : next to him the earle of aropesa ▪ ( who still beares the naked sword before the king ) last of all follow the grandes accompanying his maiestie , his querries going along by his stirrope vncouered . after the king , rides the master of the horse , then next the councell royall of castilla , and if there are any more councells ( then present ) they ride before amongst them of the nobility , according to their places . also at this time two of the guards , viz. the spanish and germans , do walke with their ●alberts on both sides of the kings coach , and the guard of burgundians on horsebacke with ●hei● petternels . when the king goeth not to any of these p●blicke actes or meetings , he rides more priuately and lesse attended . a scedvle of the parish-churches , and monasteries of friars , in madrid . saint maries the prime church . saint saluador . saint iohns . saint nicholas . saint michell . saint iuste . saint fines . saint lewis chappell of ease to saint fines . saint martins a parish and conuenticle of benedictine friars . saint placedo a chappell of ease to it . santa cruza . saint seb●stians saint andrewes . the parish of the passion , chappell of ease to the same . saint peter . the conuenticles of friars , or monasteries . saint ierems . saint bernards . saint martines . saint nonuerto . our ladies of atochia . saint thomas his colledge . the colledge of donia maria of arragon . the colledge of the iesuites , casa professa of the iesuites . the nouiciade of the iesuites . the monastery of saint philip. the monastery of saint frauncis . the caputchins . sandiego . de mercede . santa barbara . the recolets . the carmen which goe not barefooted . the carmen which goe barefooted . saint basil. the holy-trinity . the recolett trinitarians . the victoria . besides diuers chappels or cells , and almost as many monasteries of nunnes . certaine other speciall briefe obseruations concerning the king and state of spayne . first the king of spayne , ( for his priuacie and secret ouerseeing the councell , and hearing of their particular allegations , determinations , and censures , concerning matters in causes brought and discussed before them ) hath his priuate window where he may see and heare , yet neither be seene nor heard , the cause of which first inuention was imagined , and likely to be in the king for the vpright administration of iustice. also his maiestie reserueth two dayes in the weeke , to receiue petitions with his owne hands , from the petitioners in his chamber of presence : and on those dayes any one may more freely haue accesse to his royall person then to his fauorite . also there are petitions to bee deliuered to the councell of state , which are not first deliuered to the king : but receiued by the secretary of state , and so read to the councell to consider of : but if any petitions concern a weighty cause , appealing to the kings examination and censure , then the councell make referment therof to his maiestie , who calleth vnto himself foure more ( with his fauourite ) & so giue satisfaction to the petitioners as the equity of their causes requireth . now the councell themselues seldome giue an absolute deniall to any petitioners but hold them in suspence with demurres and procrastinations . the kings audience to embassadours . vvhen any embassadour commeth with an embassage to the king of spayne , hee is brought to the court by some noblemen , ( as it shall please the king to giue direction ) and so to haue accesse to his presence where he sits in his chayre of state , and his grandes only standing on both sides of him : now vpon the deliuery of the embassage and the kings approbation thereof , his maiestie graceth the embassadour with a seate neere himselfe , or some such like not ordinary fauour . now the consideration of the embassage is referred to the councell of state , or to such amongst them as his maiestie shal be pleased to nominate and appoint , and vpon his dispatch , the king gratifies him either with a chayne of gold , or some such like free gift . the demeanour of the spaniards in these times . these generally are of an apt and quicke apprehension , soone comming to maturity of pollicie : their allegiance to their king is faithfull ; are sober and vigillant , but miserable and couerous : yet both temperate and hardie in time of warre . they desire much to be curiously apparelled in blacke , and their chiefest delights for recreation and pleasure are feates of armes and horses for seruice . they vse often to stand much vpon and boast more of their gentilitie , and pedegree , otherwayes very ciuill in their conuersation . they in no wise affect a countrey life , but are much addicted to courtlike re●idency and habitation . also they are full fraught with complementall verbositie : they hate duells , but often vse priuate quarrelling in the st●eets , and are much giuen to suddaine desperate stabbing : as also to venery and women . nothing is more fearefull to them then the terror of the inquisition , and nothing almost more desired by them then a king of a blacke complexion . their women are sober , and of a decent proportion , but of a swarthie complection : amiable , and louing to their husbands , and kinde to their friends , in doing good vnto them , according to their ability . they are stately in carriage , and much addicted to painting and perfuming of themselues . neither they , nor their children , drinke any wine , but water . the purest and best language is in castilla , which comes very neere to the latine . they of the prouince of biscaj , doe still retaine their old accustomed language or speech : so doth portugall , galisia and catalunia . the language of the kingdome of seuill , murcia , valentia , and granada are much corrupted with the atabian , and moriscos speech , but chiefely , by the common sort the king of spaynes reuenues , and his forces at sea , and on land. the king of spayne , his reuenues ( within his dominions ) are esteemed to be no lesse worth then twenty millions of duckats a yeare : but in regard of the long continuance of warre in flaunders , ( which since the beginning thereof hath cost the king more then threescore millions ) and the continuall charge he is at of garrisons in affrica , besides his sea forces and sundry great enterprizes , hee is much impouerished and indebted : for hee oweth aboue twenty millions of duckats to the genouesses , besides diuers other seuerall ingagements , for which he payeth yearely interest : so that most commonly hee is so much behind hand as the full value of his plate-fleete comes to , if it returne safe home to him , now the kings part of that fleete commeth not to aboue seuen millions , or thereabouts , the rest being the merchants , amounting to so much as the kings share or rather more . the kings part is most commonly transported for payment of his debts to genoua , so soone as it is brought home . his reuenues of estate doth more consist of customes and taxes , then crowne land or proper meanes of his owne . the taxes and impos●s , are more heauy leuied vpon castilla , then any other part of his dominions , and some prouinces are free by right of priuiledge , as biscay , valentia , arragon and catalunia . in portugall the king hath giuen ( for tearme of some liues ) most part of his reuenues to reteine their fidelity to his crowne . for the kingdome of naples , the king doeth yearely giue vnto the pope on good friday ( for his absolution from excommunication ( on the same day ) which is customarie ) a iennet ( most commonly of colour white ) which is taught to kneele downe , and the same ienner in the same manner vpon the said day is presented to the pope with a purse of gold about his necke : which the pope accepts as a token of his maiesties . fealty to his holynesse : but the king of fraunce doth not acknowledge any such matter , but do●h lay clayme to the kingdome of naples , as heredi●ary to his crowne . this kingdome of naples for wealth ( in respect of the continent do●h exceede most kingdomes of christendome . for this kingdome with sicilie , millane , sardinia , majorca , minorca , ●launders and burgundie doe yeeld the king aboue eight millions a yeare , none of which is put into the kings cofers except a little from naples and sicilie● the rest and more is disbursed for the maintenance of his viceroys , gouernours , captaine● , garrisons , officers , and other charges in th●t behalfe . the kingdome of spayne in imposts , bulls of crusada , and ecclesiasticall first fruits , doth yeeld vnto the king at the least sixe millions of duckats a yeare : which are disbursed for the maintenance of his court , payment of pentions , and defraying of charges in martiall affaires . for men at armes the king is able to furnish , and hath ready vpon very short warning ( if there should happen any suddaine inuasion ) fifty thousand foote , and twenty thousand horse or rather more , all which haue continually compleate armes in a readinesse as they themselues are , to serue the king in land seruice . for sea forces besides the plate fleete ( which most commonly with merchants shipps are threescore sayle ) he hath at cales and gibraltar , sixeteene stoute men of warre to maintaine the streights and cleare the coasts . also at lisborne , for the maintainance of the coast of portugall , he hath twelue men of warre , the admirall of which is of a thousand tunne burthen . likewise in biscaj , he maintaines ten men of war more , for the safegard of those parts and galicia . now besides all these hee hath some foure and thirty gallyes for clearing of his coasts , in the summer time especially . in the kingdome of naples , his maiestie hath nine or tenne great shipps for sea seruice , besides foure and twenty gallies , and fifteene more in the kingdome of sicilie , besides those of genoua . now as the marriners are not very skilfull so they most commonly take with them no more prouision for anchors , cables , and tacklings , then need requires for the present , and few good gunners they haue of their owne nation , but are beholding to english , and other strangers . indeed few doe desire to be saylers or mariners , in regard the land souldiers , haue alwayes the preheminence ouer them , and their shipps are full furnished wi●h them . now when there is any doubt of the safety of the plate fleete , most of the aboue said kings shipps goe to meete them for their safe conduct , and conuoy home . the seuerall kingdomes or prouinces in spayne , are these , toledo , seuill , cordoua , iaen , leon , nauarre , valentia , gibraltar , granada , murcia , castilla , galicia , arragon , catalunia , portugall the segniory of biscaj , the algarues of algezira . when any proclamation issueth from his maiestie vpon any publique occasion , his titles prefixed are these . philip by the grace of god , king of castilla , leon , arragon , the two sicilies , ierusalem , portugall , nauarre , granada , toledo , valentia , galisia , majorca , seuill , sardinia , cordoua , corcica , murcia , iaen , the alga ues of algezira , gibraltar the canarie-ilands , the east and west indies , and all the ilands , and firme land of the ocean sea ; arch-duke of austria , duke of burgandie , brabant , and millane , earle of asbourg , flaunders , tiroll and barcelona , lord of biscaj , molina , else now after these titles , and proclamation expressed , he in spayne , only vseth , i the king. but when vpon any occasion hee writeth to the states of flaunders , he writes , i philip earle of flaunders . the cities in spayne are these , seuill , granada , guenca , soria , auila , cordoua , iaen , toledo , guadalajara , segouia , salamanca , camora , vallodolid , burgos , toro , leon , murcia , all these are to tender their seruice to his maiestie vpon any occasion of parliament , being thereunto called , and also madrid , although it bee no citty , but the only place of the kings residence in court. cities in galisia . compostella . tuie . in austria of ouiedo . mondenedo . leon. pomperado . in austria s. ellene . s. ellene . in biscaj . victoria . in nauarre . pampelone . in catalunia . barcelona . tarragone . mouson . seguenca . in andalusia . seuill . cadiz . medina sidonia . esica . iaen . mallega . zxeres . cordoua . vbeda . bacca . adujar . in the countie . aymonte . in castilla . burgos . taragone . guadalajara . segouia . calohorra . zamora . toro . medina del campo . salamanca . in arragon . saragosa . tarrell . durago . valentia . in valentia . cuenca . segoruia . oraguella . in mancha . alacantie . segure . in granado . granado . almerie . carthagena . murcia . gudix . in toledo . cuidad royall . alcala de he●ares . toledo . in estremadura . placenta . auyla . badajos . merida . in portugall . lisbone . euora . coimbra . porto . braga . bragance . cuidad roderigo . beiria . cono. oliuensa . eluas . guarda . settuuall . lelues . leria . a note of all the hauens , portes and fishing townes , vpon the coast of spayne , from fontarabie in biscaj , to barcelona in the mediterranian sea. in biscai . fontarabie , a bard hauen . passage and rend●rie , an open hauen . s. sebastians , a bay hauen . suinaj and guittari● , bard . montrica and deua , fishing townes . mondac and alequito , fishers . vermeo and placentia , fishers . bilbao and portugalete , bard . in asturies . aluredo a key hauen . s. ander an open hauen . s. vincent de la barkera fishers . ariba de sella fishers . villa vitiosa fishers . chinchon a key . torre fishers . peua fishers . loarca bard . auiles bard . in galicia . riba deo bard . vuiero and sidera fishers . farroll open . the gr●yne open . m●ngea bard . corcauiaua bard . muros bard . porta vietra bard . vigo and bajone open . in the countie . aymonte a bard hauen . selua and palos fishers in andaluzia . s. lucar de barameda , stands in the entrance of the riuer guadalquiuir , which goes vp to seuill , and doth consist most of fishers . seuill a bard hauen . rota a key . cadiz open . s. marie port bard . streits toward barcelona . gibraltar an open rode and key . grand malega a key rode. maruela an open rode. velez malega a key rode. almerie fishers . carthagena a hauen . in valentia . alicante the port of valentia a hauen . velentia a creeke . empullas . taragona . all fishers . palamos . all fishers . empurias . all fishers . rosas . barcelona an open hauen . in portugall . camina bard . viana bard . villa de gonde bard . auero bard . porto de portugall bard . caso●is fishers . lisbone open . sensembrie ●ard . setun open . lagos a key . villa-nouas bard . farouillas bard . figera . fishers . tauilla . fishers . castromariti . fishers . i onely touch the great inconuenience that bra●●e coynes , hath and doeth daily produce in spayne . philip the second being straitned in moneys , to supply his present necessities in warre , gaue birth to this monster , in coyning fiue millions of brasse in seuerall pieces , the greatest peeces are called quartillos , of the which eight and a halfe make two royalls , which is tweluepence english , one pound of brasse makes threescore and odde of them . since which time they haue beene coyned by philip the third , and philip the fourth now reigning , aboue eight m●llians more . the easterlings discouering the benefit and profit thereof , haue at seuerall times fraughted the king of spaynes dominions with thirty millions more being brought in vnder hand . at the first it past as currant as their siluer , onely one royall in a hundred royalls abared : but since ( to the great detriment of the subiects ) it hath raysed to two , and so to sixty in the hundred exchange , which occasioned the state of spayne , to search into the secret , and to redresse the error , the care as dangerous as the sore . for the better sort of people hauing go●ten ( through the scarcity of siluer which hath beene in spayne this seauen yeares ) the most part of this brasse coyne into their hands , which caused his maiesties treasury to receiue their rents in brasse in stead of siluer . now for the preuention of future inconueniences , and to frustrate the easterlings , the state of spayne haue decreed that this coyne shall passe currant but for halfe the value , which losse falling vpon the better sort of people , they to saue themselues haue inhaunsed their commodities to the double value thereof , so that the poorer sort of people are not onely depriued of all commerce , but straytned in their prouision of dayly sustenance , to the hazard of their liues , the exchange holding still to twenty in the hundred . the circuite of spayne , is fiue hundred and forty leagues by sea , and fourescore by land , in all aboue eighteene hundred english miles , many more particulars i could heere recite , as of their customes , and transportable commodities which the kingdome affords , but i presume they are already divulged , and therefore i will not trouble the readers patience with any more at this time . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a14621-e1830 a duccate is fiue shillings sixepence of our money . this duke of alba , riding a hawking in the mountaines of toledo , by salamanca discouered a valley amongst the hills , inhabited by heathenish people , called patuecos and before not knowne which valley was given to him by the king , about twenty yeares since , and these people did adore the sunne-rising . the reuenues of the nobil●tie were greater in substance vntill philip , the third banished the moriscoes out of spayne , which moriscoes were the most industrious people in spayne , and by reason of their banishment the kingdome is much dispeopled they being in number above a hundred thousand . this marques is commander maior of the knights of santiago in castilla : 〈◊〉 of the counsell of state and warre . this marques was lately made a grand● late ambassador in england lately dead . this marques is now a grande and the cheife of the order of montessa . or chiefe post master . the earle is now a grande of spayne . thirty foure marauedis , makes sixepen●● english. next vnto the president of castilla , who takes his place alwayes next to the king. which none hath but himselfe . viz : wild bulls . there are other houses of pa●●●ament viz , arragon , portugall , valentia and catalunia , &c. there are onely two parliment men chosen in euery city which stand for the whole pr●uences . the brasse coynes of spayne . an east-india colation; or a discourse of travels set forth in sundry obseruations, briefe and delightfull; collected by the author in a voyage he made unto the east-indies, of almost foure yeares continuance. written by c.f. farewell, christopher. 1633 approx. 96 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 54 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a00549 stc 10687 estc s114627 99849852 99849852 15024 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a00549) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 15024) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 790:08) an east-india colation; or a discourse of travels set forth in sundry obseruations, briefe and delightfull; collected by the author in a voyage he made unto the east-indies, of almost foure yeares continuance. written by c.f. farewell, christopher. [8], 69, [1], 24 p. printed by b. a[lsop] and t. f[awcet], london : 1633. page 69 signed: chr. farewell. in two parts; part 2 adds anecdotes of spain and ireland. printer's full names from stc. imperfect; stained and print show-through. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng india -description and travel -1498-1761. spain -description and travel. ireland -description and travel -to 1700. 2003-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-04 olivia bottum sampled and proofread 2003-04 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an east-india colation ; or , a discourse of travels ; set forth in sundry observations , briefe and delightfull ; collected by the author in a voyage he made unto the east indies , of almost foure yeares continuance . written by c. f. eccles. 34. 11. when i travayled i saw many things , and i vnderstand more then i can expresse . london printed by b. a. and t. f. 1633. the booke to the reader . my author for his love , his cost , and vertuous 〈◊〉 , desires but love for love of you his cour●…eous reader ; whose nature bountifull , i need not , ( nor is 't my intent ) here t' unfold ; being knowne to all to be magnificent ; the smaller that i seeme in worth , the greater is the praise of love in him , whose bounteous deeds transcend desert alwayes . greatnesse will shew greatnesse ever , and what so great as love ? or what so much as guifts ( of grace ) doth this grand vertue prove ? if reading in me , any good ( perhaps ) you chance to find make use thereof , reteyne it well , and love him for 't in mind . to the reader . courteous reader . it is not so old as true , that truth seekes ( nay brooks ) no corners , though charity doth ; for ( in a word ) to prove them both legitimate , it is as bold ( with discretion ) as the other is modestly bashfull ; it may ( for a time ) be blamed , but never shamed ; suspected , but not quite deiected ; trodden on , but not destroyed ; eclipsed , but not extinguisht ; no , 't will rise , and shine foorth againe ; comparable it is , and alike effectuall to the glorious sunne , commanding his entrance ( vpon least advantage ) through the thickest clouds into the darkest dungeon ; where a good sight receives his light at a little hole , and reioyceth in it . this short treatise following ( in part ) expounds my meaning , being of a voyage i made vnto the eastindi●…s almost twenty yeares since , imployed by the honorable company ; prosperously begun , and as well continued ( notwithstanding some prime opposition ) with all good proceeding in grace and favor with the best ; which at length ( as hath hapned vnto many of best report ) vpon 〈◊〉 of government there , proved to my greater preiudice , but how ? is no par cell of this discourse ; yet notwithstanding , seeing that by one finger the whole hand may be proportioned , and by the foot the entyre body drawne out ; i held it requisite ( for good respects ) this way to declare my selfe , and at this time especially ; as high time ( among many other observations more generall & delightfull ) in such briefe passages as seemd to me most considerable , and ( without all offence or prolixity vnto any ) to my purpose materiall ; that the honourable company themselues , or any else of iudgment ( with content and pleasure in the sweete variety , and milde composure of matter ) might from thence ( accidently , or by the way onely ) make a neere coniecture at the true cause of my neglect there , & vntimely departure thence , to their preiudize as my own , which here ( in modesty ) i silence . hauing finished my travayles , i made bold ( in a plaine epistle ) to dedicate them vnto the honourable companie , as most convenient me thought ; but it pleased them not to accept thereof , for reasons to themselues best knowne ; which i suppose ( for i hope the best ) they might intend , ( or it may so fall out ) to my aduantage ; for looke how many courteous readers , both of themselues and others ( to whom in generall i make my dedi●…ation ) so many generous patrons ; not with sword and speare , but with faire speech to countenance , or excuse these my honest ( though not much profitable ) labours ; for gentle deeds and words ( more then staues or swords ) preuaile with men . it was so full of loue , my lost dedication i mean ( breifly preferd to all other graces , as holding the precedent roome in euery grace and vertue , morall and diuine ; compared likewise to fire , fine gold and siluer of the finest ; and made illustrious by pearles , diamonds , and pretious stones , ( yet all vndervallued as trifles vnto him or her , in whom this divine grace of graces dwelleth , as being richer then all riches , supplying all wants , healing all infirmities , and sweeter also ( in its blest effects ) then hony and the hony combe ) with a reason ( in a word or two ) for conclusion , of this my elevation , or improper digression ) that it grieues me ( gentle reader ) so rich an ingemination should be lost , rich ( at least ) in my owne conceite , and fondlings would faine have theyr fancies , though reason say nay ) lost , ( i say ) from publike vse , though with my selfe it shall remaine a perpetuall memoriall of my constant loue , and due respect towards them for euer , in whose honourable imployments i improued my slender partes to my low degree of a meane sufficiency . my history it selfe ( courteous reader ) , here at hand attends thy leasure , and craues thy patience , at most but an hower or two , to suruey her partes ; if perhaps ( at first report ) they answer not thy expectation , as thinges too common , and alreadie past the presse ; let not this diuert thee from that honest recreation which ( in one respect or other ) may please or prosit thee ; full furnisht tables ( like great volumes ) at their onely sight ( wee see ) ●…loy good stomackes , whereas a lesse quantity incites the appetite . lo vedado es desseado , things retired are the more desired ; and the same meates diuersly drest haue different effects , attract new desires ; what one likes not , another longs for ; and that which surfeits thee , may ( perhaps ) giue life to me ; lo que vno no come , otro se pierde por ello . let nothing therefore , ( gentle reader ) be despised in this my short varietie , whereunto i most lovingly invite thee ; taste and spare not , what likes thee best , and to others commend , or leaue the rest . vale. calling to minde my former travels , and the fit occasion offered me thereby , a little to communicate my selfe vnto the world , by a briefe relation of such short passages and observations therein taken , as may minister matter of some recreation to the vniuersall reader , from his more serious studies and affaires of importance , be they whatsoever ; variety or change ( though in the meanest of thinges not vnlawfull ) with some novelties especially , being that ( saith experience ) which in all , or in most men begets delight , aliuiates the mindes of the wisest , and prepares them ( vpon a returne ) with aduantage , to a better sufficiency in theyr weightiest negotiations ; not vnlike a bow that stands alwayes bent , becomes weake in it selfe , and vnserviceable to others : so fares it alike with the most ingenious minds to bee still engaged , without some intermissions , some steppings aside , though but after a slye , or a feather in the ayre , to breath , to reviue our oversad , our too intensiue spirits ; as once the riding of a hobby-horse with his little princely sonne , not ill beseem'd a king ; any sport for a spurt , ( if honest or harmelesse , though childish ) contradi●…ts not the reputation of a man ; it being a point of wisdome sometimes ( among the vnwise ) to seeme to play the foole , as to doe it vnderstandingly , requires ( they say ) the best wits ; of purpose to forget , improues the very art of memorie ; the way ( in some cases ) to aduance forward , is by a learned skill to retire backe ; and by a discreet retreat , no small advantage is gotten ; the day , the field is ofttimes wonne ; so the reading of a pamphlet , a shallow , a dispised worke of puft conceits , proues not onely not hurtfull , but beneficiall to the wise ( who suckes advantage from every thing ) a helpe in his progresse to his most serious intendments , bee it but for change , for recreation , for variety sake onely , as i have sayd . and what is there so meane ( if of any moment , in the iudgements of the best ) but in one respect or other , a man of a gracious wit will make some gracious or morall vse thereof to his owne behoofe and others , extracting iuyce out of a dry iuncke ; sweet out of sowre ; honey out of gall ; preservatiue out of poyson ; and documents of wisedome from examples of folly ; but this is a prerogatiue of vertue , and peculiar to the wise onely ; a taske too hard for all , and positions abhorred by men of honestie , such as are not to be expected in the little garden plot of my ensuing discourse , which shall beare no noysome weedes , but ( at least ) harmlesse , ( if not wholesome ) hearbes and flowers , though ( in comparison ) of all other the meanes●… ▪ for any that will , to make a nose-gay to smell to on a holiday ; a vacant houre , a festivall , a time of leasure . i have therefore made choise ( before the rest ) to write of my travels onely to the east indies , as well for brevity as for raritie ( for to speake of all i haue seene abroad would ( i know ) seeme no lesse tedious then common and ridiculous , things farre fot , and deare bought haue bin counted best and in most request ) wherein i shall not bee over-curious , or too remisse to satisfie the indifferent reader , nor yet to leaue the most iudicious ( i hope ) voyd of all content ; none that will not , would i willingly should ( as not to surfet ; so neither ) to goe fasting away , if short syppets in a forreyne feast , o●…an indian collation homely drest , and by an vnskilfull hand hastily set forth , may ( for a moment or so ) eyther entertaine their curious sight , or relish their iudicious taste . thus by a choyce pittance , a modicum , a spanish bocado , a bit and away , carefully purveying to recreate the best , and to prevent disorder in the rest ; however , be it gustfull or not , this benefit ( to the wise ) will surely follow , as to provoke the sooner to relinquish or leaue off , quicken an appetite vnto better things , and leaue the minde content to haue made a gainefull exchange by a refresht returne . vpon a time discoursing with my selfe about the fickle condition of worldly estates , presented daily , and almost every where to my observation ; some to rise and others to fall , the same men againe to fall , and in like sort to rise ( mans industry the subordinate , and gods over-ruling providence the prime cause , and superintendent agent in all ; wee vainely purposing , hee alone wisely ' disposing even of all things , making them worke together ( contrary to theyr owne natures , and the intentions both of men and devils ) for the best to them that loue him ( o thrice happy and blest estate of a resolute soule loving and beloved of god ) none so firmely standing but subiect to a declension , accidental or finall ; by a decay of wealth , or at longest an expiration of our breath . and having before bin well disciplin'd and confirm'd in these and other like points of faith. that who so lives vnto the lord shall dye in the lord ; and all such ( whether ( so ) living or dying ) are sure to bee the lords , securely sleeping and waking vnder his omnipotent , his mercifull , and ever-watchfull protection ; as also , that the way to heaven lay paralell by sea as by land , as neere from the east as from the west , from the north as from the south ; from whence i had read should be gathered all the elect of god in christ , which ( in effect ) i remember was my answer to sir thomas smith then governour , obiecting vnto mee the danger of the enterprise , with his cheerefull approbation following . hereupon it came into my thoughts , and thence ( by degrees ) grew into a resolution to attempt a voyage into those orientall or easterne parts of the world , aswell ( to speake after the manner of men ) in hope to raise my fortunes , as to better my experience , which doubtlesse i had obtayned to the full of my desires , had not god seene contrary things more expedient for mee ; for a fayre way ( as ever vnto any of a meane ranke that went that way ) was layd open to me , which some of good note observing , pronounced mee openly ( by their prognostication ) to be certainly some great rich man before i dyed ; which ( for theyr rash oathes sake , and the better expression of my bountifull mind , the onely portion ( to any purpose ) i ever yet possest , a large heart and an open hand to my friend , or foe in misery ) i could wish may yet come to passe , and why not ? ( without offence ) as well as others ? so it may stand with gods glory , and not to the wrong of any ; else welcome still ( bee it whatsoever ) the good pleasure of the almightie . for friends of neither kiffe nor kinne were raised vp vnto mee , ready to engage themselves by speaking and doing for me whatsoever might , and did procure me credit with the governour and committees , even vnto bonds ; whose loue and merit i shall bee ever prest ( to my power ) vpon all occasions , ( change they or change they not ) to requite and honour ; by whose meanes my parentage was honoured ; my parts commended ; and ( vpon tryall ) both in private conference , and in full courts openly approued ; my sallary was assigned me ; my place appoynted ; and in them both made equall ( at least ) with many of my betters . in fine , there was nothing wanting on the honourable companies part or my friends behalfe , that might aboad vnto me all wisht prosperity , but that ( in some others ) which ( for loue●… sake ) i am willing in silence to passe over , as also to shunne all impertinent , and supersluous matter , though the onely stumbling-blocke in the way of my so faire proceedings to my future preferments then ; and ( in effect , as originally ) ever since ; for loue , ( i am taught ) covers a multitude of infirmities , but vncovers none . briefly then , to shut vp my introduction , and to the matter it selfe ; all things being in readines●…e , and prepared for our intended voyage , the companies orders with our commission sealed vp and sent aboord ; yards a crosse , and a fayre winde , that now t is time to prosecute my purpose , and to lanch forth into the deepes . ovr fleet ( therefore ) consisted of foure good ships , viz. the newyeares guift , and the hector ; the marchants hope , and the salomon ; which together set sayle from the ●…ownes , about the ninth of march , 1613. of burthen from three hundred to 8. hundred tonnes , compleatly furnisht ( besides priuate prouisions ) with varieties for health and preseruation of life ; warlike appoynted though peaceably intended , in a faire and generous way of trading , howeuer report may wrong our reputation . our generall , or cheife commander , an vnderstanding gentleman , captaine nicolas downton , whose religious orders , ( besides the honorable companies ) both for diuine duties ▪ and ciuill societie , publisht and hung vp in euery shippe , with his owne good example ( no doubt ) preuented many grosse offences , which vsually happen in promiscuous multitudes . our marchants or factors were many , well nigh thirty , and most of them men of experience as euer the company imployed any ; linguists , and residents in forraigne countryes ; as turki●… , barbarie , spaine , and italy , with other places of best cōmerce , whereof foure were principals , and had each his seuerall charge and respect next vn●…o the generall , saue in marine affaires , wherein the masters onely commanded ; theyr names , master william edwards , master nicolas ensworth , master thomas elkington , and master edward dodsworth ; he alone more bred a gentleman then a marchant , and our gover●…ours kinsman . our ordinarie meanes to stirre vp mens affections to goodnesse , as prayer and diuine seruice twice a day , on the sabbaths especially , and choyce of good bookes ( in common ) of the companies prouiding to that end ( to the comfort of all ) were not wanting ; besides a preacher in his monthly visites , for instruction , and ministration of the sacrament . our places of refreshing were three , the first cape boon speranc●… , which affoorded vs plenty of booes and baas , or beeues and sheepe for small pieces of copper , whereof the saluages make themselues rings and bracelets ; they goe all naked , saue onely before , a little flappe ; and feed ( as they looke and smell ) most nastily ; subtill they are , theevish , and very treacherous ; their houses are like bee-hives , and many together make a towne , wherewith ( vpon occasion of changing theyr heards to fresh pastures , or the sight of two or three muskets , wherat they tremble ) away they skuddle ( euery one his castle on his back ) posting to a new plantation . from hence , hauing repayred our flee●…e , refresht our selues , and strecht our limbes ( he that listed ) to the verie tops of the highest mountaines and craggie rocks , which ( for our paines ) discouered vnto vs a goodly country , extending farre in length and breadth , in lower hils and greene vallies running on together , pleasant to behold ; yet alwayes in company more or fewer , and with our armes , ( least the baboones out of some thicket or bush should sodenly surprise vs ) at the end of three weekes or thereabouts wee set sayle agayne , and not long after came to an anker at saint lawrence iland , in the bay of saint augustine . here wee landed and traded three dayes with the people , and had large and fat oxen for fiue shillings an oxe , most curious darts and of diuers fashions as art could make , and bright as siluer , for halfe a ryall or three-pence , but without siluer wee could haue nothing , which they knew from counterfeit as well as any ; wee saw no towne nor house they had , though ( doubtlesse ) better then the soldanians prouided , by good coniectures , for theyr carriage had a glosse of humanity , a tincture of vnderstanding ; theyr persons full of proportion and comely feiture ; tall , straight , strong , and sturdy ; fierce of countenan●… ; admirable ma●…kesmen at the dart , and actiue ; verie faire and blacke as iett ( for the blackest they count the fairest ) and all naked as the former , ( perhaps but seruants to theyr lords and masters ; ) many were desirous to haue made some discouery into the country , but we durst not contradict our orders , nor hazard the danger of a thicke wood , whereof wee knew no end ; which of necessitie must haue bin past . our last touch was at socato●… , where wee found a king ; not a natiue , but of the royall blood of the antient kings of barbarie ; who got this small iland by conquest , and held the natiues in great seruitude , whome our generall presented , and would haue entertained aboord the shippes , but he refused it ; yet for three or foure dayes space , came downe daily to the water side from his castle , with his guard of soldiers borne in a palanquine , and after the moorish fashion ( crosse-legged ) sitting in state vnder a rich cannopie vppon turky carpets spread on the ground , and as richly clad in cloth of gold , conuerst in the arabeck and portugall tongues , with the generall , marchants , and masters both of marchandizing and nauigating affaires ( himselfe being a marchant , as likewise all the kings of those easterne parts , who trade by theyr agents and factors ) of whom wee bought a good quantity of aloes socatrina , euen his whole store ; and in the art of nauigation , astronomie , with other branches of the mathematickes ( by report of those that vnderstood ) verie iudicious ; hauing celestiall and terrestriall globes , his instruments and astralabe about him to shew vs , which he had gotten ( bought or presented ) of former fleets , and euery yeare increasing his stocke by english , dutch , portugals , and spanish that came that way ; a man of a liuely countenance and well fauored ; about fourtie yeeres of age ; as full of courtesie and affability as might stand with his maiestie , and as full of maiestie ( respecting his commodity ) as might be , for he was a kingly marchant , and a marchant-like king ; at parting he gaue amongst v●… ( to some in particuler ) abundance of dates in heapes & lumpes , which made our guisados , our brothes and dumplins so much the sweeter , whom agayne we gratified from the ships with our seamusicke , great gunnes and trumpets . and thus weying and setting sayle agayne ( with starbord and larboord ; port and helme al●…e ) we steered on our course , till with the helpe of god , and our constant monsoone , or westerly trade winde , we verie happily ( but hardly ) recouered the rendeuous to s●…rat , and came to an anker in the roade of swall●…e , about the tenth , of nouember , and of our great company ( thankes bee to god ) lost onely one man , who came sicke of an ague out of england , but here quickly they began to dye faster of fluxes and feauers . vpon aduise of our arriuall , by a dispatch to surat , some eight miles vp into the countrey , mr. thomas aldworth the companies chiefe agent there , an vnderstanding gentleman and once sheriffe of the citie of bristoll , came downe to vs a ioyfull man , and for many enterchangeable causes was as ioyfully receiued , and with him coach and horse for conuoy of the marchants to the city , for now the terme ( or vintage rather ) after our long vacation , approaching , wee must leaue the ships a a while , and apply our selues to land-seruice . in our short iourney vpon the way , euery thing almost seemed new vnto me , the people with theyr customes especially , not the moores ( for i had seene of them before in spaine and barbarie ) but the antient natiues of the country , called banians , who ( notwithstanding theyr different religions ) liue ciuillie , neighbour-like one among another , in cities , townes , and villages ( but not in houses ) together , whom ( in concourse ) wee first saw at swallie , the first myle from the water side , where the mocodam or constable receiued vs , profered vs his owne , with the townes seruice , and performed it in such necessaries and complements of prouision as wee required , or would accept off ; bread , wine , plantines , taddie , and such like regalos y ● scanty place affoorded ; wherewith more delighted thē refresht ( as with nouelty and variety ) we set onward through an euen and a solitary way till we came in sight of surat , and of a nauigable riuer which ran close under the towne walls , vpon which within , stood a castle ( a good ornament to the place ) and fortified with men and munition . this riuer wee past , and landed right before the alfondica , or custome house , and so along through many streets ( humming like bees in swarmes ) with multitudes of people in white coates , men and women ; ( close bodied , and full of gathering to the mid-leg ) with breeches and stockings in one , ruffling like bootes and all of one single callico ; this being their generall and most neate , or angelicall habite , which sparkles ( of their kinde of starching ) like siluer spangles ; vntill ( almost smothered with clouds of heat and dust ) wee c●…me to the english house a day or two after master aldworthes returne from the shippe●… with the prime marchants , where wee found our selues as at home , in all respects well accommodated saue lodging , which with breuity was very commodiously supplyed , by taking another house with an orchard and pleasant walkes vpon the roofe ( after the spanish and the moorish building ) to our rich content , hauing chambers , dyet , seruants , coach and horse with attendance of indians called peones , for the way , and all at our honourable masters charge except our apparell , wherein alone , and by our sallaries we differd from common prentises , onely ( yet ingeniously ) acknowledging a precedencie in our little common weale , for a kinde of representation to prevent confusion . but now , before i proceed ( being called upon by order ) i am willing ( for more variety ) to entertaine a while my courteous reader with a short discourse of my selfe and another , being not a whit impertinent , but r●…ther a good compliment , if not a comely ornament to the history it selfe , how that in few dayes i here suddenly fell sicke of a burning fever , and ( thankes be to god ) as sodainly recovered ; for fearing the extremi●…y of that raving and uncomfortable sick●…esse , ( against his will ) i prevayl●…d wi●…h our ch●…rurgion , to let me bleed till i fainted againe , as fore-seeing it to be my remedy ; appl●…ed all comfortable things to my h●…ad ; tooke my bed ; and ( full of perplexity to dve sencelesse ) i comme●…ded my selfe to god ; after some idle talke to my friends about me , i fell into a slumber , but quickely wakened by a desire to ease my stomacke , and had ( at least ) a dozen vomits , naturally , which gave mee a most comfortable night ; turned my great sorrowes into the greater reioycings , at the lively apprehension of gods infinite mercies ; made me forthwith an instrument of comfort to another that shortly after of a bloudy fluxe sickened and dyed ; by such words and warrants from the word of t●…uth and my own experience of inward coelestiall ioyes beyond expression , to honest hearts and heavenly mindes , that wonne me his earnest attention ( to his and my owne advantage , for i applyed him the closer ) which took so deepe an impression in him , that it left him not to his last breath . to mention all circumstances and passages of his sixe dayes sicknesse , would seeme a needlesse curiositie , which ( in comparison of some then languishing and repining under the same crosse ) he suffered with singular patience , and spent it most in abstinence , silence , and meditation ; the night before his death , in private conference , watching with him , he told me ( after his accustomed mildnesse ) he had thought of my former talke , and should finde my words true ; the next morning ( vpon my perswasion ) he r●…ceived the sacrament , after he had made his will in the presence of another marchant and my selfe ; one master edward hamden ; wherein ( in effect , having his memory perfect to the last ) he would ( more then once or twice ) have given me his whole e●…tate , being of some value i remember , but excusing my selfe ( with thankes for his love ) i refused it , as not expedient for my selfe ( me thought ) in regard of the worke in hand , though lawfull ( i knew ) for another , least religion should suffer , and my labor of love bee thought merc●…narie , whereof ( god knowes ) i was exceeding iealous , to prevent occasion , or the least preiudice in any , the sicke man especially . after all this , having tasted some comfortable broth i caused to bee made for him by our english cook , he presently fell into aswound , thinking all he had beene dead , but after a while reviving , raysed himselfe up , and looked earnestly round about the chamber , being full of good company , marchants and others , whereof our preacher was one , at least a dozen , with some strangers , as our indian doctor , &c. and fixing his eyes vpon me , beckened me to him with his hand ; i went and sate close by him on his bed ; hee presently caught me in his armes and hugg'd me ( not like a dying man ) with such strength and vnutterable expressions of ioy ( between ●…peech and speechlesse ) that moved passion in all , but my selfe especially to drowne him in teares ; as , ah my friend , my friend ; my true , my happy , my faithfull friend : and ah the ioyes ! the ioyes , the ioyes ; aah , aah , aah , and the like : flung away his things about him , wherein ( he sayd ) he had taken too much delight , in token how slightly hee now valued them or the whole world ; reached forth his hand to all the company , lifting his eyes on high with an overjoyed countenance , where his minde in silence had beene long before . and thus ( in a blessed peace ) about 9. of the clocke on a wednesday morning , being the 23. of november , 1614. he tooke his last farewell of this wretched life , and changed it ( no doubt ) for a better : his name master timothy wood , a yong man , and once a mercer ( i thinke ) in cheap-side , but then a factor for the honourable east india company : what i haue written i feare not to be censured , because god knowes this my relation ( in substance ) to bee true , and not for mine , but for his owne glory , ( the only blessed author of all goodnesse ) have i now at length penned it , and for the good of any that can make vse thereof . my sad storie ( of a ioy tryumphant ) being ended , and the funerals performed , i am called vpon to a further relation of our iourney up within the country , to make provision of goods for best and speediest returnes home unto our honorable masters , to which end , it was ordayned in consultation , that by a distributiō of our company into foure squadrons , the prime cities or marts for commoditie , trade , and commerce of that rich kingdome should be invested by us , as baroch and brodera ; amadavaz and cambaya , each in distance at least a dayes iourney one from another ; our commodities were divers , as sundry sorts of stones ; aggate cupps of curious art●… ; ▪ quilts , conserves , drugges , cotton wools , and ( for bulke or grosse lading ) indicoes and callicoes . our first iourney or place of rest from surat , was baroch , being three dayes on the way , much toyled with heate and dust , in regard of our slow proceedings with our heauy carriages , and the toylesome passage of two riuers with ladings and reladings of our goods ; ( interruptions and stayes being worse then a continuall progresse ) but here wee were well refresht at the english house , for master john oxwicke a spanish marchant being appointed chiefe for that place , and of a weekes antiquity before , had made good prouision for our comming , as well for our persons as the dispatch and clearing our charge of the custome-house . from hence within a day or two we●… set forth , and by slow iournies ( as before ) came to brodera , a dry●…r place ( by a great riuer ) but the greater citie , and all a plaine and pleasant country ( baro●…h esp●…cially ) for orchards , tankes or ponds , verie spacious , and artificially made , ( in forme , for worke and workemanshippe not vnlike our bathes ) for generall vse and vses ; tombes , and piramides many in open fields ( and priuate gardens ) about which are to be seene certaine penitentiaries , or votari●…s ( they say ) but lunatickes and men ( i thinke ) really possest with deuils , as in the gospell is mentioned ; theyr bodies naked , cut , and lanced with kniues or stones , staring and stalking , to and fro , no lesse wofull then dreadfull to behold ; as was also the sight of a pagot , or a cell of deuotion descending into a vault vnder ground , where ( being desirous of discoueries ) wee saw an vgly idoll against a wall , representing ( it seemes ) theyr god , or theyr feare , but a plaine deuill as wee call it , in like forme paynted or graven , whom a certaine sect of banians doe worship , whereof there are many sects , but of this no more , purchase pilgrimage from relation of exact travellers hath them lively set forth . in this city , as all others throughout both asia's and afrique wee were lodged in the ceragl●… , a spatious place made of purpose for all travellers , natives as else ( for they have not the vse of innes as in christendome ) with commodious ware-houses round about , of one story , foure square , in the manner of galleries ; and under them dry walkes and places to feed their coach-oxen , camels , elephants , and horses , but in the middle all open , like our exchange ; it being supposed that euery marchant , gentleman , or nobleman hath his tent or coach to sleepe in , if neyther , they make the best shi●…t they can , and for their provision they bring it with them , or buy it in the towne . here it was determined by a consultation , for causes or supposals moving them ( being before appointed for cambaya ) that my selfe should goe backe to bar●…ch to assist master oxwicke there , in that mayne investment of c●…licoes , having a commission given mee beyond my expectation or desire , that ( in case of the least cause by unequall carriage in our masters businesse , or in particular toward my selfe , being perswaded , ( as they told mee ) that if he would take the matter well , or live peaceably with any , i was the man ) a word from my hand should displace him ; such an opinion they all seemed to have of my integritie , and he no lesse on the other side , assured of me ; for ( concealing whatsoever might move passion , or incite him to iealousie , i applyed my selfe to him by complements of love and friendly 〈◊〉 , till he became so well possest of me both for iudgment and honesty , upon some experiences of them both , that ( in effect ) he made me his secretary , and would not write a letter of consequence in his owne affaires ( as occasions there were betweene him and some others of principall note ) without my advice and allowance for a passe ; wherein ( i thanke god ) i never fayl'd but pleasured him , by his owne often ingenious acknowledgements , with good reasons for his satisfaction . but yet all this while i am still in brodera , in the house of a rich banian well lodged and entertayned for three dayes , till he had procured me from the gouernour mosaph cha●… , or lord mosaph , a guard of souldiers vnder a captaine of tenne , both horse and foote , with shot and lance for my safe convoy to baroch , our english friends being all gone forward , and my selfe alone with a kinsman of his owne for my linguist and coachmate , and not without cause , for my coach on the way was sodenly stayed by a company of sl●…ues that thwarted vs , but speedily rescued by my guard , with knockes on both sides , yet no hurt on ours , and all with such celerity that i had scarce time to draw my sword and shew my selfe a party before they were quite vanisht ; then on againe we went merrily , ( my banian especially ) laughing and talking , giving and eating of our iunkets till we came neare to the citie ; there i dismist my valliant soldiers , gratified their desert with a small reward , yet to their rich content , and at parting had a generall salam of them , or congee to the ground , with a short vollie , and adieu . and now being come to baroch , to the english house , my friend bids me lovingly welcome , to whom i gave my letters from our cape marchants , and ( after colation ) shewed him my generall commission , who presently declared himselfe , that seeing the matter must be so , he was right glad of my company , as of one whom of all others , he would have made choyce of for his friend and associate ; and thus , well possest of each other , on we went together in our masters businesse , buying callicoes as fast as we could procure our brokers to bring vs in good bargaines , or direct us to them , spending our interims of vacation for about two moneths space as best liked vs ; sometimes in visites to the governour ; sometimes taking our coach to breath the country ayr●… ; sometimes walking vpon the citie walles , which from that stately scituation gave us a goodly prospect pregnant for delight and meditation ; and lastly , our owne house , having high and pleasant tarasses or walkes on the roofe , for domesticke recreation ; that in this pleasant place ( in number foure english ) we lived like lords , to the honour and profit of our honourable masters , and to our owne hearts content , save a little iarre that fell out at last , about a parcell of calicoes , but lovingly and honestly reconciled againe . by this time , our generall investments drawing to a period , and most of our goods from all parts sent aboord , marchantlike made up and marked as in the margent ; and understanding our dispersed companies and friends to be againe vnited , and on the way towards us ( save such as were appointed for the great mogores court ; namely , master edwards , our preacher , and some others ) we could no lesse ( having now leysure enough ) but set forth to meet them ; it beeing a pleasant observation ( at a distance ) to note the order of their coaches and carriages , drawne by two faire fat oxen a peece , with bells about theyr neckes , iinge , iinge , and softly iogging on ; extending all in length like a teeme , ( for the way admits no familiarity ) inveloped with a cloud of dust ( for a quita sol ) to shield them from the sunne ; and guarded on eyther side , with swords , halfe pikes and targets ; small shot , bowes and arrowes , &c. as if ( presented to a novelist ) it had bin the spoyles of a tryumph leading captive , or a preparation to some sad execution . being all met together , we generally salute one another , and each his friend in particular , with mutuall congratulations , for our good successe and safe returnes thus farre ; having lost but one ( as i remember ) a yong gentleman , master henry smith , nephew to sir thomas smith our governour , who dyed of a bloudy fluxe at amadavas , being a prime youth and much lamented ; and here unawares ( as many light on ill bargaines ) i over-hastily changed my horse for a coach , and tooke his place that left it , to conferre with my friend and familiar acquaintance , master ralph preston , a religious gentleman ; and quite forgetfull of his mishap out ward bound , i fell into the very same , by letting one legge hang out of the coach , and ( in talke ) moving it to and fro , the wheele caught it , which my friend perceiuing , he presently cryed out to stay the coach , racke racke , as master henry smith had done before for him , which saved both our legs from breaking , but did rend my heele , which for a weeke so tormented mee , that i could scarce take rest , yet ( thankes to god for a good flesh ) soone well againe , but could not travayle in a fortnight after , nor scarce then , save in a palanquine to surat . and thence aboord the ships againe , scarce cold yet of the portugals bloud , by meanes of a late cruell fight in our absence , occasioned by the portugals , who ( with sixe gallions , or great ships of warre , two gallyes , and sixty frigats ) sodainly surprised the marchants-hope , which was deepe and richly laden for england , not doubting to have taken her as shee lay at anker with the rest , in that unexpected manner cutting their cables by the halser , and with a strong current of the tide forcing in upon her ; but were soundly beaten for theyr haste ; for in laying her aboord on all parts with throngs of men and fresh supplyes , the master and company being vigilant and valiant , stoutly resisted ; gave them so hote entertainment that theyr legs and armes were sent flying into the ayre , and the ship pestered with their dead and dying bodyes , scorched and wounded with weapons and fire-workes , and theyr bloud issuing out the scupper holes into the sea , as not willing to abide theyr fury ; by this time the rest of our fleet had likewise cut their cables , and were under sayle , increasing the fight a long time ( by report with los●…e but of two or three of our men ) till they had made such a slaughter amongst them ( the frigates especially ) that theyr dismembred bodyes after they had breathed their last , with shrikes and cryes in the conflict , lay floting on the sea , and coveting the shore , were taken up dayly for many dayes , by the port●…gal inhabitants , and the indians for theyr spoyle ; and the r●…st unable to hold out , away they went with no l●…sse shame and losse of former reputation , then perpetuall honour to our english nation , through out the indies . the next tydings that i heard , ( being now againe in the fleet with the rest , expecting our further passage to the southward , according to the companies commission ) was a messenger from our generall , or chiefe commander , tha●… i must come to sp●…ake with him : aboord the admirall i went , a little limping of my late hurt , and being come , he receyved me with courtesie , tooke me apart into the gallery , and ( to be briefe ) told me that for such and such reasons , the councell had determined of me for surat , and therefore wisht mee to provide for the shore , namely ( with leave of modesty i speake it ) for the good opinion they had iustly conceyued of me , to be a friend of trust unto master aldworth , and an ayde unto our masters affaires , occasioned by some refractorie fugitives that not long before our arrivall ( to make a purchase ) had attempted his death , being forced into his chamber ( a weakly man ) to stand upon his guard to preserue his life . all which did not a little cheere me up , and quicken in me a noble resolution unto my charge , though incredibly thenceforth ( as from god to keepe me exercised i thinke ) from time to time opposed by some fire brand●… , some seditious malecontents or other , repi●…ing my respect , to my great discour●…gement , and no small sufferings , notwithstanding my best indeavours and dese●…t , which doubtles●…e stirred them the more , and increased my owne sorrowes ; for wrath is cruel , and anger is outragious , but w●…o is able to stand before envie ●… pro. 27. 4. few day●…s after this , ( at last parcing ) i went aboord againe to take my leaue of the generall , and ( not without open demonstrations of his loue , teares and embracements ) having commended him and his whole proceedings to the blessing of the the divine prouidence , i left him ; and with my good wishes to all the rest , in company with our factorie went ashore to surat ; having had but few nights before , a dreame , that in my passage for bantan , two sturdy knaves grapled with mee to have heaved me over-boord , but in the conflict ( to save my s●…lfe ) i awaked , and finding it but a dreame was glad . here for a moneth or two , wanting no leasure , we spent our time at surat , euery man as ( with approbation ) best liked him ; sometimes within doores , sometimes abroad ; now with our provision visiting this garden , now that orchard ; to day fresh riuers ; to morrow open feilds and faire monuments , whereof there are store , but alwaies ( after the countries custome ) in coach or on horse to preuent disgrace ; our recreation for the most part , bow and arrowes , and free from all molestation of the inhabitants ; a mixt people , quiet , pe●…ceable , very subtill ; civill , and vniuersallie gou●…rned vnder one king , but diuersly law'd and customed ; their grayne is wheat , for the better ; rice , and diuers kindes else for the common sort ; their prouision of other victuall is beeues and buffeloes ; sheepe & goates ; young kidde and hennes in aboundance , and of littl●… value for the great pl●…nty , and fewenesse of eaters ; for the banians of whatsoeuer sect ( being halfe the inhabitants , and the antient natiues of the kingdome ) by theyr lawes eate no kinde of flesh , nor any thing that hathlife in it ; nor dae they kill any thing ( for theyr liues ) though neuer so venemous or hurtfull , no not a mouse nor a louse , but will rather feed them ; their greatest cruelty is to lay it downe , and let it shift for it selfe ; ( o happy creatures that breede amongst the banians ) a kinde of rechabits also , for they neuer drinke wine , nor any strong drinke , but water only , yet so fat and sleeke that they shine agayne ; confectuaries of all sorts , as sugar-cakes , and march-panes ; suckets and marmelades ; rice , pulse , and other grayne stewed with butter and spices after theyr most savorie fashion , is there onely feeding ; but the moores and mahometanes , more at liberty , for they abstaine from nothing but swines flesh , which is a cause that many parts of the country , even whole fields doe swarme with them ; these drinke wine liberally , and strong waters , yet never drunke but in the night , and then theyr women , theyr wives and concubines ( whereof they are stored according to theyr states ) sing most melodiously , with such elevated and shrill voyces , strayned vnto the highest , yet sweet and tuneable , rising and falling according to their art and skill , ( for euery country hath his owne , and more or lesse excelling ) that i have been ravisht in those silent seasons with the sweet eccho , or reflection thereof from a faire distance , and kept waking houres together , listning to them ; anticipating ( in my desires ) the new moones , which they constantly thus celebrate ; for the heavenly representation thereof ( me thought ) where commonly my meditations had their end . for at like times especially ( though superstitiously ) they observe , ( or rather prophane ) these and the like ceremonies , sing aloud vnto god our strength , make a ioyfull noyse vnto the god of iacob , take a psalme and bring hither the timbrell , the pleasant harpe with the psalterie ; blow vp the trumpet in the new moone , in the time appointed on our solemn feast-day ; againe , praise the lord with harpe , sing vnto him with the psalterie , and an instrument of ten strings , sing vnto him a new song , play skilfully with a loud voice ; againe , o clap your hands all yee people , ( both men and women in their himnes & dances ) shout vnto god with the voice of triumph ; then they annoint their heads with oyle , and their cups runne over ; making their faces also to shine with costly oyntments and odoriferous , at first sight or newes of the new moone , which they congratulate with great ioy , the slaue to his lord , the seruant to his master , and one friend to another , a l●… espan̄ol●… erying albricias , albricias , a reward for our watchfulnesse or good tydings . their chiefe recreation is riding of horses swift and actiue , for discipline & seruice , with lance , bow , and target , whereof they abound , and haue very good , not inferiour to the spanish lennet ; but their princely sport is hunting the wilde bore and antelope , peculiar to the king , his nobles , and gentry ; a people throughout of mighty estate or wealth , yet all subiect ( in a moment ) to the spoile , or to be restored , at the pleasure of their prince ; full of maiestie in their port , and no lesse of expectation for respect ; sumpteous in their buildings ; curious in their orchards , and gardens , beautified with artificiall ponds , fountaines , and water-workes ; populous in their attendance ; rich in attire ; imperious lords over their servants ; and cruell in their corrections : having also both for state and war , aboundance of elephants , which likewise they use for theyr iourneyes as sumpter horses , and to carry their women and children , twenty ( perhaps ) in a frame of timber ( castle-like ) vpon his backe , with windowes and small pieces of ordnance planted forward and backward ( the country being full of theeves , and dangerous ) and vpon his brawny necke ( monkie-like , of same bignesse with his head , or bigger ) sits a man astride in full bredth with a hooke in his hand like a sickle , for a bridle , and a spurre to guide and stay him , which is done with the least touch of the sharpe poynt upon his noale , whereof hee is very tender ; hath a body like a house , but a tayle like a ratte , erecting it like a cedar ; little eyes but great sight ; very melancholly but wise ( they say ) and full of vnderstanding , ( or subtilty rather for a beast ) sometimes they become madd , ( of what i know not ) and breaking loose endanger multitudes ; is fed somewhat costly , as with good bread , muskmillious , sugar canes , sweete stalkes , and sower grasse , or sedge of the worst ; steeres like a hulke , stifnecked , almost all of one peice ; feeds himselfe with his trunck or snoute , ( that deadly instrument of his rage ) being of a iust length ●…o the ground ; taking his meat with the end thereof , and winding it vp , ( or vnder rather ) to his mouth , so eates it ; but drinkes therewith at length ; his stable is commonly the open ayre ; a massie yron chaine his halter ; a great tree his manger : and the shadie boughes his shelter ; and thus stands this monster by one of his legges ( of like proportion with a post or a beame ) all the day bound to the good bebauior , til occasion release him ; in whose descriptiō i haue bin somewhat the larger , because god himselfe calls him the cheife of his wayes , behemoth by name . job . 40. theyr drinke in generall ( for ordinary ) is water , made relishable by arte or nature ; by thirst or some preparatiue ; and wholsome by a naturall concoction , or a causuall preservatiue ; according to each constitution , and the countries prouision ; with a mans owne discretion in the vse of the creature ; euery one to himselfe herein , being ( as wee say ) either a foole or a physition , hauing sweete meates enough for the former ; remedies and receits ( or concei●…es ) for the latter . el borach●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , mas el aguado ci . saith the spanish proverbe . a friend to sweet meates , sobriety may bee , yet so , a drinker of wine you shall never see , for wine and sweet meates sound palats doe loath , but sweet meates and water are gratefull both . all contraes in nature by skill reconcil'd , produce best effects both to man and child . as , drinke no longer water , but a little wine , to the temperate man is counsell divine ; so , drinke no longer wine , but a little water , to th' intemperate man , for it keepes him sober . the country affoords no wine but artificiall distillations of ●…ples , like our hot waters : very tastfull they are , and wholsome , but not so strong , so ful of spirit as ours , which makes the moores to prize them farre above theyr owne , and to esteeme them for the best present , or marchandize can be brought them ; onely the portugal inhabitants in their townes and cities ( being many and great ) doe make a kinde of wine of dryed grapes , or raysins of the sunne , for relish and operation the best ( i thinke ) in the world , not inferiour to the spanish nectar , el vino de san martin : being pleasant , strong , and cordiall , called raysin wine , almost of the colour of alicant , or steelebacke , which ( thankes to our honourable masters ) wee were seldome without , or some other , to concoct the crudity of our not so wholsome waters , at meales especially , and never did vs any hurt but good , though bought ( but not immediately ) of an enimy : for wee were wise , and warie enough in that . their habite ( as i have sayd ) is white , light , and thinne , fit for the countryes heate ; but thicker , and richer clad in the winter , with pintadoes , silke stuffes , sattins , and damasks dyed into all sorts of lively & good colers , cloth of gold , silver , & tyssue , of their own , whereof they haue plenty , being quilted with a cotton wooll between the outside , & the inner lining : for their seasons doe alter there with a sensible differ●…nce as here . their coynes in silver , ( as for gold i never sawe any that i remember ) are mamudes and ruppees ; the mamude in value about 10. pence halfe-penny english ; the ruppee , more or lesse as they differ in their names and valuations , of which there are foure or five sorts at least , and the least of them about two mamudes and a halfe , the ruppee ; stamped on both sides with moorish characters , and in forme very thicke and round ; their copper mony whereof they have such plenty , as ( if tollerable for exportation ) might prove a good returne ; being made into great churlish peeces ) they call pises , whereof 30. ( commonly ) make a mam●…dee , and of the rest proportionably ; but still after the inconstant current of the exchange , almost continually rising and falling , which is in the power of the sheraffs , bankers , or mony-changers to alter at their pleasure . their country for the most par●… ( being plaine from hils and mountaines ) is indifferently stored with mes●…ites or churches very fayre and sumptuous ; with 〈◊〉 also or villages ; townes and cities , pleasant , great , and populous : river ▪ d walled , castled , and munitioned ; and constantly watered at a certaine yearely season , to wit our summer : from towards the end of may , to the end of august , or thereabout , with frequont sober raines , scarce two faire dayes together , without some showers or other , and all the yeare after so cleere a firmament , as not a cloud to be seene , that i have beene weary of fayre weather : and this rayne-water by the better sort is received into vaults , made for the nonce , to serve them for theyr drinke all the yeare after , being wholsommer ( they fay ) then theyr other waters : as also , this raynie season is observed of all for the best times to travayle in . i could yet say more in 〈◊〉 particulars , but having sayd enough ( i thinke ) in proofe of my travels , and prayse of the countries goodnesse : it were superfluous , and beyond my intent to become cosmographicall , and therefore i will here confine my selfe , being now summoned to a consultation , determining a iourney to be made unto the foresayd city of a●…adavas , by master thomas aldworth the cōpanies chiefe agent ; my selfe his second ; for cashier and accountant ; with foure other english , whereof two were homebred marchants , and 〈◊〉 more : to provide goods in readinesse for our next fleet , that the ships ( to theyr great damage ) might not bee deteyned as before . and for more safety both of goods and lives , our charge wee had with us being of great importance , & the country ( as i have sayd ) very dangerous , by reason of theeves , which continually ( vpon intelligence ) ly●… arm'd in troupes on the way for booties ; wee held it best ( though otherwise inconvenient ) mocrob chan the gouernour of surat then trauelling toward court at the kings command ) to take the benefit of his lascar or campe ( as also diuers others , it being the countries custome in like sort to set forth , or with a cara●… , a caffala , a multitude of all sorts of people with theyr goods to that end gathered together , ) for our more safe convoy , which yet we enioyed not past one night aside of baroch , till wee met againe at cambaya , being both our worse and farther way ; for this great lord with his many hands and much helpe posting faster then wee could follow with our heauy and slow carriages , lef●…vs alone in the midst of danger , ( god onely protecting vs ) being three nights on the way , before wee could reach to cambaya , and spent two of them ( with their sunschorching dayes ) by the water side , having only our tent for shelter , expecting there a boate to passe vs ouer out of that purgatorie , and another of mischieuous minded men , and murmuring malecontents ; taddiepor marchants and heartlesse souldiers ; repining not onely my charge , but my precedency also ( or next respect vnto master aldworth , and that by his precise order , against my owne desire , enioynd me ) to their antient matrimony ; making me both his coach-mate and his right hand at table ; and the more i sought by gentlenesse ( for the present ) to appease theyr spight , or ( in continuance ) by some change of behauiour to confront their folly . pro. 26. 4. 5. the more ( like themselues ) they ( still conspiring ) in both respects mistooke , and traduced me ; declaring hereby the implacable disposition of envy ; but god alone did plead my cause , and ( by degrees ) put them to silence in theyr graues . here at sarode ( for so the place is called ) during , our aboad , worthy of obseruation , i tooke notice of some part of gods omnipotent workes of wonder , in the flux and reflux of that famous riuer of cambaya , for fury , not vnfitly called the boare , for the tyde from the maine sea twice a day , once beginning to flow ( contrary to common course of nature ) comes tumbling in amayne , with such a roaring noyse a farre off , of mighty foaming waues ( like white ruffes a bout their proud neckes ) that it strikes admiration and terrour to the beholder , in such sort that those high bankes , with theyr dry sands and oaes are sodenly couered and filled vp to the very toppes , for the space of many leagues in length together , yet neuer ouerflowen ; and vpon returne , with expedition leaves it ( for the most part ) emptie and dry againe ; being ( in absence of the tyde ) a firme passage for all that dare aduenture it ; which thousands having done ( and daylie doe , though some speed better ) not taking theyr times aright , or the vncertaine tydes deceiuing them , vpon credible report ( like pharoes host in thered sea ) haue been overwhelmed man and beast , horse and camels , elephants and all , with infinite treasures swept away into that rich ocean , before ( upon too short a warning ) they could recover ( backward or forward ) the shore againe , for the river is of a very spacious bredth in many places over . being here ( after much toyle in moving and removing our charge from place to place , for our best advantage against an assault , which we hourely expected , that wee durst not sleepe but by short snatches and turnes ; as also for our most commodious imbar quing ( the best being bad enough in that wild place , ) comes a barque , receives our selves and goods aboord , and in a late evening at a full water we set sayle , and ( thankes be to god , who is mighter then the mighty waves of the sea ) not without great danger , about midnight we came to an anker right before cambaya ; and the sabbath morning landed in that rich , fayre , and neat city , so famous throughout the world. being now on shore ( notwithstanding in good safety of life ) we found our selves little better then fallen out of the frying●… pan ( as they say ) into the fire , for all our goods were presently sequestred , and carried to the kings ●…lfondica●… till his customes of seaven per cent. were payd , viz. foure in , and three out : which ( according to the value ) would have come to a good summe of mony , whereat we were much dismayed , master aldworth especially , for his oversight , or too much confidence in mocrob chans favor , whom we often solicited there almost ●… fortnight , as an instrument to procure the release of our sayd goods ( the power ( in effect ) being in his owne hands ) but all in vaine , till at last , a few dayes before our departure thence , master aldworth and my felfe ( as at other times ) went againe to him , and sitting right before him very neere , he eyed me all over , talking meane while to his then small company , at length bids our broker aske me concerning the clothes i wore , what stuffe it was ? where made ? and other questions ; to which i answered him ; in conclusion we took our leave , and went home without a word of comfort ; a while after comes our broker , and tells master ald●…orth good tydings from mocrob c●…an , that if he could procure him my suite , wee should forthwith have our goods delivered us ; no sooner had master aldworth moved it unto me , as a favour which i may not deny him , i told him , what ere it were i would grant it ; the word being spoken , i presently brusht up my amiable suite , and sent it my lord mocro●… by the hand of our broker , who brought us the same evening a warrant under his signet for our goods , which the next morning ( to our much content ) i went and cleared , ( our charge being more precious then life , and our reputation above all . ) but what this humorous lord did with my suite , i cannot tell , save ( by our brokers coniecture ) to shew unto his women ; who for a novelty ( though a toy ) was observed to preferre his fancy to halfe a kingdome , for he had seene many as good before , and farre better , when ( in his greatest pompe ) our chiefe agent , with all his traine , in our best bravery presented his lordship from our honourable masters , the governour and company , at our first comming . during our abode here , we bought sundry commodities as best liked us , for our returnes , and ( to expell melancholy ) that it should not domineere ( being too much occasioned ) tooke our recreation off the city , orchards , and fields ; but above all , to observe the apes in that peaceable habitation of banians , did not a little stirre my blo●…d with their apish trickes on the houses , leaping from house to house in troupes , with their little ones in clusters clutching about them , making dayly worke for the tyler and mason , by pulling out here a tyle , and there a stone , till they had uncovered whole houses in quarters and halfe quarter●… ; and then through the roofe ( as ieering the inhabitants for their silly patience ) made such moppes and mowes at them ; such friscoes and carieres to and againe ; now and then letting fall a stone or a tyle upon their bombasted heads and thin shoulders , and watching in the fall what became of it , ( with twenty other trickes ) that it would make a thiefe ( as they say ) slip his halter and leape over the gallowes ( if he might ) to see the sport ; and if a stone ( unlook'd for ) chanced to come amongst them , that they tooke in so high a derision to bee disturb'd in their worke , that they would flye at a man with open mouth , as if they meant to swallow him ; this goodly sight being also to bee seene a great part of the country thereabout , whole fields alive , and the trees covered with over-growne apes and monkies ; parrats and paraquites chattering and leaping from bough to bough , till come to the top , and then shew their teeth and theyr tayles to passengers for a salutation . thus , and thus , to and fro , changing our wearied thoughts from sadder obiects , wee entertained the way in company of mocrob chan and his las●…ar , till the third day from cambaya , early in a morning wee entred amada●…az , that great and populous citie , the metropolis of all those parts of guizerat ; famous for nobility and gentry , as also for rich trade in variety , indicoes especially , by meanes of a generall confluence of most nations in the world e●…glish , dutch , portugals , iewes , armenians , arabians , medes and persians , turkes and tartarians : cum multis alijs : in whose streets ( through the multiplicity of people ) all enforce theyr passage by theyr p●…ones , or footmen , with their speares and other weapons running before the coach or horse , ( like absal●… & his fifty men . 2. sam. 15. 1. ) crying poyce , poyce , give way there , who serve as well for like necessities as for state , being in number more or fewer according to the qualitie and abilitie , or the pleasure of the person , which none of credit are ( or dare be ) without . here we tooke a house , and setled a factory , applyed our selves to our businesse as seasons and occasions were offered ; meane while for our better proceeding we visite the governour abdala ●…han , and present him ; signifie the cause of our comming ; desiring his leave and noble favour in whatsoever case of iustice we might have cause to use him ; for which we should be ready at all times ( most noble festus ) to shew our selves gratefull unto his lordship : our suit was accepted , together with our present ; our selves bid welcome , and a place appointed us where to sit ; being in a spacious and princely court , in the middest of a great multitude of chans and beagues , or lords and gentlemen , that twice a day morning and evening duely came to visite him ; this being th●…t ( i take it ) which is spoken of in scripture , as of iob in the east , and of other great men sitting in the gate , or in publike , to heare causes and do iustice , every one taking his place according to his degree , or at this great viceroyes appoyntment , having first given him a salam or low congee ; and all crosse-legged on turky carpets spread on the ground , curiously paved or playstered with playster of pallas ( as likewise theyr walles ) shining like alablaster , whereon they tread with their bare feet ( as also in their churches ) leaving their slip-shooes at the doore , or aloofe off at the edge of the entrance , like a shoomakers well furnisht shop or warehouse ; all rich , or brightly attyred ( as i have sayd ) according to the season ; himselfe with a few of the principals sitting somewhat apart , on a little higher ascent at his pallace doore , big enough for his corpulent body , and no more ; with no lesse maiesty ( me thought ) in all but that , and the capateria , or shoe-makers ware , then might well beseeme the greatest prince in the world ; drums beating ; souldiers guarding , noble & gentlemens servants aloofe off in troupes attending ; and coaches at the court gate in thicke heapes wayting the dissolution of this great assembly ; sitting sometimes heere , sometimes removing , but ever in a place presenting both state and delight , for magnificent buildings ; beautifull ponds and water-workes ; pleasant orchards and the like ; and in this honorable presēce euery new moone the common women of the city ( in their long sloppes and short coates ) present themselues , by turnes , with timbrels and dances , wanton songs , and antique gestures , for their sport and recreation , so continuing till the viceroy please to dismisse them ; & all this in generall , besides their particular solemnities , as i have sayd before , in the night seasons ; wherewith my story end●… , and welcome gentlemen to a short colation , with thanks for your gentle patience in taking penance at so homely a pittance , and my well-wishings of good refreshings to you all . finis . gentle reader . as i haue invited thee : so let me now aduise , or rather intreat thee that having read mee , thou wilt not rashly censure me ; my intent throughout was to giue content , not to some but all , which in one respect or other ( i hope ) answers my d●…sire ; onely herei●… lyes all my doubt , least offence might be taken heere and there at my seeming osten tation ; but leave that to god , whilest my heart ( i am sure ) condemnes me not ; perhaps there may be cause , and then to boast , is wisdome both in the opinion and practise of the wis●…st ; what i haue done , hath beene with as much respect to thy good as my owne , in removing my candle frō vnder a bushell , to set it fairly on a candlestick , to the end that with the light there of i may see , and be seene of all , for of all things i abhorre ●…o sit in darkenesse . great is the benefit of light ; by it confusion is banished , co●…trarieties are knowne and distinguisht , dangers declined , and good things embraced ; it is the eye-sight of knowledge from whence proceeds the due estimation we yeeld vnto men ( as all things else ) but chiefly for their proper , and most essentiall or intellectuall parts ) euen wisdome ( thereafter ) to use or refuse them . and now ( gentle reader ) for the writing of bookes so in generall , aword or two ( vnder correction ) in some defence thereof i hope will not f●…ll amisse ; prouided that neither church nor state be dishonoured , or any particular person thereby iustly offended . true it is , ( and none but the vnwise can den●…it ) that s●…ollers for their rare guists of 〈◊〉 are most sit to write for publike vse ( hauing a thousand times wisht my selfe a scholler for the singular benefits that haue their confluence to a man by academicall & well managed arts ; ) yet that all others should be excluded , or not any ( that will ) of vnderstanding and honest life ( vpon good occasion , the premisses considered ) should be allowed of , i know not yet one reason of many ( me thinkes ) to the contrary , to ratisie that opinion ; for if wee consider the many benefits for one inconvenience , thereupon ensuing that stand up to plead for a generall tolleration , not one of a hundred ( i suppose ) even of schollers themselues but will ioyne with them in theyr ready approbation . for first of all is not that noble science of printing made the more to flourish ? doe not the masters and artificers thereof become able , not onely for their private families , but also common-wealths men ? when their presses ( through a generall supply of coppies ) never want worke ? are not shops the better furnisht with bookes , and kept open by a frequent concourse of all sorts of buyers , through the variety and choyce of matter there to bee had for a small piece of mony , to profit themselves by other mens labours of an incomparable value ? doth not the reading of a few harmelesse lines entertayne divers from worse exercises , whom else ( perhaps ) better things would scarce content ? 〈◊〉 had it not beene profitable for many to have exercised themselves in writing of some manuscript , whilest idlenesse and ill-company have beene their utter bane and ruine ? and how many have improved theyr parts and vacant times unto a good sufficiency of doing service both in church and common-weale , wherein ( to the honor and profit of both ) they have lived , by applying themselves to vertuous studie●… , and writing their observations , that never ( perhap●… ) eate bread in a vniversitie ? or why doth our state at present ( in a sort ) allow of , or connive at this tolleration ( under the foresayd provisoes ) but for these or the like godly and civill policies no doubt ? besides other reasons which i leave to others ; but if none of these will passe for current , yet could i wish ( gentle reader ) that travellers ( in due honor to their travailes ) may have a place ( though the lowest ) in this honourable priviledge with schollers and poets , even for their experience ●…ake . a man that hath travelled ( sayth wise strach ) knoweth many things , and hee that hath much experience will declare wisedome ; he that hath no experience knoweth little , but he that hath travayled is ( or should be ) full of prudence ; to wit , a man of counsell and action ; of discourse and resolution ; eccles 34. 9. 10. for they commonly see and conceive more abroad the●… others sitting at home , as being deeper engaged upon strange occurrents ; having their senses exercised , their bodyes and minds hardened by sundry difficulties , and surviving many dangers ; diving into the different dispositions of m●…n , and observing ( from a selfe-knowing knowledge ) the good and the evill among all sorts of people ; wisedome also insinuating it selfe there , after a more familiar fashion then elsewhere , and thenceforth disposing them ( oft times ) ( with small helps , and due incouragements ) unto the weightiest aff●…res ; in whose short lines may b●…e read large observations of the divine power and providence , to the glory of god , and the publike good , by the right use which ingenuous minds make of all things , and to which ends onely they ought to be written ; when i travailed i saw many things , and i understand mo●…e then i can expresse ; i was oft times in danger of death , yet was i delivered because of these things . eccles. 34. 11. 12. to communicate experience ( therefore ) is as commendable as profitable , being that which in all ages hath ever been allowed of , required , and practised by the wisest . wis. 7. 13. eccles. 39. 8. psal. 40. 10. for experienc●… that is hid , and treasure that i●… hoarded up , what profit ( or not prejudice rather ) is in eyther ? and better is he that hideth his folly , then a man that hideth his wisedome or experience , be it never so little , upon least occasion of doing good therewith ; eccles. 20. 30. 31. as appeares by that slothfull servant , who hiding his talent ( instead of modesty ) incurr'd a censure of folly . mat. 25. 24. 25. 26. thus ( gentle reader ) hauing satisfied thee ( i hope ; ) in my best wishes i commend thee ( as my selfe ) to the protection of the almighty , and bid thee heartily fare-well in christ . chr. farewell . eccles. 6. 14. 15. a faithfull friend is a strong defen●…e , and he that hath found such a one , hath found a treasure . nothing doth countervaile a faythfull friend , for his ex●…ellency is v●…valuable . i. pet. 1. adde to your faith vertue , or industrie : and now , to shut up 〈◊〉 indian discourse with a word or two of spaine , being ( n●…xt unto 〈◊〉 in portugal ) on christian shore , my first and onely place of forraigne residence ; where ( if i may not seeme to praise my selfe , having little else to boast of in the short catalogue of my good workes there , save onely the releasing of an english marchant out of prison ) i would willingly entertaine anew my courteous reader with a short storie of an accident , wherein god made mee the instrument of much good unto another ; but the wise ( i hope ) will eyther discerne a cause of my boasting , or ●…t the worst will ascribe it to the common humour of travailers , who love to tell of things they have seene and done abroad in the world , and so at least to excuse me , ( for amidst all my extravagant delights , else ( i may truly speake it , and ( i hope ) without offence to charity ) my heart ( even then ) was ever prone to honesty ; to doe good freely ; on occasion ready to shew mercy ; more delighted to give then to receive ; and faithfull in my whole engagements ; with an inward ze●…le in the performance of all ; in a word , no mans foe ( as they say , even in those dayes ) but mine owne ; how much more then ( to silence all detraction ) shall ryper times ( on occasion ) affoord the same things at least , if not better : ill will it selfe ( if it please ) be iudge . deteyned upon some ●…mployment at the tower of velis malaga , about sales and returne of goods for england , there chanced into the roade ( among other ships , english and french ) ●…ertaine hollanders , that brought a great quantity of pic●…elingos , or counterfeyt copper mony of spaine , called 〈◊〉 , and quartillos , which by stealth at 〈◊〉 of opportunity they landed and disperced here and there , as they had dohe 〈◊〉 other ports : this in short space came to be suspected by the plentifull current of the money , ( the parties themselves being gone , left others in danger ) hereupon the shippes remaining in the roade were searched ; above all the rest , suspicion was had of certaine ●…hips belonging to the businesse whereon i lay for my master and others , whereof mr. john pit had the chiefe charge , being himselfe at grand malaga about other businesse , dispatching for england ; but they apprehended onely his servant or factor one mr. i ●…omas s●…edmer , whom they found aboord , ready to goe for malaga , and thence also for england ; him they carryed away prisoner to motril , about three leagues eastward , where hee was certaine weekes , rackt and hardly used ; how hee or the ships were released , i am not so punctuall in my remembrance as to relate , nor is it much materiall ( this being above twenty yeares since ) yet at length released they were , for the truth then came to light ; and whether by torture or else , i am not certaine , mr. pit himselfe as principall , was layd out for : officers of the inquisition , from motril were appointed and on the way toward grand malaga , to apprehend him : this by a happy chance ( being at the water side to heare newes ) i vnderstood ; i went presently to my almazen , or ware-house ; wrote him a word or two of advise , that as hee tendred his life ( upon receit thereof ) to retyre himselfe for such a cause , which i sent by the hand of a spaniard , a lustie sturdy companiero , of whose trustinesse i had observed something before , having imployed him about styving our fruit , and other reca●…dos of moment , with a charge to out runne the constable , corre juan , vete bolando por su vida , que yo 〈◊〉 lo pagare , bien pagado ; runne for thy life , and i le reward thee lib●…rally : ●…nd so he did , for over the rocke●… and high mountaines , ( like a goat ) h●… made such a nimble expedition that he overtooke , and out went the mule-men , and was there some three minutes before them , which gave my advised friend , the advantage of his absence , just as the alguazill and officers came at his heeles , that made his life of full value , which else upon any merchants ensurance there , ( by that time they had hāper'd him ) had not beene worth one marvedi . this newes ( till then pensive at heart in expectation of the event ) cheered me up no lesse then a cup of neat sparkeling wine , especially for the punctuality of the successe , and the applause of my diligent penne ; which procured me the love of those which had never seen me , with munchas mercedes , y beso las manos , for my good advise ; and afterward upon my returne to malaga , declared it by a generall bienvenido , or welcome . and how god did require this small myte of my ( not merit but ) good will ( for hee likes not ) to speake after the manner of men ) to be long in any mans debt ( but with more advantage to him ) though alwayes seeming so by the continuall lengthning out of his mercies ( if we observe them ) beyond our owne time , even to posterity , from generation to generatiō ; as if by this kind of acknowledgement of his ( for his owne word sake ) he were still indebted to us and ours , & could never su●…ficiently recompence our good endeavours , by the utmost of his infinite goodnesse freely promised thereunto in his best beloved , his soules delight ; to teach us that we should never be weary of doing him like acceptable seruice , even for the good and safety temporall and eternall , of our selves and ours ; but chiefly for his owne honour and glory . ) i could heere well declare in a cloud of particulers ever since , touching his wonderfull providence in my preserv●…tion , protection , and deliverance in , & out of most imminent dangers , straytes , and extremities , temptations and conflicts ; but for brevity sake ( leaving all the rest ) i will touch onely three , wherein gods power , and mercifull providence did plainely declare themselves unto my conscience , to whose praise alone i speake it , and to stirre up all to a consideration of his wonders . not long after this iubile of successe ( the brunt of businesse being ouerpast ) i went to grand malaga , whether indeed my desires lead me ( contrarie toreason ) from uelis malaga , where i was left ( vpon order of my master ) by mr. pitt . in the house of a regidor or alderman , senior pablos nunnies , for more conueniency to learne the language , rregalado , or respected as in their owne sonne ; and growing daily in acquaintance , i began to declare my selfe in the choyce of those pleasures wherevnto my nature most inclined ; amongst others , musicke and dancing were not the least , which thus occasioned the first of my proposed dangers . lying in the house of capt●…ine simon boureman , of best resort in the cittie by eng●…ish marchants , my first rendeuous in spaine ; and being well accommodated for all things , i fell into a consort-ship with other young men to entertaine an italian to teach vs to dance , who came once a day to our chambers ; and in taking our turnes of exercise , our tutor vnaduisedly commended my promptnesse , and the dexterity of my bodie ; whereat one of the company tooke pepper in the nose , and told me ( in the contrary tearmes ) i danced like a clowne ; knowing his malla●…ie , i brake it off with a iest , and a nippe withall , that made him halfe angry ; til frō iest to iest , it grew into plain earnest ( being both tender enough of our small reputations ) and sitting with our vsuall company at supper , he challenged me ( as not daring ) to fight with him ; i told him t' was then no time for such a businesse , but that ( perhaps ) he might shortly heare of me , as halfe determined to trie what mettle was in either ; the next morning ( i thinke vnexpected ) i went early to his chamber doore , wa●…like appointed with my rapier and dagger ( yet a daily ornament in those parts , as any part of our apparell , wherein ( be it knowne to all men ) for my owne particuler , i tooke no small glory ) and finding it open , in i went as at other times ( though illaduised in that poynt ) where i found him writing ; after salutation i told him what i came for , and that if he meant to acquite his honor ( i speake after y ● spanish phrase ) now was the onely time fresh and fasting to walke into the field , to preuent concourse or tumult ; my gallant foorthwith changed countenance , yet making wise to accept the offer went aside , and seemed to make choyce of his weapons ( hauing change of rapiers by him ) and taking a dagger in his hand ( mistrusting no treacherie ) sodenly offerd to haue stabbed me with it , but happily intercepting the thrust , with his hand that held it , i closed with him , and in strugling ( though his inferiour both in age and stature ) i gaue him the cleane fall backward , on his bed , and fell upon him , setting my knee on his brest , holding downe still his dagger , punching it vpward with all his might at my face , and at length i wrest it from him ; yet ( the onely poynt of manhood i obserued in him ) hee made no clamarous out-cry for the matter , as knowing ( belike ) with whom he had to deale ) wherewith ( as i told him , to requite his treachery ) i could haue slit his nose , or minced his face like a carbonado ; but mercie & manhood forbade me , as scor●…ing indeed the basenesse , though enough prouoakt ; nor would i for ten thousand pounds haue layne in like sort at his mercie ; at last taking my best oportunitie , i suddenly sprang off from him , and left him alone in his chamber , free from the least hurt done him , abiding without in an open court vnder a gallery walke , resting my selfe betweene a marble pillar and a packe of cloth , leaning on the pomell of my rapier , expecting euery moment ●…is comming forth for the field , but his intent was to haue finisht the combate there , with all safetie to himselfe , and sodaine ruine to me . for spying me through his doore standing at that disaduantage ( yet thankes be to god not walking , for then he had taken me napping ) he rusht out suddenly vpon me with a naked rapier making a main thrust at my face , which againe ( as happily as the ●…ormer ) i put by with my hand , yet not so , but that ( glancing my throate ) it toucht my beardlesse chinne , and made the bloud run downe ; but feeling my selfe alive , i instantly drew ( god forgive me all ) with a full resolution to have runne him through , as doubtlesse i had , up to the very 〈◊〉 , had not the spirit of wisdome or feare made him caper backward with a leape ( i still blesse god for it ) that i never saw the like . timor addit alas . feare gives wings . but considering the danger of that play ( for i had wit in my anger , though some that beheld us , sayd , i fought sa●…s feare or wit ) and changing my purpose , i followed him close with a double stroake two or three immediately succeeding , swift as lightning ; for though not slightly stirred , yet being too farre provoked , ( to the terrour of all proud , and commonly false-hearted provokers , i may iustly speake it ) my dreadlesse spirit would then haue borne me through the middest of an army . in which short conflict , i did so macerate his arme from the hand to the elbow , that it grieves me yet to thinke of it , ( so little doe i glory in the relation , save only in our mutuall preservation , mine owne especially from so imminent destruction ) and being gone to our chambers to be drest , to tell why certaine spaniards of my acquaintance , and strangers that came then to see me , did so wonder at my rapier , feeling the edge with theyr fingers , ( not considering the principall , that what is done couragiously and with expedition , is throughly done . bis dat gui cit●… dat , to fight couragiously is to fight victoriously ) crying ( after theyr fashion of admiration ) jhesus , al diablo , que espada es esta ? was , because ( besides his arme ) i had pared off the pappie flesh under his hand ; out in sunder a thicke gold ring from off his finger ; and withall ( i suppose ) his rapier , for at the last stroake , that also fell in a peece with the rest to the ground . at the sight whereof , mercy and manhood againe held my hand , without the least offer to prosecute him any further ; whereat ( with his owne ) there was a suddaine albarote , or out-cry of houshold servants newly up , murther , murther , and of our english cooke , that had done his best before to have parted vs ; that senior christoval , had slaine senior fulano : but ( a thousand thankes to god ) it was not so ; whereupon ( by advise of the best in the house ( in secret ) not a little approving the exployt , nor much lamenting ( but in shew ) the other , i know not why : ) to prevent further mischiefe , i absented my selfe at velis malaga , making of necessity a vertue ; for there in company of onely one english merchant , capt. lee by name , i improved my study , wrote them backe spanish epistles , and profited mightily ; having ever since beene a man of peace , conquering by suffering , and prevailing by yeelding , yet not basely neyther , but understandingly too : being minded henceforth ( for ought i know ) never more to draw sword , but against the enemies of god , my king , my country , and my friend : wherein god strengthen my resolution . amen . the second was , being in ireland ( a few yeares after my returne frō the indies , to weare out , or to weaken many discontents diversly occasioned me in england , by means of an imployment i had imposed on my selfe , begun long before , but there ( for causes ) intending to finish it , with some other respects joyntly procuring my absence , ) among others , of lesse profession , yet better condition , i chanced to be acquainted with a very rooke ( as some terme them ) yet so well clad in a religious habit of smooth discourse , that i durst have trusted him almost with my life ; so dangerous is a fayre shew without substance : the word of trust without truth , the name of a friend , without the fruits of friendship , or the inspection of wisedome to discerne the subtilties of hypocrisie , that the very best ( of which soever side ) are , and have bin subiect to be deceived , that none should be too credulous of faire shews or reports , as they tēder their owne good , in cherishing ( all they can against envie ) the due estimation of vertue in themselves or any . this man ( upon a proiect of some profit , probable enough had his intent been honest , or my serious studies in higher affaires permitted me to have frequēted or suspected him ; ( but oportunity not so much makes as takes a theefe , for an honest mind even scornes the temptation , no lesse then a lewd or a faigned suspicion ) by degrees had wound himselfe at least ten pounds deepe into my purse , being halfe way to the bottome , till fresh supplyes out of england ; and at last ( to make the shortest of a sharkes account ) was glad to accept of one halfe of my ●…cipall , with losse of the other halfe , yet not without great profit neyther , for a sharpe lesson proves a good instruction ; and our best wits are ( cōmonly ) the deerest bought ; but this is not the matter , rather ●…n introduction thereunto . for to get this mony i was forced to dispense with my study ( to wit k. davids psalmes , and st. 〈◊〉 epistles ; a word or two whereof in a short treatise touching theyr praise , since composed by me , i once purposed should have bin the period , or posterne unto these my travels ) and to make many a iourney to , and against him ; among others , taking the pleasure of a dainty frosty sunshine morning ( whilest my irish colt tooke his recreation at home ) i made a walke of sixe or 7. miles to speake with him at his house ( having chāged his dwelling from the town into the country ) and on the way from tullough , between ballye roberts , and castle-lyons , went aside out of a faire greene lancher , betwixt two great opē fields under a hedge , to cover my feet , not ●…eeing nor mistrusting any danger , yet ( in stooping downe ) had this thought in my minde ; good lord preserve me , this may be my last breathing : after a while looking up , right before me within twice my length stood a great grisly wolfe , bigger then a mastiffe , with a long bobbe taile , p●…ick-eard , and a lanke body , stocke still looking on me . though somewhat apàlled at this strange sight , yet to run ▪ conceived was danger ( for i had wit in my feare , as before in my anger ) and therefore quietly hasting to be ready for him , still fixing my eye on his ( wherein lyes a mystery ) till i had fastened my poynt ; and drawing my knife , with a sm●…l wand in my hand , i went on guardant , soft and faire , observing how the curre dogg'd me , ( for 't is a creature ( simply considered ) as full of craft and subtilty , as of greedinesse and cruelty , which meeting in men ( as commonly they lurke together , one being cause of the other ) doe make them more brutish and dangerous ( god defend me from them ) then wilde beasts ; such as st. paul had to fight withall at ephesus , ( unreasonable and absurd people ) as doubtlesse many good mē have elsewhere dayly , ) and then turning towards him , and standing still awhile , he would doe the like ( for i could haue bin content , on a fayre defence ) to haue tryed the combate with him , in assured hope to haue cut his throat , to enlarge my scutchion with a wolfe , or a wolfes head in a canton , for an addition of honor , as well to my ancestry , as happily to my heyres and posterity , for god onely makes and gives all . in this sort perusing one another , on we went in company about halfe a quarter of a mile together , till ( being market day at tullough ) people came riding by , away he went , but with admiration of all ( in such sort ) to have escaped his clutches ; affirming it to be the he●… or 〈◊〉 wolfe , that a long time had ranged thereabout ; done much mischiefe to man & beast ; and could never be taken . though now ridde of my rude companiō , i durst not be too secure , least on the sodaine we might meet againe ; but euer with an eye in my pole , on i went still guardant , till i came to kiel jannicke , aside off castle lyons , and there found my friend to little or no purpose ; but at my returne 〈◊〉 got a rusty sword for my better defence , in●… case of necessitie , which now & then i thought good to excercise against a bush or a thistle , with a thrust at the one , and a slash at the other , supposing the woolfe to haue bin either ; perhaps ( i am not sure ) like that valiant countrie travayler ( according to the common tale ) who going home late in an euening from worke , in like sort laying about him ( as he went ) with his trun●… , at the sodaine out-cry of a fewe duckes , quake , quake , being at his wits end , disclaimed all his former behauiour , with a fearefull protest as ( who should iudge him ) to be but a poore travayler , that neuer strook man in his life ▪ nor meant to doe ; and so more afraid then hurt ( hauing scaped a scowring ) he went soberly home to sleep : as i also being deliuered frō my so great a danger at retu●…ne to my lodging , on my knees gaue god thankes for my preseruation , and still doe ; for doubtles the same invisible hand of heauen that shut th●…●…mouthes of daniels lions , did likewise shut the mouth of this r●…uening wolfe , else rea●… to haue deuoured me my god ( sayth he ) hath sent his angel , and hath shut the lyons mouthes , that the●… haue not hu●… ▪ me , forasmuch as before him , innocency was found in me , and also before thee ( o king ) haue i done no hurt . dan. 6. 22. with the mercifull , ( saith ▪ 〈◊〉 ) thou wi●…t shew thy selfe ▪ mercifull , & with an vpright man , thou wilt shew thy selfe vpright . psal. 18. 25. the next and last never to be forgotten , was now of late the 29. of august 1632. passing from the exchange toward my lodging ; in lothbury from foure story high , there sodainly fell downe into the street ( by what meanes god knowes , but very strangely ) a whole window of glasse in a thicke frame of timber , all fast in a lumpe together , and in the fall strooke onely the brim of my hat , missing my head but two or three inches at most , by meanes i thinke ) of then mending my pace , ( not knowing why ) at the instant ( i remember ) when i sprang over into that side of the street , which else ( doubtlesse ) had strooke mee stone dead , so violent was f●…ll ; for which let my soule for ever 〈◊〉 thee ( o lord ) and all than is within meblesse his holy name , ●…s two or three of those that saw the manner thereof ( i thanke them ) put me in mind so to doe . the angell of the lord ( sayth david ) encampeth round about them that feare him , and delivereth them . tast therefore and consider that the lord is good , blessed is the man that trusteth in him ; for though his wisedome ( to exalt the glorious maiesty of his power ) leads them into temptations and dangers , yet his vigilant providence ( for his promise sake ) never leaves them ; i will never fayle thee nor forfake thee : joshua . 1. 5. affliction ( like pauls viper ) at first begets censure , but ( upon delivery ) it is the cause of honour . acts. 28. 3. 6. i will be with him in trouble ( sayth god ) i will 〈◊〉 him , and honour him . psal. 91. 15. and what honor comparable to that of gods deliverance ? or what promise so to be●… relyed on as his word ? what buckler or ca●…le of defence so safe as his protection ? what service so commodious and honorable as his faithfull seruice ? or whom ever better served , allyed counselled , or befriended ( may examples of truth and experience take place , malice with envi●… being banisht or put to silence ) then by such allyance , servants , counsellers or friends ? whose dwelling is in the secret place of the most high , and whose abode is under the shadow of the almighty , king of kings , & lord of creatures both in heaven & in earth , in the seas & all deepe places . i leave to the iudgment & consideratiō of all , with my hearty prayers as for my owne soule , that every one for their proper good ( touching the premisses in each particuler ) may rightly discern betweene things that differ , and impartially prefer those that excell . what have i now done ? is there not a cause ? 1. sam. 17. 29. finis . the treaty of peace called the pyrenaean treaty, between the crowns of france and spain concluded and signed by his eminency cardinal mazarin and dom lewis mendez de haro, plenipotentiaries of their most christian and g[c]atholick majesties, the seventh of november, 1659 / printed in paris by his majesties command, and now faithfully rendred english. treaties, etc. spain, 1659 nov. 7 france. 1659 approx. 163 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 23 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a49237) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 50234) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 501:16) the treaty of peace called the pyrenaean treaty, between the crowns of france and spain concluded and signed by his eminency cardinal mazarin and dom lewis mendez de haro, plenipotentiaries of their most christian and g[c]atholick majesties, the seventh of november, 1659 / printed in paris by his majesties command, and now faithfully rendred english. treaties, etc. spain, 1659 nov. 7 france. france. treaties, etc. spain, 1659 nov. 7. 44 p. printed for t. collins, j. wright, t. sawbridge, and m. pitt, london : 1678. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder 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displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng france -foreign relations -1643-1715. france -foreign relations -spain. france -foreign relations -treaties. spain -foreign relations -1621-1665. spain -foreign relations -france. spain -foreign relations -treaties. 2006-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-02 john latta sampled and proofread 2007-02 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the treaty of peace , called the pyrenaean treaty , between the crowns of france and spain . concluded and signed by his eminency cardinal mazarin and dom lewis mendez de haro , plenipotentiaries of their most christian and gatholick majesties , the seventh of november , 1659. printed in paris by his majesties command , and now faithfully rendred english . london : printed for t. collins . j. wright , t. sawbridge , and m. pitt , 1678. the treaty of peace between the crowns of france and spain , concluded and signed by his eminency cardinal mazarin , and dom lewis mendez de haro , plenipotentiaries of their most christian and catholick majesties , in the isle called of the pheasants , in the river of bidassoa , upon the confines of the pyrenaean mountains , the seventh of november , 1659. lewis by the grace of god , king of france and of navarra , to all those who shall see the present letters , greeting : whereas , by vertue of the powers respectively given by us , and the most high , most excellent , and most potent prince the catholick king of spain , our most dear and most beloved good brother and uncle , unto our most dear and most beloved cosen the cardinal mazarin ; and to the lord dom lewis mendez de haro and gusman , they have in the isle called of the pheasants , in the river of bidassoa , upon the confines of both the kingdoms , towards the pyrenean mountains , the seventh of the instant month of november , concluded , agreed and signed the treaty of peace and reconciliation , the tenor whereof is as followeth . in the name of god the creator . to all present and to come , be it known ; that whereas a long and bloody war , hath many years since caused great miseries and oppressions to be suffered by the people , kingdoms , countries , and dominions under the obedience of the most high , most excellent , and most potent prince lewis the xiv , by the grace of god , most christian king of france and navarra ; and of philip the iv , by the grace of god catholick king of spain : in which war , other princes and republicks , their neighbours and allyes having also taken part , many towns and countries of both the parties have been exposed to great evils , miseries , ruines , and desolations . and although at other times , and by several ways , diverse overtures and negociations for an accommodation , have been made ; yet none of them , through the mysterious secrets of the divine providence , could take the effect most earnestly desired by their majesties , until at length that supreme god who hath in his hand the hearts of kings , and hath particularly reserved to himself alone , the precious gift of peace , hath had the goodness , through his infinite mercy , to inspire at the same time , both the kings , and so to guide and direct them , that without any other interposition or motives , but the only 〈…〉 of compassion they have had of the sufferings of their good subjects , and of a fatherly desire of their good and relief , and of the peace of the whole christendom , they have found the means how to put an end to so great and long calamities , to forget and extinguish the causes and the seeds of their divisions , and to settle to the glory of god , and the exaltation of our holy catholick faith , a good , sincere , entire and lasting peace and fraternity between them and their successors , their allyes and dependants ; by means whereof the dammages and miseries suffered , might quickly be repaired in all parts , which to attain unto , both the said lords and kings having given order unto the most eminent lord messire julas mazarin , cardinal of the holy roman church , duke of mayenne , head of the most christian kings councils , &c. and unto that most excellent lord , the lord dom lewis mendez de haro and gusman , marquis of carpier , earl-duke of olivares , perpetual governour of the royal palaces , and of the arcenal or magazine of the city of sevella , great chancellor perpetual of the india's , one of his catholick majesties council of state , great commander of the order of alcantara , gentleman of his majesties chamber , and gentleman of his horse , these two first and principal ministers , to meet upon the confines of both the kingdoms , towards the pyrenaean mountains , as being the two persons who are best informed of their holy intentions , of their interests , and of the most intimate secrets of their hearts ; and consequently the most able to find out the necessary expedients to end their differences ; and to that end having given unto them most large powers , the copies whereof are inserted at the end of these presents , both the aforesaid principal ministers , by vertue of their said powers , acknowledged on both sides , to be sufficient , have granted , established , and concluded the following articles . i. first ; it is concluded and agreed , that for the future , there shall be a good , firm and lasting peace , confederation and perpetual alliance and amity between the most christian and catholick kings , their children borne and to be born , their childrens successors , and heirs ; their kingdoms , dominions , countries and subjects , who shall love one another as good brethren , procuring with all their power the mutual good , honor and reputation one of the other , and shuning bona fide , as much as in them shall lye , the damage one of the other . ii. in consequence of that good re-union , the cessation of all manner of hostility , concluded and signed the eight day of may of this present year , shall continue according to its tenor , between the said lords and kings , their subjects , vassals , and adherents , both by sea and other waters , and by land ; and generally in all places , where the war hath been hitherto between their majesties . and if any new thing , or ways of fact should hereafter be attempted by the arms , or in any manner whatsoever , under the name of the authority of either of the said lords and kings , to the prejudice of the other , the dammages shall be presently repaired , and things put again in the same state , as they were in upon the eighth day of may aforesaid , when the said suspension of arms was agreed on and subscribed , the tenor whereof ought to be observed until the publication of the peace . iii. and for hindering lest the differences , that might hereafter happen betwixt any princes or potentates in alliance with the said lords and kings , be able to alter the good correspondency a●● amity between their majesties , which every one of them is desirous to make so sure and lasting , that no accident may disturb the same , it hath been concluded and agreed , that in case hereafter any difference should arise betwixt their allies , which might carry them to an open breach between themselves , neither of the said lords and kings shall assault or disturb by his arms , the ally of the other ; or shall give an assistance , publick or private , against the said ally , without first , and afore all things , treating in the court of the other king , by his ambassador , or some other particular person , about the occasion of the said difference , hindring as much as in them shall lye , and by their authority , the taking up of arms betwixt their said allies ; until either by the judgment of both the kings , if their allies will yield to their decision , or by their interposition and authority , they might have endeavoured an amicable composure of the said difference , so that every one of their allies be satisfied with it ; shunning on both sides , the taking up of auxiliary arms. after which , if the authority of both the kings or their offices and interposition , cannot produce the accommodation , and the allies do at last take the way of arms , every one of the said lords and kings shall be free to assist his allie with his forces , without incurring thereby any breach betwixt their majesties , or any alteration of their amity : each of the two kings even promising in that case , that he will not suffer that his arms , nor the arms of his allie should enter into any of the dominions of the other king , there to commit any hostility ; but that the quarrel shall be ended within the limits of the dominion or dominions of the allies , that shall fight together ; so that no warlike action , or any other done in that conformity , shall be deemed a breach of this present treaty of peace . as likewise , whensoever any prince or state in alliance with either of the said lords and kings , shall be directly or indirectly assaulted by the forces of the other king , in what he shall hold and be possessed of at the subscribing of the present treaty , or what he ought to possess in consequence of it , it shall be lawful to the other king , to help or assist the assaulted prince or state ; and yet whatsoever shall be done in conformity to the present article , by the auxiliary forces , whilst they shall be in the service of the assaulted prince or state , shall not be deemed a breach of the present treaty ▪ and in case it should happen that either of the two lords and kings should be first assaulted , in what he now is possessed of , or ought to possess by virtue of the present treaty , by any other prince or state whatsoever , or by many princes and states in league together , the other king shall not joint his forces to the said assaulting prince or state , though otherwise his ally , nor to the said league of the likewise assaulting princes or states , as aforesaid , nor shall give to the said prince and state , or to the said league , any assistance of men , money or victuals , nor passage or retreat in his dominions , to their persons or forces . as for the kingdoms , princes and states , that are now in war with either of the said lords and kings , and could not be comprehended in the present treaty of peace ; or that having been comprehended therein , would not accept of it , it hath been concluded and agreed , that the other king shall not have power , after the publication of the said treaty , to give them , directly or indirectly , any manner of assistance , of men , victuals or money ; much less to the subjects that might hereafter rise or revolt against either of the said lords and kings . iv. all occasions of enmity or misunderstanding , shall remain extinguished and for ever abolished : and whatsoever hath been done , or hath hapned , upon occasion of the present wars , or during the same , shall be put into perpetual oblivion : so that for the future , of neither side , neither directly nor indirectly , shall any inquiry be made for the same , by justice , or otherwise , under any pretence whatsoever : nor shall their majesties , or their subjects , servants , or adherents , of either side , shew any manner of remembrance of any offences or damages suffered during the war. v. by means of this peace and strict amity the subjects of both sides , whatsoever ▪ shall have liberty , they observing the laws and customs of the country , to go to and fro , to dwell , trade and return into one anothers country , merchandising or as they shall think best , both by land and by sea , or any other fresh-waters , to treat and trade together : and the subjects of the one shall be maintained and protected in the others countreys , as their own subjects , paying reasonably the duties in all accustomed places , and such others , as by their majesties and their successors shall be imposed . vi. the towns , subjects , merchants , and inhabitants of the kingdoms , dominions , provinces , and countreys belonging to the most christian king , shall enjoy the same priviledges , franchises , liberties , and sureties , in the kingdom of spain , and other kingdoms and dominions belonging to the catholick king , as the english have by right enjoyed , by the last treaties made between the two crowns of spain and england ; and no greater duties or impositions shall be exacted of the french and other of the most christian kings subjects , either in spain , or any where else , within the lands or other places of the catholick kings obedience , than have been paid by the english before the breach , or than are paid at this time , by the inhabitants of the united provinces of the neatherlands , or any other strangers that shall be there the more favourably intreated . the same shall be done , within the whole extent of the obedience of the said lord the most christian king , unto all the subjects of the said lord the catholick king , of what country or nation soever they be . vii . in consequence of this , if the french ▪ or any other of his most christian majesties subjects , are found in the said kingdoms of spain , or upon the coasts thereof , to have shipped , or caused to be shipped upon their vessels , in what manner soever it may be , any prohibited goods , to transport them out of the said kingdoms , the penalty shall not extend further than hath been heretofore practised , in such cases , towards the english ; or than it is , at this time practised towards the hollanders , in consequence of the treaties made with england or the united provinces : and all inquiries or processes hitherto made , about the same , shall remain null and be extinguished . the same shall be observed towards the towns , subjects and inhabitants of the kingdoms and islands belonging to the said lord the catholick king , who shall enjoy the same priviledges , franchises , and liberties , throughout all the dominions of the said lord the most ▪ christian king. viii . all the french and other subjects of the said lord ▪ the most christian king , shall have liberty , freely and without any hindrance , to transport out of the said kingdoms and countries of the said lord , the catholick king , the proceed of the sale by them made of corn within the said kingdoms and countries , after the same manner as they wanted to do afore the war ▪ and the same shall be observed in france towards the subjects of the said lord , the catholick king. ix . of neither side , shall the merchants , masters of ships , pilots , or mariners , nor their ships , merchandises , commodities or other goods to them belonging , be arrested or seised on , either by vertue of any general or particular mandate , or for any cause whatsoever of war , or otherwise ; nor even under pretence of using them for the preservation and defence of the country ▪ and generally , nothing shall be taken from the subjects of the said lords and kings , within the lands of the obedience of the other , but with the consent of those to whom such things shall belong , and paying ready money what shall be desired of them . yet it is not understood that therein should be comprehended such seisures and arrests of justice , by the ordinary ways , because of debts , obligations , and valid contracts of those , upon whom such seisures shall be made ; whereunto it shall be proceeded , as it is wonted , according to right and reason . x. all the subjects of the most christian king , shall ▪ with all security and liberty , fail and trade in all the kingdoms , countries and dominions , that are or shall be at peace , amity , or neutrality with france , ( excent portugal only , with their conquests and adjacent countrys , whereof it is otherwise disposed by an article of the present treaty ) and shall not be troubled or molested in that liberty , by the ships , galleys , frigots , barks , or any other sea-buildings , belonging to the catholick king , or any of his subjects , because of the hostilities that are or might be hereafter between the said lord the catholick king , and the aforesaid kingdoms ▪ countries , and dominions , or any of them , that are or shall be at peace , amity or neutrality with france : provided , that the exception made of portugal , in this and following articles , concerning the commerce , shall only be in force , during the time the said portugal shall remain in the condition it is at present : and that if it should happen that the said portugal should be reduced under the obedience of his catholick majesty , the same should be then observed ; as to the commerce in the said kingdom of portugal , in regard of the french , as in other dominions now possessed by his said catholick majesty , according to the contents of the present and following articles . xi . that transportation and that traffick shall extend to all kinds of merchandizes and commodities , which were wonted freely and securely to be transported into the said kingdoms , countries and dominions , afore they were in was with spain : provided yet , that during the said war , the most christian kings subjects shall abstain from carrying thither any merchandizes of the growth of the catholick kings dominions , such as may be serviceable against him and his dominions ; much less shall they carry thither any contrebanda-goods . xii . by that kind of contrebanda-goods , are only understood all sorts of fire-arms , and all things belonging to them ; as canons musquets , mortar-pieces , petards , bombes , granadoes , saucidges , pitchd circles , carriages , forks , bandaliers , gunpowder , cords , saltpeter , bullets , pikes , swords , caskes , headpeices , cuirasses , halberts , javalins , horses , saddels for horses , holsters for pistols , belts , or any other warlike furnitures . xiii . in that kind of contrebanda-goods , shall not be comprehended , wheat , corn , or other granes , pu●●e , oyles , wines , salt , nor generally any thing belonging to the nourishment and sustentation of life ; but they shall remain free , as all other merchandizes and commodities , not comprehended in the aforegoing article , and the transportation of them shall be free , even to places in enmity with the crown of spain , except portugal as aforesaid , and the towns and places besieged , blockt up , or surrounded . xiv . for the execution of the premises , it hath been agreed , that it shall be done in the manner following , viz. that the ships and barks , with the merchandizes belonging to the subjects of the lord , the most christian king , being come into any haven of the lord catholick king , where they used to come and trade before the present war , and being willing from thence , to pass unto the ports belonging to the said enemies , they shall only be bound to shew to the officers of the spanish port , or of any other of the said lord and kings dominions , from whence they are to go , their passes , containing the specification of the lading of their ships , attested and marked with the ordinary hand and seal , and acknowledged by the officers of the admiralty of the places from whence they came first , with the declaration of the plate , for which they are bound ; the whole in the ordinary and accustomed form. after which exhibiting of their passes , in the form aforesaid , they shall not be disturbed or molested , detained nor retarded in their voyages , under any pretence whatsoever . xv. the same shall be done , as to the french ships and barques that shall go into any roads of the catholick kings dominion , where they used to trade before the present war , and shall be unwilling to enter into the harbours , or being entred there , yet will not unlide or break bulk ; who shall not be obliged to give any account of their lading , but only in case of suspicion , that they are carrying any contrebanda-goods unto the enemies of the said lord the catholick king , as aforesaid . xvi . and in the said case of apparent suspicion , the said subjects of the most christian king , shall be obliged to show in the ports , their passes , in the form above specified . xvii . but if they be entered into the roads , or be met in open sea by any of the said lord the catholick kings ships , or by private men of war of his subjects ; the spanish ships , to avoid all kind of disorder , shall not come nearer to the french , than the reach of the canon , and shall have power to send their cock-boat or shallop abord the said french ships or barques , and cause two or three of their men only to go into them , to whom shall the passes be shewed by the master or patron of the french ship , in the manner aforesaid , according unto the form that shall be inferred at the end of this treaty : whereby it might appear , not only of their lading , but also of the place of their abode and residence , and of the name both of the master and patron , and of the ship it self : that by those two means , it may be known whether they carry any prohibited goods : and that it may sufficiently appear , both of the quality of the said ship , and of its master and patron ; unto which passes and sea letters , full faith and credit shall be given . and to the end their validity might be the better known , and that they might not in any wise be falsified and counterfeited , there shall be given in , certain marks and subscriptions of both the said lords and kings . xviii . and in case there be found in the said french vessels and barques by the means aforesaid , any merchandizes and commodities , before declared to be prohibited and contrebanda , the same shall be unladen , denounced and confiscated before the judges of the admiralty of spain , or any other competent judges ; yet for all that , neither the ship and barque , nor any other of the lawful and permitted goods , merchandizes and commodities found therein , shall in any wise be seised on or confiscated . xix . it hath further been agreed and concluded , that whatsoever shall be found to have been laden by the subjects of his most christian majesty , aboard any ships belonging to the enemies of the said lord and catholick king , although not contrebanda goods , shal be confiscated , together with all that shall be found in the said ship , without any exception or reservation : but , on the other side , whatsoever shall be found in the ships belonging to the subjects of the most christian king , shall be free and freed , although the lading , or part thereof should belong to the enemies of the said lord the catholick king , except the prohibited goods ; in regard whereof they shall carry themselves according to what hath been disposed in the aforegoing articles . xx. all the subjects of the said lord the catholick king , shall mutually enjoy the same rights , liberties and immunities in their trade and commerce , within the ports , roads , seas and dominions of his most christian majesty . and what hath been abovesaid , that the subjects of the said lord , the most christian king , shall enjoy in his catholick majesties ports , or in open sea , ought to be understood , that the equality shall be mutual , in all manner , on both sides , even in case hereafter the said lord the catholick king , should happen to be at peace , amity and neutrality with any kings , princes and states , that should become the enemies of the said lord the most christian king ; each of both the parties being mutually to use the same conditions and restrictions expressed in the articles of the present treaty , concerning the trade and commerce . xxi . in case of either side there happens any contravention to the said articles , touching the commerce , by the officers of the admiralty of either of the two lords and kings , or any other person whatsoever , the complaint thereof being addressed by the interessed parties , unto their majesties themselves or their councils for the navy , their said majesties shall presently cause the damage to be repaired , and all things to be executed in the manner aforesaid . and in case , in progress of times , any frauds or inconveniences should be discovered touching the said commerce and navigation , nor sufficiently provided against by the aforesaid articles , new ones shall be added thereto , of such other precautions , as shall be thought convenient on both parts : the present treaty remaining yet , in the mean while , in its force and vigor . xxii . all goods and merchandises arrested in either of the kingdoms , upon the subjects of the said lords and kings , at the time of the declaration of war , shall be uprightly , and bonâ fide restored to the owners ; in case they be found in esse , at the day of the publication of the present treaty . and all debts contracted before the war , which upon the said day of the publication of the present treaty , shall be found not to have been actually paid unto others , by vertue of judgments given upon letters of confiscation or reprisal , shall be bonâ fide acquitted and paid : and upon the demands and pursuits that shall be made about them , the said lords and kings shall give order unto their officers , to render as good and speedy justice unto the forreiners , as unto their own subjects , without any distinction of persons . xxiii . the actions that have been heretofore , or shall hereafter be intented before the officers of the said lords and kings for prises , spoils , and reprisals against such as are not subjects to the prince , in whose jurisdiction the said actions shall have been intented or begun , shall , without any difficulty , be returned before the officers of the prince , whose subjects the defendants shall be . xxiv . and the better to secure , for the future , the commerce and amity between the subjects of the said lords and kings , for the greater advantage and commodity of their kingdoms , it hath been concluded and agreed , that there hapning hereafter any breach between the two crowns ( which god forbid ) six months time shall alwaies be given to the subjects on both sides , to retire and transport their persons and goods , where they shall please : which they shall be permitted to do , with all liberty , without any hinderance ; and during that time , there shall be no seisure made of their said goods , much less their persons arrested . xxv . the inhabitants and subjects of either side , shall every where within the lands of the obedience of the said lords and kings , make use of such advocates , proctors , notaries , and sollicitors as they shall please ; whereunto also , they shall be committed by the ordinary judges , when need shall be , and when the said judges shall be desired so to do . and it shall be lawful to the said subjects and inhabitants of both sides , to keep in the places of their abode , the books of their trade and correspondence , in such a language as they shall like best , either french , spanish , flemish , or any other , without falling thereby into any molestation or trouble . xxvi . the said lords and kings shall have power , for the commodity of their subjects trading in one anothers kingdoms and dominions , to settle some consuls of the same nation of their said subjects , who shall enjoy the rights , liberties , and immunities belonging to their exercise and employment : and that the establishment shall be made in such places , where with a mutual consent it shall be thought necessary . xxvii . all lettees of mart and reprisals that may have been formerly granted , for what cause soever , shall be suspended ; and none shall be granted hereafter by either of the said lords and kings , to the prejudice of the subjects of the other , unless in case of a manifest denial of justice onely ; whereof , and of the summons made about the same , such as shall sue for the said letters , shall be bound to bring good proofs according to the form and manner required by the law. xxviii . all the subjects of both sides , both ecclesiastical and secular , shall be restored to their goods , honours and dignities , and to the enjoyment of such benefices as they were invested with afore the war , either by death or resignation ; either by way of coadjutorship or otherwise . in which re-establishment into goods , honours and dignities , are namely understood to be comprehended all the napolitan subjects of the said lord , the catholick king , except only the charges , offices and governments , they were possessed of . and it shall not be lawful for either side , to refuse to place , or to hinder the taking of possession to any of those who have been invested with prebends , benefices , or ecclesiastical dignities afore that time ; nor to maintain therein such as have obtained any other provisions of the same , during the war ; unless it be for the curates canonically provided , who shall remain in the enjoyment of their parsonages . both the one and the other shal likewise be restored to the enjoymeet of all and every one of their goods , unmoveables , and rents , either perpetual , or during life , or to be redeemed , seised on or taken from them since that time , either upon the occasion of the war , or for following the contrary part ; together with all their rights , actions and successions to them accruing even since the beginning of the war ; yet so , that they shall not demand or pretend any fruits or revenues received since the seisures made of the said goods , immoveables , rents and benefices , until the day of the publication of the present treaty . xxix . nor likewise make any demand of such debts , goods and moveables , as have been confiscated afore the said day : so that the creditors of the said debts , nor the depositaries of such goods , nor their heirs or assigns , shall never be admitted to prosecute or pretend the recovery of them . which reestablishments , in the aforesaid form , shall extend to those who have followed the contrary part ; so that , by means of the present treaty , they shall be restored to their king and soveraign princes grace , as also to their goods , such as shall be found extant upon the conclusion and subscribing of the present treaty . xxx . and the said re-establishment of the said subjects on both sides , shall be made according to the tenor of the xxviii article aforegoing , notwithstanding any donations , concessions , declarations , confiscations committed , sentences preparatory or definitive , given by contumacy in the absence of the parties , and without hearing of them : which sentences and all judgments shall be void and of none effect , and as not given or hapned , with full & entire liberty to the said parties , to return into the countries from whence they had formerly retired themselves , to enjoy in person their goods , unmovables , rents and revenues , or to settle their abode out of the said countries , in such places as they shall think best , it remaining in their choice and election ; so that , in that respect , no manner of compulsion shall be used against them . and in case they rather chuse to inhabit elsewhere , they shall have power to depute and appoint such persons , not suspected , as they shall think best , for the government and enjoying of their goods , rents and revenues , but not of such benefices as require a residency , which ought personally to be administred and served . yet so , that the liberty of a personal so journing mentioned in this article , shall not extend it self to those , of whom it is otherwise disposed , by any other article of the present treaty . xxxi . such as shall have been provided on either side with benefices being of the collation , presentation , or any other disposition of the said lord , and kings , or any other , either ecclesiastical or lay persons , or such as shall have obtained provisions from the pope , of any other benefices situate within the obedience of either of the said lords and kings , by whose consent and permission , they shall have enjoyed the same during the war , shall remain in the possession and enjoyment of the said benefices during their lives , as being well and duly provided . yet so , that thereby no prejudice is intended for the future , to the right of the lawful collators , who shall enjoy and use the same , as they were wonted to do afore the war. xxxii . all prelates , abbots , priors , and other ecclesiastical persons , that have been nominated to their benefices , or promoted to the same by the said lords and kings , before the war , ordering the same , and whereunto their majesties were in possession to provide and nominate , afore the breach between the two crowns , shall be maintained in the possession and enjoyment of the said benefices ; and shall not be molested therein , for any cause or pretence whatsoever ; as also in the free enjoyment of all the goods that shall be found to have belonged to the same of old , and in the right of conferring the benefices depending of the same , in what place soever the said goods and benefices be found situate . provided yet , that the said benefices be filled with able persons , having the requisite qualifications , according to the reglements observed before the war : and for the future , it shall not be lawfull , of either side , to send any administrators to govern the said benefices , and enjoy the fruits thereof , which shall not be received but by the titulars only , lawfully provided unto the same ; as also all places that have formerly acknowledged the jurisdiction of the said prelates , abbots and priors , in what part soever they be situate , shall likewise acknowledg the same for the future . provided their right appears to have been setled of old ; although the said places should be found within the extent of the dominions of the contrary party , or depending of some chastellenies or bayliwicks belonging to the contrary party . xxxiii . and to the end , this peace and union , condeferation and good correspondency , might , as it is desired , be so much the more firm , lasting and undissolvable , both the said principal ministers , the cardinal duke , and the marquis earl duke , by vertue of the special power they have had , for that end , of the two lords and kings , have concluded and agreed , in their names , the marriage of the most christian king with the serenissime infanta the lady maria theresa , eldest daughter to the catholick king , and the same day , bearing the date of these presents , have made and subsribed a partcular treaty , whereupon they refer themselves , touching the mutual conditions of the said marriage , and the time of its celebration ; which treaty by it self , and capitulation of mariage , are of the same force and vigor with the present treaty of peace , as being the chiefest part thereof , and the most worthy , as well as the greatest and the most precious earnest of the surety of its duration . xxxiv , because the length of time , and the difficulties that would have met in case the several rights and pretentions of the said lords and kings , should have been put to a particular discussion , might have much retarded the conclusion of this treaty , and put off the good that whole christendom doth expect and will receive by it ; it hath been concluded and agreed , in consideration of the peace , touching the retention and restitution of the conquests made during the present war , that all the differences of the said lords and kings , shall be ended and composed , after the manner following . xxxv . inprimis , it hath been concluded and agreed , concerning the low countreys , that the lord the most christian king shall remain seized , and shall effectually enjoy the places , towns , countreys and castles , dominions , lands and lordships following , first , within the county of artois , the town and city of arras , and the ▪ government and bailiwick thereof ▪ hesdin and the bailiwick thereof ; bapaume and the bailiwick thereof ; bethune and the government or bailiwick thereof ; lillers and the bailiwick thereof ; lent and the bailiwick thereof ; the county of st. pol ; terroane and the bailiwick thereof ; de pas and the bailiwick thereof ; as also all the other bailiwicks and chastellenies of the said artois , whatsoever they be , although not here particularly named and mentioned , except only the towns , bailiwicks and chastellenies or governments of ayre and st. omer , with their appurtenances , dependences and annexes , which shall remain all unto his catholick majesty : as also the place of renty , in case it be found to be of the said dependences of ayre or st. omer , and not otherwise . xxxvi . secondly , within the province and county of flanders , the said lord the most christian king shall remain seized , and shall effectually enjoy the places of graveling , the forts philip , of the sluce , and hannuin bourbourg and the chastelleny thereof ; and st. venant , whether it belongs to flanders , or to artois , and their dominions , appurtenances , dependences and annexes . xxxvii . thirdly , within the province and county of hainaut , the said lord the most christian king shall remain seized , and shall effectually enjoy the places of landrecy and quesnoy , and their bailiwicks , provostships , or chastellenies , dominions , appurtenances and dependences . xxxviii . fourthly , within the province and dutchy of luxembourg , the said lord the most christian king , shall remain seized , and shall effectually enjoy the places of thionville , montmedy and damvilliers , their appurtenances , dependences and annexes , provostships and lordships : the provostship of ivoy , chavancy , chasteau and the provostship thereof ; and the place and post of marville scituate upon the small river called vezin , and the provostship of the said marville ; which place and provostship did formerly belong , partly unto the duke of luxembourg , and partly unto the dukes of bar. xxxix . fifthly , his most christian majesty having strongly declared that he could never consent to the restitution of the places of la bassee , and bergh st. wynox , chastelleny of the said bergh , and the royal fort erected upon the chanel , hard by the town of bergh ; and his catholick majesty having condescended that they should remain to the french , unless an exchange of the said places , with others of the like consideration and mutual conveniences could be agreed upon , both the said lords plenipotentiaries , have at last agreed that the said two places of la bassee and bergh-st . wynox , the chastelleny and royal fort of the said bergh , should be exchanged with the places of marienbourg and philippeville , situate on the rivers sambre and maez . their appurtenances , dependences , annexes and dominions : and therefore his said most christian majesty restoring , as it will be said hereafter , unto his catholick majesty , the said places of la bassee bergh-st-wynox and the chastelleny thereof , and the royal fort , with thei appurtenances , dependances , annexes and dominions , his catholick majesty shall at the same time put into the hands of his most christian majesty , the said places of marienbourg and philippeville , his said most christian majesty to remain seised of them , and effectually enjoy them , and their appurtenances , dependences , annexes , and dominions , in the same manner , and with the same rights of possession , soveraignty , and others which his majesty shall enjoy , or may enjoy , by the present treaty , in such places , as have been gained by his arms during the war , and which are to remain unto him by this peace . and even in case hereafter , his most christian majesty should happen to be troubled in the possession and enjoyment of the said places of marienbourg and philippeville , by reason of the pretensions of other princes , his catholick majesty doth bind himself to concur to their defence , and to do on his part whatsoever shall be necessary , that his most christian majesty might peaceably , and without dispute enjoy the said places , in consideration of that his majesty hath yielded in exchange the said la bassee and bergh-st-wynox , which his most christian majesty might have kept and possessed without trouble , and with all security . xl. sixthly , his catholick majesty , for certain considerations hereafter particularly expressed in another article of the present treaty , doth promise & oblige himself to put into the hands of his most christian majesty the town and place of avennes , situate between the sambre and the maez , with the appurtenances , dependences , annexes and dominions thereof , with all the artillery and warlike ammunitions that are therein now , to remain to his said most christian majesty seised of the said place of avennes , and effectually to enjoy the same , and the said appurtenances , dependences , annexes and dominions , after the same manner , and with the same right of possession , soveraignty and other things , which his catholick majesty doth now enjoy there . and because it hath been reported , that within the said place of avennes , and the appurtenances , dependences , annexes and dominions thereof , the ordinary jurisdiction , the rents and other profits do belong to the prince of chimay , it hath been declared and agreed between the said lords and kings , that whatsoever is contained within the walls and fortifications of the said place , shall remain to his most christian majesty ; so that the said prince shall have no kind of right , rent , or jurisdiction within the said walls and fortifications ; it being only reserved unto him to keep whatsoever in time past did belong to him out of the said place , in the villages , countreys and forrests of the said dependence of avennes in the same manner as he hath hitherto possessed the same , provided also , as hath been said before , that the soveraignty and the high dominion of the said villages , countreys and forrests of the said dependence of avennes , shall belong and remain to his most christian majesty ; the said lord the catholick king having taken upon himself to indamnify the said prince of chimay for the interest he may have in what is taken from him by the present treaty within the precincts of the said place as aforesaid . xli . the said places of arras , hesdin 〈…〉 bethune , and the towns of lillors , lens , county of st. pol , teroan●… and their bailiwicks ; as also all the other bailiwicks and chastellenies of artois ( except only as aforesaid the towns and bailiwicks of ayre & st. omer , their appurtenances , dependences , annexes and dominions ) as also renty , in case it be not found to be any of the dependences of ayre or of st. omer ; together with the places of graveling , and the forts philip , the sluce and hannuin , bourbourgh and st. venant , in flanders ; the places of landrecy and quesnoy , in the haynaut ; as also those of avennes , marienbourgh and philippeville , which are to be put in the hands of the most christian king , as aforesaid : and likewise the places of thionville , montmedi , and damvillers , the town and provostship of ivoy , chavency , chasteau and the provostship thereof , and marville , in luxembourgh , their bailiwicks , chastellenies , governments , provostships , territories , dominions , lordships , appurtenances , dependences and annexes , shall remain , by the present treaty of peace , unto the said lord the most christian king , and to his successors and assigns , irrevocably & for ever ; and with the same rights of soveraignty , propriety , regality , patronage , wardianship , jurisdiction , nomination , prerogatives and preeminences upon the bishopricks , cathedral churches , & other abbeys , priories , dignities , parsonages , or any other benefices whatsoever , being within the limits of the said countreys , places & bailiwicks so yielded , of whatsoever abbies the said priories may hold and depend , and all other rights formerly belonging to the said lord the catholick king , though not particularly related here . and his most christian majesty shall never hereafter be troubled nor molested by any way whatsoever , either of right or of fact , by the said lord the catholick king , his successors , or any prince of his house , or any other whatsoever , under any pretence or occasion that may happen , in the said soveraignty , propriety ▪ jurisdiction , prerogative , possession and enjoyment of all the said countreys , towns , places , castles , lands , lordships , provostships , dominions , chastellenies and bailiwicks , and of all the places and other things depending of them . and for that effect , the said lord the catholick king , for himself and for his heirs , successors and assigns , doth renounce unto , quit , yield and transport , as his plenipotentiary in his name by the present irrevocable treaty of peace , hath renounced to , quitted , yielded and for ever transported , in the behalf and to the benefit of the said lord the most christian king , his heirs , successors and assigns , all the rights , actions , pretensions , regalities , patronage , wardianship , jurisdiction , nomination , prerogatives and preheminences upon the bishopricks , cathedral churches , and other abbies , priories , dignities , parsonages , and any other benefices whatsoever within the precincts of the said countreys , places , and bailiwicks so yielded , of what abbies soever the said priories do hold or depend : and generally , without retaining or reserving any thing , all other rights which the said lord the catholick king , or his heirs and successors have and pretend , or may have and pretend for what cause & occasion soever , upon the said countreys , places , castles , forts , lands , lordships , dominions , chastellenies and bailiwicks , and upon all the places depending of them as aforesaid : which , together with all the men , vassals , subjects , boroughs , villages , hamlets , forrests , lands , and other things whatsoever depending of them , without keeping or reserving any thing , the said lord the catholick king , both for himself and for his successors , doth consent to be from this time forth and for ever united and incorporated to the crown of ▪ france ; all laws , customs , statutes & constitutions made to the contrary , even such as may have been confirmed by oath , in any wise ▪ notwithstanding : to which , and to all clauses derogatory to former derogatory clauses , it is expresly derogated by the present treaty , for the effect of the said renuntiations and cessions ; which shall be valid and shall take place , the particular expression or specification not derogating to the general , nor the general ▪ to the particular , and excluding for ever all exceptions , upon what right , title , cause or pretence soever they may be grounded . and the said lord the catholick king doth declare , consent , will and understand , that the men , vassals and subjects of the said countries , towns and lands , yielded to the crown of france as aforesaid , be and remain quitted and absolved from henceforth and for ever of the faith , homage , service and oath of fidelity , they ▪ all , or any of them may have done to him ; or to his predecessors the catholick kings ; and withall of all obedience , subjection and vassallage which they for that cause might owe unto him . the said lord the catholick king willing that the said faith and homage , and oath of fidelity become and remain void and of none effect , as if they had never been taken . xlii . and as concerning the countries and places taken by the arms of france , during this war towards spain : as it had been formerly agreed by the negotiation begun in madrid , in the year 1656. upon which this present treaty is grounded , that the pyrenean mountains , which antiently had divided the gauls from spain , should also make henceforth the division of both the said kingdoms . it hath been concluded and agreed , that the lord , the most christian king , shall remain in possession , and shall effectually enjoy the whole county and viquery of roussillon , and the county and viquery of conflans , the countries , towns , places , castles , burroughs , villages and places , which make up the said counties and viqueries of roussillon and conflans : and to the lord , the catholick king , shall remain the county and viquery of cerdana , and the whole principality of catalonia , with the viqueries , places , towns , castles , burroughs , hamblets , places and countries , that make up the said county of cardena , and the principality of catalonia . provided , that if there be found any place of the county and viquery of constans onely , and not of roussillon , that be in the said pyrenean mountains toward spain , it shall likewise remain to the catholick majesty : as likewise , if any place be found of the said county and viquery of cardena onely , and not of catalonia , that be in the said pyrenean mountains towards france , it shall remain to his most christian majesty . and that the said division might be concluded , commissioners shall be presently appointed on both sides , who shall together bona fide , declare which are the pyrenean mountains , which according to the tenor of this article , ought hereafter to divide both kingdoms , and shal mark the limits they ought to have : and the said commissioners shall meet upon the place at the furthest , a month after the subscribing of the present treaty , and within the space of another month after , ought to have concluded the matter , and declared , with common consent , the premises . provided , that if then they cannot agree among themselves concerning it , they shall presently send the grounds of their opinions to the two plenepotentiaries of both the lords and kings , who taking notice of the difficulties and differences happened thereupon , shall conclude the business betwixt them : so that it shall not be suffered , that arms be taken up again about the same . xliii . the whole county and viquery of roussillon , county and viquery of conflans , except the places that shall be found to be situate in the pyrenean mountains towards spain , in the manner aforesaid , according to the declaration and agreement of the commissioners that are to be appointed for that purpose ; as also that part of the county of cerdana , that shall be found situate in the pyrenean mountains towards france , according unto the same declaration of the commissioners , the countries , towns , places , castles , that make up the vigueries of roussillon and conflans , and part of the county of cerdana , in the manner aforesaid , appurtenances , dependences , and annexes , with all the men , vassals , subjects , borroughs , villages , hamblets , forests , rivers , lands , and any other things whatsoever depending of them , shall remain irrevocably , and for ever , by the present treaty , united and incorporated to the crown of france , to enjoy the same by the said lord , the most christian king , his heirs , successors and assigns ▪ with the same rights of soveraignty , propriety , regalities , patronage , jurisdiction , nomination , prerogatives , and preheminences , upon the bishopricks , cathedral churches , and other abbeys , priories , dignities , parsonages , or any other benefices whatsoever , being within the limits of the said county of roussillon , viguery of conflans , and part of the county of cerdana , in the manner aforesaid ( except , as to conflans , what shall be found to be in the pyrenean mountains towards spain ) of whatsoever abbeys the said priories be holding and depending ; and all such other rights formerly belonging to the said lord , the catholick king , though not here particularly mentioned : and that his most christian majesty shall never , hereafter , be troubled or molested by any way whatsoever , either of right or of fact , by the said lord , the catholick king , his successors , or any prince of his house , or by any other whosoever , or under any pretence or occasion that might happen in the said soveraignty , propriety , jurisdiction , power , possession and enjoyment of all the said countries , towns , places , castles , lands , lordships , dominions and bailiwicks : and withal , of all the places and other things whatsoever , depending of the said county of roussillon , viguery of conflans , and part of the county of cerdana , in the manner aforesaid ( except , as to conflans , what shall be found to be in the pyrenean mountains towards spain . ) and for that end , the said lord the catholick king , both for himself , and his heirs , successors , and assigns , doth renounce unto , quit , yield and transport , as his plenipotentiaries , in his name by the present treaty of peace , irrevocable , hath renounced to , quitted , yielded and transported , perpetually , and for ever , in the behalf , and to the benefit of the said lord , the most christian king , his heirs , successors , and assigns , all the rights , actions , pretensions , regalities , patronage , jurisdiction , nomination , prerogatives , and preheminences upon the bishopricks , cathedral churches , and other abbeys , priories , dignities , parsonages , or any benefices whatsoever , being within the limits of the said county of roussillon , viguery of conflans , and part of the county of cerdana , in the manner aforesaid ( except as to conflans , what shall be found to be in the pyrenean mountains towards spain ) of what abbeys soever the said priories be depending : and generally all other rights , without keeping or reserving any thing , which the said lord the catholick king , or his said heirs and successors , have and pretend , or may have and pretend , for what cause and occasion soever , upon the said county of roussillon , viguery of conflans , and part of the county of cerdana , in the manner aforesaid , ( except as to conflans , what shall be found to be in the pyrenean mountains towards spain ) and upon all the places depending of them as aforesaid ; which together with the men , vassals , subjects , burroughs , villages , hamblets , forests , rivers , lands , and other things whatsoever depending of them , without keeping or reserving any thing , the said lord the catholick king , both for himself , and for his successors , doth from henceforth and for ever consent , to be united and incorporated to the crown of france : all laws , customs , statutes , constitutions , and conventions made contrary thereunto , even such as may have been confirmed by oath , in any wise notwithstanding : to which , and to the clauses derogatory of any other derogatory clauses , it is expresly derogated by the present treaty , for the effect of the said renounciations and cessions , which shall be valid , and shall take place , the particular expression or specification not derogating to the general , nor the general to the particular : excluding for ever , all exceptions , upon what rights and titles , causes , or pretences soever the same may be grounded ; and namely , that that might hereafter be pretended , that the separation of the county of roussillon , viguery of conflans , and part of the county of cerdana , in the manner aforesaid , ( except as to conflans , what shall be found to be in the pyrenean mountains towards spain ) and of their appurtenances and dependences , should be against the constitutions of the principality of catalonia ; and that therefore the said separation cannot have been resolved nor concluded , without the express consent of all the people assembled in their general estates : and the said lord the catholick king , doth declare , will and intend , that the said men , vassals , subjects of the said county of roussillon , viguery of conflans , and part of the county of cerdana , in the manner aforesaid , ( except as to conflans , what shall be found to be in the pyrenean mountains towards spain ) their appurtenances and dependences , be and remain quitted and absolved , from henceforth and for ever , of the faith , homages , service , and oath of fidelity , all and every of them , may have made unto him , and to his predecessors the catholick kings ; and withal of all obedience , subjection , and vassalage , which therefore they might owe unto him : willing that the said faith , homage , and oath of fidelity , remain void and of none effect , as if they had never been done or taken . xliv . the said lord the catholick king , shall re-enter into the possession and enjoyment of the county of carrolois , to enjoy it by him and his successors , fully and peaceably , aud hold the same under the soveraignty of the most christian king , as he held it afore the present war. xlv . the said lord the most christian king , shall restore to the said lord the catholick king , in the low-countries the towns and places of yperen , oudenaerd , dixmude , furnes , with the fortified posts of la fintelle , and la quenoque , merville upon the river of lys , menene , and comines , their appurtenances dependences , and annexes . as also his most christian majesty shall put again into the hands of his catholick majesty the places of bergh , st. wynox , and its royal fort , and the place of la bassee , by way of exchange for the places of marienburgh and philippeville , as hath been said in the xxxix article . xlvi . secondly , the said lord the most christian king , shall restore in italy , unto the said lord the catholick king , the places of valance upon the po , and of mortara , their appurtenances , dependences and annexes . xlvii . thirdly , in the county of burgundy , the said lord the most christian king , shall restore unto the said lord the catholick king , the places and forts of st. amour , bleverans and joux , and their appurtenances , dependences and annexes , and all the other posts , fortified or not fortified , which the armies of his most christian majesty have taken in the said county of burgundy , without keeping or reserving any thing . xlviii . fourthly towards spain , the said lord the most christian king , shall restore to the catholick king , the places and ports of roses , the fort of the trinity , cap-de quers , la sèau a'vrgel , toxen , the castle of la bastide , the town and place of baga , the town and place of ripol , and the county of cerdana , wherein are belvet , puicerda , carol , and the castle of cerdana , in such a condition as they be now , with all the castles , ports , fortified or not fortified towns , boroughs , villages , and other places , appurtenances , dependences and annexes , belonging to the said places of roses , cap-de quers , seau d'vrgel , and county of cerdana , although not named nor specified here : provided , that if any of the said posts , towns , places and castles aforenamed , should be found to be in the viguery of cerdana , in the pyrenaean mountains towards france , they shall remain to his most christian majesty ; according unto , and by vertue of the 42 article of the present treaty , any thing in the present article contained , notwithstanding ; whereunto in that case , and in that respect it is derogated . xlix . the the said lord the catholick king , shall restore unto the lord the most christian king , the towns and places of rocroy , le catelet , and linchamp , with their appurtenances ; dependences and annexes ; so that for any reason ▪ cause , or excuse whatsoever , foreseen or not foreseen , even this , that the said places of rocroy , le catelet , and linchamp , are at this present in the power , and in other hands , than of his catholick majesty , he shall not be dispensed of the said restitution of those three places , to the said lord the most christian king ; his said catholick majesty ingaging and taking upon himself the real and faithful execution of the present article . l. the respective restitution of the said places , as it is aforesaid in the five next foregoing articles , shall be made by the said lords and kings , or by their ministers , really and bona fide , without any delay or difficulty , for what cause or occasion soever , unto such as shall be appointed by the said lords and kings respectively , within the time , and in the manner that shall be here under appointed , and in such condition , as the said places are at this time , without demolishing , weakening , imbezzeling , diminishing or damnifying any thing therein , in any wise ; and without pretending or demanding any reimbursement for the fortifications made in the said places , nor for the payment of what might be due to the soldiers and garisons that are in them . li. the said lords and kings , in restoring of the said places respectively , shall have liberty to take and carry away all the artillery , powder , bullets , victuals or other warlike ammunitions , that shall be in the said places , at the time of the restitution . likewise , the officers , soldiers and others , that shall go out of the said places , shall have liberty to take and carry away the moveable goods , to them belonging ; but it shall not be lawful to them , to exact any thing of the inhabitants of the said places , nor of the country people , nor to wrong their houses , or carry away any thing belonging to the inhabitants : as also the said lords and kings , shall be bound to pay unto the said inhabitants of the places , from whence they shall withdraw their arms , and which they shall restore , all what may be justly due unto them by the said lords and kings , for things taken by the governors of the said places , or other ministers of the said lords and kings , to be employed to their services , whereof they shall have given receipts or bonds , to such as have furnished them with the same . as also the officers and soldiers of the said garrisons shall be obliged to pay what they lawfully owe to the inhabitants upon their receipts or bonds ; provided , that for the performing of that satisfaction to the inhabitants , the yielding and restoring the said places be not retarded ; but that the same be done by the time and day that shall be agreed on and prescribed hereafter , in the other articles of the present treaty . the creditors , in that case remaining in all the right of the just pretensions they may have ▪ lii . as the place of hesdin and the bailiwick thereof , ought , by the present treaty of peace , to remain to the most christian king , as before hath been expressed , it hath been concluded and agreed , in consideration of the offices of the said lord the catholick king , who had taken under his protection the officers of war , or the soldiers of the garrison of the said hesdin , who had revolted in that place , and had drawn themselves from the obedience of the said lord the most christian king , since the death of the governor of the said place , that in conformity to the articles , whereby the said lords and kings do pardon each of them , all such as have followed the contrary party , provided they be not found guilty of any ▪ other crimes , and do promise to settle them again in the possession and enjoyment of their goods : his most christian majesty shall cause his letters of amnisty and pardon to be dispatched , in good form , in the behalf of the said officers of war , and soldiers of the garrison of the said hesdin ; which letters being offered and put into the hands of the commander of the place , upon the day designed and appointed between their majesties , for the restitution of the said place , into the power of his most christian majesty , as shall be said hereafter upon the same day , and at the same time , the said commander , officers and soldiers , shall be bound to go out of the said place , without any delay or excuse , under what pretence soever , foreseen or not foreseen , and to surrender the said place , in the same condition it was when they revolted , to the power of such as his most christian majesty shall commit for to receive it in his name ; and that without altering , weakning , imbezzeling , demolishing or damnifying any thing , in any sort or manner whatsoever , in the said place : and in case the said letters of amnisty and pardon , being offered to the said commander himself , or the other officers and soldiers of the said garrison of hesdin should refuse or delay , under what cause or pretence soever , to surrender the said place in the said condition , into the power of such as his said most christian majesty shall have appointed to receive it in his name ; the said commander , officers and soldiers shall forfeit the grace of amnisty and pardon procured unto them by his catholick majesty , and his said majesty shall make no further instance in their behalf : and in the same case his said catholick majesty doth promise , upon the word of a king , not to give , directly or indirectly , unto the said commander , officers and souldiers , nor suffer to be given them ▪ by any in his dominions , any assistance of men , arms , victuals , warlike ammunitions or money : but to the contrary , shall assist with his forces , in case he be desired , the said lord the most christian king , for the assaulting of the said place , that it might the sooner be reduced to his obedience , and the present treaty may the sooner have its full effect . liii . as the three places of avennes , philippeville and marienbourg , with their appurtenances , dependences and annexes , are yielded by the present treaty , as aforesaid , unto the lord the most christian king , to be united and incorporated to the crown of france , it hath been concluded and agreed , that in case between the said places and france , there be found any boroughs , villages , places or lands , which not being of the said appurtenances , dependences or annexes , ought to remain in the propriety and soveraignty of the said lord the catholick king , neither his said catholick majesty , nor the kings his successors , shall have power at any time to fortifie the said boroughs , villages , posts , or countries , nor to make any new fortifications between the said places of avennes , philippeville , and marienbourg , by means of which fortifications , the said places or any of them , might be cut off from france , or the communication between them disturbed : as likewise it hath been concluded and agreed , that in case the place of renty in artois remain to his catholick majesty , as it ought to remain to him , in case it be found to be of the dependences of ayre or st. omer , neither his said catholick majesty , nor the kings his successors shall have power , at any time to fortifie the said renty . liv. all papers , letters and documents , concerning the countreys , lands and lordships that are to remain to the lord the most christian king , by the present treaty of peace , shall be furnished and delivered him , bona fide , within three months after the exchanging of the ratifications . lv. by vertue of the present treaty , all the catalonians and other inhabitants of the said province , as well prelates , ecclesiastical persons , religious persons , lords , gentlemen , and burgesses , as other inhabitants , both of the towns and of the country , none excepted , shall have power to re-enter , and shall effectually re-enter , and be left and established in the possession and peaceable enjoyment of all their goods , honours , dignities , priviledges , franchises , rights , immunities , constitutions , and liberties , and shall never be prosecuted , troubled , or molested , either in general , or in particular , upon any cause or pretence whatsoever , for any thing done since the beginning of the present war. aud for that end , his catholick majesty shall grant and cause to be published , in good form , his declarations of amnisty and pardon , in the behalf of the said catalonians , which publication shall be made upon the same day , as the publication of the peace ; in consequence of which declarations , it shall be permitted to all and any of them in particular , either personally to return to their houses , and to the enjoyment of their goods ; or in case they be willing to settle their habitation any where else out of catalonia , they shall have liberty to do it , and to send into the said country of catalonia , their agents and attorneys , to take in their names , and for them , the possessions of the said goods , to improve and administer the same , receive the fruits and revenues , and transport the same whether they shall please ; so that they shall not be obliged personally to go and do homage for the lands and manors , whereunto their attorneys shall have power to satisfie in their name : and their absence shall not hinder their free possession and enjoyment of the said goods ; which they shall have also liberty and all faculty to exchange , or alienate , by sale , gift , or otherwise . yet upon that condition , that those they shall so commit for the management and improvement of their said estates , be not suspected to the governours or magistrates , of the places where such estates are scituated ; in which case , the owners shall appoint other persons , that be acceptable and no way suspected . yet it remaining at the will and power of his catholick majesty to prescribe the place of the abode to such of the said catalonians whose return into the country shall not be acceptable to his majesty . yet so that the other liberties and priviledges granted unto them , and which they enjoyed , shall not be repealed nor altered . as also it shall remain at the will and power of his most christian majesty to prescribe the place of abode to such of the county of roussillon , appurtenances and dependences , who have retired themselves into spain , whose return into the said county , shall not be acceptable to his majesty . yet so , that the other liberties and priviledges granted to the said persons , shall not be repealed nor altered . lvi . the testamentary successions , or any other donations whatsoever between living persons or others of the inhabitants of catalonia , and of the county of roussillon , mutually made to one another , shall remain equally permitted and inviolable ; and in case about the said successions , donations , or other acts and contracts , there should happen betwixt them any differences whereby they should be obliged to plead and go to law , justice shall be done on both sides with equality and bonâ fide , although they be under the obedience of the other party . lvii . the bishops , abbots , prelates , and others , who have been promoted during the war , to ecclesiastical benefices , with approbation of our holy father the pope , and by apostolical authority , dwelling in the lands of either of the parties , shall enjoy the fruits , rents and revenues of the said benefices , which shall be found to be within the limits of the lands of the other party , without any trouble or molestation , upon what causes , reason , or pretence soever : and for that end they shall have power to appoint ▪ for the said enjoyment and receiving of the said fruits , such persons as are not suspected , having first obtained the good liking of the king , or of his officers and magistrates , under whose nomination the said fruits , rents and revenues shall be found to be scituated . lviii . such inhabitants of the principality of catalonia , or of the county of roussillon , who shall have enjoyed , by donation or confiscation granted by either of the two kings , such goods or estates as were belonging to any persons of the contrary party , shall not be bound to make any restitution to the owners of the said estates , of the fruits by them received by vertue of the said donations or confiscations , during the present war. provided that the effect of the said donations or confiscations do cease from the day of the publication of the peace . lix . commissioners shall be appointed on both sides , two months after the publication of the present treaty , who shall meet at such a place as shall be respectively agreed on , there to end in an amicable way all such differences as might be yet betwixt both parties : which commissioners shall have care to see the subjects on both sides to be equally and well intreated , and shall not suffer the one to re-enter into the possession of their estates , but at the same time when the other shall also re-enter into the possession of theirs : as also the said commissioners , if it be so judged fit , shall be injoined to make a just valuation on both sides of the estates of such as shall not be willing to return into the country they have forsaken , or of such as the two kings shall not be willing to receive , having prescribed unto them their abode somewhere else , as aforesaid ; that the said valuation being made , the same commissioners might manage in all equity the exchanges and compensations of the said estates for the greater conveniency , and with equal advantage to the interessed parties , being careful that none be wronged . and in a word , the said commissioners shall regulate all things concerning the commerce and the mutual frequentation of the subjects on both parts , and all such things as they shall think the most conducible to the publick utility , and to the strengthening of the peace . and whatsoever hath been said in the four immediately foregoing articles , and in this concerning the county of roussillon and the inhabitants thereof , ought in the same manner to be understood of the viguery of conflans , and that part of the country of cerdana , that may or ought by the present treaty to remain in the propriety of his most christian majesty , by the declaration of the aforesaid commissioners , and of the inhabitants of the viguery of conflans , and the aforesaid part of the county of cerdana : as also it ought reciprocally to be understood of the county of cerdana , and of the part of the viguery of canflans , that may or ought to remain to his catholick majesty , by the present treaty , and the declaration of the said commissioners . lx. although his most christian majesty hath never been willing to engage himself , notwithstanding the pressing instances made to him heretofore , backed even with very considerable offers , not to make the peace without the exclusion of the kingdom of portugal , because his majesty hath foreseen and feared least such an engagement might be an unsurmountable obstruction to the conclusion of the peace , and might , consequently reduce the two kings to the necessity of a perpetual war ; yet his said most christian majesty , wishing , with an extream passion , to see the kingdom of portugal enjoy the same quietness , which so many christian states shall get , by the present treaty , hath for that end , proposed a good number of parties and expedients , such as his majesty thought might be satisfactory to his catholick majesty ; among which , though as aforesaid his majesty was no way ingaged in that affair , his majesty hath even gone so far therein , as to be willing to deprive himself of the principal fruit of the happiness and success his arms have had , during the course of a long war , offering , besides the places his majesty doth now restore by the present treaty unto his catholick majesty , to restore yet unto him all the rest of the conquests generally made by his arms during this war , and wholly to restore the prince of condae ; provided , and upon that condition that the affairs of the kingdom of portugal should be left as they are now : which his catholick majesty having refused to accept , but only offering that in consideration of the mighty offices of the said lord the most christian king , he would give his consent for setting all things in the said kingdom of portugal , in the same state they were afore the change arived there in the month of december , in the year 1640 , pardoning and giving a general amnisty for all what is past , and granting the re-establishment into all estates , honours , and dignities , to all such , without distinction of persons , as returning under the obedience of his catholick maiesty , shall put themselves again in posture to enjoy the effect of the present peace , at length , in consideration of the peace , and considering the absolute neeessity his said most christian majesty hath been in , to perpetuate the war by breaking off the presen● treaty , which his majesty found to be unavoidable , in case he would have any longer insisted upon the obtaining , upon that affair of his catholick majesty , other conditions than such as he offered , as aforesaid : and his said most christian majesty willing to prefer , as it ought to be , and is most just , the general quietness of christendom , to the particular interest of the kingdom of portugal , for whose advantage , and in whose behalf , his said majesty hath never omitted any thing of what depended of him , and did lie in his power , even to the making of such great offers as aforesaid , it hath been at length concluded and agreed between the said lords and kings , that it shall be granted unto his said most christian majesty , a space of three months time , to begin from the day of the exchanging of the ratifications of the present treaty , during which his said majesty may send into the said kingdom of portugal , to endeavour so to dispose things there , and to reduce and compose that affair , that his catholick majesty may remain fully satisfied . which three months being expired , if his said most christian majesties cares and offices have not had the desired effect , his said majesty will no further meddle with that affair , and doth oblige and engage himself and promise upon his honour , and in the word of a king , for himself and his successors , not to give unto the said kingdom of portugal , either in general , or to any person or persons in particular , of what dignity , state , condition , or quality soever they be , now or hereafter , any help or assistance , publick or secret , directly or indirectly , of men , arms , ammunition , victuals , ships , or mony , upon any pretence , nor any other thing whatsoever , by sea or land , nor in any other manner . as also , not to suffer any levies to be made in any parts of his kingdom and dominions ; nor to grant passage to any that might come from other srates , to the assistance of the said kingdom of portugal . lxi . his catholick majesty doth renounce by this treaty , both in his name , and of his heirs , successors and assigns , unto all the rights and pretensions , without keeping or reserving any thing , which his majesty may , or might hereafter have upon the upper and lower alsatia , the zuntgaw , the county of ferrese , brisac , and dependences thereof , and upon all the countries , places , and rights left and yielded to his most cristian majesty by the treaty made at munster , the 14 of october , 1648 to be united and incorporated to the crown of france : his catholick majesty approving , for the effect of the said renunciation , the contents of the said treaty of munster and not any other thing of the said treaty , as not having intervened therein . in consideratiòn of which present renuntiation , his most christian majesty do offer to satisfie to the payment of three millions of livers , his majesty is obliged to pay , by the said treaty , to the archdukes of inspruek . lxii . the duke charles of lorraine , having shewed much sorrow for his conduct towards the lord the most christian king , and to have a firm intention to give him more satisfaction for the future , both of himself and of his actions , than the time past , and the occasions have formerly enabled him to do , his most christian majesty , in consideration of the mighty offices of his catholick majesty , doth from this time receive the said duke into his good grace , and in contemplation of the peace , without looking to the rights his majesty may have acquired , by several treaties made by the late king his father , with the said duke , after the demolishing , which shall be first made , of all the fortifications of both the towns of nancy , which he shall not have power to raise again , and the drawing and carrying away of all the artillery , powder , bullets , arms , and ammunitions of war , that are at present in the magazines of the said nancy , shall put again the said duke charles of lorrain into the possession of the dukedom of lorrain , and even of the towas , places and countries , by him formerly possessed , depending of the three bishopricks of metz , thoul and verdun , except first , moyenvie , which though within the marches of lorrain , yet belonged to the empire , and hath been yielded to his most christian majesty , by the treaty made at munster , the 21 of october , 1648. lxiii . secondly , except the whole dukedom of bar , countries , towns , and places , making up the same , as well that part thereof as doth hold from the crown of france , as that which might be pretended not to hold of it . lxiv . thirdly , except the county of clermont , and the dominion thereof , and the places , provostships , and lands of stendy , dun and jametz , with the whole revenue thereof , and the territories belonging to them . which moyenvie , dukedom of bar , therein comprehended the part of the place and provostship of merville , which part , as it hath been said before , did belong to the duke of bar , places , county , provostship , lands , and dominions of clermont , stenay , dan and jametz , with their appurtenances , dependencies , and annexes , shall remain for ever united and incorporated to the crown of france . lxv . the said duke charles of lorrain , afore his re-establishment into the dominions aforesaid , and afore any place be restored unto him , shall give his consent to the tenour of the three immediately foregoing articles : and to that effect , shall deliver to his most christian majesty , in the most valid and authentick form his majesty might desire , the acts of his renunciation and cession of the said moyenvie , dukedom of bar , therein comprehended the part of merville , both the part holding and pretended not to hold of the crown of france , stenay , dun , jametz , the county of clermont , and the dominion thereof , appurtenances , dependencies and annexes ▪ and the said duke , not his successours , either now or ever hereafter , shall pretend or demand any thing of the price the late king lewis xiii . of glorious memory , had bound himself to pay unto the said duke , for the said dommion of the county of clermont , by the treaty made at liverdun , in the month of june , 1632. because the article containing the said obligation hath been annullated by the subsequent treaties , and again afresh , in as much as need might be , is wholly annullated by this present treaty . lxvi . his most christian majesty , in restoring unto the said duke charles , the places of his dominions as aforesaid , shall leave therein , except only in such as are agreed to be demolished , all the artillery , powder , bullets , arms , victuals , and ammunitions of war , that are in the magazines of the said places , without imbezling , weakning , and damnifying the same in any manner whatsoever . lxvii . neither the said duke charles of lorrain , nor any other prince of his house , or of his adherents and dependents shall have power to remain in arms , but both the said duke , and the other aforesaid , shall be bound to disband their forces at the publication of the said peace . lxviii . the said duke charles of lorrain , afore his re-establishment into his dominions , shall likewise prepare an act in good form , unto his most christian majesty , that he doth desist and give over all intelligences , leagues , associations and practises , he hath or may have , with any prince , state , and potentate whatsoever , to the prejudice of his majesty and the crown of france : and that for the future , he will give no retreat into his dominions to his enemies , rebels , or suspected subjects , and will not permit any levies there , nor gathering of souldiers against his service . lxix . the said duke charles shall likewise give , afore his re-establishment , an act in good form unto his most christian majesty , whereby he shall bind himself , both for himself and all the dukes of lorrain his successours , to grant at all times , without any difficulty , under what pretence soever the same might be grounded , free passage upon his dominions , both to such persons and forces , horse and foot , whom his said majesty and the kings of france his successours , shall have occasion to send into alsatia , or to brisac and philipsbourg , as often as he shall be desired of it by his said majesty , and his said successours ; and to cause victuals , lodgings and other necessaries to be afforded unto the said forces in his said dominions , by way of estap , the said forces paying their expences at the ordinary rate of the country . provided , they be but meer passages , at regular marches and reasonable journeys , without so journing in the said dominions of lorrain . lxx . the said duke charles afore his re-establishment into his dominions , shall put into the hands of his most christian majesty , an act in good form , and satisfactory to his majesty , whereby the said duke shall oblige himself for himself , and for all his successours , to cause the farmers and administrators of the salt-pits of rosieres , chasteau-salins , dieuze , and marsal , which his majesty doth restore unto him , by the present treaty , to afford unto his majesty , all such quantity of measures of salt , as shall be necessary for furnishing all the salt store-houses , that ought to be filled for the use and ordinary consumption of his majesties subjects , within the three bishopricks of metz , thoul , and verdun , dukedom of bar , and county of clermont , stenay , jametz , and dun , at the same rate for each measure of salt , as the said duke charles was wonted to afford it to the store-houses of the bishoprick of metz , in time of peace , during the last year of the said dukes possessing his whole dominions ; and neither he , nor his successours shall have power to raise the price of the said measures of salt. lxxi . and because since the time the late most christian king of glorious memory , hath conquered lorrain by his arms , a great number of the subjects of that dukedom have served their majesties , in consequence of the oaths of fidelity their majesties have desired of them , it hath been agreed , that the said duke shall not like them , nor use them the worse for it , but shall consider and use them as his good and faithful subjects , and shall pay them off such debts and rents , whereof his dominions may be charged ▪ which his majesty doth so particularly desire , that had it not been for the assurance his majesty takes of the faith the said duke will engage to him for that purpose , his majesty would have never granted him so much as he doth by the present treaty . lxxii . it hath been farther agreed , that the said duke shall not have power to alter any thing in the provisions of the benefices granted by the said lords and kings , untill the day of the present treaty ; and that such as have been provided , shall remain in the peaceable possession of the said benefices ; wherein the said duke shall not disturb or molest them , nor have power to turn them out of their possession . lxxiii . it hath been further agreed , that the confiscations given by his majesty , and his father the late king , of the estates of such as were in armes against him , shall be of force , as to the enjoyment of the said estates , untill the day of the date of the present treaty ; and such as have enjoyed the same , by vertue of the said gifts , shall not be troubled , nor molested for the same , in any wise , and for no cause whatsoever . lxxiv . it hath been further agreed , that all proceedings , judgments and arrests , issued by the council , judges and other officers of his most christian majesty , upon any differences and processes , prosecuted both by the subjects of the said dukedoms of lorrain and bar , and others , whilest the said dominions were under the obedience of the said lord the most christian king , and of the late king his father , shall stand and shall have their full and intire effect as if the said lord and king should remain lord and possessor of the said country : and the said judgments and arrests shall not be called to any question , nor recalled , nor the execution of them any way retarded or hindered . yet it shall be lawful to the parties , to sue a revision of the cause , according to the order and disposition of the laws and ordinances ; the said judgments remaining in the mean while , in their force and vertue . lxxv . moreover it hath been further agreed , that all other gifts , graces , remissions and alienations , made by the said lord the most christian king , and the late king his father , during the said time of things escheated and accrued unto them , or adjudged to them either by confiscation for crime or offence , ( other than of war , for having followed the said duke ) or by reversion of lands , or for want of lawful successors or otherwise , shall be and shall remain good and valid , and shall not be recalled ; nor shall those , to whom the said gifts , graces , and alienations have been made , be disturbed or molested , in the enjoyment of them , in any wise , and for any cause whatsoever . lxxvi . as also that such as ▪ during the said time , have been received to faith and homage , by the said lords and kings , or their impowred officers , because of the said lands and lordships , held and depending of the towns , castles or places , possessed by the said lords and kings , in the said country , and have paid for the same the rights and duties belonging to the lord , or have obtained a gift and remission of the same , shall not be troubled nor molested , by reason of the said rights and duties , but shall remain acquitted , and shall be lyable to no demand about the same . lxxvii . in case the said duke charles of lorrain , be not willing to accept and ratifie what hath been agreed by the two lords and kings , concerning his interests , in the manner aforesaid : or having accepted of the same , he should happen hereafter to fail in the execution and performance of the tenor of the present treaty , his most christian majesty , in the first case of non-accepting of the treaty by the said duke , shall not be bound to execute on his part , any of the articles of the said treaty ; and yet he shall not be deemed , for this cause , to have in any thing infringed the same : as also in the second case , that the said duke having accepted of the aforesaid conditions should hereafter happen to sail on his part , in the execution thereof , his said majesty hath reserved and doth reserve unto himself all the rights he had acquired upon the said dominions of lorrain , by several treaties made , between the late king his father of happy memory , and the said duke , to prosecute the said rights in such manner as he shall think best . lxxviii . his catholick majesty doth consent that his said most christian majesty be not obliged to the foresaid re-establishment , unto the said duke charles of lorrain , but after the emperor shall have approved and ratified by an authentick act , which shall be delivered to his most christian majesty , all the articles stipulated as to the said duke charles of lorrain , in the present treaty , none excepted : and his said catholick majesty doth oblige himself to procure of the emperor , the speedy expedition and delivery of the said act : as also in case it be found that of the dominions , countrys , towns , lands or lordships , remaining to his most christian majesty , in propriety , by the present treaty , of such as formerly belonged to the dukes of lorrain , there be any fief held of the empire , for reason whereof his majesty had need and should desire to be invested with the same , his catholick majesty doth promise , sincerely and bonâ fide , to sollicite the emperor for the obtaining of the said investitures , in the behalf of the said lord most christian king , without delay or difficulty . lxxix . the prince of conde having let cardinal mazarin the plenipotentiary of the most christian king his soveraign lord to understand , that he might acquaint his said majesty with it , how extreamly sorrowfull he was to have some years since followed a course displeasing to his majesty ; that he wished he could redeem with the best part of his blood , all the hostilities he hath committed within and without the kingdom of france ; whereunto he protesteth that his sole unhappiness , rather than any evil intention against his majesties service , hath engaged him : and that if his majesty be pleased to have so much generosity as to use towards him his royal bounty , forgetting what is past , and keeping him in honor of the his good graces , he will endeavor as long as he shall live to acknowledge that benefit , by an invioable fidelity , and to repair what is past by a full obedience to all his commands : and that in the interim , to begin and shew by the deeds that might be presently in his power with how great a passion he desired to recover the honour of his majesties benevolence , he pretends nothing in the conclusion of that peace , for all the interests he may have therein , but from the meer bounty , and of the own motion of the said lord the king his soveraign lord ; and doth even desire his majesty should be pleased fully to dispose , and according to his good pleasure , in such a manner as he shall please , of all the indamnifyings , the lord the catholick king shall be pleased to grant him , and which he hath already offered him either in estates or lands , or in places or money , which he submits all to his majesties feet : and besides that he is ready to disband all his forces , and to put in his majesties power the places of rocroy , le chastelet and linchamp , whereof the two first were remitted to him by his said catholick majesty : and that as soon as he may have obtained leave , he will send an express to the said lord the king , his soveraign lord , to protest yet more expresly of all the same intentions , and of the truth of his submissions , and to deliver unto his majesty such act or writing subscribed by him , as his majesty shall be pleased to prescribe for assurance that he renounceth to all leagues , treaties and associations he might have made heretofore with his catholick majesty : and that for the future he will not take nor receive any establishment , pension , nor benefit of any foreign king or potentate : and finally , for all the interests he may have , in what thing soever they may consist , he wholly remitteth them to the good pleasure and disposition of his majesty , without any pretension . his said most christian majesty being informed of all the premisses by his said plenipotentiary , and being sensible of the said princes proceeding and submission , hath desired and consented that his interests should be regulated in this treaty , after the manner following , granted and agreed on between the two lords the kings . lxxx . first , that the prince shall lay down arms at the furthest within eight weeks , reckoning from the day of the subscribing of the present treaty , and shall effectively disband all his forces both horse and foot , french and foreigners , who make up the body of the army he commands in the low-countries ; and that after such manner as his most christian majesty shall be pleased to prescribe ; except the garisons of rocroy , le chastelet and linchamp , which shall be disbanded at the time appointed for the restitution of the said three places . and the said laying down of arms and disbanding shall be made by the said prince really and bona fide , without transporting , lending or selling either really or feignedly , unto any other princes or potentates whatsoever , either friends or foes , or either allies of france . lxxxi . secondly , that the said prince , sending an express to his majesty to confirm more particularly unto him all the things aforesaid in his name , shall deliver unto his majesty an act subscribed by him , whereby he shall submit to the execution of what hath been concluded between the two lords and kings as to his person and interests , and as to the persons and interests of those that have followed him . and in consequence thereof , he shall declare that he sincerely departeth from , and bona fide renounceth to all leagues , intelligences and treaties of association or protection he may have made and contracted with his catholick majesty , or any other kings , potentates or foreign princes whatsoever , or any other persons within or without the kingdom of france ; with promise never to take or receive at any time hereafter of the said foreign kings or potentates , any pensions , establishments , or benefits , that may oblige him to a dependance of them , or to any tie to any other kings or potentates , but to his said majesty his soveraign lord ; upon the penalty , in case of breach of the said writing , to forfeit from that time the restoring and re-establishing granted to him by the present treaty , and to return to the same condition he was in about the latter end of march in this present year . lxxxii . thirdly that the said prince , in execution of what hath been before concluded and agreed between the said two lords and kings , shall really and indeed put into the hands of his most christian majesty the places of rocroy , le chastelet and linchamp , upon the time and day appointed by another article of this same treaty . lxxxiii . provided that what is abovesaid be executed , his most christian majesty , in contemplation of the peace and in consideration of the offices of his catholick majesty , using his royal clemency , shall sincerely and with a good heart receive the said prince into his grace , will pardon him , and with the same sincerity will forget all what for the time past he hath done and undertaken against his service , within or without the kingdom ; and will like his return into france , even where his majesties court shall be . in consequence whereof his said majesty shall restore and re-establish the said prince really and indeed into the free possession and enjoyment of all his estates , honors , dignities and priviledges of first prince of his blood : yet so , that as to the said estates and goods , of what nature soever , the said prince shall never pretend any thing , for the time past , for restitution of the fruits of the said estates , by whomsoever they may have been enjoyed by order of his majesty , nor for payment and restitution of his pensions , salaries , or any other rents and revenues he had upon demaines , farms , or general receipts of the said lord the king , nor by reason , or under pretence of what he might pretend to be due unto him by his majesty , afore his going out of the kingdom ; nor for demolitions , degradations , or damages made by his majesties orders or otherwise , in what manner soever , upon the estates , towns , places fortified or not fortified , lordships , chastellenies , lands and houses of the said prince . lxxxiv . and concerning the charges and governments of provinces or places , whereof the said prince was provided , and which he possessed afore his going out of france , his most christian majesty hath for a long time constantly refused to restore him thereunto , until being sensibly affected with the proceeding and the submission aforesaid of the said prince , when he wholly referred to his good pleasure and disposition all his interests without any pretension , and whatsoever was offered to him by his catholick majesty for his in damnifying , his most christian majesty hath at length inclined to grant him what followeth , upon certain conditions hereafter specified , concluded and agreed on by the said lords and kings , viz. that in case the lord the catholick king , on his part , instead of what he intended to give to the said prince towards the in damnifying of him , will draw out the spanish garison that is in the town , place and cittadel of juliers , and leave the said place and cittadel free of the said garison unto the duke of newburgh , upon the conditions , and in the manner that shall be hereafter more particularly specified in another article of this present treaty : as also if his said catholick majesty , besides the drawing out of the town and cittadel of juliers , the aforesaid spanish garison , doth put in the hands of his most christian majesty , the town and place of avennes , situate between the rivers of sambre and maez , with the appurtenances , dependances , annexes , and dominions , after the manner his said catholick majesty hath above obliged himself to do , by an article of this present treaty , ( which place of avennes his said majesty intended also to have given among other things , unto the said prince . ) provided , his majesty doth perform the premisses as aforesaid , that is to say , by way of compensation for the said remitting and yielding of one of the said places to the said lord the most christian king , to be for ever united and incorporated to the crown of france ; and of the going of the spanish garison out of the other , in the behalf of a prince , who is a friend and an ally of his said most christian majesty , whom his majesty hath desired to oblige , by vertue of the treaty of the said alliance : his said most christian majesty , for all things generally whatsoever that may concern the charges and governments formerly possessed by the said prince , or which any of those that belong to him had ground to hope , none excepted , will give unto the said prince the government of the province of burgundy and brescia , wherein are understood to be comprehended the countries of bugey , gex , and veromey : as also will give him the particular governments of the castle of dijon , and of the town of st. john de laune ; and to the duke of enguien his son , the charge of grand master of france , and of his houshold ; with briefs or declarations of assurance unto the said prince to secure it , in case the said duke of enguien should die before him . lxxxv . his said majesty shall cause his letters patents of amnesty to be dispatched , in good form , for whatsoever the said prince , his kindred , servants , friends , adherents , and domesticks , either ecclesiastical or secular , have or may have done or undertaken , heretofore , against his service ; so that neither he , nor they shall ever be prejudiced or suffer for it , at any time , nor their heirs , successours and assigns , as if those things had never happened . and his said majesty shall never at any time , make any inquisition against the said prince , nor his , nor against his servants , friends , adherents , or domesticks , either ecclesiastical or secular , for any moneys he or they have taken out of the general or particular receipts , or out of his customs and farms . and his majesty shall not oblige them to any restitution of the said moneys , nor of all the levies , of contributions , impositions , exactions upon the people , and acts of hostility committed in france , in what manner soever it might be : the which shall be more particularly expressed in the said letters of amnesty , for the entire security of the said prince and of those who have followed him , that they shall never be prosecuted , troubled , nor molested for the same . lxxxvi . after the said prince of conde hath on his part satisfied unto the contents of the three articles , 80 , 81 , 82. of the present treaty , all dutchies , counties , lands , lordships , and dominions , even those of clermont , stenay and dun , as he had them afore his going out of france , as also that of jamets , in case he had it then , which formerly belonged to the said prince ; together with all his other estates and goods , real or personal , of what quality soever , in the manner aforesaid , shall be restored unto him really and indeed , or to such as the said prince , being in france , shall commit and appoint , to take in his name the possession of the said goods , and to serve him in their administration : as also shall be restored unto him , and to his said deputies , all titles , documents and other writings left , at the time of his going out of the kingdom , in the houses belonging to his said lands and lordships , or elsewhere . and the said princes shall be re-integrated into the true and real possessions of all the said dutchies , counties , lands , lordships and dominions , with such rights , authorities , justice , chancery , royal cases , garners or salt store-houses , presentations and collations of benefices , graces and preheminences , which he or his predecessours have enjoyed , and as he enjoyed afore his going out of the kingdom , provided that he shall leave bellegarde and montrond in the state they are at present . whereupon shall be dispatched unto him , in as good form as he shall desire it , all letters patents of his majesty necessary thereunto ; and he shall not be troubled , prosecuted , nor molested in the said possession and injoyment by the said lord the king , nor by his heirs , successours or officers , directly nor indirectly , notwithstanding any donations , unions , or incorporations that might have been made of the said dutchys , counties , lands , lordships and dominions , estates , honours , dignities , and prerogatives of first prince of the blood , and any derogatory clauses , constitutions , and ordinances contrary thereunto . as also neither the said prince , nor any of his heirs and successours by reason of things that he may have done , either in france afore his going out , or out of the kingdom , after his said going out , nor for any treaties , or intelligences whatsoever , by him had or made with any princes and persons whatsoever , of what condition and quality they be , shall not be molested , troubled , nor prosecuted : but all kinds of proceedings , arrests , even that of the parliament of paris , of the 27 of march , 1654. judgements , sentences , and other acts , that may already have been made and issued against the said prince , both in civil and criminal matters , unless in the civil matter he hath voluntarily debated it , shall remain void and of none effect , and no pursuit shall ever be made concerning the same , as if those things had never happened . and in respect of the dominion of albres , which the said prince injoyed afore his going out of france , and whereof his majesty hath since otherwise disposed , his majesty shall give unto the said prince the dominion of bourbonoïs , upon the same conditions upon which the exchange of those two dominions had already been agreed , afore the said prince went out of the kingdom . lxxxvii . as to the kindred , friends , servants , adherents and domesticks of the said prince , either ecclesiastical or secular , who have followed his party , they shall have liberty , in consequence of the pardon and amnesty in a foregoing article mentioned , to return into france , with the said prince , and settle their abode in such place as they shall think best ; and they shall be re-established , as the other subjects of the two lords and kings , into the peaceable possession and injoyment of their estates , honours and dignities , except the charges , offices and governments which they were possessed of , asore their going out of the kingdom , to injoy by them the said estates , honours and dignities , as they held and possessed them . yet they shall not pretend any restitution for the enjoyments of the time past , either from such to whom his majesty had given the same , or in any other manner whatsoever . as likewise they shall be re-established into their rights , names , reasons , actions , successions and inheritances to them accrued , or to the children and widdows of such as are deceased , during their absence out of the kingdom ; as also such moveables by them left , shall be restored unto them if they be found in esse : and his majesty , in contemplation of the peace , doth declare null and of none effect , ( except as to their said charges , offices and governments ) all proceedings , arrests , even that of the parliament of paris of the 27 of march , 1654. sentences , judgements , adjudications , donations , incorporations , and other acts , that may have been made against them or their heirs , for having followed the said princes party ; and that both in civil and criminal matters , unless in the civil matters they have voluntarily debated : and neither they nor their heirs shall ever be prosecuted , troubled or molested for the same . upon all which things aforesaid , his most christian majesty shall cause to be dispatched both unto the said prince , and to his kindred , servants , friends , adherents and domesticks , as well ecclesiastical as secular , all the necessary letters patents , containing the premises , in good form : which letters patents shall be delivered unto them , when the said prince shall have performed on his part the contents in the three articles 80 , 81 and 82 , of the present treaty . lxxxviii . in conformity to what is contained in the 84. article of the present treaty , whereby his most christian majesty doth oblige himself to give unto the said prince of conde , and unto the said duke of enguian , his son , the governments and the charge therein mentioned , his catholick majesty doth promise and oblige himself , of his part , and in the word of a king , to draw out of the town , citadel or castle of juliers , the spanish garrison that is in the said town , citadel or castle , and all such other forces as might have lately gone into the same , or might yet go in to reinforce the garrison thereof , leaving in the said town and citadel all the artillery marked with the coat of arms of the house of cleveland or of juliers , or that hath belonged to them : and as to the rest of the said artillery , arms , ammunition , and instruments of war , which his majesty hath in the said town and castle of juliers , delivering them unto the duke of nubourgh , or such as shall be appointed by him to receive the same , in the same quality he hath the possession of the estate of juliers : the said duke delivering before into the hands of his catholick majesty a writing in good form signed with his hand , satisfactory ▪ to his said catholick majesty , whereby he shall engage not to sell , alienate nor , pawn the said town , citadel or castle to any princes , or any other private persons ; and that he shall not put therein , nor settle there any other garrison but of his own forces : as also to grant unto his said catholick majesty , whensoever he shall have need of it , the passage for his forces , either through the said town , or through the state of juliers ▪ his said majesty paying at his own charges the expence of the passage of the said forces , which shall be regulated journeys and reasonable marches , and shall not sojourn in the land ▪ the said duke taking , in such occasions , the necessary precautions for the safety of the said town and citadel . and in case the said duke should fail in the performance of what he shall oblige himself unto , as well of not alienating the same , as not of putting any other garrison in the said place and citadel , but what is his own , or that he refuseth to give passage to his catholick majesties forces , in paying their expences , the said lord the most christian king doth promise in the word of a king , not to assist the said duke with money or soldiers , nor in any other manner , by himself , or by interposed persons , to uphold the said contravention ; but to the contrary he will lend his own forces , if need be , for the accomplishing of the premises . lxxxix . it hath been expresly concluded and agreed between the said plenipotentiaries ▪ that the reservations contained in the 21 and 22 articles of the treaty of vervins , shall have their full and entire effect ; and no explication contrary to their meaning shall be used : and that in consequence thereof to the said lord the most christian king of france and navarre , his successors and assigns are reserved , notwithstanding any prescription or space of time that might be alledged to the contrary , all the rights , actions and pretensions he conceives to belong unto him , because of the said kingdoms , countries and lordships , or any where else , for any cause whatsoever , whereunto it hath ever been , either by himself , or by his predecessors , expresly renounced , to prosecute the same by an amicable way and of justice , and not by arms. lxxxx . likewise shall be reserved unto the said lord the catholick king of spain , his successors and assigns , notwithstanding any prescription or space of time that might be alledged to the contrary , all the rights , actions and pretensions he conceives to belong unto him , because of the said kingdoms ▪ countries and lordships , or any where else , for any cause whatsoever , whereunto it hath never been , either by himself or by the king 's his predecessors expresly renounced , likewise to prosecute the same by an amicable way and of justice , and not by arms. lxxxxi . whereas the said cardinal mazarin , his most christian majesties ▪ plenipotentiary , hath represented , that for the better obtaining of a good peace , it is necessary that the duke of savoy , who hath intermedled in this war , joyning his arms to those of the crown of france , whose ally he is , should be comprehended in the present treaty : his most christian majesty loving the welfare and preservation of the said duke , as much as his own , because of the propinquity of blood and alliance whereby they are related ; and his catholick majesty finding it reasonable that the said duke be comprehended in that peace : upon the instances and by the interposition of his most christian majesty ; it hath been concluded and agreed , that for the future there shall be a cessation of all manner of acts of hostility , as well by sea and other waters , as by land , between his catholick majesty and the said duke of savoy , their children , heirs and successors , born or to be born , their states , dominions and lordships , a restablishment of amity , navigation and commerce , and good correspondency between the subjects of his said majesty and the said duke , without distinction of places or of persons : and the said subjects shall be restablished , without difficulty or delay , into the free and peaceable possession and enjoyment of all their goods , rights , names , reasons , pensions , actions , immunities and priviledges of what nature soever , which they possessed in the dominions one of the other , afore the present war ; or that might have escheated to them during the same , and which by reason of it may have been seized on : yet so that they shall not pretend or demand any ▪ restitution for the enjoying of the same for the time past , during the war. lxxxxii . in consequence of the said peace , and in consideration of the offices of his most christian majesty , the said lord the catholick king shall restore unto the said duke of savoy , really and indeed , the town , place and castle of verceil , and all the territories thereof , appurtenances , dependences and annexes : and shall therein demolish nothing , nor damnifie the fortifications that have been made there ; but shall restore it in the same condition , as to the artillery , ammunitions of war , victuals , and any other things , as it was when the said verceil was taken by his catholick majesties arms. and as to the place of cencio in the langs , it shall likewise be restored to the said duke of savoy , in the same state it is now in , with the dependences , and annexes . lxxxxiii . as for the dower of the late serenissima infanta catharina , about which there hath been some difference betwixt the houses of savoy and of modena , his catholick majesty doth promise and engage , to see effectively paid unto the duke of savoy , the arrears that may be due to his house , since the said dower was appointed , until the 17 of december , in the year 1620. at which time the late duke charles emanuel of savoy gave in appanage the said dower , to the late prince philbert his son , as it shall be verified by the date , out of the books of the royal chamber of the kingdom of naples . and for the payment , for the future , of the current of the said dower , and other arrears , what is further disposed about it , hereafter , by another article of the present treaty , shall be followed . lxxxxiv . and because the divisions , or contrary pretensions of the houses of savoy and mantua , have several times caused some troubles in italy ▪ because of the assistances the said lords and kings have at divers times given , each of them to his ally ; that for the future , no subject or pretence may be left , that might afresh after the good intelligence and amity of their majesties ▪ it hath been concluded and agreed , for the good of the peace , that the treaties made at querasque , in the year 1632 ▪ about the differences of the said houses of savoy and mantua , shall be executed according to their form and tenor . and his catholick majesty doth promise and engage his royal word , never to oppose , nor in any wise to do any thing contrary unto the said treaty , nor to the execution thereof , for any reason , action , or pretence whatsoever , and not to give any assistance or favour , directly nor indirectly , in any manner whatsoever , to any prince that shall offer to infringe the said treaties of querasque ; whereof his most christian majesty shall have power to maintain the observation and execution of it , by his authority , and if need be , with his arms. and his most catholick majesty shall not have power to make use of his own to hinder it ; any thing of the third article of the present treaty ( whereunto it is expresly derogated this present article , only for that regard ) contrary thereunto , notwithstanding . lxxxxv . whereas the difference remaining betwixt the said duke of savoy , and the duke of mantua , about the dower of the late princess margaret of savoy , grand-mother to the said duke of mantua , could not be composed in several conferences had by the commissioners of the said dukes about the same , both in italy and in this place , before the plenipotentiaries of their majesties , because of the too great distance of the one , and the exceptions of the other : so that they could not agree afore the conclusion of the said peace , which ought not to have been retarded , because of that interest onely : it hath been concluded and agreed , that the said dukes shall cause their commissioners to meet in italy , within thirty days after the subscribing of this treaty , and sooner , if it may be , at such a place as shall be agreed on between the duke of navailles , and in his absence , between the ambassador of the most christian king residing in piedmont , and the count of fuensaldana , or in such manner as they shall think it most fit ; to the end , that with the intervention of the ministers of both the lords and kings , which may happen to contribute much for facilitating and carrying on of that accommodation , they might attend the composure of that difference ; so that within other forty days , after their first meeting , the said accommodatoin may be concluded , and the parties may agree about the sum that is due . and in case that new conference do not produce the intended effect , afore the spring , then both the plenipotentiaries of the two lords and kings shall meet again together , upon this same frontier of both the kingdoms . and then their majesties , having been acquainted by their ministers of the reasons on both sides , and of the expedients propounded unto them shall make choice of that which they shall judge to be just and reasonable , to mediate the accommodation of that business in an amicable way ; so that the said dukes might and be obliged to remain satisfied on both sides . and their said majesties shall concur afterwards , unanimously to procure that their determinations may be executed , so that nothing might remain that may alter the publick tranquility of italy . lxxxxvi . and because , since the death of the duke of modena hapned in piedmont , the last year 1658. his catholick majesty hath been informed , by his ministers in italy , that the duke of modena his successor hath shewed his pleasure for the things hapned during this war , and to have a firm intention to give satisfaction to his said majesty concerning his person and his actions , and to merit by his conduct his royal good will , the said duke having made for that end , divers offices to the count of fuensaldana , governor and captain-general in the state of milan . upon this consideration , and of the lord the most christian kings interposition , his catholick majesty doth from henceforth receive into his grace , the person and the house of the said duke , who shall for the future live and proceed in a good and free neutrality with the two crowns of france and spain , and his subjects shall have power to have and to hold a free-commerce within the dominions of both the crowns : and the said duke and his subjects shall enjoy such rents and graces , as they have obtained , or hereafter may obtain of their majesties , as they wonted to enjoy them , without difficulty , afore the taking up of arms. lxxxxvii . likewise his catholick majesty hath consented and granted never to send any more into the place of correggio , the garrison he used to have there , for the time past : so that the possession of the said place of correggio shall remain free of the said garrison , and even for a greater security and advantage of the said duke , his catholick majesty doth promise to make most pressing offices towards the emperor , that he may be pleased to grant unto the said duke , to his satisfaction , the investiture of the aforesaid dominion of correggio , as the princes of the said correggio formerly had it . lxxxxviii . as to the dower of the serenissima infanta catharina , assigned upon the customs of foja in the kingdom of naples , of 48000 duckets of yearly revenue , or such other quantity as shall appear by the books of the royal chamber of that kingdom ; about which dower , there is some difference betwixt the duke of savoy and the duke of modena , his catholick majesty acknowledging without any difficulty , that he oweth the same , and having intention to pay it to any of the said dukes , to whom the propriety of the said dower shall be adjudged by justice , or by any particular convention or agreement made between them , it hath been concluded and agreed , that his said catholick majesty shall forthwith settle all things concerning the said dower , in the same state they were , when the payment of the said dower began to cease to be paid , upon the occasion of the taking up of arms ; that is to say , if at that time , the monies of the said dower were sequestred , they shall continue so still for the future until the differences betwixt the said dukes be ended , either by a definitive judgment of justice , or by a mutual agreement between them : and if at the aforesaid time , the late duke of modena was in possession of ▪ enjoying the same dower , and the monies thereof not sequestred , his majesty shall continue from this time , to pay unto the duke of modena his son , both the arrears that shall be found to be due for the time past , and what shall run for the future , of the revenew of the said dower , yet defalking upon the arrears all the enjoyment of it during the time the house of modena hath been in arms against the state of milan . in that last case , shall , in the mean while , remain to the said duke of savoy , all reasons , actions and rights to prosecute the same in justice , and cause it to be declared , to whom doth the propriety of the said dower belong . after which judgment or particular convention , that may intervene between the said dukes , his catholick majesty shall pay , without difficulty , the revenew of the said dower , to such of them to whom the same shall be found to belong by a definitive sentence of justice , or by an accommodation made between the said dukes of savoy and modena . lxxxxix . and because the said lords and kings have considered , that the differences of the other princes their friends and adherents , have often drawn them , against their wills , and the kings their predecessors , of glorious memory , to the taking up of armes : their majesties desiring , as much as in them lies , to remove , by the present peace , in all places , the least occasions of dissention , the better to secure the continuation thereof , and chiefly to settle the tranquility of italy so often troubled by the particular differences happened between the princes , who do possess any dominions there ; the two lords and kings have concluded and agreed , that they will jointly interpose , sincerely and pressingly , their offices and supplications towards our holy father the pope , until they may have obtained of his holiness that he might be pleased to cause the difference to be ended without delay , either by an agreement or by justice , which the duke of modena hath had so long since , with the apostolicall chamber , touching the propriety and possession of the valleys of comachio : the said kings and lords hoping of the soveraigne equity of his holiness , that he will not refuse the just satisfaction that shall be due to a prince , whose ancestors have so well deserved of the holy see , and who , in a most considerable interest , hath hitherto consented to take even his own adversary's parties for judges . c. the two lords and kings , upon the like consideration of plucking up the seeds of all differences , that might trouble the peace of italy , have also concluded that they will jointly interpose , sincerely and pressingly , their officers and supplications towards our holy father the pope , untill they may have obtained of his holiness , the grace which their majesties have so often demanded of him singly , in the behalf of the duke of parma , that he may have power to discharge , at several convenient intervals of time , the debt he hath contracted to the apostolical chamber by like intervals ; and that by that means , and with the engaging or alienating of part of his dominions of castro and roneiglione , he may find such monies as are necessary unto him for the preservation of the rest of his dominions . the which their majesties do hope of the goodness of his holiness ; no less by the desire he will have to prevent all occasions of discord in christendom , then by his disposition to favor a house so well meriting of the holy apostolical see. ci. the said lords and kings judging that they can not better acknowledg towards god , the grace they have received of his meer soveraigne bounty , who hath inspired them the desire , and opened them the means of reconciling themselves , and granting peace unto their people , then by applying themselves , and endeavouring , with all their power , to procure and preserve the like tranquility unto all other christian states , whose peace is either troubled , or like to be suddenly altered ; their majesties seeing , with a great grief ▪ the present disposition of germany , and of other northern countries , where the war is kindled , and may yet inflame the empire , by the division of the princes and states thereof , have concluded , agreed and resolved , to send without delay , their ambassadors , or cause those they have already in the empire , jointly to act for the managing , in their name , and by their interposition , a good and speedy accommodation , both of all differences that may trouble the peace of the empire , and of such , as some years since , have caused the war in the other parts of the north. cii . and because informations have been had , that notwithstanding the accommodation made some years since , of the divisions happened then betwixt the cantons of the leagues of switzerland catholicks and protestants , there remains yet under the ashes , some sparks of that fire , that might if not wholly quenched , take fire again , and cause new troubles and dissentions betwixt those people allyed with both the crowns ; the two lords and kings have judged it necessary to apply themselves , on this part to the prevention of that danger , as much as in them shall lye , afore things grow worse : and therefore it hath been agreed and concluded between their majesties , that they shall send , upon that occasion , some particular ministers every one of them to the cantons of his alliance ( unless they judge those they have there in ordinary to be sufficient for the end they have proposed unto themselves , ) with orders , when they have exactly informed themselves of the motives and causes which have occasioned the misunderstanding and disunion of the said nation , to meet and endeavor , joyntly and uniformly , to procure there a good concord , and cause all things there to return to the peace , quietness and fraternity , wherewith the said cantons were wonted to live formerly : acquainting their superiors with the satisfaction their majesties will receive of it , because of the affection they bear to their states , and how much that establishment of union will be pleasing to them , because of the great desire they have for their welfare and publick tranquility . ciii . the differences hapned in the countries of the grisons , about the valtoline , having several times obliged both the kings and several other princes to take up arms ; to avoid , lest for the future , they might alter the good intelligence of their majesties , it hath been agreed , that within six months after the publication of the present treaty , and after information had , on both sides , of the intention of the grisons , touching the observation of the treaties heretofore made , it shall be agreed , in an amicable way , between the two crowns , of all the interests they have in that affair : and that for that end each of the said lords and kings shall give sufficient power to treat of it , to such ambassadors as he will send to the court of the other after the publication of the peace . civ . the prince of monaco shall be restored , without delay , into the peaceable possession of all the goods , rights and revenues belonging unto him , and which he injoyed afore the war , in the kingdom of naples , dutchy of milan , and other places of the obedience of his catholick majesty : with liberty to alienate the same as he shall please , by sale , donation , or otherwise : and shall not be troubled nor molested in the injoyment thereof , for having put himself under the protection of the crown of france , nor for any other subject or pretence whatsoever . cv . it hath been likewise agreed and concluded , that his catholick majesty shall pay ready money to the lady duchess of cheureuse the sum of 55000 philippuses , each of ten reals , amounting to 165000 livers french money : and that for the price of the lands and lordships of kerpin and lommerscin , with the aids and dependences of the said lands , the said duchess had purchased of his catholick majesty , according to his said majesties letters patents of the second of june 1646. out of which lands and lordships , the said lady hath since been turned by his catholick majesties ministers , because of the present war ? and his said majesty hath disposed of them in the behalf of the elector of cologne : and shall the said payment of 55000 philippuses , each of ten realls , be made by his said catholick majesty , unto the said lady of cheureuse , by the two terms , the first within six months from the day and date of these presents ; and the rest six months after ; so that in a years time they may have received the whole sum . cvi. all prisoners of war , of what nation or condition soever , being detained on either side , shall be set at liberty , in paying their expences , and what they may otherwise owe ; but without paying any ransom , unless they have agreed before otherwise ? in which case the treaties made by them afore this day , shall be executed according to their form and sense . cvii . all other prisoners and subjects of the said lords and kings , who by the calamity of the wars might happen to be detained in their majesties gallies , shall be speedily delivered and set at liberty , without any delay , for any cause or occasion whatsoever , and without demanding any thing for their ransom , or for their expences . as also , shall be set at liberty , after the same manner , all french soldiers that shall be found to be detained prisoners in the places held by his catholick majesty upon the coasts of africa , without demanding of them , as aforesaid , any thing for their ransom or expences . cviii . provided all the premises be duly observed , it hath been concluded and agreed , that the treaty made at vervins in the year 1568 , is again confirmed and approved by the said plenipotentiaries , in all its points , as if the same was here inserted word for word , and without innovating any thing therein , nor in any of the other former treaties , which shall remain in their full force in whatsoever it is not derogated unto by this present treaty . cix . and as touching the things contained in the aforesaid treaty of 1598 , and in a former made in the year 1559. which have not been executed according to the tenor of the said treaties , the execution shall be made and performed , in such things as are yet unperformed : and for that end commissioners shall be appointed on both sides , within two months , with sufficient power to agree together ; within the space that shall be mutually agreed on , concerning all things to be yet executed , either touching interests of of the said lords and kings , or the interests of the commonalties and private persons , their subjects , who shall have any thing to demand , or complaint to make on either side . cx . the said commissioners shall likewise have care , by virute of their powers , to regulate the limits , as well between the dominions and countries that of old have belonged to the said lords and kings , about which there have been some debates , as between the dominions and lordships that are to remain to each of them , by the present treaty , in the low countries . and particularly a separation shall be made by the said commissioners of the chastellenies and other lands and lordships that are to remain to the said lord the most christian king , from such chastellenies . lands and lordships as are to remain to the said lord the catholick king ; so that hereafter there may arise no dispute about the same , and that the inhabitants and subjects on both sides might not be disturbed . and in case they cannot agree touching the contents of the present article , and of the next foregoing , arbitrators shall be appointed by common consent , who shall take conusance of whatsoever shall remain undecided between the said commissioners : and the judgments that shall be rendred by the said arbitrators , shall be executed on both sides without any delay or difficulty . cxi . for the satisfaction and payment of what may be due on both sides for the ransom of the prisoners of war , and for such expences as they may have made during their prison , since the beginning of the war until the day of the present peace , in conformity to the treaties made for the exchanging of the said prisoners , and namely that of 1646 , made at soissons , the marquis of castel rodrigo being governor of the low countries , it hath been concluded and agreed , that the expences of such prisoners as have been already released , or are to be released without ransom by virtue of the present peace , shall be presently paid , ready money on both sides ; and that as to the other prisoners that have been released by virtue of the particular treaties of exchange made during the war , and afore the present treaty , commissioners shall be appointed on both sides , within a month of the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty , who shall meet at such place as shall be agreed on , towards flanders , whither also the accounts concerning the prisoners made in the kingdom of naples and sicily , and their dependences in the state of milan and in piedmont , in the principality of catalonia , and in the counties of roustillon and cerdana , and other places of spain , besides what concerns the frontiers between france and the low-countries , shall be carried ; and the said accounts being stated by them , both for their expences for diet , and for this ransom , after the manner practised upon other treaties of that nature , the lord and king who shall be found debtor to the other , by the stating of the said accounts , doth oblige himself to pay ready monies , bonâ fide , and without delay , unto the other of the said lords and kings , the sums of money whereof he shall remain debtor to him , for the expences and ransoms of the said prisoners at war. cxii . as it might well happen that the particular persons interested on both sides , in the restitution of the goods , into the propriety and enjoyment whereof they ought to re-enter , by virtue of the present treaty , should find under divers pretences , difficulties and resistance in their re-establishment by such as are now in possession of the said goods ; or that any other obstructions should arise in the full execution of the premises , it hath been concluded and agreed , that the said lords and kings shall appoint each of them one of their ministers to repair to the court of the other , and other places if need be , to the end that hearing jointly , at the place where the said ministers shall meet , such persons as shall apply themselves unto them about those affairs , and taking conusance of the contents of the articles of the treaty , and of what the said parties shall offer unto them , they might declare together unanimously , briefly and summarily , without any other formality of justice , what ought to be executed , issuing thereupon the necessary . act and instrument of their declaration , which act shall be performed without admitting or leaving any room to any contradiction or reply . cxiii . the execution of the present peace , in what regardeth the restitution and surrendring of the places which the said lords and kings are to restore and put in the hands one of the other respectively , or of their allies , by virtue of , and in conformity to this treaty , shall be made at the time , and after the following manner . cxiv . first , without staying for the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty , to the end the forces which make up the army of the most christian king , and the garrisons of the places he holdeth in italy , might repass the alpes afore the ice doth shut up the passages , both the said plenipotentiaries have concluded and agreed , that they take upon themselves to have the orders of their majesties respectively , forthwith sent by expresses unto the duke of navailles , & the count of fuensaldagne ; as also to the marquis of caracent , for what concerneth him , to make , upon the 30th . of the instant november , the following restitutions , viz. upon that day shall be restored by the lord the most christian king unto his catholick majesty , the places of valence upon the po , and of mortara in the state of milan : as likewise upon the same 30th . day of november , shall be restored by the lord the catholick king unto the duke of savoy , the place and cittadel of verceil in piedmont ; and towards the low counties , unto his most christian majesty , the place of castelet ; the said lords and plenipotentiaries having taken upon themselves , by vertue of the particular orders they have of their majesties for that purpose , the punctual execution of that article , afore the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty , as aforesaid . cxv . the exchange of the ratifications being made within the day that hereafter shall be named , on the 27th . day of december , of this present year , shall be restored , by the said lord the most christian king , unto his catholick majesty the places of oudenard , marville , menene , and comine upon the river lys , dixmude and furne , with the posts of la fintelle and la quenoque . as also , upon the same 27th . day of december , shall be restored by the said lord the catholick king , unto his most christian majesty , the places of rocroy and linchamp . cxvi . eight days after , which will be the 4th . of january , of the next year 1660. shall be restored by the said lord the most christian king , unto his catholick majesty , the places of ypre , la bassee , bergh st. wynox , and the fort royal thereof ; and all the posts , towns , and castles , taken by the french arms in the principality of catalonia , except roses , fort of the trinity , and cape de quiers : as likewise upon the same 4th day of january , shall be restored by the said lord the catholick king , and put into the hands and in the power of his most christian majesty , the places of hesdin , philippeville , and marienbourg . cxvii . after the prince of conde hath rendred his respects to the most christian king , his soveraign lord , and is setled again into the honours of his grace , the places of avennes and juliers shall be by the lord the catholick king , put into the hands and in the power of his most christian majesty and of the duke of newbourg . and the same day , the said lord the most christian king shall restore unto his catholick majesty , the posts , towns , forts , and castles taken by the french in the county of burgundy , after the manner , and at the time more particularly agreed upon by their said majesties . cxviii . upon supposition and condition that the said commissioners , that are to be appointed to declare the places that ought to belong to each of the said lords and kings , in the counties and vigueries of conflans and cerdana , shall have before concluded and unanimously made the declaration that is to regulate for the future the limits of both kingdoms : as also , when all the aforesaid restitutions are made and punctually performed , his most christian majesty shall restore upon the 5th . of may of the next year 1660. unto his catholick majesty , the places and posts of roses , the fort of the trinity and cape de quiers , upon the conditions more particularly agreed on by their majesties . cxix . it hath likewise been concluded and agreed , that in the exchange that shall be made of la bassee and berg st. wynox , and its royal fort , with philippeville and marienbourg , there shall be left in the said places as much artillery , both in number , and of the same weight and quality , as well in the one as in the other ; as also as much ammunition of war of all sorts , and victuals , as the commissioners appointed on both sides shall agree bona fide , and shall see it performed : so that what shall be found over and above , as well in the one as in the other , may be taken out of the said places , and transported any where else ; where the lord and king shall please , to whom that greater quantity of the things aforesaid shall be found to belong . cxx . their said majesties have likewise concluded , agreed , resolved and promised , upon their royal word , to send , each on their part , their orders to the generals of their armies , or governors of their arms and countries , to have them give their assistance for the execution of the said respective restitutions of places upon the certain days before prefixed , advising together , bona fide , about the means and all other things that may regard the faithful execution of what hath been promised and agreed between their said majesties , after the manner , and at the time aforesaid . cxxi . the duke charles of lorrain accepting , as to what concerns him , this present peace , upon the conditions afore stipulated between the said lords and kings , and not otherwise , his most christian majesty shall re-establish within four months , from the day of exchanging of the ratifications of the present treaty , the said duke into the dominions , lands and places expressed before , except such as are to remain to his most christian majesty , in propriety and soveraignty , by the said present treaty ; provided , the said duke , afore his re-establishment , besides his accepting of the conditions that concern him in the present peace , doth furnish unto his most christian majesty , and at his satisfaction , all the several acts and obligations , he is to put into his hands , according to this treaty . and after the manner specified and stipulated before . cxxii . besides the duke of savoy , the duke of modena , and the prince of monaco , who , as allies of france , are of the chiefest contractors in this treaty , as aforesaid , by the common consent of the said lords the most christian & catholick , shall be comprehended in this peace and alliance , if they will be comprehended therein , on his most christian majesties part , first , our holy father the pope , the holy apostolical see , the electors & other princes of the empire , allies and confederates with his majesty for the maintaining of the peace of munster , viz. the three electors of mentz , cole● , and the count palarine of the rhine , the duke of newburg , the dukes auguste christiane , lewis and george william of brunswick and luneburge , the landgrave of hessen-cassel , and the landgrave of darmstat , the duke and the seigniory of venice , and the thirteen cantons of the league of switzerland , and their allies and confederates , & all other kings , potentates , princes and states , towns and particular persons , to whom his most christian majesty , upon a decent requisition made by them for it , will grant on his part , to be comprehended in this treaty , and will name them , within a year after the publication of the peace , unto his catholick majesty by a particular declaration , to enjoy the benefit of the said peace , both by the aforenamed , and by such as his majesty shall name within the said time . their majesties giving their declaratory and obligatory letters , required in such case respectively ; and the whole with an express declaration , that the said catholick king shall not have power , directly , nor indirectly to molest , by himself , or by others , any of those who on the said lord the most christian kings part , have been above , or hereafter shall be comprehended by a particular declaration ; and that if the lord the catholick king hath any pretensions against him , he shall only have power to prosecute him by right , before competent judges , and not by force , in what manner soever it may be . cxxiii . and on the said lord the catholick kings part , shall be comprehended in this treaty ( if they will therein be comprehended ) our holy father the pope , the apostolical see , the emperor of the romans , all the archdukes of austria , and all the kings , princes , republicks , states and particular persons , who , as allies of this crown , were named in the treaty of peace made at vervins , 1598. and who shall have preserved , and do at this day preserve themselves in that alliance . to whom are added now the united provinces of the low countries , and the duke of guastale ; as also , shall be comprehended all such others , as by common consent of the said lords and kings , shall be named within a year after the publication of the present treaty , to whom , as also to the aforenamed , if they desire it in particular , letters of nomination respectively obligatory shall be given to enjoy the benefit of the said peace , & with express declaration , that the said lord , the most christian king , shall not have power directly nor indirectly , by himself , or by others , to molest any of them : and if he hath any pretentions against them , he shall have power only to prosecute them by right before competent judges , and not by force . cxxiv . and for greater security of this treaty of peace , and of all the points and articles therein contayned ; the said treaty shall be published , verified and registred in the court of the parliament of paris , and in all the other parliaments of the kingdom of france , and in the chamber of accounts in the said paris . as likewise the said treaty shall be verified , published and registred as well in the grand council , and other councils , and chambers of accounts of the said lord the catholick king , in the low countries , as in the other councils of the crowns of castile and arragon , according unto , and after the manner contained in the treaty of vervins , of the year 1598. whereof the expeditions shall be delivered on both sides within three moneths after the publication of the present treaty . which points and articles before set down , together with the whole contents of any of them , have been treated , granted , passed and stipulated between the aforesaid plenipotentiaries of the said lords , the most christian and catholick king , in the name of their majesties . which plenipotentiaries , by virtue of their power , the copie ; whereof are inserted at the bottom of this present treaty , have promised and do promise under the obligation of all and every the goods and estates , present or to come of the kings their majesties , that the same shall be by their majesties inviolably observed and performed , and to cause them to ratifie the same meerly and singly , without adding any thing thereunto , and to give and deliver reciprocally one to the other , authentical and sealed letters , wherein the whole present , treaty shall be word for word inserted ; and that within 30 days , from the day and date of these presents , and sooner if it may be . besides , the said plenipotentiaties have promised and do promise , in the names aforesaid , that the said letters of ratification , being exchanged and furnished , the said most christian king , as soon as it may be , and in the presence of such person or persons as the said lord the catholick king shall be pleased to appoint , shall solemnly swear upon the cross , the holy evangelists , the canons of the mass , and upon his honour , to observe and perform fully , really , and bona fide , the whole contents of the articles of the present treaty . and the like shall be done also , as soon as possibly may be , by the said lord the catholick king , in the presence of such person or persons as the said lord the most christian king shall be pleased to appoint . in witness whereof the said plenipotentiaries have subscribed the present treaty with their names , and set the seals of their coat of arms thereunto . we , having the aforesaid treaty acceptable , in all and every the points , and articles therein contained and declared , have , both for us , and for our heirs , successors , kingdoms , countries , lands , lordships and subjects ; accepted , approved , ratified and confirmed , and do accept , approve , ratifie and confirm the same ; and do promise , in the faith and word of a king , and under the obligation and engagement of all and every our goods , present and to come , inviolably to keep , observe , and maintain the whole , without ever doing any thing contrary thereunto , directly , nor indirectly , in what sort and manner soever . in witness whereof , we have signed these presents with our hand , and thereunto caused our seal to be set and apposed . given at thoulose the four and twentieth of november , 1659. and of our reign the seventeenth . finis . the tears of the indians being an historical and true account of the cruel massacres and slaughters of above twenty millions of innocent people, committed by the spaniards in the islands of hispaniola, cuba, jamaica, &c. : as also in the continent of mexico, peru, & other places of the west-indies, to the total destruction of those countries / written in spanish by casaus, an eye-witness of those things ; and made english by j.p. brevísima relación de la destrucción de las indias. english casas, bartolomé de las, 1474-1566. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a35553 of text r19416 in the english short title catalog (wing c799). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 169 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 84 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a35553 wing c799 estc r19416 12043209 ocm 12043209 53024 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a35553) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 53024) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 86:8) the tears of the indians being an historical and true account of the cruel massacres and slaughters of above twenty millions of innocent people, committed by the spaniards in the islands of hispaniola, cuba, jamaica, &c. : as also in the continent of mexico, peru, & other places of the west-indies, to the total destruction of those countries / written in spanish by casaus, an eye-witness of those things ; and made english by j.p. brevísima relación de la destrucción de las indias. english casas, bartolomé de las, 1474-1566. phillips, john, 1631-1706. [32], 134 [i.e. 126], [1] p., [3] leaves of plates : 2ill. printed by j.c. for nath. brook ..., london : 1656. translation of: brevísima relación de la destrucción de las indias. reproduction of original in huntington library. eng indians, treatment of -latin america. spain -colonies -america. a35553 r19416 (wing c799). civilwar no the tears of the indians: being an historical and true account of the cruel massacres and slaughters of above twenty millions of innocent pe casas, bartolomé de las 1656 30232 11 0 0 0 0 0 4 b the rate of 4 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2002-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-11 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2002-11 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-12 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion teares of ye indians or inquisition for bloud being a relation of ye spannish massacres in those part . r gaywood fecit the tears of the indians : being an historical and true account of the cruel massacres and slaughters of above twenty millions of innocent people ; committed by the spaniards in the islands of hispaniola , cuba , iamaica , &c. as also , in the continent of mexico , peru , & other places of the west-indies , to the total destruction of those countries . written in spanish by casaus , an eye-witness of those things ; and made english by i. p. deut. 29.15 . therefore thine eye shall have no compassion ; but life for life , tooth for tooth , hand for hand , foot for foot . london , printed by i. c. for nath. brook , at the angel in cornhil . 1656. to his highness , oliver , lord protector of the commonwealth of england , scotland & ireland , with the dominions thereto belonging . may it please your highness , i have here laid prostate before the throne of your justice , above twenty millions of the souls of the slaughter'd indians ; whose forc'd departure from their bodies , cruelty it self compassionates . yet me-thinks i hear a sudden stillness among them ; the cry of blood ceasing at the noise of your great transactions , while you arm for their revenge . by which it is apparent , how well your highness doth observe the will of the most high , using your vast power and dignity onely to the advancement of his glory among the nations : while the divine deitie bequeathes you back again immediate recompences ; crowning you , like his holy warriour , david , with the highest degree of earthly fame . therefore hath he inspired your highness with a prowess like that of ioshua , to lead his armies forth to battel ; and a zeal more devoutly fervent than that of iehu , to cut off the idolater from the earth . which divine vertues appear so eminent in you , that there is no man , who opposes not himself against heaven , but doth extol your just anger against the bloudy and popish nation of the spaniards , whose superstitions have exceeded those of canaan , and whose abominations have excell'd those of ahab , who spilt the blood of innocent naboth , to obtain his vineyard . and now , may it please your highness , god having given you a full victory over your enemies in this land , and a fix'd establishment , by the prosperous and total quelling of those pertinacious spirits ; certainly there is no true english-man who doth not lift up his eyes to heaven with thanks to almighty god , that you have made the land so happie , as to be the admiration of other nations , who have laid themselvs at your feet for alliances , as knowing your wonderful successes both by sea and land . pardon me , great sir , if next my zeal to heaven , the loud cry of so many bloudy massacres , far surpassing the popish cruelties in ireland , the honour of my country , of which you are as tender as of the apple of your own eye , hath induced me , out of a constant affection to your highness service , to publish this relation of the spanish cruelties ; whereby all good men may see and applaud the justness of your proceedings : being confident that god , who hath put this great designe into your hands , will also be pleased to give it a signal blessing ; which is the prayer of your highness most faithful , and most obedient servant , i. phillips . to all true english-men . never had we so just cause to exclaim in the words of the prophet jeremiah ; o that our heads were waters , and our eyes fountains of tears , that we might weep for the effusion of so much innocent blood which provok'd these sad relations of devout casaus , by reason of the cruel slaughters and butcheries of the iesuitical spaniards , perpetrated upon so many millions of poor innocent heathens , who having onely the light of nature , not knowing their saviour iesus christ , were sacrificed to the politick interest and avarice of the wicked spaniards . the blood of ireland , spilt by the same faction , in comparison of these massacres , was but as a drop to the ocean . it was the saying of christ himself , the son of mercy , and redeemer of the world , that we ought not to cast the childrens bread to dogs : but what would he have judg'd of those , that not onely cast the bread , but the blood ; and not onely the blood , but the innocent blood of men , women and children , to satisfie the contemptible hunger of their hounds ? the intention of these men was murder ; and they kill'd up the poor indians , not as if they had been their fellow-mortals , but like death it self ; and invaded their land , not like men , but like the pestilence , whose destruction is epidemical . when our own case had a small resemblance of this , how sensible the people were , and how they mourned at the burning of a poor village ; the usual accidents , or rather , things to be expected , in a tedious and necessitated war : but , had you been eye-witnesses of the transcending massacres here related ; had you been one of those that lately saw a pleasant country , now swarming with multitudes of people , but immediately all depopulated , and drown'd in a deluge of bloud : had you been one of those that saw great cities of nations and countries in this moment flourishing with inhabitants , but in the next , totally ruin'd with such a general desolation , as left neither person living , nor house remaining : had you seen the poor innocent heathens shaming and upbraiding , with the ghastliness of their wounds , the devilish cruelties of those that called themselves christians : had you seen the poor creatures torn from the peace and quiet of their own habitations , where god had planted them , to labour in a tormenting captivity , by many degrees worse then that of algier , or the turkish galleys ; your compassion must of necessity have turn'd into astonishment : the tears of men can hardly suffice ; these are enormities to make the angels mourn and bewail the loss of so many departed souls , as might have been converted and redeemed to their eternal mansions . we read of old , of the ten persecutions wherein the primitive christians were destroy'd by the cruelties of the heathen emperours : but we now read of christians , the professors of a religion grounded upon love and charity , massacring , where there was no cause of antipathy , but their own obstinate barbarism ; as if because their wickedness had so far transform'd them into devils , they were resolved to deface the image of god , so innocently conversing among them . the turks and scythians shall be now no more the adagies of cruelty among us ; for here is a christian nation which hath taken off that envie from them , and entayl'd it upon themselves . and now , o men of england , let me ask you but this question ; whether you , that for these many years have had the honour to be the patrons of religion ; whose charity hath still relieved , and whose power hath still defended the cause of the oppressed at home and abroad ; whether you can withdraw your assistance from this great work , and deprive your selves of that birth-right which you seem to have among the nations , god still continuing the management of his iustice in the hands of our most fortunate and lawful magistrate , whom he hath rais'd up , as his great instrument , to revenge the blood of that innocent people . consider this , moreover , that you are not uow to fight against your country-men , but against your old and constant enemies , the spaniards , a proud , deceitful , cruel , and treacherous nation , whose chiefest aim hath been the conquest of this land , and to enslave the people of this nation ; witness those invasions in the days of queen elizabeth ; whose leagues of amity we had more reason to repent of , then to rejoyce at , as being destructive to the nation , and made with those that onely sought the advantages of peace , that they might be more safe to do us mischief : and so little they car'd for peace with us , that they never sought it , but when meer vrgencies of state requir'd ; and never kept their articles , when they had the least hope of profit to themselves : of which we need not look for ancient examples ; they are fresh in memory , and have been too sadly and undeservedly sustain'd , both nearer home , and of late years in the west-indies also , as appears by that pious and prudent declaration set forth by his highness the lord protector ; as if providence had so ordain'd it , that by the wrongs of our country-men in those parts , we should be interested in the quarrel of those innocent nations . neither need we to fear the vaunts of the spanish monarch , whose government stands not on those strong foundations that some imagine ; blood and tyrannie being the chief pillars of his greatness , or rather , his arcana imperii ; & his empire being onely strong in this , that the weaknesses thereof have not yet been well look'd into . should we chase him from his indian treasures , he would soon retire to his shell , like a snail tapt upon the horns . and perhaps it would not a little avail to the general peace of europe , whereby we should be strengthened against the common enemy of christianitie . for doubtless it hath been the satanical scope of this tyrant , to set all the european princes at variance , and to keep them busie at home , that they might not have leasure to bend their forces against his golden regions . but he pretends a right to them , though upon very slender grounds : for that the english may better claim then himself ; it being first discovered , as is well known , and tendered to henry the seventh , by sebastian cabot , one of his own captains . which brings to minde the poor spirits of our english kings , who would not regard such an advantage , so highly importing the honour of the nation , so far as to be almost guilty of the bloud shed in those parts , through their neglect . but for farther satisfaction concerning the right of the english to the west-indies , i shall refer you to a further treatise , which i may ere long put forth . and now , honoured country-men , seeing that by divine providence the cruelties and barbarous massacres of the spaniards have been so apparently presented to you , i cannot but be confident of your endeavours , as you tender the good and welfare of your native country , to acquit your selves in so just a cause , which god hath put into the heart and hands of our supreme magistrate , who is so vigilant to embrace all opportunities for the good of the nation . tears of the indies , or inquisition for bloud : being the relation of the spanish massacre there . in the year 1492. the west-indies were discovered , in the following year they were inhabited by the spaniards : a great company of the spaniards going about 49. years agoe . the first place they came to , was hispaniola , being a most fertile island , and for the bignesse of it very famous , it being no less then six hundred miles in compass . round about it lie an innumerable company of islands , so throng'd with inhabitants , that there is not to be found a greater multitude of people in any part of the world . the continent is distant from this about two hundred miles , stretching it self out in length upon the sea side for above ten thousand miles in length . this is already found out , and more is daily discovered . these countreys are inhabited by such a number of people , as if god had assembled and called together to this place , the greatest part of mankinde . this infinite multitude of people was so created by god , as that they were without fraud , without subtilty or malice , to their natural governours most faithful and obedient . toward the spaniards whom they serve , patient , meek and peaceful , and who laying all contentious and tumultuous thoughts aside , live without any hatred or desire of revenge ; the people are most delicate and tender , enjoying such a feeble constitution of body as does not permit them to endure labour , so that the children of princes and great persons here , are not more nice and delicate then the children of the meanest countrey-man in that place . the nation is very poor and indigent , possessing little , and by reason that they gape not after temporal goods , neither proud nor ambitious . their diet is such that the most holy hermite cannot feed more sparingly in the wildernesse . they go naked , only hiding the undecencies of nature , and a poor shag mantle about an ell or two long is their greatest and their warmest covering . they lie upon mats , only whose who have larger fortunes , lye upon a kinde of net which is tied at the four corners , and so fasten'd to the roof , which the indians in their natural language call hamecks . they are of a very apprehensive and docible wit , and capable of all good learning , and very apt to receive our religion , which when they have but once tasted , they are carryed on with a very ardent and zealous desire to make a further progress in it ; so that i have heard divers spaniards confesse that they had nothing else to hinder them from enjoying heaven , but their ignorance of the true god . to these quiet lambs , endued with such blessed qualities , came the spaniards like most cruel tygres , wolves , and lions , enrag'd with a sharp and tedious hunger ; for these forty years past , minding nothing else but the slaughter of these unfortunate wretches , whom with divers kinds of torments neither seen nor heard of before , they have so cruelly and inhumanely butchered , that of three millions of people which hispaniola it self did contain , there are left remaining alive scarce three hundred persons . and for the island of cuba , which contains as much ground in length , as from valladolid to rome ; it lies wholly desert , untill'd and ruin'd . the islands of st. iohn and iamaica lie waste and desolate . the lucayan islands neighbouring toward the north upon cuba and hispaniola , being above sixty or thereabouts with those islands that are vulgarly called the islands of the gyants , of which that which is least fertile is more fruitful then the king of spains garden at sevil , being situated in a pure and temperate air , are now totally unpeopled and destroyed ; the inhabitants thereof amounting to above 500000. souls , partly killed , and partly forced away to work in other places : so that there going a ship to visit those parts and to glean the remainder of those distressed wretches , there could be found no more then eleven men . other islands there were near the island of st. iohn more then thirty in number , which were totally made desert . all which islands , though they amount to such a number containing in length of ground the space of above two thousand miles , lie now altogether solitary without any people or inhabitant . now to come to the continent , we are confident , and dare affirm upon our own knowledge , that there were ten kingdomes of as large an extent as the kingdome of spain , joyning to it both arragon , and portugal , containing above a thousand miles every one of them in compass , which the unhumane and abominable villanies of the spaniards have made a wilderness of , being now as it were stript of all their people , and made bare of all their inhabitants , though it were a place formerly possessed by vast and infinite numbers of men ; and we dare confidently aver , that for those forty years , wherin the spaniards exercised their abominable cruelties , and detestable tyrannies in those parts , that there have innocently perish'd above twelve millions of souls , women and children being numbred in this sad and fatall list ; moreover i do verily believe that i should speak within compass , should i say that above fifty millions were consumed in this massacre . as for those that came out of spain , boasting themselves to be christians , they took two several waies to extirpate this nation from the face of the earth , the first whereof was a bloudy , unjust , and cruel war which they made upon them : a second by cutting off all that so much as sought to recover their liberty , as some of the stouter sort did intend . and as for the women and children that were lest alive , they laid so heavy and grievous a yoke of servitude upon them that the condition of beasts was much more tolerable . unto these two heads all the other several torments and inhumanities which they used to the ruine of these poor nations may be reduced . that which led the spaniards to these unsanctified impieties was the desire of gold , to make themselves suddenly rich , for the obtaining of dignities & honours which were no way fit for them . in a word , their covetousness , their ambition , which could not be more in any people under heaven , the riches of the countrey , and the patience of the people gave occasion to this their devillish barbarism . for the spaniards so contemned them ( i now speak what i have seen without the least untruth ) that they used them not like beasts , for that would have been tolerable , but looked upon them as if they had been but the dung and filth of the earth , and so little they regarded the health of their souls , that they suffered this great multitude to die without the least light of religion ; neither is this lesse true then what i have said before , and that which those tyrants and hangmen themselves dare not deny , without speaking a notorious falshood , that the indians neevr gave them the least cause to offer them violence , but received them as angels sent from heaven , till their excessive cruelties , the torments and slaughters of their country-men mov'd them to take armes against the spaniards . of hispaniola . they erected certain gallowses , that were broad but so low , that the tormented creatures might touch the ground with their feet , upon every one of which they would hang thirteen persons , blasphemously affirming that they did it in honour of our redeemer and his apostles , and then putting fire under them , they burnt the poor wretches alive . those whom their pity did think fit to spare , they would send away with their hands half cut off , and so hanging by the skin . thus upbraiding their flight , go carry letters to those who lye hid in the mountains and are fled from us . this death they found out also for the lords and nobles of the land ; they stuck up forked sticks in the ground , and then laid certain perches upon them , and so laying them upon those perches , they put a gentle fire under , causing the fire to melt them away by degrees , to their unspeakable torment . one time above the rest i saw four of the nobles laid upon these perches , and two or three other of these kinde of hurdles furnished after the same manner ; the clamours and cries of which persons being troublesome to the captain , he gave order that they should be hang'd , but the executioner whose name i know , and whose parents are not obscure , hindred their calamity from so quick a conclusion , stopping their mouthes , that they should not disturb the captain , and still laying on more wood , till being roasted according to his pleasure , they yeelded up the ghost . of these and other things innumerable i have been an eye-witnesse ; now because there were some that shun'd like so many rocks the cruelty of a nation so inhumane , so void of piety and love to mankinde , and therefore fled from them to the mountains ; therefore they hunted them with their hounds , whom they bred up and taught to pull down and tear the indians like beasts : by these dogs much humane bloud was shed ; and because the indians did now and then kill a spaniard , taking him at an advantage , as justly they might ; therefore the spaniards made a law among themselves , that for one spaniard so slaine , they should kill a hundred indians . of the kingdomes which the island of hispaniola did contain . the island of hispaniola had in it five very great kingdomes , and five very potent kings , to whom the other lords , of which there was a very great number were for the most part subject ; for there were some few lords of peculiar countries that did not acknowledge the jurisdiction of these kings ; one of these kingdomes is called maqua , which signifies a plain . this plain if there be any thing in the world worth taking notice , claims a very nice observation . for from the south to the north it is stretcht forward fourscore miles in length ; in breadth it takes up sometimes eight , sometimes five , and sometimes ten miles , on all sides it is shut up with very high mountains ; it is watered by thirty thousand rivers and rivolets , whereof twelve are not lesse then either duerus , ebrus , or guadalgevir : and all the rivers which run from the mountains on the west side , whose number is twenty thousand , do all of them abound with gold . with which mountain the province of cibao is bounded , where are the mines of cibao , that afford the most exquisite and pure gold which is so much valued among us . this kingdome was govern'd by guarionex , who had under his jurisdiction as his vassals , lords and governors so potent , that every one of them was able to bring into the field for the service of guarionex , above sixteen thousand men apiece . some of which lords i very well knew ; this king was not meanly vertuous , by nature peaceful , and much devoted to the king of castile . this king commanded his subjects that they should present to the spaniards a bell full of gold , which when they were not able to do by reason that the people had but little skill how to dig out the gold , he thereupon commanded them to present the spaniards with as much as they could fill . here a cacicus or governour offer'd himself to the service of the king of castile , upon condition , that he would take care that all the countrey from isabella to st. domingo , being five hundred miles in length , might be till'd ; which promises i am very confident he would cheerfully have performed ; and then might the king of castile have had a revenue of above three millions of castilian crowns , and there had been still remaining in the island above fifty cities as large all of them as sevill . but what was the recompence which they afforded to this milde and bountiful prince ? they suffered one of the spanish captains unworthy of the name of a christian to vitiate his wife . he might have raised an army and endevoured a revenge ▪ but he rather chose to leave his kingdome and his dignity , and to live a banished person in the province of coquaios , where a potent vassal and subject of his inhabited . but the spaniards hearing of his flght , resolved not to let him lurk anywhere ; but immediately making war upon him that had received them so liberally , they never rested till they had wasted all the kingdome to finde him out , at length he fell into their hands ; and no sooner had they taken him , but they fettered him immediately , putting him into a ship that was bound for spain ; but the ship was wrackt by the way , many spaniards perishing , and a great treasure of gold being lost ; god so taking revenge upon their enormities . another kingdome was called marien , where there is a port at one end of the plain that looks toward the north , being larger and more fertile then the kingdome of portugal , and which very well deserves to be better peopled ; for it abounds with mountains wherein are great store of gold mines . the name of the king that there ruled was guacanagari , under whom there were many other potent lords , some of whom i knew : to this place came the old sea captain that first discovered america , who was received with so much courtesie and friendship by guacanagari , who gave him and his associates all the help and assistance that might be ( for his ship was there sunk ) that upon his return into spain he would often affirm , that his own parents in his own countrey were never so friendly to him . this king flying from the cruelty and enormous murders of the spaniards , being depriv'd of his kingdome , died poorly in the mountains . the rest of his nobles ended their lives in that servitude and slavery which shall be hereafter related . the third kingdome was maquana , a countrey very temperate and fertile , where the best sugar in that island is made . in this countrey at that time canabao did reign , who for power , dignity , gravity , and the ceremonies which were used towards him , far exceeded the rest . this king suspecting nothing lesse , was by the craft and subtlety of the spaniards taken in his own house ; whom when they had taken they put a shipboard to send him to castile ; but there being six ships in the port ready to set sayle , the sea began to swell so high , and to be so unruly , that all the six ships with the spaniards in them , together with king canabao , who was laden with chains , all perished in the waves . the great god shewing the judgements of his wrath upon these unjust and wicked wretches as he had done upon the others . this king had three or four brothers stout and valiant men , who being offended at the captivity of their lord and king , hearing of the devastations and rapines daily committed by the spaniards in these countries , and understanding that their brother was dead , resolved to take armes for the reliefe of their countrey ; but the spaniards meeting them with a certain number of horse , which are a very great terror to the indians made such a slaughter among them , that they depopulated the greatest part of this countrey . the fourth kingdome was called xaraqua , being in the centre and middle of the whole island , for eloquence of language , as also for good government and gentile customes , it excels all the rest , there was in it a great company of lords and noble men , and for the people themselves they were the most comely in the whole island . the king of this countrey was called behechio , who had a sister who was called anacaona . both the brother and the sister were very bountifull to the spaniards , for they had freed them from the dangers of imminent death , shewing great kindnesses to the kings of castile . behechio being dead , the kingdome was solely govern'd by his sister . now it happened one day , that the governour of the island with sixty horse , and three hundred foot ( though the horsemen were sufficient not only to wast the island , but also the whole continent ) cal'd to him about three hundred of the peers and lords of the nation , the greatest part whereof who were the more powerful , having by craft got them together in a straw cottage , he cause to be burnt alive together with the house , the rest with an infinite sight of people he caused to be put to death by the souldiers , who murdred the poor people like dogs with their swords and launces . as for anacaona the queen , that he might seem to be more courteous to her , he caused her to hang her self . and if it happened that any who were either moved with compassion , or covetousnesse , thinking to make lacqueys or servants of the children , had set them behinde their horses , another would come behinde them , and either run them through , or cut off their legs if they hung down upon the horse sides . and when certain of the indians , who escaped this furious massacre fled into an island distant from them about some eight miles , they were by the governour condemned to perpetual servitude . the wars being now at an end , and the inhabitants all killed up , the women and children being only reserved , they divided them among themselves , giving to one thirty , to another forty , to one a hundred , to another two hundred , and those that had most , received them on this condition , that they should instruct them in the catholick faith , though commonly their masters were a company of stupid , ignorant , and covetous fellowes , and defiled with all manner of vices . but the main care was to send the men to work in the gold mines , which is an intolerable labour , and to send the women to manure and till the ground ; an exercise fit only for the stoutest men . these they fed with nothing but roots and hearbs , so that the milk of women with childe being dried up , by that reason the poor little infants died . and the men being separated from the women , there was no more issue to be expected from them . the men perished in the gold mines with hunger and labour , the women perished in the fields , being tired out with the same calamities : and thus was a vast number of the inhabitants of this island wholly extirpated . besides all this they caused them to carry great burdens of a hundred and fourscore pound , and to travell with it a hundred or two hundred miles . they were also forc'd to carry the spaniards up and down in their hamechs , using them in manner of beasts to carry their burthens and the necessaries of their journeys . and as for the blows which they gave them with whips , cudgels and their fists , wherewith they continually tormented them in their labour , i could be hardly able to finde either time or paper to make a narration large enough of those things . now it is here to be noted that the desolation of these islands and provinces happened after the death of queen isabel , who deceased in the year 1504 , for before that time few of the provinces were intrenched upon by any unjust war , or over-flowed with this deluge of devastation ; or if any thing was before that time done , it was conceal'd from the knowledge of the queen , for she was alwayes zealous and solicitous for the safety and prosperity of this poor people . and this may be also a generall rule , that the spaniards to what ever part of the indies they did come to , after that time ceased not to exercise their abominable slaughters , tyrannies , and execrable oppressions upon the poor people , and being delighted with new kindes of torments , daily encreased their cruelty and rage . of the islands st. john and jamaica . in the year 1509. the islands of st. iohn and iamaica that look'd like fruitful gardens , were possessed by the spaniards , with the same bloudy intentions , as the other were ; for there they also exercised their accustomed cruelties , killing , burning , roasting men , and throwing them to the dogs , as also by oppressing them with sundry and various torments in the gold mines , as if they had come to rid the earth of these innocent and harmelesse creatures , of whom above six hundred thousand were murthered in these two islands , so lavish were the spanish swords of the bloud of these poor souls , scarce two hundred more remaining ; the rest perished without the least knowledge of god . of the island of cuba . in the year , 1511. they went over into the island of cuba , which extends as far in length as it is from valladolid to rome , in which there were many fair provinces , inhabited with an infinite number of people , where the humanity and clemency of the spaniards was not only as little as it had been in other places , but their cruelty and rage much greater . in this island many things were done worthy observation . a certain lord of great power among them by name hathvey , who had fled over to cuba , that he might avoid either death or perpetual captivity , hearing by some of the indians that the spaniards were also come into this island , having assembled the indians together , he began as followeth : countrymen and friends , you are not ignorant of the rumour by which we understand that the spaniards are come among us , neither am i now to tell you how they have used the inhabitants of hapti ( so the call hispaniola , in the indian language ) you know it by a sad experience : nor can we hope to finde them more merciful then they did . then quoth he , countreymen do you know the errand which brings them hither ? to whom they replyed , that was unknown to them , yet they further replyed , that that they were well assured of the cruel nature of the spaniard . then quoth he , i le tell ye the cause of their coming . they do worship some covetous and unsatisfied deity , and to content the greedy worship of that celestial power , they require many things from us , using all their endevour to murther and enslave us . which having said , taking up a little chest filled with gold , he proceeded in these words : behold here the god of the spaniards , and therefore if you think fitting , let us daunce and sing before this their god , perhaps we may thereby appease his rage , and he well then command the spaniards to let us alone : who with an unanimous shout cryed out all , well said , well said ; and so they went to dauncing round this box , not ceasing till they had sufficiently wearied themselves . then the lord hathvey going on with his speech , quoth he , if we do keep this god till he be taken from us , we shall be surely slain , and therefore i think it expedient for us to cast it into the river ; so his counsell being followed , the chest was cast into the river . when the spaniards had landed in this island , this noble man that had sufficient tryal of their manner , avoided them as much as he could , still flying from them and defending himself by force of armes upon all occasions . but at length being taken , for no other reason , but because he fled from those that sought his life , and defended himself that he might not be tormented to death , he was by the spaniards burnt alive . while he was tyed to the stake , there came to him a monk of the order of st. francis , who began to talk to him of god and of the articles of our faith , telling him , that the small respite which the executioner gave him was sufficient for him to make sure his salvation if he believed . upon which words after hathvey had a little while paus'd , he asked the monk if the door of heaven was open to the spaniards , who answering , yes , to the good spaniards . then replyed the other , let me go to hell that i may not come where they are . it happened once that the citizens of a very fair city distant about twelve miles from the place where we were , came forth of the city to do us honour , and to submit themselves to the king of castile , but they being returned home , the governour of the spaniards about the middle of the night as they were sleeping in their bed , and least suspecting any such thing , sent a company who came suddenly upon them , and set fire upon their houses , burning up both men , women and children , here some they murthered , others whom they spared , they tormented to make them tell where they had hid their gold , after which they made them their slaves , having first marked them in the body : and immediately as soon as the fire was spent , they ran to finde out the gold . at that time the spaniards got above ten hundred thousand crowns of gold , out of which the king scarce had three hundred thousand sent him ; there were slain in this place eight hundred thousand people ; and those other tyrants that came afterwards , emptied the island of those that remained . among all the notorious enormities committed by the foresaid governour , there is one not to be omitted : a certain noble indian presenting him , perhaps more for fear then love , a present of above nine thousand crowns , the spaniards not content with this , tied him to a stake , and stretching out his legs , put fire to them , requiring a greater sum of gold , who not able to endure the torment sent home for three thousand more ; notwithstanding the spaniards with a fresh rage began to torment him again , but seeing that he was able to give them no more , they kept him so long over the fire till his marrow dropt from the soles of his feet , whereof he died . these were the torments wherewith they murthered not only the common people , but the peers and lords of those nations . sometimes it would happen , that a band of spaniards ranging abroad would light upon a mountain where the indians were fled for protection from their cruelty , where they immediately fell upon the indians , killing the men , and taking the women and virgins captive ; & when a great company of the indians pursued them with weapons for the recovery of their wives and children , they resolving not to let go their prey , when the indians came near them , immediately with the points of their swords ran the poor women and children through the bodies . upon which the wretched indians beating their brests for grief would now and then burst forth in these words , o perverse men , o cruel spaniards , what will ye kill helplesse women ? there was the house of a noble man distant from panama above 15. miles ; he was by name called paris , and he was very wealthy in gold ; to him the spaniards came , and by him they were entertained like brothers , he giving to the captain , as a present , fifteen thousand crowns ; who by that perceiving that he must of necessity have a very great treasure , feigned a departure , but about the middle of the night returning again entred the city , set it on fire , sacrificing the poor people to the flames . hence they took away about fifty or sixty thousand crowns ▪ the noble man escaping , gathered together what force he could and made after the spaniards , who were gone away with no lesse then a hundred and forty thousand crowns of his own treasure ; when he had overtaken them , he fell upon them , and having slain above fifty of the spaniards , he recovered his gold again . the rest saved themselves by flight . but not long after the spaniards returned with greater force upon the noble man and having routed him , made slaves of all his people . of the province of nicaraqua . in the year 1522. the foresaid governour went to subdue the province of nicaraqua . there is no man that can sufficiently expresse the fertility of this island , the temperateness of the air , or the multitude of the people that did inhabit it . there was a vast number of people in this province , for it contained divers cities above four mile in length : and for plenty of fruits ( which was the cause that it was so extreamly well habited ) without compare . this people because their countrey was all plain and level , had not the shelter of the mountains , neither could they be easily perswaded to leave it , so pleasant was their habitation . and therefore they endured far the greater misery , and persecution , and underwent a more unsufferable slavery , being the lesse able to bear it , by how much they were of a milde and gentle nature . this tyrant vex'd and tormented these poor creatures with so many continual injuries , slaughters , captivities and cruelties , that no tongue is able to expresse them . into this territory he sent above fifty horse , who totally extirpated the people of this province by the sword , sparing no age nor sex , not for any wrong they did them , but sometimes it came not so speedily when they called as they expected , or if they brought not such quantities of corn as they imposed , or if they did not bring a sufficient quantity of indians to their service : for the countrey being in a plain there was no avoiding the fury of the horsemen . he commanded these spaniards to go pillage and depopulate other countreys , permitting to these robbers , and hangmen , to bring away and enslave what number of these poor people they pleased : whom they laded with chains that weighed above sixty or fifty pound , that they might not have the opportunity of escaping , so that it seldome hapned that above four in four thousand returned home ; and if either through the weight of their chains , or for hunger or thirst they did chance to faint by the way , because they would not hinder their journey , they cut off their heads immediately , throwing the head in one place and the body in another . and the poor captive indians when they saw the spaniards preparing for such journeys , at their departure would weep and fall into these kinde of sad expressions , these are the journeys that we have often gone , to serve the christians , and then we could return home again to visit our wives and children , but now all hope is cut off from us , and we must never see them more . it happened also , by reason that it came into the governors minde to change the indians from one master to another , pretending to take away force from some that he saw began to envie him , that there was no seed time nor harvest for a whole year ; now rather then the spaniards would want , they took it from the indians , by which means there perished no lesse then thirty thousand people ; which caused one woman for hunger to eat her own childe . and because these cities and other places were such pleasant abodes , therefore the spaniards took up their habitations in these places , dividing the possessions among themselves ; and as for the indians , both old and young they lived in the houses of the spaniards , drudging day & night in a perpetual captivity , who spared not the smallest children , but impos'd on them burdens as much as they were able to bear , and sometimes more ; & by this means allowing them neither houses nor any thing else proper to themselves , they destroyed them daily , and do daily destroy them : so that they exceeded the cruelties which they had committed in hispaniola . they hastned also the death of many of these poor people , by forcing them to carry timber and planks for shipping to the port that was distant about thirty miles from this place ; compelling them also to fetch honey and wax from the mountains , where they were many times devoured by the tygres . neither were they ashamed to lade and burthen women with childe , as if they had been only beasts for carriage . but there was no greater plague that depopulated this countrey , then a liberty granted by the governour to the spaniards , for the requiring of slaves and captives from the nobles and potent men of the kingdome ; who as often as the spaniards obtained leave to demand them , which was every four or five moneths , and sometimes oftner , gave them constantly fifty servants , whom the spaniards still threatned , that if they would not be obedient , they would either burn them alive , or throw them to the dogs . now because the indians have but few servants , for it is a very great matter to see above three servants in that place waiting upon a noble man ; therefore the nobility were fain to come to their subjects , from whom first they took all the orphans , then coming to those that had many children , from them that had two they took one , and from those who had three they demanded two ; and thus they were fain to make up the number which the threatning tyrant required , while the poor people wept and deplor'd the sad misfortune of their children , over whom they are very tender . which being done for a daily continuance , in ten or twelve years they made a clean riddance of the inhabitants out of this place . for every foot there came five or six ships which returned full of indians into the regions of panama and peru , where they were sold , and ended their daies in captivity . for experience hath taught us this , that when ever the indians are removed from their accustomed habitations into other climates , they quickly die ; the spaniards neither affording them sufficient food , nor in times of sicknesse diminishing their labour , for which end they were only bought . and thus the number of people hurried from the enjoyment of their freedome into a sad and laborious captivity , amounted to five hundred thousand souls , of which above fifty or sixty thousand are already perished , and more daily perish . all these massacres were committed within the space of fourteen years . there may be now remaining in the province of nicaraqua perhaps some four or five thousand men , though they daily diminish through the immoderate oppressions of the spaniards . notwithstanding in former time for number of people , it was the most flourishing place in the whole world . of new spain . in the year 1517. new spain was discovered ; after the discovery of which they did nothing first or second , but immediately sell to their old practises of cruelty and slaughter : for in the following year the spaniards ( who call themselves christians ) went thither to rob and kill ; though they gave out that they went to people the countrey . from that year unto this present year 1542. the violence , injustice and tyrannies of the spaniards came to their full height ; and now quite forgetting their humane natures , they laid aside all fear of god or of their king . for the slaughters , massacres , cruelties , devastations of countreys , destructions of cities , violences , tyrannies , and rapines of the spaniards , which they did commit in these so many several and so large kingdomes , are so numberlesse , and strike the minde with such a horror , that those which we have before related , are nothing in respect of these which we are to relate , being all perpetrated in the year 1518. and continued to this very moneth in a most sad and dreadfull manner ; so that what we said before holds very true , that the spaniards still went on from bad to worse , themselves striving to exceed themselves in wickednesse . and thus from the first entry of the spaniards into new spain , which happened upon the tenth day of the moneth of aprill , continuing from the eighteenth year untill the thirtieth , in which space of time are contained twelve years compleat , there hath been no end of the bloudy massacres and cruel slaughters of the spaniards , perpetrated in the continent of mexico and the parts adjoyning , which contained four or five large kingdomes , that neither for compasse nor fertility gave place to spain . all this region was more populous then either toledo , sevill , valadolid , augusta caesarea , or faventia ; nay i may affirm that there is not at this present , neither was there when those places were at the highest of their flourishing estate , so many people as in those parts , which take up the space of above a thousand and eight hundred miles . in these ten or twelve years , what with men , women , youths , and children , above four millions were by the spaniards consumed part by fire , part by the sword in these destructive wars ; wars more unjust and more condemn'd both by the law of god and men , then any invasion of the turk against the catholique religion . neither do we now reckon those that died under the intolerable yoke and burdens of their captivity . there is no language , no art or humane science , that can avail to recite the abominable crimes and bloudy actions committed by these enemies not only of common-wealths , but of all humane societies ; neither can any diligence , or time of writing sufficiently aggravate the circumstances of these detestable deeds . notwithstanding something i shall say of every one of them ; though i do seriously protest , that i connot rehearse one thing of a thousand in respect of all that were done . of new spain in particular . among other grand murthers of theirs , they committed one more notorious in the city cholula , which did contain above thirty thousand families . all the potent men of that region , with the priests who brought along with them their chief priest also , came to meet the spaniards ; and that their reception and entertainment might be the more honourable , they agreed to entertain the spaniards in the houses of the greatest noble men ; but here the spaniards consulted how to begin their massacres , or as they call'd them , chastisements of the people , that they might keep in awe every corner of the countrey with the terror of their cruelties . for this was their common custome , that they no sooner had set sooting in any place , but they committed immediately some notorious violence upon the people , that the rest might stand in the greater fear of them . they sent therefore to the supreme lord of the city , as also to all the other lords and governours , that they should give them a meeting , but they were no sooner come to parley , but they were all immediately laid hold on , leaving none to carry back these bad tidings to the rest ; first they demanded of them six thousand indians , to carry the luggage which they had with them , which when they were brought together they shut up in their houses . it was a sad spectacle to behold this poor people preparing themselves to carry those burthens . they came naked , covering only their secret parts , and at their shoulders hung a little net wherein they kept their food ; and thus while they stooped under their burthens , they lay open to all the cuts and blowes of the spanish weapons . now being in this manner gathered together in a great and wide place , part of the spaniards all in armes , stood at the door to keep the rest out , while others with swords and launces kill'd the innocent lambs , so that not one escaped . after three or four daies were expired , some that had hid themselves among the dead bodies all over besmeered with bloud , came with all submission imploring mercy and compassion from them ; but they not at all regarding their tears , nor moved with their lamentations , immediately hew'd them to pieces . all the lords and noble men , were kept a while in chains , and afterward at the commandement of the spanish captain , tied to stakes and burnt to death . but the king of the whole countrey escaped , with about thirty or forty men , betaking himself to a temple which was like a castle , and in their language called quu ; there defending himself a good part of the day ; but the spaniards out of whose hand few of them , especially the souldiery escap'd , setting the temple on fire , burnt them all that were within alive , who as they were dying , brake forth into these lamentations : o wicked men , how have we injured you , that you should thus torment us ? away , away to mexico , where our chief lord montenchuma will revenge our quarrel . this is also reported that while the spaniards were busily acting this bloudy tragedy , killing and destroying above six thousand innocent creatures , their chief captain in sport sung these verses : one flame the roman ' city now destroyes , and shrieks of people made a dismal noyse , while nero sung , and moved with delight , from tarpey hill beheld the wofull sight . another butchery was by them committed in the city of tepeaca , which was a much larger city then the former . here they put to the sword an infinite number of people , with many additions of cruelty . departing from cholula they came to mexico , the king whereof montenchuma sent the peers and nobles of this realm with innumerable presents to meet them , who all the way testified by several sports and solemnities , the joy which they had for their arrivall ; when they approached neer the wal of the city , the kings brother came forth with many noble men to meet him , who brought many gifts of gold and silver , to present them with . coming to the entry of the city , there stood the king himself with all his attendants , who being carried in a golden litter accompanied them to the palace which was prepared for them . but that very day , as was told me by some that were there , they seised upon the king , little suspecting any such matter , setting a guard upon his person of above eighty souldiers : after that they put him in chains . but here passing by many things which might be said ; i will relate one thing worthy observation . the governor being call'd away to quell one of his captains that had taken armes against him , and having left montenchuma with a guard of above a hundred , it came into the mindes of the spaniards to do something which might render them dreadful and terrible to the indians ; which was a policy , as i said before , they did often use . in the mean while all the nobility and commonalty of the city minded nothing else but to exhilarate the minde of their captive king with several varieties of sports and recreations . among which there was none that they used more then dancings and revellings , which they performed all night long in the streets . these exercises they in their language call'd mirotes , but the islanders areytos . to these recreations they bring together all their wealth and richest garments , and what ever they do esteem precious ; using them as the greatest testimonies of gladnesse . the nobles also and princes of the royal bloud every one according to their degree , were busie in these sports in those places which were nearest the houses where the king was detained captive . not far from the palace there were above two thousand youths , being all the children of the nobility , and indeed the flower of the nobility which were in mantenchuma's kingdome . to these came the captain of the spaniards with a small party of souldiers , sending other troops to other parts of the city , as if they only came to be spectators . but the captain had given command that at a certain hour they should fall upon them ; and he himself being about to lead the way , cry'd out , st. iago , let us rush in upon them . the word being thus given , the souldiees all fell on , and with their swords began to hack and hew those delicate bodies , spilling that generous and noble bloud with such an unheard of malice , that they left not one alive . and doing thus to others in other places , there fell a dismal fear and amazement upon the whole countrey . nor will these poor creatures doubtlesse ever forget as long as the world stands , to lament and bewail in their solemnities the sad calamity and ruine of the whole seminary of their nobility , of which they were wont so much to boast . the indians beholding this unheard of cruelty and injustice committed upon such a number of innocent souls , having with long patience endured the captivity of their king , who had charg'd them to be quiet , now ran all to their arms , and falling upon the spaniards , wounded many , the rest narrowly escaping : at length the spaniards putting a dagger to the brest of the king montencuma threatned to kill him unlesse he would look through the window and command his subjects to lay down their armes . but the indians at that time contemning the commands of their king , chose them a captain whom they made chief commander of all their forces . by this time the forementioned governour was returned from subduing his enemy , bringing with him a greater number of spaniards then he carryed away with him . whereupon the indians desisted from doing any thing more untill he was entred into the city . but then gathering together very great forces , they fought so vigorously , that the spaniards despairing of victory resolved to retreat in a tempestuous night and to leave the city . which being known to the indians , they cut off abundance of them upon the bridges of the lakes : neitheir can any man deny but that they did it justly , for the reasons above rehearsed . afterwards the spaniards having recollected more forces , there followed that great contention in the city , wherein they committed so many several butcheries upon the indians , by killing and burning both the commonalty and the nobility in a most barbarous manner . having committed so many detestable slaughters upon the indians in mexico , and other places distant ten , fifteen and twenty miles from thence , this tyrannical plague proceeded to infest and depopulate the city of panuco . there was a wonderful frequency of people in that countrey , neither were the slaughters , that were there committed , lesse remarkable . in the like manner they laid waste the provinces of tatepeca , ipilcingonium , and columa , every one of which is of as large a compasse as the kingdomes of legiona and castile . it is a very hard thing , if not altogether impossible , to recite all the murthers and cruelties there committed ; besides that , it would cloy the reader . here we must observe , that they entred into these kingdomes and territories , ( which for the abundance of people ought to have been the joy of all true christians ) upon no pretence , but as they said to reduce them to slavery . for at their first entrance they commanded them to swear fealty and obedience to the king of spain , & those that would not come in and submit themselves to the will of such unjust and cruel men , they proclaimed rebels , and and accus'd them of that crime to the king . the blindnesse of the chief governours of the indies not permitting them to discern , that no man can be called a rebell who is not before a subject . this cruel tyrant leaning upon this pretence , sent two other captains excelling himself in fury , and impiety to guatimala the most fertile and most flourishing kingdome both for men and fruit of any that were situated southward . they had also received commands to visit the kingdomes of naco , honduras , and guaimara looking toward the north , and being distant from mexico above three hundred miles ; the one was sent by land , the other by sea , being both of them well furnished with men and ammunition for horse and foot . and this i dare affirm , that the enormities committed by these two captains , and by him especially that was sent to guatimala ( for the other dyed an evill death in good time ) are enough to fill a particular volume , so many were the slaughters , violences , injuries , butcheries , and beastly desolations which they perpetrated , as do not only amaze the present , but must of necessity strike a horror into future ages : for in this place their abominations and devastations were more fatal then in any place before . as for him that went by sea , he vex'd all the shore with his incursions and cruelties , to whom there came certain out of the kingdome of yucatan , which lies in the way to the kingdomes of naco , and naymura , whither he was then marching , and brought him many presents , yet he was no sooner come into the countrey , but he sent the souldiers to depopulate and waste the same , who ceased not to commit many abominable outrages . among the rest , a certain seditious rebel entring into a region bordering upon guatemala , burnt up their city , killing the inhabitants , and laying waste all the countrey , which he did on purpose , that if he should be pursued by his enemies , they might be liable to the revenge of the indians as they passed along ; which happened accordingly , for there the chief commander from whose power the foresaid captain had rebell'd , was slain ; but he was succeeded by many other fell tyrants , who with their wonted cruelties and captivity destroyed the people , selling them to those that brought garments and other provision , and by that kinde of servitude , which they practised from the year 1524. to the year 1535. they depopulated and made desert the provinces of naco and honduras , which seemed to be the elysium and paradise of the world in every respect . and i have lately seen them so destroyed , that it would move the most stony heart to compassion . in these eleven years there prrished in this countrey above two millions , scarce two thousand now remaining , who daily diminish through the hardnesse of their servitude . but as for that abominable tyrant that exceeded all that were before in tyranny , and is equall to all that remains behinde , let us now finde him out in guatimala . he going through the provinces adjoyning to mexico toward guatimala , which are above four hundred miles in length , minded nothing else all the way he went , but slaughters , rapines , burnings , depopulations , compelling all upon the foresaid pretence to submit themselves to their cruelties , in the name of the king of spain , whom they had never seen nor heard of , and whom they could not but think more unjust and cruel then his ministers and officers , yet giving them no time to deliberate , they wasted all before them with fire and sword . of the kingdome and province of guatimala . at their first entrance into this kingdome they committed a very great outrage . but for all that their chief lord and governor carried in a litter came forth to meet him with drums and trumpets , and great joy ; attended by many of the nobles of the city of vtlacan the greatest mart town of that kingdome , where they gave him provisions in abundance , with all that he could desire . that night the spaniards lodg'd without the city , not thinking themselves safe in a town so well fortified as that was . the next day he called to him the chief lord with a great number of the nobles , demanding of them a very great quantity of gold . they returning him answer , that they could not satisfie his request by reason that their countrey afforded not gold , were immediately by his command , without any cause or form of proceeding , all burnt alive . the rest of the nobles of these provinces , seeing that all the chiefest of them , who had the power and government of the kingdome in their hands , were for no cause put to death , but because they were not able to give them gold , fled to the mountains for safety , charging their subjects to submit themselves to the spaniards , but not to tell them where their sculking places were , nor to give them notice of their flight . whereupon an infinite number of the indians came to the spaniards requesting that they might be their subjects , and that they might serve them . the captain made answer , that he would not receive them , and that moreover he would kill them all unlesse they would declare whither their lords were fled : the indians replyed , that they knew nothing of it , but their wives and children they said were ready to serve them , adding , that they were at home in their houses , whither they might goe , and either kill them or use them as they pleas'd ; which offers they made to them again and again . but strange to tell , the spaniards demanded their cities and towns , killing these poor creatures , who as they thought were secure at their work . they came to a very large town , which being confident of their own innocence , thought themselves safer then the rest ; but in two hours space they brought such a desolation upon it , killing all ages and sexes , that there was not a person left alive , but what saved themselves by flight . the indians perceiving that with all their humility , their patience , and their presents , that they were not able to asswage the fury of these inhumane creatures , and that they were daily killed up like dogs , began to think of taking armes ; for they thought it better , since an evill death could not be avoided , rather to die fighting and taking revenge upon their enemies , then to be killed like beasts by them . but when they saw their want of armes , their feeblenesse , their nakednesse , and that they were utterly unskilfull in the management of horses , that they might have some way of prevailing upon their enemies , it came in their minds to dig certain ditches in the waies , that so the horses as they went along might fall into them : at the bottome of these pits they had driven in stakes sharpned at the top , and they had covered them over with clods of earth that they might not be discovered ; twice or thrice the spaniards fell into these ditches , but afterwards by their care they easily avoided them . and therefore they made a law among themselves , that all the indians which they took , of what ever sex or degree , should be thrown into those pits which they had made : into these pits they threw women big with childe , and all the aged persons that they could light upon , till the pit was full . it was a sad sight to behold women with child goar'd through the body with these stakes ; while others that lay uppermost were killed with swords and launces ; those that would not in were cast to their dogs . they burnt a very potent peer of the nation in a great fire , saying that he was much honoured with that kinde of death . among other abominations committed by this captain and his followers , who were not at all more gentle then their leader , this was one more memorable then the rest . into the province of cuzcatan , where the city of our saviour is situated , being a countrey , which together with the neighbouring sea coast is extended about forty or fifty miles in length ; and also into the city of cuzcatan it self , which is the metropolis of the whole countrey , he was received with very great joy , the indians expecting his coming , laden with a present of above thirty thousand turkies and other things necessary for their refreshment . but he having received their gift , commanded the spaniards every one of them to take as many indians as they pleased , and to keep them for service as long as they should stay there . whereupon every one took a hundred lesse or more , according as his occasions required . and as for the poor captives they served them with so much zeal and affection , that they could require nothing more then adoration it self . after this the captain required of the people a great quantity of gold , who returned him answer , that they would give him all the gold they had . whereupon the indians brought together a great company of spears which were guilt with orichalcum , so that they seemed to be gold ; but the captain causing them to be touched , and not finding them to be gold , spake thus to the people , all curses light upon such a region as this , wherein there is no gold ; and then commanded all those that had taken servants , to keep them in chains , and to mark them with the mark of servitude , which was immediately done , the kings mark being burnt into their flesh ; which i saw also done to the son of the chiefest man in all the city . those indians that escaped with the rest of the inhabitants of the countrey , gathered themselves together , resolving to hazard a war with the spaniards , but alas with small prosperity , there being an infinite number of them slain . after this they returned to guatimala , where they built a city , which god in his justice destroy'd , overwhelming it , first with earth , then with stones of a vast bignesse , and lastly , letting in upon it a great deluge of waters . now after that they had slain all that were able to make resistance against them , they carried away the rest into captivity , or forced them to give away their children as tribute due to the spaniards , for they use the service of no other creatures . and thus part being sold into the countreys of peru , and part destroyed by the sword , they made a wildernesse of one of the most happy and populous countreys of those parts , stretching out in length and bredth above a hundred miles . this the tyrant himself confessed , writing that this county was more populous then the county of mexico , as indeed it was . this man in the space of fifteen years , which was from the year 525. to 540. together with his associates , massacred no lesse then five millions of men , and do daily destroy those that are yet remaining . it was the custome of this tyrant , when he made war upon any town or countrey , to carry along with him as many as he could of the subdued indians , compelling them to make war upon their countreymen , and when he had ten or twenty thousand men in his service , because he could not give them provision , he permitted them to eat the flesh of those indians that they had taken in war : for which cause he had a kind of shambles in his army for the ordering and dressing of mans flesh , suffering children to be killed and broyled in his presence . the men they killed only for their hands and feet , for those they accounted dainties . which being understood by the neighbours , they were all struck with astonishment . of new spain . as also of panucon , and xalisco . these horrid murders and massacres being committed , besides others that i have omitted , in the provinces of new spain , there came another cruel and furious tyrant into the provinces of panucon , who having perpetrated many hainous iniquities , and sent great numbers of the natives to be sold in the countreys of spain , laid waste all this kingdome : and once it hapned that they used eight hundred of the indians in stead of a team to draw their carriages , as if they had been meer beasts and irrational creatures . he was afterwards made president of the city of mexico , and with him many other his fellow tyrants advanced to the office of auditors ; which offices they contaminated with so many impieties and abominations , that it is hardly to be imagined . and as for this countrey it self , they so far destroyed it , that if some of the franciscan friers had not strenuously opposed him , and that the kings councel had not provided a sudden remedy for it , in two years space they had wholly depopulated new spain , as they had done in hispaniola . one of the associates of the president that he might enclose his garden with a wall , used the service of eight thousand indians , and because he afforded them neither food , nor wages , they all perished after a most sad and lamentable manner . after the first captain , of whom we spake before , had put an end to the destruction of panucon ; and that there came newes to him that the kings councell was coming into these parts , he went further into the countrey , that he might exercise his cruelties with more liberty , and caused fifteen or twenty thousand of the indians to follow and carry the burthens of the spaniards , of whom scarce two hundred returned alive , the rest being all destroyed ; at length they came to the province of machuaca which is distant above forty miles from mexico , and is nothing at all inferior to the other either for plenty of provision , or number of people ; the king coming to meet him with all shewes of respect and honour , they put in prison because he was reported to be very rich : which that they might get from him , they thus tormented him ; having put his feet in a kinde of stocks , and stretching out his body , they tyed his hands to a stake , and then putting fire to his feet , while a boy was set to baste them with oyle , that they might roast the better ; there stood another also with dogs behind him , threatning to set them upon him ; which if he had done , they would have soon put an end to his life : and with these torments they vexed him , to make him bring his treasures to light . at length there came a franciscan frier who freed him from his torments , but not from death , which immediately ensued . with this kinde of torture they put to death many other of the princes and noble men of the countrey . about this time a certain man who came to visit their purses rather then their souls , knowing the indians to be adorers of idols , for the spaniards had not taught them better , kept them captive till they had delivered all their images , for they thought that they had been all of gold , but when they found themselves deceived , he inflicted upon them punishments as if they had committed some great offence , and because he would not utterly lose their hopes , caused them to redeem their idols with gold , to adore them ; and thus did the spaniards procure the worship of god among the indians . this tyrant out of the province of panucon , went to methuaca and xalisco , which were countreys fruitful both in men and money , and no small glory of the indian nation , having cities that were in length above seven miles . when he came into these countreys , the indians , as they were wont , met him with accustomed signes of joy and gladnesse ; but he immediately brake forth into his wonted cruelties , to attain his usual scope , which was the heaping up of gold , the only god which they adore . the cities they burnt to the ground ; their princes , having first tormented them , they carried away captive , binding them in chains . women with childe , without any consideration of their weaknesse , they oppressed with tedious labours and hunger , that they dy'd by the way . and as for their children , because they could not carry them , they were forc'd to throw them away , by which a number of infants were destroyed . there being a certain christian who went about to defile a virgin , her mother interposed her self , and would have taken the daughter from him ; the spaniard drawing forth his dagger , cut off her hand , and afterwards slew the virgin , because she would not give consent to his lustful desire . among other things also this was most unjust , that they caused to be marked with the mark of slavery above four thousand five hundred of the indians that were all as free born as themselves ; among which they also caused to be thus marked children of two , three or four years old , though they were all such as came forth to meet him with great acclamations of joy ; other things without number i passe by in silence . all these above mentioned abominations being done , they reduced the rest to a tyrannicall subjection , for which cause they thought that they were only sent thither . in which regions the said governour gave liberty to all the spaniards , especially to his stewards and officers , to exercise what tortures they pleased upon the indians to draw out of them the knowledge where their treasure lay . his steward in times of peace kill'd many indians , burning some , and casting other to his dogs , cutting off others hands , legs , and heads , that thereby their minds being totally subjected they should never deny where their gold or treasure lay hid . all these things were done , the tyrant himself beholding and consenting ; and not only so , but they oppressed them and continually abused them with stripes and blowes of their canes and fists , leaving no cruelty unexercised toward them . in this kingdome of xalisco they consumed by fire six thousand villages , upon which the indians growing desperate , seeing the remainder of those that escaped daily destroyed ; they made an insurrection against the spaniards , and killing some of them , as they well deserved , they betook themselves again to the mountains . but the cruelties and injuries of the tyrants that went from these parts to depopulate ( which they called discover ) other regions overtaking them ; many indians were by them slain , while they sought to defend themselves in the rocks : and to this present there are a thousand butcheries committed upon them ; whereby there are hardly left any people in the whole countrey . and thus the spaniards being blinded and forsaken by god , and given over to a reprobate sense , considered not how unagreeable both to the law of god and nature were their proceedings against the indians , how unjustly they went about to destroy them by force of armes , and not only to cast them out of their countrey , but to torture them and cut them in pieces : nor do they see how impious their violences and tyrannies are over these poor people ; they do believe and do affirme both in deed and word , that those victories which they have obtained and used to the destruction of the indians , as if their unjust wars were of right , and are so impudent as to give god thanks for them : like those theeves of whom zachary speaks in the eleventh chapter , the third and fourth verses . feed the flock of the slaughter , whose possessors slay them and hold themselves not guilty , and they that sell them say , blessed be the lord , for i am rich . of the kingdome of yucatan . in the year 1526. a vile and impious man through his sawning and lying , was made governour of the kingdome of yucatan ; which was the manner that other tyrants used for the obtaining of their preferments and offices ; for by their authority they had greater opportunities to do mischief . this kingdome did abound with people both because of the temper of the air , and for the plenty of provision , in which it excelled the countrey of mexico . but those things for which it is chiefly famous are hony and wax , which it afforded to all the countreys of india , which have been hitherto discovered . it is three hundred miles in compasse . this nation either as to policy and good government , or as to their way of living and conversation , excelled all the rest ; and well deserved to have had more knowledge of the true god . there there might have been erected by the spaniards many brave and large cities where they might have liv'd as in a paradise , had they not rendred themselves totally unworthy of any such benefits through their own enormities and impieties . this tyrant with three hundred men made war upon these innocent indians living peaceably in their houses , and offering injury to none , destroying many people . and because the countrey hath no gold , for if it had they had soon ended the lives of the inhabitants , by digging in the mines , making a gain of those bodies and souls for which christ died , therefore those that they left alive , they made slaves of , sending whole ships away fraighted with people , bartering them for wine , oyle , vinegar , pork , horses , and other things which they stood in need of . out of fifty or a hundred virgins which he had chosen out , he exchanged the best of them for the smallest vessell of wine , oyle , vinegar or pork : and once it chanced that a youth who was the son of a prince , was exchanged for a cheese , and a hundred persons for a horse . this was his imployment , from the year 26. to 33. till newes was brought of the regions of peru , whither the spaniards going put an end to their villanies here for a small time . but after some daies were past over , they returned again to their former rapines and dishonouring of god by their wicked courses ; neither have they yet made an end , so that now three hundred miles of land lie untill'd and void of inhabitants . the particulars of their cruelty are not to be remembred , only two or three that come into my minde i will relate . while the spaniards were hunting after the indians with their dogs , they met with an indian women , who being sick and seeing that she was not able to escape them , taking a rope hang'd her self , hanging also her childe of a year old about her waste by the feet ; but the dogs immediately fell upon the childe , only he was baptized by a religious person before he died . when the spaniards departed out of the kingdome invited the son of a certain noble man , governor either of a city or great province , that he would go along with him , who answering that he was unwilling to leave his native countrey , they threatned to cut off his ears unlesse he would go along with him ; notwithstanding all which , he persevered in his resolution ; whereupon they cut off his nose and the upper part of his lip , with as little remorse as if they had been paring their nailes . this furcisur carried himself obscenly toward a deserving religious person , boasting to him , that he had got as many indians as he could with childe , that they might yeeld the more profit in the sale of them . in this kingdome , or else in some province of new spain , it hapned that a spaniard being a hunting , his dogs seemed to him to be a hungry , whereupon he took a little infant out of the mothers armes , and cutting off the thighs and armes of the childe , cast it to his dogs , and when they had devoured those , he cast the whole body to them . thus we see how they were delivered over to a reprobate sense ; and what a value they put upon these creatures formed after the image of god . but now worse things follow . many cruelties , and indeed innumerable which were never before heard of , i doe omit , only i shall adde this one . these ambitious , blinde and execrable tyrants going out of this region to seek more riches , there went with them four monks of the order of st. francis together with father iames , to keep the countrey in peace , and to bring the remainder of those that were left by their preaching to the knowledge of christ . i do beleeve that these were they that in the year thirty four were solicited by the indians to come into their countrey , and to preach to them the knowledge of the true god . to which purpose they gathered assemblies and congregations together , that they might know what sort of people these were that call'd themselves fathers , and fryers , who differed so much from the rest of the spaniards , that vex'd them with so much affliction and torment . at length they receiv'd them , but on condition that they would come alone and not let any other of the spaniards enter in among them , which those religious persons promis'd , for they had not only a liberty , but a command from the governour of new spain , that they should so promise them , and that the spaniards should do them no harm or injury . upon which they began to preach the gospel among them , and to declare to them the holy intention of the king of spain , of which things they had not yet received any knowledge , nor that they had any other king then him who oppressed them with so much tyranny . the religious persons had not been there above forty daies , when they began to bring in all their idols , and to commit them to the fire ; and afterwards they brought their children , whom they loved as dearly as the apples of their eyes , to the religious persons to be instructed . and thus being perswaded by these religious persons they did more then ever had been done in the indies before ( for what ever the tyrants that had oppressed them were wont to tell them they only spoke in contempt and derision on the indians ) for above twelve or fifteen kings of large provinces , together with their subjects by their councell and consent , all of them acknowledged the king of castile to be their superiour lord of their own accord , and received him for their emperour , as he was king of spain . in test●mony whereof i have a writing in my own custody signed by those persons . thus not without the great joy of those devout persons , an entry was made , for the bringing of those inhabitants that were remaining in these countreys to the knowledge of christ ; but in the mean while by another way there entred in among them about eighteen spanish horsemen and twelve footmen , bringing with them great loads of idols , which they had brought out of other countreys . the captain of the foresaid spaniards called to him one of the noble men of this countrey , and commanded him to take these idols and to distribute them among his people , and bring in exchange an indian man or woman for every idol , otherwise threatning to make war upon him ; the foresaid lord out of fear took those idols , giving every one of them to his subjects , commanding them to worship them , and also to send back in recompence to the spaniards some of their people to serve them . the indians terrifi'd delivered their children after a certain proportion , those that had two giving one , and those that had three delivering two ; and thus they ended this sacrilegious merchandize , and so the cacique gave satisfaction to the spaniards ; i dare not call them christians . one of these sacrilegious robbers , iohn garcia by name , being very sick and like to die had under his bed two burthens of these idols , who when the indian woman that looked to him was with him , commanded her that she should not deliver those idols at a small rate , because they were of the best sort , and therefore that she should not sell them , but for an indian man or woman in exchange , and as he was making this kinde of will he expired . and who can now question but that his soul is now tormented in the flames of hell ▪ consider by this what was the progresse of religion ; and what examples of christianity the spaniards did shew , when they came into america , how they honour'd god themselves , or how much they car'd that the indians should know the right worship of him ; judge which is the greater crime , that of ieroboam who made israel to sin , causing two golden calves to be set up , and to be worshipt by the people , or of the spaniards , who caused the indians to buy their idols , and made merchandize of them . these are the deeds of the spaniards , who most often , out of a desire of heaping up gold , did sell and do yet sell , did deny and do yet deny christ their redeemer . the indians seeing that the promises of the religious persons , that the spaniards should not enter into their countrey , were not performed , and that the spaniards brought idols out of other places to sell them into their countrey , whereas the religious persons had made them to burn all theirs , that there might be but one worship of one god , came and spoke to them in this manner . why have you told us so many untruths , promising so faithfully to us that the spaniards should not come into our countrey ? why have you burnt our gods , when as they do bring and sell others among us ? are the gods of other countreys better then our own ? the friers , although they had little to say , yet they made a shift to pacifie their mindes , and immediately went to the spaniards declaring to them the evill which they had done , humbly beseeching them to depart . which the spaniards not only utterly denyed , but also , which was more wicked and abominable : they perswaded the indians that they were called by the friers : which being believ'd , they took councell to kill the religious persons , who being admonished by certain other indians , avoided that danger and fled . but after their departure , knowing the falshood and treachery of the spaniards , they sent messengers fifty miles after them , craving pardon in the name of the indians , and intreating them to return . the religious persons , as upright servants of god and zealous for the souls of those poor people , gave credit to the messengers and returned , and were entertained as if they had been angels sent from heaven , and remained with the indians for five moneths , receiving a thousand courtesies from them . but when the spaniards would not depart from thence , although the viceroy used all his endevours to recall them ; he declared them traytors and guilty of high treason ; and moreover , when the persevered in their tyranny and oppression , the religious persons seeing , that though revenge came late , that yet they would not go unpunished , and fearing lest that revenge might fall upon their own heads , and besides not being able to preach the gospell in quiet , by reason of the incursions of the spaniards , resolv'd to leave the kingdome , which now remains destitute of all knowledge , the souls of these poor indians remaining in their past miseries of ignorance and heathenisme , all the streams of divine knowledge being taken from them , by these cursed spaniards , as when water is taken from the young plants ; for at the time when they went away , the indians were very covetous after the knowledge of our religion . of the province of sancta martha . the province of st. martha by reason of the golden mines & the fertility of the place wa● a brave island ; wherefore from the year 1528. to 1542. many tyrants went thither by sea , with their incursions wasting and spoyling all the island , after a strange manner destroying the inhabitants , and robbing them of all their gold . and so the whole countrey was wasted by them , especially all the coast and the places adjoyning , untill the year 1523. and because it was a fruitfull countrey , there went thither at severall times severall captains , succediug one another in cruelty , so that every one striv'd to out-vie his predecessor in the inventions of exquisite torments to afflict the poor people . and thus also in this place they confirm'd our foresaid axiome . in the year 1529. there went thither a very great tyrant accompanied with many troops , with an intention to exceed all the rest of his predecessors in cruelty , who took away abundance of treasure from the people in the space of seven years ; in which exile he dying without repentance , into his place other tyrants succeeded , where with their bloudy hands and impious points of their swords they destroy'd all the rest that their predecessors had spared . and such a desolation they brought upon many provinces by their accustomed waies of cruelty , and inflicted so many torments upon the princes and people to force them to declare where their treasure lay , that from the year 1529. to this day they depopulated above four hundred mile of land , the number of people in these parts slain being not inferior to those who had been slain in other places . if i had decreed to reckon up the impieties , slaughters , cruelties , violences , rapines , murders , and iniquities , and other crimes committed by the spaniards against god , the king , and these innocent nations , i should make two large a volume : yet i shall do my endevour , if god grant me life . for the present i will rehearse a part of those things which the bishops of these provinces wrote to the king our soveraign lord . these were letters dated the 25. of may , in the year , 1541. in which these words are written . i tell your sacred majesty , that there is no remedy to ease this afflicted nation , but to deliver it out of the power of these step-fathers , and to give it into the power of a loving husband , which may use it with more gentlenesse as befits it , and that as soon as may be ; for if there be any delay , it must of necessity perish . and a little after he proceeds thus . by which it shall be apparent to your majesty , how deservedly the governors of these provinces ought to be deprived of their dignity , that the provinces may be eased ; which if it be not suddenly done , these provinces will never be eased . this also your majesty may further take notice of , that they are not men that live here but devils , that there are no servants of god or the king to be found , but traytors both to the law and king . now certainly there is nothing more destructive to the peace of the nation , and that hinders more the conversion of those that live there in peace , then the cruel and hard usage which the spaniards afflict those innocent people withall , which bred in them such a loathing of the spanish name , that nothing is more odious and detestable . for the indians call them yaes , which in their language signifies devils . and truly not without reason , for the actions of these people have been more like the actions of devils , whereby it happens that the indians seing such crimes committed by the spaniards both of high and inferiour conditions , so void of pity and compassion , cannot chuse but think amisse both of god , the king , and 〈◊〉 of the christians ; and to labour to 〈◊〉 them to the contrary , is a vain and fruitlesse labour , and whereby a greater advantage is given them to laugh at christ and his law . and as for the indians that take armes to defend themselves they think it better to die once , then to fall into the hands of their enemies , and to be afflicted with many deaths . these things , most invincible caesar , i have learnt by experience . he addes further , your majesty hath in these countreys more friends and servants then you are aware of ; for there is no souldier of all those that serve in these parts , who does not publickly and openly professe , whether he rob , steal , kill or burn the subjects of your majesty , for the obtaining of gold , but that he does it to do your majesty service . wherefore most invincible caesar it would be requisite , that you should signifie by the severe correction of some , how displeased you were with such services , whereby they shew themselves so disobedient and refractory to god himself . which words are taken from the writings of the said bishop of st. martha , out of which it is manifest , what strange things have been committed , and are daily committed by them . they call the indians warlike , that continually flie to the mountains to avoid the cruelty of the spaniards , and they call those the indians and inhabitants of the countrey , whom they have subjected to the hardship of a perpetual slavery by the terror of their massacres : by which they have been depopulated and wasted , as appears out of the letters of the foresaid bishop , who recites but a very few of those things that were committed . the indians of these regions us'd to break forth into these expressions , when they are forc'd naked through the craggie passages of the mountains , if at any time they chanced to faint with wearinesse ( for then they are constantly beaten with canes , sometimes their teeth knockt out with the hilts of their swords , to make them rise and proceed on in their journeys without any rest ) then were they wont i say to break forth into these expressions , oh how envious art thou ▪ i faint , kill me , and put an end to my daies : this they sigh forth , scarcly able to draw out their words , the certain signs of an inward anguish and deep distresse ; but who can comprehend in words the hundredth part of these calamities and afflictions wherewith the spaniards do torment the poor indians ; god of his mercy bring them to the knowledge of those who are able to remedy and prevent them for the future . of the province of carthagena . this province is distant from the island of st. martha toward the west 50. miles , and is situated upon the confines of the kingdome of cerusia , being stretched upon the sea coast to the bay of vraba a hundred miles in length , south ward it is also stretched to a very great length . these provinces from the year 1498. to this present year were handled after a most cruel manner , and depopulated with several kindes of slaughters , as it happened in the islands of st. martha : but that i may come to a quick conclusion i shall cease to speak of every particular , that i may make hast to the rehearsal of those detestable crimes which they committed in other countreys . of the shore of pearls , of paria , and of the island of the trinity . from the shore of paria , to the bay of v●necuela , which takes up above two hundred miles in length , the spaniards committed most wonderful depopulations ; for they gave themselves wholly to their wonted robberies , enslaving also infinite numbers of men , on purpose to sell them for money , against all the faith and pledges which they had given them for their security ( for those were things which they never observed ) though they were entertained by these innocent creatures with all civility , and softered in their houses like their parents , or children , serving them in all things to the utmost of their power , and making them masters of all that was in their possession . it can hardly be said or expressed , with how many injuries and unjust actions they used to afflict the poor indians in these countreys from 1510. untill this present year . two or three of their most hainous crimes i will rehearse , whereby the reader may judge of the wickedness of those which remain untold . into the island of the trinity being larger and more fertile then sicily , and stored with inhabitants , according to their quality , more ingenuous & vertuous then any other nation of the indians , a certain robber went in the year 1510. accompanyed with fifty or sixty other fellow theeves , who presently proclaim'd an edict that all the indians should come into the island to live with him . the indians received them as their natural countreymen , both princes and subjects yeelding obedience to them with much chearfulnesse , bringing provision to them every day as much as would have sufficed to have served a far greater number ; for this is the custome of the inhabitants of this new world , to afford all necessaries to the spaniards in great abundance . a little while after the spaniards built a great house for the indians to dwel in , for they would not that all of them should have more then one house , where they might all dwell together , that they might with more convenience execute that which they had in their resolutions ; which they did accordingly : for when they had thatched it over , and raised it to the height of two men , they shut up abundance of them in the said house upon pretence to hasten the work ; but in truth , that those within might not be seen by those without ; then a part of them compass'd the house with their weapons that none might enter in or go forth ; after that others of them went in , and unsheathing their swords , they threatned death to the naked indians if they stir'd , and then bound them . and if any of them went about to flye , they were in the place immediately cut in pieces ; some few that escaped , part wounded , and part whole , joyning themselves with those who stood without , being about two hundred in number , with bowes and arrowes retreated to another house , who being all at one end stoutly defending the entry of the house , the spaniards set fire to the other end , and so they all there perished by fire . hence they departed with their prisoners , all they could lay hold on , being about a hundred and eighty , to the island of st. iohn where the sold half , and from thence also to the island of hispaniola , where they fold the rest . now when i taxed the captain for his wickednesse , after he came to the island of st. iohn ? he gave me this answer , pray sir be patient , for i was commanded by those that sent me , that those that i could not take by fair means , i should seize by force : yet the said captain had related to me for certain , that in the island of the trinity he found them both fathers and mothers to him , which he spoke to his greater confusion and the aggravation of his crime . infinite of other things they did , taking captive these poor people against all faith given . let these actions be well considered , and whether the indians so taken may be justly enslaved or no . once the fryers of the order of st. dominick consulted about sending some of their order to this island , to spread the light of the gospel among the indians , for the salvation of their souls ; whereupon they sent a licentiate , famous for his sanctity with a lay man , to accompany him , to visit the countrey , converse with the inhabitants , and to seek out fit places for the the building of monasteries . the religious persons being arriv'd were received as angels from heaven , ear being giv'n to their words with all attention , alacrity and affection , that they were able at that time , for they were ignorant of our language ; it happened afterwards when the religious persons were gone , that there came a band of souldiers , who according to their wonted customes of fraud and impiety , carried away captive the prince of the province , who ( either because that name was given him by the religious persons , or by the other spaniards ) was call'd alfonsus ; for they delight to be called by the names of the christians , and therefore before they are informed of any thing else they desire to be baptized . by these souldiers was alfonsus craftily seduced a shipboard under pretence that they would give him a banquet ; with their prince there went seventeen other persons , for they had a confidence that the fryers would keep the spaniards from doing them any injury , for otherwise the said king would not have trusted them so far ; but they were no sooner on shipboard , but the spaniards hoysed up their sailes for hispaniola , where they sold all the indians for slaves ; now all the region being troubled for the losse of their king and queen , flockt to the religious persons , and had like to have slain them ; who perceiving the injustice of the spaniards were very much troubled ; and i do beleeve , that they had rather have lost their lives , then that the indians should have suffered such an injury to the hinderance of their salvation ; but the indians were satisfied with the promises of the religious persons , who told them , that as soon as any ships came to the island , they would take the first opportunity to go to hispaniola and endevour to get their king and queen set at liberty . providence sent a ship thither to confirm the condemnation of those that govern'd , by which these religious persons sent to the religious persons of hispaniola , but got no redress , for the spaniards there were receivers of the prey . when the religious persons , who had promised to the indians that their king should return within four moneths , saw that he did not come in eight moneths , they prepared themselves for death , and to give up their lives to christ to whom they had offer'd them before their departure out of hispaniola ; and so the innocent indians reveng'd themselves upon the innocent friers . for the indians , believed that the religious persons were guilty of the said treachery , partly because that their promises concerning the return of their king in four moneths had prov'd so vain , partly because the indians make no distinction between the religious persons and the theeving spaniards . it hapned also that at another time , through the great tyranny and oppression of the evil christians , that the indians slew two religious persons of the order of st. dominic , of which i was a very real witnesse , as being one of those who escaped the same fate by a great miracle , which i had resolved not to have mentioned , lest the horror of the fact should deter others . wherefore to avoid prolixity , i shall say no more concerning these things , leaving them to be revealed at the day of judgement , when god shall pour his vengeance down upon these robbers and destroyers of mankinde . in these provinces in the bay of coderat , there was a city , the lord of which was called higueroto , a name common either to the persons , or to the officers of the place . he was a person so milde and gentle , and all his subjects endued with such vertue using the spaniards that arriv'd there with that civility , that they thought nothing too much for them , bestowing all things needfull either for sustenance or delight that their countrey afforded . this lord had saved many from death , who had escaped out of other provinces , from the murthers and slaughters of the spaniards , being a kind of a sanctuary for the sick and half famished persons that came into his countrey , and when they were recovered sent them back again to the island of pearls where the spaniards liv'd , though he had an opportunity to have slain them , there being none to regard or misse them ; in brief , the spaniards had all the houses of the inhabitants in common , and all the subjects of higueroto they called their own subjects ; but a perfidious spaniard took councel how he might destroy this region which seem'd it self so safe and secure ; presently therefore he sayl'd thither , and invited a great number of men to come a shipboard , who giving credit to the spaniards , came willingly to them ; but they were no sooner entred the ship , but the spaniards hoysed sayl for the island of st. iohn where they sold them all . at the same time i arriv'd at this island , where i saw this tyrant , and was told the relation of what he had done . he wholly destroyed the city it self , which the other spaniards who were wont to harrace all the sea coast , were notwithstanding much troubled at , abominating actions so hainous committed against them who had been so courteous and liberal to them , and where they had been entertain'd as in their own houses . i will not recite the infinite wickednesses which have been committed by them , and are daily committed among them . these spaniards departed from the sea coast to the islands of hispaniola and st. iohn , carrying with them above two millions of men to the said islands , which they afterwards destroyed through hard labour and continual bad usage ; those that before liv'd in this island , being not reckned into their number , who were an infinite and unspeakable number , and it is a most sad thing to consider , and that which would move the most cruel hearts , to see all this fertile shore lie desert and depopulated . this is also a known thing , that they never do transport indians from these places , but in their voyage they do pay the third ●art of them as a tribute to the waves , besides those that are murthered in their own houses . the cause of all these things are their own wicked purposes ; that is to say , by the sale of the indians to heap up treasure , yet furnishing the ships not with half provisions for the sustenance of those that they transport , because they would not be at too much charges ; and sometimes there are hardly provisions enough to suffice the spaniards themselves , so that the indians ready to die for hunger and thirst , are immediately thrown into the sea . and it was related to me for certain , that a ship going from hispaniola to the island of lucayos , sayl'd thither without any compasse , only by the carkasses that floated up and down the sea . afterwards when they are landed , where they are carried to be sold , there is no man that would not be mov'd with compassion , to see both old and young , men and women , naked and hungry , drop and faint as they goe along . afterwards they divide them like sheep , separating sons from fathers , wives from their husbands ; and then making up a company of ten or twenty , those that set out the ships , and fitted them with necessaries , presently cast lots for their shares . and when the lot fell upon a company that had an old or a sick man , he to whom the lot fell , was wont to break forth into these expressions , cursed be this old fellow , why do you give him me ? to bury him ? why do you give me this sick man ? to be his keeper ? and thus let us consider , in what estimation the indians are among the spaniards , and how the precept of charity on which the law and the prophets depends is observed among them . there is nothing more detestable or more cruel , then the tyranny which the spaniards use toward the indians for the getting of pearl . surely the infernall torments cannot much exceed the anguish that they indure , by reason of that way of cruelty ; for they put them under water some four or five ells deep , where they are forced without any liberty of respiration , to gather up the shels wherein the pearls are ; sometimes they come up again with nets full of shels to take breath , but if they stay any while to rest themselves , immediately comes a hangman row'd in a little boat , who as soon as he hath well beaten them , drags them again to their labour . their food is nothing but fish , and the very same that contains the pearl , with a small portion of that bread which that countrey affords ; in the first whereof there is little nourishment ; and as for the latter , it is made with great difficulty , besides that they have not enough of that neither for sustenance ; they lye upon the ground in fetters , lest they should run away ; and many times they are drown'd in this labour , and are never seen again till they swim upon the top of the waves : oftentimes they also are devoured by certain sea monsters , that are frequent in those seas . consider whether this hard usage of the poor creatures be consistent with the precepts which god commands concerning charity to our neighbour , by those that cast them so undeservedly into the dangers of a cruel death , causing them to perish without any remorse or pity , or allowing them the benefit of the sacraments , or the knowledge of religion ; it being impossible for them to live any time under the water ; and this death is so much the more painful , by reason that by the coarctation of the brest , while the lungs strive to do their office , the vitall parts are so afflicted that they dye vomiting the bloud out of their mouthes . their hair also , which is by nature black , is hereby chang'd and made of the same colour with that of the sea wolves ; their bodies are also so besprinkled with the froth of the sea , that they appear rather like monsters then men . by this intolerable labour , or rather diabolical exercise , they have consumed all the lucayans , for their particular gain ; out of every indians labour gaining above fifty or a hundred crowns . they sold them also against all justice ; only because lucayans were most skilfull swimmers . there perished also many of the inhabitants of other provinces in this place . of the river of yuya pari. through this province runs the river of yuya pari which rises in other countreys about two huudred miles distant . into this river entred a perfidious tyrant , wasting many miles of land , committing many slaughters , consuming many by fire , and putting an infinite number of these poor indians to the sword , that liv'd peaceably in their own houses without any suspicion of making disturbance . at length he dy'd an evill death , and all his forces came to ruine , though he were succeeded by many others , not inferiour to him in impiety , who daily destroy the souls of the poor indians , for whom the bloud of christ was spilt . of the kingdome of venecuela . in the yeare 1526. our soveraigne lord the king through the false perswasions of some evil counsellours made over to certaine dutch merchants the kingdome of venecuela , being more large and long then spain , giving to the governour a full and plenary jurisdiction over the said people upon certain conditions . they entered this region with about 30. men , where they found the people affable and courteous as they were in other countries of india before they were killed up by the spaniards . they by many degrees crueller then the rest of whom we have spoken shewed themselves more fierce and greedy then tygers , wolves or lyons ; for having a jurisdiction over the land , and therefore possessing it more freely , they bestirred themselves with greater fury and covetousnesse in the heaping up of gold and silver , then any of their predecessors had done before them ; laying aside all feare of god , or of the king , and forgetting all humanity . these incarnate devils laid waste and spoiled above 400. miles of most fertile land , containing very great provinces , fruitful vallies forty miles in length ; and an infinite number of villages abounding with gold and silver . so many , and so many several regions they so utterly depopulated , that they hardly left a messenger of these sad tydings , but those which hiding themselves in the caverns and bowels of the earth escaped the thirst of their enraged swords . with new and unusual sorts of torments they destroyed above four or five millions of people ; neither do they yet put an end to their abominable crimes and enormities : three or four of their mad actions i will rehearse , whereby the reader may judge of the rest . the chiefe lord of the province they took captive , putting him to several torments to squeeze his gold from him ; but he escaping fled to the mountaines , and thereupon his subjects that lay hid among the woods and bushes began to raise a tumult ; the spainards followed destroying abundance of the people ; and as for those who were taken alive , they were publickly sold for slaves . in many provinces , and indeed in most provinces where they came before the captivity of the chief lord , they were still welcom'd by the indians with songs and dances and great presents of gold ; though the thanks which they gave them was alwayes with the points of their swords , still recompensing them with massacres . one day when they came forth to meet the spaniards , the german tyrant and captaine caus'd an infinite number of them to be shut up in a house made up with straw , where he commanded that they should be all cut in pieces . now by reason that there were beames in the house whither the indians got up to avoid the fury of the german swords ; therefore ( o cruel beasts ) the governour sent certaine men to set fire upon the house , and so burnt them alive : so that now the whole region lay waste and desolate , the inhabitants being all fled to the mountaines for safety . they came afterwards to another large province neere to that of st. martha , where they found the indians in their houses and cities very peaceably employed about their occasions , where they liv'd a good while at the charges of the inhabitants , the indians serving them like men in whose power their lives and safeties were , induring beyond imagination their continual importunities and daily oppressions , which were almost intolerable . this being added , which i said before , that one spainard consumes in one day as much as would suffice to serve an indian family consisting commonly of ten persons for a whole month . at that time the indians presented them with several great summes of gold , doing many other kindnesses for them . at length when they were about to go away , as a recompence for all their courteous entertainment , they resolv'd to leave them after this manner . the german tyrant gave command that all the indians with their wives and children if possible , should be gathered together and shut up in one large place ; which done , they were also commanded to signifie to them , that whoever desired to be at liberty , must redeeme themselves with their wives and children at a certain ransome , impos'd upon them at the discretion of the governour ; & to hasten them the more and bring them to a greater necessity , he commanded that no sustenance should be given them , till they had pay'd the sum required . hereupon many sent home for the price of their redemption , that they might be at liberty to seek for victuals : but they had not been long at home ere they were brought back again by the robbers , and shut up in the same place , that being oppressed with hunger and thirst they might be forc'd to redeem themselves once more ; and thus were many of them three or four times faine to ransom themselves . and in this manner a country abounding with gold and people was totally destroy'd ; in which there was a valley forty miles long , where they burnt a village that contained above a thousand houses . this governour went further , having a great desire to see the lower parts of perue ; for which journey he provided an infinite number of indians , lading them with chaines and heavy burthens ; and if any of them fainted by the way , because they would not stand to loosen the chaines , they cut off their hands and heads , casting the head one way , and the body another , and their burdens were divided and impos'd upon others . and now should i reckon the provinces which he laid desert , the cities which he burnt , for all their houses are of straw , besides the particular slaughters which they made , though i am confident of the truth thereof , yet should i scarcely be beleeved , by reason that so much cruelty could not be suppos'd in man . this course took other tyrants that departed from venequela and the province of st. martha , with a resolution to make a further discovery of the divine gold of perue : but they found that glorious country so desert , so depopulated , so wasted and destroyed , that they themselves though a crew of blood thirsty tyrants , were amaz'd and wondred to behold such ruines and depopulations . these and many other things were prov'd before the fiscal of the indian council , and the several proofes are kept by the said council ; though t is most certain that they never put to death any of those cursed tyrants , as if all the devastations and murders by them committed had not been at all to be regarded . for hitherto the ministers of justice in india through their extraordinary and damned blindnesse , have never been very solicitous to inquire after the crimes and slaughters which those tyrants have committed , or daily do commit . onely they tell you slightly , that because such and such a one did ill and handled the indians so cruelly , that therefore the treasury of the king was much diminished ; and this is all they do toward the suppression of so many hainous actions . neither are those , which are prov'd , verifi'd to any purpose , neither is there that credit given to them as indeed there should be ; for if they would but do their duty both to god and the king , they would soon finde the king to have been cheated by the german tyrants of above three millions of gold ; for the region of venecuela being about 400. miles in length , for the happinesse of the soile and the abundance of gold is not inferiour to any of the rest : and thus in the space of seventeen years wherein these enemies of god and the king , have done nothing else but destroy'd and wasted these countries , they have , as i said before , defrauded the king not of lesse then three millions of gold . neither is it to be hop'd that these losses can be repaired as long as the world stands , unlesse god by some miracle should raise from the dead so many people as have been slaine ; besides the blasphemies and curses wherewith they have been bold to provoke even god himselfe . but what recompence can be made for the destroying of so many soules , which through the cruelty and tyranny of so many blood-sucking tyrants are now tormented in hell ? this also may be added by way of conclusion to the rest of their crimes , that from the time that they first enterd this region , which is now seventeen years agoe , they never ceas'd to send whole ships laden with indian captives to the islands of st. martha , hispaniola , iamaica , and st. iohn , having sold at the least a million of men ; neither do they yet forebeare in this yeare 1542. that abominable practice ; the royal council of the king taking no notice thereof : and that , which they cannot choose but see , they not onely dissemble , but suffer and uphold them that do it . and as for the rest of their crimes and infinite devastations , which they spread all along this part of the continent , for a matter of 400. miles in length , together with venecuela which is under their jurisdiction , they shut their eyes , when they might have remedi'd them . the reason why they did captivate the indians was onely this ; out of a perverse , obstinate and blinde desire of heaping up gold and riches , which is common to all that have gone into america . for these quiet lambes , they drew them by violence out of their houses , carrying them , together with their wives and children into captivity , afflicting them in those horrid manners as abovesaid , and burning them with the marke of slaves . of the provinces of the country of florida . into these countries there went two several tyrants at several times , from the year 1510. or eleven , that they might perpetrate the same abominable actions as the rest had done ; that by the blood and destruction of the people , they might obtaine offices and dignities which they were no way worthy of . but at length they were taken away by an evil death , the houses also which they had built them ( this i witnesse of all the three ) at the cost of humane blood perish'd with them , the memory of them vanishing from the face of the earth , as if they had never been . they left these countries very much troubled and confused , having incurr'd no small infamy by reason of the crimes which they committed , though they were not many : for god cut them off at the beginning , leaving the revenge of those evils , which i know , and have seen done in the indies , to be poured forth upon this place . of the fourth tyrant that came well instructed lately in the yeare 1538. we have had no news these three yeares . this we are sure of , that at the beginning he carried himselfe very cruelly ; and if he be alive , most assuredly he hath destroy'd an infinite number of people ; for he among all those who have done most mischeife in ruining both provinces and kingdoms , is famous for his savage fury ; wherefore i am apt to believe that god hath put the same end to his life , as to the others . three or four years after these things happened which i have related , the other tyrant that went along with him who there ended his dayes , departed out of that country ; whose cruelties and rapines while the chiefe captaine liv'd , and after his death were so many , as we since understood , that what we said before , may still stand for an axiom , that the further they went , the more exorbitant was their fury and iniquity . but because it is so irksome to me to rehearse these execrable and bloody acts not of men but of beasts , i will no longer dwell upon them , but go to those things which followed after . they found a numerous people , wise and well moralliz'd , over whom they exercis'd their wonted tyrannies , seeking to strike an awe and dread into them , with the anguish and the burdens wherewith they oppressed them . and if they fainted by the way , they would not take the pains to open the fetters , but came to the fainting person , and cut off his head or his hands , and so left them . once entring into a certaine village , they were with great joy and exultation received by the spaniards , who gave them provision till they were satisfied , allowing them also six hundred indians to carry their burdens , and to look to their horses . but the spaniards being departed , a certain captain , of kin to the chiefe tyrant , returned to spoile them that mistrusted nothing ; who there slew the king of the province with his lance , and committed many other cruelties . in another village , whose inhabitants seem'd to be more vigilant , by reason of the horrid iniquities which , as they heard , the spaniards were wont to commit , they put all to the sword , young and old , little and great , lord and subject , sparing none that came in their way . the chief tyrant , with a nose and lips down to his beard , having call'd together a great number of indians , reported to have been about two hundred , caused them all to have their members lopt off , leaving them in this sad and painful condition , the blood streaming forth , to be witness●s of the mercy of these persons baptiz'd in the catholike faith . now let us judge of the love which such kinde of men beare toward christianity , or after what manner they beleeve in god , whom they boast to be good and just , and whose law is without blemish . most pernicious have been the evils committed by these wicked men , the sons of perdition . at length this wretched captaine dyed without any repentance ▪ neither can we doubt but that he now lies fetter'd in the shades of hell , unlesse god of his infinite mercy and goodnesse , not according to his deserts , have taken compassion on him . of the river of plate , or the silver river . about the yeares one thousand five hundred and two or three , some four or five captaines undertook a journey to the river of plate , which containes many provinces and countries , which flourish with people very rational , and of handsome dispositions . in general we can say that they did there commit many horrid mischiefes and execrable murders . but being at a very great distance from those indians , of whom we have talked more at large , we can relate nothing singular or particular ; onely we doe not question , but they do employ themselves in the same works of darknesse as hath been hitherto practised in divers other places ; for they are spaniards still , and many of them the very same who were present at the other massacres , and having the same intention to become rich and potent , which they cannot obtaine but by the same courses as they formerly took , following the bloody footsteps of those who have already destroyed and slain so many indians . after i had written what i have above mentioned , it hath been related to me for certaine , that they have depopulated and laid waste many provinces and kingdoms in those regions , rendring themselves so much the more exquisite and devilish in their oppressions , slaughters , and massacres of those people , by how much they are at a farther and more convenient distance from spaine ; and laying aside all thoughts of justice , which indeed was never practis'd in those regions of america , as doth sufficiently appeare by what we have above writtrn . among all the enormities which shall follow after , this one was read in the councel . a certain gouernour had given in charge to his souldiers , that into whatever village they came that should deny them provision , that they should there put all the inhabitants to the sword . upon which warrant the souldiers went , and because the indians would not submit to them as to enemies , fearing rather to come into their sight , then that their liberality or store would be defective , they immediatly put to the sword above 5000. of them . a certain number of men also living in peace , offer'd their service to them ; they afterwards were by chance summon'd by the governour , and because they came not so suddenly as his fury expected , he thereupon commanded that they should be delivered to those indians that were their enemies . with tears and outcries they beseeched him that he would rather permit them to die by their hands , then deliver them up to the mercy of their foes ; and when they would not come out of the houses where they were , they were all torne lim-meale , crying out , and saying , we come in peace to serve you , and you now kill us , may our blood sprinkled upon these walls be a testimony of our unjust death , and of your cruelty . certainly this was a deed not only to be bemoaned , but also to be bewaild and pity'd . of the great kingdomes , and large provinces of peru. in the yeare 1531. a great helluo and devourer of men went into the kingdoms of peru , upon the same pretences , and with the same intention as the rest ; and being one of those who had been present at the murders and slaughters committed in other places , in the year 1510. therefore he proceeded with a greater hardnesse of heart in his outrages and robberies ; and being a man of no faith or truth , he laid waste cities and villages , slaying all the inhabitants ; and was the cause of all those mischiefes that followed afterward in those kingdomes ; to undertake the narration of which , and to represent them all to the reader , is a thing impossible , until they shall perfectly and clearly appear at the day of judgement before all men . and for my selfe , i doe confesse , should i goe about to describe the deformity , the quality and circumstances of their actions , it would be a task too difficult for me . at his first enterance he wasted certain villages , and plundred the country of a great quantity of gold : and one time coming into an island adjoyning to these regions , which was known by the name of pagna , being a fertile island and full of people : he was receiv'd by the prince and the inhabitants thereof as if he had been an angel sent from heaven . but after that six months were past , in which time the spaniards had consum'd all their provision , they then brought forth the corn which they had reserv'd against times of barrennesse for themselves their wives and children , in places under the ground , offering it to them with tears in their eyes , desiring them to do what pleas'd them with it . but they ill rewarded them in the end , killing a very great number of them with their swords and lances , and those whom they took alive they carri'd away into captivity , emptying and destroying the country , with many other cruelties . from thence they went to the island of tumbala , which is situated in the continent , where he kill'd all that fell into his power ; and because the people being astonished at their barbarism fled away from them , they accus'd them of rebellion against the king of spain . this tyrant us'd also this kind of subtilty toward the indians . he commanded those whom he took , and others which brought him presents , still to bring him more , till he saw that they were quite destitute ; telling them that he recev'd them now as vassals and subjects of the king of spain ; flattering them also and telling them that he would neither take them , nor do them any other injury . as though it had been a thing lawful for him to rob & spoile them , and to terrifie them with such kinde of strange news before he had receiv'd them into the protection of the king of spain ; or as if after he had so receiv'd them to protection , he had never done any injury or laid any oppression upon them . after this the king and supreame emperour of all these regions , acaliba by name , brought against the spainards a great power of pittiful naked creatures , and arm'd with most ridiculous weapons , not knowing the sharpnesse of the spanish swords and lances , nor the strength of their horses ; to the place where they lay approach'd the spaniards , who certainly would rob the devils of gold if they had it ; this king resolv'd to call the spaniards to an account , for the slaughters of his people , the destruction of his country , & the robberies which they committed upon his treasures . but the spaniards met him , kill'd an infinite number of his people , and seiz'd upon his person , which was carried in a kind of litter . now they come to capitulations about his redemption ; he promises ten millions of crowns , and numbers down fifteen ; they promis'd to release him , but never stood to their words , falsifying all the protestations which they made to the king ; telling him how that his subjects were gathered together again by his command . to whom the king made answer , that there could not be a leafe of a tree moved without his will and authority ; but if they were now assembled anywhere together , it was not by his power ; who was now their captive , for they might take away his life if they pleas'd . notwithstanding all which they consulted whether they should burn him alive or no , which sentence they afterwards passed ; but by the intreaty of some , that sentence was mitigated and he was commanded to be strangled . the king understanding that he was to dye , spake to them in these words ; why do you kill me ? did you not promise to set me at liberty , so i would give you gold ? i gave it you , and more then you requir'd ; yet if it be your will that i must dye , send to your king of spain : but ere he could utter more , the flames prevented him . consider here the equity of this war , the captivity of this prince , the sentence of his condemnation , and the execution of that sentence , the conscience of the spaniards , which nothing deterr'd them from consuming and taking away by violence the great treasures of this great king and of his nobles , how they all concur to aggravate their devillish iniquity . concerning the foule and enormous cruelties wherewith they wholly extirpated the people of these regions , i will here relate a few , seen by a friar of the order of st. francis , and confirm'd and committed to writing under his own hand and seale , and disperc'd not onely in these provinces , but in the kingdome of castile . a copy of which i can produce signed with his own hand , wherein these things following are contain'd . i brother mark of cilicia , of the order of st. francis , cheif governour of all the brotherhood of that order , in the provinces of peru , being one of the first religious persons that went into those parts , speak this for a certain truth , testifying those things which i have seen , and which properly concern the inhabitants of these countries . first i am an eye-witnesse , and do affirme upon my knowledge that the inhabitants of perue were a nation very courteous , affable , and loving to the spaniards ; and i have seen presents of gold , silver , and precious stones , given by those people to the spaniards in great abundance , besides many other offices of service which they daily did for them . neither did the indians ever move war till they were forc'd to it by the contumelies and injuries of the spaniards : but on the contrary , the spaniards being received by them with all the shews of respect and freindship , were continually furnish't both with men and women for their service . i am also a witnesse , that upon no occasion given them by the indians the spaniards did enter their country , and burnt to death their great emperour call'd ataliba , after they had receiv'd from him as a ransome from his captivity above two millions of gold ; his whole kingdome having submitted themselves to him without any resistance : with the same cruelty was cochilimacha his captain general put to death , who came with other noble men of the country to the spaniards in peace . the same fate also follow'd another potent lord of the province of quitonia , whom they also burnt without any occasion given , or injury done them : as unjustly did they burne also schapera , prince of the canaries : they also burnt the feet for aloides the most potent lord in all the provinces of quitonia , afflicting him with many other torments to make him confesse where the gold of ataliba lay , though as afterwards it appear'd , he knew nothing of it . they also kill'd quitonius cocopagauga , governour of all the provinces of quitonia , who at the importunities of sebastian barnaclacanus captain of the governour came in peace to the spaniards , because he could not give them the sum which they demanded ; thus they put to death divers other of the noblemen of the country ; and as i understand , it is the intention of the spaniards not to leave one of the lords and noblemen of that place alive . i do also affirme that i have seen the spaniards for no other cause , but to satisfie their own wills , dismember the indians both men and women , cutting off their eares , noses , and hands , and that in so many places and regions , that it would be a tedious thing to relate them . i have also seen the spaniards set their dogs upon the indians to devour them ; and such a number of houses and villages burnt by them , that it would be over long to rehearse them : this is also a truth , that they would snatch young infants out of their mothers bellies , and cast them as far as they could throw them ; besides many other cruelties which they committed , which did not a little amaze me , though they are too many to be numbred . i do also affirme that the spaniards got together as many of the indians as possibly they could croud into three houses , and there , upon no occasion given , burnt them to death . at that time it chanc'd that a certain presbyter , by name ocaena snatch'd an infant out of the fire , which one of the spaniards beholding , immediately took the child out of his hands , and threw it into the fire ; which spaniard , the same day that he did this vile act , as he returned to his quarters , fell down dead by the way , whom i perswaded the rest to leave unburied . i have also seen them send to the noblemen and chief rulers of the indians to come to them , engaging to secure them , and to let them return in peace ; but when they came , they caused them to be immediately burnt . two they burnt while i was present , one being the lord of andonia , the other of tumbala ; neither could i by any perswasions prevail with them to take them out of the fire ; and this i speak in the presence of god , and according to my own conscience , that i never knew of any commotion or rebellion raised by the indians of peru against them , though it was apparent to all how they did torment and massacre them . which had they done , considering how the spaniards broke their faith and promises to them , how against all law and right they practis'd nothing else but their desolation and destruction , certainly they had done well , chusing rather noble a death , then to endure such tedious miseries . i doe also affirme out of the mouths of the indians themselves , that greater quantities of gold lie hid then are yet discovered , which because of the cruelties and injustice of the spaniards , they are loath to reveale , nor will reveale , till the tyrannical hand of the spaniards shall be taken off them , rather chusing to dye , as others have done . whereby god is offended , and the affaires of the king many times impeded : for he hath been defrauded of more then would serve to maintain castile , the recovery of which cannot be performed without much difficulty and large expences . and thus far i have related the very words of this religious person , confirm'd by the bishop of mexico , before whom he justified all that is here written . here we must consider these things to be such as this religious person was an eye-witnesse of , having traveld long in those parts for the space of above nine or ten yeares , and had compassed above fifty or a hundred miles of that country , when there were but few spaniards that liv'd in those parts ; though afterwards to the noise of the gold there flockt thither above five thousand , who scattered themselves through those large provinces , that contain'd in length above five or 600 miles , which they totally laid waste , committing rather more and greater cruelties then they had done in any other countries ; and to say truth , from that time until this present year , they destroy'd a thousand times more persons then he makes mention of , and with lesse feare , either of god , or of the king , and with lesse pity they massacred the greatest part of mankind of those that inhabited those regions , killing above four millions of people . a few dayes after , with darts made of reeds , they shot at the most potent queen , who was the wife of elinguus , in whose hands the whole administration of the government of these kingdomes remain'd , which occasioned him to rebel against them , and to this day he holds out against them : at length they took his queen , and contrary to all right and equity , they put her to death , though it was reported that she was great with child , for no other cause but that they might afflict her husband . but if i should goe to particularize the murders and slaughters committed in that region , the reader would finde them so horrid and so numerous , that in both respects they would far exceed what hath been said touching the other parts of india . of the new kingdome of granata . in the yeare 1539. many of these tyrants departing from venecuela , santa martha and carthagena , met together to make a conquest of peru. and many others comming out of the same regions , having a desire to make a further progress , they found many pleasant countries , about some 300. miles from carthagena , & divers gallant provinces , well stored with courteous and affable inhabitants like to other places in india , abounding also in gold and precious stones , which are called emraulds ; which provinces by a new name they called new granata , because that the tyrant that first came into these parts was borne in the kingdome of granata . and because those that robb'd and spoil'd these countries , were cruel men , and perverse stewards , famous butchers and spillers of humane blood , therefore are their diabolical actions so great and so many , that they farre surpassed those which were done before them in other countries , of which , some of the most select ones i will rehearse . a certain governour , because he that destroy'd those parts would not admit him to share with him in his gettings , made certain inquisitions and proofes , which he got prov'd by many witnesses , by which are apparent the murders and homicides which the other committed ; in the committing whereof he perseveres unto this day ; there were read in the councel , and stand these recorded . in the said examinations the witnesses depose , that when all these kingdomes were peaceful , the indians serv'd the spaniards , getting their living by painful labours in the tillage of the earth , bringing them what quantity of gold or gems they had or could get , having also divided their houses and their habitations among them , of which they are not a little covetous , as being a means for them to obtain their gold the more easily . but when all the indians were labouring under their accustomed tyranny , the chief captain and tyrant of the spaniards took the king and lord of the country , and kept him a prisoner for the space of six or seven moneths , for no other reason then to squeez from him what gold and precious stones he could . the said king , whose name was bogata , through fear promised him that he would give him a golden house , hoping by that meanes to be set at liberty ; and so he sent his indians , who brought back great sums of gold and precious stones . but because the king gave them not a golden house , therefore they told him that he must be put to death , because he did not stand to his word . whereupon the tyrant commanded that he should be brought before him ; and thus they presum'd to call to judgement one of the greatest kings of the land . whereupon sentence was given that hee should be tormented , because he had not given the gold'n house . whereupon they tortur'd him , dropping hot sope upon his belly ; then they fetterd his two feet to two posts or stakes , and bound his neck to another ; then two men holding his hands , they set fire to his feet , the tyrant comming now and then to him , and threatning death to him , unlesse that he would tell them where his treasure lay ; but that could not be done , for with torments they soon ended his life . which things , while they were doing , the displeasure of heaven fell upon the city for their sakes , whereby it was immediately consum'd with fire . the other captaines of the spaniards , resolving to walk in their leaders footsteps , because they knew no art but that of dismembring the poor people , were not less guilty of the same crimes , with divers and most horrible torments afflicting both the nobles and the commonaly which submitted themselves unto them , though they would faine have bought their peace with great presents both of gold and precious stones . they tormented them onely that they might obtaine from them the greater sums of gold and silver ; and thus all the noble blood of that country was spilt in a most barbarous and shameful manner . one time it happend that a certain number of the indians , full of innocence and simplicity , came to proffer their service to the spanish captain ; but while they thought themselves safe under the protection of their own humility , a captain at that instant came to the city where they serv'd their masters , who , after he had sup'd , commanded all the indians , who were sleeping and resting from the hardnesse of their labours , to be all put to the sword . which slaughter he made with intention to make himselfe the more dreadful to all the country . once the captain commanded all the spaniards that they should bring forth as many of the indian lords or common people , as they had in their houses , into a publick place , and there kill them ; and thus they slew above four or five hundred men . this the witnesses affirme of a certain particular tyrant , that he exercis'd very great cruelties , by cutting off the hands , noses , and feet both of men and women . another time it happend that the chief captain sent an officer into the province of bogata , to enquire who had succeeded the prince that was so cruelly murdered ; who riding many miles into the country , took the indians captive , cutting off the hands and ears of many of them , onely because they would not tell who was their kings successor ; others they threw to their dogs to be torn to pieces ; and thus they kill'd and destroy'd great numbers of the indians in these parts . upon a certain day , about the fourth watch of the night , they fell upon many princes , peers , and other men who thought themselves in safety ; for the spaniards had made promise to them that they should not receive any injury ; upon which promise they came out of their lurking holes in the mountaines , returning without any fear or suspition to their houses ; all these this tyrant took , and causing them to lay their hands upon the ground , with his own sword cut them off , telling them that he would chastise them for not declaring where their king was . another time , because the indians did not bring a chest of gold to the captain which he required , he therefore sent forces to make war upon them , in which war so many were slain , so many dismembred , that the number was hardly to be reckond ; besides others that they cast to their dogs , bred up and fed with humane flesh , who were immediately devoured by them . another time the inhabitants of another province , seeing that they had murderd about four or five of their chief princes and rulers , fled in fear to a certain mountain for shelter against their inhumane enemies , where there were got together above foure or five thousand indians , as hath been proved by witnesses : but the captain , or governour of the spaniards , sent a notorious tyrant with a company of souldiers to reduce , as he said , those rebellious indians , that had fled from their slaughters and cruelties ; and to chastise them for it , as if they had done an unlawful action ; or as if punishment had been due to the indians , and not rather more deserved by themselves , to have bin us'd without all pity , who had shewd themselves so mercilesse to others . the spaniards scale this mountain by force , for the indians were weak and unarmed , telling them that they desired peace if they would lay down their armes ; whereupon they all immediately threw away their weapons , which when the chief tyrant beheld , he sent to certain of the spaniards to possesse themselves of the cheife places of strength in the mountaine ; and then commanded them to fall upon the indians . whereupon they fall upon them as wolves or lyons fall upon a flock of sheep , till they were wearied with murdering ; but they had no sooner taken breath , but he commanded them again to renew their fury , and caus'd them to precipitate the rest which were remaining from the top of the rock which was very high and steep . and the witnesses affirm that they have seen a cloud of indians falling down from the mountain , which were all bruis'd to peices . and to finish his cruel enterprise , he caus'd the indians that had hid themselves among the thickets to be searched out and put to the sword , and then thrown down from the tops of the high mountaines . and not satiated with these cruelties , that their horrible abominations might be the more notorious , he gave command that all the indians that were reserv'd alive should be kept by his particular souldiers as their slaves , a custome which they constantly observed ; as for the women , those excepted whom they thought most fit for their service , they were all thrust together into a house made of straw and there burnt to death , to the number of above four or five hundred . the same tyrant came to the city of cota where he took an infinite sight of people , and cast fifteen or sixteen of the nobles and lords of the kingdom to his dogs , cutting of the hands of many of the indians both men and women , which he hung upon a perch for the indians to behold ; in this manner were seen hung together above seventy paire of hands . this is also to be added that they cut off the noses both of infants and their mothers . no man can rehearse the cruelties committed by this man , the enemy of god ; they are innumerable , neither heard of nor seen before , especially those committed in guatimala , which were their chiefe masterpeices in this art of destruction which they have been so long practising . the witnesses do moreover adde this , that the cruelties and slaughters committed in the said new kingdome of granata by the said captain and his accomplices the destroyers and abaddons of mankinde , who are with him , and to whom he gives the power to exercise these strange abominations , are so many and so great , that if his majesty do not stop the deluge of evils which they bring along with them ( for the slaughters of the indians are made onely through the desire of their gold , though it be all in their own hands already ) in a very short time the kingdom will be ruin'd & laid desolate , and the land when all the inhabitants are destroy'd must of necessity lie untill'd . in this place we must noe passe by a most pernicious cruelty of these tyrants which was so violent , that in the space of two or three years ( for no longer time there was between the desolation and the discovery of this kingdom which was the most populous country in the whole world ) they totally ruin'd and depopulated the whole country , shewing themselves so void of compassion , so empty of grace , so regardlesse of the kings honour , that they had not left a person living , had not his majesty a little stopt the current of their cruelty : which i the more easily believe , because i have seen my selfe in a few dayes several great kingdomes and countries destroy'd and desolate . there are some large provinces adjoyning to the kingdom of new granata which are call'd popagan and cali , and three or four others which stretch themselves in length above 500. miles , which they destroy'd in the same manner as they did the other , and by their foresaid massacres brought down to the lowest degree of desolation , and this some who return'd out of these countries & came to us relate ; but if there were ever any thing to be bewailed by man , they were the stories which they told of large cities ruin'd and buried in their own ashes ; scarce fifty houses remaining where before there were above a thousand , or two thousand ; and the sad narrations which they brought , of large countries and regions that lay desolate and spoil'd of their inhabitants . at length there went out of the kingdomes of perne through the country of quitonia into the regions of granata and popaganum , many very cruel tyrants , who march'd through the carthagenians , and vrabia , to reach calisium , while others stay'd to assaile quitonium it selfe . but these at length joyn'd together , depopulating above sixe hundred miles in length , with an infinite waste of men , to the remainder whereof they are at present no lesse cruel . and thus what i set down as a rule , still holds good , that the violence and cruelty of the spaniards , by continuance still waxed more and more furious and bloody . but among all these crimes , which are onely worthy of fire and sword , that have been perpetrated in these countries , this which followes is worthy the taking notice of . when the heate of massacring and killing is over , they carry captive away sometimes two hundred , sometimes three hundred men apeice ; and when their master pleases , he commands a hundred at a time to be brought before him , to whom when they come like meek and patient lambs , he commands thirty or forty of them to be put to death ; telling the rest that thus they shall all be us'd unlesse they prove diligent in his service . consider i beseech you , all that read , or shall read these few papers , whether an act so horrible , so detestable , so inhumane , do not exceed all the iniquities and cruelties that the imagination of man can comprehend ; and whether such spaniards may not be deservedly called devils ; or whether it be not a thing almost indifferent whether the indians should be in the hands of spaniards , or of the infernal spirits . neither will i forget to relate one barbarou's action , which as i think doth exceed the cruelty of beasts . the spaniards which are among the indians do breed up a sort of fierce dogs , which they teach and instruct to fall upon the indians and devour them . now let all men , judge whether christians or turks , in this it much imports not , whether so much cruelty ever peirc'd their eares before . these dogs they take along with them in all their expeditions , carrying also divers indians in chaines for the sustenance of those dogs . and it was a common thing for them to say one to another ; give me a quarter of your indian for my dogs , and too morrow when i bill one i will pay it you again ; as if they were no more to be accounted of then the offals of a hog or sheep . others were wont to go a hunting in the morning , and being ask'd how they had sped : oh very well reply'd the other , my dogs have kill'd fifteen or sixteen indians this morning ; these have been all proved in the impeachments made by one tyrant against another . could there be any thing more horrible or more cruel ? but i will here stay , until there shall come news of greater impieties ( if greater there can be ) or till we shall return to behold these things which for the space of above forty years we have already seen . and now i do protest according to my conscience and in the sight of god , that the losses of the indians were so great , and so many their subverted cities , the cruelties and massacres so horrible , the violences and iniquities so in human , that though i have done my utmost to relate what i could , and to paint them in their own lively colours , yet have i not been able to rehearse one thing done among a thousand , either as to the quantity or the quality of the crimes . and now that all true christians may be mov'd with the greater compassion towards the poor creatures , that their losses may appeare the more deplorable , that they may with a greater indignation detest the ambition , cruelty , and covetousness , of the spaniards , to those which i have abovesaid , i will also adde this for a truth , that , from the time america was first discovered unto this present , the indians never were the men that ever shewed the least disaffection , or offer'd the least injury to the spaniards , but rather ador'd them as angels of immortality come to visit them from heaven , till their owne actions betrayd them to a far worse censure . this i will also adde , that from the beginning to this day , the spaniards were never any more mindful to spread the gospel among them , then as if they had been dogs ; but on the contrary forbid religious persons to exercise their dutie , deterring them by many afflictions and persecutions from preaching and teaching among them , for that they thought would have hindered them in getting their gold , and kept the people from their labours . neither had they any more knowledge of the god of heaven , as to say whether he were of wood , brasse , or iron , then they had above a hundred years before . new spaine being onely excepted , whither the religious persons had most liberty to go : so that they all dy'd without faith or sacraments , to the willing destruction of their souls . i frier bartholmew casaus , of the order of st. dominic , who went to these parts through the mercy of god , desiring the salvation of the indians , that so many precious soules redeemd with the blood of christ might not perish , but wishing with my whole heart , that they might through the knowledge of their creator live eternally : because of the care also and compassion which i beare to my country , which is castile , fearing lest god should destroy it in his anger for the sins which it hath committed against his divine majesty , the faith and the honour of divers great persons in the court of spaine , zealously religious , and who abominate these bloody and detestable actions , after many hinderances of businesse , did at length put an end to this brief tractate at valentia the eighth day of december 154● . when the spaniards ( though they were in some places more cruel , in some places lesse , after the end of all their torments , violences , tyrannies , desolations and oppressions , were at length come to mexico , which enjoyes a gentler usage then other parts ; for there is an outside of justice , which doth something restrain their cruelty , though not at all the immoderate tributes which they lay upon them . and now i have a real hope , that charles the fifth our soveraign lord and prince , emperor & king of spaine , ( to whose eares the wickednesses and impieties of these tyrants do daily come , which are committed against the will of god in these countries , for they have hitherto conceal'd these things from him ) not lesse subtilly then maliciously , will extirpate the causes of so many evils , and apply fitting remedies to the calamities of this new world delivered by god to him as to a lover of justice and mercy . which god we doe beseech to grant him happinesse in his life and in his imperial dignity , and to bless his royal soule with eternal happiness . amen . finis . the historical relation of the spanish massacres in the west indies . vox cœli, or newes from heauen of a consultation there held by the high and mighty princes, king hen. 8. king edw. 6. prince henry, queene mary, queene elizabeth, and queene anne, wherein spaines ambition and trecheries to most kingdoms and free estates of europe, are vnmasked and truly represented, but more particularly towards england, and now more especially vnder the pretended match of prince charles with the infanta dona maria. vvherunto is annexed two letters written by queene mary from heauen, the one to count gondomar, the ambassadour of spaine, the other to all the romane catholiques of england. written by s.r.n.i. reynolds, john, fl. 1621-1650. 1624 approx. 168 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 54 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-05 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a10672 stc 20946.4 estc s122495 99857619 99857619 23382 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a10672) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 23382) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 668:13) vox cœli, or newes from heauen of a consultation there held by the high and mighty princes, king hen. 8. king edw. 6. prince henry, queene mary, queene elizabeth, and queene anne, wherein spaines ambition and trecheries to most kingdoms and free estates of europe, are vnmasked and truly represented, but more particularly towards england, and now more especially vnder the pretended match of prince charles with the infanta dona maria. vvherunto is annexed two letters written by queene mary from heauen, the one to count gondomar, the ambassadour of spaine, the other to all the romane catholiques of england. written by s.r.n.i. reynolds, john, fl. 1621-1650. [18], 56, 51-74, 85-92 p. by william jones], printed in elisium [i.e. london : 1624. s.r.n.i. = john reynolds. wrongly attributed to thomas scott. the imprint is fictitious; actual place of publication and printer's name from stc. identified as stc 22094a on umi microfilm. reproduction of the original in the folger shakespeare library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng great britain -history -james i, 1603-1625 -early works to 1800. spain -foreign relations -great britain -early works to 1800. great britain -foreign relations -spain -early works to 1800. 2003-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-02 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-03 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2004-03 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion vox coeli , or newes from heaven . of a consultation there held by the high and mighty princes , king hen. 8. king edw. 6. prince henry , queene mary , queene elizabeth , and queene anne , wherein spaines ambition and trecheries to most kingdoms and free estates of evrope are vnmaskd and truly represented , but more particularly towards england , and now more especially vnder the pretended match of prince charles with the infanta dona maria . whereunto is annexed two letters written by queene mary from heauen , the one to count gondomar , the ambassadour of spaine , the other to all the romane catholiques of england . written by s.r.n.i. printed in elisium . 1624. to the illvstriovs and grave assembly of the high covrt of parliament . the fruition of all temporall blessings . the felicitie of all spirituall blessings . lords . knights . burgesses . to you who are the re-presentiue body of england , and the epitomie and compendium of this great volume of our estate ; to you who are assummoned by our king , and sent vp by our country , to obay the first with your best fidelities , to serue the second with your chiefeft zeale and endevours , and to affect and honour both , with your most religious prayers and wishes . to you from whom god for his glory , our soveraigne for his honor and safety , and our church and common-weale for their flourishing welfare and prosperity , doe expect much by your transcendent and honourable imploiments : to you i say , and to no other do i present this consultation ( termed vox coeli ) to your consideration , and dedicate it to your protection . and because ( in point of integritie and dutie ) i hold my selfe bound to bring the truth neerer to your knowledge , or rather home to your vnderstanding ; may it please you to be informed , that about some three yeares since , at the first setting of the last high court of parliament , when our king was so earnest in proposing the match of our noble prince his sonne , with the infanta of spaine ; when the king of spaine coulourably pretended ( though not really intended ) to be deepely affected to entertaine and embrace the said motion ; when count gondomar ( his ambassador ) made shew to be a zealous solicitor , and a most actiue and officious stickler for compassing and finishing it ; when our romish catholiques became passionately and insultingly confident of the free toleration of their religion , and in the skie-reaching mountaines of their ambitious and superstitious hopes , were already preparing , to erect their groves and altars , to set vp their idols and images , and consequently to introduce their pope and his masse in the temples of our god ; when all prisons were vnlocked , and open to all pernitious priests and dangerous iesuites , and that many others like ( caterpillers and vipers ) came flocking and swarming from diuers parts of europe , to poyson and eate out the soules of our people , with their idolatrous doctrine of antichrist , and to withdraw their hearts and consciences from their alleagiance and fidelity , to their naturall prince & countrey ; purposely ( with more treachery then religion ) to subiect them to a forreine power & iurisdiction . when the emperour had beaten the king of bohemia from prague , and the duke of bavaria with the assistance of the swords , souldiers , and treasure of the king of spaine , had in a setled truce assaulted and taken many towns in the palatinate , contrary to their promises to our king , & of his maiesties to the prince his sonne in law , and contrary to the publique peace of germany and christendome . then , then it was , ( that to pull off the maske of spaines ambition and malice , who with the fire of this match , sought to set england all flaming in a mournefull and miserable combustion thereby to bury her glory in the dust , and her safety in the cinders of her subuersion and ruines ) that as prometheus fetch'd fire from heauen , so the fire of my zeale to the good of my prince & countrey , likewise fetch'd from thence this royall consultation for the discovery of our apprant and imminent dangers , and in knowing them , to know likewise how to prevent them ; which resolving to make publique , because it is solely tended to englands publique glory and prosperity : i contrary to my expectation ( but not to my feares , ) saw my hopes nipt in their blossomes , and my desires stifled in their births , because the seas of our kings affection to spaine went so lofty , and the windes were so tempestuous , that it could not possibly be permitted to passe the pikes of the presse : when albeit my zeale and fidelity againe and againe infused new audacity and courage to my resolutions , to see it salute the light , yet it was impossible for me or it to be made so happy , because i saw allureds honest letter , scots loyall vox popoli , d. whiting , d. everad , & claytons zealous sermons , and others , suppress'd and silenced , as also wards faithfull picture , which yet was so innocent , as it onely breathed forth his fidelity to england in silent rethorique , and dumbe eloquence . whervpon inforced to take a law from the iniquity of the time , ( with much reluctation and more griefe ) i hushed vp my said consultation in silence , and because i could not serve my prince and country in that booke of mine : i therefore then renewed my constant resolution and zeale to serue them in my most fervent prayers , and my most religious and zealous wishes , the which i haue ever since faithfully and constantly performed . sitting thus to behold the constant inconstancie of the world , which presents as many different accidents to our knowledge , as obiects to our eye ; and being iealous , vigilant , and attentive , to that which did , or which might any way appertaine to my soveraigne and his princely posterity to his dominions and subiects ; i was enforced to see ( o that i had beene so happy as not to haue seen ) the perfidious progresse of spaines new treacheries , and vsurpation vpon many countries of europe ; for first , his cousine leopaldus hath devoured the dutchy of cleaves and iulliers ; then he and his forces have taken many other fre townes , and whole bishopricks in the counties of luxembourg , and la marcke ; as also in the frontiers of swisserland and loraine : then he and his factor the duke of bavaria ( for him ) hath finished his absolute conquest of the palatinate ( that dainty , rich and fertile prouince of germany ) the dowry of our onely princesse , the inheritance of the prince her husband , and the patrimony of their royall issue , wherein the honour of our king , and of his three famous kingdomes , doe most extreamely suffer . i saw him conquer the cheifest cities , forts , and passages of the grisons , and hath brought their liberties and liues to their last gaspe and periode ; yea , to the mercilesse mercy of his not generous but bloody sword ; which being vnder the protection of the french king , doth likewise cast a wonderfull staine and blemish on the lustre of his honor and crowne , if he speedily take not his revenge thereof ; by leauing these his honest confederates as free as he found them , and as great henry his father left them . and after the triumphes and treacherous progression of the house of austria in germany . the king of spaine hath now made a body of his , and the imperiall forces , and this summer intends to play his bloody prize for the totall ruine and subversion of the netherlands ; who ( to the eye of the world , and to humane iudgement ) must shortly sink , if the two kings of great brittaine and france doe not make them swim ; by speedily sending them braue succours and assistance in this their vrgent necessitie . and whereunto tends all this treacherous ambition , and formidable vsurpation and greatnesse of the king of spaine , but to cut out a passage with his sword , and to make his troopes and regiments flye o're the alpes , for his erecting and obtaining of the westerne empire ? and whereunto tends it i say , but to make his territories and dominions to encirculize great brittaine and france , yea to be their cloyster , and to make and esteeme those two famous monarchies , but onely as a fatall church-yard to burie and interre themselues in . but illustrious and generous sirs , is this all the malice and treachery which spaine hath offered towards england ? o no , nothing lesse ; for vpon that iourney ( which was as dangerous as suddaine ) of our prince into spaine ( then whom the world hath not a braver : ) hath not the king of spaine dealt treacherously with him about his match with the infanta his sister ? yea have they not in his princely person , violated the lawes of hospitality , and the priviledges of princes ( when being vnder his own roofe ) by attempting to tye him to formes , which were diametrally opposite to his honour ; yea , to be so audaciously impudent , as with much violency and virulency to seeke to put a rape vpon his conscience and religion , in their profered enforcement of his conversiō to popery ; as if their infanta had bin to him more precious then his soule , or that he had beene so wretchedly grounded and instructed in pietie , that his highnesse would haue forsaken his god , purposely to haue obayed and adored the king of spaine , who is not , nor cannot be a greater king then he is a prince ? and to step yet a degree farther ; was it not a hellish policie , and a diabolicall designe and resolution of the councell of spaine , to advise our prince vpon his return into england , to warre vpon the protestants ; and to proffer him an army to suppresse and exterminate them . the protestants , i say , who are those by whom our king his father raigneth , and without whom his maiestie can never subsist nor raigne ; nor his highnesse successively aspire , or hope to aspire to his crownes and kingdomes after him , sith they are the life , the vigour , the heart , and the soule thereof . and will our king , and our prince , our parliaments and our protestants of england , then ever forget this inveterate rage , and infernal malice of spain against them ? as also the rest of their imperious and insulting cariage towards his highnes and towards great brittaine , as if they priz'd it at so low a rate , and made their boundles ambition so excessively over-value their own spain ? that that were in the crisis of her weakenes and misery , and this in the prime & verticall point of her power and glory ? and when his highnes pressed them for the restitution of the palatinat , which they had oftē promised to the king his father , then they temporized so cunningly , and subtillized so treacherously with him , that every day brought forth new delayes and difficulties , till in the end they had made the cure worse then the disease , & having taken firm footing therein , were enforced to vnvaile & vnmask their dissimulation , and faintly and coldly to affirme , that they would treate with the emperour for the restitution thereof , but could not promise it : thus having abused , first our king the father , and then our prince the sonne , they have now likewise betrayed and ruined our princesse the daughter in their final conquest , and resolute detention of the prince her husbands palatinate , that princesse i say , whose royal and sublime vertues , make her the honour of her time , the ornament of her sexe , and the phaenix princesse of the world . vvhereunto adding the absolute breach of the match long since prophetically delacerated , and cast in heaven by the princely and royall authors of this consultation , and since the same breach here on earth likewise so happily confirmd by the king , as also by the prince : so all these premises considered ▪ hath not englād reason to hate spain , in regard spaine hates it ? especially because of these two main ensuing points , & important considerations ? first , for that the king of spaine is a greater & more professed enemy to our sacred king & his royall posteritie , then either the emperour , or duke of bavaria , and is so to be held and esteemed of vs. secondly , that therefore to denounce warre to him , and to make it good as soone as it is denounced , is as honourable as necessary , and as iust as honorable for england ; as vpon new yeares day last i made these two points apparent and manifest to the king ; in my discourse intituled votivae angliae , which i sent his maiestie in the behalfe and favour of the prince palatine his sonne in law , for the restoration of his palatinate . hauing thus ( with as much disdaine as griefe ) seene his inveterate malice towards great brittaine , towards our king and his royall posterity , and consequently the eminent danger wherinto our profound security hath throwne & precipitated vs in particular ; and vnderstanding likewise how the said king of spaine with xerxes , threatens the seas and mountaines of europe in generall ; being as well in heart as tongue an englishman , and therefore knowing by grace , what i owe by nature to my naturall prince and countrey ( like cressus his dumbe sonne ) i would not , i could not be sil●nt thereat , but must expose this consultation of vox coeli to the light and sight of the world ; i meane to the light of your knowledge , and the sight of your consideration , vnder the secure target , and safe shelter and sanctuary of your auspicious protection . to you therefore great brittaines greatest palladines and champions ; to you the invincible bulwarke of our king and his royall progenie , and the inexpugnable cittadell and acrocorinth of our estate : to you i say the conscript fathers of our supreamest senate , doth it in duty present it selfe , and in humility prostrate it selfe ; which when your first leisure hath curiously read , and your best zeale carefully and maturely considered : then by all that true english blood which streameth in your heart & veines , by all the love which your country beares you , and by all the duty and affection which reciprocally you owe to your country ; i both request and coniure you , to tell our king that it is nothing for his maiestie to haue made a braue and generous declaration of warres against spaine , except he speedily second it with execution , without which it will proue a vaine fantasma , and an abortiue embrion : tell him , that it were the last acts of augustus , which embellished his raigne , and that old pericles made the greatnes of his generosity and courage , to revive & flourish on his tomb , when hee caused the athenians to warre vpon the pelopenessians : tell him that philopaemenus affirmeth , that peace is the best time to meditate of war. tell him that to transport warre into spaine , is to avoide and prevent it in england , as hannibal said to king antiochus , that the only way to make warre against the romanes , was to begin it in the heart and bowels of the dominions of rome , and so to vanquish italy by italy . tell him that plutarch affirmes , there is no action so royall or magnificent in a king , as to take armes to assist and revenge his confederats vniustly oppressed and ruined , much more his owne royall children , and that if the palatinate be too farre , that flanders and brabant , are hut the skirts and suburbs of england . tell him that agesilaus said , that words are feminine , and deedes masculine , and that it is a great point of honor , discretion , and happinesse for a prince , to giue the first blowe to his enemyes . tell him that spaniards hate vs ; why then should we love them ? that we can beate them at our pleasures , why then should we feare them ? tell him that if it goes not well with holland , it must needes goe ill with england ; and that if wee doe not preuent their ruine , that we cannot secure our owne danger . tell him that in matters of warre , it is dangerous to make a stand , shamefull to retire , and glorious to advance . tell him that philip of spaine is of pirrhus his minde , who said , that having devoured and conquered all europe , he would end his dayes in iolity and pleasure in macedonia . and therefore that it is time , yea high time to strike vp our drums against him , because as well our safety , as our honour envites vs to it . and now turning from his maiestie , to you the illustrious and famous body of this great and famous court of parliament , ( whereof the king is the head ) to you , i say , who are the creame and flower of his subiects : o hold it no disparagement that i tell you , that sith in all matters of order , policie and reformation , that delayes and protractions prove still dangerous , many times fatall ; that you beware least as your consultations flie away with the time , that occasion and opportunity flie not away with your consultations , sith time must be taken by his fore-locke , and then as iulius caesar saith , we haue winde and tide with vs. thinke what a happinesse , what a glory it is for england to haue wars with spaine , sith spaine in the lethargy of our peace , hath very neer vndermined our safety ▪ and subverted our glory ; and let vs dispell those charmes of security , wherein england hath bin too long lull'd and enchanted asleepe : and if feare and pusilanimity yet offer to shut our eies against our safety , yet let our resolution and courage open them to the imminency of our danger ; that our glory may surmount our shame , and our swords cut those tongues and pens in pieces , which henceforth dare either to speake of peace , or write of truce with spaine . no , no ; to take the length of spaines foote aright , we must doe it with our swords , not with our neckes , for the first wil assuredly establish our safety , and the second infalibly ruines . vvarres , warres , then yee ( with cheerfull hearts and ioyfull soules ) let vs prepare our selues for warres : that our great brittaine the beauty of europe , as europe is the glory of the world ) lie no longer exposed to the apparant danger and mercilesse mercy of this castillian rat , of this crocodile of italy , of this vulture of germany , & of this wolfe of ardena ; but let vs all signalize our fidelities to our soveraigne by our courage , and immortalize our zeale to our country by our valour and resolution herein· that we may all be of alcibiades his opinion , that the bed of honour is the best death , that there is no better recompence of death then glory , nor no richer glory , then to die for our prince & country . and here i had imposed silence to my pen , and infused a period to this my epistle , had not the dignity of your places , the qualitie of your imployments , the nature of the time , and the consideration that i am an englishman , commanded me to insert and anex these few lines , by the way either of a supplement , or a postscript . although i can adde nothing to your affection and care , for the good of our countrey , yet give me leave ( i beseech you ) to substract from this mine owne fidelity and zeale . 1. that you be carefull that our warres ( both by sea and land ) be plentifully stored with mony , powder and shot , which indeed is the veignes and arteries , the sinewes and soule of warre . 2. that you cry downe all gold and siluer lace , and all silkes , veluets , and taffities , and cry vp wooll cloath , and blacke cuirasses and corslets insteed thereof , that thereby england as a blacke and dismal cloude , may looke more martiall and terrible to our enemies . 3. that our english romanists may be taught either to love , or to feare england . 4. that there be provision made , and especiall care had to secure his maiesties coasts , seas , and subiect from the ships of warre of dunkerke and ostend , by whom otherwise they will he extreamely indomaged and infested . 5. that by some wholesome statute and order , you clense the citties and countrey , the streetes and highwayes of all sorts of beggers , by providing for their labour and reliefe , whereby many hundred thousand christian soules will pray vnto god for his maiestie ; and to powre downe his blessings vpon all your designes and labours , whereby without doubt our warres will succeed and prosper the better . i will no farther vsurpe on your patience : but here ( withdrawing the curtaine of this preface ) invite your eyes and thoughts to the sight and consideration of this consultation . s.r.n.i. the printer to the readrr . gentlemen , i heartily beseech you to amend and correct your bookes with your pens ; that in the reading thereof , the authors innocency suffer not through the delect of my remissenesse , in your censures and exprobation . farewell . errata . page 4. line 8. for imiat read innate , p. 7.16 . for states r. state , p 11. l. 14. for so r. so if , ibid. l. 26. for monsier de boysils , read monsieur de boysile , p. 12. l. 18. for peeres r. peeces , p. 21. l. 6. for derne 1. berne , ibid. l. 28. for fort trentes r. fort fuentes , p. 22. l. 14. for millan and spaine read millan to spaine , p. 20. l 6. for du fremes r. du termes , ibid ▪ for faxis r. taxis , ibid. for lullias r. lullins , p , 30. l. 7 for morcanques r mirargues , p. 32. l. 21. for bouelle 1. bonelle , p , 38 ▪ l. 32. for d. of sicily r. d of suilly , p. 41. l. 4. for samury r. samur , ibid. l. 22. for merary r. mercury , p 68. l. 31. for b of molosses r. k. of molosses , p , 71. l. 13. for his catholique r. his catholique maiestie , p. 74. l. 5. for selfe for ioy , read selfe to death for ioy . vox coeli . the introduction . heauen beeing gods throne , and earth his footstoole , it is impossible any thing can bee here spoken and acted , but wil there be heard , revealed and detected ; for not onely our hearts but our thoughts , not only our tongues but our intents , lye open and are obvious & transparent , to the glorious and relucent eyes of gods most sacred maiestie , who being the sole architector , & preseruer both of heauen and earth , rules that by his presence , this by his providence , and both by his power ; and that we men are not by many thousand degrees so great in his eyes , as the smallest pysmires are in ours ; who lookes still on our designes and actions , sometimes with approbation , now with pitie , then with contempt , and anon with choller & indignation , being himselfe the prime presydent , the great moderator , the mightie councellor , the eternall and euerlasting jehovah ; who can and will giue lawes to all the kings and princes of the earth , as they doe to their subjects , by their subordinate , and yet transcendent power , drawn from his most sacred majestie of heaven , as the starres who actually deriue their light , & borrow their lustre from the refulgent beames , and glorious bodie of the sun. and as this great god seated in his coelestiall throne of glory , with his all-seeing and sacred eyes beholds in heaven the thoughts and actions of men heer on earth , so likewise out of his indulgent mercy and prouidence he likewise giues the same authority and power to his angels , saincts and martyrs , to do the like ; who clad in white robes , the ornaments of sanctitie and puritie , with palme branches in their hands the emblems of peace and ioy , and crownes and coronets on their heads , the rewards and marks of glory . follow the lamb christ iesus wheresoever he goe , still singing these joyful io peans and epithalamians of haleluiah , and glory be to god on high , peace on earth , and good will towards men . by vertue of which deuine priuiledges , the maske of spaines boundlesse ambition being discouered & pulled off , in supporting the pope , & seeking the encrease of his spirituall iurisdiction , whereby his holinesse in exchange , may enlarge that of spaines temporall monarchy , so as that shall haue feet to goe , and these wings to flie to the height of earthly greatnesse ; whereby the catholike kings ayme , out of the ruines of rome and germany , to erect another empire in the west , and endeauour by degrees to make most of the kingdomes and free estates of europe become provinces unto spaine ; as , some by force , some by policie , some by treachery , and now england by the match of the infanta his daughter , with our most illustrious and royall prince charles ( next to his royall father king iames , our most dread soueraigne ) the hope of englands life , and the life of its ioy and hope . i say the newes of these projects and resolutions of spaine , hauing with as much fortunary as celeritie ) passed the clouds , and pierced the vaults and windowes of heaven , it fast arriued there , to the vnderstanding of that immortall maiden queen elizebeth , whose heart ever loued england as her soule did heaven , and of whose flourishing welfare and prosperity i cannot truly averre , whether she still remayne more jealous or ambitious ; whereat grieuing with as much disdaine , as she disdained with griefe , & knowing that her nephew and god-sonne prince henry , participated and burned in her zeale , that the insatiable and bloud-thirsty ambition of spaine , might not erect his trophees vpon the tombe of englands downfall , and the ruines of her subversion , she speedily acquaints him with it ; whom although heaven had purified and devested of his earthly passions , yet such was this young prince , his never dying zeale to englands ever living glory , that his highness could not refraine from looking red with anger , and pale with feare , at the report & knowledge thereof . they consult hereon , and hold it both expedient and necessary to acquaint other english princes herewith , especially those whom they knew stood deeply and sincerely affected to england . so prince henry acquaints his mother queen anne herewith , & queen elizabeth her brother king edward 6. and both they their father king henry 8. who so upon advise hereof could not refraine to looke on england with the eyes of affection and pitie , and on spaine with those of indignation and contempt . so these fiue great princes and queens prepare themselues to consult on this most important busines , when loe they are suddenly met and assayled , with a doubt of no mean consequence and consideration viz. whether , or no they should admit and receiue queen mary into this their consultation , whom not her roman merits , but the praiers , of the protestants had brought to heauen ; when at first they considring that in heart & soule , she alwaies loved , and preferred rome and spaine before england ; they resolved to exclude her , but at last ( upon riper and more mature deliberation ) considering that she knew many secrets of spaine , whereof peradventure they were ignorant ; as also that from her innate & inveterate malice to england , she might ( either in jest or earnest ) bewray somthing that might turne and redound to the good of england , they all consented she should bee advertised hereof , and so admitted ; which was instantly performed ; and as the rest of these royall princes envied spaines ambition , and pitied englands dangers ; so to speak the truth , and no more , queen mary ( still resembling herselfe ) both in her speeches and lookes testified the contrary ; vowing that as she loued philip the ii. the father , so shee would still honour philip the iii. his sonne . thus these three princes and three queenes , not daring to consult in heaven on any thing , without permission of the superiour powers , they all reprayre to the sacred throne of the lambe , ( of that great maker and conducter of heaven and earth ) whose tribunall is environed with more sparkling and bvrning sunnes , then we see starres in the firmament ; and who is waited and atended on by many millons and maryades of angels ; where in signe of gods glory and their humilitie , these royall personages fall on their faces to his blessed feet , and so proffer vp their petition to his heauenly majestie to haue authority , and place given them to consult on this important businesse betwixt england and spaine . there petition read and considered , god out of the profunditie of his immense affection and favour , towards the prosperity of england , ( wherein for the space of well neere one hundred yeares , his sacred maiestie hath seen himselfe truely served and glorified ) ratifies their request , and approues and authoriseth their sitting ; when departing from gods most sacred throne ; they were by a full quire of angels with trumpets & tymbrels in their hands , vshered into the golden star-chamber of heaven , which was purposely prepared for them ; when taking their severall seates , the doore shut , and guarded by englands tutulary angell , with a naked brandished sword in his hand , all things being hushed vp in silence , and all heavenly duties and ceremonies performed , these sixe royall personages begin their consultation in this manner . the consultation . h. 8. before we descend to speak of spaines ambitiō and envie towards england , or of the match now in question betwixt england and spaine , with the dāgers which threaten , & presage vs wil ensue therof it will not be impertinent , rather necessary ; that we mount up the steps of this last century of yeares , and so take a cursory , though not a curious survey , with what ambition , crueltie , and treachery , the kings of spaine from time to time , haue knocked at most kingdoms and estates of europe ; in the unfolding and dilating whereof , you must not expect much light from me , rather i from your selues , sith as your yeeres so your raignes succeed me . navarre . e. 6. and as you all know , my yeares were so few and my raigne so short , that neither these , nor this , made me capable to diue into the affaires of princes and kingdomes , and yet i must confesse it was both with griefe and pitie , that i reade , with what vsurpation and treachery , ferdinand king of aragon depriued iohn of albret , and katherine his queene of their flourishing kingdome of navarre , who for meere griefe and sorrow dyed immediately after , having no other claime nor title to this kingdome , but an insatiable desire of empire and dominion , which the aragonois , and castilians wonne with the points of their swords . q. m. o but navarre lay fit and commodious for the provinces of old castille , biscay , & galasia , besides the kings of spaine are the catholique kings , & therfore it is both proper and naturall for them to bee vniuersall . q. e. it is indeed both naturall & proper to them to be ambitious and tyrannicall , for i am confident , that as catholique as they are , they loue earths empire , better then heauens glory ; and sure i cannot but lament to see navarre made a prouince to spain , which more is the griefe of christendome , and the shame of the royall line of burbon , now the french king , whose patrimonie and inheritance it is , and will not king lewes recouer it . p. h. had great henry his father lived , he would vndoubtedly haue reconquered navarre with as much glory , as it was lost with shame and pitie ; yea the turrets of pampelone , and fonterarby , had long since cast off the ragged staffe , to beate out the three flower de luces . q. a. so mought king lewes his son too , if the pope and iesuites diverted not his thoughts from that honourable and glorious enterprise . e. 6. surely it is against the lawes of conscience , and the rules of religion , for the kings of spaine thus to vsurpe navarre , or were they so just , as they pretend they were holy , they would restore and not retayne this kingdome . q. m. o the catholique kings are too wise to commit such grosse errours of state , as to restore ; for it is conquest and possession , and no way restitution , which affoords them best melody ; besides , sith they are the catholique kings , they cannot be irreligious much lesse vncharitable . h. 8. why then davghter , the kings of spaine are of pirrhus and lysanders mind , whose limits and confines of their countries they held so farre , as their swords and lances could extend them . which being so , they are onely catholique in title , not in effect , much lesse in heart or soule , for if vsurpation be religion , i know not what is heresie . e. 6. the pope may , but our sauiour christ , never authorised or approved vsurpation . q. m. but the kings of spaine know the popes will and pleasure , as they doe gods , and this beliefe i am sure is both catholique and apostolicall . q. e. see see with how much ignorance & wilfulnesse , with what blind zeale and poore implicit faith , my sister is perpetually lincked to rome and spaine . p. h. if so vsurpation be romes doctrine , & spaines delight and practise , my soule did well to make me hate the one , and detest the other . the west indyes , or new spaine . h. 8. bvt leaue we nauarre weeping and groaning vnder the burthen of the miserable seruitude to spaine ; o how since columbus de cortez , and pizarro , ( with as much judgement as fortunacy ( discovered to castille the rich america , and in it the gold and siluer mines , which hath giuen winges to his ambition to flie to the height of this earthly greatnesse , wherein we see spaine seated and founded ; how it hath both grieued and amazed me to vnderstand , how at cuba , hayta , peru , panama , and mexico , and in all these vast iles and spacious continents , that the spaniards with a more then hellish crueltie , haue slaine such infinite millions and meryades of those poore indians , wherby in a manner they haue wholly depopulated these populous countries , and not only made rivers but whole seas of their bloud ; and of whose inhumain and bloudie crueltie , i may justly say ; that as all former ages cannot shew the like president , so our posteritie will difficultly belieue it . and yet behold the horrible hipocrisie of these insulting and vsurping castillians ; for demaund them the reason of these their bloudie and execrable massacres , of those poore armlesse and harmlesse indians , and of the rooting out and exterminating of all their princes and nobility , they with as much falshood as impiety will affirme , that sith their king is the catholike king , so this is to plant the catholique faith in the remote , and new found worldes of the world ; whereby wee may obserue , that religion must still bee the pretext , and cloke of their bloody vsurpation , when heauen & earth knowes and sees , that it is first gold , then a greedy desire of dominion and empire , which is the true cause , and sole obiect thereof . e. 6. but if that bloody resolution , against these huge numbers of poore indians tooke place in the heart and councell of charles 5. must it needs follow that the like inhumanity and cruelty should liue in this of phill. 2. and phill. 3. his sonne and grand-childe : so as this blood-thirstie malice of spleene and gall against there poore indians , must bee hereditary to the kings of spaine , as now by custome and intrusion , ( and by the ignoble connivencie of the princes electors ) the ambition to enioy the empire of germany , is to the house of austria , from whence they are descended . portingall . q. e. my royall father obserued well , that religion was only the pretext , but welth and empire the sole obiect of spaines ambition ; for although charles 5. vsurped those places of america from the indians , who indeed knew not christ ; yet what religion or catholique was that of phill. 2. his sonne , vnder hand to precipitate , and throw sebastian king of portingall into the vnnecessary and vnfortunate warres of affrica against the moores , where hee losed his life with his ambition : and then after his decease , to worke so on the impotency , feare , and ignorance , of olde king henry his successour , as ( contrary to the lawes of iustice and nature ) to enforce him to illigitimate don anthony the prior of cra●o , who was the first and neerest heire vnto that crowne and kingdome , thereby to exclude him as indeed he did , or if he had not an itching and longing desire to swallow and devoure that kingdome of portingall ▪ which all christendome and rome her selfe knew was still more catholique then spaine , yea and then when he had ingaged his royall word to the rest of the pretendants , as the aforesaid don anthony , the dukes of savoy and parma , katherine of maedicis ) queene mother of france ) and katherine dutchesse of braganca ; that he with them would stand to the sentence of the chamber of lisbone , to know to whom the right of the kingdom most properly and lineally descended . that then this king phill. 2. forgat his conscience to god , and his promise to these princes ( fearing others right , and distrusting his owne ) brought an army to the gates of lisbone , ere the pretendants , or portingals themselues dreamt thereof , or had meanes or leasure to defend themselues , whereby such was insatiable ambition , vsurpation , and couetousnes , that in a plain and setled peace , he devoured this rich & noble kingdome ; making it not only tributary but a province to spaine . and was this also religion , or to plant the catholique faith ? or rather was it not manifest treachery , and apparant vsurpation , sith if don anthony had not , all the world knowes , the dutches of braganca had more right to this kingdom then king phill. p.h. yea , that policy king phil. learnt of the emperour charles 5 ▪ his father , who when himselfe , and king francis the first of france , contended for the empire of germany , whiles francis was bribing of the electors , charles brought an army into the field , and so enforced them to elect and chuse him . q.m. i must confesse i have ever held the portingalls , to be zealous and good romane catholiques ; but as navarre lay fit for biscay and galicia , so portingall lay exceeding commodious for andoulosie and so if my husband king phillip , had not seconded his right of descent by the law of his sword , perhaps hee might have had a bad neighbour in portingall , which he and his councell timely fore-seeing , they as wisely prevented . and howsoeuer , although hee hated don anthony , yet i know hee loved the dutchesse of braganca well ; but when we speake of crownes and kingdomes , religion will make this surprise of portingall a matter of state , though to speake truth , state can never make it a matter of religion . q.a. how well king phillip loved the dutchesse of bragāca , i know not , but this i am sure of , that both monsieur de boyses , monsieur de bisseaux , and monsieur de marais , ( ambassadours with king iames my husband ; for the two last french kings , henry 4. and lewes 13. ) tolde me that phillips hatred and rage was so great against don anthony , that he begged his body which lyes in a coffin of lead , in the cordeliers church at paris , to be delivered his ambassadours , and so sent him into spaine ; but as they said , these two most christian kings their masters answered phillip , that there was little religion , lesse charity , to take vp , and remooue the ashes of a dead prince and king , as was don anthony , and so his body still remaines in paris . p.h. if spaine were so malicious to a dead prince , how ought those that are living to beware and take heed of him ? h. 8. as a guilty conscience can never finde rest , so it may be , that king philip was afraid of a second don anthony , as of a second sebastian . p.h. but king philip 3. his sonne , hath farre more reason to feare don anthonie his two princely sons , don emanuell , and don christopher , and of don emanuell , his two generous and illustrious sonnes , don maurice and don lewes , all foure living who are famous , and royall reserued peeces of shipwrack of that royall kingdome and blood of portingall . q.m. o but they are poore , and want friends and meanes to advance their iust title to that crowne if they have any . e. 6. their right and title to portingall is iust , and therefore cannot , and should not dye . q. e. if the french forces had met mine , at the groyne , penecha , or lisbone , or had the portingalls risen , my norris , drake , and noble essex , in despight of philip and his forces , had pluck'd the crowne of portingall from his head , and seated it on king anthonies . p.h. no , no. don anthonies sonnes are beloved of the nobilitie of england , france , and the netherlands , and don emanuels wife , is sister to that valiant and incomparable captain maurice of nassaw , prince of orange . so if fortune smile , and a favourable gale blowe , these disinherited portingall princes may one day prove prickes and thornes to the sides of spaine . for all portingall knowes , that their veines and hearts streame with pure portingall blood ; yea , with the remainder of the royall blood of that kingdom ; which philip 3. his last entertainement ( together with the prince his sonne ) at lisbone , had almost found true : but that his maiestie departed with as much feare , secresie , and shame , as he came with resolution , popularity , and glory : in the intetrim , these portingal princes remaine prodigious and ominous comments to spaine . q. m. did spaine think so , it would quickly make the princes ride poast into another world . q.e. if spaine should send these princes poast into another world , either by the backe doore of poyson , by the wicket of poynard , and not by the great and fore-doore of nature , it would draw the fists of most christian princes about king philips eares , and make all portingall solemnize their funeralls with their swords drawne , and their cities gates shut . e. 6. indeede i have heard that the commons , and especially the nobility of portingall begin extreamly to distaste the imperious pride , and ambitious cariage of the spaniards , and many of them let not to say boldly and publiquely , that philip enjoyes the kingdome by vsurpation and not by right . q. m. not by right , why pope gregory 14. approued his title , and confirmed his conquest of the kingdome of portingall . q.e. so did not our sauiour christ , whose successour and vicar the pope pretends himselfe to be . p. h. in the meane time spaine domineeres at her conquest of portingall , and well she may , for it is one of the fairest flowers of his garland , and of the richest diamonds of his crowne . h. 8. but the other kings of chistendome haue iust cause and reason to grieue and storme hereat , for as it was portingalls mischance then to fall , and vaile bonnet to spaine , so it may be theirs to morrow , for to a prince and people so greedy and ambitious of empire as is spaine , all fish is good that comes to his hooke or net . p.h. thus spaine devoures kingdomes as the cyclope polephemus did passengers ; for he surprizeth no more then he meetes withall , and yet will not christendome beware of spaine . italy . h. 8. we have past from navarre , the west indies , and portugall , & now let vs come to italy to see how spaine is beloued or feared of the italians , and how he hath behaved himselfe there . e. 6. in italy the king of spaine is nayled to the pope , as most of the colledge of cardinalls , and all the iesuites are to him ; yea , he hath the greatest and richest territories thereof , as the kingdome of naples , the dutchy of millane , and the island of cicily , and ( in a manner , the marquesse of monaco , and finall , the dukes of montova , parma and vrbin ; the princes of massa , and piombino , with the free states genova and luca doe all march vnder his banner , and call onely on his name ; yea , he hath so incircled the pope as hee is rather his prisoner , then his spirituall father , for if his patrimony of st. peter be the temple , his naples and millane is the cloyster to impall it ; so as hee hath no impeachment or obstacle from making himself sole lord of italy , but the great duke of tuscany , and the prudent and potent seignorie of venice . q.m. o but the pope need not feare the king of spaine , for spaine is the popes hand , so the pope is spaines tongue : for the catholike king is his holinesse champion ; and his holinesse the king of spaines oracle . e. 6. i had thought that the popes alwayes loved the king of france better then those of spaine . q. e. o no , there is reason to the contrary , for spaine hath receiued romes hellish and bloody inquisition , and france is so wise and couragious , as it reiecterh and disdaines it . p. h. nay , there is another reason likewise ; for although the former kings of france were brave and victorious , yet king lewes that now is feares the pope and loves him not , whereas king phill. of spaine loves him , but feares him not . q.m. if the popes had not loved spain , they would neuer haue given him naples & cicilly , nor permitted him to inioy that rich & populous dutchy of millan , which is the patrimony of the house of orleans , and is now fallen to the right of france . q.e. surely there is a great vnion betweene the popes and the kings of spaine , for spaine makes the pope ride on his pontificall chaire , and the pope makes spaine flie in phaetons chariot , about the foure corners of christendome . p. h. but the pope loued not spaine so well , to giue him either the marquisat of an●●nitana , or the dutchy of ferrara , when he begged it of him by his ambassadours . h. 8. but did spaine seeke ferrara , and the marca of ancona of the pope ? q.m. yea , and vpon good grounds and solid reasons too , for that lay commodious for millane , and this for naples , and both would serue as bridges to passe into that braue and proud state of venice . the state of venice . q.e. now you speak of the grave and noble venetians ; as they haue long since pull'd off the maske of spaines itching desire to deflowre their beautifull adriatike sea nimph : so they haue resolved no more to trust spaniards . for of late ( notwithstanding their prudent decree to the contrary , grounded vpon some priuate reasons of state ) they both thinke in their hearts , and know in their soules and consciences , that it was only the ambition & double pistols of spaine , that laid the foundation of the last treacherous and execrable attempt against their citie ; and consequently against their whole state , notwithstanding that some perfidious frenchmen ( degenerating from the honour of their country and ancestors ) were corrupted and seduced ( by the gold and flattering promises of spaine ) to bee the chiefest agents , and forlorn hope in that damnable attempt and to make this as cleare and apparent as the sunne , that illustrious and wise senate well knowes , that at that very instant , and nick thereof , the duke of ossuna ( vice-roy of naples ) hovered with his fleet and land forces to lay hold , and embrace that occasion . q.m. sure sister you wrong the duke of ossuna , and in him king philip his maister ; for i haue heard that the said duke did then arme vpon newes of a great fleet of gallyes comming from constantinople to rhodes , vpon the irruption of intelligence betwixt the great turke and the french king , for the eseape of the polonian prince coreski : for the which the barron of sancy , the french ambassadour was at least confined , if not imprisoned at constantinople , and that therfore for the safety of the kingdom of naples , it behoved the said duke to fortifie his ports of apulia , ottranto , and calabria , as well with fleets as regiments . p.h. the king of spaines ministers never want pretexts and evasions for their designes ; but if the duke of ossuna for affirming hereof , should sweare botta dios , and par la sanctissiam virgina , till he were damn'd , yet that wise senate , & especially the councell of tenn , will never beleeve him . q.e. o but ossuna and the king of spaine his master , shall give me leave to joyne in opinion with the prudent venetians ; and therfore i highly praise their foresight , and applaude their generosity , in keeping a brave navall army on their seas , and strong garisons in their castles and cities , for the security of their state , as also for keeping of their exchequer rich , and their arsenall and magasins aboundantly stored and furnished . h. 8. but hath spaine offered the seignory of venice , no other wrongs and offronts but this ? q.e. o yes , for although that prudent state say little , yet they remember , ( and will not forget ) how busie his ambassadour and agents were at rome , to give fire to the quarrell betweene pope paulus quintus and themselues , about banishing the iesuites from their state , and for imprisoning the chanon of vincensa ; as also how readily and earnestly they proffered the pope , that a great spanish and neopolitan army should instantly enter their state , and put all to fire and sword . p.h. and they likewise remember , how the king of spaine ( that thereby his regiments mought fish in troubled waters , & get firme footing in their country ) hath often incens'd this emperour ferdinand then duke of gratz , to invade their frontier townes in friull , and the trevisan . q·e. but nova palma brescia , pescare , and verona , are obstacles and stops to the designes both of the emperour , and king of spaine ; yea that wise state , is so watchfull and vigilant , that in time of peace they make their greatest preparations for warre : and it were a blessed happinesse and a safe felicity , for most kingdomes and estates of christendome , if herein they would emulate and imitate the example of these wise and noble venetians , which is neither to trust , much lesse to feare spaine . q.m. but as wise and as strong as the venetians are , as their church and pallace of st. marke , was not built in a day , so are not all the designes and resolutions of the king of spaine , and therefore a time may come , but i say no more ▪ q. a. o , i gesse at your minde ! you would have the state of venice made a province to spaine , that thereby he may finde a way for his fleets , to convey his armies into high and lowe germany . and if spain thinke so : contareno the venetian ambassadour , resident with the king my husband ; and since him donato likewise tolde me , that herein spaine is deceived in the arithmetick of his ambition and vsurpation ▪ and thus to reckon , is to reckon without his hostesse , and without god. swisserland . h. 8. bvt how do the warlike cantons of swissers trust the king of spaine ? q. a. as they doe the emperour ferdinand , his brother leopaldus , and the rest of the austrian princes : for they know his ambition and their malice , and so neither feare him , nor love these . q. m. but they love the double pistols of spaine , doe they not ? q.e. yes , but they say the french crownes of the sunne are farre purer and truer gold , and therefore passe currenter with them . e. 6. the austrian princes , and the swissers , i haue still heard , are from father to sonne , hereditary and irreconcilable enemies . p. h. yea , the swissers draw good vse and benefit hereof ; for by this meanes they live not in security as some other states doe ; but are still armed and ready to march and follow their colours . q.e. but there is no warre would be so acceptable and pleasing to them as vp to millane , or downe to the free county , brabant , and heynault ; if france , savoy , and venice , would command them the first , and england , france , and holland , ordaine and give way to the second . q. a. what is not past is yet to come . q.m. yea , but the councell of spaine hath policy enough , to insinuate and temporize with all these princes and states ; and so to divert their designes , and frustrate their resolutions , if they were bent that way . p.h. it hath indeede hitherto proved so by spaine : for their policy and treachery , hath purchased and gotten them more countries , then either their valour or swords . q. m. these easie conquests are still sweet and pleasing to spaine . p. h. yea , but they are neither honest nor just . e. 6. but hath not spaine cavill'd with the swissers for their confines and limmits ? q.e. yes , two wayes , next germany by leopaldus , and betwixt losanna and gray in the free county by the archduke albertus . q. m. yea , yea , the king of spaine will angle so long till he take . q.e. but hath not spaine attempted by his ambassadours and agents , to sowe discention and discord amongst these helvetian cantons ; to oppose them one against the other , and so to debauch and withdraw them first from the french kings seruice , and then to his owne . p. h. yes many times , but that tricke of spaine is now growne olde and thrid-bare ; so as the swissers vowe to remedy the first , and the french kings to prevent the second . q.m. but the catholique king will watch those swissers a good turne , and if the ephinaerides of his envie , ambition , and greatnesse faile him not , either his spinola , or his pedro de toledo , shall one of these dayes dine with him at berne , eriburg , or soleurre , ere their table-cloathes be layed . q. e. but sister you are deceived in the swissers ; for their table cloathes are alwayes nayled to their tables ; yea , they haue so great a quantity of swords pikes , and muskets in a readinesse , to give any enemy of theirs a bloudy banquet , that if philip king of spaine dare assault them , they doubt not but to vse him as they haue formerly done philip duke of burgundy , whom they ouerthrew in three severall pitchd battels , at granson , morat , and nancy , where he losed his treasure , his men , and his life . the grisons . h. 8. bvt how stand the grisons affected to spaine . e. 6. spaine through the vicinity of millane , doth so often knocke at their doores , that if they keepe them not fast shut , they know , or at least feare that hee will shortly enter by the voltaline and chiavena . q.m. o though of late they made a shew of resistance , yet the gold of spaine , the neighbourhood of millane , the fort fuentes , but chiefly their owne credulity and security , hath almost brought them to the king of spaines ▪ lure . q.e. this people were both warlike and wise . p.h. but spaine will briefly make them fooles and cowards if they will hearken to him . q m. as how nephew ? pray be not bitter against spaine . p. h. why , first spaine will nussell them vp in peace and security till matters be ripe , or else he will engender factions , and sowe discords among themselues , either for religion , or ranke , or betwixt them and their dearest friends the swissers ; and so when he sees all things ready , and the iron hot , then hee will march , and strike , and not faile to vnite and annex the cantons of the grisons to millane , as he hath already done millane to spaine . h. 8. if the grisons at any time lose the swissers friendship , or their owne vigilancy and generosity , it will not be long , ere they shake hands with their liberty and lives . q.m. so spaine hopes , for if warre cannot worke and effect it , they make no doubt but peace shall . q.e. if the grisons hearken to the charmes of spaine , they are halfe lost . q.m. if they hearken not to spaine , they are wholly vndone , but if they listen to spaine , all will be well . h. 8. yea daughter , i beleeue for the spaniards , but not for the grisons . q. e. to trust to spaine , is to rely on a broken staffe , and to harbour a serpent in our own bosomes . p.h. to trust to the promises of spaine , is to commit our selues to the mercy and protection of a lyon who will devoure vs. q.m. the grisons will see , and say the contrary e. 6. so will i say , if i see the contrary ; till when i feare the grisons will buy their peace , as well with teares as blood . savoy . h. 8. bvt how doth savoy brooke spaine ? for i take it this present duke charles emanuell , married this king philip 3. his second sister ; the infanta katherina michaela . p.h. savoy loves spaine , as it hath deserved of it ; for the noble and generous duke thereof cries out ; god defend mee from such a brother in law as king philip. q.m. i beleeve if the catholique king offered that duke any vnkinde office , it was nothing but because hee was so neere a neighbour to geneva , as hee and the pope suspected his highnesse would turne caluinist . q. e. alas that good citie of geneva , why all the world knowes the dukes loue to it , and its religion , witnesse the barron of attignac and his consorts , as also terraill and bastide ; but if there were once a spanish garison in this citie , savoy would soone know how to distinguish betwixt good and bad neighbours . e. 6. but it is the laughture of the world , to say that spaine hates savoy because he loves the religion of geneva . p. h. yet this is as true as many other of spaines colours , pretexts and evasions , when hee hath a purpose and plot to vsurpe . q.m. why wherein hath the king of spaine abused , or wronged the duke of savoy . p.h. first , in being himselfe the chiefe cause and subiect , and then making him the instrument and executioner , to cut off the two noble heads of biron in paris , and d' albigny in turin . q.m. why the catholique king is the vniversall king , and therefore it is not strange , if in all countries of the world , hee haue his farre fetch'd policies , agents , and instruments to make his stratagems and resolutions take effect , for those who are obstacles to his will and pleasure ; his verball friendship shall alwayes prove their reall overthrow and subversion ; howsoeuer he and his ministers pretend , and make shew of the contrary . q.a. nay , let vs leaue biron and d'albigny in their graves , for mee thinkes it is a poore charity to rake vp the ashes of the dead . and for our better information , let vs take a survey of the courtesie , or rather of the cruelty that spaine hath offered savoy . e. 6. none knowes nor can deliuer the particular truth thereof , so well as your royall sonne prince henry . q.m. but i feare my nephew will be too partiall in the delivery hereof , betweene the king of spaine , and the duke of savoy , because i haue heard that of the two princesses their daughters ; he preferd that of savoy before this of spaine . h. 8. no , no ; my nephew henry is a iudicious and iust prince , therefore i know hee will not wrong spaine to doe right to savoy . q. a he resembles king iames his father to well , whoe will still loue the king of spaine , although therein he hate him selfe , therefore speake on fayre sonne . p. h when great henry of france ( my honoured vncle ) made warres vpon the present duke of sauoy for the recouery of his marquisat of saluses , then this phillip king of spaine , ( vnder the pretence and shewe to ayd the duke his brother in lawe against the french ) sent him many troopes and regiments of spanyards for the preseruation of his state ; when the peace being made betwixt the king and the duke , and the exchange for saluses , with the countreyes of bresse and gex ratified and acomplished ; these spanish regiments being quartered in carbonieres , mountemellion , savillan , pignoroll and other places of sauoy & piedmont , they vpon no reqvest or assommons made them by the duke , would depart thence , but being commaunded the contrary by the count de fuentes ( viceroy of millan ) as he was from the king his master from spaine , they peremptorily resolued and vowed to keepe firme footing which they along time did , vntill at last that wise & valiant duke being thereunto constrained for the securitie of his estate , whose emmynent and vtter subuersion he apparantly sawe before his eyes , he very nobly cutt all their throates . h. 8. beleeue me his highnesse of sauoy did well , for it was an act most worthy of his iudgement and generositie . q m. but the king of spaine , the dukes of lerma pastrama , denia , albecurque , tolleao , and all the counsell of warre of spaine , vowe to haue their reuenge of this affront . q. e. spaine hath done his woorst to sauoy alreadie , for as long as france loues sauoy , sauoy needs not feare spaine ; at least mine authors tell me soe , who are that famous captaine , the duke of dedis . guieres , his valiant son de crequy ; & noble du termes . q. a. though this one wronge , be one too many , yet is these all the wronges that this king of spaine hath offered this duke of sauoy . p. h. noe madame , for although the duke winke , and seemes ( with father aubigny ) to haue the art of forgettfullness ; yet he well remembers , how don iuan de taxis spaines ambassadour in france ) told lullins , arconas , and alimes , his highnesse ambassadours at lyons , that the kinge his master would contribute towards the exchange of the marquisat of saluces , conditionally it remayned on that side the alpes from the french ; and since how his catholique maiestie hath performed nothing . he remembers spaines plott vpon his castle of nice ( the key not only of his countryes , but of italy ) when his spanish galleyes lay at villa franca to bereaue him of his children , he remembers how the spanish cardynalls oppose his precedency at rome , with the duke of florence , and how the catholike king , or his viceroy of millan for him ; was the match and incendiary to set fire twixt the duke of mātoua & him , for the marquisate of montferrad . q. e. wee may see what a kind brother in lawe the king of spaine is , and what it is to build vpon his affiance , afinity , promises and asistance . p. h. i am glad the duke of savoy , and the princes his children haue now purchased the length of spaines foote . e. 6. they haue reason to haue it , for they were all enforced to take it with their swordes , pikes , and lances , at cassall● , verceile and other wheres . q. a. as longe as savoy loues not spaine , the marquis of lullius and monseur de gabaleon told me , it needes not feare it . q. m. o but as long as spaine knockes at the gates of sauoy and piedmond he may at last enter . q. e. sauoy hath reason to enter millan , not spaine sauoy . q. m. but tyme and the policie and swords of spaine cut all donations and rightes in peeces . p. h. savoy hath had warninges enough to beware of spaine and therefore as i euer loued that generous duke , soe i hope that he and the illustryous & valliant princes , his sonnes , will neuer want armes of steele , and heartes of diamonds to our braue spaine who with such ambition and malice seekes to out braue it . france . h. 8. but what sayes france of spaine . q. m. my honoured father all the world knowes that spaine hath euer loued france well . q. e. yea too too well , and so well as france will neuer loue spaine , much lesse trust it in requitall . q m. why hath not spaine reason to ballance and counterpoise the power and greatnesse of france . p. h. yea , but not to seeke to make that famous & flourishing kingdome become a prouince to spaine . q. m. spayne neuer wish't it , much lesse attempted it . q. e. yeares , more often then france hath prouinces , or spayne cittyes . p. h. why ? who was the avthor and protector of the league , but first spaine , then the pope , and next the devill . q. m. o that was onely to preserue catholiques , and the catholique religion , and to exterminate and roote out heretiques , and was not this well done of the king of spaine , sith he is the catholique king. e. 6. nay , now the least child in france knowes that religion was onely the pretext , but empire and dominion the obiect of that league . how else dared mendoza ( spaines ambassadour in paris seeke the crowne of france for the infanta of spaine , or how els dared the iesuites his ministers , in their seditious sermons , and pernicious pamphlets aduance her right to the crowne and kingdome , when god and the world knowes shee had none to it . q. m. why , it was when god had caused that good fryer iames clement , to kill that bad king henry the third at saint clou , and when indeede that kingdome was without a head , and then the king of spaine had reason to aduance his daughters title to france , in right of her mother elizabeth , ( that queene of peace ) notwithstanding the fundamentall power of the salique law to the contrary . h. 8. you are deceiued daughter , for it was a good king , and a bade fryer ( or rather a diuell in a fryers weede ) to set handes on the lords anoynted , but this arrow came out of the quiuer of spaine , and hell , for that bloudie and execrable murther was no sooner perpetrated , but then instantly followed the proposition of the infantaes title to france , which apparantly makes the murther to be spaynes . q.m. it was the dukes of mayene , mercuaeur who drewe the king of spayne to assist the league , and in it france . q. e. no , no , contrariewise it was the kinge of spayne , that debouchd and drewe these two dukes , and with them almost all the nobilitie to forge and contriue this league , and in it to ruine france : for already france was almost spayne , and the infanta had vndoubtedly borne the crowne : if great henry his victorious sword had not pulld off spaynes maske , and so cutt her title and its pretences in pieces . q. m. but see the equitie and iustice of king phillipe , for when henry that heretique king came to the crowne , he restored him calais , dourlans , valencienes , blauet , and all other townes and castles which he had formerly wonne and conquered in france . p. h. but all this was not worthy thankes , for phillipe alone restored that which hee could not , nor dared not to keepe . q. m. nay , obserue farther how religious king phillip was ( in imitation of king agesilaus ) for hee kept his fayth inuiolable towards henry iiii although he were an heretique king. p. h. nay obserue how irreligiously and treacherous kinge phillip was to king henry 4. ( in imitation of artaxerxes , the son of xerxes ) for hee violated his fayth and friendship towards him , in debaushing of biron mirargues , loste , whose promises and gold made them traytors to their king and country . e. 6. surelie i thinke it is incydent , and i feare it will proue hereditary to the kings of spayne to conquer more by treachery then by the sword . q. e. but had great henry liued , he would haue requited , these courses of spayne , as also that of guignard and chastell ; who ( although the report runne otherwise ) had their greatest light and encouragement from beyond the pyreene mountaines ; for to speake truth hee in heart could neuer be drawen to loue spayne . p. h. yea , that spayne knew full well , for when the french iesuites his ministers had vnlocked the mistery they like bloody schoole-masters , soe diuelishlie instructed and fortified that monster of men rauilliack ( their execrable and damnable desciple ) that hee soone sent him hither in a bloody coffin . q.m. but you will not say that the king of spayne was accessary to henry 4. his murther . p. h. no , but i will say that if the truth were knowne , the opening of that veine would make many great birds , yea and many learned ones too , bleede themselues to death , and peraduenture the wounds and scarres thereof , would bleede an hundred yeares hence . q. a. the marshall of lauerdin whistered mee a word concerning this , which i shall neuer forget , onely hee requested my secrecie therein : so the king of spaines larma , and the queene mother of france her d' anchre , his mariana , and her cotton shall giue me leaue to thinke . q. m. questionlesse it were the sinnes of that king , and the finger of heauen that cut off the threed of his life . q. e. questionlesse you are deceiued sister , for it were the sinnes of france who made the knife , and the treasons of spaine and rome which made that parricide rauilliack performe . h. 8. well , in despight of rome , spaine and hell , that victorious and glorious king is wasted hither in triumph , therefore leaue wee him with god , and god with him , and let vs see since his deplorable death , how kinde k. philip of spayne hath beene to king lewes his sonne . q. m. so kinde that hee hath matched king lewis to his eldest daughter , the ifanta anna ; and his eldest sonne , prince phil. to the eldest princesse of france , madame elizabeth , that now these two mighty kingdomes and houses seeme to bee but one . q. e. this is faire to the eye of the world , but it will bee excellent if the end of these matches proue fortunate for france . h. 8. who were the match-makers ? p. h. s. p. q. s. or to bee better vnderstood , spaine , pope and queene regent . q.e. if king philip of spaine be heyre as well to his fathers ambition as to his kingdomes , hee will loue france so well as to push and fish for it . p. h. what force could never effect , hee hopes those marriages now will. e. 6. indeede the snake lurkes vnder the fairest greene leaues , and the aspik vnder the purest and sweetest roses . q. e. no kings of the world know better how to dissemble then the catholique kings . p. h. you speake scripture , not tradition . q.m. and you tradition not scripture . h. 8. but what intertainment had the infanta of spaine in france ? p. h noble , royall , glorious . e. 6. what traine of spaniards brought shee with her into france . p. h. a very great traine , for monsieur de marais ( the french embassadour with the king my father ) told mee that monsieur de bonelle ( master of the ceremonies to the french king ) reported , that when the first of them were entring paris at st. iaques gate , that the last were but comming downe the pyrene mountaines . q. a. but what did all this rabble of spaniards doe in france ? p. h. to speake truth , they fell presently to skrewing and working themselues into the state , by begging and buying of offices , places , pensions , and gouernments , both in church and common-weale , and by making pensioners for spaine , and consequently a bridge and passage for the king their master to enter . h. 8. but how did the parliaments , the privie councell , and the nobilitie of france brooke and digest this ? q e. yea , that is a question of state indeed . p. h. as for the parliaments , and privie councell , many of them are so iesuitiz'd , as they are spaniards in heart , though french in tongue , and therefore they were so farre from preuenting , as they gaue way to it , onely for the princes and nobilitie ( some few excepted ) they ( resembling themselues ) vowed and swore , that their swords should cut the pens and tongues in pieces of any spaniard whatsoever , that dar'd propose or attempt it , for they spake aloud and affirm'd , the florentines had taught them wit. e. 6. a braue resolution of the french nobilitie ; for the greatest of a state haue alwayes the greatest interest in the state ; those princes and nobles are therefore highly to be applauded and praised : and such of the privie councell and parliament who tacitely are delinquents , and traytors to their prince and countrey , deserue to bee found out , arraigned , and sacrificed to the good of the common-weale , either with a sword , or a halter . q. m. but , what said the clergie of france to this ? q. e. sister , it is to be fear'd , as you wish & desire . p. h. why they out of passionate zeale , more then of zealous and sollid iudgement , approue of any match for their king , so it be not with a protestant , and yet of none so well as of this with spaine ; demand their reason and they will answer you ( with as much vehemency as ignorance ) that the king of spaine is the catholique king , and if you come further to particularize , they reply , that their cardinalls ( who indeede are onely the popes creatures ) shall deliver more at the estates generall : so the clergie bad the spaniards well-come into france . q. e. but where are the fire-brands and incendiaries of the state , the french iesuites , who indeed are the fistulaes and botches of a state , what entertainment gaue they to the young queene and her spaniards ? p. h. surely aunt , they crouched very low to the queene ; but in cottons absence arnoux and berrulla ( their tongue and eare ) whispered so secretly to her maiestie , that i could neither gather nor vnderstand what they said , but i guest at it ; onely they gaue faire words and actions to all the spaniards in generall ; and to the nobler and wiser sort of them in particular , they ingaged themselues to keepe curious correspondence with the catholique king , to whom they affirmed and swore by their semi-god , and sole patron ignatius loyolla , they would beare true observance , as the marigold doth to the sunne . q. a. are not these two iesuites the french kings ordinary preachers , and yet dare they doe it ? q. e. although berrulla be the father of the oratory , yet he is in heart and soule a iesuite , and arnoux is the arch-iesuite of france , and the kings confessor , and yet they dare , and will doe it . h. 8. but how did the queene regent enterteyne the spaniards : p. h. courteously and nobly , because shee made the match ; which since shee hath repented tho ; yea and the duke of mayene too , who concluded & finished it : and so did villeroy likewise , although it were to late . but sillery and du vair loue spaine so well , as their courages are so masculine , that though they see their errours in perswading these matches , yet they rather persist then acknowledge it , for like good cleere-sighted states-men , they haue witte enough to beare vpp with the time , for otherwise they know the times will not beare them vp . q. m. but how did the commons of france entertaine the spaniards ? q. e. truely i thinke they will never be perswaded to like the fashion of the little hatte , and great set ruffe . q. a. son henry , pray answere queene mary . p. h. if we may iudge of hercules by his foote , so we then may of france , by those of paris ) which is the eye , the heart , the soule thereof ( where the citizens in all streetes , and especially the lakeyes at the lovrre gate , and the new bridge , still salute the spaniards as they passe by , by these courteous epithites , boracho , pantalones , and bouriques . h. 8. how long remained all these spaniards in france ? q. m. so long i warrant you , vntill they did all their kings businesse , and their owne too before they departed . p. h. in truth so long , till all france was weary , and distasted of them and their proceedings , yea , so many yeares , that at last the king and councell were in a manner constrained to send them away by an edict , as they themselues , not many yeares since , did the moores . q. m. the banishing of the moores was a good and wholesome counsell of spaine . q. e. and i assure you sister the sending home of the spaniards was an excellent one of france , for vpon the matter , they were but spyes , moaths and drones , and would haue proved so to france if they had continued there longer . e. 6. but were they all sent home , and none left at the court of france to giue , and receiue packets to and fro for the iesuits , the king of spaines factors and agents . q. e. o , no assure your selfe , for the councell of spaine is too wise to commit so grosse and palpable an errour of state. p. h. therefore to cast the thicker mist , and to put the better varnish on the businesse , the countesse de la tour was left there with the title of gouernesse to the young queene , and there is as much correspondencie betwixt her and don ferdinand de geron ( the ambassador of spaine ) as there is betwixt him and the french iesuites . q. a. thus spayne leaues alwaies a sting behind him , and i feare france will in the end find it so . q. m. whereon is your suspition , and feare grounded ? q. a. vpon the apparant symptomes of the lethargie , feuer , or consumption of france . e. 6. you say right madam , and the noblest and truest hearted french-men participate of your apprehension ; for the iesuites ( beeing the popes factors , and the king of spaynes oracles and agents ) haue already corrupted the parliaments and priuie councell , who should bee her illium & acrocorynth . they haue vndermyned and ruinated the sorbone , heeretofore her palladium , once the queene of vniuersities : who now as a mournefull widdow , sits with her hayre dandling about her eares , and her teares trickling downe her cheekes , liuing onely in her shaddow or ghost , or rather in her ruines ; for her genius and soule , hath alreadie made a transmigration to clermont-house ; yea , and to speake true french , in our english tongue , they by their diuelish aphorismes and bloodie positions ( vnder a false & hypocriticall shew of learning and pietie ) doe poyson and corrupt the youth and prime witts of france , as the iewes did the springs and fountaines in england . q. e. also , the clergie of france , degenerates from its pristine candor and zeale to the good of france , and the glory of the french church , for they receiue lawes from the popes nuncio and the iesuites , to whome they should giue them . how else at the last generall estates of paris , and the assemblie of notables at rouen ? were they so vnwise , dishonest and cowardly , to referre themselues to the two cardinalls perron and gondye ? who like good cardinalls , but bad french-men ( having onely their bodies in france , but their hearts at rome ) in thankfulnes to the pope for their red hatts , forgat themselues and their allegiance so much , as to prostitute and debase that famous crowne and flourishing kingdome of france , to be dependant to rome in temporall matters , notwithstanding the pragmatick sanction , and the prerogatiues of the crowne & church of france , to the contrary ; whereat the popes nuncio at paris laught with open mouth : so did the colledge of cardinalls , and the pope himselfe at rome ; and likewise the catholike king in spaine , with all that huge rabble of iesuites , whiles all the kings , soveraigne princes , and free estates of europe ( spaine and italie excepted ) grieued and lamented at it , with as much shame as wonder . e. 6. indeed these are two maine points & reasons , that the greatnesse and generosity of france declynes , and that rome and spaine will shortly shuffle the cards so well , as it must needs bee made a province to spaine ; for they both haue consulted and finde , that what could not be effected during the reigne of old henrie , may in these of young king lewes his sonne . p. h. it is not impossible , rather likely , for france abounds in a monstrous height of pride and sinne , and the old cleargie of france admit of so many new orders of fryers and nuns , that almost all is out of order ; and the seuenteene millions which the duke of suilly left by accompt to the queene regent , is all long since spent , and twice seventeene more . so as although the polleta be still on foote , monopolyes never so rife , the finnances , or exchequer drawne dry , and exhausted ; yet the king is extreamely in debt to his nobilitie and pensioners ; and is not this musicke for the king of spaine ? h. 8. had great henry liued , he would haue remedied and preuented these calamities . q. a. but his sonne king lewes is not so happie to doe it , no nor his creator , the duke of luynes so discreet and honest to aduise and councell him therevnto . p. h. the neglect thereof may make one , or both of them to repent it , and peradventure the kingdome too ; for alreadie the commons grieue hereat , and the nobilitie would , but cannot remedy it . q. m. spaine loues france , therefore france need not feare spaine . p. h. the panthers skin is faire , yet his friendship is fatall , and his breath infectious . q. e. indeed if france loued not spaine , it need not feare it . q. m. king philip loues king lewes dearely . q. a. not halfe so well as he loues his kingdome of france . q. e. in truth france hath reason to haue a vigilant eye ore spaine , for as long as shee sleepes in her bed of pleasure and securitie , perhaps one of these dayes , spaines ambition may awake her with drumme , trumpet , and cannon . p. h. o no , not as yet , for if the king of spaine were so ill aduised , his councell is not ; for they like old experienced foxes ; will never permit him to discover himselfe , much lesse his resolutions , and least of all his ambition and sword , vntill the sunne hath attaynd the meridian . q. m. i know not what my nephew meanes by this mathematicall riddle . q. e. i was never greatly skild in the mathematickes , and yet consuming my youth , yeares , and cares for england , i haue reason to vnderstand his knowledge . wherefore sister , sith he is a noble and famous prince , let vs heare him , for he hath some mystery to reveale twixt france and spaine . q. m. he loues france , and hates spaine , and which is worse , he was an heretique , therefore his tongue can make no spherall melodie . e. 6. but his heresie hath brought him hether to heaven tho , and he is a famous and noble prince : therefore cosen wales speake on , of france and spaine , for now we are all resolved to heare you . q. e. i gaue him my fathers name , and he inheriteth my resolution and courage , and the king his fathers wisedome , therefore he can neither flatter nor dissemble . q. a. speake on henry . p. h. know all men by these presents , that if spaine did see the heart and bowels of france weltring in its bloud , and flaming in the fire of an intestine civill-warre , if it did see the princes banded against the king , or the king against the protestants , these riffeling of the lovare , and of paris , and his maiestie beseiging of rochell , sancerre , sedan , nismes , or saumury , or denouncing warre to all those of that religion . if it did see sixteene parisian tribunes , carrying away the court of parliament prisoners to the bastille , and chastellets the rebellious barycadoes , and a bloudie massacre in paris ; and generally in all the cities of the kingdome , if hee did see some princes of the bloud ( or two great dukes , as were du mayene and merury ) captivating and deboshing the obedience and affections of the french nobilitie , cleargie and commons , and covering their pernitious designes and trecherous attempts , vnder the cloake of the holy league ; if it did see calais , dourlaus , amiens , montdidier , valencienes , blauet , and croyden , or other strong cities ; or forts of france , bearing out the redd ragged crosse in stead of the three yellow flower deluces , and a second mendoza for his ambassadour , sate as premier president , and oracle in the lovare , towne-house and parliament , that then phillip the iii. of spaine loues his sonne in law lewes the thirteene of france so well , that he would vse him as king phillip the second had an eager desire , and had almost done great henry his father . q. m. why how was that ? p. h. right as my god-mother queene elizabeth hath formerly told you , nothing but to depriue him of his kingdome . e. 6. it were better that all the iesuites were hanged , and the young queene of france sent home to spaine , with her portion , to the king her father . q. e. but wee see strange alterations in the court of france , for some dare , but will not , and others would , but dare not informe the king hereof . q. a. france hath reason , yea it it high time for her to looke to her selfe , for the agents , iesuits , and double pistols of spaine are busie , and their swords and pikes are not idle . for whiles france playes the theorie , spaine playes the practique . of the netherlands . h. 8. how doth spaine and the netherlands agree . e. 6. spaine hath so long invred and enforced the hollanders to bloud and warres , as now at sea and land they are become such braue souldiers and mariners , as they feare not spaine , and to loue spaniards they vow t is impossible , much lesse to obey them . q. m. it is pittie that king philip the second ended not the chastising and conquest of these heretique hollanders , ere king philip the third beganne it , or that he cannot reduce them to obedience , by ending these warres with more fortunacie , and lesse danger and dammage . q. e. nay sister , it is pittie that these two kings of spaine , and the archduke albertus and isabella , haue from time to time beene so ambitious , inhumane , cruell , and revengefull , to drowne the face of the netherlands with many deluges of blood , in seeking to preserue their libertie , liues , and consciences from the cruell tyranny and inquisition of spaine . p. h. indeed for this fortie yeares the netherlands hath beene the schoole and theatre of mars , whereon there hath beene more braue souldiers and renowned captaines slaine , then in any country of the world , or in many precedent ages ; and yet all this blood is not capable to quench spaines ambition and tyranny in seeking to deuoure those provinces . q. a. hath not spaine assaulted the netherlands as well by trechery as hostillitie ? q. e. yes , witnesse the damnable villaine gerrard , who long since murthered william the famous prince of orenge , their lieutenant generall , and father to maurice that valiant and incomparable captaine , who now succeeds him in his principalitie . q. m. o sister , cast not so base an aspersion on king philip my husband , to affirme he was accessary to the murther of william prince of orenge , much lesse authorised or commanded it . p. h. all the ocean betweene holland and spaine , cannot wash off that murther from your husband king philip , for his proscription to murther him beares it , and his lieutenant the duke of parma commanded the count assonuille to deale with gerrard about this murther , who promised him twenty-fiue thousand crownes to effect it , which , o griefe to speake it , he did . e. 6. but his valiant sonne hath long since had revenge for the death of his father . q. a. if he haue not , he resolues to haue it . h. 8. but hath not spaine since attempted , or broached any other treason towardes the hollanders ? p. h. o yes very lately , for whilst spaine is spaine , holland will never forget how neere hee was to haue extinguished her libertie , and surprized their state , by infecting and corrupting their secretary barnevelt , a man of so profound wit , and deepe iudgement and experience in matters of state , as he was not onely the oracle of the netherlands , but the ornament and wonder of europe , yea of his time . q. e. see , see the fruites of spaines gold , and the effects of his boundlesse ambition , for it is a common custome with him , if not by the mayne , yet surely by the bye , to breake the necke of great princes , and free estates , publique ministers , whether they are great souldiers or great statesmen , or both . q. a. yea , the web of this treason was so cunningly wouen , and so subtilly and finely spun , as if the netherlands had not broken barnevelts necke , he long ere this had assuredly broken the necke both of their libertie and state. q. m. well barnavelt is gone , and now spaine needs not feare his pollicie . p. h. nay , barnavelt being dead , and maurice that famous prince of orenge liuing , holland need not feare either the trechery , or force of spaine . h. 8. but nephew , i heare that the vnited provinces of the low-countries will this spring haue warres with spaine , for their peace is neere expired and ended . p. h. a braue , noble , and wise resolution of theirs . e. 6. heretofore england taught the hollanders wit and valour , and now they resolue to shew england the way to those two vertues . q. m. but the gold and silver of spaine will prevaile against them , and weigh them downe . p. h. but the hollanders had ships enough of their owne , and gold , silver , and men from england , therefore they disdaine to feare spaine , nay , rather they vow before the next summer to make spaine feare them . h. 8. see , see , a handfull of men dare attempt that against spaine , which great brittaines huge infinitie will not . q. e. and yet their cause and reason is englands , viz. their consciences , liues , and countries . q. a. pray god england and france interpose not to crosse the warres , and seeke to conclude a peace betwixt holland and spaine . e. 6. but the hollanders are resolued to make king iames a large offer , to protect them against spaine . q. m. but king iames loues spaine too well , and therefore will not hearken to , or regard their proffer , for his maiestie is resolved not to protect them . p. h. the more is the pitty . q. e. the more my griefe . q. m. and without griefe or pitty , the more is my ioy . q. e. i protected the netherlands in despight of spaine . e 6. but spaine went neere by your leicester , to betray both you and them . h. 8. if king iames would now protect the netherlands , how easily might hee refetch backe flushing , the brill , and the ramekins ? e. 6. nay , how easily did his maiestie depart with them to the netherlands ? p. h. it infinitely reioyceth mee to vnderstand the hollanders braue resolution and forwardnesse to haue warres with spaine . q. m. but there is a secret tricke to coole their courages which they least thinke of . h. 8. as how daughter ? q. m. why , to pistoll this prince of orenge , as they did his father . q ▪ e. heaven forbid it . p. h. god defend it . q. m. why 't is but one for another ; for hee knowing barnauelt a traitor to his countrey because a pensioner to spaine , caused the lords states , to put him to death , why then ( in exchange and requitall ) should not a pensioner of spayne either poyson , or pistoll the prince of orenge ? e. 6. these diabolicall resolutions and bloudy positions come from hell. q. e. and thither they goe that professe and practise them . q. m. the king of spaine is too religious to authorise so execrable a murther . q. e. but the pope as holy as he is will pardon it , and yet the world , i hope , knowes , that the k. of spaine cannot be so religious as his holines . q. a. it were good then for holland to bee carefull of their prince of orenge his life ; as all the world knowes his excellencie is of their safetie and preseruations . p. h. and it will likewise behoue them to obserue withall ( as i hope they doe ) how subtilly and trecherously spinola takes their neighbour townes for the emperour , and keeps them for the king of spaine his master . e. 6. and if the warres goe on 'twixt holland and spaine ; as i hope they will , it will be needefull for spaine to haue a speciall care of his west-indies from the holland fleets . h. 8. wherefore onely spaines west-indies , or rather why not all the worlds west-indies ; sith their red and white earth sets all the world on fire and in combustion . q. a. surely , ere this summer passe , and the next appeare , the hollanders vow to haue a heaue at them . q. m. nay , i hope the contrary , for the west-indies is the maine & onely prop of spaine , which if once found out , and taken away from them , will quickly make the greatnesse of his ambition and empire to totter . p. h. till when , all other kingdomes and estates of christendome may thinke themselues exempt from spaines feare , but shall never bee from his danger . q. e. this holland perfectly and apparantly knowes , and it were a great happinesse for the rest of europe , if they would heerein imitate their generosity , valour and wisedome , who stand on their guards with their swords drawne , and their match lighted ready to giue fire ; as being constantly and vertuously resolued neither to loue , trust , nor feare spaine . england . h. 8. but now leaue we all other countries , and come wee to england , from whence being descended , wee by the lawes of nature , are eternally obliged to honour and loue it ; yea to preferre it and its prosperitie and glory to all other countries of the world ; wherfore let vs see spaines ambition and enuie towards it ; and how he hath from time to time borne himselfe to the english. q. m. there is no kingdome in the world , that spaines loues better then england . q. e. nor no people vnder the sunne that it hates more then englishmen . e. 6. for peter king of castille most ingratefully and basely abused our famous and generous edward the blacke prince , ( the ornament of armes , the glory of england , and the honour of the world ) and his whole army in spaine , after that he had inthronised & seated the said peter in his kingdome , and with his victorious armes expel'd henry the bastard , who vsurped it . q. m. if spaine had not loued england and englishmen , king philip would never haue married me . q. e. he loued you well sister , but your kingdome farre better , for you were the obiect of his zeale , but england that of his ambition . h. 8. but elizabeth , he hated you more then ever he loued mary . q. e. and yet i dare truely affirme , that king philip loued my kingdome farre more then ever he hated my person . h. 8. to speake truth daughter , he neither loued you , nor mary his wife and queene , but onely england . p. h. and i haue heard that if he had neuer married my aunt mary , she had never lost calais ▪ nor consequently , england , france . e. 6. though that match were vnfortunate to england in the losse of calais , yet it was fortunate in that philip and mary had no children . q. m. if we had had any males , england had beene long since a province to spaine . q. e. god knew so much , and therefore preuented it , wherein i blesse his mercy and providence , as also your sterrilitie . p. h. aunt , and i your resolution in speaking it . q. m. the kings of spaine are the greatest and most potent kings of the world. q. e. yea , in ambition and ostentation , but not in power , for i proued it not so , i found it not so , i left it not so . p. h. you madam found warre with spaine surer and safer then peace . q. e. yea , farre more safer , and farre more profitable too for england . q. a. then i wonder that king iames my husband so delights and drownes himselfe in his peace with spaine . q. m. o but spaine findes both policie and reason enough to lull king iames a sleepe in the cradle of peace and securitie . q. e ▪ i neuer feared spaine lesse th●n when i loued it not , nor more then when it made greatest shew to loue me . p. h. and the king my father neuer loued it more , then now when he feares it . e. 6. but is it possible king iames feares spaine ? p. h. it seemes so , for els he would neuer loue it so excessiuely . q. e. sir nicholas bacon my chancellor on his death-bed wrote mee a letter , that the glory and conservation of england consisted in holding spaine at rapiers poynt ; and will not his sonne sir francys , the now chancellor tell his master so much ? p. h. o no , he is otherwise imployed . h. 8. but tell me daughter , was spaine euer trecherous to your person ? q. e. almost euery yeare spaine hatched me a new treason , witnesse pa●y , babbington , williams , yeorke , lopez , and infinite others , who sought to lay violent hands on my person and life , but that god in his infinite mercie and prouidence still protected and defended me , to their owne confusion . p. h. but king philip ii. chiefely discouered his loue to england , in the trecherous attempt of his huge armado of 88. ( tearmed by the pope , in a bravery ) the invincible fleete , ) at what time his ambition and greedie desire of vsurpation , so farre oreswayd him and his councell , as he thought to haue made an absolute conquest of england ; but he was deceived of his hopes ; for god looked on england with his indulgent eye of pittie and compassion , and on that great and mightie navall army with contempt and detestation . q. e. yea , god was so gracious to england , and so mercifull to me , as not onely my ships and people , but the windes and waues fought for my defence , and that of my countrey , against the pride and malice of spaine , who grew mad with anger , and pale with griefe , to see this his great and warrelike armado beaten , foyled , and confounded , in the midst of their glory and ambition . e. 6. but sister , was this all spaines malice and trechery towardes you and your state ? q. e. no , no , for i had forgotten how before that , his maiestie in spaine and his lieutenant the duke of alua in flanders embarg'd and confisk'd a world of goods and ships that belonged to my subiects , contrary to all lawes of conscience and nations . p. h. and no other . q. e. yes , king philip beg'd my kingdome of ireland of the pope , and so assisted the rebels , and made a confedracy with them for the conquest thereof from me , bringing in first stukley , then don iuan of aquilla , into that kingdome to the same effect : but heaven alwayes laught at their ambition , vsurpation , and trechery , which still prooved as vaine , as impious and vniust . p. h. and yet see the iustice of the cause , and the ●quitie of your armes ; for essex landed at caliz , and in despight of spaine tooke and rifled it , beating and sinking their best and greatest ships , in a maner without any shew of defence or resistāce . q. m. o but now the times are altered and changed , for then spaine was poore and england rich , and now england is poore and spaine rich : likewise spaines warres , parsimonie , and frugalitie , makes his men souldiers ; and our peace , pride , and superfluitie , hath made our souldiers either courtiers or cowards . h. 8. france knew that i found souldiers in england when i tooke tourney and boloigne . q e. and spaine felt that english were souldiers , when my drake beate them on my seas , and coast in 88 my norris at croyden in 94 my essex at calez in 96. and my montioy at kingsale in 1600. q. m. but then england was delighted in combats , warres and victories , and now in stage-playes , maskes , reuels and carousing , so as their courages are become as rustie as their swords and muskets , which serue to grace the walles , and not the fieldes , except in poore musters , and sleyght traynings , and that but once a yeare , which vpon the whole , is more for ostentation then seruice : moreouer , then englands navy-royall could giue a law to the ocean , and now time and negligence hath almost made all these ships vnseruiceable , who lye rotting at chatam and rochester . e. 6. heere queene mary hath reason , for now shee is in the truth . q. e. what ( sister and brother ) my royall navy lye rotting , who are the bulwarkes and walles of england , and when i left them were capable to beate the power and pride of spaine to shivers ; o this grieues me ! but i beleeue not that my wise and prudent successour king iames will suffer or permit it , i pray , god-sonne and nephew prince henry , resolue me hereof . p. h. indeede madam i confesse i haue seene so much my selfe , when god knowes i greeued to see it ; neyther did i fayle to put the king my father often in remembrance thereof ; and his maiestie still promised mee to new builde and repayre that royall fleete , to which number i added my prince-royall , a ship , who had shee many fellowes , england needed not feare all the fleetes of the world ; but although the old lord admirall hath not beene carefull for the preseruation of the nauy , yet the new one is . h. 8. if he be not , i grieue for the fleete . q. e. and i lament it . e. 6. and i pittie it . q. a. and i bewaile it . q. m. and not to dissemble , both gondomar , king philip his master , the pope , my selfe , and all the romane catholiques of england reioyce hereat , for the impotency and destruction of this royall nauy , is the harbinger to prepare the way , and a step for king philip to mount the throne of estate , to plucke off king iames his crowne , and to place and settle it on his owne head . q. e. o my ships , my ships : god knowes they were still deere to me , because still necessary to england . where is my drake , where my cumberland , my forbisher , my grinuille , my cauendish , my hawkins , my rauleigh , and the rest ; alas , they want me , and king iames and england wants them ; for when they liued , and i raigned , our valour could stop the progression of spaine ; yea , my ships domineerd in his seas and ports , and their clouds of smoke and fire , with their peales of thunder , strooke such amazement to the hearts , and terrour to the courages of castille and her faint-hearted castillians , that every spanish bird kept his owne nest , not powerfull enough to defend themselues , much lesse to offend any , and least of all england , who was then in her triumphes , in her lustre , in her glory . p. h. grieue no more deere aunt for the nauy royall of england ; for although nottingham were remisse and carelesse herein , yet braue buckingham hath of late yeares set a new face on that fleet ; and makes it not onely his delight , but his glory to re-edifie and reforme them ; yea there is not a yeare passes him , but he brings some new forth from their dockes , and puts in other olde , although cranfield ( resembling himselfe ) byte his lippes at the charge thereof , because he affirmes he hath other occasions to disburse , and pay away the kings treasure . q. e. nephew wales , i am glad to heare that buckingham is so carefull of englands fleet-royall , and in very deed , his ambition , care , and zeale herein , will infallibly purchase him much loue and honour of the whole kingdome , especially if he continue it . h. 8. me thinkes scotland annexed and vnited to england , should make it farre the stronger . q. e. but how can king iames say england and scotland is strong , when he feares the power of spaine , and will not know or beleeue his owne . e. 6. yea , it were much honour to the king , and happinesse to his kingdome and subiects , if in any poynt ( knowing the weaknesse thereof ) he would fortifie and reforme it . q. a. and it were a great happinesse for most kingdomes and free estates of europe , if they would follow the examples of the venetians and hollanders , who will neither trust , nor loue , much lesse , feare spaine . p. h. and among the rest , if england would follow it , they should draw securitie out of danger , whereas now her apparant danger is drawne and deriued from her apparant securitie . q. a. o that the king my husband would thinke hereof . p. h. o that the king my father would make vse hereof . q e. o that king iames my heyre and successor would not hearken or beleeue the contrary hereof . h. 8. but this were the way to haue warres with spaine , and king iames i vnderstand , is resolued to liue and dye in peace with them . q. m. warre cannot be bought at a cheape rate . q. e. but it is pittie that peace should be bought at too deare and dishonourable a rate . p. h. i haue alwayes beene informed that england still gets by her warres with spaine . q. e. i got by my warres with spaine , and spaine lost by it . p. h. my father and his subiects lose by his peace with spaine , and spaine gets by it . q. m. when england hath lost her selfe shee can lose no more . q. e. but sister , your death was the death of the popes hopes , and of spaines pretences to england . p. h. but they both seeme to reviue and bud forth afresh , if the match betweene my noble brother p. charles , and the infanta of spaine take effect . q. a. may heauen deny the first , and the king your father never consent to the second . q. e. so shall spaine euer feare england , but neuer england spaine . q. m. but i hope the contrary ; for in these dayes the king of spaines gold and his embassadour count gondomar act wonders in england . h. 8. hath gondomar propounded this match to king iames ? p. h. o long since , and he hath vowed to weare out his red leather coach , and greene buckeram litter , but he will see an end of it this parliament . q. a. i thought indeede it was not for nothing , that he makes aesops fables his daily pocket guest . e. 6. how doth king iames relish this match . q. m. his exchequer is poore , and king philips indies riches , and therefore his maiestie likes it so well , as he will hearken to no other . h. 8. how doth prince charles himselfe like this motion ? p. h. i know not how my brother likes it , but for my part , i should ever haue preferred a daughter of france to that of spaine , and i hope the match will not succeed , because my noble brother prince charles is wise , valiant , and generous . e. 6. but how doth the braue and graue parliament savour this spanish match ? q. a. few loue it , most feare it , but as the match , so the parliament is not yet ended . q. e. this would be musicke indeede for the romane catholikes of england , if it should take effect ; for the very first newes thereof , made them flappe their wings , as if they were readie to crowe . q. m. yea , for they hope , and which is more , they know , that if it proue a match , that the infanta will soone introduce the masse , and vsher in the pope ; therefore they haue reason to reioyce at it . p. h. but if the king of spaine will not giue the summe which my father king iames demands , will not they make it vp ? q. e. it is probable and credible , that their holy father the pope and themselues will stretch both their purses and credits to knit the match . h. 8. why ? hath gondomar such power with king iames , to hope to see this match effected ? q. m. o yes ; for his maiestie saith , that his master is an honest king , and he a wise servant : the first all the world knowes ; and the second , i hope england shall shortly feele , at least , if all hookes take . p. h. indeed if gondomar can effect this match , it is the direct way for him to be a grande of spaine , and to procure a red hat for his sonne , or nephew . q. a. was the duke of monteleone so rewarded for his french matches . q. m. he is alreadie a grande of spaine , and hath the promise of a ha● . q. a. why then count gondomar need not feare , for he hath as much policie as the duke of monteleone , though not so much ostentation . h. 8. who made and concluded the match with king philip ? q. m. my selfe , and the parliament . q. e. nay sister , put in woolsey and gardyner , and leaue out the parliament ; for you onely proposed it them but for forme , and had secretly concluded it before hand your selfe . q. m. suppose i did , i might doe it of mine owne authoritie , and prerogatiue royall . q. e. but you offred no faire play to the parliament though , in asking their aduise when the contracts were ready to be sealed . q. m. but i had reason to follow mine owne iudgement , not their passions . h. 8. nay , nay daughter , you contrariwise followed your own passion , not their iudgements , & so god gaue limits to philips ambition , and your owne desires , by making you forsake earth , & he england . e. 6. but wise king iames is opposite to my sister mary , aswel in religion as sexe ; and therfore i hope , nay , i assure my selfe , he will first consult this match with his parliament , ere he conclude it with spaine . p. h. if the voice of the parliament be free , and not enforced , i make no doubt but the pope , the king of spaine , gondomar , and all our recusants will come short of their hopes for the match . h. 8. daughter , what benefits proposed you to the parliament , by your match with spaine ? q. m. strength , profit , honour , which england , king iames , and prince charles will likewise now find if the match hold . e. 6. as for strength , if england would know its selfe , it need not expect or hope for any from spaine : for spaines assistance hath alwayes proued fatall and ruinous , to those who haue vsed it ; and if england would assume the ancient generositie of her ancestors , and forsake her new fangled pride , and prodigalitie , wee know it is strong enough to beate spaine , and all his kingdomes and prouinces , & no way so weake , to feare that spaine should make england a p●●uince ; for it were farre safer for england , and englishmen , if they wore worse cloathes , and had better hearts and swords , and if they were more martiall and lesse effeminate . q. e. for profit , what indies are richer then england ? for if england want money , her selfe is still more powerfull and capable to inrich it selfe , if it would be lesse vaine , and more frugall and industrious , &c. what is a fewe hundred thousand pounds to england , if england be thereby exposed to the danger of spaine ? or that it be againe fetcht from them by the bye , as it was brought in by the mayne ? for was profit ever cheape when it was bought with losse and repentance , with teares and bloud ? or shall not euery ducket be weighed and counterpoised downe with a farre greater preiudice and inconueniency : for if the match hold , will not our recusants looke a-loofe ? will not spaniards be so ambitiously insolent , to attempt to out-looke english ? will not the pope steale in by degrees , and the king of spaine breake in either like a torrent or a thunderbolt , when his factors and agents haue made all things ripe and in a readinesse ? will this be englands profit ? p. h. for honour , england and scotland were free , royall , and ancient monarchies ; when indeed spaine was not spaine , but dis-ioynted and dissevered provinces : yea , for pompe , state , and glory , our princes were kings , when their kinges were scarce princes , nor their princes nobles : therefore great britaine by the match can conferre and adde honour to spaine ; but not spaine to great brittaine . q. a. i could neuer yet affect the match of spaine , for either of the two princes my sonnes : for the spaniard is by nature as trecherous as proud , and although northampton perswaded me thereto , yet i loued true-hearted salisbury , who alwayes diuerted me from it ; as ( in the depth of his allegiance , and the profunditie of his wisedome & iudgement ) well fore-seeing they would proue fatall and ruinous to england . e. 6. it is strange to see with what insatiable desire and ambition , spaine couets england ; for he hath alreadie attempted it by treachery , by force , and now by the match of his daughter the infanta to prince charles . q. m. you meane king philip the 2. and not this present king philip the 3 ; and as don iuan de taris ( the ambassadour of spaine ) told king iames at his first comming to the crowne of england , that the ambition and malice of spaine to england , dyed with that prince , and was interred and buryed with him . q. e. but was this king philip the third and his councell neuer acquainted with that horrible gunpowder treason , whereby it was intended and resolued , that england should haue beene blowne vp , ouerthrowne , and ruined in a moment . q. m. o no , he is too catholike a king to haue hearkened , much lesse to haue approued that passionate plot . q. e. you might haue said , that execrable and damnable plot of treason , but that you will still seeke to diminish and extenuate rome and spaines treasons . q. m. you infinitely wrong the pope , and king of spaine , to suspect , much lesse to beleeue , that they were acquainted with that powder-plot . q. e. no : went not faulkes ( that hellish incendary ) once to rome about it , and the younger winter twice to vallidolide . q. m. yea , about some other businesse it may be , although i must confesse it was very immediately before that treason was discouered . p. h. gondomar told me , that both the pope and king of spaine abhord that treason . q. a. i feare they abhord it , for griefe it tooke not effect . q. m. if euer this king philip hated england , yee may be sure now he loues it ; for else he would neuer seeke to match his daughter to it . q. e. what force and trechery cannot effect , now affection in the match shall . wherein king philip is of lysanders minde , who when the lyons skinne will not serue , he will sowe on a peece of the foxes tayle . e. 6. so he come into england , he cares not by which way he ariue . p. h. so the daughter come not into england , england neede not feare the comming of the father . q. m. count gondomar will beate his head and his horse shoes , but he will bring in the daughter , and already his hopes & the probabilities are great , for hee is exceeding great and familiar with king iames. q. e. else he could neuer haue gotten open the prisons-doores for the romane priests and iesuites . p. h. nor haue made rauleighs head to caper beyond his body . q. a. nor haue kept backe an armie from my sonne and daughter , the king and queene of bohemia , when so many hundred thousand valiant english souldiers desired and longed to haue serued them in their warres . q. e. nor haue shipt away so great a quantitie of ordnance for spaine , which one of these dayes will returne bullets to our hearts . e. 6. nor haue procured a gallant fleete to secure the coast of spaine , against the turkish pyrates , vnder coulour of going to argier and barbary . p. h. that fleete was fitter to haue gone to mexico . q. a. so indeed it might haue returned with glory and gold , whereas now i feare it will with losse and repentance , i will not say with shame . q. e. i know by experience , it is an excellent thing for england to fight with spaniards , but not to ioyne with spaniards against others . p. h. why should not our english fleetes goe for the west indies . q. m. if this proposition be broached , then gondomar will runne madde . e. 6. what difference is there betwixt the east and west indies . p. h. as much as there is betweene pepper and siluer , or white feathers and yellow gold. h. 8. o but england , neere this twentie yeares hath lost those golden times of going to the gardens of hesperides . p. h. and now holland after ten yeares tryall , and patience , resolues to finde them . q. e. now we speake of holland : it againe exceedingly grieues me , that england goes from holland , in that it will not protect it against spaine . q. m. and truely it is my ioy and comfort to vnderstand it ; for the farther england goes from holland , i am sure the neerer spaine comes to england . p. h. nay , if the match hold , holland can expect no assistance from england ; for the pope , the king of spaine , gondomar , the iesuits , and english recusants , will in few yeares so shuffle & deale the cards , as england shall not be able to assist her selfe , much lesse her neighbours . e 6. why that is the way , in a few more yeares , to make england a province to spaine . q e. yea , yea , there is the mysterie ; for if the match with spaine hold , the conquest of england will vndoubtedly follow , and then gondomar can be no lesse then vice-roy , or great commander of england , for the king and councell of spaine will iudge him worthy of this honour , because he hath deserued it . p. h. it were better spaine were hell , and gondomar vice-roy to the diuell , as he is now ambassadour to the catholike king. q. a. but is it possible that the king of spaine hath so little iustice and charitie , and so much vanitie and ambition to desire it ? e. 6. the kings of spaine make this the tenth article of their creede , that the rules of the empire and state ought to giue lawes , but not to receiue any . q. e. but this is contrary to the lawes of the king of kings . q. m. but in the councell of spaine , the rules of state are alwayes too sublime and powerfull for those of religion ; yea , the pope will easily dispence with the king of spaine , to make a conquest of england , either by trechery , hostilitie , or the match : for it is against an heretike king and people , who refuse to enter into the bosome of the church , & therefore lawfull in it selfe ; because it tends to the catholike cause , the displanting and rooting out of heretikes , and the establishing & preservation of the romane catholikes in england . q. e. those giddie and passionate romane catholikes of england , who desire to fish in troubled waters , who delight in nothing but in innovation and noueltie , and who make a may-game of conscience , and an ape of religion , may peraduenture flatter themselues with the false sunne-shine of these hopes ; but those of them whose hearts are better lodged , and whose eyes and iudgements can see farther and clearer , those i say , who know by the lawes of grace and nature , what they owe to god , to their lawfull prince , and countrie ; those remember , that the duke of medina sydonia sayd in eightie eight ( who was then generall of the spanish fleete ) that his commission was not to distinguish of religion ; but to make a passage with his sword , ore both religions without exception , that thereby the king his master might haue the easier way , and fairer passage to the crowne and kingdome of england : therefore we neede no perspectiue glasse , or spectacles to see , that it is not the establishing of the romane religion , but of himselfe in england , whereat the king of spaine still aymes . q. m. but count gondomar is wise enough to provide a playster for that sore , for he in netling the nobler sort of catholikes with the match , hath in plaine tearmes given the lye to the duke of medina his speech , and therefore he hopes they will beleeue him . p. h. the nobler and more passionate and factious sort of them may beleeue gondomar herein , but the wiser , temperate , and conscious will not ; and yet the feminine gender , are masculine sticklers and solicitors for him , as he and the iesuites are for the king his master . q. e. nay , the romane catholikes of england haue reason to beleeue gondomar ; sith king iames loues him so well , as he esteemes his speeches oracles and scripture ; and who with the quintessence of his castillian , or rather galician braine , hath now brought matters to this passe , that no cinsere advise , honest letter , religious sermon , or true picture can point at the king of spaine , but they are called in ; and their authors imprisoned ( in stead of rewarded ) though never so honest and loyall subiects . h. 8. but me thinkes that this is no subtill policie of gondomar ; for the more he striues to suppresse the truth , the more it will flourish and prevaile ; for ( for the good of england ) if one penne , or tongue be commanded to silence ▪ they will occasion and set tenne at libertie to write and speake ; as grasse or cammomell , which the more it is depressed , the thicker it will spread and growe . q. m. but hath not gondomar reason to strike whiles he findes the iron hot , and to take the benefit of the floud , before the ebbe come or the tyde be spent . q. a. indeed they say , he reports that this summer time , the ayre of london and islington is not sweete enough , either for his fistula , or perfumed braine , and that he hath therefore gotten leaue of his maiestie , to lodge in a part of his pallace of greenwich , which standes in so pure an ayre , vpon the pleasant christall riuer of thames . q. e. that were a presumptuous part of gondomar indeed , to aspire to lodge in that pleasant , and royall pallace of greenwich . q m. but if it be so , i thinke it is not to lodge there himselfe , but onely to square out the infanta's lodgings , her chamber of presence , and a plot to build her grace a chappell against shee come , whereof iones sir innigo hath alreadie the modell in his braines . p. h. if king iames my father lodge gondomar this summer in greenwich , the next , king philip himselfe will hope to lye in white-hall . e. 6. nay soft , first let his daughter the infanta come , for she must breake the ice , ere his catholike maiestie will dare aduenture to come passe the seas hither . q. m. aduenture to come ? why wherefore els , saith count gondomar , lyes king iames his fleete at alicant , and cartagena , but to transport her for england this summer ? q. e. vntill i am inforced to vnderstand , that that fleete is at lisbone the groyne , or saint andera , i will not beleeue it , but then i will feare it . q. m. so the heretike protestants of france , feared their spanish matches , and yet we see they prosper . q. a. it is the end which crownes the beginning , not the beginning the end of a worke . q. e. what speake you sister of the french matches with spaine , to this of england and spaine ? for all the world knowes , that the estates of england and france , are diametrically opposite in point of religion ; for france hath fortie papists for one protestant , and england fortie protestants for one papist . q. m. but those protesting heretikes of england , will sing another tune , when they see the king of spaine hath made their countrey his prouince . p. h. heauen forbid , that euer england should sing the tune of spaines ballad , or spaine liue so long to make england see that dismall and bloudie day . q ▪ e. it were farre better , that prince charles were married to an english milke-maid , and the infanta of spaine mew'd vp for a nunne in a cloyster . q. a. yea , for how can my sonne prince charles thinke the king of spaine loues him , when he sees that vnder-hand , he is a mortall and professed enemy to his brother and sister , the king and queene of bohemia . q. m. you mistake madame ; for it is the emperour ferdinand , and not king philip that is their mortall enemy . p. h. if philip had not ( vnder-hand ) powerfully assisted ferdinand , his imperiall maiestie , had neither had legges to goe , nor wings to flie into prague , and yet the king my father will not assist his sonne in law , king fredericke . q. a. yes , to recouer the palatinate , if that were lost ; but gondomar through his slye crooches , and sugred insinuations , hath extorted a hope , and some say , wrested a promise from king iames not to assist bohemia , but i hope the contrary . q.e. but will spinola restore those townes he hath taken in the pallatinate . q.m. gondomar promiseth that digby , shall bring that home vnder his hand and seale , onely hee saies , t is fit that spinola should be satisfied of his charges . q. e. that 's an old baffle and tricke of spaine , which vpon the matter , will proue but a flat denyall . therefore if king iames please to hearken to my advise , i would send an army thither and refetch these townes of the pallatinate from ferdinand , phillip , al●e●tus , and bavaria , with the point of the sword , in despight of spinola , tilly , and cordova . p. h. if i were againe living in england , i would so worke with the king my father , that this resolution of queene elizabeth , should never dye , but speedily bee put in execution ; for it is the safest , cheapest , shortest , and honourablest way for england ; yea , what would not england doe for my deere and royall sister of bohemia , if the king my father , would but giue it the word of command ? q. m. but content your selfe nephew , count gondomar hath promised that his master king phillip will giue king iames content for the townes of the pallatinate . q. a. so gondomar promised his maiestie , that spinola should never attempt the pallatinate , and yet wee see the contrary , and being false in this , how , or what reason haue wee to beleeue him to bee true in the match . q. m. england must beleeue him , sith their king doth , and wil. and herein , i both triumph and glory p. h. thus my royall father intreats , where he should command , and loues paine , where he hath farre more reason to hate it . q. e. and this is my truest griefe and deepest affliction , that king iames will ●●●ll delight in contemplation , when ( if his maiesty will not ) all the world sees , that king phillip is ( vnder-hand ) deepe in action h. 8. it may be king iames thinkes king phillip to be of hannybals minde , who more feared fabius not fighting , then marcellus fighting , or of pompey , or marcus crassus their opinion ; who were more affraide of cicero's gowne , then of caesars sword . q. m. no thing lesse ; for king phillip , loues king iames his gowne & pen , yet no way feares his sword . q. e. but if king iames inherited my resolution as he doth my kingdomes , i would make spaine feare his sword , and rome either loue or obey his pen , and neuer consent to a peace , much lesse to the match . q. m. but why should king phillip feare king iames his sword , sith hee never yet knew the way to draw it : or why should his catholike maiestie feare the councell of england , sith it is apparant to all the world , that the element and delight of their king , is bookes , not battailes , the pen not the pike . h. 8. why ? know you not daughter , that king iames hath lately established a councell of warre , and wherevnto thinke you tends that . q. m. to peace i hope , or rather , assure my selfe . q. e. then sister , yee are of neere intelligence with gondomar ; for not long since in one of his dispatches to spaine , hee wrote the ll. of that councell , that they should not doubt or feare of the councell of warre of england ; for it was ( said he ) but a scarre-crowe to feare , not to hurt , and would onely serue as a vane on a house top , rather for ornament then vse . but if king iames were of my minde , his councell of warre should strike rather then threaten ; and send a royall armie into the bowels and heart of castille , ere they thought it could be readie to depart from the ports of england . q. m. not into castille ; for then the peace were quite broken betwixt england and spaine . p. h. why then into bohemia , the palatinate ; the netherlands ; or the states of venice , or wheresoever the castillian regiments disturbe the publike peace of christendome . e. 6. i see no reason to the contrary , but england should be as soone in armes and action as spaine . q. e. but it is the inchanting melody of the match , that brings england out of tune . q m. but in this proposition and parlee of the match , the king and councell of spaine , speake faire termes , and giue reall not verball content to king iames. q. e. so , did phillip your husband , and his father by his embassadors to mine at bourbourg , thereby to lull me asleepe when his great armado was in a manner ready to weigh anchor , and set sayle from lisbone to inuade me and my england . q. m. but king iames knowes spaines affection and gondomars sincerity to him , and consequently to england in seeking this match . q. a. but england knowes neither the affection of the master , or the sinceritie of the seruant , and therefore hath reason , though not to feare , yet to suspect both . h. 8. it rather thinkes king phillip of pericles his opinion and ambition , who desired that the iland in the port of piree mought bee removed , sith it was a moate and beame in his eye . p. h. the morall is , that phillip would haue england a prouince to spaine ; but if the match hold not : spaines ambition , gondomares pollicie , and both their trechery will proue too weake to performe so strong an execution . q. m. then the king of spaine will hate gondomare , as much as he vaunts the king of england loues him . but i trust count gondomare hath liued too long to dote , or be made a child in his old age . p. h. no , no , gondomare is too young to dote , and too old to be a child , therefore he is confident and sure that the match will hold ; but withall , he saith the parliament must be ended , ere these royall nuptiall ceremonies can begin , and so i thinke to . e. 6. indeede this castillian embassadour now sailes before winde and tyde , vnder fore-sayle , and maine-top-sayle , but very shortly hee hopes to hoyst vp top and top-gallant . p.h. he may chance to packe on so much sayle , that hee may at last cracke the maine mast of his policie , or the maine stay of his hopes , or bee so busie and violent in the solicitation of this match , as hee himselfe may giue himselfe a shot , which may sinke either his reputation , or iudgement , or both , betwixt winde and water . q. e. intruth i found his predicessor mendoza too busie and dangerous in my state , and therefore i forbad him my presence , and discharged him my kingdome , whereat i know not whether he , or the king his master , more grieued , or my councell and my countrey reioyced . q. a. gondomare hath had time enough to know my husband king iames , but it seemes king iames hath not yet enough deepely pryed into gondamare . in a word i know his maiesty hath heard his tongue , but not seene his heart , much lesse the designes and resolutions of the king and councell of spaine , which are inuelloped and hood-winked vnder the mysterie of this match . h. 8. indeede i haue read that philip k. of macedon went neere to haue betraid arisba , k. of molosses of his kingdome , vnder treating a match with him . q. m. o but that philip of macedon was a heathen king , and this philip of spaine is the catholike king , therefore king iames need not feare his sinceritie in the match . q. e. sith you are so religious sister , pray say , how doth the inquisition of spaine like to match their infanta to an hereticke prince , for so i know they terme my noble nephew prince charles ? p. h. why ? digbye could haue resolved you of that long since , for he knowes that the sacred and reverend inquisition of spaine loues england , but not the match , our country , but not our religion and people ; and yet in hope to root out heretickes , and to plant england with romane catholiques , they oppose not the match , but rather giue way to it , and approue it . q. e. but can royall king iames , and his illustrious sonne prince charles obserue their religion and conscience , in consenting to this match , or haue the clergie of england warrant enough authenticall , out of the word of god to say amen to it ? q a. o no , for king iames ( though not the prince and clergie ) will now make religion and conscience hand-maides to wait and attend on the state. e. 6. but his maiestie should doe farre better to defend the faith ( whereof hee is the defender ) and therein the state , which professeth the true and sincere religion of christ and his apostles , sith pietie is the preserver of kingdomes , and all our actions whatsoeuer should tend to the glory of god , which is the banishing of idolatry and superstition , with their effects and causes . q. m. why pray , what marriage so religious as for prince charles to match with the catholique king his daughter . q e. sister you haue still religion in your tongue , but i feare wee shall finde none in your heart , for pray what places haue you of divine scripture , to authorize and approue this match of prince charles with the infanta , sith they are of a different religion and beliefe . q. m. as i confesse i haue none to approue it , so i am sure you all cannot alledge any one to oppose and contradict it . h. 8. yes , i produce gen. ch. 24. ch. 26. against it . e. 6. and i exod. ch. 34. iudg. ch. 17. q. e. and i iosh. ch. 23. 2 chron. ch. 21. p. h. and i 1 king. ch. 11. ch. 16. q. a. and i ezra . ch. 9. nehem. ch. 13. q. m. well , whatsoever you say , this match ( notwithstanding ) tends to gods glory , and the good of the catholique and apostolique church , and in the end you shall finde , that gondomars policie and spaines ambition will triumph ore your scripture . q. e. this match tends onely to bring in the pope into our churches , and the king of spaine into our estate ; for that is the ayme of the first , the ambition of the second , and the obiect and hopes of both , and i feare a few yeares will prooue it so ; if in time it be not remedied and prevented : which god of his mercie grant , for 't is true all the wheeles of gondomars art and invention , are at worke to effect and accomplish it . q. m. the pope i must confesse ( as christs vicar generall on earth ) desires that england were catholique , but for the good king of spaine , he hath kingdomes enough of his owne , and therefore lookes not after england , onely he desires to see the match consummated . p. h. yes , the king of spaines tongue hath so long watred , and his mouth gaped for england , that after spaine , he wisheth england were his aboue all the countries of the world , and his catholique maiestie is very confident , that this match will giue a mayne stroke to the busines . q. e. if he once haue england ; he will presently assume the title of emperour of the west , as king philip his father was resolved to doe a little before his death ; yea his ambition was so violent , as he missing of england , would haue proclaimed himselfe emperour of spaine ; and had not his councell diverted and prevented him , he would haue sayled to mexico , and there invested and intituled himselfe emperour of america : p. h. and i haue heard that gondomar hath given the king of spaine his master good hope of england ; for 't is certaine that hee not long since wrote to the dukes of lerma and pastranna , that the report of the strength of england resembled those huge pageants and colosses erected at rome , as the caesars past from the melvine bridge to the capitoll in triumph , who were outwardly glorious , but within fill'd onely with straw and poore combustible stuffe . e. 6. indeed , it is the shame & weaknes of england , that spaine is no better acquainted with its strength . q. a. and t is my griefe that spaine should see englands weaknesse , and not feele its strength . q. e. o but it is the spanish match which will giue fire to england , and make her welter in her miseries , and flame in her calamities and afflictions . q. m. no , no , that match will keepe the temple of englands peace from firing . h. 8. yea , as erostratus did that of diana of ephesus , which in one day consumed all the wealth that rich asia had beene many yeares and ages getting . q. a. as religion is the powerfullest passion of our soule , so there is no stronger lincke of friendship then conscience , and therfore i hope my sonne charles will not consent to match with the infanta of spaine . q. m. but one of his chiefest vertues is his obedience to the king his father ; for although the prince be his sonne , yet he knowes he is his subiect . q. a. all the world cannot better teach the prince my sonne to obey the king his father , then already he knowes and doth ; but i could wish that king iames my husband would not inforce his affection to this spanish match . q. e. if he marry the infanta , shee may proue a false and vnsecret secretary to the prince her husband , and a dangerous princesse to the state : for he giuing her his heart , his highnesse can hardly reserue any corner thereof for himselfe . p. h. yea then every spanish traytor and english rebell will shroud themselues vnder the authority and greatnesse of the princesse . e. 6. so if england match with spaine , spaine vndoubtedly will in a short time ouer-match england . q. a. and infallibly take the crowne from it . q. m. borrow it peradventure , to see it , not to weare it . p. h. i feare to weare it , neuer to returne it . h. 8. yea for once gone , it is gone for euer . q. e. and then shall englands strong men fall vpon the edge of the sword ; her virgins bee defloured and murthered , her wiues defiled and slaine in sight of their dying husbands ; and their children & young babes shall haue their braines dashed against the wals in sight of their dead parents . p. h. yea then shall our nobility and gentry , dye vpon the swords of those barbarous castillians , and those who escape and suruiue their fury , shall bee fettered and led captiues and slaues to worke in the mines of peru and mexico . e. 6. then shall our priestes who are now cloathed in the white robes of righteousnesse , bee drowned in those of their owne scarlet blood : no church , no temple , no preaching , no sacraments , but all couered with the thick fogges of romes superstitious idolatries , and egyptian darknes . q.a. yea , then the king my husband , the prince my sonne , my excellent daughter the queene of bohemia , her princely posterity , and if spaine possibly can , all great brittaines blood royall shall be rooted out and exterminated , as if they neuer had beene , or at least no remembrance left of them , or of the name of great brittaine . q. m. this were musicke indeed for rome and spaine to dance at , and for gondomar to laugh himselfe to death for ioy . q. e. but i hope god of his mercy will confound all those who wish or desire it , whether it be gondomar , the iesuits , englands recusants , spaine , the pope , or the divell . the conclusion of the consultation . h. 8. but heere let vs make a stand , and shut vp our consultation ; and sith so many millions of imminent dangers desolations and miseries attend and hang over the head of england by this match of spaine ; let vs goe to suffrages and votes , that plurality may giue sentence whether it shall bee a match yea or no ; for what wee conclude , i make no doubt but our great god with his owne voyce will ratifie and confirme . h. 8. q. m. whereunto we all consent and agree . e. 6. q. e. whereunto we all consent and agree . p. h. q. a. whereunto we all consent and agree . h. 8. i am against the match . e. 6. i am against the match . p. h. i am against the match . q. m. i am for the match . q. e. i am against the match . q. a. i am against the match . h. 8. daughter mary , wee are fiue against you one , therefore the match of england and spaine , hath end ere beginning , and is absolutely cast without reuocation . and now let vs bre●ke vp our consultation , and againe repayre to the throne of the lambe , ( of our sacred god both of heaven and earth ) to acquaint his diuine maiestie with all the particulars thereof , and therein to receiue his heauenly pleasure and commaund ; when the angell opening heauens starre-chamber , a great concourse and afluence of saints and angels ( singing most diuinely ) conduct them to the blessed tribunall , where the whole newes of their consultation , being already arriued to the vnderstanding of the almightie ; it pleased his diuine and coelestiall maiestie , to call foorth queene mary whom he sharpely reproues & checks , in loving spaine , to be so vnnaturall to hate her natiue countrey of england . then he infinitly disproues the match of prince charles , with the infanta of spaine ; as derogating from his diuine glory , and englands safetie and prosperitie ; and so to conclude very joyfully & cheerefully approues of their consultation ; which for the more grace and authoritie he makes and reputes as his owne . when commanding these three princes , & two queenes ( for queene mary was now put by and excluded ) to send vnto england ( by its owne tutulary angell ) foure seueral printed copies of this their consultation ; the first to be deliuered to king iames ; the second to prince charles , his sonne ; the third , to the high court of parliament ; and the fourth , to the lords of his majesties most honourable priuy counsel ▪ the which in his sacred presence was speedily performed and effected ; when a great shout of ioy , and an vniuersall plauditie being hereunto giuen by all the angels , and host of heaven ; these fiue royall personages againe followed the lambe christ iesvs where he went. this consultation thus ended , queene mary biting the lippe at her checke and disgrace ; and grieuing to see the match of the infanta with prince charles thus vnexpected dash'd ; and consequently the pope frustrated of his hopes , and the king of spaine of his ambitious desires , shee cals mercury to her , and withall possible speed sends him away likewise to england , with these two ensuing letters which shee had written , the one to count gondomar the other to all the romane catholikes of england . queene mary . to count gondomar ambassadour for philip the iii. king of spaine , resident with iames , king of great brittaine . your excellencie may vnderstand , that i haue dispatch'd mercurie to you in england , to aduertise you of a consultatiō held here in heaven , by my father king henry viii . my brother king edward vi. my sister queene elizabeth , queene anne , prince henry , and my selfe , concerning your masters pretences and hopes of england , by the match of the infanta his daughter , with prince charles , which al the other fiue haue opposed as preiudiciall & dangerous , and my selfe maintayned as profitable and honourable for england ; for louing philip the father , i must & wil euer honour philip his son ; they haue likewise ript vp & vnmasked spaines former ambition , crueltie , and treacherie , aswell towards england , as other kingdomes and states of europe , the discouery and relation whereof , i could neuer silence nor prevent , your excellencie must giue me leaue to signifie , that i feare your secretaries are not so honest , as your self politike ; for you are hereby these princes brought on the stage in your naked and naturall colours , therefore i could wish you to be more modest and not so busie ; only to the vtmost of your mortall power , knit the knot of this match , for if it holde , the heart of england will be soone broken , or if the cōtrary , it wil infalliably breake the necke of the king your masters generall hopes & pretences , and also of your owne particular credit and reputation , aswell in england , as spain ; you haue many eies ouer you , & although your sweet wordes and promises lulle king iames , asleepe , you will neverthelesse go neere to be circumuented , by those you seeke to circumuent . if you can bring in the infanta , doubt you not but she will vsher in the pope , and consequently he the catholike king , your master ; forget not to continue , and fortefie your intelligence with the seminaries and iesuits of england , as also with the catholike ladyes of that kingdome , and especially , with those of the nobler ranke , and who are most powerfull at court , for they may open a passage for your master when none else dare . at any hand vse the prime of your art & inuention , to keepe the king of england poore & be sure to rivet this nayle soundly to his maiestie that there is no vertue so royall and magnificent in a great king , as liberality . i am sorie to heare that englands nauie royall , doth so prosper and flourish ; in which regard & consideration , the king your master shal do well to build store of new ships in biscay , ostend , and dunkerke ; for if spaine master england at sea , england can neuer withstand spaine by land ; for now the english are effeminate , and you spaniards souldiers . i doubt not but by this time , there is such order taken in spain , that the english fleet at alicant , & cartagena , shall returne home with losse , shame and repentance , whereby you may teach them that it is only proper for spaniards , to domineere at sea , and that the sea , and maritine actions , are now spaines , no longer englands element . so whiles england lyes gasping , on her bed of peace & securitie , let the king your master provide for warre ; continue to sow diuision in the church of england , and rather augment then diminish your pensions to you know whom . if there be any army to goe out of england , either for bohemia , the palatinate , the netherlands , or venice , deale so effectually with king iames , that either it be so small as it can doe no great hurt to catholikes , or bee a meanes to cause them to stay so long , that it be impossible to doe any good for protestants . i commend your excellencies policy , in being sharpe , and bitter against those , who either speake , write , or preach , against the king your master and his pretences , for now you hauing the honour and felicitie , to see your selfe tyed to king iames his eare , & his maiesty to your girdle , the disgrace and punishment of these wil terrifie others . be sure to be intimately acquainted with all factious and discontented catholikes , for they will proue fine agents & instruments to execute your masters commands . i am glad to see king philip so sleight and disrespect king iames , as he hath not this many yeares sent him an extraordinary ambassadour , especially , now for treating and concluding this match ; for the more you and he debase the honour and vndervalue the reputation of england , the more you aduance and prise that of spaine . but that which grieues me most , is because god himselfe hath opposed and confirmed the breach , and delaceration of the match ; but i hope that for the catholike kings sake , our holy father the pope , and our blessed mother the church , will so interpose their prayers to his sacred and diuine maiesty , that very shortly he wil reuoke & change his resolution , and relish that which hee now distasteth . through your zeale and industry , i likewise doubt not , but ( before a few yeares be past and blowne over ) to see england made a province to spaine ; her nobilitie most murthered , and the rest caryed away slaues to worke in the mines of peru , and mexico ; the pope installed ; all heretikes rooted out either with fire or halter . let your excellency proceed , as you haue well and happily begun , and feare not but you shal enioy your wishes , the king your master his hopes , and my selfe and all the roman catholikes of england our desires . in the meane time i kindly greet and salute your excellency , and by your next dispatch for spaine , fayle not to signifie that i kisse the catholikes kings hand . written and sent from heaven . your excellencies friend : marie queene . queene mary . to the roman catholikes of england , of both sexes , and of all rankes . my heart on earth , and my soule in heauen , hath euer so deepely affected you and your religion , as to the vtmost of my power , i will neuer permit , that any aduerse accident , or stratagem whatsoeuer , shall endamage you , or preiudice it . to which end now by mercury ( whom i haue purposly sent vnto you ) i wold not fayle to aduertise you of a consultation which hath bin heere held , by my father henry viii . my brother edward vi. my sister queene elizabeth , queene anne , prince henry and my selfe ; tending to the safetie and glory of england , to the vnmasking of spaines pretentious ambition and treacherie to many estates of europe , and more especially to the vtter breach of the match , betwixt prince charles & the infanta of spaine , which two last points i alone , maintayned and defended , but they all most violently contradicted and opposed . in which consultation ( i write it aswell with griefe as pittie : ) count gondomar , hath beene narrowly both sifted and censured , and all his actions brought on the table ▪ and made apparant and obvious to the dimmest eye , to the weakest iudgement and vnderstanding , the which i haue now signified his excellency by a particular letter ; wherein i haue prayed him to haue a more iealous and curious eye ouer his secretaries , as i know england hath ouer him ; and to the end your soules and consciences may haue spiritual food & consolation , i wish and exhort you to put all your wits on the tender-hookes to bring in the infanta : or else neuer expect the pope , and consequently not the catholike king. for else all your intelligence with rome and spaine , your correspondence with the iesuites and count gondomar , will not preuaile , nor your poyson poniard , or powder take effect , if the match doe not ; and because king iames wants money and his exchequer is drawne dry and exhausted , if hee stand on a greater summe then the catholike king can , or will giue , you shall do a most acceptable seruice to our blessed father the pope , and to our holy mother the church ; that you lords and knights morgage your manners and plate , and you ladyes and gentlewomen , pawne your ringes and iewels to make vp the expected summe ; for the match once consumated you know , and count gondomar can perfectly teach you , a thousand wayes to refetch it , with a ioyfull and golden interrest ; i highly prize and applaude your ioy , when you saw bohemia wonne , & the palatinate assaulted ; towards which victories and conquests , your bountiful contributions gaue a great stroke , which although ferdinand for the present cannot recompence ; yet doubt not but philip shortly and futurely will ; sith his ambassadour gondomar makes him confident , that you are as fast nayled to his scepter , as his catholike maiestie is to the popes tripple crowne . be you still the eyes of count gondomar , and let him still continue your oracle , for you can neuer desire a better solliciter then himselfe , nor a stronger protector then the king his master . but in very deed , i much feare that this great parliament , will teach the protestants of england , wit , and you romane catholikes repentance . if holland , the palatinate , or venice , be in the field , be not you idle in your houses or in england : for although douer be shut , you shall finde ports enough open ▪ for it is for the progression and aduancement of the catholike cause , & for the seruice of the great catholike king ▪ and if all things hit well , you shall not repent your selues of your valor & generositie employed & spent in his service . what though god haue heere approued of this consultation against the match ; yet his great vicar the pope , will confirme the match against the consultation ; therefore make you your peace with the pope , & doubt not but his holinesse , both can and will , at his pleasure , mak his with his god ; howsoeuer be ruled , and beleeue in the pope , who is the head of the church ; for you know out of the church there is no saluation . i like well that there daily trauels some of your wisest gentlemen for spaine , and now you see there is no feare to bring home priests and iesuites , for count gondomar hath found out the art and mysterie , to open the doores of wisbich , the gatehouse , and the clicnke , at his pleasure . to liue idle is effeminate and base , bee you therefore ( like your selues ) still busie and in action , for as in matters of religion and pietie , so in those of the state , the practique is alwayes more honourable then the theorie . in a word , as long as heritike kinges raigne in england , your zealous catholikes shall there finde but little peace , and lesse ioy ; and yet i must needs confesse , that god seemes to beare a particular affection to king iames , but withall you know the second meanes must be vsed , which ( i write to my comfort ) i see his maiestie neglects ; so if gondomar continue in england , and the match dye not , then i hope a little time will worke all thinges to the best . till when i salute you all , and will still pray with you for the prosperitie of the great cause . written and sent from heaven . queene marie . finis . vox cœli, or, nevves from heaven of a consultation there held by the high and mighty princes, king hen.8. king edw.6. prince henry. queene mary, queene elizabeth, and queene anne; wherein spaines ambition and treacheries to most kingdomes and free estates in europe, are vnmasked and truly represented, but more particularly towards england, and now more especially vnder the pretended match of prince charles, with the infanta dona maria. whereunto is annexed two letters written by queene mary from heauen, the one to count gondomar, the ambassadour of spaine, the other to all the romane catholiques of england. written by s.r.n.i. reynolds, john, fl. 1621-1650. 1624 approx. 179 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 36 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-11 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a71313 stc 20946.8 stc 22096a estc s114764 99849987 99849987 17522 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a71313) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 17522) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1584:16) vox cœli, or, nevves from heaven of a consultation there held by the high and mighty princes, king hen.8. king edw.6. prince henry. queene mary, queene elizabeth, and queene anne; wherein spaines ambition and treacheries to most kingdomes and free estates in europe, are vnmasked and truly represented, but more particularly towards england, and now more especially vnder the pretended match of prince charles, with the infanta dona maria. whereunto is annexed two letters written by queene mary from heauen, the one to count gondomar, the ambassadour of spaine, the other to all the romane catholiques of england. written by s.r.n.i. reynolds, john, fl. 1621-1650. scott, thomas, 1580?-1626, attributed name. [10], 60 p. s.n., printed in elesium [sic] [i.e. london] : 1624. s.r.n.i. = john reynolds. sometimes wrongly attributed to thomas scott. the imprint is fictitious; correct place of publication from stc. b1r, last line: 'his palatinate'. formerly stc 22096a, identifed as such on umi microfilm reel 1584. reproduction of the original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of 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limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng great britain -foreign relations -spain -early works to 1800. spain -foreign relations -great britain -early works to 1800. great britain -history -james i, 1603-1625 -early works to 1800. 2004-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-02 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-04 olivia bottum sampled and proofread 2004-04 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion vox coeli , or , newes from heaven . of a consvltation there held by the high and mighty princes , king hen. 8. king edw. 6. prince henry . queene mary , queene elizabeth , and queene anne ; wherein spaines ambition and treacheries to most kingdomes and free estates in evrope , are vnmaskd and truly represented , but more particularly towards england , and now more especially vnder the pretended match of prince charles , with the infanta dona maria . whereunto is annexed two letters written by queene mary from heauen , the one to count gondomar , the ambassadour of spaine , the other to all the romane catholiques of england . written by s. r. n. i. printed in elesium . 1624. to the illvstriovs and grave assembly of the high covrt of parliament the fruition of all temporall blessings . the felicitie of all spirituall blessings . lords . knights . bvrgesses . to you who are the re-presentiue body of england , and the ep●…tomie and compendium of this great volume of our estate ; to you who are assummoned by our king , and sent vp by our country , to obay the first with your best fidelities , to serue the second with your chiefest zeale and endeuours , and to affect and honour both , with your most religious prayers and wishes . to you from whom god for his glory , our soueraigne for his honour and safety , and our church and common-weale for their flourishing well-fare and prosperity , doe expect much by your transcendent and honourable imployments : to you i say , and to no other , doe i present this consultation ( termed vox coeli ) to your consideration , and dedicate it to your protection . and because ( in point of integrit●…e and duty ) i hold my selfe bound ●…o bring the truth neerer to your knowledge , or rather home to your vnderstanding ; may it please you to be informed , that about some three yeares since , at the first sitting of the last high court of parliament , when our king was so earnest in proposing the match of our noble prince his sonne , with the infanta of spaine ; when the king of spaine coulourably presented ( though not really intended ) to be d●…epely affected to entertaine and embrace the said motion ; when coun●… gondmar ( his ambassador ) made shew to be a zealous solicitour , and a most actiue and officious stickler for compassing and finishing it ; when our romish catholiques became passionately , and insultingly confident of the free tollera●…lon of their religion , and in the skie-reaching mountaines of their ambitions and superstitious hopes , were already preparing to erect their groues and altars , to set vp their idols and images , and consequently to introduce their pope and his masse in the temples of our god ; when all prisons were vnlocked and open to all pernitious priests and dangerous ●…esuites , and that many others 〈◊〉 ( caterpillers and vipers ) came flocking and swarming from diuers parts of europe , to poison and eate cut the soules of our people , with their idolatrous doctrine of antichrist , and to with-draw their hearts and consciences from their alleagiance and fideli●…ie , to their naturall prince and countrey , purposely ( with 〈◊〉 treachery then religion ) to subiect them to a forraigne power and iurisdiction . when the emperour had beaten the king of bohemia from prague , and the duke of bauaria with the assistance of the swords , soulders , and treasure of the king of spaine , had in a setled truce assaulted and taken many townes in the palatinate , contrary to their promises to our king , and of his maresties to the prince his sonne in law , and contrary to the publique peace of germany aend christendome . then , then it was , ( that to pull off the maske of spaines ambition and malice , who with the fire of this match sought to set england all flaming in a mournfull and miserable combustion ) thereby to bury her glory in the dust , and her safety in the cinders of her subuersion and ruines ) that as prometheus fetch'd fire from heauen , so the fire of my zeale to the good of my prince and country , likewise fetch'd from thence this royall consultation for the discouery of our apparant and imminent dangers , and in knowing them , to know likewise how to preuent them ; which resoluing to m●…ke publiq●…e ; because it solely re●…ded to englands publique 〈◊〉 and prosperitie : i contrary to my expectation ( but not to my feares , ) saw my hope●… nip●… in their blossoms , and my desires stis●…ed in their births , because the seas of our kings affection to spaine went so loftle , and the winder were so tempestious , that it could not possibly be permitted to passe the pikes of the presse : when albeit my zeale and fidelity againe and again infused new audacitie and courage to my resolutions , to see it receiue the light yet it was imposible for mee or it , to bee made so happy , because i sawe allureds honest letter , scots loyall vox populy , d. whiting , d. euerard , and clayto●…s zealous sermons , and others , suppressed and silenced , as also wards faithfull picture , which yet was so innocent , as it onely breathed foorth his fidelity to england in silent rethorique , and dumbe eloquence . wherevpon inforced to take a lawe from the iniquitie of the time , ( with much reluctation and more greife ) i bushed vp my said consultations in silence , & because i could not serue my prince and countrie in that booke of mine : i therfore then renewed my constant resolution and zeale to serue them in my most seruent prayers , and my most religious and zealous wishes , the which i haue euer since faithfully and constantly performed . sitting thus to behold the constant inconstancie of the world , which presents as many different accidents to our knowledge , as obiects to our eye ; and being iealous , vigelant , and attentiue , to that which did , or which might any way appertaine to my soueraigne and his princely posteritie , to his dominions and subjects ; i was enforced to see ( o that i had beene so happie , as not to ban●… seene ) the perfidious progresse of spaines now trecheries , and vsurpation vpon many countries of europe ; for first his cousen leopaldus hath deuoured the dutchy of cleaues and iulleirs : then he and his forces haue taken many other free townes , and whole bishoprickes in the countries of luxembourg , and l●… marke , as also in the frontiers of swisserland and loraine ; then he and his factor the duke of bauaria ( for him ) hath finished his absolute conquest of the pallatinate ( that dainty , rich and fertile prouince of germany ) the dowry of our onely princesse , the inheritance of the prince her husband , and the patrimonie of their royall issue , wherein the honour of our king , and his three famous kingdomes , doe most extreamely suffer . i saw him conquer the chiefest cities , forts , and passages of the grisous , and hath brought their liberties and liues to their last gaspe and periode ; yea , to the mercilesse mercy of his not generous but bloody sword ; which being vnder the protection of the french king. doth likewise cast a wonderfull stay●…e and blemish on the lustre of his honour and crowne , if he speedily take not his reuenge thereof ; by leauing these his honest 〈◊〉 as free as he found them , and as great henry his father left them . and after the triumphes and treacherous progression of the house of austria in germany . the king of spaine hath now made a body of his , and the imperiall forces , and this summer intends to play his bloody prize for the totall ruine and subuertion of the netherlands , who ( to the eye if the world , and to humaine iudgement ) must shortly sinke if the two kings of great brittaine and france doe not make them swim ; by speedily sending them braue succours and assistance in this their vrgent necessity . and wherevnto tends all this treacherous ambition , and formidable vsurpation and greatnes of the king of spaine , but to cut out a passage with his sword , and to make his troopes & regiments fly o're the alpes , for his erecting and obtaining of the westerne empire : and wherevnto tends it i say , but to make his territories and dominions to encirculiz●… great brittaine and france , yea to be their cloyster , and to make and esteeme those two famous monarchies , but onely as a fatall church-yard to burie and interre themselues in . but illustrious and genero●…s sirs , it this all the malice and treacherie which spaine hath offered towards england ; o no , nothing lesse , for vpon that iournie ( which was as dangerous as suddaine ) of our prince into spaine ( then whome the world hath not a brauer : ) hath not the king of spaine dealt treacherously with him about his match with the infants his sister , yea haue they not in his princely person , violeted the lawes of hospitality , and the priueledges of princes ( when being vnder his owne roofe ) by attempting to tye him to formes , which were dia●…etrally opposite to his honour ; yea , to be so audatiously impudent , as with much violency and virulency to seeke to put a rape vpon his conscience , and religion , and proffered inforcement of his conuersion to popery ; as if their infanta had bin to him more pretious then his soule , or that he had bin so wretchedly grounded and instructed in pietie , that his highnesse would haue forsaken his god purposely to haue obayed & adored the king of spaine , who is not , nor cannot be a greater king then he is a prince . and to step yet a degree further ; was it not a hellish pollicy , and a diabolicall designe and resolution of the counsell of spaine , to aduise our prince vpon his returne into england , to waerre vpon the protestants , and to proffer him an army to suppresse and exterminate them . the prot●…stants , i say , who are those by whome our king his father raingeth , and without whom his maiesty can neuer subsist nor raigne ; nor his highnesse sucessi●…ely aspire , or hope to aspire to his crownes and kingdomes after him , sith they are the life , the vigour , the heart , and the soule thereof . and will our king , and our prince , our parliaments , and our protestants of england , then euer forget this inueterate rage , and infernall malice of spaine against them ? as also the rest of their imperious and insulting cariage towards his highnesse , and towards great brittaine , as if they priz'd i●… at so low a rate , and made their boundlesse ambition so excessinely ouer-valew their owne spaine ? that that were in the crisis of her weakenesse and misery , and this in the prime and verticall point of her power and glory ? and when his highnesse pressed them for the restitution of the pallatinate , which they had often promised to the king his father , then they temporized so cunningly , and subtillized so trecherously with him , that euery day brought forth new delayes and difficulties , till in the end they had made the cure worse then the disease , and hauing taken firme footing therein , were enforced to vnuaile and vnmask their dissimulation , and faintly and coldly to affirme , that they would treat with the emperour for the restitution thereof , but could not promise it : thus hauing abused , first our king the father , and then our prince the sonne , they haue now likewise betrayed and ruined our princesse the daughter in their finall conquest , and resolute detention of the prince her husbands palatinate , that princesse i say , whose royall and sublime vertues , make her the honour of her time , the ornament of her sexe , and the phaenix princesse of the world . whereunto adding the absolute breach of the match long since prophetically delacerated , and cast in heauen by the princely and royall authors of this consultation , and since the same breach here on earth likewise so happily confirmed by the king , as also by the prince : so all these premisses considered , hath not england reason to hate spaine , in regard spaine hates it ? especially because of these two maine ensuing points , and important considerations ? first , for that the king of spaine is a greater , and more professed enemy to our sacred king , and his royall posteritie , then either the emperour , or duke of baua●…ia , and is to be held and esteemed of vs. secondly , that therefore to denounce warre to him , and to make it good as soone as it is denounced , is as honourable as necessary , and as iust as honourable for england ; as vpon new-yeares day last i made these two points apparant and manifest to the king ; in my discourse intituled votiuae angliae , which i sent his maiestie in the behalfe and fauour of the prince palatine his sonne in law , for the restoration of his palatinate . hauing thus ( with as much disdaine as griefe ) seene his inueterate malice towards great brittaine , towards our king and his royall posteritie , and consequently the eminent dauger whereinto our profound securitie hath throwne and precipitated vs in particular ; and vnderstanding likewise how the said king of spaine with xerxes , threatens the seas and mountaines of europe in generall ; being as well in heart as tongue an englishman , and therefore knowing by grace , what i owe by nature to my naturall prince and countrey ( like cressus his dumbe sonne ) i would not , i could not be silent thereat , but must expose this consultation of vox coeli to the light and sight of the world : i meane to the light of your knowledge , and the sight of your consideration , vnder the secure target , and safe shelter and sanctuary of your auspicious protection . to you therefore great brittaines greatest palladines and champions , to you the inuincible bulwarke of our king and his royall progeny , and the inexpugnable cittadel and acrocorinth of our estate : to you i say the conscript fathers of our supreamest senate ; doth it in dutie present it selfe , and in humilitie prostrate it selfe ; which when your first leasure hath curiously read , and your best zeale carefully and maturely considered : then by all that true english bloud which streameth in your heart and veynes , by all the loue whic●… your countrie beares you , and by all the dutie and affection which reciprocally you owe to your country : i both request and coniure you , to tell our king that it is nothing for his maiestie to haue made a braue and generous declaration of warres against spaine , except hee speedily second it with execution , without which it will proue a vaine fantasma , and an abortiue embrion : tell him , that it were the last acts of augustus , which embellished his raigne , and that old pericles made the greatnesse of his generositie and courage , to reuiue and flourish on his tombe , when hee caused the athenians to warre vpon the pelloponessians : tell him that philopaemenus affirmeth , that peace is the best time to meditate of warre . tell him that to transport warre into spaine , is to auoide and preuent it in england , as hannibal said to king antiochus , that the only way to make warre against the romanes , was to begin it in the heart and bowels of the dominions of rome , and so to vanquish italy by italy . tell him that plutarch affirmes there is no action so royall or magnificent in a king , as to take armes to assist and reuenge his confederates vniustly oppressed and ruined , much more his owne royall children , and that if the palatinate be too farre , that flanders and brabant , are but the skirts and suburbs to england . tell him that agesilaus said , that words are feminine , and deeds masculine , and that it is a great point of honour , discretion , and happines for a prince , to giue the first blowe to his enimies . tell him that spaniards hate vs ; why then should we loue them ? that we can beat them at our pleasures , why then should we feare them ? tell him that if it goe not well with holland , it must needs goe ill with england ; and that if wee doe not preuent their ruine , that wee cannot secure our owne danger . tell him that in matters of warre , it is dangerous to make a stand , shamefull to retire , and glorious to aduance . tell him that philip of spaine is of pyrrhus his minde , who said , that hauing deuowred and conquered all europe , he would end his dayes in ●…ollity and pleasure in macedonia . and therefore that it is time , yea high time to strike vp our drums against him , aswell because our saftie , as our honour inuites vs to it . and now turning from his maiestie , to you the illustrious and famous body of this great and famous court of parliament ( whereof the king is the head ) to you , i say , who are the creame and flower of his subiects : o hold it no disparagement tha i tell you ; that sith in all matters of order , policie and reformation , that delayes and protractions proue still dangerous , many times fatall : that you beware least as your consultations flie away with the time ; that occasion and opertunitie flie not away with your consultations , sith time must be taken by his forelocke , and then as iulius caesar saieth , we haue winde and tide with vs. thinke what a happines , what a glorie it is for england to haue wars with spaine , sith spaine in the lethirgie of our peace , hath very neere vndermined our safetie , and subuerted our glory ; and let vs dispell those charmes of securitie , wherein england hath beene too long lul'd and enchanted a sleepe : and if feare & pusillanimitie , yet offer to shut your eyes against our safetie , yet let our resolution and courage open them to the imminency of our danger ; that our glory may surmount our shame , and our swords cut those tongues and pennes in pieces , which henceforth dare either to speake of peace ▪ or write of truce with spaine . no , no ; to take the length of spaines foote aright , we must doe it with our swords , not with our ●…ecks , for the first will assuredly establish our safety , and the second infaliby ruines it . wars , wars , then ye ( with cheerefull hearts and ioyfull soules ) let vs prepare our selues for warrs : that our great brittaine ( the beautie of europe as europe is the glory of the world ) lie no longer exposed to the apparant danger , and merciles mercy of this castilian rat , of this crocodile of italy , of this vulture of germany , and af this woolfe of ardena ; but let vs all signaliz our fidelities to our soueraigne by our courage , and immortaliz our zeale to our country by our valour and resolutions herein : that we may all be of alcibiades his opinion , that the bed of honour is the best death , that there is no better recompence of death then glory , nor no richer glory , then to dye for our prince and country . and here i had imposed silence to my penne , and infused a period to this my epistle , had not the dignitie of your places , the quality of your imployments , the nature of the time , and the consideration that i am an englishman , commaunded me to insert and annex these few lines , by the way either of a supplement , or a post-script . although i can adde nothing to your affection and care , for the good of our country , yet giue me leaue ( i beseech you ) to substract this from mine owne fidelitie and zeale . 1 that you be carefull that your warres ( both by sea and land ) be plentifully stored with money , powder and shot , which indeed is the veignes and arteries , the sinewes and soule of warre . 2 that you crye downe all gold and siluer lace , and all silkes , veluets , and taffities , and crie vp woole cloath , and blacke 〈◊〉 and corslets insteede thereof , that thereby england as a blacke and dismall cloud , may looke more martiall and terrible to our enimies . 3 that our english romanists may be taught either to loue , or to feare england . 4 that there be prouision made , and especiall care had to secure his maiesties coasts , seas . and subiect from the ships of warre of dunkerke and ostend , by whome otherwise they will be extreamely indomaged and infested . 5 that by some who'some statute and order , you cleanse the citties and countrie , the streets and highwaies from all sort of beggers , by prouiding for their labour and reliefe , whereby many hundred thousand christian soules will pray vnto god for his maiesty , and to power downe his blessings vpon all your designes and labours , whereby without doubt our warres will succeed and prosper the better . i will no further vsurpe on your patience : but here ( withdrawing the curtaine of this preface ) inuite your eyes and thoughts to the sight and consideration of this consultation , s. r. n. i. the introduction , heauen being gods throne , and the earth his footstoole , it is impossible any thing can be here spoken and acted , but will there be heard , reuealed and detected ; for not onely our hearts but our thoughts , not onely our tongues but our intents , lye open and are obuious and transparent , to the glorious , and relucent eyes of gods most sacred maiestie , who being the sole architector , and preseruer both of heauen and earth , rules that by his presence , this by his prouidence , and both by his power ; and that wee men are not by many thousands degrees so great in his eyes , as the smallest pysmires are in ours ; who lookes still in our designes and actions , sometimes with approbation ; now with pitie , then with contempt , and anon with choller and indignation , being himselfe the prime president , the great moderator , the mighty councellor , the eternall and euerlasting iehouah ; who can and will giue lawes to all the kings and princes of the earth , as they doe to their subiects by their subordinate , and yet transcendent power , drawne from his most sacred maiestie of heauen , as the starres who actually deriue their light , and borrow their lustre from the refulgent beames , and glorious body of the sun. and as this great god seated in his coelestiall throne of glory , with his all ▪ seeing and sacred eyes beholds in heauen the thoughts and actions of men here on earth : so likewise out of his indulgent mercy and prouidence , he likewise giues the same authority and power to his angels , saints and martyrs , to doe the like ; who clad in white robes , the ornaments of sanctity and purity , with palme branches in their hands , the emblemes of peace and ioy , and crowns and coronets on their heads , the rewards and markes of glory , follow the lamb christ iesus wheresoeuer hee goe , still singing these ioyfull io peans and epithalamians of haleluiah , and glory be to god on high , peace on earth , and good will towards men . by vertue of which diuine priuiledges , the maske of spaines boundlesse ambition being discouered and pull'd off , in supporting the pope , and seeking the increase of his spirituall iurisdiction , whereby his holinesse in exchange , may enlarge that of spaines temporall monarchie , so as that shall haue feete to goe , and these wings to flie to the height of earthly greatnesse ; whereby the catholique kings ayme , out of the ruines of rome and germany , to erect another empire in the west , and endeauour by degrees to make most of the kingdomes and free estates of europe become prouinces vnto spaine ; as , some by force , some by policie , some by treacherie , and now england by the match of the infanta his daughter , with our most illustrious and royall prince charles ( next to his royall father king iames , our most dread soueraigne ) the hope of englands life , and the life of it's ioy and hope . i say the newes of these proiects and resolutions of spaine , hauing with as much fortunary as celeritie , passed the cloudes , and peirced the vaults and windowes of heauen , it fast arriued there , to the vnderstanding of that immortall mayden queene elizabeth , whose heart euer loued england , as her soule did heauen , and of whose flourishing wellfare and prosperity i cannot truely auerre , whether she still remaine more iealous or ambitious ? whereat grieuing with as much disdaine , as she disdained with griefe , and knowing that her nephew and god-sonne prince henry , participated and burned in her zeale , that the insatiable and blood-thirsty ambition of spaine , might not erect his trophees vpon the tombe of englands downfall , and the ruines of her subuersion , shee speedily acquaints him with it , whome although heauen had purified and deuested of his earthly passions , yet such was this young prince , his neuer dying zeale to englands euer liuing glory that his highnesse could not refraine from looking red with anger , and pale with feare , at the report and knowledge thereof . they consult hereon and hold it both expedient and necessary to acquaint other english princes herewith , especially those whome they knew stood deeply and sincerely affected to england . so prince henry acquaints his mother queene anne herewith , and queene elizabeth her brother king edward 6. and both their father king henry 8. who so vppon aduise hereof , could not refraine to looke on england with the eyes of affection and pitty , and on spaine with those of indignation and contempt . so these fiue great princes & queenes prepare themselues to consult on this most important busines , when loe they are suddenly met and assayled , with a doubt of no meane consequence and consideration viz. whether , or no , they should admit & receiue queene mary into this their consultation , whom not her romane merits , but the prayers of the protestants had brought to heauen ; when at first they considering that in heart and soule , she alwayes loued , and preferred rome and spain before england ; they resolued to exclude her , but at last ( vpon riper and more mature deliberation ) considering that she knew many secrets of spain , wherof peraduenture they were ignorant ; as also that from her innate and inueterate malice to england , shee might ( either in iest or earnest ) bewray something that might turne and redound to the good of england , they all consented she should be aduertised hereof , and so admitted ; which was instantly performed ; and as the rest of these royall princes enuied spaines ambition , and pitied englands dangers ; so to speake the truth , and no more , queene mary ( still resembling herselfe ) both in her speeches and lookes testified the contrary ; vowing that as she loued ●…hilip the ii. the father , so she would still honour philip the iii. his son. thus these three princes , and three queenes , not daring to consult in heauen on any thing , without permission of the superiour powers , they all repayre to the sacred throne of the lambe , ( of that great maker and conductor of heauen and earth ) whose tribunall is enuironed with more sparkling and burning sunnes , then we see starres in the firmament ; and who is waited and attended on by many millions and meryades of angels ; where in signe of gods glory and their humilitie , these royall personages fall on their faces to his blessed feet , and so proffer vp their petition to his heauenly maiestie to haue authority , and place giuen them to consult on this important businesse betwixt england and spaine . their petition read and considered , god out of the profunditie of his immense affection and fauour , towards the prosperity of england , ( wherein for the space of well neere one hundred yeares , his sacred maiestie hath seen himselfe truely serued and glorified ) ratifies their request , and approues and authoriseth their sitting ; when departing from gods most sacred throne ; they were by a full quire of angels with trumpets and tymbrels in their hands , vshered into the golden starre-chamber of heauen , which was purposely prepared for them ; when taking their seuerall seates , the doore shut , and guarded by englands tutulary angell , with a naked brandished sword in his hand , all thinges being hushed vp in silence , and all heauenly duties and ceremonies performed , these sixe royall personages begin their consultation in this manner . the consultation . h. 8. before we descend to speake of spaines ambition and enu●…e towards england , or the match now in question betwixt england and spaine , with the dangers which threaten , and presage vs will ensue thereof , it will not be impertinent , rather necessary ; that we mount vp the steps of this last century of yeares , and so take a cursory , though not a curious suruey , with what ambition and crueltie , and treachery , the kings of spaine from time to time , haue knocked at most kingdomes and estates of europe ; in the vnfolding and dilating whereof , you must not expect much light from me , rather i from your selues , sith as your yeares so your raignes succeeded me . nauarre . e. 6. and as you all know my yeares were so few and my raigne so short , that neither these , nor this , made me capable to diue into the affaires of princes and kingdomes , and yet i must confesse it was both with griefe and pitie , that i reade , with what vsurpation and trechery , ferdinand king of arragon depriued iohn of albert , and katherine his queene of their flourishing kingdome of nauarre , who for meere griefe and sorrow dyed immediatly after , hauing no other claime nor title to this kingdome , but an insatiable desire of empire and dominion , which the aragonois , and castil●…ans wonne with their swords . q. m. o but nauarre lay fit and commodious for the prouinces of old castille , b●…iscay , and galicia , besides , the kings of spaine are the catholique kings , and therefore it is both proper and naturall for them to be vniuersall . q. e. it is indeed both naturall and proper to them to bee ambitious and tyrannicall , for i am confident , that as catholique as they are , they loue earths empire , better then heauens glory ; and sure i cannot but lament to see nauarre made a prouince to spaine , which more is the griefe of christendome , and the shame of the royall line of burbon , now the french kings , whose patrimonie and inheri●… it is , and will not king lewes recouer it ? p. h. had great henry his father liued , he would vndoubtedly haue conquered nauarre with as much glory , as it was lost with shame and pitie ; yea , the turrets of pampelone , and fonteraby , had long since cast off the ragged staffe , to beare out the three flower de luces . q. a. so might king lewes his sonne too , if the pope and iesuites diuerted not his thoughts from that honourable and glorious enterprise . e. 6. surely it is against the lawes of conscience , and the rules of religion , for the kings of spaine thus to vsurpe nauarre , or were they so iust , as they pretend they were holy , they would restore and not retaine this kingdome . q. m. o the cath●…lique kings are too wise to commit such grosse errours of state , as to restore ; for it is conquest and possession , and no way restitution , which af●…oords them best melody ; besides , sith they are the catholique kings , they cannot be irreligious much lesse vncharitable . h. 8. why then daughter , the kings of spaine are of pirrhus and lysande●…s minde , whose limits and confines of their countries they held so farre , as their swords and lances could extend them . which being so , they are only catholique in title , not in effect , much lesse in heart or soule , for if vsurpation bee religion , i know not what is heresie . e. 6. the pope may , but our sauiour christ , neuer authorized or approued vsurpation . q. m. but the kings of spaine know the popes will and pleasure , as they doe gods , and this beliefe i am sure is both catholique and apostolicall . q. e. see , see with how much ignorance and wilfulnesse , with what blinde zeale and po●…re implicit faith , my sister is perpetually lincked to rome and spaine . p. h. if so vsurpation be romes doctrine , and spaines delight and practise , my soule did well to make me hate the one , and detest the other . the west indies , or new spaine . h. 8. bvt leaue wee nauarre weeping and groaning vnder the burthen of the miserable seruitude to spaine ; o how since columbus de cortez , and pizarro , ( with as much iudgement as fortunacy ) discouered to castille the rich america , and in it the gold and siluer mines , which hath giuen wings to his ambition to flie to the height of this earthly greatnesse , wherein wee see spaine seated and founded ; how it hath both grieued and amazed me to vnderstand , how at cuba , hayta , peru , panama , and mexico , and in all these vast iles and spacious continents , that the spaniards with a more then hellish cruelty , haue slaine such infinite millions and meryades of those poore indians , whereby in a manner they haue wholly depopulated these populous countries , and not onely made riuers but whole seas of their bloud ; and of whose inhumane and bloudy cruelty , i may iustly say ; that as all former ages cannot shew the like president , so our posterity will difficulty beleeue it . and yet behold the horrible hipocrisie of these insulting and vsurping castillians ; for demaund them the reason of these their bloudy and execrable massacres , of those poore armelesse and harmlesse indians , and of the rooting out and exterminating of all their princes and nobility , they with as much falshood as impiety will affirme , that sith their king is the catholique king , so this is to plant the catholique faith in the remote , and new found worlds of the world ; whereby we may obserue , that religion must still be the pretext , and cloke of their bloudy vsurpation , when heauen and earth knowes and sees , that it is first gold , then a greedy desire of dominion and empire , which is the true cause , and sole obiect thereof . e. 6. but if that bloudy resolution , against these huge numbers of poore indians tooke place in the heart and councell of charles 5. must it needes follow that the like inhumanity and cruelty should liue in this of phil. 2. and phil. 3. his sonne and grand-childe : so as this bloud-thirsty malice of spleene and gall against these poore indians , must be heriditary to the kings of spaine , as now by custome and intrusion , ( and by the ignoble coniuencie of the princes electors ) the ambition to enioy the empire of germany , is to the house of austria , from whence they are descended . portingall . q. e. my royall father obserued well , that religion was onely the pretext , but wealth and empire the sole obiect of spaines ambition ; for although charles the 5. vsurped those places of america from the indians , who indeede knew not christ ; yet what religion or catholique was that of philip the 2 , his sonne , vnder hand to precipitate , and throw sebastian king of portingall , into the vnnecessary and vnfortunate warres of affrica against the moores , where hee losed his life with his ambition : and then after his decease , to worke so on the impotency , feare , and ignorance , of olde king henry his successour , as ( contrary to the lawes of iustice and nature ) to enforce him to illigitimate don anthony the prior of crato , who was the first and neerest heire vnto that crowne and kingdome , thereby to exclude him as indeede hee did , or if he had not an itching and longing desire to swallow and deuoure that kingdome of portingall ; which all christendome and rome her selfe knew was still more catholique then spaine ; yea , and then when hee had ingaged his royall word to the rest of the pretendants , as the aforesaid don anthony , the dukes of sauoy and parma , katherine of maedicis ( queene mother of france ) and katherine dutchesse of braganca ; that hee with them would stand to the sentence of the chamber of lisbone , to know to whom the right of that kingdome most properly and lineally descended . that then this king philip the 3. forgat his conscience to god , and his promise to these princes ( fearing others right , and distrusting his owne ) brought an army to the gates of lisbone , ere the pretendants , or portingalls themselues dreampt thereof , or had meanes or leasure to defend themselues , wherby such was his insatiable ambition , vsurpation , & couetousnes , that in a plaine and setled peace , hee deuoured this rich and noble kingdome ; making it not onely tributary but a prouince to spaine . and was this also religion , or to plant the catholique faith ? or rather was it not manifest treacherie , and apparant vsurpation , such if don anthony had not , all the world knowes , the dutches of braganca had more right to this kingdome then king philip. p. h. yea , that policy king phil. learnt of the emperour charles 5. his father , who when himselfe , and king francis the first of france . contended for the empire of germany , whiles francis was bribing of the electors , charles brought an armie into the field and so enforced them to elect and choose him . q. m. i must confesse i euer held the portingalls to be zealous and good romane catholiques ; but as nauarre lay fit for biscay and galicia , so portingall lay exceeding comodious for andoulosie ; and if my husband king philip , had not seconded his right of descent by the law of his sword , perhaps he might haue had a bad neighbor in portingall , which he and his counsell timely fore-seeing they as wisely preuented . and howsoeuer , although he hated don anthonie , yet i know he loued the dutches of braganca well ; but when we speake of crownes and kingdomes , religion will make his surprise of portingall a matrer of state , though to speake truth , state can neuer make it a matter of religion . q. a. how well king phillip loued the dutches of braganca , i know not , but this i am sure of , that both monsieur de boysise monsieur de bissea●…x , and monsieur de marais , ( ambassadours with king iames my husband ; for the two last french kings , henry 4. and lewes 13. ) tolde me , that philips hatred and rage was so great against don anthony , that he begged his body , which lyes in a coffin of lead , in the cord-liers church at paris , to be deliuered his ambassadours , and so sent him into spaine ; but as they said , these two most christian kings their masters answered philip , that there was little religion , lesse charity , to take vp , and remoue the ashes of a dead prince and king , as was don anthony , and so his body still remeanes in paris . p. h. if spaine were so malicious to a dead prince , how ought those that are liuing to beware and take heed of him ? h. 8. as a guilty conscience can neuer finde ●…est , so it may be that king philip was afraid of a second don anthony , as of a second sebastian . p. h. but king philip 3 his sonne , hath farre more reason to feare don anthony his two princely sonnes , don emanuel , and don christopher , and of don emanuell , his two generous and illustrious sonnes , don maurice and don lewes , all foure liuing who are fam●…os , and royall reserued peeres of shipwracke of that royall kingdome and blood of portingall . q. m. o but they are poore , and want friends and meanes to advance their iust title to that crowne if they haue any . e. 6. their right and title to portingall is iust , and therefore cannot , and should not dye . q. e. if the french forces had met mine at the groyne , peneca , or lisbone , or had the portingals ●…isen , my norris , drake , and noble essex , in despight of philip and his forces , had pluck'd the crowne of portingall from his head , and set it on king anthonies . p. h. no , no : don anthonies sonnes are beloued of the nobilitie of england , france , and the netherlands , and don emanuels wife , is sister to that valiant and incomparable captaine maurice of nassaw , prince of orenge . so if fortune smile , and a fauourable gale blow , these disinherited portingall princes may one day proue pricks and thornes to the sides of spaine . for all portingall knowes , that their veines and hearts streame with pure portingall blood ; yea , with the remainder of the royall blood of that kingdome , which philip 3. his last entertainment ( together with the prince his sonne ) at lisbone , had almost found true : but that his maiestie departed with as much feare , secresie , and shame , as he came with resolution , popularitie , and glory : in the interim , these portingall princes remaine prodigious and ominious commets to spaine . q. m. did spaine thinke so , it would quickly make these princes ride poast into another world . q. e. if spaine should send these princes poast into another world , either by the b●…cke doore of poyson , by the wicket of a ponyard , and not by the great and fore-dore of nature , it would draw the fists of most christian prince , about king philips eares , and make all portingall solemnize their funerals with their swords drawn , and their cities gates shut . e. 6. indeede i haue heard that the commons , and especially the nobillitie of portingall begin extreamly to distaste the imperious pride and ambitious carriage of the spaniards , as many of them let not to say boldly and publiquely , that phillip enioyes the kingdome by vsurpation and n●…t by right . q. m. not by right ? why pope gregory 14. approued his title and confirmed his conquest of the kingdome of portingall . q. e. so did not our sauiour christ , whose successour and vicar the pope pretends himselfe to be . p. h. in the meane time spaine domineeres at her conquest of portingall , and well shee may ; for it is one of the fairest flowers of his garland , and of the richest diamonds of his crowne . h. 8 , but the other kings of christendome haue ●…ust cause and reason to grieue and storme hereat ; for as it was portingals mischance then to fall , and vaile bonnet to spaine , so it may be theirs to morrow ; for to a prince and people so greedy and ambitions of empire as is spaine , all fish is good that comes to his hooke or net . p. h. thus spaine deuoures kingdomes as the cyclope polephemus did passengers ; for he surprizeth no more then he meetes withall , and yet will not chirstendome beware of spaine . italy . h. 8. vve haue past from nauarre , the west indies , & portingal , & now let vs come to italy to see how spain is beloued or feared of the italians , & how he hath behaued himselfe there . e. 6. in italy the king of spaine is nayled to the pope , as most of the colledge of cardinals , and all die iesuites are to him ; yea , he hath the greatest and richest territories thereof , as the kingdome of naples , the dutchy of millane , and the island of cicily , and ( in a mannet , the marquesse of monaco , and finall , the dukes of montoua , parma and vrbin ; the princes of massa , and piombino , with the states of genoua and luca , doe all march vnder his banner , and call onely on his name ; yea , he hath so incircled the pope as hee is rather his prisoner , then his spirituall father ; for if his patrimony of st. peter be the temple , his naples and millane is the cloyster to impall it , so as he hath no impeachment or obstacle from making himselfe sole lord of italy , but the great duke of tuscany , and the prudent and potent seignorie of uenice . q. m. o but the pope neede not feare the king of spaine , for ●…s spaine is the popes hand , so the pope is spaines tongue : for the catholike king is his holinesse champion ; and his holinesse the king of spaines oracle . e. 6. i had thought that the popes alwayes loued the kings of france better then those of spaine . q. e. o no : there is reason to the contrary ; for spaine hath receiued romes hellish and bloudy inquisition , and france is so wise and couragious , as it reiecteth and disdaines it . p. h. nay , there is another reason likewise ; for although the former kings of france were braue and victorious , yet king lewes that now is feares the pope and loues him not , whereas king phillip of spaine loues him , but feares him not . q. m. if the popes had not loued spaine , they would neuer haue giuen him naples and cicily , nor permitted him to enioy that rich and populous dutchy of millan , which is the patrimony of the house of orleans , and is now fallen to the right of france . q. e. surely there is a great vnion betweene the popes and the kings of spaine , for spaine makes the pope ride on his pontificall chaire , and the pope makes spaine flie in phaetens chariot , about the foure corners of christendome . p. h. but the pope loued not spaine so well , to giue him either the marquisat of anconitana , or the dutchy of ferrara , when he begged it of him by his ambassadours . h. 8. but did spaine seeke ferrara , and the marca of ancona of the pope ? q. m. yea , and vpon good grounds and solid reasons too , for that lay commodious for millane , and this for naples , and both would serue as bridges to passe into that braue and proud state of venice . the state of uenice . q. e. now you speake of the graue and noble venetians ; as they haue long since pull'd off the maske of spains itching desire to deflowre their beautifull adriatike sea-nimph : so they haue resolued no more to trust spaniards . for of late ( notwithstanding their prudent decree to the contrary , grounded vpon some priuate reasons of state ) they both thinke in their hearts , and know in their soules and consciences , that it was onely the ambition and double pistols of spaine , that laid the foundation of the last treacherous and execrable attempt against their citie ; and consequently against their whole state , notwithstanding that some perfidious frenchmen ( degenerating from the honour of their country and ancestors ) were corrupted and seduced ( by the gold and flattering promises of spaine ) to be the chiefest agents , and forlorne hope in that damnable attempt ; and to make this as cleare and apparent as the sunne , that illustrious and wise senate well knowes , that at that very instant , and nick thereof , the duke of ossuna ( vice-roy of naples ) houered with his fleet & land-forces to lay hold and embrace that occasion . q. m. sure sister you wrong the duke of ossuna , and in him king phillip his master ; for i haue heard that the said duke did then arme , vpon newes of a great fleet of gallyes comming from constantinople to rhodes , vpon the irruption of intelligence betwixt the great turke and the french king , for the escape of the polonian prince coriski : for the which the baron of sancy , the french ambassadour was at least confined , if not imprisoned at constantinople , and that therefore for the safety of the kingdome of naples , it behooued the said duke to fortifie his ports of apulia , o●…tranto , and calabria , as well with fleets as regiments . p. h. the king of spaines ministers neuer want pretexts and euasions for their designes ; but if the duke of ossuna for affirming hereof , should sweare botto d●…os , and par la sanctissima uirgina , till he were damn'd , yet that wise senate , and especially the councell of tenn , will neuer beleoue him . q. e. o but ossuna and the king of spaine his master , shall giue me leaue to ioine in opinion with the prudent venetians ; and therefore i highly praise their fore-sight , and applaude their generositie , in keeping a braue nauall army on their seas , and strong garrisons in their castles and cities , for the security of their state , as also for k●…eping of their exchequer rich , and their arsenall and magasins aboundantly stored and furnished . h. 8. but hath spaine offered the signiory of venice , no other wrongs and affronts but this ? q. e. o yes : for although that prudent state say little , yet they remember , ( and will not forget ) how busie his ambassadour and agents were at rome , to giue fire to the quarrell betweene pope paulus quintus and themselues , about banishing the iesuites from their state , and for imprisoning the chanon of vincensa ; as also , how readily and earnestly they proffered the pope , that a great spanish and neopolitan army should instantly enter their state , and put all to fire and sword . p. h. and they likewise remember , how the king of spaine ( that thereby his regiments mought fish in troubled waters , and get firme footing in their country ) hath often incens'd this emperour ferdinand , then duke of gratz , to inuade their frontier townes in fri●… , and the trevisan , q. e. but noua palma brescia , pescara , and veronae , are obstacles and stops to the designes both of the emperour , and king of spaine ; yea that wise sate , is so watchfull and vigilent , that in time of peace they make their greatest preparation for warre . and it were a blessed happinesse and a safe felicitie , for most kingdomes and estates of christendome , if herein they would emulate and imitate the example of these wise and valiant venetians , which is neither to trust , much lesse to feare spaine . q. m. but as wise and as strong as the venetians are , as their church and pallace of st. marke , was not built in a day , so are not all the designes and resolutions of the king of spaine , and therefore a time may come , but i say no more . q. a. o , i gesse at your minde ! you would haue the state of venice made a prouince to spaine , that thereby he may finde a way for his fleetes , to conuey his armies into high and lowe germany . and if spaine thinke so : contareno the venetian ambassadour , resident with the king my husband ; and since him donato likewise told me , that herein spaine is deceiued in the arithmetick of his ambition and vsurpation ; and thus to reckon , is to reckon without his hostesse , and without god. swisserland h. 8. bvt how doe the warlike cantons of swissers trust the king of spaine ? q. a. as they doe the emperour ferdinand , his brother leopaldus and the rest of the austrian princes : for they knowe his ambition and their malice , and so neither feare nor loue these , q. m. but they loue the double pistols of spaine , doe they not ? q. e. yes , but they say the french crownes of the sunne are farre purer and truer gold , and therefore passe currenter with them . e. 6. the austrian princes , and the swissers ; i haue still heard , are from father to sonne , hereditary and irreconcilable enimies . p. h. yea , the swissers drawe good vse and benifit hereof ; for by this meanes they liue not in securitie as some other states doe ; but are still armed and ready to march and followe their colours , q. e , but there is no warre would be so acceptable and pleasing to them as vp to millane , or downe to the free country , brabant , and heynault ; if france , sauoy , and uenice , would command them the first , and england , france , and holland , ordayne and giue way to the second . q. a. what is not past is yet to come . q. m. yea , but the councell of spaine hath policy enough , to insinuate and temporize with all these princes and states ; and so to diuert their designes , and frustrate their resolutions , if they were bent that way . p. h. it hath indeede hitherto proued so by spaine : for their policy and treachery , hath purchased and gotten them more countries , then either their valour or swords . q. m. these easie conquests are still sweet and pleasing to spaine . p. h. yea , but they are neither honest nor iust . e. 6. but hath not spaine 〈◊〉 with the swissers for their confines and limmits ? q. e. yes , two wayes , next germany by leopoldus , and betwixt losanno and gray in the free county by the archduke albertus . q. m. yea , the king of spaine will angle so long till he take . q. e. but hath not spaine attempted by his ambassadours and agents , to sowe discention and discord amongst these heluetian cantons ; to oppose them one against the other , and so to debauch and withdraw them first from the french kings seruice , and then to his owne . p. h. yes many times , but that tricke of spaine is now growne olde and thrid-bare ; so as the swissers vowe to remedy the first , and the french kings to preuent the second . q. m. but the catholique king will watch those swissers a good turne , and if the ephinaerides of his en●…ie , ambition , and greatnesse faile him not , either his spinola , or his pedro d●… tol●…do , shall one of these dayes dine with him at berne , friburg , or soleurre , ere their table-cloathes be layed . q. e. but sister , you are deceiued in the swissers ; for their table-cloathes are alwayes nayled to their tables ; yea , they haue so great a quantity of swords , pikes , and m●…skets in a readinesse , to giue any enemy of theirs a bloudy banquet , th●…t if phillip king of spaine dare assault them , they doubt not but to vse him as they haue formerly done phillip duke of burgundy , whom they ouerthrew in three seuerall pitch'd battels , at gra●…son , morat , and nancy , where he losed his treasure , his men , and his life . the grisons . h. 8. bvt how stand the grisons affected to spaine ? e. 6. spaine through the vicinity of millane , doth so often knocke at their doores , that if they keepe them not fast shut , they know , or at least feare that he will shortly enter by the uoltaline and chiauena . q. m. o though of late they made a shew of resistance , yet the gold of spaine , the neighbourhood of millane , the fort trents , but chiefly their owne credulity and security , hath almost brought them to the king of spaines lure . q. e. this people were both warlike and wise . p. h. but spaine will briefly make them fooles and cowards if they will hearken vnto him . q. m. as how nephew ? pray be not bitter against spaine . p. h. why , fi●…st spaine will 〈◊〉 them vp in peace and security till matters be ripe , or else he will engender factions , and sowe discords among themselues , either ●…or religion , or ranke , or betwixt them and their dearest friends the swissers ; and so when hee sees all things ready , and the iron hot , then he will march , and strike , and not faile to vnite and annex the cantons of the grisons to millane , as he hath already done millane to spaine . h. 8. if the grisons at any time lose the swissers friendship , or their owne vigilancy and generosity , it will not be long , ere they shake hands with their liberty and liues . q : m. so spaine hopes , for if warre cannot worke , and effect it , they make no doubt but peace shall . q. e. if the grisons hearken to the charmes of spaine , they are halfe lost . q. m. if they hearken not to spaine , they are wholly vndone , but if they listen to spaine , all will be well . h. 8. yea daughter , i beleeue for the spaniards , but not for the grisons . q e. to trust to spaine , is to rely on a broken staffe , and to harbour a serpent in our owne bosomes . p. h. to trust to the promises of spaine , is to commit our selues to the mercy and protection of a lyon who will deuoure vs. q. m. the grisons will see , and say the contrary . e. 6. so will i say , if i see the contrary ; till when , i feare the grisons will buy their peace , as well with teares as bloud . sauoy . h. 8. bvt how doth sauoy brooke spaine ? for i take it this present duke charles emanuell , married this king phill. 3. his second sister ; the infanta katherina michaela . p. h. sauoy loues spaine , as it hath deserued of it ; for the noble and generous duke thereof cries out ; god de●…end me from such a brother in law as king philip. q. m. i beleeue if the catholique king offered that duke any vnkinde office , it was nothing but because hee was so neere a neighbour to geneua ▪ as he and the pope suspected his highnesse , would turne caluinist . q. e. alas that good citie of geneua , why all the world knowes the dukes loue to it , and its religion , witnesse the barron of attigna●… and his consorts , as also terraill and bastide ; but if there were once a spanish garison in this citie , sauoy would soone know how to distinguish betweene good and bad neighbours . e. 6. but it is the laughture of the world , to say that spaine hates sauoy , because he loues the religion of geneua . p. h. yet this is as true as many other of spaines colours pretexts and euasions , when he hath a purpose and plot to vsurpe . q. m. why wherein hath the king of spain abused , or wronged the duke of sauoy ? p. h. first , in being himselfe the chiefe cause and subiect , and then m●…king him the instrument and executioner , to cut off the two noble heads of biron in paris , and d'al●…igny in turin . q. m. why the catholique king is the vniuersall king , and therefore it is not strange , if in all countries of the world , hee haue his farre fetch'd policies , agents , and instruments to make his stra●…agems and resolutions take effect , for those who are obstacles to his will and pleasure ; his verball friendship shall alwayes proue their ●…eall ouerthrow and subuersion ; howsoeuer hee and his ministers pretend , and make shew of the contrary . q. a. nay , let vs leaue biron and d'albigny in their graues , for me thinkes it is a poore charity to take vp the ashes of the dead . and for our better information , let vs take a suruey of the courtesie , or rather of the cruelty that spaine hath offered sauoy . e. 6. none knowes nor can deliuer the particular truth thereof , so well as your royall sonn●… prince henry . q. m. but i feare my nephew will be too partiall in the deliuery hereof , betweene the king of spaine , and the duke of sauoy , because i haue heard that of the two princesses their daughters , hee preferd that of sauoy , before this of spaine . h. 8. no , no ; my nephew henry is a iudicious and iust prince , therefore i know he will not wrong spaine to doe right to sauoy . q. a. he resembles king iames his father too well , who will still loue the king of spaine , although therein he hate himselfe , therefore speake on faire sonne . p. h. when great henry of france ( my honoured vncle ) made warres vpon the present duke of sauoy for the 〈◊〉 of his marquisat of saluses , then this phillip king of spaine , ( vnder the pretence and shew to ayde the duke his brother in law against the french ) sent him may troopes and regiments of spanyards for the preseruation of his state ; when the peace being made betwixt the king and the duke , and the exchange for saluses , with the countries of bresse and gex ratified and accomplished ; these spanish regiments being quartered in carboneres , mountemellion , sauillan , pignorall , and other places of sauoy and ●…iedmont , they vpon no request or assummons made them by the duke , would depart thence , but being commanded the contrary by the count de fuentes ( vice-roy of millan ) as he wa●…●…rom the king his master from spaine , they peremptorily r●…solued and vowed to keepe firme footing , which they long time did , vntill at last that wise and valiant duke being thereunto constrained for the securitie of his estate , whose eminent and vtter subuersion he apparantly saw before his eyes , he very nobly cut all their throats . h. 8. beleeue me his highnesse of sauoy did well , for it was an act most worthy of his iudgement and generositie . q. m. but the king of spaine , the dukes of lerma , pastramae , denia , albecurque , tolledo , and all the counsell of warre of spaine ; vow to haue their reuenge of this affront . q. e. spaine hath done his worst to sauoy already , for as long as france loues sauoy , sauoy needs not feare spaine ; at least mine authors tell me so , who are that famouss captaine , the duke of dedisguieres , his valiant son de crequy : and noble du fremes . q. a. though this one wrong , be one too many , yet is these all wrongs that this king of spaine hath offered this duke of sauoy . p. h. no madame , for although the duke winke , and seemes ( with father aubigny ) to haue the art of forgetfulnesse ; yet he well remembers how don iuan de faxis ( spaines ambassadour in france ) told lullius , arconas , and alimes , his highnesse ambassadours at lyons , that the king his master would conttibute towards the exchange of the marquisat of saluces , conditionally it remained on that side the alpes from the french ; and since how his catholique maiestie hath performed nothing . he remembers spaines plots vpon his castle of nice ( the key not only of his countries , but of italy ) when his spanish galleyes lay at villa franca to bereaue him of his children , hee remembers how the spanish cardinals oppose his precedency at rome , with the duke of florence , and how the catholike king , or his vice-roy of millan for him , was the match and incendiary to set fire twixt the duke of mantoua and him , for the marquisat of montferrad . q. e. we may see what a kind brother in law the king of spaine is , and what it is to build vpon his alliance , affinitie , promises and assistance . p. h. i am glad the duke of sauoy , and the princes his children haue now purchased the length of spaines foote . e. 6. they haue reason to haue it , for they were all enforced to take it with their swords , ●…ikes , and lances , at cassallo , uerceile , and other-wheres . q. a. as long as sauoy loues not spaine . the marquis of lullius , and monseur de 〈◊〉 told me , it needes not feare it . q. m. o but as long as spaine knockes at the gates of sauoy and piedmond , he may at last enter . q. e. sauoy hath reason to enter millan , not spaine sauoy . q. m. but time and the policie and swords of spaine cut all donations and rights in peeces . p. h. sauoy hath had warnings enough to beware of spaine , and therefore as i euer loued that generous duke , so i hope that he and the illustrious and valiant princes , his sonnes , will neuer want arme of steele , and hearts of diamonds to out-braue spaine , who with such ambition and malice seekes to out-braue it . france . h. 8. but what sayes france of spaine . q. m. my honoured father ▪ all the world knowes that spaine hath euer loued france well . q. e. yea , too too well , and so well as france will neuer loue spaine , much lesse trust it in requitall . q. m. why hath not spaine reason to ballance and counterpoise the power and greatnesse of france . p. h. yea , but not to seeke to make that famous and flourishing kingdome become a prouince to spaine . q. m. spaine neuer wisht it , much lesse attempted it . q. e. yeares , more often then france hath prouinces , or spaine cities . p. h. why ? who was the author and protector of the league , but first spaine , then the pope , and next the deuill . q. m. o that was onely to preserue catholikes , and the catholike religion , and to exterminate and root out heretickes , and was not this well done of the king of spaine , sith he is the catholike king. e. 6. nay , now the least childe in france knowes that religion was onely the pretext , but empire and dominion the obiect of that league . how els dared mendoz●… ( spaines ambassadour ) in paris seeke the crowne of france for the infanta of spaine , or how els dared the iesuites his ministers , in their seditious sermons , and pernicious pamphlets aduance her right to the crowne and kingdome , when god and the world knowes she had none to it . q. m. why , it was when god had caused that good fryer iames clement , to kill that bad king henry the third at saint clou , and when indeed that kingdome was without a head , and then the king of spaine had reason to aduance his daughters title to france , in right of her mother elizabeth , ( that queene of peace ) notwithstanding the fundamentall power of the salique law to the contrary . h. 8. you are deceiued daughter , for it was a good king , and a bad fryer ( or rather a diuell in a fryers weed ) to set handes on the lords anoynted , but this arrow came out of the quiuer of spaine , and hell , for that bloody and execrable murther was no sooner perpetrated , but then instantly followed the proposition of the infantaes title to france , which apparantly makes the murther to be spaines , q. m. it was the dukes of mayene , mercu●…ur who drew the king of spaine , to assist the league and in it france . q. e. no , no , contrarywise it was the king of spaine , that debouch'd and drewthese two dukes , and with them almost all the nobillitie , to f●…rge and contriue this league , and in it to ruine france ▪ for already france was almost spaine , and the infanta had vndoubtedly borne the crowne , if great henry his victorious sword had not pul'd off spaines maske , and so cut her title and its pretence in peeces . q. m. but see the equitie and iustice of king philip , for when henrie that heriticke king came to the crowne , he restored him calais , dourlans , ualencienes , blauet , and all other townes and castles which he had formerly wonne and conquered in france . p. h. but all this was not worthy thankes , for philip alone restored that which he could not , nor dared not to keepe . q. m. nay obserue farther , how religious king philip was ( in imitation of king agesilaus ) for he kept his faith inuiolable towards henrie 4. although he were an heritique king. p. h. nay obserue how irreligious and treacherous king philip was to king henry 4. ( in imitation of antaxerxes , the son of xerxes ) for he violated his faith and frindship towards him , in debaushing of biron marcanques , loste , whose promises and gold made them traytors to theit king and country . e. 6. surely i thinke it is incident , and i feare it will proue hereditary to the kings of spaine , to conquer more by treachery then by the sword . q. e , but had great henrie liu'd , he would haue required , these courses of spaine , as also that of guyguard and chastell ; who ( although the report runne otherwise ) had their greatest light and encouragement from beyond the pyreene mountaines ; for to speake truth he in hart could neuer be drawne to loue spaine . p. h. yea , that spaine knew full well , for when the french iesuits his ministers had vnlocked that mistery , they like bloody schoolemasters , so diuilishly instructed and fortified that monster of men rauilliaek ( their execrable and damnable desciple ) that he soone sent him hither in a bloudy coffin . q. m. but you will not say that the king of spaine was accessary to henry the 4. his murther . p. h. no , but i will say that if the truth were knowne , the opening of that veyne would make many great birds , yea and many learned ones too , bleede themselues to death , and peraduenture the wounds and scarres thereof , would bleede an hundred yeares hence . q. a. the marshall of lauerdin whispered me a word concerning this , which i shall neuer forget , onely he requested my secrecie therein : so the king of spaines lerma , and the queene mother of france her d'anchre , his mariano , and her cotton shall giue mee leaue to thinke . q. m. questionlesse it were the sinnes of that king , and the finger of heauen that cut off the thred of his life . q. e. questionlesse you are deceiued sister , for it were the sinnes of france who made the knife , and the treasons of spaine and rome , which made that parracide rauilliack performe . h. 8. well , in despight of rome , spaine , and hell , that victorious and glorious king is wafted hither in triumph , therefore leaue we him with god , and god with him , and let vs see since his deplorable death , how kinde king philip of spaine hath beene to king lewes his sonne . q. m. so kinde that hee hath matched king lewis to his eldest daughter , the infanta anna ; and his eldest sonne , prince philip to the eldest princesse of france madame elizabeth , that now these two mightie kingdomes and houses seeme to be but one . q. e. this is faire to the eye of the world , but it will be excellent if the end of these matches proue fortunate for france . h. 8. who were the match-makers ? p. h. s. p. q. r. or to bee better vnderstood , spaine , pope and queene regent . q. e. if king philip of spaine be heyre as well to his fathers ambition as to his kingdomes , he will loue france so well as to push and fish for it . p. h. what force could neuer effect , he hopes those marriages now will. e. 6. indeed , the snake lurkes vnder the fairest greene leaues , and the aspick vnder the purest and sweetest roses . q. e. no kings of the world know better how to dissemble then the catholique kings . p. h. you speake scripture , not tradition . q. m. and you tradition not scripture . h. 8. but what entertainement had the infanta of spaine in france ? p. h. noble , royall , glorious . e. 6. what trayne of spaniards brought shee with her into france . p. h. a very great trayne , for monsieur de marais ( the french ambassadour with the king my father ) tolde me that monsieur d●… bo●…elle ( maister of the ceremonies to the french king ) reported , that when the first of them were entring paris at saint iaques gate , that the l●…st were but comming ●…owne the pyrene mountaines . q. a. but what did all this rabble of spaniards doe in france ? p. h. to speake truth , they fell presently to skrewing and working themselues into the state , by begging and buying of offices , places , pensions and gouernments , both in church and common-weale , and by making pensioners for spaine , and consequently a bridge and passage for the king their master to enter . h. 8. but how did the parliaments , the priuie councell , and the nobilitie of france brooke and digest this ? q. e. yea , that is a question of state indeed . p. h. as for the parliaments and priuie councell , many of them are so iesuitiz'd , as they are spaniards in heart , though french in tongue , and therefore they were so farre from preuenting , as they gaue way to it , onely for the princes and nobilitie ( some few excepted ) they ( resembling themselues ) vowed and swore , that their swords should cut the pennes and tongues in pieces of any spaniard whatsoeuer , that dar'd propose or attempt it , for they spake aloud , and affirm'd , the florenti●…es had taught them wit. e. 6. a braue resolution of the french nobilitie ; for the greatest of a state haue alwayes the greatest interest in the state ; those princes and nobles are therefore highly to bee applauded and praised : and such of the priuy councell and parliament who tacitely are delinquents , and traytors to their prince and countrey , deserue to be found out , arraig●…ed , and sacrificed to the good of the common-weale , either with a sword , or a halter . q. m. but what said the clergy of france to this ? q. e. sister , it is to be feared , as you wish and desire . p. h. why they out of passionate zeale , more then of zealous and sollid iudgement , approue of any match for their king , so it bee not with a protestant , and yet of none so well as of this with spaine ; demaund their reason , and they will answer you ( with as much vehemency as ignorance ) that the king of spaine is the catholique king , and if you come further to particularize , they reply , that their cardinals ( who indeede are onely the popes creatures ) shall deliuer more at the estates generall : so the clergie bad the spaniards welcome into france . q. e. but where are the firebrands and incendiaries of the state , the french iesuites , who indeed are the fistulaes and botches of a state , what entertainment gaue they to the young queene and her spaniards ? p. h. surely aunt , they crouched very low to the queene ; but in cottons absence , arnoux and berrulla ( their tongue and eare ) whispered so secretly to her maiestie , that i could neither gather nor vnderstand what they said , but i guest at it : onely they gaue faire words and actions to all the spaniards in generall ; and to the nobler and wiser sort of them in particular , they engaged themselues to keepe curious correspondence with the catholique king , to whom they affirmed and swore by their semie-god and sole patron ignatius loyalla , they would beare true obseruance as the marigold doth to the sunne . q. a. are not these two iesuites the french kings ordinary preachers , and yet dare they doe it ? q. e. although berrulla be the father of the oratory , yet he is in heart and soule a iesuite , and arnoux is the arch-iesuite of france , and the kings confessour , and yet they dare , and will doe it . h. 8. but how did the queene regent entertaine the spaniards ? p. h. courteously and nobly , because shee made the match ; which since she hath repented tho ; yea , and the duke of mayene too , who concluded and finished it : and so did villeroy likewise , although it were too late . but sillery and d●… uair loue spaine so well , as their courages are so masculine , that though they see their errors in perswading these matches , yet they rather persist then acknowledge it , for like good cleare-sighted states-men , they haue wit enough to beare vp with the time , for otherwise they know the times will not beare vp . q. m. but how did the commons of france entertaine the spaniards ? q. e. truly i thinke they will neuer be perswaded to like the fashion of the little hat , and great set ruffe . q. a. son henry , pray answere queene mary . p. h. if we may iudge of hercules by his foote , so we then may of france , by those of paris ( which is the eye , the heart , the soule thereof ) where the citizens in all streetes , and especially the lakeyes at the lourre gate , and the new bridge , still salute the spaniards as they passe by , by these courteous epithites , boracho , pantalones , and bouriques . h. 8. how long remained all these spaniards in france ? q. m. so long i warrant you , vntill they did all their kings businesse , and their owne too before they departed . p. h. in truth so long , till all france was weary , and distasted of them and their proceedings , yea , so many yeares , that at last the king and counsell were in a manner constrained to send them away by an edict , as they themselues , not many yeares since , did the moores . q. m. the banishing of the moores was a good and wholesome counsell of spaine . q. e. and i assure you sister , the sending home of the spaniards was as excellent one in france , for vpon the matter , they were but spyes , moaths , and drones , , and would haue proued so to france if they had continued there longer . e. 6. but were they all sent home , and none left at the court of france to giue , and receiue packets too and fro for the iesuites , the king of spaines factors and agents . q. e. o , no assure your selfe , for the councell of spaine is too wise to commit so grosse and palpable an errour of state. p. h. therefore to cast the thicker mist , and to put the better varnish one the businesse , the countesse de la tour was left there with the title of gouernesse to the young queene , and there is as much correspondencie betwixt her and don ferdinand de geron ( the ambassadour of spaine ) as there is betwixt him and the french iesuites . q. a. thus spaine leaues alwaies a sting behinde him , and i feare france will in the end finde it so . q. m. whereon is your suspition , and feare grounded ? q. a. vpon the apparant symptomes of the lethargie , feuer , or consumption of france . e. 6. you say right madam , and the noblest and truest hearted frenchmen participate of your apprehension : for the iesuites ( being the popes factors , and the king of spaines oracles and agents ) haue already corrupted the parliaments and priuie councell , who should bee her illyum and acrocorynth . they haue vndermyned and ruinated the sorbone , heretofore her palladium , once the queene of vniuersities : who now as a mournfull widdow , sits with her haire dandling about her eares , and her teares trickling downe her cheekes , liuing onely in her shaddow or ghost , or rather in her ruines ; for the genius and soule , hath already made a transmigration to clermont house ; yea , and to speake true french , in our english tongue , they by their deuilish aphorismes and bloudie positions ( vnder a false and hipocriticall shew of learning and pietie ) doe poyson and corrupt the youth and prime wits of france , as the iewes did the springs and fountaines in england . q. e. also , the clergie of france degenerates from its pristine candor and zeale to the good of france , and the glory of the french church , for they receiue lawes from the popes nuncio , and the iesuites , to whom they should giue them . how else at the last generall estates of paris , and the assembly of notables at rouen ? were they so vnwise , dishonest and cowardly , to referre themselues to the two cardinals perron and gondye ? who like good cardinals , but bad frenchmen ( hauing onely their bodies in france , but their hearts at rome ) in thankfulnesse to the pope for their red hats , forgat themselues and their allegiance so much , as to prostitute and debase that famous crowne , and flourishing kingdome of france , to be dependant to rome in temporall matters , notwithstanding the pragmaticke sanction , and the prerogatiues of the crowne and church of france to the contrary ; whereat the popes nuncio at paris laught with open mouth : so did the colledge of cardinals , and the pope himselfe at rome ; and likewise the catholike king in spaine , with all that huge rabble of iesuites , whiles all the kings , soueraigne princes , and free estates of europe ( spaine and italy excepted ) greeued and lamented at it , with as much shame as wonde●… . e. 6 indeed these are two maine points and reasons , that the greatnesse and genero●…ity of france declynes , and that rome and spaine will shortly sl●…uffie the cards so well ▪ as it must needs be made a prouince to spaine ; for they both haue consulted , and finde , that what couldnot be effected during the reigne of old henry , may in these of young king lewes his sonne . p. h. it is not impossible , rather likely , for france abounds in a moustrous height of pride and sinne : and the old cleargie of france admit of so many new orders of fryers and nunnes , that almost all is out of order ; and the seuenteene millions which the duke of 〈◊〉 left by accompt to the queene regent , is all long since spent , and twice seuenteene more . so as although the 〈◊〉 be still on foote , monopolyes neuer so rife , the finnances , or exchequer drawne dry , and exhausted , yet the king is extreamely 〈◊〉 to his nobilitie and pensioners ; and is not this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 king of spaine ? h. 8. 〈◊〉 great henry liued , he would haue remedied and preuented these calamities . q. a. but his sonne king lewes is not so happy to doe it , no not his 〈◊〉 , the duke of luynes so discreet and honest to aduise and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereunto . p. h. 〈◊〉 neglect thereof may make one , or both of them to repent●…t , and peraduenture the kingdome too ; for already the commons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and the nobilitie would , but cannot remedy it . q. m. spaine loues france , therefore france neede not feare spaine . p. h. the panthers skin is faire , yet his friendship is fatall , and his breath infections . q. e. indeed if france loued not spaine , it neede not feare it . q. m. king philip loues king lewis dearely . q. a. not halfe so well as he loues his kingdome of france . q. e. in truth france hath reason to haue a vigilant eye ore spain , for as long as shee sleepes in her bed of pleasure and securitie , perhaps one of these dayes , spaines ambition may awake her with drum , trumpet and cannon . p. h. o no ▪ not as yet , for if the king of spaine were so ill aduised , his councell is not ; for they like old experienced foxes , will neuer permit him to discouer himselfe , much lesse his resolutions , and least of all his ambition and sword , vntill the sunne hath attain'd the meridian . q. m. i know not what my nephew meanes by this mathematicall riddle . q. e. i was neuer greatly skild in the mathematickes , and yet consuming my youth , yeares , and cares for england , i haue reason to vnderstand his knowledge . wherefore sister , sith hee is a noble and famous prince , let vs heare him , for he hath some mistery to reueale twixt france and spaine . q. m. he loues france , and hates spaine , and which is worse , hee was an heretique , therefore his tongue can make no spherall melody . e. 6. but his heresie hath brought him hither to heauen tho , and hee is a famous and noble prince : therefore cosen wales speake on of france and spaine , for now wee are all resolued to heare you . q. e. i gaue him my fathers name , and he inheriteth my resolution and courage , and the king his fathers wisedome , therefore he can neither flatter nor dissemble . q. a. speake on henry . p. h. know all men by these presents , that if spaine did see the heart and bowels of france weltring in its bloud , and flaming in the fire of an intestine giuill warre , if it did see the princes banded against the king , or the king against the protestants , these rifeling of the lourre , and of paris , and his maiestie besieging of rochell , sancerre , sedan , nismes , or samury , or denouncing warre to all those of that religion . if it did see sixteene parisian tribunes , carrying away the court of parliament prisoners to the bastille , and chastellets the rebellious barycadoes , and a bloudie massacre in paris ; and generally in all the cities of the kingdome , if hee did see some princes of the bloud ( or two great dukes as were du mayene and merary ) captiuating and deboshing the obedience and affections of the french nobilitie , clergie and commons , and couering their pernitious designes and trecherous attempts , vnder the cloake of the holy league ; if it did see calais , dourlaus , amiens , montdidier , valencienes , blauet , and croyden , or other strong cities , or forts of france , bearing out the red ragged crosse instead of the three yellow flower deluces , and a second mendoza for his ambassadour , sate as premier president and oracle in the louare , towne-house and parliament , that then phillip the iii. of spaine loues his sonne in law lewes the thirteene of france so well , that hee would vse him as king phillip the second had an eager desire , and had almost done great henry his father . q. m. why how was that ? p. h. right as my godmother queene elizabeth hath formerly told you , nothing but to depriue him of his kingdome . e. 6. it were better that all the iesuites were hanged , and the young queene of france sent home to spaine , with her portion , to the king her father . q. e. but wee see strange alterations in the court of france , for some dare , but will not , and others would , but dare not informe the king hereof . q. a. france hath reason , yea , it is high time for her to looke to her selfe , for the agents , iesuits , and double pistols of spaine are busie , and their swords and pikes are not idle . for whiles france playes the theorie , spaine playes the practique . of the netherlands . h. 8. how doth spaine and the netherlands ●…gree ? e. 6. spaine hath so long inured and enforced the hollanders to bloud and warres , as now at sea and land they are become such braue souldiers and marriners , as they feare not spaine , and to loue spaniards they vow it is impossible , much lesse to obey them . q. m. it is pittie that king phillip the second ended not the chastising and conquest of these heretique hollanders , ere king phillip the third began it , or that hee cannot reduce them to obedience , by ending these warres with more fortunacie , and lesse danger and dammage . q. e. nay sister , it is pittie that these two kings of spaine , and the archduke albertus and isabella , haue from time to time beene so ambitious , inhumane , cruell and reuengefull , to drowne the face of the netherlands with many deluges of bloud , in seeking to preserue their libertie , liues and consciences from the cruell tyrannie and inquisition of spaine . p. h. indeed for this forty yeares , the netherlands hath beene the schoole and theater of mars , whereon there hath beene more braue souldiers and renowned captaines flame , then in any country of the world , or in many precedent ages ; and yet all this bloud is not capable to quench spaines ambition and tyranny in seeking to deuoure those prouinces . q. a. hath not spaine assaulted the netherlands as well by trecherie as hostilitie ? q. e. yes , witnesse the damnable villaine gerrard , who long since murthered william the famous prince of orange , their lieutenant generall , and father to maurice that valiant and incomparable captaine , who now succeeds him in his principalitie . q. m. o sister , cast not so base an aspersion on king phillip my husband , to affirme hee was accessary to the murther of william prince of orange , much lesse authorised it or commanded it . p. h. all the ocean betweene holland and spaine , cannot wash off that murther from your husband king phillip , for his proscription to murther him beares it , and his lieutenant the duke of parma commanded the count assonuille to deale with gerrard about this murther , who promised him twentie fiue thousand crownes to effect it , which , o griefe to speake it , he did . e. 6. but his valiant sonne hath long since had reuenge for the death of his father . q. a. if he haue not , he resolues to haue it . h. 8. but hath not spaine since attempted , or broached any other treason towards the hollanders ? p. h. o yes very lately , for whilst spaine is spaine , holland will neuer forget how neere he was to haue extinguished her libertie , and surprized their state , by infecting and corrupting their secretary barneuelt , a man of so profound wit , and deepe iudgement and experience in matters of state , as he was not onely the oracle of the netherlands , but the ornament and wonder of europe , ye●… of his time . q. e. see , the fruites of spaines gold , and the effects of his boundlesse ambition , for it is a common custome with him , if not by the maine , yet surely by the bye , to breake the necke of great princes , and free estates , publique ministers , whether they are great souldiers or great statesmen , or both . q. a. yea , the web of this treason was so cunningly wouen , and so subtilly and finely spun , as if the netherlands had not broken barne●…elts necke , he long ere this had assuredly broken the necke both of their libertie and state. q. m. well , barnauelt is gone , and now spaine needs not feare his policy . p. h. nay , barneuelt being dead , and maurice that famous prince of orenge liuing , holland need not feare either the trechetie , or force of spaine . h. 8. but nephew , i heare that the vnited prouinces of the low-countries will this spring haue warres with spaine , for their peace is neere expired and ended . p. h. a braue , noble , and wise resolution of theirs . e. 6. heretofore england taught the hollanders wit and valour , and now they resolue to shew england the way to those two vertues . q. m. but the gold and siluer of spaine w●…ll preuaile against them , and weigh them downe . p. h. but the hollanders had ships enough of their owne , and gold , siluer , and men from england , therefore they disdaine to feare spaine , nay rather they vow before the next summer to make spaine feare them . h. 8. see , see , a handfull of men dare attempt that against spaine , which great brittaines huge infinitie will not . q. e. and yet their cause and reason is englands , viz. their consciences , liues and countries . q. a. pray god england and france interpose not to crosse the warres , and seeke to conclude a peace betwixt holland and spaine . e. 6. but the hollanders are resolued to make king iames a large offer , to protect them against spaine . q. m. but king iames loues spaine too well , and therefore will not hearken to , or regard their proffer , for his maiestie is resolued not to protect them . p. h. the more is the pitty . q. e. the more my griefe . q. m. and without griefe or pitty , the more is my ioy . q. e. i protected the netherlands in despight of spaine . e. 6. but spaine went neere by your leicester , to betray both you and them . h. 8. if king iames would now protect the netherlanders , how easily might he refetch backe flushing , the brill , and the 〈◊〉 ? e. 6. nay , how easily did his maiestie depart with them to the netherlands ? p. h. it infinitely reioyceth me to vnderstand the hollanders braue resolution and forwardnesse to haue warres with spaine . q. m. but there is a secret tricke to coole their courages which they least thinke of . h. 8. as how daughter ? q. m. why , to pistoll this prince of orenge , as they did his fat●…er . q. e. heauen forbid it . p. h. god defend it . q. m. why , 't is but one for another ; for he knowing barnauelt a traytor to his countr●…y because a pensioner to spaine , caused the lords states , to put him to death , why then ( in exchange and requitall ) should not a pensioner of spaine either poison , or pistoll the prince of orange ? e. 6. these diabolicall resolutions and bloudy positions come from hell. q. e. and thither they goe that professe and practise them . q. m. the king of spaine is too religious to authorise so execrable a murther . q. e. but the pope as holy as he is will pardon it , and yet the world , i hope , knowes , that the k●…of spaine cannot be so religious as his holinesse . q. a. it were good then for holland to be carefull of their prince of orange his life , as all the world knowes his excellency is of their safetie and preseruations . p. h. and it will likhwise behooue them to obserue withall ( as i hope they doe ) how subtilly and trecherously spinola , takes their neighbour townes for the emperour , and keepes them for the king of spaine his master . e. 6. and if the warres goe on 'twixt holland and spaine ; as i hope they will , it will be needfull for spaine to haue a speciall care of his west-indies from the holland fleetes . h. 8. wherefore only spaines west-indies , or rather why not all the worlds west-indies ; sith their red and white earth sets all the would on fire and in combustion . q. ●… . surely , ere this summer passe , and the next appeare , the hollanders vow to haue a heaue at them . q. m. nay , i hope the contrary , for the west-indies is the maine and onely prop of spaine , which if once found out , and taken away from them , will quickly make the greatnesse of his ambition and empire totter . p. h. till when , all other kingdomes and estates of christendome may thinke themselues exempt from spaines feare , but shall neuer be from his danger . q. e. this holland perfectly and apparantly knowes , and it were a greater happinesse for the rest of europe , if they would herein imitate their generositie , valour and wisedome , who stand on their guards with their swords drawne , and their match lighted ready to giue fire ; as being constantly and vertuously resolued neither to loue , trust , nor feare spaine . england . h. 8. but now leaue we all other countries , and come wee to england , from whence being descended , wee by the lawes of nature , are eternally obliged to honour and loue it ; yea to preferre it and its prosperitie and glory to all other countries of the world ; wherefore let vs see spaines ambition and enuy towards it ; and how he hath from time to time borne himselfe to the english. q. m. there is no kingdome in the world , that spaine loues better then england . q. e. nor no people vnder the sunne that it hates more then englishmen . e. 6. for peter king of castille , most ingratefully and basely abused our famous and generous edward the blacke prince , ( the ornament of armes , the glory of england , and the honour of the world ) and his whole army in spaine , after that he had inthronised and seated the said peter in his kingdome , and with his victorious armes expel'd henry the bastard , who vsurped it . q. m. if spaine had not loued england and englishmen , king philip would neuer haue married mee . q. e. hee loued you well sister , but your kingdome farre better , for you were the obiect of his zeale , but england that of his ambition . h. 8. but elizabeth , hee hated you more then euer he loued mary . q. e. and yet i dare truly affirme , that king philip loued my kingdome farre more then euer he hated my per●…on . h. 8. to speake truth daughter , he neither loued you , nor mary his wife and queene , but only england . p. h. and i haue heard that if he had neuer married my aunt mary , shee had neuer lost calais , nor consequently , england , france . e. 6. though that match were vnfortunate to england in the losse of calais , yet it was fortunate in that philip and mary had no children . q. m. if we had had any males , england had beene long since a prouince to spaine . q. e. god knew so much , and therefore preuented it , wherein i qle●…se his mercy and prouidence , as also your sterrilitie . p. h. aunt , and i your resolution in speaking it . q. m. the kings of spnine are the greatest ●…nd most potent kings of the world. q. e. yea , in ambition and ostentation , but not in power , for i proued it not so , i found it not so , i left it not so . p. h. you madame found warre with spaine surer and safer then peace . q. e. yea , farre more safer , and farre more profitable too for england . q. a. then i wonder that king iames my husband so delights and drownes himselfe in his peace with spaine . q. m. o but spaine findes both policy and reason enough to full king iames a sleepe in the cradle of peace and security . q e. i neuer feared spaine lesse , then when i loued it not , no●… more then when it made greatest shew to loue me . p. h. and the king my father neuer loued it more , then now when he feares it . e. 6. but is it possible king iames feares spaine ? p. h. it seemes so , for else he would neuer loue it so excessiuely . q. e. sir nicholas bacon my chancellor on his death-bed wrote me a letter , that the glory and conseruation of england consisted in holding spaine at rapiers point ; and will not his sonne sir francis , the now chancellor tell his maister so much ? p. h. o no , he is otherwise imployed . h. 8. but tell mee daughter , was spaine euer treacherous to your person ? q. e. almost euery yeare spaine hatched mee a new treason , witnesse parry , babbington , williams , yeorke , lopez , and infinite others , who sought to lay violent hands on my person and life , but that god in his infinite mercy and prouidence still protected and defended me , to their owne confusion . p. h. but king phillip 2. chiefely discouered his loue to england , in the treacherous attempt of his huge armado of 88. ( tearmed by the pope ) in a brauery ( the inuincible fleete , ) at what time his ambition and greedy desire of vsurpation , so farre ore-swayed him and his councell , as he thought to haue made an absolute conquest of england ; but hee was deceiued of his hopes ; for god looked on england with his indulgent eye of pitty and compassion , and on that great and mightie nauall army with contempt and detestation . q : e. yea god was so gracious to england , and so mercifull to mee , as not only my ships and people , but the windes and waues fought for my defence , and that of my countrey , against the pride and malice of spaine , who grew mad with anger , and pale with griefe , to see this his great and warlike armado beaten , foyled , and confounded , in the midst of their glory and ambition . e. 6 , but sister , was this all spaines malice and trechery towards you and your state ? q. e. no , no , for i had forgotten how before that , his maiestie in spaine and his lieutenant the duke of alua in flanders , embarg'd and confisk'd a world of goods and ships that belonged to my subiects , contrary to all lawes of conscience and nations . p. h. and no other ? q. e. yes , king phillip beg'd my kīngdome of ireland of the pope , and so assisted the rebels , and made a confederacy with them for ●…he conquest thereof from me , bringing in first stukeley , then don iuan of aquila , into that kingdome to the same effect : but heauen alwayes laught at their ambition , vsurpation , and trecherie , which still proued as vaine , as impious and vniust . p. h. and yet see the iustice of the cause , and the equitie of your armes ; for essex landed at calez , and in despight of spaine tooke and rifled it , beating and sinking their best and greatest ships , in a manner without any shew of defence or resistance . q. m. o but now the times are altered and changed , for then spaine was poore and england rich , and now england is poore and spaine rich : likewise spaines warres parsimonie , and frugalitie , makes his men souldiers ; and our peace , pride , and superfluitie , hath made our souldiers either courtiers or cowards . h. 8. france knew that i found souldiers in england when i tooke tourney and bouloigne . q. e. and spaine felt that english were souldiers , when my drake beat them on my seas and coast in 88. my norris at croyden in 94. my essex at calais in 96. and my montioy at kingsale in 1600. q. m. but when england was delighted in combats , warres , and victories , and now in stage-playes , maskes , reuels and carowsing , so as their courages are become as rustie as their swords and muskets , which serue to grace the walls and not the fields , except in poore musters , and sleight trainings , and that but once a yeare , which vpon the whole , is more for ostentation then seruice : moreouer , then englands nauy-royall could giue a law to the ocean , and now time and negligence hath almost made all these ships vnseruiceable , who lye rotting at chatam and rocesther . e. 6. here queene mary hath reason , for now she is in the truth . q. e. what ( sister and brother ) my royall-nauy lye r●…tting , who are the bulwarkes and walles of england , and when i left them were capable to beate the power and pride of spaine to shiuers ? o this grieues me ! but i beleeue not that my wife and prudent successour king iames will suffer or permit it , i pray , god-son and nephew prince henry , resolue me hereof . p. h. indeed madam , i confesse i haue seene so much my selfe , when god knowes i grieued to see it ; neither did i faile to put the king my father often in remembrance thereof ; and his maiestie still promised me to new build and repaire that royall fleete , to which number i added my prince-royall , a ship , who had she many fellowes , england needed not feare all the fleetes of the world ; but although the old lord admirall hath not beene carefull for the preseruation of the nauy , yet the new one is . h. 8. if he be not , i grieue for the fleet. q e. and i lament it . e. 6. and i pittie it . q. a. and i bewaile it . q : m. and not to dissemble , both gondomar , king phillip his master , the pope , my selfe , and all the romane catholiques of england reioyce hereat , for the impotency and destruction of this royall nauy , is the harbinger to prepare the way , and a step for king phillip to mount the throne of estate , to plucke off king iames his crowne , and to place and ●…ettle it on his owne head . q. e. o my ships , my ships : god knowes they were still deare to me , because still necessary to england . where is my drake , where my cumberland , my for bisher , my grinuille , my cau●…dish , my haukins , my rauliegh , and the rest : alas , they want me , and king iames and englnad wants them ; for when they liued , and i raigned , our valour could stop the progression of spaine ; yea my ships domineerd in his seas and ports , and their clouds of smoke and fire , with their peales of thunder , strueke such such amazment to the harts , and terrour to the courages of castille and her faint-hearted castillians , that euery spanish bird kept his owne nest , not powerfull enough to defend themselues , much lesse to offend any ; and lest of all england , who was then ●…n her triumphes , in her lustre , in her glory . p h. grieue no more ( deare aunt ) for the nauy royall of england ; for although nottingam were remisse and carelesse herein , yet braue buckingham hath of late yeares set a new face on that fleet : and makes it not onely his delight , but his glory to re-edifie and reforme them ; yea there is not a yeare passes him , but hee brings some new forth from their dockes , and puts in other old , although cranfield ( resembling himselfe ) bites his lips at the charge thereof , because he affirmes he hath other occasions to disburse , and pay away the kings treasure . q. e. nephew wales i am glad to heare that buckingham is so carefull of england ▪ fleet-royall , and in very deed , his ambition , care , and zeale herein , will infallibly purchase him much loue and honour of the whole kingdome , especially if he continue it . h : 8. me thinks scotland annexed and vnited to england , should make it farre the stronger . q. e. but how can king iames say england and scotland is strong , when he feares the powers of spaine , and will not know or beleeue his owne . e. 6. yea it were much honour to the king , and happinesse to his kingdomes and subiects , if in any poynt ( knowing the weakenesse thereof ) he would fortifie and reforme it . q. a. and it were a great happinesse for most kingdomes and free estates of europe , if they would follow the examples of the venetians and hollenders , who will neither trust , nor loue , much lesse , feare spaine . p. h. and among the rest , if england would follow it , they should drawe securitie out of danger , whereas now her apparant danger is drawne and deriued from her apparant security . q. a. o that the king my husband would thinke hereof . p. h. o that the king my father would make vse hereof . q. e. o that king iames my heire and successour would not hearken or beleeue the contrary hereof . h. 8. but this were the way to haue warres with spaine , and king iames i vnderstand , is resolued to liue and dye in peace with them . q. m. warre cannot be bought at a cheape rate . q. e. but it is pitty that peace should be bought at too deare and dishonourable a rate . p. h. i haue alwayes beene enformed , that england still gets by her warres with spaine . q. e. i got by my warres with spaine , and spaine lost by it . p. h. my father and his subiects lose by his peace with spaine , and spaine gets by it . q. m. when england hath lost her selfe , she can lose no more . q. e. but sister , your death was the death of the popes hopes , and of spaines pretences to england . p. h. but they both seeme to reuiue and bud forth a fresh , if the match betweene my noble brother p. charles , and the infanta of spaine take effect . q. a. may heauen deny the first , and the king your father neuer consent to the second . q. e. so shall spaine euer feare england , but neuer england spaine . q. m. but i hope the contrary ; for in these dayes the king of spaines gold and his ambassadour count gondomar act wonders in england . h. 8. hath gondomar propounded this match to king iames ? p. h. o long since , and hee hath vowed to weare out his red leather coach and greene buckram litter , but he will see an end of it this parliament . q. a. i thought indeede it was not for nothing , that he makes aesops fables his daily pocket guest . e. 6. how doth king iames relish this match . q. m. his exchequer is poore , and king philips indies rich , and therfore his maiestie likes it so well , as he will hearken to no other . h. 8. how doth prince charles himselfe like this motion ? p. h. i know not how my brother likes it , but for my part i should euer haue preferred a daughter of franc●… to that of spaine , and i hope the match will not succeede , because my noble brother prince charles is wise , valiant , and generous . e. 6. but how doth the braue and graue parliament sauour this spanish match ? q ▪ a. fewe loue it , most feare it , but as the match , so the parliament is not yet ended . q. e. this would be musicke indeede for the romane catholiques of england , if it should take effect ; for the very first newes thereof , made them flap their wings , as if they were ready to crowe . q. m. yea , for they hope , and which is more , they know , that if it proue a match , that the infanta will soone introduce the masse , and vsher in the pope ; therefore they haue reason to reioyce at it . p. h. but if the king of spaine will not giue the summe which my father king iames demaunds , will not they make it vp ? q e. it is probable and credible , that their holy father the pope , and themselues will stretch both their purses and credites to knit the match . h. 8. why ? hath gondomnr such power with king iames , to hope to see this match effected ? q. m. o yes ; for his maiestie saith , that his master is an honest king , and hee a wise seruant : the first all the world knowes ; and the second , i hope england shall shortly feele , at least , if all hookes take . p. h. indeed if gondomar can effect this match , it is the direct way for him to be a grande of spaine , and to procure a red hat for his sonne or nephew . q. a. was the duke of monteleone so rewarded for his french matches ? q. m. hee is already a grande of spaine , and hath the promise of a hat. q. a. why then count gondomar need not feare , for hee hath as much policie as the duke of monteleone , though not so much ost●…ntation . h. 8. who made and concluded the match with king philip ? q. m. my selfe and the parliament . q. e. nay sister , put in woolsey and gardyner , and leaue out the parliament ; for you onely proposed it them but for forme , and had secretly concluded it before hand your selfe . q. m. suppose i did , i might doe it of mine owne authority , and prerogatiue royall . q. e. but you offered no faire play to the parliament , though in asking their aduise when the contracts were ready to be sealed . q. m. but i had reason to follow mine owne iudgement , not their passions . h. 8. nay , nay daughter , you contrariwise followed your owne passion , not their iudgements , and so god gaue limits to philips ambition , and your owne desires , by making you ●…orsake earth , and he eng●…and . e. 6. but wise king iames is opposite to my sister mary , as well in religion as sexe ; and therefore , i hope , nay , i assure my selfe , he will first consult this match with his parliament , ere he conclude it with spaine . p. h. if the voyc●… of the parliament be free , and not enforced , i make no doubt but the pope , the king of spaine , gond●…mar , and all our recusants will come short of their hopes for the match . h. 8. daughter , what benefits proposed you to the parliament , by your match with spaine ? q. m. strength , profit , honour , which england , king iames , and prince charles will likewise now finde if the match hold . e. 6. as for strength , if england would know its selfe , it neede not expect or hope for any from spaine : for spaines assistance hath alwayes proued fatall and ruinous , to those who haue vsed it ; and if england would assume the ancient generosity of her ancestors , and forsake her new fangled pride and prodigality : wee know it is strong enough to beat spaine , and all his kingdomes and prouinces , and no way so weake , to feare that spaine should make england a prouince ; for it were farre safer for england and englishmen , if they wore worse cloathes , and had better hearts and swords , and if they were more martiall and lesse effeminate . q. e. for profit , what indies is richer then england ? for if england want money , herselfe is still more powerfull and capable to inrich it selfe , if it would be lesse vaine , and more frugall and industrious , &c. what is a few hundred thousand pounds to england , if england be thereby exposed to the danger of spaine ? or that it b●… againe fetcht from them by the bye , as it was brought in by the maine ? for was profit euer cheape when it was bought with losse and repentance , with teares and blood ? or shall not euery ducket be weighed and counterpoised downe with a farre greater preiudice and inconueniency : for if the match hold , will not our recusants looke a loo●…e ? will not spaniards bee so ambitiously insolent to attempt to out-looke english ? will not the pope steale in by degrees , and the king of spaine breake in either like a torrent or a thunderbolt , when his factors and agents haue made all things ripe and in a readinesse ? will this be englands profit ? p. h. for honour , england and scotland were free , royall , and ancient monarchies ; when indeed spaine was not spaine , but disioynted and disseuered prouinces : yea , for pompe , state , and glory , our princes were kings , when their kings were scarce princes , nor their princes nobles : therefore great brittaine by the match can conferre and adde honour to spaine ; but not spaine to great brittaine . q. a. i could neuer yet affect the match of spaine , for either of the two princes my sonnes : for the spaniard is by nature as trecherous as proud , and although northampton perswaded me thereto , yet i loued true-hearted salisbury , who alwayes diuerted me from it ; as ( in the depth of his allegiance , and the profunditie of his wisdome and iudgement ) well fore-seeing they would proue ●…atall and ruinous to england . e. 6. it is strange to see with what insatiable desire and ambition , spaine couets england ; for hee hath already attempted it by trechery , by force , and now by the match of his daughter the infanta to prince charles . q. m. you meane king philip the 2. and not this present king philip the third ; and as don iuan de taris ( the ambassadour of spaine ) told king iames at his first comming to the crowne of england , that the ambition and malice of spaine to england , dyed with that prince , and was interred and buryed with him . q. e. but was this king philip the third and his councell , neuer acquainted with that horrible gunpowder treason , whereby it was intended and resolued , that england should haue beene blowne vp , ouerthrowne , and ruined in a moment . q. m. o no , he is too catholique a king to haue hearkened , much lesse to haue approued that passionate plot . q. e. you might haue said , that execrable and damnable plot of treason , but that you will seeke to diminish and extenuate rome and spaines treasons . q. m. you infinitely wrong the pope , and king of spaine , to suspect , much lesse to beleeue , that they were acquainted with that powder plot . q. e. no ? went not faulkes ( that hellish incendary ) once to rome about it , and the younger winter twice to vallidolide . q. m. yea , about some other businesse it may be , although i must confesse it was very immediatly before that treason was discouered . p. h. gondomar told me , that both the pope and king of spaine abhord that treason . q. a. i feare they abhord it , for griefe it tooke not effect . q. m. if euer this king philip hated england , yee may be sure now he loues it ; for else he would neuer seeke to match his daughter to it . q. e. what force and treachery cannot effect , now affection in the match shall . wherein king philip is of lysanders minde , who when the lyons skinne will not serue , he will sowe on a peece of the foxes tayle . e. 6. so he come into england , he cares not by which way he ariue . p. h. so the daughter come not into england , england neede not feare the comming of the father . q. m. count gondomar will beate his head and his horse shoes , but he will bring in the daughter , and already his hopes and the probabilities are great , for he is exceeding great and familiar with king iames . q. e. else he could neuer haue gotten open the prison dores for the romane priests and iesuites . p. h. nor haue made raleighs head to caper beyond his body . q. a. nor haue kept back an army from my sonne and daughter the king and queene of bohemia , when so many hundred thousand valiant english souldiers desired and longed to haue serued them in their warres . q. e. nor haue shipt away so great a quantitie of ordnance for spaine , which one of these dayes will returne bullets to our hearts . e. 6. nor haue procured a gallant fleete to secure the coast of spaine , against the turkish pyrates , vndeer coulour of going to argier and barbary . p. h. that fleete was fitter to haue gone to mexico . q. a. so indeed it might haue returned with glory and gold , whereas now i feare it will with losse and repentance , i will not say with shame . q. e. i know by experience , it is an excellent thing for england to fight with spaniards , but not to ioyne with spaniards against others . p. h. why should not our english fleetes goe for the west indies . q ▪ m. if this proposition be broached , then gandomar will run madde . e ▪ 6. what difference is there betwixt the east and west indies ? p. h. as much as there is betweene pepper and siluer , or white feathers and yellow gold. h. 8. o but england , neere this twenty yeares hath lost those golden times of going to the gardens of hesperides . p. h. and now holland after ten yeares tryall , and patience , resolues to finde them . q. e. now we speake of holland : it againe exceedingly grieues me , that england goes from holland , in that it will not protect it against spaine . q. m. and truely it is my ioy and comfort to vnderstand it ; for the farther england goes from holland , i am sure the neerer spaine comes to england . p. h. nay , if the match hold , holland can expect no assistance from england ; for the pope , the king of spaine , gondomar , the iesuites , and english recusants , will in few yeares so shuffle and deale the cards , as england shall not bee able to assist herselfe , much lesse her neighbours . e. 6. why that is the way , in a few more yeares , to make england a prouince to spaine . q. e. yea , yea , there is the mysterie ; for if the match with spaine hold , the conquest of england will vndoubtedly follow , & then gondomar can be no lesse then vice-roy or great commander of england , for the king and councell of spaine will iudge him worthy of this honour , because he hath deserued it . p. h. it were better spaine were hell , and gondomar vice-roy to the diuell , as he is now ambassadour to the catholicke king. q. a. but is it possible that the king of spaine hath so little iustice and charity , and so much vanitie and ambition to desire it ? e. 6. the kings of spaine make this the tenth article of their creed , that the rules of empire and state ought to giue lawes , but not to receiue any . q. e. but this is contrary to the lawes of the king of kings . q. m. but in the counsell of spaine , the rules of state are alwaies too sublime and powerfull for those of religion ; yea the pope will easily dispence with the king of spaine , to make a conquest of england , either by treachery , hostilitie , or the match : for it is against an heriticke king and people , who refuse to enter into the bosome of the church , and therefore lawfull in it selfe ; because it tends to the catholique cause , the displanting and rooting out of heretikes , and the establishing and pres●…uation of the romane catholikes in england . q. e. those giddy and passionate romane catholiques of england , who disire to fish in troubled waters , who delight in nothing but in innouation and nouelty , and who make a may-game of conscience , and an ape of religion , may peraduenture flatter themselues with the false sunne-shine of these hopes ; but those of them whose hearts are better lodged , and whose eyes and iudgements can see farther and clearer : those i say who know by the lawes of grcae and nature , what they owe to god , to their lawfull prince and country ; those remember , that the duke of medina sydonta said in eighty eight ( who was then generall of the spanish fleete ) that his commission was not to distinguish of religion ; but to make a passage with his sword , ore both religions without exception , that thereby the king his master might haue the easier way , and fairer passage to the crowne and kingdome of england : therefore wee neede no perspectiue glasse , or spectacles to see , that it is not the establishing of the romane religion , but of himselfe in england , whereat the king of spaine still aymes . q. m. 〈◊〉 count gondomar is wise enough to prouide a playster for that sore , for hee in netling the nobler sort of catholiques with the match , hath in plaine tearmes giuen the lye to the duke of medina his speech , and therefore he hopes they will beleeue him . p. h. the nobler and more passionate and factious sort of them may beleeue gondomnr herein , but the wiser , temporate , and conscious will not ; and yet the feminine gender , are masculine sticklers and solicitors for him , as hee and the iesuites are for the king his master . q. e. nay , the romane catholikes of england haue reason to beleeue gondomar ; sith king iames loues him well , as hee esteemes his speeches oracles and scripture ; and who with the quintessence of his castillian , or rather galician braine , hath now brought matters to this passe , that no sincere aduise , honest letter . religious sermon , or true picture can point at the king of spaine , but they are called in ; and their authors imprisoned ( in sted of rewarded ) though neuer so honest and loyall subiects . h. 8. but me thinkes that this is no subtill policie of gondamar ; for the more he striues to suppresse the truth , the more it will flourish and preuaile ; for ( for the good of england ) if one penne , or tongue bee commaunded to silence , they will occasion and set tenne at libertie to write and speake ; as grasse or cammomell , which the more it is depressed , the thicker it will spread and grow . q. m. but hath not gondomar reason to strike whiles he findes the iron hot , and to take the benefit of the floud , before the ebbe come or the tide be spent . q. a. indeed they say , hee reports that this summer time , the ayre of london and islington is not sweete enough , either for his fistula , or perfumed braine , and that hee hath thereforefore gotten leaue of his maiestie , to lodge in a part of his pallace of greenwich , which stands in so pure an ayre , vpon the pleasant christall riuer of thames . q. e. that were a presumptuous part of gondomar indeed , to aspire to lodge in that pleasant , and royall pallace of greenwich . q ▪ m. but if it bee so , i thinke it is not to lodge there himselfe , but onely to square out the infanta's lodgings , her chamber of presence , and a plot to build her grace a chappell against shee come , whereof iones sir innigo hath already the modell in his braines . p. h. if king iames my father lodge gondomar this summer in greenwich , the next , king philip himselfe will hope to lye in white-hall . e ▪ 6. nay soft ▪ first let his daughter the infanta come , for shee must breake the ice , ere his catholique maiestie will dare aduenture to come passe the seas hither . q. m. aduenture to come ? why wherefore else , saith count gondomar , lyes king iames his fleete at alciant , and carthagena , but to transport her for england this summer ? q. e. vntill i am enforced to vnderstand , that that fleete is at lisbone , the groyne , or saint andera , i will not beleeue it , but then i will feare it . q. m. so the heretike protestants of france feared their spanish matches , and yet we see they prosper . q. a. it is the end which crownes the beginning , not the beginning the end of a worke . q. e. what speake you sister of the french matches with spain●… , to this of england and spaine ? for all the world knowes , that the estates of england and france , are diametrically opposite in point of religion ; for france hath fortie papists for one protestant , and england fortie prot-stants for one papist . q. m. but those protesting heretikes of england , will sing another tune , when they see the king of spaine hath made their countrey his prouince . p. h. heauen forbid , that euer england should sing the tune of spaines ballad , or spaine liue so long to make england see that dismall and bloudy day . q. e ▪ it were farre better , that prince charles were married to an english milke-maid , and the infanta of spaine mewed vp for a nunne in a cloyster . q a. yea , for how can my sonne prince charles thinke the king of spaine loues him , when he sees that vnder-hand he is a mortall and professed enemy to his brother and sister , the king and queene of bohemia . q. m. you mistake madame ; for it is the emperour ferdinand , and not king philip that is their mortall enemy . p. h. if philip had not ( vnder-hand ) powerfully assisted ferdinand , his imperiall maiestie , had neither had legs to goe , nor wings to flie into prague , and yet the king my father will not asist his son in law , king frederick . q. a. yes to recouer the pallatinate if that were lost ; but gondam●…r through his slye crouches , and sugred insinuations , hath extorred a hope , and some say wrested a promise from king iames not to assist bohemia , but i hope the contrary . q. e. but will spinola restore those townes he hath taken in the pallatinate . q. m. gondomar promised that digby shall bring that home vnder his hand and seale , onely he sayes , t is fit that spinola should be satisfied for his charges . q. e. that 's an old baffle and tricke of spaine , which vpon the matter , will proue but a flat denyall . therefore if king iames please to hearken to my advise , i would send an army thither and re-fetch these townes of the pallatinate from ferdinand , phillip , albertus , and bauari●… , with the point of the sword , in despight of spinola , tilly , and cordo●…a . p. h. if i were againe liuing in england , i would so worke with the king my father , that this resolution of queene elizabeth , should neuer dye , but spedily bee put in execution ; for it is the safest , cheapest , shortest , and honourablest way for england ; yea what would not england doe for my deare and royall sister of bohemia , if the king my father would giue it the word of command ? q. m. but content your selfe nephew ▪ count gondomar hath promised that his master king phillip will giue king iames content for his townes of the pallatinate . q. a. so gondomar promised his maiesty , that spinola should neuer attempt the pallatinate , and yet we see the contrary , and being false in this , how , or what reason haue we to beleeue him to bee true in the match . q. m. england must beleeue him sith the king doth , and will. and herein i both triumph and glory . p. h. thus my royall father intreates ; where he should command , and loues spaine , where he hath farre more reason to hate it . q. e and this is my truest griefe and deepest affliction , that king iames will still delight in contemplation , when ( if his maiesty will not ) all the world sees , that king phillip is ( vnder-hand deepe in actiō . h. 8. it may be that king iames thinkes king phillip to be of hanniballs minde , who more feared fabius not fighting . then marcellus fighting , or of pompe●… ▪ or of marcus crassus their opinion , who were more afraid of c●…cero's gowne , then of caesars sword . q. m. nothing lesse ; for king phillip loues king iames his gowne and pen , yet no way feares his sword . q. e. but if king iames inherited my resolution as he doth my kingdomes , i would make spaine feare his sword , and rome either loue or obey his pen , and neuer consent to a peace , much lesse to the match . q. m. but why should king philip feare king iames his sword , sith he neuer yet knew the way to drawe ir : or why should his catholike maiesty feare the counsell of england sith it is apparant to all the world ; that the eliment and delight of their king , is bookes , not battailes , the pen , not the pike . h. 8. why ? know you not daughter that king iames hath lately established a counsell of warre , and whereunto think you tends that . q. m. to peace i hope , or rather , assure my selfe . q. e. then sister you are of neere intelligence with gondomar ; for not long since in one of his dispatches to spaine , he wrote the ll. of that councell , that they should not doubt nor feare of the counsell or warre of england ; for it was ( said he ) but a scarre-crow to feare , not to hurt , and would onely serue as a vane on a house top , rather for ornament then vse . but if king iames were of my minde , his counsell of warre should strike rather then threaten ; and send a royall army into the bowels and heart of castille ere they thought it could be ready to depart from the ports of england . q. m. not into castille ; for then the peace were quite broken betwixt england and spaine . p. h. why then into bohemia , the pallatinate ; the netherlands , or the states of uenice , or wheresoeuer the castillians regiments disturbe the publique peace of christendome . e. 6. i see no reason to the contrary , but england should be as soone in armes and action as spaine . q. e. but it is the inchanting melody of the match , that brings england out of tune . q. m. but in this proposition and parlee of the match , the king and counsell of spaine , speake faire termes , and giue reall not verball content to king iames. q. e. so did philip your husband , and his father by his embassadours to mine at bourbourg , thereby to ●…ulle me a sleepe when his great armado was in a manner ready to weigh anchor , and set sayle from lisbone , to inuade me and my england . q. m. but king ●…iames knowes spaines affection and gondomars sincerity to him , and consequently to england in seeking this match . q. a. but england knowes neither the affection of the maister , or the sincerity of the seruant , and therefore hath reason , though not to feare yet to suspect both . h. 8. it rather thinkes king philip of pericles his opinion and ambition , who desired that the ●…land in the port of piree mought be remoued , sith it was a moate and beame in his eye . p. h. the morall is , that philip would 〈◊〉 england a prouince to spaine , but if the match hold not ; spaines ambition , gondomars policie ▪ and both their treacherie will proue too weeke to performe so strong an execution . q ▪ m. then the king of spaine will hate gondomar , as much as he vaunts the king of england loues him : but i must count gondomar hath liued too long to dote , or be made a child in his old age . p. h. no , no , gondomar is too young to dot●… , and too old to be a child , therefore he is confident and sure that the match will hold ; but withall , he saieth the parliament must be ended , ere these royall nuptiall cerimonies can begin , and i thinke so to . e. 6. indeed this castillian embassadour now sailes before winde and tide , vnder fore ▪ sayle , and maine top-sayle , but very shortly he hopes to hoyst vp top and top-gallant . p. h. he may chance to packe on so much sayle , that he may at last crack the maine mast of his policy , or the maine stay of his hopes , or be so busie and violent in the solicitation of this match , as he himselfe may giue himselfe a shotte , which may sinke either his reputation , or iudgement , or both , betwixt winde and water . q. e. intruth i found his predicessour mendoza too busie and dangerous in my state , and therefore i forbad him my presence , and discharded him my kingdom , whereat i know not whether he , or the king his master , more grieued , or my counsell and my countrey reioyced . q. a. gondomar hath had time enough to know my husband king ianes , but it seemes king iames hath not yet enough deeply pryed into gondomar . in a word i know his maiesty hath heard his tongue , but not seene his hart , much lesse the designes and resolutions of the king and counsell of spaine , which are inuelloped and hood-winked vnder the mysterie of this match . h. 8. indeed i haue read that king phillip king of macedon went neere to haue betrayed arisbes king of molesses of his kingdome , vnder treating a match with him . q. m. o but that phillip of macedon was a heathen king , and this phillip of spaine is the catholike king , therefore king iames need not feare his sinceritie in the match . q. e. sith you are so religious sister , pray say , how doth the inquision of spaine like to match their infanta to an heretique prince , for so i know they terme my noble nephew prince charles . ? p. h. why ? digby could haue resolued you of that long since , for he knowes that the sacred and reuerend inquisition of spaine loue england , but not the match ; our countrie , but not our religion and people ; and yet in hope to roote out heretikes , and to plant england with romane catholiques , they oppose not the match , but rather giue way to it and approue it . q. e. but can royall king iames , and his illustrious sonne prince charles obserue their religion and conscience , in consenting to this matcb , or haue the clergie of england warrant enough authenticall , out of the word of god to say amen to it ? q. a. o no , for king iames ( though not the prince and clergie ) will now make religion and conscience handmaydes to wait and attend the state. e. 6. but his maiesty should doe farre better to defend the faith ( whereof he is the defender ) and therein the state , which professeth the true and sincere religion of christ and his apostles , sith plety is the preseruer of kingdomes , and all our actions whatsoeuer should tend to the glory of god ; which is the banishing of idolatry and superstition , with their effects and causes . q. m. why pray , what marriage so religious as for prince charles to match with the catholique king his daughter . q. e. sister you haue still religion in your tongue , but i feare we shall finde none in your heart , for pray what places haue you of diuine scripture , to authorize and approue this match of prince charles with the infanta , sith they are of a different religion and beliefe . q. m. as i confesse i haue none to approue it , so i am sure you all cannot alleadge any one to oppose and contradict it . h. 8. yes , i produce gen. ch. 24. ch 16. against it . e 6. and i , exod. ch. 34. iudg. ch. 17. q. e. and i , iosh. ch. 23. 2. chron. ch. 21. p. h. and i , 1. kings ch. 11. chap. 16. q. a. and i , ezra . ch. 9. nehem. ch. 13. q. m. well , whatsoeuer you say this match ( notwithstanding ) tends to gods glory , and the good of the catholique and apostolique church , and in the end you shall finde , that gondomars policie and spaines ambition will triumph ore your scripture . q. e. this match tends onely to bring in the pope into our churches , and the king of spaine into our estate ; for that is the ayme of the first , the ambition of the second , and the obiect and hopes of both , and i feare a few yeares will proue it so ; if in time it bee not remedied and preuented : which god of his mercie graunt , for 't is true all the wheeles of gondomars art and inuention , are at worke to effect and accomplish it . q. m. the pope i must confesse ( as christs vicar generall on earth ) desires that england were catholique , but for the good king of spaine , hee hath kingdomes enough of his owne , and therefore lookes not after england , onely he desires to see the match consummated . p. h. yes , the king of spaines tongue hath so long watred , and his mouth gaped for england , that after spaine , hee wisheth england were his , aboue all the countries of the world , and his catholique maiestie is very confident , that this match will giue a maine stroke to the businesse . q. e. if he once haue england , hee will presently assume the title of emperour of the west , as king philip his father was resolued to doe a little before his death ; yea , his ambition was so violent , as hee missing of england , would haue proclaimed himselfe emperour of spaine ; and had not his councell diuerted and preuented him he would haue sailed to mexico , and there inuested and intituled himselfe emperour of america . p. h. and i haue heard that gondomar hath giuen the king of spaine his maister good hope of england ; for 't is certaine that hee not long since wrote to the dukes lerma and pastranna , that the report of the strength of england resembled those huge pageants and colosses erected at rome , as the caesars past from the meluine bridge to the capitoll in triumph , who were outwardly glorious , and within filled onely with strawe and poore combustable stuffe . e. 6. indeed , it is the shame and weaknesse of england , that spaine is no better acquainted with its strentgh . q. a. and t is my griefe , that spaine should see englands weaknesse , and not feele its strength . q. e. o but it is the spanish match which will giue fire to england , and make her welter in her miseries , and flame in her calamities and afflictons . q. m. no , no , that match will keepe the temple of englands peace from firing . h. 8. yea , as erostratus did that of diana of ephesus , which in one day consumed all the wealth that rich asia had bin many yeares and ages getting . q. a. as religion is the powerfullest passion of our soule , so there is no stronger lincke of friendship then conscience , and therefore i hope my sonne charles will not consent to match the infanta of spaine . q. m. but one of his chiefest vertues is his obedience to the king his father ; for although the prince be his son , yet hee knowes he is his subiect . q. a. all the world cannot better teach the prince my sonne to obey the king his father , then already hee knowes and doth ; but i could wish that king iames my husband , would not inforce his affection to this spanish match . q. e. if he marry the infanta , she may proue a false and vnsecret secretary to the prince her husband , and a dangerous princesse to the state : for hee giuing her his heart , his highnesse can hardly reserue any corner for himselfe . p. h. yea , then euery spanish traytor and english rebell will shroud themselues vnder the authority and greatnes of the princesse . e. 6. so if england match with spaine , spaine vndoubtedly will in a short time ouer-match england . q. a. and infallibly take the crowne from it . q. m. borrow it peraduenture , to see it , not to weare it . p. h. i feare to weare it , neuer to returne it . h. 8. yea , for once gone , it is gone for euer . q. e. and then shall englands strong men fall vpon the edge of the sword ; her virgins bee defloured and murthered , her wiues defiled and slaine in sight of their dying husbands ; and their children and young babes shall haue their braines dashed out against the walles in sight of their dead parents . p h. yea , then shall our nobilitie and gentrie , dye vpon the swords of those barbarous 〈◊〉 , and those who escape and suruiue their fury , shall bee fettered and led captiues and slaues to worke in the mines of peru and mexico . e. 6. then shall our priests who are now cloathed in the white robes of righteousnesse , bee drowned in those of their owne scarlet blood : no church , no temple , no preaching , no sacraments , but all couered with the thicke fogges of romes superstitious idolatries , and aegyption darknesse . q. a. yea , then the king my husband , the prince my sonne , my excellent daughter the queene of bohemia , her princely posterity , and if spaine possibly can , all great brittaines blood royall shall be rooted out and exterminated ; as if they neuer had beene , or at least no remembrance left of them , or of the name of great brittaine . q. m. this were musicke indeed for rome and spaine to dance at , and for gondomar to laugh himselfe to death for ioy . q. e. but i hope god of his mercy will confound all those who wish or desire it , whether it be gondomar , the iesuites , englands recusants , spaine , the pope , or the diuell . the conclusion of the consultation . h. 8. but heere let vs make a stand , and shut vp our consultation ; and sith so many millions of imminent dangers , desolations and miseries attend and hang ouer the head of england by this match of spaine ; let vs goe to suffrages and votes , that plurality may giue sentence whether it shall be a match yea or no ; for what wee conclude , i make no doubt but our great god with his owne voyce will ratifie and confirme . h. 8. q. m. e. 6. q. e. p. h. q. a. whereunto we all consent and agree . h. 8. i am against the match . e. 6. i am against the match . p. h. i am against the match . q. m. i am for the match . q. e. i am against the match . q. a. i am against the match . h. 8. daughter mary , wee are fiue against you one , therefore the match of england and spaine hath end 〈◊〉 beginning , and is absolutely cast without 〈◊〉 . and now let vs breake vp our consultation ; and againe repaire to the throne of the lambe , ( of our sacred god both of heauen and earth ) to acquaint his diuine maiestie with all the particulars thereof , and therein his heauenly pleasure and commaund ; when the angell opening heauens starre-chamber , a great concourse and affluence of saints and angels ( singing most diuinely ) conduct them to the blessed ●…ribunall , where the whole newes of their consultation , being already arriued to the vnderstanding of the almightie ; it pleased his diuine and coelestiall maiestie , to call foorth queene mary whom hee sharply reproues and checkes , in louing spaine , to bee so vnnaturall to hate her natiue countrey of england . then he infinitely disproues the match of prince charles , with the infanta of spaine ; as derogating from his diuine glory , and england safetie and prosperitie ; and so to conclude very ioyfully and cheerefully approues of their consultation ; which for the more grace and authoritie he makes and reputes as his owne . when commaunding these three princes , and two queenes ( for q●…eene mary was now put by and excluded ) to send vnto england ( by its owne tutulary angell ) foure seuerall printed copies of this their consultation ; the first to be deliuered to king iames ; the second to prince charles ●…is sonne ; the third , to the high court of parliament ; and the ●…ourth , to the lords of his maiesties most honourable priuy councell , the which in his sacred presence was speedily performed and effected ; when a great shout of ●…oy , and an vniuersall plaudity being hereunto giuen by all the angels , and host of heauen ▪ these fiue royall personages followed the lambe christ iesvs where hee went. this consultation thus ended , queene mary biting the lip at her checke and disgrace ; and grieuing to see the match of the infanta with prince charles thus vnexpected dash'd ; and consequently the pope frustrated of his hopes , and the king of spaine of his ambitious desires ; shee calls mercury to her , and with all possible speed sends him away likewise to england , with these two ensuing letters which shee had written , the one to count gondomar , the other to all the romane catholiques of england . queene mary , to count gondomar ambassador for philip the iii. king of spaiine , resident with iames , king of great brittaine . your excellencie may vnderstand , that i haue dispatch'd mercurie to you in england , 〈◊〉 aduertise you of a consultation held here in heaven , by my father king henry viii . my brother king edward vi. my sister queene elizabeth , queene anne , prince h●…nry , and my selfe , concerning your masters pretences & hopes of england , by the match of the infanta his daughter with prince charles , which all the 〈◊〉 fiue haue opposed as preiudiciall and dangerous , and my selfe maintayned as profitable and honourable for england ; for louing philip the father , i must and will euer honour philip his son ; they haue likewise ript vp and vnmasked spaines former ambition , cruelty , and treacherie , as well towards england , as other kingdomes and states of europe , the discouery and relation whereof , i could neither silence nor preuent ▪ your excellencie must giue me leaue to signifie , that i feare your secretaries are not so honest , as your selfe politique ; ●…or you are here by these princes brought on the stage in your naked and naturall colours , therefore i could wish y●…u to be more modest and not so busie ; onely to the vtmost of your m●…rtall power , 〈◊〉 the knot of this mat●…h , for if it holde , the heart of england will be soone broken , or if the contrary , it will infallibly breake the necke of the king your maisters generall hopes and pre●…ences , and also of your owne particular credit and reputation , as well in england , as spaine ; you haue many eyes ouer you , and although your sweet words and promises ●…ull king iames asleepe , you will neuerthelesse goe neere to be circumuented , by those 〈◊〉 seeke to circumuent . if you can bring in the i●…fanta , doubt you not but she will vsher in the pope , and consequently hee the catholique king your master ; for ▪ get not to continue , and sor●…efie your intelligence with 〈◊〉 s●…minaries and iesuites of england , as also with the catholique ladies of that kingdome , and especially , with those of the nobler ranke , and who are most powerfull at court , for they may open a passage for your master when none else dare . at any hand vse the prime of your art and inuention , to keepe the king of england poore , and be sure to riuet this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to his maiestie , that there is no vertue so royall and magnificent in a great king , as liberalit●…e . i am sorie to heare that englands nauie royall , doth so prosper and flourish ; in which regard and consideration the king your master shall doe well to build store of new ships in biscay , ostend , and dunke●…k ; for if spaine master england at sea , england can neuer withstand spaine by land ; for now the english are effeminate , and you 〈◊〉 souldiers . i doubt not but by this time , there is such order taken in spaine , that the english fleet at alicant , and car●…agena , shall returne home with lesse , shame and repentance , whereby you may teach them that it is onely proper for spaniards , to domineere at sea , and that the sea and maritine actions , are now spaines , no longer englands element . so whiles england lyes gasping , on her bed of peace and securitie , let the king your master prouide for warre ; continue to sowe d●…uision in the church of england , and rather augment then diminish your pensions to you know wh●…m . if 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 army to goe out of england , either for bohemia , the pa●…atinat , the netherlands , or venice , deale so eff●…ctually with king i●…mes , that either it be so small as it can 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great 〈◊〉 to catholiques , or be a m●…anes to cause them to sta●… so long ▪ that it bee impossible to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 g●…od for protestants . i commend 〈◊〉 excellen●…ies poli●…y , in being sharpe , and bitter against those , who either speake , write , or 〈◊〉 , against the king your 〈◊〉 and his pretenc●…s , for now you 〈◊〉 the h●…nour and feli●…itie , to see your selfe 〈◊〉 to king 〈◊〉 his e●…re , and his maiestie to your girdle the 〈◊〉 an●… 〈◊〉 ●…f th●…se will terrific others ▪ be sure to bee intimately 〈◊〉 with all factious & discontented catholikes , for they will proue fine agents and instruments to execute your masters commands . i am glad to see king philip so sleight and dis-respect king iames , as hee hath not this many yeares sent him an exraordinary ambassadour , especially , now for treating and concluding this match ; for the more you and he debase the honour and vnder value the reputation of england , the more you aduance and prise that of spaine . but that which grieues mee most , is , because god himselfe hath opposed and confirmed the breach , and delaceration of the match ; but i hope that for the catholike kings sake , our holy father the pope , and our blessed mother the church , will so interpose their prayers to his sacred and diuine maiestie , that very shortly hee will reuoke and change his resolution , and relish that which hee now distasteth . through your zeale and industry , i likewise doubt not , but ( before a few yeares bee past and 〈◊〉 ouer ) to see england made a prouince to spaine ; her nobilitie most murthered , and the rest caryed away slaues to worke in the mines of peru , and mexico ; the pope installed ; all heretikes rooted out either with fire or halter . let your excellency proceed , as you haue well and happily begun , and feare not but you shall enioy your wishes , the king your master his hopes , and myselfe and all the romane catholikes of england our desires . in the meane time i kindly greet and salute your excellency , and bp your next dispatch for spaine , fayle not to signifie that i kisse the catholiks kings hand . written and sent from heauen . your excellencies friend : mary queene . queene mary , to the romane catholikes of england , of both sexes , and of all rankes . my heart on earth , and my soule in 〈◊〉 , hath euer so deeply affected you and your religion , as to the vtmost of my power , i will neuer admit , that any adu●…rse accident , or stratagem what soeuer , shall endomage you or preiudice it : to which end by mercury ( whom i haue purposely sent vnto you ) i would not faile to aduertise you of a consultation which hath beene here held , by my father henry viii . my brother edward vi. my sister queene elizabeth , queene anne , prince henry , and my selfe ; tending to the safety and glory of england , to the vnmasking of spaines pretentious ambition and treachery to many estates of europe , and more especially to the vtter breach of the match betwixt prince charles and the infanta of spaine , which two last points alone , i 〈◊〉 and defended , but they all most violently contradicted and opposed . in which consultation ( i write it aswell with griefe as pittie : ) cou●…t gondomar , hath ●…eene narrowly both sifted and censured , and all his actions brought on the table , and made apparant and obuious to the dimmist eye , to the weakest iudgement and vnderstanding , the which i haue now signified his excellency by a particuler letter ; wherein i haue prayed him to haue a more iealous and curious eye ouer his secretaries , as i know england hath ouer him ; and to the end your soules and consciences may haue spirituall food and consolation , i wish and exhort you to put all your wits on the tenter-hooks to bring in the infanta ; or else neuer expect the pope , and consequently not the catholike king. for else all your intelligence with rome and spaine , your correspondence with the iesuites and count gondomar , will not preuaile , nor your poyson po●…iard , or powder take eff●…ct , if the match doe not ; and because king iames wants money , and his exchequer drawne drie and exhausted , if he stand on a greater summe then the catholike king can , or will giue , you shall doe a most acceptable seruice to our blessed father the pope , and to our holy mother the church ; that you lords and knights morgage your manners and plate , and you ladies and gentle-women p●…wne your ringes and iewells to make vp the expected summe ; for the match once consum●…ted , you know , and count gondomar can perfectly teach you , a thousand wayes to refetch it , with a ioyf●…ll and golden interest ; i highly 〈◊〉 and applaude your ●…oy , when you 〈◊〉 bohemia won , and the pala●…nate assaulted ; towards which victories and 〈◊〉 , your 〈◊〉 contributions gaue a great stroke , which although ferdinand for the present cannot recompence ; yet doubt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 phillip sho●…tly & fut●…rely will ; sit●… his ambassadour gondomar ●…akes him confident , that you are as fast nayled to his scepter , a●… his catholicke 〈◊〉 is to the popes triple crowne . bee you still the eyes of count gondomar , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him still continue your 〈◊〉 , for you can neuer desire a better 〈◊〉 then himselfe , nor a stronger protector then the king his master . but in very deed , i much feare that this great parliament , will teach the protestants of england wit , and you romane catholickes repentance . if holland , the palatioate , or venice be in the field , be you not idle in your houses or in england ; for although douer bee shut , you shall 〈◊〉 ports enough open , for it is for the progression a●…d aduancement of the 〈◊〉 cause , and for the seruice of the great catholike king , and if all things hit well , you shall not repent your selues of your valour & generosi●…ie employed and spent in his seruic●… . what though god 〈◊〉 here approued of this consultation against the match ; yet his great 〈◊〉 the pope , will confirme the match against the consultation ▪ therefore make you your 〈◊〉 with the pope , and doubt not , but his holinesse , both can and will at his pleasure , make his with his god ; howsoeuer bee ruled , and beleeue in the pope , who is the head of the church ; for you know out of the church , there is no saluation . i like well , that there daily trauels some of your wisest gentlemen for spaine , and now you see there is no feare to bring ●…ome priests and iesuites , for count gondomar ●…ath found out the art and mysterie , to open the doores of wisbich , the gatehouse , and the clincke at his pleasure . to liue idle is effemin●…te and 〈◊〉 bee you therefore 〈◊〉 your selues ) still b●…sie and in action , for as in matters of religion and pietie , so in th●…se of the state the p●…actique is alwayes more honourable then the theorie . in a word , as long as 〈◊〉 kings raigne in england , your zealous catholikes shall there finde but little peace , and lesse ioy ; and yet i must need●… confesse , that god se●…mes to b●…are a particuler affection to king iames , out withall you know the second meanes must bee vsed , w●…ich ( i write to my comfort ) i see his 〈◊〉 neglects ; so ●…f gondomar continue in england , and the m●…tch dyë not , then i hope a little time will worke all things to the best . t●…ll when i salute you all , and will ●…till pray ▪ 〈◊〉 you for the prosperitie of the great cause . written and sent from heauen . queene mary . finis . popery truly display'd in its bloody colours, or, a faithful narrative of the horrid and unexampled massacres, butcheries, and all manner of cruelties, that hell and malice could invent, committed by the popish spanish party on the inhabitants of west-india together with the devastations of several kingdoms in america by fire and sword, for the space of forty and two years, from the time of its first discovery by them / composed first in spanish by bartholomew de las casas, a bishop there, and an eyewitness of most of these barbarous cruelties ; afterward translated by him into latin, then by other hands, into high-dutch, low-dutch, french, and now taught to speak modern english. brevísima relación de la destrucción de las indias. english. selections casas, bartolomé de las, 1474-1566. 1689 approx. 199 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 46 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a35552 wing c798 estc r8882 13108524 ocm 13108524 97577 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a35552) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 97577) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 410:12) popery truly display'd in its bloody colours, or, a faithful narrative of the horrid and unexampled massacres, butcheries, and all manner of cruelties, that hell and malice could invent, committed by the popish spanish party on the inhabitants of west-india together with the devastations of several kingdoms in america by fire and sword, for the space of forty and two years, from the time of its first discovery by them / composed first in spanish by bartholomew de las casas, a bishop there, and an eyewitness of most of these barbarous cruelties ; afterward translated by him into latin, then by other hands, into high-dutch, low-dutch, french, and now taught to speak modern english. brevísima relación de la destrucción de las indias. english. selections casas, bartolomé de las, 1474-1566. [9], 80 p. printed for r. hewson ..., london : 1689. translated from: brevísima relación de la destruccíon de las indias. seville, 1552. cf. bm. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng indians, treatment of -early works to 1800. spain -colonies -america. 2006-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-06 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-06 ali jakobson sampled and proofread 2007-06 ali jakobson text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion popery truly display'd in its bloody colours : or , a faithful narrative of the horrid and unexampled massacres , butcheries , and all manner of cruelties , that hell and malice could invent , committed by the popish spanish party on the inhabitants of west-india : together with the devastations of several kingdoms in america by fire and sword , for the space of forty and two years , from the time of its first discovery by them . composed first in spanish by bartholomew de las casas , a bishop there , and an eye-witness of most of these barbarous cruelties ; afterward translated by him into latin , then by other hands , into high-dutch , low-dutch , french , and now taught to speak modern english . london , printed for r. hewson at the crown in cornhil , near the stocks-market . 1689. the argument of this narrative by way of preface to the reader . the reverend author of this compendious summary was bartholomaeus de las casas alias casaus , a pious and religious person , ( as appears by his zealous transports in this narrative for promotion of the christian faith ) elevated from a frier of the dominican order to sit in the episcopal chair , who was frequently importuned by good and learned men , particularly historians , to publish this summary ; who so prevailed with him , that he collected out of that copious history which might and ought to be written on this subject , the contents of this concise treatise with intention to display unto the world the enormities , &c. the spaniards committed in america , during their residence there , to their eternal ignominy ; and for the author finding that no admonitions or reprehensions , how mild soever could operate upon or sink into these rocky-hearted tyrants in those occidental parts ; he thereupon took up a firm resolution , being then about 50 years of age ( as he himself declares ) to run the hazards and dangers by sea , and the risque of a long voyage into spain , there to acquaint and certifie the most illustrious prince phillip the son and heir of his imperial majesty charles the fifth of blessed memory , with the horrid crimes , &c. perpetrated in those countries , part whereof he had seen , and part heard from such as boasted of their wickedness . whereupon his caesarean majesty moved with a tender generous and christian compassion towards these inhabitants and countries of america , languishing for want of redress , he called a council at valedolid , anno dom. 1542. consisting of learned and able men , in order to the reformation of the west-indian government , and took such a course , that from that time their tyranny and cruelty against those barbarians was somewhat repressed , and those nations in some measure delivered from that intolerable and more then aegyptian bondage , or at least the spaniards ill usage and treatment of the americans was alleviated and abated . this book mostly historical , partly typographical , was published first by the author in spanish at sevil , after that translated into latin by himself ; and in process of time into high dutch , low dutch , french and now english ; which is the sixth language it hath been taught to speak , that every one of what nation soever might in this narrative contemplate and see as in a mirror the dismal and pernitious fruits , that lacquey and attend unlimitted and close fisted avarice , and thereby learn to abhor and detest it , cane pejus & angue : it being the predominant and cheifest motive to the commission of such inexpressible outrages , as here in part are faintly , not fully represented . which sin the pagan indians themselves did exprobrate in the spaniards with all detestation , ignominy and disgrace : for when they had taken some of them prisoners ( which was rarely ) they bound them hand and foot , laid them on the ground , and then pouring melted gold down their throats , cried out and called to them aloud in derision , yield , throw up thy gold o christian ! vomit and spew out that mettal which hath so inquinated and invenom'd both body and soul , that hath stain'd and infected thy mind with desires and contrivances , and thy hands with commission of such matchless enormities . i will shut up all this , being but an extract of what is in the prefatory part of the original . i earnestly beg and desire all men to be perswaded , that this summary was not published upon any private design , sinister ends or affection in favour or prejudice of any particular nation ; but for the publick emolument and advantage of all true christians and moral men throughout the whole world. farewell the cruelties of the spaniards committed in america . america was discover'd and found out an. dom. 1492. and the year insuing inhabited by the spaniards , and afterward a multitude of them travelled thither from spain for the space of nine and forty years . their first attempt was on the spanish island , which indeed is a most fertile soil , and at present in greatest reputation for its spatiousness and length , containing in circumference six hundred miles : nay , it is on all sides surrounded with an almost innumerable number of islands , which we found so well peopled with natives and forreigners , that there is scarce any region in the universe fortified with so many inhabitants : but the main land or continent , distant from this island two hundred and fifty miles and upwards , extends it self above ten thousand miles in length near the sea-shoar , which lands are some of them already discover'd , and more may be found out in process of time : and such a multitude of people inhabits these countries , that it seems as if the omnipotent god had assembled and convocated the major part of mankind in this part of the world. now this infinite multitude of men are by the creation of god innocently simple , altogether void of and averse to all manner of craft , subtlety and malice , and most obedient and loyal subjects to their native soveraigns ; and behave themselves very patiently , submissively and quietly toward the spaniards , to whom they are subservient and subject ; so that finally they live without the least thirst after revenge , laying aside all litigiousness , commotion and hatred . this is a most tender and effeminate people , and of so imbecile and unequal-balanced temper , that they are altogether incapable of hard labour , and in few years , by one distemper or other soon expire , so that the very issue of lords and princes , who among us live with great affluence , and fare deliciously , are not more effeminate and tender than the children of their husbandmen or labourers : this nation is very necessitous and indigent , masters of very slender possessions , and consequently , neither haughty , nor ambitious . they are as parsimonious in their diet , as the holy fathers were in their frugal life in the desert , known by the name of eremites . they go naked , having no other covering but what conceals their pudends from publick sight . an hairy plad , or loose coat , about an ell , or a coarse woven cloth at most two ells long serves them for the warmest winter garment . they lye on a coarse rug or matt , and those that have the most plentiful estate or fortunes , the better sort , use net-work , knotted at the four corners in lieu of beds , which the inhabitants of the island of hispaniola , in their own proper idiom term hammacks . the men are pregnant and docible . the natives tractable , and capable of morality or goodness , very apt to receive the instill'd principles of the catholick religion ; nor are they averse to civility and good manners , being not so much discompos'd by variety of obstructions , as the rest of mankind ; insomuch , that having suckt in ( if i may so express my self ) the very first rudiments of the christian faith , they are so transported with zeal and fervor in the exercise of ecclesiastical sacraments , and divine service , that the very religioso's themselves , stand in need of the greatest and most signal patience to undergo such extream transports . and to conclude , i my self have heard the spaniards themselves ( who dare not assume the confidence to deny the good nature praedominant in them ) declare , that there was nothing wanting in them for the acquisition of eternal beatitude , but the sole knowledge and understanding of the deity . the spaniards first assaulted these innocent sheep , so qualified by the almighty , as is premention'd , like most cruel tygers , wolves and lions hunger-starv'd , studying nothing , for the space of forty years , after their first landing , but the massacre of these wretches , whom they have so inhumanely and barbarously butcher'd and harass'd with several kinds of torments , never before known , or heard ( of which you shall have some account in the following discourse ) that of three millions of persons , which lived in hispaniola it self , there is at present but the inconsiderable remnant of scarce three hundred . nay the isle of cuba , which extends as far , as valledolid in spain is distant from rome , lies now incultivated , like a desert , and intomb'd in its own ruins . you may also find the isles of st. john , and jamaica , both large and fruitful places , unpeopled and desolate . the lucayan islands on the north-side , adjacent to hispaniola and cuba , which are sixty in number , or thereabout , together with those , vulgarly known by the name of the gigantic isles , and others , the most infertile whereof , exceeds the royal garden of sevil in fruitfulness , a most healthful and pleasant climat , is now laid waste and uninhabited ; and whereas , when the spaniards first arriv'd here , above five hundred thousand men dwelt in it , they are now cut off , some by slaughter , and others ravished away by force and violence , to work in the mines of hispaniola , which was destitute of native inhabitants : for a certain vessel , sailing to this isle , to the end , that the harvest being over ( some good christian , moved with piety and pitty , undertook this dangerous voyage , to convert souls to christianity ) the remaining gleanings might be gathered up , there were only found eleven persons , which i saw with my own eyes . there are other islands thirty in number , and upward bordering upon the isle of st. john , totally unpeopled ; all which are above two thousand miles in length , and yet remain without inhabitants , native , or people . as to the firm land , we are certainly satisfied , and assur'd , that the spaniands by their barbarous and execrable actions have absolutely depopulated ten kingdoms , of greater extent than all spain , together with the kingdoms of arragon and portugal , that is to say , above one thousand miles , which now lye wast and desolate , and are absolutely ruinated , when as formerly no other country whatsoever was more populous . nay we dare boldly affirm , that during the forty years space , wherein they exercised their sanguinary and detestable tyranny in these regions , above twelve millions ( computing men , women , and children ) have undeservedly perished ; nor do i conceive that i should deviate from the truth by saying that above fifty millions in all paid their last debt due to nature . those that arriv'd at these islands from the remotest parts of spain , and who pride themselves in the name of christians , steer'd two courses principally , in order to the extirpation , and exterminating of this people from the face of the earth . the first whereof was by raising an unjust , sanguinolent , cruel war. the other , by putting all them to death , who hitherto , thirsted after their liberty , or design'd ( which the most potent , strenuous and magnanimous spirits intended ) to recover their pristin freedom , and shake off the shackles of so injurious a captivity : for they being taken off in war , none but women and children were permitted to enjoy the benefit of that country-air ; in whom they did in succeeding times lay such a heavy yoak , that the very brutes were more happy than they : to which two species of tyranny as subalternate things to the genus , the other innumerable courses they took to extirpate and make this a desolate people , may be reduced and referr'd . now the ultimate end and scope that incited the spaniards to endeavour the extirpation and desolation of this people , was gold only ; that thereby growing opulent in a short time , they might arrive at once at such degrees and dignities , as were no wayes consistent with their persons . finally , in one word , their ambition and avarice , than which the heart of man never entertained greater , and the vast wealth of these regions ; the humility and patience of the inhabitants ( which made their approach to these lands more facil and easie ) did much promote the business : whom they so despicably contemned , that they treated them ( i speak of things which i was an eye-witness of , without the least fallacy ) not as beasts , which i cordially wished they would , but as the most abject dung and filth of the earth ; and so sollicitous they were of their life and soul , that the above-mentioned number of people died without understanding the true faith or sacraments . and this also is as really true as the praecedent narration ( which the very tyrants and cruel murderers cannot deny without the stigma of a lye ) that the spaniards never received any injury from the indians , but that they rather reverenced them as persons descended from heaven , until that they were compelled to take up arms , provoked thereunto by repeated injuries , violent torments , and injust butcheries . of the island hispaniola . in this isle , which , as we have said , the spaniards first attempted , the bloody slaughter and destruction of men first began : for they violently forced away women and children to make them slaves , and ill-treated them , consuming and wasting their food , which they had purchased with great sweat , toil , and yet remained dissatisfied too , which every one according to his strength and ability , and that was very inconsiderable ( for they provided no other food than what was absolutely necessary to support nature without superfluity , freely bestow'd on them ; and one individual spaniard consumed more victuals in one day , than would serve to maintain three families a moneth , every one consisting of ten persons . now being oppressed by such evil usage , and afflicted with such great torments and violent entertainment they began to understand , that such men as these had not their mission from heaven ; and therefore some of them conceal'd their provisions and others their wives and children in lurking holes ; but some , to avoid the obdurate and dreadful temper of such a nation , sought their refuge on the craggy tops of mountains ; for the spaniards did not only entertain them with cuffs , blows , and wicked cudgelling , but laid violent hands also on the governours of cities ; and this arriv'd at length to that height of temerity and impudence , that a certain captain was so audacious as to abuse the confort of the most puissant king of the whole isle . from which time they began to consider by what wayes and means they might expel the spaniards out of their countrey , and immediately took up arms. but , good god , what arms , do you imagin ? namely such , both offensive and defensive , as resemble reeds wherewith boys sport with one another , more than manly arms and weapons . which the spaniards no sooner perceived , but they , mounted on generous steeds , well weapon'd with lances and swords , began to exercise their bloody butcheries and stratagems , and over-running their cities and towns , spar'd no age , or sex , nay not so much as women with child , but ripping up their bellies , tore them alive in pieces . they laid wagers among themselves , who should with a sword at one blow cut , or divide a man in two ; or which of them should decollate or behead a man , with the greatest dexterity ; nay farther , which should sheath his sword in the bowels of a man with the quickest dispatch and expedition . they snatcht young babes from the mothers breasts , and then dasht out the brains of those innocents against the rocks ; others they cast into rivers scoffing and jeering them , and call'd upon the bodies when falling with derision , the true testimony of their cruelty , to come to them , and inhumanely exposing others to their merciless swords , together with the mothers that gave them life . they erected certain gibbets , large , but low made , so that their feet almost reacht the ground , every one of which was so order'd as to bear thirteen persons in honour and reverence ( as they said blasphemously ) of our redeemer and his twelve apostles , under which they made a fire to burn them to ashes whilst hanging on them : but those they intended to preserve alive , they dismiss'd , their hands half cut , and still hanging by the skin , to carry their letters missive to those that fly from us and ly sculking on the mountains , as an exprobration of their flight . the lords and persons of noble extract were usually expos'd to this kind of death ; they order'd gridirons to be placed and supported with wooden forks , and putting a small fire under them , these miserable wretches by degrees with loud shreiks and exquisite torments , at last expird . i once saw four or five of their most powerful lords laid on these gridirons , and thereon roasted , and not far off , two or three more over-spread with the same commodity , man's flesh ; but the shril clamours which were heard there being offensive to the captain , by hindring his repose , he commanded them to be strangled with a halter . the executiouer ( whose name and parents at sevil are not unknown to me ) prohibited the doing of it ; but stopt gags into their mouths to prevent the hearing of the noise ( he himself making the fire ) till that they dyed , when they had been roasted as long as he thought convenient . i was an eye-witness of these and an innumerable number of other cruelties : and because all men , who could lay hold of the opportunity , sought out lurking holes in the mountains , to avoid as dangerous rocks so brutish and barbarous a people , strangers to all goodness , and the extirpaters and adversaries of men , they bred up such fierce hunting dogs as would devour an indian like a hog , at first sight in less than a moment : now such kind of slaughters and cruelties as these were committed by the curs , and if at any time it hapned , ( which was rarely ) that the indians irritated upon a just account destroy'd or took away the life of any spaniard , they promulgated and proclaim'd this law among them , that one hundred indians should dye for every individual spaniard that should be slain . of the kingdoms contained in hispaniola . this isle of hispaniola was made up of six of their greatest kingdoms , and as many most puissant kings , to whose empire almost all the other lords , whose number was infinite , did pay their allegiance . one of these kingdoms was called magua , signifying a campaign or open country ; which is very observable , if any place in the universe deserves taking notice of , and memorable for the pleasantness of its soituation ; for it is extended from south to north eighty miles , in breadth , five , eight , and in some parts ten miles in length ; and is on all sides inclosed with the highest mountains , above thirty thousand rivers , and rivulets water her coasts , twelve of which prodigious number do not yield at all in magnitude to those famous rivers , the eber , duer , and guadalquivir ; and all those rivers which have their sourse or spring from the mountain lying westerly , the number whereof is twenty thousand ) are very rich in mines of gold ; on which mountain lies the province of rich mines , whence that exquisite pure gold of twenty four carracts weight , takes denomination . the king and lord of this kingdom was named guarionex , who governed within the compass of his dominions so many vassals and potent lords , that every one of them was able to bring into the field sixteen thousand soldiers for the service of guarionex their supream lord and soverain , when summoned thereunto . some of which i was acquainted with . this was a most obedient prince , endued with great courage and morality , naturally of a pacifick temper , and most devoted to the service of the castilian kings . this king commanded and ordered his subjects , that every one of those lords under his jurisdiction , should present him with a bell full of gold ; but in succeeding times , being unable to perform it , they were commanded to cut it in two , and fill one part therewith , for the inhabitants of this isle were altogether unexperienced , and unskilful in mine-works , and the digging gold out of them . this cain proffer'd his service to the king of castile , on this condition , that he would take care , that those lands should be cultivated and manur'd , wherein , during the reign of isabella , queen of castile , the spaniards first set footing and fixed their residence , extending in length even to santo domingo , the space of fifty miles . for he declar'd ( nor was it a fallacie , but an absolute truth , ) that his subjects understood not the practical use of digging in golden mines . to which promises he had readily and voluntarily condescended , to my own certain knowledge , and so by this means , the king would have received the annual revenue of three millions of spanish crowns , and upward , there being at that very time in that island fifty cities more ample and spacious than sevil it self in spain . but what returns by way of remuneration and reward did they make this so clement and benign monarch , can you imagine , no other but this ? they put the greatest indignity upon him imaginable in the person of his consort who was violated by a spanish captain altogether unworthy of the name of christian . he might indeed probably expect to meet with a conveninent time and opportunity of revenging this ignominy so injuriously thrown upon him by preparing military forces to attaque him ; but he rather chose to abscond in the province de los ciquayos ( wherein a puissant vassal and subject of his ruled ) devested of his estate and kingdom , and there live and dye an exile . but the spaniards receiving certain information , that he had absented himself , connived no longer at his concealment but raised war against him , who had received them with so great humanity and kindness , and having first laid waste and desolate the whole region , at last found , and took him prisoner , who being bound in fetters was convey'd on board of a ship in order to his transfretation to castile , as a captive : but the vessel perished in the voyage , wherewith many spaniards were also lost , as well as a great weight of gold , among which there was a prodigious ingot of gold , resembling a large loaf of bread , weighing 3600 crowns ; thus it pleased god to revenge their enormous impieties . a second kingdom was named marien , where there is to this day a haven , upon the utmost borders of the plain or open countrey toward the north , more fertil and large then the kingdom of portugal ; and really deserving constant and frequent inhabitants : for it abounds with mountains , and is rich in mines of gold and orichalcum , a kind of copper mettal mixt with gold ; the kings name of this place was guacanagari , who had many powerful lords ( some whereof were not unknown to me ) under his subjection . the first that landed in this kingdum when he discovered america , was an admiral well stricken in years , who had so hospitable and kind a reception from the aforesaid guacanagari , as well as all those spaniards that accompanied him in that voyage , giving them all imaginable help and assistance ( for the admirals vessel was sunk on their coasts ) that i heard it from his own mouth , he could not possibly have been entertained with greater caresses and civilities from his own parents in his own native country . but this king being forced to fly to avoid the spanish slaughter and cruelty , deprived of all he was master of , died in the mountains ; and the rest of the potentates and nobles , his subjects , perished in that servitude and vassalage ; as you shall find in this following treatise . the third kingdom was distinguished by the appellation of maquana , another admirable healthful and fruitful region , where at present the most refined sugar of the island is made . caonabe then reigned there , who surmounted all the rest in power , state , and the splendid ceremonies of his government . this king beyond all expectation was surpriz'd in his own palace , by the great subtilty and industry of the spaniards , and after carried on board in order to his transportation to castile , but there being at that time six ships riding in the haven , and ready to set sail such an impetuous storm suddenly arose , that they as well as the passengers and ships riding in the haven , and ready to set sail such an impetuous storm suddenly arose , that they as well as the passengers and ships crew were all lost , together with king canabao loaded with irons ; by which judgment the almighty declared , that this was as unjust and impious an act as any of the former . this king had three or four brothers then living , men of strength and valour , who being highly incensed at the captivity of their king and brother , to which he was injuriously reduc'd , having also intelligence of the devastations and butcheries committed by the spaniards in other regions , and not long after hearing of their brothers death , took up arms to revenge themselves of the enemy , whom the spaniards met with , and certain party of horse ( which proved very offensive to the indians ) made such havock and slaughter among them , that the half of this kingdom was laid waste and depopulated . xaraqua is the fourth kingdom , and as it were the centre and middle of the whole island , and is not to be equalled for fluency of speech and politeness of idiom or dialect by any inhabitants of the other kingdoms , and in policy and morality transcends them all . herein the lords and peers abounded , and the very populace exceled in stature and habit of body : their king was behechio by name who had a sister called anacaona , and both the brother as well as sister had loaded the spaniards with benefits and singular acts of civility , and by delivering them from the evident and apparent danger of death , did signal services to the castilian kings . bebechio dying the supreme power of the kingdom fell to anacaona : but it hapned one day , that the governour of an island , attended by 60 horse , and 30 foot ( now the cavalry was sufficiently able to unpeople not only the isle , but also the whole continent ) he summoned about 300 dynasta's , or noblemen to appear before him , and commanded the most powerful of them , being first crouded into a thatcht barn or hovel , to be exposed to the fury of the merciless fire , and the rest to be pierced with lances , and run through with the point of the sword by a multitude of men : and anacaona her self who ( as we said before , ) sway'd the imperial scepter , to her greater honour was hanged on a gibbet . and if it fell out that any person instigated by compassion or covetousness , did entertain any indian boys and mount them on horses , to prevent their murder , another was appointed to follow them , who ran them through the back or in the hinder parts , and if they chanced to escape death , and fall to the ground , they immediately cut off his legs ; and when any of those indians , that survived these barbarous massacres , betook themselves to an isle eight miles distant , to escape their butcheries , they were then committed to servitude during life . the fifth kingdom is hiquey , over whom queen hiquanama , a superannuated princess , whom the spaniards crucified , did preside and govern. the number of those i saw here burnt , dismembred , and rackt with various torments , as well as others , the poor remnants of such matchless villanies , who surviving were enslaved , is infinite . but because so much might be said concerning the assassinations and depopulating of these people , as cannot without great difficulty be published in writing ( nor do i conceive that one single part of 1000 that is here contained can be fully displayed ) i will only add one remark more of the prementioned wars , in lieu of a corollary or conclusion , and aver upon my conscience , that notwithstanding all the above-named injustice , profligate enormities and other crimes which i omit , ( tho sufficiently known to me ) the indians did not , nor was it in their power to give any greater occasion for the commission of them , than pious religioso's living in a well regulated monastic life did afford for any sacrilegious villains to deprive them of their goods and life at the same time , or why they who by flight avoided death , should be detain'd in perpetual , not to be ransom'd captivity and slavery . i adde farther , that i really beleive , and am satisfied by certain undeniable conjectures , that at the very juncture of time , when all these outrages were commited in this isle , the indians were not so much as guilty of one single mortal sin of commission against the spaniards , that might deserve from any man revenge or require satisfaction . and as for those sins , the punishment whereof god hath reserved to himself , as the immoderate desire of revenge , hatred , envy or inward rancor of spirit , to which they might be transported against such capital enemies as the spaniards were , i judge that very few of them can be justly accused of them ; for their impetuosity and vigor i speak experimentally , was inferior to that of children of ten or twelve years of age : and this i can assure you , that the indians had ever a just cause of raising war against the spaniards , and the spaniards on the contrary never waged a just war against them , but what was more injurious and groundless then any undertaken by the worst of tyrants . all which i affirm of all their other transactions and passages in america . the warlike engagements being over , and the inhabitants all swept away , they divided among themselves the young men , women and children promiscuously reserved for that purpose , one obtained thirty , another forty , to this man one hundred were disposed , to the other two hundred , and the more any one was in favor with the domineering tyrant ( whom they styled governor ) the more he became master of , upon this pretence , and with this proviso , that he should see them instructed in the catholick religion , when as they themselves to whom they were committed to be taught , and the care of their souls intrusted to them were , for the major part idiots , cruel , avaritious , infected and stained with all sorts of vices . and this was the great care they had of them , they sent the males to the mines to dig and bring away the gold , which is an intollerable labor ; but the women they made use of to manure and till the ground , which is a toil most irksom even to men of the strongest and most robust constitutions ; allowing them no other food but herbage , and such kind of unsubstantial nutriment , so that the nursing womens milk was exsiccated and so dryed up , that the young infants lately brought forth , all perished , and females being separated from and debarred cohabitation with men , there was no prolification or raising up issue among them . the men died in mines , hunger starved and oppressed with labor , and the women perished in the fields , harassed and broken with the like evils and calamities : thus an infinite number of inhabitants that formerly peopled this island were exterminated and dwindled away to nothing by such consumptions . they were compelled to carry burthens of eighty or one hundred pound weight , and that an hundred or two hundred miles compleat ; and the spaniards were born by them on the shoulders in a pensil vehicle or carriage , or kind of beds made of net-work by the indians ; for in truth they made use of them as beasts to carry the burthens and cumbersom luggage of their journeys , insomuch that it frequently hapned , that the shoulders and backs of these indians were deeply marked with their scourges and stripes , just as they use to serve a tired jade , accustomed to burthens . and as to those slashes with whips , blows with staves , cuffs and boxes , maledictions and curses , with a thousand of such kind of torments they suffered during the fatigue of their laborious journeys it would require a long tract of time , and many reams of paper to describe them , and when all were done would only create horror and consternation in the reader . but here it is observable , that the desolation of these isles and provinces took beginning since the decease of the most serene queen isabella , about the year 1504. for before that time very few of the provinces situated in that island were oppressed or spoiled with unjust wars , or violated with general devastation as after they were , and most if not all these things were concealed and masked from the queens knowledge ( whom i hope god hath crowned with eternal glory ) for she was transported with servent and wonderful zeal , nay , almost divine desires for the salvation and preservation of these people , which things so exemplary as these we having seen with our eyes , and felt with our hands , cannot easily be forgotten . take this also for a general rule , that the spaniards upon what american coast soever they arrived , exercised the same cruelties , slaughters , tyrannies and detestable oppressions on the most innocent indian nation , and diverting themselves with delights in new sorts of torments , did in time improve in barbarism and cruelty ; wherewith the omnipotent being incensed suffered them to fall by a more desperate and dangerous lapse into a reprobate sense . of the isles of st. john and jamaica . in the year 1509. the spaniards sailed to the islands of st. john and jamaica ( resembling gardens and bee hives ) with the same purpose and design they proposed to themselves in the isle of hispaniola , perpetrating innumerable robberies and villanies as before ; whereunto they added unheard of cruelties by murdering , burning , roasting and exposing men to be torn in pieces by dogs ; and finally by afflicting and harassing them with un-exampled oppressions and torments in the mines , they spoiled and unpeopled this countrey of these innocents . these two isles containing six hundred thousand at least , though at this day there are scarce two hundred men to be found in either of them , the remainder perishing without the knowledge of christian faith or sacrament . of the isle of cuba . in the year of our lord 1511. they passed over to cuba , which contains as much ground in length as there is distance between valledolid and rome , well furnished with large and stately provinces and very populous , against whom they proceeded with no more humanity and clemency , or indeed to speak truth with greater savageness and brutality . several memorable transactions worthy observation , passed in this island . a certain cacic a potent peer , named hathney , who not long before fled from hispaniola to cuba for refuge from death , or captivity during life ; and understanding by certain indians that the spaniards intended to steer their course thither , made this oration to all his people assembled together . you are not ignorant that there is a rumor spread abroad among us of the spaniards arrival , and are sensible by woful experience how such and such ( naming them ) and hayti ( so they term hispaniola in their own language ) with their inhabitants have been treated by them , that they design to visit us with equal intentions of committing such acts as they have hitherto been guilty of . but do you not know the cause and reason of their coming ? we are altogether ignorant of it , they replied , but sufficiently satisfied that they are cruelly and wickedly inclined : then thus , said he it is , they adore a certain covetous deity , whose cravings are not to be satisfyed by a few moderate offerings , but they may answer his adoration and worship , demand many unreasonable things of us , and use their utmost endeavours to subjugate and after that murder us . then taking up a cask or cabinet near at hand , full of gold and gems , he proceeded in this manner : this is the spaniard's god , and in honour of him if you think well of it , let us celebrate our arcytos ( which are certain kinds of dances and caprings used among them ) ; and by this means his deity being appeas'd , he will impose his commands on the spaniards that they shall not for the future molest or injure us ; who all unanimously with one consent in a loud tone made this reply . well said , well said , and thus they continued skipping and dancing before this cabinet , without the least intermission , till they were quite tired and grown weary : then the noble hathney re-assuming his discourse , said , if we worship this deity , till ye be ravished from us , we shall be destroyed , therefore i judge it convenient upon mature deliberation , that we cast it into the river , which advice was approved of by all without opposition , and the cabinet thrown into the next river . when the spaniards first touched on this island , this cacic , who was thoroughly acquainted with them , did avoid and shun them as much as in him lay , and defended himself by force of arms , wherever he met with them , but at length being taken he was burnt alive , for flying from so unjust and cruel a nation , and endeavouring to secure his life against them , who only thirsted after the blood of himself and his own people . now being bound to the post , in order to his execution a certain holy monk of the franciscan order , discours'd with him concerning god and the articles of our faith : which he never heard of before , and which might be satisfactory and advantagious to him , considering the small time allow'd him by the executioner , promising him eternal glory and repose , if he truly believ'd them , or otherwise everlasting torments . after that 〈◊〉 had been silently pensive sometime , he askt the monk 〈…〉 spaniards also were admitted into heaven , and he answ●●●● 〈…〉 the gates of heaven were open to all that were good 〈…〉 the cacic replyed without farther consideration , that he would rather go to hell than heaven , for fear he should cohabit in the same mansion with so saguinary and bloody a nation . and thus god and the holy catholick faith are praised and reverenced by the practices of the spaniards in america . once it so hapned , that the citizens of a famous city , distant ten miles from the place where we then resided , came to meet us with a splendid retinue , to render their visit more honourable , bringing with them delicious viands , and such kind of dainties , with as great a quantity of fish as they could possibly procure , and distributing them among us ; but behold on a sudden , some wicked devil possessing the minds of the spaniards , agitated them with so great fury , that i being present , and without the least pretence or occasion offered , they cut off in cold blood above three thousand men , women and children promiscuously , such inhumanities and barbarisms were committed in my sight , as no age can parallel . some time after i dispatch messengers to all the rulers of the province of havana , that they would by no means be terrified , or seek their refuge by absence and flight , but to meet us , and that i would engage ( for they understood my authority ) that they should not receive the least of injuries ; for the whole country was extremely afflicted at the evils and mischiefs already perpetrated ; and this i did with the advice of their captain . as soon as we approacht the province , two and twenty of their noblemen came forth to meet us , whom the captain contrary to his faith given , would have expos'd to the flames , alledging that it was expedient they should be put to death , who were , at any time , capacitated to use any stratagem against us ; but with great difficulty and much adoe , i snatcht them out of the fire . these islanders of cuba , being reduc'd to the same vassalage and misery as the inhabitants of hispaniola , seeing themselves perish and dy without any redress , fled to the mountains for shelter , but other desperado's , put a period to their days with a halter , and the husband , together with his wife and children , hanging himself , put an end to these calamities . by the ferocity of one spanish tyrant ( whom i knew ) above two hundred indians hang'd themselves of their own accord ; and a multitude of people perished by this kind of death . a certain person here in the same isle constituted to exercise a kind of royal power , hapned to have three hundred indians fall to his share , of which in three months , through excessive labour , one hundred and sixty were destroy'd , insomuch that in a short space there remained but a tenth part alive , namely thirty , but when the number was doubled , they all perisht at the same rate , and all that were bestow'd upon him lost their lives , till at length he paid his last debt to nature and the devil . in three or four months time i being there present , six thousand children and upward were murder'd , because they had lost their parents who labour'd in the mines ; nay i was a witness of many other stupendous villanies . but afterward they consulted how to persecute those that lay hid in mountains , who were miserably massacred , and consequently this isle made de solate , which i saw not long after , and certainly it is a dreadful and deplorable sight to behold it thus unpeopled and laid waste , like a desert . of the continent . in the year 1514 , a certain unhappy governour landed on the firm land or continent , a most bloody tyrant , destitute of all mercy and prudence , the instrument of god's wrath , with a resolution to people these parts with spaniards ; and although some tyrants had touched here before him , and cruelty hurried them into the other . world by several wayes of slaughter , yet they came no farther than to the sea coast , where they committed prodigious thefts and robberies , but this person exceeded all that ever dwelt in other islands , though execrable and profligate villains : for he did not only ravage and depopulate the sea-coast , but buried the largest regions and most ample kingdoms in their own ruins , sending thousands to hell by his butcheries . he made incursions for many miles continuance , that is to say , in those countries that are included in the territories of darien and the provinces of nicaraqua , which are near five hundred miles of the most fertil land in the world , very well peopled , abounding with villages , cities and towns , and the most opulent for gold of all the regions hitherto discover'd . and although spain has bin sufficiently furnished with the purest god , yet it was dig'd out of the powels and mines of the said countries by the indians , where ( as we have said ) they perished . this ruler , with his complices found out new inventions to rack , torment , force and extort gold from the indians . one of his captains in a certain excursion undertaken by the command of his governour to make depraedations , destroy'd forty thousand persons and better exposing them to the edge of the sword , fire , dogs and veriety of torments ; of all which a religious man of the order of st francis , franciscus de s. romano , who was then present , was an eye-witness . great and injurious was the blindness of those praesided over the indians , as to the conversion and salvation of this people : for they denyed in effect what they in their flourishing discourse pretended to , and declar'd with their tongue what they contradicted in their heart ; for it came to this pass , that the indians should be commanded on the penalty of a bloody war , death and perpetual bondage , to embrace the christian faith , and submit to the obedience of the spanish king ; as if the son of god , who suffered death for the redemption of all mankind , had enacted a law , when he pronounced these words , go and teach all nations that infidels , living peaceably and quietly in their haereditary native country , should be impos'd upon pain of confiscation of all their chattels , lands , liberty , wives , children , and death it self , without any praecedent instruction to confess and acknowledge the true god , and subject themselves to a king , whom they never saw , or heard mention'd before ; and whose messengers behav'd themselves toward them with such inhumanity and cruelty as they had done hitherto . which is certainly a most foppish and absured way of proceeding , and merits nothing but scandal , derision , nay hell it self . now suppose this notorious and profligate governour had bin impower'd to see the execution of these edicts perform'd , to the end they might appear more just and equitable thereby , for of themselves they were repugnant both to law and equity ; yet he commanded ( or they who were to see the execution thereof , did it of their own heads without authority ) that when they phansied or proposed to themselves any place , that was well stor'd with gold , to rob and feloniously steal it away from the indians living in their cities and houses , without the least suspicion of any ill act. these wicked spaniards , like thieves came to any place by stealth , half a mile off of any city , town or village , and there in the night published and proclaim'd the edict among themselves after this manner : you cacies and indians of this continent , the inhabitants of such a place , which they named ; we declare , or be it known to you all , that there is but one god , one pope , and one king of castile , who is lord of these countries ; appear forth without delay , and take the oath of allegiance to the spanish king , as his vassals : so about the fourth watch of the night , or three in the morning these poor innocents overwhelm'd with heavy sleep , ran violently on that place they named , set fire to their hovels , which were all thatcht , and so , without notice , burnt men , women and children ; kill'd whom they pleas'd upon the spot ; but those they reserv'd as captives , were compell'd through torments to confess where they had hid the gold , when they found little or none at their houses ; but they who liv'd being first stigmatized , were made slaves ; yet after the fire was extinguisht , they came hastily in quest of the gold. thus did this wicked man , devoted to all the infernal furies , behave himself with the assistance of profligate christians , whom he had listed in his service from the 14th to the 21. or 22. year , together with his domestick servants and followers , from whom he received as many portions , besides what he had from his salves in gold , pearls , and jewels , as the chief governour would have taken , and all that were constituted to execute any kind of kingly office followed in the same footsteps ; every one sending as many of his servants as he could spare , to share in the spoil . nay he that came hither as bishop first of all did the same also , and at the vory time ( as i conjecture ) the spaniards did depraedate or rob this kingdom of above ten hundred thousand crowns of gold : yet all these their thefts and felonies , we scarce find upon record that three hundred thousand castilian crowns ever came into the spanish king's coffers ; yet there were above eight hundred thousand men slain : the other tyrants who governed this kingdom afterward to the three and thirtieth year , depriv'd all them of life that remain'd among the inhabitants . among all those flagitious acts committed by this governour while he rul'd this kingdom , or by his consent and permission this must by no means be omitted : a certain cacic , bestowing on him a gift , voluntarily , or ( which is more probable ) induced thereunto by fear , about the weight of nine thousand crowns , but the spaniards not satisfied with so vast a sum of money , sieze him , fix him to a pole ; extended his feet , which being mov'd near the fire , they demanded a larger sum ; the cacic overcome with torments , sending home , procur'd three thousand more to be brought and presented to them : but the spaniards , adding new torments to new rage and fury , when they found he would confer no more upon them , which was because he could not , or otherwise because he would not , they expos'd him so long to that torture , till by degrees of heat the marrow gusht out of the soles of his feet , and so he dyed ; thus they often murder'd the lords and nobles with such torments to extort the gold from them . one time it hapned that a century or party of one hundred spaniards making excursions , came to a mountain , where many people shunning so horrid and pernicious an enemy conceal'd themselves , who immediately rushing on them , putting all to the sword they could meet with , and then secur'd seventy or eighty married women as well as virgins captives ; but a great number of indians with a fervent desire of recovering their wives and daughters appear'd in arms against the spaniards , and when they drew near the enemy , they unwilling to lose the prey , run the wives and maidens through with their swords . the indians through grief and trouble , smiting their breasts , brake out into these exclamations . o perverse generation of men ! o cruel spaniards ! what do you murder las iras ? ( in their language they call women by the name of las iras ) as if they had said : to slay women is an act of bloody minded men , worse than brutes and wild beasts . there was the house of a puissant potentate scituated about ten or fifteen miles from panama , whose name was paris , very rich in gold ; and the spaniards gave him a visit , who were entertained with fraternal kindness , and courteously received , and of his own accord , presented the captain with a gift of fifteen thousand crowns ; who was of opinion , as well as the rest of the spaniards , that he who bestow'd such a quantity of money gratis , was the master of vast treasure , their sole aim and design , and the solace of their labours ; whereupon they conterfeit a pretended departure , but returning about the fourth night-watch , and entring the city privily upon a surprize , which they thought was sufficiently secur'd , consecrated it with many citizens to the flames , and robb'd them of fifty or sixty thousand crowns . the dynast or prince escaped with life , and gathering together as great a number of men as he could possibly at that instant of time , and three or four days being elapsed , pursued the spaniards , who had depriv'd him also by violence and rapine of a hundred and thirty or forty thousand crowns , and pouring in upon them , recover'd all his gold with the destruction of fifty spaniards , but the remainder of them having receiv'd many wounds in that rencounter betook them to their heels and sav'd themselves by flight : but in few days after the spaniards return , and fall upon the said cacic well-arm'd and overthrow him and all his forces , and they who out-liv'd the combat , to their great misfortune , were expos'd to the usual and frequently mention'd bondage . of the province of nicaraqua . the said tyrant an. dom. 1522. proceeded farther very unfortunately to the subjugation or conquest of this province . in truth no person can satisfactorily or sufficiently express the fertility , temperateness of the climate , or the multitude of the inhabitants of nicaraqua , which was almost infinite and admirable ; for this region contain'd some cities that were four miles long ; and the abundance of fruits of the earth ( which was the cause of such a concourse of people ) was highly commendable . the people of this place , because the country was level and plain , destitute of mountains , so very delightful and pleasant , that they could not leave it without great grief , and much dissatisfaction , they were therefore tormented with the greater vexations and persecutions , and forced to bear the spanish tyranny and servitude , with as much patience as they were masters of : add farther that they were peaceable and meek-spirited . this tyrant with these complices of his cruelty did afflict this nation ( whose advice he made use of in destroying the other kingdoms ) with such and so many great dammages , slaughters , injustice , slavery , and barbarisme , that a tongue , though of iron , could not express them all fully . he sent into this province ( which is larger than the county of ruscinia ) fifty horse-men , who put all the people to the edge of the sword , sparing neither age nor sex upon the most trivial and inconsiderable occasion : as for example , if they did not come to them with all possible speed , when called ; and bring the imposed burthen of mahid ( which signifies corn in their dialect ) or if they did not bring the number of indians required to his own , and the service , or rather servitude of his associates . and the country being all campaign or level , no person was able to withstand the hellish fury of their horses . he commanded the spaniards to make excursions , that is , to rob other provinces , permitting and granting these thieving rogues leave to take away by force as many of these peaceable people as they could , who being iron'd , ( that they might not sink under the burthen of sixty or eighty pound weight ) it frequently hapned , that of four thousand indians , six only returned home , and so they dyed by the way ; but if any of them chanced to faint , being tired with over-weighty burthens , or through great hunger and thirst should be siezed with a distemper , or too much debility and weakness , that they might not spend time in taking off their fetters , they beheaded them , so the head fell one way , and the body another : the indians when they spied the spaniards making preparations for such journeys , knowing very well , that few , or none returned home alive , just upon their setting out with sighs and tears , burst out into these or the like expressions . those were journeys , which we travelled frequently in the service of christians , and in some tract of time we return'd to our habitations , wives and children : but now there being no hope of a return , we are for ever depriv'd of their sight and conversation . it hapned also , that the said president would dissipate or disperse the indians de novo at his own pleasure , to the end ( as it was reported ) he might violently force the indians away from such as did infest or molest him ; and dispose of them to others ; upon which it fell out , that for the space of a year complete , there was no sowing or planting : and when they wanted bread , the spaniards did by force plunder the indians of the whole stock of corn that they had laid up for the support of their families , and by these indirect courses above thirty thousand perished with hunger . nay it fortun'd at one time , that a woman opprest with insufferable hunger , depriv'd her own son of his life to preserve her own . in this province also they brought many to an untimely end , loading their shoulders with heavy planks and pieces of timber , which they were compell'd to carry to a haven forty miles distant , in order to their building of ships ; sending them likewise unto the mountains to find out hony and wax , where they were devour'd by tygers ; nay they loaded women impregnated with carriage and burthens fit for beasts . but no greater pest was there that could unpeople this province , than the license granted the spaniards by this governour , to demand captives from the cacics and potentates of this region ; for at the expiration of four or five months , or as often as they obtain'd leave of the governour to demand them , they deliver'd them up fifty servants , and the spaniards terrified them with menaces , that if they did not obey them in answering their unreasonable demands , they should be burnt alive , or baited to death by dogs . now the indians are but slenderly stor'd with servants ; for it is much if a cacic hath three or four in his retinue , therefore they have recourse to the subjects ; and when they had , in the first place , seized the orphans , they required earnestly and instantly one son of the parent , who had but two , and two of him that had but three , and so the lord of the place satisfied the desires of the tyrant , not without the effusion of tears and groans of the people , who ( as it seems ) were very careful of their children . and this being frequently repeated in the space between the year 1523 , and 1533 , the kingdom lost all their inhabitants , for in six or seven years time there were constantly five or six ships made ready to be fraighted with indians that were sold in the regions of panania and perusium , where they all dyed ; for it is by dayly experience prov'd and known , that the indians when transported out of their native country into any other , soon dye ; because they are shortned in their allowance of food , and the task impos'd on them no ways diminished , they being only bought for labour . and by this means , there have been taken out of this province five hundred thousand inhabitants and upward , who before were freemen , and made slaves , and in the wars made on them , and the horrid bondage they were reduc'd unto fifty or sixty thousand more have perished , and to this day very many still are destroy'd . now all these slaughters have been committed within the space of fourteen years inclusively , possibly in this province of nicaraqua there remains four or five thousand men , who are put to death by ordinary and personal oppressions , whereas ( according to what is said already ) it did exceed the other countries of the world in multitude of people . of new spain . new spain was discovered anno dom. 1517. and in the detection there was no first or second attempt , but all were exposed to slaughter : the year ensuing those spaniards ( who style themselves christians ) came thither to rob , kill and slay , though they pretend they undertook this voyage to people the countrey . from this year to the present , viz. 1542. the injustice , violence and tyranny of the spaniards came to the highest degree of extremity : for they had shook hands with and bid adieu to all fear of god and the king , unmindful of themselves in this sad and deplorable condition , for the destructions , cruelties , butcheries , devastations , the demolishing of cities , depredations , &c. which they perpetrated in so many and such ample kingdoms , are such and so great , and strike the minds of men with so great horror , that all we have related before are inconsiderable comparatively to those which have been acted from the year 1518 to 1542 , and to this very month of september that we now live to see the most heavy , grievous and detestable things are committed , that the rule we laid down before as a maxim might be indisputably verified , to wit , that from the beginning they ran headlong from bad to worse , and were overcome in their diabolical acts and wickedness only by themselves . thus from the first entrance of the spaniards into new spain , which hapned on the 18th . day of april in the said month of the year 1518 , to 1530 , the space of ten whole years , there was no end or period put to the destruction and slaughters committed by ther merciless hands of the sanguinary and blood-thirsty spaniard in the continent , or space of 450 miles round about mexico , and the adjacent or neighbouring parts , which might contain four or five spatious kingdoms , that neither for magnitude or fertility would give spain her self the pre-eminence . this intire region was more populous then toledo , sevil , valedolid , saragoza , and faventia ; and there is not at this day in all of them so many people , nor when they flourisht in their greatest height and splendor was there such a number , as inhabited that region , which embraceth in its circumference , four hundred and eighty miles . within these twelve years the spaniards have destroyed in the said continent , by spears , fire and sword , computing men , women , youth and children above four millions of people in these their acquests or conquests ( for under that word they mask their cruel actions ) or rather those of the turk himself , which are reported of them , tending to the ruin of the catholick cause , together with their invasions and unjust wars , contrary to and condemned by divine as well as human laws ; nor are they reckoned in this number who perished by their more then egyptian bondage and usual oppressions . there is no tongue , art , or human knowledge can recite the horrid impieties , which these capital enemies to government and all mankind have been guilty of at several times and in several nations ; nor can the circumstantial aggravations of some of their wicked acts be unfolded or display'd by any manner of industry , time or writing , but yet i will say somewhat of every individual particular thing , with this protestation and oath , that i conceive i am not able to comprehend one of a thousand . of new spain in particular . among other slaughters this also they perpetrated in the most spatious city of cholula , which consisted of thirty thousand families ; all the chief rulers of that region and neighbouring places , but first the priests with their high priest going to meet the spaniards in pomp and state , and to the end they might give them a more reverential and honourable reception appointed them to be in the middle of the solemnity , that so being entertained in the appartments of the most powerful and principal noblemen , they might be lodged in the city . the spaniards presently consult about their slaughter or castigation ( as they term it ) that they might fill every corner of this region by their cruelties and wicked deeds with terror and consternation ; for in all the countries that they came they took this course , that immediately at their first arrival they committed some notorious ●utcheries , which made those innocent sheep tremble for fear . to this purpose therefore they sent to the governours and nobles of the cities , and all places subject unto them , together with their supream lord , that they should appear before them , and no sooner did they attend in expectation of some capitulation or discourse with the spanish commander , but they were presently seized upon and detained prisoners before any one could advertise or give them notice of their captivity . they demanded of them six thousand indians to drudge for them in the carriage of their bag and baggage ; and as soon as they came the spaniards clapt them into the yards belonging to their houses and there inclosed them all . it was a thing worthy of pity and compassion to behold this wretched people in what a condition they were when they prepared themselves to receive the burthens laid on them by the spaniards . they came to them naked , their privities only vail'd , their shoulders loaden with food , only covered with a net , they laid themselves quietly on the ground , and shrinking in their bodies like poor wretches , exposed themselves to their swords : thus being all gathered together in their yards , some of the spaniards armed held the doors to drive them away if attempting to approach , and others with lances and swords butcher these innocents so that not one of them escaped , but two or three days after some of them , who hid themselves among the dead bodies , being all over besprinkled with blood and gore , presented themselves to the spaniards , imploring their mercy and the prolongation of their lives with tears in their eyes and all imaginable submission , yet they , not in the least moved with pity or compassion , tore them impieces : but all the chief governours who were above one hundred in number , were kept bound , whom the captain commanded to be affixed to posts and burnt ; yet the king of the whole countrey escaped , and betook himself with a train of thirty or forty gentlemen , to a temple ( called in their tongue quu ) which he made use of as a castle or place of defence , and there defended himself a great part of the day , but the spaniards who suffer none to escape out of their clutches , especially souldiers , setting fire to the temple , burnt all those that were there inclosed , who brake out into these dying words and exclamations . o profligate men , what injury have we done you to occasion our death ! go , go to mexico , where our supream lord montencuma will revenge our cause upon your persons . and 't is reported , while the spaniards were engaged in this tragedy destroying six or seven thousand men , that their commander with great rejoycing sang this following ayre ; mira nero de tarpeia , roma como se ardia , gritos de ninos y vieyot , y el de nadase dolia . from the tarpeian still nero espies rome all in flames with unrelenting eyes , and hears of young and old the dreadful cries . they also committed a very great butchery in the city tepeara . which was larger and better stored with houses then the former ; and here they massacred an incredible number with the point of the sword , setting sail from cholula , they steer'd their course to mexico , whose king sent his nobles and peers with abundance of presents to meet them by the way , testifying by divers sorts of recreations how grateful their arrival was and acceptable to him : but when they came to a steep hill , his brother went forward to meet them accompanied with many noblemen who brought them many gifts in gold , silver , and robes embroidered with gold and at their entrance into the city , the king himself carried in a golden litter , together ( with the whole court ) attended them to the palace prepared for their reception ; and that very day as i was informed by some persons then and there present by a grand piece of treachery , they took the great king motencuma , never so much as dreaming of any such surprize , and put him into the custody of eighty soldiers , and afterward loaded his legs with irons ; but all these things being passed over with a light pencil of which much might be said , one thing i will discover acted by them , that may merit your observation . when the captain arrived at the haven , to fight with a spanish officer , who made war against him , and left another with an hundred soldiers , more or less as a guard to king motencuma , it came into their heads , that to act somewhat worth remembrance , that the dread of their cruelty might be more and more apprehended , and greatly increased . in the interim all the nobility and commonalty of the city thought of nothing else , but how to exhilarate the spirit of their captive king , and solace him during his confinement with variety of diversions and recreations ; and among the rest this was one , viz. revellings and dances which they celebrated in all streets and highways , by night and they in their idiom term mirotes , as the islanders do arcytos ; to these masques and nocturnal jigs they usually go with all their riches , costly vestments and robes , together with any thing that is pretious and glorious , being wholly addicted to this humor , nor is there any greater token among them then this of their extraordinary exultation and rejoycing . the nobles in like manner , and princes of the blood royal every one according to his degree exercise these masques and dances , in some place adjoyning to the house where their king and lord is detained prisoner . now there were not far from the palace about 2000 young noblemen who were the issue of the greatest potentates of the kingdom , and indeed the flower of the whole nobility of king motencuma , and a spanish captain went to visit them with some soldiers , and sent others to the rest of the places in the city where these revellings were kept , under pretence only of being spectators of the solemnity . now the captain had commanded , that , at a certain hour appointed they should fall upon these revellers , and he himself approaching the indians very busie at their dancing , said , san jago ( that is st. james it seems that was the word ) let us rush in upon them , which was no sooner heard , but they all began with their naked swords in hand to pierce their tender and naked bodies , and spil their generous and noble blood , till not one of them was left alive on the place , and the rest following his example in other parts , ( to their inexpressible stupefaction and grief ) seized on all these provinces . nor will the inhabitants till the general conflagration ever discontinue the celebration of these festivals , and the lamentation and singing with certain kind of rhythmes in their arcytos , the doleful ditty of the calamity and ruin of this seminary of the antient nobility of the whole kingdom , which was their frequent pride and glory . the indians seeing this not to be exampled cruelty and iniquity executed against such a number of guiltless persons , and also bearing with incredible patience the unjust imprisonment of their king , from whom they had an absolute command not to take up arms against the spaniard , the whole city was suddenly up in arms fell on the spaniards and wounded many of them , the rest hardly escaping ; but they presenting the point of a sword to the kings breast , threatned him with death unless he out of the window commanded them to desist ; but the indians for the present disobeying the kings mandate , proceeded to the election of a generalissimo , or commander in chief over all their forces ; and because that the captain , who went to the port returned victor , and brought away a far greater number of spaniards then he took along with him , there was a cessation of arms for three or four days , till he re-entred the city , and then the indians having gathered together and made up a great army , fought so long and so strenuously , that the spaniards despairing of their safety , called a council of war and therein resolv'd to retreat in the dead time of night and so draw off their forces from the city : which coming to the knowledge of the indians they destroyed a great number retreating on the bridges made over their lakes in this just and holy war , for the causes above-mentioned , deserving the approbation of every upright judge . but afterward the spaniards having recruited and got together in a body , they resolved to take the city and carried it at last , wherein most detestable butcheries were acted , a vast number of the people slain , and their rulers perished in the flames . all these horrid murders being commited in mexico and other cities ten , fifteen and twenty miles distant . this same tyranny and plague in the abstract proceeded to infest and lay desolate panuco ; a region abounding with inhabitants even to admiration , nor were the slaughters therein perpetrated less stupendious and wonderful . in the same manner they utterly laid waste the provinces of futepeca , ipilcingonium and columa , every one of them being as large as the kingdoms of leon , and castile . it would be very difficult or rather impossible to relate the cruelties and destruction there made and committed , and prove very nauseous and offensive to the reader . 't is observable , that they entred upon these dominions , and laid waste the indian territories , so populous , that it would have rejoyced the hearts of all true christians to see their number upon no other title or pretence , but only to enslave them ; for at their first arrival they compel'd them to swear the oath of obedience and fealty to the king of spain , and if they did not condescend to it , they menaced them with death and vassalage , and they who did not forthwith appear to satisfie the unequitable mandates , and submit to the will and pleasure of such unjust and cruel men were declared rebels , and accus'd of that crime before our lord the king ; the blindness or ignorance of those who were set over the indians as rulers did so darken their understanding that they did not apprehend that known and incontrovertible maxim in law , that no man can be called a rebel , who is not first proved to be a subject . i omit the injuries and prejudice they do to the king himself , when they spoil and ravage his kingdoms , and as much as in them lies , diminish and impair all his right and title to the indies , nay in plain english invalidate and make it null and void . and these are the worthy services which the spaniards do for our kings in those countries , by the injust and colourable pretences aforesaid . this tyrant upon the same pretext sent two other captains , who exceeded him in impiety and cruelty , if possible to the most flourishing and fertil ( in fruits and men ) kingdoms of guatimala , situate toward the south , who had also received orders to go to the kingdoms of naco , honderae , and guaymura , verging upon the north , and are borderers on mexico three hundred miles together . the one was sent by land the other by sea , and both well furnished with horse and foot. this i declare for a truth , that the outrages committed by these two , particularly by him that went to guatimala ( for the other not long after his departure died a violent death ) would afford matter sufficient for an entire volume , and when completed be so crouded with slaughters , injuries , butcheries and inhuman desolations , so horrid and detestable as would ague-shake the present as well as future ages with terror . he that put out to sea vexed all the maritime coasts with his cruel incursions ; now some inhabitants of the kingdom of jucatan which is seated in the way to the kingdoms of naco and naymura , to which places he steered his course , came to meet him with burthens of presents and gifts : and as soon as he approacht them , sent his captians with a party of soldiers to depopulate their land , who committed great spoils and made cruel slaughters among them ; and in particular a seditious and rebellious officer who with three hundred soldiers entred a neighbouring country to guatimala , and there firing the cities and murdering all the inhabitants , violently deprived them of all their goods , which he did designedly , for the space of an hundred and twenty miles ; to the e●d that if his companions should follow them , they might find the countrey laid wast , and so be destroyed by the indians in revenge for the dammage they had received by him and his forces which hapned accordingly : for the chief commander whose order the abovesaid captain had disobey'd and so became a rebel to him , was there slain . but many other bloody tyrants succeeded him , who from the year 1524 to 1535. did unpeople and make a desert of the provinces of naco and hondurae ( as well as other places ) which were lookt upon as the paradise of delights , and better peopled then other regions ; insomuch that within the term of these eleven years there fell in those countries above two millions of men , and now there are hardly remaining two thousand , who dayly dye by the severity of their slavery . but to return to that great tyrant , who outdid the former in cruelty ( as is hinted above ) and is equal to those that tyrannize there at present , who travelled to guatimala ; he from the provinces adjoyning to mexico , which according to his prosecuted journey ( as he himself writes and testifies with his own hand in letters to the prince of tyrants ) are distant from guatimala four hundred miles , did make it his urgent and dayly business to procure ruin and destruction by slaughter , fire and depopulations , compelling all to submit to the spanish king , whom they lookt upon to be more unjust and cruel then his inhumane and blood-thirsty ministers . of the kingdom and province of guatimala . this tyrant at his first entrance here acted and commanded prodigious slaughters to be perpetrated : notwithstanding which , the chief lord in his chair or sedan attended by many nobles of the city of vltlatana , the emporium of the whole kingdom , together with trumpets , drums and great exultation , went out to meet him , and brought with them all sorts of food in great abundance , with such things as he stood in most need of . that night the spaniards spent without the city , for they did not judge themselves secure in such a well-fortified place . the next day he commanded the said lord with many of his peers to come before him , from whom they imperiously challenged a certain quantity of gold ; to whom the indians return'd this modest answer , that they could not satisfie his demands , and indeed this region yielded no golden mines ; but they all , by his command , without any other crime laid to their charge , or any legal form of proceeding were burnt alive . the rest of the nobles belonging to other provinces , when they found their chief lords , who had the supreme power were expos'd to the merciless element of fire kindled by a more merciless enemy ; for this reafon only , because they bestow'd not what they could not upon them , viz. gold , they fled to the mountains , ( their usual refuge ) for shelter , commanding their subjects to obey the spaniards , as lords , but withal strictly and expresly prohibiting and forbidding them , to inform the spaniards of their flight , or the places of their concealment . and behold a great many of the indians addrest themselves to them , earnestly requesting , they would admit them as subjects , being very willing and ready to serve them : the captain replyed that he would not entertain them in such a capacity , but instead of so doing would put every individual person to death , if they would not discover the receptacles of their fugitive governours . the indians made answer that they were wholly ignorant of the matter , yet that they themselves , their wives and children should serve them ; that they were at home , they might come to them and put them to death , or deal with them as they pleas'd . but the spaniards , o wonderful ! went to the towns and villages , and destroy'd with their lances these poor men , their wives and children , intent upon their labour , and as they thought themselves , secure and free from danger . another large village they made desolate in the space of two hours , sparing neither age , nor sex , putting all to the sword , without mercy . the indians perceiving that this barbarous and hard-hearted people would not be pacified with humility , large gifts , or unexampled patience , but that they were butcher'd without any cause , upon serious consultation took up a resolution of getting together in a body , and fighting for their lives and liberty ; for they conceiv'd it was far better , ( since death to them was a necessary evil ) with sword in hand to be kill'd by taking revenge of the enemy , then be destroy'd by them without satisfaction . but when they grew sensible of their want of arms , nakedness and debility , and that they were altogether incapable of the management of horses , so as to prevail against such a furious adversary , recollecting themselves , they contriv'd this stratagem , to dig ditches and holes in the high-way into which the horses might fall in their passage , and fixing therein purposely sharp and burnt posts , and covering them with loose earth , so that they could not be discern'd by their riders , they might be transfixed gored by them . the horses fell twice or thrice into those holes , but afterward the spaniards took this course to prevent them for the future ; and made this a law , that as many of the indians of what age or sex soever as were taken , should be cast into these ditches that they had made . nay they threw into them women with child , and as many aged men as they laid hold of , till they were all fill'd up with carkasses . it was a sight deserving commiseration , to behold women and children gauncht or run through with these posts , some were taken off by spears and swords , and the remainder expos'd to hungry dogs , kept short of food for that purpose , to be devour'd by them and torn in pieces . they burnt a potent nobleman in a very great fire , saying , that he was the more honour'd by this kind of death . all which butcheries continued seven years , from 1524 , to 1531. i leave the reader to judge how many might be massacred during that time . among the innumerable , flagitious acts done by this tyrant and his co-partners ( for they were as barbarous as their principal ) in this kingdom , this also occurs worthy of an asterism in the margin . in the province of cuzcatan in which s. saviour's city is seated , which country with the neighbouring sea-coasts extends in length forty or fifty miles , as also in the very city of cuzcatan , the metropolis of the whole province , he was entertain'd with great applause : for about twenty or thirty thousand indians brought with them hens and other necessary provisions , expecting his coming . he , accepting their gifts , commanded every single spaniara to make choice of as many of these people , as he had a mind to , that during their stay there , they might use them as servants , and forced to undergo the most servile offices they should impose on them . every one cull'd out a hundred , or fifty , according as he thought convenient for his peculiar service , and these wretched indians did serve the spaniards with their utmost strength and endeavour ; so that there could be nothing wanting in them but adoration . in the mean time this captain requird a great sum of gold from their lords ( for that was the load-stone attracted him thither ) who answered , they were content to deliver him up all the gold they had in possession ; and in order thereunto , the indians gathered together a great number of spears gilded with orichalcum , ( which had the appearance of gold , and in truth some gold in them intermixt ) and they were prefented to him . the captain ordered them to be toucht , and when he found them to be orichalcum or mixt metal , he spake to the spaniards as followeth . let that nation that is without gold be accursed to the pit of hell. let every man detain those servants he elected , let them be clapt in irons , and stigmatiz'd with the brand of slavery , . which was accordingly done ; for they were all burnt , who did not escape with the king 's mark. i my self saw the impression made on the son of the chiefest person in the city . those that escap'd , with other indians , engaged the spaniards by force of arms , but with such ill success , that abundance of them lost their lives in the attempt . after this they return'd to guatimala , where they built a city , which god in his just judgments with three deluges , the first of water , the second of earth , the third of stones , as big as half a score oxen , all concurring at one and the same time , laid level with its own ashes . now all being slain who were capable of bearing arms against them , the rest were enslav'd , paying so much per head for men and women as a ransom ; for they use no other servitude here , and then they were sent into pecusium to be sold , by which means together with their slaughters committed upon the inhabitants , they destroy'd and made a desert of this kingdom , which in breadth as well as length contains one hundred miles ; and with his associates and brethren in iniquity , four millions at least in fifteen or sixteen years , that is , from 1524 , to 1540 were murdered , and dayly continues destroying the small residue of that people with his cruelties and brutishness . it was the usual custom of this tyrant , when he made war with any city or province , to take along with him as many of those indians he had subjugated as he could , that they might fight with their country-men ; and when he had in his army twenty , or sometimes thirty thousand of them , and could not afford them sustenance , he permitted them to feed on the flesh of other indians taken prisoners in war ; and so kept a shambles of man's flesh in his army , suffered children to be kill'd and roasted before his face . they butcher'd the men for their feet and hands only ; for these members were accounted by them dainties , most delicious food . he was the death of many by the intolerable labour of carrying ships by land , causing them to transport those vessels with anchors of a vast weight from the septentrional to the mediterranean sea , which are one hundred and thirty miles distant ; as also abundance of great guns of the largest sort , which they carried on their bare , naked shoulders , so that opprest with many great and ponderous burthens , ( i say no more than what i saw ) they dyed by the way : he separated and divided families , forcing married men from their wives , and maids from their parents , which he bestow'd upon his marriners and soldiers , to gratifie their burning lust . all his ships he freighted with indians , where hunger and thirst discharg'd them of their servitude and his cruelty by a welcome death . he had two companies of soldiers who hackt and tore them in pieces , like thunder from heaven speedily . o how many parents has he robb'd of their children , how many wives of their husbands , and children of their parents ? how many adulteries , rapes , and what libidinous acts hath he been guilty of ? how many hath he enslav'd and opprest with insufferable anguish and unspeakable calamities ? how many tears , sighs and groans hath he occasion'd ? to how many has he bin the author of desolation , during their peregrination in this , and of damnation in the world to come , not only to indians , whose number is numberless , but even to spaniards themselves , by whose help and assistance he committed such detestable butcheries and flagitious crimes ? i supplicate almighty god , that he would please to have mercy on his soul , and require no other satisfaction than the violent death , which turn'd him out of this world. a farther discourse of new spain : and some account of panuco and xalisco . after the perpetration of all the cruelties rehearsed in new spain and other places , there came another rabid and cruel tyrant to panuco , who acted the part of a bloody tragedian as well as the rest , and sent away many ships loaden with these barbarians to be sold for slaves , made this province almost a wilderness , and which was deplorable , eight hundred indians , that had rational souls were given in exchange for a burthen-bearing-beast , a mule , or camel. well , he was made governour of the city of mexico , and all new spain , and with him many other tyrants had the office of auditors confer'd upon them : now they had already made such a progress toward the desolation of this region , that if the franciscans had not vigorously opposed them , and that by ( the king's council , the best and greatest encourager of vertue ) it had not speedily bin prevented , that which hapned to hispaniola in two years , had bin the fate of hispania nova , namely to be unpeopled , deserted , and intomb'd in its own ruins . a companion of this governour employed eight thousand indians in erecting a wall to inclose his garden , but they all dyed , having no supplies , nor wages from him , to support themselves , at whose death he was not in the least concern'd . after the first captain before spoken of had absolutely profligated and ruin'd the panuconians , fifteen thousand whereof perished by carrying their bag and baggage : at length he arriv'd at the province of machuacan , which a forty miles journey from mexico , and as fertile and populous : the king to honour him in the rencounter , with a multitude of people , marcheth toward him , from whom he had received one thousand services and civilities very considerable , who gratefully requited him with captivity , because fame had nois'd it abroad , that he was a most opulent prince in gold and silver ; and to the end he might extort from , and purge him of his gold , he was cruciated with torments after this manner ; his body was extended , hands bound to a post , and his feet put into a pair of stocks , they all the while applying buring coals to his feet at a tormenting distance , where a boy attended , who by little and little sprinkled them with oyl that his flesh might roast the better : before him there stood a wicked fellow , presenting a bow to his breast charged with a mortal arrow , ( if let fly ) behind him , another with dogs held in with chains , which he threatned to let loose at him , which if done , he had bin torn to pieces in a moment ; and with these kind of torments they racked him to extort a confession , where his treasures lay ; till a franciscan monk came and deliver'd him from his torments , but not from death , for he departed this miserable life not long after : and this was the severe fate of many cacics and indian lords , who dyed with the same torments which they were expos'd to by the spaniards , in order to the engrossing of their gold and silver to themselves . at this very time , a certain visiter of purses rather than souls hapned to be here present , who ( finding some indian idols which were hid ; for they were no better instructed in the knowledge of the true god by reason of the wicked documents and dealings of the spaniards ) detain'd grandees as slaves , till they had deliver'd him all their idols , for he phancied they were made of gold or silver , but his expectation being frustrated , he chastised them with no less cruelty than injustice ; and that he might not depart bubbled out of all his hopes , constrain'd them to redeem their idols with money , that so they might , according to their custom , adore them . these are the fruits of the spanish artifices and juggling tricks among the indians , and thus they promoted the honour and worship of god. this tyrant from mechuacam arrives at xalisco , a country abounding with people very fruitful , and the glory of the indians in this respect , that it had some towns seven miles long ; and among other barbarisms equal to what you have read , which they acted here , this is not to be forgotten , that women big with child , were burthen'd with the luggage of wicked christians , and being unable to go out their usual time , through extremity of toil and hunger , were necessitated to bring them forth in the high-wayes , which was the death of many infants . at a certain time a profligate christian attempted to devirginate a maid , but the mother being present , resisted him , and endeavouring to free her from his intended rape , whereat the spaniard enrag'd , cut off her hand with a short sword , and stab'd the virgin in several places , till she expir'd , because she obstinately opposed and disappointed his inordinate appetite . in this kingdom of xalisco ( according to report ) they burnt eight hundred towns to ashes , and for this reason the indians growing desperate , beholding the dayly destruction of the remainders of their matchless cruelty , made an insurrection against the spaniards , slew several of them justly and deservedly , and afterward fled to the insensible rocks and mountains ( yet more tender and kind than the stony-hearted enemy ) for sanctuary ; where they were miserably massacred by those tyrants who succeeded , and there are now few , or none of the inhabitants to be found . thus the spaniards being blinded with the lustre of their gold , deserted by god , and given over to a reprobate sense , not understanding ( or at least not willing to do so ) that the cause of the indians is most just , as well by the law of nature , as the divine and humane , they by force of arms , destroying them , hacking them in pieces , and turning them out of their own confines and dominions , nor considering how unjust those violencies and tyrannies are , wherewith they have afflicted these poor creatures , they still contrive to raise new wars against them : nay they conceive , and by word and writing testifie , that those victories they have obtain'd against these innocents to their ruine , are granted them by god himself , as if their unjust wars were promoted and managed by a just right and title to what they pretend ; and with boasting joy return thanks to god for their tyranny , in imitation of those tyrants and robbers , of whom the prophet zechariah part of the fourth and fifth verses . feed the sheep of the slaughter , whose possessors slay them , and hold themselves not guilty , and they that sell them say , blessed be the lord , for ye are rich . of the kingdom of jucatan . an impious wretch by his fabulous stories and relations to the king of spain was made praefect of the kingdom of jucatan , in the year of our lord 1526 ; and the other tyrants to this very day have taken the same indirect measures to obtain offices , and screw or wheedle themselves into publick charges or employments , for by this praetext , and authority , they had the greater opportunity to commit theft and rapine . this kingdom was very well peopled , and both for temperature of air , and the plenty of food and fruits , in which respect it is more fertile than mexico , but chiefly for hony and wax , it exceeds all the indian countries that hath hitherto bin discover'd . it is three hundred miles in compass . the inhabitants of this place do much excel all other indians , either in politie or prudence , or in leading a regular life and morality , truly deserving to be instructed in the knowledge of the true god. here the spaniards might have erected many fair cities , and liv'd as it were in a garden of delights , if they had not , through covetousness , stupidity , and the weight of enormous crimes rendred themselves unworthy of so great a benefit . this tyrant , with three hundred men began to make war with these innocent people , living peaceably at home , and doing injury to none , which was the ruine of a great number of them : now because this region affords no gold ; and if it did the inhabitants would soon have wrought away their lives by hard working in the mines , that so he might accumulate gold by their bodies and souls , for which christ was crucified : for the generality he made slaves of those whose lives he spared , and sent away such ships as were driven thither by the wind of report , loaden with them , exchanging them for wine , oyl , vinegar , salt pork , garments , pack horses and other commodities , which he thought most necessary and fit for his use . he proposed to them the choice of fifty virgins , and she that was the fairest or best complexioned he bartered for a small cask of wine , oyl , vinegar or some inconsiderable quantity of salt pork , the same exchange he proffered of two or three hundred well-disposed yound boys , and one of them who had the mind or presence of a princes son , was given up to them for a cheese , and one hundred more for a horse . thus he continued his flagitious courses from 1526 to 1533 , inclusively , till there was news brought of the wealth and opulence of the region of perusia , whither the spaniards marcht , and so for some time there was a cessation of this tyranny ; but in few days after they returned and acted enormous crimes , robbed and imprisoned them and committed higher offences against the god of heaven ; nor have they yet done , so that now these three hundred miles of land so populous ( as i said before ) lies now uncultivated and almost deserted . no solifidian can believe the particular narrations of their barbarism , and cruelty in those countreys . i will only relate two or three stories which are fresh in my memory . the spaniards used to trace the steps of indians , both men and women with curst currs , furious dogs ; an indian woman that was sick hapned to be in the way in sight , who perceiving that she was not able to avoid being torn in pieces by the dogs , takes a cord that she had and hangs her self upon a beam , tying her child ( which she unfortunately had with her ) to her foot ; and no sooner had she done , yet the dogs were at her , tearing the child ; but a priest coming that way baptiz'd it before quite dead . when the spaniards left this kingdom , one of them invited the son of some indian governour of a city or province , to go along with him , who told him he would not leave or desert his native countrey , whereupon he threatned to cut off his ears , if he refus'd to follow him : but the youth persisting resolutely , that he would continue in the place of his nativity , he drawing his sword cut off each ear , notwithstanding which he persever'd in his first opinion , and then as if he had only pincht him , smilingly cut off his nose and lips. this rogue did lasciviously boast before a priest , and as if he had merited the greatest applause , commended himself to the very heavens , saying , he had made it his chief trade or business to impregnate indian women , that when they were sold afterward , he might gain the more money by them . in this kingdom or ( i 'm certain ) in some province of new spain , a spaniard hunting and intent on his game , phancyed that his beagles wanted food ; and to supply their hunger snatcht a young little babe from the mothers breast , cutting off his arms and legs , cast a part of them to every dog , which they having devour'd , he threw the remainder of the body to them . thus it is plainly manifest how they value these poor creatures , created after the image of god , to cast them to their canibal-curs . but that which follows is ( if possible ) a sin of a deeper dye . i pretermit their unparallel'd impieties , &c. and only close all with this one story that follows . those haughty obdurate and execrable tyrants , who departed from this countrey to fish for riches in perusia , and four monks of the order of st. francis , with father james who travelled thither also to keep the countrey in peace , and attract or mildly perswade by their preaching the remnant of inhabitants , that had outlived a septenisial tyranny , to embrace the knowledge of christ . i conceive these are the persons who in the year 1534 , travelling by mexico were sollicited by several messengers from the indians , to come into their countrey , and inform them in the knowledge of one god , the true god , and lord of the whole world : to this end they appointed assemblies and councils to examine and understand what men they were , who called themselves fathers and friers , what they intended and what difference there was between them and the spaniards , by whom they had been so molested and tormented : but they received them at length upon this condition that they should be admitted alone , without any spaniards , which the father 's promised ; for they had permission , nay an express mandate from the president of new spain to make that promise , and that the spaniards should not do them the least detriment or injury . then they began , to preach the gospel of christ , and to explicate and declare the pious intention of the king of castile , of all which they had notice by the spaniards for seven years together , that they had no king nor no other but him , who oppressed them with so much tyranny . the priests continued there but forty days , but behold they bring forth all their idols to be committed to the flames ; and then their children which they tendred as the apple of the eye , that they might be instructed . they also erected temples and houses for them and they were desired to come to other provinces and preach the gospel , and introduce them into the knowledge of god , and the great ( as they stilled him ) king of castile : and the priests perswasions wrought so effectually on them , that they condescended to that which was never done in india before ( for whatsoever those tyrants who wasted and consumed these large kingdoms and provinces , did misrepresent and falsifie , was only done to bring an odium and disgrace upon the indians ) . for twelve or fifteen princes of spatious and well-peopled regions assembled , every one distinct and separate from the rest , with his own subjects , and by their unanimous consent upon council and advice , of their own accord submitted themselves to the government of the castilian kings and accepted of them as their prince and protector , obliging themselves to obey and serve them as subjects to their lawful liege lord. in witness whereof i have in my custody , a certain instrument signed and attested by the aforesaid religioso's . thus to the great joy and hope of these priests reducing them to the knowledge of christ they were received by the inhabitants of this kingdom , that surviv'd the hear and rage of the spanish cruelties : but behold eighteen horse and twelve footmen by another way crept in among them , bringing with them many idols , which were of great weight , and taken out of other regions by force . the commander in chief of these spaniards summoned one of the dynasta's or rulers of that province which they entred into , to appear before him , and commanded him to take these idols with him , distribute them through his countrey and exchange every single idol for an indian man or woman , otherwise he would make war against him . the abovesaid lord compelled to it by fear did so accordingly with a command , that his subjects should adore worship and honour them , and in compensation send indians male and female into servitude . the terrified people delivered up their children , and by this means there was an end made of this sacrilegious merchandize , and thus the cacic satisfied the greedy desires of the ( i dare not say christian ) spaniards . one of these sacrilegious robbers was john garcia by name , who being very sick and at the point of death , had several idols hid under his bed , and calling his indians that waited on him , as a nurse , commanded her not to part with those idols at a small rate for they were of the better sort , and that she should not dispose of them without one indian , for each idol by way of barter . thus by this his private and nuncupative last will and testament distracted with these carking cares , he gave up the ghost : and who is it that will not fear his being tormented in the darkest and lowest hell ? let us now consider what progress in religion the spaniards made , and what examples of christianism they gave , at their first arrival in america , how devoutly they honoured god , and what expence of sweat and toil they were at to promote his worship and adoration among these infidels . let it be also taken into serious consideration , whose sin is the greater , either joroboam's , who made all israel to sin , and caused two golden claves to be erected , or the spaniards who traffick and trade in idols like judas , who was the occasion of such great scandals . these are the good deeds of the spanish dons , who often , nay very often to feed their avarice , and accumulate gold have sold and still do sell , denied and still do deny jesus christ our redeemer . the indians now finding the promises of the religious , that the spaniards should not enter into this countrey , null and void ; nay that the spaniards brought idols from other places to be put off there ; when as they had delivered up their own to the priests to be burnt , that there might be one only worship of the true god established among them ; they were highly incensed against these friers , and addressed themselves to them in these words following . why have you deceived us , binding your promises with false protestations , that the spaniards should not be admitted to come hither ? and why have you burnt our gods , when others are brought from other regions by the spaniards ? are the gods of other provinces more sacred than ours ? the friers as well as they could ( though they had little to return in answer ) endeavour'd by soft language to appease them ; and went to these thirty spaniards , declaring the evil actions they were guilty of , humbly supplicating them to withdraw themselves from that place . which they would by no means condescend to , and what is most flagitious and wicked perswaded the indians , that they were introduc'd by those priests ; which being made known to them , these indians resolved to be the death of these monks , but having notice thereof by some courteous indians , they stole away from thence by night , and fled ; but after their departure the truth of the matter and the spanish malice being understood ; they sent several messengers who followed them fifty miles distant beseeching them in the name of the indians , to return and begging pardon for that ignorant mistake . the preists relying on their words , returned , and were caress'd like angels sent from heaven ; and continued with them , ( from whom they received a thousand kindnesses ) four or five months . but when the spaniards persisted in their resolution not to quit the place , although the vice-roy did use all endeavours and fair means to recall them , they were proclaim'd traitors , guilty of high treason ; and because they continued still exercising tyranny and perpetrating nefandous crimes , the priests were sensible they would study revenge , though it might be some considerable time before they put it in execution , fearing that it might fall upon their own heads , and since they could not exercise the function of their ministry securely and undisturbed by reason of the continual incursions and assaults made by the spaniards , they consulted about their departure , and did leave this kingdom accordingly which remain'd destitute of all christian doctrin and these poor souls are at this day involv'd in the obscurity of their former misery and ignorance , they being deprived by these accursed spaniards , of all hopes of remedy , and the irrigation of divine knowledge , just like young withering plants for want of water : for in that very juncture of time , when these religioso's took leave , they embraced the doctrine of our faith with the greatest fervency and eagerness imaginable . of the province of st. martha . the province of st. martha was rich in the neighbouring golden mines , and a fruitful soil , nay the people were very expert and industrious in those mine-works : upon this account , or temptation it was , that from the year 1540 , to 1542 , abundance of tyrants sailed thither , laying waste the whole country by their depredations , slaughtering the inhabitants at a prodigious and bloody rate ; and robbing them of all their gold , who dayly fled to their ships for refuge , moving sometime to one place , and sometime to another . and thus these provinces were laid waste , the greatest outrages being committed on the sea-shore , which lasted till the year 1523 , whither the spaniards then came to seat themselves , and fix their intended habitation . and because it is a plentiful region and opulent withal ; it was subjected to several rulers , who like infernal fiends contended who should obtain the palm , by out-staining the sword of his predecessor in innocent blood ; insomuch , that from the year 1529 to this very day , they have wasted and spoiled as much good ground as extended five hundred miles , and unpeopled the countrey . if i design'd to enumerate all the impieties , butcheries , desolations , iniquities , violences , destructions and other the piacula and black enormities committed and perpetrated by the spaniards in this province , against god , the king , and these harmless nations ; i might compile a voluminous history , and that shall be compleated , if god permit my glass to run longer , in his good time . it may suffice for the present to relate some passages written in a letter to our king and lord by a reverend bishop of these provinces , dated the 20th of may. an. dom. 1541. wherein among other matters he thus words it . i must acquaint your sacred majesty , that the only way to succour and support this tottering region is to free it from the power of a father in law , and marry it to a husband who will treat her as she ought to be , and lovingly entertain her , and that must be done with all possible expedition too , if not , i am certain that she will suddenly decay and come to nothing by the covetous and fordid deportment of the governours , &c. and a little after he writes thus , by this means your majesty will plainly know and understand how to depose the prefects or governours of of those regions from their office if they deserve it , that so they may be alleviated and eas'd of such burthens ; which if not perform'd , in my opinion , the body politick will never recover its health . and this i will make appear to your majesty that they are not christians , but devils ; not servants of god and the king , but traitors to the king and laws , who are conversant in those regions . and in reality nothing can be more obstructive to the preservation of peace , and the conversion of those that live peaceably , then inhumane and barbarous usage , which they , who lead a quiet and peaceable life , too frequently undergo , and this is so fastidious and nauseous to them , that there can be nothing in the world so odious and detestable among them , as the name of a christian : for they term the christians in their language yares , that is , devils ; and in truth not without reason ; for the actions of those that reside in these regions , are not such as speak them to be christians or men , gifted with reason , but absolute devils ; hence it is , that the indians perceiving these actions committed by the heads as well as members , who are void of all compassion and humanity , do judge the christian laws to be of the same strain and temper , and that their god and king are the authors of such enormities : now to endeavour to work upon them a contrary perswasion is to no purpose ; for this would afford them a greater latitude and liberty to deride jesus christ and his laws . now the indians who protect and defend themselves by force of arms , think it more eligible , and far better to dye once , than suffer several and many deaths under the spanish power . this i know experimentally , most invincible caesar , &c. and he adds farther , your majesty is more powerful in subjects and servants , who frequent these kingdoms , then you can imagin . nor is there one soldier among them all , who does not publickly and openly profess , if he robs , steals , spoils , kills , burns his majesties subjects , 't is to purchase gold : he will not say that he therein does your majesty great service , for they affirm they do it to obtain their own share and dividend . wherefore , most invincible caesar , it would be a very prudential act for your majesty to testifie by a rigid correction and severe punishment of some malefactors , that it is disservice to you for your subjects to commit such evil acts , as tend to the disobedience and dishonour of the almighty . what you have read hitherto is the relation of the said bishop of st. martha , epitomized and extracted from his letters , whereby it is manifest , how savagely they handle these mild and affable people . they term them warlike indians , who betake themselves to the mountains to secure themselves from spanish cruelty ; and call them country indians , or inhabitants , who by a dreadful massacre are delivered up to a tyrannical and horrible servitude , whereby at length they are become depopulated , made desolate , and utterly destroy'd ; as appears by the epistle of the praemention'd bishop , who only gives us a slight account or essay of their persecutions and sufferings . the indians of this country use to break out into such words as these , when they are driven , loaded like brutes through the uncouth wayes in their journeys over the mountains , if they happen to faint through weakness , and miscarry through extremity of labour , ( for then they are kicked and cudgel'd , their teeth dasht out with the pummels of their swords to raise them up again , when tired and fallen under weighty burthens , and force them to go on without respiration , or time to take breath , and all this with the following increpation , or upbraiding and taunting words , o what a wicked villain art thou ? ) i say they burst out into these expressions , i am absolutely tir'd , kill me , i desire to dye , being weary of my life as well as my burthen and journey : and this not without deep heart-breaking sighs , they being scarce able to draw or breathe out their words , which are the characteristical notes , and infallible of the mind drowned in anguish and sorrow . may it please our merciful god to order the discovery of these crimes to be manifested to those persons , who are able and oblig'd to redress them . of the province of carthagena . this province is distant fifty miles from the isle of st. martha westward , and scituated on the confines of the country of cenusia , from whence it extends one hundred miles to the bay of vraba , and contains a very long tract of land southward . these provinces from the year 1498 to this present time were most barbarously us'd , and made desert by murder and slaughter , but that i may the sooner conclude this brief summary , i will not handle the particulars , to the end i may the better give an account of the detestable villanies that ruin'd other regions . of the pearl-coast , paria , and trinity-isle . the spaniards made great spoils and havock from the parian coast to the bay of venecuola , exclusively , which is about two hundred miles . it can hardly be exprest by tongue or pen how many , and how great injuries and injustices , the inhabitants of this sea-shore have endur'd from the year 1510 , to this day . i will only relate two or three piacular and criminal acts of the first magnitude , capable of comprehending all other enormities that deserve the sharpest torments , wit and malice can invent , and so make way for a deserved judgment upon them . a nameless pirate in the year 1510 , accompanied with a parcel of sixty or seventy , arriv'd at trinity-island , which exceeds sicile , both in amplitude and fertility , and is contiguous to the continent on that side where it toucheth upon paria , whose inhabitants , according to their quality , are more addicted to probity and vertue , than the rest of the indians ; who immediately published an edict , that all the inhabitants should come and cohabit with them . the indian lords and subjects gave them a debonair and brotherly reception , serving them with wonderful alacrity , furnishing them with dayly provisions in so plentiful a manner , that they might have sufficed a more numerous company ; for it is the mode among indians of this new world , to supply the spaniards very bountifully with all manner of necessaries . a short time after the spaniards built a stately house , which was an appartment for the indians , that they might accomplish their praemeditated designs , which was thus effected . when they were to thatch it , and had rais'd it two mens height , they inclos'd several of them there , to expedite the work , as they pretended , but in truth that they who were within , might not see those without ; thus part of them surrounded the house with sword in hand that no one should stir out , and part of them entred it , and bound the indians , menacing them with death , if they offered to move a foot ; and if any one endeavoured to escape , he was presently hackt in pieces ; but some of them partly wounded , and partly unwounded getting away , with others who went not into the house , about one hundred or two hundred , betook themselves to another house with bows and arrows ; and when they were all there , the spaniards secur'd the doors , throwing in fire at another place , and so they all perished . from hence they set sail to the island of st. john with near upon one hundred and eighty slaves , whom they had bound , where they sold one half of them , and thence to hispaniola , where they dispos'd of the rest . now when i taxed this captain with wickedness and treachery in the very isle of st. john , he dismist me with this answer ; forbear good sir. i had this in commission from those who sent me hither , that i should surprize them by the spetious pretense of peace , whom i could not sieze by open force ; and in truth this same captain told me with his own mouth , that in trinity-isle alone , he had met with a father and mother in civil usage , which he uttered to his greater confusion and the aggravation of his sins . the monks of our order of st. dominic on a certain time held a consult about sending one of their fraternity into this island , that by their preaching they might instruct them in the christian faith , and teach them the way to be sav'd , of which they were wholly ignorant . and to this end they sent thither a religious and licentiate in theolgie , ( or doctor in divinity , as we term it among us ) a man famous for his vertue and holiness with a laic his associate , to visit the country , converse with the inhabitants , and find out the most convenient places for the erection of monasteries . as soon as they were arriv'd according to custom , they were entertain'd like coelestial messengers , with great affection , joy and respect , as well as they could , for they were ignorant of their tongue , and so made use of signs , for the present . it hapned that after the departure of that vessel that brought these religious men , another came into the port , whose crew according to their hellish custom , fraudulently , and unknown to the religious brought away a prince of that province as captive , who was call'd alsonsus , ( for they are ambitious of a christian name , ) and forthwith desire without farther information , that he would baptize him : but the said lord alphonsus was deceitfully overperswaded to go on board of them with his wife and about seventeen more , pretending that they would give him a collation ; which the prince and they did , for he was confident , that the religious would by no means suffer him to be abus'd , for he had no so much confidence in the spaniards ; but as soon as they were upon deck , the perfidious rogues , set sail for hispaniola , where they were sold as slaves . the whole country being extreamly discompos'd , and understanding that their prince and princess were violently carried away , addressed themselves to these religioso's , who were in great danger of losing their lives : but they being made to understand this unjust action , were extraordinarily afflicted , and 't is probable would have suffered death , rather than permit the indians to be so injuriously dealt with , which might prove an obstruction to their receiving of , and believing in god's word . yet the indians were sedated by the promises of the religious ; for they told them , they would send letters by the first ship that was bound for hispaniola , whereby they would procure the restitution and return of their lord and his retinue . it pleased god to send a ship thither forthwith , to the greater confirming of the governours damnation , where in the letters they sent to the religious of hispaniola , letters containing repeated exclamations and protestations , and protest against such actions , but those that received them denyed them justice , for that they were partakers of that prey , made of those indians so injustly and impiously captivated . but when the religious , who had engag'd to the inhabitants , that their lord alphonsus should be restor'd within four moneths , and found that neither in four , nor eight moneths he was return'd , they prepar'd themselves for death , and to deliver up their life to christ , to whom they had offer'd it before their departure from spain : thus the innocent indians were revenged on the innocent priests ; for they were of opinion , that the religious had a hand in the plot , partly , because they found their promises that their lord should return within four moneths , ineffectual , and partly because the inhabitants make no difference between a religious frier and a spanish rogue . at another time it fell out likewise , through the rampant tyranny and cruel deeds of evil-minded christians , that the indians put to death two dominican friers , of which i am a faithful witness , escaping my self , not without a very great miracle , which transaction i resolve silently to pass over , lest i should terrifie the reader with the horror of the fact. in these provinces , there was a city seated on the bay of codera , whose lord was call'd higueroto , a name , either proper to persons , or common to the rulers of that place . a cacic of such signal clemency , and his subjects of such noted vertue , that the spaniards who came thither , were extraordinary welcom , furnished with provisions , enjoying peace and comfort , and no refreshment wanting : but a perfidious wretch got many of them on board , and sold them to the islanders of st. john. at the same time i landed upon that island , where i obtained a sight of this tyrant , and heard the relation of his actions . he utterly destroy'd that land , which the rest of the spaniards took very unkindly at his hands , who frequently playd the pirate , and rob'd on that shore , detesting it as a wicked thing , because they had lost that place , where they use to be treated with as great hospitality and freedom , as if they had been under their own roof : nay they transported from this place , among them , to the isles of hispaniola and st. john two millions of men and upward , and made the coast a desert . it is most certainly true , that they never ship off a vessel freighted with indians , but they pay a third part as tribute to the sea , besides those who are slaughter'd , when found in their own houses . now the soarce and original of all this is the ends they have propos'd to themselves . for there is a necessity of taking with them a great number of indians , that they may gain a great sum of mony by their sale , now the ships are very slenderly furnished with provisions and water in small quantity , to satisfie few , lest the tyrants , who are term'd owners or proprietors of ships should be at too great expence in victualling their vessels , nay they scarce carry food enough with them to maintain the spaniards that manage the vessel , which is the reason so many indians dye with hunger and thirst , and of necessity they must be thrown over-board : nay one of them told me this for a truth , that there being such a multitude of men thus destroy'd , a ship may sail from the isle of lucaya to hispaniola , which is a voyage of twenty leagues and upward , without chart or compass , by the sole direction on observation of dead fluctuating carkasses . but afterward , when arriv'd , and driven up into the isle whither they are brought to be sold , there is no person that is in some small measure compassionate , but would be extreamly mov'd and discompos'd at the sight ; viz. to spie old men and women , together with naked children half starv'd . then they separate parents from children , wives from their husbands , about ten or twenty in a company , and cast lots for them , that the detestable owners of the ships may have their share ; who prepare two or three ships , and equip them as a fleet of pirates , going ashore ravaging and forcing men out of their houses , and then robbing them : but when the lot of any one of them falls upon a parcel , that hath an aged or diseased man ; the tyrant , whose allotment he is , usually bursts out , as followeth . let this old fellow be damm'd , why do you bestow him upon me ; must i , think you , be at the charge of his burial ? and this sickly wretch , how comes he to be one of my allotted portion must i take care for his cure ? not i. hence you may guess what estimate and value the spaniards put upon indians , and whether they practise and fulfil that divine and heavenly precept injoyning mutual love and society . there can be nothing more cruel and detestable then the tyrannical usage of the spaniards towards indians in their pearl-fishing ; for the torments undergone in the unnatural exenteration and tearing out with paracidal hands the richer bowels of our common mother , or the inward cruciating racks of the most profligate , heaven daring desperado can admit of no comparison with these , although the extracting or digging for gold is one of the sharpese subterranean drudgeries , they plunge them down four or five ells deep under water , where swimming about without breathing , they eradicate and pull up oisters , wherein the pearls are engendred . sometimes they rise up to the superficies of the water with nets full of oisters for respiration and air , but if these miserable creatures stay but a little more then is ordinary to rest themselves the hangman is immediately upon them in a canow or small boat , who beating them with many stripes drag them by the hair of the head under water , that they may drudge again at their expi●cation or pearl fishing . their food is fish , and the same which contains the pearls and cassabus made of roots with a few mahids , the bread of that countrey ; in the former there is little or no nutriment or substance , and the other is not made without great trouble , nor for all this have they a sufficient allowance thereof to support nature . their lodging or bed is the earth confined to a pair of stocks , for fear they should run away : and it frequently happens that they are drown'd with the toil of this kind of fishing and never more seen , for the tuberoms and maroxi ( certain marine monsters that devour a complete proportioned man wholly at once ) prey upon them under water . you must consider withall , that it is impossible for the strongest constitution to continue long under water without breathing , and they ordinarily dye through the extream rigor of the cold , spitting blood which is occasioned by the too great compression of the breast , procreated by a continued holding breath under water , for by too much cold a profluvium of blood follows . their hair naturally black is changed into a combust , burnt or sun-colour like that of the sea wolves , their shoulders and backs covered , or overspread with a saltish humor that they appear rather like monsters in humane shape then men. they have destroy'd all the lucayans by this intolerable or rather diabolical exercise , for the accustomary emolument or gain of lucre , and by this means gain'd to the value of fifty , sometime one hundred crownsof every individual indian . they sell them ( though it was prohibited ) publickly ; for the lucayans were excellent swimmers , and several perished in this isle that came from other provinces . of the river yuya pari. this river washeth the province arising from its head or fountain in another region , two hundred miles off and better , by this a wretched tyrant entred it and laid waste the land for the space of many miles , and murder'd abundance of them by fire and sword , &c. at length he died violently , and all his forces moldred away of themselves , many succeeded him in his iniquity and cruelty and 〈◊〉 dayly destroy them , sending to hell the souls redeemed by the blood of the son of god. of the kingdom of venecuela . our sovereign lord the king in the year 1526 , over-perswaded by fallacious appearances ( for the spaniards use to conceal from his majesties knowledge the dammages and detriments , which god himself , the souls and state of the indians did suffer ) intrusted the kingdom of venecuela longer and larger then the spanish dominions , with its government and absolute jurisdiction to some german merchants , with power to make certain capitulations and conventions , who came into this kingdom with three hundred men , and there found a benign mild and peaceable people , as they were throughout the indies till injured by the spaniards . these more cruel then the rest beyond comparison , behav'd themselves more inhumanely then rapacious tygres wolves and lyons , for they had the jurisdiction of this kingdom , and therefore possessing it with the greater freedom from controul ; lay in wait and were the more vigilant with greater care and avarice to understand the practical part of heaping up wealth , and robbing the inhabitants of their gold and silver , surpassing all their predecessors in those indirect ways , rejecting wholly both the fear of their god and king , nay forgetting that they were born men with reasonable faculties . these incarnate devils laid waste and desolate four hundred miles of most fertile land , containing vast and wonderful provinces , most spatious and large valleys surrounded with hills , forty miles in length , and many towns richly abounding in gold and silver . they destroy'd so many and such considerable regions , that there is not one supernumerary witness left to relate the story , unless perchance some that lurkt in the caverns and womb of the earth to evade death by their inhumane swords embrew'd in innocent indian blood , escaped . i judge that they by new invented and unusual torments ruinated four or five millions of souls and sent them all to hell. i will give a taste of two or three of their transactions , that hereby you may guess at the rest . they made the supream lord of the province a slave , to squeeze his gold from him , racking him to extort his confession who escaping fled into the mountains , their common sanctuary , and his subjects lying absconded in the thickets of the woods , were stir'd up to sedition and tumult or mutiny . the spaniards follow and destroy many of them , but those that were taken alive and in their power were all publickly sold for slaves by the common crier . they were in all provinces they came into entertained and welcomed by the indians with songs , dances and rich presents but rewarded very ungratefully with bloodshed and slaughter . the german captain and tyrant caused several of them to be clapt into a thatcht house , and there cut in pieces ; but some of them to avoid falling by their bloody and merciless swords , climb'd up to the beams and rafters of the house , and the governour , hearing it ( o cruel brute ? ) commanded fire to be put to it and burnt them all alive , leaving the region desert and desolate . they also came to another stately province , bordering on st. martha ; whose inhabitants did them many egregious and notable services , bestowing on them innumerable quantities of gold besides many other gifts , but when they were upon departure , in retribution of their civil treating and deportment the german tyrant , commanded that all the indians , with their wives and children if possible , should be taken into custody : inclosed in some large capacious place , and that there it should be signified unto them , whosoever desired to be set at liberty should redeem himself at the will and pleasure ( as to price ; ) of the unjust governour , or at a certain rate imposed upon himself , his wife and every childs head ; and to expedite the business prohibited the administration or allowance of any food to them , till the gold required for redemption was paid down to the utmost grain . several of them sent home to discharge the demanded price of their redemption , and procur'd their freedom , as well as they could by one means or other , that so they might return to their livelihood and profession , but not long after he sent other rogues and robbers among them to re-enslave those that were redeemed . to the same gaol they are brought a second time , being instigated or rather constrained to a speedy redemption by hunger and thirst ; thus many of them were twice or thrice taken , captiv'd and redeemed ; but some who were not capable of depositing such a sum , perished there . farthermore this tyrant was big with an itching desire after the discovery of the perusian mines , which he did accomplish . nay should i enumerate the particular cruelties , slaughters , &c. committed by him though my discourse would not in the least be contrarint to the truth , yet it would not be beleived and only stupifie and amaze the reader . this course the other tyrants took who set sail from venecuela and st. martha ( with the same resolution of detecting the perusian golden , consecrated houses as them they esteemed ) who found the fruitful region so desolate , deserted , and wasted by fire and sword , that those cruel tyrants themselves were smitten with wonder and astonishment at the traces and ruins of such prodigious devastations . all these things and many more were prov'd by witnesses in the indian exchequer , and the records of their testimony were entred in that court , though these execrable tyrants burnt many of them that there might be little or nothing prov'd as a cause of those great devastations and evils perpetrated by them . for the minister of justice who have hitherto lived in india , through their obscure and damnable blindness , were not much sollicitous about the punishment of the crimes and butcheries which have been and are still committed by these tyrants , only they may say possibly because such a one , and such a one hath wickedly and barbarously dealt with the indians , that is the reason so great a summ of crowns in money is diminished already or retrenched from his majesties annual revenue , and this general and confused proof is sufficient ( as they worthily conceive ) to purge or repress such great and hainous crimes . and though they are but few , are not verified as they ought to be , nor do they attribute and lay upon them that stress and weight as they ought to do , for if they did perform their duty to god and the king ; it could not be made apparent as it may be , that these german tyrants have cheated and rob'd the king of three millions of gold and upward ; and thus these enemies to god and the king began to depopulate these regions and destroy them , cheating his majesty of two millions of gold per annum , nor can it be expected , that the detriment done to his majesty can possibly be retriev'd , as long as the sun and moon endures , unless god by a miracle should raise as many thousands from death to life , as have bin destroy'd . and these are the temporal dammages the king suffers . it would be also a work worthy the inquiry into , to consider how many cursed sacriledges and indignities god himself hath been affronted with to the dishonour of his name . and what recompence can be made for the loss of so many souls as are now tormented in hell by the cruelty and covetousness of these brutish german tyrants . but i will conclude all their impiety and barbarisme with one example , viz. that from the time they entred upon this country to this very day , that is , seventeen years , they have remitted many ships fraighted with indians to be sold as slaves to the isles of st. martha , hispaniola , jamaica , and st. john , selling a million of persons at the least , i speak modestly , and still do expose to sale to this very year of our lord 1542 , the king's council in this island seeing and knowing it , yet what they find to be manifest and apparent they connive at , permit and countenance , and wink at the horrid impieties and devastations innumerable which are committed on the coasts of this continent , extending four hundred miles in length , and continues still together with venecuela and st. martha under their jurisdiction , which they might easily have remedied and timely prevented . of the provinces of florida . three tyrants at several times made their entrance into these provinces since the year 1510 , or 1511 , to act those crimes which others , and two of these three made it their sole business to do in other regions , to the end , that they might advance themselves to higher dignities and promotions than they could deserve , by the effusion of blood and destruction of these people ; but at length they all were cut off by a violent death , and the houses which they formerly built and erected with the cement of humane blood , ( which i can sufficiently testifie of these three ) perished with them , and their memory rotten , and as absolutely washed away from off the face of the earth , as if they had never had a being . these men deserted these regions , leaving them in great distraction and confusion , nor were they branded with less notes of infamy , by the certain slaughters they perpetrated , though they were but few in number than the rest . for the just god cut them off before they did much mischief , and reserv'd the castigation and revenge of those evils which i know , and was an eye-witness of , to this very time and place . as to the fourth tyrant , who lately , that is , in the year 1538 , came hither well-furnished with men and ammunition , we have received no account these three years last past ; but we are very confident , that he , at his first arrival , acted like a bloody tyrant , even to extasie and madness , if he be still alive with his followers , and did injure , destroy , and consume a vast number of men ( for he was branded with infamous cruelty above all those who with their assistants committed crimes and enormities of the first magnitude in these kingdoms and provinces ) i conceive , god hath punished him with the same violent death , as he did other tyrants : but because my pen is wearied with relating such execrable and sanguinary deeds ( not of men but beasts ) i will trouble my self no longer with the dismal and fatal consequences thereof . these people were found by them to be wise , grave , and well dispos'd , though their usual butcheries and cruelties in oppressing them like brutes , with heavy burthens , did rack their minds with great terror and anguish . at their entry into a certain village , they were welcomed with great joy and exultation , replenished them with victuals , till they were all satisfied , yielding up to them above six hundred men to carry their bag and baggage , and like grooms to look after their horses : the spaniards departing thence , a captain related to the superiour tyrant returned thither to rob this ( no ways diffident or mistrustful ) people , and pierced their king through with a lance , of which wound he dyed upon the spot , and committed several other cruelties into the bargain . in another neighbouring town , whose inhabitants as they thought , were more vigilant and watchful , having had the news of their horrid acts and deeds , they barbarously murdered them all with their lances and swords , destroying all , young and old , great and small , lords and subjects without exception . the chief tyrant caused many indians ( above two hundred as 't is noised abroad ) whom he summon'd to appear before him out of another town , or else , who came voluntarily to pay their respects to him , to have their noses and lips to the very beard , cut off ; and thus in this grievous and wretched condition , the blood gushing out of their wounds , return'd them back , to give an infallible testimony of the works and miracles wrought by these preachers and ministers baptized in the catholick faith. now let all men judge what affection and love they bear to christianity ; to what purpose , or upon what account they believe there is a god , whom they preach and boast of to be good and just , and that his law which they profess ( and indeed only profess ) to be pure and immaculate . the mischiefs acted by these profligate wretches and sons of perdition were of the deepest die . at last this captain devoted to perdition dyed impenitent , nor do we in the least question , but that he is overwhelmed and buried in darkness infernal , unless god according to his infinite mercy and boundless clemency , not his own merits , ( he being contaminated and poison'd with execrable deeds , ) be pleas'd to compassionate and have mercy upon him . of the plate-river , that is , the silver-river . some captains since the year 1502 or 1503 undertook four or five voyages to the river of plate , which embraceth within its own arms great kingdoms and provinces , and is peopled by rational and well-temper'd inhabitants . in the general we are certified , that they were very injurious and bloody to them ; but they being far distant from those indians , we frequently discourse of , we are not able to give you a particular account of their transactions . yet beyond all controversie , they did , and still do go the same way to work , as others in several regions to this present time do , and have done ; for they are the same , ( and many in number too ) spaniards who went thither , that were the wicked instruments of other executions , and all of them aim at one and the same thing , namely to grow rich and wealthy , which they can never be , unless they steer the same course which others have followed , and tread the same paths in murdering , robbing and destroying poor indians . after i had committed to writing what i have prementioned , it was told me for a great truth , that they had laid waste in those countreys great kingdoms and provinces , dealing cruelly and bloodily with these harmless people , at a horrid rate , having a greater opportunity and convenience to be more infamous and rigid to them , then others , they being very remote from spain , living inordinately , like debauches , laying aside , and bidding farewel to all manner of justice , which is indeed a stranger in all the american regions , as is manifest by what hath been said already . but among the other numerous wicked acts following this is one that may be read in the indian courts . one of the governours commanded his soldiers to go to a certain village , and if they denyed them provisions , to put all the inhabitants to the sword : by vertue of this authority away they march , and because they would not yield to them above five thousand men as enemies , fearing rather to be seen , then guilty of illiberality , were cut off by the sword. also a certain number of men living in peace and tranquillity proffered their services to him ; who , as it fell out , were call'd before the governour , but deferring their appearance a little longer than ordinary , that he might infix their minds with a remark of horrible tyranny , he commanded , they should be deliver'd up , as prisoners to their mortal indian enemies , who beg'd with loud clamours and a deluge of tears , that they might be dispatcht out of this world by their own hands , rather than given up as a prey to the enemy ; yet being resolute , they would not depart out of the house wherein they were , so the spaniards hackt them in pieces limb by limb , who exclaim'd and cryed aloud , we came to visit and serve you peaceably and quietly , and you murder us ; our blood with which these walls are moistned and sprinkled will remain as an everlasting testimony of our unjust slaughter , and your barbarous cruelty . and really this piaculum or horrid crime deserves a commemoration , or rather speak more properly , the commiseration of all persons . of the vast kingdoms and spatious provinces of perusia . a notorious tyrant in the year 1531 , entred the kingdoms of perusia with his complices , upon the same account , and with the same pretences , and beginning at the same rate as others did ; he indeed being one of those who were exercised , and highly concern'd in the slaughters and cruelties committed on the continent ever since the year 1510 , he increased and heightned the cruelties , butcheries and rapine ; destroying and laying waste ( being a false-hearted faithless person ) the towns and villages , and murdering the inhabitants , which occasion'd all those evils , that succeeded in those regions afterward ! now to undertake the writing of a narrative of them , and represent them lively and naturally to the readers view , and perusal , is a work altogether impossible , but must lie concealed and unknown until they shall more openly and clearly appear , and be made visible to every eye , at the day of judgment . as for my part , if i should presume to unravel , in some , measure the deformity , quality and circumstances of those enormities , i must ingenuously confess i could by no means perform so burthensom a task , and render it compleat and as it ought to be . at his first admission into these parts , he had laid waste some towns , and rob'd them of a great quantity of gold , this he did in the infancy of his tyrannical attempts , when he arriv'd at pugna a neighbouring isle so called , he had the reception of an angel ; but about six moneths after , when the spaniards had spent all their provisions , they discover'd and opened the indians stores and granaries , which were laid up for the sustenance of themselves , wives and children against a time of death and scarcity , brought them forth with tears and weeping , to dispose of at pleasure : but they rewarded them with slaughter , slavery and depopulation as formerly . thence they betook themselves to the isle tumbala , scituate on the firm land , where they put to death all they met with . and because the people terrified with their abominable sins of commission , fled from their cruelty , they were accused of rebellion against the spanish king , this tyrant made use of this artifice , he commanded all that he took , or that had bestowed gold , silver and other rich gifts on him , still to load him with other presents , till he found they had exhausted their treasures , and were grown naked and incapable of affording him farther supplies , and then he declared them to be the vassals and subjects of the king of spain , ●●attening them , and proclaiming twice by sound of trumpet , that for the future he would not captivate or molest them any more , looking upon it as lawful to rob , and terrifie them with such messages as he had done , before he admitted them under the king's protection , as if from that very time , he had never rob'd , destroy'd or opprest them with tyrannical usage . not long after atu●●ba the king and supreme emperour of all these kingdoms , leading a great number of naked men , he himself being at the head of them , armed with ridiculous weapons , and wholly ignorant of the goodness of the spaniards bilbo-blades , the mortal dartings of their lances , and the strength of their horse , whose use and service was to him altogether unknown , and never so much as heard of before , and that the spaniards were sufficiently weapon'd to rob the devils themselves of gold , if they had any , came to the place where they then were ; saying , where are these spaniards ? let them appear , i will not stir a foot from hence till they give me satisfaction for my subjects whom they have slain , my towns they have reduc'd to ashes , and my riches they have stoln from me . the spaniards meet him , make a great slaughter of his men , and seize on the person of the king himself , who was carried in a chair or sedan on mens shoulders . there was a treaty had about his redemption , the king engaged to lay down four millions of crowns , as the purchase of his freedom , but fifteen were paid down upon the nail : they promise to set him at liberty , but contrary to all faith and truth according to their common custom ( for they always violated their promises with the indians ) they falsly imposed this upon him , that his people were got together in a body by his command ; but the king made answer , that throughout his dominions , not so much as a leaf upon a tree durst move without his authority and pleasure , and if any were assembled together , they must of necessity believe that it was done without his order , he being a captive , it being in their power to deprive him of his life , if any such thing should be ordered by him : notwithstanding which , they entred into a consultation to have him burnt alive , and a little while after the sentence was agreed upon ; but the captain at the intreaty of some persons commanded him first to be strangled , and afterward thrown into the fire . the king understanding the sentence of death past upon him , said ; why do you burn me ? what fact have i committed deserving death ? did you not promise to set me free for a sum of gold. and did i not give you a far larger quantity than i promised ? but if it is your pleasure so to do , send me to your king of spain , and thus using many words to the fame purpose , tending to the confusion and detestation of the spanish injustice , he was burnt to death . and here let us take into serious consideration the right and title they had to make this war , the captivity , sentence , and execution of this prince , and the conscience wherewith these tyrants have possessed themselves of vast treasures , which they have surreptitiously and fraudulently taken away from this king , and a great many more of the rulers of these kingdoms . but as to the great number of their enormities committed by those who stile themselves christians in order to the extirpation of this people , i will here repeat some of them , which in the very beginning were seen by a franciscan , confirm'd by his own letters , and signed with his hand and seal , sending some of them to the perusian provinces , and others to the kingdom of castile : a copy whereof i have in my custody , signed with his hand , as i said before ; the contents whereof follow . i frier marcus de xlicia , of the franciscan order , and praefect of the whole fraternity residing in the perusian provinces , one of the first among the religious , who arriv'd with the spaniards in these parts . i declare with incontrovertible and undeniable testimony , those transactions , which i saw with my own eyes , and particularly such as relate to the usage of the inhabitants of this region . in the first place i was an eye-witness , and am certainly assur'd , that these perusians are a people , who transcend all other indians in meekness , clemency , and love to spaniards ; and i have seen the indians bestow very liberally on them gold , silver , and jewels , being very serviceable to them many other wayes . nor did the indians ever betake themselves to their arms in an hostile manner , till by infinite injuries and cruelties they were compell'd thereunto : for on the contrary , they gave the spaniards an amicable and honourable reception in all their towns , and furnished them with provisions , and as many male and female servants as they required . i can also farther testifie , that the spaniards , without the least provocation on their part , as soon as they entred upon these territories , did burn at the stake their most potent cacic ataliba , prince of the whole country , after they had extorted from him above two millions of gold , and possessed themselves of his province , without the least opposition ; and cochilimaca , his captain general , who with other rulers came peaceably into them , follow'd him by the same fiery tryal and death . as also some few days after , the ruler of the province of quitonia , who was burnt , without any cause given , or crime laid to his charge . they likewise put schapera , prince of the canaries to the same death , and in like manner , burnt the feet of alvidis , the greatest of all the quitonian lords , and rackt him with other torments to extract from him a discovery of ataliba's treasure , whereof as appear'd after , he was totally ignorant . thus they treated cocopaganga , governour of all the provinces of quitonia , who being overcome with the intreaties of sebastian bernalcarus , the governours captain , went peaceably to pay them a visit ; but because he could not give them as much gold as they demanded , they burnt him with many other cacics and chief persons of quality . and as i understand , did it with this evil intention , that they might not leave one surviving lord or peer in the whole countrey . i also affirm that i saw with these eyes of mine the spaniards for no other reason , but only to gratifie their bloody mindedness , cut off the hands , noses , and ears , both of indians and indianesses , and that in so many places and parts , that it would be too prolix and tedious to relate them . nay , i have seen the spaniards let loose their dogs upon the indians to bair and tear them in pieces , and such a number of villages burnt by them , as cannot well be discover'd : farther this is a certain truth , that they snatched babes from the mothers embraces , and taking hold of their arms threw them away as far as they would from them : ( a pretty kind of barr-tossing recreation . ) they committed many other cruelties , which strook me with terror at the very sight of them , and would take up too much time in the relation . i likewise aver , that the spaniards gathered together as many indians as fill'd three houses , to which , for no cause , ( or a very inconsiderable one ) they set fire , and burnt every one of them : but a presbyter , ocana by name , chanced to snatch a little boy out of the fire , which being observ'd by a spaniard , he tore him out of his arms , and threw him into the midst of the flames , where he was with the rest , soon burnt to ashes , which spaniard the same day he committed that fact , returning to his quarters , dyed suddenly by the way , and i advised them not to give him christian burial . farthermore i saw them send to several cacics and principal indians , promising them a protecting passeport to travel peaceably and securely to them , who , no sooner came , but they were burnt ; two of them before my face , one at andonia , and the other at tnmbala , nor could i with all my perswasions and preaching to them prevail so far as to save them from the fire . and this i do maintain according to god and my own conscience , as far as i could possibly learn , that the inhabitants of perusia never promoted or raised any commotion or rebellion , though as it is manifest to all men , they were afflicted with evil dealings and cruel torments : and they , not without cause , the spaniards breaking their faith and word , betraying the truth , and tyrannically contrary to all law and justice , destroying them and the whole country , inflicting on them great injuries and losses , were more ready to prepare themselves for death , than still to fall at once into such great and irrecoverable miseries . nay i do declare , according to information from the indians themselves , that there are to this day far greater quantities of gold kept hid and concealed than ever were yet detected or brought to light , which by means of the spanish injustice and cruelty , they would not then , nor ever will discover so long as they are so barbarously treated , but will rather chose to dye with the herd . whereat the lord god is highly offended and the king hath very ill offices done him , for he is hereby defrauded of this region , which was sufficiently able to furnish all castile with necessaries , the recovery whereof can never be expected without great difficulty and vast expenses . thus far i have acquainted you with the very words of this religious franciscan , ratified by the bishop of mexico , who testifieth that the srid ftier marc did affirm and maintain what is above-mentioned . here is to be observ'd what this said frier was an eye-witness of ; for he travelled up in this countrey fifty or a hundred miles , for the space of nine or ten years , when as yet , few spaniards had got footing there , but afterward , at the noise of gold to be had there in great plenty , four or five thousand came thither , who spread themselves through those kingdoms and provinces the space of five or six hundred miles , which they made wholly desolate , committing the same , or greater cruelties than are before recited ; for in reality they destroyed from that time to these very days , above an hundred thousand poor souls more than he gives an account of , and with less fear of god and the king , nay , with less mercy have they destroyed the greatest part of mankind in these kingdoms , above four millions suffering by violent death . a few days after they darted to death with arrows made of reeds a puissant queen , the wife of a potentate , who still sways the imperial scepter of that kingdom , whom the spaniards had a design to take , which instigated him to raise a rebellion , and he still continues a rebel . they seized the queen his consort , and contrary to all law and equity murdered her , as is said before , who was then , as reported , big with child , only for this reason , that they might and fresh affliction and grief to her husband . of the new kingdom of granda . many tyrants there were , who set sail from venecuela , st. martha , and carthagena , hastening to the conquest of perusia , anno dom. 1539. and they accompanied with many more going farther from this region , endeavoured to penetrate into the heart of this countrey , where they found about three hundred miles from carthagena and st. martha , many admirable provinces and most fruitful land , furnished with an even-tempered or meek-spirited people , as they are in other parts of india ; very rich in gold and those sorts of precious stones known by the name of emralds : to which province they gave the name of granada , upon this account , because the tyrant who first arrived in these regions , was born in the kingdom of granada belonging to these parts ; now they that spoiled these provinces with their rapine being wicked , cruel , infamous butchers , and delighting in the essusion of humane hood , having practically experimented the piacular and grand enormities perpetrated among the indians ; and upon this account their diabolical actions are so great , so many in number , and represented so grievously horrid by circumstantial aggravations , that they exceed all the villanies committed by others , nay by themselves in other regions , i will only select and cull out a few out of so great a number , which have been transacted by them within these three years , for my present purpose . a certain governour , because he that went to commit depredations and spoils in the kingdom of granada , would not admit him , as a companion in his robberies and cruelties , set up an inquisition , and produced proofs confirmed by great evidence , whereby he palpably lays open , and proves the slaughters and homicides he committed , and persists in to this very day , which were read in the indian courts of judicature , and are there now recorded . in this inquisition the witnesses depose , that when all these kingdoms enjoy'd peace and tranquillity , the indians serv'd the spaniards , and got their living by constant day-labour in tilling and manuring the ground , bringing them much gold , and many gems , particularly emeralds , and what other commodities they could , and possessed , their cities and dominions being divided among the spaniards , to procure which is the chiefest of their care and pains ; and these are the proper measures they take to obtain their proposed ends , to wit , heaping and treasuring up of gold and riches . now when all the indians were under their accustomed tyranny : a certain tyrant , and chief commander , took the king and lord of the whole country , and detain'd him captive for six or seven moneths , demanding of him , without any reason , store of gold and emeralds . the said king , whose name was bogota , through fear , promised him a house of gold , hoping , in time , to escape out of his clutches , who thus plagu'd him , and sent some indians for gold , who frequently , and at several times , brought him a great quantity of gold , and many jewels ; but because the king did not , according to promise , bestow upon him an appartment made of pure gold , he must therefore forfeit his life . the tyrant commanded him to be brought to tryal before himself , and so they cite and summon to a tryal the greatest king in the whole region ; and the tyrant pronounced this sentence , that unless he did perform his golden promise he should be exposed to severe torments . they rackt him , poured boiling soap into his bowels , chain'd his legs to one post , and fastened his neck to another , two men holding his hands , and so applyed the scorching heat of the fire to his feet ; the tyrant himself often casting his eye upon him , and threatning him with death , if he did not give him the promised gold ; and thus with these kind of horrid torments , the said lord was destroy'd ; which while they were doing , god being willing to manifest how displeasing these cruelties are to his divine majesty , the whole city , that was the stage on which they were acted , was consumed by fire ; and the rest of the captains following his example , destroy'd all the lords of that region by fire and faggot . once it fell out , that many indians addressed themselves to the spaniards with all humility and simplicity , as they use to do , who thinking themselves safe and secure , behold the captain comes into the city , where they were to do their work , and commands all these indians , sleeping and taking their rest , after supper , being wearied with the heavy drudgery of the day , to be slain by the sword : and this stratagem he put in practice , to make a greater impression of fear on all the minds of the inhabitants ; and another time a certain captain commanded the spaniards to declare upon oath , how many cacics and indians every individual person had in his family at home , who were presently lead to a publick place , and lost their heads ; so there perisht , that bout , four or five hundred men. the witnesses depose this of a particular tyrant , that by beating , cutting off the hands and noses of many women as well as men , and destroying several persons in great numbers , he exercised horrid cruelties . then one of the captains sent this bloody tyrant into the province of bogota , to inquire who succeeded that prince there , whom he so barbarously and inhumanely murder'd , who traveling many miles in this country , took as many indians as he could get , some of which , because they did not tell him who was successor of this deceased prince , had their hands cut off , and others were exposed to hunger-starv'd currs , to be devour'd by them , and thus many of them perished miserably . another time about the fourth watch , early in the morning he fell upon several cacics , noblemen and other indians , who lookt upon themselves to be safe enough , ( for they had their faith and security given , that none of them should receive any damage or injury ) relying upon this , they left the mountains their lurking places , without any suspition or fear , and returned to their cities , but he seized on them all , and commanding them to extend their hands on the ground , cut them off with his own sword , saying , that he punished them after this manner , because they would not inform him what lord it was , that succeeded in that kingdom . the inhabitants of one of these provinces , perceiving that four or five of their governours were sent to the other world in a fiery vehicle or chariot , being terrified therewith , took to the mountains for sanctuary , there being four or five thousand in number , as appears by good evidence ; and the aforesaid captain sends a tyrant , more cruel than any of the rest after them . the spaniards ascend the mountain by force ( for the indians were naked and unarm'd ) proclaiming peace , if they would desist and lay down their arms , which the indians no sooner heard , but quitted their childish weapons ; and this was no sooner done but this sanguinary spaniard sent some to possess themselves of the fortifications , and they being secur'd , to attaque the indians . thus they , like wolves and lyons , did rush upon this flock of sheep , and were so tired with slaughter , that they were forced to desist for a while and take breath , which done , the captain commands them to fall to it again at the same bloody rate , and precipitate all that survived the butchery , from the top of the mountain , which was of a prodigious height ; and that was perform'd accordingly . and the witnesses farther declare upon oath , that they saw the bodies of about seven hundred indians falling from the mount at one time , like a cloud obscuring the air , who were all broken to pieces . this very tyrant came once to the city cota , where he surprized abundance of men , together with fifteen or twenty cacics of the highest rank and quality , whom he cast to the dogs to be torn limb-meal in pieces , and cut off the hands of several men and women , which being run through with a pole , were exposed to be view'd and gaz'd upon by the indians , where you might see at once seventy pair of hands , transfixed with poles ; nor is it to be forgotten , that he cut off the noses of many women and children . the witnesses farther depose , that the cruelties and great slaughters committed in the aforesaid new kingdom of granada , by this captain , and other tyrants , the destroyers of mankind , who accompany him , and have power still given them by him to exercise the same , are such and so hainous , that if his majesty does not opportunely apply some remedy , for the redress and prevention of such mischiess for the future , ( since the indians are daily slaughtered to accumulate and enrich themselves with gold , which the inhabitants have been so rob'd of , that they are now grown bare , for what they had , they have disposed to the spaniards already ) this kingdom will soon decay and be made desolate , and consequently the land being destitute of indians , who should manure it , will lye fallow and incultivated . and here is to be noted , how pestilential and inhumane the cruelty of these tyrants hath been , and how violently exercised , when as in two or three years space , they were all slain , and the country wholly desolate and deserted , as those that have been eye-witnesses can testifie ; they having acted like merciless men , not having the fear of god and the king before their eyes , but by the instigation of the devil ; so that it may well be said and affirmed , not one person will be left alive , unless his majesty does retard , and put a stop to the full career of their cruelties , which i am very apt to believe , for i have seen with these very eyes of mine , many kingdom laid waste and depopulated in a small time . there are other stately provinces on the confines of the new kingdom of granada , as popayan and cali , together with three or four more above five hundred miles in length , which they destroyed , in the same manner , as they have done other places , and laid them absolutely waste by the prementioned slaughters , who were very populous , and the soil very fruitful . they who came among us from those regions report , that nothing can be more deplorable or worthy of pity and commiseration , then to behold such large and great cities totally ruinated , and intombed in their own ashes , and that in a city adorn'd with 1000 or 2000 fabricks , there are hardly now to be seen 50 standing , the rest being utterly demolished , or consum'd and levelled to the ground by fire and in some parts regions of 100 miles length , ( containing spacious cities ) are found absolutely destroyed and consumed by fire . finally many great tyrants who came out of the perusian kingdoms by the quuonians travelled to the said new kingdom of granada and popayan , and by carthagena and the vrabae , they directed their course to calisium , and several other tyrants of carthagena assault quito , who joyn'd themselves in an intire body and wholly depopulated and laid waste that region for the space of 600 miles and upward , with the loss of a prodigious number of poor souls ; nor as yet do they treat the small remnant of so . great and innocent a people with more humanity then formerly . i desire therefore that the readers who have or shall peruse these passages , would please seriously to consider whether or no , such barbarous , cruel and inhumane acts as these do not transcend and exceed all the impiety and tyranny , which can enter into the thoughts or imagination of man , and whether these spaniards deserve not the name of devils . for which of these two things is more eligible or desirable whether the indians should be delivered up to the devils themselves to be tormented or the spaniards ? that is still a question . nor can i here omit one piece of villany , ( whether it ought to be postpon'd or come behind the cruelty of brute animals , that i leave to decision ) . the spaniards who are conversant among the indians bred up curst curs , who are so well instructed and taught that they at first sight , fly upon the inhabitants tearing them limb by limb , and so presently devour them . now let all persons whether christians or not consider , if ever such a thing as this reacht the ears of any man , they carry these dogs with them as companions where ever they go , and kill the fettered indians in multitudes like hogs for their food ; thus sharing with them in the butchery . nay they frequently call one to the other , saying , lend me the fourth part of one of your slaves to feed my dogs , and when i kill one , i will repay you , as if they had only borrowed a quarter of a hog or sheep . others , when they go a hunting early in the morning , upon their return , if you ask them what sport had you to day at the game ? they will answer , enough , enough , for my dogs have killed and worried 15 or 20 indian vassals . now all these things are plainly prov'd upon those inquisitions and examinations made by one tyrant against another . what i beseech you , can be more horrid or barbarous ? but i will desist from writing any longer at this time , till some messenger brings an account of greater and blacker impieties ( if greater can be committed ) or else till we come to behold them again , as we have done for the space of forty two years with our own eyes . i will only make this small addition to what i have said that the spaniards , from the beginning of their first entrance upon america to this present day , were no more sollicitous of promoting the preaching of the gospel of christ to these nations , then if they had been dogs or beasts , but which is worst of all , they expresly prohibited their addresses to the religious , laying many heavy impositions upon them , dayly afflicting and persecuting them , that they might not have so much time and leasure at their own disposal , as to attend their preaching and divine service ; for they lookt upon that to be an impediment to their getting gold , and raking up riches which their avarice stimulated them so boundlesly to prosecute . nor do they understand any more of a god , whether he be made of wood , brass or clay , then they did above an hundred years ago , new spain only exempted , which is a small part of america , and was visited and instructed by the religious . thus they did formerly and still do perish without true faith , or the knowledge and benefit of our religious sacraments . i frier bartholomeas de las casas or casaus of the order of st. dominick , who through they mercy of god am arriv'd at the spanish court , cordially wishing the expulsion of hell or these hellish acts out of the indies ; fearing least those souls redeemed by the pretious blood of christ , should perish eternally , but heartily desiring that they may acknowledge their creator and be saved ; as also for the care and compassion that i ever had for my native countrey castile , dreading least god should destroy it for the many sins committed by the natives her children , against faith , honour and their neighbours : i have at length upon the request of some persons of great quality in this court , who are servently zealous of the houour of god , and moved with pitty at the calamities and afflictions of their neighbours ( though i long since proposed it within my self , and resolved to accomplish it , but could not , being distracted with the avocations of multiplicity of constant business and employment , have leisure to effect it ) i say i have at length finished this treatise and summary at valencia , deceinb . 8. an. dom. 1542 , when they were arrived at the height , and utmost degree of executing violences , oppressions , tyranny , desolations , torments , and calamities in all the aforesaid regions , inhabited by the spaniards ( though they are more cruel in some places than other ) yet mexico with its confines were more favourably treated than the rest of the provinces . and indeed no man durst openly and publickly do any injury to the inhabitants ; for there some justice , ( which is no where else in india ) though very little is done and practised ; yet they are grievously opprest with intolerable taxes . but i do really believe , and am fully perswaded that our sovereign lord charles the fifth , emperour and king of spain , our lord and prince , who begins to be sensible of the wickedness and treacheries , which have been , and still are committed against this miserable nation , and distressed countries contrary to the will and pleasure of god , as well as his majesties that he will in time , ( for hitherto the truth hath been concealed and kept from his knowledge , with as great craft , as fraud and malice ) totally extirpate and root up all these evils and mischiefs , and apply such proper medicines an may purge the morbifick and peccant humours in the body politick of this new world , committed to his care and government as a lover and promoter of peace and tranquillity . god preserve and bless him with renown and a happy life in his imperial state , and prosper him in all his attempts , that he may remedy the distempers of the christian church , and crown him at last with eternal felicity , amen . after i had published this treatise , certain laws and constitutions , enacted by his majesty then at baraclona in the month of december , an. dom. 1542 , promulgated and published the year ensuing in the city of madera , whereby it is provided , ( as the present necessities requir'd ) that a period be put to such great enomrities and sins , as were committed against god and our neighbours , and tended to the utter ruine and perdition of this new world. these laws were published by his majesties order , several persons of highest authority , councellors , learned , and conscientious men , being assembled together for that purpose , and many debates made at valedolid about this weighty affair , at lenght by the unanimous consent and advice of all those who had committed their opinions to writing , they were made publick who traced more closely therein the laws of christ and christianity , and were judged persons pure , free from and innocent of that stain and blemish of depriving the indians of their treasures by theft and rapine , which riches had contaminated and fullied the hands , but much more the souls of those who were enslav'd by those heaps of wealth and covetousness , now this obstinate and hot pursuit after wealth was the original of all those evils committed without the least remorse or check of conscience . these laws being thus promulgated , the courtiers who promoted these tyrants , took care that several copies should be transcribed , ( though they were extremely afflicted to see , that there was no farther hopes or means to promote the former depredations and extortions by the tyranny aforesaid ) and sent them to several indian provinces . they , who took upon them the trouble and care of extirpating , and oppressing by different ways of cruelty , as they never observed by method or . order , but behav'd themselves most inordinately and irregularly , having perused these diplomata or constitutions , before the new made judges , appointed to put them in execution , could arrive or be landed , they by the assistance of those ( as 't is credibly rumour'd , nor is it repugnant to truth ) who hitherto favour'd their criminal and violent actions , knowing well that these laws and proclamations must necessarily take effect , began to grow mutinous , and rebel , and when the judges were landed , who were to execute these mandates , laying aside all manner of love and fear of god , were so audacious as to contemn and set at nought all the ●●verence and obedience due to their king , and so became traytors , demeaning themselves like blood-thirsty tyrants , costitute and void of all humanity . more particularly this appear'd in the perusian kingdoms , where an. dom. 1542 , they acted such horrid and stuendous enormities , that the like were never known or heard in america , or throughout the whole world before that time . nor were they only practised upon the indians , who were mostly destroy'd , but upon themselves also , god permitting them by his just judgment to be their own executioners , and sheath their swords in one anothers bowels . in like manner the other parts of this new world being moved by the example of these rebels , refused to yield obedience to those laws . the rest pretending to petition his majesty turn rebellious themselves ; for they would not voluntarily resign those estates , goods and chattels they have already usurped , nor willingly manumit those indians , who were doomed to be their slaves , during life ; and where they restrain'd the murdering sword from doing execution , they opprest them gradually with personal vassalage , injust and intolerable burthens ; which his majesty could not possibly hitherto avert or hinder , because they are all universally , as well those of high , as low degrees ; some more , some less , some publickly and openly , others clancularly and secretly , so naturally addicted to rob , thieve and steal ; and thus under pretext of serving the king , they dishonour god , and defraud his imperial majesty . here the author having finished the matter of fact in this compendious history , for confirmation of what he has here written , quotes a tedious and imperfect epistle ( as he styles it ) beginning and ending abruptly and anonymous withal , contanining the cruelties committed by the spaniards , the same in effect as our author has prementioned , now in regard that i judge such reiterated cruelties and repeated barbarisms are offensive to the reader , he having sailed already too long , and too far in an ocean of innocent indian blood : i have omitted all but two or three stories not taken notice of by the author . one of the tyrants , ( who followed the steps of john ampudia , a notorious villain ) gave way to a great slaughter of sheep the chief food and support of the spaniards as well as indians , permitting them to kill two or three hundred at a time , only for their brains , fat , or suet , whose flesh was then altogether useless , and not fit to be eaten ; but many indians , the spaniards friends and confederates followed them , desiring they might have the hearts to feed upon , whereupon they butchered a great many of them , for this only reason , because they would not eat the other parts of the body . two of their gang in the province of peru kild twenty five sheep , who were sold among the spaniards for twenty five crowns , merely to get the fat and brains out of them : thus by the frequent and extraordinary slaughter of their sheep above a hundred thousand head of cattel were destroy'd . and upon this account the region was reduced to great penury and want , and at length perished with hunger . nay the province of quito , which abounded with corn beyond expression , by such proceedings as these , was brought to that extremity that a sextarie or small measure of wheat was sold for ten crowns , and a sheep at as dear a rate . this captain taking leave of quito was followed by a poor indianess with loud cries and clamours , begging and beseeching him not to carry away her husband ; for she had the charge of three children , and could not possibly supply them with victuals , but they must inevitably dye with hunger , and though the captain repulsed her with an angry brow at the first ; yet she approacht him a second time with repeated cries , saying , that her children must perish for want of food ; but finding the captain inexorable and altogether unmov'd with her complaints , and her husband not restor'd , through a piquant necessity wedded to despair ; she cut off the heads of her children with sharp stones , and so dispatcht them into the other world. then he proceeded farther to another city , and sent some spaniards that very night , to take the indians of the city of tulilicui , who next day brought with them above a hundred persons ; some of which ( whom he lookt upon to be able to carry burthens ) he reserved for his own and his soldiers service , and others were chain'd , and perished in their fetters : but the little infants he gave to the cacic of tulilicui , abovesaid to be eaten up and devoured , whose skins are stuft with ashes & hang up in his house to be seen at this very day . and in the close of this letter he shuts up all with these words , 't is here very remarkable and never to be forgotten , that this tyrant ( being not ignorant of the mischiefs and enormities executed by him ) boastingly said of himself , they who shall travel in these countreys fifty years hence , and hear the things related of me , will have cause to say & declare , that never such a tyrant as i am marched through these regions , and committed the like enormities . now not to quit the stage without one comical scene or action whereon such cruelties have been lively personated , give me leave to acquaint you with a comical piece of grammatical learning in a reverend religioso of these parts , sent thither to convert the west-indian pagans , which the author mentions among his reasons and replications , and all those i pass by as immaterial to our purpose , many of them being repeated in the narrative before . the weight and burthen of initiating the indians into the christian faith lay solely on the spaniards at first ; and therefore joannes colmenero in sancta martha , a fantastic , ignorant , and foppish fellow , was under examination before us ( and he had one of the most spatious cities committed to his charge as well as the care and cure of the souls of the inhabitants ) whether he understood how to fortifie himself with the sign of the cross against the wicked and impious , and being interrogated what he taught , and how he instructed the indians , whose souls were instrusted to his care and conduct ; he return'd this answer , that if he damn'd them to the devils and furies of holl , it was sufficient to retrieve them , if he pronounced these words , per signin sanctin cruces . a fellow fitter to be a hogherd than a shepherd of souls . this deep , bloody american tragedy is now concluded , and my pen choakt up with indian blood and gore : i have no more to say , but pronounce the epilogue made by the author , and leave the reader to judge whether it deserves a plaudite . the spaniards first set sail to america , not for the honour of god , or as persons moved and incited thereunto by fervent zeal to the true faith , nor to promote the salvation of their neighbours , nor to serve the king , as they falsely boast and pretend to do , but in truth , only stimulated and goaded on by insatiable avarice and ambition , that they might for ever domineer , command , and tyrannize over the west-indians , whose kingdoms they hoped to divide and distribute among themselves . which to deal candidly is no more nor less intentionally , than by all these indirect wayes to disappoint and expel the kings of castile out of those dominions and territories , that they themselves having usurped the supreme and regal empire , might first challenge it as their right , and men possess and enjoy it . finis . a true and exact account of the wars with spain, in the reign of q. elizabeth (of famous memory) being the particulars of what happened between the english and spanish fleets, from the years 1585 to 1602, shewing the expeditions, attempts, fights, designs, escapes, successes, errors, &c. on both sides : with the names of her majesty's ships and commanders in every fleet : being a patern and warning to future ages : never printed before / written by sir william monson ... monson, william, sir, 1569-1643. 1682 approx. 189 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 29 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a51174 wing m2466 estc r2957 12185524 ocm 12185524 55770 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a51174) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 55770) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 610:10) a true and exact account of the wars with spain, in the reign of q. elizabeth (of famous memory) being the particulars of what happened between the english and spanish fleets, from the years 1585 to 1602, shewing the expeditions, attempts, fights, designs, escapes, successes, errors, &c. on both sides : with the names of her majesty's ships and commanders in every fleet : being a patern and warning to future ages : never printed before / written by sir william monson ... monson, william, sir, 1569-1643. [2], 55 p. printed for w. crooke, and sold by w. davis ..., london : 1682. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng england and wales. -royal navy. great britain -history, naval. great britain -history -elizabeth, 1558-1603. spain -history, naval. 2003-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-06 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-10 ben griffin sampled and proofread 2004-10 ben griffin text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-01 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a true and exact account of the wars with spain , in the reign of q. elizabeth , ( of famous memory . ) being the particulars of what happened between the english and spanish fleets , from the years 1585 to 1602. shewing the expeditions , attempts , fights , designs , escapes , successes , errors , &c. on both sides . with the names of her majesty's ships and commanders in every fleet. being a patern and warning to future ages . never printed before . written by sir william monson , who was a captain in most , and admiral of several of those fleets in the said wars , and dedicated to his son. london , printed for w. crooke , and sold by w. davis in amen corner . m.dc.lxxxii . sir william monson to his son john . dear son , the custom of dedicating books hath been ancient , and they have been usually dedicated either to great persons , for protection or remuneration ; or to familiars , out of friendship and affection ; or to children , in respect of nature and for admonition . and to this end it is , that to you i commend the reading of the discourse following ; that so beholding the 18 years war by sea , which for want of years you could not then remember ; and comparing them with the 18 years of peace , in which you have lived , you may consider three things . first , that after so many pains and perils god hath lent life to your father to further your education . secondly , what proportion his recompence and rewards have had to his services . lastly , what just cause you have to abandon the thoughts of such dangerous and uncertain courses ; and that you may follow the ensuing precepts , which i commend to your often perusal . and in the first place , i will put you in mind of the small means and fortune i shall leave , that you may rate your expences accordingly ; and yet as little as it is , 't is great to me , in respect i attained to it by my own endeavours and dangers , and therefore no body can challenge interest in it but my self , though your carriage may promise the best possibility . beware you presume not so much upon it , as thereby to grow disobedient to your parents ; for what you can pretend to , is but the privilege of two years of age above your younger brother ; and in such cases fathers are like judges , that can and will distinguish of offences and deserts according to truth , and will reward and punish as they shall see cause . and because you shall know it is no rare or new thing for a man to dispose of his own , i will lay before you a precedent of your own house , that so often as you think of it , you may remember it with fear , and prevent it with care . the great grandfather of your grandfather was a knight by title , and john by name , which name we desire to retain to our eldest sons ; god blessed him with many earthly benefits , as wealth , children , and reputation ; his eldest son was called john after his father , and his second william like to yourself and brother ; but upon what displeasure i know not , ( although we must judge the son gave the occasion ) his father left him the least part of his fortune , though sufficient to equal the best gentleman of his shire , and particularly the ancient house called after his name . his other son william he invested with what your uncle now enjoys . both the sons whilest they lived carried the port and estimation of their fathers children , though afterwards it fell out that the son of john , and nephew to william , became disobedient , negligent , and prodigal , and spent all his patrimony ; so that in conclusion he and his son extinguished their house , and there now remains no memory of them . as for the second line and race , of whom your uncle and i descended , we live as you see , though our estates be not great , and of the two mine much the least ; which notwithstanding is the greater to me in respect i atchieved it with the peril and danger of my life ; and you will make my contentment in the enjoyment of it the greater , if it be accompanied with that comfort i hope to receive from you . the next thing i will handle shall be arms. know that wars by land or sea are always accompanied with infinite dangers and disasters , and seldom rewarded according to merit : for one souldier that lives to enjoy that preferment which becomes his right by antiquity of service , ten thousand fall by the sword and other casualties : and if you compare that of a souldier with any other calling or profession , you will find much difference both in the reward and danger although arms have been esteemed in all ages , and the more as there was greater occasion to use them ; yet you shall find they have been always subject to jealousies and envy ; jealousies from the state , if the general or other officer grow great and popular ; subject to envy from inferiors , who through their perverse and ill dispositions malign other mens merits . the advancement of souldiers is commonly made by councellors at home , whose eyes cannot witness the services performed abroad ; but a man is advanced as he is befriended , which makes the souldiers preferment as uncertain as his life is casual . compare the estate and advancement of souldiers of our time but with the mean and mercenary lawyer , and you shall find so great a difference , that i had rather you should become apprentice to the one , than make profession of the other . a captain that will seek to get the love of his souldiers . as his greatest praise and felicity , of all other vices must detest and abandon covetousness ; he must live by spending as the miser doth by sparing ; insomuch as few of them can obtain by war wherewith to maintain themselves in peace , and where wealth wants preferment fails . souldiers that live in peaceable islands , as in england , their profession is undervalued , because we see not those dangers which make the souldiers necessary , as others do where wars are practised . and the good success in our wars hath been such as makes us attribute our victories , not so much to valour as to chance . i confess the base and ill behaviour of some souldiers , hath made themselves and their callings the less esteemed ; for the name of a captain , which was ever wont to be honourable , is now became a word of reproach and disdain . souldiers may have reputation , but little credit ; reputation enough to defend their honours , but little trust in commerce of the world ; and not without cause , for their security is the worse , by how much the danger of death is the greater . learning is as much to be preferred before war , as the trade of a merchant before that of the factor . by learning you are made sensible of the difference betwixt men and other creatures , and will be able to judge between the good and the bad , and how to walk accordingly . by learning you attain to the knowledge of heavenly mysteries , and you may frame your life accordingly , as god shall give you grace . by learning you are made capable of preferment , if it concur with virtue and discretion ; and the rather because you are a gentleman by birth , and of good alliance , which i observe next to money in this golden age is the second step to advancement . for one that is preferred by arms , there are twenty by learning ; and indeed the souldier is but a servant to the learned , for after his many fought battels , and as many dangers of his life , he must yield account of his actions , and be judged , corrected , and advanced as it shall please the other . you may wonder to hear me extoll learning so highly above my own profession , considering the poor fortune i shall leave was atchieved by arms ; it is enough therefore to persuade you what i say is not conjectural but approved : for if i did not find this difference , the natural affection of a father to a son would make me discover it to you , that you may follow that which is most probable and profitable . good son , love souldiers for your countries sake , who are the defenders of it ; for my sake , who have made profession of it ; but shun the practice of it as you will do brawls , quarrels , and suits , which bring with them perplexities , and dangers . there are many things to be shunned , as being perillous both to body and soul ; as quarrels and occasions of them , which happen through the enormities and abuses of our age. esteem valour as a special virtue , but shun quarrelling as a most detestable vice . of two evils it were better to keep company with a coward than a quarreller ; the one is commonly sociable and friendly , the other dangerous in his acquaintance , and offensive to standers by . he is never free from peril , that is conversant with a quarreller , either for offence given to himself , or to others wherein he may be engaged . a true valiant man shall have enough to do to defend his own reputation without engaging for others : nor are all valiant that will fight , there 〈…〉 discretion makes a difference betwixt valour and desperateness . no 〈…〉 can happen more unfortunate to a gentleman , than to have a quarrel , 〈◊〉 yet nothing so ordinary as to give offence ; it draweth with it many mischiefs both to body and soul : being slain he is danger of damnation , and no less if he kill the other without great repentance . he shall perpetually live in danger of revenge from the friends of the party killed , and fall into the mercy of the prince and law where he liveth , but if for fear and baseness he avoid and shun a quarrel , he is more odious living than he would be unhappy in dying . drinking is the foundation of other vices , it is the cause of quarrels , and then follows murders . it occasions swearing , whoredom , and many other vices depend upon it . when you behold a drunkard , imagine you see a beast in the shape of a man. it is a humour that for the time pleaseth the party drunk , and so bereaves him of sence , that he thinketh all he doth delighteth the beholders ; but the day following he buys his shame with repentance , and perhaps gives that offence in his drunkenness , that makes him hazard both life and reputation in a quarrel . you have no man that will brag or boast so much of the word reputation as a drunkard , when indeed there is nothing more to a mans imputation than to be drunk . a drunkard is in the condition of an excommunicated person , whose testimony betwixt party and party is of no validity . avoid ( good son ) the company of a drunkard , and occasions of drinking , then shall you live free without fear , and enjoy your own without hazard . whoredom is an incident to drunkenness , though on the contrary all whoremasters are not drunkards . it is a sin not washed away without the vengeance of god to the third and fourth generation . besides the offence to god , it giveth a disreputation to the party and his of-spring , it occasioneth a breach betwixt man and wife , encourageth the wife oftentimes to follow the ill example of her husband , and then ensueth dislike , divorce , disinheriting of children , suits in law , and consuming of estates . the next and worst sin i would have you shun is swearing . i do not advise you like a puritan , that ties a man more to the observing of sundays , and from taking the name of god in vain , than to all the rest of the commandments : but i wish you to avoid it for the greatness of the sin it self , for the plague of god hangeth over the house of the blasphemer . swearing is odious to the hearers , it giveth little credit to the words of him that useth it , it affordeth no pleasure as other sins do , nor yieldeth any profit to the party ; custom begetteth it , and custom must make one leave it . for your exercises let them be of two kinds , the one of mind , the other of body ; that of the mind must consist of prayer , meditation , and your book ; let your prayers be twice a day , howsoever you dispose of your self the rest of the time ; prayers work a great effect in a contrite and penitent heart . by this i do not seek to persuade you from such exercises and delights of body as are lawful and allowable in a gentleman ; for such increase health and agility of body , make a man sociable in company , and draw good acquaintants ; many times they bring a man into favour with a prince , and prove an occasion of preferment in his marriage ; they are often times a safeguard to a mans life , as in vaulting suddenly upon a horse to escape an enemy . i will especially commend unto you such pleasures as bring delight and content without charge ; for others are fitter for greater men than one of your fortune to follow . hawking and hunting , if they be moderately used , are like tobacco , in some cases wholesom for the body , but in the common use both laboursom and loathsom ; they alike bring one discommodity , ( as comonly vices do ) that they are not so easily left as entertained . tobacco is hot and hurtful to young bodies and stomachs , and augments the heat of the liver , which naturally you are subject to . it is offensive to company , especially the breath of him that takes it ; it drieth the brain , and many become fools with the continual use thereof . let your apparel be handsom and decent , not curious nor costly . a wise man is more esteemed in his plain cloth than gay clothing . it is more commendable to be able to buy a rich suit than to wear one . a wise man esteems more of a mans vertues and valour than of his vesture ; but seeing this age is fantastical and changeable , you must fashion your self to it , but in so mean and moderate a manner , as to be rather praised for frugality , than derided for prodigality . he that delights in curious cloaths is an imitator of a player , who measures his apparel by the part he acts . and as players appear upon the stage to be seen of the spectators , so do the gallants proclaim their braveries in open assemblies . whilest i live and you not marry , i shall temper this expence ; but when i die remember what i say , seek advancement rather by your carriage ; the curiousness , the reputation you gain by that will be lasting , when this will appear but like a flower sading . frame your course of life to the country and not to the court ; and yet make not your self such a stranger to great persons , as in assemblies they should ask others who you are . i confess the greatest and suddenest rising is by the court ; yet the court is like a hopeful and forward spring , that is taken with a sharp and cold frost , which nips and blasts a whole orchard except 2 or 3 trees ; for after that proportion commonly courtiers are preferr'd . and he that will thrive at court must make his dependency upon some great person , in whose ship he must imbarque all his hopes ; aud how unfortunate such great persons are oftentimes themselves , and how unthankful to their followers , we want not precedents . he that settles his service upon one of them shall fall into the disfavour of another ; for a court is like an army ever in war , striving by stratagems to circumvent and kick up one anothers heels , you are not ignorant of the aptness of this comparison by what you know of me , whose case will serve you for a prospective-glass , wherein to behold your danger afar off , the better to prevent it . yet reverence lords because they are noble , and one more than another , as he is more notable in virtue . be choice of your company ; for as a man makes election of them he is censured : man lives by reputation , and that failing he becomes a monster . let your company consist of your own rank , rather better than worse ; for hold it for a maxim , the better gentleman the more gentle in his behaviour . beware they be not accused of crimes , for so it may touch you in credit ; and if you lose your reputation in the bud of your youth , you shall scarce recover it in the whole course of your life . let them be civil in carriage , for commonly such men are sensible above all ; let them be learned , for learning is a fountain from whence springs another life ; let them be temperate in diet and expence , so shall you learn to live in health , and increase in wealth . beware they be not cholerick in disposition , or arrogant in opinion ; for so you shall become a slave to their humours , and base by suffering . a cholerick man of all others is the worst companion , for he cannot temper his rage , but on any slight occasion of a friend becomes an enemy . value true friendship next to marriage , which nothing but death can dissolve ; for the sickleness of friendship is oftentimes the ruine of ones fortune . beware of gaming , for it causes great vexation of mind . if you lose , it begets in you that humour , that out of hope of regaining your losses , you will endanger the loss of all . do not presume too much of your skill in play , or making wagers as if you were excellent above others , or have fortune at command ; for she is like a whore variable and inconstant , and when she disfavours you , it is with more loss at once than she recompenceth at twice . love your brother and sisters for their own sakes , as you are bound by nature , but especially for mine whose they are . remember you are all indifferent to me , but that god chose you from the rest to be a strength and stay to them ; think you cannot honour your father more being dead , than in shewing affection to them he dearly loved ; and nothing will more approve you to be mine , than love and kindness amongst your selves . you owe somewhat more to me than that i am your father , in that i seek your advancement above theirs , of which obligation i will acquit you conditionally you perform what you ought to them . for because man cannot himself live ever , he desires to live in his posterity ; and if i had an hundred sons , my greatest hope must depend upon you as you are my eldest , and seeing my care is of you above the rest , do not make my memory so unhappy , as to give the world an occasion to say , i left an unnatural son. the onely request i make is , be kind and loving to them , who i know by their disposition will give you no cause of offence . a discourtesie from you will be as sharp to them as a razor from another . be courteous and friendly to all , for men are esteemed according to ther carriage . there is an old proverb , the courtesie of the mouth is of great value , and costs little . a proud man is envied of his equals , hated by his inferious , and scorned by his superiours ; so that betwixt envy , hate , and scorn he is friendless . many times a man is condemned to death out of presumption , especially when it concurrs with an opinion of his former ill carriage : how much therefore doth it concern a man in the times of his prosperity to lay up a stock of love and reputation ? there cannot be a greater honour than to gain a mans enemy by a courtesie ; it far exceeds the kindness that is done to another , and doubly obligeth him that receiveth it . love is a thing desired by a king from his subjects , by a general from his souldiers , and by a master from his servants ; he that hath it is rich by it , it maintains peace in time of peace , and is a safe bulwork in time of war. do not buy this love with the ruine of your estate , as many do with prodigal expences , and then are requited with pity and derision . let your expence be agreeable to the wearing of your cloaths , better or worse according to company ; or the journying your horse , the less way you go to day , you may travel the further to morrow ; but if you go every day a long and wearisom journey , your horse will fail , and you be enforc'd to go on foot . and so will it be in your expences , if you do not moderate them according to days and companies , your horse and you may travel faintly together . if you are prodigal in any thing , let it be in hospitality , as most agreeable to the will of god , you shall feed the hungry , relieve the poor , and get the love of the rich . what you spend among your neighbours is not lost , but procures their loves and helps when you have need , and thereby you shall find friendship in the country as available as favour at court. if you are called to any place of magistracy , do justice with pity , revenge not your self of your enemy under colour of authority , for that shews baseness , and will procure you hatred . in money matters favour your country , if it be not against the present profit of the king , for many times his name is used for the gain of other men . study the laws , not to make a mercenary practice of them , but onely for your own use , the good of your neighbours , and the government of your country . hold the laws in reverence next to the king ; for that kingdom is well governed where the king is ruled by the laws , not the laws by the king. be not presumptuous in your command , yet seek to be obeyed as you desire to obey ; for as you are above others , others are above you . give your mind to accommodate controversies among your neighbours , and you shall gain their love , which will more avail you than the hate of the lawyers can hurt you . punish idleness and other vices , as well for that they are such , as for examples sake . gain love by doing justice , and hate doing wrong , though it were to your immediate profit . if you marry after my death , chuse a wife as near as you can suitable to your calling , years , and condition ; for such marriages are made in heaven , though celebrated on earth . if your estate were great , your choice might be the freer ; but where the preferment of your sisters must depend upon your wives portion , let not your fancy overrule your necessity . it is an old saying , he that marrieth for love hath evil days and good nights : consider if you marry for affection , how long you will be raising portions for your sisters , and the misery you shall live in all the days of your life ; for the greatest fortune that a man can expect is in his marriage . a wise man is known by his actions , but where passion and affection sway , that man is deprived of sence and understanding . it is not the poverty or meanness of her that 's married that makes her the better wife , for commonly such women grow elevated , and are no more mindful of what they have been , than a mariner is of his escape from a danger at sea when it is past . you must set your wife a good example by your own carriage , for a wise and discreet husband usually makes an obedient and dutiful wife . beware of jealousie , for it causeth great vexation of mind , and scorn and laughter from your enemies . many times it is occasioned by the behaviour of the husband towards other women : in that case do like the physician , take away the cause of the infirmity , if not you are worthy to feel the smart of it . jealousie is grounded upon conceit and imagination , proceeds from a weak ; idle , and distempered brain ; and the unworthy carriage of him that is jealous , many times maketh a woman do what otherwise she would not . if god be pleased to give you children , love them with that discretion that they discern it not , lest they too much presume upon it . encourage them in things that are good , and correct them if they offend . the love of god to man cannot be better expressed , than by that of a father to his children . comforts of crosses they prove to their parents , and herein education is a great help to nature . let your children make you to disrelish and abandon all other delights and pleasures of the world , in respect of the comfort and joy you receive by them . make account then that somer is past , and the melancholy winter approacheth ; for a careful and provident father cannot take delight in the world and provide for his children . for a conclusion i will recommend two principal virtues to you , the one is secrecy , the other patience . secrecy is necessarily required in all , especially publick persons , for many times they are trusted with things , the revealing whereof may cost them their lives , and hinder the designs of their masters . it is a folly to trust any man with a secret , that can give no assistance in the business he is trusted with . councellors of state and generals , of armies , of all other ought to be most secret , for their designs being once discovered , their enterprizes fail . silence was so much esteemed among the persians , that she was adored for a goddess . the romans kept their expeditions so secret , as that alone was a principal cause of their victories . but of all others trust not women with a secret , for the weakness of their sex makes them unsecret . be patient after the example of job , and you shall become a true servant of god. patience deserveth to be painted with a sword in her hand , for she conquers and subdues all difficulties . if you will take advantage of your enemy , make him cholerick , and by patience you shall overcome him . marcus aurelius being both emperour and philosopher confessed , he attained not the empire by philosophy but by patience . what man in the world was ever so patient as our saviour himself , by following whose example his ministers have converted more by their words , then all the persecuting emperours could deferr by rigour or cruelty of laws . the impatient man contests with god himself , who giveth and taketh away at his good will and pleasure . let me ( good son ) be your patern of patience , for you can witness with me , that the disgraces i have unjustly suffered , ( my estate being through my misfortunes ruined , my health by imprisonments decayed , and my services undervalued and unrecompensed ) have not bred the least distaste or discontent in me , or altered my resolution from my infancy ; that is , i was never so base as to insinuate into any mans favour , who was favoured by the times . i was never so ambitious as to seek or crave imployment , or to undertake any that was not put upon me . my great and onely comfort is , that i served my princes both faithfully and fortunately ; but seeing my services have been no better accepted , i can as well content my self in being a spectator , as if i were an actor in the world . before i treat of the sea i will shew what laws richard the first established in his expedition by sea , which in some points are observed to this day . 1. that whosoever should kill a man , should be tied to him killed , and thrown into the sea with him . 2. if any be killed on land , the party to be buried alive with him killed . 3. whosoever shall strike another , and not draw bloud , shall be duck'd three times at the yards arm. 4. whosoever revileth or curseth another , so often as he revileth shall pay an ounce of silver . 5. whosoever draweth his knife , or draweth bloud , shall lose his hand . 6. whosoever doth steal , shall have his head shorn , and boiled pitch poured upon it , and feathers strewed upon the same , whereby he may be known ; and at the first landing place he shall be towed on shore . a yearly account of the english and spanish fleets , which were set forth from the year 1585 , when the wars with spain first began , untill the year 1602 , when king james made his happy entrance into this kingdom ; shewing the designs , escapes , and errors on both english and spanish sides , with the names of the queens ships and commanders in every expedition . a voyage of sir francis drake . to the west indies , anno dom. 1585. ships . the elizabeth bonaventure the ayde commanders . sir francis drake , capt. forbister . capt. carlee lieutenant general by land. upon the knowledge of the imbargo made by the king of spain in anno 1585 , of the english ships , men , and goods found in his country ; her majesty having no means to help or relieve her subjects by friendly treaty , authorized such as sustained loss by the said arrest , to repair themselves upon the subjects of the king of spain ; and to that end gave them letters of reprisal , to take and arrest all ships and merchandizes that they should find at sea , or elsewhere , belonging to the vassals of the said king. her majesty at the same time to revenge the wrongs offered her , and to resist the king of spains preparations made against her equipped a fleet of 25 sail of ships , and imployed them under the command of sir francis drake , as the fittest man by reason of his experience and success in sundry actions . it is not my intent to set down all the particulars of the voyages treated of , but the services done , and the escapes and oversights past , as a warning to those that shall read them , and to prevent the like errors hereafter . this voyage of sir francis drake being the first undertaking on either side , ( for it ensued immediately after the arrest of our ships and goods in spain ) i will deliver my opinion of it , before i proceed any further . one impediment to the voyage was , that to which the ill success of divers others that after followed , is to be imputed , viz , the want of victuals and other necessaries fit for so great an expedition ; for had not the fleet by chance met with a ship laden with fish , that came from new found land , which relieved their necessities , they would have found themselves reduced to great extremity . the service that was performed in this action , was the taking and sacking sancta domingo in hispaniola , cartagena in terra firma , and the fonta aqua in florida ; three towns of great importance in the west indies . this fleet was the greatest of any nation but the spaniards , that had been ever seen in those seas since the first discovery of them ; and if it had been as well considered of before their going from home , as it was happily performed by the valour of the undertakers , it had more annoyed the king of spain , than all other actions that ensued during the time of the war. but it seems our long peace made us uncapable of advice in war ; for had we kept and defended those places being in our possession , and provided to have been relieved and succoured out of england , we had diverted the war from this part of europe : for at that time there was no comparison betwixt the strength of spain and england by sea by means whereof we might have better defended them , and with more ease incroached upon the rest of the indies , than the king of spain could have aided or succoured them . but now we see and find by experience , that those places which were then weak and unfortified , are since so strengthened , as it is bootless to undertake any action to annoy the king of spain in his west indies . and though this voyage proved both fortunate and victorious , yet considering it was rather an awakening than a weakning of him , it had been far better to have wholly declined it , than to have undertaken it upon such slender grounds , and with so inconsiderable forces . the second voyage of sir francis drake to the road of cadiz , and towards the islands of tercera , anno 1587. ships . the elizabeth bonaventure the lyon the rainbow the dread-nought commanders . sir francis drake , general . sir william borrough , vice admiral . capt. bellingam . capt. thomas fenner . her majesty having received several advertisements , that while the king of spain was silent , not seeking revenge for the injuries the ships of reprisal did him daily upon his coasts , he was preparing an invincible army to invade her at home . she thereupon sought to frustrate his designs , by intercepting his provisions before they should come to lisbon , which was their place of rendezvouz , and sent away sir francis drake with a fleet of 30 sail great and small , 4 whereof were her own ships . the chief adventure in this voyage ( besides those 4 ships of her majesties ) was made by the merchants of london , who sought their private gain more than the advancement of the service ; neither were they deceived of their expectation . sir francis drake understanding by two ships of middleborough , that came from cadiz , of a fleet with victuals , munition , and other habiliments for war , riding there , ready to take the first opportunity of a wind , to go to lisbon and joyn with other forces of the king of spain , he directed his course for cadiz road , where he found the advertisement he received from the ships of middleborough in every point true ; and upon his arrival attempted the ships with great courage , and performed the service he went for , by destroying all such ships as he found in harbour , as well of the spaniards as other nations that were hired by them ; and by these means he utterly defeated their mighty preparations which were intended against england that year 1587. the second service performed by him was , the assaulting the castle of cape sacre , upon the utmost promontory of portugal , and three other strong holds ; all which he took some by force , and some by composition . from thence he went to the mouth of the river of lisbon , where he anchored near caske cadiz ; which the marquess of st. cruze beholding durst not with his gallies approach so near as once to charge him . sir francis drake perceiving , that though he had done important service for the state by this fortunate attempt of his , yet the same was not very acceptable to the merchants , who adventured onely in hope of profit , and preferred their private gain before the security of the kingdom , or any other respect . therefore from caske cadiz he stood to the islands of tercera , to expect the coming home of a carreck , which he had intelligence wintered at mosambique , and consequently she was to be home in that moneth . and though his victuals grew scarce , and his company importuned his return home , yet with gentle speeches he persuaded , and so much prevailed with them , that they were willing to expect the issue some few days at the islands ▪ and by this time drawing near the island of s. michael , it was his good fortune to meet and take the carrick he looked for ; which added more honour to his former service , and gave great content to the merchants , to have a profitable return of their adventure , which was the thing they principally desired . this voyage proceeded prosperously and without exception , for there was both honour and wealth gained , and the enemy greatly endamaged . the first action undertaken by the spaniards was in 1588 , the duke of medina general , who were encountered by our fleet , the lord admiral being at sea himself in person . ships . the ark royal the revenge the lyon the bear the elizabeth ionas the triumph the victory the hope the bonaventure the dread-nought the nouperil the rainbow the vanntguard the mary rose the antilope the foresight the ayde the swallow the tyger the scout the swiftsure the bull the tremontary the acatice pinnaces , gallies , hoyes — 10 commanders . the lord admiral . sir francis drake , vice admiral . the lord thomas howard . the lord sheffeild . sir robert southwell . sir martin forbisher . sir iohn hawkins . capt. crosse. capt. reyman . capt. george beeston . capt. thomas fenner . the lord henry seymore . sir william winter . capt. fenton . sir henry palmer . capt. barker . capt. fenner . capt. hawkins . capt. bostock . capt. ashley . notwithstanding the great spoil and hurt sir francis drake did the year past in cadiz road , by intercepting some part of the provisions intended for this great navy , the king of spain used his utmost endeavours to revenge himself this year , lest in taking longer time his designs might be prevented as before , and arrested all ships , men , and necessaries wanting for his fleet , and compell'd them per force to seave in this action . he appointed for general the duke of medina sidonia , a man imployed rather for his birth than experience ; for so many dukes , marquesses , and earls , voluntarily going , would have repined to have been commanded by a man of less quality than themselves . they departed from lisbon the 19th . day of may 1588 , with the greatest pride and glory , and least doubt of victory , that ever any nation did ; but god being angry with their insolence , disposed of them contrary to their expectation . the directions from the king of spvin to his general were , to repair as wind and weather would give leave , to the road of callice in piccardy , there to abide the coming of the prince of parma and his army , and upon their meeting to have opened a letter directed to them both with further instructions . he was especially commanded to sail along the coasts of brittany and normandy , to avoid being discovered by us here ; and if he met with the english fleet , not to offer to fight , but onely seek to defend themselves . but when he came athwart the north cape , he was taken with a contrary wind and foul weather and forced into the harbour of the groyne , where part of his fleet lay attending his coming . as he was ready to depart from thence , they had intelligence by an english fisherman , whom they took prisoner , of our fleets late being at sea , and putting back again , not expecting their coming that year ; insomuch that most part of the men belonging to our ships were discharged . this intelligence made the duke alter his resolution , and to break the directions given him by the king ; yet this was not done without some difficulty , for the council was divided in their opinions , some held it best to observe the kings command , others not to lose the opportunity offered to surprize our fleet unawares , and burn and destroy them . diego flores de valdos , who had the command of the andalusian squadron , and on whom the duke most relied , because of his experience and judgment , was the main man that persuaded the attempt of our ships in harbour , and with that resolution they directed their course for england . the first land they fell with was the lizard , the southermost part of cornwall , which they took to be the rams head athwart plymouth , and the night being at hand they tacked off to sea , making account in the morning to make an attempt upon our ships in plymouth . but whilest they were thus deceived in the land , they were in the mean time discovered by capt. flemminge a pyrat , who had been at sea pilfering , and upon view of them , knowing them to be the spanish fleet , repaired with all speed to plymouth , and gave warning and notice to our fleet , who were then riding at anchor ; whereupon my lord admiral hastned with all possible expedition to get forth the ships , and before the spaniards could draw near plymouth , they were welcomed at sea by my lord and his navy , who continued fight with them untill he brought them to an anchor at callice . the particulars of the fight , and the successes thereof , being things so well known , i purposely omit . while this armado was preparing , her majesty had from time to time perfect intelligence of the spaniards designs ; and because she knew his intent was to invade her at sea with a mighty fleet from his own coast , she furnished out her royal navy under the conduct of the lord high admiral of england , and sent him to plymouth , as the likeliest place to attend their coming , as you have heard . then knowing that it was not the fleet alone that could endanger her safety , for that they were too weak for any enterprize on land , without the assistance of the prince of parma , and his army in flanders ; therefore she appointed 30 sail of holland ships to lie at an anchor before the town of dunkirk , where the prince was to imbarque in flat-bottom'd boats , made purposely for the expedition of england . thus had the prince by the queens providence been prevented , if he had attempted to put out of harbour with his boats ; but in truth neither his vessels nor his army were in readiness , which caused the king ever after to be jealous of him , and as 't is supposed to hasten his end . her majesty , notwithstanding this her vigilant care to foresee and prevent all danger that might happen at sea , would not hold her self too secure of her enemy , and therefore prepared a royal army to welcom him upon his landing ; but it was not the will of god that he should set foot on english ground , the queen becoming victorious over him at sea , with little hazard or bloudshed of her subjects . having shewed the design of the spaniards , and the course taken by her majesty to prevent them ; i will now collect the errors committed as well by the one as by the other , as i have promised in the beginning of my discourse . as nothing could appear more rational and likely to take effect , after the duke had gotten intelligence of the state of our navy , than his design to surprize them unawares in harbour , he well knowing that if he had taken away our strength by sea , he might have landed both when and where he listed , which is a great advantage to an invader ; yet admitting it had took that effect he designed , i see not how he was to be commended in breaking the instructions given him by the king , what blame then did he deserve , when so ill an event followed by his rashness and disobedience ? it was not the want of experience in the duke , or his laying the fault upon valdes , that excused him at his return ; but he had smarted bitterly for it , had it not been for his wife , who obtained the kings favour for him . before th' arrival of the ships that escaped in this voyage , it was known in spain , that diego flores de valdes was he who persuaded the duke to break the kings instructions ; whereupon the king gave commandment in all his ports , where the said diego flores de valdes might arrive , to appreheud him ; which was accordingly executed , and he carried to the castle of sancta andrea , and was never seen or heard of after . if the kings directions had been punctually followed , then had his fleet kept the coast of france , and arrived in the road of callice before they had been discovered by us , which might have endangered her majesty and the realm , our ships being so far off as plymouth , where then they lay ; and though the prince of parma had not been presently ready , yet he had gained time sufficient by the absence of our fleet to make himself ready . and whereas the prince was kept in by the 30 sail of hollanders , so many of the dukes fleet might have been able to have put the hollanders from the road of dunkirk , and possest it themselves , and so have secured the army and fleets meeting together ; and then how easie it had been after their joyning to have transported themselves for england ? and what would have ensued upon their landing here may be well imagined . but it was the will of him that directs all men and their actions , that the fleets should meet , and the enemy be beaten as they were , put from their anchorage in callice road , the prince of parma beleaguered at sea , and their navy driven about scotland and ireland with great hazard and loss ; which sheweth how god did marvellously defend us against their dangerous designs . and here was opportunity offered us to have followed the victory upon them ; for after they were beaten from the road at callice , and all their hopes and designs frustrated ; if we had once more offered them fight , the general by persuasion of his confessor was determined to yield , whose example 't is very likely would have made the rest to have done the like . but this opportunity was lost , not through the negligence or backwardness of the lord admiral , but merely through the want of providence in those that had the charge of furnishing and providing for the fleet ; for at that time of so great advantage , when they came to examine their provisions , they found a general scarcity of powder and shot , for want whereof they were forced to return home . another opportunity was lost not much inferiour to the other , by not sending part of our fleet to the west of ireland , where the spaniards of necessity were to pass after so many dangers and disasters as they had endured . if we had been so happy as to have followed this course , as it was both thought and discoursed of ; we had been absolutely victorious over this great and formidable navy , for they were brought to that necessity , that they would willingly have yielded , as divers of them confess'd that were shipwreck'd in ireland . by this we may see how weak and feeble the designs of men are , in respect of the creator of man , and how indifferently he dealt betwixt the two nations , sometimes giving one , sometimes the other , the advantage ; and yet so that he onely ordered the battel . the action of portugal , 1589. ships . the revenge the dread-nought the ayde the nonperil the foresight the swiftsure commanders by sea. sir francis drake capt. thomas fenner capt. william fenner capt. sackvile capt. william winter capt. goring commanders by land. sir iohn norris sir edward norris sir henry norris sir roger williams serjeant major earl of essex voluntier . the last overthrow of 1588 given to the invincible fleet , as they termed themselves , did so encourage every man to the war , as happy was he that could put himself into action against the spaniards , as it appeared by the voluntiers that went in this voyage ; which the queen ( considering the great loss the king of spain received in the year past , whereby it was to be imagined how weakly he was provided at home ) was willing to countenance , though she undertook it not wholly her self , which was the main cause of its ill success and overthrow . for whosoever he be of a subject , that thinks to undertake so great an enterprise without a prince's purse , shall be deceived ; and therefore these two generals in my opinion never overshot themselves more , than in undertaking so great a charge with so little means ; for where there are victuals and arms wanting , what hope is there of prevailing ? the project of this voyage was to restore a distressed king to his kingdom , usurped as he pretended ; and though the means for the setting forth of this voyage was not so great as was expedient ; yet in the opinion of all men , if they had directed their course whither they intended it , without landing at the groyne , they had performed the service they went for , restored don antonio to the crown of portugal , dissevered it from spain , and united it in league with england , which would have answered the present charge , and have settled a continual trade for us to the west indies , and the rest of the portugals dominions , for so we might easily have conditioned . but the landing at the groyne was an unnecessary lingering and hinderance of the other great and main design , a consuming of victuals , a weakning of the army by the immoderate drinking of the souldiers , which brought a lamentable sickness amongst them , a warning to the spaniards to strengthen portugal , and ( as great as all this ) a discouragement to proceed further being repulsed in the first attempt . but notwithstanding the ill success at the groyne , they departed from thence towards portugal , and arrived at penech , a maritine town twelve leagus from lisbon , where with a small resistance they took the castle , after the captain understood don antonio to be in the army . from thence general norris marched with his land forces to lisbon , and sir francis drake with his fleet sailed to caske cadiz , promising from thence to pass with his ships up the river to lisbon , to meet with sir john norris , which yet he did not perform , and therefore was much blamed by the general consent of all men , the overthrow of the action being imputed to him . it will not excuse sir francis drake , for making such a promise to sir john norris , though , on the other hand , i would have accused him of great want of discretion , if he had put the fleet to so great an adventure to so little purpose : for his being in the harbor of lisbon , signified nothing to the taking of the castle , which was two miles from thence ; and had the castle been taken , the town would have been taken of course . besides , the ships could not furnish the army with more men or victuals : wherefore i understand not in what respect his going up was necessary ; and yet the fleet must have endured many hazards to this little purpose . for betwixt cask cadiz and lisbon , there are three castles , st. john , st. francis , and bellin . the first of the three , i hold one of the most impregnable forts to sea-ward in europe ; and the fleet was to pass within calliver shot of this fort ; though i confess , the passing it , was not the greatest dander : for with a reasonable gale of wind , any fort is to be passed with small hazard . but at this time there was a general want of victuals ; and being once entred the harbour , their coming out again was uncertain , the place being subject to contrary winds : in the mean while , the better part of the victuals would have been consumed , and they would have remained there in so desperate a condition , as they would have been forced to have fired one half of the fleet , for the bringing home of the rest : for being as they were , yet after the army was imbarqued for england , many died of famine homeward , and more would have done , if the wind had took them short ; or , if by the death of some of them , the rest who survived had not been the bettr relieved . and besides all these casualties and dangers , the adilantado was then in lisbon with the gallies of spain ; and how easily he might have annoyed our fleet , by towing fire-ships amongst us : we may suppose the hurt we did the spaniards the year before in cadiz road ; and greater we had done them , had we had the help of gallies . it was a wonder to observe every man's opinion of this voyage , as well those that were actors in it , as others that staid at home ; some imputing the overthrow of it , to the landing at the groyn ; others to the portugalls failing us of those helps and assistances which were promised by don antonio ; and others , to sir francis drake's not coming up the river with his fleet. though any of these three reasons may seem probable enough , and the landing at the groyn , the chiefest of the three ; yet if we weigh truly the defect , and where it was , it will appear , that the action was overthrown before their setting out from home , they being too weakly provided of all things needful for so great an expedition . for when this voyage was first treated of , the number of ships was nothing equal to the proportion of men : wherefore they were forced to make stay of divers easterlings which they met with in our channel , and compelled to serve in this action , for the transportation of our souldiers ; and though these ships were an ease to our men , who would have been otherwise much pestered for want of room ; yet their victuals were nothing augmented ; but they were put aboard the ships , like banished men , to seek their fortunes at sea , it being confessed , that divers of the ships had not four days victuals when they departed from plymouth . another impediment to the good success of this voyage , was , the want of field-pieces ; and this was the main cause why we failed of taking lisbon : for the enemies strength consisting chiefly in the castle , and we having only an army to countenance us , but no means for battery , we were the loss of the victory our selves : for it was apparent by intelligence we received , that if we had presented them with battery , they were resolved to parly , and by consequence to yield ; and this too was made use of by the portugalls , as a main reason why they joyned not with us . and there is as much to be said on the portugalls behalf , as an evidence of their good will and favor to us , that though they shewed themselves forward upon this occasion , to aid us , yet they opposed not themselves as enemies against us : whereas if they had pursued us in our retreat from lisbon to cask cadiz , our men being weak , sickly , and wanting powder , and shot , and other arms , they had in all probability put us to a great loss and disgrace . and if ever england have the like occasion to aid a competitor in portugal , we shall questionless , find , that our fair demeanor and carriage in this expedition towards the people of that countrey , have gained us great reconciliation among them , and would be of singular advantage to us : for the general strictly forbad the rifling of their houses in the country , and the suburbs of lisbon , which he possess'd , and commanded , just payment to be made by the souldiers for every thing they took , without compulsion , or rigorous usage : and this hath made those that stood but indifferently affected before , now ready upon the like occasion to assist us . a voyage undertaken by the earl of cumberland , with one ship royal of her majesties , and six of his own , and of other adventures , anno dom. 1589. ships . the victory the margaret , and five other commanders . the earl of cumberland capt. christopher lister capt. monson , now sir william monson , vice-amiral . as the fleets of sir john norris and sir francis drake , returned from the voyage of portugal , my lord of cumberland proceeded upon his , towards that coast , ; and meeting with divers of that fleet , relieved them with victuals , who otherwise had perished . this voyage was undertaken at his and his friends charge , excepting the victory , a ship royal of the queen's , which she adventured . the service performed at sea , was the taking of three french ships of the league in our channel , and his encountring upon the coast of spain , with thirteen hulks , who made some resistance . out of these he took to the value of 7000 l. in spices belonging to portugal . from thence he crossed over to the island of terceras , and coming to st. michaels , with boats he fetched out two spanish ships from under the castle , which the same night arrived out of spain . in this course , from thence to flores , he took a spanish ship , laden with sugars and sweet-meats that came from the maderas . being at flores , he received intelligencence of divers spanish ships , which were in the road of fayal , whereupon he suddainly made from that island , where captain lister and captain monson gave a desperate attempt in their boats upon the said ships ; and after along fight possessed themselves of one of them of 300 tuns burden , carrying eighteen pieces of ordidinance , and fifty men. this ship , with one other , came from the indies , two of the rest out of guiney , and another was laden with woad which that island affords in great plenty ; who putting from thence to sea , and coming to the island of graciosa after two days fight , yielded us by composition some victuals : off that island we likewise took a french ship of the league , of 200 tuns , that came from new-found-land . afterwards , sailing to the eastward of the road of terceras , in the even-we beheld 18 tall ships of the indies , entring into the said road , one whereof we after took in her course to the coast of spain : she was laden with hides , silver and cochineal ; but coming for england , she was cast away upon the monnts bay in cornwall , being valued at 100000 l. two other prizes of sugar we took in our said course to the coast of spain , esteemed each ship at 7000 l. and one from under the castle of st. maries to the same value . there was no road about those islands , that could defend their ships from our attempts ; yet in the last assault we gave , which was upon a ship of sugars , we found ill success , being sharply resisted , and two parts of our men slain and hurt : which loss was occasioned by captain lister , who would not be persuaded from landing in the view of their forts . the service performed by land , was the taking of the island of fayall , some months after the surprizing of those ships formerly mentioned . the castle yielded us 45 pieces of ordinance , great and small : we sacked and spoiled the town , and after ransomed it , and so departed . these summer services , and ships of sugar , proved not so sweet and pleasant as the winter was afterwards sharp and painful : for in our return for england , we found the calamity of famine , the hazard of shipwrack , and the death of our men so great , that the like befell not any other fleet during the time of the war. all which disasters must be imputed to captain lister's rashness , upon whom my lord of cumberland chiefly relyed , wanting experience himself . he was the man that advised the sending the ships of wine for england , otherwise we had not known the want of drink ; he was as earnest in persuading our landing in the face of the fortifications of st. maries , against all reason and sence . as he was rash , so was he valiant ; but paid dearly for his unadvised counsel : for he was one of the first hurt , and that cruelly , in the attempt of st. maries , and afterward drowned in the rich ship , cast away at mounts bay. sir john hawkins , and sir martin forbisher , their voyage undertaken , anno 1590. ships . the revenge the mary-rose the lyon the bonaventure the rainbow the hope the crane the quittance the foresight the swiftseur . commanders . sir martin forbisher sir iohn hawkins sir edward yorke capt. fenner . capt. george beeston capt. bostock capt. burnell from the yeear 1585. untill this present year 1590. there was the greatest possibility imaginable of enriching our nation , by actions at sea , had they been well followed ; the king of spain was grown so weak in shipping , by the overthrow he had in 1588 , that he could no longer secure the trade of his subjects . her majesty now finding how necessary it was for her to maintain a fleet upon the spanish coast , as well to hinder the preparations he might make against her , to repair the disgrace he received in 1588. as also to intercept his fleets from the indies , by which he grew great and mighty . she sent this year 1590. ten ships of her own , in two squadrons ; the one to be commanded by sir john hawkins , the other by sir martin forbisher , two gentlemen of tried experience . the king of spain understanding of this preparation of hers , sent forth 20 sail of ships , under the command of don alonso de bassan , brother to the late famous marquess of st. cruz. his charge was to secure home the indian fleet and carrecks . but after don alonso had put off to sea , the king of spain becoming better advised , than to adventure 20 of his ships to 10 of ours , sent for don alonso back , and so frustrated the expectation of our fleet. he likewise made a dispatch to the indies , commanding the fleets to winter there , rather than to run the hazard of coming home that summer : but this proved so great a hind'rance and loss to the merchants of spain , to be so long without return of their goods , that it caused many to become bankrupts , in sevil and other places ; besides , which was so great a weakening to their ships , to winter in the indies , that many years hardly sufficed to repair the damage they received . our fleet being thus prevented , spent seven months in vain upon the coasts of spain , and the islands ; but in that space , could not possess themselves of one ship of the spaniards ; and the carrecks , upon which part of their hopes depended , came home without sight of the islands , and arrived safe at lisbon . this voyage was a bare action at sea , though they attempted landing at fayal , which the earl of cumberland , the year before had taken and quitted ; but the castle being re-fortified , they prevailed not in their enterprize : and thence forwards the king of spain endeavored to strengthen his coasts , and to encrease in shipping , as may appear by the next ensuing year . two fleets , the one by vs , under the lord thomas howard , the other by the spaniards , commanded by don alonso de bassan , anno 1591. ships . the dfiance the revenge the nonperil the bonaventure the lyon the foresight the crane commanders . the lord thomas howaad sir richard greenvile , vice-admiral sir edward denny capt. crosse capt. fenner capt. vavasor capt. duffeild . her majesty understanding of the indian fleets wintering in the havana , and that necessity would compell them home this year 1591. she sent a fleet to the islands under the command of the lord thomas howard . the king of spain perceiving her drift , and being sensible how much the safety of that fleet concerned him , caused them to set out thence so late in the year , that it endangered the shipwrack of them all ; chosing rather to hazard the perishing of ships , men and goods , than their falling into our hands . he had two designs in bringing home this fleet so late : one was , he thought the lord thomas would have consumed his victuals , and have been forced home . the other , that he might in the mean time furnish out the great fleet he was preparing , little inferior to that of 1588. in the first he found himself deceived : for my lord was supplied both with ships and victuals out of england ; and in the second , he was as much prevented : for my lord of cumberland , who then lay upon the coast of spain , had intelligence of the spaniards putting out to sea , and advertised the lord thomas thereof , the very night before they arrived at flores , where my lord lay . the day after this intelligence , the spanish fleet was discovered by my lord thomas , whom he knew by their number and greatness , to be the ships of which he had warning ; and by that means escaped the danger that sir richard greenvile , his vice-admiral rashly ran into . upon view of the spaniards , which were 55 sail , the lord thomas warily , and like a discreet general , weighed anchor , and made signs to the rest of his fleet to do the like , with a purpose to get the wind of them ; but sir richard greenvile , being a stubborn man , and imagining this fleet to come from the indies , and not to be the armado of which they were informed , would by no means be persuaded by his master , or company to cut his main sail , to follow his admiral ; nay , so head-strong and rash he was , that he offered violence to those that councelled him thereto . but the old saying , that a wilful man is the cause of his own woe , could not be more truly verified than in him : for when the armado approached him , and he beheld the greatness of the ships , he began to see and repent of his folly ; and when it was too late , would have freed himself of them , but in vain : for he was left a prey to the enemy , every ship striving to be the first should board him . this wilful rashness of sir richard , made the spaniards triumph as much as if they had obtained a signal victory ; it being the first ship that ever they took of her majesties , and commended to them by some english fugitives to be the very best she had ; but their joy continued not long . for they enjoyed her but five days before she was cast away with many spaniards in her , upon the islands of tercera . commonly one misfortune is accompanied with another : for the indian fleet , which my lord had waited for the whole summer , the day after this mishap , fell into the company of this spanish armado : who , if they had staid but one day longer , or the indian fleet had come home but one day sooner , we had possest both them and many millions of treasure , which the sea afterward devoured : for from the time they met with the armado , and before they could recover home , nigh an hundred of them suffered shipwrack , besides the ascention of sevil , and the double fly-boat , that were sunk by the side of the revenge . all which was occasioned by their wintering in the indies , and the late disambogueing from thence : for the worm which that country , is subject to , weakens and consumes their ships . notwithstanding this cross and perverse fortune , which happened by means of sir richard greenvile , the lord thomas would not be dismayed or discouraged ; but kept the sea so long as he had victuals ; and by such ships as himself and the rest of the fleet took , defrayed the better part of the charge of the whole action . the earl of cumberland to the coast of spain , 1591. ships . the garland of her majesties . seven other ships of his and his friends commanders . the earl of cumberland capt. under him capt. monson , now sir william monson . the earl of cumberland keeping the coast of spain , as you have heard , while the lord thomas remained at the islands , and both to one end , viz. to annoy and damnifie the spaniards , though in two several fleets , the earl found fortune in a sort , as much to frown upon him , as it had done upon the lord thomas howard . in his course from england to the spanish coast , he encountred with divers ships of holland , which came from lisbon , wherein he found a great quantity of spices belonging to the portugalls : so greatly were we abused by that nation of holland , who , though they were the first that engaged us in the war with spain , yet still maintained their own trade into those parts , and supplied the spaniards with munition , victuals shipping and intelligence against us . upon my lord's arrival on the coast of spain , it was his hap to take three ships at several times , one with wine , which he unladed into his own ; and two with sugars , which he enjoyed not long : no more did he the spices , which he took out of the hollanders . for one of the ships of sugar , by means of a leak that sprung upon her , was forced to be cast off , and the men , with much difficulty , recovered the shore , and saved their lives . the other being sent for england , and tossed with contrary winds , was for want of victuals forced into the groyn , where they rend'red themselves to the enemies mercy . the spices were determined to be sent for england , and a ship appointed for that purpose , with other ships to guard her ; and captain monson was sent on board her to the islands of the burlings , with a charge to see her dispatched for england . but the other ships , not observing the directions which were given them , and the night falling calm ; early in the morning , this scattered ship was set upon by six gallies ; and after a long and bloody fight , the captain , and the principallest men being slain , both ship and spices were taken ; but whether it was the respect they had to the queen's ship which was admiral of that fleet , or honor to my lord that commanded it ; or hope , by good usage of our men , to receive the like again , i know not ; but true it is , that the ordinary men were treated with more courtesie than they had been from the beginning of the wars . my lord of cumberland considering the disasters that thus befell him , and knowing the spanish fleet 's readiness to put out of harbor ; but especially finding his ship but ill of sail , it being the first voyage she ever went to sea , he durst not abide the coast of spain , but thought it more discretion to return for england , having ( as you have heard ) sent a pinnace to my lord thomas with the intelligence aforesaid . a voyage undertook by sir walter rawleigh ; but himself returning , left the charge thereof to sir martin forbisher , anno 1592. ships . the garland the foresight , with divers merchants ships . commanders by sea. sir walter rawleigh capt. cross , and other . sir walter went not , but sir martin forbisher . commander by land. sir iohn borought . sir walter rawleigh , who had tasted abundantly of the queen's love , and found it now began to decline , put himself upon a voyage at sea , and drew unto him divers friends of great quality , and others , thinking to have attempted some place in the west indies ; and with this resolution he put out of harbour ; but spending two or three days in fowl weather , her majesty was pleased to command his return , and to commit the charge of the ships to sir martin forbisher , who was sent down for that purpose ; but with an express command , not to follow the design of the west indies . this suddain alteration being known unto the rest of the captains , for the present made some confusion , as commonly it happens in all voluntary actions . their general leaving them , they thought themselves free in point of reputation , and at liberty to take what course they pleased : few of them therefore did submit themselves to the command of sir martin forbisher , but chose rather each one to take his particular fortune and adventure at sea. sir martin , with two or three other ships , repaired to the coast of spain , where he took a spaniard laden with iron , and a portugal with sugar : he remained there not without some danger , his ship being ill of sail , and the enemy having a fleet at sea. sir john boroughs , captain cross , and another , stood to the islands where they met with as many ships of my lord of cumberland's , with whom they consorted . after some time spent thereabouts , they had sight of a carreck , which they chased ; but she recovered the island of flores before they could approach her ; but the carreck , seeing the islands could not desend her from the strength and force of the english , chose rather , after the men were got on shore to fire her self , than we the enemy should reap benefit by her . the purser of her was taken , and by threats compell'd to tell of another of their company behind , that had order to fall with that island ; and gave us such particular advertisement , that indeed she fell to be ours . in the mean time don alonso de bassan was furnishing at lisbon 23 of those gallions , which the year before he had when he took the revenge ; he was directed with those ships to go immediately to flores , to expect the coming of the carrecks , who had order to fall with that island , there to put on shore divers ordnance for strength'ning the town and castle . don alonso breaking his directions , unadvisedly made his repair first to st. michaels , and there delivered his ordnance before he arrived at flores ; and in the mean time one of the carrecks was burnt , and the other taken , as you have heard . this he held to be such a disreputation to him , and especially for that it happened through his own error and default , that he became much perplex'd , and pursued the english 100 leagues ; but in vain , they being so far a head. the king of spain being advertised of his two carrecks mishap , and the error of don alonso , though he had much favored him before , in respect of divers actions he had been in with his brother , the marquess of st. cruz , and for what he had lately performed , by taking the revenge : yet — the king held it for such a blemish to his honor , not to have his instructions obeyed ; and observed , that he did not only take from don alonso his command ; but he lived and died too in disgrace ; which , in my opinion , he worthily deserved . the queens adventure in this voyage , was only two ships ; one of which , and the least of them too , was at the taking of the carreck ; which title , joyned with her regal authority , she made such use of , that the rest of the adventurers were fain to submit themselves to her pleasure , with whom she dealt but indiffereutly . the earl of cumberland to the coast of spain , anno dom. 1593. ships . the lyon the bonaventure , and seven other ships . commanders . the earl of cumberland capt. under him , capt. monson sir edward yorke . the earl of cumberland finding , that many of his voyages had miscarried through the negligence , or unfaithfulness of those who were entrusted to lay in necessary provisions ; and yet , being incouraged by the good success he had the last year , obtained two of her majesty's ships , and victualled them himself , together with seven others that did accompany them ; and arriving upon the coast of spain , he took two french ships of the league , which did more than treble the expence of his voyage . my lord , being one day severed from his fleet , it was his hap to meet with 12 hulks , at the same place where captain monson was taken the same day two years before : he required that respect from them that was due unto her majesties ship , which they peremptorily refused , presuming upon the strength of their 12 ships against one only ; but they found themselves deceived : for after two hours fight he brought them to his mercy , and made them acknowledge their error ; and not only so , but they willingly discovered , and delivered up to him a great quantity of powder and munition , which they carried for the king of spain's service . my lord of cumberland having spent some time thereabouts , and understanding that fervanteles de menega , a portugal , and the king's general of a fleet of 24 sail , was gone to the islands ; he pursued them , thinking to meet the carrecks before they should joyn together . at his coming to flores , he met , and took one of the fleet , with the death of the captain , who yet lived so long as to inform him both where the fleet was , and of their strength : the day after , he met the fleet it self ; but being far too weak for them , he was forced to leave them , and spent his time thereabouts , till he understood the carrecks were passed by , without seeing either fleet or island . sir martin forbisher , with a fleet to brest in brittany , anno 1594. ships . the vauntguard the rainbow the dreadnought the quittance . commanders . sir martin forbisher capt. fenner capt. clifford capt. savil about three years past , anno 1591. the queen sent sir john norris with 3000 souldiers , to joyn with the french king's party in those parts . the king of spain , who upheld the faction of the league , sent don iohn de aquila with the like forces , to joyn with the duke de merceur , who was of the contrary side . the spaniards had fortified themselves very strongly near the town of brest , expecting new succors from spain by sea ; which the french king fearing , craved assistance from the queen , which her majesty was the more willing to grant , because the spaniards had gotten the haven of brest to entertain their shipping in , and were like to prove there very dangerous neighbors : wherefore she sent sir martin forbisher thither in this year , 1594 , with four of her ships : and upon his arrival there , sir john norris , with his forces , and sir martin with his seamen , assailed the fort ; and though it was as bravely defended as men could do ; yet in the end it was taken with the loss of divers captains , sir martin forbisher being himself fore wounded , of which hurt he died at plymouth after his return . a fleet to the indies , sir francis drake , and sir john hawkins generals , wherein they adventured deeply , and died in the voyage . anno 1594. ships . the defiance the garland the hope the bonaventure the foresight the adventure commanders by sea. sir francis drake sir iohn hawkins capt. gilbert yorke capt. troughton capt. winter capt. tho. drake . commander by land. sir tho. baskervile these two generals , presuming much upon their own experience and knowledge , used many persuasions to the queen , to undertake a voyage to the west indies , giving much assurance to perform great services , and promising to engage themselves very deeply therein , with the adventure of both substance and life . and as all actions of this nature promise fair , till they come to be performed , so did this the more , in the opinion of all men , in respect of the two generals experience . there were many impediments and let ts to this voyage , before they could clear themselves of the coast , which put them to greater charge than they expected ; the chiefest cause of their lingring , was a mistrust our state had of an invasion , and the danger to spare so many good ships and men out of england as they carried with them . the spaniards with their usual subtilty , let slip no opportunity to put us in amazement , thereby to dissolve the action ; and sent four gallies to bleuret in brittany , from thence to seize some part of our coast , that so we might apprehend a greater force was to follow . these gallies landed at pensants in cornwall , where , finding the town abandoned , they sack'd and burnt it ; but this design of theirs took little effect ; for the voyage proceeded notwithstanding . the intent of the voyage , was to land at nombre de dois , and from thence to march to panuma , to possess the treasure that comes from peru ; and if they saw reason for it , to inhabite and keep it . a few days before their going from plymouth , they received letters from her majesty , of an advertisement she had out of spain , that the indian fleet was arrived ; and that one of them , with loss of her mast , was put room to the island of porto ricom . she commanded them , seeing there was so good an opportunity offered , as the readiness of this her fleet , and the weakness of porto ricom , to possess themselves of that treasure ; and the rather , for that it was not much out of their way to nombre de dois . it is neither years , nor experience , that can foresee and prevent all mishaps ; which is a manifest proof , that god is the guider and disposer of mens actions : for nothing could seem more probable to be effected , than this later design , especially considering the ability and wisdom of the two generals ; and yet was unhappily prevented , and failed in the execution : for there being five frigats sent out of spain , to fetch this treasure from porto ricom , in their way it was their hap to take a pinnace of the english fleet , by whom they understood the secrets of the voyage ; and to prevent the attempt of porto ricom , they hastened thither with all speed ( whilst our generals lingred at quadrupa , to set up their boats ) and at their arrival , so strengthened the town with the souldiers , brought in the frigats , that when our fleet came thither , not expecting resistance , they found themselves frustrate of their hopes , which indeed they themselves were the occasion of , in managing their design with no more secresie . this repulse bred so great a disconceit in sir john hawkins , as it is thought to have hastened his days ; and being great and unexpected , did not a little discourage sir francis drake's great mind , who yet proceeded upon his first resolved design , for nombre de dios , though with no better success : for the enemy having knowledge of their coming , fortified the passage to panuma , and forced them to return with loss . sir francis drake , who was wont to rule fortune , now finding his error , and the difference between the present strength of the indies , and what it was when he first knew it , grew melancholly upon this disappointment , and suddenly , and i hope naturally , died at nombre de dios , where he got his first reputation . the two generals dying , and all other hopes being taken away by their deaths , sir thomas baskervile succeeded them in their command , and began now to think upon his return for england ; but coming near cuba , he met and fought with a fleet of spain , though not long , by reason of the sickness and weakness of his men. this fleet was sent to take the advantage of ours in its return thinking , as indeed it happened , that they should find them both weak , and in want ; but the swiftness of our ships , in which we had the advantage of the spaniards , preserved us . you may observe , that from the year the revenge was taken , untill this present year 1595. there was no summer , but the king of spain furnished a fleet for the guarding of his coasts , and securing of his trade ; and though there was little fear of any fleet from england to impeach him , besides this in the indies ; yet because he would shew his greatness , and satisfie the portugal of the care he had in preserving their carrecks ; he sent the count of feria , a young nobleman of portugal , who desired to gain experience , with 20 ships to the islands ; but the carrecks did , as they used to do in many other years , miss both islands and fleets , and arrived at lisbon safely . the other fleets of the king of spain in the indies , consisted of 24 ships , their general don bernardino de villa nova , an approved coward , as it appeared when he came to encounter the english fleet ; but his defects were supplied by the valor of his vice-admiral , who behaved himself much to his honor : his name was john garanay . the earl of essex , and the lord admiral of england , generals , equally , both by sea and land , anno 1596. ships . the repulse the ark-royal the mere-honor the warspite the lyon the rainbow the nonperil the vauntguard the mary rose the dreadnought the swiftsuer the quittance the tremontary , with several others . commanders . the earl of essex . capt. under him sir will. monson the lord admiral . capt. under him ames preston the lord thomas howard sir walter rawleigh sir robert southwell sir francis vere sir robert dudley sir iohn wingfield sir george carew sir alexander clifford sir robert crosse sir george clifford sir robert mansfield capt. king. the first of june 1596. we departed from plymouth ; and our departure was the more speedy , by reason of the great pains , care and industry of the 16 captains , who in their own persons , labored the night before , to get out some of their ships , riding at catwater , which otherwise had not been easily effected . the third , we set sail from cansom bay , the wind , which when we weighed , was at west and by south , instantly cast up to the north east , and so continued untill it brought us up as high as the north cape of spain ; and this fortunate beginning put us in great hopes of a lucky success to ensue . we being now come upon our enemies coast , it behoved the generals to be vigilant in keeping them from intelligence of us , who therefore appointed the litness , the true love , and the lion's whelp ( the three chief sailors of our fleet ) to run a head , suspecting the spaniards had some carvels of advice out , which they did usually send to discover at sea , upon any rumor of a less fleet than this , was made ready in england . no ship or carvel escaped from us , which i hold a second happiness to our voyage : for you shall understand hereafter , the inconvenience that might have happened upon our discovery . the 10th . of june , the said three ships , took three fly-boats that came from cadiz 14 days before ; by them we understood the state of the town , and that they had no suspition of us , which we looked on as a third omen of our good fortune to come . the 12th . of june , the swan , a ship of london , being commanded , as the other three , to keep a good way off the fleet , to prevent discovery , she met with a fly-boat , which made resistance , and escaped from her . this fly-boat came from the streights , bound home , who discovering our fleet , and thinking to gain reputation and reward from the spaniards , shhaped her course for lisbon ; but she was luckily prevented by the john and francis , another ship of london , commanded by sir marmaduke darrel , who took her within a league of the shore ; and this we may account a fourth happiness to our voyage . the first ( as hath been said ) was for the wind to take us so suddainly , and to continue so long : for our souldiers being shipped , and in harbor , would have consumed their victuals , and have been so pester'd , that it would have endangered a sickness amongst them . the second , was the taking all ships that were seen , which kept the enemy from intelligence . the third , was the intercepting of the fly-boats from cadiz , whither we were bound , who assured us , our coming was not suspected , which made us more careful to hail from the coast than otherwise we should have been : they told us likewise of the daily expectation of the gallions to come from st. jacar to cadiz , and of the merchant-men that lay there , and were ready bound for the indies . these intelligences were of great moment , and made the generals presently to contrive their business both by sea and land , which otherwise would have taken up a longer time , after their coming thither , and whether all men would have consented to attempt their ships in harbor , if they had not known the most part of them to consist of merchants , i hold very doubtful . the fourth , and fortunatest of all , was the taking of the fly-boat by the john and francis , which the swan let go : for if she had reached lisbon , she had been able to make report of the number and greatness of our ships , and might have endangered the loss of the whole design , she seeing the course we bore , and that we had passed lisbon , which was the place the enemy most suspected , and made there his greatest preparation for defence : but had the enemy been freed of that doubt , he had then no place to fear but andulozia and cadiz above the rest , which upon the lest warning might have been strengthned , and we put to great hazard ; he might also have secured his ships , by towing them out with gallies ; and howsoever the wind had been , might have sent them into the streights , where it had been in vain to have pursued them , or over the bar of st. lucar , where it had been in vain to have attempted them . and indeed , of the good and ill of intelligence , we had had sufficient experience formerly , of the good in 1588. for how suddainly had we been taken and surprized when it we lest suspected , had it not been for captain flemming ? of the ill in the year before this , by the spaniards taking a barque of sir francis drake's fleet , which was the occasion of the overthrow of himself and the whole action ? the 20th . of june we came to cadiz , earlier in the morning than the masters made reckoning of . before our coming thither , it was determined in council , that we should land at st. sebastians , the westermost part of the land ; and thither came all the ships to an anchor , every man preparing to land as he was formerly directed ; but the wind being so great , and the sea so grown , and four gallies lying too , to intercept our boats , there was no attempting to land there , without the hazard of all . this day was spent in vain , in returning messengers from one general to another ; and in the end , they were forced to resolve upon a course which sir william monson , captain under my lord of essex , advised him to , the same morning he discovered the town ; which was to surprize the ships , and to be possessors of the harbor before they attempted landing . this being now resolved on , there arose a great question , who should have the honor of the first going in ? my lord of essex stood for himself ; but my lord admiral opposed it , knowing if he miscarried , it would hazard the overthrow of the action ; besides , he was streightly charged by her majesty , that the earl should not expose himself to danger , but upon great necessity . when my lord of essex could not prevail , the whole council withstanding him he sent sir william monson that night , on board my lord admiral , to resolve what ships should be appointed the next day to undertake the service . sir walter rawleigh had the vaward given him , which my lord thomas howard hearing , challenged in right of his place of vice-admiral , and it was granted him ; but sir walter having order over night to ply in , came first to an anchor ; but in that distance from the spaniards as he could not annoy them : and he himself returned on board the lord general essex , to excuse his coming to anchor so far off , for want of water to go higher ; which was thought strange , that the spaniards which drew much more water , and had no more advantage than he of tide , could pass where his could not : but sir francis vere , in the rainbow , who was appointed to second him , passing by sir walter rawleigh his ship , sir walter the second time , weighed and went higher . the lord general essex , who promised to keep in the midst of the fleet , was told by sir william monson , that the greatest service would depend upon three or four ships ; and sir william put him in mind of his honor ; for that many eyes beheld him . this made him forgetful of his promise , and to use all means he could to be formost in the fight . my lord howard , who could not go up in his own ship , the mere honor , betook himself to the nonperil ; and in respect the rainbow , the repulse and warspight , had taken up the best of the channel , by their first coming to an anchor , to his grief he could not get higher : here did every ship strive to be the headmost ; but such was the narrowness of the channel , as neither the lord admiral , nor any other ship of the queens could pass on . there was commandment given , that no ship should shoot but the queens , making account , that the honor would be the greater , if the victory were obtained with so few . this fight continued from ten , till four in the afternoon : the spaniards then set sail , thinking either to run higher up the river , or else to bring their other broad sides to us , because of the heat of their ordnance ; but howsoever it was , in their floating , they came a ground , and the men began to forsake the ships : whereupon there was commandment given , that all the hoys , and vessels that drew least water should go unto them . sir william monson was sent in the repulse boat , with like directions . we possess'd our selves of the great gallions , the matthew , and the andrew ; but the philip and thomas fired themselves , and were burnt down before they could be quenched . i must not omit to describe the manner of the spanish ships and gallies , riding in harbor at our first coming to cadiz . the four gallions singled themselves from out the fleet , as guards of their merchants . the gallies were placed to flank us with their prows before entry ; but when they saw our approach , the next morning the merchants ran up the river , and the men of war of port royal to the point of the river , brought themselves into a good order of fight , moving their ships a head and a stern , to have their broad sides upon us . the gallies then betook themselves to the guard of the town , which we put them from before we attempted the ships . the victory being obtained at sea , the l. general essex landed his men in a sandy bay , which the castle of poyntull commanded ; but they seeing the success of their ships , and mistrusting their own strength , neither offered to offend his landing , nor to defend the castle ; but quitted it , and so we became possessors of it . after my lord 's peeceable landing , he considered what was to be done ; and there being no place from whence the enemy could annoy us , but the bridge of swasoe , which leadeth over from the main land to the island ; by our making good of which bridge , there would be no way left for the gallies to escape us . he sent three regiments under the command of sir conniers clifford , sir christopher blunt , and sir thomas garret to the bridge ; who at their first coming were encountred by the enemy , but yet possess'd themselves of it , with the loss of some men ; but whether it was for want of victuals , or for what other reasons , our men quitted it , i know not , and the gallies breaking down divers arches pass'd it , and by that means escaped . my lord dispatched a messenger to my lord admiral , intreating him to give order to attempt the merchants that rode in port royal , for that it was dangerous to give them a night's respite , lest they should convey away their wealth , or take example by the philip and thomas , to burn themselves . this message was delivered by sir anthony ashley , and sir william monson , as my lord admiral was in his boat , ready with his toops of seamen to land , fearing the lord general essex should be put to distress with his small companies , which were but three regiments , hastened by all means to second him , and gave order to certain ships the next day to pursue him . seeing i have undertaken to shew the escapes committed in any of our english voyages , such as were committed here , shall without fear or flattery appear to the judicious reader . though the earl of essex his carriage and forwardness merited much , yet if it had been with more advisement , and less haste , it would have succeeded better : and if he were now living , he would confess , sir william monson advised him , rather to seek to be master to the ships , than of the town ; for it was that would afford both wealth and honor : for the riches in ships could not be concealed , or conveyed away as in towns they might . and the ships themselves being brought for england , would be always before mens eyes there , and put them in remembrance of the greatness of the exploit ; as for the town , perhaps it might be soon won , but probably not long enjoyed , and so quickly forgotten : and to speak indifferentiy , by the earl's suddain landing , without the lord admirals privity ; and his giving advice by a message to attempt the ships , which should have been resolved of upon mature deliberation , no doubt , the lord admiral found his honor a little eclipsed , which perhaps hastened his landing for his reputation sake , whenas he thought it more advisable to have possess'd himself of their fleet. before the lord admiral could draw near the town , the earl of essex had entred it ; and although the houses were built in that manner , as that every house served for a platform ; yet they were forc'd to quit them , and to retire into the castle . my lord at last , in despite of the enemy , gained the market place , where he found greatest resistance from the houses thereabouts ; and where it was that that worthy gentleman sir john wingfield was unluckily slain . the lord general essex caused it to be proclaimed by beat of drum through the town , that all that would yield , should repair to the town-house , where they should have promise of mercy , and those that would not , to expect no favor . the castle desired respite to consider untill the morning following ; and then by one general consent , they surrend'red themselves to the two lord generals mercies . the chief prisoners , men and women , were brought into the castle , where they remained a little space , and were sent away with honorable usage . the noble treating of the prisoners , hath gained an everlasting honor to our nation , and the general 's in particular . it cannot be supposed the lord generals had leisure to be idle the day following , having so great business to consider of , as the securing the town , and enjoying the merchants ships : wherefore , for the speedier dispatch , they had speech with the best men of the city , about the ransom to be given for their town and liberties , 120000 duckets was the summ concluded on ; and for security thereof , many of them became hostages . there was likewise an overture for the ransom of their ships and goods , which the duke of medina hearing of , rather than we should reap any profit by them , he caused them to be fired . we found by experience , that the destroying of this fleet ( which did amount to the value of six or seven millions ) was the general impoverishing of the whole country : for when the pledges sent to sevil , to take up money for their redemption ; they were answered , that all the town was not able to raise such a summ , their loss was so great by the loss of their fleet. and to speak truth , spain never received so great an overthrow , so great a spoil , so great an indignity at our hands as this : for our attempt was at his own home , in his port , that he thought as safe as his chamber , where we took and destroy'd his ships of war , burnt and consumed the wealth of his merchants , sack'd his city , ransomed his subjects , and entred his country without impeachment . to write all accidents of this voyage , were too tedious , and would weary the reader ; but he that would desire to know the behavior of the spaniards , as well as of us , many confer with divers english men that were redeemed out the gallies in exchange for others , and brought into england . after we had enjoyed the town of cadiz a fortnight , and our men were grown rich by the spoil of it , the generals imbarqued their army , with an intent to perform greater services before their return ; but such was the covetousness of the better sort , who were inriched there , and the fear of hunger in others , who complained for want of victuals , as they could not willingly be drawn to any farther action , to gain more reputation . the only thing that was afterwards attempted , was pharoah , a town of algarula in portugal , a place of no resistance or wealth , only famous by the library of osorius , who was bishop of that place ; which library was brought into england by us , and many of the books bestowed upon the new erected library of oxford . some prisoners were taken ; but of small account , who told us , that the greatest strength of the country was in lawgust , the chief town of argarula , twelve miles distant from thence ; because most part of the gentlemen thereabouts were gone thither , to make it good expecting our coming . this news was acceptable to my lord of essex , who preferred honor before wealth : and having had his will , and the spoil of the town of pharoah and country thereabouts : he shipped his army , and took council of the lord admiral how to proceed . my lord admiral diverted his course for lawgust , alleadging the place was strong , of no wealth , always held in the nature of a fisher-town , belonging to the portugals , who in their hearts were our friends ; that the winning of it , after so eminent a place as cadiz , could add no honor ; though it should be carried , yet it would be the loss of his best troops and gentlemen , who would rather to die , than receive indignity of a repulse . my lord of essex , much against his will , was forc'd to yield unto these reasons , and desist from that enterprise . about this time there was a general complaint for want of victuals ; which proceeded rather out of a desire that some had to be at home , than out of any necessity : for sir william monson and mr. darrel , were appointed to examine the condition of every ship , and found seven weeks victuals ( drink excepted ) which might have been supplied from the shore in water ; and this put the generals in great hope to perform something more than they had done . the only service that was now to be thought on , was to lie in wait for the carrecks , which in all probability could not escape us , though there were many doubts to the contrary ; but easily answered by men of experience : but in truth , some mens desires homeward , were so great , that no reason could prevail with , or persuade them . coming into the height of the rock , the generals took council once again , and then the earl of essex , and the lord thomas howard , offered with great earnestness , to stay out the time our victuals lasted ; and desired to have but 12 ships furnished out of the rest to stay with them ; but this would not be granted , though the squadron of the hollanders offered voluntarily to stay . sir walter rawleigh alleadged the scarcity of victuals , and the infection of his men. my lord general essex , offered , in the greatness of his mind , and the desire he had to stay , to supply his want of men and victuals , and to exchange ships ; but all proposals were in vain : for the riches kept them that got much , from attempting more ; as if it had been otherwise pure want , though not honor would have enforced them to greater enterprises . this being the last hopes of the voyage , and being generally withstood , it was concluded to steer away for the north cape , and afterwards , to view and search the harbors of the groyn and ferrol ; and if any of the king of spain's ships chanced to be there , to give an attempt upon them . the lord admiral sent a carvel of our fleet into these two harbors , and aparrelled the men in spanish cloaths , to avoid suspicion . this carvel returned the next day , with a true relation , that there were no ships in the harbors : and now passing all places where there was any hope of doing good , our return for england was resolved upon ; and the 8th . of august , the lord admiral arrived in plymouth , with the greatest part of the army : and the lord general essex , who staid to accompany the st. andrew , which was under his charge , and reputed of his squadron , two days after us , the 10th . of august , where he found the army in that perfect health , as the like hath not been seen , for so many to go out of england , to such great enterprises , and so well to return home again . he himself rid up to the court , to advise with her majesty , about the winning of callis , which the spaniards took the easter before : here was a good opportunity , to have re-gained the ancient patrimony of england ; but the french king , thought he might with more ease re-gain it from the spaniard , who was his enemy , than recover it again from us , who were his friends . my lord admiral , with the fleet , went to the downs , where he landed , and left the charge of the navy , to sir robert dudley , and sir william monson . in going from thence to chatham , they endured more foul weather , and contrary winds , than in the whole voyage besides . a voyage to the islands , the earl of essex general , anno 1597. ships . the mere-honor after in the repulse the lyon the warspite the garland the defiance the mary rose the hope the matthew the rainbow the bonaventure , the dreadnought the swiftsuer the antelope the nonperil the st. andrew commanders . the earl of essex . capt. under him sir robert mansell the lord thomas howard sir walter rawleigh the earl of southampton the lord mountioy sir francis vere sir richard lewson sir george carew sir will. monson sir will. harvey sir will. brooke sir gilly merick sir iohn gilbert , he went not . sir tho. vavasor capt. throgmorton . her majesty having knowledge of the king of spain's drawing down his fleet and army to the groyn and ferrol , with an intent to enter into some action against her ; and that , notwithstanding the loss of thirty six sail of his ships that were cast away upon the north cape , in their coming thither : he prepared with all possible means , to revenge the disgraces we did him the year last past at cadiz . her majesty likewise prepared to defend her self , and fitted out the most part of her ships for the sea ; but at length , perceiving his drift was more to afright than offend her , though he gave it it out otherwise , because she should provide to resist him at home , rather than to annoy him abroad . she was unwilling the great charges she had been at , should be bestowed in vain ; and therefore turned her preparations another way , than that for which she first intended them . the project of this voyage , was to assault the king of spain's shipping in the harbor of ferrol , which the queen chiefly desired to do for her own security at home ; and afterwards to go and take the islands of tercera ; and there to expect the coming home of the indian fleet. but neither of these two designs took that effect which was expected : for in our setting forth , the same day we put to sea , we were taken with a most violent storm , and contrary winds ; and the general was seperated from the fleet , and one ship from another , so that the one half of the fleet were compelled to return home , and the rest that kept the sea , having reached the coast of spain , were commanded home , by order of the lord general . thus after their return , they were to advise upon a new voyage , finding by their ships and victuals , they were unable to perform the former : whereupon it was thought convenient all the army should be discharged , for the prolonging of the victuals , except a thousand of the prime souldiers of the low countries , which were put into her majesties ships , that they might be the better prepared , if they should chance to encounter the spanish elect. thus the second time they departed england , though not without some danger of the ships , by reason of the winter 's near approach . the first land in spain we fell withal , was the north cape , the place whither our directions led us , if we happened to lose company ; being there descried from the shore , and not above 12 leagues from the groyn , where the spanish armado lay . we were in good hopes to have enticed them out of the harbor to fight us ; but spending some time thereabouts , and finding no such disposition in them , it was thought fit no longer to linger about that coast , lest we should lose our opportunity upon the indian fleet ; therefore every captain received his directions to stand his course into 36 degrees , there to spread our selves north and south , it being a heighth that commonly the spaniards sail in from the indies . at this time the lord general complained of a leak in his ship ; and two days after , towards midnight , he brought himself upon the lee to stop it . sir walter rawleigh , and some other ships , being a head the fleet , and it growing dark , they could not discern the lord general 's working ; but stood their course as before directed ; and through this unadvised working of my lord , they lost him and his fleet. the day following , sir walter rawleigh was informed by a pinnace he met , that the great armado , which we supposed to be in the groyn and ferrol , was gone to the islands , for the guard of the indian fleet. this pinnace , with this intelligence it gave us , sir walter rawleigh immediately sent to look out the general . my lord had no sooner received this advice , but at the very instant he directed his course to the islands , and dispatched some small vessels to sir walter rawleigh , to inform him of the suddain alteration of his course , upon the news received from him , commanding him with all expedition , to repair to flores , where he would not fail to be at our arrival . at the islands we found this intelligence utterly false : for neither the spanish ships were there , nor were expected there : we met likewise with divers english men , that came out of the indies ; but they could give us no assurance of the coming home of the fleet ; neither could we recive any advertisement from the shore , which made us half in despair of them . by that time we had watered our ships , and refreshed our selves at flores , sir walter rawleigh arrived there , who was willed by the lord general , after he was furnished of such wants as that poor island afforded , to make his repair to the island of fayal , which my lord intended to take . here grew great questions and heart-burnings against sir walter rawleigh : for he coming to fayal , and missing the lord general , and yet knowing my lord's resolution to take the island , he held it more advisable to land with those forces he had , than to expect the coming of my lord : for in that space the island might be better provided : whereupon he landed , and took it before my lord's approach . this act was held such an indignity to my lord , and urged with that vehemence , by those that hated sir walter , that if my lord , though naturally kind , and flexible , had not feared how it would have been taken in england , i think sir walter had smarted for it . from this island we went to graciosa , which did willingly relieve our wants , as far as it could ; yet with humble intreaty to forbear landing with our army , especially , because they understood there was a squadron of hollanders amongst us , who did not use to forbear cruelty wherever they came ; and here it was that we met the indian fleet , which in manner following , unluckily escaped us . the lord general having sent some men of good account into the island , to see there should be no injury offered to the portugals , he having passed his word to the contrary ; those men advertised him of four sail of ships descried from the shore , and one of them greater than the rest , seemed to be a carreck : my lord received this news with great joy , and divided his fleet into three squadrons , to be commanded by himself , the lord thomas howard , and sir walter rawleigh . the next ship to my lord , of the queen's , was the rainbow , wherein sir william monson went , who received direction from my lord to steer away south that night ; and if he should meet with any fleet , to follow them , carrying lights , or shooting off his ordnances or making any other sign that he could ; and if he met with no ships , to direct his course the next day , to the island of st. michael ; but promising that night to send 12 ships after him . sir william besought my lord , by the pinnace that brought him this direction , that above all things he should have a care to dispatch a squadron to the road of angra in the tercera's : for it was certain , if they were spaniards , thither they would resort . whilst my lord was thus contriving his business , and ordering his squadrons , a small barque of his fleet happened to come , to him , who assured him , that those ships discovered from the land , were of his own fleet ; and that they came in immediately from them . this made my lord countermand his former direction ; only sir william monson , who was the next ship to him , and received the first command , could not be recalled back . within three hours of his departure from my lord , which might be about 12 of the clock , he fell in company of a fleet of 25 sail , which at the first he could not assure himself to be spaniards ; because the day before , that number of ships was missing from our fleet. here he was in a dilemma and great perplexity with himself ; for in making signs , as he was directed , if the ships proved english , it were ridiculous , and he would be exposed to scorn ; and to respite it untill morning , were as dangerous , if they were the indian fleet : for then my lord might be out of view , or of the hearing of his ordnance : therefore he resolved rather to put his person , than his ship in peril . he commanded his master to keep the weather-gage of the fleet , whatsoever should become of him ; and it blowing little wind , he betook himself to his boat , and rowed up with the fleet , demanding of whence they were : they answered , of sevil in spain ; and asked of whence he was ? he told them of england ; and that the ship in fight was a gallion of the queen 's of england , single and alone , alleadging the honor they would get by winning her ; his drift being to draw and entice them into the wake of our fleet , where they would be so entangled , as they could not escape ; they returned him some shot , and ill language ; but would not alter their course to the tercera's , whither they were bound , and where they arrived to our misfortune . sir william monson returned aboard his ship , making signs with lights , and report with his ordnance ; but all in vain : for my lord altering his course , as you have heard , stood that night to st. michaels , and passed by the north side of tercera , a farther way , than if he had gone by the way of augra , where he had met the indian fleet. when day appeared , and sir william monson was in hope to find the 12 ships promised to be sent to him , he might discern the spanish fleet two miles and a little more a head him , and a stern him a gallion , and a pinnace betwixt them ; which putting forth her flaggs , he knew to be the earl of southampton in the garland : the pinnace was a frigat of the spanish fleet , who took the garland and the rainbow to be gallions of theirs ; but seeing the flag of the garland , she found her error , and sprang a loof , thinkink to escape ; but the earl pursued her with the loss of some time , when he should have followed the fleet ; and therefore was desired to desist from that chase by sir william monson , who sent his boat to him . by a shot from my lord , this frigat was surk ; and while his men were rifling her , sir francis vere and sir william brook came up in their two ships , who the spaniards would have made us believe were two gallions of theirs ; and so much did my lord signifie to sir william monson , wishing him to stay their coming up : for that there would be greater hope of those two ships , which there was no doubt but we were able to master , than of the fleet , for which we were too weak . but after sir william had made the two ships to be the queen's , which he ever suspected them to be , he began to pursue the spanish fleet afresh ; but by reason they were so far a head of him , and had so little way to sail , they recovered the road of tercera ; but he and the rest of the ships pursued them , and himself led the way into the harbor , where he found sharp resistance from the castle ; but yet so battered the ships , that he might see the masts of some shot by the board , and the men quit the ships ; so that there wanted nothing but a gale of wind to enable him to cut the cables of the hawsers , and to bring them off : wherefore he sent to the other 3 great ships of ours , to desire them to attempt the cutting their cables ; but sir fra. vere rather wished his coming off , that they might take a resolution what to do . this must be rather imputed to want of experience than backwardness in him : for sir william sent him word , that if he quitted the harbor , the ships would tow near the castle ; and as the night drew on , the wind would freshen , and come more off the land , which indeed proved so , and we above a league from the road in the morning . we may say , and that truly , there was never that possibility to have undone the state of spain as now : for every royal of plate we had taken in this fleet , had been two to them , by our converting it by war upon them . none of the captains could be blamed in this business : all is to be attributed to the want of experience in my lord , and his flexible nature to be over-ruled : for the first hour he anchored at flores , and called a council , sir william monson advised him upon the reason following , after his watering , to run west , spreading his fleet north and south , so far as the eastern wind that then blew would carry them ; alleadging , that if the indian fleet came home that year , by computation of the last light moon , from which time their disimboguing in the indies , must be reckoned , they could not be above 200 leagues short of that island ; and whensoever the wind should chop up westernly , he bearing a slack sail , they would , in a few days overtake him . this advice my lord seemed to take , but was diverted by divers gentlemen , who coming principally for land service , found themselves tired by the tediousness of the sea. certain it is , if my lord had followed his advice , within less than 40 hours , he had made the queen owner of that fleet : for by the pilot's card , which was taken in the frigat , the spanish fleet was but 50 leagues in traverse with that eastern wind , when my lord was at flores , which made my lord wish , the first time sir william monson repaired to him , after the escape of the fleet , that he had lost his hand so he had been ruled by him . being met aboard sir francis vere , we consulted what to do , and resolved to acquaint my lord with what had happened , desiring his presence with us , to see if there were any possibility to attempt the shipping , or surprize the island , and so to possess the treasure . my lord received this advertisement , just as he was ready with his troops to have landed in st. michaels ; but this message diverted his landing , and made him presently cast about for the islands of the tercera's , where we lay all this while expecting his coming . in his course from st. michaels , it was his hap to to take three ships that departed the havana the day after the fleet : which three ships did more than countervail the whole voyage . at my lord's meeting with us at tercera , there was a consultation how the enemies ships might be fetched off , or destroyed as they lay ; but all men with one consent , agreed the impossibility of it . the attempting the island was propounded ; but withstood for these reasons , the difficulty in landing , the strength of the island , which was increased by fourteen or fifteen hundred souldiers in the ships , and our want of victuals to abide by the siege . seeing then we were frustrate of our hopes at the tercera , we resolved upon landing in st. michaels , and arrived the day following at punta delgada , the chief city . here my lord imbarqued his small army in boats , with offer to land ; and having thereby drawn the enemies greatest force thither to resist him , suddainly he rowed to villa franca , three or four leagues distant from thence ; which , not being defended by the enemy , he took . the ships had order to abide in the road of delgada ; for that my lord made account to march thither by land ; but being on shore at villa franca , he was informed that the march was impossible , by reason of the high and craggy mountains , which diverted his purpose . victuals now grew short with us , and my lord general began discreetly to foresee the danger in abiding towards winter upon these coasts , which could not afford him an harbor , only open roads that were subject to southern winds ; and upon every such wind , he must put to sea for his safety . he considered , that if this should happen , when his troops were on shore , and he not able to reach the land in a fortnight or more , which is a thing ordinary , what a desperate case he should put himself into , especially in so great a want of victuals : and so concluding , that he had seen the end of all his hopes , by the escape of the fleet , he imbarqued himself and army , though with some difficulty , the seas were now grown so high . by this time the one half of the fleet that rid in punta delgada , put room for villa franca , and those that remained behind , being thought by a ship of brazile to be the spanish fleet , she came in amongst them , and so was betrayed : after her there followed a carreck , who had been served in the like manner ; but for the hasty and indiscreet weighing of a hollander , which made her run a shore under the castle ; when the wind lessened sir william monson weighed with the rainbow , thinking to give an attempt upon her , notwithstanding the castle ; which she perceiving , as he drew near unto her , she set her self on fire , and burned down to the very keel . she was a ship of 1400 tuns burden , that the year before was not able to double the cape of bona esperansa , in her voyage to the east indies ; but put into brazile , where she was laden with sugars , and afterwards thus destroyed . the spaniards , who presumed more upon their advantages than valors , though themselves in too weak a condition to follow us to the islands , and put their fortunes upon a days service , but subtilly devised how to intercept ns as we came home , when we had least thought or suspicion of them ; and their fleet , that was all this while in the groyn and ferrol , not daring to put forwards while they knew ours to be upon the coast , their general the adelantada came for england , with a resolution to land at falmouth , and fortifie it , and afterwards , with their ships , to keep the sea , and expect our coming home scattered . having thus cut off our sea forces , and possessing the harbor of falmouth , they thought with a second supply of 37 levantisco's ships , which the marquess arumbullo commanded , to have returned and gained a good footing in england . these designs of theirs were not foreseen by us : for we came home scattered , as they made reckoning , not 20 in number together . we may say , and that truly , that god fought for us : for the adalantada being within a few leagues of the island of silly , he commanded all his captains on board him to receive his directions ; but whilst they were in consultation , a violent storm took them at east , insomuch that the captains could hardly recover their ships , but in no case were able to save their boats , the storm continued so furious , and happy was he that could recover home , seeing their design thus overthrown by loss of their boats , whereby their means of landing was taken away . some who were willing to stay , and receive the farther commands of the general , kept the seas so long upon our coast , that in the end they were taken ; others put themselves into our harbors for refuge and succor ; and it is certainly known , that in this voyage the spaniards lost eighteen ships , the st. luke , and the st. bartholomew , being two and in the rank of his best gallions . we must ascribe this success to god only : for certainly the enemies designs were dangerous , and not to be diverted by our force ; but by his will , who would not suffer the spaniards in any of their attempts , to set footing in england , as we have done in all the quarters of spain , portugal , the islands , and both the indies . the lord thomas howard admiral to the downs , from whence be returned in one month , anno 1599. ships . the elizabeth ionas the ark royal the triumph the mere-honor the repulse the garland the defiance the nonperil the lyon the rainbow the hope the foresight the mary rose the bonaventure , the crane the swiftsuer the tremontary the advantage the quittance commanders . the lord thomas howard sir walter rawleigh sir fulke grivel sir henry palmer sir tho. vavasor sir will. harvey sir will. monson sir robert cross sir richard lewson sir alexander clifford sir iohn gilbert sir tho. sherley mr. fortescue capt. troughton . capt. ionas capt. bradgate capt. slingsby capt. hoer . capt. reynolds i cannot write of any thing done in this year of 1599. for there was never greater expectation of war , with less performance . whether it was a mistrust the one nation had of the other , or a policy held on both sides , to make peace with sword in hand , a treaty being entertained by consent of each prince , i am not to examine ; but sure i am , the preparation was on both sides very great , as if the one expected an invasion from the other ; and yet it was generally conceived , not to be intended by either ; but that ours had only relation to my lord of essex , who was then in ireland , and had a design to try his friends in england , and to be revenged of his enemies , as he pretended , and as it proved afterwards by his fall : howsoever it was , the charge was not so great as necessary : for it was commonly known , that the adalantada had drawn both his ships and gallies to the groyne ; which was not usually done , but for some action intended upon england or ireland , though he converted them after to another use , as you shall hear . the gallies were sent into the low countreys , and pass'd the narrow seas , while our ships lay there , and with the fleet the atalantada pursued the hollanders to the islands , whither he suspected they were gone . this fleet of hollanders , which consisted of 73 sail , were the first ships that ever displayed their colors in war-like sort against the spaniards , in any action of their own : for how cruel soever the war seemed to be in holland , they maintained a peaceable trade in spain , and abused us . this first action of the hollanders at sea proved not very successful : for after the spoil of a town in the canary's , and some hurt done at the island of st. ome , they kept the sea for some seven or eight months , in which time their general and most of their men , sickned and died , and the rest returned with loss and shame . another benefit which we received by this preparation , was , that our men were now taught suddainly to arme , every man knowing his command , and how to be commanded , which before they were ignorant of : and who knows not , that sudden and false alarms in an army , are sometimes necessary ? to say truth , the expedition which was then used in drawing together so great an army by land , and rigging so great and royal a navy to sea in so little a space of time , was so admirable in other countreys , that they received a terror by it ; and many that came from beyond sea , said , the queen was never more dreaded abroad for any thing she ever did . french-men that came aboard our ships , did wonder ( as at a thing incredible ) that her majesty had rigged , victualled and furnished her royal ships to sea in 12 days time : and spain , as an enemy , had reason to fear , and grieve to see this suddain preparation ; but more , when they understood how the hearts of her majesty's subjects joyned with their hands , being all ready to spend their dearest blood for her and her service . holland might likewise see , that if they became insolent , we could be assoon provided as they ; nor did they expect to find such celerity in any nation but themselves . it is probable too , that the king of spain , and the arch-duke , were hereby drawn to entertain thoughts of peace : for as soon as our fleet was at sea , a gentleman was sent from brussells , with some overtures , although for that time they succeeded not . however , whether it was , that the intended invasion from spain was diverted , or that her majesty was fully satisfied of my lord of essex , i know not ; but so it was , that she commanded the suddain return of her ships from sea , after they had layn three weeks or a month in the downs . sir richard lewson to the islands , anno dom. 1600. ships . the repulse the warspight the vauntguard commanders . sir richard lewson capt. troughton capt. sommers . the last year , as you have heard , put all men in expectation of war , which yet came to nothing . this summer gave us great hope of peace ; but with the like effect : for by consent of the queen , the king of spain , and the arch-duke , their commissioners met at bulloign in piccardie , to treat of peace ; a place chosen indifferently , the french king being in league and friendship with them all . whether this treaty were intended but in shew only , or , that they were out of hopes , to come to any conclusion ; or , what else was the true and real cause of its breaking off so suddenly , i know not ; but the pretence was but slender , for there grew a difference about precedency , betwixt the two crowns , though it was ever due to england ; and so the hopes of peace were frustrated , though had it been really intended , matters might easily have been accommodated . the queen suspecting the event hereof , before their meeting , and the rather , because the spaniards entertained her with the like treaty , in 1588 when at the same instant , his navy appeared upon her coast to invade her ; therefore , least she should be guilty of too great security , in relying upon the success of this doubtful treaty , she furnished the three ships before named , under pretence to guard the western coast , which at that time was infested by the dunkirkers . and because there should be the less notice taken , part of the victuals was provided at plymouth ; and sir richard lewson , who was then admiral of the narrow seas , was appointed general , for the more secret carriage of the business ; so as it could not be conjectured , either by their victualling , or by their captain , being admiral of the narrow seas , that it was a service from home . as they were in a readiness at plymouth , expecting orders , the queen being fully satisfied , that the treaty of bulloign would break off without effect , she commanded sir richard lewson to hasten to the islands , there to expect the carrecks , and mexico fleet. the spaniards on the other side , being as circumspect to prevent a mischief , as we were subtil to contrive it ; and believing ( as we did ) that the treaty of peace would prove a vain , hopeless shew of what was never meant , they furnished eighteen tall ships to the islands , as they had usually done , since the year 1591. the general of this fleet was don diego de borachero . our ships coming to the islands , they and the spaniards had intelligence of one another , but not the sight , for that sir richard lewson hailed sixty leagues westward , not only to avoid them , but in hopes to meet with the carrecks , and mexico fleet , before they could join them : but the carrecks being formerly warned by the taking of one of them , and burning of another , in 1591. had ever since that year , endeavored to shun the sight of that island ; so that our fleet being now prevented , as they had often before been , ( nothing being more uncertain , than actions at sea , where ships are to meet one another casually ) they returned home , having consumed time and victuals , to no purpose , and seen not so much as one sail , from the time they quitted the coast of england , till their return , two ships of holland excepted , that came from the east indies ( for then began their trade thither ) which ships sir richard lewson relieved , finding them in great distress and want . sir richard lewson into ireland , anno 1601. ships . the warsight the garland the defiance the swiftsuer the crane commanders . sir richard lewson sir amias preston capt. goer capt. sommers capt. mainwaring in the year 1600. and part of the year 1601. there was a kind of cessation from arms , though not by agreement , for this year gave a hope of peace ; which failing , the former course of annoying each other was revived ; we in relieving the low countries , the spaniards in assisting the rebels in ireland . this was the summer , that the arch-duke besieged ostend , which was bravely defended , but principally , by the supplies out of england . and towards winter , when the spaniards thought we least looked for war , don diego de borachero , with 48 sail of ships , and 4000 soldiers was sent to invade ireland . in his way thither he lost the company of his vice-admiral , siriago , who returned to the groyn , which when the king heard , he was much distasted with siriago , and commanded him upon his allegiance , to hasten with all speed for ireland , as he was formerly directed ; don diego , his landing being known in england , when it was too late to prevent it ; yet , least he should be supplied with further forces , sir richard lewson valiantly entred the harbor , drew near their fortifications , and fought the enemy for the space of one whole day , his ship being an hundred times shot through , and yet but eight men slain . god so blest him , that he prevailed in his enterprize , destroyed their whole shipping , and made siriago fly by land into another harbor , where he obscurely imbarqued himself in a french vessel , for spain . all this while was the main army , which landed with their general , don iuan de aquila , seated in kinsale , expecting the aid of tyroen , who promised every day to be with him . our army commanded by the lord montjoy , lord deputy of ireland , besieged the town , so that he prevented their meeting , and many skirmishes past betwixt them . the siege continued , with great miseries to both the armies , and not without cause , considering the season of the year , and the condition of the country , that afforded little relief to either : some few days before christmas , tyroen appeared with his forces , which was some little heartning to the enemy , in hopes to be freed of their imprisonment , for so may i call it , they were so strictly beleagured . the day of agreement , betwixt the spaniards and tyroen , was christmas eve , on which day , there happened an earthquake in england ; and , as many times such signs prove aut bonum , aut malum omen ; this proved fortunate to us , the victory being obtained , with so little loss , as it is almost incredible . this was the day of tryal , whether ireland should continue a parcel of our crown , or no ; for if the enemy had prevailed in the battel , and a treaty had not afterwards obtained more then force , it was to be feared , ireland would hardly have been ever recovered . the spaniards in ireland , seeing the success of tyroen , and the impossibility for him to re-inforce his army , being hopeless of supplies out of spain , and their poverty daily increasing , they made offers of a parly , which was granted , and after ensued a peace there : the conditions whereof are extant in print . they were furnished with ships , and secured of their passage into spain , where arriving in english vessels , the ships returned back for england . sir richard lewson , and sir william monson , to the coast of spain , anno 1602. ships . the repulse the garland the defiance the mary rose the warspight the nonperil the dreadnought the adventure the english carvel commanders . sir richard lewson , admiral sir will. monson , vice-admiral . capt. goer capt. slingsby capt. sommers capt. reynolds capt. mainwaring capt. trevor capt. sawkel the last attempt of the spaniards in ireland awakened the queen , who , it seemeth for two or three years together , entertained the hopes of peace , and therefore was sparing in setting forth her fleets . but now perceiving the enemy had found the way into ireland ; and that it behoved her to be more vigilant than ever ; she resolved , as the safest course to infest the spanish coasts with a continual fleet ; and in this year furnished the ships aforesaid , having promise from the states of holland , to joyn to them twelve sail of theirs ; and because this important service required great speed , she had not time enough to man them , or supply them with provisions altogether so well as they were usually wont to be ; but was content with what could be gotten in so short a warning , so desirous was she to see her ships at sea. sir richard lewson set sail with five of them the 19th . of march , and left sir william monson behind with the other four , to attend the coming of the hollanders : though within two or three days after , sir william received command from the queen , to hasten with all speed to sir richard lewson ; for that she was advertised , that the silver ships were arrived at the tercera's . sir william monson hereupon neglected no time , nor stayed either to see himself better manned , or his ships better furnished ; but put to sea the 26th . of march. this intelligence of the queen 's was true : for the plate fleet had been at the tercera's , and departing from thence , in their course for spain , sir richard lewson , with his few ships , met them ; but to little purpose , wanting the rest of his fleet , and the help of the 12 hollanders . we may very well account this not the least error or negligence that hath been committed in our voyages : for if the hollanders had kept touch according to promise , and the queen's ships had been fitted out with care , we had made her majesty mistress of more treasure than any of her progenitors ever enjoyed . sir richard lewson's design against the indian fleet , notwithstanding his renowned valor , being thus frustrated , and by the hollanders slackness crossed , he plied towards the rock , to meet sir william monson , as the place resolved on between them ; but sir william having spent 14 days thereabouts , and hearing no tidings of him , went round to the southward cape , where he was likewise frustrated of a most promising hope : for meeting with certain french-men and scots , at the same instant , he descried three ships of ours , sent by sir richard to look him . these french and scottish ships came from st. lucas , and made report of five gallions , ready the next tide to set sail for the indies : they likewise told him of two others that departed three days before , wherein went don petro de valdes , to be governor of the havana , who had sometimes been prisoner in england . these two later ships were met one night by the warspight , whereof capt. sommers was commander ; but whether it was by the darkness of the night , or by what other casualty ( for the sea is subject to many ) i know not , but they escaped . this news of the five gallions , and the three ships of the queen 's so happily meeting together , made sir william direct his course into the heighth wherein the spaniards were most likely to sail in ; and coming into that heighth , he had sight of five ships , which in respect of their number and course , he made reckoning to be the five gallions ; and thought that day should fully determine and try the difference between the strength and puissance of the english and spanish ships , their number and greatness being equal : but his joy was soon quailed : for coming up with them , he found them to be english ships coming out of the streights , and bound home ; but yet this did not discourage the hope he had conceived that the spaniards might be met withall ; and the next day he gave chase to one ship alone that came out of the indies , which he took , though he had been better without her : for she brought him so far to leeward , that that night the gallions passed to wind-ward , not above eight or ten leagues off us , by report of an english pinnace that met them , who came into our company the day following . these misfortunes lighting first upon sir richard , and after upon sir william , might have been sufficient reasons to discourage them ; but they knowing the accidents of the sea , and that fortune could as well laugh as weep , having good ships under foot , their men sound and in health , and plenty of victuals , they did not doubt but that some of the wealth which the indies sent forth into spain would fall to their shares . upon tuesday , the first of iune , to begin our new fortune with a new month , sir richard lewson and sir william monson , who some few nights before had met accidentally in the sea , were close on board the rock , where they took two ships of the east country , bound for lisbon ; and while they were romaging these ships , they descried a carvel from cape picher bearing with them ; which by signs she made , they perceived had a desire to speak with them . sir richard immediately chased her , and left sir william with the two easterlings to abide about the rock till his return . the carvel being fetcht up , made a relation of a carreck and 11 gallies to be in cisembre road ; and that she was sent by two ships of ours , the nonperil and the dreadnought which lay thereabouts to look out the admiral . with what joy this news was apprehended may be easily imagined : sir richard made signs to sir william to stand with him ; and lest he should not be discerned , he caused the carvel to ply up with him , wishing him to repair to him ; but before they could approach the cape , it was midnight , and nothing chanced all that time , but the exchanging of some shot , that passed betwixt the admiral and the gallies . upon wednesday , the second of june , every man looked early in the morning what ships of her majesties were in sight , which were five in number , the warspight , wherein sir richard was : for the repulse he had sent for england some few days before , by reason of a leak ; the garland , the nonperil , the dreadnought , and the adventure , besides the two easterlings taken the day before . all the captains resorted on board the admiral , to councel , which took up most part of the day . at first there was an opposition by some , who alleadged the danger and impossibility of taking the carreck , being defended by the castle and 11 gallies : but sir william monson prevailed so far , as that all consented to go upon her the next day , and concluded upon this course following , that he and sir richard should anchor as near the carreck as they could , the rest to ply up and down , and not anchor . sir william was glad of this occasion , to be revenged of the gallies , hoping to requite the slavery they put him to when he was prisoner in them ; and singled himself from the fleet a league , that the gallies might see it was in defiance of them ; and so the marquess of st. cruz , and frederick spaniola , the one general of the portugal , the other of the spanish gallies , apprehended it , and came forth with an intent to fight him ; but being within shot , were diverted by one john bedford an english-man , who undertook to know the force of the ship , and sir william that commanded her . before i go farther , i will a little digress , and acquaint you with the scituation of the town , and the manner of placing the gallies against us . the town of cisembre lieth in the bottom of a road , which is a good succor for ships with a northerly wind. it is built with free-stone , and near the sea is erected a strong and spacious fort , well replenished with ordnance : above the town , upon the top of a hill , is seated an ancient , strong fryery , whose scituation maketh if impregnable , and able to command the town , castle and road ; close to the shore lay the carreck , like a bullwork to the west side of the castle ; so as it defended both that , and the east part of the town : the 11 gallies had flancked and fortified themselves with the small neck of a rock on the west side of the road , with their prows right forward , to play upon us , every one carrying a cannon in their cruzia , besides other pieces in their prows ; and they were no way to be damaged by us , till our ships came so nigh the town , that all these forces might play upon us in one instant . the gallies being placed to this great advantage , they made account ( as a captain of one of them we took confess'd ) to have sunk our ships of themselves , without any farther help . we saw the tents pitched , and great troops of souldiers drawn together ; which was no less than the whole country in arms against us : the boats pass'd betwixt the shore and the carreck all the day long , which we supposed was to unlade her ; but we found afterwards it was rather to strengthen her with men and munition : here appeared many difficulties and dangers , and little hope of taking her ; but rather of sinking or burning her , as most men conjectured . the danger from the gallies was great , they being flancked with the point of a rock at our entrance , as you have heard , it being likewise calm , and they shooting low : another danger was , that of the wind : for if it had come from the sea , the road being open , and the bay deep , our attempt must have been in vain . and notwithstanding these , and many more apparently seen ; and that there was no man but imagined , that most of the carrecks lading was on shoar , and that they would hale her on ground , under the castle , where no ship of ours should be able to fleet to her ; all which objections , with many more , were alleadged , yet they little prevailed , procrastination was perilous , and therefore with all expedition , they thought convenient to charge the town , the fort , the gallies , and carreck , all at one instant . and they had determined , if the carreck had been on ground , or so nigh the shoar , that the queens ships could not fleet to her , that the two easterlings , the day before taken , should board her , and burn her . thursday the third day , early in the morning , every man commending himself to god's tuition and protection , expected when to begin , according to the agreement the day before . a gale of wind happening about ten of the clock , the admiral weighed ; shot off a warning-piece , and put forth his flag in the maintop : the vice-admiral did the like in his foretop , according to the custome of the sea ; every captain encouraged his men , which so imboldened them , as though they were grown weak and feeble before , they were now revived , and bestirred themselves , as if a new spirit had been infused into them ; the admiral was the first that gave the charge , after him followed the rest of the ships , shewing great valor , and gaining great honor ; the last of all , was the vice-admiral , at whose entrance into the fight , he still strived to get up as near the shoar as he could , where he came to an anchor , continually fighting with the town , the fort , the gallies , and carreck , all together , for he brought them betwixt him , that he might play both his broad sides upon them ; there might be seen the prowess of the gallies , swim by the sides of them , the slaves forsake them , and every thing in confusion amongst them , and thus they fought , till five of the clock in the afternoon . the vice-admiral was anchored to such an advantage , as the gallies rowed from one side to another , seeking to shun him , which sir richard lewson observing , came on board him , and openly , in the view and hearing of his whole company , imbraced him , and told him , he had won his heart for ever . the rest of the ships , as they were directed , plied up , except the admiral , who by the negligence of his master , or some other impediment , when he should have anchored , fell so far to leeward , as the wind and tide carried him out of the road , so that it was the next day , before his ship could be fetcht in again ; whereat the admiral was much inraged , and put himself into the dreadnought , and brought her to an anchor close to the vice-admiral , about two of the clock in the afternoon : there was no opportunity let pass , for where the admiral saw defect in any other ship , he presently caused it to be supplied , and the easterlings , who were appointed to board the carrek , beginning to faint , and fail of observing the directions given them , the vice-admiral perceiving it , went on board them himself , vowing , that if they seemed backward in putting in execution the design of firing the carreck , they should look for as little life from the english , as they could expect from the enemy . whilst the vice-admiral was thus ordering things , sir richard lewson came to him , and would in no case suffer him to board the carreck himself , but carried him into the dreadnought , where they consulted how to preserve the carreck , and enjoy her . the result of this reference was , to offer her parley , which they presently put in practice , and commanded all the ships to leave shooting , until the return of the messenger : the man imployed , was one captain sewell , who had escaped ▪ and swam to us , having been four years prisoner in the gallies , and so did many turks and christians ; the effect of this parley , was to persuade them to yield , promising honorable conditions , and he was to intimate , as from himself , that the gallies , whose strength they presumed upon , were beaten , some burnt , the rest fled ; that we had the possession of the road , the castle not being able to abide our ordinance , much less the carreck , and if they refused this offer of mercy , they were to expect all the cruelty and rigor , that a conpueror could impose upon his enemy : after some conference to this effect , the captain of the carreck told him , he would send some gentlemen of quality , with commission to treat , and desired , that some of the like quality from us , might repair to him , to the same purpose . these gentlemen came aboard the dreadnought , where the admiral and vice-admiral were , attending the return and success of captain sewell ; after the delivery of their message , they would needs hasten on board the carreck again , for that , as it seemed , there was an uproar and a division in her , some being of opinion to entertain a parley , others to save themselves , and set her on fire : which sir william monson hearing , without further delay , or conference , with sir richard , what was to be done , he leaped suddenly into his boat , and rowed unto the carreck ; when he drew near to her , he was known by diverse gentlemen on board her , he having once been a prisoner among them : they seemed to be very glad of this meeting , and their passed diverse imbracements between them , in remembrance of their old acquaintance : the captain was called don diego de lobo , a gallant young gentleman , of a noble house . he descended down upon the bend of the ship , and commanded his men to stand aside ; sir william did the like to his company , in the boat ; the captain demanded of him , if he had the portugal language ; he told him , he had sufficient to treat of that business ; acquainted him of the place he commanded in the fleet , intimated the affection and respect he bore the portugal nation , and that the treaty which was offered , proceeded out of his motion , and wished him to make his proposals , which were as followeth , the first demand he made , was , that they should be safely put on shoar with their arms. the second , that it should be done the same night . the third , that they should enjoy their ship and ordinance , as appertaining to the king , but we the wealth . the fourth , that the flag and ancient should not be taken down , but worn while the carreck was unlading . his speech being ended , sir william told him , that his demands gave suspition , that under pretence of parley , they meant treachery , or that their hopes were greater , than there was cause ; and , but that he knew it was the use of some men , to demand great things , when less will serve them , he would not lose his advantage , to entertain a parley ; he desired , that what they intended , might be quickly concluded , for night growing on , might advantage them ; and for his resolution , he should understand it in few words , viz. to his first demand , he was willing to yeild , that they should be put on shoar with their arms. to the second , that he was contented , that they should be set on shoar that night , except eight or ten of the principal gentlemen , whom he would detain three days . to the third , he held it idle and frivolous , to imagine , he would consent to separate ship and goods , and esteemed it por cosa de burla . to the fourth , he would not consent , being resolved , never to permit a spanish flag to be worn in the presence of the queens ships , unless it were disgracefully , over the poop . there was long expostulations upon these points , and sir william monson seeing the obstinacy of the captain , offered , in a great rage , to leap into his boat , resolving to break the treaty , which the rest of the gentlemen perceiving , and that he had propounded nothing but what might very well stand with their reputation , they intreated him once more to ascend into the carreck , and they would enter into new capitulations : the effect whereof , as it was agreed upon , were these that follow ; that a messenger should be sent to the admiral , to have his confirmation of the points concluded on ; and that in the mean time the flag and ancient should be taken down ; and if the admiral should not consent to the agreement , they to have leisure to put out their flag and ancient tofore the fight should begin . that the company should be presently set on shore ; but the captain , with eight other of the principal gentlemen three days after . that the ship with her goods , should be surrendered without any practice or treason . that they should use their endeavors , that the castle should forbear shooting whilst we rid in the road ; and this was the effect of the conditions agreed upon . this carreck wintered in mosambicke , in her return from the indies , a place of great infection , as appeared by the mortality among them : for of 600 and odd men , twenty of them lived not to return home . after a great deal of calamity and mortality , she arrived at this port of cisembre , as you have heard ▪ the viceroy of portugal , having sent 11 gallies to her rescue , and 400 mocas de camera , which is a title of gentlemen that serve the king upon any honourable occasion , when they are commanded . that she was brought to this pass , and forc'd to yield on these conditions , sir robert cecil was wont to impute to the gentlemens acquaintance with sir william monson . although three days were limited for setting the captain on shore , yet it was held discretion not to detain them longer than untill the carreck was brought off safely to our ships ; and therefore sir william monson having carried the captain , and the rest of the gentlemen on board him , where they supped , had variety of musick , and spent the night in great jollity ; the morning following , accompanied them on shore himself , whither the conde de vitagera had drawn down all the force of the whole country , amounting to the number of 10000 men . i must not omit to describe the behavior of the gallies in the fight , that every man may have that honor that is due to him : those of portugal , being of the squadron of the marquess of st. cruz , betook themselves , with their general , to flight in the middle of the fight ; but frederico spinola , who was to convey his gallies out of spain into the low countreys , followed not the example of the marquess , but made good the road ; which the other seeing , with shame returned ; but to both their costs : for before they departed , they found the climate so hot , as they were forc'd to fly , their gallies being so miserably beaten , and their slaves so pitifully slain , as there wanted nothing but boats to possess them all , as well as the two we took and burnt ; which is a thing hath been seldom seen or heard of , for ships to take and destroy gallies . the number of men slain in the town , the castle , the carreck and gallies , are unknown , though they could not chuse but be many ; the wealth of the carreck could then as ill be estimated , though after found to be great ; the value of the two gallies burnt with their loading of powder , is hard to judge , though it 's known to have been a service of great importance . for our loss , it was not much , only one man killed in the fly-boat , five slain , and as many hurt in the garland , and one hurt in the adventure : sir william monson had the left wing of his doublet shot off , but received no other hurt . the day following , with a favourable wind , we stood our course for england , which brought us into 47 degrees ; and there we met a pinnace , sent with a pacquet from the lords , signifying the readiness of a second fleet to supply us , and the setting out of the hollanders , which were so long looked for ; which fleet of holland was in view of the pinnace the same night ; but pass'd by us unseen . this unlooked for accident made the admiral and vice-admiral consider what to do , and concluded , they could not both appear at home , and have a fleet of so great importance upon the enemies coast without a guide or head ; and therefore they held it fit the vice-admiral should put himself into the nonperil , as the ablest ship of the fleet , and make his return once more to the coast of spain ; but he having taken his leave , and standing his course for the coast , a most violent storm , with a contrary wind took him , which continued ten days , and discovered the weakness of his ship , who had like to have foundered in the deep . the carpenters and company seeing the apparent danger , if he bore not up before the wind , presented him with a petition , beseeching him to have a regard to their lives ; for by keeping the seas they should all perish . thus was he forc'd by mere extremity to bear room for england ; and coming for plymouth , he found the carreck safely arrived , and the fleet he went back to take charge of , not to have quitted the coast of england . though it be somewhat impertinent to this voyage , to treat of more than the success thereof ; yet i will a little digress , and relate the mishap of that worthy young gentleman don diego de lobo , captain of the carreck ; and because his worth will more appear by his answer to sir william monson's offer to him when he was his prisoner ; thus it was : sir william monson told him , he doubted , that by the loss of the carreck , he had lost his best means ; for that he supposed , what he had gained in the indies , was laden in her ; and therefore offered , that what he would challenge upon his reputation to be his own , he should have freedom to carry along with him . the gentleman acknowledged the favor to be extraordinary ; but replied , that what he had , he had gained by his sword ; and that his sword , he doubted not , would repair his fortunes again , utterly refusing to accept any courtesie in that kind : but , poor gentleman , ill fortune thus left him not : for the viceroy , don cristoball de moro , holding it for a great indignity to have the carreck taken out of the port , that was defended by a castle , and guarded with 11 gallies , and especially in his hearing of the ordnance to lisbon , and in the view of thousands of people who beheld it ; some of them feeling it too , by the loss of their goods that were in her , others grieving for the death of their friends that were slain ; but every man finding himself touched in reputation . the names of the carrecks and eleven gallies . the st. valentine , a carreck of one thousand seven hundred tuns . the christopher , the admiral of portugal , wherein the marquess de sancta cruz went. the st. lewis , wherein frederick spinola went general of the gallies of spain . the forteleza , vice-admiral to the marquess . the trividad , vice-admiral to frederick spinola , burnt . the snis , in which sir william monson was prisoner , 1591. the occasion burnt , and the captain taken prisoner . the st. john baptist. the lazear . the padillar . the philip. the st. john. and the viceroy not knowing how to clear himself so well , as the laying it upon the gentlemen he put on board her , the same night they returned to their lodging , he caused the most part of them , with their captain , to be apprehended , imputing the loss of the carreck to their cowardise and fear , if not treason and connivance with the enemy . after some time of imprisonment , by mediation of friends , all the gentlemen were released but the captain , who received secret advice , that the viceroy intended his death , and that he should seek by escape to prevent it . don diego being thus perplexed , practised with his sister , who finding means for his escape out of a window , he fled into italy , where he lived in exile , from 1602. when this happened , untill 1615. his government in the indies , for which he had a patent in reversion , was confiscate , and he lest hopeless ever to return into his native country , much less to be restored to his command ; an ill welcome after so long and painful a navigation . having thus spent thirteen years in exile , at the last he advised with friends , whose councel he followed , to repair into england , there to enquire after some commanders , that had been at the taking of the carreck , by whose certificate he might be cleared of cowardise or treason in the loss of her , which would be a good motive to restore him to his government again . in the year 1515. he arrived in london , and after some enquiry found out sir william monson , to whom he complained of his hard ▪ mishap , craving the assistance of him and some others , whom sir william knew to be at the taking of the carreck , and desired him to testifie the manner of surprizing her , which he alleadged , was no more than one gentleman was bound to afford another in such a case . sir william wondered to see him , and especially upon such an occasion : for the present , he entertained him with all courtesie ; and the longer his stay was in england , the courtesies were the greater , which sir william did him . sir william procured him a true and effectual certificate from himself , sir francis howard , captain barlow , and some others who were witnesses of that service ; and to give it the more reputation , he caused it to be inrolled in the office of the admiralty . the gentleman being well satisfied with his entertainment , and having what he desired , returned to flanders , where he presented his certificate to the arch-duke and the infanta , by whose means he got assurance , not only of the king's favor , but of restitution likewise to his government . the poor gentleman having been thus tossed by the waves of calamity , from one country to another , and never finding rest ; death that masters all men , now cut him off short , in the midst of his hopes , as he was preparing his journy for spain ; and this was an end of an unfortunate gallant young gentleman , whose deserts might justly have challenged a better reward , if god had pleased to afford it him . sir william monson to the coast of spain , anno 1602. ships . the swiftsuer the mary rose the dreadnought the adventure the answer the quittance the lions whelp the paragon , a merchant . a small carvel commanders . sir will. monson capt. trevers capt. cawfield capt. norris capt. brodgate capt. browne capt. may capt. iason capt. hooper the fleet of sir richard lewson being happily returned , with the fortune of a carreck , as you have heard , and the queen having now no ships upon the spanish coast , to impeach the enemies preparations , she feared , the fleet which was ready at the groyne , would give a second assault upon ireland ; whereupon sir william monson , who by this time was arrived at plymouth , was sent for in great haste , by her majesty , to advise about , and take on him the charge of the fleet , then at plymouth . after a long conference with sir william monson , in the presence of her majesty , her lord admiral , treasurer , and secretary , it was resolved , that sir william should repair to plymouth , and with all speed get forth those ships , and others that were there making ready . his directions were , to present himself before the harbor of the groyne , being the place where the spaniards made their randevouz , and if he found any likelihood of a design upon ireland , not to quit that coast untill he saw the issue , but if he found ireland secure , and the enemies preparations to be intended only for defence of their own coasts , then his instructions led him thence , to the place where the holland fleet had order to attend , and expect him ; and afterwards , the whole carriage of the action was referred to his discretion , but with this caution , that above all respects of other profit or advantage , he attended the affair of ireland . the wind this part of the summer hung contrary , and it was six weeks before he could clear the coast , during which time , he lost his greatest hopes , by the return of the carrecks of the indian fleet , which happened a full month before his arrival : he set sail from plymouth the last of august , with a scant wind , which continued with foul weather , untill he recovered the groyne , choosing rather to keep the sea , then hazard the overthrow of the voyage by his return . he stayed at the groyne , until he understood that the fleet which was suspected to be prepared for ireland , was gone to lisbone , to join with don diego de borachero , who all that summer durst not budge forth , for fear of our fleet , that made good the coast thereabouts : sir william in his way to the rock , commanded his carvel to repair to the islands of bayon , as the likeliest place to procure intelligence of the state of those parts ; as the carvel drew near the islands , he discerned the spanish fleet , consisting of twenty four sail , whose design was , as she understood by a boat she took , to look out the english fleet , whose comming they daily expected upon the coast ; and meeting sir william with this news , he held it a good service to be thus warned of them . here he took two goodly ships of france , bound for lisbone , which harbor he put them from , and took pledges , that they should directly return into france , without touching in any harbor of spain , for that he understood , the spanish fleet was ill provided of men , and many other things which these ships could supply . sir william and the dreadnought , were carried with a chase into the road of cisimbre , where the carreck was taken not long before , and after some fight with the castle , who defended the vessel chased , they came to a friendly treaty , and presents past between them . that night , while the admiral rid in the road , a carvel comming in , not mistrusting him , was taken , but dismissed in a friendly manner ; by whom he understood the affairs of lisbone , but could get no notice of the holland fleet , which was appointed to attend at the rock , whither once more he repaired . coming thither the 26th of september , a light was espied in the night , which the admiral chased , thinking it had been the fleet of st. omer , or brazil , bound for lisbone , where they were expected ; but drawing so near them , that he might hail them , he found them , by the hugeness of their vessels , and the number which answered the relation the carvel made , to be the armado of spain : whereupon he sought means how to clear himself , being ingaged amongst them , and made a spaniard which served him call to them , but they could not hear him ; the adventure only , and the whelp , were left with him , the rest losing company , four nights before in a storm ; the enemy perceiving our lights , and thinking it to be some fleet of flemmings , stood in amongst us , but the adventure being discovered to be an enemy , the alarum was soon taken , and they shot at her , and slew and hurt some of her men ; as soon as the day appeared , the spaniards beheld the three enlish ships a head them , which they chased , and three of them , which were better of sail than the rest , fetcht upon us , and drew near the whelp , who was of small force to resist them . but the admiral resolving , though it was to his own evident peril , not to see a pinnace of her majesties so lost , if so be he could rescue her with the loss of his life , though it was much against the persuasions of his master , and company , he stroak his two sails for the whelp , and commanded her to stand her course , while he staid for the three spanish ships , with hope to make them have little list to pursue us : the admiral of the spaniards perceiving how little he cared for his three ships , in that he lingered for their coming up , took in with the shoar , and shot off a peice for his three ships to follow him . it may appear by this , as by several other expeditions of ours , how much the swift sailing of ships doth avail , being the principal advantage in sea service , and indeed the main thing we could presume upon , in our war against the spaniards . sir william having thus escaped the enemy , in his traverse at sea , there happened , as there doth upon all coasts , where there is plenty of trade , divers occasions of chases ; and one day sir william following one ship , and the adventure another , they lost company for the whole voyage . sir william was advertised by a ship he took , being a frenchman , who came from st. lucas , that the st. domingo fleet was looked for daily , which intelligence made him bear up for the south cape , as well in hopes to meet with them , as to have news of his fleet. he was no sooner come to the cape , but he was informed by some english men of war , that the domingo fleet was past by two days before ; here he met with ships of several nations , some he rescued from pirats , and to others that were in league with her majesty , he gave his safe conduct , for their free passage on the sea ; he kept that coast until the 21th of october , on which morning he gave chase to a gallion of the king of spain , who recovered the castle of cape sacre , before he could fetch her up ; although he knew the strength of the castle , yet he attempted , and had carried her , had it not been for the fear and cowardize of him at the helm , who bore up , when he was ready to board her : the fight was not long , but sharp and dangerous , for there never past shot between them , till they were within a ships length one of another : the castle plaid her part , and tore his ship , so that a man might have crept through her : between the castle and gallion , they slew in the admiral ten men , and hurt many more , in the view of sireago and his quadron , to the westward , and of divers english men of war , to the eastward , who durst not put themselves upon the rescue of sir william , for fear of the castle : sir william being now left alone , and seeing what head land soever he came unto , he was to encounter a spanish squadron , stood his course that night to sea , thinking to try , if the islands of terceras would afford him any better fortune , but coming within forty or fifty leagues of the islands , he was taken short with the wind , yet still bearing up what he could for the rock ; but at length finding his victuals grew short , his mast perished , and the dangers he was exposed to , by keeping that coast , he directed his course for england , and came to plymouth , the 24th of november , where he found the mary-rose and dreadnought , most part of their men being dead or sick . the adventure arrived within an hour after him , who in her way homewards fell , fell amongst the braizl fleet , and encountring with them , lost divers men , but took none : the paragon was at home long before , with a prize of sugar , and spices , which countervailed the charge of the voyage . the quittance in her return , met two ships of dunkirk , and in fight with them , her captain was slain , but she acquitted her self very well , without further harm . this fleet , as you have heard , was to keep the enemy busied at home , that he might be diverted from the thoughts of ireland ; what hazard it endured by the enemy , the fury of the sea , and soul weather , doth appear ; and no marvel ; for it was the latest fleet in winter , that ever kept upon the spanish coast , as it was likewise the last fleet her majesty imployed ; for in march after she died , and by her death all war ceased . as sir william monson was general of this last fleet , so was he a soldier , and a youth , at the beginning of the wars , and was at the taking of the first spanish prize , that ever saw the english coast , which yet was purchased with the loss of twenty five of our men , besides fifty hurt . this prize was afterwards a man of war , and served against the spaniards , and was in those days reckoned the best ship of war we had ; she was called the commander , and belonged to sir george carew , then governor of the isle of wight . sir richard lewson and sir william monson into the narrow seas , anno 1603. ships . the repulse the mere-honor the defiance the warspight the rainbow the dreadnought the quittance the lyons whelp commanders . sir richard lewson sir william monson capt. goer capt. seymers capt. trevor capt. reynolds capt. howard capt. polwheele sir william monson returning with his fleet , in november , there was a resolution to furnish another against february , which should be recruited with fresh ships , men and victuals in june . sir richard lewson was to command the former fleet , and sir william monson the later : for the queen found it a course both secure and profitable , to keep a continual force upon the spanish coast , from february to november , that being the time of greatest peril to her majesty ; and she was the rather encouraged thereto , by the safty she found the last summer , and the wealth and riches she had from time to time taken from the enemy . the complaint of the ill furnishing out of her ships in other voyages , made it more carefully to be look'd unto now , and there was better choice of victuals and men than usually had been ; but in the mean time , it pleased god to visit her majesty with sickness , which caused a ling'ring , though no absolute dissolving of the fleet ; but when her danger was perceived to increase . the ships were hastened out to sea , it being a point of good policy , to keep our seas guarded from any forreign attempt , untill his majesty should be peaceably settled in england . this fleet departed from quinborough the 22th . of march , and arrived in the downs the 25th . of the same , being the day after her majesties death : the news whereof , and commandment to proclaim king james the sixth of scotland , our lawful king , and the rightful inheritor to the crown , arrived both together ; which put us into two contrary passions , the one of grief , the other of joy : grief for the loss of the queen , joy for ▪ accepting of the king in that peaceable manner , which was a happiness beyond all expectation , either at home or abroad . as the design of this fleet was to guard and defend our own coasts from any incursion that might be made out of france or the low countreys ; so the commanders were vigilant to appear on those coasts once in two days , to dishearten them , in case they had any such thought ; but the truth is , it was beyond their abilities , whatever was in their hearts to impugn his majesty . and because the arch-duke would make the candidness of his intention apparent to the world , he called in his letters of reprizal against the english ; and published an edict for a free and unmolested traffick into flanders : so that now our merchants might again trade peaceably into those parts from which they had been debarred the space of eighteen years . the king finding , that france neither impeached his right , nor gave any jealousie by the raising of an army ; and that the arch-duke made a demonstration of his desire of peace , his majesty did the like , acknowledging the league he had with those princes , with whom the late queen had wars : for wars betwixt countreys are not hereditary ; but commonly end with the death of their kings : wherefore he commanded his ships to give over their southern employment , and to repair to chatham , giving manifest testimonies , how desirous he was that his subjects should recover that wealth and freedom by peace , which they had formerly lost by war. finis . the history of the administration of cardinal ximenes, great minister of state in spain written originally in french, by the sieur michael baudier of languedoc ... and translated into english by w. vaughan. histoire de l'administration du cardinal ximenes, grand ministre d'estat en espagne. english baudier, michel, 1589?-1645. 1671 approx. 297 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 105 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a26840 wing b1164 estc r6814 11894553 ocm 11894553 50543 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a26840) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 50543) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 53:3) the history of the administration of cardinal ximenes, great minister of state in spain written originally in french, by the sieur michael baudier of languedoc ... and translated into english by w. vaughan. histoire de l'administration du cardinal ximenes, grand ministre d'estat en espagne. english baudier, michel, 1589?-1645. vaughan, walter. [49], 150 p. : port. printed for john wilkins ..., london : 1671. translation of: histoire de l'administration du cardinal ximenes, grand ministre d'estat en espagne. errata: p. [17]. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng jiménez de cisneros, francisco, 1436?-1517. spain -politics and government -1479-1516. spain -foreign relations -1479-1516. spain -history -ferdinand and isabella, 1479-1516. 2006-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-10 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2006-10 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion francis cardinal ximenes great minister of state in spaine . cross sculpsit the history of the administration of cardinal ximenes , great minister of state in spain . written originally in french , by the sieur michael baudier of languedoc , councellor and historiographer to his most christian majesty ; and translated into english , by w. vaughan . london , printed for john wilkins at the sign of the maiden-head in new cheap-side in moor-fields . 1671. to the honourable sr. henry herbert knight , master of the revells . sir , true gratitude abhors the prostitute forms of verbal thanks , as a vertuous lady the dress of a curtezan ; and since men practise the art to make false glosses on the text of their thoughts , to personate gratitude , and render these words meer colours of ordinary civility and complements to fill up the vacuity of discourse ; which in the first use , were faithful interpreters of the affections they represented : since false tongues are as modeable as false locks , and grateful language ( like excellent fruit grafted on a crabstock ) usurped by those who take not any impression from the favours their speech pretends engraven in their hearts , which remain unaltered from their innate ingratitude , as the crab-root retains his sowre nature , though his boughs are adorned with golden apples . since men have learnt to give thanks by rote , as parrots do goodmorrows ; to reduce the expression of gratitude to lip-labour , is to offer sacrifice on a polluted altar ; to prophane that which is holy , and to pay a debt in brass money , which may have the stamp , but not the value of currant coyn. large professions of thankfulness having by general abuse degenerated into pure impostures and vizzards of hypocrisie , or ( at best ) empty sounds , which naturally inferr the hollowness of the vessell they proceed from . my obligations to you are many and great ; justice returns quid pro quo , something equivolent to what is received ; but gratitude obliges reddere cum foenore ; a duty i am so far from being capable to satisfie , that i confess my self bankrupt by your favours : and for laying out kindnesses where they were not deserved , nor can be requited , you might have repented your self of ill husbandry , equall to his , who sowed wheat on the sands ; but that bounty to an undeserving person , resembles so nearly that archetype of goodness , whereby providence obliges the universe without its merit ; that my want of desert , and disability of retribution , will intitle your beneficence the more divine ; and be arguments of your prudence , in doing good for ends whereof you cannot be disappointed : that is , like solomon's good man , of being satisfied from your self ; a design not to be frustrated : and carries in it the comfort of being conformable to his precept , who commands to give without hope to receive again . — licet exemplis , in parvis , grandibus uti . it was the saying of a great man roan iesuis , roy ie ne puis , prince ie desdayne : to apply it to the present purpose . your favours , sir , i am heartily thankfull for ; actually to requite them is beyond my power ; and ( though i do not scorn verball acknowledgements , yet , i ever thought words ( which are but wind ) as unfit representatives of the deep characters of gratefull thoughts , as ordinary table-books , or chartae deletiles , to hold matters of record . and conceived it proper to transcribe the impressions my heart hath taken from your favours , into monuments that may remain to perpetuity ; and not only proclaim to the present age , but transmit to posterity a publick testimony of your goodness in my gratitude . and though herein i do no more than the insolvent person , who by the writing he owns himself a debtor , publishes only his obligation and disability to pay : yet the freeness of those favours whereby you have engaged me , makes me confident of your acceptance of this address , as my declaration in print of the duties i owe you ; and particularly my obligations for the opportunities had for this translation of the life of ximenes : wherein if any crudity appears , you will wink at it as a thing incident to the first fruits of mens labours . this being such , and humbly presented to you , by him who is heartily as actually , your servant , walt. vaughan . to the reader . this book contains vertue in effigie drawn to the life , beyond the artifice of picture or sculpture ; for ( what appelles and lysippus could not shadow ) the life of ximenes presents conspicuous as the light , the progress and ascent of vertue , from the obscurity of a private condition , to the illustrious dignity of a governour of kingdoms : and in one piece hath exprest its infancy , growth and maturity . 't is exposed to view in a fryars frock , and the pomp of a cardinal ; in the solitary retirements of an ermitage , and attended with legions of armed men : praying in a cloister , and judging on a throne ; begging alms , but withall bestowing provinces , and relieving princes in distress : dead to the world , to live in it with content ; and buried in a monastery , to obtain a glorious resurrection into the theatre of action , and the prime dignities of church and state. fortune the mistris of other mens vertues , waited on ximenes , as a page errant through the desart solitudes of covents and cloysters , into the glorious splendour of palaces and soveraign courts : like a wanton lover , she pursued him who fled from her , and courted him , who slighted her . his merit had preference to the prerogative of royal birth , when queen isabell unasked , promoted him to the archiepiscopal chair of toledo , which the charms of conjugal affection , assisted with the powerfull influence of majesty in the intercessions of ferdinand her king and husband , laboured in vain to perswade her to grant to don alonzo his son , then suitor for that great dignity of prime prelate and first grandee of spain , who mist his mark , though he was born a prince , and had a king for his advocate to plead in his behalf : the success justified the wisdom of queen isabels choice . for the vertue of ximenes , was proof against the charms of romish greatness : and continued humble and pious in pontificalibus ; not fortunes slave , but mistris : gained vast revenews , to appear prodigiously liberal ; and soveraign honors to grace his magnificence ; filled his soul with zeal for conversion of infidels , and his heart with courage to conquer oran . managed the generals staff , and swayed the scepter with the same dexterity he handled the breviary : the head of an army in a cardinals cap , and governour of spain in the purple of the church ; a courtier and patriot in one person ; the darling of his prince , for fidelity and zeal to promote the interest of the crown ; the favourite of the people , for easing their grievances , procuring immunities , erecting and endowing colledges , hospitals and granaries ; wherein he expended the vast profits of his benefices , like the ocean returning the tribute of the lesser waters , he receives in showers of beneficence on those who paid it . when he retired from the presidents chair in the councel royal , he went to assist at conferences of divinity , to demonstrate the consistence of piety ( to canonize him a saint ) with policy , which gained him the title of great minister of spain . and that the distractions of government , could not disorder the harmony of his soul into an incapacity to perform exercises of devotion , when tost with the tempests of a turbulent state. he was humble in his personal carriage and private concerns , but haughty in his conduct , and heroically magnanimous in his publick capacity . his gratitude to his benefactors was generous and exemplary ; but usque ad aras , confined within the limits of justice , from which he was inflexible , though tempted by the highest obligations , which occasioned his contest with his good master ferdinand , and the pope ; when the former denyed him what in justice was due ; and the other would have usurped a power to unlock at pleasure the treasuries of the church of spain , with the keyes of st. peter . but blind obedience was not an article of the cardinals creed , who reverenced the pope as pastor of the flock ; but would not admit him lord of the heritage . he slighted mean exercises of vertue , as born only for arduous attempts : annulled contracts made by the high treasurer don manuel in deceit of the king , and tore in pieces the fraudulent lease drawn by collusion with the farmers of granada . made judges examples of his justice , and feel the severity of the laws they had corruptly abused , to colour their sale of the right of the poor to the purse of the rich . reformed the exchequer and counsel royal , as well as the retinue of the court : laid prostrate three of the greatest grandees of spain , who had vilified his person , and contemned his authority : forced the councel royal to pay him the respects they had neglected : obliged prince ferdinand brother to charles the fifth then king of spain , to obey the orders he threatned to break : reduced the rebell cities of spain to obedience by arms , and mutineers by the sole majesty of his looks , and the silent authority of his great conduct ; opened ( as generall ) a passage to the catholick king ; and ( as archbishop and cardinal ) to the catholick faith into africk . was a president of piety , to fryars ; of charity , magnificence and zeal , to prelates : of courage and conduct to commanders of armies : of royal justice , prudence and magnanimity to princes : and shines a constellation of publick and private , moral and politick , civil and theological vertues , that moved successively in the several orbs of religious , military and politick government : was a glorious luminary in each , and made it appear , that neither religion , military discipline , nor civil government , but a transcendent eminency in every of them , was his proper sphere . these are the lineaments of that vertue , the following story presents in lively colours ; and renders as lovely , as that in plato's fancy , whose idea of vertue was more amiable than venus . but plato's idea's were held paradox in former dayes , and platonick love is a chimaera in ours . sense is the ascendant of the age , the sole in let of modern affection and knowledge ; and vertue so great a stranger , that she will scarce be known by her effigies : her natural form will be a disguise when she appears amongst them , who adore the pourtrait of a mistris , but scorn idolatry to the image of vertue , and prefer the pictures of aretine , before the tables of cebes . yet to please the reader , whose wit lyes in his fingers ends ; who knows no pleasure , but what is palpable , and will rather deny the being , than admit the love of invisible things ; cujus migravit ab aure voluptas omnis ad incertes oculos & gaudia vana . the book invites him not to a dull entertainment of dry precepts of morality ; but a fine shew of the vertue of ximenes , a new and strange sight come from spain , seen in france , newly shifted into an english habit , and more worthy admiration than pusionelle and the butterfly . a proteus in the several shapes of lawyer , fryar , archbishop , cardinal , general , minister of state , and governour of spain ; retaining a divinity in all forms . if you slight it as vertue , it may deserve your sight as a monster : a strange form whereof , you cannot discover the least resemblance in your self . and though vertue be a contemptible thing in your judgement , the dress and pomp it appears in , may satisfie your fancy : as you visit the theatres for the scenes , not the playes ; the painters pencill , not the pen of the poets . but these are reflections on a french vanity and lightness of spirit which the english reader may think himself unconcerned in . for ximenes appears among us , in confidence the sole greatness of his vertues , will effectually recommend him to a kind entertainment , from the gravity of the english ; who though they have excluded cardinals from their countrey , retain respect for cardinal vertues . the book ( like the pack of ulysses , made up of toyes for women , and arms for a heroe , ) though checquer'd with a pleasing variety of accidents to tickle the fancy of the lightest wits , consists chiefly of generous examples of solid vertue , to kindle emulation in the bravest spirits : and doubts not of a candid reception , the genius of the english ( though the humour of the times may countenance the contrary assertion ) being really more inclined to imitate the heroick actions and sound discourses , than the trifling vanities and fantastick capricchio's of forreigners : as achilles in petty-coats , was better at handling a sword , than a distaff ; and though drest like a lady , thought the spear and the target , fitter for him , than ear-knots and patches . errata . pag. 14. l. 10. dele too : p. 20. l. 30. r. master : p. 34. l. 30. r. nocturnal : p. 35. l. 5. r. san : p. 42. l. ult . r. cady , or : p. 54 l. 11. r. for defraying : p. 58. l. 26 , 27. r. formidable by : p. 62. l. 11. r. calumniate : p. 73. l. 15. r. thanked them : p. 74. l. 21. r. rights : p. 80. l. 31. r. purple : p. 93. l. 30. r. to : p. 95. l. 7. r. velasco : p. 104. l. 11. r. stranger : p. 106. l. 4. r. rid : p. 114. l. 26. r. triumvirat : p. 128. l. 25. r. di●●o his : p. 132. l. 8. r. attaque : p. 148. l. 28. r. i 'le . besides mis-pointings and other less material faults , which the reader may easily discover , and is desired to correct . the contents . chap. i. the birth and education of ximenes . his journey to rome . he is robbed by the way . his return to spain , and imprisonment by order of the archbishop of toledo . his enlargement and retirement into the diocess of siguenza . he is made vicar-general thereof , and administrator-general to the earl of cifuentes , and takes on him the order of st. francis , pag. 1. chap. ii. ximenes interrupted in his devotions by crowds of visitants , retires into the monastery of castanet ; is made warden of the convent of salceda ; and in 1492. confessor to isabel queen of spain . he is chosen provincial of his order for three years ; leaves the court , and visits the religious houses under his charge : his design for passing into africk , to propagate the faith there , diverted by rouys , his companion : he travels on foot , and beggs . pag. 7. chap. iii. vpon the death of cardinal mendoza , king ferdinand endeavours the promotion of his natural son , the archbishop of saragosa , to the chair of toledo : but queen isabel prefers ximenes to the dignity . he withdraws from court , to avoid the investiture ; but upon the popes mandate returns and accepts it . his declaration not to admit of any pension to be charged on the revenue of the archbishoprick . he continues the plainness of a religious life : mends with his own hands the frock of his order , with other evidences of humility : is complained of to the pope , who commands him to live more splendidly : ximenes obeyes ; is envied by the monks of his order : their generals extravagant address to the queen . his brother bernardin endeavours to stifle him in his bed , and leaves him for dead . ximenes recovers , and perswades the king , to ease his people of a heavy tax called alcabala , and erects a colledge at arcala . pag. 9. chap. iv. the zeal of ximenes for propagating the faith. he converts three thousand moores in one day : the manner of their baptism . the new converts present him with five thousand volumes of the alcoran , and glosses thereon ; he burns most of them . the revolt of granada charged on ximenes by his enemies : the miscarriage of the courrier he imployed . the king expresses great displeasure against ximenes ; but he retrives all , and obtains thanks from the king. pag. 17 chap. v. ximenes falls sick , and is cured by a morisco woman . bestows four thousand crowns on seven hebrew copies of the bible . his great care and charge , for a correct impression of the scriptures . he obtains great immunities for his colledge of arcala , and pardons a malefactor led to execution : he builds another colledge . pag. 21 chap. vi. the death of queen isabel . ximenes executor of her last will and testament . the extraordinary honors done him by the king. the dexterity of his conduct , in preserving castille under the obedience of his master ferdinand . the arrivall of philip , ferdinand's son-in-law , in spain . the enterview of ferdinand and ximenes's advice to philip. he attends them in their conference ; and shuts out don philip's favorite . ferdinand's speech to philip : his commendation of ximenes . his haughty conduct , in the affairs of the farm of the revenews of the silks of philip's death . ximenes , the constable of castille , and duke of najar , undertakes the government in ferdinand's absence . vpon ferdinand's letter , ximenes resolves to govern alone : is chosen sole guardian of the state. the distracted vagaries of queen joan. the troubles in medina and granada appeased by ferdinand's return . ximenes made cardinal , and inquisitor-general of castile : the honour done his colledge of arcala , by francis the first of france ; and charles the fifth , emperor of germany , pag. 24 chap. vi. the cardinal's design to invade africk , proposed to ferdinand , who excuses the enterprize for want of money . the cardinal furnishes money . mersalcaber is taken by surrender . the punishment of a spanish souldier , for breach of the articles . diego ferdinando is made governour of mersalcaber , and deiasio his lieutenant : his extraordinary value , pag. 37. chap. vii . ximenes resolves to pass in person into africk in the head of an army : the raillery of the court thereupon . the earl d' olivarez by advice of the great captain , made lieutenant general . the officers of the army retard and obstruct the expedition . the cardinal complains to the king ; and if the army should disband , desires leave to retire into his diocess . the king gives new orders , for the army to attend the cardinal . they mutiny : the cardinal employes villaroel to advise virnelli from his rigor against the mutineers . viaanell's proud answer : villaroel wounds him . the campmaster salazars device to appease the mutineers . the army lands : they engage the moores and after a stout resistance , prevail ▪ oran is taken : the cardinal enters oran in triumph ; divides the spoil amongst the officers and souldiers : founds and endows an hospital . de veras neglect in carrying the king news . the earl of olivarez insolent carriage against the cardinal ; his submission . the cardinal's return into spain , and the occasion . captain arias's exemplary familiarity with death , pag. 44. chap. viii . the cardinal demands payment of the moneys he advanced for the war ; the grandees and officers strong opposition , and arguments against payment . the cardinal's defence . he prevails ▪ lewys william made bishop of oran by the pope , is opposed by the cardinal ; who makes fair offers of accommodation ; which are refused by william in hopes of sentence against the cardinal : his designs frustrated , and he slighted . the cardinal prefers his friend rouys to the bishoprick of avilas . the cardinal's advice to his friend before the promotion . he disposes of his nephew in marriage . his advice hereupon . his niece is married to a nephew of the duke d' infantado . the cardinal breaks the marriage . the reason . the cardinal's respect to the great captain . extraordinary honor done the cardinal by ferdinand . the cardidinal's generous offer , to assist pope julius the second . pag. 62. chap. ix . a peace with africk . new honors done the cardinal . a war with france . the cardinal's advice for the management . his discovery of the secret league between france and navarr . the cardinal's liberality , in order to the king's health . he builds several publick granaries , and a magnificent church and monastery . his famous aqueduct , which cost a million of gold. the pope demands contribution from spain towards building of st. peter's in rome : the king consents , but the cardinal opposes and hinders it . king ferdinand's sickness and frowardness . he alters his testament made at burgos ; and why : rejects the proposal of ximenes for governour of the kingdom after his decease : the reason . he declares ximenes governour , and dyes . the cardinal enters on the government : his excellent conduct . pag. 72. chap. x. the dean of lovain by patent from charles king of spain , claims the government . the cardinal opposes him . reduces porto carrero , and his rebellious forces in portugal to obedience . charles declares the cardinal governour : is opposed in the new title he assumed of king of spain , till address to the cardinal : who in spight of the grandees opposition , caused charles to be proclaimed king of spain in madrid and toledo . peter giroim takes up arms , but defeated by the cardinal . the duke d' infantadoes extravagant speeches and manifests against the cardinal : his submission . the cardinal's forces . the grandees stirr up the people to rebellion . valladolid , leon , burgos , &c. revolt : complaints to charles against the cardinal ; but frustrated by his prudence . pag. 81. chap. xi . the cardinal's settlement of the maritine affairs of the kingdom . he relieves the islanders against the tyranny of the spaniards . his advice to charles thereupon rejected , but to the dammage of the crown . he stops the french : and reduces navarr to an entire obedience to spain . malaga in arms , but reduced by the cardinal's forces . velasio high treasurer of spain seizes arevale and fortifies it ; but upon the cardinal's summons , opens the gates , and is pardoned , pag. 91 chap. xii . the exemplary justice of the cardinal , in punishing corrupt judges and their officers . he regulates the exchequer , and orders of knighthood : reforms the councel royal , and the retinue of the court. his taking away the pensions of peter martyr , and gonsales d' oviedo , censured . he annulls a gift of three millions , made by ferdinand to three grandees . the king of tunis expelled his dominion , is royally entertained by the cardinal , pag. 97. chap. xiii . the cardinal by edict commands all the genoese to depart spain within 15 dayes : the reason of the edict . charles accepts of the genoese submission by their embassadors , and revokes the edict . the cardinal refuses to publish the revocation , till further satisfied . his advice to charles in the affairs of italy . the jews offer charles eight hundred thousand crowns for liberty to judaize or turn christians at their pleasure : the councel of flanders advises charles to accept the offer : the cardinal disswades him : his prudent disposal of the government of provinces . he promotes dean adrian , and others . his constancy : pag. 106. chap. xiv . the grandees procure laxaus to be sent joint-commissioner for the government with the cardinal and dean adrian . the cardinal slights him . he tears the patents signed by adrian and laxaus in the more honourable place : and signs new patents to the same effect alone , and executes them . the great chancellor savage sent into spain : his corrupt proceedings : the cardinals generous and discreet complaint against him . an ordinance past at rome , to levy the tenths of the clergy of spain : they are in discontent . the cardinal defends and pacifies them . pag. 114. chap. xv. the duke infantado's contempt of justice : the cardinal threatens him : the dukes extravagant message to the cardinal : he repents , and is reconciled : the manner of it . the cardinal's severity against peter gironne for not obeying the decree of the court of valladolid : the grandees procure a prohibition from charles to stay the cardinal's proceedings : the cardinal and councel inform charles of the truth of the fact : have liberty to proceed . the judgement of the court is executed : giron submits . the duke d' alva fortifies casabrona against the cardinal : the cardinal besieges it : the resolution of the besieged : the duke submits and surrenders : the cardinal 's great affection for the monastery of castanet : his inclination to religious solitude . charles embarkes for spain : the cardinal advances to meet him : is poisoned : advises the remove of two principal domestiques of prince ferdinands : his haughty conduct in their remove , though threatned by ferdinand : his resolute answer to ferdinands threats : and the grandees demand of his commission . his advice to charles upon his arrival in spain . charles by an express thanks the cardinal : the councel of spain advance to meet charles without the cardinal's leave , and were commanded to return : the cardinal's harbingers mark a lodging for him : the marshalls of the kings lodgings mark the same for the queen : the cardinal carries it : charles his letter of dismission to the cardinal : the cardinal 's pious death : his epitaph and character . pag. 122. to his eminence the cardinal duke of richlieu . my lord , among the gifts of nature god hath not imparted to man a more admirable , than that of reason ; which is that to the soul , that the soul is to the body . and amongst those of fortune , he hath not given him a greater , than the crosses of life ; which render his vertues eminent and conspicuous , in procuring him palms of victory , and crowns of immortal glory . the present i make your eminence , of the crosses and oppositions cardinal ximenes encountred and surmounted , in the government of a kingdom , i dare affirm , the greatest and most considerable , the treasures of past ages can afford . but i fear , my lord , i may appear as ridiculous in offering it , as he that carries water to the sea. since the esteem and repute you have this day , of the prime person of our age , is no less grounded upon your incomparable constancy , in ore coming all obstacles that oppose your vertue ; then your admirable conduct in affairs of state. the painter certainly commits no crime , who figuring out the battels of other men , delineates the combates of some great captain , which were not designed the subject of his pencill . and if my pen innocently mention any action , that may correspond , and run parallel with yours ; i conceive it merits neither blame , nor contempt on that accompt . for , my lord , what minister of state is there , who hath not resembled others in some traverses of fortune , and cross occurrences in his administration , it being impossible to govern men , without opposition from men ? the platonick philosophers held it an undoubted truth , that the world is a temple built by god , who hath impressed his visible image in the body of the sun , to act in his stead . what the sun is in the universe , that a minister of state is in the government under his care ; the great representative of the soveraign authority . the sun is the eye of the world ; and the minister of state , in the persian phrase , the eye of the king. yet this glorious luminary hath its eclipses , and aspiring mists and clouds interposing between us and him , to the obscuring of his light. the ancient fiction of the suns rising out of the sea , and setting there , without diminution of his lustre ; presents to us in him , the lively picture of a minister of state in the government of the world ; and intimates those troublesome and disastrous occurrences , that frequently infests the beginning and end of his administration ; but cannot impair the rayes of his glory . cardinal ximenes who by his good conduct , rendred spain happy ; had notwithstanding a whole order of religion to decry his politick actions . and besides them , the grandees , the people , cities and intire provinces , banded against him ; and at last all that was powerful and considerable , in the court and countrey he had so worthily served , abandoned and forsook him . but he who had a breast prepared , amidst the courtly smiles of prosperous fortunes , to resist the storms and tempests of adversity , hath left us a grand example and famous instance , to confirm the truth of that assertion , which holds constancy one of the principal qualities requisite in a minister of state ; that a stout resistance against the ills that encounter him , is the buckler that secures his vertues ; and to turn his back to the assaults of fortune , an act misbecoming and altogether unworthy that man , who has the conduct of others . behold him 〈◊〉 ( having surmounted all obstacles 〈◊〉 in his way , to stop or disturb the ●●urse of his vertue ) arrived in france ; where he may see practised the rules of excellent government ; and hopes to acquire a second glory , if , my lord , you permit and allow his name to live with yours . the age wherein he governed spain , and that which your actions have filled with wonder and astonishment , immediately succeed one the other ; and may dispute with the ages past and to come , the honour and esteem , of being the happiest of ages , as having produced two men , who have been the oracles of good conduct , and politick administration . if you grant him this favour , my lord , i hope for my part , that in recompence of my studies , and in consideration of my joint travel with him , in this commentary of his administration , i may with your consent , obtain and carry the title i desire , of my lord , your most humble and most obedient servant , baudier . the preface . it is a custome received in all ages , and approved by the practice of the whole world , to expose to publick view the effigies and statues of men who have surpassed others by the greatness of their vertues , lived the glory of their times , and rendered themselves recommendable to the imitation of posterity . to these figures of their corporal lineaments and resemblances of the external forms of their persons , some have added tables and memorials , as monuments of their heroick and magnamimous actions in presiding o're councills , and publick assemblies , appeasing popular seditions , and restoring quiet and tranquility to a disordered city , countrey , or state , or the like . i have proposed to my imitation , this latter way of representing illustrious personages , and here present to the publick , the pourtraict of the greatest minister of his time , that europe could then boast in all the states she contains : i have drawn him active in war , a counsellor in peace ; extending the borders of spain beyond the seas ; advertising his master of the disorders of the court ; and giving him his counsells and sage advice . i have described him appeasing the tumults and factious disorders of cities , of provinces , of a whole realm ; advancing vertue , rewarding merit , punishing vice , and establishing a general felicity in the whole body politick . the work is composed with that candor , that liberty , and truth , ( which ought to animate , and are the principal ornament of history ) that the end and design of it , will easily appear to have been not the pleasing of any particular person , but the profit of the publick , and the good of the common-wealth . which i have observed in that of the administration of the cardinal d' amboyse , already published ; and some others that may follow this , wherein my only design is truth , which alwayes tends to the publick good . but the actions of this great minister , being far above those of other men , who have managed the affais of monarchs , i thought it my duty to consider some of them apart , and to make particular reflections thereon , for the delight of those that shall take the pains to read them . the crosses he met with in the government of spain , were almost infinite ; and the power of the enemies that attacqued him , very remarkable ; but his constancy , in the resistance admirable . as a couragious pilot forsakes not the helm in tempestuous weather , but perishes gloriously with his hand upon it : so hath he left us this instruction , that a minister should never endure disorders tending to the vilifying and contempt of the supream authority , ( which his represents ) or to the oppression of justice ; but choose rather to lye buried in the ruines of the one and the other . his actions in the armies when seventy years old , demonstrate that men who wear a robe , as well as those who wear a sword , have their vigour and activity to encounter enemies , perils and difficulties . and though their condition exempt them from corporall labours , yet they remain subject to those of the mind ; whose cares are more weighty , and pains more considerable and important . all that fight have their share in the victory , but the general who conquers by his good conduct and prudence , merits all the glory . therefore the spartans for a victory gain'd by force of arms , sacrificed only a bird ; but a whole oxe fell victim for a victory obtained by the prudence of their general . cardinal ximenes in attacquing oran in the face of the sun , contrary to the design of his captains , who would have expected the advantage of the night , to carry on the assault ; seems to have revived the generosity of alexander , who refused to set upon darius by night , as scorning to steal a victory ; but desiring the sun might testifie he owed it to his valour . moreover his good conduct in all the war of africk , where his age and quality forbad him the bearing of arms , justifies the opinion of the great roman captain , that conquest by counsel , is not less honourable , than that by the sword. 't is a great instance of the excellency of his conduct , that he brought learning and military valour , to esteem and reputation in spain ; that the state received thereby the means , not only to defend , but render it self illustrious . nor was he ever subject to the reproach of extinguishing the sparks of vertue in the breasts of youth , by depriving gallant actions of their due recompence of just rewards ; but exercising with courage and integrity , both commutative and distributive justice , dispensing rewards to the good , and inflicting punishment on the bad ; he raised his condition to that pitch of highest perfection ; which induced the sage politician to affirm , that nothing in the world is so like god , as a just man. the government of provinces , and principal charges of state , were not given to those who were most in favour , but to those who had most merit . 't is true , he preferred persons of quality , but such as were also men of fortune and estate ; least their necessities might incline them to peel and oppress the people : nor had he less regard to their integrity . and in preferring gentlemen of integrity and worth , before other persons of equall vertues ; he seems to have imitated the order of the heavens , which are guided by intelligences , whose nature is more excellent and pure , than those forms which derive their grosser essence from the elements . and as by the ordinances of nature , we do not only receive light immediately from the sun the fountain of it , but from the lesser stars , whose bodies nature hath disposed and adapted to a capacity of receiving light from the sun , and reverberating the same to us by reflection : so the governours of provinces , and places of importance should keep up and maintain the splendor of majesty in the absence of their prince ; as the starrs by night ( which is the absence of the sun ) shew us part of the brightness of that glorious luminary . and , besides that the people honour and reverence men of eminent quality , and are more propense and ready to yield them obedience , than to men raised from a mean condition ; gentlemen together with their blood , derive from their parents the seeds of generosity ; and have commonly the advantage of better education , and the memory of the illustrious acts of their ancestors , is ordinarily a spurr to vertue , a strong motive and powerful incitement to good actions . but cardinal ximenes , though where he found equall vertue in two persons of unequall birth , he did , ( as reason would ) prefer the noble ; yet was he far from abandoning or slighting vertue , from which nobility is derived , and by which it is maintained . the gifts and largesses he bestowed out of his proper stock on particular persons and the publick , are worthy remarque : his advancement of an infinite number of persons of integrity and merit to the offices of magistrature , the dignities of the chureh , and charges of war , preserve to this day in spain , the memory of the grandeur of his spirit , and will remain an everlasting monument of glory and benediction to his name . the hospitals built at his charge in spain , and endowed by him with revenues ; the religious houses remaining there for durable works of his piety and bounty ; the publick granaries stored with corn for relif of the poor , filled out of the rents setled by him to that purpose ; the seminaries and publick nurseries of vertue for the common-wealth , where he provided for the education of youth of both sexes , left destitute of necessaries in that behalf declare and will record to perpetuity , that the grandeur of ximenes consisted not so much in his eminent and great employments , as in his transcendent liberality and extraordinary bounty . the temples of the graces in the cities of the levant , were by the ancients built in publick places , as in their markets , or near their cirques and amphitheaters , to signifie that the benefits and good actions of great men , ought to be not only open to private persons , but communicated to the publick . a minister of state is a publick person constituted in the most eminent dignity of a kingdom , next the royal : and if it be true , that a good king is the father of his people ; the minister of state who is his assistant , ought to be a faithful steward to dispence his favours , and afford ready helps to the wants and necessities of the publick . when cinon the athenian was grown rich , he caused the fences and inclosures of his gardens to be laid open , that the poor might have free ingress to gather the fruits ; he kept an open house and table for all that were in want ; and sent his servants loaded with garments through the streets of athens , to be distributed amongst them that were in want ; holding himself unworthy to possess a great estate , without imparting of it to others . in like manner , had cardinal ximenes , when seised of that great benefice , ( whereby was vested in him the largest revenue of that kingdom , ) filled his coffers with treasure , and locked up there the gold destined for other uses , he had condemned himself as guilty of embezling and converting to his private benefit , what ought to have been laid out in the redemption of slaves , enlargement of prisoners , cures of the sick , comfort of the afflicted , and sustenance of the poor . but he made liberal destribution thereof suitable to the necessities of the several objects of his bounty . certainly some good kings are publick springs , whence the people have right to draw ; that is , to have recourse to their beneficence ; and good ministers of state ought to be the pipes to those royall fountain , to convey to the people the water of relief . the greatness of his vertues , could not so exempt ximines from envy , but that in his life time it attacqued both his name and his conduct , though his death put a period to detraction , and procured reverence to his name , honour to his memory , and elogies for his government . and 't is observable , men never behold the sun so earnestly , as when he is ecclipsed . innocence , of all places of the world , makes least residence at court , where ambition alwayes wars against eminent vertues . this concludes it necessary for a minister of state , to fortifie himself with constancy and resolution , to resist their malignity , who would call him to account ; and charge him as answerable for all the sinister accidents that fall out : as if the events of affairs , depended only on him . cardinal ximenes had this vertue in the superlative ; alwayes like himself , alwayes aquanimous , alwayes firm , stout and resolute , in the beginning , progress and end of his administration , that he might have said of himself , what the roman camillus once of himself in another sense ; that neither the dictatorship had elevated , nor exile abated the height of his spirit . that neither the archbishoprick of toledo , the primacy of spain , the cardinals cap , nor the authority of governour of a kingdom , had given him courage , nor the crosses and misfortunes of court taken it from him . these great and heroick vertues have rendered him the compleat original and architype of a perfect minister of state : which i propose to thir view , who govern the world under the authority of soveraign princes ; that they may imitate his zeal for the publick good , his fidelity to his prince , his affection to persons of worth and wel-deserving , his strong inclinations and vigorous actions for the good of the people , and increasing the glory and grandeur of the state ; being the ends and principal marks aimed at in all governments , managed with wisdom , and crowned with success . the history of the administration of cardinal ximenes , prime minister of state in spain . kings , who are masters of the goods of this world , advantage men in their fortunes , and improvement of their estates ; but 't is the sun , that king of starrs , and first of all second causes , that enriches them with the gifts of nature ; so that those regions which are blest with the more favourable aspect of this eye of heaven , produce things of greater excellency than other countreyes , and give birth to men of more eminent parts , and endowed with the rarest qualities in natures gift . spain , by the happy advantage of her scituation , lyes so full and open in the eye of that great luminary , that , as enamoured of her beauty , he vouchsafes her the light of his countenance , and by the large measure of his irradiation , afforded her , contributes to her production of eminent persons . in her was born francis , cardinal ximenes , of the noble family of the cisneres , who deduce their original from the suburbs of villaizar , in the diocess of toledo . his father was alphonso , receiver of the tenths of the clergy granted by the pope to the king of spain ; who , taken with the beauty of a young maid of an honest family and the same place , married her , and had by her several children , whereof ximenes was the eldest . at the font he received , with the graces of heaven , the name of his father alphonso , which he after changed , in the cloister , into that of francis. in his infancy , he had his education in the town of areula d' henares , where he learnt the principles of the latine tongue , and of good manners : from thence he was removed to salamanca , to study those laws which regulate the estates and possessions of men : where , by the advantage of his pregnant wit , he became so great a proficient , that in a short time he was capable to instruct others . his family was reduced to so low an ebb of fortune , that his father was put to his shifts to furnish him with necessaries requisite for his study ; and could not well spare him sufficient to bear his charges . this obliged ximenes to bestir himself , as having no means of livelihood , but what he could get by his wit and industry : therefore he read the laws in his chamber to several students , who contributed to defray his charges . but his genius aspired higher ; and the honest gains he made in his chamber , he employed in the study of divinity . and having finished the course of that study , returned to his countrey , where his father practised as an attorney in the court of justice of that place . some moneths he spent at home , but finding no imployment there , worthy his abilities , he obtained his fathers leave , to go to rome to seek a better fortune ; but was unfortunately robbed by the way , and reduced to extream necessity . this disaster occasioned his stay at aix in provence , till brunet , a young gentleman of spain bound for rome , ( who had been his school-fellow at salamanca ) passing that way , happily relieved him by taking him into his company , and bearing his charges to rome . being arrived at rome , he became advocate for such of his countrey , as had suits depending in the ecclesiastical jurisdiction ; till the news of his fathers death ; and his good nature carried him back into spain , to succour his mother now a widow , and afford his helping hand to the orphan state of his younger brothers . but before his departure from rome , he obtained from the pope ( those they call ) spectative bulls ; whereby he was provided of the first prebend should be void in his native countrey ; which happened to be that of the archpriest of the borough of vceda . the revenue of it was mean , but the conveniency of having it at his door , invited him to take possession . the granting of such bulls , gives great offence to the bishops of spain , as retrenching their power in collating benefices . alphonso carilla , archbishop of toledo , bestowed the same prebend on his almoner . ximenes opposes it ; the archbishop resents the resistance , as a high contempt , and presumptuous obstruction of his authority ; resolves to suppress it by force , and claps up ximenes in the tower of vceda , where he kept him close prisoner under hard and rigorous usage , in a place which ximenes after his promotion to the archbishoprick of toledo , made the repository of his riches ; teaching us , that great souls make the disgraces of the world a treasury of vertue . the miserable entertainment and rude usage of this place afflicted his spirit to so extream a degree , that it clearly appeared ; there is nothing in the world more insupportable , than trouble and slavery to men of letters , whose genius requires liberty and repose . the loss of both drew sighs and groans from the heart , and loud complaints from the tongue of ximenes , which an old priest his fellow prisoner , and companion in misery , endeavouring to allay , bespake him thus : a wise man , ximenes , is alwayes free ; and vertue which believes no other slavery but that of vice , loses not her liberty in chains and irons . cease then to complain , and put an end to your lamentations ; endure with patience the lot befallen you : suffering is often the way to preferment . in the very place you are in , was heretofore locked up john zerervella , brother to that great constable of castile alvarez de luna , with no other advantage than that of closer imprisonment and heavier irons than yours ; yet he was afterwards archbishop of toledo . great miseries usher in those persons into great prosperities , who by patience triumph over their calamities . zerervella in the course of his felicities , drew the comfort of his life from the memory of his imprisonment . the innocence of your visage and majesty of your countenance , are , in my judgement , presages of the like fortune to you . he was removed from the tower to st. jorquats , a prison for priests lying under accusations of crime . his innocence was so apparent and conspicuous , that his deteinure there , was so long only , as might serve for the execise of his vertue . the countess of bondiano , sister to the archbishop , obtained his liberty . ximenes , fearing a second loss of it , resolves to enjoy it at distance from the violences of a prelate , who so ill understood the vertues and merits of men . and therefore quitting the diocess of toledo , he retires into that of siguenza , where he changed his prebend for a chappelleny with a small pension . here that noble affection of the best spirits and most excellent temper , the love of learning , made him withdraw from the conversation of the world , to follow his studies ; where he learnt the hebrew and chaldee languages . but though his life was retired , his reputation increased . the rayes of vertue discover the owner at distance , though he seem to lye hid in obscurity . peter gonsalve , cardinal mendoza , bishop of siguenza named ximenes his vicar general , and in a manner forced him to take the office , and with it , the care of his diocess : the same time alphonso de sylva earl of cifuentes , taken prisoner by the moors in the wars of granada , was induced , by the repute of his honesty and abilities , to constitute ximenes administrator general of all his demeans , during his imprisonment . thus fortune began to follow him , when he fled from her , and sought an employment more agreeable to the tranquillity of his spirit , than was to be found in the troubles of secular affairs . he held the world a sea , where some are wrecked , but all without exception are tossed with winds , and subject to the agitation of the waves : the object of his desires and end of his designs , being a port to secure him from the one and the other ; he made choice of a cloister , as most suitable to his purpose ; and took on him the order of st. francis , in order to the enjoyment of god and himself in prayer and contemplation . here he changed the name of alphonso into that of francis , and resigned his benefices to bernardin his youngest brother ; lest necessity that obstructs the vertues of the bravest spirits , and often proves an ill counsellor to them , should engage him in ill courses for gaining a livelihood . cap. ii. when ximenes had thus quitted the world for a cloister , the world went in search of him into the cloister ; the gravity of his manners , and holiness of his life , invited those of best quality in toledo to visit him , for receiving his directions for guidance of their souls in the way to heaven . even the ladies resorted to him for instructions to order their devotion ; some with resolution to practise them , others to satisfie their curiosity , in seeing a man to famed for sanctity . the crowds of people that flocked daily to him , interrupting him in the performance of his religious exercises , and wearying him by importunity , obliged him to quit toledo , and seck out a more retired solitude in the monastery of castanet ; so called , from a grove of chestnut-trees which in a large circumference encompassed it round , the monastery being the center . a year was scarce elapsed , but he was drawn out thence , to take on him the charge of warden of the covent of salceda , where he kept the fryars within the rules of their order , more by the example of his good life , than the commands of a superiour . but 't is the priviledge of courts to enter into cloisters , and take thence such men , whom fortune hath designed to partake of their grandieurs . isabel queen of spain calles him to court in the year 1492. and by the advice of cardinal mendoza , archbishop of toledo , makes him her confessor . in this eminent place , he gave proofs of great vertues , without any exception , but that of intermedling with matters of state , wherein he exceeded his call , and strained beyond his charge and his frock . this perhaps , gave those of his order occasion to draw him back from court to a religious imployment , by choosing him their provincial for three years . and here he gave a most pregnant proof of the indifferency of his spirit for the affairs of court , and of the great love he bore his order , by going from court more willingly , than he had come into it , and imploying his time in visiting the religious houses under his charge . coming to gibraltar , moved with a charitable zeal for the salvation of the infidels , he designed a voyage into africk , at the peril of his life to instruct the moors there in the christian faith : but a fryar of his order , and in great esteem for piety , disswaded him ; assuring him , god had prepared him a great imployment in spain . he travelled on foot , and begged , but was such a bungler at the trade , and begged so untowardly , that he seldom carried any but an empty bagg ; which made franeis rouys his companion tell him , he must give over begging ; for that no man was more certainly born to give to all , and begg of none , than he . and had not the care of rouys stood him in more stead than his begging alms , he had made more fast-dayes , than the rules of his order required . so unfit to begg are great spirits , being naturally disposed to give , not to ask. cap. iii. fortune , which had designed him for the prime prelate of spain , took care soon after , to furnish his strong inclinations for the good of mankind ; with means competent to express his good nature in acts of benificence , answerable to the greatness of his soul. cardinal mendoza , archbishop of toledo , laboured under two maladies , the one incurable , the other dangerous , age and a feavour ; which induced him to go to guadalfayre , to take the benefit of that ayre , he drew at his birth . ferdinand and isabel , king and queen of spain , went thither to visit him ; this honour had saved the cardinals life , if death had regarded the presence of kings , who are themselves his homagers . mendoza now drawing near to his end , gave his master these three sage counsels . 1. to make peace with the king of france , and keep it inviolable when made . 2. to marry the infant john , designed successor of their crowns to joan , since the wise of alphonso king of portugal , pretendant to the kingdom of castile . 3. to conferr the archbishoprick of toledo , on a person of mean condition , but of great integrity , and extraordinary capacity : that these qualities were apparently eminent in the person of ximenes ; that the grandees of spain , proud enough of the titles they are born to , become intolerably insolent , by the addition of those of great dignities . these princes slighted the first advice , to the prejudice and notorious damage of christendom , which smarted for their contempt of it , as the spanish histories ingenuously confess . the third they embraced , which coming to the knowledge of ximenes , he remonstrates to them , that the dignity of the archbishoprick of toledo being the prime of the state , as well spiritual as temporal ; which gave the person invested in it , the priviledge of speaking next the king , in the council-royal ; ought to be given to the most illustrious , and ancient gentry of the kingdom . cardinal mendoza quitted his life , and the archbishoprick together , in the year 1496. ferdinand would have preferred his natural son don alphonso , archbishop of saragosa , to this great benefice : but isabel , who had right of presentation to it , as queen of castile , preferred the vertue of ximenes , before the birth of don alphonso , and the intreaties of the king her husband : the year ensuing , they presented ximenes to succeed in this grand prelature , no less in dignity than revenue ; which amounts to two hundred thousand ducats a year . ximenes forced by express mandat from the pope , accepts it : at his first nomination he left the court , and fled on foot to a covent of his order a great way from madrid , to avoid investiture in the archbishoprick : but returning in obedience to the pope , he declared to ferdinand and isabel , that he would never consent that this rich benefice should be charged with one farthing pension , as prejudicial to the dignity and liberty , of the prime pastor of spain . now hath he just cause to meddle in affairs of the state , as being one of the most considerable members thereof : this sudden change of fortune , shook not his constancy , nor altered his setled resolutions of adhering to vertue ; yet was he as free from mean , and base actions , as from the corruptions that usually attend great fortunes ; he made it appear that no dignity could be so great , as to exceed his capacity , no grandure in the gift of fortune , to which his soul was not commensurate ; though in his plenty of fortune , and eminence of place , he continued the plainness of a religious life : piety hath brought plenty , and abundance of riches into the church ; and by the disorders of the world , the daughter hath devoured the mother ; so that there are more ecclesiasticks rich , than pious : ximenes was not of their number ; for amidst the treasure of that great revenue , he kept inviolable that poverty that exalts great personages above the height of fortune , and consists in the contempt , and sober use of these perishing enjoyments ; and , as if he had been afraid to lose the least part of it , he continued the practises of that poverty , which the rules of religion exact from its strictest votaries . the pomp of a cardinal , and attendance of the prime prelate of spain , could not keep him from retyring into a private place , from the eyes of his domestiques , to mend with his own hands , the frock he had wore among those of his order ; so that after his death , in a box , whereof in his life-time , he constantly kept the key ; there were found needles , thred , and pieces of gray cloth , of the colour of his frock , which he laid up for that use . he slept on a friers pallet , which he had hid in his chamber , where stood his bed of state ; and that his family might not perceive it , he made it his custom to go to bed , and rise alone , without attendants , and his door shut . when he was first made archbishop , he rid into the country upon an asse attended by a troop of monks of his order ; his house , his family and his table were so ordered , as not to be inconsistent with his vow of poverty ; the great revenue of the primate of spain , was imployed in works of piety , the poor receiving a moity of it for their sustenance , whom he called , the lords and proprietors of his revenues . the bishops of spain , instead of imitating the good example of his simplicity , were offended at it , and complained of him to pope alexander the sixth , who sent him a brieve , advising him to change that mean fashion of life , into a more splendid , and becoming his dignity ; telling him , it was not only convenient , but necessary to maintain with some external pomp and lustre , the dignities founded in a holy simplicity : ximenes obeys the pope , his table is better covered , his beds more sumptuous , his utensils of earth are changed into plate , and all the ornaments of prelature more splendid and magnificent : but his golden cross made him not a woodden bishop ; he continued his conferences in divinity with the priests , and his sermons to the people : and it is remarkable , he admitted no man into his family , but upon the commendations of honesty and vertue . but can it be expected , ximenes should quietly enjoy a dignity so eminent , a benefice of so vast revenue ? since 't is the course of the world , that , as roses have their prickles growing up with them ; so crosses are inseparable companions of great fortunes . the first that attacqued him , were the monks of his order , who were at court with him , and offended that he kept them in his house to the austere rules of their order , and forbad them to intermeddle with any thing but their beads , and that being lately made president of the kings council , he procured not for them the prelatures of spain ; spread ill reports of his person , and made their sermons invectives against his conduct ; turning the pulpit , which ought to be the oracle of truth , into a theatre of envy ; they rested not there , but sent for their general from rome , and armed him with calumnies against ximenes . the general , arrived in spain , and hurried with faction and insolence predominant in him ; goes to the queen , and addressing himself with little respect , accused ximenes of ignorance , of pride , and of hypocrisie : blaming the queen for permitting such a man , to fit in her council , and in the prime chair of prelature in the kingdom . isabel well assured of the integrity , and merits of ximenes , and moved at the palpable rudeness , and irregular passion of this general ; asked him if he were in his wits , and knew whom he spoke to . yes madam ( saith he ) i am so well in my wits , as to know i speak to queen isabel , who is but a heap of dust as i am ; and suddenly withdrew from the presence of the queen , more like a fury than a rational creature . but the accusations of these monks , having no other foundation , but envy , hatred and untruths , were easily dissipated by the patience of ximemes , to their shame , but his glory . thus these ambitious men , who went out of the world upon design , to return with greater advantage , attacqued his reputation : but bernardine his brother , attempted his life . ximenes when he took the habit of st. francis , resigned to him his benefices , and was soon after followed by this young man ; who too , became of the same orders ; and afterwards tracing the steps of his brothers fortune , went to court , in hope of a bishoprick : but the success not answering his designes , he imputed the cause to ximenes , and resolved to be revenged of him , for the refusal or delay of his preferment . ximenes lay sick at arcula d'henares , in latin complutum ; bernardine was in his house , and finding his brother one day in his chamber , without any attendant , threw himself on the bed where he lay , and pressing the bolster hard on his neck , endeavoured to choke him , and thinking it done , went out of the chamber : ximenes not quite dead , was helped by his servants who came in , and having acquainted them with bernardines villany , commanded them to apprehend him ; they search , and having found him hid in a cave , drag him out , and bring him to ximenes , who took no other revenge , than that he sent him bound to the monastery of torrice to learn more wi●t . having recovered his health , he spent some time in reforming the conventuals of the order of st. francis , called cordeliers ; whom he reduced under the rules of the observantins , to live without revenews , as children of providence , and upon the alms they receive . his pains , and the cordeliers oppositions and complaints in this affair , almost exceed expression . but by the end of the year 1499. his constancy surmounted all difficulties raised by them , and afforded him opportunity to employ his thoughts , towards redress of the peoples grievances . it troubled him to see the kingdoms of castile and leon oppressed by a heavy tax called alcabala , which forced them to pay the king the tenth part of all they sold or exchanged . this imposition was first laid , towards defraying the charge of the wars of granada , against the moors ; but continued to the grievance of the people , after the war ; though ended to the great advantage of ferdinand and isabel . ximenes remonstrates to them , that god had made them pastors , not tyrants over the people ; that by the favour of heaven , they had obtained victory over the moors ; that it was an ill acknowledgement of the mercy , to continue in time of peace and triumph , that subsidy which was intended only for the maintenance of the war. his advice was taken , and the people discharged of the tax . this gained him great reputation all over spain ; so that he never entred the palace royal , but the people attended him with joyful acclamations , saying publickly , he never went to council , but for the good of the commonalty . a wise minister of state designs no less the good of the publick , than the honour of his prince . the disorders of war had banished good literature from the territories of spain ; ximenes desires ardently to see it brought back and replanted : causes a colledge to be built at arcala , and the seventh of march 1498. 〈…〉 stone himself , endowed i● with revenu●● 〈◊〉 furnished it with regents ; which render● it one of the best academies of spain . certainly , the happiness of a kingdom , consists in the observance of the laws , which is better effected through careful education , than fear of punishment . vertuous actions are derived from good habits , acquired by practice and exercise of the wholsome rules of good education : where this is wanting , the severities of magistracy are too weak , to contain men within the limits of obedience to law ; there being nothing so difficult , as to subdue our passions , when by long custom and continuance in vice , they have got such head , as to master our reason . hence that maxim of the wise man , that prudent education added to the gifts of nature , renders men vertuous and obedient to the laws ; and that nothing is more necessary for the common-weal , than good institution and vertuous education of youth . cap. iv. ximenes had not only a real affection for learning , but a high esteem for its faithfull attendants , honesty and integrity ; though his affection to the one , and esteem for the other , terminated in religion , as the ultimate object of his best affections ; the ascendant of his soul , and lady paramount of his passions . to which he was so entirely devoted , as to take the measure of his affection and esteem for learning and honesty , from their usefulness to the advancement of religion . the zeal he had to propagate christianity , made him labour willingly , and much for the conversion of infidels . about the end of this year he attended the king and queen in their kingdom of granada , newly recovered from the moors ; to give advice , how this new conquest might be best maintained : and found time to preach so fervently to the moors , that in one day , he converted three thousand of them to the faith of christ . and the multitude of the converts , making it impossible to baptize them all in the usual form , within the compass of a day , using aspersion instead immersion , he sprinkled them all with baptismal water , and so initiated them all the same day in the christian religion . in memory whereof , that day being the 16th of december , was long kept festival in spain . the archbishop of granada in his harangue to the cardinal , upon the triumphs of that kingdom , amongst others hath this expression ; sir , i may say without incurring suspicion of flattery , that your victories surpass the king's ; for he gained stones , but you have gained souls to god. the greatest part of the unconverted moors followed the example of a prince of their sect , of the royal family of the kings of granada , who became christian ; and drew them with him , to the knowledge of the true religion . these new converts , by the light of truth began to discover and detest their former errors ; and of their own accord , laid at ximenes feet five thousand volumes of the alcoran , or glosses and explications of it ; all curiously bound , neatly trimmed , and exquisitely adorned with claspes and knots of silver , gold , and precious stones , which made out the esteem that people had , for the lying impostures of their prophet . many grandees of spain became suitors to ximenes , for one of those books to adorn their libraries : but he refused , and causing a great fire to be made , exposed them all to the fury of the devouring flames , except few that treated of physick , and had been found among the alcorans . taking from these new converts those objects which might renew the memory of the errors in which they had lived most part of their time . so frail , and so fickle is our nature in good actions , that our progress in the way of vertue , is like that of boats against the stream of a rapid torrent , which fall back in one hour more than they advance in a whole day : this was not enough to contain them within the bounds of their duty , some sighed for their lost liberty , others relapsed into their old superstitions , and taking up arms , resolved to force their way to both , by fire and sword . ximenes who was yet in granada , stood the shock , and bearing up bravely in a sea of troubles that surrounded him , sends an express to the king : and for better dispatch , a gentleman of quality of the same city offered him an ethiopian slave , so nimble and swift of foot , that he would travell fifty leagues a day . but the brutish sot having received the pacquet , instead of making haste , overcharged himself so with wine and victuals at the second inn he met with by the way , that he slept there till the morrow after : and he , who should have been in two dayes at sevil , where the court then was , made it five ere he arrived there . in the mean time , the king had intelligence of the revolt of the moors of granada from them , who envying the greatness of ximenes , took care to send better courriers than the ethiopian : and informed the king , that ximenes , who through a rash and undiscreet zeal , would have converted to christianity in a moment , men who were not only born and had lived , but were for the most part grown old in the profession of mahometism , had lost the realm of granada : that he was utterly incapable to manage matters of state , who proposed and made use of no other allurements , to win over his converts to submit their necks to the yoke of a new government , than the headstrong capricchio's of his violent fancy , and the rigorous austerities he had practised in a cloister . ferdinand believes them , and remembring ximenes had been introduced into court , and his conduct extolled by the queen his wife ; goes to her lodgings , and all in a flame . see now , madam , ( sayes he ) ! the triumphs of our ancestors , and our own , purchased with the blood of the nobles of spain , ruined in a moment , by the humoursome follies of your ximenes ! ximenes by this time , had intelligence from his friends of the negligence of the ethiopian , and the sense of the court ; he acknowledges his fault to entrust the sottishness of such a brute , with an affair of so great importance : and resolved for the future , never to send courriers on the like occurrences , but such as were persons of integrity and honest repute ; which he observed , making it his custom , to honour and load with presents , such whom he imployed in dispatches of consequence . to retrive this miscarriage , and remedy the present disorder of his affairs , he dispatched roiiys his companion of the order , to inform their majesties of the causes of the revolt , and the remedies he had applyed . the good estate of granada , quenched the fire of ferdinands anger and displeasure against ximenes , and drew from him letters of thanks to ximenes , for his great expence for the good of the publick , in restoring peace to granada ; and the dangers he exposed himself to , to save his cities from ruine , and the kingdom from destruction . a minister of state who labours with integrity to serve his majesty , ought by good actions and patience , to overcome the envy and calumnies of his enemies , which like thin mists are easily dissipated ; and being built on the sandy foundations of falseshood , and lyes , are soon shaken and moulder to nothing . cap. v. the watchings and labours ximenes underwent , to suppress the tumults of granada , had impaired his health into a hectick feavour ; so malignant , that the physitians could find no remedy for it . a moriseo-woman converted by him , hears of this , and sends him another woman of the same nation , to desire permission to cure his feavour ; which being granted her , within eight dayes by the use of oyntments , and some words she recited , she restored him to perfect health . this enabled him to go to toledo , to salute the princess joan , daughter and heiress of ferdinand and isabel , together with philip of austrich her husband , and son to the emperour maximilian , who were lately come to spain . and thence to visit that glorious temple of the muses , his colledge of arcala , the love of learning being inseparable from his soul : insomuch that in the year 1502. in order to the explication and imprinting of the holy scriptures in latine , greek , hebrew and chaldee , by persons of knowledge and skill in those tongues at his charge in that city ; he bought up all the manuscript bibles he could hear of ; and caused most exact and correct impressions to be made thereof in those languages . seven hebrew copies cost him four thousand crowns ; the latine and greek manuscripts , being eight hundred years old , amounted to a greater summ : besides a vast expence for maintenance and salaries of professors of those languages , and correctors and printers for fifteen years . his design was to instruct the priests in the truths of the two testaments , and to leave the church these lights of the holy scriptures in their original purity . as if he had foreseen , that a few years after the perfection of this work , heresie would arise , by false interpretation of scripture ; to attacque the purity of christian doctrine . and therefore he provided this impression , as a well furnished armoury , to defend the church against the malice of her enemies . this great and painfull work being finished ; and the printer presenting him with the first copy of it ; with eyes and hands lift up for joy to heaven , my god , said he , i return thee immortal thanks , for granting my desires of good success to this work . then turning to his domestiques who were most familiar with him ; 't is true , said he , my friends , that god hath been pleased to crown my labours with success , in many important affairs for the good of the state ; but there is not any thing , in which ye ought to rejoyce with me more , than for the happy accomplishment of this impression and explication of the bible in the four languages . he had designed also a translation of aristotle's works , and to adorn them , suitable to the dignity of the subject . and certainly , since he thus revived good literature ; 't is but just , learning should raise him to life again ; and that the muses give immortality to his name : for he who labours for them , ought in recompence of his travels , to receive from them the auguste priviledge of never dying . much about this time , joan heiress of spain was delivered of her second son at arcala . ximenes layes hold of the opportunity , for the glory of his colledge : and by the favour of this birth , obtained for that city ( which he had made an habitation of the muses ) exemption from taxes and all manner of impositions . the inhabitants of arcala in memory of the favour , keep to this day , the cradle of that prince ; and bless the name of ximenes , who procured it . as he went out of his lodgings the same day , he met the officers of justice leading a malefactor to the gibbet ; he stops them , and grants the wretched criminal , pardon . telling them , that though it was an action beyond his authority , yet so much ought to be allowed his dignity , to hinder that day of general joy to all spain , from being capital to an inhabitant of arcala . after this , he built a colledge for maids of honest families , whom poverty kept in ignorance : and adjoyned to it a nunnery for the entertainment of such , who were inclined to bid farewell to the world ; with provision , that none should be taken into it , but such as came voluntarily ; and as for those who desired to continue secular , besides the vertuous breeding of the colledge , he gave them honourable portions , and disposed of them in marriage according to their conditions . these works of piety , and the war against the moors , were the treasury , where he laid up those riches fortune cannot destroy . cap. vi. being at medina , jerome vianelli a venetian , ●ffered him a jewell at 5000. crowns , and pressed him much to buy it ; though the price put upon it , exceeded far the value of the stone . ximenes liked well the neat glittering and sparkling brightness of the jewel ; but i know , sayes he , to bestow the money better : for in an urgent necessity i can relieve 5000. souldiers with crowns apiece ; his levies for the wars of africk being then afoot . the year 1505 spain had great loss by the death of queen isabel , the most illustious princess of her age ; no less eminent for acquired habits of goodness , than royal extraction ; being as worthily adorned with the crowns of vertue , as legally crowned with the diadem of spain ; a princess of knowledge , piety and generosity above the usual capacity of her sex. she who had observed in ximenes the eminence of rare conduct , attended with singular integrity , made him executor of her last will and testament : which was but a drop of that ocean of honour those qualities procured him , which rendered him so venerable in the state , that never minister was so much honoured in his life , so much desired and missed after his death . every time he came to wait on his master ferdinand , the king went out of his chamber to meet him , and at parting , brought him to the chamber-door : nor would he si● , till a seat were given ximenes . so powerful are great vertues , as to obliege even the scepters of the world to reverence them . that minister who is prudent and generous , whose designes tend only to the glory of his master , and good of the publick , deserves the surname of guardian-angel of the state , and ought to be honoured as such by every one . the death of isabel gave ximenes occasion to do ferdinand good service in spain , and to give new proofs of the greatness of his conduct : isabel who was queen of castile , had by her testament made ferdinand her husband , ( who was only king of arragon ) administrator general of the kingdom of castile : philip his son in law , husband , as was said , of the sole heiress of that kingdom , had other designes ; and by the instigation of some grandees of spain , and presuming upon the amity of france , intended to dethrone his father in law , and take possession of castile as the inheritance of his wife . he was at that time in flanders with joan , about whom ximenes had placed some persons of trust , by whom she informed him of the designes of her husband to trouble spain : and the ill usage she had from him ; for his love to the flemmish ladies had divided the husband and wife , and filled their breasts with jealousie and hatred of each other : joan writes to her father the threats of philip , to drive him out of castile , contrary to the testament of the queen her mother ; philip surprizes fernand's embassadour , with several letters about him ; and without respect to his person , caused him to be imprisoned . ximenes advertised of these threats and violences , advises the remedy , for ferdinand's service ; he knew philip had negotiations afoot in france to sollicite the aid of that court against his father in law. ximenes steps in , and prevents it , advises ferdinand to a strict alliance on that side , and to take to wife germain de foix , niece to lewis the twelfth . the marriage was accomplished , and philip surprized to see himself abandoned by them from whom he promised himself the greatest succour , was forced to a treaty of accommodation with ferdinand , and agree to him the administration of the kingdom of castile , reserving to himself the honour only of being named joyntly with ferdinand in all letters patents . this agreement quieted the affairs of spain , though not long . philip comes thither with joan his wife , visits the cities of the kingdom , and acts as sole master of it without seeing ferdinand , or permitting his wife to see him : ferdinand though his father in law longs to see philip , and follows him from place to place , but philip flees from him , till ximenes by his prudence procured an interview . philip instigated by the great ones , desirous of novelties , and envying the authority of ximenes , appeared at the enterview in the equippage of conquest and triumph , not like a son to meet his father , but marching with six thousand warriers at his heels ; ferdinand had only two hundred men of his houshold and retinue , and mounted on mules . but this flemish bravado lasted not long ; the sage advice of ximenes made it vanish ; he goes to philip at burges , shews him the injury he did himself to sow division in a state belonging to him ; that to raise warr in spain , was to assault his own house ; that ferdinand had only the administration of castile , and served only to keep it , and improve it for him ; that the counsels given him , tended to his ruine ; that don john manuel his great confident and prime man of his council , was a person interessed , and for his own advantage fomented divisions between him and his father in law ; that it concerned him in point of interest , and for his own good to remove manuel by some honourable employment ; that an embassy to rome would be very fit for the purpose . to remove from a prince a pernicious favourite , is to rid a sick man of his disease . and because this enterview is a principal piece of our story , i thought fit to give you the most remarkable particulars . philip going to meet ferdinand , had on his right hand ximenes ( who went to him at burges ) and on his left don manuel his high treasurer ; those of his court were in armour , and marched in a posture of warr ; ferdinands followers ridd on mules , as men of peace , with cloaks and swords only ; the principal courtiers having forsaken him to attend philip , verified the old observation , that courtiers adore the rising sun. ferdinand meeting the troops of his son in law , made a halt on a little rising ground to give them way : this place he chose as fittest in his judgement , ( one of the sagest of his time ) to view and contemplate the disloyalty of the court , having of purpose taken up his standing in a narrow place , where all those who had abandoned him to go to philip , must of necessity pass close by him : and of them the duke of najar first presented himself , mounted in armour on a spanish jennet , as for a day of battel ; his page carryed his lance , and one of his captains led a troop of men at arms behind him : duke , sayes ferdinand , you are ready for a combat , you alwayes carry a spice of the captain . it is , answered the duke , to serve the king our soveraign lord , and your majesty . the next that came up , was garcia de la vega lord of cnerva , who had been embassadour from ferdinand at rome , and graced with his favours in a large measure ; ferdinand , a perfect master of the art of dissimulation ( commonly called the art of reigning ) perceived by the bunching of his cloaths that he wore close armour underneath , and embracing him said , garcia , you were not so gross a few dayes ago , you are grown fat on the sudden . these embraces and courtesies , were smart reproofs , and cutting exprobrations of their ingratitude ; and ferdinand experimented in them , that if the good fortune of the court hath few sure friends , the ●ll fortune of it hath much fewer . philip upon the fight of ferdinand , would have alighted , but ferdinand spurting his male , prayed him not to dismount ; philip with hat in hand , desired ferdinands hand to kiss ; ferdinand spreads his armes and embraces him . spain is so stored with castles and fair countrey-houses , that in all that road there was not one fit for the conference of the two kings which forced them to entertain one another in an ermitage ; ximenes followed them in , and so did don manuel , philips favourite . ximenes seeing him enter , sayes to him ; don john , their majesties would be private , let 's withdraw , i will be porter , and keep the door for this time . manuel goes out somewhat displeased ; ximenes re-enters , and having shut the door , sits down with the kings : ferdinands counsels to philip were the only entertainment of the princes , which were to this effect . my son , the weight of a crown is so great , that a good king cannot bear it without help ; and the government of people requires such continual care and incessant travels , that a prince hath need of ease by persons of fidelity , and capable to manage publick affairs ; and herein the unhappiness of princes is remarkable , that they find few who mind more the honour of the state than their own profit , or study the interest of their master , more than their own private advantages . take heed therefore , my son , that you grant not to them you honour with your good will , ( commonly called favourites ) any thing to the prejudice of the people over whom god hath invested you with soverain authority , whereof you must make good use , and render him one day an account , and undergo the sentence of an exact impartial justice , and abide the severity of its judgement . think not that such men are called without cause , the leeches of the court , who hanging still at the eares of their prince , yet ungrateful to their benefactour , have by their insatiable avarice , base flattery , and monstrous ingratitude merited those names of infamy and reproach of the vices they are infected with . i had designed to have assisted you in the discharge of your office , knowing your youth unexperienced in the government of kingdoms ; but since the great ones of castile have perswaded you to the contrary , i will retire , and confine my cares to the governmens of the states , subject to the crowns god hath given me : but shall make it my prayer to god to give you the graces , and forces necessary for great kings ; and during my absence from you i leave you another father , who will be of no less use to you , than if i were with you in person , i mean my lord arch-bishop of toledo here present ; the many proofs , and evident testimonies i have had of his fidelity and experience give me cause to assure you that a king cannot be wrecked in the government of his state , where he sits at the helm . may you believe his sage advice , and gather the same fruits from his conduct as have given my name and that of queen isabel the reputation and glory of having happily governed spain ; and to the inhabitants of these kingdoms the felicity they enjoy . after this enterview , the kings parted . philip went to dinner at bimo , ferdinand at remefid , and simenes at requete , three little villages within half a league of the ermitage ; but the advantage of accommodation , was on philip's part , as feasted before dinner with the royal collation of ferdinands entertainment : for the sage advice , for the government of a kingdom , is a true aliment of prince's spirit . the affairs of castile , were at this time carried according to the passion of the high treasurer don john manuel , philips favorite ; and the revenue of the kingdom which is the blood of the people squandered away by him ; which highly displeased ximenes : it hapned one day that bertrand de salto one of the kings treasurers , who had formerly treated with ximenes about several affairs , in respect to him came to let him know , that the king by advice of don mannel had farmed out the revenue of the silks of granada for ten years at a price ; and that he had the charters in his hand ready drawn , to be delivered to the seal ; ximenes reads them , and observing that they were much to the damage of the king , tore them in pieces ; and gave the pieces to a page of his chamber , who stood behind him , which are kept to this day among the records of arcala , for a monument of the couragious liberty of this minister : then turning to the treasurer , salto , said he , were you not one of my friends , the king should cause your head to be taken off : dare you make grants so prejudicial to the state ? then going to the palace , he informed philip of this disorder , and forced him to confess , they had surprized him . this prince began to relish the excellency of ximenes counsels and fully resolved to live for the future in better correspondence with ferdinand , but was suddenly taken with a great sickness which with his life ended his troubles . ferdinand was then in his voyage for naples his new conquest ; the grandees of spain assembled in ximenes chamber to consult about the government of castile : divers opinions were hotly proposed . the constable , the admiral , and the duke of alva , advised to send speedily after king ferdinand then at sea , and to desire his return into spain to take the government upon him . the earl of benevent , the marquess of villena , and the dukes of infantado , and najar , contradicted this advice with so much passion , that they came to high words with those that proposed it . ximenes who had been all this while silent the better to discover the intention of both parties , to prevent danger to the state by this rupture , and divorce of opinions , and by amusing the passion of the four last to divert and frustrate their designs of trouble , spake as followeth ; my lords , king ferdinand hath ruled these kingdoms above forty years , 't is now high time he should govern his own ; since god hath given castile men capable to govern it ; and such as can give a good account of their actions . the assembly by common consent chose ximenes , the constable of castile , and the duke of najar , as a triumnivat to govern the state , to be guardians to the queen , and tutors to prince charles , afterwards charles the fift . ximenes informs the king of these passages ; and believing him to be then at barcelona , beseeches him to return into castile . but the courrier sound him at the isle of isbice ; and that having given italy advice of his voyage he held himself obliged to perform it . but in truth his vehement desires to see gonsalves outed from naples , being the main occasion of the voyage , would not permit him to return till he had seen it done . therefore he writ to ximenes to govern spain in the mean time with the fidelity and integrity he alwayes found in him . now ximenes resolves to sit alone at the helm ; and notwithstanding the resolutions of the aforesaid assembly is by the council-royal chosen sole guardian of the state , the queen and the infant charles : he puts himself immediately into the posture of governour of the kingdom , raises and armes regiments of horse and foot for the guards of the princes and his own : the grandees of spain astonished to see a man bred in a cloyster use force , and have recourse to armes for authorising his conduct , blamed him as a light spirited person ; but he who knew of what importance it was to awe the factious , and have forces in readiness to suppress innovations gave them leave to talk , but prosecuted his design . queen joan by the travails of child-birth , or rather ( as 't is said ) by the charmes , and inchantments with some poysonous druggs given her by a flemish lady , king philips mistress had a great weakness in her senses , and was much disordered in her rational faculty . this made her wander up and down the countries , quitting b — burgos ; and great with child taking a journey to the burrough of benferriale where she was delivered of the posthumous princess catharine afterwards marryed to the king of portugal . while she lay in , the citizens of medina took up armes , and being divided into two parties , had brought the city to the brink of destruction : the province of granada was up in armes at the same time , and the guards of the sea-coste , from guards to defend were become enemies to assault the countrey : ximenes by his prudence opposed the one , contented the other , and made all quiet again . yet he was not in quiet , for the queen after child-birth having recovered her strength , but not her senses , made him follow her through the countrey to his great inconvenience by the incommodities he underwent , in an age fitter for repose , than the fatigues of the court. this princess could not be perswaded to lodge any where but in the fields , with the whole court in tents or in the countrey villages . ximenes put her in mind how incommodious this was for her , and and what disorder she put the whole court in for want of lodgings ; she answered , a widdow ought not to go into towns , but wander in the fields , and live in villages . thus she past from one village to another , carrying with her the body of her dead husband philip embalmed , fancying she enjoyed his person by the sight of his carcase , and causing it to be laid in the parish church of every village she lodged in , with a guard to keep constant watch at the coffin , under a strict charge not to permit a woman to approach it . so jealous was she of a body without life , and incapable then to raise these passions in the beholders which he had caused in his life time , being possessed of those natural beauties , and endued with goodness so excellent , which charmed ladies affections into a passionate longing , and men into an intire love for him . this princess fool'd with the love of a lump of dead flesh , would by no means part with it till ferdinand her father returned from italy , caused it to be taken from her , and buryed privately . the journeys she made were noctural , by torch-light ; which occasioned many inconveniences by sickness amongst her retinue ; loss of her baggage and falls of those on horse-back . ximenes threw himself at her feet and begged on his knees that since she was resolved to make the court errant and itinerary , she would at least travel by day , but she wedded to her folly , answered , that a woman having lost her husband , which is her son , ought to avoid the light of the sun in the firmament , and make no journeys , but by night . the art of a skilful pilot is often of no use amidst the fury of the windes and waves : and the prudence and conduct of a minister of state are thrown away upon such soveraings as are incapable of good advice . during these extravagancies of queen joan , ferdinand returned from italy with germain de foix his new wife ; and tooke a voyage by sea , to savona , to see his wives uncle king lewis the twelfth ; while he staid in italy he obtained of pope julius the second a cardinals cap for ximenes , with the tytle of cardinal of spain ; formerly given to peter , cardinal triasio , under henry the third , and then to peter gonsalve cardinal mendoza , under ferdinand , in token of the popes especial favour . so that in the sequel of our story we shall call ximenes by the name of cardinal . together with this dignity he received that of inquisitor general of castile : for the inquisition had of long time got firm footing in spain , having been introduced by ferdinand and isabel , in the year 1577. by reason of the mixture of moors with christians , and the superstitions of the former , deeply rooted in the heart of that kingdom . the rigour of this ecclesiastical justice struck terrour into ill christians , but was so far from making them better , that it rendred them only more subtle and refined hypocrites . cardinal mendoza was his immediate predecessour in that office , and thomas torquemata superiour of the covent of st. dominick at segovia the first that bore it . these new honours altered not the manners of ximenes ; the love of learning and advancement of vertue had still the same place in his soul , and were continued in their former station . he finished his colledge of arcala , constituted laws and made statutes for the regulation of it , filled it with able professours drawn from the famous universities of paris , salamanca , valadolid , bologina , admitting none from meaner places ; endowing it with great revenues , adorned it with a rich library , and brought it to such perfection that francis the first of france passing that way ( when the fortune of warr made him experimentally know good luck doth not alwayes attend the valorous ) and seeing this admirable colledge , said , that his university of paris was the work of many kings ; but ximenes alone had compleated a royal work : charles the fifth king of spain , and emperour being one day to hear mass in the colledge at arcala , quitted the chair , and cloth of state provided for him at the high altar , and took his place in the quire , in the ordinary seats of the priests of the colledge being for the most part publick professours ; and all of them learned men , telling them ; he would not lose the glory of sitting that day among men of so great learning , and making one of the quire with them . such are the fruits of great ministers , labours for vertue and the publick good ; future ages reverence their names ; the greatest kings of the world admire their glory , and think themselves honoured to be sometimes of the number of those who possess the offices of learning , they have founded . such is the liberal return of gratitude vertue makes to those who enlarge her kingdome . cap. vi. the spirit of ximenes was not only great and high , but comprehensive and capable of all affairs , those of warr as well as peace found it a proper receptacle to entertain them both together : the same time that his thoughts were busily taken up with impression of books founding monasteries building colledges , endowing them with revenues , and furnishing them with regents and students he had in prospect the warr of africk , formed designes and made preparations for it . when the kingdom enjoyed a secure peace , and flourished in a deep repose , and undisturbed tranquility , he levied soldiers , issued commissions , and provided moneys for the better assurance of the state. it was his maxime that the spirits of men being naturally free , cannot endure servitude and subjection ; but of force , and compelled by necessity ; and he would often say , that never prince was feared abroad , or honoured at home that had not levyed an army , and at least made all the preparatives requisite to carry on a warr. the desire of extending christianity into africk , and to free spain from the incursions and robberies of the pyrats of that countrey who were grown so bold as to enter the spanish ports to spoil and carry away the vessels of traffick engaged him in the enterprize of a warr of such consequence . there was at that time in the court of ferdinand a venetian named jerome vianelli well versed in the voyages of africk , having often sailed those seas , that he knew perfectly all the ports , and safe landing places on the coast ; this man had intelligence of ximenes design , goes to him , informs him of all the avenues of the coast , and particularly the great port of mersalcabir near oran , capable to receive a very great fleet : ximenes hearkens to him , and finding him serviceable for his designes , prayed he would see him often , and commanded his porters to admit him at all times , and give him entrance as often as he desired it . by the constant mode of courts , it hath been alwayes difficult to get entrance to great ministers of state ; which custome , as it preserves them from an infinite trouble of importunate persons ; so it deprives them of the knowledge of many persons of merit and worth , whose generosity will not permit them to begg admittance from servants , and leave to enter from grooms and porters : and 't is seldome seen that the persons imployed in these services either keep out the former , or admit the latter to their masters presence . vianelli having the priviledge of free access to ximenes , visits him often , and acquaints him with what he had seen in africk : ximenes the better to comprehend what he said , commands him not only to make a draught in paper , but to imprint in wax the figures of the places . by this representation he saw a castle scituate on a rock almost inaccessible , having a lanthorn on one of the towres , not unlike the grecian phares to serve marriners for a mark of direction how to steer their course in dark nights , to safe harbour . this castle had on one side the port of mersalcabir , and on the other , the city oran ; called by the moors guharran , which in their languge signifies a high place , and exposed to the windes . the etymology may be derived from the greek verb oran , which in that language signifies to see : the height of the scituation gives an excellent prospect . it was in ancient time a little burrough , but by frequency of commerce and traffick of merchants , was now grown to the greatness of a city , enclosing within the walls , six thousand houses , several mosques and colledges , some hospitals , and a great number of publick baths . the sea washes it on one side , the other side affords an excellent prospect over delicate gardens , and pleasant fountains , so plentifully embellishing the countrey thereabouts , that it courts the spectators to taste of its pleasures . by the draught and representations of vianelli , ximenes found it necessary in order to an attempt on africk to make himself master of mersalcabir , as the safest port for entrance . having thus projected a design for the good of religion , and liberty of spain , he proposed the execution to ferdinand , advising him to undertake the warr , as an enterprize he made appear no less profitable then glorious . ferdinand answered , that the interest of religion was so inseparable from that of his crown , that if there had been no consideration to incline him to ingage in this warr , but the sole advantage to accrew to religion , the piety of the design was motive enough to prevail with him to undertake it ; but that the vast charges he had been at , in the warrs of granada , and his great expences in italy , had emptyed his coffers , and exhausted his treasures , which are the sinnews of war ; and without which it cannot be maintained . ximenes offers him money , and promises to pay the soldiers , and victual the army for six moneths ; so great a mass of treasure had this generous prelate by frugal parsimony heaped up together from the revenues of his bishoprick : upon this offer , the warr against africk was resolved on ; a naval army prepared , and diego fernand de cordova , made captain general , who took with him several old , experienced commanders ; particularly raymond cordon vice-admiral of the fleet , and diego de vera , master of the artillery ; vianelli was a principal person amongst them , as a guide to the rest . the fleet set sail from malaga the fifth of september , and about the fifteenth arrived at mersalcabir ; the moors advertised by their spyes , were upon their guard , attending the appearance of the fleet : they discover it , and repair to the port to hinder their landing ; the conflict was sharp , and disputed hotly on both sides ; but maugre all the resistance the africans could make , the spaniards landed , and went to besiege the castle , which a●●●nds the port , ( being that we spake of before in 〈◊〉 draughts ) with a little town , well peopled , environed with the sea on all sides , except the south . the king of tremesen sent them a succour of moors and numidians to raise the siege , but they were defeated by the valour of the spaniards : those of the castle made stout defence , till an unlucky accident quailed their courage : the captain of the garrison , a man of valour and repute among his souldiers , going round the works to give orders where necessary , was struck dead upon the place , with a musquet shot out of a spanish ship. the loss of this man astonished the garrison , and brought them to a parley , and promise of surrender , if they received not a more powerful succour from tremesen in three dayes : three dayes passed , but no succour came ; they desired three dayes more , which was granted , but no succour appearing , they yielded upon terms of safety for the lives of men , women and children ; and liberty to enjoy what they could carry on their backs ; which being agreed to by the spaniards , they opened their gates . diego fernand a religious observer of his word and promises , to see the articles of the capitulation performed , stands at the gates where the moors passed out of the castle . a soldier casting his eye on an african woman in the crowd laden with the riches of fortune and nature being extreamly handsome and carrying with her the most precious of her goods , was violently hurryed by the blind passions of avarice and love to rob and ravish her ; diego forthwith seized him , and caused him immediately to be killed with push of pike . thus the spaniards became masters of the fort within fifty dayes after their leaving malaga , and sent a gally to spain , to carry ferdinand and ximenes the joyful news of their victory which was gladly received by the whole court , especially by ximenes who caused publick thanks giving to god to be continued for the victory eight dayes together . the designes of warr and of armies , depends on kings , but 't is god alone who gives the victory . the taking of the castle of mersalcabir strook such terrour into the inhabitants of oran , that many left the city and retyred to tremesen : but oran continuing for some time free from the assaults of spain they took the resolution to return ; and being on their way near the town , they met a moor of the best quality and state in oran , on his way from thence to tremisen , with a camel laden with gold upon sight whereof they were seized with such a panique fear , that they turned again for tremisen ; so powerful are riches to attract men to the place of their residence . the spaniards wanting money to carry on the warr , had other designs ; for diego fernando having picked out the best of the soldiers for the garrison of mersalcabir sent the rest back into spain , holding it vain to attack oran without greater forces . the town being almost impregnable by the strength of its scituation , arms and men. at the return of the army into spain , peter lopez h●rosio , a man of valour , and one of the captains in the warr , presented ximenes with a staff of ebony accurately turned , and curiously polished which the cadyor , judge of the fortress , used to carry as the mark of his soveraignty . ximenes for some time carryed it in his hand , but afterwards dedicated it to his academy of arcala , in memory of so important a victory , and with good reason ; for if letters give life to the brave actions of men , 't is just the trophies and monuments of those actions be consecrated to them . diego fernando was recalled into spain , received graciously by the king , and praised openly by ximenes in his masters presence from whom he had a grant by patent of the government of mersalcabir , as conquered by his valour and good conduct : the lieutenancy was given to driasio a person of great courage , whom the king sent into africk , retaining diego at court. no sooner was this lieutenant arrived at mersalcabir , but he made the moors sensible of his valour , making daily inrodes upon them , and carrying rich booties of horses , cattle , and corn from the countrey thereabouts ; so that provoked by these incursions and the miseries he reduced them to ; they resolved to destroy him , or perish themselves in the attempt ; and to that purpose laid an ambuscade for him ; driasio seeing himself in the midst of his enemies , and over-powred , his passage to the garrison stopped , resolves to dye as he had lived , a valiant man : exhorts his soldiers to sell their lives dearly to their enemies , and not cowardly give them away . they obey and follow him ; and roderich driasio with his men hewes his way through the moors , beats , defeats and routes them , leaving a notable example of his courage and strength remaining fresh in memory with the moors to this day , for pursuing with javelin in hand , a moor on horseback who fled from him , he violently darted the javelin with such force and vehemence , that at one blow it pierced through and through the body of the horse-man , the bow of the saddle , and the neck of the horse ; which hath begot a proverb among the moors , who when they curse one another in the warrs , to express their cholar in a phrase of superlative bitterness , pray the blow of the captain of mersalcabir light on them . all this was done before philips arrival into spain , and is transposed hither to preserve the past pieces of this story intire without mangling it by interruption by the recital of this . cap. vii . the same year that ferdinand returned into spain , and ximenes received the cardinals cap , the moors not tamed by the loss of mersalcabir came a cruising on the coasts of spain , took a strong town , put to the sword men women and children ; and elevated with this success at their return into africk , threatned to besiege roderich , and hew him pieces in his castle . cardinal ximenes fully resolved to continue the warr , and to expedite the prosecution , designed to go in person if ferdinand refused it , and made overtures and proposals in council to that effect . this awakened the envy of his enemies , and afforded all spain matter of discourse as various the passions of men . the great ones in council were of contrary opinions ; and said abroad that the ambition of the cardinal was immense and extravagant ; that his condition suited not with armes , but peace ; that nothing could be more abominable then for a priest , a monk , an arch-bishop , a cardinal , to breath nothing but war and blood-shed , and desire to embrew his hands in the blood of slaughtered men . that the exchange would be no less ridiculous than strange for him instead of lifting his cross , to trayle a pyke ; and laying aside his mitre to put on a helmet ; gonsalve who had gained the name of great , in the conquest of naples , was then in spain , brought thither by ferdinand , by reason of the authority his actions had acquired him , which was so great that it created jealousies and suspicions in the breast of the king against gonsalve for his valour and victories . so dangerous is the nature of the affairs of fortune , and of court ; ill service deserves punishment , and good service by the envy of the great ones , and jealousie of the master . gonsalves was then at valladolid , under an ostracism in his ow● countrey . but the name of great men cannot dye , and his hath gotten immortal glory abroad , and a singular reverence in the territories of spain . the histories of spain afford frequent instances of respect to gonsalve's from the spaniards in general , and the particular honours done him by the cardinal . but amongst others , 't is remarkable that after the warrs of granada , a prince of the blood-royal of the moors named zegri , neer kinsman to the famous king abenamar having forsaken the errours of mahomet , and by the pains of the cardinal , embraced the faith of christ ; when he came to the font , prayed his god-fathers to give him the name of gonsalve fernando zegri , telling them he desired with the spiritual grace of baptism to receive that of the name of the great captain gonsalve , whose valour he had so frequent experience of in the warrs of granada against this nation . to resume our discourse of the cardinals enemies , they were very comical in the expressions of their envy , saying at court that the great captain was busie turning over his beads at valladolid , while the cardinal was commanding armies . that gonsalves did the cardinals business , and the cardinal gonsalves . the more moderate said , that in warrs for religion the arch bishops of toledo had alwayes taken care of the armies imployed against the enemies of the faith . and that 't was no new thing to see priests on horse-back in the head of an army : others who pretended to a clearer insight into th' affairs of court , and used to comment upon the news of the time , said , it was the cardinals design to send away all the nobles of spain , into the warrs of africk , that he might govern at home without contradiction . that he could not be better fitted for punishment than to grant him his desire of being general of the army , and sending him over into africk , and so remove him from court , for then out of sight out of mind . the business of government is very painful and difficult , that great ministers besides prudence in conduct have need of a generous patience to resist the envy and calumnies of the court. ferdinand who knew the integrity of the cardinal ( better than all the world beside ) judged more equitably , heard his advice , weighed , received and embraced it , gave him thanks that for the good of religion , and service of his kingdoms , he would expose himself to the toyles and hazards of warr in an age that required nothing more than the repose and quiet of peace ; the cardinal being then seventy years old : ferdinand commands the captain of the gallies , and the admiral , to fit up the gallies and vessels of the kingdom , to be ready at malaga , or nova carthagena ▪ as the cardinal should direct . the captains of the ships , the officers of the marine , the commissaries of victuals , and of the army betake themselves every man to the duty of his charge , with great diligence and expedition to fit and make ready the vessels , men , victuals and ammunition . the great gonsalve advised the cardinal to imploy in this warr peter of navarr earl of olivarez a person of quality , valour and experience , and to make him his lieutenant general of the army : the cardinal upon his recommendation calls navarr to him ; and makes him lieutenant general . on the other side the commissaries for victuals , and those of the navy , the treasurers and paymasters of the soldiers , either guided by the cardinals enemies , or loving spain more than voyages into africk , slacken their former diligence , and to their utmost power retard the fitting of the fleet , by diverting the soldiers pay to other uses and consuming the bisket provided for the ships : the counsellors of state opposed the cardinal in his discourses of the warr , and advice for setting out the fleet , alledging the winter season was too rigorous and not yet over ; when winter was past , they said the heat of summer drew on , and would be more insupportable to the soldiers , than the assaults of the moors : the army this while mouldred away , and was like in short time to come to nothing . the cardinal had beat his drumms throughout spain , and made europe and africk ring of his design . the preparations he had made were great , and if not attended with effects suitable , would have proved the travels of the mountains that brought forth a mouse . all the world was against him , only the king had not declared himself upon the advices given him . he addressed himself to the king by a letter from carthagene , intreated him by the many travels and great labours he had endured in the administration of the affairs wherewith he had honoured him , for the interest of religion and the love of god , that he would not suffer so compleat an army , and so great preparations for warr to perish unprofitably ; that the designes of those who envyed him , tended to the diminution of his royal glory , only to make him incurr the blame of temerity ; he declared to him the facility of the enterprize , and the treasure he had provided for it , that he had of his own sufficient to pay the army three moneths : and if it should be his ill fortune to see his designes shamefully frustrated , and the army disbanded , that his majesty would be pleased to grant him leave to retire to his house at toledo , where he would endeavour by exhortations and sermons to make warr against vice in his diocess . the king who had a value for his person , and judged him necessary for spain , gave him the satisfaction he desired , slighted the counsels of his enemies , gave him order to set sail , and commanded the whole army to attend him the next spring , being the year 1508. but though these obstacles were overcome by the courage of the cardinal , and authority of the king , there sprung up new to retard his designes and stay him at carthagene . for just as he was to put his men on board , the soldiers mutinyed , fled from their colours , and drew to the hills neer the sea : the occasion was this : the cardinal had ordered that the muster of the army should be in africk at their first landing : and to prevent the pilleries practised by the captains on their companies that every soldier should receive his pay immediately from the treasurers . peter of navar accustomed to the rapines of the warrs in italy , liked not this order , and gave notice thereof under hand to the captains , who disguising the matter , and setting it out to disadvantage before the soldiers , caused them to disband . vianelli who was of authority in the army , instead of appeasing the sedition , inflamed it ; holding close intelligence with navarr , and having resolved with him to drive on the mutiny to the last point of despair . in order to this he caused all the mutineers he he could light on to be presently hanged up ; and by colour of doing justice put those on the hills in a desperate fury : the cardinal seeing the remedy worse than the disease sends villaroel governour of castocle to command vianelli to proceed with more gentleness , and not destroy those men who were necessary for the warr they were to make . vianelli's pride made him take this in ill part , and answer , he knew better than the cardinal or him how the mutinies of soldiers were to be appeased . villaroel layes his hand on his sword , strikes , and wounds him in the head ; and retires into the citadel of carthagene , under the command of his kinsman . this delay'd the setting out of the fleet ; for vianelli being the principal guide of the voyage , it was necessary to attend his cure , as to appease the mutiny of the soldiers . to effect this the cardinal employes captain salazar campmaster of the regiment of toledo , a great warrier , eminent in soldierly eloquence and powerful in military perswasion . he goes to the soldiers , tells them the muster was to be taken aboard the gally-royal , perswades them to come to it , shews them baggs of money , crowned with green boughes carryed in their fight on the shore at some distance from the hill towards the gally : the mutineers at sight of the money haste down as hawkes to the lure . by this artifice they were imbarqued , and set sail from carthagene the 15th . of may with 24 ships , ten gallyes , and a great number of smaller vessels . the army was composed of ten thousand foot , and four thousand horse . on ascension eve they came happily to anchor on the coast of africk . at their landing the cardinal was cloathed in a long vest of the habit of his order , with a cross of silver carryed before him by a cordelier of a monstrous stature , mounted on a white beast , his sword by his side , girt upon his robe . others of the older who accompanied the cardinal , were habited alike with long robes and swords . with this retinue he retires into the castle of mersalcabir , to rest and refresh himself . news was brought him that navarr had landed the foot , but left the horse on board as useless on this coast being full of hills and rocks . the cardinal goes to the port , and commands all the cavalry ashore : to this act the whole army owed their safety in several engagements with the moors wherein the cavalry sheltered the foot from ruine and defeat . the army was drawn no in four batallions , and the soldiers commanded by the cardinal to fit themselves for fight , by taking their repast before they engaged : their provision of victuals consisted most of bread , bacon and salt meats , and the cardinal dispensing with the abstinence of the day , being friday , gave them liberty to eat thereof ; and after their repast exhorted them to fight couragiously for the service of god and their king. this done , the principal officers intreated him to withdraw into the fortress , the feebleness of his age inclined him to consent , and being conducted into the castle he retyred into st. michaels chappel to fight against the moors by prayers to god being disabled by age for manual combats . the infidels discovering the approach of the army were ready for battle , and for better advantage had possessed themselves of a little hill where the army must of necessity have passed to attaque oran ; peter of navarr seeing this post taken by the enemy was in doubt what to do , and goes to the cardinal for advice , who having heard him , answered in short , fight , god will be your leader ; with this answer he returns , and sets upon the hill , where in effect he made no progress but in the loss of his men , and those , the flowre of his troops , whom the moors slew in great numbers ; cut of their heads , and sent them to oran to be carryed in triumph through the streets ; where women , and children , who seldome fight but with the dead , exprest their joy over them by songs and dances . lewis contreras captain of the slain , had but one eye , and partaking the fate of his fellow soldiers , had his head cut off , and dragg'd in the streets of oran ; some of those many old women that pretend to divination , among the moors , saw it ; and having attentively viewed its physiogmony , suddenly cryed out , an ill omen , our town is near destruction . the people insolent and senseless in such occurrences , cease not to dragg it along the streets , saying it was the head of the alfaqui of the christians , meaning the cardinal whom they knew to be general of the army , and dragged it on to the prison of the christians , made slaves at the taking of mersalcabir by diego fernandez . the fight in the mean time continued at the hill where at last the spaniards beat off the moors , and having enclosed them in the midst between the body of the army , and some troops navarr had commanded to advance , they put them almost every man to the sword , as they fled towards the city . the christians advance to the walls of oran ; sosa captain of the cardinals company , first mounts the wall ; and having planted there his masters colours , cryes out , victory ; the rest followed his example , and some of the soldiers getting into the town open the gates and give the army entrance , who put all to the sword . the mosques were filled with the blood of the moors , who retyred thither in great numbers , and the streets paved with dead bodies , ran down with the blood of the slain ; the victors killing all , without pitty of age or sex , till the miserable spectacle of a sucking child , playing with the breasts , and labouring with fingers and mouth , to get the teat of his dead mother to suck , staid their fury , and melted their relenting hearts into compassion to a creature senseless of his misery ; the poor infant smiling at the massacre of his mother . two dayes after he was sold among the captives to george baracald the cardinals secretary , and happy in the ignorance of his misfortunes was carryed into spain , where he continued without trouble for the ruine of his countrey , or grief for the massacre of his kindred . 't is some kind of happiness to the miserable , that they have been so in their cradles . the spaniards having made themselves masters of oran , navarr sent the news to the cardinal , who passed that night without sleep in chanting hymnes of praise to god for so important a victory . the day following he went aboard the gallies , and came by sea to oran , to avoid the hill that lay in the way by land. the greatest part of the army then marched to meet him , received him in triumph , and with joyful acclamations saluted him conquerour of barbary , the keyes of the town were presented to him , which he afterwards sent to the colledge of arcala , with some standards and armes of the turks . all the booty was laid at his feet ; navarr having caused it to be carefully locked up by the cardinals order ; part was disposed afterwards defraying the charge of the army ; some rare pieces of value sent to ferdinand , and the rest distributed among the captains and soldiers according to their respective valour and merit : the cardinal for his share taking that which is most acceptable to generous spirits the pleasure of giving to others . after this he caused the town to be cleansed and what might prove infectious to be carryed out , and in memory of the taking of the town sounded an hospital , and ordained in the church he built there , an annual service for the 15 of may to perpetuity with prayers to be made for him , for which he gave thirty thousand crowns . alvarez gomez who writ more of the actions of the cardinal , then any author come into my hands observes that he held intelligence in oran before he left spain with two jews , acmat alcanixe the prime man of the town and catorre . these perswaded the townsmen to deny entrance to the succours from tremisen , sent by that king to maintain the siege , suggesting he designed by those succours to take the town for himself . and when the spaniards entred the town , those two men broke the keyes of a gate where the people might have fled and escaped the massacre . the houses of these jews were exempted from pillage , and their persons from violence , they passed afterwards into spain , and had pensions from the king , during their lives : yet the same gomez , and most of the spanish historians forbear not to say that the arrival of the army the siege , and taking of the town were all miraculous , that a cross appeared to them at their landing , that the sun stopped his course 4 hours , adding so much length to the day , to give light to the combat . those of tremesen made the taking of oran fatal to the christians and jews trading there , puting them all to death upon the news ; while spain on the other shore celebrated the success with joy. the cardinal had sent ferdinand the news by fernand de vera , son to diego master of the artillery in this expedition , who had desired the employment for his son , but fernand being young and careless , made slow haste , sleep and play took up the best part of his time : this occasioned a soldier desirous to make advantage of the voyage to follow him privately , and knowing the softness of his temper he robbed him off his letters to the king in the first journey he made by land , and arriving at court , ere fernand was half way thither , received of the king , the gifts usually bestowed on courriers that bring such happy news . this new instance of negligence in vera , confirmed the cardinal in his resolution taken on the ethiopians miscarriage mentioned above , never to send a courrier on affairs of importance , but such as should be a person of judgement and merit , whose good address may advance the honour of the prince and reputation of his ministers . the cardinal had many crosses in the beginning , nor had he fewer in the end of this warr : for as fortune labours to obstruct vertuous actions , so envy strives to obscure their glory : peter of navarr was preferred by the cardinal to be lieutenant general of the army , and received from his hand the authority and honour he stood possessed of ; but made so ill acknowledgement of the favour that he employed them against the person of his benefactor . a soldier had killed a domestick of the cardinals , who commanded justice to be done thereupon : navarr not only opposed it , but upheld the criminal , and bespoke his general and benefactour in this arrogant language : if there be disorder and insolency among the soldiers ; the cause is from you alone : they never knew two masters in warr : had i the sole command of the army , i durst undertake in few moneths to subdue africk . return when you please into spain to attend your charge of prelate , and know that from henceforth you shall be no otherwise treated then as a private person : these are not yours , but the kings armes . i know the king gave you the charge of generalissimo , but it was only for the siege of oran : your power is determined with the siege : i will instantly cause the kings name to be proclaimed throughout the army without mention of yours , which he did the same day : to 〈…〉 offer reasons to a mad-man , is to imitate him . nor was he daunted it this insolent proclamation that destroyed his authority , and annulled his command . but some dayes after , with the generosity and gravity natural to him , he sent for navarr , gave orders , and commanded him to do what was necessary and fit to be done . navarr obeyed him , acknowledged his fault , begg'd his pardon , and was reconciled to him . the cardinal embraced him , commended him in publick , and told him he deserved worthily the name of captain : but after their arrival in spain , he set forth his humours and extravagancies to the king , and advised him not to give him the government of oran , nor any authority in the affairs of africk , that the haughtiness of his nature , rendred him unfit for such imployments , and was proper only for the command of armies , wherein he behaved himself as a man of valour and great undertaking . the cardinal had in the mean time commanded the guards of the port of africk to send him all the letters that came from spain , without any respect to their address to others ; they send him a packet directed to navarr , he opens it where he finds the kings command to navarr , that if the cardinals presence were requisite in africk , he should keep him there as long as he could , and disswade him from crossing the sea. the cardinal being of a temper ( natural to all great spirits ) melancholick and suspicious , imagined the king had written this with design to ruine him , and that supposing the strength of his aged body , much impaired by the toiles of the warr , he gave this command in hopes he would soon pine away , and end his life there . this hastened his return ; so that about the end of may , he went on board , and soon after arrived at carthagene . the first action he did after his arrival in spain , was to execute an article of his testament , whereby he appointed that in case the warr of africk brought any damage to the villages of the diocess of toledo , by reason of the great number of peasants he had imployed in the warr ; reparation should be made out of his estate , which he did himself in all places where he held it necessary . a vertuous man ought not to leave that good undone till his death , which he can perform in his life . the cardinal arrived at court continued his good counsels for the advancement of the state : he proposed to ferdinand to change the residence of the knights of saint james , from the monastery of volsan in spain , into the city of oran in africk ; and that to merit the commanderies they should serve twenty years , without parting thence , that so many years elapsed , they should succeed in the commanderies by their seniority and services . this ( said he ) will strengthen your militia in africk , and render it formidably a number of gentlemen who commonly exceed others in valour : this advice if embraced had been attended with great advantages , but the king refused it , only to reserve in himself the power to preferr whom he pleased to these commanderies . the year following in the beginning of january , the army led by the cardinal into africk , continued their progress , and advanced farther into the countrey : peter of navarr took the town of bugia , and about the end of july following , that of tripoly , but relapsing into his vice of ingratitude against the cardinal , he joyned with vianelli , who followed his passion in endeavouring to rend in pieces the cardinals name , and destroy the reputation of him who had advanced him to the prime offices of the warr. but as great men prosper by their generosity , so unthankful wretches perish by ingratitude : vianelli having abused an ensign in africk , was by him betrayed to the moors , who stabbed him in his sleep . peter of navarr soon after on change of fortune changed his party , and sideing with the french in the wars of italy , was taken and imprisoned by the spaniards , where the miserable incommodities of a prison , brought him to that height of despair , that the spaniards say he attempted his own life , and in hope to end his miseries , ended his dayes by his own hand , so tragical was the catastrophe of these two men signal for their envy , and remarkable for their enmity to the glory of the cardinal their benefactour . peter arias a valiant captain , famous for many gallant actions in the same warr of africk , hath merited eternal praises for his constant payment of the respect and acknowledgements due to the cardinal who imployed him . this recommended him to the favour of the court where he obtained the charge of general of the fleet , to the west-indies , against the savage cannibals feeding on humane flesh . there he became famous for his remarkable familiarity with death , for being taken with an incurable malady , that sensibly threatned to bring him lingeringly by degrees to his grave , and finding himself past hope of remedy , he caused a grave to be digged in a church where he went every day to hear mass , which being ended , he went to his grave , and lay along in it , celebrating in his life his own funeral . as he lay in this posture the priest with his laver sprinkled holy water over him , and chanted a libera where it needed not . this done , he rose again before death , went out of his grave , and made to his lodgings . his wife and friends imputing this action to melancholy more than vertue or devotion , endeavoured to divert him from it . but he seriously answered , i do this to accustome my self by little and little to an habitation where i must long abide . and though dead men need no accustomance to their long home , yet such was the meditation of this gallant captain arias upon death , which though a stranger to his mind in the warrs where he had it daily in his eye , he practised in peace in all its parts and circumstances . man better thinks of his end in repose and tranquility of spirit , than in the troubles of affairs , and passions that distract him . the envy that attaqued the cardinal in the beginning and progress of the warr of africk , could not hinder him from obtaining ( over and above the glory of having planted the cross there , and extended the limits of spain , to the other side of the sea ) the reputation of a captain fit to command armies , generous in enterprize , prudent in conduct , and hardy in execution . order and discipline the soul of warr , as well as other affairs of the world was wisely established , and carefully kept during his command , insomuch that the old spanish soldiers long after his death , gave this testimony of his conduct in warr , that captains and soldiers were never in greater honour and esteem , nor the musters better paid than in his time : 't is admirable that a man bred in a cloyster , having never made profession of armes , imployed to the age of seventy years in ecclesiastical functions became capable in a moment to command an army like him in former ages of whom it is observed that he went from the republick less than a soldier , became by the way an excellent captain . ministers of state endued with an excellent vivacity of spirit and solid judgement , learn by little exercise the business of a captain . the cardinal attained it so , quickly and happily that had he lived in those great republicks that triumphed over the best parts of the world , they had to his name ximenes , added the sirname of african . cap. viii . upon the first design of the warr of africk , the cardinal furnished the king with money toward the charge thereof on condition of re-imbursement , or case oran were taken , the king should grant it to the arch bishop of toledo , unless he chose rather to pay the money ; the voyage of africk being generously accomplished , and the spaniards masters of oran , the cardinal demands the money he advanced . this gave his enemies fresh occasion to attacque his reputation , and calumniated his integrity ; the grandees of spain who had designed to trouble the state after isabels death , and to take from ferdinand the administration of castile saw their designs defeated by the counsels of the cardinal , and themselves reduced to a private life in their houses with as little authority as the meanest burgesses of madrid . see here an opportunity of revenge , to out the cardinal from court , and soon after with ease to remove ferdinand from the administration : they lay hold on 't , and remonstrate to ferdinand , that the cardinals avarice was insatiable ; that there was no reason he should demand the money advanced , having made vast gains by the richest part of the booty of oran which he had reserved for himself , in recompence of his loans , that the bravest warriers having lost their blood in battel , returned with no greater felicity than that of being loaden with glory and booty ; that the more generous contented themselves with the glory , leaving the booty to the soldiers . but the cardinal who had seen no field but st. michaels chappel , nor handled other weapon than his breviary , while others with their swords in their hands , lay weltred in blood in the midst of their enemies , is not satisfied with the glory of conquest , and spoils of a city , but must empty the kings coffers on pretence of a lone , which the king was not obliged to pay . the king unwilling to drain his treasures ( as what king is willing to do it ? ) approves of these discourses . so easily do monarks believe what they desire : the kings officers spake almost to the same effect : the cardinal never daunted by the crosses and troubles of court , makes a generous defence ; alledges the services he had done in the warr , that besides the money furnished to levy the army , he had conducted them to the place , established order amongst them , prevented the frauds and pilleries of the captains at musters , which often proves the destruction of armies ( for where the soldier is not paid , he must of necessity starve or disband ) that but for him navarr had left the cavalry useless in the ships , that the combat had not been undertaken if not counselled yea commanded by him . as to the booty of oran he took only some arabick volumes for the library of alcala , where they were bestowed . that even that small parcel of the booty was not for him alone , but for the benefit of the whole kingdom of spain , for whom he had founded the colledge and library ; and therefore he prayed his majesty to pay him the money advanced , or grant the city of oran to the church of toledo , according to promise . some of the councel held this proposal reasonable and useful to the king in saving him the charge of a garrison at oran ; others had more generous sentiments , and said that fear of expence ought not to ravish the crown of spain , of so important a place , that the cardinal in offering to maintain a garrison there , acted as a king ; and the king by refusing it to save his money should act as a private person , and in derogation to his royal condition ; that honour is the true patrimony of kings , to which money ought to be subservient to preserve and increase it . that by the laws of the state , no private person can hold a place of strength upon the frontiers of the kingdom that agrede had been , heretofore taken from the earles of montacute , because it was scituate on the confines of arragon , and the village of b●z● , on the sea side , over against africk , from the arch-bishops of toledo . that in affairs of this nature , the history of spain gives no encouragement to trust priests more than men of other quality : oppo arch-bishop of toledo assisted count julian governour of granada to introduce the moors into spain , who for many ages shed the blood of the people , pulled down the altars , destroyed the temples . and in several places established the abominations of mahomet . the cardinal patiently heard these several opinions , and saw they tended all to his ruine , but had before his eyes the example of the great captain gonsalves who having conquered the kingdom of naples , and made it subject to the crown of spain , had no other recompence but that of banishment in his own countrey , as living there without office , without imployment , without any acknowledgement turning over his beads at valladolid , or sometimes at court where he was as inconsiderable ; for men , how great soever their vertues be are oftentimes in the hands of fortune and of kings , as counters in the hand of a banker , where that which now stands for a thousand presently signifies no more than one . yet reason and justice carryed the day , the cardinal had them on his side , and the king caused payment to be made him of the moneys he advanced , his vertue which before defended his authority against envy , and obloquy preserved it still and triumphed over both : and the cardinal gave his majesty thanks for altering those opinions which the envy of the grandees his enemies had once infused into his majesty against him . but this was not the only trouble that sprung from the taking of oran to the vexation of the cardinal . for among the conditions agreed on before the warr ; one was that the church of oran should depend on that of toledo in the quality of an abby to which the arch-bishop of toledo , and not the king of spain should present lewis william a cordelier obtains a grant thereof by bull from the pope with the title of a bishoprick , which he assumed , but was hindred by the cardinal from taking possession ; this man who leaving his cloyster , proposed to himself the glory of appearing in the world with the mytre and revenue of a bishop , frames a process in the council , exclaims in the court , complains of the cardinal , protests against his violence , and proclaims to all the world , that by the force of his great authority he had ravished a bishoprick from him . the cardinal to stop the mouth of this impudent monk , who cared not what he said , thought it prudence to propose a fair accommodation , makes him understand the right accrued to the arch-bishoprick of toledo , over the church of oran , that he was obliged to maintain and consecrate it to the dignity of the arch-bishoprick in memory of the warr of africk , not out of any covetous designs to draw profit thence to enhance his revenues , nor ambition to joyn it to the cross of the arch-bishoprick , offers it to him with the title of abbot of oran , and a seat in the quire of the great church of toledo , with the dignity and revenue of a canon , besides the dignity and revenue of abbot of oran ; nothing but a bishoprick could satisfie the cordelier ; he refuses the offer , the cardinals enemies bear him in hand , he should overthrow the cardinal , and obtain sentence from the king against him , he believes them and continues obstinate . ferdinand dying soon after , the cardinal receives the intire government of spain , slights the cordelier , who continued , as before , a monk ; and it may be , an ill one . francis rouys bishop of ciudad roderigos , the cardinals companion in the order of st. francis , followed his fortune , and had negotiated for him at court in several affairs of importance : he not content with his bishoprick , his cross seemed too small , and his revenue far short of his desires ; he presses the cardinal to procure him the bishoprick of avilas then vacant : the cardinal answers , if my advice might prevail with you , you would value your repose above dignity and revenues . you live happily in the condition you are in : let me perswade you to keep you so , and not seek troubles , and inquietudes elsewhere . the time of our acquaintance cannot but have furnished you with clear experience by your knowledge of my affairs , how many cares and troubles are hid under the fair appearances of great offices , and eminent dignities . nevertheless to satisfie the desires of his person who was knowing and vertuous , he made him bishop of avila , though he was ever averse from bringing his friends into offices which might break their repose , or endanger their consciences , and very loath to draw out of monasteries to the great dignities of the church , those men who were consecrated to god in the tranquility of holy solitude . to draw a good fryer from the cloyster , when he loves his profession , is to take fish out of water , which is his proper element . the cardinal had laboured with great care and vigilance in peace and warr for the state of spain , and now pressed with age , which sliding away like the current of a rapid stream , brings a man to his end sooner than he is aware of , casts his thoughts towards the advancement of his house ; marries one of his brothers to great advantage into one of the noble families of spain , where vertue the mother of nobility was as eminent as the blood illustrious ; he made it a condition in the marriage , his brother should not come to court , where vanity and luxury ( whose vassals are the basest of slaves ) bear a soveraign sway , introducing into their dominions all sorts of corruptions . he enjoyned him to reside in the place of his nativity to live nobly there in a vertuous tranquility . some years after he marryed joan cisnere his niece to peter gonsales mendoza nephew of diego mendoza duke of infantado , a name and family of the first rank of the nobility of spain , he gave him for portion the marquisat of val suilian : the marryed couple were both in their minority , which soon after served the cardinal for a pretence to annul the marriage , though really the true cause of the rupture was the cheat and deceit of mendoza's kindred , who thinking that having given the cardinal a man of their name and family , they had sufficiently obliged him to provide him a fortune , performed not the promises they had made in behalf of their kinsman in point of estate . for his mother in confidence the cardinal would provide enough for peter , left by her will , her whole estate to roderick gonsales her younger son , but the cardinal who loved solid honour , scorned to be baffled , and broke the marriage , maugre all the opposition of the duke of infantado : yet afterwards he marryed her into the same family to alfonso mendoza , son and heir to bernardo mendoza earl of clung : such was the care he had of his kindred . nor is it forbidden that a minister of state should impart to this kindred the fortune he possesses , if done with moderation , and that by his alliance he cover not , nor uphold the violences of others . this natural affection is an evidence of his goodness , and sets of the glory of his actions with greater advantage . the naval army soon after sent for the conquest of africk , had not the good success of that led by the cardinal . don garija son to the duke of alva , commanded it , and had the misfortune to see it defeated by the turks and moors at gerbes : ferdinand designes to set out another fleet , and the rendezvous to be at cadiz , but would not resolve till advice with the cardiin this as other matters , a courrier is dispatched to him at toledo to command his attendance at sevil : the cardinal set out , and drawing neer to guadalquana expresses a desire to lodge in the inn of saja vedra and sends his harbingers to take it up , the harbingers find it marked for gonsalve the great captain , and advise the cardinal accordingly , take another ( sayes the cardinal and leave that to him who deserves all manner of honour . so propense was the cardinal on all occasions to honour persons of eminent vertues : great men naturally love those that resemble themselves when the concurrence of offices or jealousie of dignities do not intetpose . when the cardinal drew neer to sevil , the king with all the court went four leagues to meet him ; the cardinals enemies being part of the retinue , and thus forced to honour him , they envyed and hated . the king at their meeting alighted and reverenced that head whence issued those counsels that gave happiness to spain . this honour wrought two different effects , of humility in the cardinal and rage in his enemies . at sevil a vessel arrived from the indies , brought the king and cardinal advice that the spaniards in the west indies abusing the advantages they had received from god above the people of that countrey , tyrannized over those new subjects of god and the king , and sacrificed the lives of the indians to their avarice , murdering them first , and then robbing them of the gold amassed in their grounds , and laying all desolate , without pi●ty , without mercy , without justice . the cardinal advised his master to send thither some men under the rules of religion , who dead to the world , and wholy dis-interessed from secular concerns might oppose their charity to the violence of the governours . the advice was embraced ; many men of his order , embarqued for the voyage ; and among them three of the cardinals companions , whereof francis rouys was one ; but the ayre of india , not agreeing with his constitution , forced him to return to madrid , six moneths after his departure : at his arrival he presented king ferdinand with a box full of idols worshipped by the indians , and a wedge of gold weighed above a thousand ducats which doubtless had been an idol to which they who tormen●ed the indians paid their devotions . at sevil proposal was made for raising another army to recover the honour lost by the defeat of the former , some preparations were made , but the affairs of pope julius the second put a stop to the proceedings . this prelate who troubled all europe sent his nuncio into spain to desire aide from ferdinand against the council of pisa , ( where the cardials had chosen another pope ) and to demand vengeance against bernardine cardinal caruajale a spaniard whom he had struck out of the catalogue of cardinals as author of that council , and prayed the king to devest him of the bishoprick of siguenza which he held in spain : ferdinand to please the pope , took the bishoprick from bernardine , and gave it frederick of portugal ; but the storm being over , bernardine was afterwards restored to the bishoprick , that he might end his life with some kind of dignity : in the affair of julius the second the generosity of the cardinal in acknowledging the fauours of those who had obliged him was remarkable : he writ to this pope who had sent him the cardinals cap , that he would return him to rome four hundred thousand crowns when he pleased , that he would levy an army at his own charge if the pope needed it , and would in person lead them into italy against his enemies . the fruit of a good office is never lost , where it is sown in a generous spirit . cap. ix . soon after the affairs of africk put on a better face , the kings of tremesen and tunis sent their embassadours with presents to ferdinand to treat of peace , which was concluded , and free commerce established between the moors and spaniards of oran : this peace with africk pleased the cardinal exceedingly , who having been the first author of the warr of africk , rejoyced beyond measure , to see the fruits of his lab●urs in a happy peace . the affairs of europe rann a course quite contrary ; julius the second increased the trouble , he makes a league with ferdinand and the venetian against the french ; and he who ought to have been the father of christians , laboured nothing more than to set his children by the eares : ferdinand to prepare himself for this league , sent for the cardinal to burgos to advise with him ; the cardinal came thither , and for his lodging they had marked the count of salines house , where prince ferdinand brother of charles afterwards sirnamed the fifth was lodged : the king his grand father commanded him to remove , but the cardinal would not by any means accept of that lodging , and when the king would have forced him by absolute and express commands to that purpose , be excused himself saying , the countess of salines with her ladies were lodged there , and that by the institution of his order , he was prohibited to lodge with women , which he religiously observed both at court , and in his journeys : the day following the cardinal walked with prince ferdinand into the palace gardens : the king spies them from his window , and calling to the prince , bespeaks him aloud in these words , son , you are in very good company , and if you take my advice , will never part from it . knowing he was with a man who could make princes such as they ought to be wise , religious , and generous : from the garden the cardinal attended the young prince to the palace where he took leave of him to retyre to his lodgings , the prince offered to bear him company , the king coming upon them in the complement advised him to it , but the cardinal thanked for the honour and obtained permission to go alone . the resolutions taken in the assembly at burgos by the advice of the cardinal were , that the king should not hasten the warr , but choose any way rather than that of armes to bring affairs to a solid peace : but this advice was soon changed : the cardinal receives advertisement of a secret league between the kings of france and navarr , thereupon he prepares for warr , advises his master to it : and presseth him to hasten the raising of an army : the discovery of the league was thus : the king of navarr was passionately in love with a lady of the court , whose beauties had charmed his reason ; this love by the prerogatives of the crown which few women know how to deny , was come to enjoyment . a secretary of state , and prime confident of this prince took part in this affair of love , as if it had been a matter of state , visits the lady , declares his affection , beggs her savour ; she who had as great need of this mans pen as the liberality of the king , grants his desire ; the king surprizes them together , and stabbs the secretary : for kings can no more admit partakers of their loves , than of their scepters : a priest of pampelune called to confess the dying secretary , having cleared his conscience , ransacked his pockets ; there among other things he finds this secret treaty , which he gave or sold to the spanish embassadour resident in the court of navarr : they sent it to the cardinal ; the tenour of the league was that the king of navarr should refuse ferdinand passage through his countreys when he marched in the aide of julius the second . that he should enter spain with an army when required by france . that for this , restitution should be made him by france of his patrimony , than in the poss●ssion of the duke of nemours , father of germain then queen of spain , and of all the rites and possessions of the house of albret detained by france . that he should receive from france an annual pension suitable to his royal dignity . that france should by negotiation or armes procure restitution to be made him of that part of the estate of queen catherine his wife about burgos then detained from him : the cardinal having read those conditions , levyed an army and carryed things to that point , that the spaniards attribute to him the warr of navarr , as the author of it , though in truth the violence of julius the second , and ferdinands ambition caused that warr memorable in history for the blood shed therein , which hath afforded us this observation , that warr is a bloody burying place or caemitere of mankind . the year 1513. being the next after the trouble of navarr , carryed julius the second , out of the world to prevent his spreading of further mischiefs : soon after , ferdinand fell sick of the malady whereof he dyed : this affected him with extraordinary sadness . to make him merry the whole court turned revellers : the ladies endeavoured to please him by their divertisements of balls and dances ; the gentlemen by justs and turnaments . alfonso mendoza husband of the cardinal niece was of the party and expended seven thousand crowns to fit himself for the solemnity a great expence in those times ; this was to be paid out of the cardinals purse who used to reject and disallow all vain expences , but paid this cheerfully , telling those who spoke to him of it , that these turnaments were the remedy for recovery of the kings health which he should buy very cheap since his nephew had expended no more . so willing was he to part with his estate for the good of his prince or relief of the people . 't was at this time he made provision against that publick exigency to which spain is often reduced for want of corn : at toledo , arcala and torrelaguce , he built publick granaries , and filled them with corn. the senate of toledo , in acknowledgement of the benefit , hath consecrated the memory thereof to perpetuity , by an inscription engraven in the midst of the palace ; and the people preserves the memory of it by a marble table , which to this day shews the character of his liberality in the great market of the city ; and yearly on the fifth of october , they celebrate their grateful acknowledgements in an harangue made of the vertues and merits of this great man. soon after he erected a magnificent monastery and church at torrelagave for the perpetual celebration of his praises , whose bounty raised him to the height of his fortunes : he adorned the church with sacred vessels , and vestments , and furnished it with all necessaries for the service of god , and ornament of religious worship . for the convenience of this holy place and the publick , he clave rocks , and boared through mountains to make aqueducts for conveyance of water thither from a spring at great distance from the church ; the aqueducts were arched and wide , and cost him by the computation of the spaniards , no less than a million of gold , this place to this day testifies the generosity of this cardinal in his affections to the publick ; for great edifices without flattery , report to posterity the grandeur of the builders . but though he built of his own for the publick good , yet would he not permit others to be magnificent at the spaniards charges . pope leo the tenth , who succeeded julius the second , had a design at this time to build at rome , a temple to st. peter , suitable to the dignity of the first church of christendome ; and because the charge of such a building amounted to vast summs of money , he sent his bulls into spain , to demand contribution from the spaniards . king ferdinand consented , but the cardinal being a severe man , and inclined to ease the people , though he commended the popes design , approved not his exacting money by his bulls , but with all his power hindered the execution thereof ; and with a generous liberty writ his thoughts thereupon to rome , and told them his mind . ferdinand approached the end of his reign , and his life , by the malady before mentioned , which handled him so rudely at burgos , that he left that place , imputing to the ayre the cause of that distemper he carryed within him . when he came to arand , he sent for the cardinal , who set out to attend him , and drawing neer to the court , the king went in his litter to meet him , to the astonishment of all that were about him , his disease having so weakened him that he could hardly stand , and in a few dayes after was laid on his death-bed . the cardinal was very desirous to wait on his master to the last moment of his dayes , but thought fit to withdraw , to avoid the suspicion his attendance might occasion , if he were appointed governour of the kingdom , which would be attributed more to the ambition of the cardinal , than the judgement of the king or the advice of his council . this was the reason of his retiring to arcala d' henares , while god disposed of this prince according to the decree of his will. ferdinand in the mean time felt himself dying , yet could not believe he should dye of this sickness . the holy women of avila had deluded his reason by her pretended prediction , that he should out-live the violence of his distemper : he was so possest with conceit of the truth of her assertions , that he rejected and put off matreuse the cordelier his confessor who came to dispose his conscience to part with this world , and appear before him who judges kings without respect to their crowns , and said , that man came to see him , not out of zeal , of piety or devotion , but ambition , and in hopes to obtain some gift . prince charles his young son , sent dean adrian of vtretcht to visit him in his sickness , but he could not get audience ; and when the secretaries of state , moved in his behalf , and were urgent with the king to admit him to his presence , he refused answering them in spanish , what comes he for , it may be to see whether i am dead or not . however he admitted him afterwards , and received the complement of charles : the great ones of the world can hardly part with it , nor is there any place men are more loath to leave , than a throne : but death is as inexorable as necessary ; she respects not scepters , nor fears crowns . the physitians , and principal councellors of state advertise ferdinand , he was arrived at the last hour of his life , that he had but a short time left to think of the affairs of his conscience and kingdom this made him resolved to admit his confessor and believe , the saint of avila had not received from heaven the advice she gave in the affairs of his kingdom : he told them that by his secret testament made at burgos , he had ordered ferdinand his younger son , brother of charles to be governour of spain , and appropriated to him as a peculiar legacy the grand master-shipps of the three principal orders of spain , those of st. james , calatrave and alcantara . the councellors remonstrate to him the injury he did the crown in the alienation of those three orders which himself had judged necessary to be kept alwayes annexed to it : that he gave them to a prince who might when he pleased make use of them against the crown , that the best and surest inheritance he could leave ferdinand was the love and good will of his brother charles . that it was dangerous to leave the government of spain in the hands of ferdinand whose youth made him sussceptible of ill impressions from the great ones to the ruine of the state : upon these remonstrances he altered his resolutions and appointed charles governour during the life of the queen his mother , sole heiress of that kingdom . but in the absence of charles , there wanted an administrator to manage the publick affairs , with prudence , integrity and generosity : laurence galinda caravegal , one of the counsellors proposed the cardinal as eminently endued with all these qualities . ferdinand turns his head , and answers , know you not the severity of ximenes his spirit , no wayes fit to treat with men ? thus did he reject him whose conduct he admired , whose person he honoured going to meet him every time he came to do him service , such was the inconstancy of this great king. but there was some ( though a very light ) cause for this disdain of ferdinand against the cardinal . the king wanted a great summ of money , and would have borrowed it of the cardinal , but he refused to lend it , telling him boldly , the moneys arising from his ecclesiastical revenues , were neither his , nor his majesties , but belonged to the poor of the arch-bishoprick of toledo , whose necessities could not give way to the loan he proposed : nevertheless the cardinals merit prevailed more with ferdinand than the memory of this refusal : having mused awhile ; his mind altered , and he tells the councellors , were it possible to frame a person of purpose fitted with vertues proper for the government of my kingdoms , he could not be more capable than the cardinal to discharge it , if we could mitigate the excessive severity of his nature , and temper it with some sweetness of disposition : he hath to this time acknowledged queen isabels favours and mine , and will certainly retain a grateful memory of them for the future : with that , he declared him administrator general of spain , and presently after breathed his last . this change of the testament at burgos alarm'd the governours of prince ferdinand , they perswaded him to take on him the government of the kingdom , and dispatch patents in his name to the councellors of state , requiring their attendance to advise him in the government . one of them upon receipt of his letters made answer , we will go to the prince to pay him our respects but we know no king but caesar : which allusion to that piece of holy scripture proved prophetical ; charles then king , being afterwards emperour . the cardinal in the mean time enters on the government of spain , where he was so absolute that having long since the purpose of the church , he wanted only that of a monarch , and the name of a king , he held the government two years , which he managed with prudence , integrity , and magnanimity inseparable from his actions : he bore up couragiously against the disturbers of the publick peace , and wisely appeased the troubles of spain , checked and suppressed the boldness of the great ones ; and plucked out of their hands the estates of the meaner sort , ravished from them by violence and injustice : insomuch that spain did then acknowledge , and confesses to this day , she never enjoyed so perfect repose , so secure a peace , as under the conduct of the cardinal ; who made it appear that the happiness of the people is so far from being inconsistent with the glory of administration , that the direct way for a minister of state to acquire glory and honour is , by imploying his cares with prudence and generosity to procure and promote the good of the people . cap. x. the first action he did after opening king ferdinand's testament , which declared him regent of spain , was , the taking of prince ferdinand into his care . and having given him a retinue befitting his birth , he kept him alwayes neer him , to prevent the great ones of spain , from drawing him to their party , and making him their head , to follow the motion of the members , and to be at the discretion of his pretended vassals . after this he took order for performance of the honours due to queen germaine , and the maintenance of her family , suitable to her dignity . the crosses that rendred his conduct more illustrious , attacqued him early : adrian of vtrecht , dean of lorain , was sent by charles into spain in ferdinand's sickness , with patents for the government of spain , in case ferdinand dyed : after his death , adrian declared his charge , published his patents in full council ; and would have taken upon him the soveraign administration of affairs . the cardinal opposed it , and remonstrates , that by the testament of queen isabel , king ferdinand was made regent of the kingdom , untill charles should have attained the age of twenty years , that , ferdinand being dead before that time , he was by his testament to succeed in his room . and therefore the regency belonged to him alone . moreover , that by the laws of the kingdom it was prohibited that a stranger should govern the state ; and that adrian , being a fleming , his birth excluded him from what he pretended to . this contest had abettors and maintainers on both parts : the cardinal had the good patriots on his side ; and adrian was upheld by the ambitious grandees , who desired nothing more than trouble to gain by , charles who was in flanders must determine the difference : but while his judgement was expected , the cardinal and adrian governed joyntly , and both signed all orders and commands ; though adrian was but the shadow to follow the motions of the cardinal as the substance acting in the publick affairs . the first that by armes disturbed the publick peace was peter porto carrero , brother to the duke of ascalon , whose successours , are , at this day , marquesses of villa-nova . this man , of great power among the portuguese beyond the river guadiana , stirred up the people on that side the river to take up arms , and set all in confusion throughout that province : his design was to possess himself , by force , of the great mastership of st. james , which the great gonsalve pretended to ; and attended so long , till death put an end to his pretensions , his hopes , his life , and his displeasures : porto carrero had obtained the pope's bulls to succeed ferdinand , in case he survived him . on the other side , prince charles who was in flanders had the pope's bulls for the three great commanderies of spain : the cardinal upon the first news of carrero's arming , without more ado , sent towards him some troops of his men at armes , under the conduct of ville fanno who restored peace to the province , and beat the feeble mutineer , into more wisdom for the future : the best remedy for troubles raised by particular persons , is the publick force . this first cloud thus dissipated , the cardinal brought the court and council to madrid , as a place where the liberty of the regency would be more absolute against the grandees of spain . a courrier arrives there from charles with letters to queen germaine , the council , and grandees ; containing his promise of coming into spain the next summer ; with order to all that owed him obedience , to pay it in the mean time intirely to the cardinal . these letters came attended with private instructions to adrian to found their opinions of the new title of king of spain , which he had assumed on the death of ferdinand , adrian speaks of it to the cardinal and council ; they wonder at the novelty , and answer , that by ferdinand's death , charles had acquired nothing in spain ; that the queen his mother lived there sole heiress of the kingdoms . in their letters to charles , they remonstrate that his assuming the quality of king , might cause trouble in the state , by furnishing seditious spirits with a pretence to take up arms ; and declare , that it was not just to suffer the usurpation of the royalty , during the life of their natural queen . charles answered , that having taken upon him the quality of king at the request of the pope , and by advice of the emperour ; it would not become him to quit it , but would be of prejudice to his authority , and derogatory to his honour . he writes to the cardinal to imploy his credit to procure him the continuance of the name of king , and to proclaim him king throughout spain . the cardinal sitts about it , and plyes it closely ; called an assembly of the notable persons of the realm composed of prelats , grandees of spain , and counsellors of state , and causes overtures to be made , and the affair proposed to them by laurence galiud counsellor of state , his confident , a man of great learning and eloquence . who declared to the assembly the pittiful condition , and miserable estate of queen joan now besides her self , and uncapable to govern ; shews them the necessity of having a prince , who might , at least in name , fill up what she could not indeed possess : that authority was the soul of the kingdom ; and since it could not be found in the person of joan , they must seek it in that of charles : that it was no new thing for the infantes of spain to bear the title of kings in their parents life-time . he cited presidents in the reign of the goths and their successours . in the close of his discourse , he drew out of his bosome the prince's letters , not demanding advice , but commanding obedience ; and concluded it better , by unanimous consent to gratifie him in his desires , with congratulation to him for the title he had assumed , than to refuse him that he had already taken , and was resolved to keep . the bishops , and councellours of state , were of his opinion : the grandees , of the contrary . henry almirante , and frederick d' alva , swore before the assembly , they would never endure such an usurpation . the cardinal turns to them , and with a face and voice full of severity sayes , king charles has no need of your votes for the quality he assumes ; nor did i assemble you , to desire them : but of my free inclinations for your good to give you this occasion by the freeness of your suffrages and cheerful consent , to merit the good-will and favour of our prince . but since you conceive that to be due to you of right , which was done you of courtesie ; i 'le make you know , you are not so necessary in this business as you mistake your selves to be . and going out of the council he sent for the governour of madrid , and commanded him to cause charles of austria , to be proclaimed king of castile by sound of trumpet in every street of the town ; which was solemnly done the same day . toledo followed the example of madrid , and joyfully made the like proclamation : such was the fruit of the cardinals severity , that the grandees durst not attempt any thing to hinder it . where a minister of state sees , discourse and perswasions too feeble to prevail , he must use severity and force to back his authority . the kingdom of arragon , followed not the example of castile . alfonso of arragon , bishop of saragosa , was governour there by the testament of ferdinand . the arragonois , wonderful jealous of the laws of their state , refused to give charles the title of king , during his mothers life : and , to second the refusal with violence , peter gironne , eldest son of the earl of vrenne , takes up armes , attacques the dutchy of medina , sedonia pretending a right to 't ; and besieges luzerre on the sea side . the cardinal sends against him a light army under the conduct of anthony fonseca , and with him a minister of justice to punish the rebells with the axe and rope ; fonseca goes directly to luzerre , raiseth the siege , and puts the rebells to flight ; who not long after came from those parts to increase the troubles raised by the duke of infantade on his side : who keeping in mind the offence given by the cardinal , by breaking off ( as he said ) the marriage between his niece , and the duke's nephew , exclaimed against him in words and writing ; publishing in his manifestoes , that the nobility of spain were oppressed by the cardinal ( whom he called an unfrock'd monk ) ; that the grandees of spain had ever defended the crown ; that it was more reasonable the cardinal should obey them as protectors of the state , than that they should submit to the cardinal , who had nothing worthy the taking notice of , but the quality he owed to the gift of blind fortune ; and knew no more than the severities and humoursome vagaries the monks practise in their cloysters , when they persecute one another . the cardinal who was excellently judicious slighted these rodomantadoes , knowing that choler without force , is a wind that makes a noise but cann●● 〈◊〉 . that the grandees of spain , spend their revenues on their vanity and luxury , to the last farthing ; having nothing left but noise and exclamations , the feeble support of their huffing and pride ; when he could pay an army with the revenue of his benefices . and leaving them thus to champ on the bit , he gave them leisure to acknowledge their fault and feebleness , and by the experience of his powerful authority to come to themselves , and return to their duty ; which most of them did , and among others the duke of infantade , who , after so many sallies , and freaks , sent him letters of submission and testimonials of his affection and obedience . for they saw this man intirely fix'd and resolute in his designs ; when just then he had rendred himself capable to command armies , learning daily the theory and practick of the art of warr , entertaining himself with discourses of all points thereof , amongst the sagest and most ancient captains . besides , he had a standing army of thirty thousand men , raised out of the cities and burroughs of spain , who had no other pay than franchises and immunities ; these forces made him formidable to his personal enemies , and to the disturbers of the publick peace . as wings carry the eagle to the glory of combat ; so armies , the wings of royal authority , carry it against the enemies of the state , to their ruine and confusion , but to its own certain victory and triumph . the next year being 1516. the cardinal sent to charles in flanders , diego lopez ajala , a person in whom he reposed much confidence , to procure letters patents to confirm ferdinands testament , which gave him the regency ; to approve his conduct ; and to give him full authority over the council , the tribunals of justice , the governours of towns , and the receivers and treasurers of the finances . diego had in his instructions , to let the king know , that the grant of these things by letters missive to the council , was not sufficient . this he did to take away all pretence from the grandees for stirring the people against him , on colour that his actions were not approved of by the prince . for upon his setting a foot thirty thousand men of the militia of the towns and cities which received immunities only , for pay ; the great ones of spain gave out that these violent courses tended to the subversion of the state that he armed the people against them , and with design first to destroy them , and then to ruine the people ; that his irregular ambition , and exorbitant pride had transported him into a fantastick extravagancy of acting the captain , who had never handled any arms but a breviary ; nor worn any armour but a frock . insomuch that when he sent japie of segonia to make levies of the militia at valladolid , the inhabitants , instigated by henry almirant and others , ran to their arms , imprisoned japie , fortified the town ; and rolling the cannons to the ramparts , cryed openly in the streets , this is against ximenes the tyrant of the people . the like fury was practised in the towns neer valladolid ; and passing forward , like fire in a forest , drew the cities of leon , burgos , and many more , into the like revolt . the cardinal was of opinion that violent remedies would heighten the disease , and inflame the more ; and inclined to reduce the mutineers to their duty by the wayes of sweetness and gentleness . hence it was , that he writ to them of valladolid that had begun the disorder , that he never intended to infringe their priviledges , or violate their immunities : but that , if they had any to exempt them from the levies of the militia , they ought to make them known to the council ; where he would protect them to the utmost of his power . but reason and gentleness are sometimes encouragements to greater insolences in the people : they of valladolid sent the cardinal an arrogant answer , that they had nothing to do with him , nor the council , for the preservation of their priviledges ; but knew well enough how to maintain them by their armes against his manifest tyranny ; and yet doubtless this was the language of the great ones in the mouth of the people . they send into flanders a solemn embassy to charles against the cardinal , to represent the peril he put the state of spain in . the cardinal , whose prudence and courage crowned all his enterprizes with good success , sent also into flanders ; and by the negotiation of his diego lopez , a man of judgement and dexterity , prepossessed charles and made it appear to him , that the revolts in spain were effects of the envy and malice of the great ones . moreover , he ordered him to press for the confirmation he desired , and to declare that if it were not sent him , he would quit the management of affairs , and go to toledo to enjoy there that repose which is not to be found at court. the business of the militia was for some time interrupted and laid aside , till these seditious were banished spain . but ( as the institution thereof by the cardinal was upon grounds of prudence , and very necessary to the kingdom ) philip the second , a judicious prince , re-established it in the year 1565. long after the decease of ximenes . the training of the people to warr , is the fortifying of the state. and the prudent counsels of a minister of state , who designs the good of the publick , are durable ; and time , the father of truth , dissipating the factions and fictions of those that envy him , give them the glorious advantage to serve after his death , for the rule of good conduct . cap. xi . the affairs of the marine , claimed no less share in the cares of the cardinal , than the other affairs of spain . the death of ferdinand , the malady of queen joan , the absence and immaturity of charles had made way for disorders to creep in , to their ruine . the cardinal re-establishes at sevil the ancient methods for regulating the maritine affairs , re-fitts the number of men of warr necessary for defence of the coast ; and chasing pyrats , manns and furnishes them with cannon , powder , bullets , and victuals . diego columbo the admiral , son of the great christopher columbo who filled the new world with the reputation of spain , and spain with the treasures of the new world , addresses himself to the cardinal as regent of the kingdom ; beseeching him to extend his compassion and justice to the isles of the ocean depending on the crown of spain , where the merciless spaniards treated the natives ill , committing inhuman cruelties and using them worse than mules or asses , forcing them to carry burdens , and to undergo labours and toyler intolerable ; that these poor islanders were men , and carryed in their faces the image of god as well as the spaniards ; that if they were duller and more ignorant than the spaniards , they were also better and more innocent than they . the cardinal sent thither judges of known integrity and sufficiency to end the differences which avarice and fury had sown in the islands , and in order to the relief of the islanders , of whom some were killed daily by the spaniards in their sugar-works , sent dispatches to charles on that subject , desiring him to do therein as he thought fit . charles , by advice of the flemings , and without the privity of the cardinal , commanded 400 moors brought from the land of negroes into portugal , to be sent into the islands to labour in the sugar-works , and ease the islanders , who were naturally weak and feeble . the cardinal , advertised of this order , dispatched a courrier to charles to put him in mind of the inconveniencies might ensue upon the introduction of these negroes who were a strong and warlike people , and would questionless teach the islanders the use of armes , and the art of warr , which would one day cause a notable revolt . charles communicates to his council the advices of the cardinal ; the flemings divert him from following them ; and perswade him , this advice proceeded from the cardinals ambition because he was not consulted with in the affair : but in 1522. ( 5 years after the cardinals death ) charles felt to his cost the peril the islands were in , occasioned by the flighting of that counsel ; for the moors , taking up arms at the isle of st. domingo , attacqued the town of that name , and had put all to fire and sword , if not prevented by the valour of melchior castre , and francis d' avila , who forced them to retreat and flee to the mountains ; and being beaten thence by the admirals army , they had the deserts of their rebellion in the punishment of the axe and the rope inflicted on them . the warr of navarr which happened in the time that the cardinal ordered the affairs of the marine , was an evidence of his courage and the haughtiness of his conduct : he sent an army which stopped the progress of the french more by the advantage of narrow and difficult wayes , than their valour and arms : and , to deprive the navarrois of occasion to take up armes again , and recalling home their ancient and lawful lords , he pulled down the walls of all their places of strength , except pampelun , and demolished all their castles and forts : which was afterwards of great advantage to spain , which possessing navarr without just title , kept it by the force of the garrisons placed there , and the weakness of the inhabitants . great states are subject to revolts , as gross bodies to feavers . malaga , a martine town of spain takes up arms , and cryes liberty , on this occasion . complaint was made , that no punishment was inflicted on robbers taken in the city , though justice had been demanded ; for the criminal , by appeal from the sentence of the judges of the city to the admiral of castile , the soveraign judge in places neer the sea , oft escaped the punishments due to his misdeeds : the people in armes ran into the places subject to the admiral 's jurisdiction , demolish the tribunals of his officers of justice , beat down the racks and gibbets set up for marks of their soveraignty , and , to maintain the sedition , roll the cannons off the ramparts , shut the city gates , and declare , that if the cardinal would use his ordinary violences to the prejudice of their liberties , they knew how to defend them by force . the inhabitants brought into one place all their utensils of brass and copper , and having melted them down , cast new cannons , with the armes of the city , and these words atop , the defenders of the liberty of malaga , caused these cannons to be cast . the flemmings in charles's court , thinking to draw the envy and blame of the rebellion of malaga , on the cardinal's conduct , who , they said , was too harsh , and rigorous for the people of spain ; encouraged those of malaga by letters , to defend themselves against his violence , promising them their assistance with charles . but the cardinal , slighting the threats of the flemmings , carryed on his affairs with courage and prudence ; and like a sage pilot , who scorns to forsake the helm in a tempest , continued his conduct ; and applyed the remedies he thought proper for these popular commotions , by sending 6000 foot , and 400 horse of the militia of spain , under the command of anthony cueva , directly to malaga ; with order to use the inhabitants as enemies of the state. cueva marches with these forces ; and being within two dayes march of the city , the citizens , better advised , sent their deputies to tender him obedience . he goes thither , and enters the city , disarmed the rebels , and hanged five only , for an example , and terrour to others . thus , without expence , without spilling the blood of the subject , whereof a minister of state ought to be alwayes sparing ; the cardinal quenched the fire of rebellion , kindled in a place from whence it might have easily dilated to the utter consumption of the soundest parts of the state. of so great importance it is , that the authority of a minister be intire , and like that of the soveraign's it represents . the flames of rebellion were no sooner quenched in one part of spain , but the grandees blew them up in another ; and alwayes with design to charge the cardinals conduct with the blame of the confl●gration . they set up velasio cuellar , high treasurer of spain , and superintendant of the finances , against the cardinal ; and , to engage him to arm with more ardour and eagerness , they make mary , velasio his wife , of the party : who perswaded him to seize arevale , which he did , and cantoned it with his forces , whom he disposed into several quarters , fortified by him in that countrey . the admiral of spain was the principal boutefeu , and main incendiary , and ringleader of this new commotion ; he foments it , goes by night to the duches of the place , speaks to the inhabitants , encourages them to hold out stifly ; promising them succours of men , and supplyes of money , in case they were assaulted ; and that he would come in person to defend them from the violences of the regent , till the arrival of charls into spain , for their deliverance . the cardinal knew of these troubles , and the abettors thereof ; and fearing to lose velasio , a person of quality , he tryed every way before that of force to reduce him : he writ , exhorted , intreated , and threatned if he obeyed not , but all to no purpose : this obliged him to send thither some regiments of horse , and foot , with a train of artillery , under the command of cornelius . the forces arrived at the place , and the captain summoned velasio to render himself , declaring that in case of disobedience , he would put all to fire and sword , and him to death by the hand of a hang-man , and transmit to his posterity the infamy of his crime . velasio , seeing himself deceived by the admiral , and other grandees , who had made him promises of forces and other succours they could not perform , consulted his own safety , obeyed , opened the gates ; and received grace and pardon , instead of the punishment he deserved . the cardinal having appeased this sedition also , without charge or blood , gave charls advice thereof , and intreated him to cause the admiral to be punished , as the author of all those troubles that arose in spain ; whose proceedings confirm , by a pregnant instance , that th' obedience due to kings is a very brittle and frail thing , if not upheld by fear , and the reverence of majesty . to preserve which , the cardinal instituted the militia in the kingdom , that he might have armes ready at hand to resist the motions of insurrections , and suppress them in the birth , without giving them time of growth and increase . and , to render the strength of the militia more considerable he caused a great quantity of artillery to be made : and filled arsenals with it in the four corners of spain , for the conveniency of drawing them where it should be necessary for defence of the royal authority , with these fulminous engines . the cannon is the last reason of kings , and , if not the best , yet certainly the best able to defend them . cap. xii . thhough the cardinal , regent of spain after ferdinands death , had in his hand the regal authority , yet hitherto you have seen him exercise only the office of a physitian to cure the distempers of it ; but now that he hath restored it to health and peace , he bends all his thoughts to the exercise of justice , the principal business of kings . he began with the governours of towns and cities , sending judges impartial and not subject to corruption , to inquire into their demeanour , and inform him of their deportment and behaviour in their places ; and where he understood they were tyrannical to the oppression of the poor , who groaned under their violences , he deposed them from their dignities ; and having made their names infamous , left them more miserable than those they oppressed . he of toledo was the first example of his justice . the officers of justice who behaved themselves ill , had the punishments they deserved : some of them who had been more covetous than just , having sold the right of the poor to the purse of the rich , were whipped through the streets of those towns where they had been in commission ; with a hang-man at their backs , and before them , a trumpet who proclaimed their shame in the enormity of their crime . the like usage had they who in places of judicature had exacted sees that were not due . the greater gentry who were justices in the countreys whereof they were lords : those eagles which break through the spider-webb , could not escape the punishment due to their violences , by being exempt from the jurisdiction and power of the judges : for the cardinal caused them to be handled with the rigour they deserved . arrojou a knight of the order of calatrava , acted in his commandery of zoritan like a tyrant in the countrey he usurpes . the maids and women whom nature had made most beautiful , and vertue most amiable , he sacrificed to his extravagancies : and what love could not obtain , force ravished from them : those were taken from their parents , and these from their husbands , to serve the pleasure of this beast ; the cardinal sent a power competent to attaque him , but by flight to flanders he changed his place , but escaped not his punishment : the cardinal by letters signifies to charles the exorbitances and enormities of this ruffian , and the punishment due to his crimes , and prayed him to make him an example of his justice by severity answerable to the heinousness of his actions . the treasurers of the finances who had embezelled the publick moneys ( which are the blood of the people ) were strictly examined and narrowly sisted , nor were these spunges squeezed only , but punished for their rapines . these actions of justice drew an universal love to the cardinal from the people of spain , who reverenced his name ; and most of the grandees sought his friendship , with oaths and protestations to defend his authority as their lives ; and not without reason . for , justice the mother of other vertues , being the daughter of heaven and queen of the earth , gains them that exercise it the savour of god , and good will of men . the happiness of the kingdom was this great mans aim ; and in order to attaining a compleat felicity he continued the exercise of his justice in reducing every part of the state into their proper bounds . the military orders of knights in spain are divers , and of great latitude ; the greatness of their power made them usurp on others within their jurisdiction , and abusively assume priviledges not due to them : but the cardinal forced them to make restitution of what was not theirs , regulated their jurisdictions , and abrogated the priviledges they had arrogated to themselves . the favour of court having introduced more members into the council of state , than merit or vertue , had filled it with persons unworthy that place . but he who knew that the ministers who serve in this sacred temple of policy ought to be persons of the greatest experience and singular integrity , purged it of all those who were unfit for that dignity , and filled their places with better men . having reformed the council he turned to the train , and attendants of the court ; where the importunity and impudence of the mean , and the recommendations of the great ones , had introduced a multitude of men who had no other vertue to boast of than a confident miene , a proud gate , and vain discourse . he resolved to cashiere these dronish lurdanes , and stop those unprofitable mouths that ate the kings bread , but did him no service : which he did with one dash of his penn , crossing out the allowances made them , who were so leight in their vanities , that they were blown away with a feather . that monarch wants a guardian to order his affairs , who by the pensions he bestows , feeds with the bowels of his people , such men as are neither necessary for him , nor serviceable to the publick . this retrenchment was just : but his taking from two famous historians of that time , the pensions given them as due to their labours , is marked as unjust in the history of his administration . peter martyr , and gonsales d' oviedo were crossed out amongst the retainers ; but revenged , with their penns , the loss of their pensione ; staining his name with spots of so black a dye , as the whole series of the past age hath not been able to wash out . but it may be he was forced to this ; by their example , to take from others all cause of complaint . but what an example is this to robb them of their reward who deserve it , and take away the pensions of two learned men who served the publick . or if he thought this necessary to be done , he should have made up their pensions out of his own fortunes , and paid them out of that estate which was sufficient to pay an army . peradventure 't was charls his pleasure it should be so . had he so little credit with charles whose 〈◊〉 he preserved for him , as not to prevail with him to continue the pensions of two historians , who could have given charles and his name immortal glory ? this seems sufficient to condemn his severity , and call it inconsiderate . but the greatness of his conduct in other matters , his excellent justice , and singular favour and propensity to oblige men of vertue , make it hardly credible that so great a person , who had done so much for learning , should commit so gross a sault ; but give cause to impute it to some other minister , whose enmity against these historians , might have engaged him in so foul a fact . thus alvarez gomez in the history of his life excuses him ; and observes that he lamented several times , that occasion was often given him to exercise just severities in taking from men what they unjustly possessed ; and not to express his liberality , in giving unto them those largesses he esteemed due from him to vertue . to do good to men of merit , is to pour oyle into lamps , which proves no less usefull to others in the light they receive from them , than beneficial to them in enabling them to impart it . that the exchequer be full , and the treasury of the prince abound in cash , is certainly one of the things most necessary for the state ; this defends it , this augments its grandeur , and renders it formidable to its enemies : the cardinal who harboured in his heart as one common center , an extraordinary zeal for the service of his master , and no less affection for the good of the people ; designed to fill the treasuries of spain , to serve the glory of his master ; but without any intention to inrich his king by the impoverishment of his people ; saying , thrift and frugality , parsimony and good husbandry , were great revenues to a monyed king , as the king of spain . and that gifts made without reason and against justice , are the moths that eat through his baggs , and the thieves that empty his coffers . charles , in four moneths of his reign , gave away to his courtiers ( or rather leeches of his court ) two millions of gold : this he said , with grief , to see so prodigious an excess , of profuseness and lavishment : not but that he allowed liberality place among the vertues of a prince , but that he would have it exercised with moderation and justice . henry the admiral , pacieco d' ascalone , and henry fortune , had obtained of ferdinand , a million a piece of lievres of gold , charged on the revenue of peru ; and should have received it at the return of the plate-fleet . the cardinal made void , and annulled these gifts ; and though fortune was of kin to his good master ferdinand , he took from him his million as well as from the others . kings , said he , ought to dispense the effects of their justice , indifferently to persons of all sorts ; but those of their liberality to them only , who serve their persons or the publick ; advantage others by their labours , and excell them in the fidelity of their services , and the dignity of their vertues . the revenue of princes , though great in it self , is alwayes too little for the necessities of state , and passing through many hands , is much diminished ere it arrive at their coffers . the cardinal to provide against this inconvenience , gave the offices of the finances , to men fit for them ; persons under no necessity to tempt them to rapine . and chose for surintendant of the kings moneys , a lord by birth , one of the noblest of spain , and in estate the richest in the kingdom . spunges full of water , take in no more , though steeped in it . great buildings , without good foundations , swagg and come to ruine . the cardinal laid three foundations necessary for royalty , whereon , as on firm pillars , the authority thereof relies : the first is justice , when the king dispenses it to his subjects impartially , and without respect of persons ; when the scepter affords relief to the poor and the weak , against the injuries of the rich , and the powerful . the second , when the king hath a respect , and good value , for the men of warr , that give proofs of their experience , and valour , in the service of his warrs . the third , when the king doth not squander away his revenue , but , by thrift and parsimony , keeps a good stock in reserve for royal enterprizes , which ought to be his ordinary exercises ; who , that he may be great , must do great things . experience had taught the cardinal the truth of this sage maxim ; for in four months of his regency under charles , by help of his treasure , he had compassed his designs , ended a warr of great importance , calmed the commotions of spain , made sure of navarr , reduced malaga to obedience , maintained strong garrisons on the frontiers , assured the sea-coast , made incursions into africk , sent a naval army against algiers , and delivered bugie , pignon , and melillo , from the siege of barbarosse , great admiral of the turks . if i ( said he ) have done all these things , notwithstanding the oppositions of my enemies , what cannot a king do , by his absolute power , if he leave in his treasure a stock for royal undertakings . money being the sinews of warr , and the object of mens affections , the monarch who is rich , becomes puissant in the one , and absolute master of the other . the glory the cardinal had acquired by his prudent management of the state , and his good actions to private persons , was greatly augmented by the violences of the turks , and misfortunes of africk , which brought a stronger king at his feet , to implore his assistance . the king of tunis , son and heir of jabet albuzen , was guilty of the crime of being neighbour to a monarch , more powerful than he , and possessing a crown convenient for the ottoman . this brought a warr upon him ; barbarosse who had command from the turk his master to oute him from his throne , was the more willing to attacque him , in that he had obtained from the ottoman poste , a promise to succeed in the throne and title of the king of tunis , in case he conquered him ; on condition nevertheless to hold it of the crown imperial of the turks . the corsayre undertakes it ; and , over-powering tunis , enters the city , and drives out the king ; who dispoiled of his estate , embarks for spain , to seek relief in christendome for his disasters : in his passage he was set upon with tempests and storms ; which , though less than those he met with at land , put his vessel in danger ; but he escaped a wreck at sea , being reserved for a greater at land , which had already deprived him of his crown , his estate , his repose , and reputation , and had more miseries in store for him during the rest of his life , which the sea might have swallowed up , and therein all his losses and calamities . he arrived in spain , and threw himself into the cardinals arms , who received him , gave him retinue befitting a king , comforted his miseries with kind entertainment , and promises of re-establishment in his throne . the minister that represents a king , and holds his scepter in his absence , ought to do royal actions ; and , to reach forth a helping hand to distressed princes , is one of the greatest of these ; for if , the man that helps a man , is a god to that man , the king who is a god on earth , and his minister in his stead , succouring a persecuted king , is a god to a god. cap. xiii . the same year john rio , a spanish pyrate , returned from his course , having taken many genoa-vessels , and rich in booty and prizes , and at anchor in the port of carthagena nueva , where he enjoyed other mens goods , by the laws of pyracy : when some ships of warr , arrived from genes , attacqued him in the harbour ; and , being well armed , and fighting for the interest of their republick , they took this sea-robber , and carryed away his person , and vessels . but this action done within a port of spain , was an offence against the majesty of the king : the cardinal resents it as such , and publisheth an edict , commanding all the genoese in spain , to depart the kingdom within fifteen dayes , upon pain of confiscation of their goods , and of their lives ; and in the mean time caused seizure to be made of their goods , wherever they could be found ; this alarum'd the republike , seeing their commerce , to which they owe their maintenance and grandeur , broken on that side , and their allyance much altered : they betake themselves to their remedy , and send ambassadours to charles in flanders , to disavow the boldness of those ships which in the port of carthagene , had violated the respect due to his crown , which had met by the way the punishment they should have received from the republick , had they arrived at genes , which the tempest prevented , in taking from them both their ships and their lives : therefore , they implored his majesty not to impute that to their state , which was the act of two or three private persons ; charles was satisfied with this submission , and revoked the edict published by the cardinal . but he being jealous for the honour of his master , which had a greater share in his thoughts , than the care of his own life , holding the genoese to be very cautelous people , and desirous to penetrate the depth of their intentions ; upon information received , that they held intelligence with the french about the kingdom of naples , deferred the publishing of the revocation , and restitution of the genoese goods , till he had sent ambassadours to genes to clear the doubt ; but the ambassadours finding the genoese sincerely inclined to keep good correspondence with spain , he made restitution to the genoese of their goods , and their liberty of commerce . the honour of kings is their true patrimony , preferrable to their estates . their ministers ought carefully to preserve , and couragiously defend it ; for as bodies without souls , which give them life , are easily corrupted , so monarchies without honour and reputation decline and come to ruine . spain had long since laid the foundations of dominion over italy ; and the house of austria , now entred into spain , carryed on the building . maximilian , grand-father of charles passed the mountains on that design . charles dispatched a courrier to the cardinal to demand his advice in the affairs of italy : the cardinal sent it him , and advised to divert maximilian from the siege of breseia then in design , and to turn his forces against milan ; for that city being once taken , the other would be easily conquered ; that , to render himself yet more considerable in italy , he must gain the popes affection , and make use of him upon occasion ; to quiet the troubles of the countrey , and to serve himself of his authority , as a new peru to furnish moneys for the warr , by obtaining crusadaes for spain , which ( as usual ) would bring a cross on gold and silver , and raise him a considerable revenue : he advised maximilian to threaten the pope into fear , to force his condescension to what he would not willingly grant ; and counselled charles to make choice of a person generous , vigilant , and of great authority , to be ambassadour at rome , and to gain from the pope a person of innocent manners , and of a gentle and tractable disposition to be nuncio in spain ; for on this depends the good of all great affairs , and the peace of the nation . these counsels the princes of the house of austria did then make use of to their great advantage , and pursue the same to this day : for the sage answers of a great minister consulted with in affairs , whose like do often fall out in a state , are the voice of an oracle , which foresees things to come , and guides the designs of posterity . the kingdom of spain , had been long infected with the falsity of religions , contrary to the christian ; the moors preached there the errours of the alcoran ; and the jews the sopperies of their talmud ; and though they had woon the one and the other to the faith of christ , yet the jews whose religion is obstinacy , relapsed often to their former worship , apostatizing from the faith they came to profess . this exposed them to the rigours of the inquisition , being daily dragged before that severe tribunal . to deliver themselves from the pains they deserved , they deputed the principal amongst them , to attend charles in flanders , and beseech him to permit them to enjoy that which god gave man when he sent him into the world , the liberty of choice in a free will ; that religion could not be imposed by force , but instilled by discourse ; and that he would grant them who were born in judaism , liberty to judaise as their fathers had done , or become christians at their pleasure : in acknowledgement of this favour , they offered him eight hundred thousand crowns of gold : charles assembles his council to advise on this proposal , they give their opinions in favour of the jews , and that in the necessity he was reduced to , he should accept the eight hundred thousand crowns : the cardinal , advertised by his agent in his masters court of the counsels of the flemmings , sent a courrier to charles , advising him not to meddle with gods right , that religion was above crowns , that heaven knew to maintain its interest against his incroachments , that he ought rather to imitate the piety of king ferdinand , his grand-father , who in the necessities of the warrs of navarr , had refused six hundred thousand crowns of gold offered by the jews for the like indulgence : charles followed the cardinals advice : that king is unworthy the assistance of heaven , for preserving his estate , who despises the estate of god , which is religion ; and god who expelled out of the temple , the tradesmen , who made it a place of merchandise , outes those monarchs from the throne who sell for money the respect due to divine worship . the interest whereof a good king and his ministers , preferr before the reason and interest of state. ill customes never dye , or grow old at court , though good ones presently make their exit . the government of provinces and towns in spain , was heretofore committed to the persons best qualified , and of greatest integrity in the kingdom ; time which carries away the best of things abolished this custome , and made it absolete ; favour brought in such men whose faults and defects the blindness of court discovers not . the cardinal resolved to re-estabish what he found just in the ancient customes of spain , bestowed the same governments on men whose nobleness of blood and integrity of life rendred them the most considerable in the kingdom . but that the puissance of their families , and support of their kindred , being persons of quality , might not debauch their integrity , and encourage them to violence , he removed them to places distant ; imploying them in governments of towns and provinces , where they could expect no support but from their vertue . he who adds greatness of dignity , to that of birth and quality , tempts vertue , and needs a bridle to retain it within the bounds of justice . these eares of the cardinal tended to the glory of vertue ; the aime and mark of his designs , being the advancement of vertuous persons , whose fortunes he raised in his administration by his own beneficence , or the kings , by his procurement . he gave adrian florent , of vtricht , dean of lovayn , and his companion in the government of spain , the bishoprick of tortosa , with the office of inquisitor general of spain , which was an advantagious step for him to a cardinalship ; and to mount him thence to the papal chair . he preferred alfonso manriquez to the bishoprick of cordova . and the sieur motta of burgos , a person well verst in theology , and secretary to charles , to that of badacos ; the advancement of motta was great in appearance , but in effect mean ; his vertue and learning had rendered him considerable in the court of charles , and that of rome ; after the death of ximenes , the king gave him the archbishoprick of toledo ; and the pope , a cardinals cap. but these gifts were made him , when he could not enjoy them ; and fortune gave him only a view , but no livery and seizen of the grandeurs of the world. the letters of the king , and those of the pope , which conveyed to him those eminent dignities , sound him on his death-bed ; so that seeing himself on the brink of the grave , he took the letters out of a box , and gave them one of his principal domesticks to read. having heard them , he discoursed of the vain pretensions of court , and the cheating hopes of the world , that the sutest course for a vertuous man to steer , is to conform to the will of god , and condoled their misfortune to see their expectations fall with him into the dust . but this care of the cardinal to advance persons of merit , evinces he was not guilty of retrenching the pensions of the two historians afore mentioned ; but rather that of learned men , the most knowing and laborious for the publick , are not the greatest favourites of fortune , whether it be for want of importunity in pursuing it , or of friends to introduce them into the theatre of preferment ; so that their vertue continues indigent , like the sick man on the brink of the pool , which makes poverty often the sister of wit. these things happened in 1516. the following year will be the last of the administration , and life of the cardinal : in the moneth october this year , he entertained himself one evening with some divines of repute ; and their discourses being of matters of holiness advanced far in the night . one of the domesticks tells the cardinal , a courrier from africk , then at the door , desired to speak with him ; he commanded them to admit him , the courrier delivered his letters , the cardinal read them to himself ; and then turning to them that stood by , with a composed and serene countenance told them , the news is , that the moors and turks have beaten us at algiers , and our army defeated . but the loss is not great , for spain is delivered of a multitude of malefactours . vagabonds , and assasines , whereof our army was composed . it was my master ferdinands maxim , that 't is necessary to send 〈◊〉 abroad to purge the realm , of murtherers , thieves , robbers , and other-ill livers . having said this , he continued his theological discourse with admirable vigour of spirit , and force of wit : the prudence of a governour ought to be attended with constancy in publike misfortune , that the serenity of his countenance , and alacrity of discourse , may extenuate and lessen the ills that befall ; and that minister deserves well of the publike , who bears up in good hopes of the state , notwithstanding the losses and calamities that seem to discourage him . cap. xiv . 't is natural to the spaniards , to pursue their resolutions with a settled and unmoveable constancy ; so that 't is equally difficult to divert them from pursuing their designes as to extort from them what they are possessed of by their atchievements . the grandees of spain envying the cardinal's authority had resolved his ruine , as appears before ; and what demonstration soever they made of amity , yet the leaven of jealousie remaining in their hearts , set them on afresh to carry on their design , and endeavour the destruction of his , by establishing of another's authority ! they prevail with adrian his associate in the government , to write to charles in flanders , that the cardinal was a proud man , impatient of a companion , and did all after his own humour and fancy , without consulting him ; that he wanted strength to resist the sallies of his daring and hardy spirit : and therefore became his humble suppliant for a second to assist him in the government ; and , by their joynt-authority , to balance the excessive power of the cardinal , which might otherwise prove in time prejudicial to his majesty's . charles sent laxaus a flemming , and of his council , to make up the triumviral in the government of spain . the grandees who knew that what is divided , is of less force , rejoyced to see the cardinal's authority in that predicament ; and went all to meet laxaus with great demonstations of honour : the cardinal staid in his lodgings to attend his coming ; and as laxaus was conducted to him , he came no farther to meet him , than to his ante-chamber , where he received him with a gravity befitting his person , and dignity . and as it is a principal part of the dexterity of a minister of state , to know men , he studied the temper and humour of laxaus ; and finding him a downright flemming , more enclined to pleasures and jollity , than serious affairs ; he thought his enemies made choice of a weak rival to confront his authority : and , to let them know he slighted him , shewed greater respect to adrian , than him . yet adrian , led by the nose by the cardinal's enemies , made use of the occasions they offered him to attacque his authority . letters patents were to be dispatched and published in some affairs of importance ; the grandees advise adrian and laxaus to sign them first , and to take up the most honourable place of signature : they did so , and then sent the letters to the cardinal to be signed . who having courage answerable to the grandeur of his spirit , observed this flemmish bravado of ambition , and slighted it ; causing the letters to be torn in pieces by his secretary in his presence , and ordered others to be made ready , which he signed alone , and caused them to be executed as effectually , as if signed by all three ; and , during the course of his administation , continued it thence forward , though before he shewed adrian the respect of sending them to him to be signed ; which he forbore after this time , that the contempt he had designed for him , might fall on himself . the flemmings durst not resist his authority , fearing his anger ; and that , by provoking him , they might prejudice charles , who would impute to them the disorders that might follow ; ferdinand , brother to charles , being then in spain , under the guard and conduct of the cardinal . nevertheless , to destroy this great authority , by more powerful means ; they proposed to charles , to put the scepter of spain in his absence , into the hand of a prince of his house , and advised him to intreat maximilian th' emperour , his grand-father , or lewis count-palatin , his cousin , to come into spain for that purpose . some were for making ferdinand governour , others for the high chancellour savage , but all for outing the cardinal . maximilian was busie in italy : the genius of spain , is so far above that of alemain , that the count palatin was not likely to bear up to the height , requisite for the government ; and , if the absolute power were committed to ferdinand , it might be feared he would not quit it when desired . so that of all the persons proposed in council , the chancellour only stood . the cardinal had intelligence of all transactions in charles his councils , and desired him by letter , to grant him leave to quit the government , and retire to his diocess , rather than send him a new companion , with whom he must renew the contests with the former . that the nature of government is such , that , to carry it on with authority , it must be given to one alone . notwithstanding this , savage came into spain , with the title of governour , as well as the cardinal : but made no other progress in the state , than to establish there , venality of offices in judicature , council , and court ; to banish vertue ; and fill his purse . for it is observed , that in his four moneths stay in spain , he drew away five hundred thousand crowns , which he carryed into flanders : the cardinal vexed to see those excellent orders his care and pains had established in the state , ruined in a moment ; and that offices formerly the rewards of vertue and merit , were now put to sale by the avarice of this flemming ; and possessed by them who had more money to buy , than capacity to mannage them ; complained to charles , and with a liberty full of respect writ him his mind ; remonstrating to him , that great kings obtain from god the enjoyment of their crowns , and from men the reverence due to them , so long as they govern the people with justice and integrity ; that in respect of the great weight of the government , god allowed them to call assistants for their ease and support in the management of great estates ; that their justice and vigilance ought to be as conspicuous in the choice of their assistants , as in the government of their subjects : that a prince is responsible for his ministers , and chargeable with the crimes they commit in the state , if he knows and suffers them . he prayed him in all humility , that he would come into spain , to establish there by his presence , that order which the strangers he had sent thither , had destroyed ; and to keep the people within the bounds of their duty , who were now apparently raised to a boldness that tended to the subversion of the state ; being so licentious that every one not only said , but printed what he pleased ; and attacqued his authority by publishing and justifying their complaints against him . this couragious liberty of advertising charles of the disorders and misdemeanours of the flemmings in spain , drew on the cardinal the hatred of many to such a degree as obliged him to provide for the safety of his life ; his guard was more strictly and constantly kept , his meat watched to prevent poison , and this care extended to his bed , and tryal made of the water that was sprinkled in his chamber . but all this caution could not save him from that lingering poyson , which , the spaniards write , destroyed his health , and at last his life : whereof you shall hear in due time . the court of spain was at this time full of infamous libells , against the flemmish-ministers ; and against xeures , of the house of croy , favourite to charles , whom lewis the 12. of france having the gard-noble of his person , gave charles for his conduct ; the libellers spared not the cardinal ; nor his confident , francis rouys ; the flemmings were highly incensed at the libels and obloquy of the people ; this obliged the cardinal to make search for the authors ; but so lightly , that neither author nor seller was punished for writing or publishing . for as for him , though he writ of this matter to flanders , yet he was ( sayes gomez ) of opinion , that , inferiours should have the liberty to avenge their grievances by words and writings , which endure no longer than while you are offended at them ; that to slight them was the only way to suppress them , and , to be angry at them , was to acknowledge them true . alphonso castilla , governour of madrid , brought adrian , and laxaus , some copies he had recovered of the libells against them . they , not used to such satyrs , as things not accustomed in flanders , resented them highly , and specially adrian , to whom injuries of this kind were like fleas in his ears , or snuff in the nose , to discompose and inflame the levity of his temper ; insomuch that being afterwards advanced to st. peters chair , under the name of adrian the 6. the satyrical reflections , and tart animadversions published by the roman witts on the statues of pasquin , and morphorio , were so offensive to him , that he commanded the statues which had stood there many ages , to be digged up , and thrown into tyber . the count de sessa , being present when this order was given , told him , holy father , if you cause these libel-carryers to be cast into tyber , the froggs will croke out their verses ; and what two stones whispered to men , many mouths will proclaim to the river : 't is a hard matter to take from men that liberty of their spirit which god hath allowed them , which they will find means to make known to the world : adrian followed his advice , and left pasquin , and morphorio standing in the place they possess at rome to this day . certainly they are much deceived , who think by power to bury in oblivion the ill actions they are guilty of , or to keep from posterity the knowledge of their vices : the severities they exercise against the writers thereof , give credit and authority to the relation ; and procure as much glory to the historian , as shame to the criminal : 't is a good rule for great ones , to live so as they would be represented to posterity in the stories of their lives , that , by their good actions , they may obtain the glory of an immortal name . the troubles which before had disquieted the court , and raised the people to armes , were now entred the churches , and got up to the very altars : the priests of spain had taken the alarm , and published grievous complaints , and loud threats in defence of their revenues , and the liberty of their dignities ; for selim , emperour of the turks , having carryed his arms into aegypt , taken from tomombey his crown and his life , and triumphed over the whole nation ; resolved , after this notable conquest , to turn his victorious arms against italy , to add that countrey to the rest of his triumphs , to enter rome by a breach , and feed his horse on the altar of st. peter . these barbarous threats obliged the princes of italy , to provide for the security of their estates . pope leo the tenth , then in the chair , imployed his care to preserve the patrimony of the church ; and for the guard of the sea-coast , an ordinance was past in the lateran-council to levy the tenths upon the clergy of spain . this put them in an uproar : the cardinal used his best endeavours to appease them , and to restore peace to the church , the house of god , as he had done to cities the habitations of men : he dispatched a courrier to rome , and ordered arteagua his agent in that court , in his name , to make the pope an offer , not only of the tenths of the arch-bishoprick of toledo , but of all its revenues , his money , his moveables , all that he had of rich or precious in the treasure of his church ; if the necessity of a holy warr required it for the defence of the altars of god in italy . but , to declare , that , without such a necessity he would never be the author of those new impositions , nor consent that the priests of spain should be made tributary to strangers ; with a strict charge to send him the resolutions of the lateran council hereupon . arteagua understood by the pope's nephew , the cardinal de medicis , that the council had not ordained the levying of these dismes , but in case of extream necessity , and that the enemies were within the state of the church , or upon the borders of italy ; and it appeared , the source of this trouble about the benefices of spain arose from the pope's nuncio in that kingdom , engaged therein by his desires to finger the moneys , or his imprudence in management of affairs . thus the cardinal protected the interest of the church , and calmed the commotion . priests have in their persons a kind of spiritual royalty , whereof their miters are marks . to protect and defend them is to pass to glory , by the way of piety . cap. xv. though the cardinal had surmounted the opposition of the flemmings against his authority , triumphed over the envy of the court , and the threats of the greatest part of the grandees of spain ; there remained an important victory to be gained over three potent enemies , who like a triple-headed monster stood up against him , with a boldness he was obliged to humble , and bring to the ground : the first was mendoza duke of infantado , his capital enemy for the rupture of the marriage between his nephew and the cardinal's niece : this hatred was inflamed by the loss of a cause at law , whereby a burrough of the duke's demeans , was rejoyned to the church of toledo , from which it had been dismembred . and as the syndic of the church went to take possession of it , the duke himself gave him the bastonado . this outrage offended the cardinal at madrid , who told many . he would teach the duke more reverence to justice , make him loose his dukedome , and undergo the punishment he deserved . the duke was netled to the quick at these threats , and , to declare his resentment , sent to the cardinal one of his attendants to tell him , that he was a dissembling monk , meanly born , and raised to the fortune he possessed by the subtlety and hypocrisies natural to his frock . this envoy arrives at madrid , goes to the cardinal , and shews him that he was a domestick of the dukes , received wages from him , and ate of his bread , and therefore subject to his commands ; that he had given him one to tell him such words which peradventure would anger him , and therefore before he spoke them , he desired his leave to do it ; and that he would not impute the offenee to him : the cardinal gave him leave to deliver his message , which he did word by word as the duke had commanded : the cardinal nothing moved , made answer ; my friend , you are employed in a very foolish embassie : return to your master , and i am perswaded you will find him wiser than when you left him , and repenting his follies . which was true ; for the duke much troubled that passion had so far blinded his reason , sharply rebuked his principal domesticks , that they had not withstood his choler , and prevented the sending of that message to the cardinal . velasco constable of castile , who knew the inconsiderate rashness of the duke , advised him to a reconciliation with the cardinal ; returned to madrid ; and intreated the cardinal to pardon the duke , and impute these words to the blindness of passion , and not esteem them the sense of his mind . the cardinal answered , that when mendoza would in person begg pardon , and confess with his own mouth he deserved punishment , he should not find him inexorable . velasco disposed the duke to do it : a day and place were appointed for the enterview . fountain caralla , within two leagues of madrid , was chosen for that purpose ; where the cardinal came attended with some of his domesticks : the constable and the duke came also . but being upon the place , the duke forgot the conditions of the enterview ; and , instead of performing them , with a bold countenance , and haughty expression , having saluted the cardinal , told him , provided i violate not the laws of religion , and pay the king the obedience i owe him , i little value the displeasures of others , slight their checks , and scorn their affronts . these words of pride , sounded strange in the cardinal's ears , who expected a better temper , according to the constable's promise ; and , made this answer : mendoza when you fail in the one or other , you shall know me to be the grand inquisitor of spain , and the king's lieutenant general in all his estates ; and in these qualities , i will cause you to be punished according to your demerits . the constable , seeing their hatred inflamed , not reconciled ; and troubled at the huffing of the duke , reproved him sharply for it ; and having brought him by discourse to an acknowledgement of his fault , inclined him to expiate it in the instant he had committed it , making him cast himself at the cardinals feet , and begg his pardon , whereupon the cardinal embraced him , and took him up . the very instant this was doing , they heard a noise of soldiers , and a volley of muskets , shot at the door of the house . horrour seized the constable , and the dukes pride was turned into fear . both apprehended a train laid for their liberty or lives : but 't was a pannick fear , and the cause appeared to come from john spinosa campina of the regiment of guards , who having understood that the cardinal was with two grandees of spain , without any guard to attend him , rann thither with the guards under his command . the cardinal reproved him for comming without order , and having taken leave of the constable and duke , with a countenance full of respect and friendship , returned for madrid . the second of the three powerful grandees , whose boldness and envy the cardinal was to grapple with , and overcome ; was giron , lord of vienna , who was alwayes of the contrary party , and ringleader to those that opposed his authority : giron was of a lively spirit , bigg words , bold in his raillery , smart and cutting in his reparties : coming one day to the cardinal's chamber-door , he asked the usher , friend , what is king ximenes a doing ? spain had been governed by a king of that name , who was so dull and sottish of spirit , and so grosly vitious , that no day passed without some instances of his extravagancies ; which gave his subjects cause to ask one another often , what is king ximenes a doing ? another time , this lord having been in treaty with the cardinal , about some affairs of importance , and taking his leave , the cardinal scarce moved his cap at parting , giron turn'd about and asked the servants , whether their master had a scalded head : these flights added to many attempts against his authority , provoked the cardinal to resentment upon occasion , which fell out patly : for giron was in suit against gutterio quixada for the burrough of villas hermanos , which giron had usurped ; in the suit the weakest went to the wall , and suffered under the oppression of the greater ; giron having drawn it at such length that quixada's purse being too shallow , could not have justice : he complains to the cardinal , telling him , that , as the king ought to do justice to his people , so ought the king's lieutenant : the cardinal did it , and , by judgement of the court of valladolid , giron was enjoyned to restore to quixada , the burrough of villas hermanos : a senator of valladolid went upon the place to execute the judgement , and put quixada in possession : giron makes up a party , sends his son and servants to the place ; where they received the commissioner , and gave him the bastonado . an information was drawn up of this insolent rebellion , and sent to the cardinal and council , who decreed the offendours to be arrested ; cited them by sound of trumpet to appear , and proceeded against them as traytors : the grandees of spain , who saw giron in the high way to destruction , sent two gentlemen of note to the cardinal , to intreat him , not to ruine a person of giron's quality : that it was his interest to preserve the grandees ; and , to destroy them , as he did was to destroy himself , as being by his dignity of arch-bishop of telodo , as primate of the prelates , so first of the grandees of spain , and having precedence of all ; the cardinal's answer was , he would protect honest men , and punish the wicked contemners of justice , and disturbers of the publick peace . when they saw the cardinal inflexible , they sent to charles in flanders , mis-represented the matter , and obtained a prohibition to stay execution of the judgement , till he came into spain : upon receipt of the prohibition , the cardinal and council , sent to charles , informed him of the truth of the crime , sent him the process , and remonstrated to him , that having been appointed by god the guardian and preserver of the laws , he ought to give justice liberty in her functions and freedom , and to do her duty ; intreated him to consider the consequence of this affair , that if such enormities were tolerated , there should not be one king only in spain , but as many kings , as there are puissant great ones : charles , in answer to the cardinal and council , writ , he had been mis-informed , and that it was his intention , justice should be done : the judgement against the offenders was executed . the cardinal sending regiments of horse and foot , against villas hermanos , where giron's son , and several young lords of his quality , sons of the grandees of spain , were assembled with some forces , and had added new insolences to the former rebellion , having caused the effigies of the cardinal to be drawn through the streets in his pontifical habit , with a trumpet before it , to publish the ignominy : but when they saw the assailants , they left their sport , and betook them to their heels : the walls of the town were beaten down to the foundations , and they plowed up , the houses fired , and the places they stood on , sowed with salt , in token of malediction . seven men of the place , who had said they knew no lord but giron , were whipped by the hangman ; and with them some of giron's domesticks on a holy day , that so important an execution might not be retarded : to make quixada amends , and repair his damage in the loss of the town , they adjudged him giron's estate , and proceeded further against his family and person . to take from the rebels all hopes of mercy , this execution was confirmed by letters patents from charles in flanders . this brought giron to reason : he humbles himself to the cardinal and desires mercy ; and to make his prayers more effectual , all the grandees of spain joyned with him : the cardinal by letter interceded to charles for a pardon ; that in bringing him to an exemplary humiliation , and forcing him to begg pardon in person , he had sufficiently punished him ; that the grandees acknowledging their faults , and truly humbled , were not to be treated with the severities usual in other mens cases . the third puissant enemy of the cardinal , among the grandees of spain , was the duke of alva , of great authority , of a great family , illustrious in blood , abounding in riches , powerful in friendship and allyance : the cardinal had his opportunity to bring him to reason , as well as the others . the duke of alva , in king ferdinand's life time , in whose favours he had a great share , obtained for diegolus third son , the priory of st. john in spain , of the order of knights then at rhodes , now at malta ; a dignity of great revenue , and equal authority in the kingdom : antony alstuniga of an illustrious family , was at that time in legal possession ; but the duke of alva , upheld by the authority of the king , and the great master of rhodes , took it from him by force , contrary to right , and the laws of spain , and setled his son there ; who enjoyed it peaceably for six years , till ferdinand's death : astuniga seeing the duke's credit buried with that prince , had recourse to justice , and summons the usurper to a legal tryal : the process was decided at rome , and diego enjoyned to make restitution of the benefice . astuniga returns into spain with the decree , implores the cardinal's protection , whom he knew to be the defender of justice , and obtains it : charles in the mean time , informed of this difference , looked upon it as of importance to the state , writes to the cardinal and council , to put the benefice in a third hand till farther order . the duke of alva refuses to obey his command , believing it an invention to outt him from the priory , calls the other grandees of spain his friends to his assistance , and fortifies consabrona the principal place of the priory : the cardinal seeing him act the king in spain , resolved not to endure it ; he commands forth a thousand horse , and 500 foot of his guards , in the suburbs of madrid ; but at the instant falls sick to the danger of his life : madrid , and all the realm of castile made publick prayers for his recovery , on which , as then , depended the peace of spain . he recovers , and finding the duke of alva unwilling to obey , resolves to force him , but , by the way , proposed him a fair accommodation : and it is remarkable , this great minister never took the way of rigour , till he had first tryed that of sweetness , and found it ineffectual to perform the duties of justice , in his administration : he proposed to the duke , that he should give the king a gentleman of his family , to be answerable to his majesty for the places of the priory that should be put into his hands , and to surrender them to the king if there should be cause , when he had declared his judgement ; by which means the duke might have remained master of the priory , and the revenue . the duke stormed at this proposal , and thinking that to accept it , would have been to part with his own , rejected it . the cardinal sends a leight army to besiege casabrona ; the duke also sent thither a thousand foot , and some horse with victuals and money : the cardinal's troops met them by the way , engaged , and defeated them , took their money and victuals , and marched to the place they were to invest . the duke of alva's son was within , with a great number of young men of his age , most of them sons of the grandees of spain ; all the nobles of toledo , that had attained the age of 21 years , assisting in the defence . the herald summoned them to open their gates , and obey the king ; their answer was high , though not a word spoken ; for they set on the walls of the place , biers covered with black , to signifie tacitly their resolution , rather to dye than yield . the duke of alva this while was anxiously distracted in his thoughts . on the one side , he saw the shame that would attend his suffering a piece of such convenience and profit to his family , to be wrested out of his hands , and that his labours and great preparations would end in affronts and greater disgraces : on the other side , he beheld the thunderbolt hanging over his head , ready to fall upon him to the ruine of his person and his house . his estate was already confiscated by decree of the council , which gave him fearful apprehensions of the cardinal's severity , as a man whom he knew intire and immoveable in his resolutions . the example of villas hermanos , was fresh in memory , and the image of it in his thoughts troubled him ; representing him as miserable as his friend giron . he resolved to bow , rather than break ; goes to madrid , humbles himself , makes means of reconcilement to the cardinal , causes his son to obey , renders the place , and obtains of charles the moiety of the priory for his son , the other moiety being left for astuniga , and enough for both . another difficulty arises in the enjoyment of the benefice : the great master of rhodes who had unjustly outed astuniga , to invest diego in the place , would not acknowledge any prior but diego , gave him all the authority of grand prior , and sent him orders for a general assembly of all the knights of the order in spain ; diego summons them , and would have had them assembled without other authority than his ; the cardinal hinders it , sends for him , and tells him , if you were in the isle of rhodes , you might do your pleasure ; but in spain where i command , know , you must come to me and have my permission . thus he reduced to reason the three grandees of spain , who had most opposed his authority ; who having made a great noise , had experience to their shame of the greatness of his judgement , the height of his courage , and his marvellous address , being compelled to throw themselves at his feet , whose head they slighted , and had in contempt . the fable of the giants destroyed by thunderbolts , and buried under the mountains they had accumulated , instructs a minister of state , sometimes to use force and severity against potent men , who , to trouble the publick peace , would by destroying his authority attain the king 's . these crosses , and the unwillingness of the great ones , to acknowledge the honour he had acquired in spain , with the ingratitude of the people , whose ease he affected , and procured the happiness they enjoyed ; gave him sensible displeasures , and made him call to mind the tranquillity and sweetness of his religious life in the monastery of castanet . neer which , there was in view a little hill covered with trees , where he often went to search , under their shadows , the light of truth in holy-writt , and after some hours reading , kneeled , and with hands and heart lift up to heaven , conversed with god in prayer and meditation ; then retiring immediately into a little cabbin , made with his own hands , in imitation of , those angels of the desart , the ancient hermits , he fed his body with bread and water , but his soul with plentiful repasts of spiritual delicacies : the holy pleasures of this solitude he panted after , amidst the crosses and oppositions he encountered in the state ; saying often to his greatest confidents , if i might obtain leave , how willingly would i change this palace for my cabin at castanet ; the authority of governour of spain , for the silence of that solitude ; and my mitre of toledo , and cardinals cap , for the habit of that poor place . a minister of state , hath not in the troubles of affairs , a more solid comfort than that of piety , which is the policy of heaven ( if any be exercised there ) as well as part of the politicks of this world. charles , often advised by the cardinal to come into spain to enjoy his crown , and dissipate by his presence the troubles that daily grew up , at last leaves flanders , and by an express to the cardinal , gives him notice he was embarqued ; the cardinal goes from madrid , and advances with the whole court to meet his master , making choice of the burrough of alcande , scituate on the banks of the river guadalayer to attend his coming ; and taking with him prince ferdinand under a strong guard , on which depended the peace and safety of spain ; in his journey he passed through b●zeguillas , a village on a hill , and dined there ; but the worst dinner he ever made : ( for there the spaniards generally believe ) he had that venomous dose of lingering poison which destroyed his life ; which is the more probable , for that the provincial of the observantines of st. francis , being on his way with some of his order , to go to the cardinal , a man on hors-back came to them with his face muffled up in a hand-kerchief to prevent their discovery , and said ; fathers , if your business be to the cardinal , make haste to him before he dines , and advise him , not to eat of a pigeon that shall be served in to him , for 't is poysoned ; marquine the provincial arrives at bozeguillas , and recounts to the cardinal , what the strange gentleman told him . the cardinal having thanked him for his care of him , made him this answer ; father , if i have been poysoned it was not this day , but a while ago reading at madrid , a letter from flanders , when me-thought i drew in poyson by my eyes ; since which , i protest , i feel my self dye every day : nevertheless i am not so well assured of this , as to exclude all doubt of the truth thereof ; we are all under the conduct of gods providence , which takes away , and restores our health , as he judges most necessary for our salvation . let 's obey then those holy decrees that are irreversible . but when his malady came on him , he returned to his former opinion , telling his physitians , that he should perish by the treason of those wretches , that attempted his life . the spaniards write , that after dinner at bozeguillas , his malady heightned so apparently , that putrified matter broke out under his nails ; yet this could not hinder him from imploying the small portion of life that remained , in the service of the state. he had written to charles , that it concerned him to command from his brother ferdinand , alvarez osorio , the dominican , bishop of astozia , the prince's tutor ; and peter gusman , grand prior of the order of calatrave his governour , who apprehending the arrival of charles in spain , might give the young prince counsel to the disservice of the king , it being long reported that these men would never brook the flemings whom they hated , and to avoid a meeting would retire to arragon with ferdinand , and cause him to be crowned king of that kingdom : but he was designed by heaven for greater fortunes , and was emperour after his brother charles the fifth , and had the royal crowns of hungary and bohemia , in right of queen anne his wife , heiress to ladislaus , and lewis , her father and brother , kings of those kingdoms ; he had four sons , and eleven daughters , of whom joan d' austria was marryed to francis de medicis , great duke of tuscany ; of which marriage was born , mary de medicis , queen of france and navarr , wife of henry the great , and mother of lewis the thirteenth late regnant ; a princess of eminent vertue , singular goodness , and incomparable magnanimity , maternally descended from the houses of france and austria , as well as those of hungary , and bohemia : for , the emperour ferdinand her grand-father , was younger son to mary of burgundy , only daughter of duke charles , and isabel of b●urbon . charles judging the remove of osorio and guzman , necessary for his service , commanded it , and writ to the cardinal to that purpose ; the master of the courriers , who received the dispatch , instead of delivering it ( as addressed ) to the cardinal , carried the pacquet to dean adrian , who opened it , though not directed to him , and gives to ferdinand his brother's letter , where the young prince saw the king his brother's command for removing osorio and guzman ; he went to the cardinal , and with tears in his eyes entreated him not to make any change in his family , till his brother's arrival in spain ; that guzman and osorio were very faithful to him , and had great affections for him , that they were given him by the hands of king ferdinand his grand-father , and his grand-mother queen isabel ; that to take them from him , were to condemn the judgement , and vilifie the memory of two princes whom the whole world had honoured : the cardinal though surprized , as not knowing of the affair ( which adrian had discovered ) to remove the odium from himself , exhorted the young prince to obey the king his brother , on whom depended his fortune and grandeur , that he ought to preferr the interest of charles , before that of his domesticks , and to conform to his will. ferdinand seeing that he gained nothing on the cardinal's spirit , gave him in choler this reparty ; since you are resolved to destroy me and mine , when you might have pleasured me in forbearing a little while to execute what is writ to you from flanders , i will take order , my servants shall not be ruined , as you have designed . the cardinal was moved at his threats , but being resolute and couragious to maintain the interest of his master , told him , sir , you may do what you please ; but before the sun set to morrow , though all spain stood against me , the king shall be obeyed , and you shall obey him the first of any . ferdinand ne●●ed at these words , retired towards aranda ; the cardinal sent after him , and gave the charge of his person , and of the town to cabanilla and spinosa captains of the guards , commanding them to be up all night with their troops , and not permit a person of the princes family to go out of the town : they obeyed him , and on the morrow osorio and guzman were dismissed , and the will of charles was executed with fidelity and courage ; the principal qualities of a minister of state , in affairs which concern the interest of the king with the princes of his blood . some grandees of spain seeing the cardinal proceed with absolute authority against the infant ferdinand and themselves , demanded of him a fight of his commission ; the cardinal pointed to the soldiers of his guards , and told them , those folks there with the will of the king , are the power i have to command castile : then twisting on his finger the cord of his order wherewith he was girt , this , said he , is sufficient to chastise proud vassals , and bring them to reason . a little after , he caused some cannons to be discharged , and a volley of musquet-shot , which was the last answer , but more terrible than the first : this stopped their mouths , and struck fear into these men who had been more curious than wise . scarce had the cardinal ended this important affair of ferdinand's family , when a courrier brought him news , medina sedonia was taken by peter giron , son of giron , lord of vienna , who took up armes , made himself master of the field , and siezed that place into his hands in revenge of the injury of villas hermanos : the cardinal sent against him some troops of the militia then afoot under the command of count quignonio de luna , with order to take the rebel and bring him alive or dead . another courrier at the same time arrived from charles , to inform him of a design of the turks against oran ; for having set sail from flanders , the ninth of september , 1517. he met with some corsayres by the way , who informed him that an army of turks were upon their march to oran : this obliged him to advertise the cardinal , praying him to provide for the safety of that place with all diligence possible , as a piece of great convenience for the rendevouz of the forces he designed to send to africk , for extending christianity unto those pagan countries . the cardinal by the same courrier assured him of his best care for preservation of oran , commended his design , and advised him to pursue it ; that of so many monarks who in past ages had worn the crown of spain , they only added a constant felicity to a long reign who had laboured most in the propagation of religion : but oran for this time had only an apprehension of the turkish armes : for the moors of africk , fearing the violences of the turks , obstructed their passage , and defeated their army . in the mean time charles after a happy voyage came to villadichosa in spain , with the princess elenor his sister , afterwards queen of portugal , and since that queen of france by marriage with francis the first : he gave the cardinal notice of his arrival , and demanded his advice about his entry into the kingdom , that he might make it like a king , and be received of his people according to his desires and dignity . the cardinal advised him to receive courteously such as came to meet him , to compose his countenance , and order his discourse and habit , suitable to the mode of spain ; to send his brother ferdinand into germany , for that his presence in spain was useless to his person , and might prove prejudicial to his authority ; that it concerned him to use his utmost dexterity in executing this resolution ; to impute the cause to maximilian his grand-father , and to appear much displeased at the separation ; the people of spain having a passionate love for ferdinand , as bred amongst them , and a perfect spaniard in language , behaviour and inclinations : that he would not come to any resolution against the sicilians , who had massacred their senators , till he had first weighed the condition of his exchequer , and the forces of his kingdom . that he would advance further into spain , and make haste to madrid . as to this last point , the flemmings relished it not , but resolved to retain charles in the remote parts of the kingdom , till the cardinal's death , which they were advised must shortly follow : they desired nothing less than that this man should come to speech with the king , apprehending a discovery of their rapines by his generous liberty and integrity to the king. but charles received those counsels , as lights for his conduct , and sent an express to convey his thanks , confessing himself much obliged by his cares , his prudence , and fidelity . the cardinal by the same envoy returns answer , that the services he had done him , were of duty ; that he esteemed it his glory to have sustained the envy of almost all the world in serving him ; that the predominant passion of his soul was his desire to see his majesty , and to put into his hands the kingdom more sound and intire , than he had received it , at the beginning of his administration . all spain went to meet their new king : the constable velasio was attended with seven hundred horse ; the council made haste to tender him their duty , and thinking they had no more to do with the cardinal , now charles was arrived in spain , they took their journey without advertising the cardinal . but he out went them by his courriers , whom he sent to the king , desiring his majesty not to suffer a disorder of so ill example in the state ; that the council the principal body of it should thus separate from their head , and intreating him to command them back to aranda : charles did so , commanding the council to return the way they came , and go to the cardinal ; that it would be more acceptable to him to see them together with him . this put them in great disorder ; for , having with them their wives and children , they could not return without much inconvenience : they sent to the cardinal , entreated him he would be pleased to permit them to attend his majesty in the place the courrier found them . the cardinal impatient of contempt , and highly offended at the slight offered him , made no shew of resentment , but resolved not to bate them a step of their return to aranda ; answers them , that he was glad they were all in health , that they all knew how punctual he had alwayes been in causing the obedience due to the king to be exactly performed . and since his majesty had advised them to return to aranda ; it was his advice , they should obey him with all the diligence in their power . they , as they parted rashly , returned shamefully : the respect due to a minister of state is to be preserved even to jealousie , as that that maintains his authority which slights and neglects destroy . at this arrival of the king in spain , the people were much moved , and hotly demanded an assembly of the states of the realm . the cardinal was of opinion it ought not to be granted so soon , but that the king must be first received , and affairs setled in a quiet posture , saying , it was of great concernment that kings at their coming to the crown should be received of their people with extraordinary reverence as a matter of great importance to their authority : this advice was slighted , but the neglect cost spain dear . all the kingdom was in trouble and the state in danger by the contests that arose about the place where the estates should convene ; at last it was agreed , the king should come to valladolid for holding the assembly . there the envy of the cardinal's enemies mustered all its force to affront his person , and attacque his authority . the harbingers of this great minister having taken up a house for him , the marshals of the kings lodgings , being flemmings , set on by the grandees , took it from them , and for reason told them , this lodging must be marked for queen germain ; the cardinal jealous of his authority , and impatient of affronts , having discovered the practises of the flemmings , disputed it with them , and carryed the lodgings . but he must shortly dislodge from the court , and the world , though with the same honour he had lived there : the flemmings enter into a cabbal , to outt him the court. mota bishop of badaos , a dignity he owed wholly to the cardinal's favour , to please xeures , the kings favourite , ( as the spaniards say ) and his own interest , advised charles to remove the cardinal from court into his diocess of toledo . charles who was no less obliged to the cardinal than to him who gave him the crown of spain , forgot the services of this grand minister , followed mota's advice , and by his inconstancy confirmed the proverb , that services of great ones are no inheritance ; having sent a letter to the cardinal the tenour whereof was this . my lord cardinal , i hold on my journey by jurdefillas ; whereof i thought fit to advertise you , that you may come to m●jados the bishop of segorges house , where i desire to see you , and to receive your good counsels , not only for the conduct of my estate , but the ordering of my family , which i will regulate according to your sage advice . this is the last help i can receive of you in my affairs ; for , your long services deserve repose , and your age requires it ; and i grant it willingly , and advise you to retire to your house , to enjoy it with more pleasure . god alone can give you a just recompence for your long travels in the conduct of this kingdom ; as for me i shall never forget them , and will ever pay you the respects due from a good natured child to a careful and bounteous father . this letter of dismission by the trouble it gave the cardinal cast him into a feaver which brought him to his grave , though some spanish historians say , that the courrier who carryed it , finding the cardinal desperately sick delivered it not , but that ( the feaver holding him eighteen hours after , whereas the physicians advertised him , he could not live above six hours ) he brought back the letter to the council , and delivered it to adrian . others write , that he received it on his death-bed , and called for pen , ink , and paper to answer it ; but that , having written three or four lines , his strength failed him , the pen dropt out of his hand , and he soon after breathed his last . these lines , or piece of a letter were never published , as if fate had been unwilling to discover to the world any thing imperfect to which this man had put his hand . certain it is , the cardinal perceiving he must shortly dye , made an end worthy his good life , mustering up the force of his spirit , in the weakness of his body , and discoursing piously and learnedly of the mercy of god , the inconstancy of the world , and the vanity of the court ; imbracing the crucifix , bedewing his face with tears , he begged pardon from god for his sins , and having protested he had not laid out one rial of the revenues of his benefices for the advancement of his kindred , he received the christian viaticum , the holy eucharist , repeating often those words of david , my god , in thee have i put my trust , and went to enjoy in heaven those crowns which god gives them , who govern people with prudence , integrity , and piety . this happened on sunday the ninth of november , 1517. in the 80th . year of his age , having worn the mytre of toledo 22. years , and governed spain , as many , under ferdinand , isabel , joan , philip and charles : his body was interred in the colledge of st. idelphons in alcala d' henares , which he had built ; his tomb of white marble , and his effigies of the same are to be seen at this day , with this epitaph worthy his illustrious actions , which comprehends in short , both what he did before his glorious administration , and his acts in the state , condideram musis franciscus grande lycaeum , condor in exiguo nunc ego sarcophago . praetextam junxi sacco , galeamque galero , frater , dux , praesul , cardineusque pater . quin virtute mea junctum est diadema cucullo , cum mihi regnanti paruit hesperia . he was tall , and streight of stature , of a serious look , carrying in his face natural gravity , his voice was masculine and firm , his visage long and meagre , his forehead large and without wrinkles , midling eyes somewhat deep set in his head , but very lively ; his nose long and aquiline ; his teeth jutting out a little toward his lipps , which gave the courtiers occasion in raillery to call him , the elephant : a piece of buffonnery wherein they spoke more truth than they were ware of ; for an elephant must he needs have been in strength , who carryed the weight of so many affairs , and so great crosses . twenty eight years after his death , as they were digging the grave his body lay in , they drew out his bones , and his head , once the palace of the greatest judgement that ever appeared in spain , the scull whereof was all of a piece , without suture , the mark of a strong brain ; but withal the cause of the continual head-aches he was subject to , by the vapours wanting vent . this is the pourtrait of his body : that of his mind is already drawn in those many illustrious actions , and sage counsels it produced : yet like the painters finishing touches , we 'll add some observations to the body of our past story . he expressed himself in few words , but handsome and very significant , his answers were clear and very intelligible ; and when he discoursed of any business , he never went from the point ; his entertainments were serious , saying often with the roman orator , we were not born to trifle away time , in sports and playes , but to imploy our selves in serious matters and affairs of weight . his study was his pleasure ; and discourses of divinity his recreations after meat . true it is melancholy was his , as most great mens predominant humour : but when it troubled him , he retired from business , and appeared not to any but his most intimate familiars . this discovered it self in some notable passages of his life , as the baptizing the moors of granada , with the laver , and his design to conquer africk . what he had once resolved on , he executed with incredible promptitude : salust had taught him that lesson which he would often repeat , that nimble execution ought to tread on the heels of deliberate resolutions . no man more impatient of contempt and slights offered against his authority , none more apt to endure liberty of speech . a priest of osma desired of him a judge extraordinary to determine a suit he had depending , and pressed him earnestly , as the chief of the council , to grant it ; the cardinal answered , the ordinary judges should do him right , that he must content himself with them , and abide satisfied with their decree , that he knew not where to find better in all the cities of spain . is it possible ( said the priest ) that the pittiful burrough of torrelagine should give a primate to all spain , and so many cities not afford a competent judge for a small suit ? the cardinal finding him so free in his expression , thought he had belonged to some grandee , who had set him on to speak these words , and asked him , who was his master ? my self , said the priest , and i be , no other : you say well , replyed the cardinal , you cannot have a better ; and having given a judge as desired , dismissed him . contrera a spanish priest preached one day before the cardinal , and , with more zeal than discretion , inveighed against rich habits , not considering how necessary they are to procure reverence from the people to persons in authority and eminent dignity ; and turning to the cardinal , he reproved him in the face of the congregation for wearing a robe lined with rich furrs . the cardinal took this reprimande very patiently , and after sermon invited the preacher to dinner , and commended his sermon . some write that after sermon he took the preacher aside into the vestry , and having opened his bosome , shewed him a hair cloth under his robe ; but i dare not affirm it , lest i seem to condemn the most solid judgement of that age , of levity . time was one of the things most in his esteem , and knowing that the loss of it was irreparable , he was a very niggard of it , and loath to lose a moment : he was alwayes trimmed by night , for fear of spending any part of the day on the necessities of his person , which might be dispatched another time . and as he was trimmed , it was his course to have some serious book read to him . he took an ineffable delight to bestow benefices in his gift , on persons capable , who sought them not , nor knew of the vacancies ; and severely rejected such as begged them of him , as failing in the respects due to his person . the way to miss a promotion from him , was to begg it of him . one of his almoners had advice of a vacancy very convenient for him ; and , knowing that if he moved not the cardinal for it , he might bestow it on one he never thought of ; and that to begg it , was to lose it ; he presented himself to his master , and bespoke him thus : my lord , such a benefice is void , to desire it of you , were to violate your laws , and the prohibitions you have made in that behalf , which i will never do , nor came i to that purpose , but humbly to crave your directions how to obtain it . the cardinal liked his address , and answered , you shall have it with a good will , get the writings dispatched , and the benefice will be yours ; and instantly commanded his secretary to provide them . but as he was severe in rejecting the importunate requests of his domesticks , he was no less ready to acknowledge their services , but would have his favours prevent their demands , to engage them with more grace , and stronger obligation . 't is observed of this great minister , that never man served him in or out of his family , who was not largely rewarded . god made man free-born : fortune hath robbed him of that liberty , by reduceing him under servitude of great ones , who are guilty of ravishing from him , what is most precious , his liberty , and his time ; unless they restore them the fruits of the one , and the other by way of recompence in ample rewards , which alone can repair the loss of this letter , being otherwise irrecoverable . the cardinal was apt to resent injuries , and affronts , but no man more thankful for pleasures done him , which he never forgot . brunet the spaniard , mentioned in the beginning of this story who assisted him in his voyage to rome when the robbers had left him only his tongue to begg , is a pregnant instance : this man came to see him in the time of his greatness . the honours , the familiarity , and intimate privacy the cardinal afforded him , put the court into admiration . no person in spain , the king only excepted , having received so much respect from him : he laboured to retain him neer himself , he sent him presents , promised him what entertainment , offered him what preferment he pleased , courted his acceptance of bishopricks , and great offices ; ●or raising his fortune : but brunet , who pre●erred the repose of a mean condition , before ●he troubles of the great dignities of the world , ●aving thanked the cardinal for the honours he ●id him , the offers and promises made him , ●etyred home to enjoy there that tranquillity he ●esired , in those conveniencies whereof he had ●●fficient to satisfie him . monsieur xeures , who envyed the reputation ●f this great minister , and feared his liberty of ●peech to king charles against him ; and after him , ●●e cardinal granvel , on consideration of the ●randeur of his actions , averr the cardinal ●●●ued of royal-blood , though time , which no ●●ss conceals , than discovers the best of things ●●th hid his extraction , it being in their opini●● impossible a private man should be capable of 〈◊〉 great things , unless he had in him the seeds of ●●ose vertues which are proper to monarks , ●●d were descended of mighty potentates . but such was the life , and such were the actions of francis ximenes , surnamed , for the effects of his prudence , the cardinal of spain , whose counsels are to this day observed in that kingdom , and his vertues serve the world for directions in the conduct of state. for if the pourtraicts of great persons have the property to make the spectators to imitate their qualities , their vertues are excellent guides to lead us aright by their illustrious splendour in the wayes of this world. the end . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a26840-e3670 j. caesar . plato . notes for div a26840-e9680 scipio . megalopsychy, being a particular and exact account of the last xvii years of q. elizabeths reign, both military and civil the first written by sir william monson ..., the second written by heywood townsend, esq. ; wherein is a true and faithful relation ... of the english and spanish wars, from the year 1585, to the queens death ; with a full account of the eminent speeches and debates, &c., in the said time ; to which is added dr. parry's tryal in the year 1584 ; all written at the time of the actions, by persons eminently acting therein. monson, william, sir, 1569-1643. 1682 approx. 305 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 51 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2006-06 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a51173 wing m2465 estc r7517 12814661 ocm 12814661 94124 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a51173) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 94124) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 362:9) megalopsychy, being a particular and exact account of the last xvii years of q. elizabeths reign, both military and civil the first written by sir william monson ..., the second written by heywood townsend, esq. ; wherein is a true and faithful relation ... of the english and spanish wars, from the year 1585, to the queens death ; with a full account of the eminent speeches and debates, &c., in the said time ; to which is added dr. parry's tryal in the year 1584 ; all written at the time of the actions, by persons eminently acting therein. monson, william, sir, 1569-1643. parry, william, d. 1585. true and plain declaration of the horrible treasons. [9], 55, [4], 356, [12], 36 p. printed for w. crooke, and sold by w. davis ..., london : 1682. in 3 pts.; each pt. has separate paging, and pt. 1 has special t.p. with title: a true and exact account of the wars with spain. each part also issued and cataloged separately. imperfect: heywood townsend's, historical collections, 1680, (356 p.) is lacking on filmed copy. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was 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as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng parry, william, d. 1585. catholics -england. great britain -history, naval -tudors, 1485-1603. great britain -history -elizabeth, 1558-1603 -sources. spain -history, naval. 2006-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-01 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-03 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2006-03 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion megalopsychy being a particular and exact account of the last xvii . years of q. elizabeths reign , both military and civil . the first written by sir william monson , one of the queens admirals . the second written by heywood townsend , esq . wherein is a true and faithful relation of all the expeditions , attempts , designs , successes , and errors , both of the english and spanish wars , from the year 1585 , to the queens death . with a full account of the eminent speeches and debates , &c. in the said time . to which is added dr. parry's tryal in the year 1584. all written at the time of the actions , by persons eminently acting therein . london , printed for w. crooke , and sold by w. davis in amen corner . m.dc.lxxxii . a true and exact account of the wars with spain , in the reign of q. elizabeth , ( of famous memory . ) being the particulars of what happened between the english and spanish fleets , from the years 1585 to 1602. shewing the expeditions , attempts , fights , designs , escapes , successes , errors , &c. on both sides . with the names of her majesty's ships and commanders in every fleet. being a patern and warning to future ages . never printed before . written by sir william monson , who was a captain in most , and admiral of several of those fleets in the said wars , and dedicated to his son. london , printed for w. crooke , and sold by w. davis in amen corner . m.dc.lxxxii . to the reader by way of advertisement . you have here put into your hands a piece of english history of a time of great actions . you will hardly meet more truth in any history than you will find in this . all circumstances considered , there could not in any thing be greater opportunities of truth , they being written by persons of eminent characters , and considerable actors in the same times . these very authors wise and heroick actions make no inconsiderable part of the history it self . the first is a relation of the military transactions of the nation for nigh twenty years , beginning anno domini 1585 , ( from which time to queen elizabeths death there was yearly set out a fleet against the spaniards ) with a full account of all the expeditions , stratagems , attempts , successes , and miscarriages , that happened in that war on both sides ; wherein is shewed the valour and heroick acts of those great souldiers that were so plenty in that age ; as , cumberland suffolk essex sheffeild drake rawleigh hawkins forbisher carlee burroughs bellingham fenner southwell crosse seymour crosse winter beeston palmer barker bostock sackvile goring norris williams leicester york greenvile vavasor , &c. and sir william monson , the author of this , who was admiral in several of the said expeditions against the spaniards , and also a member in her last parliaments . the second part is the full and exact account of the four last parliaments ( both lords and commons ) of queen elizabeth , taken from the original records of their houses , by heywood townsend esquire , a member thereof ; with the particular speech and behaviour of the wife and learned statesmen , lawyers , &c. which that time was fo fruitful of , viz. egerton burleigh buckhurst cecill walsingham hatton bacon rawleigh hobby crooke coke moore fortescue pophan yelverton finch maynard spelman wentworth hobart manwood jones digby caesar anderson winch , &c. with other passages of history in those times , that is , runs contemporary with sir william monsons relation both together being the account of the military and civil state of affairs , of nigh 20 years of the last part of queen elizabeths reign , being the most eminent time of action in all her government . with sir william monsons directions and advice to his son by way of dedication , to excuse it s not coming forth sooner , may be to avoid such offences , which must necessarily be given by a faithful and exact historian , that writes of the present age , when the parties are living that were actors in it ; it may by this time be supposed that such objections ( against its now coming forth ) may be over . you have added at the end of this the tryal , condemnation , and execution of dr. parry , for a conspiracy against the said queen , written also at the time of his tryal and execution . so that what is here offered for thy use , is nothing but what was written at the time of the action , or by the persons who were actors , and of such quality , that it is quite out of all suspicion there should be the least falshood in this ; it being never at all designed for the publick in the life-time of the authors . therefore neither profit nor honour did the authors expect , although their exact and careful accounts of truth must be no small benefit to the curious reader . there is lately published a small book of 1 s. 6 d. price , called , the connexion , being choice collections of some principal matters in king james his reign , and passages betwixt this book and rushworth , nalson , and the rest that begin at king charles i. sir william monson to his son john . dear son , the custom of dedicating books hath been ancient , and they have been usually dedicated either to great persons , for protection or remuneration ; or to familiars , out of friendship and affection ; or to children , in respect of nature and for admonition . and to this end it is , that to you i commend the reading of the discourse following ; that so beholding the 18 years war by sea , which for want of years you could not then remember ; and comparing them with the 18 years of peace , in which you have lived , you may consider three things . first , that after so many pains and perils god hath lent life to your father to further your education . secondly , what proportion his recompence and rewards have had to his services . lastly , what just cause you have to abandon the thoughts of such dangerous and uncertain courses ; and that you may follow the ensuing precepts , which i commend to your often perusal . and in the first place , i will put you in mind of the small means and fortune i shall leave , that you may rate your expences accordingly ; and yet as little as it is , 't is great to me , in respect i attained to it by my own endeavours and dangers , and therefore no body can challenge interest in it but my self , though your carriage may promise the best possibility . beware you presume not so much upon it , as thereby to grow disobedient to your parents ; for what you can pretend to , is but the privilege of two years of age above your younger brother ; and in such cases fathers are like judges , that can and will distinguish of offences and deserts according to truth , and will reward and punish as they shall see cause . and because you shall know it is no rare or new thing for a man to dispose of his own , i will lay before you a precedent of your own house , that so often as you think of it , you may remember it with fear , and prevent it with care . the great grandfather of your grandfather was a knight by title , and john by name , which name we desire to retain to our eldest sons ; god blessed him with many earthly benefits , as wealth , children , and reputation ; his eldest son was called john after his father , and his second william like to your self and brother ; but upon what displeasure i know not , ( although we must judge the son gave the occasion ) his father left him the least part of his fortune , though sufficient to equal the best gentleman of his shire , and particularly the ancient house called after his name . his other son william he invested with what your uncle now enjoys . both the sons whilest they lived carried the port and estimation of their fathers children , though afterwards it fell out that the son of john , and nephew to william , became disobedient , negligent , and prodigal , and spent all his patrimony ; so that in conclusion he and his son extinguished their house , and there now remains no memory of them . as for the second line and race , of whom your uncle and i descended , we live as you see , though our estates be not great , and of the two mine much the least ; which notwithstanding is the greater to me in respect i atchieved it with the peril and danger of my life ; and you will make my contentment in the enjoyment of it the greater , if it be accompanied with that comfort i hope to receive from you . the next thing i will handle shall be arms. know that wars by land or sea are always accompanied with infinite dangers and disasters , and seldom rewarded according to merit : for one souldier that lives to enjoy that preferment which becomes his right by antiquity of service , ten thousand fall by the sword and other casualties : and if you compare that of a souldier with any other calling or profession , you will find much difference both in the reward and danger although arms have been esteemed in all ages , and the more as there was greater occasion to use them ; yet you shall find they have been always subject to jealousies and envy ; jealousies from the state , if the general or other officer grow great and popular ; subject to envy from inferiors , who through their perverse and ill dispositions malign other mens merits . the advancement of souldiers is commonly made by councellors at home , whose eyes cannot witness the services performed abroad ; but a man is advanced as he is befriended , which makes the souldiers preferment as uncertain as his life is casual . compare the estate and advancement of souldiers of our time but with the mean and mercenary lawyer , and you shall find so great a difference , that i had rather you should become apprentice to the one , than make profession of the other . a captain that will seek to get the love of his souldiers . as his greatest praise and felicity , of all other vices must detest and abandon covetousness ; he must live by spending as the miser doth by sparing ; insomuch as few of them can obtain by war wherewith to maintain themselves in peace , and where wealth wants preferment fails . souldiers that live in peaceable islands , as in england , their profession is undervalued , because we see not those dangers which make the souldiers necessary , as others do where wars are practised . and the good success in our wars hath been such as makes us attribute our victories , not so much to valour as to chance . i confess the base and ill behaviour of some souldiers , hath made themselves and their callings the less esteemed ; for the name of a captain , which was ever wont to be honourable , is now became a word of reproach and disdain . souldiers may have reputation , but little credit ; reputation enough to defend their honours , but little trust in commerce of the world ; and not without cause , for their security is the worse , by how much the danger of death is the greater . learning is as much to be preferred before war , as the trade of a merchant before that of the factor . by learning you are made sensible of the difference betwixt men and other creatures , and will be able to judge between the good and the bad , and how to walk accordingly . by learning you attain to the knowledge of heavenly mysteries , and you may frame your life accordingly , as god shall give you grace . by learning you are made capable of preferment , if it concur with virtue and discretion ; and the rather because you are a gentleman by birth , and of good alliance , which i observe next to money in this golden age is the second step to advancement . for one that is preferred by arms , there are twenty by learning ; and indeed the souldier is but a servant to the learned , for after his many fought battels , and as many dangers of his life , he must yield account of his actions , and be judged , corrected , and advanced as it shall please the other . you may wonder to hear me extoll learning so highly above my own profession , considering the poor fortune i shall leave was atchieved by arms ; it is enough therefore to persuade you what i say is not conjectural but approved : for if i did not find this difference , the natural affection of a father to a son would make me discover it to you , that you may follow that which is most probable and profitable . good son , love souldiers for your countries sake , who are the defenders of it ; for my sake , who have made profession of it ; but shun the practice of it as you will do brawls , quarrels , and suits , which bring with them perplexities , and dangers . there are many things to be shunned , as being perillous both to body and soul ; as quarrels and occasions of them , which happen through the enormities and abuses of our age. esteem valour as a special virtue , but shun quarrelling as a most detestable vice . of two evils it were better to keep company with a coward than a quarreller ; the one is commonly sociable and friendly , the other dangerous in his acquaintance , and offensive to standersby . he is never free from peril , that is conversant with a quarreller , either for offence given to himself , or to others wherein he may be engaged . a true valiant man shall have enough to do to defend his own reputation . without engaging for others : nor are all valiant that will fight , therefore discretion makes a difference betwixt valour and desperateness . nothing can happen more unfortunate to a gentleman , than to have a quarrel , and yet nothing so ordinary as to give offence ; it draweth with it many mischiefs both to body and soul : being slain he is danger of damnation , and no less if he kill the other without great repentance . he shall perpetually live in danger of revenge from the friends of the party killed , and fall into the mercy of the prince and law where he liveth ; but if for fear and baseness he avoid and shun a quarrel , he is more odious living than he would be unhappy in dying . drinking is the foundation of other vices , it is the cause of quarrels , and then follows murders . it occasions swearing , whoredom , and many other vices depend upon it . when you behold a drunkard , imagine you see a beast in the shape of a man. it is a humour that for the time pleaseth the party drunk , and so bereaves him of sence , that he thinketh all he doth delighteth the beholders ; but the day following he buys his shame with repentance , and perhaps gives that offence in his drunkenness , that makes him hazard both life and reputation in a quarrel . you have no man that will brag or boast so much of the word reputation as a drunkard , when indeed there is nothing more to a mans imputation than to be drunk . a drunkard is in the condition of an excommunicated person , whose testimony betwixt party and party is of no validity . avoid ( good son ) the company of a drunkard , and occasions of drinking , then shall you live free without fear , and enjoy your own without hazard . whoredom is an incident to drunkenness , though on the contrary all whoremasters are not drunkards . it is a sin not washed away without the vengeance of god to the third and fourth generation . besides the offence to god , it giveth a disreputation to the party and his of-spring , it occasioneth a breach betwixt man and wife , encourageth the wife oftentimes to follow the ill example of her husband , and then ensueth dislike , divorce , disinheriting of children , suits in law , and consuming of estates . the next and worst sin i would have you shun is swearing . i do not advise you like a puritan , that ties a man more to the observing of sundays , and from taking the name of god in vain , than to all the rest of the commandments : but i wish you to avoid it for the greatness of the sin it self , for the plague of god hangeth over the house of the blasphemer . swearing is odious to the hearers , it giveth little credit to the words of him that useth it , it affordeth no pleasure as other sins do , nor yieldeth any profit to the party ; custom begetteth it , and custom must make one leave it . for your exercises let them be of two kinds , the one of mind , the other of body ; that of the mind must consist of prayer , meditation , and your book ; let your prayers be twice a day , howsoever you dispose of your self the rest of the time ; prayers work a great effect in a contrite and penitent heart . by this i do not seek to persuade you from such exercises and delights of body as are lawful and allowable in a gentleman ; for such increase health and agility of body , make a man sociable in company , and draw good acquaintants ; many times they bring a man into favour with a prince , and prove an occasion of preferment in his marriage ; they are often times a safeguard to a mans life , as in vaulting suddenly upon a horse to escape an enemy . i will especially commend unto you such pleasures as bring delight and content without charge ; for others are fitter for greater men than one of your fortune to follow . hawking and hunting , if they be moderately used , are like tobacco , in some cases wholesom for the body , but in the common use both laboursom and loathsom ; they alike bring one discommodity , ( as comonly vices do ) that they are not so easily left as entertained . tobacco is hot and hurtful to young bodies and stomachs , and augments the heat of the liver , which naturally you are subject to . it is offensive to company , especially the breath of him that takes it ; it drieth the brain , and many become fools with the continual use thereof . let your apparel be handsom and decent , not curious nor costly . a wise man is more esteemed in his plain cloth than gay clothing . it is more commendable to be able to buy a rich suit than to wear one . a wise man esteems more of a mans vertues and valour than of his vesture ; but seeing this age is fantastical and changeable , you must fashion your self to it , but in so mean and moderate a manner , as to be rather praised for frugality , than derided for prodigality . he that delights in curious cloaths is an imitator of a player , who measures his apparel by the part he acts . and as players appear upon the stage to be seen of the spectators , so do the gallants proclaim their braveries in open assemblies . whilest i live and you not marry , i shall temper this expence ; but when i die remember what i say , seek advancement rather by your carriage ; the curiousness , the reputation you gain by that will be lasting , when this will appear but like a flower fading . frame your course of life to the country and not to the court ; and yet make not your self such a stranger to great persons , as in assemblies they should ask others who you are . i confess the greatest and suddenest rising is by the court ; yet the court is like a hopefull and forward spring , that is taken with a sharp and cold frost , which nips and blasts a whole orchard except 2 or 3 trees ; for after that proportion commonly courtiers are preferr'd . and he that will thrive at court must make his dependency upon some great person , in whose ship he must imbarque all his hopes ; and how unfortunate such great persons are oftentimes themselves , and how unthankful to their followers , we want not precedents . he that settles his service upon one of them shall fall into the disfavour of another ; for a court is like an army ever in war , striving by stratagems to circumvent and kick up one anothers heels , you are not ignorant of the aptness of this comparison by what you know of me , whose case will serve you for a prospective-glass , wherein to behold your danger afar off , the better to prevent it . yet reverence lords because they are noble , and one more than another , as he is more notable in virtue . be choice of your company ; for as a man makes election of them he is censured : man lives by reputation , and that failing he becomes a monster . let your company consist of your own rank , rather better than worse ; for hold it for a maxim , the better gentleman the more gentle in his behaviour . beware they be not accused of crimes , for so it may touch you in credit ; and if you lose your reputation in the bud of your youth , you shall scarce recover it in the whole course of your life . let them be civil in carriage , for commonly such men are sensible above all ; let them be learned , for learning is a fountain from whence springs another life ; let them be temperate in diet and expence , so shall you learn to live in health , and increase in wealth . beware they be not cholerick in disposition , or arrogant in opinion ; for so you shall become a slave to their humours , and base by suffering . a cholerick man of all others is the worst companion , for he cannot temper his rage , but on any slight occasion of a friend becomes an enemy . value true friendship next to marriage , which nothing but death can dissolve ; for the fickleness of friendship is oftentimes the ruine of ones fortune . beware of gaming , for it causes great vexation of mind . if you lose , it begets in you that humour , that out of hope of regaining your losses , you will endanger the loss of all . do not presume too much of your skill in play , or making wagers as if you were excellent above others , or have fortune at command ; for she is like a whore variable and inconstant , and when she disfavours you , it is with more loss at once than she recompenceth at twice . love your brother and sisters for their own sakes , as you are bound by nature , but especially for mine whose they are . remember you are all indifferent to me , but that god chose you from the rest to be a strength and stay to them ; think you cannot honor your father more being dead , than in shewing affection to them he dearly loved ; and nothing will more approve you to be mine , than love and kindness amongst your selves . you owe somewhat more to me than that i am your father , in that i seek your advancement above theirs , of which obligation i will acquit you conditionally you perform what you ought to them . for because man cannot himself live ever , he desires to live in his posterity ; and if i had an hundred sons , my greatest hope must depend upon you as you are my eldest , and seeing my care is of you above the rest , do not make my memory so unhappy , as to give the world an occasion to say , i left an unnatural son. the onely request i make is , be kind and loving to them , who i know by their disposition will give you no cause of offence . a discourtesie from you will be as sharp to them as a razor from another . be courteous and friendly to all , for men are esteemed according to ther carriage . there is an old proverb , the courtesie of the mouth is of great value , and costs little . a proud man is envied of his equals , hated by his inferious , and scorned by his superiours ; so that betwixt envy , hate , and scorn he is friendless . many times a man is condemned to death out of presumption , especially when it concurrs with an opinion of his former ill carriage : how much therefore doth it concern a man in the times of his prosperity to lay up a stock of love and reputation ? there cannot be a greater honour than to gain a mans enemy by a courtesie ; it far exceeds the kindness that is done to another , and doubly obligeth him that receiveth it . love is a thing desired by a king from his subjects , by a general from his souldiers , and by a master from his servants ; he that hath it is rich by it , it maintains peace in time of peace , and is a safe bulwork in time of war. do not buy this love with the ruine of your estate , as many do with prodigal expences , and then are requited with pity and derision . let your expence be agreeable to the wearing of your cloaths , better or worse according to company ; or the journying your horse , the less way you go to day , you may travel the further to morrow ; but if you go every day a long and wearisom journey , your horse will fail , and you be enforc'd to go on foot . and so will it be in your expences , if you do not moderate them according to days and companies , your horse and you may travel faintly together . if you are prodigal in any thing , let it be in hospitality , as most agreeable to the will of god , you shall feed the hungry , relieve the poor , and get the love of the rich . what you spend among your neighbours is not lost , but procures their loves and helps when you have need , and thereby you shall find friendship in the country as available as favour at court. if you are called to any place of magistracy , do justice with pity , revenge not your self of your enemy under colour of authority , for that shews baseness , and will procure you hatred . in money matters favour your country , if it be not against the present profit of the king , for many times his name is used for the gain of other men . study the laws , not to make a mercenary practice of them , but onely for your own use , the good of your neighbours , and the government of your country . hold the laws in reverence next to the king ; for that kingdom is well governed where the king is ruled by the laws , not the laws by the king. be not presumptuous in your command , yet seek to be obeyed as you desire to obey ; for as you are above others , others are above you . give your mind to accommodate controversies among your neighbours , and you shall gain their love , which will more avail you than the hate of the lawyers can hurt you . punish idleness and other vices , as well for that they are such , as for examples sake . gain love by doing justice , and hate doing wrong , though it were to your immediate profit . if you marry after my death , chuse a wife as near as you can suitable to your calling , years , and condition ; for such marriages are made in heaven , though celebrated on earth . if your estate were great , your choice might be the freer ; but where the preferment of your sisters must depend upon your wives portion , let not your fancy overrule your necessity . it is an old saying , he that marrieth for love hath evil days and good nights : consider if you marry for affection , how long you will be raising portions for your sisters , and the misery you shall live in all the days of your life ; for the greatest fortune that a man can expect is in his marriage . a wise man is known by his actions , but where passion and affection sway , that man is deprived of sence and understanding . it is not the poverty or meanness of her that 's married that makes her the better wife , for commonly such women grow elevated , and are no more mindful of what they have been , than a mariner is of his escape from a danger at sea when it is past . you must set your wife a good example by your own carriage , for a wise and discreet husband usually makes an obedient and dutiful wife . beware of jealousie , for it causeth great vexation of mind , and scorn and laughter from your enemies . many times it is occasioned by the behaviour of the husband towards other women : in that case do like the physician , take away the cause of the infirmity , if not you are worthy to feel the smart of it . jealousie is grounded upon conceit and imagination , proceeds from a weak , idle , and distempered brain ; and the unworthy carriage of him that is jealous , many times maketh a woman do what otherwise she would not . if god be pleased to give you children , love them with that discretion that they discern it not , lest they too much presume upon it . encourage them in things that are good , and correct them if they offend . the love of god to man cannot be better expressed , than by that of a father to his children . comforts or crosses they prove to their parents , and herein education is a great help to nature . let your children make you to disrelish and abandon all other delights and pleasures of the world , in respect of the comfort and joy you receive by them . make account then that somer is past , and the melancholy winter approacheth ; for a careful and provident father cannot take delight in the world and provide for his children . for a conclusion i will recommend two principal virtues to you , the one is secrecy , the other patience . secrecy is necessarily required in all , especially publick persons , for many times they are trusted with things , the revealing whereof may cost them their lives , and hinder the designs of their masters . it is a folly to trust any man with a secret , that can give no assistance in the business he is trusted with . councellors of state and generals , of armies , of all other ought to be most secret , for their designs being once discovered , their enterprizes fail . silence was so much esteemed among the persians , that she was adored for a goddess . the romans kept their expeditions so secret , as that alone was a principal cause of their victories . but of all others trust not women with a secret , for the weakness of their sex makes them unsecret . be patient after the example of job , and you shall become a true servant of god. patience deserveth to be painted with a sword in her hand , for she conquers and subdues all difficulties . if you will take advantage of your enemy , make him cholerick , and by patience you shall overcome him . marcus aurelius being both emperour and philosopher confessed , he attained not the empire by philosophy but by patience . what man in the world was ever so patient as our saviour himself , by following whose example his ministers have converted more by their words , then all the persecuting emperours could deterr by rigour or cruelty of laws . the impatient man contests with god himself , who giveth and taketh away at his good will and pleasure . let me ( good son ) be your patern of patience , for you can witness with me , that the disgraces i have unjustly suffered , ( my estate being through my misfortunes ruined , my health by imprisonments decayed , and my services undervalued and unrecompensed ) have not bred the least distaste or discontent in me , or altered my resolution from my infancy ; that is , i was never so base as to insinuate into any mans favour , who was favoured by the times . i was never so ambitious as to seek or crave imployment , or to undertake any that was not put upon me . my great and onely comfort is , that i served my princes both faithfully and fortunately ; but seeing my services have been no better accepted , i can as well content my self in being a spectator , as if i were an actor in the world . before i treat of the sea i will shew what laws richard the first established in his expedition by sea , which in some points are observed to this day . 1. that whosoever should kill a man , should be tied to him killed , and thrown into the sea with him . 2. if any be killed on land , the party to be buried alive with him killed . 3. whosoever shall strike another , and not draw bloud , shall be duck'd three times at the yards arm. 4. whosoever revileth or curseth another , so often as he revileth shall pay an ounce of silver . 5. whosoever draweth his knife , or draweth bloud , shall lose his hand . 6. whosoever doth steal , shall have his head shorn , and boiled pitch poured upon it , and feathers strewed upon the same , whereby he may be known ; and at the first landing place he shall be towed on shore . a yearly account of the english and spanish fleets , which were set forth from the year 1585 , when the wars with spain first began , untill the year 1602 , when king james made his happy entrance into this kingdom ; shewing the designs , escapes , and errors on both english and spanish sides , with the names of the queens ships and commanders in every expedition . a voyage of sir francis drake to the west indies , anno dom. 1585. ships . commanders . the elizabeth bonaventure sir francis drake . the ayde capt. forbisher .   capt. carlee lieutenant general by land. upon the knowledge of the imbargo made by the king of spain in anno 1585 , of the english ships , men , and goods found in his country ; her majesty having no means to help or relieve her subjects by friendly treaty , authorized such as sustained loss by the said arrest , to repair themselves upon the subjects of the king of spain ; and to that end gave them letters of reprisal , to take and arrest all ships and merchandizes that they should find at sea , or elsewhere , belonging to the vassals of the said king. her majesty at the same time to revenge the wrongs offered her , and to resist the king of spains preparations made against her equipped a fleet of 25 sail of ships , and imployed them under the command of sir francis drake , as the fittest man by reason of his experience and success in sundry actions . it is not my intent to set down all the particulars of the voyages treated of , but the services done , and the escapes and oversights past , as a warning to those that shall read them , and to prevent the like errors hereafter . this voyage of sir francis drake being the first undertaking on either side , ( for it ensued immediately after the arrest of our ships and goods in spain ) i will deliver my opinion of it , before i proceed any further . one impediment to the voyage was , that to which the ill success of divers others that after followed , is to be imputed , viz. the want of victuals and other necessaries fit for so great an expedition ; for had not the fleet by chance met with a ship laden with fish , that came from new found land , which relieved their necessities , they would have found themselves reduced to great extremity . the service that was performed in this action , was the taking and sacking sancta domingo in hispaniola , cartagena in terra firma , and the fonta aqua in florida ; three towns of great importance in the west indies . this fleet was the greatest of any nation but the spaniards , that had been ever seen in those seas since the first discovery of them ; and if it had been as well considered of before their going from home , as it was happily performed by the valour of the undertakers , it had more annoyed the king of spain , than all other actions that ensued during the time of the war. but it seems our long peace made us uncapable of advice in war ; for had we kept and defended those places being in our possession , and provided to have been relieved and succoured out of england , we had diverted the war from this part of europe : for at that time there was no comparison betwixt the strength of spain and england by sea , by means whereof we might have better defended them , and with more ease incroached upon the rest of the indies , than the king of spain could have aided or succoured them . but now we see and find by experience , that those places which were then weak and unfortified , are since so strengthened , as it is bootless to undertake any action to annoy the king of spain in his west indies . and though this voyage proved both fortunate and victorious , yet considering it was rather an awakening than a weakning of him , it had been far better to have wholly declined it , than to have undertaken it upon such slender grounds , and with so inconsiderable forces . the second voyage of sir francis drake to the road of cadiz , and towards the islands of tercera , anno 1587. ships . commanders . the elizabeth bonaventure sir francis drake , general . the lyon sir william borrough , vice admiral . the rainbow capt. bellingam . the dread-nought capt. thomas fenner . her majesty having received several advertisements , that while the king of spain was silent , not seeking revenge for the injuries the ships of reprisal did him daily upon his coasts , he was preparing an invincible army to invade her at home . she thereupon sought to frustrate his designs , by intercepting his provisions before they should come to lisbon , which was their place of rendezvouz , and sent away sir francis drake with a fleet of 30 sail great and small , 4 whereof were her own ships . the chief adventure in this voyage ( besides those 4 ships of her majesties ) was made by the merchants of london , who sought their private gain more than the advancement of the service ; neither were they deceived of their expectation . sir francis drake understanding by two ships of middleborough , that came from cadiz , of a fleet with victuals , munition , and other habiliments for war , riding there , ready to take the first opportunity of a wind , to go to lisbon and joyn with other forces of the king of spain , he directed his course for cadiz road , where he found the advertisement he received from this ships of middleborough in every point true ; and upon his arrival attempted the ships with great courage , and performed the service he went for , by destroying all such ships as he found in harbour , as well of the spaniards as other nations that were hired by them ; and by these means he utterly defeated their mighty preparations which were intended against england that year 1587. the second service performed by him was , the assaulting the castle of cape sacre , upon the utmost promontory of portugal , and three other strong holds ; all which he took some by force , and some by composition . from thence he went to the mouth of the river of lisbon , where he anchored near caske cadiz ; which the marquess of st. cruze beholding , durst not with his gallies approach so near as once to charge him . sir francis drake perceiving , that though he had done important service for the state by this fortunate attempt of his , yet the same was not very acceptable to the merchants , who adventured onely in hope of profit , and preferred their private gain before the security of the kingdom , or any other respect . therefore from caske cadiz he stood to the islands of tercera , to expect the coming home of a carreck , which he had intelligence wintered at mosambique , and consequently she was to be home in that moneth . and though his victuals grew scarce , and his company importuned his return home , yet with gentle speeches he persuaded , and so much prevailed with them , that they were willing to expect the issue some few days at the islands ; and by this time drawing near the island of s. michael , it was his good fortune to meet and take the carreck he looked for ; which added more honour to his former service , and gave great content to the merchants , to have a profitable return of their adventure , which was the thing they principally desired . this voyage proceeded prosperously and without exception , for there was both honour and wealth gained , and the enemy greatly endamaged . the first action undertaken by the spaniards was in 1588 , the duke of medina general , who were encountered by our fleet , the lord admiral being at sea himself in person . ships . commanders . the ark royal the lord admiral . the revenge sir francis drake , vice admiral . the lyon the lord thomas howard . the bear the lord sheffeild . the elizabeth jonas sir robert southwell . the triumph sir martin forbisher . the victory sir john hawkins . the hope capt. crosse . the bonaventure capt. reyman . the dread-nought capt. george beeston . the nouperil capt. thomas fenner . the rainbow the lord henry seymore . the vanntguard sir william winter . the mary rose capt. fenton . the antilope sir henry palmer . the foresight   the ayde capt. barker . the swallow   the tyger capt. fenner . the scout   the swiftsure capt. hawkins . the bull   the tremontary capt. bostock . the acatice   pinnaces , gallies , hoyes — 10 capt. ashley . notwithstanding the great spoil and hurt sir francis drake did the year past in cadiz road , by intercepting some part of the provisions intended for this great navy , the king of spain used his utmost endeavours to revenge himself this year , lest in taking longer time his designs might be prevented as before , and arrested all ships , men , and necessaries wanting for his fleet , and compell'd them per force to seave in this action . he appointed for general the duke of medina sidonia , a man imployed rather for his birth than experience ; for so many dukes , marquesses , and earls , voluntarily going , would have repined to have been commanded by a man of less quality than themselves . they departed from lisbon the 19th . day of may 1588 , with the greatest pride and glory , and least doubt of victory , that ever any nation did ; but god being angry with their insolence , disposed of them contrary to their expectation . the directions from the king of spain to his general were , to repair as wind and weather would give leave , to the road of callice in piccardy , there to abide the coming of the prince of parma and his army , and upon their meeting to have opened a letter directed to them both with further instructions . he was especially commanded to sail along the coasts of brittany and normandy , to avoid being discovered by us here ; and if he met with the english fleet , not to offer to fight , but onely seek to defend themselves . but when he came athwart the north cape , he was taken with a contrary wind and foul weather and forced into the harbour of the groyne , where part of his fleet lay attending his coming . as he was ready to depart from thence , they had intelligence by an english fisherman , whom they took prisoner , of our fleets late being at sea , and putting back again , not expecting their coming that year ; insomuch that most part of the men belonging to our ships were discharged . this intelligence made the duke alter his resolution , and to break the directions given him by the king ; yet this was not done without some difficulty , for the council was divided in their opinions , some held it best to observe the kings command , others not to lose the opportunity offered to surprize our fleet unawares , and burn and destroy them . diego flores de valdos , who had the command of the andalusian squadron , and on whom the duke most relied , because of his experience and judgment , was the main man that persuaded the attempt of our ships in harbour , and with that resolution they directed their course for england . the first land they fell with was the lizard , the southermost part of cornwall , which they took to be the rams head athwart plymouth , and the night being at hand they tacked off to sea , making account in the morning to make an attempt upon our ships in plymouth . but whilest they were thus deceived in the land , they were in the mean time discovered by capt. flemminge a pyrat , who had been at sea pilfering , and upon view of them , knowing them to be the spanish fleet , repaired with all speed to plymouth , and gave warning and notice to our fleet , who were then riding at anchor ; whereupon my lord admiral hastned with all possible expedition to get forth the ships , and before the spaniards could draw near plymouth , they were welcomed at sea by my lord and his navy , who continued fight with them untill he brought them to an anchor at callice . the particulars of the fight , and the successes thereof , being things so well known , i purposely omit . while this armado was preparing , her majesty had from time to time perfect intelligence of the spaniards designs ; and because she knew his intent was to invade her at sea with a mighty fleet from his own coast , she furnished out her royal navy under the conduct of the lord high admiral of england , and sent him to plymouth , as the likeliest place to attend their coming , as you have heard . then knowing that it was not the fleet alone that could endanger her safety , for that they were too weak for any enterprize on land , without the assistance of the prince of parma , and his army in flanders ; therefore she appointed 30 sail of holland ships to lie at an anchor before the town of dunkirk , where the prince was to imbarque in flat-bottom'd boats , made purposely for the expedition of england . thus had the prince by the queens providence been prevented , if he had attempted to put out of harbour with his boats ; but in truth neither his vessels nor his army were in readiness , which caused the king ever after to be jealous of him , and as 't is supposed to hasten his end . her majesty , notwithstanding this her vigilant care to foresee and prevent all danger that might happen at sea , would not hold her self too secure of her enemy , and therefore prepared a royal army to welcom him upon his landing ; but it was not the will of god that he should set foot on english ground , the queen becoming victorious over him at sea , with little hazard or bloudshed of her subjects . having shewed the design of the spaniards , and the course taken by her majesty to prevent them ; i will now collect the errors committed as well by the one as by the other , as i have promised in the beginning of my discourse . as nothing could appear more rational and likely to take effect , after the duke had gotten intelligence of the state of our navy , than his design to surprize them unawares in harbour , he well knowing that if he had taken away our strength by sea , he might have landed both when and where he listed , which is a great advantage to an invader ; yet admitting it had took that effect he designed , i see not how he was to be commended in breaking the instructions given him by the king , what blame then did he deserve , when so ill an event followed by his rashness and disobedience ? it was not the want of experience in the duke , or his laying the fault upon valdes , that excused him at his return ; but he had smarted bitterly for it , had it not been for his wife , who obtained the kings favour for him . before th' arrival of the ships that escaped in this voyage , it was known in spain , that diego flores de valdes was he who persuaded the duke to break the kings instructions ; whereupon the king gave commandment in all his ports , where the said diego flores de valdes might arrive , to apprehend him ; which was accordingly executed , and he carried to the castle of sancta andrea , and was never seen or heard of after . if the kings directions had been punctually followed , then had his fleet kept the coast of france , and arrived in the road of callice before they had been discovered by us , which might have endangered her majesty and the realm , our ships being so far off as plymouth , where then they lay ; and thought the prince of parma had not been presently ready , yet he had gained time sufficient by the absence of our fleet to make himself ready . and whereas the prince was kept in by the 30 sail of hollanders , so many of the dukes fleet might have been able to have put the hollanders from the road of dunkirk , and possest it themselves , and so have secured the army and fleets meeting together ; and then how easie it had been after their joyning to have transported themselves for england ? and what would have ensued upon their landing here may be well imagined . but it was the will of him that directs all men and their actions , that the fleets should meet , and the enemy be beaten as they were , put from their anchorage in callice road , the prince of parma beleaguered at sea , and their navy driven about scotland and ireland with great hazard and loss ; which sheweth how god did marvellously defend us against their dangerous designs . and here was opportunity offered us to have followed the victory upon them ; for after they were beaten from the road at callice , and all their hopes and designs frustated ; if we had once more offered them fight , the general by persuasion of his confessor was determined to yield , whose example 't is very likely would have made the rest to have done the like . but this opportunity was lost , not through the negligence or backwardness of the lord admiral , but merely through the want of providence in those that had the charge of furnishing and providing for the fleet ; for at that time of so great advantage , when they came to examine their provisions , they found a general scarcity of powder and shot , for want whereof they were forced to return home . another opportunity was lost not much inferiour to the other , by not sending part of our fleet to the west of ireland , where the spaniards of necessity were to pass after so many dangers and disasters as they had endured . if we had been so happy as to have followed this course , as it was both thought and discoursed of ; we had been absolutely victorious over this great and formidable navy , for they were brought to that necessity , that they would willingly have yielded , as divers of them confess'd that were shipwreck'd in ireland . by this we may see how weak and feeble the designs of men are , in respect of the creator of man , and how indifferently he dealt betwixt the two nations , sometimes giving one , sometimes the other , the advantage ; and yet so that he onely ordered the battel . the action of portugal , 1589. ships . commanders by sea. commanders by land. the revenge sir francis drake sir john norris the dread-nought capt. thomas fenner sir edward norris the ayde capt. william fenner sir henry norris the nonperil capt. sackvile sir roger williams the foresight capt. william winter . serjeant major the swiftsure capt. goring earl of essex voluntier the last overthrow of 1588 given to the invincible fleet , as they termed themselves , did so encourage every man to the war , as happy was he that could put himself into action against the spaniards , as it appeared by the voluntiers that went in this voyage ; which the queen ( considering the great loss the king of spain received in the year past , whereby it was to be imagined how weakly he was provided at home ) was willing to countenance , though she undertook it not wholly her self , which was the main cause of its ill success and overthrow . for whosoever he be of a subject , that thinks to undertake so great an enterprise without a prince's purse , shall be deceived ; and therefore these two generals in my opinion never overshot themselves more , than in undertaking so great a charge with so little means ; for where there are victuals and arms wanting , what hope is there of prevailing ? the project of this voyage was to restore a distressed king to his kingdom , usurped as he pretended ; and though the means for the setting forth of this voyage was not so great as was expedient ; yet in the opinion of all men , if they had directed their course whither they intended it , without landing at the groyne , they had performed the service they went for , restored don antonio to the crown of portugal , dissevered it from spain , and united it in league with england , which would have answered the present charge , and have settled a continual trade for us to the west indies , and the rest of the portugals dominions , for so we might easily have conditioned . but the landing at the groyne was an unnecessary lingering and hinderance of the other great and main design , a consuming of victuals , a weakning of the army by the immoderate drinking of the souldiers , which brought a lamentable sickness amongst them , a warning to the spaniards to strengthen portugal , and ( as great as all this ) a discouragement to proceed further being repulsed in the first attempt . but notwithstanding the ill success at the groyne , they departed from thence towards portugal , and arrived at penech , a maritine town twelve leagus from lisbon , where with a small resistance they took the castle , after the captain understood don antonio to be in the army . from thence general norris marched with his land forces to lisbon , and sir francis drake with his fleet sailed to caske cadiz , promising from thence to pass with his ships up the river to lisbon , to meet with sir john norris , which yet he did not perform , and therefore was much blamed by the general consent of all men ; the overthrow of the action being imputed to him . it will not excuse sir francis drake , for making such a promise to sir john norris , though , on the other hand , i would have accused him of great want of discretion , if he had put the fleet to so great an adventure to so little purpose : for his being in the harbor of lisbon , signified nothing to the taking of the castle , which was two miles from thence ; and had the castle been taken , the town would have been taken of course . besides , the ships could not furnish the army with more men or victuals : wherefore i understand not in what respect his going up was necessary ; and yet the fleet must have endured many hazards to this little purpose . for betwixt cask cadiz and lisbon , there are three castles , st. john , st. francis , and bellin . the first of the three , i hold one of the most impregnable forts to sea-ward in europe ; and the fleet was to pass within calliver shot of this fort ; though i confess , the passing it , was not the greatest dander : for with a reasonable gale of wind , any fort is to be passed with small hazard . but at this time there was a general want of victuals ; and being once entred the harbour , their coming out again was uncertain , the place being subject to contrary winds : in the mean while , the better part of the victuals would have been consumed , and they would have remained there in so desperate a condition , as they would have been forced to have fired one half of the fleet , for the bringing home of the rest : for being as they were , yet after the army was imbarqued for england , many died of famine homeward , and more would have done , if the wind had took them short ; or , if by the death of some of them , the rest who survived had not been the bettr relieved . and besides all these casualties and dangers , the adilantado was then in lisbon with the gallies of spain ; and how easily he might have annoyed our fleet , by towing fire-ships amongst us : we may suppose the hurt we did the spaniards the year before in cadiz road ; and greater we had done them , had we had the help of gallies . it was a wonder to observe every man's opinion of this voyage , as well those that were actions in it , as others that staid at home ; some imputing the overthrow of it , to the landing at the groyn ; others to the portugalls failing us of those helps and assistances which were promised by don antonio ; and others , to sir francis drake's not coming up the river with his fleet. though any of these three reasons may seem probable enough , and the landing at the groyn , the chiefest of the three ; yet if we weigh truly the defect , and where it was , it will appear , that the action was overthrown before their setting out from home , they being too weakly provided of all things needful for so great an expedition . for when this voyage was first treated of , the number of ships was nothing equal to the proportion of men : wherefore they were forced to make stay of divers easterlings which they met with in our channel , and compelled to serve in this action , for the transportation of our souldiers ; and though these ships were an ease to our men , who would have been otherwise much pestered for want of room ; yet their victuals were nothing augmented ; but they were put aboard the ships , like banished men , to seek their fortunes at sea , it being confessed , that divers of the ships had not four days victuals when they departed from plymouth . another impediment to the good success of this voyage , was , the want of field-pieces ; and this was the main cause why we failed of taking lisbon : for the enemies strength consisting chiefly in the castle , and we having only an army to countenance us , but no means for battery , we were the loss of the victory our selves : for it was apparent by intelligence we received , that if we had presented them with battery , they were resolved to parly , and by consequence to yield ; and this too was made use of by the portugalls , as a main reason why they joyned not with us . and there is as much to be said on the portugalls behalf , as an evidence of their good will and favor to us , that though they shewed themselves forward upon this occasion , to aid us , yet they opposed not themselves as enemies against us : whereas if they had pursued us in our retreat from lisbon to cask cadiz , our men being weak , sickly , and wanting powder , and shot , and other arms , they had in all probability put us to a great loss and disgrace . and if ever england have the like occasion to aid a competitor in portugal , we shall questionless , find , that our fair demeanor and carriage in this expedition towards the people of that countrey , have gained us great reconciliation among them , and would be of singular advantage to us : for the general strictly forbad the rifling of their houses in the country , and the suburbs of lisbon , which he possess'd , and commanded , just payment to be made by the souldiers for every thing they took , without compulsion , or rigorous usage : and this hath made those that stood but indifferently affected before , now ready upon the like occasion to assist us . a voyage undertaken by the earl of cumberland , with one ship royal of her majesties , and six of his own , and of other adventures , anno dom. 1589. ships . commanders . the victory the earl of cumberland the margaret , capt. christopher lister and five other capt. monson , now sir william monson , vice-amiral . as the fleets of sir john norris and sir francis drake , returned from the voyage of portugal , my lord of cumberland proceeded upon his , towards that coast , ; and meeting with divers of that fleet , relieved them with victuals , who otherwise had perished . this voyage was undertaken at his and his friends charge , excepting the victory , a ship royal of the queen's , which she adventured . the service performed at sea , was the taking of three french ships of the league in our channel , and his encountring upon the coast of spain , with thirteen hulks , who made some resistance . out of these he took to the value of 7000 l. in spices belonging to portugal . from thence he crossed over to the island of terceras , and coming to st. michaels , with boats he fetched out two spanish ships from under the castle , which the same night arrived out of spain . in this course , from thence to flores , he took a spanish ship , laden with sugars and sweet-meats that came from the maderas . being at flores , he received intelligencence of divers spanish ships , which were in the road of fayal , whereupon he suddainly made from that island , where captain lister and captain monson gave a desperate attempt in their boats upon the said ships ; and after along fight possessed themselves of one of them of 300 tuns burden , carrying eighteen pieces of ordidinance , and fifty men. this ship , with one other , came from the indies , two of the rest out of guiney , and another was laden with woad which that island affords in great plenty ; who putting from thence to sea , and coming to the island of graciosa , after two days fight , yielded us by composition some victuals : off that island we likewise took a french ship of the league , of 200 tuns , that came from new-found-land . afterwards , sailing to the eastward of the road of terceras , in the even-we beheld 18 tall ships of the indies , entring into the said road , one whereof we after took in her course to the coast of spain : she was laden with hides , silver and cochineal ; but coming for england , she was cast away upon the mounts bay in cornwall , being valued at 100000 l. two other prizes of sugar we took in our said course to the coast of spain , esteemed each ship at 7000 l. and one from under the castle of st. maries to the same value . there was no road about those islands , that could defend their ships from our attempts ; yet in the last assault we gave , which was upon a ship of sugars , we found ill success , being sharply resisted , and two parts of our men slain and hurt : which loss was occasioned by captain lister , who would not be persuaded from landing in the view of their forts . the service performed by land , was the taking of the island of fayall , some months after the surprizing of those ships formerly mentioned . the castle yielded us 45 pieces of ordinance , great and small : we sacked and spoiled the town , and after ransomed it , and so departed . these summer services , and ships of sugar , proved not so sweet and pleasant as the winter was afterwards sharp and painful : for in our return for england , we found the calamity of famine , the hazard of shipwrack and the death of our men so great , that the like befell not any other fleet during the time of the war. all which disasters must be imputed to captain lister's rashness , upon whom my lord of cumberland chiefly relyed , wanting experience himself . he was the man that advised the sending the ships of wine for england , otherwise we had not known the want of drink ; he was as earnest in persuading our landing in the face of the fortifications of st. maries , against all reason and sence . as he was rash , so was he valiant ; but paid dearly for his unadvised counsel : for he was one of the first hurt , and that cruelly , in the attempt of st. maries , and afterward drowned in the rich ship , cast away at mounts bay. sir john hawkins , and sir martin forbisher , their voyage undertaken , anno 1590. ships . commanders . the revenge sir martin forbisher the mary-rose sir john hawkins the lyon sir edward yorke the bonaventure capt. fenner . the rainbow capt. george beeston the hope   the crane capt. bostock the quittance   the foresight capt. burnell the swiftseur .   from the yeear 1585. untill this present year 1590. there was the greatest possibility imaginable of enriching our nation , by actions at sea , had they been well followed ; the king of spain was grown so weak in shipping , by the overthrow he had in 1588 , that he could no longer secure the trade of his subjects . her majesty now finding how necessary it was for her to maintain a fleet upon the spanish coast , as well to hinder the preparations he might make against her , to repair the disgrace he received in 1588. as also to intercept his fleets from the indies , by which he grew great and mighty . she sent this year 1590. ten ships of her own , in two squadrons ; the one to be commanded by sir john hawkins , the other by sir martin forbisher , two gentlemen of tried experience . the king of spain understanding of this preparation of hers , sent forth 20 sail of ships , under the command of don. alonso de bassan , brother to the late famous marquess of st. cruz. his charge was to secure home the indian fleet and carrecks . but after don alonso had put off to sea , the king of spain becoming better advised , than to adventure 20 of his ships to 10 of outs , sent for don alonso back , and so frustrated the expectation of our fleet. he likewise made a dispatch to the indies , commanding the fleets to winter there , rather than to run the hazard of coming home that summer : but this proved so great a hind'rance and loss to the merchants of spain , to be so long without return of their goods , that it caused many to become bankrupts , in sevil and other places ; besides , which was so great a weakening to their ships , to winter in the indies , that many years hardly sufficed to repair the damage they received . our fleet being thus prevented , spent seven months in vain upon the coasts of spain , and the islands : but in that space , could not possess themselves of one ship of the spaniards ; and the carrecks , upon which part of their hopes depended , came home without sight of the islands , and arrived safe at lisbon . this voyage was a bare action at sea , though they attempted landing at fayal , which the earl of cumberland , the year before had taken and quitted ; but the castle being re-fortified , they prevailed not in thier enterprize : and thence forwards the king of spain endeavored to strengthen his coasts , and to encrease in shipping , as may appear by the next ensuing year . two fleets , the one by vs , under the lord thomas howard , the other by the spaniards , commanded by don alonso de bassan , anno 1591. ships . commanders . the defiance the lord thomas howard the revenge sir richard greenvile , vice-admiral the nonperil sir edward denny the bonaventure capt. crosse the lyon capt. fenner the foresight capt. vavasor the crane capt. duffeild . her majesty understanding of the indian fleets wintering in the havana , and that necessity would compell them home this year 1591. she sent a fleet to the islands under the command of the lord thomas howard . the king of spain perceiving her drift , and being sensible how much the safety of that fleet concerned him , caused them to set out thence so late in the year , that it endangered the shipwrack of them all ; chosing rather to hazard the perishing of ships , men and goods , than their falling into our hands . he had two designs in bringing home this fleet so late : one was , he thought the lord thomas would have consumed his victuals , and have been forced home . the other , that he might in the mean time furnish out the great fleet he was preparing , little inferior to that of 1588. in the first he found himself deceived : for my lord was supplied both with ships and victuals out of england ; and in the second , he was as much prevented : for my lord of cumberland , who then lay upon the coast of spain , had intelligence of the spaniards putting out to sea , and advertised the lord thomas thereof , the very night before they arrived at flores , where my lord lay . the day after this intelligence , the spanish fleet was discovered by my lord thomas , whom he knew by their number and greatness , to be the ships of which he had warning ; and by that means escaped the danger that sir richard greenvile , his vice-admiral rashly ran into . upon view of the spaniards , which were 55 sail , the lord thomas warily , and like a discreet general , weighed anchor , and made signs to the rest of his fleet to do the like , with a purpose to get the wind of them ; but sir richard greenvile , being a stubborn man , and imagining this fleet to come from the indies , and not to be the armado of which they were informed , would by no means be persuaded by his master , or company to cut his main sail , to follow his admiral ; nay , so head-strong and rash he was , that he offered violence to those that councelled him thereto . but the old saying , that a wilful man is the cause of his own woe , could not be more truly verified than in him : for when the armado approached him , and he beheld the greatness of the ships , he began to see and repent of his folly ; and when it was too late , would have freed himself of them , but in vain : for he was left a prey to the enemy , every ship striving to be the first should board him . this wilful rashness of sir richard , made the spaniards triumph as much as if they had obtained a signal victory ; it being the first ship that ever they took of her majesties , and commended to them by some english fugitives to be the very best she had ; but their joy continued not long . for they enjoyed her but five days before she was cast away with many spaniards in her , upon the islands of tercera . commonly one misfortune is accompanied with another : for the indian fleet , which my lord had waited for the whole summer , the day after this mishap , fell into the company of this spanish armado : who , if they had staid but one day longer , or the indian fleet had come home but one day sooner , we had possest both them and many millions of treasure , which the sea afterward devoured : for from the time they met with the armado , and before they could recover home , nigh an hundred of them suffered shipwrack , besides the ascention of sevil , and the double fly-boat , that were sunk by the side of the revenge . all which was occasioned by their wintering in the indies , and the late disambogueing from thence : for the worm which that country , is subject to , weakens and consumes their ships . notwithstanding this cross and perverse fortune , which happened by means of sir richard greenvile , the lord thomas would not be dismayed or discouraged ; but kept the sea so long as he had victuals ; and by such ships as himself and the rest of the fleet took , defrayed the better part of the charge of the whole action . the earl of cumberland to the coast of spain , 1591. ships . commanders . the garland of her majesties . the earl of cumberland . capt. under him seven other ships of his and his friends capt. monson , now sir william monson . the earl of cumberland keeping the coast of spain , as you have heard , while the lord thomas remained at the islands , and both to one end , viz. to annoy and damnifie the spaniards , though in two several fleets , the earl found fortune in a sort , as much to frown upon him , as it had done upon the lord thomas howard . in his course from england to the spanish coast , he encountred with divers ships of holland , which came from lisbon , wherein he found a great quantity of spices belonging to the portugalls : so greatly were we abused by that nation of holland , who , though they were the first that engaged us in the war with spain , yet still maintained their own trade into those parts , and supplied the spaniards with munition , victuals shipping and intelligence against us . upon my lord's arrival on the coast of spain , it was his hap to take three ships at several times , one with wine , which he unladed into his own ; and two with sugars , which he enjoyed not long : no more did he the spices , which he took out of the hollanders . for one of the ships of sugar , by means of a leak that sprung upon her , was forced to be cast off , and the men , with much difficulty , recovered the shore , and saved their lives . the other being sent for england , and tossed with contrary winds , was for want of victuals forced into the groyn , where they rend'red themselves to the enemies mercy . the spices were determined to be sent for england , and a ship appointed for that purpose , with other ships to guard her ; and captain monson was sent on board her to the islands of the burlings , with a charge to see her dispatched for england . but the other ships , not observing the directions which were given them , and the night falling calm ; early in the morning , this scattered ship was set upon by six gallies ; and after a long and bloody fight , the captain , and the principallest men being slain , both ship and spices were taken ; but whether it was the respect they had to the queen's ship which was admiral of that fleet , or honor to my lord that commanded it ; or hope , by good usage of our men , to receive the like again , i know not ; but true it is , that the ordinary men were treated with more courtesie than they had been from the beginning of the wars . my lord of cumberland considering the disasters that thus befell him , and knowing the spanish fleet 's readiness to put out of harbor ; but especially finding his ship but ill of sail , it being the first voyage she ever went to sea , he durst not abide the coast of spain , but thought it more discretion to return for england , having ( as you have heard ) sent a pinnace to my lord thomas with the intelligence aforesaid . a voyage undertook by sir walter rawleigh ; but himself returning , left the charge thereof to sir martin forbisher , anno 1592. ships . commanders by sea. commander by land. the garland sir walter rawleigh sir john boroughs . the foresight , with divers merchants ships . capt. cross , and others . sir walter went not , but sir martin fobisher .   sir walter rawleigh , who had tasted abundantly of the queen's love , and found it now began to decline , put himself upon a voyage at sea , and drew unto him divers friends of great quality , and others , thinking to have attempted some place in the west indies ; and with this resolution he put out of harbour ; but spending two or three days in fowl weather , her majesty was pleased to command his return , and to commit the charge of the ships to sir martin forbisher , who was sent down for that purpose ; but with an express command , not to follow the design of the west indies . this suddain alteration being known unto the rest of the captains , for the present made some confusion , as commonly it happens in all voluntary actions . their general leaving them , they thought themselves free in point of reputation , and at liberty to take what course they pleased : few of them therefore did submit themselves to the command of sir martin forbisher , but chose rather each one to take his particular fortune and adventure at sea. sir martin , with two or three other ships , repaired to the coast of spain , where he took a spaniard laden with iron , and a portugal with sugar : he remained there not without some danger , his ship being ill of sail , and the enemy having a fleet at sea. sir john boroughs , captain cross , and another , stood to the islands , where they met with as many ships of my lord of cumberland's , with whom they consorted . after some time spent thereabouts , they had sight of a carreck , which they chased ; but she recoverd the island of flores before they could approach her ; but the carreck , seeing the islands could not defend her from the strength and force of the english , chose rather , after the men were got on shore to fire her self , than we the enemy should reap benefit by her . the purser of her was taken , and by threats compell'd to tell of another of their company behind , that had order to fall with that island ; and gave us such particular advertisement , that indeed she fell to be ours . in the mean time don alonso de bassan was furnishing at lisbon 23 of those gallions , which the year before he had when he took the revenge ; he was directed with those ships to go immediately to flores , to expect the coming of the carrecks , who had order to fall with that island , there to put on shore divers ordnance for strength'ning the town and castle . don alonso breaking his directions , unadvisedly made his repair first to st. michaels , and there delivered his ordnance before he arrived at flores ; and in the mean time one of the carrecks was burnt , and the other taken , as you have heard . this he held to be such a disreputation to him , and especially for that it happened through his own error and default , that he became much perplex'd , and pursued the english 100 leagues ; but in vain , they being so far a head. the king of spain being advertised of his two carrecks mishap , and the error of don alonso , though he had much favoured him before , in respect of divers actions he had been in with his brother , the marquess of st. cruz , and for what he had lately performed , by taking the revenge : yet — the king held it for such a blemish to his honor , not to have his instructions obeyed ; and observed , that he did not only take from don alonso his command ; but he lived and died too in disgrace ; which , in my opinion , he worthily deserved . the queens adventure in this voyage , was only two ships ; one of which , and the least of them too , was at the taking of the carreck ; which title , joyned with her regal authority , she made such use of , that the rest of the adventures were fain to submit themselves to her pleasure , with whom she dealt but indifferently . the earl of cumberland to the coast of spain , anno dom. 1593. ships commanders . the lyon the earl of cumberland the bonaventure , and seven other ships . capt. under him , capt. monson sir edward yorke . the earl of cumberland finding , that many of his voyages had miscarried through the negligence , or unfaithfulness of those who were entrusted to lay in necessary provisions ; and yet , being incouraged by the good success he had the last year , obtained two of her majesty's ships ; and victualled them himself , together with seven others that did accompany them ; and arriving upon the coast of spain , he took two french ships of the league , which did more than treble the expence of his voyage . my lord , being one day severed from his fleet , it was his hap to meet with 12 hulks , at the same place where captain monson was taken the same day two years before : he required that respect from them that was due unto her majesties ship , which they peremptorily refused , presuming upon the strength of their 12 ships against one only ; but they found themselves deceived : for after two hours fight he brought them to his mercy , and made them acknowledge their error ; and not only so , but they willingly discovered , and delivered up to him a great quantity of powder and munition , which they carried for the king of spain's service . my lord of cumberland having spent some time thereabouts , and understanding that fervanteles de menega , a portugal , and the king's general of a fleet of 24 sail , was gone to the islands ; he pursued them , thinking to meet the carrecks before they should joyn together . at his coming to flores , he met , and took one of the fleet , with the death of the captain , who yet lived so long as to inform him both where the fleet was , and of their strength : the day after , he met the fleet it self ; but being far too weak for them , he was forced to leave them , and spent his time thereabouts , till he understood the carrecks were passed by , without seeing either fleet or island . sir martin forbisher , with a fleet to brest in brittany , anno 1594. ships . commanders . the vauntguard sir martin forbisher the rainbow capt. fenner the dreadnought capt. clifford the quittance . capt. savil about three years past , anno 1591. the queen sent sir john norris with 3000 souldiers , to joyn with the french king's party in those parts . the king of spain , who upheld the faction of the league , sent don john de aquila with the like forces , to joyn with the duke de merceur , who was of the contrary side . the spaniards had fortified themselves very strongly near the town of brest , expecting new succors from spain by sea ; which the french king fearing , craved assistance from the queen , which her majesty was the more willing to grant , because the spaniards had gotten the haven of brest to entertain their shipping in , and were like to prove there very dangerous neighbors : wherefore she sent sir martin forbisher thither in this year , 1594 , with four of her ships : and upon his arrival there , sir john norris , with his forces , and sir martin with his seaman , assailed the fort ; and though it was as bravely defended as men could do ; yet in the end it was taken with the loss of divers captains , sir martin forbisher being himself sore wounded , of which hurt he died at plymouth after his return . a fleet to the indies , sir francis drake , and sir john hawkins generals , wherein they adventured deeply , and died in the voyage . anno 1594. ships . commanders by sea. commander by land. the defiance sir francis drake sir tho. baskervile the garland sir john hawkins   the hope capt. gilbert yorke   the bonaventure capt. troughton   the foresight capt. winter   the adventure capt. tho. drake .   these two generals , presuming much upon their own experience and knowledge , used many persuasions to the queen , to undertake a voyage to the west indies , giving much assurance to perform great services , and promising to engage themselves very deeply therein , with the adventure of both substance and life . and as all actions of this nature promise fair , till they come to be performed , so did this the more , in the opinion of all men , in respect of the two generals experience . there were many impediments and let ts to this voyage , before they could clear themselves of the coast , which put them to greater charge than they expected ; the chiefest cause of their lingring , was a mistrust our state had of an invasion , and the danger to spare so many good ships and men out of england as they carried with them . the spaniards with their usual subtilty , let slip no opportunity to put us in amazement , thereby to dissolve the action ; and sent four gallies to bleuret in brittany , from thence to seize some part of our coast , that so we might apprehend a greater force was to follow . these gallies landed at pensants in cornwall , where , finding the town abandoned , they sack'd and burnt it ; but this design of theirs took little effect ; for the voyage proceeded notwithstanding . the intent of the voyage , was to land at nombre de dois , and from thence to march to panuma , to possess the treasure that comes from peru ; and if they saw reason for it , to inhabite and keep it . a few days before their going from plymouth , they received letters from her majesty , of an advertisement she had out of spain , that the indian fleet was arrived ; and that one of them , with loss of her mast , was put room to the island of porto ricom . she commanded them , seeing there was so good an opportunity offered , as the readiness of this her fleet , and the weakness of porto ricom , to possess themselves of that treasure ; and the rather , for that it was not much out of their way to nombre de dois . it is neither years , nor experience , that can foresee and prevent all mishaps , which is a manifest proof , that god is the guider and disposer of mens actions : for nothing could seem more probable to be effected , than this later design , especially considering the ability and wisdom of the two generals ; and yet was unhappily prevented , and failed in the execution : for there being five frigats sent out of spain , to fetch this treasure from porto ricom , in their way it was their hap to take a pinnace of the english fleet , by whom they understood the secrets of the voyage ; and to prevent the attempt of porto ricom , they hastened thither with all speed ( whilst our generals lingred at quadrupa , to set up their boats ) and at their arrival , so strengthened the town with the souldiers , brought in the prigats , that when our fleet came thither , not expecting resistance , they found themselves frustrate of their hopes , which indeed they themselves were the occasion of , in managing their design with no more secresie . this repulse bred so great a disconceit in sir john hawkins , as it is thought to have hastened his days ; and being great and unexpected , did not a little discourage sir francis drake's great mind , who yet proceeded upon his first resolved design , for nombre de dios , though with no better success : for the enemy having knowledge of their coming , fortified the passage to panuma , and forced them to return with loss . sir francis drake , who was wont to rule fortune , now finding his error , and the difference between the present strength of the indies , and what it was when he first knew it , grew melancholly upon this disappointment , and suddenly , and i hope naturally , died at nombre de dios , where he got his first reputation . the two generals dying , and all other hopes being taken away by their deaths , sir thomas baskervile succeeded them in their command , and began now to think upon his return for england ; but coming near cuba , he met and fought with a fleet of spain , though not long , by reason of the sickness and weakness of his men. this fleet was sent to take the advantage of ours in its return , thinking , as indeed it happened , that they should find them both weak , and in want ; but the swiftness of our ships , in which we had the advantage of the spaniards , preserved us . you may observe , that from the year the revenge was taken , untill this present year 1595. there was no summer , but the king of spain furnished a fleet for the guarding of his coasts , and securing of his trade ; and though there was little fear of any fleet from england to impeach him , besides this in the indies ; yet because he would shew his greatness , and satisfie the portugal of the care he had in preserving their carrecks ; he sent the count of feria , a young nobleman of portugal , who desired to gain experience , with 20 ships to the islands ; but the carrecks did , as they used to do in many other years , miss both islands and fleets , and arrived at lisbon safely . the other fleets of the king of spain in the indies , consisted of 24 ships , their general don bernardino de villa nova , an approved coward , as it appeared when he came to encounter the english fleet ; but his defects were supplied by the valor of his vice-admiral , who behaved himself much to his honor : his name was john garanay . the earl of essex , and the lord admiral of england , generals , equally , both by sea and land , anno 1596. ships . commanders . the repulse the earl of essex . capt. under him the ark-royal sir will. monson the mere-honor the lord admiral . capt. under him the warspite ames preston the lyon the lord thomas howard the rainbow sir walter rawleigh the nonperil sir robert southwell the vauntguard sir francis vere the mary rose sir robert dudley the dreadnought sir john wingfield the swiftsuer sir george carew the quittance sir alexander clifford the tremontary , with several others . sir robert crosse   sir george clifford   sir robert mansfield   capt. king. the first of june 1596. we departed from plymouth ; and our departure was the more speedy , by reason of the great pains , care and industry of the 16 captains , who in their own persons , labored the night before , to get out some of their ships , riding at catwater , which otherwise had not been easily effected . the third , we set sail from cansom bay , the wind , which when we weighed , was at west and by south , instantly cast up to the north east , and so continued untill it brought us up as high as the north cape of spain ; and this fortunate beginning put us in great hopes of a lucky success to ensue . we being now come upon our enemies coast , it behoved the generals to be vigilant in keeping them from intelligence of us , who therefore appointed the litness , the true love , and the lion's whelp ( the three chief sailors of our fleet ) to run a head , suspecting the spaniards had some carvels of advice out , which they did usually send to discover at sea , upon any rumor of a less fleet than this , was made ready in england . no ship or carvel escaped from us , which i hold a second happiness to our voyage : for you shall understand hereafter , the inconvenience that might have happened upon our discovery . the 10th . of june , the said three ships , took three fly-boats that came from cadiz 14 days before ; by them we understood the state of the town , and that they had no suspition of us , which we looked on as a third omen of our good fortune to come . the 12th . of june , the swan , a ship of london , being commanded , as the other three , to keep a good way off the fleet , to prevent discovery , she met with a fly-boat , which made resistance , and escaped from her . this fly-boat came from the streights , bound home , who discovering our fleet , and thinking to gain reputation and reward from the spaniards , shhaped her course for lisbon ; but she was luckily prevented by the john and francis , another ship of london , commanded by sir marmaduke darrel , who took her within a league of the shore ; and this we may account a fourth happiness to our voyage . the first ( as hath been said ) was for the wind to take us so suddainly , and to continue so long : for our souldiers being shipped , and in harbor , would have consumed their victuals , and have been so pester'd , that it would have endangered a sickness amongst them . the second , was the taking all ships that were seen , which kept the enemy from intelligence . the third , was the intercepting of the fly-boats from cadiz , whither we were bound , who assured us , our coming was not suspected , which made us more careful to hail from the coast than otherwise we should have been : they told us likewise of the daily expectation of the gallions to come from st. jacar to cadiz , and of the merchant-men that lay there , and were ready bound for the indies . these intelligences were of great moment , and made the generals presently to contrive their business both by sea and land , which otherwise would have taken up a longer time , after their coming thither , and whether all men would have consented to attempt their ships in harbor , if they had not known the most part of them to consist of merchants , i hold very doubtful . the fourth , and fortunatest of all , was the taking of the fly-boat by the john and francis , which the swan let go : for if she had reached lisbon , she had been able to make report of the number and greatness of our ships , and might have endangered the loss of the whole design , she seeing the course we bore , and that we had passed lisbon , which was the place the enemy most suspected , and made there his greatest preparation for defence : but had the enemy been freed of that doubt , he had then no place to fear but andulozia and cadiz above the rest , which upon the lest warning might have been strengthened , and we put to great hazard ; he might also have secured his ships , by towing them out with gallies ; and howsoever the wind had been , might have sent them into the streights , where it had been in vain to have pursued them , or over the bar of st. lucar , where it had been in vain to have attempted them . and indeed , of the good and ill of intelligence , we had had sufficient experience formerly , of the good in 1588. for how suddainly had we been taken and surprized when it we lest suspected , had it not been for captain flemming ? of the ill in the year before this , by the spaniards taking a barque of sir francis drake's fleet , which was the occasion of the overthrow of himself and the whole action ? the 20th . of june we came to cadiz , earlier in the morning than the masters made reckoning of . before our coming thither , it was determined in council , that we should land at st. sebastians , the westermost part of the land ; and thither came all the ships to an anchor , every man preparing to land as he was formerly directed ; but the wind being so great , and the sea so grown , and four gallies lying too , to intercept our boats , there was no attempting to land there , without the hazard of all . this day was spent in vain , in returning messengers from one general to another ; and in the end , they were forced to resolve upon a course which sir william monson , captain under my lord of essex , advised him to , the same morning he discovered the town ; which was to surprize the ships , and to be possessors of the harbor before they attempted landing . this being now resolved on , there arose a great question , who should have the honor of the first going in ? my lord of essex stood for himself ; but my lord admiral opposed it , knowing if he miscarried , it would hazard the overthrow of the action ; besides , he was streightly charged by her majesty , that the earl should not expose himself to danger , but upon great necessity . when my lord of essex could not prevail , the whole council withstanding him he sent sir william monson that night , on board my lord admiral , to resolve what ships should be appointed the next day to undertake the service . sir walter rawleigh had the vaward given him , which my lord thomas howard hearing , challenged in right of his place of vice-admiral , and it was granted him ; but sir walter having order over night to ply in , came first to an anchor ; but in that distance from the spaniards as he could not annoy them : and he himself returned on board the lord general essex , to excuse his coming to anchor so far off , for want of water to go higher ; which was thought strange , that the spaniards which drew much more water , and had no more advantage than he of tide , could pass where his could not : but sir francis vere , in the rainbow , who was appointed to second him , passing by sir walter rawleigh his ship , sir walter the second time , weighed and went higher . the lord general essex , who promised to keep in the midst of the fleet , was told by sir william monson , that the greatest service would depend upon three or four ships ; and sir william put him in mind of his honor ; for that many eyes beheld him . this made him forgetful of his promise , and to use all means he could to be formost in the fight . my lord howard , who could not go up in his own ship , the mere-honor , betook himself to the nonperil ; and in respect the rainbow , the repulse and warspight , had taken up the best of the channel , by their first coming to an anchor , to his grief he could not get higher : here did every ship strive to be the headmost ; but such was the narrowness of the channel , as neither the lord admiral , nor any other ship of the queens could pass on . there was commandment given , that no ship should shoot but the queens , making account , that the honor would be the greater , if the victory were obtained with so few . this fight confinued from ten , till four in the afternoon : the spaniards then set sail , thinking either to run higher up the river , or else to bring their other broad sides to us , because of the heat of their ordnance ; but howsoever it was , in their floating , they came a ground , and the men began to forsake the ships : whereupon there was commandment given , that all the hoys , and vessels that drew least water should go unto them . sir william monson was sent in the repulse boat , with like directions . we posses'd our selves of the great gallions , the matthew , and the andrew ; but the philip and thomas fired themselves , and were burnt down before they could be quenched . i must not omit to describe the manner of the spanish ships and gallies , riding in harbor at our first coming to cadiz . the four gallions singled themselves from out the fleet , as guards of their merchants . the gallies were placed to flank us with their prows before entry ; but when they saw our approach , the next morning the merchants ran up the river , and the men of war of port royal to the point of the river , brought themselves into a good order of fight , moving their ships a head and a stern , to have their broad sides upon us . the gallies then betook themselves to the guard of the town , which we put them from before we attempted the ships . the victory being obtained at sea , the l. general essex landed his men in a sandy bay , which the castle of poyntull commanded ; but they seeing the success of their ships , and mistrusting their own strength , neither offered to offend his landing , nor to defend the castle ; but quitted it , and so we became possessors of it . after my lord 's peeceable landing , he considered what was to be done ; and there being no place from whence the enemy could annoy us , but the bridge of swasoe , which leadeth over from the main land to the island ; by our making good of which bridge , there would be no way left for the gallies to escape us . he sent three regiments under the command of sir conniers clifford , sir christopher blunt , and sir thomas garret to the bridge ; who at their first coming were encountred by the enemy , but yet possess'd themselves of it , with the loss of some men ; but whether it was for want of victuals , or for what other reasons , our men quitted it , i know not , and the gallies breaking down divers arches pass'd it , and by that means escaped . my lord dispatched a messenger to my lord admiral , intreating him to give order to attempt the merchants that rode in port royal , for that it was dangerous to give them a night's respite , lest they should convey away their wealth , or take example by the philip and thomas , to burn themselves . this message was delivered by sir anthony ashley , and sir william monson , as my lord admiral was in his boat , ready with his toops of seamen to land , fearing the lord general essex should be put to distress with his small companies , which were but three regiments , hastened by all means to second him , and gave order to certain ships the next day to pursue him . seeing i have undertaken to shew the escapes committed in any of our english voyages , such as were committed here , shall without fear or flattery appear to the judicious reader . though the earl of essex his carriage and forwardness merited much , yet if it had been with more advisement , and less haste , it would have succeeded better : and if he were now living , he would confess , sir william monson advised him , rather to seek to be master of the ships , than of the town ; for it was that would afford both wealth and honor : for the riches in ships could not be concealed , or conveyed away as in towns they might . and the ships themselves being brought for england , would be always before mens eyes there , and put them in remembrance of the greatness of the exploit ; as for the town , perhaps it might be soon won , but probably not long enjoyed , and so quickly forgotten : and to speak indifferentiy , by the earl's suddain landing , without the lord admirals privity ; and his giving advice by a message to attempt the ships , which should have been resolved of upon mature deliberation , no doubt , the lord admiral found his honor a little eclipsed , which perhaps hastened his landing for his reputation sake , whenas he thought it more advisable to have possess'd himself of their fleet. before the lord admiral could draw near the town , the earl of essex had entred it ; and although the houses were built in that manner , as that every house served for a platform ; yet they were forc'd to quit them , and to retire into the castle . my lord at last , in despite of the enemy , gained the market place , where he found greatest resistance from the houses thereabouts ; and where it was that that worthy gentleman sir john wingfield was unluckily slain . the lord general essex caused it to be proclaimed by beat of drum through the town , that all that would yield , should repair to the town-house , where they should have promise of mercy , and those that would not , to expect no favor . the castle desired respite to consider untill the morning following ; and then by one general consent , they surrend'red themselves to the two lord generals mercies . the chief prisoners , men and women , were brought into the castle , where they remained a little space , and were sent away with honorable usage . the noble treating of the prisoners , hath gained an everlasting honor to our nation , and the general 's in particular . it cannot be supposed the lord generals had leisure to be idle the day following , having so great business to consider of , as the securing the town , and enjoying the merchants ships : wherefore , for the speedier dispatch , they had speech with the best men of the city , about the ransom to be given for their town and liberties , 120000 duckets was the summ concluded on ; and for security thereof , many of them became hostages . there was likewise an overture for the ransom of their ships and goods , which the duke of medina hearing of , rather than we should reap any profit by them , he caused them to be fired . we found by experience , that the destroying of this fleet ( which did amount to the value of six or seven millions ) was the general impoverishing of the whole country : for when the pledges sent to sevil , to take up money for their redemption ; they were answered , that all the town was not able to raise such a summ , their loss was so great by the loss of their fleet. and to speak truth , spain never received so great an overthrow , so great a spoil , so great an indignity at our hands as this : for our attempt was at his own home , in his port , that he thought as safe as his chamber , where we took and destroy'd his ships of war , burnt and consumed the wealth of his merchants , sack'd his city , ransomed his subjects , and entred his country without impeachment . to write all accidents of this voyage , wete too tedious , and would weary the reader ; but he that would desire to know the behavior of the spaniards , as well as of us , many confer with divers english men that were redeemed out the gallies in exchange for others , and brought into england . after we had enjoyed the town of cadiz a fortnight , and our men were grown rich by the spoil of it , the generals imbarqued their army , with an intent to perform greater services before their return ; but such was the covetousness of the better sort , who were inriched there , and the fear of hunger in others , who complained for want of victuals , as they could not willingly be drawn to any farther action , to gain more reputation . the only thing that was afterwards attempted , was pharoah , a town of algarula in portugal , a place of no resistance or wealth , only famous by the library of osorius , who was bishop of that place ; which library was brought into england by us , and many of the books bestowed upon the new erected library of oxford . some prisoners were taken ; but of small account , who told us , that the greatest strength of the country was in lawgust , the chief town of argarula , twelve miles distant from thence ; because most part of the gentlemen thereabouts were gone thither , to make it good expecting our coming . this news was acceptable to my lord of essex , who preferred honor before wealth : and having had his will , and the spoil of the town of pharoah and country thereabouts : he shipped his army , and took council of the lord admiral how to proceed . my lord admiral diverted his course for lawgust , alleadging the place was strong , of no wealth , always held in the nature of a fisher-town , belonging to the portugals , who in their hearts were our friends ; that the winning of it , after so eminent a place as cadiz , could add no honor ; though it should be carried , yet it would be the loss of his best troops and gentlemen , who would rather to die , than receive indignity of a repulse . my lord of essex , much against his will , was forc'd to yield unto these reasons , and desist from that enterprise . about this time there was a general complaint for want of victuals ; which proceeded rather out of a desire that some had to be at home , than out of any necessity : for sir william monson and mr. darrel , were appointed to examine the condition of every ship , and found seven weeks victuals ( drink excepted ) which might have been supplied from the shore in water ; and this put the generals in great hope to perform something more than they had done . the only service that was now to be thought on , was to lie in wait for the carrecks , which in all probability could not escape us , though there were many doubts to the contrary ; but easily answered by men of experience : but in truth , some mens desire homeward , were so great , that no reason could prevail with , or persuade them . coming into the height of the rock , the generals took council once again , and then the earl of essex , and the lord thomas howard , offered with great earnestness , to stay out the time our victuals lasted ; and desired to have but 12 ships furnished out of the rest to stay with them ; but this would not be granted , though the squadron of the hollanders offered voluntarily to stay . sir walter rawleigh alleadged the scarcity of victuals , and the infection of his men. my lord general essex , offered , in the greatness of his mind , and the desire he had to stay , to supply his want of men and victuals , and to exchange ships ; but all proposals were in vain : for the riches kept them that got much , from attempting more ; as if it had been otherwise pure want , though not honour would have enforced them to greater enterprises . this being the last hopes of the voyage , and being generally withstood , it was concluded to steer away for the north cape , and afterwards , to view and search the harbors of the groyn and ferrol ; and if any of the king of spain's ships chanced to be there , to give an attempt upon them . the lord admiral sent a carvel of our fleet into these two harbors , and aparrelled the men in spanish cloaths , to avoid suspicion . this carvel returned the next day , with a true relation , that there were no ships in the harbors : and now passing all places where there was any hope of doing good , our return for england was resolved upon ; and the 8th . of august , the lord admiral arrived in plymouth , with the greatest part of the army : and the lord general essex , who staid to accompany the st. andrew , which was under his charge , and reputed of his squadron , two days after us , the 10th . of august , where he found the army in that perfect health , as the like hath not been seen , for so many to go out of england , to such great enterprises , and so well to return home again , he himself rid up to the court , to advise with her majesty , about the winning of callis , which the spaniards took the easter before : here was a good opportunity , to have re-gained the ancient patrimony of england ; but the french king , thought he might with more ease re-gain it from the spaniard , who was his enemy , than recover it again from us , who were his friends . my lord admiral , with the fleet , went to the downs , where he landed , and left the charge of the navy , to sir robert dudley , and sir william monson . in going from thence to chatham , they endured more foul weather , and contrary winds , than in the whole voyage besides . a voyage to the islands , the earl of essex general , anno 1597. ships . commanders . the mere-honor the earl of essex . capt. under him after in the repulse sir robert mansell the lyon the lord thomas howard the warspite sir walter rawleigh the garland the earl of southampton the defiance the lord mountioy the mary rose sir francis vere the hope sir richard lewson the matthew sir george carew the rainbow sir will. monson the bonaventure , sir will. harvey the dreadnought sir will. brooke the swiftsuer sir gilly merick the antelope sir john gilbert , he went not . the nonperil sir tho. vavasor the st. andrew capt. throgmorton . her majesty having knowledge of the king of spain's drawing down his fleet and army to the groyn and ferrol , with an intent to enter into some action against her ; and that , notwithstanding the loss of thirty six sail of his ships that were cast away upon the north cape , in their coming thither : he prepared with all possible means , to revenge the disgraces we did him the year last past at cadiz . her majesty likewise prepared to defend her self , and fitted out the most part of her ships for the sea ; but at length , perceiving his drift was more to afright than offend her , though he gave it it out otherwise , because she should provide to resist him at home , rather than to annoy him abroad . she was unwilling the great charges she had been at , should be bestowed in vain ; and therefore turned her preparations another way , than that for which she first intended them . the project of this voyage , was to assault the king of spain's shipping in the harbor of ferrol , which the queen chiefly desired to do for her own security at home ; and afterwards to go and take the islands of tercera ; and there to expect the coming home of the indian fleet. but neither of these two designs took that effect which was expected : for in our setting forth , the same day we put to sea , we were taken with a most violent storm , and contrary winds ; and the general was seperated from the fleet , and one ship from another , so that the one half of the fleet were compelled to return home , and the rest that kept the sea , having reached the coast of spain , were commanded home , by order of the lord general . thus after their return , they were to advise upon a new voyage , finding by their ships and victuals , they were unable to perform the former : whereupon it was thought convenient all the army should be discharged , for the prolonging of the victuals , except a thousand of the prime souldiers of the low countries , which were put into her majesties ships , that they might be the better prepared , if they should chance to encounter the spanish fleet. thus the second time they departed england , though not without some danger of the ships , by reason of the winter 's near approach . the first land in spain we fell withal , was the north cape , the place whither our directions led us , if we happened to lose company ; being there descried from the shore , and not above 12 leagues from the groyn , where the spanish armado lay . we were in good hopes to have enticed them out of the harbor to fight us ; but spending some time thereabouts , and finding no such disposition in them , it was thought fit no longer to linger about that coast , lest we should lose our opportunity upon the indian fleet ; therefore every captain received his directions to stand his course into 36 degrees , there to spread our selves north and south , it being a heighth that commonly the spaniards sail in from the indies . at this time the lord general complained of a leak in his ship ; and two days after , towards midnight , he brought himself upon the lee to stop it . sir walter rawleigh , and some other ships , being a head the fleet , and it growing dark , they could not discern the lord general 's working ; but stood their course as before directed ; and through this unadvised working of my lord , they lost him and his fleet. the day following , sir walter rawleigh was informed by a pinnace he met , that the great armado , which we supposed to be in the groyn and ferrol , was gone to the islands , for the guard of the indian fleet. this pinnace , with this intelligence it gave us , sir walter rawleigh immediately sent to look out the general . my lord had no sooner received this advice , but at the very instant he directed his course to the islands , and dispatched some small vessels to sir walter rawleigh , to inform him of the suddain alteration of his course , upon the news received from him , commanding him with all expedition , to repair to flores , where he would not fail to be at our arrival . at the islands we found this intelligence utterly false : for neither the spanish ships were there , nor were expected there : we met likewise with divers english men , that came out of the indies ; but they could give us no assurance of the coming home of the fleet ; neither could we recive any advertisement from the shore , which made us half in despair of them . by that time we had watered our ships , and refreshed our selves at flores , sir walter rawleigh arrived there , who was willed by the lord general , after he was furnished of such wants as that poor island afforded , to make his repair to the island of fayal , which my lord intended to take . here grew great questions and heart-burnings against sir walter rawleigh : for he coming to fayal , and missing the lord general , and yet knowing my lord's resolution to take the island , he held it more advisable to land with those forces he had , than to expect the coming of my lord : for in that space the island might be better provided : whereupon he landed , and took it before my lord's approach . this act was held such an indignity to my lord , and urged with that vehemence , by those that hated sir walter , that if my lord , though naturally kind , and flexible , had not feared how it would have been taken in england , i think sir walter had smarted for it . from this island we went to graciosa , which did willingly relieve our wants , as far as it could ; yet with humble intreaty to forbear landing with our army , especially , because they understood there was a squadron of hollanders amongst us , who did not use to forbear cruelty wherever they came ; and here it was that we met the indian fleet , which in manner following , unluckily escaped us . the lord general having sent some men of good account into the island , to see there should be no injury offered to the portugals , he having passed his word to the contrary ; those men advertised him of four sail of ships descried from the shore , and one of them greater than the rest , seemed to be a carreck : my lord received this news with great joy , and divided his fleet into three squadrons , to be commanded by himself , the lord thomas howard , and sir walter rawleigh . the next ship to my lord , of the queen's , was the rainbow , wherein sir william monson went , who received direction from my lord to steer away south that night ; and if he should meet with any fleet , to follow them , carrying lights , or shooting off his ordnances or making any other sign that he could ; and if he met with no ships , to direct his course the next day , to the island of st. michael ; but promising that night to send 12 ships after him . sir william besought my lord , by the pinnace that brought him this direction , that above all things he should have a care to dispatch a squadron to the road of angra in the tercera's : for it was certain , if they were spaniards , thither they would resort . whilst my lord was thus contriving his business , and ordering his squadrons , a small barque of his fleet happened to come to him , who assured him , that those ships discovered from the land , were of his own fleet ; and that they came in immediately from them . this made my lord countermand his former direction ; only sir william monson , who was the next ship to him , and received the first command , could not be recalled back . within three hours of his departure from my lord , which might be about 12 of the clock , he fell in company of a fleet of 25 sail , which at the first he could not assure himself to be spaniards ; because the day before , that number of ships was missing from our fleet. here he was in a dilemma and great perplexity with himself ; for in making signs , as he was directed , if the ships proved english , it were ridiculous , and he would be exposed to scorn ; and to respite it untill morning , were as dangerous , if they were the indian fleet : for then my lord might be out of view , or of the hearing of his ordnance : therefore he resolved rather to put his person , than his ship in peril . he commanded his master to keep the weather-gage of the fleet , whatsoever should become of him ; and it blowing little wind , he betook himself to his boat , and rowed up with the fleet , demanding of whence they were : they answered , of sevil in spain ; and asked of whence he was ? he told them of england ; and that the ship in sight was a gallion of the queen 's of england , single and alone , alleadging the honor they would get by winning her ; his drift being to draw and entice them into the wake of our fleet , where they would be so entangled , as they could not escape ; they returned him some shot , and ill language ; but would not alter their course to the tercera's , whither they were bound , and where they arrived to our misfortune . sir william monson returned aboard his ship , making signs with lights , and report with his ordnance ; but all in vain : for my lord altering his course , as you have heard , stood that night to st. michaels , and passed by the north side of tercera , a farther way , than if he had gone by the way of augra , where he had met the indian fleet. when day appeared , and sir william monson was in hope to find the 12 ships promised to be sent to him , he might discern the spanish fleet two miles and a little more a head him , and a stern him a gallion , and a pinnace betwixt them ; which putting forth her flaggs , he knew to be the earl of southampton in the garland : the pinnace was a frigat of the spanish fleet , who took the garland and the rainbow to be gallions of theirs ; but seeing the flag of the garland , she found her error , and sprang a loof , thinkink to escape ; but the earl pursued her with the loss of some time , when he should have followed the fleet ; and therefore was desired to desist from that chase by sir william monson , who sent his boat to him . by a shot from my lord , this frigat was sunk ; and while his men were rifling her , sir francis vere and sir william brook came up in their two ships , who the spaniards would have made us believe were two gallions of theirs ; and so much did my lord signifie to sir william monson , wishing him to stay their coming up : for that there would be greater hope of those two ships , which there was no doubt but we were able to master , than of the fleet , for which we were too weak . but after sir william had made the two ships to be the queen's , which he ever suspected them to be , he began to pursue the spanish fleet afresh ; but by reason they were so far a head of him , and had so little way to sail , they recovered the road of tercera ; but he and the rest of the ships pursued them , and himself led the way into the harbor , where he found sharp resistance from the castle ; but yet so battered the ships , that he might see the masts of some shot by the board , and the men quit the ships ; so that there wanted nothing but a gale of wind to enable him to cut the cables of the hawsers , and to bring them off : wherefore he sent to the other 3 great ships of ours , to desire them to attempt the cutting their cables ; but sir fra. vere rather wished his coming off , that they might take a resolution what to do . this must be rather imputed to want of experience than backwardness in him : for sir william sent him word , that if he quitted the harbor , the ships would tow near the castle ; and as the night drew on , the wind would freshen , and come more off the land , which indeed proved so , and we above a league from the road in the morning . we may say , and that truly , there was never that possibility to have undone the state of spain as now : for every royal of plate we had taken in this fleet , had been two to them , by our converting it by war upon them . none of the captains could be blamed in this business : all is to be attributed to the want of experience in my lord , and his flexible nature to be over-ruled : for the first hour he anchored at flores , and called a council , sir william monson advised him upon the reasons following , after his watering , to run west , spreading his fleet north and south , so far as the eastern wind that then blew would carry them ; alleadging , that if the indian fleet came home that year , by computation of the last light moon , from which time their disimboguing in the indies , must be reckoned , they could not be above 200 leagues short of that island ; and whensoever the wind should chop up westernly , he bearing a slack sail , they would , in a few days overtake him . this advice my lord seemed to take , but was diverted by divers gentlemen , who coming principally for land service , found themselves tired by the tediousness of the sea. certain it is , if my lord had followed his advice , within less than 40 hours , he had made the queen owner of that fleet : for by the pilot's card , which was taken in the frigat , the spanish fleet was but 50 leagues in traverse with that eastern wind , when my lord was at flores , which made my lord wish , the first time sir william monson repaired to him , after the escape of the fleet , that he had lost his hand so he had been ruled by him . being met aboard sir francis vere , we consulted what to do , and resolved to acquaint my lord with what had happened , desiring his presence with us , to see if there were any possibility to attempt the shipping , or surprize the island , and so to possess the treasure . my lord received this advertisement , just as he was ready with his troops to have landed in st. michaels ; but this message diverted his landing , and made him presently cast about for the islands of the tercera's , where we lay all this while expecting his coming . in his course from st. michaels , it was his hap to to take three ships that departed the havana the day after the fleet : which three ships did more than countervail the whole voyage . at my lord's meeting with us at tercera , there was a consultation how the enemies ships might be fetched off , or destroyed as they lay ; but all men with one consent , agreed the impossibility of it . the attempting the island was propounded ; but withstood for these reasons , the difficulty in landing , the strength of the island , which was increased by fourteen or fifteen hundred souldiers in the ships , and our want of victuals to abide by the siege . seeing then we were frustrate of our hopes at the tercera , we resolved upon landing in st. michaels , and arrived the day following at punta delgada , the chief city . here my lord imbarqued his small army in boats , with offer to land ; and having thereby drawn the enemies greatest force thither to resist him , suddainly he rowed to villa franca , three or four leagues distant from thence ; which , not being defended by the enemy , he took . the ships had order to abide in the road of delgada ; for that my lord made account to march thither by land ; but being on shore at villa franca , he was informed that the march was impossible , by reason of the high and craggy mountains , which diverted his purpose . victuals now grew short with us , and my lord general began discreetly to foresee the danger in abiding towards winter upon these coasts , which could not afford him an harbor , only open roads that were subject to southern winds ; and upon every wind , he must put to sea for his safety . he considered , that if this should happen , when his troops were on shore , and he not able to reach the land in a fortnight or more , which is a thing ordinary , what a desperate case he should put himself into , especially in so great a want of victuals : and so concluding , that he had seen the end of all his hopes , by the escape of the fleet , he imbarqued himself and army , though with some difficulty , the seas were now grown so high . by this the one half of the fleet that rid in punta delgada , put room for villa franca , and those that remained behind , being thought by a ship of brazile to be the spanish fleet , she came in amongst them , and so was betrayed : after her there followed a carreck , who had been served in the like manner ; but for the hasty and indiscreet weighing of a hollander , which made her run a shore under the castle ; when the wind lessened sir william monson weighted with the rainbow , thinking to give an attempt upon her , notwithstanding the castle ; which she perceiving , as he drew near unto her , she set her self on fire , and burned down to the very keel . she , was a ship of 1400 tuns burden , that the year before was not able to double the cape of bona esperansa , in her voyage to the east indies ; but put into brazile , where she was laden with sugars , and afterwards thus destroyed . the spaniards , who presumed more upon their advantages than valors , thought themselves in too weak a condition to follow us to the islands , and put their fortunes upon a days service , but subtilly devised how to intercept us as we came home , when we had least thought or suspicion of them ; and their fleet , that was all this while in the groyn and ferrol , not daring to put forwards while they knew ours to be upon the coast , their general the adelantada came for england , with a resolution to land at falmouth , and fortifie it , and afterwards , with their ships , to keep the sea , and expect our coming home scattered . having thus cut off our sea forces , and possessing the harbor of falmouth , they thought with a second supply of 37 levantisco's ships , which the marquess arumbullo commanded , to have returned and gained a good footing in england . these designs of theirs were not foreseen by us : for we came home scattered , as they made reckoning , not 20 in number together . we may say , and that truly , that god sought for us : for the adalantada being within a few leagues of the island of silly , he commanded all his captains on board him to receive his directions ; but whilst they were in consultation , a violent storm took them at east , insomuch that the captains could hardly recover their ships , but in no case were able to save their boats , the storm continued so furious , and happy was he that could recover home , seeing their design thus overthrown by loss of their boats , whereby their means of landing was taken away . some who were willing to stay , and receive the farther commands of the general , kept the seas so long upon our coast , that in the end they were taken ; others put themselves into our harbors for refuge and succor ; and it is certainly known , that in this voyage the spaniards lost eighteen ships , the st. luke , and the st. bartholomew , being two and in the rank of his best gallions . we must ascribe this success to god only : for certainly the enemies designs were dangerous , and not to be diverted by our force ; but by his will , who would not suffer the spaniards in any of their attempts , to set footing in england , as we have done in all the quarters of spain , portugal , the islands , and both the indies . the lord thomas howard admiral to the downs , from whence he returned in one month , anno 1599. ships . commanders . the elizabeth jonas the lord thomas howard the ark royal sir walter rawleigh the triumph sir fulke grivel the mere-honor sir henry palmer the repulse sir tho. vavasor the garland sir will. harvey the defiance sir will. monson the nonperil sir robert cross the lyon sir richard lewson the rainbow sir alexander clifford the hope sir john gilbert the foresight sir tho. sherley the mary rose mr. fortescue the bonaventure , capt. troughton . the crane capt. jonas the swiftsuer capt. bradgate the tremontary capt. slingsby the advantage capt. hoer the quittance capt. reynolds i cannot write of any thing done in this year of 1599. for there was never greater expectation of war , with less performance . whether it was a mistrust the one nation had of the other , or a policy held on both sides , to make peace with sword in hand , a treaty being entertained by consent of each prince , i am not to examine ; but sure i am , the preparation was on both sides very great , as if the one expected an invasion from the other ; and yet it was generally conceived , not to be intended by either ; but that ours had only relation to my lord of essex , who was then in ireland , and had a design to try his friends in england , and to be revenged of his enemies , as he pretended , and as it proved afterwards by his fall : howsoever it was , the charge was not so great as necessary : for it was commonly known , that the adalantada had drawn both his ships and gallies to the groyne ; which was not usually done , but for some action intended upon england or ireland , though he converted them after to another use , as you shall hear . the gallies were sent into the low countreys , and pass'd the narrow seas , while our ships lay there , and with the fleet the atalantada pursued the hollanders to the islands , whither he suspected they were gone . this fleet of hollanders , which consisted of 73 sail , were the first ships that ever displayed their colors in war-like sort against the spaniards , in any action of their own : for how cruel soever the war seemed to be in holland , they maintained a peaceable trade in spain , and abused us . this first action of the hollanders at sea proved not very successful : for after the spoil of a town in the canary's , and some hurt done at the island of st. ome , they kept the sea for some seven or eight months , in which time their general and most of their men sickned and died , and the rest returned with loss and shame . another benefit which we received by this preparation , was , that our men were now taught suddainly to arme , every man knowing his command , and how to be commanded , which before they were ignorant of : and who knows not , that sudden and false alarms in an army , are sometimes necessary ? to say truth , the expedition which was then used in drawing together so great an army by land , and rigging so great and royal a navy to sea in so little a space of time , was so admirable in other coutreys , that they received a terror by it ; and many that came from beyond sea , said , the queen was never more dreaded abroad for any thing she ever did . french-men that came aboard our ships , did wonder ( as at a thing incredible ) that her majesty had rigged , victualled and furnished her royal ships to sea in 12 days time : and spain , as an enemy , had reason to fear , and grieve to see this suddain preparation ; but more , when they understood how the hearts of her majesty's subjects joyned with their hands , being all ready to spend their dearest blood for her and her service . holland might likewise see , that if they became insolent , we could be assoon provided as they ; not did they expect to find such celerity in any nation but themselves . it is probable too , that the king of spain , and the arch-duke , were hereby drawn to entertain thoughts of peace : for as soon as our fleet was at sea , a gentleman was sent from brussells , with some overtures , although for that time they succeeded not . however , whether it was , that the intended invasion from spain was diverted , or that her majesty was fully satisfied of my lord of essex , i know not ; but so it was , that she commanded the suddain return of her ships from sea , after they had layn three weeks or a month in the downs . sir richard lewson to the islands , anno dom. 1600. ships . commanders . the repulse sir richard lewson the warspight capt. troughton the vauntguard capt. sommers . the last year , as you have heard , put all men in expectation of war , which yet came to nothing . this summer gave us great hope of peace ; but with the like effect : for by consent of the queen , the king of spain , and the arch-duke , their commissioners met at bulloign in piccardie , to treat of peace ; a place chosen indifferently , the french king being in league and friendship with them all . whether this treaty were intended but in shew only , or , that they were out of hopes , to come to any conclusion ; or , what else was the true and real cause of its breaking off so suddenly , i know not ; but the pretence was but slender , for there grew a difference about precedency , betwixt the two crowns , though it was ever due to england ; and so the hopes of peace were frustrated , though had it been really intended , matters might easily have been accommodated . the queen suspecting the event hereof , before their meeting , and the rather , because the spaniards entertained with the like treaty , in 1588 when at the same instant , his navy appeared upon her coast to invade her ; therefore , least she should be guilty of too great security , in relying upon the success of this doubtful treaty , she furnished the three ships before named , under pretence to guard the western coast , which at that time was infested by the dunkirkers . and because there should be the less notice taken , part of the victuals was provided at plymouth ; and sir richard lewson , who was then admiral of the narrow seas , was appointed general , for the more secret carriage of the business ; so as it could not be conjectured , either by their victualling , or by their captain , being admiral of the narrow seas , that it was a service from home . as they were in a readiness at plymouth , expecting orders , the queen beingfully satisfied , that the treaty of bulloign would break off without effect , she commanded sir richard lawson to hasten to the islands , there to expect the carrecks , and mexico fleet. the spaniards on the other side , being as circumspect to prevent a mischief , as we were subtil to contrive it ; and believing ( as we did ) that the treaty of peace would prove a vain , hopeless shew of what was never meant , they furnished eighteen tall ships to the islands , as they had usually done , since the year 1591. the general of this fleet was don diego de borachero . our ships coming to the islands , they and the spaniards had intelligence of one another , but not the sight , for that sir richard lewson hailed sixty leagues westward , not only to avoid them , but in hopes to meet with the carrecks , and mexico fleet , before they could join them : but the carrecks being formerly warned by the taking of one of them , and burning of another , in 1591. had ever since that year , endeavored to shun the sight of that island , so that our fleet being now prevented , as they had often before been , ( nothing being more uncertain , than actions at sea , where ships are to meet one another casually ) they returned home , having consumed time and victuals , to no purpose , and seen not so much as one sail , from the time they quitted the coast of england , till their return , two ships of holland excepted , that came from the east indies ( for then began their trade thither ) which ships sir richard lewson relieved , finding them in great distress and want . sir richard lewson into ireland , anno 1601. ships . commanders . the warsight sir richard lewson the garland sir amias preston the defiance capt. goer the swiftsuer capt. sommers the crane capt. mainwaring in the year 1600. and part of the year 1601. there was a kind of cessation from arms , though not by agreement , for this year gave a hope of peace ; which failing , the former course of annoying each other was revived ; we in relieving the low countries , the spaniards in assisting the rebels in ireland . this was the summer , that the arch-duke besieged ostend , which was bravely defended , but principally , by the supplies out of england . and towards winter , when the spaniards thought we least looked for war , don diego de borachero , with 48 sail of ships , and 4000 soldiers was sent to invade ireland . in his way thither he lost the company of his vice-admiral , siriago , who returned to the groyn , which when the king heard , he was much distasted with siriago , and commanded him upon his allegiance , to hasten with all speed for ireland , as he was formerly directed ; don diego , his landing being known in england , when it was too late to prevent it ; yet , least he should be supplied with further forces , sir richard lewson valiantly entred the harbor , drew near their fortifications , and fought the enemy for the space of one whole day , his ship being an hundred times shot through , and yet but eight men slain . god so blest him , that he prevailed in his enterprize , destroyed their whole shipping , and made siriago fly by land into another harbor , where he obscurely imbarqued himself in a french vessel , for spain . all this while was the main army , which landed with their general , don juan de aquila , seated in kinsale , expecting the aid of tyroen , who promised every day to be with him . our army commanded by the lord montjoy , lord deputy of ireland , besieged the town , so that he prevented their meeting , and many skirmishes past betwixt them . the siege continued , with great miseries to both the armies , and not without cause , considering the season of the year , and the condition of the country , that afforded little relief to either : some few days before christmas , tyroen appeared with his forces , which was some little heartning to the enemy , in hopes to be freed of their imprisonment , for so may i call it , they were so strictly beleagured . the day of agreement , betwixt the spaniards and tyroen , was christmas eve , on which day , there happened an earthquake in england ; and , as many times such signs prove aut bonum , aut malum omen ; this proved fortunate to us , the victory being obtained , with so little loss , as it is almost incredible . this was the day of tryal , whether ireland should continue a parcel of our crown , or no ; for if the enemy had prevailed in the battel , and a treaty had not afterwards obtained more then force , it was to be feared , ireland would hardly have been ever recovered . the spaniards in ireland , seeing the success of tyroen , and the impossibility for him to re-inforce his army , being hopeless of supplies out of spain , and their poverty daily increasing , they made offers of a parly , which was granted , and after ensued a peace there : the conditions whereof are extant in print . they were furnished with ships , and secured of their passage into spain , where arriving in english vessels , the ships returned back for england . sir richard lewson , and sir william monson , to the coast of spain , anno 1602. ships . commanders . the repulse sir richard lewson , admiral the garland sir will. monson , vice-admiral . the defiance capt. goer the mary rose capt. slingsby the warspight capt. sommers the nonperil capt. reynolds the dreadnought capt. mainwaring the adventure capt. trevor the english carvel capt. sawkel the last attempt of the spaniards in ireland awakened the queen , who , it seemeth for two or three years together , entertained the hopes of peace , and therefore was sparing in setting forth her fleets . but now perceiving the enemy had found the way into ireland ; and that it behoved her to be more vigilant than ever ; she resolved , as the safest course to infest the spanish coasts with a continual fleet ; and in this year furnished the ships aforesaid , having promise from the states of holland , to joyn to them twelve sail of theirs ; and because this important service required great speed , she had not time enough to man them , or supply them with provisions altogether so well as they were usually wont to be ; but was content with what could be gotten in so short a warning , so desirous was she to see her ships at sea. sir richard lewson set sail with five of them the 19th . of march , and left sir william monson behind with the other four , to attend the coming of the hollanders ; though within two or three days after , sir william received command from the queen , to hasten with all speed to sir richard lewson ; for that she was advertised , that the silver ships were arrived at the tercera's . sir william monson hereupon neglected no time , nor stayed either to see himself better manned , or his ships better furnished ; but put to sea the 26th . of march. this intelligence of the queen 's was true : for the plate fleet had been at the tercera's , and departing from thence , in their course for spain , sir richard lewson , with his few ships , met them ; but to little purpose , wanting the rest of his fleet , and the help of the 12 hollanders . we may very well account this not the least error or negligence that hath been committed in our voyages : for if the hollanders had kept touch according to promise , and the queen's ships had been fitted out with care , we had made her majesty mistress of more treasure than any of her progenitors ever enjoyed . sir richard lewson's design against the indian fleet , notwithstanding his renowned valor , being thus frustrated , and by the hollanders slackness crossed , he plied towards the rock , to meet sir william monson , as the place resolved on between them ; but sir william having spent 14 days thereabouts , and hearing no tidings of him , went round to the southward cape , where he was likewise frustrated of a most promising hope : for meeting with certain french-men and scots , at the same instant , he descried three ships of ours , sent by sir richard to look him . these french and scottish ships came from st. lucas , and made report of five gallions , ready the next tide to set sail for the indies : they likewise told him of two others that departed three days before , wherein went don petro de valdes , to be governor of the havana , who had sometimes been prisoner in england . these two later ships were met one night by the warspight , whereof capt. sommers was conmander ; but whether it was by the darkness of the night , or by what other casualty ( for the sea is subject to many ) i know not , but they escaped . this news of the five gallions , and the three ships of the queen 's so happily meeting together , made sir william direct his course into the heighth wherein the spaniards were most likely to sail in ; and coming into that heighth , he had sight of five ships , which in respect of their number and course , he made reckoning to be the five gallions ; and thought that day should fully determine and try the difference between the strength and puissance of the english and spanish ships , their number and greatness being equal : but his joy was soon quailed : for coming up with them , he found them to be english ships coming out of the streights , and bound home ; but yet this did not discourage the hope he had conceived that the spaniards might be met withall ; and the next day he gave chase to one ship alone that came out of the indies , which he took , though he had been better without her : for she brought him so far to leeward , that that night the gallions passed to wind-ward , not above eight or ten leagues off us , by report of an english pinnace that met them , who came into our company the day following . these misfortunes lighting first upon sir richard , and after upon sir william , might have been sufficient reasons to discourage them ; but they knowing the accidents of the sea , and that fortune could as well laugh as weep , having good ships under foot , their men sound and in health , and plenty of victuals , they did not doubt but that some of the wealth which the indies sent forth into spain would fall to their shares . upon tuesday , the first of june , to begin our new fortune with a new month , sir richard lewson and sir william monson , who some few nights before had met accidentally in the sea , were close on board the rock , where they took two ships of the east country , bound for lisbon ; and while they were romaging these ships , they descried a carvel from cape picher bearing with them ; which by signs she made , they perceived had a desire to speak with them . sir richard immediately chased her , and left sir william with the two easterlings to abide about the rock till his return . the carvel being fetcht up , made a relation of a carreck and 11 gallies to be in cisembre road ; and that she was sent by two ships of ours , the nonperil and the dreadnought which lay thereabouts to look out the admiral . with what joy this news was apprehended may be easily imagined : sir richard made signs to sir william to stand with him ; and lest he should not be discerned , he caused the carvel to ply up with him , wishing him to repair to him ; but before they could approach the cape , it was midnight , and nothing chanced all that time , but the exchanging of some shot , that passed betwixt the admiral and the gallies . upon wednesday , the second of june , every man looked early in the morning what ships of her majesties were in sight , which were five in number , the warspight , wherein sir richard was : for the repulse he had sent for england some few days before , by reason of a leak ; the garland , the nonperil , the dreadnought , and the adventure , besides the two easterlings taken the day before . all the captains resorted on board the admiral , to councel , which took up most part of the day . at first there was an opposition by some , who alleadged the danger and impossibility of taking the carreck , being defended by the castle and 11 gallies : but sir william monson prevailed so far , as that all consented to go upon her the next day , and concluded upon this course following , that he and sir richard should anchor as near the carreck as they could , the rest to ply up and down , and not anchor . sir william was glad of this occasion , to be revenged of the gallies , hoping to requite the slavery they put him to when he was prisoner in them ; and singled himself from the fleet a league , that the gallies might see it was in defiance of them ; and so the marquess of st. cruz , and frederick spaniola , the one general of the portugal , the other of the spanish gallies , apprehended it , and came forth with an intent to fight him ; but being within shot , were diverted by one john bedford an english-man , who undertook to know the force of the ship , and sir william that commended her . before i go farther , i will a little digress , and acquaint you with the scituation of the town , and the manner of placing the gallies against us . the town of cisembre lieth in the bottom of a road , which is a good succor for ships with a northerly wind. it is built with free-stone , and near the sea is erected a strong and spacious fort , well replenished with ordnance : above the town , upon the top of a hill , is seated an ancient , strong fryery , whose scituation maketh it impregnable , and able to command the town , castle and road ; close to the shore lay the carreck , like a bullwork to the west side of the castle ; so as it defended both that , and the east part of the town : the 11 gallies had flancked and fortified themselves with the small neck of a rock on the west side of the road , with their prows right forward , to play upon us , every one carrying a cannon in their cruzia , besides other pieces in their prows ; and they were no way to be damaged by us , till our ships came so nigh the town , that all these forces might play upon us in one instant . the gallies being placed to this great advantage , they made account ( as a captain of one of them we took confess'd ) to have sunk our ships of themselves , without any farther help . we saw the tents pitched , and great troops of souldiers drawn together ; which was no less than the whole country in arms against us : the boats pass'd betwixt the shore and the carreck all the day long , which we supposed was to unlade her ; but we found afterwards it was rather to strengthen her with men and munition : here appeared many difficulties and dangers , and little hope of taking her ; but rather of sinking or burning her , as most men conjectured . the danger from the gallies was great , they being flancked with the point of a rock at our entrance , as you have heard , it being likewise calm , and they shooting low : another danger was , that of the wind : for if it had come from the sea , the road being open , and the bay deep , our attempt must have been in vain . and notwithstanding these , and many more apparently seen ; and that there was no man but imagined , that most of the carrecks lading was on shoar , and that they would hale her on ground , under the castle , where no ship of ours should be able to fleet to her ; all which objections , with many more , were alleadged , yet they little prevailed , procrastination was perilous , and therefore with all expedition , they thought convenient to charge the town , the fort , the gallies , and carreck , all at one instant . and they had determined , if the carreck had been on ground , or so nigh the shoar , that the queens ships could not fleet to her , that the two easterlings , the day before taken , should board her , and burn her . thursday the third day , early in the morning , every man commending himself to god's tuition and protection , expected when to begin , according to the agreement the day before . a gale of wind happening about ten of the clock , the admiral weighed ; shot off a warning-piece , and put forth his flag in the maintop : the vice-admiral did the like in his foretop , according to the custome of the sea ; every captain encouraged his men , which so imboldened them , as though they were grown weak and feeble before , they were now revived , and bestirred themselves , as if a new spirit had been infused into them ; the admiral was the first that gave the charge , after him followed the rest of the ships , shewing great valor , and gaining great honor ; the last of all , was the vice-admiral , at whose entrance into the fight , he still strived to get up as near the shoar as he could , where he came to an anchor , continually fighting with the town , the fort , the gallies , and carreck , all together , for he brought them betwixt him , that he might play both his broad sides upon them ; there might be seen the prowess of the gallies , swim by the sides of them , the slaves forsake them , and every thing in confusion amongst them , and thus they fought , till five of the clock in the afternoon . the vice-admiral was anchored to such an advantage , as the gallies rowed from one side to another , seeking to shun him , which sir richard lewson observing , came on board him , and openly , in the view and hearing of his whole company , imbraced him , and told him , he had won his heart for ever . the rest of the ships , as they were directed , plied up , except the admiral , who by the negligence of his master , or some other impediment , when he should have anchored , fell so far to leeward , as the wind and tide carried him out of the road , so that it was the next day , before his ship could be fetcht in again ; whereat the admiral was much inraged , and put himself into the dreadnought , and brought her to an anchor close to the vice-admiral , about two of the clock in the afternoon : there was no opportunity let pass , for where the admiral saw defect in any other ship , he presently caused it to be supplied , and the easterlings , who were appointed to board the carrek , beginning to saint , and fail of observing the directions given them , the vice-admiral perceiving it , went on board them himself , vowing , that if they seemed backward in putting in execution the design of firing the carreck , they should look for as little life from the english , as they could expect from the enemy . whilst the vice-admiral was thus ordering things , sir richard lewson came to him , and would in no case suffer him to board the carreck himself , but carried him into the dreadnought , where they consulted how to preserve the carreck , and enjoy her . the result of this reference was , to offer her parley , which they presently put in practice , and commanded all the ships to leave shooting , until the return of the messenger : the man imployed , was one captain sewell , who had escaped , and swam to us , having been four years prisoner in the gallies , and so did many turks and christians ; the effect of this parley , was to persuade them to yield , promising honorable conditions , and he was to intimate , as from himself , that the gallies , whose strength they presumed upon , were beaten , some burnt , the rest fled ; that we had the possession of the road , the castle not being able to abide our ordinance , much less the carreck , and if they refused this offer of mercy , they were to expect all the cruelty and rigor , that a conpueror could impose upon his enemy : after some conference to this effect , the captain of the carreck told him , he would send some gentlemen of quality , with commission to treat , and desired , that some of the like quality fromus , might repair to him , to the same purpose . these gentlemen came aboard the dreadnought , where the admiral and vice-admiral were , attending the return and success of captain sewell ; after the delivery of their message , they would needs hasten on board the carreck again , for that , as it seemed , there was an uproar and a division in her , some being of opinion to entertain a parley , others to save themselves , and set her on fire : which sir william monson hearing , without further delay , or conference , with sir richard , what was to be done , he leaped suddenly into his boat , and rowed unto the carreck ; when he drew near to her , he was known by diverse gentlemen on board her , he having once been a prisoner among them : they seemed to be very glad of this meeting , and their passed diverse imbracements between them , in remembrance of their old acquaintance : the captain was called don diego de lobo , a gallant young gentleman , of a noble house . he descended down upon the bend of the ship , and commanded his men to stand aside ; sir william did the like to his company , in the boat ; the captain demanded of him , if he had the portugal language ; he told him , he had sufficient to treat of that business ; acquainted him of the place he commanded in the fleet , intimated the affection and respect he bore the portugal nation , and that the treaty which was offered , proceeded out of his motion , and wished him to make his proposals , which were as followeth , the first demand he made , was , that they should be safely put on shoar with their arms. the second , that it should be done the same night : the third , that they should enjoy their ship and ordinance , as appertaining to the king , but we the wealth . the fourth , that the flag and ancient should not be taken down , but worn while the carreck was unlading , his speech being ended , sir william told him , that his demands gave suspition , that under pretence of parley , they meant treachery , or that their hopes were greater , than there was cause ; and , but that he knew it was the use of some men , to demand great things , when less will serve them , he would not lose his advantage , to entertain a parley ; he desired , that what they intended , might be quickly concluded , for night growing on , might advantage them , and for his resolution , he should understand it in few words , viz. to his first demand , he was willing to yeild , that they should be put on shoar with their arms. to the second , that he was contented , that they should be set on shoar that night , except eight or ten of the principal gentlemen ; whom he would detain three days . to the third , he held it idle and frivolous , to imagine , he would consent to separate ship and goods , and esteemed it por cosa de burla . to the fourth , he would not consent , being resolved , never to permit a spanish flag to be worn in the presence of the queens ships , unless it were disgracefully , over the poop . there was long expostulations upon these points , and sir william monson seeing the obstinacy of the captain , offered , in a great rage , to leap into his boat , resolving to break the treaty , which the rest of the gentlemen perceiving , and that he had propounded nothing but what might very well stand with their reputation , they intreated him once more to ascend into the carreck , and they would enter into new capitulations : the effect whereof , as it was agreed upon , were these that follow ; that a messenger should be sent to the admiral , to have his confirmation of the points concluded on ; and that in the mean time the flag and ancient should be taken down ; and if the admiral should not consent to the agreement , they to have leisure to put out their flag and ancient tofore the fight should begin . that the company should be presently set on shore ; but the captain , with eight other of the principal gentlemen three days after . that the ship with her goods , should be surrendered without any practice or treason . that they should use their endeavors , that the castle should forbear shooting whilst we rid in the road ; and this was the effect of the conditions agreed upon . this carreck wintered in mosambicke , in her return from the indies , a place of great infection , as appeared by the mortality among them : for of 600 and odd men , twenty of them lived not to return home . after a great deal of calamity and mortality , she arrived at this port of cisembre , as you have heard , the viceroy of portugal , having sent 11 gallies to her rescue , and 400 mocas de camera , which is a title of gentlemen that serve the king upon any honourable occasion , when they are commanded . that she was brought to this pass , and forc'd to yield on these conditions , sir robert cecil was wont to impute to the gentlemens acquaintance with sir william monson . although three days were limited for setting the captain on shore , yet it was held discretion not to detain them longer than untill the carreck was brought off safely to our ships ; and therefore sir william monson having carried the captain , and the rest of the gentlemen on board him , where they supped , had variety of musick , and spent the night in great jollity ; the morning following , accompanied them on shore himself , whither the conde de vitagera had drawn down all the force of the whole country , amounting to the number of 10000 men . i must not omit to describe the behavior of the gallies in the fight , that every man may have that honor that is due to him : those of portugal , being of the squadron of the marquess of st. cruz , betook themselves , with their general , to flight in the middle of the fight ; but frederico spinola , who was to convey his gallies out of spain into the low countreys , followed not the example of the marquess , but made good the road ; which the other seeing , with shame returned ; but to both their costs : for before they departed , they found the climate so hot , as they were forc'd to fly , their gallies being so miserably beaten , and their slaves so pitifully slain , as there wanted nothing but boats to possess them all , as well as the two we took and burnt ; which is a thing hath been seldom seen or heard of , for ships to take and destroy gallies . the number of men slain in the town , the castle , the carreck and gallies , are unknown , though they could not chuse but be many ; the wealth of the carreck could then as ill be estimated , though after found to be great ; the value of the two gallies burnt with their loading of powder , is hard to judge , though it 's known to have been a service of great importance . for our loss , it was not much , only one man killed in the fly-boat , five slain , and as many hurt in the garland , and one hurt in the adventure : sir william monson had the left wing of his doublet shot off , but received no other hurt . the day following , with a favourable wind , we stood our course for england , which brought us into 47 degrees ; and there we met a pinnace , sent with a pacquet from the lords , signifying the readiness of a second fleet to supply us , and the setting out of the hollanders , which were so long looked for ; which fleet of holland was in view of the pinnace the same night ; but pass'd by us unseen . this unlooked for accident made the admiral and vice-admiral consider what to do , and concluded , they could not both appear at home , and have a fleet of so great importance upon the enemies coast without a guide or head ; and therefore they held it fit the vice-admiral should put himself into the nonperil , as the ablest ship of the fleet , and make his return once more to the coast of spain ; but he having taken his leave , and standing his course for the coast , a most violent storm , with a contrary wind took him , which continued ten days , and discovered the weakness of his ship , who had like to have foundered in the deep . the carpenters and company seeing the apparent danger , if he bore not up before the wind , presented him with a petition , beseeching him to have a regard to their lives ; for by keeping the seas they should all perish . thus was he forc'd by mere extremity to bear room for england ; and coming for plymouth , he found the carreck safely arrived , and the fleet he went back to take charge of , not to have quitted the coast of england . though it be somewhat impertinent to this voyage , to treat of more than the success thereof ; yet i will a little digress , and relate the mishap of that worthy young gentleman don diego de lobo , captain of the carreck ; and because his worth will more appear by his answer to sir william monson's offer to him when he was his prisoner ; thus it was : sir william monson told him , he doubted , that by the loss of the carreck , he had lost his best means ; for that he supposed , what he had gained in the indies , was laden in her ; and therefore offered , that what he would challenge upon his reputation to be his own , he should have freedom to carry along with him . the gentleman acknowledged the favor to be extraordinary ; but replied , that what he had , he had gained by his sword ; and that his sword , he doubted not , would repair his fortunes again , utterly refusing to accept any courtesie in that kind : but , poor gentleman , ill fortune thus left him not : for the viceroy , don cristoball de moro , holding it for a great indignity to have the carreck taken out of the port , that was defended by a castle , and guarded with 11 gallies , and especially in his hearing of the ordnance to lisbon , and in the view of thousands of people who beheld it ; some of them feeling it too , by the loss of their goods that were in her , others grieving for the death of their friends that were slain ; but every man finding himself touched in reputation . the names of the carrecks and eleven gallies . the st. valentine , a carreck of one thousand seven hundred tuns . the christopher , the admiral of portugal , wherein the marquess de sancta cruz went. the st. lewis , wherein frederick spinola went general of the gallies of spain . the forteleza , vice-admiral to the marquess . the trividad , vice-admiral to frederick spinola , burnt . the snis , in which sir william monson was prisoner , 1591. the occasion burnt , and the captain taken prisoner . the st. john baptist . the lazear . the padillar . the philip. the st. john. and the viceroy not knowing how to clear himself so well , as the laying it upon the gentlemen he put on board her , the same night they returned to their lodging , he caused the most part of them , with their captain , to be apprehended , imputing the loss of the carreck to their cowardise and fear , if not treason and connivance with the enemy . after some time of imprisonment , by mediation of friends , all the gentlemen were released but the captain , who received secret advice , that the viceroy intended his death , and that he should seek by escape to prevent it . don diego being thus perplexed , practised with his sister , who finding means for his escape out of a window , he fled into italy , where he lived in exile , from 1602. when this happened , untill 1615. his government in the indies , for which he had a patent in reversion , was confiscate , and he left hopeless ever to return into his native country , much less to be restored to his command ; an ill welcome after so long and painful a navigation . having thus spent thirteen years in exile , at the last he advised with friends , whose councel he followed , to repair into england , there to enquire after some commanders , that had been at the taking of the carreck , by whose certificate he might be cleared of cowardise or treason in the loss of her , which would be a good motive to restore him to his government again . in the year 1515. he arrived in london , and after some enquiry found out sir william monson , to whom he complained of his hard mishap , craving the assistance of him and some others , whom sir william knew to be at the taking of the carreck , and desired him to testifie the manner of surprizing her , which he alleadged , was no more than one gentleman was bound to afford another in such a case . sir william wondered to see him , and especially upon such an occasion : for the present , he entertained him with all courtesie ; and the longer his stay was in england , the courtesies were the greater , which sir william did him . sir william procured him a true and effectual certificate from himself , sir francis howard , captain barlow , and some others who were witnesses of that service ; and to give it the more reputation , he caused it to be inrolled in the office of the admiralty . the gentleman being well satisfied with his entertainment , and having what he desired , returned to flanders , where he presented his certificate to the arch-duke and the infanta , by whose means he got assurance , not only of the king's favor , but of restitution likewise to his government . the poor gentleman having been thus tossed by the waves of calamity , from one country to another , and never finding rest ; death that masters all men , now cut him off short , in the midst of his hopes , as he was preparing his journy for spain ; and this was an end of an unfortunate gallant young gentleman , whose deserts might justly have challenged a better reward , if god had pleased to afford it him . sir william monson to the coast of spain , anno 1602. ships . commanders . the swiftsuer sir will. monson the mary rose capt. trevers the dreadnought capt. cawfield the adventure capt. norris the answer capt. brodgate the quittance capt. browne the lions whelp capt. may the paragon , a merchant . capt. jason a small carvel capt. hooper the fleet of sir richard lewson being happily returned , with the fortune of a carreck , as you have heard , and the queen having now no ships upon the spanish coast , to impeach the enemies preparations , she feared , the fleet which was ready at the groyne , would give a second assault upon ireland ; whereupon sir william monson , who by this time was arrived at plymouth , was sent for in great haste , by her majesty , to advise about , and take on him the charge of the fleet , then at plymouth . after a long conference with sir william monson , in the presence of her majesty , her lord admiral , treasurer , and secretary , it was resolved , that sir william should repair to plymouth , and with all speed get forth those ships , and others that were there making ready . his directions were , to present himself before the harbor of the groyne , being the place where the spaniards made their randevouz , and if he found any likelihood of a design upon ireland , not to quit that coast untill he saw the issue , but if he found ireland secure , and the enemies preparations to be intended only for defence of their own coasts , then his instructions led him thence , to the place where the holland fleet had order to attend , and expect him ; and afterwards , the whole carriage of the action was referred to his discretion , but with this caution , that above all respects of other profit or advantage , he attended the affair of ireland . the wind this part of the summer hung contrary , and it was six weeks before he could clear the coast , during which time , he lost his greatest hopes , by the return of the carrecks of the indian fleet , which happened a full month before his arrival : he set sail from plymouth the last of august , with a scant wind , which continued with foul weather , untill he recovered the groyne , choosing rather to keep the sea , then hazard the overthrow of the voyage by his return . he stayed at the groyne , until he understood that the fleet which was suspected to be prepared for ireland , was gone to lisbone , to join with don diego de borachero , who all that summer durst not budge forth , for fear of our fleet , that made good the coast thereabouts : sir william in his way to the rock , commanded his carvel to repair to the islands of bayon , as the likeliest place to procure intelligence of the state of those parts ; as the carvel drew near the islands , he discerned the spanish fleet , consisting of twenty four sail , whose design was , as she understood by a boat she took , to look out the english fleet , whose comming they daily expected upon the coast ; and meeting sir william with this news , he held it a good service to be thus warned of them . here he took two goodly ships of france , bound for lisbone , which harbor he put them from , and took pledges that they should directly return into france , without touching in any harbor of spain , for that he understood , the spanish fleet was ill provided of men , and many other things which these ships could supply . sir william and the dreadnought , were carried with a chase into the road of cisimbre , where the carreck was taken not long before , and after some fight with the castle , who defended the vessel chased , they came to a friendly treaty , and presents past between them . that night , while the admiral rid in the road , a carvel comming in , not mistrusting him , was taken , but dismissed in a friendly manner ; by whom he understood the affairs of lisbone , but could get no notice of the holland fleet , which was appointed to attend at the rock , whither once more he repaired . coming thither the 26th of september , a light was espied in the night , which the admiral chased , thinking it had been the fleet of st. omer , or brazil , bound for lisbone , where they were expected ; but drawing so near them , that he might hail them , he found them , by the hugeness of their vessels , and the number which answered the relation the carvel made , to be the armado of spain : whereupon he sought means how to clear himself , being ingaged amongst them , and made a spaniard which served him call to them , but they could not hear him ; the adventure only , and the whelp , were left with him , the rest losing company , four nights before in a storm ; the enemy perceiving our lights , and thinking it to be some fleet of flemmings , stood in amongst us , but the adventure being discovered to be an enemy , the alarum was soon taken , and they shot at her , and slew and hurt some of her men ; as soon as the day appeared , the spaniards beheld the three enlish ships a head them , which they chased , and three of them , which were better of sail than the rest , fetcht upon us , and drew near the whelp , who was of small force to resist them . but the admiral resolving , though it was to his own evident peril , not to see a pinnace of her majesties so lost , if so be he could rescue her with the loss of his life , though it was much against the persuasions of his master , and company , he stroak his two sails for the whelp , and commanded her to stand her course , while he staid for the three spanish ships , with hope to make them have little list to pursue us : the admiral of the spaniards perceiving how little he cared for his three ships , in that he lingered for their coming up , took in with the shoar , and shot off a peice for his three ships to follow him . it may appear by this , as by several other expeditions of ours , how much the swift sailing of ships doth avail , being the principal advantage in sea service , and indeed the main thing we could presume upon , in our war against the spaniards . sir william having thus escaped the enemy , in his traverse at sea , there happened , as there doth upon all coasts , where there is plenty of trade , divers occasions of chases ; and one day sir william following one ship , and the adventure another , they lost company for the whole voyage . sir william was advertised by a ship he took , being a frenchman , who came from st. lucas , that the st. domingo fleet was looked for daily , which intelligence made him bear up for the south cape , as well in hopes to meet with them , as to have news of his fleet. he was no sooner come to the cape , but he was informed by some english men of war , that the domingo fleet was past by two days before ; here he met with ships of several nations , some he rescued from pirats , and to others that were in league with her majesty , he gave his safe conduct , for their free passage on the sea ; he kept that coast until the 21th of october , on which morning he gave chase to a gallion of the king of spain , who recovered the castle of cape sacre , before he could fetch her up ; although he knew the strength of the castle , yet he attempted , and had carried her , had it not been for the fear and cowardize of him at the helm , who bore up , when he was ready to board her : the fight was not long , but sharp and dangerous , for there never past shot between them , till they were within a ships length one of another : the castle plaid her part , and tore his ship , so that a man might have crept through her : between the castle and gallion , they slew in the admiral ten men , and hurt many more , in the view of sireago and his quadron , to the westward , and of divers english men of war , to the eastward , who durst not put themselves upon the rescue of sir william , for fear of the castle : sir william being now left alone , and seeing what head land soever he came unto , he was to encounter a spanish squadron , stood his course that night to sea , thinking to try , if the islands of terceras would afford him any better fortune , but coming within forty or fifty leagues of the islands , he was taken short with the wind , yet still , bearing up what he could for the rock ; but at length finding his victuals grew short , his mast perished , and the dangers he was exposed to , by keeping that coast , he directed his course for england , and came to plymouth , the 24th of november , where he found the mary-rose and dreadnought , most part of their men being dead or sick . the adventure arrived within an hour after him , who in her way homewards fell , amongst the braizl fleet , and encountring with them , lost divers men , but took none : the paragon was at home long before , with a prize of sugar , and spices , which countervailed the charge of the voyage . the quittance in her return , met two ships of dunkirk , and in fight with them , her captain was slain , but she acquitted her self very well , without further harm . this fleet , as you have heard , was to keep the enemy busied at home , that he might be diverted from the thoughts of ireland ; what hazard it endured by the enemy , the fury of the sea , and foul weather , doth appear ; and no marvel ; for it was the latest fleet in winter , that ever kept upon the spanish coast , as it was likewise the last fleet her majesty imployed ; for in march after she died , and by her death all war ceased . as sir william monson was general of this last fleet , so was he a soldier , and a youth , at the beginning of the wars , and was at the taking of the first spanish prize , that ever saw the english coast , which yet was purchased with the loss of twenty five of our men , besides fifty hurt . this prize was afterwards a man of war , and served against the spaniards , and was in those days reckoned the best ship of war we had ; she was called the commander , and belonged to sir george carew , then governor of the isle of wight . sir richard lewson and sir william monson into the narrow seas , anno 1603. ships . commanders . the repulse sir richard lewson the mere-honor sir william monson the defiance capt. goer the warspight capt. seymers the rainbow capt. trevor the dreadnought capt. reynolds the quittance capt. howard the lyons whelp capt. polwheele sir william monson returning with his fleet , in november , there was a resolution to furnish another against february , which should be recruited with fresh ships , men and victuals in june . sir richard lewson was to command the former fleet , and sir william monson the later : for the queen found it a course both secure and profitable , to keep a continual force upon the spanish coast , from february to november , that being the time of greatest peril to her majesty ; and she was the rather encouraged thereto , by the safty she found the last summer , and the wealth and riches she had from time to time taken from the enemy . the complaint of the ill furnishing out of her ships in other voyages , made it more carefully to be look'd unto now , and there was better choice of victuals and men than usually had been ; but in the mean time , it pleased god to visit her majesty with sickness , which caused a ling'ring , though no absolute dissolving of the fleet ; but when her danger was perceived to increase , the ships were hastened out to sea , it being a point of good policy , to keep our seas guarded from any forreign attempt , untill his majesty should be peaceably settled in england . this fleet departed from quinborough the 22th . of march , and arrived in the downs the 25th . of the same , being the day after her majesties death : the news whereof , and commandment to proclaim king james the sixth of scotland , our lawful king , and the rightful inheritor to the crown , arrived both together ; which put us into two contrary passions , the one of grief , the other of joy : grief for the loss of the queen , joy for accepting of the king in that peaceable manner , which was a happiness beyond all expectation , either at home or abroad . as the design of this fleet was to guard and defend our own coasts from any incurison that might be made out of france or the low countreys ; so the commanders were vigilant to appear on those coasts once in two days , to dishearten them , in case they had any such thought ; but the truth is , it was beyond their abilities , whatever was in their hearts to impugn his majesty . and because the arch-duke would make the candidness of his intention apparent to the world , he called in his letters of reprizal against the english ; and published an edict for a free and unmolested traffick into flanders : so that now our merchants might again trade peaceably into those parts from which they had been debarred the space of eighteen years . the king finding , that france neither impeached his right , nor gave any jealousie by the raising of an army ; and that the arch-duke made a demonstration of his desire of peace , his majesty did the like , acknowledging the league he had with those princes , with whom the late queen had wars : for wars betwixt countreys are not hereditary ; but commonly end with the death of their kings : wherefore he commanded his ships to give over their southern employment , and to repair to chatham , giving manifest testimonies , how desirous he was that his subjects should recover that wealth and freedom by peace , which they had formerly lost by war. finis . a true and plain declaration of the horrible treasons practised by william parry against the queens majesty ; and of his conviction and execution for the same , the 2d . of march 1584. according to the account of england . this william parry being a man of very mean and base parentage , but of a most proud and insolent spirit , bearing himself always far above the measure of his fortune , after he had long led a wasteful and dissolute life , and had committed a great outrage against one hugh hare , a gentleman of the inner-temple , with an intent to have murthered him in his own chamber , for the which he was most justly convicted ; seeing himself generally condemned with all good men for the same , and other his misdemeanours , he left his natural country , and gave himself to travel into forreign parts beyond the seas . in the course of this his travel , he forsook his allegiance and dutiful obedience to her majesty , and was reconciled , and subjected himself to the pope . after which , upon conference with certain jesuites , and others of like quality , he first conceived his most detestable treason to kill the queen ( whose life god long preserve ; ) which he bound himself by promise , letters , and vows , to perform and execute : and so with this intent he returned into england in january 1583 ; and since that did practise at sundry times to have executed his most devilish purpose and determination : yet covering the same , so much as in him lay , with a vail and pretence of great loyalty to her majesty . immediately upon his return into england , he sought to have secret access to her majesty , pretending to have some matter of great importance to reveal unto her : which obtained , and the same so privately in her highness's palace at whitehal , as her majesty had but one onely counsellor with her at the time of his access , in a remote place , who was so far distant , as he could not hear his speech . and there then he discovered unto her majesty ( but shadowed with all crafty and traiterous skill he had ) some part of the conference and proceeding , as well with the said jesuites , and other ministers of the popes , as especially with one thomas morgan , a fugitive , residing at paris , who above all others did perswade him to proceed in that most devilish attempt , ( as is set down in his voluntary confession following , ) bearing her majesty notwithstanding in hand , that his onely intent of proceeding so far with the said jesuites , and the popes ministers , tended to no other end , but to discover the dangerous practices devised and attempted against her majesty by her disloyal subjects , and other malicious persons in forraign parts . albeit it hath since appeared most manifestly , as well by his said confession , as by his dealing with one edmond nevil esq ; that his onely intent of discovering the same in sort as he craftily and traiterously did , tended to no other end , but to make the way the easier to accomplish his most devilish and wicked purpose . and although any other prince but her majesty ( who is loath to put on a hard censure of those that protest to be loyal , as parry did , ) would rather have proceeded to the punishment of a subject that had waded so far , as by oath and vow to promise the taking away of her life ( as he to her majesties self did confess ; ) yet such was her goodness , as instead of punishing , she did deal so graciously with him , as she suffered him not onely to have access unto her presence , but also many times to have private conference with her ; and did offer unto him , upon opinion once conceived of his fidelity towards her ( as though his wicked pretence had been , as he protested , for her service ) a most liberal pension . besides , to the end that he might not grow hateful to the good and well-affected subjects of the realm , ( from whom he could in no sort have escaped with safety of his life , if his devilish purpose had been revealed ) her majesty did conceal the same , without communicating it to any creature , untill such time as he himself had opened the same unto certain of her council ; and that it was also discovered , that he sought to draw the said nevil to have been a party in his devilish and most wicked purpose . a very rare example ! and such as doth more set forth the singular goodness and bounty of her majesties princely nature , than commend ( if it be lawful for a subject to censure his soveraign ) her providence such as ought to be in a prince and person of her majesties wisdom and quality . and as the goodness of her majesties nature did hereby most manifestly shew it self to be rare in so extraordinary a case , and in a matter of so great peril unto her own royal person ; so did the malice of parry most evidently appear to be in the highest and extreamest degree : who notwithstanding the said extraordinary grace and favour extended towards him , did not onely perswade the said nevil to be an associate in the said wicked enterprize , but did also very vehemently ( as nevil confesseth ) importune him therein , as an action lawful , honourable , and meritorious , omitting nothing that might provoke him to assent thereunto . but such was the singular goodness of almighty god , ( who even from her majesties cradle , by many evident arguments , hath shewed himself her onely and especial protector ) that he so wrought in nevil's heart , as he was moved to reveal the same unto her majesty ; and for that purpoce made choise of a faithful gentleman , and of good quality in the court , unto whom upon munday the 8th of february last , he discovered at large all that had passed between parry and him ; who immediately made it known to her majesty : whereupon her highnesses pleasure was , that nevil should be examined by the earl of leicester , and sir christopher hatton ; who in the evening of the same day did examine him ; and he affirmed constantly all which he had before declared to the said gentleman . in the mean time , her majesty continued her singular and most princely magnanimity , neither dismaid with the rareness of the accident , nor appaled with the horrour of so villanous an enterprize , tending even to the taking away of her most gracious life ; ( a matter especially observed by the counsellor that was present at such time as parry , after his return , did first discover unto her majesty his wicked purpose ; who found no other alteration in her countenance , than if he had imparted unto her some matter of contentment ; ) which sheweth manifestly how she reposeth her confidence wholly in the defence of the almighty . and so her majesty , following the wonted course of her singular clemency , gave order that parry the same munday in the evening ( though not so known to him ) should be sent to mr. secretaries house in london , he being then there ; who according unto such direction as he received from her majesty , did let him understand , that her highness ( in respect of the good will she knew he bare unto the said parry , and of the trust that parry did outwardly profess to repose in mr. secretary ) had made especial choice of him to deal with him in a matter that concerned her highly ; and that she doubted not but that he would discharge his duty towards her , according unto that extraordinary devotion that he professed to bear unto her . and thereupon told him that her majesty had been advertised that there was somewhat intended presently against her own person , wherewith she thought he could not but be made acquainted , considering the great trust that some of her worst-affected subjects reposed in him ; and that her pleasure therefore was , that he should declare unto him his knowledge therein : and whether the said parry himself had let fall any speech unto any person ( though with an intent onely to have discovered his disposition ) that might draw him in suspition , as though he himself had any such wicked intent . but parry with great and vehement protestations denied it utterly ; whereupon mr. secretary , the rather to induce him to deal more plainly in a matter so important , declared unto him , that there was a gentleman of quality , every way as good or better than himself , and rather his friend than enemy , that would avouch it to his face : yet parry persisted stubbornly in his former denial , and justification of his own innocency ; and would not in any respect yield that he was party or privy to any such motion , enterprize , or intent . and being lodged that night at mr. secretaries house , the next morning he desired earnestly to have some further speech with mr. secretary ; which granted , parry declared to him , that he had called to remembrance that he had once some speech with one nevil a kinsman of his ( so he called him ) touching a point of doctrine contained in the answer made to the book , entituled , the execution of justice in england ; by which book it was resolved , that it was lawful to take away the life of a prince , in furtherance of the catholick religion : but he protested that they never had any speech at all of any attempt intended against her majesties person . which denial of his ( at two sundry times , after so much light given him ) doth set forth most apparently both the justice and providence of god : his justice , for that ( though he was one of a sharp conceit ) he had no power to take hold of this overture , thereby to have avoided the danger that nevil's accusation might bring him into by confessing the same , as a thing propounded onely to feel nevil's mind , whom before he had reported unto master secretary he found a person discontented , and therefore his confession might to very great purpose have served to have cleared himself touching the intent : his providence , for that of his great mercy he would not suffer so dangerous and wicked a member to escape , and to live to her majesties peril . the same day at night parry was brought to the earl of leicester's house , and there eftsoons examined before the said earl of leicester , master vice-chamberlain , and master secretary : he persisted still in his denial of all that he was charged with . whereupon nevil , being brought before him face to face , justified his accusation against him . he notwithstanding would not yet yield to confess it , but very proudly and insolently opposed his credit against the credit of nevil , affirming that his no was as good as nevil's yea ; and as by way of recrimination , objected the crime to nevil himself . on the other side , nevil did with great constancy affirm all that he had before said , and did set down many probable circumstances of the times , places , and manners of their sundry conferences , and of such other accidents as had happened between them in the course of that action . whereupon parry was then committed to the tower , and nevil commanded by their honours to set down in writing under his hand , all that which before he had delivered by words : which he did with his own hand , as followeth . edmund nevil his declaration the 10th of february , 1584. subscribed with his own hand . william parry the last summer , soon after his repulse in his suit for the mastership of st. katherines , repaired to my lodging in the white friars , where he shewed himself a person greatly discontented , and vehemently inveighed against her majesty , and willed me to assure my self , that during this time and state , i should never receive contentment . but sith , said he , i know you to be honourably descended , and a man of resolution , if you will give me assurance , either to joyn with me , or not to discover me , i will deliver unto you the only means to do your self good . which when i had promised him , he appointed me to come the next day to his house in fetterlane : and repairing thither accordingly , i found him in his bed ; whereupon he commanded his men forth , and began with me in this order . my lord , said he , ( for so he called me ) i protest before god , that three reasons principally do induce me to enter into this action , which i intend to discover unto you ; the replanting of religion , the preferring of the scotish title , and the advancement of justice , wonderfully corrupted in this commowealth : and thereupon entred into some discourses what places were fit to be taken , to give entrance to such forreign forces as should be best liked of , for the furtherance of such enterprizes as were to be undertaken . and with these discourses he passed the time , until he went to dinner : after which , the company being retired , he entred into his former discourses . and if i be not deceived , ( said he ) by taking of quinborough castle , we shall hinder the passage of the queens ships forth of the river . whereunto when he saw me use no contradiction , he shook me by the hand ; tush , said he , this is nothing : if men were resolute , there is an enterprize of much more moment , and much easier to perform ; an act honourable and meritorious to god and the world . which seeing me desirous to know , he was not ashamed to utter in plain terms , to consist in killing of her majesty : wherein , saith he , if you will go with me , i will loose my life , or deliver my countrey from her bad and tyrannous government . at which speeches finding me discontented , he asked me , if i had read doctor allen's book , out of which he alledged an authority for it . i answered , no , and that i did not believe that authority . well , said he , what will you say , if i shew further authority than this , even from rome itself a plain dispensation for the killing of her , wherein you shall finde it ( as i said before ) meritorious ? good cousin , said i , when you shall shew it me , i shall think it very strange , when i shall see one to hold that for meritorious , which another holdeth for damnable . well , said parry , do me but the favour to think upon it till to morrow : and if one man be in the town , i will not fail to shew you the thing it self : and if he be not , he will be within these five or six days ; at which time if it please you to meet me at chanon-row , we may there receive the sacrament to be true each to other , and then i will discover unto you both the party , and the thing itself . whereupon i prayed parry to think better upon it , as a matter of great charge both of soul and body . i would to god , said parry , you were as perfectly perswaded in it as i am , for then undoubtedly you should do god great service . not long after , eight or ten days , ( as i remember ) parry coming to visit me at my lodging in herns rents in holborn , as he often used , we walked forth into the fields , where he renewed again his determination to kill her majesty , whom he said he thought most unworthy to live , and that he wondred i was so scrupulous therein . she hath sought , said he , your ruine and overthrow , why should you not then seek to revenge it ? i confess , quoth i , that my case is hard , but yet am i not so desperate as to revenge it upon my self , which must needs be the event of so unhonest and unpossible an enterprise . unpossible , said parry , i wonder at you ; for in truth there is not any thing more easie : you are no courtier , and therefore know not her customs of walking with small train , and often in the garden very privately , at which time my self may easily have access unto her , and you also when you are known in court. upon the fact we must have a barge ready to carry us with speed down the river , where we will have a ship ready to transport us if it be needfull : but upon my head , we shall never be followed so far . i asked him , how will you escape forth of the garden ? for you shall not be permitted to carry any men with you , and the gates will then be locked , neither can you carry a dagge without suspition . as for a dagge , said parry , i care not : my dagger is enough . and as for my escaping , those that shall be with her , will be so busie about her , as i shall finde opportunity enough to escape , if you be there ready with the barge to receive me . but if this seem dangerous in respect of your reason before shewed , let it then rest till her coming to st. james , and let us furnish our selves in the mean time with men and horse fit for the purpose : we may each of us keep eight or ten men without suspition . and for my part , said he , i shall finde good fellows that will follow me without suspecting mine intent . it is much , said he , that so many resolute men may do upon the suddain , being well appointed with each his case of dagges : if they were an hundred waiting upon her , they were not able to save her ; you coming of the one side and i on the other , and discharging our dagges upon her , it were unhappy if we should both miss her . but if our dagges fail , i shall bestir me well with a sword ere she escape me . whereunto i said , good doctor give over this odious enterprise , and trouble me no more with the hearing of that , which in heart i loath so much . i would to god the enterprise were honest , that i might make known unto thee whether i want solution . and not long after , her majesty came to st. james's ; after which , one morning ( the day certain i remember not , ) parry revived again his former discourse of killing her majesty , with great earnestness and importunity perswading me to joyn therein : saying , he thought me the onely man of england like to perform it , in respect of my valure , as he termed it . whereupon , i made semblance as if i had been more willing to hear him than before , hoping by that means to cause him to deliver his minde to some other that might be witness thereof with me ; wherein nevertheless i failed . after all this , on saturday last , being the sixth of february , between the hours of five and six in the afternoon , parry came to my chamber , and desired to talk with me apart : whereupon we drew our selves to a window . and where i had told parry before , that a learned man whom i met by chance in the fields , unto whom i proponed the question touching her majesty , had answered me that it was an enterprise most villanous and damnable , willing me to discharge my self of it : parry then desired to know that learned mans name , and what was become of him , saying , after a scornful manner , no doubt he was a very wise man , and you wiser in believing him : and said further , i hope you told him not that i had any thing from rome . yes in truth , said i. whereunto parry said , i would you had not named me , nor spoken of any thing i had from rome . and thereupon he earnestly perswaded me estsoons to depart beyond the seas , promising to procure me safe passage into wales , and from thence into britain ; whereat we ended . but i then resolved not to do so , but to discharge my conscience , and lay open this his most traiterous and abominable intention against her majesty : which i revealed in sort as is before set down . edmund nevil . after this confession of edmund nevil , william parry the 11th . day of february last , being examined in the tower of london , by the lord hunsdon , lord governour of barwick , sir christopher hatton knight , vicechamberlain to her majesty , and sir francis walsingham knight , principal secretary to her majesty , did voluntary and without any constraint , by word of mouth make confession of his said treason ; and after , set it down in writing all with his own hand in his lodging in the tower , and sent it to the court the 13th . of the same , by the lieutenant of the tower. the parts whereof concerning his manner of doing the same , and the treasons wherewith he was justly charged are here set down , word for word , as they are written and signed with his own hand and name , the 11th . of february , 1584. the voluntary confession of william parry , in writing all with his own hand . the voluntary confession of william parry doctor of the laws , ( now prisoner in the tower ) and accused of treason by edmund nevil esquire , promised by him ( with all faith and humility ) to the queens majesty , in discharge of his conscience and duty towards god and her . before the lord hunsdon , lord governour of barwick , sir christopher hatton knight , vicechamberlain , sir francis walsingham knight , principal secretary , the 13th . of february , 1584. parry . in the year 1570. i was sworn her majesties servant , from which time until the year 1580. i served , honoured , and loved her with as great readiness , devotion , and assurance as any poor subject in england . in the end of that year , and until midsummer 1582. i had some trouble for the hurting of a gentleman of the temple . in which action i was so disgraced and oppressed by two great men ( to whom i have of late been beholden ) that i never had contented thought since . there began my misfortune , and here followeth my woful fall . in july after , i laboured for licence to travail for three years , which ( upon some consideration ) was easily obtained . and so in august , i went over with doubtful minde of return , for that being suspected in religion , and not having received the communion in twenty two years , i began to mistrust my advancement in england . in september i came to paris , where i was reconciled to the church , and advised to live without scandal , the rather , for that it was mistrusted by the english catholiques , that i had intelligence with the greatest councellour of england . i staied not long there , but removed to lions ( a place of great traffick ) where , because it was the ordinary passage of our nation to and fro , between paris and rome , i was also suspected . to put all men out of doubt of me , and for some other cause , i went to millain , from whence , as a place of some danger ( though i found favour there ) after i had cleared my conscience , and justified my self in religion before the inquisitor , i went to venice . there i came acquainted with father benedicto palmio , a grave and a learned jesuite . by conference with him of the hard state of the catholicks in england , and by reading of the book de persecutione anglicana , and other discourses of like argument , 1 i conceived a possible mean to relieve the afflicted state of our catholicks , if the same might be well warranted in religion and conscience by the pope , or some learned divines . i asked his opinion ; he made it clear , commended my devotion , comforted me in it , and after a while made me known to the nuntio campeggio , there resident for his holiness . by his means i wrote to the pope , presented the service , and sued for a pasport to go to rome , and to return safely into france . answer came from cardinal como , that i might come , and should be welcome . i misliked the warrant , sued for a better , which i was promised : but it came not before my departure to lions , where i promised to stay some time for it . and being indeed desirous to go to rome , and loth to go without countenance , i desired christofero de salazar , secretary to the catholick king in venice , who had some understanding by conference , of my devotion to the afflicted catholicks at home and abroad , to commend me to the duke di nova terra , governour of millain , and to the county of olivaris embi , then resident for the king his master in rome : which he promised to do effectually for the one , and did for the other . and so i took my journey towards lyons , whither came for me an ample passeport ( but somewhat too late , ) that i might come and go in verbo pontificis per omnes jurisdictones ecclesiasticas , absque impedimento . i acquainted some good fathers there , of my necessity to depart towards paris by promise , and prayed their advises upon divers points ; wherein i was well satisfied . and so assuring them that his holiness should hear from me shortly , it was undertaken that i should be excused for that time . in october i came to paris , where ( upon better opinion conceived of me amongst my catholick country-men ) i found my credit well setled , and such as mistrusted me before , ready to trust and imbrace me . and being one day at the chamber of thomas morgan a catholick gentleman ( greatly beloved and trusted on that side ) amongst other gentlemen , talking ( but in very good sort ) of england , i was desired by morgan to go up with him to another chamber , where he brake with me , and told me that it was hoped and looked for , that i should do some service for god and his church . i answered him , i would do it , if it were to kill the greatest subject in england ; whom i named , and in truth then hated . no , no , said he , let him live to his greater fall and ruine of his house : 2 it is the queen i mean. i had him as i wished , and told him it were soon done , if it might be lawfully done , and warranted in the opinion of some learned divines . and so the doubt once resolved ( though as you have heard i was before reasonably well satisfied ) i vowed to undertake the enterprise , for the restitution of england to the ancient obedience of the sea apostolick . divers divines were named . doctor allein i desired , parsons i refused . and by chance came master wattes a learned priest , with whom i conferred , and was over-ruled . 3 for he plainly pronounced ( the case onely altered in name ) that it was utterly unlawful : with whom many english priests did agree as i have heard , if it be not altered since the book made in answer of the execution of the english justice was published , which i must confess hath taken hard hold in me , and ( i fear me ) will do in others , if it be not prevented by more gracious handling of the quiet and obedient catholick subjects , whereof there is good and greater store in england , than this age will extinguish . well notwithstanding all these doubts , i was gone so far by letters and conference in italy , that i could not go back , but promised faithfully to perform the enterprise , if his holiness upon my offer and letters would allow it , and grant me full remission of my sins . 4 i wrote my letters the first of january 1584. by their computation ; took advice upon them in confession of father anibal a codreto a learned jesuite in paris , was lovingly embraced , commended , confessed , and communicated at the jesuites at one altar with the cardinals of vandosmi , and narbone , whereof i prayed certificate , and enclosed the same in my letter to his holiness , to lead him the rather to absolve me ; which i required by my letters , in consideration of so great an enterprise undertaken without promise or reward . 5 i went with morgan to the nuntio ragazzoni , to whom i read the letter and certificate enclosed , sealed it , and left it with him to send to rome : he promised great care of it , and to procure answer : and so lovingly imbraced me , wished me good speed , and promised that i should be remembred at the altar . 6 after this i desired morgan , that some special man might be made privy to this matter , lest he dying , and i miscarrying in the execution , and my intent never truly discovered , it might stick for an everlasting spot in my race . divers were named , but none agreed upon for fear of beraying . 7 this being done , morgan assured me , that shortly after my departure , the l. fernehurst ( then in paris ) should go into scotland , and be ready upon the first news of the queens fall to enter into england with 20 or 30000 men to defend the queen of scotland , ( whom , and the king her son , i do in my conscience acquit of any privity , liking , or consent to this , or any other bad action , for any thing that ever i did know . ) i shortly departed for england , and arrived at rie in january 1583. from whence i wrote to the court , advertised some , that i had a special service to discover to the queens majesty ; 8 which i did more to prepare access and credit , than for any care i had of her person , though i were fully resolved never to touch her ( notwithstanding any warrant ) if by any device , perswasion , or policy she might be wrought to deal more graciously with the catholicks than she doth , or by our manner of proceeding in parliament meaneth to do , or any thing yet seen . i came to the court , ( then at whitehall , ) prayed audience , had it at large , and very privately discovered to her majesty this conspiracy , much to this effect , though covered with all the skill i had : she took it doubtfully , i departed with fear . and amongst other things , i cannot forget her majesties gratious speech then uttered touching the catholicks , which of late , after a sort i avowed in parliament : she said to me , that never a catholick should be troubled for religion or supremacy , so long as they lived like good subjects . whereby i mistrusted that her majesty is born in hand , that none is troubled for the one or the other . it may be truly said , that it is better than it hath been , though it be not yet as it should be . in march last , while i was at greenwich ( as i remember ) suing for st. katherines , came letters to me from cardinal como , dated at rome , the last of january before , whereby i found the enterprise commended , and allowed , and my self absolved ( in his holiness name ) of all my sins , and willed to go forward in the name of god. that letter i shewed to some in court , who imparted it to the queen : what it wrought , or may work in her majesty , god knoweth : onely this i know , 9 that it confirmed my resolution to kill her , and made it clear in my conscience , that it was lawful and meritorious . and yet was i determined never to do it , if either policy , practice , perswasion , or motion in parliament could prevail . i feared to be tempted , and therefore always when i came near her , i left my dagger at home . 10 when i looked upon her majesty , and remembred her many excellencies , i was greatly troubled : and yet i saw no remedy , for my vows were in heaven , my letters and promises in earth , and the case of the catholick recusants , and others , little bettered . sometimes i said to my self , why should i care for her ? what hath she done for me ? have i not spent 10000 marks since i knew her service , and never had peny by her ? it may be said , she gave me my life . but i say ( as my case stood ) it had been tyranny to take it : and i fear me it is little less yet . if it please her gratiously to look into my discontentments , i would to jesus christ she had it , for i am weary of it . and now to come to an end of this tragical discourse : in july i left the court , utterly rejected , discontented , and as her majesty might perceive by my passionate letters , careless of my self . i came to london : doctor alleins book was sent me out of france : 11 it redoubled my former conceits : every word in it was a warrant to a prepared mind : it taught that kings may be excommunicated , deprived , and violently handled : it proveth that all wars civil or forraign undertaken for religion , is honorable . her majesty may do well to read it , and to be out of doubt ( if things be not amended ) that it is a warning , and a doctrine full dangerous . this is the book i shewed , in some places read , and lent it to my cousin nevil ( the accuser ) who came often to mine house , put his finger in my dish , his hand in my purse ; and the night wherein he accused me , was wrapped in my gown , six moneths at least after we had entred into this conspiracy : in which space her majesty , and ten princes in several provinces might have been killed . god bless her majesty from him : for before almighty god , i joy and am glad in my soul , that it was his hap to discover me in time ; though there were no danger near . and now to the manner of our meetings . he came to me in the beginning of august , and spake to me in this or like sort . cousin , let us do somewhat , sithens we can have nothing . i offered to joyn with him , and gladly heard him , hoping because i knew him to be a catholick , that he would hit upon that i had in my head : but it fell not out so . he thought the delivery of the queen of scotland easie , presuming upon his credit and kindred in the north : i thought it dangerous to her , and impossible to men of our fortunes : he fell from that to the taking of barwick : i spake of quinborough and the navy , rather to entertain him with discourse , than that i cared for those motions , my head being full of a greater matter : 12 i told him that i had another manner of enterprise , more honourable and profitable to us , and the catholicks common-wealth , than all these , if he would joyn in it with me , as he presently vowed to do : he pressed to know it ; i willed him to sleep upon the motion : he did so , ( and belike overtaken ) came to me the next morning to my lodging in london , offered to joyn with me , and took his oath upon a bible , to conceal and constantly to pursue the enterprise for the advancement of religion ; which i also did , and meant to perform : the killing of the queen was the matter . the manner and place , to be on horsback , with eight or ten horses , when she should ride abroad about st. james , or some other like place . it was once thought fit in a garden , and that the escape would be easiest by water into shepey , or some other part : but we resolved upon the first . this continued as agreed upon many moneths , until he heard of the death of westmoreland , whose land and dignity ( whereof he assured himself ) bred belike this conscience in him to discover a treason in february , contrived and agreed upon in august . if it cost him not an ambitious head at last , let him never trust me . he brought a tall gentleman ( whom he commended for an excellent pistolier ) to me to chanon-row , to make one in the match : but i refused to deal with him , being loth to lay my head upon so many hands . master nevil hath ( i think ) forgotten , that he did swear to to me at divers times , that all the advancement she could give , should serve but for her scourge , if ever time and occasion should serve : and that though he would not lay hand upon her in a corner , his heart served him to strike off her head in the field . now leaving him to himself , this much ( to make an end ) i must confess of my self , i did mean to try what might be done in parliament , to do my best to hinder all hard courses , to have prayed hearing of the queens majesty , to move her ( if i could ) to take compassion upon her catholick subjects ; and when all had failed , to do as i intended . if her majesty by this course would have eased them , though she had never preferred me ; i had with all comfort and patience born it : 13 but if she had preferred me without ease or care of them , the enterprise had held . parry god preserve the queen , and encline her merciful heart to forgive me this desperate purpose ; and to take my head ( with all my heart ) for her better satisfaction . after which , for the better manifesting of his treasons , on the 14th of february last , there was a letter written by him to her majesty , very voluntarily , all of his own hand , without any motion made to him : the tenor whereof , for that which concerneth these his traiterous dealings , is as followeth . a letter written by parry to her majesty . your majesty may see by my voluntary confession , the dangerous fruits of a discontented minde ; and how constantly i pursued my first conceived purpose in venice , for the relief of the afflicted catholicks ; continued it in lions , and resolved in paris to put it in adventure , for the restitution of england to the antient obedience of the see apostolick . you may see withal , how it is commended , allowed , and warranted in conscience , divinity , and policy , by the pope and some great divines : though it be true or likely , that most of our english divines ( less practised in matters of this weight ) do utterly mislike and condemn it . the enterprise is prevented , and conspiracy discovered by an honourable gentleman , my kinsman and late familiar friend , master edmund nevil , privy and by solemn oath ( taken upon the bible ) party to the matter , whereof i am hardly glad , but now sorry ( in my very soul ) that ever i conceived or intended it , how commendable or meritoritous soever i thought it . god thank him , and forgive me , who would not now ( before god ) attempt it ( if i had liberty and opportunity to do it ) to gain your kingdome . i beseech christ , that my death and example may as well satisfie you majesty and the world , as it shall glad and content me . the queen of scotland is your prisoner ; let her be honourably entreated , but yet surely guarded . the french king is french , you know it well enough , you will finde him occupied when he should do you good ; he will not loose a pilgrimage to save you a crown . i have no more to say at this time , but that with my heart and soul i do now honour and love you ; am inwardly sorry for mine offence , and ready to make you amends by my death and patience . discharge me à culpâ , but not à poenâ , good lady . and so farewel , most gracious , and the best-natured and qualified queen that ever lived in england . from the tower , the 14th of february , 1584. w. parry . after which , to wit , the 18th of february last past , parry , in further acknowledging his wicked and intended treasons , wrote a letter all of his own hand , in like voluntary manner , to the lord treasurer of england , and the earl of leicester , lord steward of her majesties house ; the tenour whereof is as followeth . william parry's letter to the lord treasurer , and the earl of leicester . my lords , now that the conspiracy is discovered , the fault confessed , my conscience cleared , and minde prepared patiently to suffer the pains due for so heinous a crime : i hope it shall not offend you , if crying miserere with the poor publican , i leave to despair with cursed cain . my case is rare and strange , and , for any thing i can remember , singular : a natural subject solemnly to vow the death of his natural queen ( so born , so known , and so taken by all men ) for the relief of the afflicted catholicks , and restitution of religion . the matter first conceived in venice , the service ( in general words ) presented to the pope , continued and undertaken in paris ; and lastly , commended and warranted by his holiness , degested and resolved in england , if it had not been prevented by accusation , or by her majesties greater lenity and more gracious usage of her catholick subjects . this is my first and last offence conceived against my prince or country , and doth ( i cannot deny ) contein all other faults whatsoever . it is now to be punished by death , or most graciously ( beyond all common expectation ) to be pardoned . death i do confess to have deserved ; life i do ( with all humility ) crave , if it may stand with the queens honour , and policy of the time. to leave so great a treason unpunished , were strange : to draw it by my death in example , were dangerous : a sworn servant to take upon him such an enterprize , upon such a ground , and by such a warrant , hath not been seen in england : to indict him , arraign him , bring him to the scaffold , and to publish his offence , can do no good : to hope that he hath more to discover than is confessed , or that at his execution he will unsay any thing he hath written , is in vain : to conclude , that it is impossible for him in time to make some part of amends , were very hard , and against former experiences . the question then is , whether it be better to kill him , or ( lest the matter be mistaken ) upon hope of his amendment to pardon him . for mine own opinion ( though partial ) i will deliver you my conscience . the case is good queen elizabeths , the offence is committed against her sacred person , and she may ( of her mercy ) pardon it without prejudice to any . then this i say , in few words , as a man more desirous to discharge his troubled conscience , than to live . pardon poor parry , and relieve him : for life without living is not fit for him . if this may not be , or be thought dangerous , or dishonourable to the queens majesty ( as by your favours , i think it full of honour and mercy ) then i beseech your lordships ( and no other ) once to hear me before i be indicted , and afterwards ( if i must dye ) humbly to intreat the queens majesty to hasten my trial and execution , which i pray god ( with all my heart ) may prove as honourable to her , as i hope it shall be happy to me ; who will , while i live , ( as i have done always ) pray to jesus christ for her majesties long and prosperous reign . from the tower , the 18th of february , 1584. w. parry . and where in this mean time sir francis walsingham , secretary to her majesty , had dealt with one william creichton , a scot for his birth , and a jesuit by his profession , now prisoner also in the tower , for that he was apprehended with divers plots for invasions of this realm , to understand of him , if the said parry had ever dealt with him in the parties beyond the seas touching that question , whether it were lawful to kill her majesty , or not : the which at that time the said creichton called not to his remembrance ; yet after upon better calling it to minde , upon the 20th day of february last past , he wrote to master secretary walsingham thereof voluntary , all of his own hand , to the effect following . william creichtons letter . february 20. right honourable sir , when your honour demanded me if mr. parry did ask me , if it was reason to kill the queen , indeed and verity , then i had no remembrance at all thereof . but since , thinking on the matter , i have called to mind the whole fashion of his dealing with me , and some of his arguments : for he dealt very craftily with me , i dare not say maliciously . for i did in no ways think of any such design of his , or of any other , and did answer him simply after my conscience and knowledge to the verity of the question . for after that i had answered him twice before , quòd omnino non liceret , he returned late at even , by reason i was to depart early in the next morning toward chamberie in savoy where i did remain , and being return'd out of the close within one of the classes of the colledge , he proponed to me of the new matter , with his reasons and arguments . first , he alledged the utility of the deed for delivering of so many catholicks out of misery , and restitution of the catholick religion . i answered , that the scripture answereth thereto , saying , non sunt facienda mala , ut veniant bona . so that for no good , how great that ever it be , may be wrought any evil , how little that ever it be . he replyed , that it was not evil to take away so great evil , and induce so great good . i answered , that all good is not to be done , but that onely , quod bene & legitime fieri potest . and therefore , dixi , deum magis amare adverbia quàm nomina . quia in actionibus magis ei placent bene & legitime , quam bonum . ita ut nullum bonum liceat facere , nisi bene & legitimè fieri possit . quod in hoc casu fieri non potest . yet said he , that several learned men were of the opinion , quod liceret . i answered , that they men perhaps were of the opinion that for the safety of many in soul and body , they would permit a particular to his danger , and to the occult judgment of god : or perhaps said so , moved rather by some compassion and commiseration of the miserable estate of the catholicks , not for any such doctrine that they did finde in their books . for it is certain , that such a thing is not licite to a particular , without special revelation divine , which exceedeth our learning and doctrine . and so he departed from me . out of the prison in the tower , the 20th of february . your honours poor servitor in christ jesu . william creichton prisoner . and where also the same parry was on the same 20th day of february examined by sir francis walsingham knight , what was become of the letter contained in his confession to be written unto him by the cardinal de como , he then answered , that it was consumed and burnt : and yet after , the next day following , being more vehemently urged upon that point in examination ( because it was known that it was not burnt ) he confessed where he had left it in the town : whereupon , by parrys direction it was sent for , where it had been lapped up together with other frivolous papers , and written upon the one side of it , the last will of william parry , the which letter was in the italian tongue , as hereafter followeth , with the same in english accordingly translated . a mon signore , mon signore guglielmo parry . mon signore , la santita di n. s. ha veduto le lettere di v. s. del primo con la fede inclusa , & non puo se non laudare la buona disposittione & risolutiene che scrive di tenere verso il servitio & beneficio publico , nel che la santita sua lessorta di perseverare , con farne riuscire li effetti che v. s. promette : et accioche tanto maggiormente v. s. sia ajutata da quel buon spirito che l'ha mosso , le concede sua beneditione , plenaria indulgenza & remissione di tutti li peccati , secondo che v. s. ha chiesto , assicurandos si che oltre il merito , che n'havera in cielo , vuole anco sua santita constituir si debitore a riconoscere li meriti di v. s. in ogni miglior modo che potra , & cio tanto piu , quanto che v. s. ùsa maggior modestia in non pretender niente . metta dunque ad effetto lìesuoi santi & honorati pensieri , & attenda astar sano . che per fine io me le offero di core , & le desidero ogni buono & felice suceesso . di roma a 30 di gennaro , mdlxxxiv . al piacer di v. s. n. cardinale di como , al sig. guglielmo parri . cardinal de como's letter to will. parry , january 30th 1584. by accompt of rome . monsignor , the holiness of our lord hath seen the letter of your signory of the first , with the assurance included , and cannot but commend the good disposition and resolution , which you write to hold towards the service and benefit publick : wherein his holiness doth exhort you to persevere , with causing to bring forth the effects which your signorie promiseth . and to the end you may be so much the more holpen , by that good spirit , which hath moved you thereunto , his blessedness doth grant to you plenary indulgence and remission of all your sins , according to your request . assuring you , that besides the merit that you shall receive therefore in heaven , his holiness will further make himself debtour , to re-acknowledge the deservings of your signorie in the best manner that he can . and that so much the more , in that your signorie useth the greater modesty , in not pretending any thing . put therefore to effect your holy and honourable thoughts , and attend your health . and to conclude , i offer my self unto you heartily , and do desire all good and happy success . from rome the 30th of january , 1584. at the pleasure of your signorie , n. card. of como . upon all which former accusation , declaration , confessions , and proofs , upon munday the 22th day of february last past , at westminster-hall , before sir christopher wray knight , chief justice of england , sir gilbert gerrard knight , master of the rolls , sir edmund anderson knight , chief justice of the common pleas , sir roger manwood knight , chief baron of the exchequer , sir thomas gawdy knight , one of the justices of the pleas before her majesty to be holden , and will. perriam , one of the justices of the common pleas , by vertue of her majesties commission to them and others in that behalf directed ; the same parry was indicted of high treason , for intending and practising the death and destruction of her majesty , whom god long prosper , and preserve from all such wicked attempts . the tenour of which indictment appeareth more particularly in the course of his arraignment following . the manner of the arraignment of will. parry the 25th of february , 1584. at westminster , in the place where the court , commonly called the kings-bench , is usually kept , by vertue of her majesties commission of oyer and terminer , before henry lord hunsdon governour of barwick , sir francis knolles knight , treasurer of the queens majesties houshold , sir james croft knight , comptroller of the same houshold , sir christopher hatton knight , vice-chamberlain to her majesty , sir christopher wray knight , chief justice of england , sir gilbert gerrard knight , master of the rolls , sir edmund anderson knight , chief-justice of the common-pleas , sir roger manwood knight , chief-baron of the exchequer , and sir thomas hennage knight , treasurer of the chamber . first , three proclamations for silence were made , according to the usual course in such cases . then the lieutenant was commanded to return his precept ; which did so , and brought the prisoner to the bar , to whom miles sandes esquire , clerk of the crown , said , william parry , hold up thy hand ; and he did so . then said the clerk of the crown , thou art here indicted by the oaths of twelve good and lawful men of the county of middlesex , before sir christopher wray knight , and others , which took the indictment by the name of william parry , late of london , gentleman , otherwise called william parry , late of london , doctor of the law ; for that thou , as a false traitor against the most noble and christian prince , queen elizabeth , thy most gracious soveraign and liege-lady , not having the fear of god before thine eyes , nor regarding thy due allegiance ; but being seduced by the instigation of the devil , and intending to withdraw and extinguish the hearty love and due obedience which true and faithful subjects should bear unto the same our soveraign lady , didst at westminster in the county of middlesex , on the first day of february , in the 26th year of her highness reign , and at divers other times and places in the same county , maliciously and traiterously conspire and compass , not only to deprive and depose the same our sovereign lady of her royal estate , title and dignity ; but also to bring her highness to death and final destruction , and sedition in the realm to make , and the government thereof to subvert , and the sincere religion of god established in her highness dominions to alter and subvert . and that , whereas thou william parry , by thy letters sent unto gregory bishop of rome , didst signifie unto the same bishop thy purposes and intentions aforesaid , and thereby didst pray and require the same bishop to give thee absolution ; that thou afterwards , that is to say , the last day of march in the 26th year aforesaid , didst traiterously receive letters from one called cardinal de como , directed unto thee william parry , whereby the same cardinal did signifie unto thee , that the bishop of rome had perused thy letters , and allowed of thine intent ; and that to that end he had absolved thee of all thy sins , and by the same letter did animate and stir thee to proceed with thine enterprize ; and that thereupon , thou , the last day of august , in the 26th year aforesaid , at saint giles in the fields , in the same county of middlesex , didst traiterously confer with one edmund nevil esquire , uttering to him all thy wicked and traiterous devises , and then and there didst move him to assist thee therein , and to joyn with thee in those wicked treasons aforesaid , against the peace of our said soveraign lady the queen , her crown and dignity . what sayest thou , william parry , art thou guilty of these treasons whereof thou standest here indicted , or not guilty ? then parry said , before i plead not guilty , or confess my self guilty , i pray you give me leave to speak a few words : and with humbling himself , began in this manner . god save queen elizabeth , and god send me grace to discharge my duty to her , and to send you home in charity . but touching the matters that i am indicted of , some were in one place , and some in another , and done so secretly , as none can see into them , except that they had eyes like unto god ; wherefore i will not lay my blood upon the jury , but do minde to confess the indictment . it containeth but the parts that have been openly read , i pray you tell me ? whereunto it was answered , that the indictment contained the parts he had heard read , and no other : whereupon the clerk of the crown said unto parry , parry , thou must answer directly to the indictment , whether thou be guilty or not . then said parry , i do confess that i am guilty of all that is therein contained : and further too , i desire not life , but desire to die . unto which the clerk of the crown said , if you confess it , you must confess it in manner and form as it is comprised in the indictment . whereunto he said , i do confess it in manner and form as the same is set down , and all the circumstances thereof . then the confession being recorded , the queens learned council being ready to pray judgment upon the same confession , master vice-chamberlain said , these matters contained in this indictment , and confessed by this man , are of great importance : they touch the person of the queens most excellent majesty in the highest degree , the very state and well-doing of the whole common-wealth , and the truth of gods word established in these her majesties dominions , and the open demonstration of that capital envy of the man of rome , that hath set himself against god and all godliness , all good princes and good government , and against good men . wherefore , i pray you , for the satisfaction of this great multitude , let the whole matter appear , that every one may see that the matter of it self is as bad as the indictment purporteth , and as he hath confessed . whereto in respect that the justice of the realm hath been of late very impudently slandered , all yielded as a thing necessary to satisfie the world in particular , of that which was but summarily comprised in the indictment , though in the law , his confession served sufficiently to have proceeded thereupon unto judgment . whereupon the lords and others the commissioners , her majesties learned councel , and parry himself agreed , that parry's confession ( taken the 11th and 13th of february 1584. before the lord of hunsdon , master vice-chamberlain , and master secretary , ) and cardinal de como his letters , and parry's letters to the lord treasurer and lord steward , should be openly read . and parry , for the better satisfying of the people and standers by , offered to read them himself : but being told that the order was , the clerk of the crown should read them , it was so resolved of all parts . and then master vice-chamberlain caused to be shewed to parry his said confession , the cardinals letter , and his own letter aforesaid ; which after he had particularly viewed every leaf thereof , he confessed , and said openly they were the same . then said master vice-chamberlain , before we proceed to shew what he hath confessed , what say you , said he to parry , is that which you have confessed here true , and did you confess it freely and willingly of your self , or was then any extort means used to draw it from you ? surely , said parry , i made that confession freely without any constraint , and that is all true , and more too : for there is no treason that hath been sithens the first year of the queen , any way touching religion , saving receipt of agnus dei , and perswading of others , wherein i have not much dealt , but i have offended in it . and i have also delivered mine opinion in writing , who ought to be successor to the crown , which he said to be treason also . then his confession of the eleventh and thirteenth of february , all of his own hand writing , and before particularly set down , was openly , and distinctly read by the clerk of the crown . and that done , the cardinal di como his letter in italian was delivered unto parry's hand by the direction of master vicechamberlain , which parry there perused , and openly affirmed to be wholly of the cardinals own hand writing , and the seal to be his own also , and to be with a cardinals hat on it : and himself did openly read it in italian , as before is set down . and the words bearing sence as it were written to a bishop , or to a man of such degree , it was demanded of him by master vice-chamberlain , whether he had not taken the degree of a bishop ? he said , no : but said at first , those terms were proper to the degree he had taken . and after said , that the cardinal did vouchsafe , as of a favour , to write so to him . then the copy of that letter in english , as before is also set down , was in like manner openly read by the clerk of the crown ; which parry then acknowledged to be truely translated . and thereupon was shewed unto parry his letter of the 18th of february , written to the lord treasurer , and the lord steward : which he confessed to be all of his own hand-writing , and was as before is set down . these matters being read openly , for manifestation of the matter , parry prayed leave to speak : whereto master vice-chamberlain said , if you will say any thing for the better opening to the world of those your foul and horrible facts , speak on : but if you mean to make any excuse of that which you have confessed , which else would have been and do stand proved against you , for my part , i will not sit to hear you . then her majesties attourney-general stood up and said , it appeareth before you , my lords , that this man hath been indicted and arraigned of several most hainous and horrible treasons , and hath confessed them , which is before you of record ; wherefore there resteth no more to be done , but for the court to give judgment accordingly , which here i require in the behalf of the queens majesty . then said parry , i pray you hear me for discharging of my conscience . i will not go about to excuse my self , nor to seek to save my life , i care not for it ; you have my confession of record , that is enough for my life . and i mean to utter more , for which i were worthy to die . and said , i pray you hear me , in that i am to speak to discharge my conscience . then said master vice-chamberlain , parry , then do thy duty according to conscience , and utter all that thou canst say concerning those thy most wicked facts . then said parry , my cause is rare , singular and unnatural , conceived at venice , presented in general words to the pope , undertaken at paris , commended and allowed of by his holiness , and was to have been executed in england , if it had not been prevented . yea , i have committed many treasons , for i have committed treason in being reconciled , and treason in taking absolution . there hath been no treason sithens the first year of the queens reign touching religion , but that i am guilty of ( except for receiving of agnus dei , and perswading as i have said : ) and yet never intended to kill queen elizabeth . i appeal to her own knowledge , and to my lord treasurers , and master secretaries . then said my l d hunsdon , hast thou acknowledged it so often , and so plainly in writing under thy hand , and here of record ; and now , when thou shouldest have thy judgment according to that which thou hast confessed thy self guilty of , doest thou go back again , and deny the effect of all ? how can we believe that thou now sayest ? then said master vice-chamberlain , this is absurd . thou hast not onely confessed generally , that thou wert guilty according to the indictment , which summarily , and yet in express words doth contain that thou hadst traiterously compassed and intended the death and destruction of her majesty ; but thou also saidst particularly that thou wert guilty of every of the treasons contained therein , whereof the same was one , in plain and express letter set down , and read unto thee . yea , thou saidst that thou wert guilty of more treasons too besides these . and didst thou not upon thy examination voluntarily confess , how thou wast moved first thereunto by mislike of thy state after thy departure out of the realm , and that thou didst mislike her majesty for that she had done nothing for thee ; how by wicked papists and popish books , thou wert perswaded that it was lawful to kill her majesty ; how thou wert by reconciliation become one of that wicked sort , that held her majesty for neither lawful queen nor christian , and that it was meritorious to kill her ? and didst thou not signifie that thy purpose to the pope by lettersand , receivedst letters from the cardinal , how he allowed of thine intent , and excited thee to perform it , and thereupon didst receive absolution ? and didst thou not conceive it , promise it , vow it , swear it , and receive the sacrament that thou wouldst do it ? and didst not thou thereupon affirm , that thy vows were in heaven , and thy letters and promises on earth to binde thee to do it ? and that whatsoever her majesty would have done for thee , could not have removed thee from that intention or purpose , unless she would have desisted from dealing as she hath done with the catholicks , as thou callest them ? all this thou hast plainly confessed : and i protest before this great assembly , thou hast confessed it more plainly and in better sort , than my memory will serve me to utter : and saist thou now , that thou never meant'st it ? ah , said parry , your honours know , how my confession upon mine examination was extorted . the both the lord hunsdon and master vice-chamberlain affirmed , that there was no torture or threatning words offered him . but parry then said , that they told him , that if he would not confess willingly , he should have torture : whereunto their honours answered , that they used not any speech or word of torture to him . you said , said parry , that you would proceed with rigour against me , if i would not confess it of my self . but their honours expresly affirmed , that they used no such words . but i will tell thee , said master vice-chamberlain , what we said . i spake these words : if you will willingly utter the truth of your self , it may do you good , and i wish you to do so : if you will not , we must then proceed in ordinary course to take your examination . whereunto you answered , that you would tell the truth of your self . was not this true ? which then he yielded unto . and hereunto , her majesties attourney-general put parry in remembrance what speeches he used to the lieutenant of the tower , the queens majesties serjeant at law , master gaudie , and the same attourney , on saturday the twentieth of february last , at the tower , upon that he was by them then examined by order from the lords : which was , that he acknowledg'd he was most mildly and favourably dealt with , in all his examinations : which he also at the bar then acknowledg'd to be true . then master vice-chamberlain said , that it was wonder to see the magnanimity of her majesty , which after that thou hadst opened those trayterous practices in sort as thou hast laid it down in thy confession , was nevertheless such , and so far from all fear , as that she would not so much as acquaint any one of her highness privy-council with it , to his knowledge , no not until after this thine enterprise discovered and made manifest . and besides that which thou hast set down under thine own hand , thou didst confess , that thou hadst prepared two scottish daggers , fit for such a purpose ; and those being disposed away by thee , thou didst say , that another would serve thy turn . and withal , parry , didst thou not also confess before us , how wonderfully thou wert appaled and perplexed upon a sudden , at the presence of her majesty at hampton-court this last summer , saying , that thou didst think , thou then sawest in her , the very likeness and image of king henry the seventh ? and that therewith , and upon some speeches used by her majesty , thou didst turn about and weep bitterly to thy self ? and yet didst call to minde that thy vows were in heaven , thy letters and promises on earth ; and that therefore thou didst say with thy self , that there was no remedy but to do it ? didst thou not confess this ? the which he acknowledged . then said the lord hunsdon , sayest thou now , that thou didst never mean to kill the queen ? didst thou not confess , that when thou didst utter this practice of treachery to her majesty , that thou didst cover it with all the skill thou hadst , and that it was done by thee , rather to get credit and access thereby , than for any regard thou hadst of her person ? but in truth thou didst it , that thereby thou mightest have better opportunity to perform thy wicked enterprise . and wouldest thou have run into such fear as thou didst confess that thou wert in , when thou didst utter it , if thou hadst never meant it ? what reason canst thou shew for thy self ? with that he cryed out in a furious manner , i never meant to kill her : i will lay my blood upon queen elizabeth and you , before god and the world : and thereupon fell into a rage and evil words with the queens majesties attourney-general . then said the lord hunsdon , this is but thy popish pride and ostentation , which thou wouldst have to be told to thy fellows of that faction , to make them believe that thou diest for popery , when thou diest for most horrible and dangerous treasons against her majesty , and thy whole country . for thy laying of thy bloud , it must lye on thine own head , as a just reward of thy wickedness . the laws of the realm most justly condemn thee to die , out of thine own mouth , for the conspiring the destruction both of her majesty , and of us all : therefore thy bloud be upon thee ; neither her majesty nor we at any time sought it , thy self hast spilt it . then he was asked , what he could say , why judgment of death ought not to be awarded against him . whereto he said , he did see that he must die , because he was not settled . what meanest thou by that , said master vice-chamberlain ? said he , look into your study , and into your new books , and you shall finde what i mean. i protest ( said his honour ) i know not what thou meanest : thou dost not well to use such dark speeches , unless thou wouldst plainly utter what thou meanest thereby . but he said , he cared not for death , and that he would lay his bloud amongst them . then spake the lord chief-justice of england , being required to give the judgment , and said , parry , you have been much heard , and what you mean by being settled , i know not ; but i see you are so settled in popery , that you cannot settle your self to be a good subject . but touching that you should say , to stay judgment from being given against you , your speeches must be of one of these kinds , either to prove the indictment ( which you have confessed to be true ) to be insufficient in law ; or else to plead somewhat touching her majesties mercy , why justice should not be done of you . all other speeches , wherein you have used great liberty , is more than by law you can ask . these be the matters you must look to , what say you to them ? whereto he said nothing . then said the lord chief-justice , parry , thou hast been before this time indicted of divers most horrible and hateful treasons , committed against thy most gracious soveraign and native country : the matter most detestable , the manner most subtle and dangerous , and the occasions and means that led thee thereunto , most ungodly and villanous . that thou didst intend it , it is most evident by thy self . the matter was the destruction of a most sacred and an anointed queen , thy sovereign and mistriss , who hath shewed thee such favour , as some thy betters have not obtained : yea , the overthrow of thy country wherein thou wert born , and of a most happy commonwealth whereof of thou art a member , and of such a queen , as hath bestowed on thee the benefit of all benefits in this world , that is , thy life , heretofore granted thee by her mercy , when thou hadst lost it by justice and desert . yet thou her servant , sworn to defend her , meant'st with thy bloudy hand to have taken away her life , that mercifully gave thee thine , when it was yielded into her hands : this is the matter wherein thou hast offended . the manner was most subtle and dangerous , beyond all that before thee have committed any wickedness against her majesty . for thou , making shew as if thou wouldest simply have uttered for her safety the evil that others had contrived , didst but seek thereby credit and access , that thou mightest take the apter opportunity for her destruction . and for the occasions and means that drew thee on , they were most ungodly and villanous , as the perswasions of the pope , of papists , and popish books . the pope pretendeth that he is a pastor , when as in truth , he is far from feeding of the flock of christ ; but rather as a wolf , seeketh but to feed on and to suck out the blood of true christians , and as it were thirsteth after the bloud of our most gracious and christian queen . and these papists and popish books , while they pretend to set forth divinity , they do indeed most ungodly teach and perswade , that which is quite contrary both to god and his word . for the word teaches obedience of subjects towards princes , and forbideth any private man to kill : but they teach subjects to disobey princes , and that a private wicked person may kill ; yea , and whom ? a most godly queen , and their own natural and most gracious soveraign . let all men therefore take heed how they receive any thing from him , hear or read any of their books , and how they confer with any papists . god grant her majesty , that she may know by thee , how ever she trust such like to come so near her person . but see the end , and why thou didst it ; and it will appear to be a most miserable , fearful , and foolish thing : for thou didst imagine , that it was to relieve those , that thou callest catholicks , who were most likely amongst all others to have felt the worst of it , if thy devilish practice had taken effect . but sith thou hast been indicted of the treasons comprised in the indictment , and thereupon arraigned , and hast confessed thy self guilty of them , the court doth award , that thou shalt be had from hence to the place whence thou didst come , and so drawn through the open city of london upon an hurdle to the place of execution , and there to be hanged and let down alive , and thy privy parts cut off , and thy entrals taken out and burnt in thy sight , then thy head to be cut off , and thy body to be divided in four parts , and to be disposed at her majesties pleasure : and god have mercy on thy soul. parry nevertheless persisted still in his rage and fond speech , and ragingly there said , he there summoned queen elizabeth to answer for his blood before god : wherewith , the lieutenant of the tower was commanded to take him from the bar , and so he did . and upon his departure , the people stricken as it were at heart with the horror of his intended enterprise , ceased not , but pursued him with out-cryes , as , away with the traitor , away with him , and such like : whereupon he was conveyed to the barge , to pass to the tower again by water , and the court was adjorned . after which , upon the second day of this instant march , william parry was by vertue of process in that behalf , awarded from the same commissioners of oyer and terminer , delivered by the lieutenant of the tower early in the morning , unto the sheriffs of london and middlesex , who received him at the tower-hill , and thereupon , according to the judgment , caused him there to be forthwith set on the hurdel . from whence he was drawn thereupon threw the midst of the city of london , unto the place for his execution in the pallace at westminster : where , having long time of stay admitted unto him before his execution , he most maliciously and impudently , after some other vain discourses eftsoons and often delivered in speech , that he was never guilty of any intention to kill queen elizabeth , and so ( without any request made by him to the people to pray to god for him , or prayer publickly used by himself for ought that appeared ; but such as he used , if he used any , was private to himself ) he was executed according to the judgment . and now for his intent , howsoever he pretended the contrary in words , yet by these his own writings , confessions , letters , and many other proofs afore here expressed , it is most manifest to all persons , how horrible his intentions and treasons were , and how justly he suffered for the same ; and thereby greatly to be doubted , that as he had lived a long time vainly and ungodly , and like an atheist and godless man , so he continued the same course till his death to the outward sight of men . here endeth the true and plain course and process of the treasons , arrest , arraignment , and execution of william parry the traitor . an addition not unnecessary for this purpose . for as much as parry in the abundance of his proud and arrogant humour , hath often both in his confession , and letters , pretended some great and grievous causes of discontentment against her majesty , and the present state : it shall not be impertinent , for better satisfaction of all persons , to set forth simply and truly , the condition and quality of the man , what he was by birth and education , and in what course of life he had lived . this vile and traiterous wretch was one of the younger sons of a poor man , called harry ap david : he dwelled in north-wales in a little village called northoppe , in the county of flint : there he kept a common ale-house , which was the best and greatest stay of his living . in that house was this traitor born , his mother was the reputed daughter of one conway a priest , parson of a poor parish called halkin , in the same county of flint : his his eldest brother dwelleth at this present in the same house , and there keepeth an ale-house as his father did before him . this traitor in his childhood , so soon as he had learned a little to write & read , was put to serve a poor man dwelling in chester , named john fisher , who professed to have some small skill and understanding in the law. with him he continued divers years , and served as a clerk , to write such things , as in that trade which his master used , he was appointed . during this time , he learned the english tongue , and at such times of leasure , as the poor man his master had no occasion otherwise to use him , he was suffered to go to the grammer-school , where he got some little understanding in the latin tongue . in this his childhood he was noted by such as best knew him , to be of a most villanous and dangerous nature and disposition . he did often run away from his master , and was often taken and brought to him again . his master , to correct his perverse and froward conditions , did many times shut him as prisoner in some close place of his house , and many times caused him to be chained , locked , and clogged , to stay his running away . yet all was in vain : for about the third year of her majesties reign , for his last farewel to his poor master , he ran away from him , and came to london to seek his adventures . he was then constrained to seek what trade he could to live by , and to get meat and drink for his belly , and cloaths for his back . his good hap in the end was to be entertained in place of service above his desert ; where he staid not long , but shifted himself divers times from service to service , and from one master to another . now he began to forget his old home , his birth , his education , his parents , his friends , his own name , and what he was . he aspired to greater matters , he challenged the name and title of a great gentleman , he vaunted himself to be of kin and allied to noble and worshipful ; he left his old name , which he did bear and was commonly called by in his childhood , and during all the time of his abode in the country , which was william ap harry ( as the manner in wales is . ) and because he would seem to be indeed the man which he pretended , he took upon him the name of parry , being the sirname of divers gentlemen of great worship and honour . and because his mother name by her father ( a priest ) was conway , he pretended kindred to the family of sir john conway , and so thereby made himself of kin to edmund nevil . being thus set forth with his new name and new title of gentleman , and commended by some of his good favourers , he matched himself in marriage with a widow in south-wales , who brought him some reasonable portion of wealth . she lived with him but a short time , and the wealth he had with her lasted not long : it was soon consumed with his dissolute and wastful manner of life . he was then driven to his wonted shifts , his creditor were many , the debt which he owed great , he had nothing wherewith to make payment , he was continually pursued by serjeants and officers to arrest him , he did often by slight and shifts escape from them . in this his needy and poor estate , he sought to repair himself again by a new match in marriage with another widow , which before was the wife of one richard heywood ; this matter was so earnestly followed by himself , and so effectually commended by his friends and favourers , that the woman yielded to take him to husband : a match in every respect very unequal and unfit ; her wealth and yearly livelihood was very great , his poor and base estate worse than nothing ; he very young , she of such age , as for years she might have been his mother . when he had thus possessed himself of his new wives wealth , he omitted nothing that might serve for a prodigal , dissolute , and most ungodly course of life . his riot and excess was unmeasurable ; he did most wickedly deflower his wives own daughter , and sundry ways pitifully abuse the old mother : he carried himself for his outward port and countenance ( so long as his old wives bags lasted ) in such sort , as might well have sufficed for a man of very good haviour and degree . but this lasted not long ; his proud heart and wastful hand had foon poured out of heywood's wealth . he then fell again to his wonted shifts , borrowed where he could finde any to lend , and engaged his credit so far as any would trust him . amongst others , he became greatly indebted to hugh hare , the gentleman before-named ; who after long forbearing of his money , sought to recover it by ordinary means of law. for this cause parry conceived great displeasure against him , which he pursued with all malice , even to the seeking of his life . in this murtherous intent , he came in the night-time to mr. hares chamber in the temple , broke open the door , assaulted him , and wounded him grievously , and so left him in great danger of life . for this offence he was apprehended , committed to newgate , indicted of burglary , arraigned , and found guilty by a very substantial jury , and condemned to be hanged , as the law in that case requireth he standing thus convicted , her majesty , of her most gracious clemency , and pitiful disposition , took compassion upon him , pardoned his offence , and gave him his life , which by the law and due course of justice he ought then to have lost . after this he carried not long , but pretending some causes of discontentment , departed the realm , and travelled beyond the seas . how he demeaned himself there from time to time , and with whom he conversed , is partly in his own confession touched before . this is the man , this is his race , which he feared should be spotted , if he miscarried in the execution of his traiterous enterprise ; this hath been the course of his life , these are the great causes of his discontentment . and whereas at his arraignment and execution he pretended great care of the disobedient popish subjects of this realm , whom he called catholicks , and in very insolent sort seemed to glory greatly in the profession of his pretensed catholick religion : the whole course and action of his life sheweth plainly , how profanely and irreligiously he did always bear himself . he vaunted , that for these two and twenty years past he had been a catholick , and during all that time never received the communion : yet before he travelled beyond the seas , at three several times within the compass of those two and twenty years , he did voluntarily take the oath of obedience to the queens majesty , set down in the statute made in the first year of her highness reign ; by which , amongst other things , he did testifie and declare in his conscience , that no forreign prince , person , prelate , state , or potentate , hath or ought to have any jurisdiction , power , preeminence , or authority , ecclesiastical or spiritual , within this realm ; and therefore did utterly renounce and forsake all forreign jurisdictions , powers , and authorities ; and did promise to bear faith and true allegeance to the queens highness , her heirs and lawful successors . with what conscience or religion he took that oath so often , if he were then a papist indeed , as sithence the discovery of his treasons he pretended , let his best friends the papists themselves judge . but perhaps it may be said , that he repented those his offences past ; that since those three oaths so taken by him , he was twice reconciled to the pope , and so his conscience cleared , and he become a new man ; and ( which is more ) that in the time to his last travel , he cast away all his former lewd manners : that he changed his degree and habit , and bought or begged the grave title of a doctor of law , for which he was well qualified with a little grammar-school latine ; that he had plenary indulgence , and remission of all his sins , in consideration of his undertaking of so holy an enterprise as to kill queen elizabeth , a sacred anointed queen , his natural and soveraign lady : that he promised to the pope , and vowed to god to perform it : that he confirmed the same by receiving the sacrament at the jesuits , at one altar with his two beaupeers , the cardinals of vendosme and narbonne : and that since his last return into england , he did take his oath upon the bible to execute it . these reasons may seem to bear some weight indeed amongst his friends the jesuits , and other papists of state , who have special skill in matters of such importance . but now lately in the beginning of this parliament in november last , he did eftsoons solemnly in publick place take the oath before mentioned , of obedience to her majesty . how that may stand with his reconciliations to the pope , and with his promises , vows , and oath to kill the queen , it is a thing can hardly be warranted , unless it be by some special priviledge of the popes omnipotency . but let him have the glory he desired , to live and die a papist . he deserved it , it is fit for him , his death was correspondent to the course of his life , which was disloyal , perjured , and traiterous towards her majesty , and false and perfidious towards the pope himself , and his catholicks , if they will believe his solemn protestations which he made at his arraignment and execution , that he never meant nor intended any hurt to her highness person . for if that be true , where are then his vows which he said were in heaven , his letter and promise upon earth ? why hath he stollen out of the popes shop so large an indulgence and plenary remission of all his sins , and meant to perform nothing that he promised ? why was his devotion and zeal so highly commended ? why was he so specially prayed for and remembred at the altar ? all these great favours were then bestowed upon him without cause or desert : for he deceived the pope , he deceived the cardinals , and jesuites , with a false semblance , and pretence to do that thing which he never meant . but the matter is clear , the conspiracy , and his traiterous intent is too plain and evident : it is the lord that revealed it in time , and prevented their malice : there lacked no will , or readiness in him to execute that horrible fact . it is the lord that hath preserved her majesty from all the wicked practices and conspiracies of that hellish rabble : it is he that hath most gratiously deliver'd her from the hands of this traiterous miscreant . the lord is her onely defence , in whom she hath always trusted . a prayer for all kings , princes , countries and people which do profess the gospel ; and especially for our soveraign lady queen elizabeth : used in her majesties chappel , and meet to be used of all persons within her majesties dominions . o lord god of hosts , most loving and merciful father , whose power no creature is able to resist , who of thy great goodness hast promised to grant the petitions of such as ask in thy sons name : we most humbly beseech thee to save and defend all princes , magistrates , kingdoms , countries and people which have received and do profess thy holy word and gospel ; and namely this realm of england , and thy servant elizabeth our queen , whom thou hast hitherto wonderfully preserved from manifold perils and sundry dangers , and of late revealed and frustrated the traiterous practices and conspiracies of divers against her : for the which , and all other thy great goodness towards us , we give thee most humble and hearty thanks , beseeching thee in the name of thy dear son iesus christ , and for his sake , still to preserve and continue her unto us , and to give her long life and many years to rule over this land. o heavenly father , the practices of our enemies , and the enemies of thy word and truth , against her and us , are manifest and known thee . turn them , o lord , if it be thy blessed will , or overthrow and confound them , for thy names sake : suffer them not to prevail : take them , o lord , in their crafty willness that they have invented , and let them fall into the pit which they have digged for others . permit them not ungodly to triumph over us : discomfort them , discomfort them , o lord , which trust in their own multitude , and please themselves in their subtile devices , and wicked conspiracies . o loving father , we have not deserved the least of these thy mercies which we crave : for we have sinned , and grievously offended thee ; we are not worthy to be called thy sons : we have not been so thankful unto thee as we should , for thy unspeakable benefits powred upon us : we have abused this long time of peace and prosperity ; we have not obeyed thy word : we have had it in mouth , but not in heart ; in outward appearance , but not in deed : we have lived carelesly : we have not known the time of our visitation : we have deserved utter destruction . but thou , o lord , art merciful , and ready to forgive ; therefore we come to thy throne of grace , confessing and acknowledging thee to be our only refuge in all times of peril and danger : and by the means of thy son , we most heartily pray thee to forgive us our vnthankfulness , disobedience hypocrisie , and all other our sins ; to turn from us thy heavy wrath and displeasure , which we have justly deserved ; and to turn our hearts truly unto thee , that daily we may increase in all goodness , and continually more and more fear thy holy name : so shall be glorifie thy name , and sing unto thee in psalms , and hymns , and spiritual songs : and thy enemies and ours shall know themselves to be but men , and not able by any means to withstand thee , nor to hurt those whom thou hast received into thy protection and defence . grant these things , o lord of power , and father of mercy , for thy christ's sake ; to whom with thee and thy holy spirit , be all honour and glory for ever and ever . amen . a prayer and thanksgiving for the queen , used of all the knights and burgesses in the high court of parliament , and very requisite to be used and continued of all her majesties loving subjects . o almighty and most merciful god , which dost pitch thy tents round about thy people , to deliver them from the hands of their enemies ; we thy humble servants , which have ever of old seen thy salvation , do fall down and prostrate our selves with praise and thanksgiving to thy glorious name , who hast in thy tender mercies from time to time saved and defended thy servant elizabeth , our most gracious quéen , not only from the hands of strange children , but also of late revealed and made frustrate his bloody and most barbarous treason , who being her natural subject , most unnaturally violating thy divine ordinance , hath secretly sought to shed her blood , to the great disquiet of thy church , and utter discomfort of our souls : his snare is hewen in pieces , but upon thy servant doth the crown flourish . the wicked and bloodthirsty men think to debour iacob , and to lay waste his dwelling place : but thou ( o god ) which rulest in iacob , and unto the ends of the world , dost daily teach us still a trust in thée for all thy great mercies , and not to forget thy merciful kindness shewed to her , that feareth thy name . o lord , we confess to thy glory and praise , that thou only hast saved us from destruction , because thou hast not given her over for a prey to the wicked : her soul is delivered , and we are escaped . hear us now we pray thée , ( o most merciful father ) and continue forth thy loving kindness towards thy servant , and evermore to thy glory and our comfort , kéep her in health , with long life , and prosperity ; whose rest and only refuge is in thée , o god of her salvation . preserve her , as thou art wont , preserve her from the snare of the enemy , from the gathering together of the froward , from the insurrection of wicked doers , and from all the traiterous conspiracies of those which privily lay wait for her life . grant this , o heavenly father , for iesus christs sake , our only mediator and advocate , amen . io. th. a prayer used in the parliament onely . o merciful god and father , forasmuch as no counsel can stand , nor any can prosper , but only such as are humbly gathered in thy name , to féel the swéet taste of thy holy spirit ; we gladly acknowledge , that by thy favour standeth the peaceable protection of our quéen and realm , and likewise this favourable liberty granted unto us at this time to make our méeting together ; which thy bountiful goodness we most thankfully acknowledging , do withal earnestly pray thy divine majesty so to encline our hearts , as our counsels may be subject in true obedience to thy holy word and will. and sithe it hath pleased thée to govern this realm by ordinary assembling the three estates of the same : our humble prayer is , that thou wilt graff in us good mindes to conceive , free liberty to speak , and on all sides a ready and quiet consent to such wholesome laws and statutes , as may declare us to be thy people , and this realm to be prosperously ruled by thy good guiding and defence : so that we and our posterity may with chearful hearts wait for thy appearance in iudgment , that art only able to present us faultless before god our heavenly father : to whom with thée our saviour christ , and the holy spirit , be all glory both now and ever . amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a51173-e21420 the indictment . parry's answer to the indictment . parry confesseth that he is guilty of all things contained in the indictment . parry's confession of his treasons was read by his own assent . a letter of cardinal di como to parry , also read . parry's letter of the 18th of february to the lord treasurer and the earl of leicester , read . the queens atturny requires judgment . parry had for his credit aforetime said very secretly , that he had been solicited beyond the seas to commit the fact , but he would not do it ; wherewith he craftily abused both the queens majesty , and those tw● counsellers whereof he now would help himself with these false speeches , against most manifest proofs . master vice-chamberlains speeches , proving manifestly parry's traiterous intentions . parry reproved of false speeches , and so by himself also confessed . the l. of hunsdon's speeches , convincing parry manifestly of his treason . the lord chief-justices speech to parry . the form of the judgment against the traitor . 2. martii . william parry the traytor executed . parry condemned for burglary , pardoned of the queen . the present state of the princes and republicks of italy with observations on them / written originally in english by j. gailhard ... gailhard, j. (jean) 1671 approx. 304 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 136 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-05 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a41525 wing g125 estc r40437 19320043 ocm 19320043 108607 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a41525) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 108607) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1670:29) the present state of the princes and republicks of italy with observations on them / written originally in english by j. gailhard ... gailhard, j. (jean) the second edition corrected and enlarged [24], 240 p. printed for john starkey ..., london : 1671. "licensed, roger l'estrange" --p. [24]. pages 170 and 174 misnumbered as 136 and 474, respectively. reproduction of original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng popes -election. italy -history -1559-1789. italy -kings and rulers. spain -social life and customs. 2003-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-01 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-02 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2004-02 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the present state of the princes and republicks of italy , vvith observations on them . the second edition corrected and enlarged , with the mamnner of the election of popes , and a character of spain . written originally in english by j. gailhard , gent. london , printed for john starkey , at the miter near temple-bar in fleet-street , 1671. to the right honourable , robert , earl of sunderland , baron spencer of wormleighton . my lord. 't is usual with some when they publish any of their works , to pretend they were forced to it by the importunity of friends , which is often true , and sometimes it is allowable ; but 't is no great modesty to boast of it upon every occasion . others do prefix to their books , to give them credit , the name of some considerable person ; this is well done , if the worth of the piece be any wayes suitable to the qualifications of that person ; else ( to speak in solomons words ) it will be as a jewel of gold in a swines snout . i hope , my lord , i have at present in some measure hit upon that necessary proportion ; your lordship is in every account one of the most eminent noblemen of the kingdome , and my subject ( though i handle it with several defects and imperfections ) is of potent princes and republicks , a hard task indeed it is ; for when a private man is to speak of the persons and actions of kings and princes , specially of so many as i have occasion to mention , he walks upon the edge of rocks and precipices ; for of one side princes are jealous of their authority , and the people of their liberty ; on the other , if he gives monarchies such commendations as that manner of government deserves , he must be careful to say nothing to the disparagement of republicks : every one of these governments is good in it's kind , yet not in every countrey , only as it sutes the temper and constitution of the people ; but i cannot forbear to say , that monarchy hath of all governments most conformity to the pattern of all , or to the empire which god hath over the world. 't is not an easie matter to speak of a subject which hath been treated of by several others , however there are different wayes to do it , and new observations may produce new notions . sometimes one hath occasion to tell his opinion of things , and herein he is himself liable to the censure of thousands of different judgement and affections ; but as these things are unavoidable to those who appear in publick ; so they ought to be resolved to undergo any thing of that kind : the approbation of such persons as your lordship , is that which writers should mind most of all , and use their utmost care to obtain . 't is a known truth , and i declare it , my lord , that your natural parts , joyned to the experience you have gained by your travels , have fitted your lordship to pass a judicious sentence upon any thing that deserves it . i say nothing in this relation , but what your lordship hath more accurately by far , & more exactly observed : you have been , my lord , upon the places highly esteemed by some princes who knew your worth and quality , and where to my own knowledge ( if i may so say ) you omitted nothing that might conduce to the improvement of your self , as a person who by vertue of your birth , parts and merits , will find no imployment in your countrey too high for you , when some occasion shall be offered for your prince to do you that favour and justice ; to the end , the nation may have some benefit of that treasure of wisdome and experience which is in you ; and i in particular the satisfaction to see your lordship as great as you deserve ; which is the earnest desire of my lord , your lordships most humble and devoted servant , gailhard . to the reader . wonderfull and much to be admired is the goodnesse and wisdome of god , in that various distribution he hath made of his favours to nations and countries , for the benefit of humane society , that men seeing every where some tokens of his goodnesse , after a serious reflection on the same , they should reduce all to that ultimate end , which is to give him glory and praises for it . non omnis fert omnia tellus , so that one country lies under a kind of necessity of keeping correspondency with another , either for necessary or for delightfull things , if not for the being , yet for the well-being ; for this end hath the art of navigation been discovered , trade ( which makes countries so flourishing ) settled , and all manner of correspondency kept between those who live at a distance . i do not deny but that it is convenient to have things brought home to us out of forreign parts , without taking any pains , or running any hazzard , yet to have things right , we must go to fetch them upon the places where they are produced ; 't is best to have things at the first hand , and to have pure water , we must go to the spring , if it can conveniently be done , for it looses something of it's worth , either through the defect of the vessell , or some other accident , if it be brought to us : we observe in vegetables , if they be transplanted , after a while they degenerate , and loose part of their vertue , the climate and the soyle are not so sutable to their nature as that wherein they grew ; no balm was so good as that which was in gilead ; that vine-tree which in one place doth produce good grapes , in another will yield nothing but wild grapes . experience also doth demonstrate this in sensitive creatures , horses and dogs , when carried from their own climate , loose their good qualities , at the furthest at the second or third breed . this holds in rational creatures ; we know there are nations which for the generality have quicker apprehension , and sharper wit than others , yet let a man remove from his native countrey , when he hath been any considerable while in another , his temper will be like that of those amongst whom he lives , imperceptibly such an alteration is wrought , so that he will grow dull and flegmatick if the climate bears it ; this may be caused by a constant conversation with people of that constitution ; by the very diet , for those aliments which are course , make gross and thick bloud , which doth not breed quick and lively spirits ; and a man by the change of air , will find a great alteration in himself ; the breathing of a pure air refreshes the lungs , chears up the heart , and upon a suddain inspires an inward joy , which can hardly be expressed : in this i speak after my own experience , i specially took notice of it when i came to puzzuolo and baya in italy , neither was i alone to make that observation , which obliged me to think that there had been a particular reason of this nature , why some roman emperours , and others of the greatest persons amongst them , took such a delight to be there . 't was in such places as this , and tivoly , with the like , that cicero , virgil , and other eminent men for learning , composed the greatest part of those works which to this day we have amongst us . that which i have said of low and mechanicall things , will hold in those of a more noble and higher nature . what merchants do for their profit , gentlemen ought to do for their honour ; the one brings riches into his countrey , the other ought to bring good observations and maximes that may contribute to the good order and right government of his nation , if by his quality or abilities he comes to be called to havè a share in it . the great law givers in greece , sent into several parts of the world those who gathered for them the quintessence of those laws which other nations enjoyed . the romans in the times of the decemvirs did the same , and others have followed their example ; 't is true , one must be very judicious and skilful in the application of the same ; for every law doth not suite every nation ; but i say , that mutatis mutandis , there is never a monarchy , aristocracy , or democracy , but they may make an exchange of some of their laws and customes : monarchy may afford democracy some beneficial statutes , so may well regulated democracy to monarchy ; for all governments , by what name soever distinguished , have or ought to have , but one and the same end , which is self preservation first , and then the promoting of publick good , every one in his station and calling , although these different governments use different means and waies to come to that end . out of this i suppose 't will appear to any rational man how necessary and beneficial travelling is to the compleating of a gentleman , if it be well directed and improved ; and as nations are obliged to those merchants , who through many and great hazzards do bring home the best of other countries to inrich their own , certainly they must needs be much beholden to those patriots , who have been at charges and pains to collect and bring them those wholesome counsels , by the right use of which they may secure themselves in the enjoyment of their plenty , riches and happiness , to the preventing of disturbances which might happen to arise against it : it ought therefore to be the endeavours , as it is the duty , of every one to fit himself as much as he can for the service of his king and countrey . i said just now , how beneficial travelling is , if one hath good directions ; this lays an engagement upon me to say something to that effect for the satisfaction of those who stay at home , and for the instruction of them who go abroad ; not that i think my self wise enough to advise others ; only i say my naturall propensity joyned to that manner of life i have led hitherto , hath much inclined me to travel into most parts of europe , wherein i have spent most of my time ; but whether this hath fitted me to give my opinion upon this subject , i am not to be the judge : however i dare say 't is difficult for a gentleman , let him have never so good parts , to get any considerable benefit by his travels upon his first going abroad , except he hath along with him the advice of one who knows countries and fashions ; for the time allowed him to stay abroad is almost expired , before he can recover himself of the surprizal and astonishment which daily difficulties and inconveniences have cast him into : but when he is to act according to advice , and this advice is grounded upon knowledge and experience , he will find his task more easie , more pleasant and more profitable . and here i must say something in general of those who undertake to be such directors , which may well be applyed to all sorts of persons . god , whom men pray ( or ought to pray ) every day to give them their daily bread , hath commanded them to work for it , and he who doth not work , ought not to eat , as the apostle saith . as the difference of faces , and the diversity of tempers in men do express the wisdome of god , so doth that variety of employments which he calls them to , according to their genius , inclination and abilities in some measure to perform their undertakings : let every one abide in that whereunto he is called , saith st. paul. ; so that men ought to follow it after they have imbraced it , either out of choice or by necessity , especially if besides the benefit they reap by it , they are any wayes usefull to others knowing we are born not so much for our selves , as for others ; and though a constant kind of employment be necessary for one , yet this doth not exclude the use of that capacity he may have to several sorts of calling , it being well for those who have many strings to their bow , that if one breaks the other may be useful . men must ever be doing something , if it were for nothing else but to keep themselves from idleness , which is the mother of vice. but to come to that kind of employment which gives occasion to this discourse , 't is usually attended with great and many difficulties , besides the hazzards which one runs in forreign countries ; for if dangers come often to men when they are at home , what will it be when they go as it were to meet with them , when almost every day they see men of all nations , and of all sorts of tempers : certainly one must very much excercise his prudence in avoiding the perils he meets withall , and must have much courage to come off when they be unavoidable , but above all , an extraordinary protecting providence of god is absolutely necessary : yet there are more uncomfortable difficulties to struggle withal , than are the fore-expressed . the extravagancy of a young man , who will not be advised by a governour , nor ruled by a father ; this governour is to please a father who loves to spare , and a son who delights to spend , a father who would have him to learn and improve himself , and a son who in his travels hath no other end but to take his pleasure ; and after he hath fenced a long while against the wild nature , the vicious inclination and unreasonableness of a son , he is also exposed to the hardness and unthankfulness of parents . i have wondred at many who take this charge upon themselves , and consider not whether they be qualified for it , when no honest man will undertake any thing , except he knows himself in some measure able to perform it : 't is enough for them to know they shall thereby get a competent allowance , to run headlong upon any employment that lies in their way ; how can they expect in conscience or reason , that a young gentleman can improve under their conduct , that his relations can have any satisfaction , or themselves get thereby any credit or reputation , if they have no capacity somewhat suitable to their undertakings ? for how can such a one be able to direct another how to benefit himself , and to travel in forreign parts , except he hath some knowledge of the language of the countrey , and fashions ? every nation hath some particular vices and virtues , the one to be avoided , and the other learned ; what these things are i must be told , and how can be that knows it not tell me of it ? this ignorance will make him contemptible to me , and he must learn it himselfe before he can teach it me ; so that for the whole time allowed to travel , he is onely a learner who should have been a teacher . i am a bashful english man , i will learn confidence , and a handsome carriage in france , so riding the great horse , fencing , dancing , and other bodily exercises which contribute to compleat a gentleman , thence if i pass into italy , that air will fix the french quick-silver , there i will learn sobriety , frugality , and to be circumspect in words and actions , so musick picture drawing , architecture , &c. yet i must have some knowledge of persons and places , of whom and where these things may be learned best of all ; i must know also how to benefit my self in going by , or staying at a place . 't is not enough for a gentleman to say , in such a city there is a stately church , a fine palace , and the ruines of a most antient amphitheater ; this i confess ought to be taken notice of : but further , i must observe the quality of the climate , and of the soyle , the scituation of the countrey , and ( if i understand fortifications . ) the strength and the weakness of the cities and countries i go through , and take notice of the advantage or disadvantage of rivers , ways , and grounds ; so i must be acquainted with their manners , forces , riches , and wherein they consist , to see whether any thing out of it may be useful to my countrey ; but above all i must observe their government , and if it be possible their mysteries of state , so i must endeavour to know the persons and qualifications of princes and ministers of state , and any thing else that may be both for my own benefit , and the service of my countrey ; so at length my travels having ripened my judgement , quickned my apprehension , and sharpned my wit , i shall not be unprofitable , nor of the number of those the poet speaks of , nos numerus sumus fruges consumere nati . this i do insist upon , not to boast of any abilities of my own , for i ingeniously confess my weakness in this , yet i profess a desire to learn it , though it was for no other end than to impart it to others , that with me they may reap some benefit of it ; this i say still , that another cannot teach me that which he knows not , but his knowledge , experience and practice of any thing enables him to infuse it into me ; and indeed 't is a fault i have accidently observed in some when they be in a strange countrey , they keep company with none but the masters of their exercises , they ought indeed constantly to follow these exercises , but if they see no body else , at last they will learn to dance , to fence , &c. and nothing else ; they ought to make acquaintance with men of quality , and frequent their company ; of them a handsome carriage and good fashions are to be learned , they must also take care to finde themselves company for their honest pleasures , and lawful recreations ; but a hateful thing it is to see one brought up in a timorous and pendantical way , which makes a gentleman unfit for any thing of concernment ; a gentleman must be taught as to do no wrong , so to suffer no wrong as long as his honour is concerned in it , for he is not worthy to live who prefers his life to his honour ; not that imaginary honour as 't is conceived in these dayes , but that honour which is really so , not contrary to our duty to god , or obedience to superiours ; therefore a great wisdome is required in the use of a bridle or of a spur to work upon youth , to infuse courage into them , so as not to make them rash , and so to curb them , as not to dishearten them . but i am carried further than i intended upon this subject , 't is time to speak directly to my present design ; i give thee reader , the present state of the princes , and republicks of italy : 't is a worthy subject , if we consider their number , jealousies , and policy ; 't is certainly one of the most politick nations of the world , and i doubt very much whether any other can compare to it . what i express is gotten not so much by reading , as by travelling upon the places , seeing and conversing for a competent time with those who were able to instruct me : some things also are of my own particular observation . in the following discourse , i do not speak of the scituation , or of the boot-like shape of italy , which any ordinary mappe can shew ; to mention the quality of the climate , or of the soyle of every part of that garden of europe , 't would prove tedious , and contrary to the narrow bounds i doe here prescribe my self . the manners of the inhabitants , their outward form of government , their riches , force and religion , are matters for historians ; hence it is that i do not insist upon descriptions , however that which i thought fit to be known upon the matter in hand i express ; i think ( i know not whether i am mistaken ) that the variety i use in it will please thee , for in some parts i insist upon the person of the prince , in others upon the manners of the inhabitants , and in some others i briefly mention what is particular in their government ; so that i have not a constant or affected method ; contrariwise i endeavour some time to conceal it : upon every particular , i speak , either that onely which i thought necessary to be known , and so i passed by some things i could have told , or i speak according to the degree of knowledge i had of the thing ; and if amongst a thousand things unprofitable , there be but one useful , i will not grudge my time nor my pains . j. g. licensed roger l'estrange . the present state of italy . that must needs be a rare countrey which is pleasant and plentiful , watered with many rivers ; at the season adorned with corn in the fields , and grass in the meddows , with delightful land-skips , that in most parts hath a wholesome air , that abounds in strong and stately cities , where the eye is delighted with most sumptuous buildings , recreated with variety of pictures and statues , the ear pleased with as great a variety of harmonious musick as can be upon earth ; where the palate is satisfied with the best fruits , and other delicacies , and the rarest wines of europe ; where in a certain season , the nose enjoyes the sweet smell of orange and jasmin flowers , which lay over head or under feet ; and at the same time , and in the same place to behold fine perspectives , and hear the murmur of several fountain waters : in a word , that countrey which produces plenty , and variety to please all the senses , and which hath the alpes of one side for walls , and the sea on the other for bounds , must needs be an excellent country ; such is italy . the length of it , is a thousand miles , or thereabouts ; beginning from susa , a town cited at the foot of the alpes , at the coming into piemont , and ending at reggio , in the furthest parts of calabri , in the kingdom of naples . as to the breadth , 't is more or less , according to the places , it being not full four hundred any where , nor less than sixteen . parts of france and savoy lay on the west of it , parts of germany , namely , tyrot and swisserland on the north , and the mediteranian sea on the east and south , though for distinction , some call the one jonian , and adriatick ; and the other tirrenean : most passages into italy , are hard and difficult . the whole country which we call italy , is , by the italians themselves , divided into italy , the kingdom , and lombardy ; italy comprehends the dominions of the pope , of the grand duke , and of luca. naples is that which they call the kingdom , and lombardy contains great part of the state of venice , the dukedoms of milan , mantua , parma , monferrat , piemont , and the state of genoa . but to make use of the ancient division , and to descend to particulars ; i say , that in italy some are great princes , considering the extend of their dominions ; and others of an inferiour orb , may be called petty princes : the former sort come to the number of seven , and with the four republicks , to eleven . the pope , king of spain , dukes of savoy , tuscany , mantoa , parma , modena ; for though some do reckon the bishop of trent , which stands between the venetians and tyrol , yet being a prince of the empire , having a perpetual alliance with the house of austria , and often of the same family , he may be taken for a german more than for an italian prince ; and seeing little can be said concerning him , we shall pass it by to come to the republicks ; which are venice , genoa , luca , and san marino : for the order of precedency , venice hath place after spain , genoa after tuscany , though they pretend to be used as crowned heads , being masters of corcica , formerly a kingdom ; the other two republicks take place after all the forenamed princes , who also do not agree amongst themselves about precedency ; tuscany pretends it from savoy , though he be much inferiour in antiquity , and extent of dominions ; and mantoa from tuscany , neither will modena yield it to some named before him . i should also say , that france having acquired pignorolo , a door into italy , and a strong place , from the duke of savoy , that king having an interest in italy , is to be reckoned amongst the princes of it . the state of rome . the pope hath great dominions conveniently seated to disturb others , specially , naples ; for all from ostia , upon the coasts of the mediterranean sea , to loretto , ancona , &c. is his : all the lands together are called , lo stato della chiesa , in particular , old latium , now campagna romana , il patrimonio , di san pietro , of which the chief city is viterbo , part of ancient tuscany , terra sabina , umbria , ducato di spoletto , la marca di ancona , la romagna , il ducato di urbino , ducato di ferrara , perugia , orvieto , and bolognese ; he is soveraign of naples , and sicily , which he gives the investiture of , and receives homage for , as he doth for the dukedoms of parma and piacenza , pretending the same over the islands of sardegna and corcica : he is in possession of the dukedom and city of benevento in the kingdom of naples , and he pretends that in time of minority of the kings of spain , he hath right to govern that kingdom by a legat : he also enjoyes the county of avignon in france , and ceneda within the state of venice . these countries , ( i mean those who are united together ) especially from ancona to ravenna and ferrara all along the coasts of the gulfe of venice , do afford good souldiers , which upon case of an urging necessity may be gathered to about the number of 60000 , though 20000 foot and 3000 horse , as had clement the 8th . in the war of ferrara , were much to be kept on foot any long while : urban the 8th . in the war of parma had 30000 , but if the whole countrey was in armes , then 't would be upon 400000. the pope indeed may be accounted , as he is really , a strong prince , which strength consists in the extent of his territories , in their scituation , being all united , and there being no safe nor convenient places towards the mediterranean , to make any landing ; and towards the gulf they trust to the venetians , who are to keep it clear ; upon which condition they are acknowledged to be the lords of these seas ; further all along the coasts of the mediterranean , and the whole campagna romana , there is a bad air , which would soon work upon any army , either in spring , summer , or autumn : this strength further consists in the temper of his subjects and soldiers , who are esteemed to be the best foot in italy : the italian proverb calls them , the best of soldiers , but the worst of subjects : so this strength consists in his strong holds , as ferrara , bologna , fortezza urbana , &c. in his arsenals , or magazeens of arms ; the vatican or st. peter hath for 5000 men , in the castle st. angelo for 15000 , in ancona for 10000 , in ravenna for 5000 , in ferrara 25000 , and bologna for 10000 , and a new one a making at tivoly , by the late don morto's order , for 16000 men , with 80. pieces of ordnance , where he employed continually above 300 men , so that they are spread up and down the countrey to arme the people upon occasion to the number of 100000 men . upon the mediterranean he keeps five gallies , which harbour in civita vecchia , they are not handsome , nor very good , but are well maned . but that which another way strengthens much the pope , is , that respect and devotion which popish princes and states bear him , acknowledging him ( though falsly ) to be the vicary of christ , god on earth , and the head of their religion ; so that if a prince had seized upon any of his dominions , the pope who had provoked him to make war being dead , it would be restored to the new elected , all of them being perswaded , that it were a sacriledge , to detain from that church , that which did belong to it ; besides that every prince of that religion intending any such thing , would find it to be a hard work ; for the pope hath ever an army quartered upon their land , which are that vast number of secular priests , and regular friars , who depend on the pope upon several accounts , who having all sworn an obedience to their generals , who usually kept at rome , they would act according to the orders sent them from thence . so that having their pulpits , confessions , and introduction into houses of all ranks , they could make strange worke ; hence to me doth appear the happiness of those princes , who having shaken off that roman yoke , and turned out those emissaries , are freed of those dangers , which those of that religion are exposed to , though often they are liable to their private attempts . another politick strength of popes , consists in the colledge of cardinals , who are most of them chosen , either to gratifie princes , or who depend upon princes , ( without whose knowledge princes hardly resolve any thing of importance about popes ) or else are relations to princes ; and it is certain , when these princes interests come to be in competition with the pope's and churches , this last swayes with them above all , because every one of these cardinals is not without hope of being chosen pope one time or other . now i say , that popes , as they are temporal princes , though they be elective , ought to have that respect which deserveth the character which god hath set upon the forehead of soveraigns ; but as he is a tyrant over the church , and an usurper over the heritage of the lord ; all good christians and reasonable men ought to abhor him , not his person , but that tyranny , usurpation , and unlawful actions of his . i said , that 25000 or 30000 men , is a great number to be kept on foot by popes any long while ; not for want of monies , for as sixtus quartus used to say , the church can never want money in her purse , as long as the pope doth hold a pen in his hand . indeed , besides the ordinary income to the camera , for the occasions of the church ( so they call that state ) the office of the diataria , brings to popes for their own use , exceeding great treasures out of all parts , which own his religion ; besides the private wayes they have to get monies , of which i shall speak ; some reckon that popes have 6000 l. sterling a day , besides the casual incomes , which are very great : every time a legat a latere is sent abroad , he is allowed 250 l. sterling a day : for proof of this vast revenues , sixtus the 5th , who reigned but five years of a poor countrey family peretti , yet he builded the palace of st. john of lateran , began that of monte-cavallo , fortified civita vecchia , built many colledges , made chargeable aqueducts ; did many other costly works and reparations , wherein 't is thought he spent a matter of 15 millions of crowns , or upon 4 millions of english pounds , and left f●ve millions of crowns in the castle of st. angelo , and did not charge his people with heavy taxes ; and then the popes had not the dukedom of urbino , nor that of ferrara , and in a time that reformation was carried on in a great measure in these three kingdoms , france , holland , switzerland , germany , sweden , denmark , and other parts of the north. and paul the 5th . who indeed reigned longer , left to the prince of salmona , one of his nephews , 1000 crowns a day , besides what he gave to several others of his relations . and gregory the 15th . of the family of ludovisio , reigned only one year and a 11 moneths , and left to his family 250000 crowns a year , or 62000 and 500 l. besides . thus as popes are temporal princes , so they lay taxes upon their subjects , and heavy ones too . the late popes , since his falling out with france , within the space of two years , laid gables or taxes upon 16 sorts of commodities , which were free before : so 't was done upon the soldiers , kept within the state , for every common soldier was taxed one crown of his yearly pay , which came to between 5 and 6000 crowns , according to their number ; and the whole people in the city and country were exceedingly oppressed : the selling of offices is now a setled custom in the court of rome , which is very beneficial to popes : i shall give but an instance of the camera apostolica , or the apostolick chamber ; the places of the treasurer general , and of the auditor , are sold for 80000 crowns a piece . there are twelve places of chierici , clarks worth 42000 a piece ; the presidents is 30000 , and so of others : the two forenamed offices are the next step to the cardinal ; so that if the pope will have 160000 crowns he makes cardinals those who have them , and from others he finds ready money for the places . and what shall we say to that vast treasure of loretto , which is inesteemable : every week , nay , almost every day , one gift or other is brought to it from kings , queens , princes , and other great persons , cities , and particular men ; they have whole chambers full of gold and silver plate ; but this is nothing to that vast number of diamonds , and other precious stones , which they keep in a place made a purpose : in the castle of st. angelo , are ever 5 millions of gold , and one and a half in jewels . were it not for want of exercise of the protestant religion , rome is as fit a place to lead a quiet and a contented life , as any is in the world , a man may live there as he pleases ; and no body meddle with him ; offend no body , and no body will offend you ; and though the inquisition be there , strangers are not troubled with it , except they speak against their religion , which it were a great imprudence to do ; 't were a madness for a man to go tell the pope he is antichrist , this were to tempt god , and contrary to the wisdom of the serpent , which is commanded us . 't is an old and common saying ; cum fueris romae , romano vivito more , &c. a stranger and a traveller must be all eyes , and all ears , but hardly any tongue at all , he must hear , he must see , and hold his peace . i say , at rome there is a very great liberty ; if a protestant pleases , all lent he may eat flesh , by the means of a license , which he may get for two shillings ; you are not obliged to go to mass , to confession , nor to any of their superstitious wayes . one thing there is , which a stranger may do to satisfie his curiosity , which is , to go to their stationi , as they call it , that is , their devotions to certain churches , which happens in one or other every week , where is a great concourse of people of all sorts , and constantly excellent good musick ; so every saturday at the cardinal padrone's , the popes nephew , lodging at monte-cavallo , all men of good fashion use to meet , to tell and hear news ; so one day or other in the week , people use to meet at the pallace of the preferto of the church , which is either the popes brother or nephew . so at monte-cavallo , the popes palace ; when the consistory of cardinals is kept . so one may have the company one time or other of their academists or virtuosi , which in rome are of three sorts , humoristi , lincei , eantastici . one thing more is , to follow the corteggio of some cardinal and ambassadour first for protection ; for if any mischance should befall a man , when 't is known such a gentleman is of the corteggio of such a cardinal , he is respected , and no harm done to him without the leave of such a protecture , into whose house one may fly for sanctuary . secondly , going with them ( after the warning you have of it at your lodging ) when they receive or make visits , or go to their audience , one may see their formalities and ceremonies which are very great ; they never visit one another but they send before , one to know whether such a one be disposed to receive the visit of another at such an hour , and as italians , give high names to things ; they call this ambassage . further , they receive not at the same time visits from two persons ; it must be known also , whether such a person intends to come incognito , or whether he will be known , which only consists in the putting on or off of a superfluous garment , and the loops which are about the horses heads , which are of gold , if the cardinal be a prince , a roman baron , or of the family of a duke and peer of france , or other kingdoms ; so that according as they come , they are received nearer the stairs , and with more ceremonies , for every step they are to make is regulated , and they would not go an inch further ; so that all that passes between them , is more belle parole then realities ; i say , belle parole , not onely because they be complements , but also they are accurate expressions , well pronounced , according to their proverb , lingua toscana in bocca romana . one thing i must needs observe of their civility to strangers who are of their own corteggio , that although they know them to be protestants , yet they never trouble them with any discourse of religion . 't is certain , that this court is as politick as any in the world , and where by a reflection you may know all what passes in europe : for no prince in the world hath better intelligencies then the ' pope , who hath legates or nuncio's in most courts , and spies every where . cardinals do receive their letters from the courts of the princes whose interests they own ; and the general of every regular order being usually at rome , and receiving a constant weekly intelligence out of all those parts where are any of his order ; and sometimes from the confessors to kings , queens , and other high persons , do signifie what things they hear , to the pope . one may judge of this by what they do at home ; that which is to be admired at rome , is that exceeding great number of spies under pay , which are there up and down in all houses , publick places , and at every corner , the pope hath his ; every cardinal , and princes ( i put them before , for they take place of them ) have theirs ; one cardinal and prince will have his spie in the house of another , though some of them go like gentlemen of good fashion ; and others who are of a higher form keep their coaches ; some of them have keys to come in at any hour by the back door to the persons whose spies they are . some as staffieri , or footmen , serve strangers ; others are masters of excercises , nay , several cortegiane or prostitute women are under pay ; so that by these means , no particular business comes to pass , but 't is presently known . one day i had occasion to enquire for a mean person about an ordinary business , very far from my lodging , and from that of a third person concerned in 't , in a corner of a street , one that was with me inquiring for such a one , in came to us an unknown man , who stood by , i admired to hear him say , what , you look for him about such a thing , he is gone to such a place : every one of their great men who know this custome , do suspect every new servant they take . i have been told by a person who stood by , that the late duke cezarini , sent one day for a notaro ( or one of those scriveners , who kept the list of some spies ) whom he trusted , and haveing shewed him the names of all his domesticks , how doth it go said he ? the other answered , well ; then said he , 't is a wonder , i am here the only man ; this language is obscure , but he who stood by , knew the meaning of it . as to strangers , none come to rome , but 't is presently known who it is , whence he comes , what company he frequents , and the like . not long since i hapned to be at rome , at the same time that there was a considerable number of english-men ; the late pope told an english priest , and an english gentleman , who being a papist , went thither for devotion sake , that he wondered , that some of the english men that were then in town , did not come to his palace upon the dayes he gave audience , though it was but for curiosity ; but said he , i know they are so taken up to drink , that they have no time to spare : he was well informed , yet this did not proceed from any contempt he had for the nation ; contrariwise he used to speak with respect of england , calling it the land of wonders : though this may be ambiguous , yet i believe he took it in a good sence , and he hath expressed the desire he had to have come to see it when he was nuncio in germany , if he could have done it with safety . in rome are to be seen several ancient and modern curiosities ; there are particular guides for antiquities , the modern do consist in churches , palaces , houses of pleasure , called villa , where you may see the utmost of art in architecture , pictures , statues , gardens , water-works ; so there are libraries , as that of the vatican , enriched with a number of excellent books , and rare manuscripts in several tongues , and increased with the ruines of that of heildelberg , and with that of urbino : this library can be compared to none but that of oxford , yet with some difference : there are also private libraries and cabinets , of all , which as of the curiosities of tivoly and frescati , places 12. and 18. miles from the city , there are exact relations in their language , so that it were needless for me to name or to describe any . therefore i come to speak how popes stand affected to their neighbours ; some grounds of this might have been laid formerly , when the apostolick chamber had the direction of affairs : but since popes are come to be so absolute , that the chamber must do almost all what they please , now their interest , natural in●●ination , fancy or capricio , as they call it ; and sometimes the suggestions of a kinsman and favourite , such as was don mario , though 't was a woman , as don olympia , are the rule of it . some popes have had fallings out with the venetians , as had paul the 5th . concerning ecclesiastical jurisdiction , and other things ; clement the 8th . with the dukes of modena about ferrara ; urban the 8th . with the duke of parma about castro ; and so of late cardinal franciotti , bishop of luca , was like to be the occasion of a great falling out between the pope and that republick . urban the 8th . was a great friend to france , but not to spain , nor to the grand duke . innocent the 10th . the half of his reign was for spain , and then he turned to the french ; and the late alexander 7th . was all along an enemy to france , chiefly upon the account of mazarini , whom he hated with all his heart ; but the present pope carries himself even between all , although before his election he were suspected to be partial for spain , but upon no sollid grounds ; for those who pretend to the popedome stand neutrals , and declare themselves of no party the maximes of pope's are different , according to their interest and temper ; so that this being an elective dignity , no general rule but this can be given , that all endeavour to raise their families to honour and riches ; however their raggioni di stato are , to hinder naples from falling into the emperours hands : for clement the 7th . made penance for the fault which leon the 10th . had committed to favour charles the 5th . a second maxime is , still to give hopes of being promoted , to the dignity of a cardinal to those potent prelates that are at rome , and elsewhere , to keep them in dependency , and from discontents and disturbances . another is to confine the number of cardinals to 70. which was an invention of sixtus quintus , to avoid the importunities of several princes , who solicited him to confer that dignity upon some whom he would not bring into the colledge . of the same nature as this is , another arcano di stato , concerning the examen of bishops , which was ordered by clement the 8th . to stop the designes of princes , who intended to promote to prelacy many of their creatures : for then they had been ashamed to present those who had no learning , nor other qualifications fit for the place . a further secret of state is , that of the bull of residency , whereby bishops are obliged to reside in their bishopricks ; by the means of this , popes do remove from their court those cardinals and others whom they dislike : by these means urban the 8th . kept out of rome cardinal borgia , and others of the spanish faction , who spoke too boldly to him : so did alexander the 7th . keep away cardinal rossetti , who stifly opposed his election . a further maxime of theirs is , to refer to congregations , the demands of princes about ecclesiastical laws , jurisdiction , and other things which popes are not willing to grant , for so they lay the denial upon others . another raggioni di stato , is , that cardinals may not go out of the state of the church without leave from the pope , for so they prevent those counsels and assemblies before the which formerly they have at several times been summoned to appear . further , as former popes have humbled and brought down those noble and potent families that were in rome , which had given a great deal of trouble to their predecessors ; so at present popes keep them low ; by which means , they have so degenerated , that instead of those great and brave captains , now out of these families come out idle , vicious , and effeminate persons . lastly , t is a very politick maxime of popes , to send their legate to princes , to pacifie the quarrels arising between them , although they know 't will effect nothing at all ; and that sometimes 't is their interest that such quarrels should last , for hereby they shew themselves to be zealous of the publick good and peace ; and thus they maintain themselves the arbiters of princes . the cardinals nephews have also their particular maximes , namely to keep from preferment , and to remove from the pope's person those whom they do not affect : on the contrary , to raise to dignities , and to procure places of trust to their friends and creatures . publick ministers at that court know so well the jealousie of nephews , who will have nothing communicated to popes , but by their means , that usually they impart first to them , that which they are to speak of to the pope , and commonly they give them an account of what answer they had , taking cardinal padrons lodging from the popes in their way homewards . a policy of the cardinals , who are contrary to the court , is to get some eminent one disaffected as they are , to be their head ; and now 't is a custome passed as it were into a law , to choose none but italians to be popes . before the late election , the colledge of cardinals was divided into the ghigian party , which were all the creatures or friends of alexander the 7th . six of them are of siena , the city he was born in , the squadra volante , the flying squadron composed of the creatures of innocent the 10th who having left no cardinal of his name or family , cardinal imperiale was look't upon as the head of them , and most part of these were brought in to this present pope by azzolino , one of their chief members ; but the 3d. party was that of barbirini francesco the dean of the colledge being the head , and several of urbans creatures the members with some others , who being poor , received pensions from francesco ; now a fourth part is rising , which is that of the present pope . before i leave this subject , i must say something of him ; he is called clemene the 9th . which name he took , as he assured the princess of rossano , out of respect he doth bear to the memory of clement the 8th . aldobrandin ; his name is giulio rospigliosi of pistoia , an indifferent good city , about 20 miles from florence , and in the grand dukes dominions . this man was chosen the last year , in the 71. of his age ; he was employed as nuncio in spain , and then by the late pope was chosen secretary of state ; he had a very sore fit of sickness a little while afore the pope died ; he was once given over by physicians , and when he came to recover , and before the popes death , he had thoughts to leave his place . he is a man of a middle stature , and very gray ; being a cardinal , he was accounted a wise statesman , and of great parts ; i say he was , for i cannot tell whether he doth or will continue so , for often have we seen in that place that honours have changed manners ; as it was well observed of the late pope alexander , of whom it was said , as of galba , he had been worthy of reigning , if he had not reigned ; dignus imperio , sinon imperasset ; and of all other sayings , this most of all was fastned upon him ; he was maximus in minimis , and minimus in maximis . this pope , since his election to that dignity , hath made a judicious creation of cardinals ; he hath chosen his own nephew to express his affection to him ; the late pope's nephew , don sigismond , to express his thankfulness for the obligations he had to that family ; and herein he hath given an example contrary to that so much blamed of innocent the 10th . who did so bitterly persecute the relations of his predecessor . the third cardinal created , is leopold , of the family medici : thus he hath repaired the fault of alexander , acknowledged the kindness he received from the grand duke in the late conclave , and shews that he remembers he hath been his subject : further , this pope hath done two things contrary to the practices of his predecessor , who , at the beginning , would own none of his relations , nor have them about his person , or raise them to preferments , till he seemed to be forced to it by the earnest solicitations , and constant importunities of cardinals , and publick ministers ; yet it is well known how indulgent to them he hath been all along ; therefore , said the romans , alexander was as good as his word , that he would not receive his relations at rome , for he went to do it at castle gandolfo , a house of pleasure 12. miles from it : but the present pope sent for his immediately after his election , and would make no new creation ( as they call it ) of cardinals , nor distribute several favours till his nephew was come back to rome , that others might have to him the obligation of it : the other thing he hath done is , that he hath suppressed in part those heavy taxes which his predecessour , or don mario , hath laid on the people ; this hath much gotten him the love of his subjects . should i now go about to give a character of don camillo his brother , his nephews , and other relations , it would be too much like a relation , therefore i forbear it ; and indeed i have been so long upon this particular , that i must be shorter in what follows . in rome are still some noble and ancient families , as colonna , which do possess three principalities , ursini hath two more . savelli , whereof the chief is perpetual marshal of the church , and prince of la rizza , bought by the late pope , and of albano . muti , duke of that name , and prince of rignano , cezarini , prince of jansano and ardea . conti , of which is the present duke pauli . caetanis of which is the prince of caserta , son to the duke of sermonetta . frangipani , which is extinct , for the late marquess left out one daughter , who hath been married to one of the name , who lives in hungary . the others are bentivogli , baglioni , peppuli , vitelli , &c. the new families , to begin with that which now rules , are , rospigliosi , ghigi , pansilio , barberini , ludovisio , borghese , altemps , cezi , farneze , aldobrandini , buoncompagnio , &c. raised by popes of th●ir family , as now rospigliosi of clement the 9th . ghigi of alexander the 7th &c. matthei also , and lanti both dukes in rome , are both of good famiies . but now clement the 9th . is dead , after somewhat above two years reign ; he was old and weak , but the loss of candia , hath probably hastened his death : his relations had no time to rise very high , and they must leave the place to his kinsman , who is now to be chosen pope : about whose election the conclave is now much divided ; the factions being great and stiff , every one driving on her interest and advantage . the cardinals amongst themselves being divided into four parties , because they are all the creatures of so many popes , urban the 8th . innocent the 10th . alexander the 7th . and clement the 9th . besides the grand dukes interest is great in the conclave : the spanish is considerable in number , by reason of many of his subjects in 't ; but as cardinals mind themselves more than the crowns ; and as spain is not mony'd , very probably many will fall off : on the other side , the french having some of the best head-pieces in the conclave , and ready monys , will go very far ; and because the last time they were disappointed , and could not raise farnese to the popedome , they will strive very hard for it . the emperour , and king of poland have also their parties among the cardinals , but not considerable in themselves , only they may joyn with others . these princes , as the french and spanish crowns interests , are managed by those cardinals who are their protectors , and the ambassadours who are at rome : of late the crown of portugal is also come in . there are also those cardinals called neutrals , of those , who pretending to the popedome , declare themselves ( at least , not openly ) for no party . cardinals first of all were called roman priests , sent by popes , to preach and do other offices in the churches , who owned their authorities : there were but six upon their first institution . calpurnius poncinus , in the year 231. raised their number to 10 , so by degrees they were 70. but as popes may alter the orders of their predecessors , so they have lessened , or increased this number . they were very inferiour in dignity to bishops , to whom , and to the people the election belonged formerly ; but innocent the 2d . gave it wholly , and only to cardinals , in the year 1135. yet left it at their liberty to choose one of their number , or another prelate . but in the year 1464. paul the 2d . ordered that none but a cardinal should be chosen pope . innocent the 4th . was the man , who in the year , 1242. altered the precedency between bishops and cardinals , to the advantage of the last : the same gave them the red hat : bonifacius the 9th . the habite : and paul the 2d . the cap of scarlet : to shew , ( as they say ) how ready they are to shed their blood for the service of the church ; though i think , that this colour and purple which they use too , are to set forth their pomp and magnificence . these cardinals are chosen by the pope , according to his intimation , and some few upon the commendation of the emperour , and the king of france , spain , and poland , out of the german , french , &c. nations ; according to the choice of those princes , who have liberty to commend , one two , or three , of what nation they please : all these cardinals are divided into three orders , six bishops , 50 priests , fourteen deacons : every one of them takes place of all embassadours whatsoever , and pretend the hand from all princes , except crowned heads . thus much i thought fit to speak of cardinals , especially now upon the occasion of the sede vacante , for they are met to make a new election , of which 't is necessary to say something . the pope being dead , nine days are employed towards his funeral , and other formalities depending thereupon : on the ninth day after , mass is said , a speech is made in commendation of the deceased , the cardinal padrone , that is master , ( a title introduced by paul the 5th . but fully confirmed by urban the 8th . ) who is a nigh relation of the late pope , acqaints all cardinals abroad with his ●eath , who thereupon make all possible haste to come to rome . on the 10th day after the popes death all the cardinals who are able , meet at st. peters church , where the mass of the holy ghost , as they call it , is sung by the dean of cardinals , he who is of a longest standing , or the next to him , if he be not well ; there is also made a speech upon the subject of the election of a new pope , with a great concourse of people to hear it ; after this , all the cardinals go in a procession towards the conclave , following a priest who carries the cross , the musicians singing their veni creator spiritus . this conclave is a place in the vatican near st. peters church , all made a new by order of the cardinal chamberlain , or chamerlengho , all of wood , which after the election , is disposed of by the said chamberlain , where a small lodging is made for every cardinal , and every one hath his by lot . the cardinals , some prelates , and volaries go in then , whereof one reads with a loud voice the bulls concerning the election of popes , which being done , all cardinals take an oath to observe what is therein contained , in the hands of the dean , and of prince savelli , who upon this action hath leave to enter into the conclave , of which he is keeper , and perpetual marshal of the church , for himself , and successors : after this ceremony every one goes to his dinner , and hitherto the doors are shut up , but after dinner all ambassadors and roman princes have liberty to go in , and for the space of four or five hours they treat and negotiate with cardinals , within their private lodgings , which time being past , they ring a little bell , whereupon every one is to go away , excepting the cardinals , and the deputies or deputati of the conclave , to wit , two servants are allowed to every cardinal , who chooses whom he likes , the old and weak ones are allowed three ; for publick use , are one sagrista , and oschaltarra ; and solo sagrista , who take care of things relating to their devotions , and belonging to the altar ; five masters of ceremonies , the secre●ary of the conclave , a confessor , two physicians , an apothecary , and two to help him ; a surgeon , two barbers , two masons , two carpenters , and sixteen porters . assoon as all others are gone , and these are within , the conclave is walled in and out , after which , the cardinals , dean , and chamberlain , go about it to see whether it be well : it hath formerly been ordered by some popes , that after this , no cardinal should be admitted , but 't is not strictly observed , if they come soon after , and if the election is like not to be ended so soon : before they are shut up , orders are issued by them , for the peace and quiet government of the city , it being very necessary so to do , upon such a conjuncture , to prevent great and many mischiefs ; now all that time the city officers have a great power , so that if a malefactor be taken , he is soon made away . 't is not usual with the cardinals to discharge the officers entrusted by the late pope , but 't is necessary they should be confirmed by them . within the conclave , is kept an exact guard , under the command of the high marshal ; first at the ruota , seven in number , which are some holes left unwalled , to take in the victuals which are brought in to every cardinal ; these ruota's are used at rome , in every monastery and nunnery ; the use whereof is to receive what things are brought from without , and given from within : for at the inside of the wall are some few boards joyned together , of five or six foot high , and three or thereabouts in breadth , some more , some less ; but being all of an equal bigness ; and this is so suspended , that it turns about like a wheel , which in italian is called ruota ; 't is hollow within , so that it is capacious of receiving great dishes , baskets , and some can hold a child of twelve yeares old ; then upon the staires in the courts , and at all passages , guards also are set with four great corps de guard in the great place before st. peters church ; every time dinner is sent in to a cardinal , 't is attended by some of his servants , and a mace-bearer , with a silver mace , with the cloth and other things used at table ; this is done twice a day , and besides the soldiers , four prelates stand at every ruota , to search strictly every thing which is sent in , the very bread is all cut in small pieces for fear their should be any bills in 't , and those four prelates are changed every day by the marshal , to whom these bills shall be given , in case any be intercepted , which he will keep till the election be over ; but this is searched , not only without , but also within , by the masters of ceremonies ; who have taken an oath of fidelity , and after the meat is in , these ruota's are sealed with paper , both at the in and out-sides : at every one of these holes , twelve soldiers are of guard in the day , and twenty five in the night time . every cadinal eats and drinks alone with his domesticks , and all their victuals are dressed by order of the martial , but the church pays for 't , and one buyeth as much as the other ; there is also an allowance for others , who are shut up , some more or less according to their quality , but usually the cardinals servants have the rest of their masters , and the guards every where are mounted every day according to the marshals order , who also according to the bulls doth lessen the victuals of cardinals , when ten days are over , since they , being shut up , in case the election be not made , and this is to force them to hasten it , and to come to an agreement about it ; which to effect , once a day they meet at the chappel of the conclave , and he who at last is chosen , ought to have two parts of three of the votes , so that if of sixty he had but thirty nine , it would not be a right election . the cardinal dean , hath the command of cardinals , as the camerlengo of others who are shut up , and and at last they must agree about him who is to be chosen , and all this while , all within the conclave are ignorant of what passes in the city . assoon as 't is known within the conclave who is the pope , the cardinal decano desireth him to approve of the choice which the colledge hath made of him , which he consents to , and takes what name he likes , as innocent , clement , alexander , or the like : then standing between the two chief cardinals , he is led behind the altar , where they take off his cardinals clothes , and give him the habit of a pope ; immediately after is sung the te deum : then all the cardinals one after another , falling upon their knees , do ( to use their words ) adore him , kissing his foot , then the right hand , and then he gives them osculum pacis , upon both cheeks , so they give him signs of submission , which is meant by kissing of the feet , they expect from him protection , in kissing his hand , and they receive from him a sign of affection , being kissed on the lips or cheeks . these things being performed , one of the masters of ceremonies , takes the cross , and carries it before him , whilst the ecce sacerdos magnus is sung , and they go towards the balcone which looks upon the great place before st. peters church , called la loggia della benedictione ; and the masons beat down the wall of partition , and there the pope being between two cardinals , they shew him to the people , who stand below in the great place , one of the cardinals with a loud voice pronouncing these latin words , annuntio vobis gaudium magnum , habemus papam eminentissimum & reverendissimum n. n. qui sibi nomen imposuit , n. n. hereupon , the people cries out , god save the new pope , god bless the family , n. n. and at the same time , one can hear the artillerie of the castel san. angela go off , there being constantly some to observe the pulling down of the wall ; then all the soldiers give their vollies ; the drums beat , the trumpets sound , and all the bells in town ring . assoon as the people hear who is chosen , they run to his palace and plunder it , it being the custom so to do ; but those cardinals who are likely to be chosen before they go to the conclave , have removed the best things they have . the ceremony at the window of the balcone being ended , all the cardinals wait upon the new pope to his palace in the vatican , whence every one goes home : in the mean time , the pope receives no publick visits , only private ones from his relations , if they be at rome , and those who have been his friends in the conclave , who come to receive the effects of the promises he made to them to get their assistance , for usually they engage upon such conditions of interest and preferment : about a fortnight's time is allowed to prepare things , in order of his being carried in a chair on mens shoulders to st. peters church , to take possession of the popedom , which is done with much pompe and magnificence ; and about a fortnight after he goes in a cavalcata to do the same at the church of st. john of lateran : but from the first day of his election , he begins to give his orders about the goverment of all his dominions . 't is usual with every pope to take an oath before the cardinals , about several things , the chief whereof are , 1. to labour to keep peace between all christian princes . 2ly . they will promote to the dignity of cardinals , none but those who are worthy of it . 3ly . to call to an account all the officers of the state , of the church , when their time is expired . 4ly . they will not make two brothers cardinals , which was the decree of julius the second . 5ly . not to alienate any thing belonging to the church , which things all the world knows how well they are observed , but if popes may ( as they think ) dispence others from their oathes , why not themselves too ? so that after this principle of the popes infallibility , men who believe it , must not complain against him , for if he be infallible , he can do nothing amiss ; these were the words of the late duke cezarini to two jesuits , who complained to him , that the pope alexander the 7th . had perswaded father oliva their general , to fell to him land for 100000 crowns . i thought it would not be amiss to mention so much about the election of a pope , it being seasonable now , in the time of a conclave , for those who have a mind to be informed of their wayes about it , for as to many other practices of that court , i wholly wave it off , as are their formalities in visits , their change of cloths , creation of cardinals , and things depending therefrom ; of their jubilees , indulgences , blessing ofswords , agnus dei's , and roses , cavalcataes , and processions , washing of the feet , beatification , canonization , and so many other things which we account to be vain or superstitious . i judge it unnecessary to mention the order setled in the popes court and family , but withal think it not amiss to say few words about their great courts and offices , which i will only mention , they being not material for any protestant state who have nothing to do there , by way of publick ministers . all businesses there are managed by certain councels or commitees , which they call congregationi , to the number of sixteen . the first , is that del sant officio , or inquisition , which as all the rest hath a secretary , by whom are given all dispatches , which he seals also with the seal of the cardinal , who is the president of it ; in it are treated matters of religion , conducing to what they call heresie , prophanation , blasphemy , &c. this ever is governed by the dominicans , and meets three times a week , on monday at the palace del sant officio , on wednesday , at the dominicans church , called , la minerva ; and the thursday , before the pope . the 2d . is that which takes cognizance of affaires concerning bishops and regular priests , or other of their diocess's , of this , as of all the rest a cardinal is the head ; into it enter 24 cardinals , which is the greatest number of any , yet never under six in any other ; whensoever friars have any falling out with bishops , they presently threaten to bring them before this congregation , which meets every friday in the house of the cardinal , president of it . the 3d. is del concilio , the jurisdiction of which , is to give interpretation to the text of the council of trent , it meets every sunday in the house of the cardinal president of it , or a thursday if he hath a mind to it . the 4th . is della immunita ecclesiastica , instituted by urban the 8th . to judge of ecclesiastical priviledges , which is kept every thursday , at one of the popes palaces , a cardinal being the head of it , for which the camera allowes him 1000 crowns a year . the 5th . is di stato , which handles matters of state ; all the cardinals , who have been nuncios and ambassadours , come in to it , and the secretary of state : there is no prefixed day , but it depends upon the pleasure of the pope , or his nephew cardinal , in whose presence it meets . the 6th . is de propaganda fide instituted by gregory the 15th . it consults about all manner of wayes , how to promote the roman faith throughout all parts of the world ; all their emissaries depend upon this , so that what jesuits and priests soever we have here , have their mission from this congregation , whereof cardinal francesco barberini is president ▪ it meets usually once a moneth upon a munday , either in the presence of the pope , or in the colledge called de propaganda fide , which is , in piazza d' ispagna . the 7th . is de' riti which judges of all differences about ceremonies , formalities , places , canonizations , &c. it sits once a month , and more if needs be , in the house of the cardinal president of it ; who is ever the senior of the deputies , who is to summon it , as do all other cardinals , presidents of other congregations . the 8th . is del acqua wherein are treated matters concerning rivers , channels , bridges , and the like ; there is no certain day to meet , but when occasion requires it , the cardinal who is the head of it , sends out his summons about it . the 9th . is ; delle strade , whereof the camerlengo is the chief , all things relating to the necessaries and ornament of streets , is treated of in 't , under its jurisdiction are matters of aqueducts and fountains ; the distribution , whereof is made by this congregation as they think fit and convenient : and meet only upon occasion . the 10th . is della consulta per governo , dello stato di s. chiesa , is of a great concernment , it takes cognizance of any thing relating to the government of the whole state of the church ; all legats , governours of cities and provinces give an account of what things of concernment happens in their government to this congregation , who orders them to act as they think fit : yet by especial priviledge , the legats of avignon , ceneda , benevento , and the governor of fermo , and spoleti are free from her jurisdiction . the cardinal padron , for the time , who is ever a nigh relation of the pope , and who rules all under him is the head of it , at whose pleasure it usually meets in his lodgings . the 11th . is dell , indice , into it are brought matters of books , printed , or to be printed , to be examined , corrected , and licensed ; it usually meets once a month or seldomer , as the cardinal president of it is pleased to order . the 12th . is degli syravii , or grievances , otherwise , de buono regimine , 't is a court of redress and equity , this , particular subjects , and whole corporations apply themselves to , when they are wronged , or oppressed by their governours ; this cardinal padron , is the head of , who orders it to meet at his house when he hath a mind to 't . the 13th , is soprale zecche , about the mint ; sees all monies to be coyned , and sets the price of forreign coyns , and all currrent moneys . this congregation upon occasion , meets at the house of the cardinal , head of it . the 14th . is dell , essame . all they who are to be promoted to any bishopricks in italy , and not one of it , are to be examined by these ; it is usually done in the popes presence , and at his pleasure , for the time , he who is examined kneeling all the while upon a stool opposite to the pope ; the cardinals only are free from this examen . the 15th . is de negotii consistoriali , about consistorial affairs ; of which the cardinal docano , senior , or eldest as to election , is the head : at whose house 't is kept but very seldome , because it treats only about matters referred to it by the pope , as are resigning of bishopricks , abbeys , ecclesiastical taxes and impositions . having already mentioned consistorial affairs ; one is to know that the consistory is the assembly of all cardinals then at rome , whereat the pope is ever present : it being kept at monte cavallo on mundays , wednesdays or frydays ; where more general and serious affairs are treated of : and what things the pope is pleased to lay to their consideration , upon a consistory day , no congregation is kept except it had been summoned before the pope had intimated the consistory ; and in such a case the congregation is put off till the afternoon ; for consistories are ever held betimes in the morning . of consistories , some are publick ; when by example , hats are bestowed upon cardinals after a publick cavalcata , or when audience is given to ambassadors , and forraign ministers ; or else private , according to the affairs they are to treat of ; and this last sort are kept more often than the former . that which they call collegio , is the whole body of cardinals ; among whom ever is one camerlengo of the sacro collegio , to distinguish it from the popes chamberlain , and is but for a year : there is also a secretary , a clerk , and controller● the secretary is ever an italian ; but the clerk is one year a german , another a french man , and then a spaniard . but there is the 16th . and last congregation , della visita apostolica , whose care it is to see all churches , chappels , and places of devotion in and about rome , that nothing be wanting in 't , tending to the necessaries , ornaments and decorum thereof ; and to cause every thing to be duely and orderly performed in 't . besides all these courts , there is a considerable one called la ruota , composed of twelve prelates ; whereof there is one german , one french-man , two spaniards ; one of bologna , one of ferrara , one venetian , one toscan , one milanese , and three romans . they judge of all causes about benefices , whether they be in those countries which own the popes authority , or else-where . about which they use to meet in the apostolical palace twice a week , on mondayes and fridayes ; and although the place of auditori di ruota be not very beneficial in it self , it being not worth much above one thousand crowns by the year , yet the pope , bestowing upon them other ecclesiastical preserments , it makes it very considerable , the more as to honour , that sometimes some of the auditory are made cardinals . there is also the camera apostolica , or apostolick-chamber , consisting of the cardinal-chamberlain , the governor of rome in quality of vice-chamberlain , the treasurer-general , the auditor and the president of the chamber , the advocate of the poor , the solicitor-general , and attorney-general , the commissary & o twelve chierici or clerks ; whereof four ever are over-seers or prefetti , the one dell annona of all manner of corn , and price the other della grajua over the price of all sorts of flesh and fish ; the third over all the prisons which he visits , with others , every thursday ; and the fourth is to oversee the streets . the jurisdiction of this court is extended upon every thing relating to the church , in the way of bonds , leases , in-comes , expences , matters of rights , customes , impositions , and all rights , possessions and priviledges ; in a word , when popes were not so absolute , as they are now , these camera , was as the guardian of the state of the church , to see that it should not be imbeciled , wronged or a lienated ; so that 't is indeed the true treasury of the church , all tributes due to it being paid here . there is also another office called diataria , which is administred usually by a cardinal , who hath one under him called sotto datario , throughout whose hands pass the vacancies of all benefices , which bring yearly very great in-comes to the pope , who allows 2000 crowns to the datario , and 1000 to the sotto datario . this office is not the same as that of the secretary of the pope , as some do imagine ; for he who is properly the secretary of state is the popes nephew , or nephews sometimes , who hath several under him : to him all ambassadors , & publick ministers make their addresses . this writes and subscribes by the popes orders , all letters to kings , princes , nuncioes , and others , and signs the patents of several governours , and other officers of the state of the church ; yet the patents and commissions of legats , vice-legats , governors of great cities &c. are signed by the pope himself , and sealed sub annalo piscatoris . but there are other great offices granted for life . first , the popes vicar , now cardinal gimetti above 84 years of age , a coveteous man , who hath many kinsmen , which two things have made him lose the hopes of ever being chosen pope . his jurisdiction is extended upon regular priests & nunneries : the jews , and deboist women which in rome are publickly allowed , for which toleration , 't is the common opinion , they pay a tribute , and certainly there is more than opinion in 't , because every one who is a house-keeper , & a known whore must have her name registred at the office of the vice-gerent , who is one of the chief officers of the vicario , who is also the judge of them as such : so that all the year long they enjoy the liberty of their licentious life , except at certain times which they call uacanze , as about christmass and easter , for then the sbirri or bayliffs go to search their houses , and if they find any there , they may if they will carry them and her to prison ; therefore to prevent this inconveniency , these women send to the office , and by the means of some moneys , obtain a defence to those officers to come to their houses , and to molest them . and in the dayes of alexander the 7th . there was a talk of suppressing these infamous houses ; a sign of the popes protection , which gave occasion to this impious pasquinata , laudata dominum pueri . another great office is that of the sommo penitentiere , at present cardinal ludovicio , a person of mean parts ; his jurisdiction is about penances , absolutions , and confessions ; for he having many under him in great and weighty cases , they acquaint him with the faults , though not with the name of the party , to know of the penance to be said upon . the vice-cancelliere , or vice-chancellor so called , because the pope reserves to himself the title of chancell or of the universal church , hath the whole ordering of the chancery . the camerlengo , now cardinal antonio barberini , hath a very honourable and beneficial place , for the chamberlain takes cognizance of every thing belonging to the camera , and in the time of sede vacante , or when there is no pope , he takes the popes lodgings , is attended with his guard , and causes money to be coyned in his name : this place is worth 15000 crowns by the year ; besides of three keys of the treasure of the castle saint angelo , he hath one , the pope having the other , and the cardinal decano the third . the prefetto della signatura di giustitia , must see all petitions about matters of justice , and answers them , ordering what he thinks fit to be done about it . the like is done in matters of grace , pardon , &c. by the prefetto della signatura di gratia . the prefetto de brevi peruses and signs all the apostolical writs and orders . the bibliothecario is over-seer of the presses and of the library in the vatican , and commands those who have any thing to do in it . these four last offices i mentioned only because they are in the hands of cardinals as well as the four former , though lesse honorable and beneficial . so are the three following bestowed upon cardinalls , and all is for life , to wit , the three arch-priests ; of st john of lateran , now cardinal ghigi ; of st. peter in vatican , at present cardinal francesco barberini ; & of santa maria maggiore , now cardinal rospigliosi , by the late resigning of it up by cardinal antonio barberini , who received some satisfaction for it . now these three arch-priests have an absolute power over all the canons , priests , curats , and beneficiaries of their churches ; which benefices they may bestow upon whom they please when they are vacant ; besides this , he of lateran hath the administration of justice in civils and criminals over all persons within the jurisdiction of his church , having already insisted so long upon this subject , i must forbear speakingof othergreat charges , whether they belong to the court , as the master of ceremonies , master of the s. palace , secretaries , steward , &c. or be military , as general of the galleys of the popes guards of the church , who hath four under him , to wit , of avignon & ferrara , and the generals of the horse , and of the artillery . this great place is ever given to a nigh relation of the pope ; and he , with him of the galleys , and the governour of the castle saint angelo , are answerable of their actions to the pope alone ; or whether they be ecclesiastical , as almoners , chaplains , &c. or at last , whether they be civil , as governour of rome , divided into 14 rioni or quarters ; namely , monte , colonna , st. eustacio , ponte , regota , ripa , trastevere , trivio , campidelli parione , pigna , campo marzo , st. angelo , borgo ; but this last is actually depending upon the governour of st angelo , and also senator , and conservatours of rome , &c. the king of spain comes next to the pope in italy ; he hath naples , and the islands of sicily and sardegna upon the coasts , with milan in lombardy , and finale the head of a marquisate upon the coasts of genoa , and nearer to tuscany , he hath portolongone , and orbitello . the state of naples . naples containes twelve provinces which are a division of the three ancient , their names are terra di lavora principato citra , principato ultra , basilicata , calabria citra , calabria ultra , terra d'otranta , terra di bari , capitanata , contato di molisse , abruzzo citra , and abruzzo ultra . ; most of these parts are inhabited by very dangerous people , the more by reason of the abundance of woods which do shelter those rogues , whom the crimes they have committed have driven from the cities , whither they are not safe to return ; whence they have the name of banditi , and whom the protection of great men to make use of them one against another , by reason of their animosities , keeps there : those of calabria , specially along the coasts , have the name of being the worst of all , so ha t 't is turned into a proverb , he is as wicked as a calabrese . the best part of the kingdom is , terra di lavoro , which is all the countrey about capua and naples : there are but three good havens able to receive at fleet , brundisi , taranto , and trani ; for gaeta , napoli , puzzuolo , bari and otranto , are neither safe nor great enough . 't is said , that the cities , lands , or castles in the king dome come to 2573 , the least of which will make 500 souls , or there abouts : they have good souldiers , but proud , treacherous and inconstant for the generality ; yet there are brave men amongst the nobility , i mean for civility , courage and valour . the chief strong holds of the kingdom have garrisons of natural spaniards , by whom they are strangely oppressed , as by them they were conquered . they are governed by a spanish vice-king , to whom this people is given as a prey , that he may make himself amends for the expences he hath been at in some chargeable embassage , or a reward for some service he hath done to the crown ; so that in three years , which is the usual prefixed time for the exercise of that authority ( because the court of spain would not have subjects to grow too potent in those parts ) they squeeze and oppress that people with an infinite number of taxes , and other heavy burthens ; the nation being look't upon by them as factious , seditious , reckoned and desirous of novelties ; there being 30 notable rebellions within the space of 500 years : so that the vice-kings rule with a despotick authority ; and let him do what he pleases in this kind , people must never look for redress , he not being accountable for things of this nature ; besides that , the city , or any part of the kingdom may not send upon any occasion an agent or deputy into spain without a special license from the vice-king , which he grants very seldome : neither are the nobility free from oppressions , being dragg'd into prisons , or driven into exile upon the least suspicion that they grow too potent , or are any ways disaffected . the insolencies of the spanish souldiers , and others of that nation are not at all punished ; the very high-way-men , and other rogues , who are as thorns in the sides of the people , and who vex , disturb , and plague them , are winked at , except it be upon a jealousie of state : so that , that formerly flourishing kingdom , and full of all manner of necessary and delightful things , is at this day brought to an utmost misery ; that nation not being allowed so much as liberty of trading with strangers , on selling their inland commodities , but upon certain conditions , and a licence well paid for ▪ and all the gold which can be gathered there , is sent into spain , which doth amount to vast sums . the duke medina delas torres los volez , told one day the cavaliero damenico zane , then embassadour at the spanish court from venice , that in six years of his government of that kingdome , he raised 44 millions of crowns to supply the occasions of the dukedome of milan , and of flanders , moneys are drawn from thence , with a number of souldiers to serve in the wars that are made in the forenamed countteys : these and many other intollerable oppressions caused the great and many insurrections that have been there , which cost so much blood , not only in the times of troubles , but long after , it being the custome of spaniards to punish to the tenth generation those faults which have been committed against the state. for all this , the nobility of that kingdom triumphing over their miseries , and boasting of their slavery , are high and proud , and yet gentle and courteous in their carriage , though they insult over the common people , they spend beyond their estates , are splendid in an outward shew , but frugal at home , loyal to the king , enemies to the people , slaves of royal ministers , and very hard to their vassals , whom they pinch to the very bones : with all this they hate the spanish nation . out of this , one may judge of that enmity which is between the napolitans , specially the people and the spaniards ; there is never a year but hundreds of these last are killed by others , either at night in the streets of naples , or in the fields , when fruits and grapes grow ripe ; this people , and so those of milan , are grieved to see how those same spaniards who come to them in a low and poor condition , and with capatos de cuerda , within a year or two do live very high , out of the blood and substance of the countrey . so that the spaniards being so hard masters , they keep what they have in this kingdom only , by the means of the division which is in it ; so they keep all what they have in italy , only because the italians suffer them to enjoy it for fear of falling into the hands of worse masters , not that they can have worse , but because they are not so sensible at injuries received from spaniards , as those which they have suffered from some other nations , not as to the things , but as to the manner of doing them ; the spaniard layes heavy burthens and impoverishes them , and upon suspicions and jealousies of state takes away mens lives ; nay , he attempts upon the honor of families , but he carries it with more secresie and circumspection than other lighter nations , whose manner of proceeding seems more insolent ; besides that , the spanish haughtiness and gravity is more sutable to the italian temper . further , spain and other dominions belonging to it , being remote from italy ; the italians do not account them altogether so dangerous , as other martial nations who are at hand . however , if the late duke of guise had play'd his game well in massanillo's time , and well used that conjuncture , he could have given them a great check in that kingdom , but unadvisedly he left the city , which was at his devotion , and he kept a number of insolent persons about him , which ever undid the french affairs in italy . there goes a story of this duke , that several persons of quality and interest , to the number of 2000 , appointed a marquess to go in their name , and tell him , they were unanimously resolved to stand by him , and settle the crown upon his head , if he would come to them ; but he was fast asleep when that person came to his palace ; who said , he had matters of great concernment to impart to him ; but his people being loath to awaken him , he was forced to stay a long while ; at last being awaken'd , the other was called in , but before he was come to the chamber , the duke had began to dance a courante ▪ and would not speak with him till he had danced ; which the other being arnazed at and offended , said to him afterwards in few words , i was come to you upon such an errand ; but said he , by my so long waiting here , the time and opportunity are lost , therefore know that , co'l balare non se quadagnano li regni , kingdoms are not gotten by dancing : so he went to those who sent him , and told them what he had seen ; so that every one went home , and this person soon after forsook the kingdom to avoid the punishment which the spaniard would have inflicted upon him : if this be true , how did he strangely miscarry in 't , for so he lost all the nobility , who afterwards closed with the spaniard . the city of naples is great and populous , they reckon , that with the late plague 200000 died in it . churches there are a sanctuary to malefactors , which hath been often an occasion of falling out between the vice-kings and card. filomarini late arch-bishop , for some of those having upon occasion caused these malefactors to be taken by force out of ; these churches ; he threatned , and did actually excommunicate some for breaking , as he pretended , the priviledges of those churches , as if the house of god ( if such a name may be given to such places ) was to be a sanctuary to , and a den of thieves . there are three castles in this city , one is st. elme upon a mountain , built by king robert the first ; the other is castel novo , in the port which keeps communication with the palace of the vice-kings nigh to it , this was built by charles , brother to lewis the 9th . of france ; the third is , dell-ovo , which is upon a rock in the sea , william the third of normandy built it . there are also several fair churches embelished with rare pictures , and other ornaments , so ther are two cabinets worth seeing . at the end of one of the suburbs , in the way to puzzuola , is , la grotta di lucullo ; a way made through the rock of almost a mile in lenth , and broad enough for three coaches when they are gotten in 't : i shall not mention all the relicks of antiquity which are seen in the way to puzzuola , when one is at it , and at baya , as the elysian fields , and those other things so often mentioned in the poets ; nor the mount vesuvius , now la montagne di somma , these things are out of my purpose . i return to naples , and say , that the virtuosi there are called some ardenni , others intronati ; and 't is to be observed , that when these societies take a name , 't is either a title of imperfection , which betokens a privation , or of a moral virtue , or of some habit of the intellect , and all this to shew that they esteem and study the perfection , contrary to the defect signified by the name . their great offices of the kingdome are either given or sold according to the kings pleasure , but the last rather than the first ; and this for life : they are the high-constable now a rom an prince , of the family colonna , the high judge , high admiral , high-chamberlain , gran pronotario , a kind of a principal secretary , gran sinisculco , or high-steward , and high-chancellour , all which are given some to italians , some to spaniards . all the high-courts do sit in the city of naples , for there are the seggi , which are the assemblies of the nobility of the whole kingdom , divided into five classes : the first is seggio capoano . the second , di nido ; the third , di montagna ; the fourth , di porta : and the fifth , di porta nuova , so that except one be admitted into one of those seats , he cannot pass for a nobleman or gentleman ; the nobility and gentry there differing only in degree , and not in order ; now some enter into several seggi , so that to be admited in , he must be past 20 years of age , and have the greater part of the votes of all the nobles of the seggio . out of these 3 seggi are chosen 3 gentlemen , who with one chosen by the people , make up the body , called the magistrate of the city , through whose hands do pass all manner of taxes and impositions which the vice-roy hath a mind to lay upon city and whole kingdom : they also finde out means how to bring it about . there is also in naples that tribunal so much talked of , called , la vicaria , which matters of the greatest importance are brought unto , and receive ; appeals from all parts of the kingdom . the greatest of all is also kept there , called it collaterale , whereof the consigliere , or counsellors have the title of regenti , and for distinction-sake , they wear a long gown , this under the king is the supreme court of justice , treating of several important matters ; these regenti are chosen by the king , part napolitans , and part spaniards , and 't is for life . it also hath a councel of state , which judges of things concerning war composed , of six persons , whereof three are spaniards , and three italians , half souldiers , and half gown-men , chosen by the king ; over this as all the rest is the vice-king , whose authority is very great , and the profit arbitrary . i am loath to omit speaking of a custome of the napolitans , for all their reserved temper once a year , at vintage-time , they allow themselves a very great liberty of jesting one with another ; the meanest person is then allowed to jear the noblest man of the land , who use to begin with them : they give one another all the bad names which their language doth afford , whereof the least at another time would cause murthers and stabbings . this calls to my mind a singular custome they have at rome , when there is fallen some snow , at which time the most reserved and vertuous men and women throw balls one at another ; the princes and their wives practise it one with another within their palaces : neighbours throw it through the windows into the chambers one of another ; if one hath any kindness for another , 't is the fashion to go under the window , and throw in some , as they receive some , if they go by the door of any of their acquaintances ; and this is amongst them a token of civility and favour , and so much observed , that if any gentleman or friend of mine comes to me , the most vertuous woman that happens to be my neighbour , can shew me no greater respect nor kindness , than to throw at him snow balls . before i speak of the secrets of state , which the spaniards have in relation to this kingdom , 't will not be amiss to speak few words of some maximes they have in general ; relating to the rest of their state-dominions in italy . at madrid for the affairs of italy , there is a particular council consisting of six counsellours , whereof two are napolitans , two sicilians , and two of milan , besides the president , who ever is a spaniard , and now the marquess of vellada by name ; this council was instituted by philip the second , no other affairs but those of italy are treated of in it , which formerly belonged to the congnizance of the council of aragon . when first of all the spaniards came to italy , and had gotten footing in it , they went about by fair means to insinuate themselves into the affection of the nation , to turn it upon occasion to their own advantage ; but the italians , who , as they say of themselves , dormono co'll occhio aperto , who are constantly awake , stood upon their guards , and observed the spanish motion , which being taken notice of by the house of austria , charls the 5th , & then the council i spake of just now under his son philip the second , took another course , and went about to terrifie them with their arms , to draw some to them with fair promises , to threaten others , to sow divisions amongst them , but above all they lookt upon the republick of venice as a great let to their designs , having ever appeared to be the champion of the liberties of italy ; the troubles which this raised in those parts sometimes against mantoa , other times , against savoy , &c. are well known ; but now a constant maxime they hold , is , to get at rome as many cardinals as they can to be their friends , that if possible they may every time have a friend of theirs chosen pope , the truth is , they are potent in the conclave , because of several napolitans , and milaneses who are in it , the several means they have to gratifie church-men , by conferring benefices on them within their dominions in italy , and by selling lands and states to others within the same , besides the many pensions which they allow to several of them : so that whilst the french hath but eight or ten of his side , namely , d' este , ursini , antonio , grimaldi , mancini , maldachini , de rets , bouillon , the greater number of them are for the spaniard ; 't is true , 't is very chargeable for them to keep this party , and a spanish states-man had reason to say , it were better for his king to buy popes ready made , than to make them . but now in few words , spaniards do govern naples with these few rules ; the first is , to hold good correspondencie with the pope , not only because they do him homage for it , but because he is a next neighbour , much able to trouble it , and to foment and assist insurrections in it . the second is , to foment divisions between the nobility and the people , and between the nobility themselves who being all together united , could for certain drive them out ; and though the napolitans horse's back be much gall'd , if he could gather his strength together , he would be able to shake off the rider . the third maxime is , as much as they can doe to make great states fall into the hands of women , whom they marry afterwards to spanish noble-men . the chief families of that kingdom are at present caraccioli , where of the duke of auelina is the head ; caraffa , of which family is the duke matalone ; pignatelle , who had the title of duke of monteleone , monaldesqui , aquaviva , brancaccio , and several others who have the name of princes , as , marana , &c. the antient family of the princes of salerno is extinct as to the name , and their palace at naples ; which was very stately , hath these several years been possessed by the jesuites . i shall not say much of sicily , 't is governed by a vice-king at present ; the duke of albuquerque , as don pedro d' arragon is he of naples : this island is known to be plentiful ; and as formerly it was the granary of italy , so 't is still of part of it , but specially of maltha , for the gallies of the order come almost every week to transport corn cut of it . messina drives a great trade of silks ; the inhabitants have still their est & non est , that is , when any thing is proposed by the vice-king or his order , after a debate had thereupon to satisfie the people , they cry out non est , if it be not contrary to their priviledges ; if it be , they say , est , then every one gets to his arms. this city hath several priviledges , but cannot get them confirmed at madrid ; neither do the vice-kings dare to trust themselves amongst them ; therefore they reside at palermo , which was the landing place of don pedro d' arragon , when the moneys he had received from lewis the 9th of france , to make war against the infidels in affrica , he went to drive charles d' anjou , lewis's brother , out of the kingdome whereof he was lawful sovereign . the peoople of this island speak a very corrupt italian language , mixed with some words of corrupt greek ; & as their luanguage is , so are their manners , and nature , which how treacherous it is let the sicilian vesspers bear witness ; by which action they are become not only odious , but also a proverb to italy , having thereby been the author of all the disturbances where-with the spanish nation have since afflicted those parts of the world ; it had been something in withdrawing from the subjection of one ( who though he was their lawful prince , yet he was of a forein nation ) they had gotten their liberty ; yet princes may see of how dangerous a consequence is this president : but to leave the bad for the worse , 't is to find a pain , wherein they look't for a pleasure , that is , to be no more reasonable than were the frogs , who rejected the reed , to have the stork to rule over them ; they should have learned of the fish , how it is better to keep in the pan , though amidst boyling water , than to leap out and fall into the burning flames and fire . mount aetna , now gibello , with some of his flames , is still to be seen ; its horrid late casting up stones , flames , cinders , as far as catania , and the running of rivers as it were of fire and brimstone , are known to all europe ; such as we cannot read ever there was the like . syracusa is not very far from it , which is much decay'd , they shew some old standing ruines of a castle , as they say of dyonisius ; they affirm 't was in the shape of a shell ; in the centre of which was the tyrants closet , whence by the means of some pipes , which conveyed the voice , he heard ( if we believe the tradition ) every word spoken by the prisoners ; 't is probable that such a thing may be , there being things of that nature in several parts ; though these prisoners were at a great distance from the closet . the spaniards govern this land almost by the same maximes which they use in naples , only they let them have some few priviledges , in consideration of their withdrawing from the french , and giving themselves up to them ; nevertheless , the spaniards are much odious to them by reason of the great and many oppressions they suffer from them , for the which no body pities them , since they brought it upon themselves ; however , 't is the division of the two chief cities messina and palermo about precedencie and other things , which upholds the spaniards authority in the island ; for when one of these cities stands up , the other stoops , and they do every thing in opposition one to another ; the spaniard therefore knoweth how much it imports to his interest to see these differences continue , he foments it with the best of his skill , and to the utmost of his power . it were in vain to speak of sardegna , seeing the people in it are become spaniards in every thing . there hapned in it not long since a great division caused by falling out between two of the chief persons of the island , but having been both transported into spain , the factions were dispersed , and gave way to a general tranquility . this is a kingdome , and therefore is governed by a vice-king , who was lately prince ludovisio . of late they have stirred very much , having killed a vice-roy ; for which act some have been executed , which their friends and relations highly rescenting , are causing new disturbances ; so that the present vice-king not thinking himself strong enough , hath desired more forces out of spain , specially his enemies being potent in cagliari , hereby are laid the foundations of an eternal hatred , for their children inherit of the quarrels , and desire of vengeance , as of the states of their parents , this had been a fair occasion for any forrein enemy of the spaniard . this island , as that of sicily and naples , maintain a number of gallies , which of late is much diminished , for put them altogether with the squadron of the duke of tursi , they do not come to above twenty . the state of milan . vvesterly it borders with piemont and monferrat , sur southerly with the republick of genoa , westerly with the duke of parma , with the republick of venice and the duke of mantoa , and northerly with the valtoline . the dukedome of milan is as good and as plentiful a countrey as any in italy , full 300 miles about , plain and even ground ; in it are many lakes full of fish , and is watered by considerable rivers , which make it pleasant , plentiful and strong ; po runs by cremona , the tanaro by alessandria , and the bormia , which is a little one not far off . adda , nigh to lodi and ticcino by the walls of pavia , by milan run two channels , one of which is of great use ( and this goes through it ) and both for watering of grounds , whence it is that they have so good pastures ; hence it is that this dukedom doth furnish with cheese all italy , and other places ; the best sort of that which goes under the name of parmesan is made at lodi , one of the cities of the dukedome , and its territory . this countrey doth also produce abundance of all manner of corn , good fruits , and good wines ; this goodness of the soyle , joyned to the industry of the people , makes it very rich ; it contains many cities , as milano , pavia , tortona , alessandria , della paglia , novarra , mortara , vigevana cremona , lodi , como and lomellina , every one strong , and except mortara , the head of a territory , which borrows its name from the town . this dukedome is governed by one sent from spain , and hath the name of governour , who was don lewis de gusman ponce de leon : and now the marquess de los balbases : these governours improve well their time , which , as i said in the case of naples , is for three years , or thereabouts , except they be confirmed ; and this makes part of the misery of that people , that every three years they have new and greedy ministers , who make haste to be rich , and when they begin to be full , they are gone to give place to one who is as hungry as they were . the king of spain raises here one millions ofcrowns a year , but it goes all for the necessities of the state. in time of peace there are kept 5000 men ; there was a strong hold , called the fort sandoval , which commanded the way into one of the gates of vercelli , which is but a cannon-shot off , and 't was raised to bridle that place ; but the spaniards after the taking of vercelli demolished it not long since as a thing chargeable , and nor necessary ; but by the late treaty of peace with france , they restored vercelli to the duke of savoy . the city of milan is called the great , for 't is of a large circumference , full of people , to the number of about 300000 , and of handy-craft-men , almost of all fort , in so good repute amongst the italians , that when any sumptuous clothes or furnitures are to be bought , or any considerable equipage is to be made , to the very liveries , they send thither to have it done : they work much in silks , gold and silver thread , and make admirable good gun-barils ; all this maintains abundance of weak and poor people . in this place is a castle , esteemed one of the strongest in europe , well provided with ammunition and artillery ; there is a particular governour of it , who doth not depend upon the governor of the dukedome , but hath his orders immediately from spain . in this city is a very great number of stately churches , specially the domo , all built with white marble ; they say , about it are 600 statues , which cost 1000 crowns a piece : if this church be once finished according to the design ; none but st. peter in rome will be able to compare to it ; till then , this last will be the fairest in europe , and i believe , of the world , for all the great commendations given to that of santa sophia in constantinople . i returnto milan , and say , not only there are in 't fair churches , but also sumptuous cloysters , hospitals , palaces , and other noble buildings : a church-man there hath a fine cabinet full of rarities , most of his own invention and making . virtuosi in milan have the name of nascosti ; but i must not omit to say that the house which the cartusians have fifteen miles from milan , and five from pavia , is the best of their order . notwithstanding the proverb tha● the king of spain governs sicily in meekness , or dolcezza naples by fraud , or con inganno , and milan by authority , con authorita ( which may be understood in relation to the strong holds he hath in it : ) 't is his maxime of state , to rule this dukedome with more gentleness , than the rest of his dominions in italy ; this practice is inforced by the temper of the people , who are nor so willing nor so apt as others to suffer abuses , burthens exceedingly heavy , nor other great opresfions , their spirits can hardly bear it ; they are of an humour free , open , plain , and as they call it , rozzo , being usually called the lombarad's temper : that which makes further the spaniards more circumspect in this , is that many neighbour princes would willingly receive and assist them , if they came to have a pull for their liberty , for they joyn with the duke , of mantoa , the venetians , with parma , genoa , piemont , and with the grisons , by the ualteline ; therefore the spaniards , who knew the importance of that passage to them , struggled so hard for it , and set all europe in an uproar about it : yet for all this gentleness of theirs used to the milenesi , that people is not free from grievances and oppressions . that countrey which for a long while together hath been the seat of war , hath been obliged to maintain in a good measure the spanish , germans , french , savoy , modena , and mantoan forces , the perpetual lodging , quartering , and contributing , for the souldiers hath wasted them ; and all this hath been a pretence for the spanish ministers to oppress them : the italian proverb saith , that the spanish ministers in sicily rodono they gnaw , in naples mangiano they eat , but in milan divorano they devour : but they bear it , seeing that excepting the republicks , the subjects of other princes are used no better than they . at first the sforzi got this countrey from the visconti , and the house of austria hath gotten it from these , yet the venetians have of it brescia , bergamo , and crema : i will not shew whose right it is to have it , if the heirs of valentina have it not . the chief families of it are now borromeo , trivultio , stampa , trotti , sforza , homodei , litta , &c. finale is a town well fortisied , of great concernment to the spaniard , for 't is the only door they have to get into milan from spain , naples , sicily , &c. it is also a bridle to the genoesi . portolongone and orbitelle are also upon the coasts , the one on the continent , the other close by upon a rock in the sea , of great importance to bridle the grand duke , viareggio belonging to luea and the genaesi . the state of the duke of savoy . the duke of savoy is the most considerable prince of italy , after the crowned heads ; he comes from humbert , a younger brother of saxony , and a man of fortune : amede the great , or , le comte verd , or green earl , so called , because usually his clothes were of that colour , as were those of his followers ; by his merits and good fortune raised himself to a great credit ; he did great services against infidels , specially at the taking of rhodes from the infidels , and then he took the motto about the coat of arms which to this day that family retains ; f. e. r. t. signifying , fortitudo , ejus , rhodum tenuit . his history is in fresco at the pleasure-house of the dukes at rivoli . this family was first earls of moriene , then by marriage and favour of some emperour , princes of piemont , and dukes of savoy ; and of late from the duke of mantoa , they have gotten trin and alba in monferr at by the treaty of chierasco , so that besides piemont with its vallies , and savoy , the duke hath upon the sea-coasts , villa franca , oneglia , and nizza di provinza , with as strong a castle as any in europe , his dominions indeed are large , though to speak the truth , savoy is a barren and a mountainous countrey , which defect is somewhat made up by the indefatigable laboriousness of the people , and by the populousness and plenty of piemont . his court is for certain the ornament of italy , not composed of a vast number of persons , nor solitary neither ; there is in it a variety without confusion , well compacted , consisting of choice persons , well qualified for a court in a handsome and orderly way ; in it the french and italian languages are commonly spoken , and the free french manner of life is practised in it . these princes have been , and are still very honourable in europe ; for this long while emperors and kings have given them the title of serenissime , when some other princes of italy did not so much as pretend to it : but it happened in the days of pope urban the 8th , that he ( it may be to please his nephews ) gave a higher title to cardinals than they had before , the title of illustrissime was changed into that of eminentissime ; this obliged some princes to take the title serenissime and of highness ; upon which account still to keep a distinction between them and other princes , the dukes of savoy added reale to altezza to make up royal highness , which they pretend to , as being titular kings of cyprus , and so by vertue of a match with france , the french did not oppose it ; and this duke is now in hopes that the king or prince regent of portugal ( being now himself own'd to be a crowned head ) by reason of the late marriage , or that which is to be made with that prince regent , and the dutchesse's sister , will approve of it , but upon what grounds i dispute not . this duke is vicar of the empire in italy , he could not yet obtain from the emperour the investiture of what he hath in montferrat ; however of late the electoral colledge at the sollicitation of the house of bavaria , whose present elector married his sister , did something on his behalf , to wit , made a decree , that his not being invested by the emperour shall be no prejudice to his right , seeing he had used his diligence to obtain it . 't is a thing which raises much the glory of this prince , that he hath several of his subjects descended from emperours of east and west kings , other sovereign princes , and of the chief families of italy ; in piemont alone are above fifty earles , fifteen marquesses at least ; this makes him the more considerable , and adds something to his strength , which on the other side doth consist in the largeness of his dominions , the number , affection , and fidelity of his subjects ; and in his strong places , of which the castle of montmelian , though taken by the french , is one of the chief in savoy ; they use to say , that their prince hath a city which is 300 miles about , to shew how thick towns are in it , and how populous it is ; in piemont alone are 8 episcopal cities , and 130 very populous places . another thing is , that the duke is as absolute as any prince in europe . 't is said of charles emanuel , this dukes grand-father , that one day discoursing with henry the fourth of france , and the king having asked which of the two pistols ( pieces of gold ) the french or spanish he accounted the heaviest ; his answer was , that which i shall give my grain to , meaning that of the two kings , he whom he would assist should be the strongest . his riches i will not mention , his yearly income is said to amount to one million , and eight hundred thousand crowns , out of which savoy and the vallies yeild him but four hundred thousand , all which is nobly spent . i must say however , that gold and silver are scarce in his dominions , which on the other side afford him a great plenty of all things , whereby all manner of provisions are at a low rate . upon consideration of this , two several proposals were made to the present duke by a judicious person ; the first and less important , was to settle a fixed and a constant office for the conveniencie of travellers , so that giving so much , they should be defrayed for their diet , and should be provided with horses ; to this effect a correspondencie was to be setled at lyon , as this had been convenient for strangers and safe , so it had made the moneys of all those who enter italy that ways to pass through the hands of the dukes officers ; and these sums had been very considerable , seeing all those , who go by land into italy out of spain , in time of peace out of france , and pats of germany , come by the way of lyon , this would have encouraged many to go that way who do not , helpt the sale of provisions , and brought moneys into the countrey : but this proposal , though approved , yet wanting a further encouragement came to nothing . the second is to make nizza , or villa franca a free port , any of these lies convenient for ships , this would bring in trade , and consequently moneys , and would help the sale of the lands commodities : but i omit the reasons which are given to inforce this proposal , for i must come to other things . turin is the metropolis of piemont , and the ordinary place of the dukes residence , when he is not at his houses of pleasure , of which he hath as great a number of fine and convenient ones , as any other prince : this city is well seated in a plain , the rivers po and doire running not far from it ; in the court is an office of the admiralty , as they call it of the po , which is more for formality-sake , than for any benefit . in turin are to be seen the old and new palaces , with the garden , from the place to the new palace to that of st. garloe , is on both sides a row of fine houses all uniform . i shall say nothing of churches there , nor of the countrey-houses , as rivoli , moncallier , le valentin , millefleur , and la venerea , which is the present dukes delight : but i must take notice that there is as good a citadel as any in europe , in which there is a well , into which one may go down to water a horse , and at the same time , one can come up thence and not see one another . there are also armes for 40000 men . many things i omit here to tell , that carlo emanuele , the present duke , is a prince well made of his person , of a middle stature , full face , with that natural red , which only doth embelish it ; his sight is none of the best , as may be observed when he eats or reads ; he loves hunting with some kinde of excess , the scorching heat , nor the foulness of weather , being not able to divert him from it : and by this constant course he hath brought himself into a capacity to endure any hardship ; yet this passion doth not take him off his important businesses , which he is vigorous in , and follows it very close : he hath set days to give publick audience , at which time the least of his subjects may speak to him without any disturbance at all , and he hears them very patiently , as he is an active man , so he takes cognizance of every thing , and imparts all to his lady , who being a judicious princess , and exceedingly complying with his highness , she ever hath a place in his closet , as in his bed. he is a prince very civil to strangers , and now frugal at home , for he finds his ancestors have been too free so he hath been himself , but now says for a reason of his alteration , that as to frugality he cannot imitate a greater monarch than the , king of france , with whom he hath a conformity of temper , joyned to a natural affection . his inclination to women hath been discovered by his actings with the marchioness of cahours , and is daily observed by those who follow his court. his first minister of state is the marquess of pianezza , of the family d' allie , and brother to count philip ; a great polititian he is , and a greater enemy to the protestants of the vallies of piemont : his son the marquess of livorno , kept the place when he was lately retired for some distasts , though under pretence of devotion . the marquess san germano governour of turin , is of the same family ; the marquess palavesin ( successor to the marquess de fleury , who was turned out for his privacies with the marchioness de cabours ) captain of the guards , is also much in favour ; so is the old marquess of voghera , whose lady hath the oversight of the maids of honour , but none can boast of being his special favourite . the princes of the blood are few , the young prince of piemont , son to the duke by this wife , and prince philibert , with the earl of soissons , sons to the late prince thomas . there is at court a princess , the dukes sister unmarried : there is a natural uncle of the dukes , don antonio , governour of villa franca , and a natural son of the late victor amedeo , who lives privately in france . this princes countrey is much exposed to the french power , whereby they have been stript twice , and therefore his interest is to agree with france , for fear of bringing himself into the sad condition which the duke of lorrain is in , for the 18 or 20000 men , which without any great inconveniencie he can keep on foot , could hardly save him ; he is withal as handsomely as he can to prevent the french from setling in milan , for then he would be shut up by them every way . the state of the grand duke . the family of medici , of which are the grand dukes of toscany , hath not been very long possessed of that dignity , neither is it so antient as are many others in italy ; when florence was a republick , 't was one of the chief , but no more than the strozzi , pitty , and some others were . alexander began the work , but was quickly dispatched by his cousin lorenzo : then came cosmo , who was the first named & crowned grand duke by pope pio quinto of his family , ferdinand who left off the cardinals cap after the death of his elder brother , cosmo 2d . and ferdinand 2d . who is the present grand duke , who married donna vittoria della rovere , last heir of the late duke of urbino . some say a physician was the first who raised that family , and that in token of it , they took the pile ( but 't is the balls or globes ) for their armes ; they were raised by charles the 5th . the emperor , who gave margarita his natural daughter to alessandro , and so forced the florentines to submit to him . the grand dukes are creatures of clement the 7th . and of charles the 5th . emperour , with whose arms and countenancing , they became masters of florence ; at present they are in possession of three formerly potent republicks , to wit , florence , pisa , and siena ; they have all antient toscany , except luca and sarzana ; hence is the proverb , which saith , if the grand duke had luca , and sarzana , sarebbe , re di toscana , for he hath also the cities of pistoias volterra , cortona , arezzo , montepulciano , and several other lands and castles of a lesser importance , besides part of the island alba , where is cosmopoli , and porto ferrario . when the dukes came to the government , the florentines had subdued pisa , wherefore the condition of that city is the worst of the three , for being a conquer'd countrey they are under the jurisdiction of florence ; but siena is governed in the same way , as when it was a republick , owning none but the grand duke , or the governour sent by him ; thus they have nothing to do at florence , even they are used better than the florentines , who being look't upon at sactiout men , and desirous of liberty , are not only disarmed , as all other subjects are , but are more bridled too : a further reason is , that the duke doth homage for it to the crown of spain ( as he doth for radicofany to the pope ) therefore he dares not take altogether the same liberty there , which he uses in other places . pisa is void of inhabitants , but well seated , and hath in it several things worthy to be seen ; the grand duke delights to be in 't , therefore he comes to it , having the conveniencie of a forrest , which lies not far from it . siena is a finecity , in a good air , with good store of people in it , the italian tongue is well spoken , the virtuosi that are there , are called intronati . florence , the place of the courts ordinary residence , is a stately city , and very populous , there being accounted to be 100000 souls in it ; the gentry in it doth not think it below themselves to follow trade , which is specially of silks , so that it may pass for a rich town ; there are in it 10 or 12 families , accounted to be worth one million of crowns . there are three castles , fine churches , specially the domo , which on the outside is all of white and black marble , and that incomparable chapel of san lorenzo , for the which marble is not rich enough to enter , as one of the materials , but jasper , agatha , porphiry , &c. there are further rare palaces , and the dukes galleries exceedingly rich , the river arno runs through it , there is that learned society , called la crusca . the grand duke trading much underhand , as its thought , and being very frugal , must be very rich ; not to mention those rich galleries of his esteemed worth above three millions , but he draws to himself the best of his dominion , there being hardly in the world a countrey more oppressed with customes and taxes than this is ; hence it is , that except florence , where trade doth flourish , and siena , where is still some rest of liberty the whole country is the grand dukes , very little inhabited , and full of poverty , and this for fear those toscan active wits should cause some disturbance ; therefore he hath several strong holds , with a 1000 horse commanded by strangers , and about 4000 foot , besides the militia's , which upon occasion ought to be ready . 't is a priviledge of the horse-men , that they may not be arrested for any debt whatsoever ; so that any one that 's affraid and in danger of it , uses all possible means to get in amongst them . this prince for his person is a judicious man , and upon all occasions carries himself very politickly , besides the general genius of the nation , the particular one of the florentines , which goes beyond others , and his own natural parts ; having ruled these many years , he hath gotten a great deal of experience ; therefore he knows admirably well how to far fatti suoi , to mind and do his businesses , whereat he is as a cervellone , italiians call it . he carries his whole council along with him , for he hath no constant nor fixed councellours , but upon occasson he sends for whom he pleases to have their advice , but all resolutions do absolutely depend upon him ; so that the whole manner of his government is to be attributed to him alone . he is extraordinary civil to strangers , specially if they be persons of quality , and after they have had the honour of waiting on him , he sends them a regale , or a present of fruits , wines , &c. but of all nations , germans are those who have the greatest priviledges about his person , and in his dominions , strangers of other nations having any thing to do with his searchers , and the like officers , do free themselves of toyl and trouble , by saying they are germans ; and at present , amongst those many of that nation who are at his service , there is one who is much in favour with him . he is very careful to know the affairs of other states , to be able the better to rule his own , to that end he spares no charges that he may be well informed of it , knowing it is the deepest policie of princes to dive into the affairs of others : so every year he spends great sums of moneys to maintain the spies he keeps abroad , there being no court , and hardly any considerable city , but he hath some to give him intelligences of what passes in 't . he will have an exact knowledge of the state of every thing within his dominions , therefore in 1645 , having a mind to know the yearly income of his clergy , he caused an account to be made of it ; 't was found to amount to 765000 crowns , whence one may guess he doth not neglect to know his own , which is thought to be of half a million of english pounds , besides casualities , of which he hardly spends the half ; so that he must needs have many a million in his coffer ; indeed legorn alone is worth a treasure to him , it being the most noted store-house of all the mediterranean , there being at it an extraordinary concourse of ships from all parts , and 't is a place well fortified ; there is in it the statue of ferdinand the first , with four slaves in brass , then the which nothing better can be seen in that kind . but to return to the grand dukes riches , he daily improves them with his frugality , for to save charges he hath lessened the number of his gallies , having now but four , two of which are unfit for service ; and to get monies he hires the others to merchants to transport their wares ; formerly his gallies lay along the coasts to secure them from pyrates ; now they have towers along the sea shore , where they use tolight fires when any enemies or pyrates appear , which gives a warning where the danger is . this prince gathers monies on all hands , for at florenee , legorn , and other places , he receives contribution from the cortegiane , or prostitute women , for the tolleration and protection he gives them ; so that an injury done to any of those infamous persons shall be punished , as if it had been done to the most virtuous in the world . but the grand duke is not satisfied to be frugal himself , he hath often exhorted the grand prince his son to the practice of it ; son , saith he , non spender ' quell ' che tu hai perche , chi non ha none ; do not spend what thou hast , for he who hath nothing , is nothing . another way of this grand duke to get monies , and wherein lies his great maxime of policy at home , is to keep his subjects low ; no people in the world lye under heavier taxes and burthens than this doth ; every house that is let out , payes him the tenth part of the rent ; every contract of marriage , eight by the hundred of the portion ; and every one who will goe to law , afore he begins must pay two for the hundred , out of this one may judge of the rest ; this usage makes that prince to mistrust his subjects , who are active , stirring , and men of pregnant parts , exceedingly desirous of , and breathing after liberty , for 't is very hard for a people who lived a long while in a way of republick , to bring themselves to live under a monarch , so absolute and so hard as this is ; so that upon this account the grand dukes strong places are all well furnished with armes , ammunition , and provision , not only to resist a forreign enemy upon occasion , but to bridle his own subjects ; which is indeed a sad case , when a prince hath as many enemies as he hath subjects ; how can he think himself sure with those who hate and fear fear him , seeing any one who out of despair caresnot for his life , is ever the master of anothers , specially in those parts where 't is so much used , and where men are so skill'd at it ; and the devil who is a murtherer from the beginning , omits no occasion to infuse bloody motions into his hirelings . happy is that prince whose strongest fortress consists in the love of his subjects , who hath not only their hands but their hearts along with him ; 't is certain that of all enemies the domestick is the most dangerous , and the most to be feared . oderint dum metuant , was a fit expression for such a man as tyberius . yet though the grand duke keeps his people so low , he hath left them a shaddow of liberty , whereat they be somewhat satisfied , it consists in the use of those common laws of justice which they had in the time of the republick . now to the maximes of state of this prince in relation to his neighbours , the first is apparently to be united with spain , yet in private to keep friendship and correspondency with france , which the spaniards often times have been much displeased at , and had some thoughts to resent it , but fearing least the remedy might prove worse than the disease , they have chosen to sit still . what he doth in france , the same he practises with the republick of venice : but that which he minds most of all , is to have a good number of cardinals , and other useful persons of quality his pentioners at rome , to have none but those who be his friends chosen popes , for the great'st stormes he is afraid of are from thence , for knowing how matter is combustible at home , he fears least popes would encourage and assist his people to recover that liberty which they are so much longing after ; and there hath been some popes who were born his subjects , as one of the clements , and lately urban the 8th . who have given him or his ancestours trouble enough . of his family , prince matthias his brother died lately , governour of siena , and now prince leopold is created cardinal , his son the grand prince his heir apparent is called cosmo , who hath married the princess of voalis , of the french royal blood : for a long while there hath been an unhappy falling out between them , but now all differences are composed ; by some the fault was laid upon one , and by others upon the other ; 't is not fit for men to search into the causes of falling out between husband and wife , specially when they are princes ; some particular ones i heard , which i doe not minde , onely one may say that the retired manner of life practised in florence differs very much from that which is lead at paris , so that an italian may happen to require a thing which a french woman will have no mind to grant : i know in toscany there are still some noble and ancient families , but as the grand dukes have been very jealous of their aurhority , they have either rooted out , or brought very low the chief , and those of whom they were the most jealous . the state of mantoa . the family gonzaga hath possessed the state of mantoa since the year 1328. at which time roberto gonzaga having expelled some petty usurpers , he made himself master of it ; they enjoyed it without any title till the year 1432. when the emperour sigismond created giovanni francesco marquesse , and charles the 5th . in the year 1530. made federico duke of it ; this married margarita paleologa heir to the marquesate of monferrat . the titles of this prince are these , duke of mantoa , marquess of monferrat , prince , and perpetual vicar of the empire in italy , marquess of gonzaga , viadane , gozzolo , dozzolo , earle of rodiga , and lord of luzara . these dukes could formerly live in as great a splendour as any prince in italy , their equal , specially since monferrat was united to their state , but since the late warre made against the duke charles the first , in the year 1630. by the house of austria , under pretence that he had not done homage to the emperour , nor acknowledged him for his soveraign , though the true reason was , because being born in france , he was by them suspected to be wholly inclined that way , and by the duke of savoy , who would have stript him of monferrat , which is joyning to piemont : their strength is so weakned , and their revenue , and yearly income so lessened , that without the help of other princes they cannot maintain their garisons , as it is in the case of cazal that strong place , so that from above 300000 crowns they had a year , they are brought to 80000. which yet are not clear . mantoa , formerly a most flourishing and very populous city , hath at present but few inhabitants , and is full of misery , not caused by their princes who have been the meekest of all italy , but they could not rise up again since they were taken and plundered by the imperial army . the best ornament of that city was , and is , still the dukes palace , where they reckon at least 550. chambers very richly furnished with hangings and bedding , there are 1000. beds , and many rich statues ; but before the taking of the city , 't was as they say , more stately and rich , then the mills only of the city were worth 10000. sterling a year . upon occasion this duke can raise 10000. foot , but not to keep them very long , and 800. horse : now the mantoan horse is esteemed the best of italy . there are more sovereign princes of this family , than of any other in italy , because duke alfonso having many sons , would make every one of them a sovereign ; therefore by the emperours consent , some lands he separated from the jurisdiction of mantoa , and others he bought ; so that the eldest sonne was duke of mantoa , another prince of bozzolo , a third prince of sabionetta , another duke di guastalda , a fifth duke of novellara , and a sixth marquesse of castiglione della stivere : but now sabionetta as a doury hath been alienated by a marriage to the house caraffa in naples , and since , the princess of stigliano of this last family being married to the duke medina de las torres los velez , brought this state into his family . the late duke charles the 2d . to unite himself the more to the house of austria , ( for the late emperour had already married a princess of his family ) took one of the princesses of insprack to his wife , but for all this he neither was much trusted to , or rewarded ; the truth is , he was affected to france , whose interests he would not have separated from , if he had not thought himselfe slighted at paris , and less respected then was the duke francis of modena . this duke of mantoa died not long since in the flower of his age , leaving only a son of 12 , or 13. years old , who hath succeeded him . he was generally inclined to women , but in particular to the countess margarita di cazale : he was a great gamester , and lost much money at venice : upon all occasions he was supplyed by a jew of mantua , who almost ruled the dukes affairs to his own advantage , and to the princ's loss . jews are tollerated in mantoa to the number of above 5000. for which they pay 20000. crowns , or 5000. sterling a year , the more willingly because they are obliged to no marks of distinction , as they are in all other places . the city of mantoa , as all others that are consideralile in italy hath some virtuosi called invaghiti , it hath been a maxime of state of these princes to be united to france , where they had the dukedoms of nevers , rethel , and mayene which cardinal mazarine bought , the last for himself , the other two for one of his nepews , and also to be united to the venetians ; to the first , because that king could fall heavy upon the duke of savoy , the perpetual and unreconcileable enemy of his family ; to the last , because being his next neighbours , they could assist him upon any occasion . the friendship which seems to be between this duke and those of parma and modena is not real , by reason some state-differences which happened formerly between them : with the grand duke he hath had fallings out about the precedency of their ministers : though the grand duke hath larger dominions , the others family hath been more noble , and is more antient ; besides the other reason of the enmity is , that the grand duke hath several goods of his for the portion of the princess catharina di medici , married to duke ferdinando . but the greatest enmity of this house , is , against that of savoy about monferrat , and other things ; their differences are so great , that no means can be found out to compose them : and here i must not omit to speak of the treaty of chierasco in reference to these differences : thereby the duke of savoy is put in possession of two good cities of monferrat , but some satisfaction is to be given for them to the duke of mantoa , therefore the french doth oblige himself to pay the duke of mantoa 494000. crowns of gold pretended by that house from savoy for portions ; but for the forenamed summe , the french is put in possession of pinarolo , and yet the duke of mantoa never asked those monies , protesting against that treaty ; so that upon occasion this may happen to be a ground of troubles in italy . the state of the duke of parma . the dukedoms of parma and piacenze , two of the best cities of italy , have been possessed by the family farneze above these 122. years , after several revolutions they fell to the church , and were at last by pope paolo tertio , given to pietro luigi farneze his son born afore he was a church-man . charles the 5th emperour opposed it at first , but after the marriage of ottavio 2d duke with his natural daughter he approved of it ; besides the dukedoms of parma and piacenza in lombardy , he hath the dukedome of castro , and county of roncigliont within the sate of the church , which the first was pawned to , and for want of paying the monies in the prefixed time , it was united and entailed to the church , which is the worst that a turk or a jew can do a christian : yet notwithstanding the sufficient reasons to the contrary given by the duke , that pretended father of christians played this unmerciful trick ; and though of late by the means of the french king , this entail was cut off , as yet they could not bring the pope to part with it , as he is obliged by the treaty of pisa ; so well these popes agree , the one to get , and the other to keep . besides this the duke of parma hath some lands in the kingdome of naples for the doury of margarita of austria married to prince ottavio . this prince is perpetual standard bearer of the church , to which his state is to fall incase he should die without male issue . although he doth homage to the church for the whole , he is nevertheless absolute for that ; after the homage received , popes having nothing to do in his dominions . urban the 8th was a great enemy to this family ; he took castro , and had it demolished ; he would have ruinated odoardo then duke , and father to this present , who was a wise and a valiant prince ; but italian princes expressing to be dissatisfied at it , he was obliged to be quiet , having raised upon the frontires of parma , that strong place called la fortezza urbana . this family hath given the world some men of great repute , specially him who was governour of the low-countries ; the loss of castro hath been a great prejudice to the duke , yet he hath still a matter of 400000. crowns a year : the apennini are as a wall to his state , which joyned to many rivers , and some strong holds , makes his countrey considerable ; he keeps nigh upon 5000. men , but in case of necessity he could bring into the field 20000. foot , and 1000. horse , the half he can bring forth without inconveniency ; he hath much nobility in his dominions , and he is very jealous of them , specially of those of piacenza , because the first duke was kill'd there . what manner of cities are parma and piacenza i will not describe , nor the curiosities to be seen in them ; i name nothing , only let this general rule be taken ; in every good city of italy , one is to see the churches wherein consists their glory , their palaces , gardens . houses of pleasure , cabinets , &c. all which are embelished with statues , pictures in oleo , in fresco , and mosaick works , wherein porphiry , marble , and such rich materials are often used ; this i say to free my self from making descriptions which might make up a great volume , i only take notice that in parma are some academists , called innominati . the present duke ranuccio , a man of a fat complexion , as yet hath no children , his first wife being-dead , he is again married to the sister of the late duke of modena , he hath prince alessandro farnese his brother , who hath been in the service of the venetians , and came off with some discontent ; at present he serves in spain . there is now at rome cardinal farneze , but he is not very nigh kinsman , i am sure he did not act the part of a good kinsman , when he found out some ways to sell his principality of farneze to the pope for don mario for 80000 crowns , and a cardinals cap , excluding thereby the duke of parma from that succession , in case the branch should fail ; but an entail having afterwards been found out , the pope called for his monies , and restored the principality , however he is cardinal by the bargain ; the best palace in rome is farneze , built after the direction of michel angelo buonarotta ; and one of the best countrey-pleasure-houses of italy , is caprarola in the county of ronciglione , belonging to the duke of parma . till of late , since the dayes of charles the 5th , 't was a constant maxime of state of these princes to keep close to the house of austria ; but odoardo the late duke being unsatisfied with the earl and duke of olivares , he left that union , and they have since sided with france , as the fittest power to uphold them in their quarrels against the pope , which will be a continual ground of troubles in italy , and an occasion of bringing the french into it . one thing more is , that these dukes do more willingly make use of strangers to be their ministers when they find them qualified for it , than of their own subjects . the state of the duke of modena . the family d'este , though we put it here last , is much more antient and richer than the two former , yet according to that period which is set to families of princes , and their dominions , this hath lost something of its antient greatness . they derive their pedigree from atto marquess of este , who took the surname , which now his family keeps , from the city este , which doth still belong to it : this married alda , daughter to the emperour othon the first , in the year , 1000. and had with her , modena and reggio . theobaldo d' este othon's grand-child , had in the year 1055. ferrara from pope john the 12th , which was in the year , 1598. taken from them by clement the 8th , after the death of alfonso the 2d , for want of lawful heirs males : yet there was cesare d' este whom alfonso had from laura ferrarese who would have proved that his father had married his mother , and so that he was a lawful heir , but the proofs of the pope who had already taken possession of the place , were the strongest : yet that family still pretends to it , affirming they come from a lawful heir , though popes will have him to have been a natural son ; and this as to precedency wrongs that family , for other princes will not grant them as dukes of modena only , what they had as dukes of ferrara , although their standing dukes of modena be from barso d' este , who had the title given him by frederick the 3d emperour in the year 1460. the city hath been a great looser by this change , for instead of the seat of a court , 't is now made a city of war , and of 80000. soules that were in it under the dukes , there 's now hardly 20000. however this duke is still in possession of the dukedomes of modena and reggio , the principalities of carpi and correggio , the earldome of roli , and the lordships of sassevil , garfagna and frignano , by the late treaty of pisa ; his dispute with the pope about the vallies of gommachio was decided , being to receive as he did 400000. crowns for them , 40000. more of damages , and some other advantagious , conditions : all these lands with others which he hath still in the dukedom of ferrara , yield him every year full 500000. crowns ; all his dominions joyning one to another , makes him the more considerable ; his strength therefore consists in the number of his people ; the only province carfagnana is said to contain 80. places walled about ; he hath also several strong holds ; upon extraordinary occasions he is able to bring into the field 20000. foot , and 1000. horse , and he can without inconveniency keep the halfe of the number , however his country lies somewhat open to several neighbouring princes , not for want of good places , of which he hath many , seated at a proportionable and convenient distance one from another , but because that country lies upon an even ground ; in his citadel of modena , are as they say , armes for 40000. men ; this city is not in repute with other italians , who call it modena la pazza . these princes observe the general maximes of their neighbours , to have a good correspondency with venice , which was ever lookt upon as the protectour of the liberties of italy : since the loss of ferrara they kept close to the spaniards , but of late their interest made them change their affections , for duke francis was in the late italian war , made general of the french , and mazarine's neece married to prince almerigo his son , who hath left a young prince to succeed him . at present all things are done after the advice of cardinal d'este , protector of the french interest at rome , and the promoter of the late union of his family to france ; he is a prince very active and stirring , who lives at rome , when he comes there , with greater pomp , and more splendour then any other cardinal whatsoever ; he is zealous for the french , by whose friendship his family is much better with monies , being enriched with the late generalship : so is the country , for in winter the head quarters were in modena , whereto resorted all the great officers , and a great number of inferiour ones ; this somwhat helped the poor people to pay those taxes that are laid so heavy upon them ; at present there is one of their name , and kinsman afar of , don carlo d'este , if i mistake not , a subject born to the duke of savoy , who is a knight of the order of the fleece , whom i have seen attending on the empress at alexandria , pavio , &c. the duke of modena hath this advantage above most princes in italy , that he hath some of his subjects who have feudi fiefs of the empire ; we find many great families in his dominions , as the rich earls , di san paolo , the bentivogli-ragoni , buoncompagni , the marquesses spilimbergo , peppoli ; gualengo , di vignola and gualteri . the earls caprari , san martino , di molsa , di maluisia , montecuculi , tassoni ferrarese di conoscia , and few others ; the present duke being very young , we have nothing to say as to his person ; and though he were older , we could say of him that which must be spoken of some others , they are reserved , and live retiredly ; so that strangers , for any long while have not free excess to their courts and persons . the state of venice . now to go on , i must say something of the republicks . i do confess i am much at a stand when i see my self obliged to speak of venice ; the abundance of matter is often to a man a greater hindrance then help , when he must pick out that which is onely fit for his purpose ; to speak well of a republick esteemed a miracle of nature , and a prodigy of art , the tongue of an angel is necessary : 't were too trivial to say , that this republick was founded above 1246 years ago , by those who from aqueleia , padoa , &c. fled from the cruelty of attila : they were governed by tribunes till the year , 697. at which time they made a head called doge , and they chose san marco to be their protectour ; wherefore a lyon holding a book , is their arms , with this motto , pax tibi marce evangelista . the government was part aristocracy , and part democracy , but at the time when pietro gradenigo was doge in the year , 1280. it was resolved in the senate , that the government should hereafter belong to the nobility alone ; and to avoid oppositions , all the families that were in some esteem amongst the people , were declared nobles , as it hath been practised afterwards upon urging occasions , as in the wars against genoa , and lately in the wars against the turk , 100000. crowns being paid by every one who is made such , besides that he must be otherwise qualified for it . in the majesty and perpetuity of the duke , there is a shadow of monarchy , but the strength and the authority resides in the senate ; their dominion is of a great extent . in terra ferma they have dogado , la marca trevigiana , padoano , vicentino , veronese , feltrino , bellunese , bresciano , beragamasco , cremasco , &c. there is further il fruili , with many considerable cities in it , as udine , palma , and that strong hold palma nova . istria with four good cities , and many lands and places . out of italy they have dalmatia , with the islands thereto belonging , and the chief cities of zara , clissa : cataro , and few other places in albania ; in the levante , corfu , cefalonia , cerigo , zante , and some other islands in the arcipelago ; and the sovereignty of all the golfo from venice to otranto , and to la vallona , which is seven hundred miles in length ; of the kingdom of candia , they have nothing but the city . it would require whole volumes , if one would insist upon the manner of their government in general , seeing they have been curious to gather the quintessence of all the good laws and statutes which antient and modern republicks had , which they make use of upon occasion : they have above 60. courts of judicature , such a diversity being necessary for them to employ so many noblemen they have . i will hardly mention the gran ' consiglio , wherein are usually 1500. votes , besides other 500. nobles who are in offices else-where , either by land or sea ; nor the pregadi composed of ' 200. or thereabouts , or the collegio , or the consiglio di dieci , nor what manner of bus●inesses they treat of : why should i tell who are the procuratori di san marco , sesteri , tre capi di quaranta savi di mare , savi di terra , savi grandi , and so many officers ; this with an exact description of that republick , and of all her dependencies i could undertake , if i saw occasion , but 't is a thing that deserves to be by it self , as well as the account of the forces , and riches of the republick , and wherein they consist ; i shall not speak of the city which is full of wonders with antient and modern curiosities , only i shall name the arsenal , which is certainly the best in europe , and the treasure hath many rich and precious stones , however i will not omit to say , that in the city are two sorts of virtuosi , one is called discordanti , and the other gussoni . i must come to something of the political part of that government , but before , i must name some of the chief families of that republick . i believe the number of the nobles exceeds that of 3500. though 40. or 50. families with their friends and relations , whose leaders they are do govern the whole , the most considerable of these are contarini , now doge , sagredo , corraro , capello , moccenigo morosini , cornaro , gradenigo , grimani , querini , loredano , marcello , pesaro , giustiniano , foscari , bembo , delfini , &c. now i proceed , the venetians take a great care to have their young men instructed in those things which concern their republick ; in part to this effect they have found out such a variety of employments , to the end that applying themselves to these , they may in time be fitter to administer those of a higher nature , so that there is hardly any one without some employment suitable to his genius and capacity ; they also have an usual way to speak familiarly of policy , so that after a long use , and earnest application , and an often hearing of those who understand things well , they must needs make improvement in it . the venetians also most of any italians do travel abroad , and hardly an ambassadour ever goes to any place , but he is attended by some of the young nobles , who go to learn the politick part of the government of the countrey which the ambassadour is sent to ; and that which is the chief , to the end that the senate may be instructed of the present state of affairs of any court , we may observe that almost everywhere they have ambassadours ( not mattering what charges they come to ) who all the time of their residence , by a constant intelligence do acquaint the council with every particular thing that falls out in the court they live at ; who not only leave instructions to those who succeed them in the place , but who also when they come home , are obliged to make in pregadi , a full relation of the state wherein stands the court whence they come . one thing above all , which i find extraordinary , is that secresie so inviolably observed amongst them , that amongst so many heads there should be no tongue , nay there have been those who were present at the council , when violent resolutions were taken against some friend or relation of theirs ; they have conversed with them after that , and yet never discovered any thing . publick ministers of princes who reside there , do confess it is more difficult to penetrate into those results made sometimes by above 1500. men , than into those which are made by three or four : 't is true , this is look't upon as a part of their wisdome , that publick affairs are communicated to all , for then when the resolutions they have taken , require secresie , they think themselves obliged to observe it , though it were only upon this account that they are true and faithful to themselves . thus their general aime is , or at least their laws tend to maintain peace , union , and liberty . we must not wonder therefore if this republick is come to such a height , and maintains herself in it , with the excellency of her counsil , the observation of the laws , the gravity of manners and customes , and the common desire of maintaining liberty with a severe punishment of all innovations which could disturb the publick peace . laws ought not to be despotick or arbitrary , nor after the suggestions of sycophants , and the byassed parasites , but inconformity to those of the great law giver ( who though he have an absolute and unlimitable right and power over all , yet he is often times graciously pleased to give reasons of what he doth ) they ought to be grounded upon justice , reason , and equity , and to tend to the publick good , which should be the end of all civil and municipal laws , and not to be turned into private channels , to run to particular ends , which hapning , let him look to 't who bears not the sword without cause , for all private ends ought to be subservient to the publick interest : to this effect , when first all men contracted societies , and united themselves in corporations , they knew well they could not subsist without order , which can never be observed without laws , tending to protect the good in the enjoyment of that peace and quietness they desire , & to terrifie the evil with those punishments threatned them , in case the , go about to disturb it . and the truth is , that such laws being enacted , they look to future ages more than to that time wherein they are made , because those who made them being free agents , and entring willingly ; and with their own accord into such societies as every one of them had a hand in the passing of the laws , if not in the framing , at least in the approving and confirming of the same ; for that which is to be above all , as laws are , is to be made by the consent of all ; so 't is to be supposed they would not break the lawes which they made themselves , upon grounds of reason and justice ; hence it is , that as they have made use of the legislative power they had , and that they have bound themselves to the execution of them , which being once done , the bond cannot be loose or untied but by the general consent , and in such a case it may be done according to the maxime , that he who makes the law , can disanul it ; ( but it must be the whole legislative power ) for as grounds and reasons sometimes do alter , so may the laws accordingly , because as a law doth not sute in all places , so neither at all times , neither may they be allowed , but as much as they conduce to the publick good , which as i said , before is the end for the which they were roade ; but if they turn to be destructive to these ends for the which they were made , they ought certainly to be abrogated and made void ; and this shews that every law is not of the nature of those of the persisians and medians , which might not be altered ; but because the life of the law doth not so much consist in the legislative act , but specially in the executive part , not only in wisdome , but also in powers therefore they who made the lawe do appoint those who are to see them executed ; and because at first law-givers could not foresee all cases and accidents which might fall out , there is a certain power reserved to interpret , to explain and to amplifie those laws , yet upon this condition that sense shall be given to the words of the law which is most conducing to the end of the law , that is , to the publick good : for those rules that are imposed by conquerours as such , and do deserve the name of laws , but are only despotick orders and commands ; the conquerour after his victory imposes what he pleaseth upon the conquered ; sometimes nothing but martial and arbitrary laws , as it is this day practised in the turkish empire , for as he hath gotten it , so he must keep it either by force or fraud ; this is by virtue of a right used between wild beasts , who will tear or spare those that are weaker than themselves . the laws of venice , which are the occasion of this discourse , abhor these last , and are of the nature of the former , the happiness which they have enjoyn'd under them , do highly declare the wisdome of their law-givers . i believe it were of no little use , if every countrey were acquainted with the same ; i altogether for bear speaking of them that are common and ordinary , one kind excepted , which is very beneficial , and might prove so to other countries , being introduced therein , i mean the sumptuary laws against excess in clothes , jewels , equipage , &c. which though vain and superficial things do consume & wast the state & substance of many ; the servant is not to be known by his cloaths from his master ; and of these how many have we who are more sollicitous of getting perriwigs , gaudy cloathes , and the like , than careful to acquire knowledge , virtue and experience , not knowing that those things are borrowed , and not their own , which make no difference between an honest man and the vilest wretch in the world , however they are satisfi'd with the shew , and are like those apples that grow about the lake of sodom , which have a fair shew , but have nothing within , blow upon them and they fly into dust and ashes . as there is a difference of quality in persons , so there should be some distinction in cloathes , or the like ; the very stars shew greater brightness some than others . men should strive to goe one beyond another , not in clothes but in virtue , and good quality . but i 'le leave this discourse , not for want of matter , one who hath but common sense and reason could have much to say upon 't , but because i avoid to be accounted too censorious and critical , and that some times every truth must not be spoken , or when it is odium parit : but to come to my subject , i say , 't is not so in venice , they minde more solid and substantial things than these , and they practise certain refined maximes , which i have observed . first , their doges may not ally themselves to any forreign princes , to preveni receiving from abroad councils tending to the destruction of liberty at home . neither is it lawful for any of the nobles to converse with any forreign ministers , or any one that hath any relation to them , or to keep communication with them by way of letters , or any other direct or indirect way , to remove all occasions of being bribed , and so of betraying the state or their councils ; for this cause 12. or 13. years agoe was put to death one of the family of carnaro , it being found out that he had been several times at the lodging of the spanish ambassadour . further , as they know that the greatness of the republick comes from their power upon the seas ; so all the nobles apply themselves specially to sea affairs : as for land service they usually take strangers of known valour and experience out of germany , italy , and other places . to preserve union between the nobles and the people , and that these may have where to apply themselves ; the noble ; do not roeddle with publick schools , or ruling of parochial churches , or the like ; and more than this , the direction of the chancery of the republick , which is a high dignity that hath the ordering of all publick expeditions , and the secretaries places are ever given to some of the people , to whom also they allow liberty of fishing , coursing , shooting , and the like , there being no propriety in things of this nature , and that they may yet the more get the love and affection of the people , they converse together in walks , play-houses , gaming-places , and upon all occasions and meetings ; so also they take citizens daughters to be their wives : yet for all this the nobles are so far from hindring , that rather they encourage the divisions which are in the city of venice of one part against another , that is , between the castellani and nicolotti , who use to meet specially in the month of september , upon the bridge of st. barnabas , which they flock to in great numbers , and the nobles who happen to be there do encourage every one of those of his side ; there they kick and cuff one another , but have no armes : this to some is an eff●ct of animosity , to others ' a sport , to others a shew , and to all a diversion from other things . upon this account , they suffer the insolencies of scholars at padoa with their chi va li at night to keep a division between them and the citizens , who also are looked upon as a factious people . another maxime which they have , is to keep the scales even between warring princes , specially in italy , as they have done in the wars of milan , to preserve the publick liberty , that one prince do not grow too potent by the loss of another ; but a thing which they study most of all , is , to know the genius , customes , strength , and to find out the designes of all princes and republicks , by which diligence many a time they have found out and avoided great dangers impending over themselves and others . but a very useful maxime they have , and which is very wise , it is ever to hearken after peace , and fit themselves constantly for war : afore they were involved in this last with the turk , their policicy was by all means to avoid a falling out with so dreadful an enemy ; but it seems at this time providence hath made use of the perfidiousness of those of candia , and of the turks ambition , to make this maxime to be null and void . but to withdraw from this ocean , i will say , that out of policy they suffer the delayes of doing justice , and the tedious proceedings at law , to keep people in exercise , and the courts of justice in credit : by the same reason they are so severe in punishing faults against the state upon all sorts of persons ; and to avoid innovations and disorders ; contrariwise , they be very remiss to those which proceed from humane frailty : so 't is to punish more rigourously the faults of the nobles , than those of the people , to the end that the former do not grow insolent , nor these last discontented . further they are careful to maintain their priviledges to provinces and cities , that they may continue in their loyalty and affection . lastly , 't is a part of their justice , as of their policy , not to punish the crime of the fathers upon the children , nor e converso , the person only which is guilty suffering . i have one thing more to say before i leave it : of all states in italy this of venice hangs loose from the pope most of all , therefore they meddle not in the court of rome , neither do they care to bestow pensions upon cardinals to have a favourable election , & indeed 't is not much material to them , seeing they extend their jurisdiction upon all regular & ecclesiastical persons within their dominions , notwithstanding the endeavours of several popes to the contrary : and they have good laws to bridle the power of popes within their state , as i will instance only in two cases ; the first is , though the inquisition be amongst them , yet they have taken away its sting , there being constantly three of the wisest and more moderate senators named to be present at their consultations ; and it is further ordered , that nothing shall be resolved in it , except there be present one of these senators , who qualifies things , reduces them to moderation , and in case of extremity telling , the senate must be acquainted with such and such things . the second case is , the nomination which popes make , of whom they think fit to some , church-livings and benefices within their state , the pope pretends he hath right so to do , which they deny ; however because they will not openly cross him , they have found out an indirect way , which is this , there is an order , that no man whosoever shall be put in possession of any benefice by virtue of any grant or nomination from the pope , except the same be first approved of by the council , so that the patent being brought to the council , there it lies till either the person who had it , or the pope who granted it , be dead , which maxime now being known , none of their subjects will be at the charges and trouble to sue at rone for any such thing . the wisest amongst them laugh at the pretended authority and jurisdiction which popes arrogate to themselves within the limits of their republick : he may ( say they ) play rex at rome , and have his patriarchal churches , namely st. peter representing the patriarch of constantinople ; st. paul of alexandria , st. mary the greater of antiochia , st. laurance without the walls of jerusalem , and set over these four , st. john of lateran , representing the pope , who is over all ; but say they , such liberty is not allowed him in the states of other princes . from time to time there hath been quarrels between popes and this republick ; paul the fifth's excommunication is not yet forgotten there , nor the principles of padre paolo , and padre fulgentio rooted out ; though the gospel be not taught there in publick , one may hear it sometimes in private . 't is true , of late the jesuites were re-admitted there , but meer necessity of state obliged them to it , though their re-admission was carried on but by few balls or votes , the late popes letter earnestly entreating them to do it , and saying , that if he could have gone in person to ask it , he would have done it , was not so efficacious as the promise of keeping 3000 men at his own charges in dalmatia , for theservice of the republick ; and upon occasion the use of his gallies , with some other advantages : however , they are still odious in that city to all sorts of people , and a small matter will send them out again : in a private conversation between the late popes and a venetian ambassadour then at rome , upon the question moved by the pope , where was their title to the soveraignty of the gulf ? the other answered him smartly , 't is upon the back of constamines donation ; this shews somthing in the bottom of the venetian hearts not favourable to rome , whence they have received so many grounds of displeasure ; we have seen of late how much trouble a nuncio of the popes at venice was like to have raised between the duke and senate about the barigello , who had seized certain of the nuncio's servants when they had done some insolencies , though he said he knew not they were his servants , and though things had been composed so , that the barigello should not appear in the church of st. mary , where the nuncio was to be till the last holy day of christmass , yet upon that very day against the agreement , within the church the nuncio prevailed with the duke to order him to go out , whereat the whole senate were highly incensed that the duke would do such a thing without their advice : and now the late grudge about the turning of the channel of the po another way , might produce somthing , were it not for the war of candia , however there remains a cause of falling out hereafter . the state of genoa . but 't is time to speak of genoa , formerly the dangerous rivall of veuice ; history shews us the several & great revolutions of government in this city ; it was by charles the great made an earldom , and under one of their earls won the island corfica from the saracens ' , afterwards they became a republick , they asked the protection of charles the sixth king of france , and having rejected this , they submitted to the duke of millan , and then would have withdrawn from his obedience , but he being too hard for them , they were kept under till the days of andrea doria , who having pacified the intestine divisions , instead of making himself prince of it , as some think he might have done , he got them the liberty wherein they stand at present : this republick is no more now what it hath been , that genoa which hath formerly been so potent at sea , as to beat the venetians , take one of their dukes prisoners , as they did in 1258. run victorious up and down , taking several cities belonging to them , and block up venice it self . furthermore , in the year 1337. they conquered the kingdome of cyprus , took the king and queen prisoners , but restored them upon certain conditions ; the reason is , because though the countrey be the same , yet that people hath exceedingly degenerated ; in those days every one minded the publick good , and the honour of the nation , but now every one seeks his private ends and interests , let what will become of the publick , which is a meer folly , for when the publick goes to wrack , particular men cannot thrive very long ; but if all particular men strive together to promote the publick , as they are members of that body , so they will find the benefit of it ; when we have seen in the roman commonwealth men sacirfice states , friends , relations and lives for the republick , when nothing was so dear to them , but they could part with it for the good and safety of the republick , then were all things in a flourishing condition , but when they began to seek their own , and every one to set up for himself , all things began to totter : how can the parts be saved , if the whole perish ? the bees and the ants natural instinct goes beyond some mens reason , they may be hyerogliphicks to us , and their example teach us to be publick spirited men , but it seems the genoesi are not so . this republick is in possession of what was formerly called liguria , now 't is riviera di genoa , from the city of genoa to porto di luna , is called , la riviera di levante , or of the east , and from genoa to monaco 't is rivieradiponente of the west , which makes 150. miles in length , though the breadth is hardly above 25. in any place : 't is true , that upon the ponente is finale belonging to the spaniarols , and three places to savoy , but withal beyond monaco it hath st. remy and ventimiglia ; towards milan they have gavi with a strong castle , and novi not so good as the other ; they have also the island corsiea : formerly trade did much flourish in genoa , but now legorn hath spoiled it , as genoa had spoiled that of savona , they suffered extreamly by the late great plague that was there ; so that to make themselves amends , and to keep up trade , they have thought fit to bring in the jews , by whose means they hope in time to bring trading back again from legorn ; but others are in expectation to hear how they will agree , for between a jew and a genoese ( setting aside baptism ) there 's no difference ; and if they do 't will pass for a wonder . but not to be tedious upon this , i say , that although the city be very fair , and the palaces stately , it is inhabited by men , then whom ( few excepted ) there cannot be worse , this is the opinion which all other italians have of them : there goes a story , ( which how true 't is i will not dispute ) that when the grand duke first of all made livorno a free port , he gave leave of trading in 't to all nations , as english , french , and to all merchants , even out of turkey , anch ' ai genoesi , having named several nations , amongst whom there were infidels ; those of genoa are put the last , as being the worst of all . indeed they are proud , revengeful in an extraordinary way , and enemies to strangers , though out of that city they goe almost into all parts . i do not think there is a city in italy where more mischief is done than in this , one hears of it almost every day : in the way of trade they are very skilful , yet so interessed , that there are those in it who could prefer one 5 s. to twenty lives ; their temper is such , that they cannot agree with any sort of people , nay , not so much as amongst themselves ; their unsettledness appears in this : from earles they came to consuli , from these to potesta , then to capitani , to governatori , luoghitenenti rettori di populo , abbati di populo , reformatori , protectori , duchi nobili , and duchi popolari . civil divisions ever regarded amongst them , for they are no sooner come under one sort of government , but they wished for another . when francis the first heard they would desire his protection ; let them go to hell , said he , for i am not willing to needdle with such people . the italian proverb of them is , mare senzapesci , they have seas without fish , montagne senzalegno , mountains and no woods , huomini senza fede , men without faith , and donne senza vergogna , women without shame ; yet some brave men are come out of it . the government is aristocratical , with a doge , only for two years , who with the 8 governatori , is called the signoria , then the little council of 100 men , and the great of 400. they have also the sindici over-seers of the actions of governours , as censors were at rome : the doge hath a guard , which he of venice hath not ; their forces are much decayed from what they were , when they reduced venice to an extremity ; still they continue to be good sea-souldiers , and keep eight gallies , which do dispute the hand with those of maltha , but they are not esteemed by land. 't is a thing which will seem an extravagancy , yet 't is a truth , that there hath been persons , and there are now families in genoa , more esteemed abroad than is the republick it self , and some are as rich , if not richer , who keep gallies of their own . the republick hath not above 200000 crowns a year , because part of the dominion , and of the revenue , doth belong to the company of st. george , which is , as it were another republick within that ; yet some make the yearly income greater ; but confess that it doth not exceed the charges . silks are the staple commodity , which they work very well in velvet , plush , satin , taby , taffitie , and the like silk-works , which they send into all the northern parts of europe . st. george is their champion , and the red cross is their coat of armes . the city as 't is usual with republicks , draws the best of the land to it self , and hath destroyed the trading of other places , as savona to advance its own ; in it are a sort of virtuosi , who call themselves addormentatis the city is not strong . the great secret of state of this republick hath been to keep herself united to , and depend upon spain since charles the fifth ; and philip the 2d of spain to keep them to her self , hath borrowed vast sums of monies , and assigned lands in naples and milan for the payment ; so that they must keep fair with the spaniard , for fear of loosing the principal ; on the other side , as the king of spain hath occasion of them , in relation to finale and milan not to loose them , he allows very great use for this money , so that they are even , and think to have over-reached one another ; most of the monies which are currant being spanish coine , it shews there hath been very great dealings between them . however now the spaniard hath much lost the great authority he had first amongst them , for formerly they so far depended upon him , that they might not receive within their city the embassadour of any prince but his own , who might come as he did often into the consultations of the senate ; but now there is no such matter ; they being exposed to so many alterations , there are no fixed nor constant maximes of policy among them . i think 't is a republick great by name , but small in srtength , despised by her superiors , hated of her equals , and envied by her inferiors , which doth subsist only because one neighbour would not have another to get it , the interest of every one being to have it remain in a third hand ; genoa is very jealous of two of her neighbours , savoy and toscany , of the former , who hath aimed and attempted to bring her under his yoake ; of the latter , by reason of his pretentions to sarzana , which formerly belonged to florence , and of both , because she is odious to both , and that upon the account of state , and of private interest , they wish to see her brooght low . in it are many noble and rich families , as doria , of which are the marquess of toreglia , prince of melfy , of the branch of andre doria , and the duke of tursi ; spinola the marquess , and de duke of sestri , marquess de los balbases , a spanish title , because a grandee of spain ; other families are fieschi , grimaldi , giustiniani , pallavicini , cibo , carrieri , imperiale , and some others . now the marquess hyppolito centurione with his ships and gallies , is entred into the french service . of the state of luca. i see i do fall from an ocean into rivers , yet there is water enough for me to swim in , in some places , if not every where . you will not be troubled with hearing a long enumeration of places and dominions ; yet 't is to be admired of the places i am now to speak of , not how they can preserve themselves ; this the jealousie between , and the interest of their neighbours , joyned with watchfulness on their side , doth for them ; but how formerly in times of conquest they could free their necks from the yoke of their potent neighbours . luca is one of these places which hath sometimes been possessed by the goths , the emperours of constantinople , the faseoli , castrucci , spinoli , by the family della scala , by the fiorentini , pisani , and by one carlo of bohemia , who having made a bishop governour of it , this bishop received 25000 crowns , and left them the liberty they are now in , their dominion is extended upon few mountains , not much inhabited , upon the top of which they have some strong holds , as monte ignoso , castiglione , minuoiano , with camagiore and via reggio upon the sea ; but the best they have is the city well seated , people'd , and fortified with the territory belonging to it , which produces abundance of olives , the best of italy ; and the industry of the inha bitants about silk-works makes the city flourish and grow rich , every one in it hath something to live upon ; there are in it a matter of 10 families esteemed at least worth 20000 crowns a year ; others to the number of 30 have some 15000 , some 10000 a year , and above 60 have been between 4 and 5000 ; the yearly income of the commonwealth comes to not much above 100000 crowns , with a treasure they have esteemed a million , with certain plate and jewels , which upon occasion might bring in some monies . they are governed by a council of 150 of the chief citizens , the city is divided into three parts , which they call tertieri , out of every one of which the general council doth elect three men , in all , nine , called senators , who joyned with the gonfaloniero their head are called la signoria : the senators do command by turns every three dayes , the gonfaloniero hath a bare title , and nothing but the precedency above the rest , he is himself commanded by the senators ; he keeps his place but two months , then another is chosen , but within that time he may not go out of the palace under pain of death : as for warlike affairs they are in a good condition upon the defensive , their listed militia's are of 18000 men , besides the city contains 30000 inhabitants , and is constantly guarded by 300 good souldiers , whereof 200 are born in the city , and have the keeping of the gates , walls , and other places , the other 100 are all strangers , born 50 miles at least from the city ; amongst them they admit no florentine ; their captain is a stranger too , the palace is committed to their guard , and under pain of death they may not come nigh the walls . the city keeps a constant provision of mouth , and ammunition of war for whole 7. years ; their few strong holds are well provided , and their souldiers well paid , which is the onely way to keep them upon duty and obedience ; so that their care , and the plenty of their territory about the city do supply the narrowness and littleness of it : in a word , if they come short of other princes and republicks , as to the extent of dominions they have great advantages above them another way . first , they are not revengeful , as all the rest of italians are , they casily forgive offences received , which doth argue the goodness of their nature , upon this account they are a proverb to other italians , riceve gli affronti come un ' lucbese . 2dly , their women are very modest , and inclined to chastity , and their young men sober and temperate , some out of a natural inclination , and others by virtue of the good order kept amongst them : for 24 men , known to be of a good life and conversation are chosen out of the council to be inspectors over the manners of youth , ( this they call consigliodi discoli ) specially of deboist persons , and every time they meet , which happens once a year , every one puts in his bill with the names of those whom he hath found and observed to be unruly ; and if the name of one be put in the little box by the two thirds , that is by sixteen ; herein is his sentence conteined of 3 years banishment , he must go out of the city the next day after he hath had warning , and within 3 dayes after out of the state : so that by the observation of these good orders , god fits them the better for conversion and reformation , after the reading of scriptures , which they are much inclined to : hence it is , that we have seen so many families leave luca and go to geneva to enjoy the liberty of the gospel , and to make an open profession of the truth : after these commendations 't were superfluous to say , they have also amongst them two sorts of virtuosi , the one called oscari and the other freddi . they might boast of the antiquity of their city , which was built by lucamon king of toscany , but they have a greater advantage which they glory in , that this is the first city of toscany , which received the christian faith ; though they be united amongst themselves , they are not sometimes without troubles at home , caused by the pride of their clergy which is so far protected by popes , that urban the 8th for their sake excommunicated the republick . this people is civil to strangers , and very courteous to those who come into the city , yet so watchful over them , that they have the council della vigilanza to know what they come for , whence they come , and whether they go , not allowing them to wear swords in the streets without a special leave , yet they give them liberty to walk upon the moat , by the walls , and to view the same ; in this city , the tongue is spoken in the purity of it . all their maximes of state are onley about the defensive part , and how to preserve themselves from their great neighbour the gran ' duke , who would be glad to bring toscany to her old limits that way , wherefore the republick hath a strict correspondency with genoa , which fears the same ; however as i have observed , one neighbour would cross another , if any thing was design'd against luca : their care hath provided against open attempts , they being in a readiness to oppose them , all what they must do , is to take heed of surprisals . the state of san marino . san marino is , i believe , the least republick of europe , when the empire was transferred out of italy into germany ; this city , with some others made her self a republick ; it lies on the west of the dukedome of urbino , under whose dukes protection it remained , till this state fell to the church , so that now it is shut up within the popes lands , and under their protection , yet some of them , specially the late alexander the 7th , have done what they could by promises and fair means to make their nephews princes of it , but she would not part with her liberty ; and though the pope could easily force them to it , yet he dares not , it being certain that the venetians , and the grand duke would oppose him in it , specially now when italian princes do dislike novelities and innovations : when this republick hath written to venice , she hath called her carissima sorella , very dear sister , a weak one indeed , for having but the city , and two or three villages besides , her strength and riches are but small , which must be supplyed with their care of themselves , and watchfulness over their neighbours . of the petty principalities this is all as i think , that needs be said upon the subject of great princes , and republicks of italy . i must therefore now speak to the petty princes , or rather continue it , for the last republick i have mentioned may have her place amongst these , rather than amongst the great ones : but i desire not to be mistaken , when i call some petty princes , 't is not to be understood , as if they depended from others , and were not sovereignes , for every way they act as such : in their lands there is no appeal from their sentence , they dispose of life and death , as well as the greatest princes , they coyn , or may coyn monies , elect officers , make laws , and when there is occasion for it , they treat of peace and warre . i call them petty princes , because their states are but small in comparison of those whom i call great ones . 't is true , that there are very many who have the name of princes , who are not sovereigns , but are subjects to others ; the number of these all italy over is between 75 and 80 ; between 90 and 100 have the titles of dukes , and of marquesses and earls , there are above 500 ; but i speak onely of sovereigns . the duke of della mirandola is one of this sort ; the city la mirandola is seated upon the confines of modena towards the river po ; the family pico , one of the most antient and famous of italy , have been lords of it , and of concordia since the year , 1110 till now ; that line failed in the year , 1637 , and therefore another was invested of it by the emperour . of this sort are also the princes of bozzolo , and of sabionetta , the dukes of guastalda , and of novellara , and the marquess of castiglione ; all within the state of mantoa , as we said before , they have been such for these 100 years past , and are all of the family gonzaga , he of sahionetta excepted , which in the year 1540 was given with a daughter , and heir to general caraffa , and now in the hands of a spaniard . the principality of monaco is another , this is a strong city by nature , seated upon the mediterranean , between nizzadi , provenza and genoa , this makes the prince more considerable than any other of his sort ; there is an indifferent harbour ; the way up to it is very steep and difficult , and several guards to speak with , before one can get to it . at the comming in there is a broad place with a prospect as pleasant as can be ; within few miles from it , is another place , good enough , called menton , depending from the said principality : there was in monaco a spanish garrison , but the late prince having partly by a stratagem , and partly with help from the french driven it out , he desired the french protection , and now there is in it a french garrison , he is duke de valentionis , and peer of france , whose coin is currant in that kingdom . this princes family is grimaldi , who derive their pedegree from grimald , son of pipin king of austrasia , and brother to charles martel : this pipin as they say , gave the lordship to grimald , in the year 713. but they were declared princes in the year , 1411. cardinal grimaldi yet living , and brother to the late duke , was in great part the occasion of the admitting in of the french , induced to it by the persecution which the barberini suffered from the pope at the secret instigations of spain , and by the protection which the french gave to that family , whose passionate creature this grimaldi is , and also by the interest he hath gotten in france , to be arch-bishop of aix , and other good benefices he enjoys : he is of an active spirit , therefore he hath been much spoken of at rome ; their family , or a branch of it is named amongst the greatest in genoa , where some of the name are admitted to the highest charges : the present prince of monaco is not much passed twenty five , he hath married marshall grammonts daughter , who prefers the pleasure of paris , to the soveraignty of monaco . massa is in toscany , seated part ' of it at the bottom of a great mountain , part upon the mountain , and highest of all is the princes castle , yet he is a building a palace in the lower town , and 't is almost finished ; this is but a post from sarzana : the family malaspina possessed it along while , till by the marriage of ricarda malaspina , with lorenzo cibo , it came to this family , because she was the heir of it : they were marquesses till the year , 1499. at which time innocent the 8th of the same family being pope , alberico cibo , was by the emperour maximilian made prince of the empire . bonifacius the 9th was of the same family , which coming from grecia , where they had possessed some islands , principalities , and other territories , they seated in genoa , there is a cardinal of the name and family . massarana is in monferrat , not far from veroelli , this principality hath been in the hands of the family scala , but in the 1568. 't was bought from them by the ferreri , who are at present in possession of it . upon 15 miles from genoa is another sovereignty , the marquesate of torreglia , it was given by charles the 5th to andrea doria , who had left the service of frances the first king of france , and done many eminent services to the emperour ; the same family doth also enjoy the principality of melfey in the kingdom of naples , but not in sovereignty : this family doria hath for 500 years been esteerned in genoa , one of the most noble , if not the first of that republick : the head of the family is young at present there are two branches of it flourishing in genoa , who hath each of them a stately palace , though one is more antient and more sumptuous than the other . another principality is , piombine , in the island alba , whereof part belongs to the grand duke , as cosmopoli , &c. prince ludoviso hath it now , it was bought for his father by his uncle gregory the 15th of the same family ; not long since the princes father died in sardegna , where he was vice-king for spain , having layed before noble and stately foundations of a palace in piazza colonna at rome . this prince underwent his fathers displeasure unto the time of his death by reason of a strong passion he had for a mean person in the island : at present there is cardinal ludoviso great penitentiere of the roman church , which is one of the most eminent dignities of it : he is of bologna of this family by the side of late prince ludovisio's mother ; he is a man of no considerable parts . speaking of this sort of princes , i say nothing of strength , riches and policy , things so inconsiderable with them , that they are to be not so much as mentioned ; all are under the protection of those within whose dominions their principalities stand , or of some other ; the inconsiderableness of others , and the affection of their few subjects are a security to them , and happy are they if satisfied with their condition ; they are free of fears and of ambition ; as they have little , so they have little to care and to answer for ; they have the satisfaction to command , and not be commanded , and enjoy what sweetness there is , giving law , without being exposed to the inconveniencies of it . but now we must come to those principalities which are seated within the state of the church , and first to those which belong to the family colonna , now divided into two branches , one of which hath the principality of carbognana , whose eldest son hath married his sister , who is at present the head of the other branch , whereof however the late cardinal colonna , who died at finale , attending on the empress , and who was protector of the empire , was the chief , and with his frugality acquitted the debts , and cleared the state of his family : his nephew don lorenzo colonna ( who hath married the mancini , one of mazarins neeces ) commonly called contestabila colonna , because he is high constable of the kingdome of naples , is now the head of that branch , a man whose inclination agrees better with the french than with the spanish temper ; yet he must keep fair with these by reason of his place , and of the land he hath in naples : his free and frequent conversation with the duke of crequi ambassadour to rome , gave the spaniards much jealousie , some think he left rome in part upon this account but the aversion he had for the late popes family by reason of some discontents he had received from them , was a sufficient ground to oblige him to leave rome for two years time , as he did lately ; he is a man who lives in his pleasure , yet he hath so high and so noble a spirit , that he could not stoop to the popes kinsmen , as few others did ; he hath a brother called don domenico colonna , and is sovereign of pagliano and prince of marini , the antiquity of his family is well known : their arms are a colonna , or a pillar , crowned because stefano colonna the roman senator did crown lewis of bavaria emperour , in the year 1260. they say they come from columnius an antient roman . the rival , and antient enemy of this family hath been casa ursini , most noble and very antient , of which was that proud nicholas the 3 d ; this family hath been much decayed in her state , though of late 't was somewhat restored by the means of some rich matches made with other families , which yet for want of children may at last prove disadvantagious : their palace at rome in monte jordano is very antient : the eldest of the family is now cardinal ursini protector of poland , portugal , and com-protector of the french interest at the court of rome ; a man of no extraordinary parts , who not long since was obliged to take a journey to paris to pacifie that court , angry with him for not acting according to directions in the business of crequi at rome ; and therefore had taken from him his pension of 5000 crowns a year , and bestowed it upon cardinal aldobrandini , who being dead , ursini posts away to paris , and obtains his desire , the head of this family is now the duke of bracciano , who is also conte di petiglione , two soveraignties belonging to the family by an antient gift of some popes for services done to the church ; this duke is the head of the antient nobility of rome , as all other roman princes do , he stands much upon the points or punctillio's of ceremonies ; hence it is , that lately he had a kind of a broglio , or falling out with cadinal sforza , though some think it was not so much his fault as the cardinals ; he hath a younger brother , called don lelio ursini prince of vic●varo . another antient family is that of cezarini duke of the name , and prince of fansano , and of ardea he derives his pedigree from the cezars , the family , as to a male issue , is like to be extinct : the late duke , a man of 50000 crowns a year could afford his cook 4giulius , two shillings for his dinner , and no more . he appeared so high for the french in the business of crequi , out of an enmity he had for the popes relations , that he was obliged to retire into the kingdom of naples till the peace was made ; he was one of those whom italians call matti porta a casa , he died lately , and left three or four daughters in monasteries , who had made no profession ; his brother the abbot cezarini hath succeeded him , a man of a most loose and dissolute life ; when i came from rome he was upon marrying a lady of milan , without hopes on his side , by reason of his former deboistness of having any children ; yet with what he had before he is worth 60000 crowns a year . rignano is a principality belonging to the duke muti , of a very antient family , for they derive themselves from mutius scevola , and a proof of it is the possession of campi mutii , wherein porsenna was encamped , given by the senate to mutius and his posterity : the present duke is not married , though he begins to be antient , he hath much squandered his state with gaming and women , he hath a brother a prelate , and another called marquess muti , a very ingenious person to my knowledge , and of good parts , their palace as that of the forenamed family is in rome . i will make no further mention of the sovereignty of farneze , i said what was fit to be known of it speaking of the duke of parma , the cardinal of that name is prince of it . i will only name the marquess di monte another sovereign , and the noble family of caetani who have a stately palace at rome . of this family is the prince of caserta , who for an unhappy business was obliged to fly from rome , where he was lookt upon as the best qualified of all other princes , as to his personal worth . pope clement the 8th a florentine , in the year , 1595 , bought the marquesate of meldola , and gave it to his nephew ottavio aldobrandini , which is a sovereignty ; this family hath lived at rome with great pomp , and much splendour , where they have three or four fair palaces : now there being no males , the great heir of that family is the princess of rossano married first to the late prince borghese his father that now is , and after to prince panfilio , nephew to innocent the 10th , of which she is now a widow ; this match with those two families is like in time to cause great clashings between them , about a clause in the contract of marriage with the former ; both are very potent , for borghese hath 300000 crowns a year , and pansilio little less : so we are now come to late families raised at rome by popes . urbanus the 8th , subject born to the grand duke , by the means of his long reign : had time enough to settle his family barberini ; he had three nephews , francesco , whom he made cardinal padrone , that is master , antonio who for a while was the head of the family , but desired at last to be made a cardinal , and don thaddeo : francesco was made arciprete of st. peters church . antonio of st. mary the greater , and high chamberlain , and don thaddeo prefetto , or general of the church ; this last being made the head of the family , they bought him the principality of palestrina , formerly praeneste , which is now in the hands of his younger son , the eldest having voluntarily resigned his birth right to his brother to be made a cardinal , who at present is called cardinal carlo barberini , he is the third of the family who hath that dignity , which is very rare at the same time ; and that which is the more to be admired is , that he was elected by innocent the 10th , who made it his task to persecute and destroy this family ; but this was the work of donna olympia , who recollecting her self , and being affraid least the next pope might prove a friend of the barbarines , whose faction was then potent , and so retaliate the panfilio's what they had done to the barbarines , she thought it fit to reconcile both families , and this cardinals cap was the seal of that reconciliation ; though this family was persecuted by innocent , it is still flourishing ; the prince of palestrina being already in possession of a vast estate , and in expectation of a great addition to it , after the death of his uncle francesco , who is very rich , and at present the dean of the colledge of cardinals , and titular protectour of the english interest at rome ; but how much more would he get if he were made a pope , as he pretends to it in case of a sede vacante : this princes palace is in as good air , and as pleasant a seat as any in rome nigh to monte cavallo , which innocent was upon taking from them , had not cardinal grimaldi prevented it by setting the armes of france over the gate . but we must come to the late reignning family of the ghigi's , that pope at first was seemingly unwilling to do any thing for his relations , but at last he was as busie as any of his predecessours had been , to raise them up ; to this purpose he bought , as we said before , the principality farneze , but afterwards he parted with it for the reasons before expressed . he perswaded father oliva , the general of the jesuites , to enduce those of their colledge who had authority to sell him the best land belonging to it , to the summ of 100000 crowns , under pretence of getting monies to pay their debts ; and this was bought for don augustino , whereat the jesuites were much grieved , when they saw their fault at a distance ; then did he secretly tamper to get those of san marino to receive a prince over them ; then did he proffer to duke muti for his principality of rignano a cardinals cap , and a great summe of money ; and after the death of duke cezarini , he offered the cardinals cap to his brother and heir with 200000 crown , if he would give one of his neeces that are in the cloister to don sigismond the youngest of his nephews , and resign the principality , but he not willing to marry , nothing of this could take effect ; however the head of his family is provided for , because the noble family of prince savelli being exceedingly decayed , want of monies obliged him , who now is to hearken after the proposals , made by the popes agents , to sell his principality of la rizza and albano , which he did not absolutely , reserving for many years to come for himself and his heirs ( having already a fine young son ) to enter again into his right and possession , paying the summe received , which there is no great probability as yet to effect , except in case of some very great match , or of a popedom in their family , which yet is not very probable , though at present there be a cardinal of the family , who had some things left him by cardinal mont ' alto : however the pope is dead , and don maria , who at rome ruled the rost , hath soon followed him , and a spend-thrist of no parts is left after them ; the prsent pope as yet hath gotten no principality for his nephews , and he hath hardly had time to do it ; what he will do hereafter time will reveal . all princes and republicks in italy do homage , or pay tribute either to the pope or to the emperour , except the venetians , who yet for some islands pay a tribute to the turk . namely , first , the king of spain is feudatario of the pope for the kingdom of naples , and of the emperour for the dukedom of milan . the duke of savoy depends from the emperour of piemont and monferrat , by virtue of which last he is vicar of the empire . the grand duke acknowledges the pope for radicosans , the king of spain ; for siena , and the emperour for florence , and the rest . the republick of genoa doth homage to the emperour for her whole state ; the duke of mantoa , who is also vicar of the empire , by reason of monferrat to the emperour , for what he hath of moferrat , and for the mantoan . the duke of parma to the pope for parmas piacenza , castro and riociglione . the duke of modena to the emperour for his whole state ; so doth the republick of luca. the prince of monaco doth homage to the french king for what he hath in fance . the duke della mirandola , the princes di piorulino , and all those of the family gonzaga , with the marquesses di massa and torreglia , depend from the empire , as due from the pope , the republick of san marino , the prince di massarano , the duke di itracciano , and earl di petigliano , the marquesses di moldota and di monte , and the princes di palestrina , di pagliano , and di farneze . now the difference of those papal and imperial fiefs or feudi , consists in this chiefly , that most of the last pass by succession from the line male , to the female , but 't is not so off the others , for the lawful masculine line hapning to faile , 't is presently devolved to the church , as in cases of ferrara and urbino . thus far have we spoken in particular of the several princes and republicks of italy ; now i have some few things to observe in general , relating to the whole nation : first , their language , which is a corruption of the latin , caused by the irruption of the goths , huns , vandals and lombards , who setling in it for a while , and using their own languages , the countrey tongue , which was in latin , came to grow corrupt by degres , and to be somewhat forgotten , and which is a mixture of the french , and some of the spanish , because these nations have been there with their armies , and have ruled over parts of it for a long while ; hence it is , that about piemont , milan , and genoa , they speak a corrupt italian , which hath most of the provenzal in it , and except in part the state of the pope , in toscany and at leuca , the right italian is spoken no where else ; i do not speak as to the pronunciation , which is very different , at genoa 't is pronounced much with the lips , in naples with the teeth , in venice with the palat ; and the florentine pronunciation is well enough known , how ever the right italian language , or toscan , as they usually call it , is very sententious , and full of judicious and significative proverbs ; 't is very sweet , and doth abound in fine and civil expressions , as for instance , if i desire to speak with one , the first words he will say to me will be these , che commanda us , what are you pleased to command me ; if they answer to a question , 't is in these words , daservitore non lo so , as i am your servant i cannot tell ; if i desire one to do any thing for me , he will say , sara servito , i will do it ; or if i buy any thing , and we cannot ag●ee about the price , the parting words will be to me , mispiace di non poter servirla , i am sorry i cannot afford it , and the like ; all which expressions in their original , have more of civility then in any other language . i need not to penetrate into the sincerity of their discourses , which is not material to the purpose . i know the saying , the french do not speak as they write , nor the italians as they think : i speak only as to the sweetness of the language , whereupon one said , if i was to speak to senators or ambassadors , i would do it in spanish , if to souldiers in high dutch , to courtiers in french , but to ladies in italian . there is indeed a kind of excess in their civil expressions , for they use to say , schiavo di v. sigria , i am your slave instead of your servant ; and the word vosignoria , your lordship is ordinary with them ; so is the title of molto magnifico given to inferiour persons , as that of illustrissimo to those of a higher quality , yet 't is given to many who are no great matter : a stranger with them is presently sigre conte , or barone , or at least sigre cavaliere ; they call men by the christian name , sigre francesco , giouanni , francis , john , when they speak to them , onely adding the word don , to those of the highest quality , as don domenico , don lelio , yet they speak in the third person , when 't is with one whom they will shew respect to , thus , dove vanno loro sigri , but in naples 't is usual with men of the highest quality to do 't in the second person of the singular , thou , as che fai , sei tu stato , which with other nations is a sign either of great familiarity , or of much contempt . neither must i omit here how fit and proper epithets they give to things and places , as in the case of every one of their chief cities , so they call roma la santa , the holy , according to their opinion , venice , la ricca the rich , padoa , la dotta the learned , ravenna , l' anticha the antient , fiorenzala bella , the fair , milan la grande the great , genoa la superba the proud or stately , bologna la grassa the fat , naples , la gentile the gentile , capua la deliciosa , the delicious , &c. i will not insist upon their customes , which is a subject of which many have treated , however by the by let me say in few words , that in their division of the artificial day , they differ from the general practice of europe , excepting only ( as far as i could observe ) prague in bohemia , instead of our reckoning from 12 to 12 hours , they reckon from 24 till 24 , and their first hour begins at night an hour after sun setting , wherein they imitate the jews , who after the method of the creation reckoned the night afore the day , for saith scripture , the evening and the morning was the first day , the second day , &c. another custome of italians wherein they differ from us , is in the sign we use to make with the hand to those whom we call , for here we do it with our fingers upwards , but there it would be taken for an affront , my hand must be downwards , and move gently when i make a sign with it ; here we take that to be the upperhand which is next to the wall , but there they judge of it by the hand it self , the right hand though next to the chanel is with them the upper hand ; and in the case of riding in a coach , a place in the boot in their way , is before one in riding backwards , but in venice the left hand in the gondola is the upper hand ; but when three walk together , the middle is the most honourable , hence it is , that when they walk upon a place to and fro , they are careful to let every one take his turn in the middle : a strange way they have to retort affronts upon others , which is , to break a bottle of ink upon one , specially women , or else over the door of the house , so that it remains spotted with it , 't is the greatest note of infamy that can be laid upon any one . italians , both men and women , have a general and a natural inclination to play upon the gittar ; and i admired sometimes to hear those play who never learned at all ; the very inferiour sort of people without any direction , only with a constant application do get it , and they are so taken with it , that as they travel upon the high way from town to town , they play upon it ; and at the same time to play , to sing and to dance , is usual with them . i cannot well omit to speak some few words about their temper and manners , but before i do 't , some passage i observed somwhere there ( for in things of this nature i name no places nor persons ) which gave occasion to my following reflection , how fit it is for princes to be careful what manner of men they bring about their persons in private . when a prince comes into a place of retirement , he puts off that majesty and gravity which he hath when he appears abroad ; they are but men , and so they must allow ' themselves some liberty in ther chambers when they are withdrawn from the croud of men and business . now if when they are thus retired to be private , every action of theirs , and every word they speak be vented abroad by those who are present , in this the condition of princes of all men in the world were the most miserable , quisque suos patitur naevos , every one hath his failings , and the feailties of humane nature , so that wisdom consists in the concealing of it , and not in the not having of it , besides that nemo sapit omnibus horis : so that if standers by who see things , spread them abroad , then additions and glosses are made upon 't , and as the actions and words of princes are exactly taken notice of , so every one passes his judgment upon them . how necessary is it then for princes to have no rash or giddy , but wise , sober and discreet men to wait on them in their retirements , who without being told , may know what 's fit to be spoken , and what to be concealed , those things which may give a good opinion of a prince must be published , but not the contrary , or else i say , that those who have the honour to be admitted into the presence of princes , so as to be private to their retirement from the croud of affairs , to ease , chear up , and refresh their spirits , if they allow their tongue as much liberty as they do to their ears and eyes , they are very unfaithful or very imprudent , and so not fit to be in such places . certainly domitian himself never told , that when he was in his closet , he was busie about killing of flies ; the first report of it came undoubtedly from some other hands , which brought a great deal of disparagement upon him ; i know in this he took his pleasure , as nero , and other emperours took it , in the company of buffoons , and things of that nature ; but they forgot that their honour was to have been to them dearer then their pleasure . i do not deny however , but that one friend may sometimes whisper in the ear of another private things of this nature , and impart in secret some such things to them as they have seen , for this manner of reposing confidence in the discreetness of another is a strict bond of friendship : i disapprove here those who speak at random , before those whom they scarce ever saw , whom they do not know well , or when they speak it unseasonably , for there is a time for all things , and to know it is not the least part of wisdom . but upon the subject of the nature of italians , i must observe that the people of those parts which are on this side the appennini mountains , as piemont , monferrat ; all lombardy , part of the state of venice , and la romagna , have some things of the french humour , but on the other side , as the gonoeses , toscans , romans and napolitans , they have much of the spanish temper , however they are all in general , dextrous , subtil and prudent , those who are good , know all the tricks that are put upon men ; there is no leading of them by the nose , neither will they be easily cheated , but they who are bad apply their whole wit to hide it ; so that one is easily mistaken in them , and 't is very difficult to know them well , but after a long dealing and conversing with them . italy the mother of arts and sciences , i look upon as a nurse , who hath vertue in one breast , and vice in another , and as ever one extream joyns with another , so best and worst are to be learned there ; this is according to the constitution of the people , who when they be good they are very good , when bad extraordinarily bad , corruptio optimi est pessima ; however a judicious man will benefit himself by the good which there he will meet withall , but also like an experienc'd artist he will extract wholesome cordials out of the worst of poisons ; though the corruption of humane nature is so strong , that it inclines and draws us to evil , rather then to good , but the beams of grace , the light of nature , and the testimony of ones conscience , may teach us the right way . however , to speak first of the best , i say the conversation of italians is not easie to be had , but when it is , 't will be found sweet , civil and obliging , very circumspect not to give offences to any one in the company , or any one else that hath a relation to it , ever respectful one to another ; the greatest familiarity doth not make them recede from a courteous carriage , so that such persons have one of the best qualifications to make friends , for friendship without respect is not to be cared for : furthermore a thing very commendable in point of conversation is , that though they be many in company , they never speak together , which is the vice of some other nations , and fit only for children ; let a man make a discourse never so long ; they will hear him quietly , and not interrupt him , as they will not be interrupted when it is their turn to speak ; 't is true , that most of them speak rationally and juditiously ; and as they are a people who love exceedingly their liberty , for which cause their princes , to keep them under , have built so many strong holds and castles , so the ordinary subject of their discourses are affairs of state , which by a constant custome of speaking and hearing of , they have brought themselves to an ordinary knowledge in , as the example of that poor fisherman at naples , mas ' anello so cunningly blowing up the fire of that insurrection , which made so much noise in the world , doth demonstrate ; upon this account , books treating of any state revolutions are so strictly forbidden them , knowing that this is to add fewell to the fire ; and in some places , where most of all princes are jealous of their authority , as in naples , discourses of this nature , if known , are severely punished . but there are two extremities upon this subject , some princes of the east and north east parts of the world , namely the tartars and muscovites , keep their people in a beastly ignorance , and have exiled all manner of arts and sciences out of their dominions , and this under pretence , that hereby having not so much the use of reason , they are not apt to cavil at , or to disobey the orders of their superiours , as do other nations , who have more knowledge and understanding ; but this hath no more consequence , then if one should say , meat and drink are not to be used , because there are gluttons and drunkards ; because there are somtimes knowing and judicious subjects , who are disobedient , 't is not to be concluded , that knowledge and judiciousness are the cause of disobedience , so far from it , that these letting a man know of his duty , do fence against any thing that goes about to withdraw him from it : pride , ambition , discontents , covet ousness , cruelty and the like , are the caufes of risings against lawful authority , and not wisdom and understanding , so far from it , that where they are not , the use of reason is suspended , and men act onely out of a natural impetuosity , and out of a sensitive principle , wherein they differ nothing from beasts ; so that the same ignorance and violent motion which leads them to obedience upon the lesse shadow and fancy , will spur them to disobedience ; and one alone , if not quickly taken off , is enough to turn away whole thousands , for who can more easily be mislead , then he who receives falsehoods for truths , and who hath not a spirit to discern good from evil ; these are mules , which will as soon kick their master as a stranger ; or like those elephants , who having once felt the smart of a wound , in spite of their rider turned from upon the enemyes , and fell foul upon their own army : i am further of the mind , that ignorance is the great prop of rebellion ; for as there is nothing so natural to men as the desire of liberty , and that there is nothing in men to oppose the motions and desires of it ; and seeing they obey onely out of fear of punishment , upon all occasions , they will embrace any means let them be never so wrong , to attain it : like lyons and tygers used to be chained up , when they break loose they tear and devour any thing that lies in their way , and like violent torrents they over-flow all ; from the fury of such people , libera nos domine . as to those barbarous countries where they have such erronious principles , contrary not only to reason , but also to common sense , they bear the punishment of this fault , for all their subjects are generally incapable to do them service , having neither parts nor abilities to effect it ; and in the managing of their warres , which is the chief thing they minde , they are obliged , specially in muscovite , to get officers of other nations to carry it on , their own subjects , few excepted , wanting knowledge and experience in it . arts and sciences , not only make a kingdom flourishing , but also do fit subjects to obey and to command ; over-rules with the use of reason , that bruitish impetuosity which is in some men , not only teaching them their duty , but also strengthning it in them with reasons & examples . but 't is not enough to disapprove this singular errour , for there is another extream to be condemned ; 't is the too great curiosity of private men . i know particular persons are concern'd in publick transactions , as being members of that politick body , which can never fare well or suffer , but they must be sensible of it : yet some more and some less , according as they are eminent in their places , and called to it by the favour of their prince , for every one must know his station , and act within that sphear , ne ultra crepidem ; for if every one were his own carver , and had that share which he wishes in the government , then all would command , and there would be none to obey , so that all would degenerate into a confusion and anarchy . men ought to refer themselves to their rulers , for the direction and steering of publick affairs , knowing that god who hath called them to it , hath not been wanting to endue them with necessary abilities : therefore those subjects are to be blamed , who would penetrate into the secrets of princes , and dive into their coucils , and consequently cavil at their actions , and censure their proceedings : they see indeed the effects , but know not the causes , which if they knew , they would be satisfied and approve of them , if they were capable to understand them , but oftentimes they will judge of an undertaking by the event , which is a great mistake ; as we could give examples of designs , which were as rationally grounded as could be , carried on with all imaginable dexterity and secresie , yet miscarried upon the point of execution ; on the other side , rash attempts managed with the greatest imprudence in the world have proved successful : what then ? were the former to be blamed , or the latter commended ? no , we must look upon men to be no more than instruments , if according to the reason they have , they make use of the means afforded them , 't is all that may justly be required from them , for success of things depends upon the over-ruling hand of providence , which disposes of all things as it seems good unto her : it is true , 't is said a successful man was never a fool , nor an unfortunate a wise man ; but this is a vulgar errour as well as this other , the strongest is never the traytour . out of this i deduce , that for the most part 't is beyond the sphear and capacity of subjects , specially those of an inferiour orb , to judge aright of the actions of princes ; they have certaine motions whereby they act , which are invisible to particular men , they are acted by an intelligence which is hidden from the eyes of the commonalty ; and as they stand nearer to god , so they receive more of his influences : but some sort of people do proceed to an excess of unreasonableness , in that as much as in them lies , they will not give princes that liberty which they allow themselves , as if they were servants more then masters of the sate ; 't is true , certain faults of princes are more unexcusable than those of private men , because by these last , none but themselves or few else do suffer , but by the former , whole nations are sometimes the worse , and share not only in the disgrace before men , but also in the punishment from god ; however a distinction is to be made ; some failings are natural to them as men , and others as they are princes , and neither are to be examined by subjects , for to their great master they must fall or stand . now i must return to my principal subject , to some other virtues practised by italians , which are sobriety , and frugality ; i will joyn them together , for they have a great dependancy one upon another , only the latter is of a larger extent : sobriety is a thing so much in request amongst them , that with them 't is accounted to be , as indeed it is , a great shame to practise any thing contary to it , specially in point of drinking ; so that to call one there imbrioco , a drunkard , 't is to give him one of the greatest affronts he can receive ; and 't is a certain truth , that they are very temperate in their meat and drink , and whole diet , as i will give some particulars by and by upon the point of their frugality ; in the mean while some make a doubt , whether their sobriety bean effect of their temper , or of the climate : i confess in hot countries , such as this is , men have no such stomack to their meat , as they have in those which are colder , and though they had , the stomack could not have the facility to digest much of their aliments , which are very nourishing , and some of a hard concoction ; however this argues nothing at all against italians sobriety in matter of drink , for the hotter the climate is , the more apt men are to drink , and no nation hath more enticements to it than they , if by nature they were inclined to it , they having as rare and excellent wines as europe can afford ; but since they forbear , i will not deprive them of that praise which they deserve for this virtue ; as for eating , they have as delicious meats as can be wished for , which are both pleasant to the palate , and light to the stomack , in the use of which they forbear all excesses . this will better appear by their frugality , which yet some who are used to misname every thing , and give the worst construction to all , do call covetousness , when 't is known , that in certain things no nation is more noble and more splendid than they are ; this frugality is extended to their cloaths and diet , they go very plain , men of vast estates , yea , their very princes , except upon extraordinary occasions , very seldom exceed 10. ponunds in a sute of clothes . i know princes and cardinals , who when they have received a present of sweet meats , fowls and the like , send it to their confectioners , poulterers , &c. who by it of them ; this here would be look't upon as the effect of a miserable and covetous nature , but there 't is their way ; from the highest to the lowest they are very private in their diet , there is no coming to them at such hours , and the meanest of the people would not be interrupted by the best man in the land : the most part of noblemens servants do not diet in their houses , but are allowed bord wages instead of it . but italians delight in rich and fine coaches drawn by stately horses , and to be attended by a number of staffieri , or men in liveries ; coaches of 800 or 1000 pounds are not rare there , and there is never a king in europe that hath coaches so rich as hath the grand duke , and the duke of parma , the formers coat of armes , which are the six balls , are set over head in his coach , for every ball a precious stone , valued at 10000 l. sterl . and if we will believe them , the whole coach comes to 40000 l. further they delight in buildings , and stately palaces built up after the symmetry , and exact architecture ; so in gardens and water houses , ornaments and furnitures of houses , as statues and pictures ; hence it is that they are so passionately in love with pictures , that they will give any thing for one when they like it , 4 or 500 l for one picture is no extraordinary rate amongst them ; there hath been some princes who have offered in siver the weight of some statues , and could not have them ; in a word , italians delight in those things which make a shew . 't is not to be admired that in italy they are such lovers of pictures , for that art is there brought to the height of its perfection , and that country is absolutely the best , if not the only shcool of it , where within this age or thereabouts , have flourished those eminent picture-drawers who have filled europe with their names , but most of their works are safely and dearly kept there , whether they be in fresco or in oleo : what excellent artists have been bassano , ticiano , michel angelo , rafaele di urbino , tintoretto , all the caracci , coregio , paola veronese , dominichino , lan franco guarcini , guido reny , and a great number of others , who excelled , almost every one in something ; some in invention , others in the mixture of colours , in the proportions , exactness of features , and after the natural ; and in designing , drawing and touching or perfecting : in great or short , in mignatura with the pen or pencil , or otherwise , fights , land-skips , flowers , perspectives , sea-prospects , great and small figures , and in other wayes and things depending upon that curious profession ; in this , for certain italy goes beyond all the world. now we will come to what is worst in them , but we must premise this , that their youth is very fiery , which is the cause of murthers and other mischiefs committed in those parts ; however this heat doth not last usually after they are passed 25 years of age , or a little more : as for the meanest sort of people , they are generally civil in their carriage , if one be so to them , but if a stranger speaks a hard word to them , they take fire and grow very insolent , yet so , that if they see themselves the weaker , and not in a place convenient for them , they hold their peace and for bear till they have opportunity of time and place ; but let 's come to their vices . as the natural propension of men is to evil more than good , so many who travel into italy do quickly take notice of their vices , but do not minde their virtues ; so when they come from thence , all that they can say for it is , they are given to such and such evil courses , and are so and so qualified , but virtue and vice with nations are as corn and tares in the field , and like wheat and chaff in the barn , one must have skill to pick out the right and leave the wrong : some vices as the apostle speaks , are not so much as to be named , and as he saith in another place , it is even a shame to speak of those things which are done of them in secret ; a certain modesty in speaking is required , which if a man doth not observe , i judge him to be disposed to evil doing ; some vices there are so odious in themselves , that they defile the tongue of the speaker , the ear of the hearer , the pen of the writer , and the eye of the reader , yea , the very thoughts ; this consideration obliges me to pass by some things to come to others . some will tell me , 't were well also to omit speaking of jealousie , which both sexes there are subject unto , though that of the men , as being the strongest , doth produce the saddest effects ; i confess 't is a very unpleasant subject , which i leave after few words speaking ; this extravagant passion which is caused by love , but destroys it , and which as solomon saith , the rage of a man , doth so blind , possess and alter men in italy , that from husbands it turns them into goalers and tyrants , and murtherers of their wives , who become thereby their prisoners and slaves upon this consideration , ariosto one of their most eminent poets , hath the expressions here inserted : che dolce piu , che piu giocondo stato saria di quel ' d'un amoroso cuore ? che viver ' più felice , e più beato che ritrovarsi in servitu d' amore . se non fosse l' huomo sempre stimolato da quel ' sospetto rio , da quel ' timore , da qvel ' furor ' , da quella frenesia , da quella rabia detta gelosia . another vice of italians which i am more free to speak of , is that desire of revenge , which is so strongly seated in them ; they are certainly of a most revengeful nature , and therefore 't is very dangerous to offend them , they profanely say , that vengeance is so sweet a thing , and so great a good , that upon that account god doth reserve it to himself , as a thing wherein he will not have men to share with him ; and as italians to attain it , use all possible means , let them be lawful or unlawful , and as it carries them to the utmost extremities ; so i am of opinion , that there is a cruelty in that nature which is so bent to the execution of it ; out of this principle , i mean of cruelty , pope sixtus quintus used to say , upon the occasion of a great princess , who in his dayes was brought upon the scaffold , che gusto , said he , di tagliar teste coronate what a pleasure is it to cut off crowned heads ! northerly people do blame the wayes which they use to be avenged , as poysoning , stabbing and the like ; but they and the spaniards too laugh at us , and call germans , french and other nations , fools , who use to challenge and fight duels one with another , for so doing ; for say they , if one hath been offended , is he not a fool to take the way , perhaps of receiving a greater offence , instead of a satisfaction , and to venture his life upon such an account , but men ought to take their advantage : the truth is , the italian is a dangerous person upon this account , for he appears cold in his anger , constantly thinking upon the means how to be avenged , he keeps the injury in the bottom of his heart , and the worst is , that he dissembles and conceals his desire of revenge , which aims at no less than the death of the offendor , by the means of poison , dagger , or any other way , leaving nothing unattempted to bring his design to pass . neither will they hearken sincerely after a reconciliation ; for their proverb , saith , amicitie reconciliate , eminestre riscaldate non furono mai grate , there was never any pleasure in reconciled friendships , nor in warmed pottage ; and this is so deeply fixed in their hearts , that many die obstinate in that resolution . upon this subject there is a very notable passage of an italian gentleman , who being strongly exhorted by a franciscan fryar , to be reconciled to his enemy , answered him in these words , you exhort me to forgive as a christian , and i cannot do 't being a gentleman ; i was born a gentleman before i was a christian , for i am the one by nature , and the other by virtue of my baptisme ; therefore i will first be avenged as a gentleman , before i forgive as a christian. from what hath been said , we make some few general observations , namely that the italian nation is not only fallen from that great power it had formerly , but also it hath much degenerated from that heroick virtue and martial spirit it had before ; for a thousand eminent men it produced formerly , there is hardly one now ; and that generosity of the lion which they had heretofore , is turned into the cunning of the fox ; so their businesses are mannaged with dexterity , ( not to speak worst , ) more than with strength : hence it may be concluded , that virtues , though but moral ones , make glorious states , kingdomes and republicks , and vices are the cause of their decay , as it hath happened to the roman empire ; virtue gets honour , strength and riches ; and as the best things are apt to be corrupted in their use , so these produce pride , ambition , idleness , covetousness , and other vices , which causes destruction one time or other . it appears also from hence , how unfortunate the condition of those petty princes are , who depend upon others , for their preservation , their protectors do often turn to be their oppressors , and yet they dare not camplain of it ; how watchful must those be who have ambitious , and much more potent neighbours than themselves , 't is a sad case to think what straights they are sometimes brought to , to provide for their safety , and how many real evils they are exposed unto , to maintain that vain shadow of liberty which they are so taken with , and that dream of a sovereign authority , of which they be so fond of ; they waste and consume themselves in charges for their preservation , and are besides obliged to observe the humours of friends and foes ; and what is this to the odium and disaffectedness of their subjects which they often bring upon themselves , who must bear the burthens , and be at the charges of upholding this authority , which makes also the condition unhappy of the people who lives under such princes as have no power to protect them ; and as the right use of these two princely virtues , valour and prudence , do consist in these two things , to free his states from forreign , and to avoid civil wars ; certainly if they can prevent neither , but with much difficulty , by reason of weakness and discontents , they must needs be constantly offended with dangers and fears , which makes to them their life uncomfortable ; and let things fall out how they will , if ever they be engaged in any troubles at home or abroad , what success and advantage can they get either from those who are much more potent then they , or from those in whom their strength ought to lie ; by this last they act against their own interest , and do as it were tear themselves in pieces , for 't is not enough for a war to be just , 't is necessary it should also be beneficial and advantagious . i must make one observation more , that the number of petty princes ( such are all italian ones , in comparison of potent kings and kingdoms , as england , france and spain ) doth much contribute to their common safety and preservation , for every prince watches constantly the design of another , not only upon his own states , but upon that also of his neighbour , for he is much concerned that the dominions of one of his neighbours should not fall into the hands of another , who would thereby grow too potent for him , and one time or other bring him upon the stage ; and 't is a necessary maxime , not only to remove the will and inclination he hath to do him hurt , but also to hinder and prevent his being able to do it ; so then , that mutual jealousie which they have one of another , keeps the scales even between them ; and if a single one would attempt something upon him who is weaker , then the others whuld not fail directly or indirectly to assist the weakest ; and if the prince should happen to be stronger than all the other together , rather than be made a prey to such a one , they would call in a forreign power to ballance him , as it hath been of late done in germany , for princes there being grown very jealous , and not without cause , much affraid of the emperours power , they brought in the french and the swedes , who having gotten an interest in the empire , the one in alsatia , the others in pomerania and bremen , and are now concern'd to curb the imperial authority if it would over-flow the banks of its just and limited power : this is also the case of italy , where the french and the spaniard have each some interest , though the former not comparable to the latter , as to possession of lands , but when he pleases he can pour thousands of his subjects into it , having in his hand a door into it , then the differences between the houses of savoy and mantoa , and of parma and modena with the pope , will be now and then an occasion for the french to meddle in italy . and although the princes of italy care neither for french nor spaniard , yet they care for their interest , which is ever to make use of one to oppose the designs of the other . so that publick persons , as well as private men , may learn from italians , the rules and practise of oeconomy and policy ; the greatest of princes , as the meanest of subjects , need to be frugal and saving , for let their incomes be never so great , the charges of the state , and their own , are sometimes greater : often there happens extraordinary , and undispensible occasions and necessities to be supplyed , or else the state will run into a palpable danger . men from the highest to the lowest , have nothing but what they save and spare , and let them receive never so much , they will not want unnecessary occasions of laying out more then that comes to . monies are the sinews , not only of war , but really there cannot be any politick motion without it , wherefore we use to see that of princes , he is the strongest who is the richest , if he knows how to make use of that advantage : by these means he will draw the greatest and the best armies into the field , and will keep them upon duty and in obedience , and so in a fit posture for service ; the best experienced officers , and the stoutest and most undaunted souldiers , will ever follow an exact and a good pay ; he will not only secure his own places , but also work within the garisons of his neighbours , and even have influences upon their very councils ; the rich prince will tire out and consume him who is poor ; how much then are they concerned , when present occasions of state allow it , to lay up in their coffers that which may serve for the future necessities of it ; that prince who is in this condition , is feared , respected , and admired at home and abroad , if he hath learned well how to improve this advantage . as to that part of a princes policy , which consists in this , not to discover the bottom of his heart , nor the utmost of his power ; we have it from italians , not the former , for when the inclinations of a prince come to be found out , and his heart can be known , then all his neighbor princes will work upon him that way ; they will give him monies if he be covetous , praises and flatteries if he be proud and vain ; they will go about to strike fear into him if he be umorous , or in a contrary way to please him in that passion , which they know to be predominant in him ; and hereby many a time he will be drawn to act or comply in those things which are contrary to his honour and interest : at home he is also exposed to the attempts of parasites and flatterers who for their own ends ; ever study to please him in that which they know him to be most of all prone and given to , by which , compliance with him , he becomes a prey unto them : the latter part of this policy , for a prince not to discover the utmost of his power , is to be learned from italians , as well as the former . some princes and states do subsist and are upheld by credit and reputation more then by a real strength ; 't is more by the opinion which others have of them , then by any true cause in themselves ; and 't is well for one never to do so much , but to give others to think that he can do more , for when 't is once found out how far one may go , others will be more apt to cross him , and will take courses sutable to their designs against him ; so that in this a prince lies open to the attempts of others . another thing neecssary for publick and private persons to be learned from italians , as much as from any other nation , is , not to discover the utmost reach of ones capacity , and of that faculty of the soul , called understanding or intellect : this learned men do so observe , that in the solution of questions , though sometimes they have said as much as they are able , yet they will tell one , that much more might be said to that purpose , and the like ; for above all things they would avoid to be suspected of ignorance by others , seeing they make an open profession of learning . so 't is a matter of high concernment to princes to be accounted to be men of parts , judicious and understanding , which are qualifications necessary to those who rule kingdomes and nations , therefore they are so careful not to give the least grounds to make people suspect they want , abilities to govern , seeing nothing can be so injurious and prejudicial to them , as to be accounted soft and shallow heads . solomon the wisest of kings , pronounces a woe to that land whose princes are children , not so much in years as in wisdom and understanding , as was his son rehoboam , who was said to be young at 40 years of age , for want of knowledge and experience : a wise prince therefore will chuse not to speak at all , rather then not to speak to the purpose upon a subject : hence it is also that he sits in council , not only to hear the several advices given him there , but also to judge of them himself , and having digested it in his mind , to give them a form , chuse the best , and be himself the author of his resolutions in consequence of councils given him , which thus he makes to be his own . it is then a great part of wisdom to conceal his ignorance , and in capacity of any things , specially of those which ought to be known , and to give as good opinion as one can of his abilities , and rather forbear speaking of a thing then not to do it well , or instead of praises which every one is desirous of , one brings himself into slight and contempt , for i think that one of the greatest discommendations of a man is this , he was so put to it , that he knew not what to say . silence also , and secreste , which are qualities so essentially necessary to all sorts of persons , are to be learned from the same nation ; as nothing makes a man so vile and so contemptible , as not to be able to hold his peace ( an imperfection and defect to be excused only in children , fools and drunken persons ) so nothing argues so much the infidelity and rashness of a publick person , as the revealing of secrets ; as i am the master of my own secret , i may declare it to a friend ; but my friends secret i may not tell it to another , because 't is not my own ; much less may a publick minister betray his masters secret , wherein not only one or few persons , but whole nations for the most part are concerned . many great designes have been obstructed , and many great evils caused or prevented , either by an yntimely discovery of resolutions , or by some few words spoken unadvisedly ; one word dropt from a mans mouth is sufficient at least to breed a suspition , which usually puts men upon further inquiries and discoveries ; therefore want of secresie is a great breach of prudence , which is the salt , the spirit and the life of moral and politick vertues . one thing more to be learned is , constancy and settleness of mind , so necessary to private men , in both fortunes , and to publick persons in times of troubles and difficulties . a skilful pilot is not moved so , as to despair amidst the roaring of the winds , the tossing and tumbling of the waves , and the raging of the storm ; contrariwise he sticks the closer to his work , grows more careful , and minds the more the safety of the ship , wherein his own and all others in it are included : so an experienced minister of state , amidst all troubles , crosses and conspiracies against the state , doth retain that soundness of mind , and tranquility of soul , which at last may bring him out of all dangers , instead of falling into confusion and disorder , or yielding to fear , he uses those means which are lawful , possible , and likely to quiet and pacifie things ; he is not moved at different reports , he is neither incredulous nor over credulous , but hears every thing , examines and weighs all , receives that which to him appears to be the truest , and resolves upon that which he thinks to be the best . that italians have known and practised these things , the history of antient rome , and the experience of these last times do justifie it , and some able states-men , and great polititians , whom that nation hath afforded germany , france , spain , and other countries , do clearly convince of this truth , and are presidents of it , and one single proverb of theirs ( to shew how solid and substantial they are ) doth teach us all the vertues aforesaid in these words , non spendor ' cio che tu hoi , non far ' cio che tu puoi , non creder ' cio che tu udi ; that is , one must not spend all that he hath , nor do all that he can , nor tell all that he knows , nor believe all that he hears . the character of spain . in the south-west parts of europe , between the 37. and 42. degrees of latitude , lies a potent kingdome , named spain , or spains in the plural number , for so philip ii. called himself , rex hispaniarum , after the acquisition he made of portugal , in the year 1550. it fell into the hands of the house of austria by the match of philip the xi . first son to maximilian of austria , with the daughter of ferdinand of aragon , and isabella of castilla , heir of those countries , united by the marriage of the said ferdinand and isabella . these dominions have in time been so enlarged by marriages and conquests , as to reach some things in africa , a great part of europe , and almost all america , which hath given occasion to say , that the sun never shines out of the spanish dominions . the struglings of this nation after an universal monarchy , have proved so lusty and so hard , that at one time or other , whole europe hath been shaken with it : whereby the spanish name is become so famous , that 't is not to be admired at , if curiosity of seeing a countrey where so great designs were continued , hath put several men upon travelling into it . i confess , with many others , i have been taken with that itching desire , in hope of seeing an extraordinary land , peopled with none but heroes , but with what successe , the following discourse shall witnesse , being sure that no curiosity was ever more severely punished then mine , nor pleasure more constantly attended with pain : if this be a sin , i vow never again to fall into it , and herein i ought not to be accounted singular , for i protest i found all those whom i conversed with , and who have been there , to be of my opinion ; but patience . in this world one must see not only good but evil also , things better judged of by their contraries , yet to go thorough , one must be stored with monies and patience . let a man begin this journey which way he pleases , he will find it very tedious , and must resolve to suffer many inconveniences : whither he goes from bayone to yrun , san sebastian , and thence the straight way to victoria , puerto de sant adrian , or on the left , to pamplona in navarra by estella de navarra ( where is an university ) la puente de la reyna and viana passing by logrono , whence some go to santo domingo de la calcada , in the church whereof are seen a cock and a hen of the breed ( as 't is reported ) of those which ( if you will believe it ) came to life again after they had been roasted ; and to be short , thence to burgos valladolid , medina del campo , salamanco scyonia , el puerto de guadarrama , iscuriale el pardo and madrid , alcula de trenares , aranjues , toledo , &c. or whether a man goes into spain by catalonia , valenza murcia , grenada : one shall be ill horsed , hardly used , and have bad accommodation ; of which three things , one alone is enough to vex a traveller . although spanish horses be very good , there are so few , that they are not employed in ordinary uses , mules must doe the worke , which are very slow creatures , very ill harnessed , and very dangerous for biting kicking ; to these inconveniencies , let a spaniard be joyned as a guide , who as well as the mule , keeps to his slow pace , caused not only by his natural gravity , but also ( when they walk as many do ) by shooes made of little cords , which the generality of them doth wear , so that the sand and drye ground they walk upon being already much heated by the sun , must needs gall and burn their feet , let them be never so used to 't , this must needs be very tedious to those who are used to ride good horses . but there are other difficulties caused by the rudeness and barbarity of men , all rational people will shew themselves civil to strangers who pass thorough their , countrey , to give them cause to commend the inhabitants when they are out of it ; but here no such thing is thought upon , they are called by the nick-name gavachos , and assoon as a man comes into spain he must shew all the moneys he hath about him , and every thing else , and must pay for 't according as he is taxed by those unreasonable men , whether it be a silver sword , a watch , a ring , silver buttons and the like , so that nothing goes free ; and then if any thing lyes in the way of these searchers , they will make conscience to take it as dexterously as they can , and though one should take notice of it , yet he dares hardly say any thing for fear of the worst , because sometimes they send one or other upon the passage to rob or kill as they have a minde to . after this they give a note , which some call albaran , and others aluala , to certifie to other searchers that the things have been payed for ; yet for all this , others if they please ( and they do 't very often except monies be given them ) they cause one to open all again , they search all , and make pay for all ; and the worst is , that this sort of men ever lies at the coming in and going out of every province , which in those parts ( for greatness sake ) they call kingdomes , so that after this rate one is to pass thorough several kingdoms before he can come to madrid . at the coming out of spain one meets with the like ( or worse usage if it be possible ) as he found at the going into 't . but after all , the worst is , that one hath no accommodation by the way , for sometimes you shall ride 30. miles and not see a house , nor meet with a man , so that in some places one must carry for himself something to eat , and oats for the mule , and so lie sometimes under a tree : how uncomfortable this is in winter , and the heat of summer , i leave every one to judge . and the misery is , that when one comes to an inn , he is hardly the better for 't , for excepting some alcoues which are used onely by persons of quality , all the bed you can get , is some formes or few boards lay'd close , with straw or wooll at the most , within a matteress upon 't , without bed-steads or curtains , for they know not what such things mean , and if one will have clean sheets , the surest way is to carry some along with him . yet this is but beginning of trouble , for these inns ( if i may so call it ) afford nothing to eat , and if you will have bread , you must send for 't out of the house into one place , for wine into another , for meat into another , for one can hardly find two such different things in one place ; after all , if you will have it well dressed , i advise you to have a cook of your own . now see whether or not i have reason to wish my self out of this countrey , but i must go throughout , seeing i am so far engaged in 't , and give some observations i made of their nature , and of some manners and customes of theirs . though the spaniard be not very sociable , yet'tis easy for a man to know his natural genius and inclination as to the generality : i confess amongst the true castillans , some generous and gallant men are to be found , but these are so scarce , that we may say of it , as of bread , the countrey affords it very good , but so little of it , that though the countrey ( catalonia excepted ) be very void of inhabitants , there is hardly enough of it to serve 3. months in the year , so of 10000. men , hardly one will be found to have a right principle of honesty . if at any time a man hath offended them , though it be an offence taken rather than given , they will seem not to take notice of it , but they will watch one so long , and so well , that at last he must fall into their clutches ; then they give no quarter , but one night or other as a man is going to his lodging , they will shoot him dead in a treacherous way , and when he is not aware of them . their pride is known by the contempt they have for all other nations , therefore they say their king alone is el roy de los hombres ; the same they affirme of their language , but most of all 't is known by their carriage ; they have an affected gravity which goes beyond the natural , and make themselves valiant with oftentation . they walk up and down the streets like peacocks and turkies with a great deal of pride , staring upon others , and looking on themselves from top to toe with a losty , scornful and braving courtenance ; and yet when there is occasion to go to it , except there be three or four against one , toman las oulcas de villa diego , as they say , that is in plain english , they run away , till they have an opportunity of being avenged ; and this is most of all practised in valenza , arragona , catalonia , &c. in castilla , and some other places , there being more generosity than in others . in summer , they wear long cloakes of black london serge , specially those who are of any fashion , but i have seen some of cloth and very heavy , for they say , that which keeps from cold , preserves also from the heat ; their shooes for the most part have no heele , or a very little one ; the clock of their stockings comes up to the fat of their legg . it were needless for me to make an exact description of their cloathes , seeing they often have been seen in england , specially in eighty eight . i shall not dispute whether they are becoming or not , much of it depending upon custome and fancy , yet they are so taken with it , that still they keep to their fashion in most countries where they live , and very hardly can resolve upon changing in some courts where they have ambassadours , for else they have so good opinion of their countries that they scorn almost all others , and account them not worthy to be seen , except the low countries , naples , sicily , milan , the west-indies , &c. where they goe to feather their nest and to grow rich , and often they take such courses , as makes them speed well in 't in a very short time . they use to wear sword and dagger , and though their cloak be new , very often they make a hole in it , that the dagger may be seen ; the lowest sort of tradesmen , as carpenters , shooe-makers , &c. never sit at their work without a dagger by their sides . thus the commonally is possessed with pride , witness the story of the woman , who being a begger , yet would not have her son to serve an ambassadour ; i will not said she ( being spoken to about it ) undervalue my son so much , who knows whether one day he shall not be king of spain . hence it is that we do not see spaniards to be servants of men of other nations , nor to travel but upon the account of necessity . now this vanity follows them to their grave , as we hear of the cobler , who being upon his death-bed , having called his children to him , said to them , take heede you do nothing to disparage your selves , or to dishonour your family . to see the meanest of them in their cloathes , and to act their gravity , is a thing to make any sranger mistake their quality , insomuch , that one day in their late kings time , a foreign minister being private in his lodging , took one of them for a grandee , who ( as he thought ) came to give him a visit incognito , as 't is usual in those parts , and received him with a great civility , but at last this proved to be a glasier , who went to mend a window : and they so much affect gravity in their march , that one of them being once whipped at paris , ( you may conceive not for any good he had done ) and being told by some spectators who pittyed him , to mend his pace , that he might sooner come out of his pains , he turned about , and with much gravity , told them , that he would not go an inch the faster , though all the hangmen of france were at his heels . but to goe on in telling of their good qualities , i must not omit to say that idleness , and lasiness are some of those which most of all they are subject to : i cannot tell whether it be meerly an effect of their natural disposition , or a trust they put to the harvest they receive from the indies ; or , as i believe , of both ; but the matter is such , that their land which in many places is good , and could be made fruitful , nor only in fruites and good wines , but also in other necessaries , for want of being manured , is barren and useless . now the ground doth not produce without the care of man ; at present god doth not shew us such miracles , as he hath done sometimes in the dayes of old . if tradsemen amongst them , do work 2 or 3 hours in the day , they will think themselves the greatest workmen in the world ; and they who set them at work , must pay as dear , as if they had been a whole day at it : when this is done , they go to play or iport themselves one way or other , but those that live in sea-towns never fail to walk by the sea-side , to see ships coming in , to enquire what parts of the world they come from , and what news they bring : and here passenger : do find some office of the inquisition summoning them to go and give an account of their faith to the office , but their chief end is to get a piece of money , and then they let people alone . others there are in these sea-towns , who drive another sort of trade , they come aboard and offer to passengers wine and other provisions at a very low rate , only to oblige them to go to their houses , where they shew them spanish flesh rather than victuals . no nation hath more ceremony , and less reality than the spanish , when they think to cut one's throat , then they make the greatest protestations of love and friendship : they stand so much upon titles and places , that as boccalini saith , it is a particular custome of spaniards , to visit others more to affront , than to honour them . complements also are so mixed with their ordinary discourses , that they wholly take away the pleasure of society , & banish liberty , wherein doth consist the sweetness of conversation : an english nobleman having often been troubled at madrid with such a way of dealing , by one of their great men , resolved one day to be avenged on him , therefore once when the other was come to him , he caused a great fire to be made , and both being drawn near to it , with their backs towards the chimney , the nobleman engaged the spaniard in discourses of civility , who many times bowed towards the fire , which he did so often , that at last feeling the heat , he clapt his hand upon the back side , and found the fire had burned part of it , he was as amazed , as the other who sitting by a fire , and feeling the heat thorough his boots , said , i am a fraid of burning my boots , when another who stood by answered , sir , do not mind your boots , for already they are gone , onely look to the spurs . they profess a new divinity , to allow of a certain evil , that an uncertain may be avoided thereby , that is to practice a peccadillo as they call it , a little sin , to avoid falling into a greater , and for fear of sodomy , to indulge themselves in their leachery ; a thing so generally used amongst them , that he who hath not his love in that kind , is accounted a man without wit and merit ; and the generality of them goes as openly and freely into such places , as here one will goe to a tavern , or an ale-house : they consuetudo peccandi , tollit sensum peccati , the custom of tinning , takes away the sense of sin ; their proverb is , el fatigado con cosas deveres , recreese con donagres , he who is a weary of serious things , must betake himself to his pleasures ; of which , as of wines they allow themselves a calabrada , a mixture and variety , wherein they so much indulge themselves , that rather than be deprived of the least , they will loose any thing ; whereupon they use to say , siempre en las tardangas a'y peligro , y. vale mas paxaro en mano que buy tre volando , a bird in hand is better than two in the bush ; which they mean of their pleasures . sometimes i have seen some of their priests come to strangers lodgings ( provided they be acquainted with the landlord ) to play with them , in a disguise , not out of any shame , but only to have more liberty with those who know them not , except a landlord , or some body else tells them what they are . there be also some priests and fryars carrying up and down the streets , the image of one or other nuestia sennora , as they call it , for whom they beg , & yet the poor lady is never the better for it ; for most part of the time , what they have gotten , they bestow upon their own pleasures , and other uses ; and once i saw at alicant , one of them , who played at cardes what monies he had then about him , and lost it to an english master of a ship : whereby we see now ready they are to sacrifice their shew and pretence of devotion , to their pleasure or covetousness ; and sometimes they dispose of it another way , which is , to make a mock at what they call piety themselves , and which we , with a more proper word , do name superstition . many of these secular , and regular priests , are very offensive to the laity , by reason of the great power theclergy hath in those parts , who assert their priviledges with a great severity , by the means of the inquisition , which is formidable to the greatest men in the land , as to the lowest ; so that under this shelter , they commit many unjust and unlawful things . but in general , to return to the nation , they are very singular in their diet , still making good the proverb which saies , a spaniard is not sober when he lives at the costs of others : but else they are very sparing and i am very much of the opinion of one , who thinks that in london , there is more meat eaten in one month , than in whole spain in one year . they do not roast whole capons , and pullets , but leggs , and wings by themselves , and then spread the feathers before their doors , to make others think thatgood chear is made in that house ; a crust ofbread rubbed with garlick , or an onion , is an ordinary and a good diet for them , which , if a stranger sees them to eat , they presently fall upon commending of sobriety , and how wholsom a thing it is : many a time i have seen numbers of them dine so , close by a wall , to enjoy the heat of the sun , which is their ordinary fire in those parts , so saving they endeavour to be in every thing ; yet if any one will have the pleasure , how well they can eat , or rather devour , let him treat them at his own charges . for certain flesh isvery nourishing there , but this is not the onely reason of their sobriety , 't is also dear , in part , because 't is scarce , and also by reason of a great tax laid upon butchers : fruits , herbs and roots , are things which they feed upon most of all , and in every thing almost , they use much pimiento , a kind of red pepper which grows in the country ; but they are not used to see any quantity of meat upon a table ; this is the reason why gondomour being gone back into spain from his ambassy in england , and being asked by his master about several fashions used here in the court , amongst the rest , being very inquisitive to know what ceremonies were used here when the king was at table ; he answered , for his part , he could not well tell , though he had been in the dining room when his majesty was at dinner , because , said he , he was hidden from him by a great piece of beef which was laid upon the table . they allow not their wives to sit at table with them , those persons of quality are private in a chamber and by themselves , but others of the common sort of people , do usually keep in the same chamber where their husbands dine , at a table with their children , or else there is a place raised half a foot or thereabouts above the flower , with a carpet laid over it , thereupon the wife , and children either kneel or sit without chairs , and eat what the husband is pleased to send them from his table , so that to speak the truth , they are deprived of their liberty and kept in great subjection , little different from slavery . which hard usage they are sensible of , upon occasion doing them all the turns of unfaithfulness which they are able , being naturally by the influences of the climate , the hot things they eat and drink , and out of a desire of the liberty they see themselves abridged off , much inclined to luxury ; they take care to curle their hair , keep their breast naked , yet not so low as the shoulders , they paint much with red their lips and cheeks , a custom so general amongst them , that they hide it not one from another ; they wear above their wast a fardingale , or guarda infanta , as they call it , which is like a circle of a good breadth , and very fit to hide a big belly ; when they go thorough a narrow door they must strike it down of one side ; those of an inferiour quality , when they are abroad , do usually wear a black hood which falls lower then their breast and shoulders , and hides the whole face , except one eye , which is all one is able to see of it , whereby they are so hard to be known , that towards evening a husband going by his wife shall have much ado to know her ; though they be more civil to those strangers or others whom they intend to favour , by uncovering the whole face when they come nigh to them : they improve the few moments they have of liberty , and they endeavour to hazer su agosto , to speak in their own words , or as we say , make hay whilst the sun shines , and they do it de la buena gana , with a good will. men there , are extraordinarily careful of their beards , which are black and thick with mustacchio's 〈◊〉 tusks ; to save them at night , they have las bigotes , that is a kind of a waxed case which they lay upon it , and which to one who knows not what it is , seems very strange in a morning when they appear with it at a window : they also make a beard so essential to a man , that if he be altogether shaven , as now we are in england , they will doubt whether or not he be an eunuch : and in the streets of madrid , i have seen an outlandish man of about 30 years of age , taken by the arme by a woman who never saw him before . and asked him very boldly , tien los cojones voste , sir , are you a whole man , because he was wholly shaven . a thing which most of all seemed strange to me in spain , is the custome of some to walk in the streets with spectacles on their noses , which with a little thread they tye to both ears , and there is a two-fold reason for it ; the one is the scorching heat of the sun which heats so much the ground , that the reverberation of it is hurtful to the eye , but as in winter the sun is not so hot as in summer , so methinks the use of these spectacles should cease ; therefore besides the former there is an inward reason , arising from the immoderate luxury which they are given to , for by reason of the strict communication there is between those parts and the head , specially the opticks , the organ is much offended , and consequently weakned , so that this people becomes short sighted ; and i think that the fresh waters with ice , which they so much drink of in summer , are used to cool their lust more then to quench their thirst . the extraordinry long swords they have must needs be very inconvenient , specially by reason of the long cloaks they wear them under , insomuch that most part of time they must turn up their cloaks of one side when they walk , and the other hand they must lay upon the hilt of the sword , that thereby the point of it be lifted up , otherwise it would constantly trail upon the ground , and often the crosse above the hilt being of one side turned upwards , and downwards on the other , seems at the same time threatning heaven and earth . formerly they used to wear ruffs about their necks , which were forbidden , because in arragon a great man was strangled with it , so that since that time they have been lookt upon as a halter about ones neck , and instead of it , they use a little band stretched and stiffned with a little wire . in their discourses they would be taken for senators , for upon every occasion they play the statesmen , they dispose of crowns scepters and kingdoms , just as if they were of gods council , they decide the fortune of princes , censure the actions and carriage of ministers of state , and when they are three or four together , one would think that like so many gods they sit in council to resolve upon the fare , and dispose of all states and empires of the world , and this not by conjectures , but out of a certain and infallible knowledge , and whilest they fancy mountains of gold , and think how to dispossesse other nations of their country , they take no notice how void of people their own is , by reason of their driving the moores out of granada , of their plantations in the indies , their wars in flanders and italy , and of the many garrisons they must keep in sundry places ; thus they make good their proverb , cada loco con su tema , every fool hath his fancies . benefit and pleasure are the two great ends of travellers , but in spain neither is to be had , the people of it not being sociable , and there is hardly any thing worthy of a mans curiosity , or at least the pains to go to see it ; all spain doth not afford one noble and stately city . pamplona in navarra is noted for the citadel in 't , burgos the metropolis of castilla the old for the great church , and an inconsiderable castle ; valladolid where formerly the court hath resided for a considerable time , is a proverb , villa per villa , valladolid en castilla , but there are not so much as walls about it . salamanca hath the famous university of spain , their is the bridge built by the romans , and the bull at one end of it ; segovia hath without the monasterie , called parral , the mint , a palace and the aqueducts , & the fine cloth made there : toledo the chief arch-bishoprick of spain hath a great church & a thing called the treasure within it , & water-works ; so at granada is the palace of the palace of the kings of the moors , the altrambra : cordova hath the mosquea or church of the moors , sarragossa is a good place , and to be short , their sevile the chief of andaluzia , of which their proverb says , el que non ha vista sevilla , non ha vista maravilla : indeed about it grow good fruits , the river guadulquivin , runs by , and after falls into the sea by san iuan de burrameda , but certainly in other places are much better churches , palaces . bridges , universities , &c. and i say that all these things together are not worth the pains and the charges of going so far to see them , except a man hath absolutely a mind to be able to say , i have seen ; neither is a good breeding to be gotten there . indeed there are in spain two things worth seeing , and no more , one is a work of nature , the river guadiana in estramudara , sinking under ground beyond placio del rey , and then raising about miajada nigh upon 14 short leagues off ; upon this account 't is said they have the best bridge of europe : the other is the escurial , the master-piece of the great and wise king philip 11. though 't was no part of wisdome in him to have at once 3 such great designs , to conquer england , uphold the league in france , and to recover the low-countries , all which came to nothing , because as the italian saith , chi troppo abraccia nulla stringe ; however he built the iscuriale where the courts , the kings and queens lodgings , the fryars cloysters , the water , the gardens , the library , the chappel , in a word , the whole is a rare thing , but not so miraculous to those who have seen other parts of the world ; the pardo , buen retiro and aranjuez , i will hardly mention , those forenamed are the best things in spain , but he who hath a mind to suffer so many inconveniences before he comes thither must do it by way of penance ; as for cities , barcelona is certainly the most populous of any in spain . the rest of these towns are full of pride , idleness , misery , cheats , treachery murthers and other oppressions , caused by their ambition , animosities , covetousness , desire of revenge , luxury and jealousies about wives , concubines , daughters , sisters , neeces , and what other relations they have of that sex , they account themselves obliged to be watchful over : yet for all their poverty they are taken with the vanity which is too common in other places , nor to observe a distinction of cloaths according to the quality of persons , for i have seen carpenters and shooemakers in silver cloath doublets , and in extraordinary fine cloath ; but i know it to be their humour , that the poorer they are , the more they indeavour to hide it , the best countenance they put on , and the greatest shew they make : their very alguazils or bailies , who are the vilest sort of people , think themselves as good as the best in the land , and to see them walk with a switch lifted up in their hand , one would perceive in them as much lostiness , as if they were high stewards , or high chamberlains of the kingdome . but to speak of somthing which is or ought to be the best in spain , we must come to madrid , the ordinary place of the courts residence , which is far from being numerous , and their way is particular and different from others ; the generality of women about it , are antient and tanned , but they use painting very much as a remedy to it : yet i confess i have seen in spain some with a very white skin , ( but these are scarce ) a brown hair , and a lively black eye , but there is not that honest society of both sexes which is found in other places : and great men do so affect gravity , and stand so much upon their formalities and points of honour , that amongst them there can be no sincerity nor satisfaction . coaches in madrid are drawn by mules , in them ladies sit in the same gravity which men do affect , they are almost like statues without motion , and when they think fit to move the head , 't is done in so slowand so lingring a way , that one who is not used to it , would admire to see it ; for all this i believe if they had the liberty which others enjoy in other places , some of them would prove the wittiest and most gallant women in the world , even as were the moors in granada , but as things stand they must live a very retired manner of life . on the other side , no greater prostitution in the world then there is in that town , for the generality of women : mothers make no difficulties to sell their daughters maidenhèads four or five times , and as often as they can to cheat men ; young girles begin to keep mens company when they are but ten , eleven , or at the most twelve years old , this is the cause of so much infection there in that kind , that it is a lamentable thing for any one who hath the curiosity to see their hospitals of incurables , besides that horrid sin which to punish sufficiently no pain was found upon earth , but god was pleased to pour down , as it were , hell from heaven , causing fire and brimstone to rain and shower down upon earth ; about this horrid sin they have this proverb in their language , en spania los cavalleros , en francia los pedantos , en italia todos . a thing observable in the court is the way of their grandees , who sit down and put on their hats in the kings presence ; of these men there are three sorts , some have it by a personal priviledge and special favour of the king , others have it as an hereditary right and propriety derived from their parents , and others in the third place , have it by a right of their charge and place , as namely the president of the council of castilla , who though he be not a grandee , yet enjoys the same priviledge as they do . charles the fifth was the author of these grandees , to gratifie the spanish nation , and in some kind make some of them equal with some german princes who followed him in that voyage , and who by their quality and extraction , had the right of sitting and being covered in his presence , a thing which other european kings do not allow of , portugal excepted . again , at madrid is to be seen that cruel bull-fighting , a remainder of those bloody spectacles used by the romans for to give a pleasure to the spectators , men as mad as the bulls they fight against , must encounter those wild creatures , and hazard in a combate which hath proved fatal to the lives of so many . what shall i say of madrid it self , where are neither good streets nor stately buildings , antient or modern , not considerable for the materials or for the rules of architecture ; in winter there is nothing but dirt , and dust in summer , so that if for the space of three or four hours men have been to walk , their cloaths shall be as white for dust , as if they had been at the mill , so that 't is no wonder if their cloaths and taffity hats ( that is overlaid with taffita ) grow greasie so soon . above all , let not one who is there walk abroad late at night , nor very early in the morning , for as they have no houses of office they fling it up and down the streets , and how unpleasant these objects are to the nose , and the eye , let any one judge , yet about 9 or 10 of the clock there is nothing to be seen , but all is dissolved into dust , & as men say , that one stench & poison drives away another , so their use of onions and garlick is by them thought to be a sovereign remedy against these spanish perfumes we are now speaking of ; the air indeed is the only good thing at madrid , for 't is very pure and free from the plague . but if for all this men have a mind to go to see that stinking place , i will say to them in spanish , sea con pie derecho , that is in an english sence , much good may 't do to them . finis . the original and growth of the spanish monarchy united with the house of austria extracted from those chronicles, annals, registers, and genealogies that yeild [sic] any faithful representation how the houses of castile, aragon and burgundy became knit and combin'd by thomas philipot ... philipot, thomas, d. 1682. 1664 approx. 397 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 137 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-11 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a54672 wing p1998 estc r2459 12374064 ocm 12374064 60538 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a54672) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 60538) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 221:6) the original and growth of the spanish monarchy united with the house of austria extracted from those chronicles, annals, registers, and genealogies that yeild [sic] any faithful representation how the houses of castile, aragon and burgundy became knit and combin'd by thomas philipot ... philipot, thomas, d. 1682. [8], 264 p. : port. printed by w.g. for r. taylor ..., london : 1664. "imprimatur october 27, 1663 roger l'estrange"--p. 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users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng spain -kings and rulers. spain -history. spain -history -house of austria, 1516-1700. 2004-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-07 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-08 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2004-08 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion philippvs iv hispaniarvmet indiarvm rex catholicvs the original and growth of the spanish monarchy united with the house of austria . extracted from those chronicles , annals , registers and genealogies , that yeild any faithful representation how the houses of castile , aragon and burgundy became knit and combin'd into one body . to which are added several discourses of those accessions and improvements in italy , africk , with the east and west-indies , that are now annexed by alliance or conquest to the diadem of spain . by thomas philipot m. a. formerly of clare-hall in cambridge . london , printed by w. g. for r. taylor , in st. martins le grand neer st. leonards church yard . 1664. to the learned and judicious st richard fanshavv knight and baronet , one of his majesties most honourable privy council , and design'd lord ambassador for spain . my lord , your experience and practical observation being the best comment on those annals and registers which have an aspect on this ensuing treatise ; give me leave to offer it up to be scann'd and winnowed by your particular scrutinie ; and if it shall receive its approbation in your vogue and estimate , i fear no blot from the common suffrage . for i shall not fear that justice , which is so even and impartial ; nor despair to find an absolution there where the former is mixt and complicated with so much charity and candor . and i dare with much confidence expect to be assoil'd by the publique decision , if once it shall appear that your private determination hath discharged and acquitted ( my lord ) your very humble servant thomas philipot . the preface to the reader . courteous reader , since the printing off the first sheets of this treatise , the signal battel was commenced between don john of austria , and the conde de villaflore general for the portugal , where ( after an eager and blo●●● debate ) the spanish grandeur did so sink in the fatal carnage of that field , that many conjecture ( how truely or falsly i know not ) it will not buoy up again , ( at least for some years ) from that important ruine . nor hath a lesse destructive wound been lately inflicted on the house of austria by the turkish scimeter , which hath lopped off new-hausel from the dominion and interest of the emperour ; which as it hath a dangerous prospect towards novigrad , cassovia , tokay , and other towns of the upper hungary , so it hath a dismal aspect on moravia , austria , and the residue of that princes hereditary territories ; and from the prejudice its losse may probably super induce , does tacitly seem to implore other christian princes to concenter in a noble and just confederacy , to stop the impetuous current of the turkish conquests , which like an inundation threaten ( if not timely intercepted ) to intombe not onely the house of austria , but germany it self in a ruinous devastation . and since i am engaged in this discourse of the turkish greatnesse , you may be advertised that if this essay find any acceptance in the publique estimate , i shall represent in a compendious ●●lume , the original and growth of the turkish empire , and from what a narrow increment this thracian bramble hath shot out and improved it self to that excrescencie , that it hath not only by an unhappy diffusion , over-spread the lesser asia , but a considerable part of europe it self . i have no more to add but this , that those errors which through the inadvertency of the presse , and peradventure too , through my own , have by an unhappy intertexture been imbodied with this treatise , ( as namely , page 19. line 30. in my discourse of castile , for despois nos vos , read despues de nos vos . and then line 31. for no es lover read no ay lugar . and in my discourse of portugal , page 26. line 25. for john the fourth , is inserted john the fifth ) have made this treatise and my self the object of your charity . there may possibly occur other mistakes of a lesser dimension , on which you may exercise at once , both your justice and your candour ; with the first you may censure , and with the last excuse t. p. imprimatur , october 27. 1663. roger l'estrange . the original and grovvth of the spanish monarchy . the spanish monarchy is like a tall colossus swoln by new acquists to that bulk and dimension that it bestrides almost two parts of the habitable world , that is , europe and america , and indeed its glory hath in these latter ages arrived to that eminence and lustre , both in its latitude of power , and extent of empire , that it is by a successful competition grown almost corrival with the great eye of the day , the sun , who both rises and sets in those dominions which are subservient to the interest of the spanish scepter . and though its grandeur hath been lately eclips'd , and the wide circumference of its jurisdiction and command hath been contracted into a narrower orb , by the revolt of catalonia , because its ancient rights were invaded by conde olivarez ; and the total defection of portugal , because its native franchises and immunities were assaulted by vasconcelos the secretary , and other ill ministers of state ; yet is catalonia by the valour and magnanimity of john de austria , and the prudent conduct of the marquisse of mortara , almost retriv'd and again knit to the spanish patrimony ; nor did the duke of st. german and the marquiss of viana not long since manage and improve the increasing hopes of the spaniard to lesse advantage in portugal ; for since the reduction of olivenza by the first , and the subduing of monzon and salvaterra on the river of minho by the last , that crown and scepter did then seem to shake , and was fear'd ( if not by a timely supply supported ) it might have fallen from the head and hand of their own native soveraign , to prostrate themselves at the feet of the spanish monarch . but not long after , the victory of elvase did so expiate these crooked and sinister accidents , that the diadem of portugal that did before look somewhat dim , did by this conquest and other successes of a more modern aspect , seem to recover its primitive lustre . having in this short preface limn'd out a compendious prospect of the spanish empire , i shall now take a more full and serious view of all those limbs which like so many ingredients fall into the composition of this great body ; and first i shall consider those provinces which lie immediately wrap'd up within the verge of spain . secondly , those which like so many excrescencies have been annexed to this scepter , by the collateral designs either of marriage or conquest . and thirdly , those islands and other dominions and principalities which lie scattered on the continent either of the east or west-indies , and which by any modern discovery have been successfully subdued and made captive and ministerial to the power and jurisdiction of the spanish diadem . spain was in times of an elder aspect styl'd hesperia , from hesperus the evening ▪ star , under whose beams and influence it is believed to be situated ; secondly , it fell under the appellation of iberia , which name was conceived to be borrowed from the river iberus now called ebro which disembogues it self into the mediterranean sea , not far distant from tortosa in catalonia . thirdly , it had the denomination of hispania , either from panus an iberian captain , o● else from panus a punick word , which imports or signifies in that dialect , a cony ; with which creature this continent in elder times was much infested . it stretches out it self to a length of eight hundred miles , and is again dilated into a breadth of five hundred and six of the same proportion , so that the whole circuit amounts to two thousand eight hundred and sixteen miles . it was anciently distinguished into three parts or divisions , known by the names of 1. ●arraconensis , 2. boetica , and 3. lusitanica ; w●ich afterwards by constantine the great , were broken and multiplied into seven divisions or provinces styl●● 1 b●tica , 2 lusitanica , 3 gallicia , 4 〈…〉 haginensis , 5 ●arraconensis , 6 ●ingit●●● , 7 the province of the isles , embracing w●●●●n its verge and circuit , ma●orc● , minorca , ebusa and f●umentari● . spain after many contests and signal decisions in the feild , wherein the ●ate of this nation was put to the bloody umpirage of the sword , first sto●ped and surrendred its neck to the rom●n servitude , but when the vandalls like an ●nundation swolne with successe and victory , b●oke in upon spain and bore down all before them , the romans were supplanted and disseised , and being wholly dislodged from their ancient acquists , this kingdome was once mo●e resign'd up as a prey to the successful sword of gunderious king of the abovesaid nation . but the same vic●ssitude which had crushed the romans , ●●●led in upon the vandals , who being in several conflicts and encounters broken and dispers'd by the ●lla●n and suezians , gave up their new c●nquests to be enjoyed by the victorious hand of there early invaders ; but their triumphs were bl●sted , and those laurels and chaplets which they expected like a happy guerdon should have crown'd their victories , suddenly withered , being torne from ●●eir temples by the rough 〈◊〉 of the go●hs : for athaulfus their leade 〈…〉 match ▪ d with placidia sister to honori●● 〈◊〉 ●●p●rour , e●poused his quarrel , and b 〈…〉 tun●●e ●rup●●on made on the spanish re●●o●s , ● co●●●●●ted ●he power , and dissipated the ●●r●ngth ●f these bold ●●ttuders , that they erec●●d ●h●t throne , upon which they intended to fixe and 〈◊〉 that ●●n●rchy they aspired to in this nation , upon their ruins . so that about the year 420. the temples of vallia successor to athaulfus , were empal'd with the diadem of spain ; yet was it not obtained without the regret and reluctancy of the reliques of those roman forces who were scattered into the several provinces of spain , who being wholly broken and subdued about the year 641. the conquest then appeared to be wholly p●rfected , and the scepter confirmed in the hand of s●intilla the second , to whose successful managery of affairs the gothi●h nation seemed first to owe the glory and gran●eur of a full establishment in their triumphs over this kingdome . no● was their such an inherent tincture of barbar●ime in the minds of the goths ( though i know they appeared black in elder times for their ra●ure of histories and demolishing of records and other monuments of antiquity ) but the culture of discipline did melt and supple m●●● into a capacity which made them fit to 〈◊〉 a nobler complexion ; for though the laws 〈◊〉 spain peradventure borrowed an imperfect institution from the romans , yet were they mingled with the customes of the goths , which were after digested into shape and order by euricus the first . but in procedure of time these being found of too general a latitude to be calculated for the climate of every province , they about the year 1296. were refined and new polished by ferdinand the third , that being thus attired they might be made proportionate to the manners and temper of his subjects , and fit for the genius of castile . and thus they continued without any thing of moment or importance being added to them , untill the year 1492. and then king ferdinand ( the scourge of the moors ) and isabella his queen ordained and decreed by a statute enacted at corduba , that all gentlemen of those signories and lordships which were subject to the crowns of castile and aragon , were obliged to appear and exhibit a just proof and testimony of their pedigrees and nobility ; which law , because it received its first birth and institution there , hath ever since obtained the appellation of the law or statute of corduba . but i have digressed , i now return , and shall discover a compendious series of the gothish kings of spain , as i find their names recorded upon their ancient coins , from whence their catalogue has been drawn , and exactly registred by the industrious pen of augustinus bishop of tarragona , in his learned discourse of ancient coins . 369. athanarick joyned with fridigerne reigned 13 years . 382. alarick united with radagaise governed 28 years . 411. athaulfus rul'd 6 years . 416. segeric , who being suddenly after his being invested with the crown destroyed by a traiterous combination of his own subjects , upon his decease one vualia ascended the throne and managed the scepter 3 years , as vulsa and isidore testifie , and not twelve years as sigebert asserts . 419. the●deredus governed 33 years . 452. turismund held the scepter but one year according as i●idore avers , and not three as jornandes and sigebert record . 453. theuderick and not theodorick ruled 13. years . 466. euricus wore the gothish crown 17. years . 483. alaricus the second ruled 23 years . 506. gesaleicus and in other records styled gesalicus and gesalaricus reigned four years . 511. theudericus the second was invested with the diadem 15 years . 526. amalaricus swayed the scepter 5 years . 531. theudis , and in history sometime written theudes and theudius , governed 17 years . 548. theudiseulus sate on the throne one year and five months . 549. agila , and in other monuments of antiquity styled aquila , sate five years and three months . 554. athanagildus governed 15 years . 567. liwa , and not liuba or luiba as some historians falsly intimate , ruled one year . 568. leovigildus , so his name is exhibited on his coines , and not leovegildus or liuvigildus as some historians represent , reigned 18 years . 586. reccaredus weilded the scepter . 601. liwa the second governed two years . 603. wittericus or wittricus , not victericus as some records insinuate , sustained the scepter six years . 610. gundemar not gundimar reigned two years . 612. sisebutus managed the government 8 years and 6 months . 621. reccaredus the second ruled but some few days . 621. suintilla not scintilla or cintila swayed the scepter ten years . 631. sisenandus and not sisnandus as histories misrepresent his name , governed 3 years . 636. suintilla the second reigned 3 years . 640. tulca not tulcas governed two years . 642. chindassuintus , not cindasiundus or ghindasuintus , as his name is falsly registred in some annalls , ruled 6. years and odd months . 649. reccesuinthus not reccesiundus , for under that notion antiquaries have registred him , supported the diadem 23 years . 672. wamba not bamba as his name is placed in ordinary registers , managed the government eight years . 680. erigius , erroneously sometimes written eringius , continued placed on the throne six years . 687. egica falsly styled egipsa weilded the scepter of the goths 15 years . 701. witiza and not vitiza , as his name is enrolled in some chronicles , reigned in a joint combination of government with his father five years , and five years he swayed the scepter alone . 711. rudericus , so his name is inscribed on his coins , and not rodericus , as it is registred in the spanish annalls , governed one year , and then having by an injurious and violent rape polluted and debauched the honour of cana daughter to count julian an eminent nobleman of spain , he to assoil his name and family from that stain which this ignominious affront had spread over it , invited the moors of africk , under the conduct of musa , to expiate the former violence , who indeed executed the vengeance designed by him for roderick so solemnly , that in a signal battell commenced at xeres de la frontera in andalusia , the fortune of spain was entomb'd in the carnage of that field , and roderick abandoned both crown and kingdome to the prevailing sword of the moors ; and musa being supported and reinforced by new supplies , by frequent successes , forced almost all spain to bow to a universal conquest , whilst the scattered reliques of the pale and amazed goths immur'd themselves in the inaccessable retreats of asturia or leon , from whence garcia ximenes a nobleman , extracted from the royal gothish blood , about the year 713. or as others assert about the year 716. descended with 600 men , and after divers successeful encounters with the moors , gave a beginning to the little kingdom of suprarba locked up within the pyrenean hills , which sometimes after dilated it self , and spread into the valleys , which from hence assum'd the name of navarra , or navierras , which in spanish imports as much as plain grounds : and of this kingdome i shall now render an account . navarre . navarre is circumscribed on the east with the principality of berne in the kingdome of france ; on the west with the river ebr● or iberus ; on the north with the cantabrian mountains , and on the south with the river aragon which seperates it from that kingdome . the ancient inhabitants were the vascones , invested not only in the possession of this track , but of biscay and guipusc●a also . it was ravished away from these by the romans , who were expulsed by the goths , and they again were disseised of the tenure of this province by the invading moors , who finally were dislodged from their new acquists by the magnanimity of garcia ximenes above-mentioned ; whose successor ximenes garcia dying without issue , after an interregnum of four years , inigo arista son of simon earl of bigorre , was advanced by election to the royal dignity of navarre as the next heir in the collateral line to ximenes garcia abovesaid ; and he was ancestor to sancho the fourth , who in respect that he was possest by descent of navarre and aragon , of castile in right of his wife donna nugna or elvira sister and heir of sancho the last earl thereof , and of leon by conquest , incorporated into his stile the title of great ; and he upon his decease bequeathed the kingdom of navarre to his eldest son garcia , whose son sancho the fifth was unnaturally assassinated by his younger brother raymir ; after whose tragical exit , and the brief interposition of this bloody intruder who had bespattered the throne of navarre with such a purple effusion , this diadem was pluck'd from his temples by sancho ramires , to invest his own ; after whom , pedro and alfonso kings of aragon likewise did severally and successively weild the scepter , and manage the government of navarre : but this alfonso dying without issue , and his brother raymir a monk unclouding his head of his cowle to adorne it with the crown of aragon , the soveraignty of navarre was vested in garcia raymir grandchild of garcia de nagera , and son of raymir the usurper abovementioned ; so that the right of this descent so fortified his title , that he ascended the throne of navarre as the direct heir of that kingdome , from whom the transmission of descent transported it to his grandchild sancho the eighth , in whom the male line of garcia ximines was wound up in a conclusion ; for he going out without issue , theobald earl of champaigne son of blanch his sister and heir , was entitled in right of this descent to the diadem of navarre ; and from the thread of succession wafted this dignity to his grandchild henry , who determining in joan his sole daughter and heir , she by matching with philip the fair king of france , by this new alliance inoculated the the scepter of navarre on that of france , and in the hands of his posterity it flourished during the government of lewis hutin , philip the long and charles the fair , kings of france and of navarre his lineal successors ; but charles the last of these , expiring without issue , jane daughter of lewis hutin , as heir general of this charles , was invested in the possession of this kingdome ; and in her right , philip earl of eureux her husband step'd into the throne of navarre ; and from these two did the diadem of this province devolve by successive transmission to his grandchild charles the third king of navarre , in whom the male line determining , the distaff prevailed against the spear , for blanch his daughter annexed this kingdome to the patrimony of her husband john king of aragon , who likewise found his name wrap'd up , as to this particular match , in two daughters and coheirs ; one of whom styled leonora , by espousing gaston de foix , gave up the roialty , possession and crown of this kingdome to empale the brow of this earl her husband ; and from these two the soveraignty was conducted down by successive delegation to their grandchild francis phoebus , who deceasing without issue , the crown and dignity of navarre came to embellish the head of catharine his sister and heir , and she being espoused to john d'albret of gascony , descended from amani d'albret ; which amani ( in the government of charles the fifth king of france , was wedded to margaret of bourbon , sister to jane queen of france , and by that alliance very much improved the splendor of his house ) linked the kingdome of navarre to his patrimony ; and from these two descended henry their son and heir , who was king of navarre , and match'd with margaret sister of francis the first , king of france , by whom he had issue jane the sole inheritrix of navarre , who by espousing anthony of bourbon , entitled him to the crown and scepter of navarre ; and she was mother of henry the fourth , grandmother of lewis the thirteenth , & great-grandmother of the instant lewis the fourteenth , successively kings of france , who by authority of this alliance , have ever since inserted and interwoven the title of king of navarre amongst their style and inscriptions . but alas ! this is only a barren , naked and empty title , for the actual possession of the crown , which should give support and vital energie to it , was long since torne away by ferdinand the catholick king of aragon and castile ; the occasion which ministered materials to that foundation on which that detention was established , was this : about the year 1510. lewis the twelfth having by a signal victory over the venetian at aignadel humbled that people , much retrenched their power , and infus'd a terrour into all the princes of italy , fell into contention with pope julius the second , and their mutual animosities were enhans'd with that acrimonie and spleen , that the quarrel was prosecuted almost to a scihsme ; for julius blasted all the partisans of lewis with an excomunication , and put their estates under interdict , in the register of whom was john d'albret king of navarre , who was disseised of his crown and scepter by ferdinand above mentioned ; for this ferdinand varnishing his designe of ravishing this kingdom away from the house of d'albret , with a pretence and shew of passing into guinne , to combine and unite his forces with the confederate invading english , by vertue and authority of the papal interdict to seise and subdue the crown of france , suddenly retriv'd his army , and like a tempest , drop'd on the kingdome of navarre ; and by conquest about the year 1512. supplanted ●nd expell'd john d'albret above mentioned ; upon this pretence , that he was entwined and linked in confederacy with lewis the twelfth , who was a rebell against the church , and an avowed enemy to the english , with whom he was wrap'd up in mutual alliance ; and more to fortifie this pretence , he asserted , that there was an ancient compact or stipulation between the kings of spain , by which they did covenant and indent with each other , not to suffer or permit that any of the spanish crowns should fall into forreign hands , or under the power and seignory of houses not soveraign , as those of foix and albret were , and who likewise by a kind of servile coherence and connexion had their dependance on the crown of france : and though in ages subsequent to this , the french have protested against this invasion and forcibl●●ntry , and have likewise endevoured to vindicate their interest by the more powerful argument of the sword ; yet hath it ever since been so firmly linked to the spanish patrimony , that it still obeys the scepter , and confesses the dominion of philip the fourth , king of spain . castile . castile is bounded on the east with navarre , aragon , and part of valentia ; on the west with portugal ; on the north with biscay and guipuscoa and asturia ; on the south with estremadura , andalusia and granada . it is divided into the old and new castile ; the first of which assumed that appellation , because it was the ancient patrimony of the first earls thereof : the other hath borrow'd the distinction of the new , because it was incorporated into the old demeasne when the successful conquests of the castilians had rent it from the moors . the ancient inhabitants of these two provinces were , the vaccai , ventones , arevacae , oretani , dittani and the carpentani , whose chief city was named castulo , now shrunk into an obscure village , hav●●g its ancient glory entomb'd in neglected rubbish , from whence some conjectures have asserted , that the name of castile was imposed on this province . but all these inhabitants having been much harrassed by the frequent incursions of the romans , not able to stand the shock of so powerful an opposition , fell under their conquests , and became a part of the roman empire ; from which again they were rent off by the alani , who again were disseised of their violently extorted purchase by the intrusion of the goths , who being overwhelm'd by the moors , who like an ●nnundation not cloistered up within the shore and channel of any restraint , bore down all before them , for some distance of time gave way to the torrent ; but not long after , their spirits , which before seemed to have been sunk , buoy'd up again , and by the assistance of the kings of leon , so resolutely vindicated their own interest , that they disengaged themselves wholly of that yoke of moorish servitude , that with an uneasie load had so crushed their shoulders ; and the better for the ●uture to secure themselves from the eruptions of the moors , resign'd themselves up to the dominion and protection of the kings of leon , who managed this province at first by provincial earls ; but they having made ill use of that power they had entrusted them with , by making too frequent inroads upon the peoples liberties , were by the instigation and influence of one ordogno , who much fomented this defection , barbarously assassinated by the impetuous multitude ; having thus thrown off all obedience to the scepter of leon , they were afterwards governed by judges ; and secondly , by earls , as an absolute and independent estate , chained by no subserviency to any forreign diadem ; but still this did not so supersede the claim of the kings of leon , but that they often endevoured by the power of the sword to assert their title , until sancho king of leon being engaged in a debt to ferdinand gonzales , ●e to absolve himself from this obligation , quitted and released ▪ all pretence and claim to the earldom of castile , so that ferdinand gonzales from this signal investiture is look'd upon in the spanish annalls as the first proprietary earl of castile ; and from him it came down to his great grandchild garcias the second , who being treasonably assassinated , and concluding without issue , sancho the great , king of navarre , in right of his wife elvira sister and sole heir to this garcias , entred upon it and linked it to his revenue ; and upon his decease setled by particular donation on his son ferdinand ; and more to enhaunse the glory of this grant , annexed the title of king to this concession ; and from him did the crowns of castile and leon by the devolution of many descents come to empale the temples of sancho the third , second son of alfonso the fifth , king of castile and leon ; who by the revolution of humane affairs , having the fate to survive his elder brother ferdinand de la cerd● , contriv'd so many stratagems in his fathers life time , which artifices of his were so closely combined and knit together in the contrivance and contexture of them , that by aide of these , and the concurrent support of a prevalent faction beside , he extorted the scepter of castile and leon from the heits of his elder brother , though many attempts were made to retrive the diadem thus placed on the head of sancho , which being by the prudence of sancho broken and disappointed , alfonso son of ferdinand , retreated for shelter into france , where he match'd , and had issue lewis earl of clermont , which lewis , by leonora de guzman , extracted from the house of medina sidonia , had issue lewis and john , both which were extinguished without issue , and isabella de la cerda , who by matching with bernard , a natural son of the house of foix ; and so all the right of that family which was concentered in her , was now lodged on him ; which bernard , king henry the second , ( the more by some solemn obligations to endear and fasten to himself ) adorned with the title of earl of medin● c●li ; and his son gasto● , the better to enforce and propagate the memory of the noblenesse of his antiquity and extraction , discarded the name of foix , to embrace that of de la cerda ; which hath ever since been transmitted with the title bestowed on lewis , grandchild to this gaston , and to his posterity , though there hath not wanted a successive regret and murmur in this family , to be thus excluded from the spanish diadem . it is customary for this house , at the coronation of the kings of spain , to put up a petition to the prince , wherein they exhibit their claim to the spanish scepter , that at the least , upon the defailance of this family now reigning , the stream of soveraignty might flow back into this house ; to which demand the king subscribes this answer , despois nos vo● , after us , you : and sometimes , no est lover , there is no place for him . thus have i in a compendious prospect represented the fate which attended on the stock and lineage of ferdinand de la cerda : i shall now trace out what vicissitudes waited on sancho the third , from whom the scepter of castile and leon ( by the unbroken thread of succession ) came to be swayed by the hand of his grandchild pedro the cruel ; who was expulsed out of the possession of his kingdoms by the procurement and influence of his natural brother henry earl of transtamare , because of that havock and ravage his savage executions had acted both on the nobility and populacy ; who after the discarding and renunciation of him , was by the favour of the people advanced to the crown of castile and leon ; but his son john the first , finding that his title was established but upon a crazie foundation , unlesse there were some more powerful buttresses to sustain , more to fortifie his claim , matcht his son and heir prince henry to catharine daughter to john of gaunt by constance one of the daughters of pedro the cruel , and so twisted the two differing titles into one ; and from him did the diadem devolve to his great grandchild henry the fourth , who going out without issue male , isabell his sister and sole inheritrix , being wedded to ferdinand son to john king of aragon , incorporated it with the patrimony of his crown and scepter ; but both these princes dying without issue male , jo●n their onely surviving princesse of castile , leon , granad● , &c. and of aragon , navarre , sicily , naples , &c. by espousing phillip arch-duke of austria , and lord of belgium , fastned these vast territories into one body ; the ciment which knits them together hath been in subsequent ages so closely united by the combination of many reciprocal leagues and marriages , that they are still the demeasne of the austrian family ; and particularly , the scepter of this kingdome is lodg'd in the hands of phillip the fourth , now monarch of spain . portugall . portugall is bounded on the north with the rivers minio and avia , which seperate it from gallicia ; on the south , with algarue ; on the west , with the atlantick ocean ; on the east , with the two castiles , and estremadura . the ancient inhabitants were the lusitani ; and from them the name of lusitania was imposed upon it ; but though these were the principal , yet the celtici and turditani , who dwelt on the south-side of tagus , and the gallaici braccarii ( so styled from the gallaici lucenses , who were proprietaries of gallicia ) and who inhabited on the north of duero , were entitled to a considerable part of the possession of it . it was at first by the successful sword of the romans made subject to their empire , but when their power began to sink under the impressions of those barbarous nations who had so fatally assaulted them , this was extorted from their jurisdiction by the alani ; but continued not long twisted into their acquists , for the suevians breaking in upon them , supplanted the contexture of their newly obtained conquests , and forc'd them to dislodge , and tamely to surrender their interest here to them ; but a usurped right can have no solid foundation to establish itself upon , for not long after , these new invaders were cast out from their new encroachments by the prosperous attempts of the goths ; but they again sunk in ths ruins of spain , ( particular lamentations are not distinguishable in universal groans ) when the moorish invaders by a publique conquest made the liberty of spain stoop to their commands and successe , and after it had for some ages groaned under those fetters they imposed upon it , it was rescued from its servitude by the noble conduct of henny of lorrain , to whom ( as a just recompense of his vertue and exemplary services ) alsonso the sixth , king of leon , espoused his base daughter teresa , and with her , to improve her fortune , transmitted that part of portugall which he and his ancestors had by some auspicious conquests rent from the moors ; and and to make his bounty more conspicuous , he invested him with the title of earl ; from whom it came by descent to his son alfonso , who by the soveraigns of leon , was as guerdon to poize both his valour and his virtue , and that testimony of an excellent courage he exhibited at the battle of obriqu● , anno 1139. he governed as earl and king seventy two years , and managed his scepter with that art and prudence , that at his decease he made his exit with the fear and reverence of his enemies , and the adoration of his friends . and from him did the diadem of this kingdom descend to alfonso the wise , who by a successful conquest inlarged the dominions of portugall , and wrung the kingdome of algarue from the moors of morocco , who had before supplanted the moors of sevill , and so broke the power of aben mefad , one of the most puissant princes of this track , that most of the towns and petty governours became by a subordinate vassalage subject to the scepter of portugall ; and having thus entwined the right of these two provinces , he transmitted them to his grandchild pedro , who left issue ferdinand the first , in whom the male line of hen. of lorrain determined , so that the right both of portugall and algarue was concentered in beatrix his daughter ; who was disseised of her title to the crown by her uncle john , natural son to pedro above mentioned ; who having thus dislodged her from the throne , by ill arts and dark stratagems , disdaining to be tir'd down by any bordering title by an unlawfull disherision , di●carded and cast out the remaining lawful issue of his father pedro ; and having thus by these crooked designs grasped the scepter , and empa●'d his temples with the diadem of portugall and algarue , he to fortifie and support his unjust pretensions , match'd with phillippa daughter to john of gaunt duke of lancaster , with whom so many noble english families enter'd portugall , that most of the eminent houses of this nation spin out their extraction from them at this day . and this john the first , had by this alliance alfonso the fifth , and john the second , successively kings ; who both deceasing without any issue surviving , emanuel son to ferdinand duke of vis●o , third brother to these two monarchs , ascended the throne of portugall ; and from him it descended to his grandchild john the fourth ; who upon his decease left it to be enjoyed by his son and heir don sebastian , who being unhappily slain in the fatal battail of alcasar , which stained the feilds of africk wi●h so much blood , henry third brother to king john above mentioned , and uncl● to this sebastian , put off his cardinals hat to adorne his head with the diadem of portugall ; but he being aged and impotent , his hand was too we●k to manage or sustain a burden of that importance ( as the royal scepter ) long , so that being assaulted with cares , and over-laid with years , after some short time of his assuming the crown , shrunk into ashes , and paid that debt we all owe ; upon his decease , several pretended a title to this diadem ; lewis second brother to king john above mentioned , died without any lawful issue , but left antonio , christopher and others begot in unlawful imbraces ; antonio fixt his claim upon a pretended act of legitimation from the estates of portugall , but there were titles which appeared more specious and plausible which stav'd his off ; for edward the fourth brother to king john , though he concluded without issue male , yet he left two daughters and co-heirs , mary wedded to alexander duke of parma , and catharine matched to john duke of braganza ; and the two aunts of the deceased sebastian , namely , mary was espoused to charles the fifth , and beatrix was married to charles duke of savoy ; from both which alliances there proceeded issue , so that now the controversie was , whether after the decease of cardinal henry , a brothers daughter , or a sisters son had the more fixed and established pretence to the crown and scepter of portugall ; and when this question was begun to be winnowed by the civill lawyers , the duke of alva to endear himself to his prince , who was phillip the second , king of spain , and son to charles the fifth and mary above mentioned ; and to assoile himself from that stain his stupendous massacres in the netherlands had contracted , perswaded his master to cast his claim upon no other debate , but the umpirage of the sword ; and this counsell had so great an operation upon him , that he employed this duke , and a puissant army under his conduct to assert his title to the diadem of portugall ; the effects of which invasion were so visible , that after some trivial opposition made by the portuguees , who were broken and split into division and faction , the whole kingdome stoop'd and resigned it self up ( with a restriction to havs its original franchises preserved and supported ) to the dominion and scepter of phillip the second ; and under the command of his successors it continued untill the year 1640. and then by the arts and dark engines of cardinal rich●lieu , the negligence and supine inadvertency of conde d'olivarez , and the ill managery of affairs in portugall it self by the king of spain's ministers , that kingdome was torn off by a total defection from the crown of spain , and the scepter placed in the hand of john duke of braganza , who was with the publique applause of the people acknowledged for king , by the name of john the fifth ; and upon his late decease this kingdome is come to confesse alfonso his son just heir to his dominion and scepter . leon and oviedo . the kingdome of leon and oviedo is bounded on the east with biscay , on the north with the main cantabrian ocean , on the south with castile , on the north with galicia . the ancient inhabitants were the astures , from whence the name of asturia was imposed upon it ; and were divided into the two general names of the augustani and transmo●tani , in which the particular tribes of the pesici , gigari , zoelae and lanci●●s●s were involved and circumscribed . it is divided into two parts , asturia de oviedo confining on galicia towards the west , and asturia santillana approaching biscay towards the east . from which divisions thus approportioned , the eldest son of the monarch of spain is styled prince of the asturias , which denomination some probably conjecture was derived from this foundation , that this countrey was the first that like a dam stopt the current of the moorish fury , which before like an impetuous inundation carried down all before it , though other spanish writers of authentick credit , refer the rise and original of this appellation to that time which was cotemporary to the match of catharine daughter to john of g●●nt , and in right of her mother constance the indisputable heir of castile , unto henry son of john the first , then planted in the possession of the kingdome of castile , it being then assented to more to improve the honour of this married pair , that as the heir apparent of england is styled the prince of wales , so the eldest son of castile should be named prince of the asturias . it was first conquered by the romans , and by augustus caesar made parcel of the province tarraco●ensis , and part afterwards of the province of gallicia by the emperor constantine ; torn it was from the roman dominion by the conquest of the goths ; and from them again it was extorted by the invading moors , though they were not long after supplanted . for as the lust of roderick , excited the injured count julian to call in the moors , so the intempered and disordered lust of magnutza a moorish viceroy , engaged him to ravish the sister of prince pelagius , whilest he had embarqu'd the said prince in an embassy to musa the moorish generall , who being a person of noble pretensions and daring hopes , at his return to expiate this dishonour and infamy with which his family was bespattered , to assoil this stain , he gave up the life of this viceroy as an oblation offered up to the justice of his sword , and the price of so great an insolence and lust ; despairing of pardon for this act , he flew to defensive arms , as his noblest sanctuary , and fortified himself in the most inaccessable retreats of this country , to which many of the old inhabitants resorted , and having prospered under his command , elected him for king , by the name of king of the asturias , though after he had reduced the city of leon , he assumed the title of king o● leon , and left it to his son fasila ; who dying without issue it devolved to alfonso , for his piety sirnamed the catholick , who had wedded ormisind his sister ; and he had issue froilla the repairer of oviedo , aur●lius and odesin matched to sillo , who after the decease of the two others was king of leon , after whose exit the crown of leon was unjustly usurped by mauregate natural son to alfonso ; in which violent detention he was supported by aderamen king of the moors , who was obliged to this supply by an infamous stipulation transacted and made between him and the said mauregate ; by which this usurper was engaged to pay him , as an annual cense or tribute , fifty virgins collected out of the families of the most eminent and noblest estimate in this region ; but after his decease the crown of leon returns to invest the temples of veramund , son to froilla above-mentioned ; and from him the clew of descent guided it down to his great grandchild alfonso the third , who not only with contempt and scorn disdained to pay the ignominious tribute of virgins abovesaid , but in so many signal contests and encounters retrenched the power of the moors , that he justly merited the title of alfonso the great ; and he left issue garcia , who deceasing without children , the crown and scepter of leon devolved to his s●cond brother ordogno who was king of gallicia ; and from him the inheritance by many generations flowed down to his successor veramund the third , who engaging in an unsuccesseful war with ferdinand king of castile , was by him in a prosperous conflict discomfited and slain ; upon whose tragedy the scepter of leon was seised on by this ferdinand , as having match'd with sanctia sister and heir to veramund ; and he left the crown of leon to alfonso his youngest son , and that of castile to sanctius his eldest ; which sanctius dying without issue both scepters devolved to be grasped by alfonso , from whom the efflux of descent cast them into the possession of his daughter ●rraca queen of leon and castile , and she had two husbands raymond of burgundy , and alfonso the seventh king of arrag●n and navarre ; by the raymond she had issue alfonso the eighth , who succeeded in the realms of leon and castile ; and he had issue sancho the second , on whom he setled the kingdome of castile , and ferdinand the second , on whom he enstated the realm of leon ; and from him it went along to alfonso the ninth of leon , who ( more to twist the complicated interest of these two diadems ) espoused with berengaria sister of henry king of castile , from which alliance descended ferdinand the third king of leon , who by the arts and designs of his mother berengaria , was advanced to the soveraignty of castile , to the prejudice of blanch her eldest sister , matched to lewis king of france . and thus the crowns becoming once more united , they were never since dissever'd , though the title by the violent assaults of sancho second son of alfonso the fifth , was distorted and planted in his family , to the injury and apparent disherison of the children of ferdinand de la cerda . of which discomposure i shall discover more when i come to treat of castile . biscay and guipuscoa . biscay is bounded on the west with leon , on the east with the pyrenean mountains and guienne , on the north it confines on the cantabrian ocean , and on the south with navarre and old castile . the ancient inhabitants of this province were the cantabri , subdivided again into the several tribes of the mar●ogi , caristi , antrigones , varduli , and the cantabri properly so called , a people as eminent for their antiquity as they were for their valour and conduct , which they exemplified in many solemn contests with those adversaries of theirs that endevoured either to retrench or else absolutely to subvert their liberties ; nor lost they any thing by their intermixture with the vascones , who came out of navarre and setled amongst them , but rather improved their courage by this union , so that notwithstanding the frequent impressions and onsets made upon them by the romans , carthaginians , goths , and moors , they remained as in their liberties not vanquish'd so in their language unalter'd , the reasons of which eminent courage of theirs may be assigned to be these : first , their habitations being amongst the craggy and inaccessable retreats of inexpugnable mountains , those natural bulwarks cast up at gods own charges , might make them more confident and daring ; and secondly , the purity of their native air , might so fan and winnow their spirits from those dregs and compacted humours , which thicker fumes and grosser exhalatious frequently amass together , might possibly render them more active and vigorous . this hath made them so impatient of servitude , and not easily yeilding a tame compliance to any thing they resent with dislike and regret , so that this scale of privileges still fortifies their liberties . first , though they give obedience to their prince with their bodies , they deny him the service of their purses ; being exempt from all tallages and impositions , for when ever the king of spain approaches their borders , he is accosted in his progresse by the noblesse of the country , neer the borders , and there they present him with some small pieces of brasse , called maravedies , treasur'd in a lethern bag appendant to the end of a lance , which he is oblieged not to take ; which refusal ( as they conceive of his , ) does enwrap a tacit symboll of a confirmation of their immunity from taxes . secondly , at all their publique assemblies , the women first taste of the cup , which custome hath grown by tacit consent into use , and hath been made hoary and reverend by a prescription of many years , ever since ogne countesse of castile attempted to destroy the life of her son , by a cup of wine fatally mingled with poyson . thirdly , they admit no bishops ; which aversnesse to that order , peradventure had its rise and growth from some antecedent pressure imposed upon them by that order , as our modern sectaries from some personal defects they beheld in the english protestant bishops , did arrive at that height of animosity as to abrogate their function ; as if this were an equitable piece of logick , because there is an error in the seed therefore consequently there must be one in the soil , not considering that these biscainers by the want of bishops and episcopal visitations have fallen into that ignorance , rudenesse , and excesse , which like a cimmerian mist dwells yet about them . fourthly , they allow or give license to no priest to officiate amongst them unlesse he bring his concubine with him , to appease his desires ; affirming it impossible to preserve their wives chast and unmix'd from the imbraces of the incumbent , if he hath not a woman with may allay the wilder flames of concupiscence . but to proceed , though the ancient inhabitants were so martial and vigorous , yet the frequent assaults of the romans so wasted their strength , that though they were not wholly subdued , yet they were forced to resign themselves with some salvo or provision which had a reflection on their liberties , to the command of augustus . under the romans they continued untill that empire shrunk into its own ruins , and then not brought under servitude by the goths , but surrender'd to them with the residue of biscay . and this indeed may be added to their glory , that they were the last province of spain which offered themselves up to the successeful fury of the moors ( excepting the asturias never part of their triumphs ) and the first which disengaged their necks of that yoke of conquest the moors had loaded them with , animated in that design by soria , who so managed and improved their increasing hopes , with conquests and augmentation of territory , that about the year 870. he undertook the command of lord of biscay , and from him did the title and estate by the steps of several descents passe down to his successor lopez diaz the third , the first who assum'd to himself the sirname of haro , borrowed from a town of that name of that foundation ; and from him did it descend to his successor nugno de lara , vvho determined vvithout issue ; so that his tvvo sisters and coheirs , jean and isabel vvere entitled to his inheritance ; but vvere defrauded of the possession by the forcible intrusion of pedro king of castile ; ferdinand the younger son of ferdinand de la cerda king of castile , matched vvith jean nugna the edest of these tvvo sisters ; and from this conjunction issued jean manuell espoused to henry the second , king of castile likevvise ; and he had issue john vvho vvas invested also vvith the diadem of that kingdome , and he in right of his mother vvas planted in the propriety of biscay ; and from him did it devolve to his successor henry the fourth , king of ●●●tile , vvho dying vvithout issue , it came to confess the title of his sister and heir isabella ; vvho by matching vvith ferdinand king of aragon , placed the propriety of it amongst those flovvers vvhich adorned his diadem , vvhere it hath been so permanent and fixed , that though several revolutions have intervened in this family , yet still it acknovvledges it self to be an appendage to the crovvn and scepter of philip the fourth , novv king of spain . guipuscoa . as for the fortunes of guipuscoa , they had this aspect as they stood in their posture towards the rest of spain . first , the vascones , then the cantabri , subdivided into the marbogi , caristi , and other petty colonies above-mentioned , enjoyed the possession of this track , and for sometime were disseised of the propriety of it by the invading romans ; but having vindicat●● their interest from their encroachments , they were at last forced to bow to the dominion of the goths ; and from them was it torne by the moors ; and being again rescued from their slavery by the kings of navarre , it was link'd to that kingdome , and remained a member of that crown , untill it was wrung from sancho the sixth king of navarre , by alfonso the first king of castile , about the year 1079. by whom it was entrusted to the managery and sway of lopez diez de haro lord of biscay . but after the decursion of some time , it was again upon following capitulations , surrendred to the kings o● navarre , to whose scepter it continued fastned untill the year 1200. when the people of guipuscoa having by a just and equal resentment tasted of both governments , and rellishing that of castile better than that of aragon , they by a voluntary resignation bowed their heads to the command of alfonsus the fourth , king of castile , who without the least decision of the sword received this country into a full subjection , and left it thus setled and confirmed to his successor● the kings of spain , in whose demeasne and revenue the seignory of it is yet constantly treasur'd up . gallicia . gallicia or gallaecia , is bounded on the east with leon , on the south with portugall , from which it is separated by the river minio , on the north with the cantabrian ocean , and on the west with the atlantick . the ancient inhabitants were the gallaeci , whence it assumed its name , broken into the several tribes of the b●dyi , su●ri , cilini , capori , and lemavi . it was one of the last provinces which resigned themselves up to the power of the romans ; encouraged to this noble defence and asserting of their liberties by that chaine of cantabrian mountains , with which this country is almost interlaced ; out of which consideration it was selected as a refuge or sanctuary by those afflicted christians who groaned under the conquest of the moors . it was in times of an elder inscription a limb of hispania tarraconensis ; after it swelled it self into the estimate of a province , and had the name of gallicia imposed upon it , being augmented with the asturia's , and some part of portugall , and the old castile . in the eclipse of the roman power , the suevi , a warlike nation of germany ( accompanying the vandals and alani in their eruptions ) invaded spain , and atchieved the conquest of this province . but not satisfied with their new acquists , they assaulted the silings , a collateral tribe of the vandalls , then invested in the possession of boetica ; whom they subdu'd , and by a successful province extorted that province from them , animated to this conquest by the presence of richila their second king. they not long after improved their victories by the addition of lusitania ; but their farther progresse was intercepted by theodorick the second , king of the goths , by whom they were discomsited and shut up within the recesses of gallicia ; which they enjoyed untill their final suppression and subversion by l●u●igild king of the goths , about the year 858. and then this province was linked to the gothish scepter . in times subsequent to this , it was incorporated into the kingdome of leon , being conqueted by retaile and in pieces from the intruding moors by the kings of that province . it was first erected into a kingdome by alfonso the third , sirnamed the great , anno 886. and given to ordogno , his second son , who upon the decease of his elder brother garcia was entitled to the crown of leon likewise , and so gallicia became once more united to leon ; but so as by particular compact it was beheld as an independent distinct realme of it self . but this connexion was not very permanent , for in the year 955. the gallicians resenting with regret the ill government of raymir the third , elected veramund for their king , who was son of ordogno the third , and had the most manifest title to the diadem ; who being advanced to the crown of leon on the death of raymir , once more incorporated the two realms under one scepter ; but it was torn off once more from leon , by ferdinand king of castile and leon , who gave it unto garcia his youngest son , anno 1067. but it was again reduced under the sway and dominion of leon , by sancho eldest son to ferdinand above mentioned , by whom the forces of garcia were broken , and he himself made captive in the year 1081. never since broken off from leon and castile ; but when leon was rent from castile , being still involv'd with leon in those distinctions till that dis●nion of leon and castile was sodered together and cimented in the person of ferdinand the second , in the year 1230. and being thus entwined they are by successive descent brought down to confesse the diadem of philip the fourth , now king of ●spain . corduba . corduba , as it stood when it vvas by conquest rent from the moors by the spaniards , vvas thus environed . on the fast it vvas contiguous to murcia and the mediterranean ; on the west to portugal and the ocean ; on the north to the mountains of sierra , morena , and castile ; and on the south with the ocean , the straits of gibralter , and the midland-seas . it extracts this denomination from corduba the principal city , and did anciently enwrap with its limits andalusia , gades , estremandura and granada ; of which last i shall speak more hereafter . the ancient inhabitants of these provinces were the turduli , the bastu'i , the yurditani of andalusia and granada , the celtici , and some part of the lusitani ; all which were reduced to the roman obedience , and contributed to the making up those triumphal wreaths which adorned the temples of scipio african , about the commencement of the second punick warre . from the romans the seignory of these provinces was ravished away by the vandalls , who passing over into africk , there to multiply their conquests to a larger extent , transmitted it to them ; but they were scarce planted in their new patrimony , but they were disseised by theodorick the fourth , king of the goths , who by these victorious atcheivements made all boetica augment the grandeur of his diadem ; under the scepter of whose successors it continued constant , untill the fatal eruptions of the moors , who having by perpetual conflicts and inroads enslaved almost the whole continent of spain , were first subservient to the commands of the great caliphs , who spread their rule over the saracenical empire , commanding here from ulidor ulit , by whose influence and reiterated supply they perfected their triumphs over the goths , anno 714. to abdalla , anno 757. at what time abderamen of the line of mahomet the impostor , declining by flight the fury of abdalla , by whom the ancient line of the caliphs of the race of humeia ( from which stem this abderamen was extracted ) had been devested of the empire , sought for shelter in spain , and was with many symtomes of joy and other unusual carresses received by the spanish moors entirely devoted to his house , whose government ( upon his shaking off all dependance or subordination to the caliphs or mahumetan emperours ) he wholly assumed to himself . in his line the title flowed with an even and undisturbed current untill it streamed down to hizen the second ; after whose decease the scepter of corduba seemed to be broken to pieces by the surprizal or encroachment of subsequent usurpers and pretenders , the last of which was mahomet the son of 〈◊〉 , after whose exit the body of the carduban monarchy ( having evaporated its most vigorous and most active spirits at those wounds the successeful swords of the kings of castile and leon had inflicted on it ) languished into decay , and fell to peices ; the fragments of which dissolved monarchy , were gathered up by several royolets and erected into new principalities ; as namely , one started up at sevill , another at toledo , a third at valentia , and a fourth at corduba . after this great onset made on the monarchy of corduba , which so broke the scepter and disordered the diadem , made now contemptible and cheap by the tearing off so many provinces from its seignory and jurisdiction , the series of those princes who were successors to mahomet above mentioned , is so ravel'd and discomposed , that there is no track in the registers of history made visible to us by which we may persue their remembrance , only several petty and inconsiderable tyrants by an unjust usurpation endevoured to grasp the scepter ; but their arrogance and insolent comportment so disgusted and disobliged the people , that to rescue themselves from that load of oppression which with so calamitous a pressure sat heavy upon their lives and fortunes , they called in the miramomolins , or kings of morocco , who so nobly asserted the peoples liberties that all those roytelets were totally by them subdued . under seven princes of morocco did the government of these spanish moors continue unbroken , that is to say , from the entrance of joseph telephin in the year 1091. unto the going out of mahomet the green , in the year 1214. during which interval of time , which made up an account of an hundred and twenty years , their affairs and designs were so well managed by the conduct and inspection of these active chieftains , that they lost nothing but estremadura , which was snatched from them by alfonso the second , king of castile and leon ; and the city of lisbon torn from them by alfonso the first , king of portugall . but mahomet the green being discomfited at serra morena , by the forces of the christians , concentered and knit together in in a joynt confederacie or combination about the year 1214. was so dispirited with this disastrous successe , that he made an obscure retreat , abandoning all that care which might have oblig'd him to a farther defence of this monarchy ; after whose recesse this kingdome was once more split and dissolved into divers principalities and small royalties almost equal to the number of great towns , which after various contests were incorporated into that regall patrimony which bowed under the several scepters of the kings of castile , aragon , and portugall ; but the kingdome of corduba , having too crazy and infirm a foundation to support a fabrick so ruinous and tottering , sunk into its own ruines , being pluck'd asunder by the victorious hand of ferdinand the second king of castile in the year 1236. who afterwards fastned to that revenue which owned the jurisdiction of that crown and scepter , where the title hath remained ever since so fix'd and permanent , that by the steps of several descents it hath been conducted down to confesse the power and authority of philip the fourth now king of spain . granada . granada is circumscribed on the west with andalusia , on the east with murcia and the mediteranean , on the north with new castile , on the south only with the midland sea. this kingdome was a limb of the kingdome of corduba , being still wrapp'd up in the fate of that , having still the same inhabitants cultivating its earth , and the same conquests retrenching its liberty , so that it was sacrific'd as an oblation to the sword of the invading moors and sarazens . but when the castilians by many signal encounters had so dissipated and rent asunder the great kingdom of corduba , that it appear'd to be split into parcels , this was seised on by mahomet ben alhamar or alcamir , who so vigorously asserted the interest of the moors , even in their declining fortune , that he made this province part of his own endowment and patrimony , and ▪ vvas by those persons vvhom he had so gallantly shadovved vvith his protection , advanced to be the first king of granada , though he vvas the last of corduba ; of all the kings subsequent to him , the spanish records affords us so dim a beam that we wander in the dark , when we endevour to trace out a just and successive series of them ; for civil contentions and intestine animosities like a private moth did so fret into the title , that it was no longer stable than the power of the sword did support it , nor indeed could it be but expected that the foundation of a monarchy fixed on so great a ruine , and whose fabrick was cimented with so much blood , must be crazy , brittle , and unsafe , so that the ●●own devolving to mahomet boad delin ( who did not expect his fathers death , but hastned it ) with all these imperfections debauching its lustre , it is no wonder if it was snatch'd from his head by ferdinand and isabella , who having by a noble and a christian conquest knit it to the demeasn of castile and arragon , it is now by successive right brought down to confesse philip the fourth , now king of spain for its lord and soveraign . toledo . the kingdome of toledo extracts its appellation from toledo the principal city , which in elder times did circumscribe the chiefest part of that countrey , which now falls under the name of new castile . the ancient inhabitants were the carpentani , and gyres●●ni dislodged by the romans ; who again were dispossessed by the alani , and they again finally disseised by the goths , who after they had many descents possest it , and made toledo their capital residence ( which city was surrounded and fortified with a wall by the care and expence of bamba king of the goths ) were outed and devested by the discomfiture given by musa chieftain of the moors , to roderick the last gothish king , whose incogitant ●●●st gave him and spain up a prey to the sword of barbarous sarazens . but afterwards , when the great kingdome of corduba began to be split asunder , by its own disorder and confusion , it was upon the entrance of abderamen , into spain , ravished away from galafr●y , who held it as vassall under the caliphs of da●ascus , but with the title of king ; and this abderamen left it to his eldest son zuleima , who was disseised not only of this province , but of corduba likewise , by his younger brother hizen ; after which devestiture it remained constant to the interest of corduba , untill the expiration of the reign of abderamen the second , king of corduba ; from whom it was torn away by aben lope ; who again was supplanted by mahomet son of abderamen , about the year 848. and here it continued fixed and constant until addalla , a man of very great estimate amongst the moors , taking advantage of the feud started between zuleima and hizen the second in relation to the realm , seised on toledo , and entituled himself to the diadem of it ; but he dying without issue , as divers old records intimate , the crown of toledo devolved by his testament and donation to mahomet almohadi ( issued from the royal family of humeia king of corduba , to which diadem though he had an indisputable title , yet he was illegally and forcibly discarded from the possession of it by the violence of zuleima and his more prevalent faction ) and from this mahomet did the scepter of toledo come to adorn the hand of his son obeydalla , who had but newly ascended his throne , when he fell in an unsuccesseful encounter a sacrifice to the ambition and fury of hizen king of corduba , about the year 990. after whose disastrous tragedy the diadem of toledo empailed the temples of his kinsman hairam ; from whom the devolution of successive right carried it down to his great grandchild to hiaya , sirnamed alcaduchir or alcadarbile ; who having by his tyranny and exactions disobliged his subjects and exasperated their spirits against him , opened a gap so wide , that alfonso the first , king of castile and leon ▪ rushed in at that breach , and by an absolute conquest annexed this province to castile , to the dominion of whose succeeding princes , it hath ever since continued so constant , that it still obeys the scepter of philip the fourth now king of spain . murcia . murcia is bounded on the west with granada , on the east with valentia , on the north with valentia and part of granada , on the south with the levant or mediteranean sea. this province being an appendant limb to hispania carthaginensis , was upon the eruption of the alani ravished from the romans , who were by conquest first entituled to it ; but the alani had not been long resident in their new atcheivements here , but they were expulsed by the more powerful sword of vallia or wallia king of the goths . after this it was so subservient to the fate of spain that it was made part of the conquests of the moors of africk , when the rest of the kingdome bowed it self to their yoke and scepter : but their empire in spain being by their own divisions and animosities so disorder'd and discompos'd , that it was distracted and broken into several parcells , this upon so general shipwrack was seised upon by aben-hut , extracted from the kings of saragossa , who raised it into a distinct kingdome about the year 1228. and afterwards stretched out his power to that latitude , that he not only commanded over this countrey , but reduced granada and part of andalusia under his dominion . but long he had not been in the possession of his new conquests , when amidst the caresses of a drunken feast , he was traiterously assassinated by aben arramin a per●idious servant of his own ; upon whose tragedy , one aben hudiel with a successeful hand seised on the scepter ; but long he had not grasped it , when one alboaquis wrung it from him ; but he being not able to assert his new atchieved regality against the power of his competitor , resigned the kingdome into the hands of ferdinand the second king of castile , but with this provisoe , that he should enjoy the title of king of murcia during his life ; upon whose expiration it was annexed to the diadem of ferdinand abovementioned , and hath been so constantly linked ever since to the scepter of castile , that it now acknowledges no other monarch but philip the fourth now king of spain . valentia . valentia is circumscribed on the east with the mediterranean ; on the west with castile and aragon ; on the north with catalonia . it was originally part of that division of spain called tarraconensis ; but afterwards that province being subdivided by constantine , it was made a limb of hispania carthaginensis . the ancient inhabitants were the bastitani , the edotani , the contestani , and some part of the celtiberi . in the waning of the roman empire , when the imperial diadem was torn to pieces , by its fatal distemper within , as well as by the violent and forcible eruptions of the barbarous nations from without ; this ▪ province stoop'd to receive that yoke which was imposed upon it by the victorious alani ; but this was not long after taken off by the goths , who having subdued these new intruders , cimented this province by conquest with the residue of spain ; but was again rent off from their monarchy by the successeful sword of the moors , and knit by this acquist to their kingdome erected in spain , and in their do ninion untill mahomet enasir received that destructive blow at the battel of sierra morena , which so diminished the strength of the moors , that their retreat into africk was an effect of this defeat ; valentia was erected into a distinct kingdome by zeit aben zeit , the brother of mahomet enasir before mentioned , about the year 1214. but not long after , that is about the year 1228. it was ravished away from this new prince by zaen , a prince of the moors in spain ; and the pretence upon which he established this violence , was , that this dethroned potentate had an intention to revolt to christianity ; but this zaen had not been long seated in his new conquests ; but he was supplanted and subdued by james king of aragon , about the year 1238. and this province annexed as an appendage to the kingdome of aragon ; to which it hath ever since been so constantly fastned , that both its title and propriety is at this instant linked to the scepter of philip the fourth , now king of spain . majorca . the kingdome of majorca contained the islands of majorca , minorca , fbusa , frumentaria in the levant , and the land of roussillon , which was added to spain in the time of the goths , being accounted a limb before of gallia narbonensis . on the decease of gerrard the last proprietary earl , it was added to the crown of aragon by alfonso the second ; by james the first it was annexed to the diadem of majorca ; but being torn from that scepter by pedro the fourth , it was once more linked to the patrimony of that crown . after that it was transmitted as a pawn by john the second , to lewis the eleventh king of france , to secure the reimbursement of 300000 crowns , lent in the year 1462. and freely surrendred to ferdinand the second , sirnamed the catholique , with a release from all incumbrances by charles the eighth his son , in the year 1493. with this provisoe annexed , that he should not impede or intercept him in those designs which had an aspect on the conquest of naples ; from whom the continued flux of descent carried it down to philip the fourth king of spain , in whose patrimony it lay couched until the late defection of catalonia ; and then it was totally lopp'd off from the interest of the spaniard by the successeful sword of the french , and is by the conditions of the last treaty of peace to remain during the truce wrapp'd up in the demeasnes of the gallican diadem . adjoyning to this province , as part of the kingdom● of majorca , is that countrey , which by the spaniard is styled cerdagne , and it is probable borrowed this appellation ( now stiv'd into a lesser volume ) from the cerretani , who were the ancient inhabitants . this province lying in those valleys which are linked to the pyrenean hills , was judged meet to be annexed to the county of roussillon , for the farther improvement of that province , to whose paramount fortune , its appendant fate hath been constantly ever since so subservient , that when it and roussillon was pawned to the french , it was part of the mortgage , and was also wrapped up in the restitution . the earldome of montpellier was some hundreds of years since , by mary the only daughter of william the last earl thereof , united to the dominion and patrimony of peter the second king of aragon ; and by her he had issue james king of aragon and majorca , of that name the third , who conveyed it by sale to philip of valois king of france , in the patrimony of whose successors it hath ever since been resident . majorca with the circumambient islands of minorca , ebusa , now called yuica , frumentera styled by the greeks ophiusa and colubraria by the latins , from the multitude of serpents which anciently infested it , drag●nera , cabraria , vedra , co●●rello , moncolibre , alfaques , and scombraria , so called from a contemptible fish named scombrus , attaqued in the time of the romans in numerous shoals on this coast , and thence transported to rome ; though more anciently , as divers eminent records testifie , it obtained the denomination of the island of hercules . these islands were first planted by the tyrians or phaenicians , to whose industrious care most of their cities owed their first institution and erection , there being one erected in the island of ebusa , which to inforce a grateful acknowledge ment to posterity of their expence , had the name phaenissa anciently lodged upon it . and from these phaenicians the future inhabitants derived the art of slinging , which they improved to so great advantage and dexterity , that the name of baleares in subsequent ages was imposed upon them , which word some do assert was extracted from the phaenician word baal-jarre , which in the punick dialect imports as much as a master in the art of slinging , though others with more probability deduce it from the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifies to cast forth or throw . but to proceed . these islands first bowed to the yoke of the carthaginians , whose affairs here were successefully managed by the prudent conduct of hanno and himilco , anno m. 5500. at what time the city of rome lay gasping under the tyranny of the decemviri , under the dominion of that state they remained subject until the conclusion of the second punick war , when the carthaginians being no longer able to shelter them with their protection they abandoned them to themselves , who immediately moulded themselves into the constitution of a commonwealth , whose contexture was quickly supplanted by metellus brother to him who subdued crete , and united it to the roman patrimony , who from this submission of theirs to that empire , was recompensed with the glorious trophies of a triumph . afterwards being incorporated into spain , and made a limb of that great body , the same fortune , either prosperous or adverse , which waited on that , attended likewise on this . in those distractions which retailed out the empire of the moors in spain to a various ruine , they were knit into an entire kingdome , under the notion of the kingdom of majorca ; from the moors it was rent away by the conduct and prowesse of raymond earl of barcelona , assisted in that undertaking by the concurrent supply of the genoese , about the year 1102 , but i know not upon what grounds ; not long after the genoese made a tame surrender of it to the moors again , which was not long resident in their possession , for james king of aragon about the year 1228. wrung it from them by a second conquest , and he setled it on his second son james , and from him the diadem devolved to his son and heir sancho , who dying without issue , james son of ferdinand , brother to james the first king of majorca , entred upon it by the name of james the second ; on whose decease james the third ascended the throne , who suddenly after was dislodged , being subdued and slain in a disastrous encounter by pedro the fourth king of aragon about the year 1348. after whose tragedy this was annexed to aragon , and hath continued ever since so closely interwoven with the interest of this kingdome that it still obeys the scepter of philip the fourth now king of spain . catalonia . catalonia is shut in on the north with the county of roussillon and the pyrenian mountains , on the east with the mediterranean , on the south with valentia , on the north and north-west with aragon . the name ( as some probable conjectures seem to affirm ) is derived from the castellani , who in elder times were the ancient inhabitants of some part of it , though others upon as possible grounds assert it was extracted from the catalauni , an ancient people of languedoc , a province of france , divided by no considerable distance from this province . but the affirmation of those , is certainly the most proportionate to reason , who deduce it from gotholonia , which , by depravation of dialect , and a more easie pronunciation , was melted into catalonia . this province having been adopted into the name of gotholonia by the goths , as having been one of the first provinces of spain on which that nation made their violent and successeful eruptions . the ancient inhabitants of this province were the castellani , auxitani , indigites , cosetani , with part of the ilercones and jaccetani , all of them possessors of that distribution of spain which was styled hispania tarraconensis ; but when the glory of the roman empire began to suffer her eclipse and umbrages , and wand into a visible declension , this was rent from that great body by the alani , who not long after were subdued and disseised by the goths ; but when a general ruin was super-induc'd on spain by the power of the moors , this sunk in that general shipwrack , and was forc'd to stoop to receive a yoke from the hands of infidelitie ; from them , after many signal struglings , it was rescued by the magnanimity of charles the great , who having reduced the city of barcelona about the year 801. settled it on one bernard a frenchman , with the title of earl , and he managed the affairs of this province for that emperour , as gothofredus his successor did for lewis the godly . but gothofredus son to this godfred , having acted some exemplary service which obliged charles the gr●● to some grateful acknowledgement , he to expiate this engagement made him proprietary of it , with this limitation reserved , that the year of the kings of france as was accustomed to be performed by his predecessors should be inscribed and used in all records and instruments of publique cognisance ; and from him it was transported to his grandchild gothofred the second , who dying without issue , his uncle borellus entred upon the possession of this earldome , and in his line was it so successively fixed untill by an even clew it descended to raymond the fifth , who by matching with petronilla daughter of raymir the second , king of aragon , was by the authority of that alliance invested with the diadem of that kingdome , and knit by a future combination this earldom to the patrimony of that scepter , whose successor was james the first , king of aragon and lord of catalonia , ( for so the records of spain seem to insinuate , his style was used in coins and other inscriptions ) to whom st. lewis king of france , by resignation and surrender released that vassalage and acknowledgement which was due from his predecessors to the diadem of france in the year 1260. and this king james to ballance and poize the merit of so great an obligation by a proportionate compensation , at the same time devested himself by a general release of all his right and title to carcassan , b●ziers , nismes and some other considerable pieces in france , in tim●● of el●er inscription relating as appendages to the revenue of that crown . thus have i represented in landskip , how catalonia became twisted into the demeasne and royaltie of aragon , where it constantly reposed it self untill the year 1638. and then that defection from the crown of spain , which was occasion'd by the invasion of the liberties of the catalans , as was pretended by the spaniard , though those pretences were improv'd , inflam'd and aggravated by the arts and cloudy stratagems of cardinal richelieu , having torn it off from that scepter , it was by the inhabitants modelled and fashioned into the shape of a common-wealth , but with a reservation that it should still be under the patronage and shelter of the crown of france , and in this capacity it remained untill the sucbesseful sword of don john of austria , the marquiss of cerra , and the marquiss of mortara so vigorously asserted the interest of spain , that they wrung all catalonia from the hands of the french ; and although this nation by the concurrent aid of the catalans did retrive puycerda , castiglione , and some other pieces from the spaniard , yet the more principal part of catalonia doe●●et after all these vast concussions acknowledge no other scepter but that which is swayed by the hand of philip the fourth king of spain . aragon . aragon is fettered in on the east with the land of roussillon and the pyrenean hills , on the west the two castiles , on the north navarre , on the south and south-east catalonia and some part of vanlentia . the ancient inhabitants were the celtiberi , who spread themselves over a very considerable part of spain , styled hispania tarraconensis , but originally had their rise and extraction from the celtae an ancient people of france , who being clogg'd and surcharg'd with superfluity of people , advanced over the pyrenean hills , and mingled with the iberi , the old possessors of aragon ; yet there were other inhabitants of lesse importance , as namely , the jaccetani , the lacetani with some part of the editani , and ilergetes or ilurcones , that had their concernment in this province , and thrived under the protection and shadow of the nobler colonies . and in this posture it remained until the carthaginians endevouring to enlarge their territories made it bow to their government ; but here it had not long been resident , when the power of the romans growing paramount to theirs , it was forced to submit to the more predominant strength of that empire , and to their interest it was subservient , untill it was ravished away by the prevailing arms of the goths , whose acquists here attended the fate of spain , and was surrendred to the moors in that publique calamitie which was complicated with their conquest . but about that time when the foundations of the kingdomes of leon and navarre were established , one aznarius a person of an unbroken courage , disdaining any longer to lye panting under that load of slavery which the moors had cast upon him , disengaged himself of the pressure , and by many generous conflicts with the moors , wherein he exhibited many symptomes of an inexpugnable courage , he invested himself in the possession of some lands on the banks of the river of aragon ; but because he found his power was too infirm and crazie to support his new acquists without some collateral supply , he put himself under the protection of the king of navarre about the year 775. and that monarch , both to excite and cherish so worthy a vertue with some exemplary guerdon , dignified him with the title of earl of aragon ; and from him it devolved by descent to his lineal successor fortunio ximines , in whom the male line determined , so that fortunio the second king of navarre , in right of his mother urraca who was his sister and heir , was entitled to aragon supported by this alliance , annexed this province to navarre ; and from him the clew of descent transmitted it to sancho the great king of navarre , who gave it to his son raymir begotten in unlawful embraces , to the prejudice of his lawful son garcia , who indeed justly merited this disherision , because he had by an unnatural accusation endevoured to blast the reputation of his mother queen elvira wife to his father , by besmearing her with the calumnious aspersion of adultery , from which black tincture she was assoil'd by the noble and generous assistance of raymir above mentioned , who offered to assert her innocence by the solemn decision of a mutual combate with this garcia , which obliged his father king sancho to reflect with so benigne an eye on so great a virtue , that he thought the earldome of aragon a proportionate guerdon to his merit and courage , and translated the coronet of this province into a diadem , that the reward designed him might swell into a more considerable dimension , and with more lustre adorn his temples ; and from this raymir did there issue out a series of kings that was never interrupted , disturb'd , or ravel'd in the clew of descent , but in an even order went along untill the line of succession brought the crown of aragon to empale the temples of ferdinand sirnamed the catholick , who by matching with isabella the heir of castile , linked and incorporated these two kingdoms into one body , whose divided interest being thus combined , hath ever since continued fastned and tied up in so strict a union , that the propriety of both these kingdomes does now support and inforce the grandeur of that diadem which invests the head of philip the fourth the instant monarch of spain . spain . spain in times of an elder complexion was the stage where the scene of much contention and bloudshed was established , the romans attempting with much eagernesse and animosity to ravish away the spanish liberty , and impose that yoke of servitude on their necks they had burdened and loaded the shoulders of other captived nations with , and the spanish inhabitants , again endevouring with a generous vigour to assert their native franchises against their eruptions , and so to secure their liberties , that they might not be offered up an oblation to the rapatious tallons of the roman eagles ; but after many conflicts commenced , and the bloody umpirage of several battels , the spanish body having exhaled its most active and vigorous spirits at those breaches and wounds the successeful swords of the romans had torn and discompos'd the bulk of their empire withall , fell a cheap sacrifice to their successe and ambition , and by a tame submission put on those fetters the hands of these new victors had designed to load them with ; and the romans , the better to manage and fortifie their new acquists with a cautious improvement , scattered several colonies and forts on those several provinces which were circumscribed within the continent of spain ; a subsequent list of which i shall now represent to the reader , as likewise an exact register of those cities and towns which in times of a more modern inscription have like so many phaenix's ascended into shape and order out of their antiquated ruines . a alce a city of the celtiberians , was raz'd by gracchus . abdera now called almeria , and according to the conjectures of some , the place where now the city of vera●s ●s situated . abula , now denominated avila . acci , likely to be guadix in granada . agra , it is under controversie whether it were placed in spain or in africk arcobrica , now styled calataiub , or else separated by no great distance from it . assindon , the place where now medina sidonia or xeres in andalusia is fixed . astapa , a colony of the carthaginians was destroyed by martius , a roman commander under scipio . astigia , reputed to be eccia in andalusia . asturica or astorga , retains its primitive appellation , and continues a bishoprick until this day . ategua , how this city is denominated now is represented by ferrarius , who asserts that it is now called tebalaveia or teiveila in granada . augusta , a name common to many towns in spain , yet when it is simply rehearsed or registred without being yoked with any additional denomination , it is taken to signifie bracar or braga . auriensis , or aquae calidae , now taken for the bishoprick of orenza or orense in gallicia . auringa was an eminent city in andalusia , di●●antled and overturn'd by scipio . a●s●●●a or auxima , at this present styled vic d'ossone , an obscure towne circumscribed within catalonia . auca , an ancient city out of whose ruins burgos is now started . axenium , where that was situated , or what city was extracted from its ashes is uncertain . b barcina or rubicata , now call'd barcelona , the capital city of catalonia . bastitania now known by the name of baza , in the province of murcia . bregetium , in old records denominated likewise lucus astu●um is now the city of ovi●do in leon. biaria , now called barra , is in the kingdome of toledo . bigastrensis civitas , or urbs bistargensis , was a bishoprick situated in the province of carthagena . bigerra , now styled beijar , is contiguous in its position to valentia . britolensis urbs , was a town near tuy in gallicia . c cauca , was a city in the territory of the vacceni , and scituated in portugall , ruined by lucullus the roman general . carmona was a town near cordova , demolished by the goths . cauria , at this day denominated coria , and is placed near merida . caesarea augusta , or salduba , now sarragossa , the metrapolis of arragon . calaguris , now represented under the name of calahorra , in navarre . colimbrica or conimbrica , now coimbra , an eminent university in portugall . carthago nova , or carthagena , which still retains its pristine name and though now fallen under some umbrage and obscurity , was in elder times one of the most eminent cities of spain . castulo , at this day styled castona , and is scituated near sevill . centobrica in celtiberia , was reduced to the roman obedience by metellus , since crumbled into rubbish . complutum , out of w●ose rubbish , the noted and illustrious unive sity of alcala de henarez in c●stile , is now risen forth . conistorgis was a colony in portugall , long since mouldred into a neglected heap . colenda was a city of the celtiberians . corduba gave na●e to the whole province wherein it was placed , and preserves the ancient appellation , and continues a bishoprick untill this day . d dertosa , now called tortosa , and is scituated upon the river of ebro , which separates catalonia and valentia . di●ni●m , now styled denia , is placed in the kingdome of toledo . e civitas egarensis , was the residence of a people call'd egur●● , out of whose ashes sprang a town in toledo , styled medina del rio secco . egedita , now a little ●ourg in portugall called edania . egosa or egiba , is a town which still continues its ancient appellation , and is situated near girona in catalonia . ebora , now is known by the name of euora , and is placed in portugall , and is at this instant ascended to that eminence that it is become the residence of the kings of portugal . elib●●is , was in ages of an higher step , a populous and spatious city , though in times of a lower descent , it shrunk into the narrow bulk of a castle ; but it is conjectur'd that granado , not far distant , owes part of its dimension and grandeur to its superannuated ruins . eliocrota , was scituated betwixt carthagena and cas●ona , but was by the fury and frequent onsets of the vandalls , rendred so inconsiderable an heap , that it is now entombed in its own rubbish . elna , was placed in gallia-narbonensis , and is now shrunk into decay and oblivion . emirita , at this instant called merida , is placed in castile , and hath nothing singular to ennoble it , but onely some venerable ruines . eminium or euminium , is placed in portugal , betwixt coimbra and porto ; but it is now crumbl'd away into such a narrow heap , that it hath at present , found a forgotten sepulcher . ergavica , now a town in aragon , called alcanez . escadia , was a city scituated in lusitania , reduced to ruines by the roman conquests . f flaviobriga , a city in biscay , which mouldering away by the injurious impressions of time , and the assaults of enemies , fell into decay and rubbish . bilbao , the capital city of that province , was extracted from its sepulcher . flavium brigantium now passes under the notion of corvina , in gallicia . flavinavia , was scituated in asturia , and hath now atchieved the name of st. andero . g gades , an ancient town of spain , in more modern orthographie written cadez . gerunda , in catalonia , is now marshal'd under the name of girona . gerabrica or jeraabrica , is placed in portugall , betwixt lisbon and st. irene , but is now by the rude hand of time , crushed into so disordered a masse , that it is removed but a small preferment from the notion of a village . gemella , was a fortresse in portugal , what name it hath since been habituated to , is uncertain . girniza , a city of the vacceans , demolished by titus didius . h hispalis , in andalusia , is now listed under the name of sevil , and is the metrapolis of that track . i iacca was the principal city of the jaccetani , in aragon , and still preserves its name . ilerda , was scituated in catalonia , and is now styled lerida . ilice , in the kingdom of valentia respecting the islands pitieuses , and adopted that eminent bay call'd sinus ilicitanus into its own sirname , but where this town or the rags and skeleton of it , have found their enterment , no beam extracted from publique record , can direct to a discovery . ilipa was a city scituated in the straight of boetica , it is supposed to be niebla in portugall . illiturgis , was scituated in andalusia , and was put into flame and ashes by scipio . julio briga , an antiquated colony , is now logrogno in aragon . illiberis , was a city in roussillon , divided by no great distance from the pyrenean hills , out of whose rubbish coliure or colibre , a city now extant , had its original institution . civitas imotinensis , is by some conjectures now asserted to be montanches not far distant from merida . imopyreneus or rhoda is at this day called roses and is a city of eminence in catalonia , it was built by the rhodians . empuria urbs impuritana or emporitana , though languish'd into decay hath from its skeleton afforded a town call'd empuria now plac'd in catalonia . julia libica is now that city we stile sardona or cardona , a city existent in catalonia , or as some conjecture linca . jugastria or juncaria was scituated in catalonia and is in more modern appellation stil'd junquera . intercatia was plac'd amongst the astures , but what denomination it hath acquir'd now no record does exhibit . iria flavia is at this instant stil'd padron and hath its scituation near terrae finis in gallicia . italica an ancient city in andaluzia , is now entomb'd in its own ruines and wild dispersion . l lambria was no far distance divided from the margent of the river of limia in portugall , but what name it hath obtained now is incertain . lacobrica there were two towns which bore this denomination , the one at cape st. vincent , the second near palenza it is now conjectur'd to be lagos . lameca now passes under the denomination of lamega , and is a noted city in portugall . luci tarum is now stil'd st. lucar di barameda in andalusia . lancia was in elder times the metrapolis of asturia , though now wholly devested both of bulk and beauty . laurona was an ancient city made an heap of flame and ruines by sertorius even in the presence of pompey . legio is at this instant stil'd leon , and is the capital city of that province . lucia or urbs lucensis was an ancient colony now known by the name of lugo in gallicia . m malaca at present called malaga , one of the most eminent cities of the kingdome of granada . mentesa now monteio or else jaen in andalusia . munda was a city of the vacceans eminent for the battle between the two pompeys and caesar , it is now obscure in its own ruines unlesse ronda be started from it . n novi●m in gallicia is now faln under the name of noya . numantia after a tough seige buryed in its own ruines , by scipio . o oboliola was a city upon the verge of portugal , which was demolished and destroyed by quintus fabius maximus servilianus in his war commenc'd against viriatus . occi or acci is now involved in guadix , scituated in valentia . ocilis or ocelona was a city near merida , now so wrap'd up in its own disordred and confused dispersions that it its difficult to trace out its rubbish even amidst its ruines . olisipo now known by the name of lisbon the metrapolis of portugal . orcelis whose bishop was at the councell of arles , it was fixed in valentia . it is now denominated origu●la . or●tana now stil'd calatrava , the seminary of knights of that order , was in the kingdome of toledo . osca that is huesea in aragon a bishoprick and a university . ossobona was in algarbe not far divided from faro which by the moors was named exuba . oxovia in the kingdome of toledo stil'd by plyny uxania at this instant it is known by the appellation of osona , and is honoured by being the see of bishop . oxthraca a city of eminent note in the ancient lusitania destroyed by atilius or acilius balbus one of the roman commanders . p pax augusta an eminent roman colony in extremadura now still'd badaisos and by the moors in elder times named baxang● . palentia or palantia in the kingdom of toledo , continues listed under that name and remains a bishoprick at this day . pampelona continues still espoused to its ancient name , and is at this instant the capitall city of navarre . placentia is situated in castile and preserves its ancient denomination at this instant . porto or portogallo , is placed in lusitania , and is that city which at present is nam'd portoport . s saguntum was destroyed by hannibal out of whose ashes morviedro in valentia is now descended . sanuessa is now sanguessa in navarre . salmantica or elmantica is circumscribed within the limits of castile , and hath now assumed the denomination of salamanca , being both a bishoprick , and an eminent university . segobia or secobia is scituated likewise in castile , and with a small variation from the ancient name is now stil'd segovia . segobrica is the town called segorbia in aragon . seguntia or saguntia , now named siguenza is placed between castile and aragon , and is made eminent by being the see of a bishop . senga in aragon , hath now contracted the name of balbastro . segissama hath now atcheived the name of tordede●illas . sediga was a noted city of the arevaces , and was extinguish'd and dismantel'd in the conflicts and contentions between spain and the romans . setabis is the town xat●va now a limb of the kingdom of aragon . septimantia now stil'd simanca , is a town which is scituated in castile .. scalabis was an eminent roman colony in portugall , how it is stil'd now is incertain . sarabris or sentilla was scituated in castile , and is now marshall'd under the name of zamora or toro . sitia was erected in the province of corduba , but what name it hath assumed at this instant no record does discover . sitale o● sitiale was established in the track of andalusia , what denomination it hath now put on we cannot at present trace out . t tarracona was scituated in catalonia , and at present is stil'd tarragona , being an arch-bishops seat and the second city for eminence and populacy in that province . talabriga hath now obtained the appellation of talavera and is circumscribed in portugall . tartessus , now stil'd carteia , is scituated in andaluzia , and gave the name to the whole track . trebia and tribola were two eminent cities in castile and the old lusitania both cast into a heap of rubbish in the wars of the romans waged with the people of that province . thermissa was in times of an elder complexion a city of the vacceans or arevaces , and was demolished by the consull titus didius . thermantia was an ancient city of spain not far distant from numantia now by the injuries of time shrunk into decay and oblivion , only it is supposed nuestra sennora de tiermas in aragon is now extracted from its tomb. toletum is that eminent city , we now stile toledo being an archbishoprick and the metropolis of castile . turiasso now the town tarrasso which had its position near the limits of navarr . tucca was scituated in betica near castulo , what name is fix'd upon it now i cannot discover . tuda or tyda is now adopted into the name of tuy in gallicia and is adorn'd with the title of a bishop . tullica was placed in cantabria or biscay , but what denomination it hath borrowed since no beam of antiquity does exhibit to us . turris julia is now compacted into the more modern name of trugillo in portugall . v valentia or valence , is at this instant an eminent arch-bishoprick ▪ and affords a name to the whole province where it is scituated , preserving both its name and antiquity . valeria , had its first erection in the province of arragon , and hath at this instant got the appellation of co●cia or cuenca . vasco baso , was an eminent city of the vascones now languished into an obscure town in navarre , call'd basconton . veila , was an ancient city in cantabria , now languished into neglected ruines . vesci , is now stiled viseo , and is a noted town in portugall . urci , was an ancient roman colony , not far removed from almeria in castile , now shrunk by decay into an inconsiderable obscurity . urgela , called likewise bergidum , is now urgel , a city , and a bishops see in catalonia . urbicua , a town of the celtiberians , put into ruines by q. fulvius flaccus , a roman commander . ucubis , a town in farther spain , now entombed not only in its own rubbish , but in oblivion likewise ; onely it is conjectured ucubi in granada , is a child of its production . uxama , an ancient colony of the romans , is fallen into so obscure a decay that it hath lost both its name and the place of its abode , so that it is now extant only in record and annals . vellica , was in navarre , whose dispersed rubbish was in the year 1181. by sancho the fourth , king of navarre , collected into a city , whose denomination in memory of some successe upon its first institution was victoria . viminacium , was placed in castile , but what town is now descended from its ruins , the testimony of history does not exhibit to us . virovesca in old castile , hath now put on the name of briviesca , or birviesca . voluce , or veluca , hath from its ashes given us cannatanazor , now in valentia , urso , hath f●om its ruins been productive of ossuna , now plac'd in andalusia . there are other ancient towns in spain , and its circumabient provinces , which are registered in mela , strabo , ptolomie , pliny and antoninus ; which because they have put on other names , i shall represent the first as they are recorded in those venerable authours , and exhibit the last as they lie enroll'd in the spanish histories ; as namely , a asta , in pliny is now xeres , in the kingdome of granada . augusta forma , mentioned by the former authour , is now eccia in andalusia . aquae calidae , enrolled in the pages of ptolomie , is now oreus or orenza , in gallicia . aspavia by corduba , mentioned by ptolomy , is stil'd espeio . alba in antonnius , is now viana in navarre , which formerly afforded a title to the king of navarr's eldest son , who was stil'd prince of viana . avia or livia , register'd likewise by antoninus , is now villalon in castile . alaba in celtiberia or biscay , call'd so by ptolomy , hath now in more modern appellation assum'd the name of alava . b balaria in antoninus , hath now assumed the name of bara or vera , and is fixed in castile . baetulo or betullo styled so by mela is now named badelona . c certima in ptolemy is now carthama in castile . caetobrix or cetobrica , recorded by pliny and antoninus , is now either scituated in portugall , or else almadas on the mouth of the tagus . calpe or heraclia in antoninus , is now gibraltar in andalusia . carmela in antoninus is now carmon in portugall . cex mentioned in ptolomy , and sexicanum registred in antoninus , is now velez malaga , in the province of granada . condabora in ptolomy is now siguenza in castile . cecillia gemellina in antoninus , is now st. mary of guadalupe . clunia remembred by pliny and livy , was a colony of the arevaces , and is now styled corunna del conde , or cividad del castro , both scituated in castile . cauca registred by ptolomy , is now that coca which is scituated in old castile . contestania mentioned by ptolomy and clusius , is now shrunk into concentayna in valentia . e elna in roussillon , mentioned by antoninus , was erected by the celtae , and still deserves its ancient denomination . g gracu●is was a colony in hispania baetica , instituted by gracchus , whose memory is preserved in the pages of ptolomy and antoninus , and is now called agreda , being seated in castile . i i lorci recorded by pl●ny , is now that town we call lorca in murcia . illusias or illusia , so it is written in ptolomy , is now d●nominated ●ucena , and is placed in valentia . illarco scituated in new castile , and styled so by pliny , hath now obtained the name of alarco . illuro or diluron , styled so in the registers of ptolomy , is now called alora , being a village in catalonia . ilarcuris , named so by ptolomy , is placed on the margin of new-castile , and is now called caros de los infantes ildum . hath obtained that name in the itinerary of antoninus , and was seated in valentia , where it is now known by the name of salsadella . l lacuris or larcuris , whose remembrance is treasured up in ptolomy , and surita is circumscribed within castile , and is now styled loquera or alarcos . lebrisia in ptolomy , hath now from its ruines given us nebrissa in andaluzia . m mantua whose appellation survives amongst the leaves of ptolomy , is now supposed to be madrid in castile , the eminent residence of the king of spain . marcia offered up to our remembrance by pliny and strabo , is now marchena in andaluzia . margis , preserved from oblivion by the industry of ptolomy , is now conjectured to be maxacra in granada . menralia , whose name is enrolled in the volume of the abovesaid author , is now the eminent city of murcia . n norba caesarea , though ●●bverted and demolished by petreius and afranius , two of pompey's commanders , yet it lives still in the volumes of ptolomy , and antoninus , & hath contributed a being to alcantara in portugal . nemetobriga or nemetobrica , a ●own plac●d by ptolomy in old casti●e , is now called val●de nebro . nebrissa so styled by ptolomy , but called veneria in the records of pliny , hath now contracted the appellation o● ●ebrixa . naebis is placed by ●●ra●o neer viana in portugal , and is now called neiva . nagara is by ptolomy represented to be a town of hispania tarraconensis , and hath acquired the name of naira . p pinta registred by ptolomy , hath now transplanted its name into valladolid . porta augusta is by ptolomy likewise asserted to be a town of hispania or old caestile , and hath now purchased the modern name of torquemada . portus calensis was seated in portugal , and is named now porto port. r ruseino or ruscino , mentioned by pliny , is conjectured by some to be the castle of roussillon , and by others to be perpignan in that county . rusticiana was placed by the itinerary of antoninus in old castile , and is now as some contend named castileo though others assert cividad roderigo , was extracted originally out of its ruines . s sacili or sacilis , affirmed by the registers of pliny and ptolomy , to have been a town of hispania baetica , is now known by the name of alcorrucen in granada . salaria in ptolomy's time , hath from its remains afforded siruela in new castile or as some from very ancient records do assert , another town styl'd cazorlo . salsulae in roussillon nominated so by stra●o , is now faln under the denomination of salses , selsona , or celsona , for so they are promiscuously written in ptolomy & other venerable monuments of antiquity , hath from its ashes contributed a new production to salsona in catalonia . segisama mentioned by ptolomy and orosius , is now involved in veyzama seated in biscay . segortia lacta or lata , which owes for its remembrance to ptolomy , is now wrapped up in sepulveda , scituated in castile . segobriga , whose name occurs in strabo and pliny , hath now assumed another appellation , and is styled cabezza del griego , being scituated in valentia . t tucci denominated likewise augusta gemella , and gemella tuccitana , as the pages of pliny and ptolomy do abundantly testifie , is now shrunk into a little town in andaluzia called martos . v virgao , whose memory is improved by the pen of pliny , is now called vera in granada . z zacantha was an ancient city in spain , entombed in its own ruines , by the successeful fury of hanniball . there were other ancient towns wrapped up within the limits of the continent of spain and portugal ; as namely al●hea , aronda , athanasia , arsa , anitorgis , cusibis , cunes , contrebia , evandria , hippo , ituca , and serezola , which often occur in the annalls of spain , which were so dismantled and defaced in the wars commenced by the romans with the carthaginians , and the native inhabitants of spain , and there memory now entombed in such inhospitable ruines , that it is a work of more perplexed difficulty to trace out their fragments and remains , which now lye treasured up in untractable rubbish , then it was for the roman generals first to subdue them . having taken a prospect of the continent of spain , let us now lanch out into the ocean , and make a reflection on that interest or concernment , the spanish scepter is entituled to , either in africa , asia or america ; and the first of these new acquists wh●ch does obviate our discovery are the canaries , which are in number seven , and have contracted this denomination from canaria the principall island . in ancient records they are adorned with the epithete of the fortunate islands ; and in the arithmetick of pliny and ptolomy are computed but six , but though they consent in their number they disagree in their names . by pliny they are said to be 1 ombrio , 2 junonia major , 3 junonia minor , 4 capraria , 5 nivaria , and 6 canaria : but upon ptolomies catalogue and account they are thus reckoned , 1 aprositus , 2 hera or junonia , 3 pluitania , 4 casperia , 5 canaria and pincuria . but more modern discoveries h●ving rectifyed former surveys , have improved the account to seven , now better known by the new names of 1 canaria , 2 palma , 3 teneriffa , 4 gomero , 5 ferrò , 6 lanserotte , and 7 fuerte ventura . the ancient inhabitants of these islands were the guanches , who were ( as ancient relations discover to us ) both rude and barbarously ignorant , for their food was raw flesh , for want either of the use or knowledge of fire ; their earth they turned up with the horns of oxen , being destitute of ploughs or instruments of iron ; their beards they shaved with a sharp flint , and transmitted the care of their children to the nursery of goats . the slaughter of beasts was in their estimate the most ●ordid and de●picable employment , and therefore was impos'd on prisoners and persons devoted and conden ned to the ignominy of a common execution , who being the common slaughtermen , were to live separated from publique intercourse and society ; yet notwithstanding this barbarity , the light of nature , though it shined in them with a faint and sickly beam , yet was it not so extinguished but that it still did send forth those rayes , which did guide them to resign themselves up to a kingly government ; for each island was rul'd by a single person , whose power and authority held some proportion and analogy to the rule and dominion of a king : but yet was their government not so purely regall , but that it was retrenched with the dictates and prescriptions of a comm●n councell collected out of all the islands , and consisting of an 130. who did not onely guide in civill matters , but direct and steer in sacred also , the people being by them conducted both in their interest of state and that of conscience , and obeyed their prescripts , which had an aspect on their faith and worship , as well as an influence on their civill obedience . the knowledge of these islands being lost with the roman empire , they lay conce●led untill about the year 1330. when an english , or as some affirm , a french ship , did in the disorder of a tempest fall upon them . notice thereof being given to alfonso the fourth king of portugall , lewis de ordo was by that prince designed to the conquest of them , who being repulsed at gomera anno 1334. abandoned the enterprise , and only left some foundation for the portuguese to establish a future claim upon . but the news of this new discovery successively extending it self to the court of rome , pope clement the sixth esteemed it convenient by a new donation , to transmit the right and title of them to prince lewis , son to alfonso de la cerda , the indisputable heir of castile ; but nothing being effected by lewis abovesaid in relation to the popes concession , some adventurers of biscay about the year 1393. furnishing out some ships from sevill to recruit their ebbing fortunes at sea , fell amongst these islands , and having observed the number , greatnesse and scituation of them , after their pillaging of lanserote , returned into spain with a considerable cargo of wax , hides , and other commodities , which did ennoble the riches and fertility of these islands , and did so excite the appetite of henry , at that instant king of castile , that for the future he did resolve toinvest himself in the possession of them ; but though his design was by death made abortive , yet katharine his queen dowager during the minority of her son king john the second , pursued the enterprize , and employed john de betancourt an active daring frenchman in the conquest of them ( with a condition annexed to hold them under the soveraignty of the crown of spain ) and he so well managed the undertaking that four of them were subdued , but attempting to attaque the remainder , he perished in the action . in the year 1417. young betancourt the son finding his power not proportionate to the conquest and reduction of canaria the chief island , whither most of the islanders had retired for sanctuary , fortified himself in lanserote and assumed the title of king , which he transmitted to one menault , under whose rule , these islands were reduced to the knowledge of christianity , having a sea episcopall established in the isle of lanserote . but this new commander having ravel'd and disordered the government of these islands by many irregular excesses , by the clamorous importunity of the inhabitants in the court of castile , pedro barva de campos with three ships of war was employed against him , with whom menault abovesaid being unable to grapple , he with the approbation of the crown of castile , conveyed his interest in these islands to fernando perez a knight of vast wealth in sevill ; from whom the title and propriety streamed down to his successors , but the posterity of this perez were entitled to the possession of the four lesser islands only , for canaria it self , teneriffa and la palma , continued under the scepter of their own kings , and so remained untill the rule of ferdinand the catholick ; who in the year 1483. under the conduct of alfonso de muxica and pedro de vera two eminent and prosperous leaders , obtained the empire and dominion of them , and translated the episcopall see from lanserote to canaria . but as these islands before this totall conquest , were by separation broken into two estates , so do they remain at this day , though now one be subordinate to the other , for gomera , lanserote , and hierra , or ferro , are resident in private hands , but canaria ( where the prime seat of justice is fixed , to which all the residue resort as their occasions oblige them ) palma , teneriffa , and fuerte ventura , are at this instant a limb of that demeasne which makes up the patrimony of the crown of spain . america is the next subject of our discourse , which if you measure it by parts and proportions , as to the principal territory of it both for wealth and dimension , it is now subservient to the dominion of the crown of spain . i shall now represent the first discovery of those parts in the west-indies , that are now interwoven with the demeasne of that crown ; and first cuba exacts our consideration . it was one of the first islands which was discovered by columbus , who having almost tyred and tortured the expectation of the spaniards with increasing hopes , first fell upon guahanani by florida one of the lucaios , to which he gave the name of st. saviours ; and from thence ●ailed to baracoa on the north of the island , which he styled fernandina in honour of ferainand the catholique king of castile and arragon . the inhabitants he found rude and ignorant , not knowing the use of money , nor understanding the nice intrigues of meum and tuum , being tenants in common to those blessings the earth by a cheap and easie birth produced , and coheirs of nature : after this about the year 1514. this island was reviewed by don diego de valasques , by whose prudent conduct the spaniards got such footing in it , and made that footing good by so many colonies , that their title and possession was beyond dispute , and so continues until this day . hispaniola was fir●t discovered by columbus , being conducted hither by some of the natives of cuba , and having by his civil compliance endeared the affections of the islanders , he obtained license of one of the kings or caciques to erect a fortresse here , which he stiled natividad , which he garrison'd with 36. spaniards , who upon his departure were butchered by the per●idious natives , and the fort dismantled . but on his return , being better furnished for a second plantation , he erected the town isabella ( stiled so in honour of isabella queen of castile ) near the mines of cibao ; which afterwards was also abandoned and the colony transplanted to st. domingo , which was first built by bartholomew columbus , anno 1494. on the east bank of the ozama ; and afterwards in the year 1502. removed by nicholas de obando then governour of the island , to the opposite shore . after this the spaniards so secured this island with surplusage of colonies , and so immur'd and chain'd it up with fortifications , that notwithstanding the various attempts of forreigners , it is still wrapp'd in the patrimony of the crown of spain . porto rico was first touched upon by christopher columbus in his second voyage , in the year 1493. but being deserted by him , it was first planted and inhabited by john ponce de leon in the year 1510. who ▪ having by a fair deportment obliged aiguabana the chief prince thereof , established a colony of spaniards in the north part of the island , called caparra ; from whence some ten years after , the colony was transplanted to guarica ; and from thence drawn off to st. germans ; nor did it fixe here , for it was carried away to porto rico , now become the chief town , placed in a little island , on the north-side the greater , which having been fortified with two castles , by the command and influence of philip the first , anno 1514. it ever since maugre the assaults and saccage of the english , hath been rolled up in the income of the king of spain . jamaica lieth on the south of cuba , from which it is divided by a distance of fifteen leagues . it was discovered in the second voyage of columbus , who not only entituled the island st. jago , but likewise instituted here a spanish colony , which he stiled st. jago de la vega , which in some years after was enhaunsed to a higher reputation and estimate , when it gave the title of dukes to christopher columbus , and his brother bartholomew . but in ages subsequent to this , the possession of this island was not so secur'd to the spaniard , but that it was invaded and conquered in the year 1596 , by sir anthony shirley ; but being again abandoned , it remained under the spanish obedience ; until late years , it was again subdued and quitted by capt. jackson , so that it again return'd to confesse the interest of the spanish scepter , and continued subservient to that dominion , untill lately it was snatched away by the english , under the command and conduct of collonel doiley . margarita and cubagna are two little islands opposite to cumana . the first of which was discovered by columbus in his third voyage , which was about the year 1498. and not long after cubagna , where the spaniards erected a colony , which they adopted into the name of new-cadiz● but in the year 1521. the convent of franciscans on the opposite shore being destroyed by the savages of cumana , infused so much terrour and astonishment into the spaniards , that they abandoned the island , and fled to hispaniola ; but were commanded back again by the council there under the command of james de castellon , by whom the town was adorned with more beauty , and improved to more strength than it enjoyed since the first plantation . both these islands were under a signal repute , and much frequented , whilest the charms & magick of the pearl-fishing did invite the spaniards hither ; but that being decayed , the flourishing condition of these two islands is shrunk into neglect , and languished away with it ; and the mid-land parts of these two islands being destitute of grasse and water , and by consequence , of cattle , and there being nothing kept up in reserve which might attract either new resort or commerce , they quickly grew over-grown with solitude and desolation ; so that these two islands have been compar'd to some profuse gallants , who spend all upon the back , but nothing upon the belly , having their out-sides laced with pearl , but within nothing but want and hunger . the spanish interest on the continent of america . paria is the first which exacts our notice . it is bounded on the east with guiana , and the islands in the mouth of the river of orenoque , on the west with the gulfe or bay of venezuela , and part of the new realm of granada , on the north with the atlantick ocean , or mare del noort ; the countries on the south being hitherto not discovered . it is called paria from its eminent situation , paria in the american dialect importing high hills or mountains , ( for here begins that chain of hills which are from thence continued to the straights of magellan for the distance of 3600. miles ) cumana , and venezuela are limbs or provinces of this paria . cumana hath on the east the gulf of paria , and the river of orenoque , on the west venezuela , on the north and south it is circumscribed as before . it was first discovered in the third voyage of columbus , but the possession was first taken by two dominicans , who out of a zeal to disperse the mists of infidelity in paria , by the irradiation of the gospel , established a little cell in the place , where after in the year 1513. the borough of cumana was erected ; and certainly their religious intentions had been reduced to perfection , had not the avarice and treachery of some spaniards subverted it , who having brought the chief of one of their tribes with his wife and train into captivity , so enraged the natives , that nothing but the death of the two monks could expiate this affront ; but their death was recompensed with revenge by alfonso de oieda in the year 1520. but he himself not long after fell a sacrifice to the fury of the savages ; and with him perished two convents of dominican and franciscan friers , which had been established here in the year 1518. to repair these prejudices , and peece up the colony , a second supply is employed hither under the conduct of gonsalvo de ocampo , who beheads one of their kings , hangs some of the people and depopulates the country . but this force being likewise dissipated and broken , diego de castellon is commanded by the council resident in hispaniola , to secure the possession of the country ; by whom the castle first , and secondly the borough of cumana was both built and planted . afterwards the castle st. michael de neueri was erected by hierome de ortal , which fo●tifications and strengths have so asserted the interest of the spaniard in this province , that it is yet under the signory & scepter of that monarch . venezuela ▪ the second province of paria , is shut in on the east with cumana , and on the west it is chained in with the bay of venezuela , the lake of maracaybo , and the new realm of granada . it was first discovered by columbus , but first discoveries being like the designs of chymists in their quest of ●old , much in projection but little in perfection ; it was afterwards perfected and brought to some accomplishment by alfonso de oieda , who having found a borough of savages to which there was no passage feasible but by a boat , being circumscribed with waters , he stiled it venezuela , the word importing as much as little venice . afterwards john de anpuez was in the year 1527. by the council of hispaniola employed to secure this province thus discovered , with forts and colonies , to the dominion of the the crown of spain ; and thus it remained untill charles the fifth , being obliged by his necessities , had taken up vast sums of money of the velsers , a wealthy family of augspurg , mortgaged this province to them as their security untill they were reimburs'd , and by them was ambrose alfinger employed with 400 foot and 80. horse , to take possession ; but he and his sucessors ▪ filling the whole country with rapine and devastation , the council of domingo being zealous in the reduction of this province to perfect obedience and civility , designed one john de caravayall in the year 1545. for that employment , who having out-vied his predecessor in all excesse and disorder , was supplanted and outed by one john pe●ez de tolosa , sent over likewise by the council of hispaniola , by whose prudence and conduct this province was brought to conform to order and government . in the year 1550. the negroe , being transported out of africk in great multitudes into this province , endevoured a mutiny , but their treasonable designs being discovered , they were for the most part offered up to the sword of justice ; after these distempers and concussions the country was in short time so thorowly planted , and the natives in their several tribes so exemplarily encouraged by exempting them from taxes and other pressures , that peace , plenty , and contentment have ever since waited upon this province , under the government of the king of spain . guiana is bounded on the east with the main atlantick ocean , on the west it is hem'd in with the mountains of peru , or rather some undiscovered countries interposed betwixt them ; on the north with the river of orenoque , and on the south with that of the amazons ; it is assirmed by authors of approved esteem that it is called wiana from the river wia , and by the dutch who cannot melt the w into a , in their dialect guiana , the g. being more naturally proportioned and shaped to the genius of their pro●●nciation . rio●e ●as amazones , called likewise orellana , was first discovered by orellana lieutenant to gonzales pizarro , from whom it extracted its name : this pizarro moved with the noise of some rich countries beyond the andes , he collected a considerable force and passed those mountains ( where being necessitated by the want of provisions ( they framed a boat ▪ and employed orellana abovesaid to bring in provisions ; but the river he engaged in was of that course , that being debarr'd of return , he obey'd his fate , and follow'd the stream from the beginning of january to the end of august 1540. and at last descended into the sea , and arriving in the isle of cubagna sailed into spain ; in his passage some masculine women shewed themselves active to oppose his landing , inter-mixt with men , and in some places he found men with long hair like women ; either of which relations might foment that report which affirmed these parts to be held by amazons . but to return , in the year 1549. he obtained a commission from the court of spain for the conquest of these countries , and immediately undertook the employment ; but though he found one of the mouthes of the river , yet he could never attaque that channel , though often attempted , which conducted him before to the sea. this ill successe , waited on with the losse of his fame and fortune , filled him with that regret and discomposure , that the lord of sorrow sunk him into his sepulchre , having bequeathed to posterity the honour of the first discovery . this enterprize was prosecuted with the same fruitlesse successe , by one pedro de orsna in the year 1560. since which the spanish hopes being blasted with these discouragements , they have abandoned the design and given it over . the coast and river of orenoque with the several nations that dwell on the margin and fringes of it , as namely , the capuri , and macureos , with the tivitivas , assawy , saymae , wikeri , aroras , and ar●ac● , were first discovered by diego de ordas , anno do● . 1531. furnished with a patent for the conquest of this track , by charles the fifth , but missing the true channel , and being not able to level those difficulties which did intercept his design , he returned into spain , effecting nothing , but opening the way to others . followed herein by hierome de ortal , anno 1533. and after anno 1536. by herrera , who advanced his progresse farther then the others , and finally by gonsalvo ximenes de quesada : and antonio berreo , with more auspicious fortune waiting upon their designs , who commencing their journy from the new realm of granada in the search of guiana , sell casually into this great river , as orellana did before into that of the amazons . but yet not perfectly discovered untill the year 1595. in which sir walter raleigh having taken prisoner this antonio berreo , and taking an account of him of his expedition , resolved upon the undertaking , and searched so far into the country , by the course and conduct of this river , that some have since imposed the name of raliana upon it . the businesse next year was prosecuted by capt. lawrence ke●is , who by the influence and employment of sir walter raleigh embarqued himself in that attempt , but the spaniard , having unravel'd his design , dispersed and scattered the natives which favored the english , and made good their interest here with such vigorous opposition , that he was forced to return without any other effect of his journy then the finding out the true mouth of the river of orenoque , which owes it self to his discovery . after this the spaniards the more to secure their concernment here , erected st. thome , situate on the main channel of the river , a town consisting in the bulk of it but of 140. houses , stretched out in extent ( though meanly built ) the distance of half a mile , which in the year 1617. was sack'd by sir walter raleigh , not without the losse of his son and a considerable part of his forces , who at his return into england , to expiate this affront offered to the spaniurd , was excuted upon a former attainder octob. 29. 1618. though some lawyers of that age did assert , that the investing him by commission with the power of general , did absolve him from all former guilt of high treason , upon whose tomb stone the character dropped upon his memory by the learned cambde● in his annals may be endorsed as an eternal epitaph ; vir erat nunquam sat is laudato studio , & regiones remot as detegendi , & navalem gloriam promovendi : and so having opened the sepulchre of this great man , i again close it up and leave him in his bed of rest , and proceed . in the year 1629. the town of st. thome above-mentioned was again invaded and ransacked by the hollander , but being abandoned not long after , it was repossessed by the spaniard , and remains in obedience with the country adjacent at this instant under the crown of spain , there is an island at the mouth of the river of orenoque called trinidado , or insula trinitatis , being situated opposite to paria , from which it is divided by a frith or straight by columbus , who in his third voyage anno 1497. first discovered this island called boca del drago , or the dragons mouth , from the difficulty and danger of the passage of it , the frith or straight is but three miles over , yet made more narrow by the interposition of four or five little islands , which the sea breaks thorough with great impetuousnesse , leaving only two entrances for shipping into the gulf , called the gulf of paria . there is nothing more memorable in the story and fortunes of this island , but that it abounds with maiz , sugar-canes , cotten-wooll , excellent tobacco , sufficiencie of fruit and cattel for the use of the natives , and some veins of gold and other metals , as likewise such abundance of pitch that innumerable ships might be laden with it , but that it is conceived to be unfit for the calking of ships , because it ●oftens in the sun : the principal town of the island is joseph's , patch'd up of forty houses , yet the spanish governour who hath here his residence , besides this island , stretches his command ( as is intimated by his titles ) over the two provinces of el dorado and guiana . paraguay is bounded on the south with magellanica , on the east with the main atlantick , on the north with brasil , on the west it is shut in with some unknown countries that interpose between it and chile . it hath borrowed this appellation from paraguay one of the greatest rivers in the world which runneth through this province , which with the adjacent country is by the spaniards christned by the name of rio de plata , from the great abundance of silver they expected from it . it is divided into the three provinces of rio de plata , tucuman , and s. crux de sierra . the soil is productive of maiz , wine , sugar-canes , and other american fruits ; blest with an increase of cattel , especially of kine and horses brought out of spain , multiplying here to a strange improvement : not unfurnished of mines of brasse and iron , some veins of gold and silver , and great plenty of amethists . it contains likewise great plenty of stags , and of monkeys incredible numbers ; not to say any thing of lions , tygers , and other such destructive animals , a few of this noxious register being thought too many . these provinces were first discover'd by john diaz de solis , anno 1515. afterwards the discovery was reduced to a more eminent perfection by a farther prosecution by sebastian cabot , in the year 1526. but wanting that happy conclusion that a design of this nature did seem to exact , its discovery was reassum'd by pedro de mendosa in the year 1535. but still his undertakings were not so matur'd and digested but that they were left to be brought to a final period by alvarez nonnez , who in the year 1540. having fully perfected the discovery and conquest of these territories , hath left the possession ever since to be enjoyed by the succeeding kings of spain . chile is shut in on the north with the desart of alacama extended 90. leagues in length , interposing betwixt it and peru , on the west with mare del zur , on the south with the straights of magellan , and on the east as far as to rio de la plata , with the main atlantick ocean . the soile hereof towards the midland is mountainous and unfruitfull , towards the sea-side levell and fertile , made so by rivers distilling from the mountains , productive of maiz , wheat , and excellent pasturage , not defective in plenty of gold , abundance of hony , store of cattel , and wine enough for the use of the people ; the vines and all other plants which are transported hither out of spain , enriching the industry of the inhabitants with a thriving and successful fertility . the people are of a white complexion , but shaggy hair'd like the rest of the savages , of a tall and gigantick stature , well conditioned and qualified unlesse provoked , they are armed with bows and arrows , and are attired with the skins of beasts , the climate exacting it ; this country being called chile from the word chill , which in more tongues than ours , doth signifie cold ; indeed the air of this territory is so exposed to the violence of frosts , that many times both horses and men are congealed , and hardned like a peice of marble . it is divided into chile , properly so called , and magellanica . the first province was discovered by almagro de alvarado , but conquered by baldivia , anno 1544. and he with the concurrent assistance of garcias de mendoza , the more to secure the spanish acquists in this track , about the year 1551. strewed it with the colonies of serena , st. jago delos confines , imperiale ( so stiled by the spaniards , because they found on the dores of some houses an eagle insculped in wood , the relique perchance of some german ship-wrack ) villa rica , baldivia osor●o , castro , st. juan de la frontera , and other colonies ; and though the savages ( worried by some affronts of the spaniards ) flew to arms , and not only in a successful encounter slew baldivia , but about the years 1599. and 1604. being better furnished with military provisions , sacked the town of baldivia , forced imperial● to surrender without conditions , and reduced osorno by famine , yet in times subsequent to this , the spaniards so vindicated their interest here , that a considerable part of this province is yet held in obedience to the spanish scepter . magellanica is a province which for the most part is not onely interlaced and bunch'd out with mountains , but condemned to cold and barrennesse , abounding with men of a huge proportion and gigantick stature . it was stiled so from the dangerous gulf or straight which washes the south parts of it , and was discovered by ferdinand magellan 1520. but the first discovery being imperfect , it was endevoured to be improved by don pedro de sarmiento , who entered the gulf 1584. and planted two colonies on the most convenient parts of that straight which he named nombre de jesus , and cividad del roy philip , which he resolv'd to fortifie and store with canon . but winter approaching , he left his men , promising to supply them upon his return with a recruit of necessary provisions to inforce their increasing hopes ; but after struggling with many storms , shipwrecks , and disappointments , his unhappy fate cast him into captivity under sir walter raleigh , so that his two plantations shrunk into ruine , the men either mouldering away with diseases , or else being destroyed by the savages ; so that the design of planting this province hath ever since been abandoned . peru is bounded on the fast with that vast chain of mountains they call the andes on the west with mare del zur , on the north with some part of the realm of new granada , on the south with chile . it hath extracted its name from the river peru , which being one of the first of note the spaniards met with in their pursuit of this country , invited them to impose this name upon the whole . it is divided into the plains , the mountainous countryes , and the andes ; all of so different a nature one from the other , as if they were far distant , both in sight and soile ; the plains extended on the sea-shore are in all places levell without hills , the andes a continual ridge of hills without any vallies , the hill-countryes are composed of both . in the plains it seldom raines ; on the andes almost continually ; on the hill countries rain distils from september to april , and then is ushered in a constant fair weather . in the hill countries the summer begins in april and concludes in september . in the plaines their summer commences from october and determines in aprill . the andes are clothed with woods and forrests , but the hill-countries are bare and naked ; the plains though refreshed with store of rivers , are yet dry , barren and sandy . in some parts of the hill-countries though there is a destitution of rivers and rain but seldome , there is a copious production of roots , maiz-fruit , and all other necessaries : in the plaines there never blows any but the southern wind , though it is the harbinger to no rain ; in the hills the winds breath from every quarter and coast , and of every nature , some ushering in raine , some snow , some claps of thunder , and some again being the parent of fair weather . as for the country it self though it be productive of a narrow increase of wheat , yet is it of a large plenty of roots ( the principal food of the inhabitants ) some proportion of maiz , and plenty of cocas , the leaves whereof being dried and formed into lozenges , are exceeding useful in a journey , for melting in the mouth they appease both hunger and thirst , and preserve a man in his strength , and his spirits in vigor ; and though the cattel of europe brought hither in a considerable quantity , are not multiplyed to any great increase , yet is that defect supplied by beasts called vicagues , in resemblance somewhat like a wilde goat , which in infinite numbers graze in their woods and pastures ; and great store of sheep by the natives called pacos , profitable for fleece and burden , as big as a small breed of horses , but in relish as pleasing as our mutton , and no lesse conducing to nutriment . a creature so well acquainted with his own abilities , that when he is over-pressed with a burden , no force or violence shall engage him to move forward untill his load be abated ; and of so cheap a diet , that very litle suffices him , passing sometimes for the continuance of three dayes without any water . nor is the peruvian fig-tree to be forgoten , the north-part of which respecting the mountains produces its fruits in summer onely ; the southern part having an aspect upon the sea , is fruitful onely in winter : and secondly that beast called the huanacu , exacts our remembrance , of that regard to their females that the males stand sentinel on the hills , whilest they are feeding in the vallies , and if any men approach , they by some clamorous notice intimate to them the invasion , and if they are pursued they descend to bring up the rear , that by interposing their own bodies , they may secure their retreat from danger . another plant the relations of peru informe us of , but do not discover the name , which being placed in the hand of a sick man will by some symptomes give testimony whether he shall live or die , for if on the pressing of it his visage be cheerful , it is an assured sign of his recovery ; as otherwise , if sad and troubled , a certain index of ensuing death . nor is peru defective in rarities of nature even in things inanimate , for here is affirmed to be a lake near the mines of pot●si , whose water is so hot , though the circumabient region be exceeding cold , that they who bath themselves are not able to sustain its heat if they depart and wade some distance from the bank , there being a boyling in the midst of above twenty foot square ; a lake which never does decrease though they have drawn a considerable stream to be subservient to their mines of silver . as for the inhabitants , they are people of no great knowledge , yet great dissemblers , being never drawn to discover their conceptions freely . they are ignorant of letters , but bold in war , and dexterous in the managery of those weapons they have been accustomed to , nor do they resent death with any fear , being prompted to this confidence by an opinion that after death they shall eat , drink , and make their love & addresses to women . at the funeral of any eminent person they offer up one or two of his servants as an oblation to his sepulchre ( being egged on to this inhumanity by the former opinion ) to attend him in the world to come . in their habit they are conformable to other savages , onely those attire their upper parts with some decent garment , but expose the other members to publique view , being bare and naked . but this is onely near the aequator , both sexes else wearing mantles pendulous to their feet , habited generally in one fashion , unlesse in the attire of their heads , wherein they almost all disagree from each other , each retaining his mode to himself . the women here are treated as slaves , and sometimes upon trivial accidents cruelly beaten , the men being prompted to this barbaritie by being given up to sodomie , and other unnatural uncleannesse . peru is divided into quito , a province of a fertile soile well stored with cattel , plentifully furnished with fish and fowl , great quantity of nitre , and replenished with rivers , some of which have their sand enamelled with veins of gold ; the people are strong and healthy , industrious in the making of cottens almost proportionate to silk in finenesse , but given to dissembling , the disorders of drink , and other vices , which renders it difficult to reclaim them from their ancient barbarisme , and makes them unapt for any tincture or impression of the christian faith. secondly , los quix●s , somewhat more barren then quit● , whose people have distinct a tongue of their own , though they both understand and speak the common per●vian language . thirdly , lima or los reys , ennobled with the mines of castro verreyna , from whence is extracted silver of the purest complexion . fourthly , cusco , a province blest with a calme and temperate air , not fretted or over-scalded with the scorching reflections of the sun , nor made drowsy & dull with the distempers of evening mists , and whose soile is full of rivers and pasturage , which makes it to be furnished with deer and other herds of cattel ; nor is it wanting in coca which is here gathered in some abundance , or defective in mines of gold or quick-silver , very subservient to the easie extraction and purifying of the former noble metal ; the first being discovered at st. juan del ore in the valley of carravayan , and the second being traced out in the year 1566 near the town of guancabelica . fifthly , callao , a country well stored with fertile pastures , and those pastures furnished with herds of cattel , but barren of corn , and not well furnished with maiz , whose defect is supplied by bread composed of a root call'd ropa , dryed in the sun bruised to powder ; its inhabitants are of a more clear and solid judgement then the rest of peru , and so dextrous in the observations of the course of the moon , that the spaniards upon their first discovery of this province , found the year distinguished into months , days , and years , for each of which they had a proper and significant name . in this province is the so much fam'd lake of titicaca , in which twelve rivers are reported to lose themselves , in compasse 80. leagues , and usually navigable with barks and ships ; the waters are not so salt as that of the sea , but so thick that they are in no capacity to be drank . by a fair water-course or river i● glides into a lesse lake called aulaga , and thence most probably by some indistinguishable recesses empties it self into the sea. sixthly , los ch●rc●s , a province not very plentiful in corn or cattel , though in many places furnished with excellent pasturage ; but its eminence arises from the inexhaustible mines of porco and p●tosi , which makes it to be unparrallel'd with any province in peru. the mine of potosi is two hundred fathom deep , to which they do descend with ladders made of raw hides eight hundred steps , some of the workmen not seeing the sun many months together . for the refining of this silver there are 52. engines or silver-mills upon a river near unto it , 22. more in the valley of tarapia near adjoyning , besides many which they turn with horses ; and from these peruvian mines as from some bottomlesse exchequer does the king of spain load that fleet whence he extracts so much income and profit . peru and the provinces circumscribed within the limits of it were discovered and conquered from arabaliba the inga or emperour of peru by pizarr● & his complice diego de almagr● 1528. first of which ( more to secure his conquests ) erected lima , truxillo ( named so from truxillo a village in navarre where pizarr● was born and educated ) arned● and other colonies , but yet the conquest was not so perfected by these two commanders above-mentioned , but that gil●s ramirez first in the year 1559 ▪ and don francis de toledo afterwards in the year 1565. by building of oropes● in charra● , and establishing colonies in the other provinces , brought this vast kingdome to the full obedience of the spanish scepter . nova granada , or the new realm of granada is shut in on the north with castella aurea , on the west with mare del zur , on the east with venezuela , on the south with the hills and unpassible mountains and countries not yet discovered . it is divided into granada , properly so called , and popayna . granada hath an air well tempered , the country is full of woods , amongst which guia●um so medicinable for the malady of france , grows in great abundance ; the soil is of great fertility , well stored with corn and pasturage , which affords a feeding to many herds of cattell ; it is enriched likewise with some veins of gold and other metals , and that part which is called tunia exhibits plenty of emeralds . the people are tall and strong of constitution , but not very industrious , they wholly devoting their time to songs and dances . the women are of a white and more clear complexion than their neighbours , and more handsomely attired , being apparelled in black or party-coloured mantles girt about their middles , their hair ●ied up and covered with chaplets artificially composed and intermixed with flowers . popayna is a country which being over-cloid with rain produces little maiz , lesse wheat , and almost no cattel . the people were anciently man-eaters and as rude as any , now more industrious and accostable than the other americans , especially about popayana where the soile is better tempered then in other places . both these provinces were reduced to the signorie of spain by gonsalvo ximines de quesada and sebastian de betalcasar , the first sub●ued granada 1536. and the last mastered popayana not long after , and styled it so from the name of a king which then governed it at the conquest by the command and influence of francis pizarro governour of peru. castilia del oro is bounded on the east and north with mare del noort , on the west with mare del zur , and some part of veragua , on the south with the new realme of granada . it is divided into panama darie●e , nova andalusia , st martha , and rio de la hach . panama hath an air foggy but exceeding hot , and consequently , the soil is either mountainous and barren , or low and mirey ; naturally uncapable of grain , and productive onely of maiz , and that but sparingly ; more devoted to pasturage & the goodness of it : upon the first approach of the spaniard , the country was almost over-run with swine , but being destroyed , that nation now complains as much of their defect , as they did before of their abundance . as for the inhabitants , most of the old stock being almost rooted out by the spanish massacres , and no new ones planted in their room , the country in all parts , except towards the sea , is almost desolate and forsaken . darie●e hath an air well tempered and a fruitful soil , very happy in the production of melons and other fruits , ripening here in twenty dayes after they are sown , and with the same felicity does it yeild an increase of grapes , either congenial hereunto , or else transported from europe . a tree here is called hov● whose shade is reputed so wholsome that the spaniards covet to sleep under the shadow ; out of the blossoms they distill a perfumed water ; out of the bark they compose a bath prevalent to open the pores and redresse wearinesse ; and out of the roots they extract a liquor fit for beverage ; of beasts and fowl both wilde and tame , there is exceeding plenty , and some of them not discoverable in other places . nova andalusia is mountainous and full of woods , but those woods abound with great store of rosin-gums , and ●ome kind of balsams . here is said to be a tree which whosoever touches is in danger to contract a ruine by poyson . our europian fruits transplanted hither prosper not , because the soile being obnoxious to abundance of rain , becomes moist and soggie . this province is interlaced with few veins of gold , onely in that part of it which is called zena ; the spaniards at their first arrival found much treasure not digg'd out of the entrails of the earth , but deposited in the tombs and repositories of the dead , such being the reputed sanctity of this region , that the bordering nations brought their dead to be enterred here , with great quantity of gold , jewels , and other riches . the natives were fierce and bold whilst they were a people , but being wasted in those contests which intervened between them and the spaniards , the populacy of this province is now thin and empty , and their courage much broken and debased . st. martha hath a soil barren and unfruitful not capable of pasturage or tillage , it being made knotty by a long ridge of mountains , called by the spaniards , la● sierras nievadas , or the snowy hills ; yet notwithstanding the air which hovers on the sea-coast is in its temper hot and scalding , though it be again fann'd and qualified with the breezes of the mid-land parts which are cold and freezing ; which combination of heat and cold , peradventure renders the soile productive of limons , oringes , pomgranates , and such other fruits as are transplanted or transported out of spain . the inhabitants are affirmed to be of a rough and arrogant nature , some of whom by the advantage of the mountains of tairona , called so from a neighbouring valley of that name , have preserved their liberty against the spaniard ; the residue , though they retain their several kings are yet in subjection to the spaniard ; whose government they submit to with much unwillingnesse and regret . rio de la hacha is a fifth province which summons our notice . it is a territory of a small circuit , confining on the north-east of st. martha , environed on two sides with the main ocean , and on the third , which is that of the east , shut in with the spacious arm of the sea called golfo de venezuela , the extremities hereof north west , have borrowed the denomination of cabo la vela , and those on the north-east the appellation of cabodi coqui boccoa . the whole province borrowed its name from the town and river of la hacha , which though it be but narrow in its dimension and estimate , yet is it big enough to afford a title to so small a province . the soil which embraces the town is exceeding rich , giving increase to all such plants as are transported from spain , being enamelled with veins of gold , studded with some gems of much worth , value , and virtue , and likewise well replenished with wiches which are fitted and proportioned to the production of excellent salt : the inh●bitants both in the dimension of body and quality of nature differ not much from those of st. martha , from which this province is divorced by no great distance . panama , nova andalusia , and dariena , now annexed to panama , were first discovered on the north-side by columbus about the year 1508. dariena and panama were afterwards imperfectly conquered by didaco ni●uesa ; and nova andalusia as lamely subdued by alfonso oreda : but the complete and perfect reduction of these provinces to the obedience of the crown of spain , in whose patrimony they have been ever since resident , was reserved to the victories of eucisus , balboa , and pedro d'avila . the two praefectures of st. martha , and rio de la hacha , were brought under the dominion of the spanish scepter by the successful managery of the arms of that nation by francisco vasquez ; and being thus reduced , have been ever since constantly subservient to the commands and interest of the successive monarchs of spain . guatimala is environed on the north with jucutan and the gulf of honduras , on the south with mare del zur , on the east with castilia del oro , on the west with new spain . it is resolved into six more subordinate provinces , namely , chiapa , verapaz , guatimala properly so called , honduras , nicaragua , and lastly veragu● . chiapa hath a soil not very productive of corn or fruit , though that valley which is contiguous to the town of chiapa is well replenished with pears , apples , wheat , and maiz ; herbs , beans , and lentils transported from spain thrive here to a plentiful increase , yet vines seldome arrive here to any maturity , though wood-vines there are besides , which afford a pleasant pulpe , and if they were well managed might repay the labourers industry with a nobler profit . their trees , as pines , oakes , cedars , and the cypresse are of greater dimension then in other places ; here are entire woods of walnut-trees , but the nut is not of that quantity as those of europe ; some trees distil rosin , some such balsamick-gums as in other parts are not customary , and some there are whole leaves being dry'd into powder , contribute a soveraign plaister against inveterate ulcers : and indeed this country being stored with snakes and other venomous creatures , doth often exact such defensatives against their poyson which is fatally deadly . here is a considerable production of cochineele . the inhabitants are more devoted to musick , and become more exact in painting than the rest of the natives . verapaz is a province distinguished into eminent hills and deep vallies , but defective in fruitfull valleys . it is generally overspread with woods very large and thick , which so disturb the free passage of the winds , that the air is much exposed to showers , insomuch that nine months in the year are moist with continual raine , nor are the other three altogether secure from it ; which excesse of moisture engenders many mesqueto's injurious and destructive to fruit , with which , and with fish and other necessaries this province is redundant . in stead of mines of gold and silver not yet discovered , some trees here pour out a kind of amber , which the natives style liquid amber ; some mastick and other gums ; nor is here any defect of medicinal woods , as sarsa-parilla , china , and many others of the like nature . the natives are tractable in their conformity to the spanish discipline , unlesse the le●andones and pachuteci , being some broken remains of the ancient salvages , who immuring themselves in the craggy fastnesses of this country , have at once asserted their native freedom against the onsets of the spaniards , and retained their ancient idolatry , there being but fourteen villages in all this province in which the spaniards have mingled with the old inhabitants . guatimala properly so called , is a province not only embost with mountains , but likewise interlaced with many rive●s , which renders the country commodious both for fishing and hunting . productive it is of wheat , maiz , and other provisions not durable ; it is not so much exposed to raine , as the neighbouring provin●e of verapaz , but more infested with winds . it contains plenty of rich and fertile pastures , and those covered with great herds of cattel . it contributes store of cotten-wooll , some balsam and other medicinable liquors ; it transmits the best sulphur , and other healthful drugs , whose register i am ignorant of . the people are full of fear and pusilanimity , yet seem greater poficients in christianity and civility then the residue of the salvages , yet very prone to relapse again to paganisme and infidelity , and as propense to revive again their old barbarous customes , if the curb of power and bridle of authority , did not with an awfull fear restrain this apostacy . the men are affirmed to be dextrous in archerie , and the women skilful in spinning . honduras is a fourth province of guatimala , a country so swoln with hills or depressed with vallies , that it affords little champaigne , yet is productive of maiz and wheat , and of rich pasturage , improved to that fertility by the constant over-flowings of their rivers about michaelmas . some mines of gold are affirmed to be wrapped up in the entrails of the earth not yet discovered ; the inhabitants being made so unactive with sloth and idlenesse , that they had rather subsist by roots , the common stock of nature , then by the more industrious design of tillage , and therefore not easily charmed to toyle for others , that will not labour for their own necessities . nicaragua is a fifth province which claims our consideration . it is a country destitute of rivers unlesse where it is linked to costa ric● , which is it self marshall'd under the notion of a province . the defect of which is supplied by a great lake called the lake of nicaragua , one hundred and twenty leagues in compasse , ebbing and flowing like the sea. it is not much enriched with corn , but abounding in herds of cattell , who have a soil to graze on levell and champaign , but cooled with the shadow of frequent trees ; one amongst the residue is of that nice constitution , that a man cannot touch it in any part but it pre●ently withers . vulgar relations assert this province to be as well replenished with parrots as england with crows ; it is stored with plenty of cotten-wooll , and a numerous product of sugar-canes . indeed the country is so ennobled with all things that may either improve delight or contribute to necessity , that the spaniards have imposed upon it the title of mahomet's paradise . the inhabitants are generally knowing in the spanish dialect , to the garb , behaviour and apparel of which nation they willingly conforme themselves ; well retriv'd from their old barbarous customes , which are still retained by those mountainers , they call cho●tales . they are all of a considerable stature , and of a complexion indifferently white . before their reduction to christianity , they were knit together by a politique form of government , onely as the romans had no determined law or punishment for a man that destroyed his father , so had these none for the killer of a king , both of them judging that men could not be so unnatural as to act either parricide or regicide . a theif they condemned not to death , but decreed he should be slave to that person he had injured , till by his service his crime was expiated with just satisfaction : a course both prudential and merciful . veragua is the last province in guatimala which extracts our inspection . the name which was imposed upon it , was extracted from veragua , the most considerable river in it at the first discovery . this country is knotted with mountains , and has a soil condemned to barrennesse , in no capacity for tillage , and lesse useful for the feeding of cattel , yet is sufficiently productive of maiz and herbage , but else very thrifty in other necessaries which conduce to the life of man ; but to recompense this ingrateful indigencie and penury of soil , the bowels of the earth treasure up in their cells and gloomy repositories , as in some inexhaustible exchequer , never perishing mines of gold and silver . the inhabitants are of a warlike and irrefragable spirit , sufficiently testified by their undaunted courage in bearing the spanish yoke with that regret and reluctancy as they do at this instant ; it being observable , that the most untameable and untractable nations have been the inhabitants of woody and mountainous countryes ; the last being bulwarks cast up at gods own charges to secure them from the onsets of any forraign violence . this country entitles its discovery to diverse men , according to the several members and divisions of it ; veragua , though the last of these provinces which were conquered , had the honour to be first visited by columbus , who in the year 1502. driving up and down on these coasts was cast on the entrances of that river on which he afterwards imposed the name of ●elen , where ( hearing that there was golden treasures in the mines of hurira not far distant ) he intended to fortifie ; but his designs being superseded by a defect of provisions to to sustain his followers , the further discovery of guatimala was abandoned , being reserved to the fortunate and vigorous undertaking of ferdinand corte● , who having fully setled and composed the affairs of mexico , determined to make the residue of america bow to the commands of the spanish scepter . and to reduce these intentions of his to perfection , he employed his officers and commanders into several parts , guatimala was discovered and reduced by pedr● de alvarado ; honduras was conquered by christopher de olid ; nicaragua and verag●a were subdued by gonsalvo de corduba ; and lastly , vera paz was won to christianity , and the spanish obedience together , by the preaching of some d●minican friers of that nation . but cortez distrusting that some new revolt or defection might tear these provinces from the spanish dominion , resolved to secure his new concernments by a personal visit ; and to fortifie , and second this design in the year 1524. he collected a body of fifteen hundred horse , and as many spanish foot , with an addition of three thousand mexicans , and advancing into guatimala , he continued his progresse as far as truxillo , where finding that gonsalvo de cordova had so composed affairs , that there was no farther need of his conduct or assistance , he with his little army in the year 1526. retreated to mexico , leaving these provinces before recited , firmly fastned and annexed by an happy conquest ( as they have continued ever since ) to the dominion and command of the diadem of spain . nova hispania . nova hispania is circumscribed on the east with a spacious arm of the sea called the bay of new spain , and the gulf of mexico ; on the west it is shut in with some parts of nova gallicia and mare del zur ; on the north with another part of nova gallicia , some part of florida and the gulf ; on the south with mar● del zur , or the south sea ; from the discovery of these new acquists , the kings of spain style themselves reges hispaniarum , in the plural number . the air of this whole continent , as to the generality or principall part of it , is temperate enough , though placed under the torrid zone , the heat being much qualified by the fannings of those continual breezes which breath upon it from three confines of the sea ; this refrigerium or abatement of heat being much inforc'd by that continual flux of rain which distils upon the earth in those hotter months of june , july and august . the entrails of this soile treasure up in themselves mines of gold and silver , and some of brasse and iron ; nor is the surface of it more ungrateful to the industry of the inhabitants , here being a copious plenty of wheat , barly , pulse of all sorts , and of such plants and roots as are nourished for the use of the kitchin , maiz in a fertile quantity ; nor is the production lesse of other plants unknown to europe ; pomgranats , oringes , limons , citrons , malacatons , figs and cherries , do here enrich their owners even with superfluous increase ; apples and pears are more thrifty in their fertility , and grapes no lesse , and those which arrive to maturity are unfit for the composition of wine . of beasts and birds both wilde and ●ame , there is a fruitful account : but that which most ennobles it is the plenty of coco-nuts , the abundance of cassia , and the wonderful increase of cochineel , which hath been improved to that quantity , that five thousand six hundred and seventy arroba's of it ( each arroba comprehending twenty five bushels of our english measure ) have been transported into europe , ● drug of a very inconsiderable extraction , for it grows upon a small tree or shrub shadowed with thick leaves called a tuna , in their institution planted and order'd as the french do their vines , out of the seed hereof issues a worme , in its bulk , when extended to the greatest proportion not exceeding our lady-cows , whom they much resemble ; which receiving their food from the leaves , and over-spreading the ground with their number , are collected into heaps twice in the year by the natives , stifled with ashes , or mortified with water , and after this tragedy , being dried and reduced into powder , make up that cargo which is transported into europe . nova hispania is distinguished into six provinces , the register of which follows , namely panuco , mexicana , mechoacan , tlascala , guaxata , and jucutan . all which are not alike in all places as to the constitution of the soil and air , which is so different in these provinces , that in such ▪ parts of them as are hot and dry , their seed time is in april or may , their harvest in october ; but in that division of this continent as is low and moist , they entrust their corn to the earth in october , and reap its product in april or may ; thus two ▪ harvests in a year , ( and yet but one if we consider their alternate and successive vicessitudes ) in this region are the result of the husband-mans industrious tillage . the ancient and original inhabitants of this track were the chichimeca's and ottomies , who were disseised by the navatlacos , resolv'd ●nd digested into seven tribes , which are thus registred in their catalogue , the sachimilci , ●he chalchae , the tepenecae , the culvae , the tla●uici , the tlascaltecae ; all of which were setled ●n this track , and five of them upon the mar●in of the lake of mexico , before the eruption of the mexicans , so styl'd from mexi their prin●ipal leader , who much charmed with the con●eniences and situation of temistitan , a city then ●n●ombed in a heap of ruines , caused it to be ●eedified and adopted it into his own family , ●tyling it mexico , which afterwards grew the metrapolis of this common-wealth ; the chiefs of six of the tribes managing the publique affairs ●n common after the fashion and mould of an aristocratical common-wealth , but the ty●annical prevalency of some tribes having by ●n over-poize made the power unequal , the mexicans , one of the most inconsiderable tribes , ●eing grated upon by the unjust and uneven pressures of the rest , separated themselves from the main body , and resigned up the administration and sway of their affairs to a king of their own , at first elected by themselves ; but when the prosperity of their prevailing arms had cast all these tribes but tlas●alla , under the scepters of acamapitzli , vitzovitzli , hulzi●ihuiel , chimal pupuca , iscoalt , motezuma , and others of their succeeding kings , the choice of the mexican monarchs was entrusted unto six , who as a common-council or senate represented the six tribes above-mentioned , and they still lodged the election upon the most active and magnanimous , and who were chiefly fitted for military designs and undertakings . although this spacious province be not barren in rarities , as namely , two mountains , one in the province of mexico , which vomits out fire , the second in that of guaxata , which disgo●ges from its heated entrails two burning streams , one of red pitch , the other of black ; yet the principal which exacts our notice , is that which they call magney or meto , a tree which they both plant and dresse as we do our vines ; it hath on it forty severall distinctions of leaves , which when tender , they compose into conserves , paper , flax , mantles , mats , shooes , girdles and cordage ; and these leaves are armed with prickles so strong and pungent , that the people use them in stead of saws . from the top of the tree issues a juice in consistence like a syrrup , which upon decoction puts on the shape of an hony ; and if purified , the form of sugar , out of which they extract both wine and vinegar . out of the bark , being roasted , is drawn a convenient plaister for wounds , bruises and sores ; and from the highest of the bowes distils an unctuous juice like a gum , which is a soveraign antidote to chastise the malignity of poyson . but i have digressed , i now return to the description of those provinces above mentioned ; and first panuco obviates our discovery , so called from panuco the chief river of it , which bubling out of the hills of tepecsuan , bordering upon cinoloa and couliacan , and dividing new biscay from the province of zocotecas , glides through the middle of this province , and so at last after many traverses disembogues it self into the gulf of mexico . it is divided into three lesser provinces called aiotuxetlan , chila , and a third whose name is not yet discovered . the soil is in some parts fruitful and productive of mines of gold , in others again lesse pregnant , and in the last provinces dry and unpleasant , being condemned to barrenness & infertility not from any intrinsique defect in the soil , but rather ( as it s thought ) from a want of inhabitants to cultivate the earth , who being active and couragious , rather than they would bow their necks to a forraign servitude , have been almost rooted out in those contests and encounters which were waged between them and cortez the spanish general . mechoacan , the second province , hath extracted its name from that plenty of fish their abundance of rivers and lakes afford them , the word importing in the native idiome locus piscosus or a country of fish. it is ennobled with an air so sweet and salubrious , that diseased people repair thither from distant countries to retrive their health , which is likewise promoted and inforced by the use of those medicinable hot baths which issue from rocks and other craggy repositories . the soil is plentifully productive of grain even to admiration . it is well wooded and full of excellent pastures , which are improved by the multiplicity of springs and rivers , nor does it yeild to any part of america for herbs and plants of an active and medicinal nature in the conquest and expulsion of diseases . it is likewise redundant with amber , mulbery-trees , wax , hony , and such other things as are subservient both to pompe and pleasure . the inhabitants are tall , strong , and active , of no contemptible ingenuity , as being dextro●s in the contexture of many manufactures , more pliant to the manners and habit of the spanish nation than any of the natives of new spain , the mexicans on●ly excepted , and of so propense an inclination to christianity , that by planting many parishes , and establishing many convents of dominican and augustine friers amongst them they are almost rescued from their old habituated idolatry . mexicana is the third province which obliges our consideration . the soil abundantly supplyes not only the inhabitants , but likewise numerous herds of cattel , with plenty of aliment ; nor is it defective in fruits , of which there is a liberal production . the inhabitants are industrious as to the care of their common subsistence , which commonly is supported by their copious stock of cattel , of which some private persons abound to such store , that their register amounts to forty thousand kine and oxen : nor are they lesse dextrous in extracting a livelyhood from fish , of which last they draw out such plenty from the lake of mexico alone , that the profits arising from this trade swell to a volume of twenty thousand crowns paid yearly into the king of spain's exchequer : they are ingenious likewise in those mechanical arts which here are professed , growing good handy-craftsmen , if they stoop so low as to trades ; becoming rich merchants , if they apply themselves to a more noble and profitable commerce ; and waxing hardy and valiant soldiers , if they are disciplin'd and imployed in service , having in times of more high ascent , very well managed the sling and arrowes their ancient arms , and in these modern ages as vigorously ( being enured to it by their spanish conquerours ) weild the harcubuize and pike which are their new . but the greatest glory and fame which both now & anciently did accrue to them , was their exquisite perfection in composing their feather pictures , turning every feather to the light every way , upwards and downwards , to discover in what posture it will best fit the place intended for ; secondly , their most accomplish'd expertnesse in refining their metals ; and thirdly , their curious designs in painting upon cotton , whatsoever was represented to the eye . but these virtues and perfections were stained and debauched with so barbarous a cruelty , that they thought no victime so fit could be offered up to appease the fury of their gods , as an oblation of humane sacrifices , so that it is no wonder if god permitted the spanish sword to ●ake such bloody ravage upon this people , as ● reward proportioned to recompense their inhumane butcheries , it being still very equal that the artificers of death should be caught in their own impious and injurious artifices . but ignorance and barbarity are still complicated and entwined , and so it was manifested here , for upon the first eruption of the spaniards , their misguided apprehensions esteemed them and their horses to be one peice , and when they neighed they demanded what they spake , ignorantly placing no distinction between neighing and speaking . guaxaca is a fourth province which falls under our cognisance . it hath assumed this name from guaxaca the principal town of these parts , now styled antequera . the air hereof is sound and salubrious , which hovers over a soile as fruitful , productive not onely of those commodities which it enjoyes in common with other provinces of this continent , but likewise blest with such plenty of mulberry-trees , that from thence is extracted such a quantity of silk , that if the natives paid their tithes ( as they do not ) the income which issued from thence , would afford a revenue competent enough to support five bishopricks . rivers are here very numerous , whose shores for the most part are enamelled with golden sand , nor is there here any deficiency of cochineele , cassia , silver , and other metals ; so that if the industry of the people were but correspondent to the fertility of the soil and wealth of the country , it might become as opulent as any province in america : but the natural sloth of the inhabitants makes them impatient of labour , and consequently intercepts all opportunities which may suggest an occasion of ama●●ing together any considerable estate ; yet notwithstanding this , they are of a tractable and docile capacity in relation to the impressions of the catholique faith , which hath encouraged the spaniard to establish here an hundred and twenty covents of dominican friers , and many other schools and seminaries of learning , that by their influence and concurrent assistance they might better improve the growth of christianity in this province . jucutan is a fifth province which calls for our remembrance . it hath borrowed this name from jucutan , which in the idiome or dialect of the country imports as much as what say you ? for when the spaniards at their first arrival demanded the name of the place , the natives answered , jucutan . the air which hovers over this country is hot , whose fervors are inforced from the destitution or want of rivers in this track , whose defect is supplied by the conservatories of artificial pits and channels . the soil is generally condemned to barrenne●s , not producing wheat , or any european fruits ; nor many of those which are of the natural extraction of america in other places . nor are its bowels more pregnant in mines of gold and silver or any other metalls , so that the general subsistence of this people , is principally supported by trades and mechanick operations . but that which makes this country most remarkable , is , that the spaniards upon their first approach discovered here some symptomes or glimpses of christianity , the people generally observing a constant form of baptisme , which in the native dialect is styled a second birth , expressing by that word a regeneration ; nor is any one permitted , to marry untill he hath the symboll of this initiation , which probably was some vestigium or relique of the christian religion left here behind by mad●c●ap owen , or some other christians by the disaster of some shipwrack cast upon this infortunate shore . tlascalla is that eminent province , which being one of the seven tribes , which having supplanted the ancient natives , the chichimechas , could never be reduced to the tyranny and usurpation of the kings of mexico , but still preserved themselves , notwithstanding their frequent eruptions in the liberty of a democracie or free state , and erected here the city of tlascalla , which as it gave name to , so it became the metrapolis of this province , and in this capacity they remained until the invasion of cortez made upon mexico , to whose assistance out of animosity to the mexicans , they and the inhabitants of zempoallan , another city of this province , contributed such large supplies both of men and other necessaries , that by their concurrence mexico was reduced and the scepter of that kingdom broken to peices ; and though they were forced afterwards to bow to the successful sword of the spaniard , yet do they preserve still some shadow of ancient liberty , being exempt from all kind of tribute , as a recompense of their former services , except it be an handfull of wheat for every person , and permitted to live under the protection of the former government . this province is abundantly stored with corn and cattell , every where strewed with rich pastures , and abundantly productive of mai● . it is levell and beaten out into an even champaigne , unlesse where it confines on the sea , where it is made gibbous and rugged with a chain of craggy mountains ; but indeed the fertility of the earth is very much inforced and multiplyed by those many rivers which stream almost through every vein of it . if we please to trace out those eminent persons to whose industry and navigation these provinces which lie clasped up within the verge of nova hispania do attribute their first discovery , we shall find that panuco and mechoacan were first attempted by francisco garaio , but their conquest was perfected by ferdinand cortez in the year 1522. jucutan was first discovered by ferdinand cordova in the year 1517. which discovery was in the year 1518. reinforced by john de grijalua , and persued likewise by the industrious designs of cortez , who about tabasco obtained over the natives a signal victory ; but the final reduction of this province to the obedience and soveraignty of the crown of spain , is entitled to the successful sword of francisco monteio , who in the year 1527. atchieved a full and absolute conquest over it . mexico and guaxata followed the fate of panuco and mechoacan , and by their conquest and subjection augmented the triumphs of the victorious cortez , about the years 1521 , and 1522. tlascalan was first discovered by john grijalua , but received under the protection of the spanish scepter by cortez in the year 1521. nova gallicia is circumscribed on the east and south with nova hispania , on the west with the river of buena guia , and the gulfe of califormia , the countries which abutt on the northern parts of it are not yet exposed to a discovery . it hath assumed this name from some resemblance or proportion it holds with the province of old gallicia in spain . the air generally is of a temperate constitution , yet more inclinable to heat than cold , yet often discomposed with thunders and storms , and cataracts of rain ; the ground is much obnoxious to drynesse , if not mollified by the morning dewes which here distill frequently , but whether the temperature of the air or soil do contain in it some impure seminalities is incertain ; sure it is , that here is a production of gnats ( it is possible they may proceed from a complicated putrefaction ) affirmed to be in bulk equall to a bean , which by their stings afflict the people , and raise blisters on their bodies proportionate in their dimension to a walnut . the country in general is more knotted with hills then levell with plains , and in most parts sandy . quarryes of stone are here in abundance , but there is a deficiency of marble , or any other stone of value . plenty here is of mines of silver , but few of gold or iron ; yet is their silver not free from a mixture of lead . the soil is so fertile that for one measure of wheat it payes back its interest in sixty , and for one of maiz it refunds two hundred . the rivers abound in fish , and the woods in beasts ; swarms here are of bees without stings , which have no other hive but the forrest to compose their hony in . apples , pears , citrons , figs , malacotons , and other european fruits transported from spain , thrive better here than in their native soil , onely the cherry and olive arrive at no perfection ; of which the first hath her nourishment purloin'd from her by emmots , and the last thrusts forth such clouds of leaves , ( occasioned by the ranknesse of the circumambient earth ) that the fruit seldome ascends to just maturity . the people are of an inconstant volatile nature , apt upon any disgust to abandon their houses , and take sanctuary in woods and other fastnesses ; nay , to return to their ancient barbarisme . tractable and docile enough even in matters which relate to religion ; but lazie and impatient of labour , to which they hardly are enur'd either with stripes or wages , yet they are of vigorous and healthful temper , contagious diseases seldome breaking in upon them , which is occasioned by the sound constitution of the air. much given they are to dancing , singing , and sometimes to drinking . their stature is reasonably tall , their vesture generally is a shirt of cotton , with a mantle cast over it , fastned with two buckles about their shoulders . they inhabit in villages , which swell in their dimension , according to the greatnesse of those several tribes they are to receive , which tribes are under the command of their respective chiefs , who succeed hereditarily , yet notwithstanding are all subservient to the sway and regiment of the judges , and other ministers of the king of spain . plenty here is of sugar-canes and cochineele ; but the spaniards being concerned in more gainfull merchandise , and eager in the persuit and search of metals , neglect to refine the one , and are not very sedulous to attend the ordering of the other . if you will survey the anatomy of this region , you will find it to be dissected into seven subordinate provinces ; namely , 1 cinaloa . 2 couliacan . 3 xalisco . 4 guadalaira ; and on the western shores , 5 zacot●cas 6 new b●scay ; and lastly , nova mexicana , lock'd up within the land. cinaloa the first province in the register above mentioned , is made happy by an air generally clear and healthy , and enriched with a soil fat and fruitful , productive of maiz , pulse , and a certain long pease , equivalent to those in proportion the latines anciently called phaseoli , of which it contributes to the industry of the inhabitants a large abundance ; and this plenty is much enhaunsed by the multiplicity of rivers with which this province is very well watered . the inhabitants are generally of an eminent stature , which much exceeds that of the spaniards ; warlike they are , vigorous and active , and not reduced to the obedience of the spaniard without the expence of much blood and treasure , though their furniture either for offensive or defensive war , consisted in a narrow inventory , being only a massie club , a bow and some poysoned arrows . those garments which both sexes attire themselves with , are made out of cotton-wooll , of which this province yeilds a plentiful increase ; the hair of both sexes is nourished a considerable length , which the men winde up in a knot , but the women permit to shoot out into a wide diffusion . both sexes at the first approach of the spaniards , had nothing to veile their nakednesse , onely their pudenda were obscured , being both indigent and ignorant , adoring the sun , and making their diet out of humane butcheries . couliacan is the second province which exacts our notice ; it enjoys a soil plentiful of fruits , and yeilding to none in its production of all sorts of provisions ; and not defective in mines of silver , which owe their first discovery to the ingenuity of the spaniard . the inhabitants are not much different from the residue of gallicia , only the beauty , personage , and dresse of the women is more obliging ; yet the men were not secure from sordid and unnatural uncleannesse . the vesture which both sexes were habited in at the first discovery of the spaniards , was framed out of cotton-wooll . their houses are neatly thatch'd with straw , but the lintells of the dores are embellished with paintings full of impudence and impure obscenity . they are ignorant of gold , of which this province is defective , but the spaniards having discovered some silver mines , made them by a costly experience know the value of that metall , compelling them both to dig and refine it , that it might be more ministeriall to the ends of their avarice and luxury . xalisco or galesco is a third province of account . it enjoyes a soil very capable of the production of maiz , with which it plentifully rewards the industry of the inhabitants , onely the scorchings of the sun have introduced a penury of herbage , which is the greatest defect , onely the northern parts styled chiatnetla , are endued with more fertility and people , being enriched with store of wax , plenty of honey , and some mines of silver . the people were formerly embarqued in perpetual feuds and mutual contests amongst themselves , and dieted themselves with mans flesh ; which barbarous customes , their conversion to christianity hath extinguished , onely one of their ancient customes they yet adhere to ▪ which is , to sustain the smallest burdens on their shoulders , and not carry them under their arms , as thinking the last indecent and mis-becoming . guadalaira is a fourth province which obliges our discourse . the character which we have in generall propotioned to the natives of nova gallicia , may be fitted and shaped in particular to the inhabitants of this province . the soil being moistned with the kind refreshments of the river barania which cuts through the midst of it , becomes fortunate in the production of herbage , maiz , wheat , and other fruits which owe their first extraction to europe ; nor are they destitute of silver mines , whose bowels here cast out their treasure in some plenty . zacatecas is a fifth province , circumscribed within the pale of gallicia , whose inhabitants whether by the conduct and instinct of nature , or the impulse of external force , are more industrious than the rest of the gallician natives . the soil is in its entrails enriched with silver mines , but its surface is naked and barren , being destitute of maiz , wheat , water , and all other provisions which should contribute to the support of humane nature , as if it were design'd to be the residence of some greedy miser , who delighted to glut his eyes more than his appetite . the northern parts styled uxitipa , have nothing wanting which may give a supply either to necessity or pleasure ; and though they are defective in silver , yet are they plentifully stor'd with corn and fruit , whilst their woods are liberally replenished with deer , whose several trees afford such entertainment to quires of birds , that they may be deemed the constant repository of those feathered choristers . nova biscaia is a sixth province which does summon us to a description . the bowels of the earth are the excheque●s from whence much silver is extracted ; as for its margin it is abundantly productive of all necessary provisions , though much exposed in the winter to the injurious inclemency of frost and snow ; no● are they likewise defective in mines of lead , which fitly contributes to the melting and refining their silver , not onely here , but in new spain and peru also . the inhabitants are generally of a vigorous constitution , and of a resolute and active spirit , not bowing their necks to the yoke of conquest upon the first impression , being rather reduced by the calmnesse of perswasion , then subdued by the rougher attempts of violence and force . nova mexicana is the seventh province which calls for our notice ; but those relations which have an aspect on this territory , are disordered with so much fiction and improbab●lity , that , that beam of truth which should direct us to a just and regular description of it , is mu●●led up in the darknesse of incertain and imperfect informations , so that untill clearer discoveries do dissipate that cloud which invelopes this province , i shall deliver nothing for positive or certain , either in relation to the natives , or the commodities emergent from the soil . cinaloa and guadalaria in nova gallicia , were first discovered and entered into by non●●● de gu●man , 1542. whose conquest was accomplished and completed by francisco tharra about the year 1554. couliacan was reduced to submit to the scepter of spain , by the auspicious conduct of nonnez de guzman about the year 1531. xalisco or galesco was forced to resigne it self to the spanish obedience , by the armes of nonnez de guzman 1530. but its conquest received its perfection from the successes of francis tharra , about the year 1554. uxitipa was made to encrease the register of the spanish acquists in america , by the fortunate sword of lopez de mendoza , employed in this design by nonnez de guzman about the year 1529. zocotecas and nova biscaia , were made to stoop to the diadem of spain , by the happy conduct of francisco tharra , in the year 1554 nova mexicana was first offered up to the discovery of augustine royaz a frier , in the year 1580. but its conquest was afterwards attempted by antonio espeio a citizen of mexico ; but his designs being by their own disorder rendred lame and imperfect , its final reduction , as to that part which is now folded up in the spanish patrimony , acknowledges the happy valour of john de onnate to be solely instrumental in it , who in the year 1599 , by the vigorous assistance of five thousand men link'd it to the demeasn of his master the king of spain . califormia circumscribes all those provinces of mexicana , which lie on the west-side of that northern peninsula which is seated beyond gallicia and new spain , though in the stricter acceptation of its chorography , it is confined to that province which is placed on the other side of a long and spacious ●ulf styled m●rvirmigl●o or the pay , and califormia , and limited to an island ( so generally conceived to be ) extended in a full length from north to south thereof . the continent is distinguished into the two provinces of cibola and quivira , and the island is sub-divided into califormia , properly so called , and nova albion . the inhabitants generally of these provinces make their food out of the flesh of beasts , which they feed on raw , and swallow down in great morsels without chewing ; the men from head to feet are attired in bulls skins , but the women have no other garment to secure them from the cold ( which here is keen and eager ) but their hair , which they nourish to that extent , that like a veile it rescues their nakednesse from the publique view . their habitations are volatile and unsetled , wandering in companies , and living in hoords like the ancient nomades , and the present cathay tartars , from whom they are removed by no great distance , and by whom , some probable conjectures assert , they were at first peopled . the inhabitants of cibola are well propotioned and rall , and of a more pregnant ingenuity than other salvages of califor●ia , securing their nakednesse with mantles wrought in variety of colours , which with those painted skins , they with much industry import from ●icuique or some northern country , and that quantity of cotton they have amongst them ( none of it growing upon their soil ) are demonstrations of their ingenuity , in managing a course of traffick with their neighbours . the natives of califor●ia are numerous and of thick proportion , resolv'd ( as some reports testifie ) into twenty three several nations , all of different languages and dresses , inhabiting the banks of bona gui● . some stain their faces wholly with paint , and some half way , and others supply the use of painting with vizors ; they bore holes in their no●thrills and ears for their pendants , the tips of which last , they even over-load with the pendulous bones of fishes ; each of their wasts are surrounded with a girdle , to which they fasten a bunch of feathers which hangs down behind them like some excrescence , which the women use also , but upon them they are visible before . the diety to which these califor●ians offer up their devotions , is the sun ; and the god to which the natives of cibola consecrate theirs , is the w●ter ; both which are by these salvages affectionately adored , because they are the causes to which they entitle the increase of the earth multiplied into corn , fruit , and herbage . the soil of quivira is plain , level and full of herbage , giving nourishment to cattel , differing not much in bulk and dimension from those of europe , only that there is a gibbous excrescence or bunch placed between their shoulders , they are bristled upon the back like bores , with somewhat which resembles the mane in horses , and the beard in goats ; their legs are short , but attired with something proportioned in similitude to fetlocks , their horns are sharp but short ; the whole beast is of an aspect so full of terrour , that no horse upon the first accesse or intercourse will approach him . the hides of these yeild the natives either houses , or the covering of them ; their bones are composed into bodkins , their hair into thread , their sinews into ropes , their horns , maw● and bladders , are framed into vessels ; their dung supplies pi●e , their skins are shaped into bougets to preserve water , their blood affords drink , and their flesh meat . the soil of cibola is generally level , but in some parts made rugged with rocky mountains . it is shadowed but with few trees , and those destitute of fruit ; but to recompense this , they have a wood like cedar , which abundantly supplies them with fuel and timber . here is a plentiful stock of maiz and white pease , which gives them a supply of bread. here are numerous herds of deer , which they chase and destroy for their skins . and a considerable production of sheep , known to be so onely by the analogy of their fleece , being in bulk and dimension equivalent to an horse , or oxe , and having horns that poyse in ballance the weight of fifty pounds . but though cibola enjoy but a narrow stock of those creatures which are of profitable entercourse , yet of bears , tygers , and other noxious animals , there is an unprofitable redundance . the island of califormia , properly so called , is indifferently even , only here and there the champaigne swells with mountains , and some of those from their sulpherous entrails vomit out flame , which hath caused the spaniards to impose the title of cacofogo upon them ; the waves which wash the shore of this island , afford the natives plenty of fish , which are found upon weeds amassed into heaps , and which like so many floating islands invest the surface of the sea. but the only rarity which ennobles this country , is a beast which is hairy like a goat , but hath teats like a cow. the air both of cibola and califormia , is of an indifferent temper , onely it is sometimes discomposed with the unkind distributions of frost and snow . cibola and quivira were discovered by the diligence of antonio mendoza , who employed marco de nisa a frier , to perfect the discovery ; but the more absolute and accomplished conquest was reserved to the valour and conduct of francisco vasques de coronado , about the year 1540. califormia was discovered at the expence of ferdinand cortez , who set out two ships 1534. but the design languishing away , it was renewed and reinforced by francisco de ulloa 1539. after him , fernando de alarcon , discovered many leagues up the river bu●na guia , where naguacatus one of the cheifs , surrendred himself to obedience . finally , roderigo cabrillo 1642. by a new discovery attaqued two small islands called s. lukes , and possession , on the western shore . but these countries affording no gold or other attractives which might charm the spaniards to an abode , they abandoned them to that poverty the inclemency of the air , and thriftinesse of the soile , had long before condemned them to . florida is circumscribed on the north-east with virginia , on the east with mare del no●rt , on the south and some part of the west with the gulf of mexico , on the residue of the west with part of new gallicia , and some countryes not yet expofed to a full discovery . the country is parallel to castile in spain , which renders the air and soil to be almost adequate to that in their temper & constitution , but the last infinitely out-vies castile in its fertility and plenty , the earth being not here so harrassed with the impressions o● continual tillage as in the other . productive it is of abundance of maiz the natural bread of the country , which they sowe both in march and june , which the third month after repayes the plow-man's toyle with a plentiful crop , which they deposite in publique granaries , and employ as the necessities of persons exact its destribution . not is it defective in fruit , which here are registered under the particular names of mulberries , cherryes , chesnuts , grapes , and plums , of excellent tast and colour . it is likewise eminent for its store of fowle , and its herds of beasts , both wilde and tame . the woods and forrests are shadowed with spreading okes and very tall cedars ; as likewise cypress● and bay-trees of a large dime●sion . nor is their plenty inconfiderable , which they yeild of that wood the natives style p●v●●e , and th● french sassafras ; and of the tree named esqui●e , the bark of the first , and the wood of the last , are both asserted to be soveraign against the incursions of the malady of france . it is affirmed also , that the entrails of the florida● earth are enriched with some mines of gold and silver , and studded with turquoises , pearls , and emeralds of much estimate and beauty , and the probability of the first is supported and inforced by the relations of the natives , who report that in the hills called apalatei , there are discovered veins of a reddish metal , which the french concluded to be gold , but wanted time and opportunity to improve their search . the people are of an olive colour , large stature , and cast into a fair proportion , naked , only their privities excepted , which they obscure with the skins of stags . their arms and knees are stained with variety of paintings , not to be forced off with frequent ablution . their hair is by complexion black , which they nourish to that extent and length , that it diffuses and shoots it self even to their thighs . apt they are to wrap up their actions in an affected veil of dissimulation , whose contexture is made more specious by an artificial cunning . they are naturally revengeful , which engages them in continual feuds and animosities , whose effects are visible by those bloody contests frequently commenced amongst themselves . generally they are subtle and ingenious , and in a capacity to be reduced to a tamer subserviency , by compliance and nobler usages ; but then they are like tigers , who when they appear reclaimed by the intercourse and calmnesse of civil correspondencies , yet upon the first draught of blood they are apt to leap into their former crueltie , and devoure those hands who gave them food and discipline . the women upon their husbands decease ( as a symptome of sorrow ) cut their hair close to their ears , and afterwards to make their grief appear more signall and solemn , strew it on their husban●s sepu●chres ; nor are they permitted again to entertain a second marriage , until their hair be improved to that growth as to cove● their shoulder . hermaphrodites , that is , persons of a twisted or complicated sex , nature hath here yeilde plenty , who onely are designed to the sustaining of luggage , and the being ministerial to the cheaper and more ignoble works of drudgery . some imperfect notions o● conceptions the natives have of the immortality of the soul , but otherwise their knowledge , in relation to a deity , is so gloomy , that it is enwrapped and muffled up in a grosse and dark idolatry . this continent , as to those parts of it which border on the sea , hath in times of a more modern inscription been the stage whereon the scene hath been laid that hath represented to our view those sad contentions which have been waged between the french and spaniard , concerning the dominion of this province , which drew so much blood , that the purple effusion bedewed almost every turfe on which those fatal tragedies were acted ; but the french being at last utterly supplanted , and thei● forts which they erected here , namely arx carolina , fort chastilion and others , were dismantled or diserted . but in these contests the spanish strength was so much broken and impair'd , and its noblest spirits evapourated at those wounds the french sword had inflicted , that wanting recruits to manage their conquests , they abandoned their new acquists and retired to st. jago , st. matthew , and st. augustines , the onely places they preserved in florida , where they planted and fortified , but not long after the fate of war cast the new colony of st. augustines under some umbrage , for in the year 1585. sir francis drake having by a vigorous assault mastered the fort of st. johns which had a powerful aspect upon the town , he reduced this likewise , and enriched himself and his partisans with a booty of twenty thousand florens ; but though this new plantation was almost sunk by these disasters , yet not long after , it buoyed up out of these ruines , and being reinforced with a supplement of additional fortifications , this with st. jago , st. philip , and st matthew , have been ever since so firmly twisted with the spanish interest , that they are at this instant under the dominion and seignory of that crown and scepter . the first who engaged himself in the discovery of florida , was john p●nce of leon , who sailed thither about the year 1512. but his survey being left imperfect , it was attempted to be reduced to perfection by the diligence of vasques de aillon , who made an invasion on florida in the year 1524. but such a complication of crosse accidents encountered his endevours that they were rendred unsuccessful . to repair the dishonour of this expedition , pamphilu● de n●rva●z makes an eruption on florida , about the year 1528. being seconded with a strength of four hundred foot and eighty horse . and lastly , hernandes à soto , embarques in this expedition , and did endevour with a supply of three hundred and fifty horse , and ninety foot , to accomplish the conquest of florida , that by the addition of this province he might enhance both the lustre and patrimony of the spanish diadem , and pursued and managed this enterprise with a various successe and conduct from the year 1538 , to the year 1543. but it is disputable whether the storm with reason , or the storm without , was more destructive and prejudicial to the double expedition of these two last undertakers : for diseases , tempests and shipwracks , combining with the treacherous ambushes of the natives , so disordered their affairs , and discomposed the contexture of the whole design , that the spaniards ever since , have abandoned any attempt which had any tendency to the reduction of this province to the spanish scepter ; since the enterprizes of those commanders before named , which seemed at first to sprout out with such specious hope , were at last so infortunately blasted , onely they preserved st. augustines and the other colonies above recited , to remain as in-lets , to open for the future both an opportunity and passage to any new invasion which might fortifie and confirm the spanish interest in this province of florida . having taken a full prospect of those additions of empire the spaniard is now possest of in america , i shall now hoist sail , and make my application to the east-indies , and view what new accessions have made an improvement both of revenue and power of that estate which relates to the spanish dominion in these territories : and first the malacca islands do call for our consideration : they are seven in number , ternata , tidor , macir , bacha , machian , botona and siana ; the first discovery entitles itself to americus vesputius , whose first attempts were perfected by the endevours and successful navigation of ferdinand mag●llan , encouraged to embarque himself in this expedition , by the expence and at the command of charles the fifth , about the year 1519. but though the title of these islands might seem at first so firmely engrasfed upon the spanish scepter , that no external force could almost ravish it away ; yet have the hollanders by some modern successes , so shaken the spanish interests in these their new acquists , that a considerable part of these islands is pluck'd away , and annexed to the patrimony of the united provinces . next the philippina islands oblige us to a discourse ; if you consult the original register , upon the account you will find but four in the catalogue , namely , 1 luzon . 2 mindanao . 3 tandair . 4 pall●han . they were discovered originally by lagaspi a spanish captain , by the concurrence , procurement , and assistance of lewis de velasco vice-roy of new-spain , in the year 1564. and in memory of philip the second ( in whose raign they were discovered ) they were called philippinae . but since these islands were knit to the spanish demeasn , the hollanders by the assistance of fleets , and support of armies , have endevoured to ravish away these islands from the patrimony of spain , to incorporate them into their own ; but yet maugre these attempts , the title of them hath been so firmly inoculated upon the spanish scepter , that it is still subservient to the seignorie and command of philip the fourth , the instant king of spain . the second part . the spanish interest in burgundy , belgium , or the netherlands . the french county and dutchy of burgundy . the french county , or county of burgundy , is involv'd and couch'd in the patrimony of the house of austria , and is thus circumscrib'd ; it hath on the east the mountain of jo●r , on the west the dutchy of burgundy , on the north a branch of the mountain vange , on the south la bresse . it is by estimate 90 miles in length , and about 60 in breadth . the ancient inhabitants of this county , were the sequani , whose power was of that latitude , that it was once put into the ballance , when the contest was between them and the hedui and arverni , for the soveraignty of gaul , until this emulous contention was superceeded by the roman conquest , under whose government it made up , together with switzerland , the province of maxima sequanorum . in the wane of whose empire , it grew a limb of the burgundian kingdom , the first of whose monarchs who conducted the burgundians into gaul was tibica , whose successor gundomar son of sigismund was in a successeful war dislodg'd , and cast out from his kingdome by childebert and clotaire kings of paris and soisson , in revenge of their brother clodomire , who fell by the sword of this sigismund . and thus was burgundy annexed to the demeasne of the french , after it had continued about an hundred and twenty years entire , without any subserviency ; guntram the son of clotaire , and clovis one of the sons of dagobert the first , bring both in their respective times ennobled with the burgundian diadem . but the subsequent succession of the kings of burgundy , was emergent from the partage of the patrimony and empire of cherlemaigne , amongst the children of lodovicus pius the first , of which monarchs which weilded the burgundian scepter , was charles younger son of lotharius the emperour , in which lotharius likewise , the title to this crown , as being son to lewis the godly , was tacitly lodged ; but he dying without issue , it devolved to his brother lotharius , who likewise determined without children ; and ●o a second vicissitude brought it to confesse the scepter of their uncle charles the bald , king of france , and emperour of germany , who conferred the seignory with the title of earl , on boson earl of ardenne , who had matched with his sister judith ; which boson was advanced not long after , by charles the grosse , to the title of monarch , and was styled king of arles and burgundy , in which last this province was rolled up ; from whom by several traverses it came down to rodolph the first , who had the title of duke of burgundy beyond the jour ; and from him the devolution of successive interest , carried it to boson the second brother to this rodolph the first , by whom the dukedome of burgundy beyond jour , was united to the kingdome of arles and burgundy ; and from him the thread of descent transported it along to his grandchild rodolph the second ; who concluding without issue , gave this and many other provinces to conrade the second emperour of germany , who had espoused gisela sister and heir general of this rodolph . after this it was so couched in the caesarean patrimony , that it was esteemed as a limb of the german empire , and was managed and governed by such earls and provincial officers , as those emperours transmitted hither , to sway and regulate the affairs of this province . otho of flanders , son of a sister of the emperour conrade , by the aid and concurrence of robert king of france , was the first who was invested in it as proprietary , those others whom the french registers and records represent to us to have held it , being official rather than hereditary . this otho above mentioned , determined without issue ; so that reinald his cousin and kinsman , became heir to the earldome of burgundy ; but here the title was very transitory , for he concluded in a female inheritrix called beatrix , who was matched to the emperour frederick barbarossa , by which alliance it was annexed to his patrimony , and from him it devolved to his youngest son otho ; but here likewise the possession was as transient , for he expired in a daughter and heir styled beatrix , who by matching with otho duke of meranis , which was part of the province of tyroll , brought it to confesse him for earl of burgundy , and by her he had issue alice , his only daughter and heir , who was violently dispossessed by stephen de chalons and his complices , who was next heir to garrard de vienne and joan his wife , second daughter to otho the first , and sister of beatrix , acknowledged by his faction there for earl of burgundy , even in the life time of otho ; and from him did the title glide down to his grandchild hugh , who finding his new acquited dignity was established upon a crazy foundation , to fortifie his claim , he matched with alice the heir of otho , the second above-mentioned , and so by twisting their titles together , became indisputable heir to this earldome ; and he had issue othelin , who going out in a daughter and heir known by the name of joan , she by matching with philip the long king of france , annexed it as an appendage to his scepter , and he setled it on joan his eldest daughter issuing from this match , on eudes duke of burgundy ; but his grandchild philip dying young and without issue , this upon his decease by right of inheritance devolved to margaret second daughter of king philip the long , and joan his wife above mentioned , who was wedded to lewis de malain earl of flanders ; and he had issue by her lewis de malain , who in her right incorporated this earldom into his patrimony ; but here it was not long resident , for he found his sepulchre in a female heir called margaret , who by espousing philip the hardy , second son of john king of france , linked this and the title and interest of many other eminent seignories to his paternal demeasne . having thus in landskip discovered the fate of the french county , i shall represent in a compendious prospect those vicissitudes and revolutions that roll'd about the title of the dutchy of burgundy , untill it came finally to accknowledge the dominion of philip the hardy above-mentioned . the dukedome of burgundy hath on the east the french county , and ●o ●e part of the savoy ; on the west burbonnis ; on the north champaigne ; on the south bresse , lionnois , and and some part of peau jeulois . the ancient inhabitants of this dukedome , were the people in ancient reco●ds , so eminent for their warlike disposition , called the hedui . in times of a more mode●n inscription , that is , about the division of the french kingdome of burgundy , made by charles the bald , that part of it which was called the dukedome of burgundy on this side of the soasne , was canton'd into the five earldoms of dijons , chalons , autun , lions , and mascon ; whereof the three first being laid and amassed together , by eudes king of france , during the minority of charles the simple , were given unto his brother richard , embellished with the title and style of duke of burgundy : but the common fate which attends upon all humane frailty , transported this province , upon the decease of gilbert son of this richard who made his exit without issue male , to otho ( son of hugh capet earl of paris , surnamed the great ) in right of his wife , who was daughter and heir general of this gilbert ; in whose patrimony it had not long resided , when he dying without issue , this dutchy which he had been entituled to , by the authority of this alliance , came over to his brother henry , who likewise expiring without children , the thread of desent wafted it along to robert king of france son to hugh capet , who was nephew to otho and henry above mentioned ; and from him did the clew of succession guide it down to robert the third , who had issue hugh the fifth of that name duke of burgundy , and eudes , who upon the decease of his brother hugh the fifth , without issue , entered upon this dutchy as his heir ; and from him again did it come down to his grandchild philip ; who dying young and sans issue , this province with all its perquisites , augmented the revenue of john king of france , to whom it accrued in right of his mother joan wife to his father philip de valois , who was one of the daughters of robert the third above mentioned , and by consequence upon defailance of issue in philip abovesaid , became entitled as his heir general to the propriety of this dutchy ; but this was pretended onely , for his title was better supported by a violent detention of this dutchy , upon which he had entered as an escheat , to the prejudice and supplantation of the earls of eureux , by an illegall inroad upon their interest ; since those earls extracted their descent and claim from the daughter and heir of lewis de hutin k. of france , before philip de valois , which lewis matched with margaret eldest daughter to robert the third above mentioned , and mother to the heir general . but to proceed , k. john being thus invested in the possession , setled it on his second son philip the hardy , from whom by the steps of some descents , it came down to charles the hardy , who finding an untimely sepulchre in the feilds of nancy , left the propriety of burgundy to be enjoyed by mary his sole inheretrix ; upon the decease of which charles , lewis the eleventh king of france , seised upon the dutchy of burgundy , as an appendage to the crown of france , pretending it was by the fundamental customes of that kingdome to return to that scepter , in case there were a defailance of issue male ; but the french county being an imperial isle , was permitted to remain united to the patrimony of his daughter mary abovesaid , in whose right maximilian the emperour her husband , was invested in the fee ; and from him is the seignory and demeasne of this province , by the transmission of successive descent , guided down to own the scepter and dominion of philip the fourth , the instant king of spain . flanders and artois . these two though since since separated , were originally knit together in the interest of one estate , yet after the interval of five or six descents were again twisted together , and remained thus incorporated ever since . flanders is bound in on the east with hai●alt and brabant ; on the west with the german ocean ; on the north with the seas of zealand , and a branch of the scheld ; and on the south with picardy and graveling , interposing betwixt callis and graveling . antiquity hath extracted its name from several conjectures , as first from flando , because it lyeth upon the winds ; others again assert that it was imposed upon it , from flandbert the son of blesinda daughter of cl●dion the second king of france ; some fetch it from a town of that name situated in that part of the country where now ardenbourg stands , so long since languished and shrunk into ruin , that the least symptome or representation being wanting to inform us that there was once such a place in being , that we now with difficulty trace out its rubbish amidst its ruines ; therefore the conjectures of more rational heads extract the appellation from flandrina the wife of lideric the second , the first who managed the government of these parts as forrester . it was in elder times resolved into three divisions , that is , flandria imperialis , called so because it was long in its obedience subservient to the emperours of germany ; flandria gallica , so styled from the french dialect there spoken ; and flandria teutonica , because within its precinct the dutch language was properly used . artois is limited on the east with flanders gallicant , and the county of cambray ; on the south and west it is bounded with picardy ; on the north with flanders flammegant , and the river of lis. the name is extracted from the atrebates the old inhabitants thereof ; the air is temperate , and the soil so pregnant and ●ertile that it may very well have the denomination of the granary of flanders and brabant . these countries of flanders and artois were anciently , if not a part , yet much of the same nature and condition with the great forrest of ardenne , nothing but the solitudes of continual woods and de●arts , making the aspect of it rude and desolate ; the ancient inhabitants of the first were the nervii and morini , who were supplanted by the romans , and these again by the french , who having established the great earldome of ardenne , made these provinces in part subject to the dominion and power of its governours , whilest that track of earth which confined on the sea , was so exposed to rapine , pyracies , and depredations of the danes , that it was neglected , uncultivated , and almost unpeopled ; the in-land countries ▪ something contributing to the general calamity by being meanly planted , from a deficiency of those necessaries which should support the life of man. but when brunulph earl of ardenne was secured by dagobert king of france , this wild and disordered country , extending as far as the river of some , and enwrapping besides artois and flanders , a considerable part of pi●ardy about the year 621. was given to lideri● le beuque , with the title of forrester , to be held under homage to that crown . in whose posterity this title sojourned , until the time of baldwin the first , the son of odoacer the seventh of the forresters , whose names are recorded in the registers of flanders , there being a gap or parenthesis which ravels their memories during the ravage of the danes and normans . this baldwin having by a violent onset ravished away , and after wedded judith sister to charles the bald king of france , and emperour , was by him created earl of flanders about the year 864. the soveraignty reserved as before it was ; in whose issue the interest of these provinces remained combined and entire , until philip the first surnamed of elsas , son of theodorick the first , surnamed likewise of elsas , to which theodorick the seignory both of flanders and artois accrued , as being heir general of heltrude , daughter and heir general likewise of robert the first , earl of flanders and artois , after the decease of her brother robert the second , charles son of canutus king of denmark , who had matched with her sister adeliza , and of william , grandchild of william the bastard duke of normandy ( who had espoused mawde daughter of baldwin the fifth earl of flanders and artois ) gave unto philip augustus king of france , the province of artois with the earldome of veramandois , with isabel his neice , daughter of baldwin the eighth earl of hainault , which baldwin had wedded margaret daughter of theodorick above-mentioned , and sister and heir of this philip. by lewis the eighth son and successor to this king philip , artois was given as a portion to swell the patrimony of his youngest son robert , who was adorned with the title of earl of artois by king lewis the ninth anno 1234. this robert had issue robert the second , in whom the male line failed , so that mawde his sole daughter , being matched to othelin earl of burgundy , he in her right became earl of artois : but in him the title was as volatile and unfixed as in the former ; for he deceased without issue male , and so joan his daughter and heir by espousing philip the long , king of france , united this earldome to his scepter , and the estate to his patrimony , and gave it in marriage with the county of burgundy , with joan his eldest daughter , to eudes duke of burgundy ; and from him the right of descent wafted it along to his grandchild philip the third , who expiring without issue , margaret second daughter of king philip the long above mentioned , who was matched to lewis earl of flanders , entered upon this earldome as his heir general , and transmitted it and both the burgundies to his son lewis de malain ; and from him again did margaret his sole heir carry the united titles and interest of all these provinces to philip the hardy , to whom she was solemnly wedded at gaunt , in the year 1369. having thus in a compendious discovery represented those revolutions which annexed artois to the burgundian stem , i shall now in as narrow a volume pursue and trace out the fate of flanders ; and it stood thus : theodorick of elsas earl of flanders above mentioned , had issue philip surnamed of elsas , and earl of flanders likewise , who dying without issue , baldwin the eighth earl of hanault , who had espoused margaret his sister and heir , in her right was entituled to the earldome of flanders , and left his new acquists to his son and heir baldwin the ninth , a man of that latitude of power in the age he lived in , that he was not only earl of flanders and hainault , but emperour of constantinople also ; but he and his greatnesse found one sepulchre together in two daughters and coheirs , joan the eldest was first matched to ferdinand son of sancho king of portugal , and secondly to thomas third son of thomas earl of savoy , by whom having no issue surviving , margaret her second sister wedded to william of dampiere , became heir to her concernment in flanders and hainalt ; by her husband abovementioed she had issue william of dampiere , whom even in her life time she admitted to the title of earl , which he continued until his death , which was divers years before her own decease ; and guy of dampier● who was not only dignified with the title of earl on the death of his brother , but invested also in the estate , on the exit of his mother , and from him did the steps of several descents conduct it down to his great grandchild lewis de malain earl of flanders , hainault , artois , and both the burgundies ; but expiring without issue male , margaret his sole inheritrix by matching with philip the hardy , fourth son of john king of france , brought them not only to improve the grandeur of his family , but likewise to swell and inforce his patrimony , and from him did the title of these provinces flow down to his great grandchild charles duke of burgundy , surnamed the warlike , who being unfortunately cut off at the battle of granson , and expiring without issue male , his interest in flanders , burgundy , and many other provinces , came to be enjoyed by maximilian the emperour , and his son philip having wedded joan daughter of ferdinand and isabella , monarchs of spain , so twisted the title of flanders and burgundy with that of spain , that it is still subservient to the dominion and empire of philip the fourth , who now weilds the scepter of the spanish monarchy . hainault . hain ault is bounded on the east with namur , on the west with flanders , on the north with brabant , on the south with picardy and champaigne . it was in elder times called saltus carbonatius , by some writers the lower picardy ; in latine records of a more modern inscription hannonia . it borrows this name from the river haine or hania , which glides through it , and the word holt which imports a wood ; this province being almost clouded and over-spread with forrests , so that the etymologie will be hainault quasi hain-holt , a country replenished with woods on the river of haine . thus it is represented in french , but in dutch it is best known by the name of henegou , that is , a country consining on the river haine , as the signification in that language does intimate . the ancient inhabitants of this province were the nervii , so eminent in history for their valour and prudence , who after bloody contests were supplanted by the romans ; but they again being dislodg'd by the prench , it became a limb of the great earldome of ardenne , and remained so until the death of brunulph , who was subdued and slain in battel by dagobert k. of france ; which brunulph his father in his life time had invested with the title of duke of ardenne , and designed unto the conquest of it ; but the fury of war being allayed , and the parts of flanders and brabant which were parcels of that dutchy being enstated on other houses , this by the indulgent magnificence of sigebert king of metz or austrasia , was setled on alberic surnamed the orphelin one of the younger sons of brunulph , and was likewise adorned with the name and title of earl of hainalt ; and from him did both the title and estate by the thread of descent come down to walter the third ; by whose eldest daughter it was brought to confesse albon both for earl and proprietary ; and from him the clew of paternal descent transported the title to his successor reigner the third , who determined in a daughter and heir called richild , who by matching with baldwin the fifth of that name , earl of flanders , added so strong a right to this alliance , that he became earl of hainalt by the name of baldwin the first , and left it to his son arnulph , who was barbarously robbed of his estate by his unnatural uncle robert ; who not glutted with this ruin , ravished away likewise the earldome of flanders by an unjust and usurped surprizal , into which he succeeded , though his nephew baldwin , brother to the infortunate arnulph , was repossest of hainault , by the name of baldwin the second , and styled himself likewise earl of flanders ; and from him by a continued channel of worthy successors , did the title of this earldom flow down to baldwin the eighth of that name in hainault , and the ninth in flanders , who went out in two daughters and coheirs , joan who dyed without issue though twice married ; and margaret who being entrusted to the care and tuition of buschart her guardian , he by ill arts and worse stratagems so seduced and charmed her affections , that she was made a prostitute to his lust , and by those unlawful embraces had a natural son called john de avesnes , prior of st. peters in l'isle , who by the designs of force and fraud , by an unjust intrusion extorted hainault from his two brothers william and guy of dampierre , both being sons of william of bourbon lord of dampierre and this margaret , & both the issue of lawful sheets ; and this john being thus swoln with an increase of patrimony , and made tall in title , matched with aleida daughter and heir of florence the fourth earl of holland , and so by the authority of this alliance , was not only earl of hainault : but of that territory also of whose descendants , and how both hainault and holland came to devolve to the house of burgundy , i shall discover when i come to treat of holland . namur . namur hath on the east hainault , on the west the bishoprick of leigh , on the north brabant , and on the south luxenbourg . the ancient inhabitants of this country were the nervii . it was first erected into an earldom by some of the descendants of the sons of clodion second king of the french , who being by a violent usurpation devested of their fathers diadem , by meroveus master of his horse , to whose ingrateful and unworthy tuition they had been entrusted by their confident ( but unwa●y ) father , were forced to seek shelter in the most desencible places of the great forrest of ardenne , where they established the great earldomes of ardenne and mosell . divided in succeeding generations into many parcels , of which this was one . who the first earls were , because ancient records are dim in that particular , is incertain . albert who was co-temporary to hugh capet , and matched with irmingrade daughter of charles of france , and first duke of lorraine , is represent in very old registers to have been earl of this province ; and he was grandfather ( and as some authors assert ) father to ●eter earl of namur , in whom the male line determined , so that his daughter and heir by espousang henry the second son of baldwin the eighth earl of flanders and hainault ( which henry was emperour of constantinople likewise , after the death of his elder brother baldwin the ninth earl of flanders and hainault ) brought this earldom into that family ; and from him it descended to yoland his daughter , who wedded peter earl of auxerre ( who also succeeded his father in law henry in the empire of constantinople ) and he supported by a right derived from her , was entitled to this earldome ; and upon his decease philip his younger son , as being then in the netherlands , entered upon it as earl ; but he dying without issue , john his elder brother , who at his fathers decease was at constantinople and there made his claim , was entitled to it ; but he likewise making his exit without issue , it devolved to philip the second , brother to henry the emperour above mentioned ; and the likewise determining without children , it was transmitted to margaret one of the two daughters and co-heirs of baldwin the ninth , as heir general to this philip , and she setled it on her third son john sirnamed of dampierre , upon whose decease his elder brother guy of dampierre entered upon the earldome , and left it to his son by his second wife , by the name of john the third ; upon whose exit , his brother who was one of the sons of guy de dampierre above mentioned , by his first wife , was invested in the earldome by the style of john the fourth ; but he expi●ing without issue , his brother by the whole blood entered upon the possession , by the name of guy the second ; and from him it descended to his grandchild john the sixth , who in the year 1429. passed away his estate here in reversion to philip the good , to be enjoyed by him , on the decease of his next heir theodore , who being infirm , and going out without issue , it accordingly augmented the revenue of philip the good ; and from him hath the steps of several descents carried down the title and propriety to philip the fourth , now king of spain . luxenbourg . luxnbourg is environed on the east with the moselle and the land of triers on the west with the maes and the forrest of ardenne , on the north with luick-land , namur , and a part of hainault , and on the south with the dutchy of lorraine . it hath borrowed this name from the castle near the town of luxenbourg , selected by sigifride the first earl hereof for his seat and residence . the whole dutchy is resolved into two parts , that on the east having borrowed the name of famenne , that on the west having the appellation of ardenne imposed upon it . this province was at first a limb of the great earldome of ardenne , rent from it in the raign of otho the first by sigifride the son of ric●inus prince thereof , who in the breaking the estate by division into pa●cels , had this consigned for his portion with the title of earl. of his successors gilbert , godfrey , and conrade there is little represented to us by ancient record , in a constant order of succession , until the time of henry the first , who being slain in the cause and quarrel of renald earl of gueldres ▪ contending with john duke of brabant for the dutchy of limbourg , this province descended to his son and heir henry the second , who by the influence and procurement of his brother baldwin elector of triers , emperour of germany ; and he had issue john who matched with elizabeth daughter of wenceslaus the elder , king of bohemia ; the respect had to that alliance was so operative upon that nation , that he was in the life time of his father by their election advanced to the scepter of that nation . and he had issue charles who was emperour of germany the fourth of that name , and likewise king of bohemia , and wenceslaus the first , who was created duke of luxenbourg by his brother charles the emperour , to inlarge and multiply the grandeur of their family ; but he deceasing without a successor , this dutchy again was united to the patrimony of wenceslaus , who was eldest son to charles the fourth , and was emperour , and king of bohemia also ; and to him succeeded his brother sigismund who was invested in all his estates , and adorned with all h●s titles , as namely , emperour , king of bohemia , and duke of luxenbourg ; but grew more considerable when he matched with mary heir of l●wis the first , king of hungary ; by which alliance that diadem likewise encircled his temples ; and he the better to fortifie his own family with external butteresses , by a munificient donation , enstated this dutchy on elizabeth daughter to his younger brother john duke of gortlitz ; which endowment of his fitted her for the bed of anthony of burgogn duke of brabant ; after whose decease she was remarried to john the third earl of hainault and holland , but having issue by neither of them , she by sale conveyed her concernment in this dutchy to philip the good , duke of burgundy , 〈◊〉 whom several descents hath conducted the 〈◊〉 down to philip the fourth now king of 〈◊〉 . brabant . brabant is bounded on the east with luickland , on the west with the river scheld and a part of flanders , on the north with the maes , which separates it from holland and guelderland , and on the south with hainault , namur , and a branch of guelderland . the ancient inhabitants of this province were the aduatici , and some part of the tungri , by the romans reputed a limb of that province , called germania secunda ; and by the french , a province of the kingdome of east-france or austrasia ; the southern parts thereof confining on hainault , were subservient to the command of the earls of ardenne ; the northern parts extending towards the sea , were miserably harrassed with the depredations of the danes and normans , and therefore for their future indempnity , were committed to the custody and protection of one who had the title of lord warden of the marches . but long these robbers had not laid this province desolate with their wilde depopulations , when their rapine met with a just expiation , for theodebert son of theodorick first king of austrasia , accompanied with utilo a boiarian prince , so check'd their insolencies , and retrenched their eruptions by seve al defeats , that theodorick at the request of his son theodebert , to ballance the signal performances of utilo , gave him not only the command of these countries , but the propriety and possession of a considerable part of them likewise by the title of lord marquiss of antwerpe , the fourth from whom called araulph , was the first mayor of the palace to the kings of france , made hereditary to this family and his ●uccessors . by dagobert the first ●ole king of the french , that branch of this country which was 〈◊〉 ●ubjection to the earls of ardenne , was by his victorious sword extorted from them , and the whole estate con●erred on ansegisus son of arnulph , with the title of duke of brabant ; and from him did the title and estate descend to charles martell base son of his son pepin the first ; and this charles had issue pepin the second , surnamed the short , who having managed successfully the affairs of france , at last usurped that diadem , and solemnly receive the crown at soissons from the hands of boniface arch-bishop of mentz in the year 751 the dukedome of brabant was by this means incorporated into the revenue of the crown of france , where it 〈◊〉 ●●●ch ●●nt● the partage of the french empire amongst the ●ons and kinsm●n of lewis the godly ▪ and 〈◊〉 ●t w●s link'd as an appendage to the kingdom● of lorraine , where it lay wrapped up , until lotharius the third king of france , in whose share it was involved conferred it on charles his younger b●other with the title of duke of brabant . but this donation little improved his interest , because the principal part of this , and that moiety of the kingdome of lorraine which obeyed the french , was cut off by the sucessful sword of otho the second emperour of germany , and annexed to the empire . but this otho considering that charles above-said , thus devested , was his cousin german , as being son to lewis king of france surnamed the transmarine , who had wedded gerburg sister to his father otho the first , invested him in the great dukedome of lorraine , which in spacious latitude and extent of it circumscribed within its precincts and perambulation , lorrain , gulick , brabant , which had then the denomination of basse or low lorrain , and the lands of luick . but out of this spreading patrimony thus enstated on charles of france , otho the second above-mentioned , reserved out of it for his aunt gerburg mother of the said charles , the towns and territories of lovain , bruxells , antwerpe , and nivelle as her dower ; which with reference to the ancient title , he honoured with the dignity of marquisate of the holy empire , ann● 981. gerburg the sister , and after the death of charles her brother abovesaid without issue , succeeded in lovain , antwerpe , bruxells , and nivelle ; by a right transmitted to her from her grandmother the first gerburg , aswell as from him , ( though she had injuriously disseised of lorrein and the title to that large demeasne by the emperour henry the second , the emperour ) which territories of lovain and the rest above-mentioned , she conveyed in marriage to lambert one of the sons of reigner earl of hainault , with the title of earl of lovain , henry his son reduced antwerpe , which it seems by an unjust violence was detained from him ; and by this atchievement obtained the whole marquisate , but still reserved the title of earl of lovain . godfrey the sixth earl , having by several new acquists much extended the bounds and marches of his dominions , was by the emperour henry the fifth , to whom he was link'd in as near an obligation of affinity ( having matched with his sister ) as in friendship , in the year 1108 , created the first duke of brabant ; and from him the title flowed down with an undisturbed channel to john the third of that name duke of brabant , by whose daughter and co-heir both the title and seignory was transported to wenceslaus the first duke of luxenbourg , by whom though she had no issue , yet on him and on his posterity she enstated this dutchy , and sigismund his second son duke of luxenbourg setled it on elizabeth his neice , daughter to john duke of gorlitz in lusatia ; and she by matching with anthony of burgogne , one of the younger sons of philip the hardy , annexed it to his inheritance ; and being by this alliance thus entitled to it , it was transmitted to john the fourth duke of brabant , who was eldest son by his first wife ( for this his second deceased without issue ) joan daughter of waleran earl of s. paul ; but he dying without issue , it devolved by descent to his second brother philip , who likewise expiring without children , philip the good grandchild to philip the hardy , succeeded in this dutchy as heir to his two kinsmen above mentioned ; and from him did the clew of diverse descents guide the title down to philip the second , king of spain , and he lost a considerable proportion of it in the fatal defection of the netherlands , occasioned by the bloody impression made upon their invaded and injured liberties by ferdinand duke of alva ; though bruxells , antwerpe , machlin , and other important peices , do yet confesse the scepter and dominion of philip the fourth now king of spain . the seignory of machlin consists onely of that city , and some eight or nine contiguous villages ; the most eminent of the villages is styled liest or hiest , situated on the pleasant knob of a swelling hill ; the residue of the adjacent villages confining on the foot thereof . both town and villages were formerly enwraped in the patrimony of the powerful family of the bertholts ; which name expi●ing in the person of gualter de bertholt , slain in the battel of worancan by john duke of brabant , one moiety of it devolved to the bishop of leige , who again conveyed it by sale to john the second duke of brabant , and the other proportion accrued to ...... duke of gueldres , and he in the year 1333. passed it away to lewis de malain earl of flanders , but he conveyed nothing away but a naked title which was before denuded of its revenue , by the successful hand of john the third duke of brabant , who tore it away to augment his own estate , since which this seignory of machlin with all its perquisites and appendages , hath so constantly attended the fate of brabant and flanders , that it at this instant confesses the interest of the spanish scepter . limbourg hath on the east the dukedome of gulick , on the west the bishoprick of leige , on the north brabant , and on the south the dukedome of luxenbourg . the ancient inhabitants of this track were the eburones ; when it was first advanced to the title of an earldome , the light which should be collected from ancient records is so dim and faint that it cannot conduct us to any clear and positive discovery , onely it is probable , that it was originally a limb of the great earldome of ardenne , from which it was rent to institute and make up a patrimonial inheritance for some cadet or younger son , as namur and luxenbourg were , or snatched away by the violent hand of some for aign pretender ( as gulick was , when godfrey and baldwin dukes of lorrain , the indisputable heirs of ▪ the house of ardenne , were engaged to a necessary absence by the holy war. but when , and by whom it was a●orned with the title of an earldome , certain it is , that of an earldome it was erected to a dukedome by the emperour frederick barbarossa , anno 1172. henry one of the dukes hereof , matched his daughter margaret to godfrey the third duke of brabant , which suggested to his successors some specious colour to pretend unto it , supported with a title of more authority which came in to reinforce the former , on the decease of another henry , the last duke of limbourg , whose next heir adolph conveyed it to john duke , who fortified his claim and title to it by a colourable pretence and right derived from the former match anno 1293. but reynald earl of guelders , being blown up with an over-weening conceit that his title was established and erected on a better foundation than that of adolph , in right of ermingrade his wife , daughter to herman a late duke thereof , cast in his challenge to this dukedome , and attempted to evict the title by the power of the sword , but this was ruinous and destructive to him , for being subdued and made captive by the said duke john in the battel of worancan , he was forced to redeem his liberty by no lesse a price or ransome than his total release to all title or claim that he or his successors might pretend to the dukedome of limbourg : after which it was so folded up in the interest of the dukes of brabant , that it came over with it to the house of burgundy ; and from that again to own ever since the dominion of the spanish monarchy . guelders , zutphen , and groning . guelderland is shut in on the east with cleve and the earldome of zutphen , on the west with holland and utrecht , on the north with over issell and the zuyder-sea , and on the south with brabant and the land of gulick . the ancient inhabitants of guelderland were the menapii and sicambri , people very eminent in ancient record for their magnanimity and courage . in ages of a more modern inscription , these sicambri mingled with the french , and under that name and notion were entitled to the spreading empire of the west . in the partage thereof by the posterity of charles the great , this province was knit to the kingdome of austrasia or east-france ; and afterwards being broken off was united to the german empire . at the beginning of its government the publique ast●i●s were swayed and weilded by some who enjoyed no other title but guardians and protectors , and were advanced to that dignity by the people in the raign of charles the bald ; the first who were embellished with this title were wickard and leopold two brethren , who fixing their chief residence in the castle of guelders , gave an occasion to future ages to impose the name of gueld●rland on the whole province ; but they and their successors were supported by a power of so narrow a circumscription , that in effect their office was but provincial , they themselves being accomptable to the emperours how they managed the publique concernments of this province . the first prince who disengaged from the shackles of these restraints , was otho of nassaw , who matched with aleida daughter to wickard the last guardian , and was by the emperour henry the third made the first earl of guelderland ; and under this style and title his successors continued , until the emperour lewis of bavaria improved this dignity in the person of reynold the second , to the degree of a duke , about the year 1339. and from him did it descend to his son edward the offspring of his second wife eleanor daughter of edward the third king of england ; and he deceasing without issue , mary his sister by matching with william●arl ●arl of gulick , brought both the patrimony and ducal crown of this province to be possest b● him , and his two sons william and reynold the fourth , successively enjoyed it ; but they dying without issue , arnold of egmond son of john lord of egmond and mary his wife , daughter of joan the sister of william and raynold the two last dukes , as heir general possest himself of guelderland ; but in the declension of his age , being worried by his unnatural son adolph with war and imprisonment , he was in this agony supported by charles the warlike , duke of ●urgu●dy , who rescued him from his son , and released him ●rom his fetters ; and he to ballance ●o signal a favour , conveyed his interest in guelderland and zutphen to this duke , which contract was after much contest and effusion of blood ratified to charles the fifth , by his second son arnold , and accordingly the provinces of guelderland and zutphen were by a voluntary resignation surrendred to charles the fifth , and from him the title devolved to his son phil●p the second , king of spain , in whom it was lodged until the barbarous cruelty of the duke of alva engaged most of the belgick provinces to a revolt or defection , and the prudential conduct of maurice prince , having much extended the conquests of the confederate states , most of this province was by his successful atchievements annexed to their united patrimony . zutphen . zutphen was anciently an earldom of it self without any connexion or dependance on the fortune or seignory of guelderland , and remained in this capacity until it devolved to be the patrimony of wickman the last earl , who determined in sophia his sole daughter and heir , who by matching with otho first earl of guelderland , fastned it to that province , annd so it continued after this , subservient to the command of the successive earls and dukes ; and when arnold the last duke of guelderland conveyed all his interest to charles the fifth , this was wrapped up in the purchase , and remained under the dominion of the scepter of spain , until the defection of holland and other provinces from that crown ; and then about the year 1590. it was by prince maurice , and the army of the united states , by conquest torne from the spanish patrimony , and hath ever since remained linked in confederacy with those combined provinces . groining . groining , both city and province , did in elder times confesse no other seignory but of that of the bishop of utrecht , but he either by want of power of inadvertency , being remisse in asserting their liberties against forraign eruptions , they submitted to the protection of the dukes of guelderland . but these princes were disturbed in their new acquists by the dukes of saxony , who by a pretended claim entitled themselves to the propriety of it , during which disorder and emotion it was surprized by ezardus the earl of east-frizeland , who about 1514. conveyed his usurped interest here to the duke of guelders the just proprietary of it . afterwads they resigned themselves up , with a reservation of their ancient liberties , to charles the fifth ; which being men●ced to be overwhelmed by the fury of the sp●niard , they combined 1594. with holland in ●●ion and remain yet wrapped up in that confederacy . holland , zealand , and frizeland . holland hath on the east the zuyder-sea , utrecht and some part of guelderland ; on the west and north the german-ocean ; on the south the isles of zealand , and some part of brabant . zealand consists of seven islands , viz. walcheren , south beverlant , north beverlant , wolfers-dike , schowen , duvelant and tertole● . it is divorced from flanders by the left branch or arm of the scheld ; on the east it is divided from brabant by the right branch of the said river , on the north it is separated from holland by the gulf called the flack , and on the west it is rent from england by the ocean . west-frizeland hath on the east the land of groining and a part of westphalia , on the south over-issell and the zuyder-sea , on the north and west the main ocean . the ancient inhabitants of these three provinces were the batavi and carinefates , inhabiting that track of ●arth contracted almost into the circumambient embraces of the rhine and wael , and which now circumscribes within its precincts and verge holland , utrecht , ●●d a part of the dutchy of guelders ; the frisii who were entitled to the possession of west-frizeland , and the mattiaci who were planted in zealand . but when the ravage and pyracies of the normans had by many bloody onsets and impressions acted such a devastation here , that these provinces were almost dispeopled ; charles the bald to thierry son of sigebert a prince of aquitane ; and the more to manage and improve his encreasing hopes , and enable him to protect these depopulated countries , he engraffed on him the title of earl , with this restriction annexed to the donation , that he and his successors should own and confesse the soveraignty of the crown of france , which was accordingly performed , until it was by arnulph the fourth earl interrupted and discontinued , who rendred himself homager to the empire ; and from this thierre an undisturb'd channel of descent transported it down to john the son of florence the fifth , who determining without issue , john of avesnes earl of hainault , in right of the marriage of his father john of avesnes earl of hainault , and his mother aleide sister and heir of william the second earl of holland , entered into the possession of these provinces as their heir general ; and from him it was wafted down to his grandchild william the fourth of that name earl of holland , and the second of hainault , who being slain in a war against the frisons , and leaving no issue , margaret his sister and heir brought it to be possest by lewis of bavaria emperour of germany , after whose decease she was forced to relinquish holland to her second son william , and hainault to her third son albert ; but earl william , the fifth above mentinoed , deceasing without issue , albert his brother became entitled to the earldoms of holland and hainault , and had issue william the sixth , who by a right transmitted to him from his father , wore the coronet of holland ; and in him this family was entombed , for he deceasing without issue male , jaqueline his only daughter became his heir ; but it seems she was condemned by nature to an inexpugnable barrenness , for though she had three husbands , namely , john the fourth duke of brabant , from whom she was separaed by divorce , under pretext of consanguinity , humfrey duke of gloucester , and john de borselles , a gentleman of a private orb , yet the annalls of holland do assert that she had children by neither , so that wanting posterity to inforce and propagate her memory to succeeding times , she conveyed her concernment in holland and hainault to philip the good , duke of burgundy , son of john duke of burgundy and of margaret his wife , sister to earl william the sixth , and daughter of albert above-mentioned ; from whom by the traverses and steps of several descents ( the house of burgundy ▪ having by the match of joan the heir of ferdinand and isabella , fa●●ned and knit the house of castile unto it self ) the propriety and title of holland , zealand , and frizeland , devolved to philip the second king of spain , 〈…〉 vice-roy for the ● provinces the duke 〈…〉 va having by his prodigious butcheries and ●●●cutions incited the people to a total defection from the crown of spain , they to fortifie t●●m●●lves against the bloody encroachments of the spamard , chained their divided interests together in one common union and co●s●●●●●cy ▪ in which they continue linked at this instant . utrecht . utrecht is chain'd in on the east with guelderland , and on the west , north and south with holland . the city of utrecht was sometimes the royal residence of radbold king of the frizons , after the romans were dislodged , who had long been plante ●here in those cities and seats , they by an unjust violence had torn from the bructeri , salii , and batavi , who w●re the ancient inhabitants ; but when dagobere king of france had dissipated and broken the strength of the frizons , he erected this province into a bishoprick , and annexed unto it a demeasn spreading and opulent , the better to soment the increase of christianity , and improve the subsequent dignity of it . the first bishop whose hand sustained the crosier , was willibald an english-man , who established christianity , and dispelled the mists of infidelity which had long over-shadowed these parts ; and his successors multiplied it to that grandeur and formidable power , that they asserted their patrimony and intetest in this province about nine hundred year● , with much of reputation and courage against all the encroachments and unjust incursions of the invading earls of holland , until it came to be possest by henry of bavaria bishop hereof , who being distressed by the duke of guelders , and expulied out of utrecht by his own mutinous and tumultuous subjects about the year 1527. conveyed his estate here to charles the fifth , and he procured an investiture in it from the estates of the empire ( it being an imperial fief , and so not to be alienated or imbezelled without their license ) not long after ; and from him did it devolve by succession to his son and heir philip the second , who having lodged the government of the netherlands upon his vicegerent ferdinand de toledo , duke d'alva , this duke by his massacres and assassinations , having filled the inhabitants with a universal regret and animosity , this with the rest of the provinces , by a pub●ique revolt , renounced and disclaimed all alleigeance to the crown of spain ; and the better to secure their liberties from the future onsets of that kingdome , the people of this province cemented themselves in a confederate union with those of holland , and continue at this day wound up in that first combination . cambray . the city of cambray with the territory annexed , was established and erected into a bishoprick in the person of st. diogenes by birth a grecian . in times of a more recent aspect , that is , about the year 1562. it was advanced to the dignity of an arch-bishoprick by paul the fourth . it was made an imperial fief by the german emperours , and was given in protection by the emperour henry the fifth , to robert of hierusalem earl of flanders , which patronage was ratified to the successors of this robert , by the indulgent bounty of the emperour frederick barbarossa about the year 1164. so that being under the constant tuition of flanders , it was esteemed a limb of that province , yet had the bishops a separate jurisdiction , and were of that eminence and latitude of power , that the bishop of cambray was under the repute and notion of a prince of the empire . it was several times , sometimes by assault , and sometimes by stratagem , forced to bow to the dominion of the french , who having disobliged the people by their disorders and irregular exorbitances were expuls'd in the time of lewis the eleventh , and then it continued under the character of a free city & province , though shadow'd still with the protection of flanders , until the year 1543. a citadel was here established by charles the fifth , which could not rescue it from being surprized in a sudden camisade by the duke of alenzon , but being not long after retrived by the courage and virtue of the spanish arms , it hath ever since remained annexed to the patrimonial inheritance of the crowne of spain . the spanish interest in italy . sicily is the first place in italy which swells the bulk of the spanish greatnesse ; and made its interest so considerable to its enemies , and useful to its friends in all its scattered territories . it is environed with the lower or tyrrhenian sea , and contains seven hundred miles in compasse , and by elder conjectures was supposed in ages of a higher ●limax to have been united to italy , being then a demy-island or peninsula , such as peloponnesus , and joyned to the continent by some narrow isthmus . indeed the narrownesse of the straight , thr ●hallownesse of the water in the phare , the brittlenesse of the shore on either side , being full of caves , and chinks , wrought in it by the violent onsets of the sea ; and then the city rhegium situated on the cal●brian coast , and almost opposite to messina , which imports a breach or cutting off , from the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifies to break off ; do evince to us by probability of circumstances , that sicily was one piece with the adjacent continent , until the violence of earth-quakes , and the impetuous futy of the waters and waves did dislodge and consume the earth which tyed it to italy . it was once called trinacria , because it extends it self into the sea with three capes or promontories , viz. 1 pelorus now capo de foro. 2 pachinus , now capo passaro , and lilybaeum now cape boij , or coro . the first inhabitants that history represents to us to have possest this country , are those vast giants recorded in the odysses of homer , under the appellation of the laestrygones and cyclops . these were afterwards supplanted and discarded by the sicani , a people of spain , who called it sicania . but these new invaders being not long after rooted out by the siculi , who were driven out of latium by evander and his areadians , and forced to seek new habitations here ; it abandoned the name of sicania , and assumed that of sicily . at their first landing they built the city of zancle called afterwards messana , together with ne● , hybla , catana , and leontium . after them came another italian colony styled the morgetes , being forced hither by the oenotrians , and fixed their residence in that part of the island where they erected the city morgentum , and adopted it into their own surname . the first of the greeks who invaded it , were the chalcidians , a people of the isle of euboea , now called negropont , to whom the city of naxos owed its first foundation ; and after archias of corinth , and his retinue of adventurers , by whom syracusa ( famous in elder times for the petalismus or banishment of citizens by having their names writ in an olive leaf ) was first built , or else very much enlarged and adorned . next them the rhodians and cr●tians sent some colonies hither , the first founders of gela ; and after , of the so much celebrated city of agrigentum . and not long after , a new stock of planters built heraclia . the citizens of megaris , another state of greece , transmitted a colony also , who built s●linus : and so did those of messene or mycena also , who taking the town of zancle from the siculi , new beantified it ; and being thus repaired , fixt on it the name of messana . nor can we deem the tyrians and phaenicians , such noted undertakers of publique businesse● , would be so stupidly unactive not to attempt nothing , when so rich and eminent a prey did invite their industry ; for we find they attaqued the promontories of pachinus and lilybaeum , and some of the adjoyning islands , and forti●ied them , the better to secure and improve the trade they had established in sicily . but these several colonies being broken into several interests and factions , combined not together in the design of an absolute conquest , but planting themselves on the shore , did not discard the name of the island , by which they found it distinguished upon their first eruption . after this island by these particular onsets and impressions , fell under the cognisance of the greeks , from all their principal cities , colonies issued out , who inhabited the sea-coasts of the country ; but so as they never concentered in a common body , but had their several ends and particular interests , whereby they came to be split into many factions , and sacrificed as a prey to as many tyrants . phalaris over-ruling agrigentum , panaetius at leontium , gelon at syracusa , cleander at gela ; and when one faction was too impotent to obviate or resist the other , they called in several forraign nations to support their quarrel . for on this foundation the carthaginians were called in by the messanians , against the agrigentines . and on the same principle , was managed the peloponnesian war , the athenians combining with the leontines , ●nd the spartans with the syracusans , in which the whole power of athens was broken by sea and land , and their two generals nicias and demosthenes offered up to an untimely and bloody fate in prison . but because syracusa was a city of the most eminent authority , and of the greatest influence over the rest , the state and affairs of that city are made more visible by history , than those which have an aspect upon the towns or communities of this island . the government at first was popular , as it was in most of the greek colonies , according to the platforms and models they transported with them , and was but newly transplanted into the aristocratical when gelon erected his kingdome here , about twenty years after the expulsion of tarquins at rome , whom with as many succeeded in the royal dignity , take in this subsequent register . a. m. 3465. 1. gelon taking advantage of the contests in syracusa betwixt the magistrates and people made himself master of the city , and was chosen king. 7. a. m. 3472. 2. hiero the first , valiant , but rude and covetous . a. m. 3484. 3. thrasibulus brother to hiero , whose government was so barbarous and insupportable , that he swayed but ten months . a. m. 3544. 4. dionysius the so much celebrated tyrant , who being general of the syracusans , made himself their king. a man of great vices , and as eminent vertues . 38. a. m. 3582. 5. dionysius the second succeeded his father in his kingdome and his vices , but not in his courage or prudence , being first supplanted by dion a gentleman of syracusa , and secondly , vanquished and made captive by timoleon , of corinth . a. m. 3635. 6. agathocles a potter , after a souldier , twenty years after the death of timoleon , made himself king of syracusa . 29. a. m. 3681. 7. hiero the second , of a leader of their armyes , chosen king of syracusa by a party which he had pack'd amongst them . in his time broke out the first punick war , the romans being called in by the mamertones , who held messana against the carthaginians . 56. a. m. 3737. 8. hieronymus son of hiero , after whose decease all sicily became subject to the dominion of rome , by the successful conduct of marcellus . being thus made subservient to the government of rome , it was wrapped up in the fate of that city , and of the roman empire ; until in the partition , ●f the roman empire , it was cast together with apuglia and calabria into the power of the greeks . in the declension and wane of whose greatnesse , this island having been miserably depopulated and harrassed by constans , anno 669. it became a prey to the saracens ; from them rescued again by the normans ; who held both this , and the realm of naples in fee of the church , under the title of kings of both the sicilyes . after that it fell under the fortune of that kingdome subject unto the princes of the norman and german line , until the death of conrade , no discomposure or interruption intervening . after whose exit , when manfred base son of the emperour frederick , and brother of conrade , had by a forcible intrusion entitled himself to the crown and scepter of this island , it was offered by the pope ( upon some conditions knotted with many rugged difficulties ) to richard earl of cornwal brother to henry the third ; a man according to the standard of those times , of a most important revenue ; upon whose waving this motion , it was again offered to his nephew edmund second son to henry the third , who was espoused to this royalty by a ring , and mony coyned in his name by the popes appointment , with the impresse and inscription affixed to it of edmundus rex siciliae . but henry the third being not in any capacity to pursue this design , the civil contests with his barons having entangled him in more difficult undertakings , and the pope having sufficiently by this overture drained his exchequer , it was in the year 1261. given to charles earl of provence and anoju , brother to lewis the tenth of france . to his command this island was subservient until the year 1281. in which his competitor peter of arragon justled his title by a new claim , emergent from his wife the daughter and heir of manfred above mentioned ; and for the clearer decision of the title , invited him to the commencement of a duel before king edward the first of england , at bourdeaux ; which defiance he tacitly declining , peter in the mean time by dark stratagems and black contrivances , wherein he was aided by john de prochita a gentleman of the kingdome of naples , from whom charles of anjou had violently snatched the island of prochita , upon a summons received from a toll of a bell , sounded , as it was pretended , to give an alarum to sicily of the approach and onset of some invading sarazens , the french were assassinated in this island which massacre so firmly riveted the title into the house of aragon , that it still continues incorporated into the interest of spain . sardinia . the island of sardinia lyeth west from sicily , from the nearest point thereof it is distant about two hundred miles . it is in length one hundred and eighty , ninety in breadth , and in circuit five hundred and sixty miles . in the time of aristotle it was called ichnusa , and next sandaliota , from the resemblance of a shooe-sole or the impression of a mans foot on the earth ; and finally , sardinia from sardus the son of hercules , who coming out of africk entitled himself to the possession . and that which more improves and fortifies this narration is , that the people in the latine tongue have still the appellation of sardi , and the circumambient sea the denomination of mare sardoum . and to this name it hath remained so constantly ever since espoused , that no following plantations were ever able to extinguish or divorce it . some companies of attica were conducted hither by iolaus , where they erected olbion and agrillis ; which colonies , to inforce and multiply the memory of their foundér , assumed to themselves the name of iolatenses . and after the ruine of troy , some of the broken reliques of that scattered nation came and planted in the void places of this island ; whose successours are mentioned by livie and pliny , under the denomination of the ilienses . after these the carthaginians by the nearnesse of their habitation , did attaque all advantages to make , as at last they did , a full conquest of it ; building therein the cities of carmis , calaris , and sulchi ; and asserting their title to it , it was unjustly wrung from them by the romans , at the end of the first punick war ; at what time carthage was in hazzard to be ruined by the defection of her own mercenaries , and so in no capacity to resist . this island being thus extorted from the carthaginians by the romans ▪ was immediately under the signory of the praefect of rome ; but after by junsti●an , it was incorporated into his new dioce●s of africk , and as an appendage to it , was claimed , invaded , and subdued by the sarazens , anno 807. who destroyed calaris , subverted by gracchus and the romans ; and again in more setled times re-established . but from them it was rescued by the pisans , ( who re-edified calari ) and genoese , who made a partition of it betwixt them ; but the genoese disgusted with their portion , as being lesse in quantity , and worse in quality , began to enter into contest with the pisans , which at last ushered in an open war , anno 1324. in which having worried themselves with mutual contests , pope boniface the eighth , to appease their animo●ties , and supersede all quarrel for the future , by a new donation enstated it on james the 2d . king of aragon , who had entitled himself to it by a specious claim before , upon pretence that it was a limb or appendix to sicily , and wrapped up in the patrimony of that diadem ; and the more to fortifie his new acquists , obtained the papal concession to support and improve his interest here , which before appeared to be but infirm and crazie ; and being thus doubly guarded with his own title and the pope's grant , he after some signal decisions of the sword , wholly supplanted both the pisans and genoese ; and in the year 1324. reduced this island under the dominion of the aragonian scepter . and from him hath the propriety ever since been conducted down to his successors in so uninterrupted a channel , that the devolution and traverses of many winding descents hath at this instant brought it to confe●s the empire and seignory of philip the fourth k. of spain . naples . the kingdome of naples is almost on every side circumscribed with the adriatick , ionian , and tuscan-seas , unlesse on the west , where it is separated from the lands of the church , by a small neck of land drawn from the mouth of the river of druentus , to the spring head of axofenus . it is divided into terra di lavoro , abruzzo , apulia , terra de otranto , calabria-inferior , calabria-superior , and the isles of naples . terra di lavoro was anciently called campania , and extracted this surname from the campani , who with the oscani , who were invested in possessions about capua , in ages of a very old inscription style● osca , were the ancient inhabitants of it . abruzzo , in latine styled aprutium , was the residence or territory of the picentes and the samnites ; the last of which were subdivided into the ●erentani , arpinates , caraceni praecatini , peligni , vestini , hirpini , and the samnites , properly so called . terra di otranto was in elder times peopled by the salentini , iapyges , and messapiani ; and from hence in the records and monuments of antiquity , it is exhibited to posterity under the names of salentina , iapygia , and messapia . calabria-inferior and superior , were both originally that track of earth which was postest by the calabri , tarentini , lucani , ●rutij , and some sprincklings of the liburni , a people devoted by the romans to the sustaining of burdens & other servile employments ; and this i believe was done by such cheap and contemptible undertakings to extinguish in them all thoughts which might egg them on to a recovery of that liberty which the sword of the romans had lopped off ; for these , the calabri and tarentini were the last ( not without many signal and solemn strugglings ) who prostrated themselves as a prey to the victorious tallons of the roman eagle . this kingdom of naples hath been whirled about with so many revolutions , that the inhabitants of any region have not been obnoxious to more vicissitudes and mutations than the possessors of these provinces have been . for 1. the grecians entered and scattered here their particular colonies of achaians and spartans , which obliged antiquity to give the name of magna graecia to calabria ; in which track they erected locris , so eminent in old records for zeleucus the law-giver , and his laws and institutions , and eunomus the musician . 2. tarentum , which contributes a name to that capacious bay called sinus tarentinus . 3. crotona , whose inhabitants were anciently so active in the olympick games . 4. amycle , a town whose inhabitants were made up in elder times of the pythagoreans , a sect which by the institutions and rules of their order , devoted themselves to silence . 5. sybaris●o ●o infamous in story for their softnesse and effeminacy , having melted themselves into so much ease and luxury , that they expulsed all smiths and brasiers into exile ▪ because by the noise of their bellows and hammers , they might make an invasion on their repose and slumber , and entertained with unusual caresses , musicians , fidlers , because they improved their sleep and excesse . and 6. they here erected rhegium , which name they fixed upon it from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifies to break or tear asunder ; this city being separated or torn off from sicily , by that straight of sea which they style the faro of messina . in terra di lavoro they erected parth●nope , now called naples , osca now named capua , cuma and sinuessa now called sessa . in abruzzo they established arpinum . in apulia anciently by the grecia●s called daunia , they founded luceria , asculum sometimes styled asculum satrianum , and argyripa the argos hirpium , of the ancients , and contracted by use and depravation of dialect into agyripa , which as antiquity asserts and intimates , was erected into the shape and model of a city by diomedes , and a colony transmitted from etolia . in terra di otranto they established brundufium , hydruntum , and as some affirm ( but upon what grounds i know not ) gallipolis likewise ; but though naples were thus strengthened with colonies , and knotted with cities , yet this could not so secure her from forraign eruptions , but that she bowed her head ; and partly by a voluntary resignation , and partly by conquest , gave her self up to be made part of that patrimony which improved the roman grandeur ; and after it had for some years submitted to the dominion of rome , as it was first a common wealth , and afterwards the seat of the empire , it was rent off from that great body by the goths , under whose tyranny it had not long lain gasping , but it was forced to surrender it self to the jurisdiction of the lombards , who by their frequent and happy inroads disseised the goths of their new acquists ; but their conquests were not fixed or permanent , for their foundation being cimented with blood , was infirm and slippery , being after some assaults made upon it by charles the great , forced to bow to his scepter : but to winde up all controversie for the future , and to entomb all emergent differences in an amicable pacification , this charles about the year 803. made an equal and indifferent partage between nicephorus then emperour of the east , and himself as emperour of the west ; the limits of which division was the river liris now cantigliano by capua , and the river aufidus now ofanto in apulia . but this partage did not long continue without some discomposure ; for ill agents having fomen●ed some differences between the greeks and the germans , their private animosities and heats were at last blown up into the publique flame of war , which did determine in the total expulsion of the germans out of naples ; yet this was not acted without the concurrent supply of the sarazens , enemies to them both ; who discovering the weaknesse of the greeks in being invited in to supplant the germans , invaded those who had called them in ; and thus was this unhappy kingdome for several ages made the sad stage where the latines , greeks , and sarazens , acted their bloody tragedies . but in fine , the greeks being wasted with frequent conflicts , and almost sinking under the weight of a forraign conquest , they having evapourated their noblest & most active spirits at those wounds the swords of these infidels had inflicted on them , were supported in this their agony by forty norman gentlemen , who about the year 1000. returning from a pilgrimage made into the holy land , gave so noble and generous assistance to the afflicted christians that they checked the fortune of the sarazens , and intercepted the current of their victories , which before like a deluge menaced wholly to over-whelme the christian ●nterest and concernment in this kingdome . but this gave the distressed inhabitants but some dawning of better hopes ; the improvement of this successe was left to the valour and conduct of one drangot , who having slain repostel a gentleman of eminence , in the presence of robert duke of normandy , father to our william the conquerour , so disgusted his allies and relations , that to decline the tempest which menaced him , he retired into this kingdome for shelter , and after many conflicts commenced with the sarazens , by a fortunate managery of the christian quarrel , he contracted their power into narrower limits ; but being supplied with new recruits the sarazens not onely reinforced their animosities but hopes also , until tancred and his twelve sons arriving out of normandy with fresh supplies , after many signal encounters , wholly supplanted the interest that these infidels had in naples ; but though these invaders were thus dissipated , yet the greeks remained dis-satisfied , and gave new occasion of war and trouble to these norman conquerours under the command of melorco vicegerent of this province under the grecian emperours ; but the affairs of the normans were so well swayed and ordered by the care and prudence of william son to tancred above mentioned , that this new emotion was extinguished by the defeat of melorco , and the troops marshall'd under his conduct ; but this discomfiture did not so totally dispel the tempest , but that there were new clouds collected together , to disorder and ecclipse the glory of the norman conquests ; which in fine , were so wholly dissipated , by the active courage of robert guiscard another of the sons of tancred , that the greeks being absolutely crush'd and subdu'd , & the reliques of the sarazens extirpated & thrown out , he justly merited in the annals of succeeding times the title of the conquerour of the kingdome of naples ; and he bequeathed this province with all its perquisits and appendages to be enjoyed by his second son robert guiscard earl of sicily , who in the year 1125. by the favour and influence of anacletus then pope , had the title of king of naples conferred upon him , and his son william received the crown , with this restriction , that he should hold this diadem as a donative from the pope , and in homage of the see of rome ; and in the hands of his successors did the neapolitan scepter remain fixed , until it came to be weilded by william the second , who upon his decease left constance his daughter , his onely lawful issue , and tancred his natural son , the issue of unlawful embraces ; and he by the concurrence and support of his faction , so managed his designs , that he invested his head with the crown of naples , to the prejudice and disherision of constance the lawful heir ; but disdaining to acknowledge the pope for soveraign of the fee , the pope to retaliate this affront , matches constance to henry the sixth emperour of germany , and by opposing the right of his empresse to the distorted and usurped title of tancred , so crippled his authority and power , that finally after many contests and bloody decisions , the scepter of naples came to be swayed by henry the sixth abovesaid ; but his successor frederick the second embarquing in the former contrast with the succeeding popes in relation to the soveraignty of naples , disclaimed and renounced any homage to the see of rome , which so inflamed that bishop , that he collected all supply that the engins borrowed either from strength or art could contribute to vindicate his pretended right to the soveraignty of naples ; yet was he thwarted in his endevours with such vigorous opposition during the government of frederick the second abovesaid , conrade his son , manfred his natural son , and conradine grandchild to frederick , nothing was effected of importance which might afford any support to the accomplishment of the designs of the popes for the time being : so that pope innocent the fourth , to fortifie his attempts with forraign succour , presented the kingdom to st. lewis king of france ; for his brother charles count of anjou and provence , who had the repute of an excellent souldier , and an experienced commander ; and about the year 1264. which was two years after pope urban the fourth invested him with it ; he to assert his interest , commenced a war with conradine king of naples , and having put his title to the umpirage of a battel , after a bloody debate , took this conradine captive ; and made the forfeiture of his head expiate its wearing that diadem which the popes donation had before by a pretended investiture entituled him to ; and having thus fixed the scepter of naples in his own hand , he left it to be swayed by his son and heir charles the lame , who by mary his queen inheritrix of hungary had issue , charles surnamed martel , who had his mothers kingdom assigned him for his subsistence or portion ; lewis his second son , who assumed holy orders , and clowded all his earthly glories in the cowle of a franeiscan frier , and afterwards was bishop of thoulouse ; robert his third son , was by the munificence of his father entitled to the inheritance of the kingdome of naples . there were other sons who had other lands consigned them in appennage for their future support and alimony . robert abovesaid , had issue charles , who dying without issue male in his fathers life time , left onely a daughter and heir called joane , who after the decease of her grandfather robert , came to manage the neapolitan scepter ; and this is that joane so famously infamous in the annals of naples , for the probable assassination of her first husband andrew , and other wilde disorders , which have cast so dark a tincture upon her fame , that though some have endevoured to wrap up her guilt in a modest covering , yet the blacknesse of her life is visible by an indelible stain through all those veils the industry of flattery attempts to fold it up in . but to proceed ; about the expiration of the raign of this ioane , which was about the year 1378. the church of rome was disordered by a remarkable schisme ; for urban the sixth , being made pope , the violence of a predominant faction , a considerable part of the conclave of cardinals elected robert cardinal of geneva , by the name of clement the seventh . queen joan being warped with animosity against urban , who was born under her dominion and scepter , made her self a partisan in the cause and quarrel of his adversary and competitor clement . her crime contracted from the slaughter of her husband andrew , had been long entombed in a pacification transacted in her favour by pope clement the sixth , with lewis the great , king of hungary , brother to andrew abovesaid . but urban the sixth , to recompense her for those disservices with which she had disobliged him , again raked into her guilt , and incensed charles of duras , of the house of hungary , to expiate the former murther by a just revenge ; and this prince , inflamed by his instigations , came and beseiged her in castello del ovo , and having reduced her , and that fortresse to his discretion , strangled her in or near that place where she had acted her barbarous parricide on her first husband andrew . charles of duras having thus destroyed this infamous princesse seised on the neapolitan diadem , which did not sit so fast on his temples , but that it was shaken by a concurrent title , for joan not long before her death , to fortifie her self agrinst the designs of pope urban , had adopted lewis duke of anjou brother to ch●rles the fifth king of france , for her heir ; and he endevoured to vindicate and extort the crown from charles of duras by dint of sword ; but the latter did so vigorously sustain all the impressions of the house of anjou , that he not onely asserted and fixed the right of the crown to himself , but likewise transmitted a peaceable possession of it to his successors ; which were , first , ladislaus his son and heir , who deceased without issue , and joan his onely daughter and then heir , who upon the death of ladislaus , ascended the throne of naples by the name of joan the second ; who for disorders and irregular excesses , and holding a scandalous familarity with one caracciolo , as likewise for her ill administration of the publique affairs , was degraded from the regal dignity by pope martin the fourth , and lewis of anjou , grandchild to lewis duke of anjou above mentioned , named by him to wear the diadem of naples in her place ; but she disdaining to be thus devested , to secure her self against the attempts and pretences of this lewis , adopted alfonsus king of aragon and sicily for her heir ; but being a woman of a volatile and inconstant temper , upon pretence of some ingrateful affronts put upon her by alfonsus abovesaid , cancelled her first adoption , and by a second instrument declared lewis the fourth duke of anjou , son to lewis abovesaid , for her heir ; and this lewis having wrung the crown from the house of aragon , enjoyed it joyntly with this queen joan , in a fixed serenity of government for some years ; but dying without issue before her , she to preserve her self from the eruptions of the aragonian faction , adopted rene duke of anjou his brother , for her heir ; and soon after she had declared and effected this , she her self was disrob'd by death of all earthly glory . but this rene being then captive with the duke of burgundy , was debarred from amassing those forces together , which might adjoust his title to the crown of naples ; indeed his dutchesse elizabeth , attempted to retrive it , but being overlaid with the faction and force of alfonsus , she and the house of anjou were utterly supplanted , and alfonsus upon a pretence extracted from the first adoption of joan , which was supported by conquest , upon the ruines of this family , step'd up to the throne of naples ; and he more to ennoble his family by an additional augmentation of revenue , enstated this kingdom on his natural son ferdinand , who being thus invested in it , transmitted it to his son alfonsus the second ; and he had issue ferdinand the second , who likewise wore the diadem of naples ; but a tenure very volatile and unfixt attended the soveraignty , and made it rest but loosly on his temples ; for charles the eighth king of france , espousing the title and quarrel of the house of an●ou , so vigorously supported their interest , that he supplanted this ferdinand , and forced him to abandon the neapolitan scepter ; but the french upon the departure of charles the eighth managing both the civil and military affairs of this kingdome with much impetuousnesse and inadvertency , excited the neapolitans to resent their sway and government with so much regret and passion , that frederick brother of alfonsus the second , regained it with as much facility as his nephew ferdinand had cheaply lost it . but lewis the twelfth , successor and kinsman to charles the eighth , upon the decease of this charles ( who dyed suddenly at amboise , as he was preparing for a second eruption upon naples ) collected a powerful army to vindicate his pretences and title to that kingdome , so that frederick finding himself too weak to sustain the weight of so mighty an opposition , threw himself into the protection of ferdinand king of aragon and castile , who in stead of asserting his interest against the onsets of the french , by an unworthy compact with lewis the twelfth , disserted his kinsman , and had the moiety of the kingdome assigned him , as the price of this dereliction ; but not long after , the french and spaniard entering into contention about the bounds and limits of the lands divided , their animosities were improved to that heighth , that they blazed out in the flame of a publique war ; which was managed with that vigor and prudence by gonsalvo the spanish general , that after many encounters the french were wholly disseised , and their interest they had in this kingdome extorted from them ; and though in ages subsequent to this , the french did not tamely abandon their pretended concernment here , but sought to retrive it by the bloody umpirage of the sword , yet were their designs so ill managed , and their arms so unprosperous , that their disastrous successe did but more fasten the crown and scepter of naples to that of spain : to whose diadem the interest and title of this kingdom hath remained ever since so firmely linked , that it is still united to the hereditary patrimony of philip the fourth now king of spain . milan . milan is shut in on the east with mantua and parma , on the west with piemont and switzerland , on the north with the province called marca anconitana , and on the south with that chain of hills which is styled the appenine . the ancient inhabitants were the insubres , the b●ji , the cenomani , and the senones ; who were after diverse signal contentions devested of their possessions by the romans , and forced to surrender themselves as tributary to their dominion and seignory ; and in that demeasn which supported rome , as it was first the head of a spreading common-wealth , and then secondly , the metrapolis of a spacious empire , did this province lie folded up , until the government of this province came to be managed by augustulus , the last of the western emperours , who being subdued and his forces broken by odoacer king of the heruli and thuringians , this province became the guerdon of his triumphs ; but the possession being thus atchieved by an unjust invasion , was not long after extorted and ravished away from them by theodorick k. of the go●hs , about the year 495. but here the title was as volatile and transient as formerly ; for teyas his ●uccessor , was about the year 567. vanquished by the un●ted forces of alboinus king of the av●res , invited out of hungary , and narses general for the emperour justinian in ita●y ; the goths being thus disieised , this province was consigned to alb●inus , and his troops by narses , anno 568. as the price of his successful courage , and meritorious fidelity so visibly exhibited in the war commenced with the expulsed goth ; and in himself and his line , did the soveraignty of this province , by a decursion and series of twenty three kings remain uninterruptedly lodged , until the devolution of descent brought the scepter to be weilded by desiderius , who being about the year 774. discomfited by charles the great , this kingdome sunk in his ruines ; and was afterwards incorporated as a province into the spreading demeasne of that victorious monarch . after whose raign this province remained imperial , and was subservient still to those who had the empire of the west . but when the house of charle●aigue degenerated , and suffered the imperial diadem to be ravished from their heads after the year 900. an eager dispute was managed by the continuance of fifty years , betwixt the italian and german princes , in relation to the possession and soveraignty of the empire . in fine , the germans prevailed in the person of otho the first , and his successors having designed and fixed their seat of power and government in the empire , they afterwards were entangled in several contentions with the papacy , which so much retrenche● and contracted their authority , that their power in italy began sensibly to crumble away , and a considerable part of lombardy slipt out of their dominion ; and some seignories chose to themselves italian lords , and some elected liberty and a popular government . in these confusions milan and its appendant territory , put it self under the patronage and protection of otho its arch-bishop , descended from the viscounts of angleria , a place of a narrow circuit in this dutchy . but after his decease matthew brothers , son to this arch-bishop , was confirmed in the government of milan by albert emperour of germany , but under no other notion or title than that narrow one , onely of commander ; ( for still it seems the skeleton of soveraignty was deposited in the hands of the emperours , though those nerves and muscles which should make it act vigourously , and move regularly , were rent off ) and from him did the same command devolve to his son galeazzo visconti , who because he exercised this authority without the approbation of lewis of bavaria the emperour , he was disseised of his power and expulsed ; but his son actio visconti was reinvested in that command from which his father had been dislodged by the same lewis ; but after his exit , the same command was successively managed by his two uncles luchino and john visconti , younger brothers to his f●ther galeazzo ; and after their ●xtinction , the government of this state was dispensed and swayed by galeazzo the second , son of stephen , who likewise was a younger brother of these two , but embellished with no other title but that of commander of milan ; and here this appellation expired with him , and was entomb'd in his urne ; for after his decase , john galeazzo visconti son of galeazzo the first , above-mentioned , coming to graspe the command of this province , by the benefaction and munificence of the emperour wenceslaus about the year 1395. as some compute , or about the year 1397. as others calculate , received his investiture into the state of milan , with the more splendid title of duke ; which was successively enjoyed by his two sons , john maria , who in a popular sedition fell an early oblation to the disorder and fury of the vulgar ; and philip maria , who likewise made his exit without issue , so that the right of inheritance was lodged in valentina their sister and heir , who about the year 1398. was matched to lewis duke of orleans , son to charles the fifth king of france , and by the contract of matrimony , it was manifested and declared , that upon defailance of the masculine line of galeazzo , the children of valentina should be invested in the succession of this dutchy ; notwithstanding , this clause had this emient defect , that this dutchy being established a masculine fee , galeazzo could not make it feminine without the emperours grant or license , which was not demanded or required , because the empire was then vacant by the degradation of wenceslaus whom the electors had devested and deposed because of his dull and sluggish administration of the affairs of the empire ; but it is asserted by the french , that pope benedict the thirteenth , who then held his see at avignon , ratified and approved the above-mentioned contract , for that right the popes challenge in the vacancy of the empire . but this succession falling in the confusions of france under charles the seventh , when the two sons of valentina , charles duke of orleans , and john count of ango●lesme were captive in england , where the first continued twenty five years , and the last almost thirty . it was a design of not much difficulty for francis sforza ( a man of a vigorous resolution and a deep speculation ) who had wedded bona natural daughter to philip maria , the last duke of milan , above-mentioned ; in that interval of time , and the desolation of the house of orleans , to surprize and seize the dutchy of milan , of which he had procured and obtained an investiture of the emperour frederick the fourth . but this did not so supersede the int●insique right of the house of orleans , but lewis the twelfth coming to be king of france , about the year 1498. so powerfully prosecuted his right , that he expulsed lodowick sforza ( who h●d by a cla●destine assassination destroyed his two nephews , the sons of his brother francis abovesaid , entrusted to his guardianship and protection , and violently ravished away the possession of this dutchy ) and having made him his prisoner , carried him into france , where he dyed in captivity in the tower of loches . lewis remaining thus master of this dutchy , to secure his claim and fortifie his title , he obtained two investitures of the emperour maximilian , the first in the year 1506. and the second in the year 1509. but this did not so support his possession , but that towards the latter end of his government he was supplanted by maximilian sforza , son to lodowick , and the concomitant succours of the suisse , with the consent of maximilian the emperour , who was disgusted because claude eldest daughter to lewis who had been promised to his grandchild charles , was ●spoused to francis , afterwards king of france , by the name of francis the first ; which francis after decease of lewis , being emp●l'd with the diadem of france , so successfully vindicated his claim and title , that he regained this dutchy , and rendered maximilian his prisoner , but he either neglected o● the d●dained to do homage to the ●mperour for a new investiture ; which contempt of his , charles the fifth , who succeeded his grandfather maximilian , re ented with so much regret , that his animosity against francis grew inveterate and implacable , which blazed out in the flame of a publique war , in which francis was made captive at the battel of p●via , and from thence transported and put under restraint at madrid , and there remained until he purchased his enfranchisement with a plenary release and surrender of his right to this dutchy into the hands of charles the fifth , though the french affirm this could onely prejudice himself , but not the children of claude his queen , who were entitled to a right by descent from their mother ; and that this concession of madrid is null by the fundamental laws of france , which will not permit the alienation of the soveraign rights of the crown without the consent of the estates general ; and they never ratified this concession ; but the actual possession of the spaniard hath been more strong than these pretences , who have so secured their interest in this dutchy , against all the efforts and hostile eruptions of the french , that it is still wound up in the patrimony of philip the fourth king of spain . the spanish interest in siena . siena . siena and its circumambient territory is situated between the estate of pisa , and the patrimony of the popes of rome , called the demeasn of the church . the city is by antoninus in his itinerary styled sena julia , to distinguish it from another of that name , situated on the margin or fringes of the adriatick gulf , and named sena gallica . it was as the ancient traditions of italy testifie , erected by brennus , who here , as in some infirmatory , did deposite his souldiers who were superannuated with age , or else almost crumbled away with sicknesse . in times of a more modern aspect this province was wholly devoted or offered up to the interest of the faction or combination of the gibellines or imperial party , so that the price was narrow and easie at which they enfranchis'd & purchased their liberty of the emperour rodolphus . after this city and province came to confesse the seignory and scepter of the spaniard ; but they had not been long resident in their new acquists , but they were disseised by the french , but by the second eruption of those spanish they had not long before expulsed , they were again rooted out and supplanted ; and the king of spain having thus rescued siena from the yoke of the french , conveyed all his concernment in it to cosmo de medices duke of florence about the year 1558. but with this retrenchment or limitation , that the dutchy of siena it self should hold in fee of the crown of spain , and the cities and ports of porto hercol● , orbitillo , piombino , and porto longone , should be annexed to the crown of spain , and remain as limbs of the patrimony of that diadem for ever ; & though porto piombino and longone were not many years since torne from the spanish scepter by the prosperous arms of the french , yet the spanish discovering how destructive and ruinous it would be to their affairs in italy , to suffer these new intruders to be fixed in a constant possession of them , retrived them by dint of the sword , and are at this instant entitled to the peaceable possession of them . the interest of the house of austria in germany . austria properly so called , hath on the east the kingdome of hungary , on the west bavaria , on the north b●●●●ia , on the south stiria or stiermarck , represented to us by the dutch under the denomination of ost●●rick , that is to say , the eastern kingdome , this being the extreme province of east-france , or the eastern kingdom of the french ; in the rude and unpolished latine of those times styled austrasia , whence the modern austria hath borrowed its name and extraction . the ancient inhabitants were the quadi who were subdued by the romans ; but these had scarcely advanced their trophies upon the ruines of this people , but the marcomanni improving their strength by a confederate mixture with the boij , dislodged the romans from their new acquists , and conquered part of this province , and left the remainder to be offered up as a sacrifice to the victorious sword of the avares . but these boij being subjugated by clovis the great , and the avares expulsed from pannonia by charlemaigne , both this and that became incorporated into the french empire , until the subduing pannonia by the hungarians . to oppose whom , and more vigorously to protect this province in its peace and safety , some under the notion of guardians or lord marchers , were deputed by the kings and emperours of germany to have an inspection into the affairs of this territory ; and more to reward and ennoble their care , they were adorned with the title of marquisses . at first officiarie , but at last hereditary ; made so by the emperour henry the first , who gave this province anno 980. to one leopold surnamed the illustrious , extracted from the house of schwaben ; and from him descended leopold the fourth marquisse of austria , who dying without issue , henry the second was not onely invested with the estate , but likewise with the title of marquisse of austria ; but by the liberal munificence of frederick barbarossa in the year 1158. was advanced to a higher dignity and created duke of this province by that emperour ; and from him it came down to his grandchild leopold the fifth , who surprized richard the first , in his return from the holy war ; and having made him his captive , obtained so plentiful a ransome for his redemption , that with it he purchased stiermark and the counties of neobourg and lintz , and circumscribed u●enna with a wall ; and this leopold had issue frederick the warlike , who for some enterprises wherein he exhibited signal testimonies of his courage , was made king of austria by frederick the second emperour of germany ; but he deceasing without issue , ottocarus son of wenceslaus king of bohemia , being fortified with a right derived from margaret sister to this frederick , entered upon his newly established monarchy , adding thereto , as an increase of patrimony , the countries of carinthia , and carniola , which he had purchased of ulric the last prince thereof ; but being vanquished and slain by rodolphus of hapsberg not long before advanced to the german empire in the year 1246. he conferred the possession of these large acquists on his eldest son albert with the title of duke of austria , about the year 1298. but though these new conquests were incorporated into the demeasn of albert , by the successful sword of his father , yet was their title better secured and supported by marriage ; for he wedded elizabeth daughter of m●inard earl of tiroll and elizabeth his wife , the daughter of gertrude , who was daughter to henry brother to frederick the warlike ; which gertrude matched with hermanus marquisse of bad●n , by whom she had frederick beheaded at naples by charles of valois , 1268. and this elizabeth abovesaid , in whose right albert became entitled to austria , tiroll , and many other opulent and considerable possessions elsewhere ; and from him did this dutchy by descent devolve to albert the sixth , who ( as some records and histories assert ) assumed the style of arch-duke , about the year 1430. and much enhaunsed his grandeur and revenue by matching with elizabeth heir of sigismund king of hungary and of bohemia , she adding those two crowns to his patrimony ; and he left issue ladislaus , who deceasing childlesse , frederick the second , being extracted from leopold one of the sons of albert the third duke of austria surnamed the short , was by a right flowing from him entitled to this dukedome ; and he had issue maximilian the first , from whom this dutchy devolved successively to his two grandchildren charles the fifth , and ferdinand the first . the last of which had issue maximilian the second ; from whom the title was conducted down to his two sons rodolph the third , and matthias , who both deceasing without issue , the title was invested in their kinsman ferdinand the second duke of gratz , son of charles duke of austria youngest son of ferdinand the first ; from whom it is transmitted to his grandchild leopold ignatius , the instant emperour of germany . stiria or stiermark , is bounded on the north with austria , on the south with carinthia , on the east with hungary , on the west with carinthia likewise . it was anciently possest by inhabitants who fell under the denomination of the taurisci part of the norici , from whom it extracted the appellation of stiermark ; the germans calling that a stier which the latines call tauriscus , or a little bullock . from which account it may be asserted that stiermark was nothing anciently , but the borders or marches of the taurisci , being the utmost limits or extent of their possessions . it was annexed to pannonia in the destribution of the roman provinces , and had the name of valeria imposed upon it , as a trophie of honour imposed upon it , to improve the memory of valeria the daughter of dioclesian . but when it was rent off from the roman empire it obtained the name of stiermark , which had an aspect upon the ancient inhabitants the taurisci . it was first erected into an earldome in the person of one ottocarus , who was dignified with the title of earl by conrade the second . and this title continued until leopold the fourth was created marquisse of stiermark by the emperour of germany , for the time being ; and from him the right of succession transported this province to his son ottocarus the fourth , who was adorned with the title of duke of stiria by frederick barbarossa . but he being without hope of issue , and infected with the incurable disease of the leprosie , conveyed his interest and concernment in this province to leopold the fifth , duke of austria , which he purchased with that vast heap of treasure he extorted from richard the first , for his ransome from that captivity he was detained in . and hath been wrapped up ever since in the demeasne of the house of austria ; but so that it hath been consigned as a portion to support the younger sons of that family ; as namely , to leopold the ninth of that name , one of the younger sons of albert the short , and after to ernest the youngest son of that leopold ; and lastly , to charles the youngest son of ferdinand the first , commonly called charles duke of gratz , father to ferdinand the second , who was successor to matthias in the empire , and heir general likewise to that complicated interest he enjoyed in austria , and the rest of the estates incorporate with it , where it hath ever since remained so united , that it is not probable for the future , that it will so unpolitiquely be dismembered from it . carinthia and carniola are two other provinces which inforce the grandeur and swell the patrimony of the austrian family . the first called karnten in dutch , is bounded on the east with stiermark , on the west with the bishoprick of saltzbourg , on the north with austria , on the south with carniola . carniola styled krain in dutch , is surrounded with sclavonia on the east , friuli on the west , carinthia on the north , and istria on the south . the ancient inhabitants of karnten and krain were the carni ; from them not only the adjoyning alpes had the name of carnicae , but these two counties had those names imposed upon them , by which they now are known . both provinces were united long since in the persons of the dukes of karnten ; the first of whom the testimony of authentique record does exhibit to publique view , was henry son to berthold a noble man of bavaria , in the time of the emperour otho the third , who invested him with the title , and planted him in the estate ; which were both disposed off in succeeding times at will of the emperours , as their interest guided them . nor was the title fixed in any house , until it devolved to henry son of englebert president of istria , in which family it remained under this henry , his brother englebert , ulric the first , henry the second , herman and ulric the 2d . the last who was intituled to these provinces ; who by matching with agnes sister and heir of otho the second duke of meranis , linked that estate to his former patrimony . but being ancient and issue-lesse , he conveyed his interest here to ottocarus king of bohemia and duke of austria , by whom these countries were surrendred to rodolphus of habsperg , as an oblation to that peace which was solemnly stipulated between them . and though rodolphus gave carinthia to mainard earl of tiroll ( in right of whose daughter , albert the son of rodolphus was enstated in austria ) yet upon the expiration of henry the son of mainard without issue male , it devolved ( according to a pre-contract ) unto albert the short , eldest son of albert , and grandchild of rodolphus , continned ever since annexed to that family , though not alwayes resident in the chief house of austria . in this province of carniola is the town and little territory of gorit● anciently styled noreia , and was in elder times of that repute that the proprietary of it was adorned with the title of an earl ; he that had the dignity of count of goritz , was albert second son to mainard earl of tiroll , who devested himself of the propriety of it , to fix the title on him ; and in the descendant line of this albert it continued until the year 1500. and then leonard the last earl thereof dying without issue , it was seised on by maximilian the emperour as his next visible heir , whose successors both in the house of austria and empire also , inter-weave the title of earl of goritz in their usual style . tiroll . tiroll is bounded on the east with friuli and marca trivigiana , on the west with grisons and some part of switzerland , on the north with bavaria , and on the south with lombardy . the earls were at first but provincial officers ; but when this naked and empty title vanished and grew hereditary , no beam either from private or publique record does contribute any light to a discovery . the first whom any certain evidence does represent to us , is mainard who dyed earl of tiroll about the year 1258. and from him did this earldome devolve to his grandchild henry , who dying without issue male , his daughter margaret by the consent and suffrage of her subjects , conveyed her propriety in this earldome to the sons of albert the short , which hath been linked ever since to the revenue of the austrian family . ferdinand the first gave it in appennage to his second son ferdinand surnamed of inspruch , who having disgusted his allies by matching with philippina a burger's daughter of ausburg , he to becalme their passions which boyled with regret and animosity against this cheap alliance , entered into covenant with them , that her issue should not be entitled to the inheritance of tiroll ; in order to which stipulation , after his decease this earldome devolved to the house of gratz , his eldest son charles being adorned with the dignity of marquisse of burgh , and his second son andrew advanced to be cardinal of brixia , so that the propriety of this county hath been ever since resident in the above recited ▪ family ; and at this instant confesses the seignory and title of the descendants of leopold brother to ferdinand the second , duke of gratz , and emperour of germany . bohemia . bohemia is encompassed on the east with moravia , on the west with the upper palatinate and voitland , on the north with misnia , lusatia , and some part of silesia ; on the south with some parts of bavaria and austria . the first inhabitants were the marcomanni and quadi , mingled with the boiari marsigni , burij and gothini ; who upon the wane of that power and splendor which ennobled the roman empire , were disseised of their ancient patrimony in this kingdome by the sclavi , a nation inhabiting the banks of the river ister ; a people very obscure in their original and in their country , until their successes dispelled that mist which hung about them , and made them more conspicuous . under what form of government they modelled themselves after their atchievement of this kingdome , is not obvious from any ancient record ; or if they did erect any frame , it was swept away by new squadrons of sclaves , croatians , and other scattered nations , who under the conduct of zechius a leader of great estimate , like an inundation broke in upon them , which zechius , with his brother leches about the year 640. were expulsed out of croatia , for some offences of a dark complexion there acted by them ; and being very acceptable to the sclaves of bohemia , who viewed him as a prince extracted out of the same cradle and seminary with themselves , and one of the same language , concerned in the same laws , and conformable to the same customes with their own , they adopted him into the supreme government of this province . but after his decease the estate crumbled into the confusions of a disordered anarchy ; until crocus about the year 670. recollected the broken pieces into shape and order ; and from his justice and integrity in the administration of the publique affairs , acquired the name of the bohemian law-giver ; after his exit the bohemians resigned themselves up to the government of libussa his youngest daughter , but her hand being too narrow to graspe the affairs of state , her subjects made choice of primi●●aus , and by matching of him to her devolved the government on his shoulders ; and in his posterity the supreme authority was resident , who were adorned with no other title but sometimes governours and sometimes dukes of bohemia ; until the rule of ueratislaus brother to sbtign●us , who about the year 1086. was for his worthy and generous performances in several undertakings , by the emperour henry the fourth , at metz , invested with the title of king ; which regal dignity was to continue elective either at the will and arbitrament of the emperour , or at the disposition of the estates and people ; and this is evident from several precedents , this uratislaus left three sons who were devested of the crown to give way to conrade brother to uratislaus , who by the suffrages of the people was elected king ; and after his decease brecislaus son to uratislaus , to the prejudice of hi● two sons , was advanced by choice to the bohemian diadem ; and after his exit , borivorius fourth son to brecislaus , to the disherison of his three elder brothers , was elected to weild the scepter ; and thus did the crown continue in the persons of sutopulcus , uladislaus the second , sobeslaus brother to this uladislaus , uladislaus the third , son to uladislaus the second , above mentioned , who by the peoples election was advanced to the diadem , the sons of sobeslaus being excluded and all the residue of their successors ; until the crown came to be placed on the head of ferdinand the first emperour of germany , who notwithstanding his latitude of power , acknowledged that the bohemian scepter devolved to him not by the authority of any intrinsique or inherent right or the claim of succession , but only by the election of the people ; and this his confession was enrolled in the records of the kingdome ; and though it is certain , that maximilian his son , rodolphus & matthias his two grandchildren , were successively kings after him , yet not their descent , but the peoples election , fortified their advancement to the bohemian diadem ; and though upon the decease of matthias , ferdinand surnamed of gratz , as adopted son to matthias , & declar'd successor to the crown of bohemia by his testament , intruded upon the throne ; yet being not formally and legally elected by the people , he was by the estates of the kingdom rejected , who fixed upon frederick elector palatine of the rhine as the object of their choice ; but he being betrayed by his confederates , and over-laid with the united armies of the emperour ferdinand , and the dukes of saxony and bavaria abandoned bohemia , which was re-possest by ferdinand , in whose descendant line it hath been since so permanent ( the peoples election having been by menaces and force extorted ) that it is now the possession of his grandchild leopoldus ignatius the instant emperour of germany . silesia . silesia is bounded on the east with poland , on the west with lusatia , on the north with the marck of bradenburg , on the south with moravia . the first inhabitants hereof were the marsigni , burij , gothini , and some part of the quadi . in the great partage of the eastern parts of germany amongst the sclaves , who had supplanted the ancient proprietaries , it was incorporated with the dukedome or kingdom of poland ▪ and remained annexed unto it until the government of uladislaus the second , who being devested of his crown and scepter by the unnatural combination of his brethren , was by the powerful influence and intercession of the emperour frederick barbarossa , seated in this country , with this restriction , that it shoul be held in homage to the soveraignty of poland . after his decease it became split into parcels , and was distributed amongst his three sons , and again according to that ancient custome of germany called land-skiftan ( which with the saxons was transplanted into england ) was subdivided into so many subordinate parts , which were to support the revenue and livelyhood of their posterity , that it became resolved and broken into fourteen dukedomes ; of all which , onely oswitz and zator continue fastned to the crown of poland , ten of the twelve remaining being by the power and prudence of wenceslaus the second , and john of luxenbourg , son to the emperour henry the seventh , both kings of bohemia , knit to the patrimony of that diadem only su●initz remained under the regiment and administration of its own dukes , until bog●slaus the last duke by testamentary donation , passed away all his interest in it to charles the fourth emperour , and king of bohemia also ; so that eleven of these petty royalties by conquest and voluntary concession , came to be linked to those possessions which improved the grandeur of the ●ohemian scepter , and have still so constantly waited on the fate which hath attended the diadem of that kingdome , that they are now subservient to the interest and dominion of the austrian family , at this instant seated in the imperial throne ; onely lignitz the last in the inventory of fourteen dukedomes , does yet pay its obedience to a proper prince or duke whose predecessors have enjoyed it by a prescription of many descents . but alas ! his power is circumscribed , and himself so chained up by tribute and homage , to the commands of the emperour , as king of bohemia , that he appears little more than precarious . moravia . moravia is shut in on the east with hungary , on the west with bohemia , on the north with silesia , on the south with the lower austria . the ancient inhabitants were the marcomanni and quadi , who were in subsequent ages rooted out and discarded by a sprig or branch of the sclaves , who inhabited about the banks of the river mora , from whence they imposed the name of moravia on their new acquired patrimony . at the beginning of their settlement in this province , their government was managed by kings , the first name of whom , represented to us in record is raslai , who was made captive by lewis the godly , and this province forced to become tributary to the empire ; after raslai the right of succession brought the moravian scepter to be swayed by hermodurus and suantopulcus , under whose raign these moravian sclaves were retrived from the mists of paganisme and infidelity to the light and clearer conduct of christianity , by the pious industry of cyrill and methodius , two grecian doctors . after suantopulcus , his son suantobegius ascended the moravian throne ; a prince of a noble and inexpugnable spirit , who stretched his scepter by many eminent conquests over bohemia , silesia , and polonia al●o ; but his power growing formidable , arnulph the emperour thought it meet to contract it , and taking the advantage to lay the foundation of a quarrel from his denial to pay the accustomed tribute , by the united aid of the hungarians then pagans , so bruised him in several encounters , that his kingdome crumbled into a heap of r●ines , being seised on by the hungarians and poles , and other nations . and in this calamitous condition it lay entombed , until it began to glitter with a new beam of grandeur , by being erected into a marquisate , but when chronologie is silent ; only history represents to us that jodocus barbatus about the year 1410. elected emperour , was likewise marquisse of moravia ; after whose decease it devolved to sigismund emperour and king of bohemia as his next heir , and he enstated it on his son in law albert duke of anstria about the year 1417. which albert upon his decease not only succeeded him in moravia , but likewise was planted in all the rest of his estates ; since which time it hath been so constant an attendant on the fate and fortune of the crown of bohemia , that at this instant it obeys the scepter of leopoldus emperour of germany . lusatia . lusatia , in high dutch styled the lausnits , is clasped in on the east with silesia , on the west with misnia , on the north with the marck of brandenbourg , and on the south with bohemia : who were the first inhabitants , no beam from antiquiy affords us light enough to discover , onely an obsolete supposition reflects upon the senones of tacitus to be its ancient possessors . in ages of a more modern inscription , the winithi or venedi , the most powerful branch of all the sclavos were entitled by conquest to the propriety of it . when it was advanced to the dignity of a marquisate , the annalls of the empire are so dim and obscure that they exhibit no testimony to us which may justifie a perfect discovery . about the year 1156. one c●nrade dyed invested with the title of marquisse , to whose dominion the emperour henry the fifth , added both the title and marquisate of misnia , which for some decursion of time remained annexed to lusatia ; after this , this province of lausnits being not able to support it self against the frequent incursions and inroads of the poles , it stooped to the scepter of their kingdom , and continued subservient to the interest of that diadem , until it was conveyed by sale to frederick the second , marquisse and elector of brandenbourg , who reserving to himself c●thouse , and some other peices contiguous to the margin and verge of his confines , transmitted the remainder by a voluntary resignation to george pogibrachius king of bohemia , who claimed it by the right and authority of an original grant made to uratislaus the first bohemian king , by henry the fourth emperour of germany ; and from this george did the right and title of this province flow down to ferdinand the second emperour of germany , in an even channel ; who conveyed his interest in it to the late duke of saxony , as a guerdon of those supplies with which he supported his quarrel against the palsgrave fredrick elected king of bohemia . yet though moravia , silesia , and this lusatia , were thus interwoven in the person of one supreme governour , yet did they continue so distinct in their particular laws and governments , that the chief magistrate or ruler is admitted and acknowledged by each province distinctly by it self , and not by any one of them in the name of the rest ; and this is done to preserve themselves free from any slavish connexion or dependency of each to the other ; which custome or priviledge , notwithstanding these late concussions , hath remained unshaken and unviolated to this day . alsatia . alsatia , in dutch , elsats , is shut in on the east with the rhine and some parts of schwaben , on the west with the mountain vogesus , which divo●ces it from lorrein , on the north with the palatinate , on the south with switzerland . the ancient inhabitants were the tribochi , with some mixture of the nem●●es and ra●ra●i ▪ it was first subdued by the romans ; and w●ung from them by the almans ; afterwards extorted from these by the french , and by them annexed as a province to the kingdome of lorrein , and and when that realm was in the solstice of its most flourishing condition , it fell under the notion of a province of the empire . the government at ●irst was managed for the emperours by provincial earls called landgraves , at first officiarie and ti●ular onely , as being accomptable for the profits of the county to the present emperour . but in the subsequent age it was made hereditary and successive , in the person of theodorick , by otho the third ; after whose decease the empire returning to be elective , gave such an alarum to these provincial commanders , that they endevoured to secure themselves by lopping off any future dependant connexion that might render them precarious ; so that the propriety of elsats remained folded up in the successive line of this theodorick , until the government of the emperour frederick the second , and then this estate and seignory of alsatia was broken to peices and conveyed by female coheirs to albert the second earl of habspurg , albert earl of hohenloe , and lewis count of ottingen . rodolph of habspurg , afterwards emperour , son of this albert , matched with anne heir of the earl of hohenloe , and so in her right and in his own , became invested in two parts of this province , which make up the upper elsats , which remained so constantly fixed in the possession of the house of austria , that by the steps of several descents it came to acknowledge the dominion of the emperour ferdinand the third , not long since deceased , who to reimburse the french for those vast expences the german war had embarqued and engaged that crown in , by the articles of the late peace so solemnly transacted at munster , conveyed it by grant to the crown of france , and remains so at this instant an appendage to the demeasn of that diadem . sungow or the earldom of pfirt , was anciently clasped up within the patrimony of the princes of schwaben , upon the expiration of which eminent house , in the person of conraradine about the year 1268 , the patrimony of which , supported the lustre of that family ; in his extinction sunk into parcells , some proportion of which erected this into a distinct earldome . and under this notion it remained until ulrick the last earl , going out in two female coheirs , about the year 1324. ann the eldest matched to albert the short , duke of austria , and son to the emperour rod●lphus , and ursula the second , by an equal distribution shared his inheritance ; and she fearing his power , for a recompense of eight thousand crowns conveyed her moiety to this albert ; whose successors ( unlesse when it was pawned or engaged to burgundy ) were entitled by an uninterrupted right to the propriety of it , until the war commenced not many years since , between the two emperours ferdinand the second , and ferdinand the third , and lewis the thirteenth king of france , made by that king in favour of the swede , who was in danger to be over-laid , and dislodged from his new acquists in the empire , by the thriving caesarean army , after the fatal battel of nortlingen ; the effects of which quarrel were so destructive and ruinous to the last emperour , that to expedite an accommodation with the crown of france , he gave up his interest in this province , during the term of the truce , to be enjoyed by the french. brisgow in schwaben . brisgow was in times of a very high ascent the patrimony of the earls of zeringen , which was erected into an earldome by berthold the first , son of gebizo , and grandchild of guntran the second earl of hapspurg ; which family finding its tombe and fatal extinction in the person of berthold the fifth , the seventh in succession , who deceased anno 1218. the right of brisgow devolved to the earls of fribourg , the principal city of that country . cuno the first who bare the title of earl of fribourg , being the eldest son of judith sister and heir of berthold the last earl of zeringen . eggon is the last recorded in the register of those earls of fribourg who were invested with that dignity and the propriety of brisgow ; who being over-born by the eruptions of his mutinous subjects , he sunk under the pressure , and transmitted by sale his entire concernment in this province upon the receipt of twelve thousand ducats , to albert and leopold dukes of austria , sons of albert the short ; in the patrimony of whose successors the title of this province hath ever since been so constantly folded up , that it still confesses the signory of the austrian family . hungary . hungary is shut in on the east with transylvania and walachia ; on the west with stiria , austria , and moravia ; on the north with the carpathian hills ; on the on the south with sclavonia and some part of dacia . the ancient inhabitants of hungary on the north side tisse , were the iazyges metanastae ; on the east-side of tibiscus , the daci were planted ; on the south-side of the danau , the pannones resolved into the several colonies of the azuli , latovici , werciani , jassij , and oseriates ; as likewise the ercuneales , breuci ; aravisei , and scordisci inhabited ; the first of which extended their dwellings to the east , as the last inlarged their habitations to the west . but all these above mentioned were either very much broken , or else forced to surrender themselves to the successful sword of the romans , anno post urbem conditam 719. lucius cornificius , and sextus pompeius being consuls ; and after they had been planted in the possession of this province for some centuries of years , their tenure and title was disordered by the invasions of the chuni or huns , who under the command of balamir their general , in several encounters , so disspirited the power and bruised the force of the romans , that they adandoned this province to the possession of these new conquerours ; but the same vicissitude which cast out the romans , roll'd in upon these huns , and crushed them with the wheel of a revolution ' like the former ; for the winnithi or longobards , having both infested these huns with many inroads , and afflicted them in many fortunate encounters , so wasted their strength , and impair'd their armies , that they gave up themselves and this province , as a cheap oblation to the triumphs of these victorious longobards ; but these being called by narses into italy , to reinforce his armies ( who then were in contest with the goths for the soveraignty of that territory ) discarded the cold and barren fields of hungary to settle on the warmer champaign of lombardy , where under the government and scepter of alboinus , they erected their longobardian kingdome . the longobards having thus left the stage , the avares or avarini , a people dropp'd out of the bosome of sarmatia , about the raign of tiberius the second emperour of greece , entered under the conduct of caganus or chan , an heroick but merciful ( clemency and magnanimity are twins ) cheiftane , who first dissipated the forces employed to break him by tiberius abovesaid , and then after a bloody decision subdued cometiolus lieutenant to the emperour mauritius , successor to tiberius , and the forces marshall'd under his conduct ; which emperour attempting to repair the dishonour contracted by this defeat , had his endevours frustrated by that execrable and perfidious assassination which was acted on him by his bloody servant phocas ; which murther so unsetled and disordered all those hinges which sustained the frame of the grecian empire , that these avares and their commanders taking the advantage of its intestine distractions , not only reduced hungary to their subjection , but likewise so extended their conquests , that in the raign of phocas abovesaid , and the emperour heraclius , they forraged to the gates of constantinople ; and having thus broken the power of the greeks , they next assaulted the goth● and gepidae , who yet possest some part of hungary ; and after many conflicts and disputes with these tougher nations about their title , they supplanted these also , and asserted the entire possession to themselves ; and here they setled in a quiet and undisturbed residence , until the government of charles the great ; and then he having like a whirle-wind , cast out those nations which opposed him , shivered these into a wilde dispersion , and by his victorious arms dislodged them from the possession of this kingdome ; after their exit this province was subservient to the commands of the german emperours ; until arnulphus being assaulted by the fierce impressions of suantobogius king of moravia , called in the hungars , a people of scithia , wandering in sarmatia europaea , and not tied or fixed to any certain abode , to his support and assistance , and they so generously crushed the attempts , and repulsed the assaults given to the emperour and his armies , that to reward so signal and generous performances , arnulphus invested them in the possession of pannonia , and by a grateful elevation advanced casala their leader , to the title of duke of this province ; and he to perpetuate to posterity the memory of this magnificent donation , discarded the ancient name of pannonia , and imposed that of hungary ( an appellation extracted from the people above mentioned ) upon it ; and from him it came down to his great grandchild stephen the fourth duke of hungary , in whom that title ceased , and was improved to the more eminent dignity of king ; which office by the transmission of descent , passed along to his successor stephen the fourth of that name king of hungary ; and he determined in mary his sole heir , who by matching with charles the i ame , son of charles k. of naples , linked the crown of hungary to his patrimony ; and in his descendant line it resided until the scepter of this kingdome came to be grasped by his successor ludovicus or lewis , who concluding in daughters and coheirs , mary the eldest being wedded to sigismund the emperour , brought this crown about the year 1387. to acknowledge his scepter and seignory ; and he left issue , elizabeth daughter to them two , and she by espousing albert of austria , planted the crown of hungary on his temples ; and from him it devolved to elizabeth his daughter by this alliance , who was affianced to ladislaus the second , son of casimir the fourth king of poland , who in her right was justly entitled to the hungarian diadem , and left it to his son ladislaus or lewis , infortunately slain at the battel of mohats by the turks , about the year 1526. upon whose decease without issue , ferdinand brother to charles the fifth , in right of anne his wife , who was sister and heir to lewis above-said , was invested with the crown of hungary ; and from him the scepter of this kingdom was transported by the devolution of several descents to ferdinand the third emperour of germany , who upon his late decease hath left it to be weilded by his son and heir leopoldus ignatius , who now is placed on the hungarian throne . croatia . croatia is bounded on the east with bosnia , on the west with carniola , on the south with contado di zara , anciently named liburnia , on the north with windischland . the reason why the name was imposed , is not obvious in authours , only it is generally asserted it was fixed on it by the sclaves when they made their first eruption on this country , when they disseised the goths who supplanted the romans , who had before rooted out and dislodged , by several multiplied conquests , the ancient inhabitants call'd the liburni and illyrij , mingled with some allay of the neighbouring nations , or rather colonies of the japodes , the scirtari , the mazai , the peruistae , the derrij , ceraunij , daursii , vardae , siculotae , sardiotae , and others of more despicable estimate . but long the sclaves had not setled in this province , but their disorders unsetled them ; for by their mutinies and rebellions against their governours , which concluded still in their slaughter and ruin , they fill'd the state with anarchie and vicissitude , and were never calm or fixed , until the several tribes to allay this distemper , had princes who succeeded one another in a more regular method , under the title of kings of croatia ; and in this capacity it remained until the year 970. when having worried and harrassed their neighbours by pyracies and other acts of devastation , the venetians , inflamed by these affronts , to expiate their depredations with a just revenge , in several conflicts so embased and retrench'd their power , that zelamirus the last king , deceasing without issue , bequeathed the kingdome to his wife , and she by a willing donation transferr'd her interest to her brother ladislaus the saint , king of hungary , so that it hath had its title ever since so involved and wound up in the fate and fortune of hungary , that by ann the sister and heir of k. lewis , who perished in the ruin of the battel of mohatz , , it accrued to ferdinand the first emperour of germany ; and from him by the traverses of several descents , did it passe along , untill at last it is now come to confess the soveraignty of leopoldus ignatius now emperour of germany . vvindischland . vvindischland is chained in on the east with part of the lower hungary , on the west with carniola or karnt on the north with the river dravus , on the south with croatia . it was anciently esteemed a limb of pannonia inferiour , as in more modern times a parcell of the province of savia . the ancient inhabitants were the winithi or vendi , who being swallowed up in the frequent mixtures of their confining neighbours the sclaves , were esteemed a branch of that powerful and spreading nation ; but still to preserve the name of their first original the denomination of windischland was imposed on this province , which since by the sale and conveyance above mentioned , made by zelamirus to uladislaus the saint , hath been so linked with croatia , that as it hath had still the same successours , so at this instant it owns no other scepter , but that of leopoldus ignatius now emperour of germany . finis . a journey into spain brunel, antoine de, 1622-1696. 1670 approx. 420 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 128 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a29924 wing b5230 estc r25951 09300555 ocm 09300555 42656 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a29924) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 42656) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1303:24) a journey into spain brunel, antoine de, 1622-1696. aerssen, françois van, 1630-1658. [6], 247 p. printed for henry herringman, london : 1670. a free and abridged translation of "voyage d'espagne curieux, historique, et politique." the authorship has been attributed to françois van aerssen, 1572-1641, and to his grandson françois van aerssen, 1630-1658. the latter was the traveler, accompanied by antoine de brunel, who seems to have been the author (cf. foulché-delbose. bibl. des voyages en espagne et en portugal, p. 63-65). reproduction of original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the 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text creation partnership web site . eng spain -description and travel. 2006-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-02 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-02 ali jakobson sampled and proofread 2007-02 ali jakobson text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a journey into spain . nec ille qui voluptatem probat sine contemplatione est ; nec ille qui contemplationi inservit sine voluptate est ; nec ille cujus vita actioni destinata est sine contemplatione est . sen. de vita beata . london , printed for henry herringman , and are to be sold at the sign of the blew anchor in the lower walk of the new exchange , 1670. to the reader . i present you the vast body of the spanish monarchy , which , though it hath spread its roots into many and distant provinces , is but of late growth , having but little before the last age first aspired , not only to a competition with the two antiently ballancing powers of christendom , england and france ( for two they were when france depended not on england ) but the empire of the world. our near concernments either in peace or war with it , rendring it very necessary to be known to us , i am willing to shew it you in such particular remarks of the people and countrey , as i think you have not yet seen , with something of observation on its sodain advance , and almost as sodain decay ; so that it is no longer a competitor with the other two , but so much fallen from it , it could scarcely any longer subsist , did not the moderation and justice of one of those monarchs , oblige him rather to joyn in supporting its throne , then enjoy his share of the many advantages , his maritime power and scituation of his dominion , might reasonably promise by the fall of it ; especially in regard by sending abroad he shall not need to fear such a depopulation as it suffers under , when his doors shall be opened by acts of naturalization and registers , to admit and secure such as ( out of consideration of the fertility of his countrey , temperature of its air , and convenience for trade ) will abundantly supply what may be so exhausted . the time of taking this survey sufficiently discovers it self in it , and though some years since relates to several very modern transactions of christendom of the highest concern , as the english rebellion , renunciation of the queen of sweden , and imprisonment of the duke of lorrain ; neither have any changes very considerable since happened to spain , either in its government , customs , or negotiations . you have in it a clear prospect of decay of power , with increase of wealth , which shews you are not undone by scarcity ( whether real or pretended ) of those adored metals for which this people have sold themselves and abandoned their countrey , whilest you abound in all things else that contribute either to use or pleasure , and they ( though masters of the fountains of them ) are indeed as indigent and miserable as you fancy your selves to be in the want of them alone . it makes no less evident that when a nation ( especially its nobility and gentry ) contemns or neglects arms , it is at the highest , if not declining . if it be a little satirical as to the haughtiness and singularity of that people , it hath also something of panegeric as to several of their virtues , without which yet i suppose it might be tolerated , our press having formerly made as bold with most of the other nations of europe , as they with us . a journey into spain . when we left italy , we resolved for spain ; but because m. p. intending his son should take that journey with us , had ordered him to expect us at monpellier , whither he had commanded him to repair , from the house of a gentleman of xaintonge , where he had resided some months , we were obliged to tarry for him . he came not till the later end of december , the extremity of which season pressing us to spend the winter there , we deferred our departure till the spring : and the weather in languedoc being pleasant in march , we went away the 6th of that month . i shall not concern my self in describing what we saw in that most agreeable province , nor in repeating what we learned that was considerable , whilst we traversed it almost from one end to the other ; nor yet say any thing of gascony , through which we passed ; nor of bayonne , where we took our leaves of france . having travail'd those parts only as they lay in our way to spain , i shall reserve all my curiosity for it , and not charge my table-book with any observations till i come to the frontiers of that kingdom . that i may not neglect many particulars i learned of the government , customs , and present condition of the imperious nation that inhabits it , i will here make an extract of what i scattered in several papers during our abode at madrid : to put which into method , were to unravel confusion it self ; every thing shall therefore have its place , as i saw or heard it ; and if some be repeated more than once , it is because i design not a polished work , but to give liberty to my discourse according to time , place , persons , companies , and entertainments , and such reflections as have presented from them ; not confining my self to what i saw , or happened to me , or my company , but enlarging to what was told us , having ever endeavoured to get the best informations possible . it ought not to seem strange if in some places i happen to speak untruths without lying , and in others to wander without knowing i am out of the way , and devoting my book to those only that have seen its foundations laid , and materials gathered together , to serve us as memorials of part of that time which for six years we employed in studying the world in its great school , which is travail : the mistakes and errors made either by me , or such as i conversed with , will not to them appear very considerable or uneasie to be effaced as soon as discovered : and if it accidentally happen into other hands , they may make choice of what is weighty and certain , leaving what seems light and doubtful , without any just cause of complaint against me on account of that which i write not for their sakes . i have nevertheless endeavoured to make as few errors as possible , and what i set down at night according to the several objects and companies of the day , i overlook'd next morning , and made farther enquiry of such persons as i thought likely to disabuse me if ill informed , and give me clearer light if what i had received were imperfect . according to this method i have ( better or worse ) satisfied my curiosity in examining this grave and haughty nation at its own home , since it seldom goes abroad unless to command others , and secure its king of their obedience by garrisons and colonies sent into all parts of his dominions in the new and old world , and by the governments and magistracies he bestows upon it , with an intire exclusion of the inhabitants of those countries to which he distributes them . resolving to enter by way of st. sebastian , which is the most easie , we lodged at the last town of france called st. john de luz . it is the seat of commerce between the two frontiers , and may pass for a good city , being large , well built , and rich : its mariners are esteemed and employed in fishing for cods , and whales ; and we found dutch men there that had hired fifty to be made use of at new-found-land . as soon as we had passed baione we perceived the humour of the people to incline to that of their neighbourhood , being insolent and little complying with strangers : the women in passing the streets cast their coats over their heads , and so to cover their cheeks discover their buttocks . the next day we wanted but two leagues to the spanish dominion , and at a good distance discerned fontarabia , a fort at the falling of bidassao into the sea : this river , or rather torrent , separates the two kingdoms ; it is pretty broad at the ferry , the country thereabouts being fenny , and ebs and flows with the sea : at low water it is in many places fordable . andaie a little town or village is seated on its bank , right over against fontarabia , and separated from it only by that stream : but we were fain to go higher to seek the ferry-boat , and were troubled how to find it , having been wrong directed by the post-master , who does all ill offices he can to those that travail on their own horses : the toll paid by the boats goes half to the french , and half to the spanish , one of them receiving it of such as pass into spain , and the other of those that travail into france , but both of them equally squeezing the passenger . these frontiers have no less communication than if there were no war between the two nations ; and it is well for them it is so ; for otherwise an universal desolation would follow . the country is barren and mountainous , producing nothing but iron , as well that which belongs to france , as that which is possessed by the spaniard , which is the greatest part ▪ it is called biscai : the language is understood only by the inhabitants , and so poor that one word hath diverse significations , so that it cannot without difficulty be made use of in commerce : none write it , and the children at school learn french or spanish , as they are subject to either king. it does not a little surprise , when having passed bidassao , one is no more understood without speaking spanish , when a moment before french was intelligible . half a quarter of a league further is iron , the first town belonging to the king of spain ; they neither demand passport nor account of any's business ; and one would think there were neither warr nor distrust ; only the alcalde came for two reals as a due belonging to him : but such as return and pass into france are not used with the like indifference : we were entertained at the posthouse , much as we had formerly been in italy on the way to naples , but more slenderly : little dishes with little bits of meat , made us despair of filling our bellies ; but at last one after another enow were brought to satisfie us . when the reckoning came they fleeced us , and we were forced to give four crowns for a meal that was not worth one . over several mountains , and by a way very rough and stony , we got that night to lye at st. sebastians , where we arrived before we were aware , it being covered by a great bank of sand , which passed , the town appears at the foot of a mountain that keeps off the sea , though she embraces it almost on all sides , and enters far enough to make a haven ; but for greater safety to ships , there is a redout in form of a basin , they riding at the town side , and foot of the mountain , where they seem secure from storms , though we were told some have risen to that height that they have broken in pieces such as anchored there . greater vessels cannot enter , the water serving only for barks and shallops : ships of warr ride a quarter of a league lower , towards fontarabia , where is the arsenal for the oceans fleet , at present in no very good condition . it returned from bourdenux much weather-beaten , and for want of money nothing is done towards refitting it . before st. sebastian there is a great ship on the stocks intended for admiral : it will be a stately vessel if ever finished : we were told it had been long in the condition in which we saw it , and that more money had been spent about it than would have served for a dozen such fabricks , of which the greatest part became a prey to the overseers . bilbo and st. sebastian are the principal havens the king of spain hath on the ocean ; corugna also is spoken of , where the marquis of st. cruz tarried somewhat too long , whilest revolted bourdeaux , for want of his succors , was ready to return to its kings obedience : he could not have chosen a fitter place to refresh his fleet , none on that coast abounding more with limons and oranges , which from thence are transported into england , france , and holland ; and if he was better pleased there than he should have been in fighting , monsieur de vendosme , he payed dear enough for it , having been detained prisoner ever since his return from so famous an expedition . st. sebastian is seated in a very little province called guipuscoa ; trafick draws to it a great concourse , though the town be but small , it is very compact , and extremely populous , one house containing several families . a merchant stranger is there forced to lodge with some citizen , it not being permitted him to be a house-keeper : many dutch men are obliged to live in this manner . the custom was thus introduced ; strangers at the first settling of trafick out of meer liberality gave their landlords as a gratuity one in the hundred of all the commodities they sold ; and the inhabitants to preserve this profit made such an order , which hath caused some that would not observe it to be sued at law. that which most pleased me in this town , was , that the streets are wide , streight , and very well paved with a broad stone , like that of florence . the principal revenue of the country is drawn from iron-mills , some of them of a very pure mettal , and so rich they may furnish all europe : wools of old castile are also shipped here , sent in good quantity by the merchants of diverse places . the baron of batteville , a gentleman of the franch contie ( who was then present ) is governor , and with it of all guipuscoa . though he hath rendered very many good services to spain , particularly in the troubles of gasconie ) and so seaseasoned himself with spanish customs , that he hath forgotten his own language and country ; this employment , to which that of admiral is joyned , draws on him no little envy . we waited on him , and he received us well , but returned not our visit , and we went away without bidding him adieu . here we stayed three dayes , and kept our easter : we had been recommended to a worthy merchant , who after dinner carried us to a nunnery , where we heard most pitiful musick . this cloister is on an eminence , from which the town that is overagainst it may be very well battered ; and the castle or citadel which is on the top of a hill , at whose foot the town stands , seems rather a sentry-house to watch , than a fortress to defend it . on tuesday in easter-week , having been treated by our merchant , we took the way of madrid , 84 leagues distant . the country we passed through is mountainous and barren , and we perceived that we traversed the tops of the pirenean , which almost divide spain , as the apenine italy . necessity quickly taught us the mode of the country , which obliges travailers to buy in several places all accommodations necessary . we tarried a while at st. sebastians , partly to provide us a moco de mulas , that is a servant or guide , to bring us to madrid , to whom it belongs to buy victual , and carry other provisions : forty crowns were demanded of us for the attendance of one of those rascals , which being so dear , we resolved not to take any , and to guide our selves as well as we could . the part of moco de mulas fell to my share : i shall give you the particulars of this imployment , and of travailing in spain . at the first arrival at an inn you ask for beds , which being provided , you either give the meat you bring raw with you to the host to be dressed , or go your self and buy it in the market : if you find any capon , pullet , or partridge you seek to make sure of them . we were told we should meet plenty of the last , fatter , larger , and better than those of france ; but in all our journey we found but one , neither had it all those advantages . the best way is to carry your provision along with you in wallets , and provide what you find on the place to be made use of the next day . coming to your inn , you go abroad to buy bread , wine , and eggs ; for something of those is usually to be had , but none allowed to sell them except such as farm that priviledge : excise goes so high , that the king hath a quarto upon every egge . these inns are sad spectacles , and the sight of them gives one a belly full . the fire is made on a hearth in the middle of the kitchin , choked with so thick a smoke , that you would think your self in the kennel of a fox that the hunters would drive out ▪ a man or woman all in rags like a begger , and no less lowsie , measures the wine to you , which is drawn from a hogs , or goats skin , in which it is kept , and which is to it both barrel and celler : the best wine out of these is a very unpleasant liquor , having a most abominable taste of the pitched hide . the white-wine is as fiery as aqua-vitae , yet bears not water , the least drop being mixed with it , becoming insipid and without spirit . by what i have said may be gathered how ill living is in spain ; yet i found it not so bad as i expected , especially in biscai , though a country less fertile then castile . it is true indeed , that being a frontier , it is not so much taxed , and the people enjoy greater liberty , and some provisions may be found in the inns , but at double their value . about a day and a halfs journey from st. sebastian we passed over a pretty high mountain called st. adrians ; it is none of the steepest or craggiest , but that which i found most remarkable , is that on the top of it runs a ridge of rock , which hinders passing ; one would think it placed there by nature , as a fixed and insurmountable separation between biscai and old castile , in such a manner , that they have been fain to open a way with much difficulty ; for the rock is cut thorough thirty or forty paces : in this there is one house , which must needs be very well roofed , having so great a mass of the quarry to cover it . freed from this wonderful passage , we descended into old castile , something more plain , though not much more fertil . we found here no less trouble than on the alpes at the mountain of st. godard , night surprising us in the middle of the descent , and for increase of our misfortune , we could get no lodging at the next village : this the more incommoded us in regard one of our horses had lost both his shoes before : notwithstanding which we were forced to seek entertainment in another miserable village ( to which the host was our guide ) which afforded us only bread and wine , and two wretched beds , whose sheets and matresses could not oblige us to put off our cloths . we began now to approach the heart of spain , having entred the old castile , where stands the city of valladolid , for a long time the seat of its kings , the country is all sand , and little hillocks of unfertil earth , often interrupted by mountains hooded with rocks , unless in some few places where small plains and valleys appear , that afford the inhabitants such provisions as sustain them . but never did i see any country less beautified with gardens : i know not whether by reason the soil affords them not , or that the people are not industrious enough to take care of them . coming near vittoria , the first city of castile , we passed through the fairest and best cultivated plain we had till then seen : that little city is seated at the end of it , as seemed to us , very pleasantly : we rested there half a day , as well to shoe our horses , as to deliver a letter we had for the master of the custom-house , from whom we hoped addresses necessary to continue our journey securely . we heard rumours of theeves , and beyond burgos a great robberie had been lately committed . this letter was very useful to us , for till then we had not been any wayes molested about our horses or baggage , but we were assured , that had we only passed the gate without a ticket from the custom-house all had been confiscated . it fell out very luckily for us to have a letter to him that is the kings farmer , who as soon as he had received it , visited us , and not only caused a sufficient passport to be given us , but made us a present of wine , capons and neats-tongues , with which furnishing our knapsacks , we had recourse to them in case of necessity . the civility of this spaniard was very pleasing to us , and made us judge this nation more generous then the italians , though they be equally for their particular interests , and one of them as little communicable as the other . the first of april we dined at pancorbo , and lay at miranda , and the next day did the like at barbiesca and monasterio de rodillas ; the third we arried at burgos , the chief city of castile , and so considerable in both castiles , that it possesses the first place , though disputed by toledo : we were not at all troubled with heat on our way , but not a little that day with cold ; a sharp wind caused a hoar frost , and in some places ice : burgos is the coldest city of spain , being seated at the foot of a high mountain ; it hath formerly enjoyed a considerable trade , which of later days is almost lost ; it is not very great ; and the most remarkable things in it are the church and arch-bishops palace , admirable fabricks for spain , where generally they build ill ; in some places because they are poor , and in others for want of lime and stones , so that in every part , and even in madrid it self , many houses are made of earth ; and the best fabricks cimented with clay instead of mortar . another ornament of burgos , is a large and very convenient bridge , passing from the suburbs to the city : its inhabitants are thought to speak the best castilian ; this territory , of a certain breeds the best soldiers , and very few afford the king a greater number ; we received extraordinary civilities from a merchant , to whom we were recommended by the customer of vittoria . he did not only inquire us out company for our journey to madrid , because of the danger of thieves ; but finding us in a lodging where we could not be well entertained , after shewing us the town , carried us to his house , where he treated us at dinner with a frankness , much more valuable then his good cheer ; it was served in dish after dish , and began by a slender potage , with two or three slices of bread in it ; every one of us had an earthen porrenger of it presented him , but the saffron and pepper gave such a hogo , it could hardly be eaten . it was on a saturday and according to the custom of that countrey to eat on such days , the heads and intrails of sheep and oxen , we had such meats , so that we fared much better then we should have done by hunting among the taverns and victualing houses to make our own provision : besides , the gallantry of his manner of treating , surprzed us , conducting us with a great deal of freedom into the chamber where the cloth was laid , and his wife lay sick abed of a quartane ague ; that day i spurred up my memory to furnish me with all the spanish , had lain dormant there , since i studied it at florence , and lighting on any expression of civility , repeated it so often , that it was very evident , compliments were scarce with me ; m. p. spoke now and then a word , and m. s. was continually silent , so that the burthen of the entertainment lay all on me , who knew not very well how to acquit my self , especially , when the wife began to speak from the bed ; i knew not whether i was to treat her with vuestra merced , or vuestra sennoria , which so confounded me , that often supposing , the first belonged onely to men , i blushed as if i had committed some hainous crime , and recalling my self , brought out the second , due only to persons of eminent quality , for vuestra merced is of all genders , and so common , that grooms and footmen honour one another with it : to bring my self off , i drank her good health , saying , sennora a la salud de xxxx and there was gravell'd , not knowing which word to chuse , and i think i made use of both , que dios le dia prompta guarison , i cannot tell whether she understood me , for i have since been told , the last word is not spanish ; but this i am sensible of , that i committed a great incivility by putting off my hat , which is never done there at table : having made better use of our teeth then tongues , it was at last , time to be gone ; the master of the house , according to the custom of the countrey , leading the way , for as they button contrary to other nations , they are also contrary in this particular ; and they say , that in accompanying the stranger , the master of the house goes first to leave the other in possession . i forgot to give the woman a parting compliment . coming back to the inn , where we alighted , we found the widow that kept it , drunk , on which i must take occasion to say , that i never saw so many women drunk in germany , as on this side the pireneans ; this was the second that gorged with wine , which they send for to taverns , came to piss before us all in the stable . though we had almost resolved to lie at burgos , as soon as we had left our merchant , our minds alter'd , because we were told that three leagues from thence we should find a very good inn , but our servants being walked abroad , had like to have hindred our putting this in execution . one of them having enter'd a church with spurs on , the gates were shut upon him , till he payed money exacted as on shipboard , but at last he freed himself ; we presently took horse , and as soon as out of town , missed our way ; after which , making use of a priest we met with for our guide , we happened to be very ill lodged : the next day cold and rainy , we dined at lerma , where having lit on a good inn , we continued till the morning after ; we went to see the palace of the lord of it , next the escurial , esteemed the fairest in spain , it is a vast fabrick , but ill contriv'd , without either garden or plantation for walks : being holiday , the inhabitants were together , drinking in a large hall , into which , as soon as we enter'd , they very civilly presented us wine , and the corrigidor , or chief officer of the place , entertained and shewed us several rooms of the palace . leaving lerma the 5th , we arrived at madrid the 9th . where we were very glad to be , as well to rest our selves as to enjoy a milder climat , for in castile we were tormented with continual cold wind and rain , and a countrey so steril , that we could not but rejoyce to approach one something less savage . an inexpressible number of french pilgrims pass to and from st. james in galicia , the occasion of the spaniards calling them gavachos , this makes evident that france abounds in people , and those very idle , in such a manner to pester the roads of spain . ignorance , poverty and abuse in matters of religion , cause this disorder , and that a great many poor pilgrims ( not entertain'd here as in italy , the hospitals affording only house-room ) die every year in spain . the best town we saw on the way was aranda de duero , where we provided our selves to pass the 7th the mountain of samosierra , which separates old castille from new , in which madrid stands . these passages are called ports , as if there were rivers to be forded or ferried over , and at first deceived us with the expectation of some rapid and difficult torrent . this day we suffered by rain , hail , snow , and wind , and found not spain hotter then other countreys , being almost frozen in so advanced a season , and between the two castiles . we were not free from the mountains , till within three or four leagues of madrid , the snowy tops of which are discerned at it : the plain in which it is seated is somewhat uneven , rising and falling every halfe quarter of a league : it is not adorned by any one tree , the land on that side by which we went towards it is tilled , yet seems very barren , consisting onely of sand and light earth , unless some few eminences ; no wood , and abundance of stones : the way all along is good , as is usual where land is bad ; and when we enquired after it , we were answered with a spanish rhodomontado , that we could not possibly miss it , because the greatest high-way in the world . on the side we enter'd it appears not much , but on that where buon retiro stands , gives a very agreeable prospect . it is not walled , the streets are large , but foul , and stinking they which calculate all the ordures cast into them , say they are daily perfumed by above a hundred thousand close-stools ; the pavement is so defective , and the coaches so ill hung , that to ride in them over so uneven ground is to be broken on the wheel . houses ( as well as all things else ) are very dear here . they build only with brick and clay , having little lime , and no stone but what is brought seven leagues from about the escurial . a house that in another place were very inconsiderable is sold here for 20 or 25 thousand crowns . whoever builds is concluded to have a purse very well lined . they which return from governments beyond sea , demolish their houses and build palaces , which make appear they have either been viceroys of naples , or governors of flanders or milan . in this manner this town , which is new , and the greatest part very slightly built , according to the abilities of the inhabitants , becomes every day more beautiful , as the better part of the kings revenue , is appropriated to those that have the managing of it . la placa major is very fair , something more long than large , the houses on all sides uniform , and the highest in madrid . they are all encompassed by two or three ranks of balconies , which serve to see the feasts of bulls , the famousest ceremonies of spain . report speaks this divertisement to have been derived from the moors , and indeed it savours not a little of their brutality : it suits so strangely with the genius of this people , that no town is so mean but it hath its peculiar feasts , and think a curse would follow should they omit solemnise them . the king cannot absent himself from those of madrid without the murmurs of the people . his palace is at one end of the town , on an almost indiscernable rising , that side on which we went to it enjoys the prospect of a little river , and part of a valley in which are some trees : by it he can pass to la casa del campo , a wretched house of pleasure , without other ornament than a few walks in a wood. on this brook , rather than river , philip the second built a very great and broad bridge , some of its arches not touched by any water : and i believe it was rather made for a more commodious passing the descent of the valley , than to be a great bridge to little or no river . the kings house hath nothing magnificent , yet is not so mean as was reported to us . there is a very fair piazza before it , to which it represents no unhandsome frontispice , were the building higher , and a defective tower finished . it hath two quadrangles very large : all councils meet in the palace , and the king by private galleries can go to any of the rooms where they sit . there is a great concourse , and no less noise , when any of them are assembled : but in the kings apartment all is very still , and no body appears till he goes to mass , the only time of seeing him : his halberdiers are then drawn out on each side the gallerie , by which he passes ; these are germans , burgundians , and spaniards , about two or three hundred , wearing all liveries of yellow trimmed with red velvet . when he comes from his apartment the captain of the gard goes before him , and he is followed only by two or three persons . passing between these halberdiers he receives such petitions as are presented him . one day as he went to chappel we would have gone in before , the better to view him , but a door-keeper ( as formerly happened at ratisbone on such an occasion ) told us , that none were to enter unless clothed in black . i liked no house in this town so well as the prison , where yet i would least desire to lodge : it is a massie solid building , the windows fortified with great barrs of iron , as much for ornament as security : they are artificially wrought and guilded , so that my mistake will not seem very strange , who at first thought it the habitation of some grandee of spain . all agree that no city of spain is so populous as this , and excepting london and paris i never saw so many coaches in any ; they are drawn by mules only , and none but the kings and the masters of his horse with more than four : they are no wayes magnificent but in some slight guildings of the iron-works , and about the boots : the greatest part of them are covered with waxed cloth . on one side of the town is the prado , a large walk made use of for the tour ; near it is a great fabrick , but low , called buen retiro . the duke of olivares , during his administration , spent many millions on a structure that is not very considerable : i saw but part of it , where a comedy was preparing with scenes , that would amount to a great expence ; a florentine was the undertaker . for ordinary comedies here are two theaters , where they act every day : the players have to themselves not above three half pence for every person , the hospital as much , and as much the town-house ; to set down it costs seven pence , the whole amounting to fifteen pence . i can say little to the lines or plots , not being skilful enough in the language to understand poetry , nor the figurative fashion of speaking that belongs to it : but know they play their parts ill , few or none having either the meen or genius of true actors . they present by day-light , so that their scenes appear not with advantage : their clothes are neither rich , nor appropriated to their subject ; and the spanish habit serves where the scene is greece or rome . the playes i have seen have but three acts , called jornadas : they usually begin by a prologue in musick , but sing so ill , that their harmony resembles little childrens whinings : between the acts there is some little farce , dance , or intrigue , the most diverting of the whole piece : the people are so taken with them it is hard to get place , the best being bespoken , and the excessive idleness of this country , as that of england , is made evident in that in paris it self , though there are not playes every day , there is no such crowding to them . having with some exactness reported the particularities of such places as we saw , i will now acquaint you with what i in general observed of the spanish humor and government . this nation is thought to be very proud and disdainful , but is really neither so much as it seems : its meen doubtlesly is deceitful , and they which frequent it find not all the vanity imagined , and may perceive it to be a vice proceeding rather from erroneous morals than an insolent temper . to hector it both in words and gestures , seems to them a symtome of a great soul ; and visiting other countries , little or not at all they discover not this defect , derived to them from the first milk they suck , and the first sun gives them light . some spaniards are so ignorant that they believe not there is any other country than spain , other city than madrid , or king than their own . when i speak of ignorant spaniards , i mean those meer castillians who never having quitted their threshold , know not whether amsterdam be in europe , or the indies . the nobility and grandees go little out of madrid , neither as soldiers nor travailers , unless commanded and employed . they have no information either by gazetts or other news written or printed , and i never more admired any thing than that this nation we esteem so politick , and imperious , masters of the secret of the universal monarchy , and capable of imposing fetters on the rest of christendom , hath so very few able heads , amongst whom it is thought the earl of castriglio , viceroy of naples is none of the meanest : pignoranda , don lewis de haro , and don fernando de contreras govern all . the earl of ognate is a great head-piece , but the favourite is jealous of him , and as much as possible keeps him from affairs . the grandees of spain appear such only at a distance : here they seemed to me very little , and without any other advantages than to put on their hats , and sit down in the kings presence ; in other particulars i never observed less inequality in the most popular republick . a shoemaker when he hath laid aside his awl and last , and hung his sword and dagger by his side , will hardly give the first salute to him he wrought for in his shop a moment before . you cannot speak to one of the most inferior of the rabble without giving him titles of honor ; and they treat one another with senores cavalleros . if a beggar seeks an alms , and you refuse him , it must not be without a compliment , pardone vuestra merced , no tengo diveros : pardon me sir , i have no money . no other prince lives like the king of spain , his employments are continually the same , in such a manner , that he at all times knows how every day of his life is to be passed over : you would think some indispensable law prohibited his omitting to do according to custom ; so that neither weeks , months , years , nor hours change any thing of his manner of living , nor present him any thing new . as soon as he rises and recollects what day it is , he knows what businesses he is to dispatch , or what pleasures to enjoy . he hath certain hours for forain and domestick audiences , and for signing all that tends to the expedition of his affairs , dispos ▪ d of his treasure , meals , and devotions . and i have been assured that whatever happens he continues firm in such a manner of acting . every saturday he goes to a church at the farther end of the old pardo called at●cha , where he hath a most particular devotion to the holy virgin , saying it is from her he hath received so great favours , and admirable assistances in his greatest extremities . france also imputes all its successes to her mediation , and the advantages of these potent kingdoms , having been so long diametrically opposite , it seems something inconsistent , that ( little happiness coming to one without the others misfortune ) they can both boast to have her propitious . every year at the self same time he goes to his houses of pleasure , and they say nothing but sickness can prevent his retiring to aranjuez , pardo , or the escurial in the months he had wont to enjoy the air of the country . in a word , they which have spoken to me of this humor , tell me it is very conformable to his meen and port , and they that are near him assured me , that when they speak to him he changes neither look nor posture , but receives , hears , and answers them with the same countenance , nothing in all his body being moveable but his lips and tongue . this gravity , whether natural or affected , is in this country so essential a part of majesty , that we were told that the queen one day , transported at dinner to a more than ordinary laughter , at the ridiculous postures and discourses of a buffoon , was put in mind , that to do so became not a queen of spain , who ought to be more serious at which surprised , being young , and but newly come out of germany , she said she could not help it unless that fellow were taken away , and that they should not have brought him thither if they would not have had her laugh at him . two dayes in the week he gives publick audiences , principally to receive petitions and memorials of such as beg any favour of him . he answers not immediately , but causes them to be all carried into a certain place , where they are perused by a secretary of state , who distributes them to such of the several councils , as their contents relate to ; after which he that would be dispatched , must enquire at the secretaries office what answer is returned , but seldom finds any , especially if the pretence be arrears or reward ; and when he hath lost all hope of hearing what is become of his petition , it is permitted him to present as many more as he pleases , but to little purpose , for the king seldom sees any , and all are carried to the council that received the first , which having no intention to satisfie him , returns neither petition nor answer : for this reason madrid is ever full of pretenders , who with the attendance of whole years , lose their ink and paper . his majesty hath also certain hours in which he signs all expeditions of state , and of his treasurie ; so that nothing is done , nor one penny given out without an order signed by him , whereas in france the secretaries of state have the seal and signature of the king in their power , which would give them oppportunities of doing many things on their own accompt , should they abuse it . it is true yet , that neither here nor there the secretary signs or presents any thing to be signed , but by consent of the favourite or chief minister : and don fernando de contreras , principal secretary , who with pigneranda , and don lewis de haro governs all , causes nothing to be signed but what is approved by the later , and the king intirely confiding in him , signs all he presents without reading it : for never any prince was more easie , nor put greater confidence in his ministers : when delivred from olivares , he was no longer without a favourite then till the queens death , which happened very sodainly after the disgrace of that chief minister : then he received into his privacy ( as they call it here ) the nephew of the former , at present the most powerful in this court : he is also one of the richest , and possessing the great wealth he inherited from his uncle , contents himself to enjoy his fame , and neglect his maximes , which would probably be attended by the publick hatred , his politicks having been thought very corrupt and biassed . it is believed this favourite makes no use of his masters coffers ; and it is but necessary he spare them , they having never been so exhausted ; for besides the monthly pensions of the prince of conde , and those that follow him , which are very ill paid , this court is obliged to an extraordinary charge in catalonia , and its forces being very weak there , to treat for three or four thousand wallons and germans , of which the poorest foot souldier will stand it in six score crowns . the marquis serra a noble genouese ( who on that condition returned to barcelona ) is promised a hundred thousand crowns a month to maintain that army , and to resist the french. the indian fleet was expected , which brought but 800 thousand crowns on the kings accompt the last year ; what it would then bring was very uncertain , thought it was given out to be very rich , and that it had aboard it two years revenue . before the king went to aranjuez , he assembled the estates of both castiles , which consist of the deputies of 22 towns , each town sending two . such assemblies are called las cortes . the king made them a speech , and told them , that of the ten millions of gold , his kingdoms yearly supply him with , not above three came into his coffers , and necessities of state considered , it was his pleasure they should consult of wayes to bring the entire sum into his hands . that to this purpose every town and province should take care themselves to bring their proportion into his exchequer , where he willed them to suppress many of the officers that managed his revenue , and devoured the greatest part of it : after this he also demanded some augmentation . the cortes met , and laboured in this affair , but it was much feared they would not consent to such a suppression , which would undo many , and some of their relations , for the augmentation , it was believed they would not think the people able to pay any more , the miserie and poverty of the country considered . in the mean time this king , ( his ten millions of crowns excepted ) draws little or nothing from the people ; and navarre , arragon , and the kingdom of valentia , ( not united to the castiles ) are not thought to bring up above two millions . the great expences to which his warrs oblige him , are known to all the world , but some nearer home consume the best of his revenue : these are many pensions , there being hardly any grandee of spain , duke , earl , marquis , or knight that hath not something from the publick : not in recompence of service in war ; but because the most of them are extremely necessitous , in so much that i have been assured that many of them compounding with their creditors , have assigned them their pensions , reserving only some small sum towards a wretched subsistance . neither are any accompted rich ( the three favourites above-mentioned excepted ) but the duke of alva , the marquis of leganes , the earl of ognate , and two or three others whose names i have forgotten ; the rest of the nobility wanting wherewithal to supply their ordinary expences . but did the king allow no pensions to them , he payes enow to others to divert a very considerable part of his incom . his armies abound with reformadoes , who receive pay as if actually in service : it is true indeed that these are so il paid , that i connot imagin how they subsist , and i spoke with an alfieres that came from portugal , whose pension is twelve crowns a month , that protested he had not recived six in six year . the jesuits have of late been obliged to bring sixty thousand crowns into the kings coffers , which very much disgusted them , and allayed their zeal in these quarters for the house of austria . this sum was shipped by them on the indian fleet , without registring it , and upon discovery confiscated according to the law. the jesuit to whose care it was entrusted , playd his part so well that the kings officers could not find it , but that which belonged to other cloysters , being seised , they peached , and it became the kings , notwithstanding the good fathers alleged it designed to build a church in navarre , in the town where the saint the founder of their order was born . this king spends nothing either in buildings or gardens . much of ornament might be added to his palace , and its height require a wall in form of a terrass , to support its declining , that increases daily . a wood below it , that serves only for a shelter to rabbits , and a nest for crows , brought by charles the 5th out of the low countries , might be converted into a fair garden . the river that passes by it is called maucanarzes , not so broad as its name is long ; its channel is gravelly , and it self in summer so low , that in june and july coaches at the tour go through it . the bridge , or rather causey , by which it is passed , is both long and large , and cost i know not how many thousand ducats ; and he was no fool , that being told that philip the second bestowed so much cost on so poor a river , said it was fit either to sell the bridge or buy water . gentlemen here contrary to the customs of england , france and germany live in cities ; few of them having any priviledges for hunting or hawking , neither mannors or vassals as with us , where they are most of them lords of the parishes they dwell in : and indeed the quality of a private gentleman is here scarcely intelligible , the people having respect only for orders of knighthood , and such as are titulados , which comprehends dukes , marquisses , and earls . here are yet some families whom they call solariegas or de solar conocido , who alone are true gentlemen , and can derive pedigrees , of which they may have testimonies , called cartas executorias , and on accompt of them , enjoy some inconsiderable priviledges . the most antient of their titles , was that of riccos hombres , very different from hombre ricco , which last implies no more but a rich man , but the othet antiently were the great lords of spain , before dukes , marquisses and earls were heard of : they were covered in those days in presence of their king , and alone had deliberative voices in assemblies . neither governments , nor military , nor civil charges are here sold , which is not altogether so commendable as it seems at first sight ; for ununworthy persons ( if well looked on by favorites ) may more easily attain them then if they paid for them , and several of antient extraction and great abilities are willing to lay out their money to put themselves in a condition to serve their king with honour : neither in countreys where charges are most vendible , are they so to all chapmen ; but to gentlemen only , and such as are qualified for them . all the while olivares was in favour , he caused an ill understanding between the king and his wife , elizabeth of bourbon . in order to which ( as some report ) he sought to corrupt his master with an abominable opinion of certain graceless people who in madrid joyned together in a sect , and called themselves alumbrad●s , as much as to say illuminated , or ( if you please ) phanaticks ; these seeking to countenance themselves in their villanies , that they might commit them with the greater liberty , held it out as a maxim , that part of the gospel was mis-understood , and that it was an error to believe copulation with a woman ( on what account soever ) could render a man blameable before god. this king is supposed to have had natural issue by several , but none is owned but don john of austria , whose mother was a comedian . of legitimate children none grew up but the prince and the infanta , the rest dying very young . the prince seemed couragious , but , as was conjectured , of a nature violent and cruel . some report he was taken from so many kingdoms ( as whose sole heir he was considered ) by an accidental connivence of don pedro de arragon first gentleman of his chamber , who one night giving way to his lying with a curtezan , he so overheat himself that next morning he fell into a violent feavour ; and the physitians ignorant of what had passed , by letting him blood so extremely exhausted his spirits , whose dimunition was the only cause of his disease , that they hastened his death . don pedro either for not preventing or not discovering this to the physitians , continues in disgrace , and though brother of the favorite , may not yet return to court : permission only being given him to dwel at one end of the town , where he neither receives nor returns visits with any splendor . the fall of olivares hath been very publick in europe , and made appear that favour , which hath no other foundation than the princes affection , nor supports it self otherwise than by the dexterity of him that possesses it , cannot be so durable , as his that established on the basis of his good service , renders him necessary to whom he is agreeable , and it is reported that this man did sometimes buoy himself up in the kings good affection and opinion , by the very same inconsiderable artifices , that at last sunk him . amongst other inventions this is discoursed ; complaint having been made that bread was very dear , and so scarce it could hardly be had in madrid , because he had taken money of all the neighbouring villages , to exempt them from an obligation lay upon them , to bring a certain quantity every day to market , he gave order that all that was in the town dispersed among several bakers , should be brought and exposed in the street , by which the king was to pass to our lady of atocha . they to whom he gave this command performed it so well , that the shops and stals were loden . the king at sight of such plenty said he perceived that they which had told him of scarsitie of bread were impostors and lyers : for better confirmation the conde duke ordered they should bring every day into the publick market place all the bread , they were obliged to , notwithstanding the exemptions , upon which the complaints ceased , and the king a long time believed that what had been told him was an effect of the malice , of such as emulated and envied his favourite : but the queen by her wisdom and patience , at last ruined him , and by degrees entred on part of the government , from which his ambition and jealousie had so long excluded her . as soon as she had gotten credit with the king her husband , she made him understand the disorder of affairs , and danger of the crown by his favorites ill conduct : and this with so much prudence that he was banished the court ; and at last preparations made to bring him to this trial . the queens chief councellour on this extraordinary occasion , was the earl of castriglio , a very near kinsman of him she designed against . they could not without great difficulty bring the king to condescend , but at last the inquisition concerning it self , and charging him with that accurs'd doctrine of the alumbrados , and an endeavour to corrupt the king with it , he was very neer being abandoned to it , but this was prevented by his death , suspected to have been hastened by poison , and that good turn done him by his relations , that they might the sooner possess his wealth . don lewis de haro inherited the best part of it , and to so great a value that i was told , by one that had it from his own mouth , his yearly revenue amounts to 130 thousand crowns : it is not therefore to be wondered if he contents himself with the quality of favorite , or chief minister , without a greedy hunting after all advantages he might acquire by it : but though by this he exempt himself from the clamors raised against his uncle ; he is yet supported by very few creatures , not endeavouring to make any , according to the pasquil , comparing him with his predecessor . two persons have ruined spain , one by doing ill to all , the other by doing good to none . before he came into favour , he was in the coach with villa medina , when he was poniarded . this gentleman was the gallantest courtier , and greatest wit of spain : the curious relate many of his reparties , of which this is none of the worst ; coming into a church , a bason was presented him , the usual receptacle of money to redeem souls from purgatory ; and he ( demanding what sum served to deliver one , and being answered , what he pleased ) put in two pistols ; withal , desiring to know if the soul were free , which the other assuring him , he took again his two pistols , telling him he had done enough ; the soul being in no danger of returning . of all his gallantries , none cost him dearer then that of a mask : he was in love with the queen , which he mannaged with so little caution ; it occasioned him to be censured rash and indiscreet ; the goodness of this princess inclining her to favour men of parts , caused her ( altogether ignorant of his folly ) to look well on him . this hastened his fall , for besides that he could not forbear to mention his mistress , which terms better becomming a gallant then subject , he appeared in a mask , in a suit embroidered with pieces of eight , with this word mis amores son reales . this , though equivocal , gave occasion of discourse to all the world , because it was very evident , that he rather designed the eminent object of his love , then the avarice of which he accused himself . the violence of his passion , made him provide a comedy with scenes , in which he spent 20 thousand crowns , which ( to gain an opportunity of embracing the queen , whilst he carried her out of the danger ) he set on fire , and with them burnt almost all the house . subjects that incite their masters jealousie , stand on precipices . this man was stabbed in his coach at noon-day : when accompanied by don lewis de haro . one may very reasonably inquire the occasions of the great expences of spaniards , and how they undo themselves , little of pomp or luxury appearing amongst them , and few of them going into the wars . they which are well acquainted with madrid , assure , that most families are ruined by women : every man keeps a mistress , or is besotted on a curtisan ; who ( none in the world being more witty , impudent , or better skilled in that accursed mistery ; ) as soon as they ensnare any , plume them to the quick ; they must have robes of 30 pistols price , which they call gardepies , other accoutrements answerable , jewels , housholdstuff , and coaches . to deny any thing to that sex , is accounted dishonourable . i was assured that the admiral of castile ( none of the richest ) gave at once to one of these cattle , fourscore thousand crowns . one of the palavicini of genoua , told me , that not long before , an inclination cost him two thousand crowns , and finding himself delayed by the baggage to whom he made his addresses , he abandoned her , without obtaining any thing . here are four processions without the town , whereas at so many solemn rendezvouses they endeavour to set out themselves . all gallants then present them , which if any neglect , they are lost , and no more thought persons of honour ; this makes all with emulation strive to adorn these infamous creatures , and glory not a little in it . no town in the world offers so many to publick view ever at all hours of the day , all streets and walks are full of them ; they wear black vails with which they hide their faces , but discover one eye . they accost all men boldly , being no less impudent , than dissolute . in italy they are more modest , not seeking men as here ; and as the disorder is universal , so the mischief caused by it is almost infallible , these sinners yet enjoy alone all the liberty of madrid , for ladies of quality , and honest women , scarce ever go abroad , neither by coach , nor otherwayes , to take the air. most of them hear mass in their own houses , and excepting some few visits , never appear in publick , and then in sedans . it must needs be granted , that this sex hath here a great deal of wit , exercising it self in reparties ; and this with much liberty , one i have heard of , that seeing on a wall the figure of what women are so careful to conceal , with this inscription , without bottom ; with a coal instantly added , for want of line . nothing is so frequent , as the alterations love is pleased to make in the inclinations of those he inflames , liberal men by them becoming prodigal , and avaritious liberal ; and he whom he inspires not to spend all for the sakes of ladies , hazards here to be esteemed a beast the rest of his dayes , and persons of a parsimonious humor , and sordid thrift , how high soever their birth be , shall be thought base , and the infamy of this defect follow them to their graves . at the tour , the curtains of their coaches are usually drawn close , and if a man be in their company , none speak to them , otherwise they may be discoursed with very freely ; they all paint , and lay on the ceruse and vermillion so grossely , they disgust the beholders . in short , they ae generally unhandsom and unwholsom , and paint as much to hide the symptoms of the ●ocks in their faces , as to beautifie them . husbands that desire to have their wives live honestly , begin so arbitrarily , that they treat them almost like servants , lest by a handsom liberty , they should pass the limits of chastity , little understood , and worse observed by this sex. in andalusia , they say , the husbands are yet more violent , using them like children or slaves . if at meals they suffer them to approach the table , it is not to eat , but serve them ; with which if the more civil dispence , they give them meat from the table on the ground , where they sit on carpets or cushions , like turks or taylors ; in which manner , they also sit in churches , and in most houses , instead of chairs , you see only a few cushions set one on another , by the walls side . the tour of coaches when in town , circulates in the high street , otherwise in the prado , near de retiro , or by the rivolet below the palace . the greatest lords appear with little splendor above the rest , only their coaches are drawn by four mules , and attended by some few footmen more than ordinary ; the pages have place in the boots of the coaches . they wear not liveries ; but most commonly are cloathed in black ; scarce any of them have coloured lace , except on the sleeves : the kings are still worst clad , and worst paid . in all great mens houses , they every night eat up all that remains , and burn all the candles , consuming also the oyle and salt , the servants otherwise taking it as va●●s . grandees of spain are of two sorts , this honour being sometimes personal , sometimes hereditary . the first , the king bids be covered themselves ; the second , themselves and heirs for ever . this is all the ceremony in making a grandee , neither do any other priviledges belong to it ; so that it is but a chimerical and airy honour , without any profit ; they which marry the heiress of a family of a grandee of spain , that is such hereditarily , become grandees in right of their wives . this is all i could learn concerning grandees , but spanish books mention three sorts , one of which the king commands to be covered before they speak to him , another after they have spoken , but before he answers ; and the last cover not , till they have spoken and he answered . when the king creates a duke , he is also a grandee , and the consequence is good ; he is a duke , therefore a grandee ; but not he is a grandee , therefore a duke ; many marquesses and earls being also grandees . their wives sit in the queens presence , and she rises at their coming in . the king in all edicts and letters calls them princes : in his chappel , they have a seat called the grandees bench , where , without regard to antiquity , they sit as they come promiscuously . the title of sennioria belongs to them by patent of philip the third . these are , in a manner , all the advantages they have above other gentlemen , who , as well as they , are exempted from all taxes , unless when the publick is in danger ; at such times , they have been so heavily burthen'd , that they have paid near half their revenue . they are not oblieged to quarter , unless when the court goes a progress ; but to speak in general of the spanish nobility , they have a very considerable priviledge ( at least if it be made good to them ) which is , that how great soever their debts be , the revenue only can be attached , the rest being in mayorazgo ( as i understand it ) entailed , which goes farther ; so that when the revenue is seized on , the judges will appoint the gentleman , whose quality oblieges him to keep servants , horses , coaches , &c. a stipend sufficient to support him according to it ; and though he owes as much as a revenue of 50 thousand crowns can be worth , and hath but 30 , his creditors can pretend to no more , than the overplus of what is ordered for his subsistence . here are very few knights of the golden fleece , nor many pretenders to that honour , because difficult to be obtained , and bringing no profit . it was lately sent to the archduke leopold , eldest son of the emperour ferdinand the third . the other orders are calatrava , known by a red rose worn on the cloak , and alcantara by a green one , st. jago wears a sword gules or an arrow , these are near of an equal esteem and dignity ; these knights have sometimes profit by the commands they now and then obtain by the kings favour . a great number of them were slain before lerida , since which time it is not believed there are above 1800 in all the three orders , whereas before there were above 4000. alcantara is most esteemed , which they that pretend to , must prove themselves gentlemen of four descents , two being sufficient to either the other . in the second court of the palace , are chambers for several councils . the council of state assembles under the kings apartment , where the welfare of all his dominions is consulted . there is also a council of war , where the wayes of executing what hath been resolved in the council of state , are taken into consideration : near these is the council of castile , called roial ; it is very powerful , and consists of seventeen counsellors and a president . many affairs of the other councils are referred hither , especially of the council of the indies , in which the people of both castiles are very much concerned . arragon hath also its council , italy and flanders theirs . the council for the indies , and the kings revenue called de la hazienda , sits in another place ; so doth that de las ordenes , which determines the differences of the orders of knighthood , and judges of the proofs of gentry of such as pretend to them . all these are within the palace walls . that of the inquisition hath its tribunal in the house of the president of that holy office : that of the cruzada , which gives dispensations to eat flesh on saturdayes , and some other priviledges granted by popes to the king , is also held at the presidents . none of these pretend to be so absolute , as the inquisition . i have been assured , that it is not alwayes in the kings power to free those that are accused there : and though this jurisdiction derives its authority from the pope , in some conjunctures it hath had no regard to his orders . it extends not only to those which in matters of religion go contrary to the church , but is a sharp curb to all whose temper gives jealousie to the state , and dispatches them without noise , as was intended against antonio perez , and the duke of olivares , had he not dyed . all resolutions of these several councils , pass through that of state , before put in execution , which examines whether there be any thing in them , contrary to the general good of all the members of the crown . a mornings , because then all the councils assemble , there is a great crowd in the palace , yet only below in the two courts , whither they which have business or suits ( as they say here , para pretensiones ) come to follow them . amongst others , you may see many undertakers of levies of souldiers , solliciting their disbursments . when horse are raised , all the horses are brought into the piazza before the palace , where one ear of each of them is cut off . by this mark they are made known to be the kings , and a trooper selling one of them , or one of them being sound in the possession of a man that serves not the king , he may be seized , and carried away without any formality of law ; but the troopers sometimes cut off the other ear , and then presenting the captain some dollars , oblieged him to depose before the commissary , that the horse is dead , after which he is sold without difficulty . this is one of the greatest profits of captains of horse in catalonia , as they which have served there informed me . it is not only very difficult to raise men for catalonia , but to maintain them , when brought thither : enduring much hardness , they quickly die , flemings and germans especially ; castilians and neopolitans disband and run away , the latter getting into france , present themselves there to the general , who usually gives them a piece of money to bear their charges to their country , the other coasting to the pireneans on the side of languedoc , return into castile by navarre or biscai . old soldiers , of what nation soever , know the country , and will certainly escape , young ones , besides that they are of little use , last not , as being unaccustomed to so great fatigue . the war here is more troublesome to the king of spain than any where else , and more important , being in a part of his dominion , of which he is very jealous , and where he would redeem any loss by twice the value in italy or flanders . they which penetrate into the secrets of this court , assure that it hath a kind of contempt for losses in other places , but those in catalonia touch to the quick , and are as so many wounds the state seems to receive in its heart , by which it appears , that they which have concluded the certain way of shaking the spanish monarchy , to be by making war upon it in its own countrey , have doubtlesly very well discovered where it is weakest . to defend it self , it must be at a vast expence , for very small forces , because in great want , not only of victual and amunition , but much more of men in this it is become defective but in this last age ; for by what cicero said of it , we find it otherwise in time of the romans , who giving the epethite of couragious to england , gave that of populous to spain , reserving to themselves that of piety only . this alteration is easily understood by those that consider , how the falling of the gothes and vandals into this country , with the irruption of the moors , that immediately followed it , scattered the greatest part of the inhabitants : and when these strangers had so well settled themselves , that the cities again abounded with people , ferdinand of arragon , that conquered all spain , destroyed a great many , and exiled more . the discovery of the west-indies , that happened soon after , drew away great colonies , and peopled the new world with the spaniards , as well by the great concourse of such as ( finding it a better country than that they abandoned ) seated themselves there , as by a necessity of furnishing navies , and transporting soldiers to form an army , and garrison forts and cities ; and this in such manner , that the best of spain is now in the indies , the kings wants having obliged him to sell his subjects for gold , though neither the mines of potosi , nor all peru , are able to supply the expence he is fain to be at for want of men ; neither do the gallions ever bring wealth enough to discharge the states debts ; for besides that the greatest part of it belongs to particular persons of flanders , holland , genoua , and france , that which comes on the kings account is due to several that have assignations upon it : so that spain is no more than the channel by which the gold of the indies passes to discharge it self in the vast ocean of other countries : and therefore in that similitude , where the world is compared to a living body , spain is the mouth , which receives , chaws , and prepares the nourishment , but immediately conveys it to other parts , retaining nothing to it self but the savour alone , or the little that accidentally sticks between the teeth . and he had reason , that considering spain , where little gold appears , all other nations abounding with her pistols , said she serves them as the damnati ad metalla did the ancient emperors ; or else that she is like the ass of arcadia , that laden with gold , fed on thistles . but that which compleated her desolation , was the general expulsion of the moors . there were many reasons for the quitting her self of so cursed a generation , and impoisoning the waters thereby to destroy all the christians , having been imputed to them , and their continual correspondencies with the africans , turks , and other enemies of the kingdom discovered , philip the third possibly could not have taken a better resolution , than at once to free himself from the continual apprehension of them : though it may well be objected , that a good polititian ought as little as may be to make use of such universal punishments , by which a state is more enfeebled , than amended ; and that when with the dagger at the brest , we go about to free our selves from some ill we apprehend , we act rather as desperate then as couragious and prudent : that it is ignorance of lenitives that forces so soon to cut and cauterise : that it is a greater vertue to instruct the vicious , and convert them , then to drive them from their homes , and shut the doors against them : in a word , that we may oppose errors without destroying persons . it is very certain that this edict cost the king of spain a great many rich and good subjects , of no turbulent principles , and that with time might have been made sensible of the truth , and profession of christianity . but they were altogether deprived of the means of it ; for if they embraced christianity , dssimulation was objected against them ; and that it was only to avoid the rigour of the edict . this gave opportunity to the avarice of those that executed it to play its game , passing by without molestation such as bribed them , and suffering them to continue quiet in their houses . what discourses soever are made on this extraordinary rigour , which some have admired as a policy very high and generous , and others blamed as a most unnatural cruelty , it having deprived a king of his subjects , and almost a nation of its native country : it is very certain , that since that time spain hath been a desert , and could never recover the loss ( as is reported ) of some millions of people : but besides this her voluntary depopulating her self , the indies prevailing either on the necessity or inclination of her subjects , draw them still away , by frequent and numerous colonies , in such manner that it is believed more people have left spain than at present remain in it . after these misfortunes ( at first looked on as incomparable felicities by those which boasted the possession of the west-indies , and expulsion of the moors ) wars arose , and so violent , that it is computed , that in twenty years they consumed a million and a half of inhabitants , and that the plague , which often afflicted this country , carried away near another million ; so that ever since philip the third , spain hath extremely wasted both in men and money : this is very true , and in so extraordinary a manner , that if its enemies had understood it , and those that were left behind had not after their separation differed amongst themselves , the spaniards would have been altogether unable to have resisted them . besides this great ambiguity of good or evil , which they which judge according to the event or their own sense , observe in the discovery of the indies , and expulsion of the moors , another policy is spoken of , which not directed against the kingdom in general , attacques only that part of it which is most noble and illustrous . philip the second , styled the solomon of his age , apprehending that the grandees and nobility might at some time or other make use of their wealth and power against his authority , or that of his successors ; and remembring that they had discovered their turbulent inclinations under charles the fifth , in such a manner , as had like to have given him great troubles , thought he could not better secure himself against such of them as meant ill , than by the weakness of that whole body ; to which purpose he cast the seeds of vanity and envy amongst them , increasing the number of grandees , dukes , marquises , and earls . the smoke of this drove from their families all thoughts of profit , and their honours , redoubled their expenses , by every ones endeavouring to surpass his companion . when he saw them deeply engaged , he gave way to attacquing their lands , and deprived them of the priviledge of mayorasgo , the most considerable that belonged to them ; and that they might not have in their hands any places of strength , or houses to retire to when they had a mind to be troublesome , he forbad them to repair their castles : and such as have travailed between valentia and madrid , observe many ancient castles advantagiously scituated for commanding the country , that decay and fall to the ground . thus by heaping honours on them he took away their power , and obliged them to a greater charge ; and by sparing them that of keeping up their castles , deprived them of the submission and respect their tenants formerly had for them : since this they have lost daily , and complain that that prince did not only clip , but cut off the wings of their predecessors , reducing them to that inconsiderable condition they are in at present ; which , like original sun , so closely follows , that it destroys such of them as find not remedy , by obtaining some employment at a distance from the court , by means of which the publick treasure may pass through their hands . then they neglect not to fill their baggs , and inrich themselves and posterities . it is reported , that besides those which endeavour to repair their fortunes in italy and flanders , by some employment suitable to their birth , many return rich from the indies . i speak not of viceroys , who are canged every 3 years , and lay up millions , it being sufficiently known , that very many officers under them make great advantages , and that in madrid they hide the treasures they bring home even from the sun that gave them birth , lest their discovery cause an account of their administration to be demanded , or they be obliged to lend the king a good part without any hope of ever being paid : so that they neither dare put their mony to use , nor buy land with it , but choose rather to eat up the main stock than to hazard it : thus by little and little they consume what they so sodainly amassed , of which their family sometimes enjoys nothing beyond the second generation . they which are employed in the kings councils or treasurie , have a certainer and securer way of enriching themselves , because seated at the helm of government . these men thriving without any apprehension of being molested , and demanding account of others , themseves not obliged to render it to any ; make use with splendour of what they have acquired , building palaces of extraordinary expence in a countrey where stone and mortar are excessive dear . their plenty alone is with ostentation , that of others so reserved , and as it were bashfull , that it often pretends necessity that it may avoid being really reduced to it : and some dutch inhabitants in madrid told us , that some few years before , a tax had been laid upon them , only because they were thought to be rich and at their ease : the manner of doing it seems very severe . a rich merchant being sent for to a committee of the council , was told that the king commanded him to bring three or four thousand crowns into his exchequer ; if he went about to excuse himself as unable , or by reason of mony due to him from the king , it signified nothing ; and he was sent away with notice , that if he paid it not in three dayes he must go six leagues from madrid in custody of the ministers of justice on his expence . that time expired without paying , he was sent 20 leagues from the court. they which paid at first freed themselves from this charge and trouble ; they that were obstinate against what appeared so unjust to them , suffered both , and were at last constrained to pay what had been imposed before they were permitted to return to their houses . gown-men and pen-men are here the richest , and none spoken of but councellors , senators , and secretaries , who from very poor beginnings sodainly become wealthy : they which manage the affairs of the indies are thought to surpass all others : and the earl of pigneranda , who served his master so well in the negotiations of munster and the low-countries , and is the favourites favourite , chose rather to be president of the council of the indies , than of that of flanders , which questionless had been more proper for him than any other . that council advantages it self as well by the employments of which it hath the disposal , as by all merchandise that passes to and again : amongst which wine makes a very profitable and speedy return , none but spanish being suffered to be transported , which is sold with so great gain , that that which in andalusia , or other part where it grows , costs one crown , is worth 6 or 7 there . that this may be continued , planting vines is there prohibited on pain of death , though that soil would as well bear them as any part of spain . traffick in general ( as i before observed ) is not equal to what it hath been ; for which ( amongst many other pretended here ) this reason may be given , that the profit made on occasion of it by the king and his ministers hath discouraged merchants , to the loss of a very great revenue to the crown : whatever is shipped for the indies must be registred , and pay the tenth penny for fault of which it is confiscated . by this the wealth of the fleet is known to a farthing , as well what belongs to the king as to particular persons . some years since his catholick majesty ( wanting money ) laid hands on that which appertained to merchants , under the notion indeed of borrowing , but ( besides that such forced lones suit not well with merchants affairs ) it was never returned : for which reason many do not register their gold and silver , but chuse rather to combine with the captains ( though it cost them more ) than to abandon all for fair words . before the fleets arrival at cadis , english or holland ships meet it either near that port , or that of st. lucar , and receive there from such captains as they correspond with , that which is on account of those that send them , and carry it away before it enters any spanish haven ; and even the merchants of sevil and other spanish cities send their money into those countries , where they may freely dispose of it without fear to have it seised on . it is said that the fleet comes this year more rich than usually ; but that the wealthiest ship is stranded , and uncertain whether the silver all saved . but they which will have nothing lost report that more gold and silver hath been recovered than was registred , if so the king will have the advantage of it by confiscation . if we consider the general government of these kingdoms , it seems to move so steadily , that it declines not at all from those bold politicks which are never disturbed , and that trample on the sharpest thorns as resolutely as if they walked on roses : but going to particulars we shall discover , that the spaniards who give much to appearances and the exterior , use no fewer meens and grimaces in their publick affairs , then in their particular comportment . in the streets , at the tour , and in the theaters , where many eyes are upon them , they seem very grave , serious , and reserved : but in private , and to those that are familiarly acquainted with them , they act in a manner so different , you would not take them for the same persons , being as vain , wanton , and humorous as other nations . the politicks of every country are of a temper and genius like that of the people that inhabit it ; and the spanish considered by an unbiassed judgement are so as well as the rest . at first view they seem firm , constant , resolute , and entirely swayed by reason and judgment ; but coming nearer , and examining them , piece by piece , we may discover weaknesses we could not have imagined them capable of . their pace is sometimes so unsteady they stumble in the smoothest way , and sometimes so positive , on account of reputation and interest , they haz●rd all for trifles ; but always so flow , that of a thousand of their artifices , scarce any one succeeds : i shall not give such examples as i might of this truth in times past , particularly , in the revolutions of flanders under philip the ii. and what happened during the league in france in the same kings raign , being provided of later in the insurrection of catalonia , and revolt of portugal , both foreseen , without application of necessary remedies , not only , because of obstinacy , but of irresolution and slowness . i will mention no more here then what is disc●u●sed of at madrid : opinions very much differ about sequestration of the goods of the genoueses , some declaring it to have been very just and prudent ; others the contrary : but all agreeing , that having been so vigorously begun , it ought to have been continued in the same manner , and being an affair of reputation and interest , that so great a monarch should not have boggled at going through with it , or an accommodation appearing necessary , by reason of the prejudice this rupture gave to affairs , they should not have moved so heavily towards it , because in that interval they suffered for want of returns from genoua , which during such a suspension they could not supply with the money they had seised . they which negotiated in this court for that republick , endeavoured to make understood that the siege of arras failed the year before , because the merchants recalled the bills of exchange they had drawn on antwerp ; but the spanish ministers would not acknowledge this , though it was evident they began to have some light of it . in the mean time , punctilios only span out a year before matters could be accommoded , though the spaniards were no less desirous of it then the genoueses ; though these many demurs had no other end but to save the spanish reputation , they failed peradventure of that effect ; what had passed was nullified by the agreement ; what had been seised , released , and the dispute about final , which had caused it , referred to arbitration . they had long been agreed of all that was substantial ; but a punctilio of honour caused the execution to be delayed , it was this : the republick would not set at liberty the prisoners taken before finale , unless the king asked them to do it , and the king would have them sent home before he made any proposal : all being like to break off an expedient , was found ( by means of marquis serra , brother of him that commands in catalonia ) that the ambassador should visit the earl of ognate , and ask him , if he thought the republick might oblige his majesty by setting the prisoners at liberty , and the other answering yes , all should be ended ; but they add , that this earl , who is both high and crafty , and that at his return from naples had been the first cause of the misunderstanding , soundly ratled the ambassador : in this proceeding , appears to me a very great zeal in the spanish ministers , in resenting the affront done them by the republick , but it continued not , and the honour of it was blemished by useless delays , all at last being concluded on conditions , that might have been obtained at first . the good understanding that hath continued several years between the french and genouses , caused the first of these to offer their assistance to the other towards righting them against the spanish violence ; on account of which the republick held it self so much obliged to the french king , that it sent lazaro spinola , a noble citizen , in quality of extraordinary ambassador , to return thanks for the assistance and protection offered ; that difference gave the genoueses such distaste of the spanish alliance , that it moved them to do this to those they had formerly looked on as the greatest enemies of this liberty . if we except such in genoua as by alliance and interest are bound to the spanish party , the rest of their inclinations are very contrary to what they were in their fathers days during the reign of francis the i. of france , and the genoueses have at present no other kindness for the spaniards , then a creditor for a debtor , out of whose hands he would fain recover what belongs to him ; after which they would little value them : but however the genoueses comport themselves , their patience will never oblige their debtors to satisfie them , who think they do enough when they pay the interest without any longer considering the principal , which the spaniards are well enough content to be thought unable to discharge , whether it be so to free themselves from being demanded it , or that the necessity of their affairs obliges them to it . this in the mean time is a good caution to the genoueses , by little and little to free themselves from the spanish clutches . all strangers , what services soever they may have done them , ought to fear them , they considering themselves and interests only , , in such manner that the italians and flemings that are this kings subjects , are used no more favourably then if born under another master : if they pretend to imployments , either at court or in the armies , they are told they are not natural spaniards , who engross all , as well to keep up the glory of the nation , as out of diffidence of others , whom they in a manner declare incapable of all trust because not born in spain : this countrey are nevertheless abounds in strangers , but they only artificers and mercenaries invited by gain , and that meddle with nothing but their pedling traffick . it is thought that there are above 40 thousand french in madrid , who wearing the spanish habit , and calling themselves burgundinians , walloons and lorrainers , keep up commerce and manufacture ; it concerns them to conceal their countrey , for if it be discovered , they are obliged to pay a daily pole-money of about a penny to the town , and , any bad success happening to the publick , appearing in the streets , are liable to a thousand insolencies , even to blows . they that know what number of strangers are in this town report , that would they undertake it , they might make themselves masters , and drive out the spaniards . such as have business , or intend to stay any time , habit themselves after the manner of the countrey , which we must have done had we been para pretensiones ( as they call it ; ) we must then have put on the cassock and all the rest of the castilian harness , none being welcome to the court without it : nor can any speak to the king unless clothed in black , in which they are so punctual , that an envoye from the prince of conde was fain to wait till he suited himself in that colour before he could have audience ; even women , and of those the loosest , least desirous to appear such , immediately solicite strangers to quit the habit of their countrey , which causes them to be the more observed when they make their visits . the spaniards wear a cassock with deep skirts which sits very close to the body from the neck to the hanches , a black leather girdle , which buckles on the breast , or toward the navil ; their breeches are so streight , that for more easie putting them on and off , they are buttoned at the sides towards the bottom ; their shooes are shaped exactly to their feet , with narrow soles ; and a little foot and large calf of the leg , are in such request , that gallants bind their feet about with riband , to their no small torment , whilst by quilted stockins they put themselves perfectly in the mode : their silk stockins are knit very open , almost like net-work , which they stretch very streight upon white , that is seen through them ; they wear no longer broad brimmed hats , but very narrow ones lined with taffata ; they esteem it very gallant , and of more then ordinary magnificence , to wear hatbands of many broad black bone-laces , which doubtlesly cost as much as plumes , they sending for them to france or flanders : they are not curious in their linnen , using little bonelace on it . the reason of their beginning to dress themselves from above , and to button from below , is not to be contrary to other nations in all they do , but because the air is so penetrating , that if they be not very careful to keep their breasts warm a mornings , they hazard sickness ; many for neglecting this , having suffered terrible accidents , and lost the use of their members ; this hath also happened to others by leaving their windows open a nights : black bays and rattin is their winters wear ; in summer they use taffata suits , but leave not off the baise cloak and cassock . the first of may we saw the tour of coaches without the gate of toledo , this is one of the most celebrated , and at it appear many of all sorts , some drawn by four mules , if dukes or great lords , with a postillion , and the former mules fastened by long harness ; such as have six mules , you may conclude belong to persons very eminent , who are not allowed this magnificence but without the town , which prohibition was occasioned by the kings being told that the tour was little frequented , by reason of the vanity of such as unable to appear with six mules , forbore it , that they might not seem less then those with whom they pretend equality . no coachman sits before the coach , but on one of the foremost mules ; this having been forbidden by the conde duke , who had a secret revealed by the coachman : they almost all use mules , since the coach-horses were either effectually taken away , or threatened to be sent into catalonia . the breed of horses is by this means so neer lost , that if something be not done to prevent it , spain will be entirely disfurnished , the greatest part of mares being reserved to bear mules , the profit of them being great by reason of a quick and advantagious market . the king of portugal hath remedied this , by forbidding the use of mules , and the clergy refusing to obey under pretence of certain priviledges , he gave them exemption , but on pain of death forbad the farriers to shooe any mule , by which means he easily reduced them to observance of his order . the glory of this solemnity principally consists in the bravery of the ladies , who are extraordinarily industrious to appear with splendor , putting on their richest accoutrements , they forget not ceruse and vermillion : they are seen in divers postures in their servants coaches , some making a half discovery of themselves , others with open curtains , exposing their gallantry and beauty ; such whose servants cannot or will not accommodate them with coaches , stand in the streets that pass to the place where the tour is made , or at one end of it . part of their liberty , or rather licentiousness consists in an indifferent demanding of any to pay for lemons , wafers , sweet-meats or perfumes , which are carried up and down to be sold ; they give intimation of this by those that sell them , and it is accounted a great incivility to refuse , though for six penny worth of ware one pay a crown . here appear also many fair horses with rich saddles , and their mains and tails tied with ribbands ; the riders are either such gallants as have lent their coaches to ladies , or such others as having no coaches , are willing on horseback to enjoy the pleasure of the tour. after many circuits , and the view of the several files of coaches ; evening coming on , all make a stand , and in their coaches eat such provisions as they have brought with them . this custom is not peculiar to this solemnity , but almost every day , especially sundays , you walk amongst bevers and collations ; so much the spaniards are pleased to feast in the field , though but on an onion , a salad , or a few hard eggs. hither also come some women of quality with their husbands , and gallants with their mistresses , who being under their eye comport themselves so modestly , they hardly looke on any , or return a salute . ordinary citizens are dispersed about the fields , or sit on the river side , or some corner of the medow or green corn : they feast on very slender provision with much majesty and jollity , accompanied by some friend , or their wives and families . i have been assured , that besides these slight debauches , the spaniards in their houses seldom or never treat one another : and they which have been at their feasts add , that the dishes , assoon as set on the table , vanish , each guest seising one with this word con licentia , to send it to his mistriss , in such manner that the company is sometimes without any meat , and almost ever without so much as tasting the best . at this time the king is usually at aranjuez , from whence he often comes to view the tour , and having ridden about , returns without entring the town , which at first seemed to me but a poor diversion , it being seven long leagues from aranjuez to madrid ; but considering how swiftly he passes them , with six mules , ever driven at their best speed , and changed at half way , i could neither think it tedious nor inconvenient , the seven leagues being dispatched in little more then three hours ; but i could never apprehend what pleasure he can take at the tour , since as he passes by , all curtains out of respect , are drawn , so that he sees nothing but the coaches , though the design of it is only to appear with splendor , and enjoy the view of all that is gallant : respect here questionless destroys the pleasure it augments in other countreys , where at the princes approach , all make a stand , and women unmask , the 5th of may we went to aranjuez to see the court ; this pleasant seat where the king every spring resides a moneth , is certainly very agreeable , and the spaniards that see nothing equal to it , mention it no otherwise then as the elisian fields : their poets call it the metropolis of floras kingdom , and her treasury ; in the way to it we passed the river tagus by a wooden bridge , which hath a gate at one end of it , that is shut when the court is not there , then people ferry over , paying some duties , which are part of the rents of aranjuez . the first thing presents it self is a park with earthen walls , called tapia , it is large , and beautified by divers allies ; in the heath on each side the passage to it , are cony-warrens : by the park side is a very large walk , from which several others like it ; extend to the right and left , it leads to a gate at the end of a bridge over a canal , drawn thither from the river ; this forms an island in which the garden is , very fair and neatly kept , its entrance is from the palace , and as soon as the bridge is passed , two statues of brass appear , from the cut off arms of one of which , water distils ; hard by these is the cistern of the fountain of diana , which stands in the middle of a mount raised of stone , wood , moss and earth ; many figures of several creatures are joyned to it , who pleasantly spout out water as they receive it by pipes from the river ; in all this garden i saw not any fountain that derives its stream from a spring ; round about the cistern stand eight ships ( if i mistake not ) of mirtle , whose branches are so accommodated , that the poops , prows , and all the rest of the hulks are well shaped ; on each of these is a little statue that spouts water against the beasts that are on the top of the mount. we came next to the fountain of ganimed , who is mounted on an eagle at the top of a pillar ; at the cistern side stand mars and hercules ; a little from it is the fountain of the gelosia , or small lattice , so called , because at the top of it , the water represents the form of one of those lattices or gelosias that are usually set before windows : neer it is another , called the golden rowel ; and at the entrance of the middle ally , that of the harpies , the fairest of all ; its cistern is square , and at the four corners on four pillars , stand those monstrous creatures , vomiting water against the statue of a man , that sitting on one of the middle columns , seeks a thorn in the sole of his foot : in the same ally not far from the end of the garden is the fountain of don john of austria , whose statue is placed on the top of it , water distilling from his hair ; it is made of a stone that was found in a turkish ship after the battle of lepanto , it hath two cisterns , and below four cupids with several emblems : this garden is very pleasant , as well in it self , as by reason of its particular ornaments which are not yet equally taking ; the walks are almost all too narrow , and one would think they had been niggards of ground for the parterres ; the arbors are low , and upheld only with laths instead of deal spars , which would not have been spared by a rich private person ; round about the isle by the river and canals side is a large walk , well kept and swept , shaded by tall elms ; this is the fairest , and in which their majesties most delight , in it is one arbor , looking into the highway of madrid , in which the queen was the day the bulls were fought , to see them pass by , after the king and his court had brought them from the heard from which they had separated them : the day of this sport is made a great secret , the king never declaring it till the night before he sends away the herradores , or markers of the bulls , then also giving notice to the countrey people to bring them in : we had the first news of it in the great walk , of which i will speak anon , where we met the queen going to take the air ; as soon as her coach and that of her maids of honour were passed by , a man on horseback , said to be the guardian or overseer of that sex , taking us for dutchmen , calling to us told us , that one of those ladys or maids of honour had a cousen married in the low-countreys , and would be glad to enquire of him , we turned back and after some short discourse , she acquainted us , that possibly the sight of bulls might be the next day , not daring positively to declare it : this caution is to prevent too great a concourse : immediately the ladies guardian interrupted our small entertainment , bidding us go off from the coach , having talked long enough with the ladies ▪ we returned , admiring no less his incivility , then the impertinence of the queens buffoon , presenting one of us a pipe of tinn to speak to him with , because deaf as he feigned ; this great walk is beyond the village of aranjuez , so wretched , it scarcely affords any lodging , so that at our arrival there we were fain to go farther , and though the moon shone , and we had guides , lost our way ; in the place where we stayed we had much ado to get stable-room for our horses , and shelter for our selves , and were very well contented to sleep on chairs and benches . this is not occasion'd by reason of a great court , for almost all the officers are lodged in the kings house , though very small ; but the village affords but one inn , which was taken up by the emperours ambassadors , so that we could have no place there till next morning . that day we resolved to make an end of seeing aranjuez , and when we had been where the camels are kept , where there was only one female , and a young one , the rest being abroad to carry wood , as we returned by several f●ir allies , our guide told us , that after a birth the females are two years before they again bring forth : he said also , that they sometimes bait them with dogs , and that it is very pleasant to see how dexterously those ill shaped creatures defend themselves against mastiffs ; and that their fury sometimes break through the rails and discharges it self on the spectatators : coming near our lodging , he mentioned a rare waterwork with so many circumstances , that he incited our curiosity to go and see it , by we discovered his simplicity , it being nothing but a mill to saw boards . this confirmed our opinion that what is very common in other places , passes often here for miraculous : in the afternoon we went to see the great and magnificent walk at the end of the village , neer the way to alcala de henares : on each side it is a double row of fair young elms , towards whose better growth , they can at pleasure let in water between the ranks : it is very long and large , and in two or three places are wide circles where coaches may wheel about as at our tour in hidepark : at the end of it is a bridge over tagus with a door , in such manner , that the king when at aranjuez , either without guards , or only with 10 or 12 halberdiers , is as within an entrenchment , not to be passed but by these bridges ; on the right hand is another walk leading to a grange where three asses are kept to cover mares for production of good mules ; in my life i never saw any so big , the youngest being as high as any mule , the two other not much lower ; the first cost two and twenty thousand reals , which amounts to 600 l. sterling ; they are exempted from duty but two days in the year , that is , on corpus christi , and the feast of the ascension ; at other times , as we were told , the male caresses the female twice a day , by this appears that most of the mares being made use of to bear mules , the breed of horses will by degrees be lost here , and they would have much ado to raise cavalry , were there occasion for it . rumours have been spred that mules should be prohibited , but this was found difficult ; i know not whether by means of the clergy , if so , it had been easie to have applied the remedy made use of by the king of portugal ; though above the folly of those travailers , that mind no more of the courts of the countreys they pass thorow , then to see the princes diss or ride . our little stay in spain , and difficult access to the court , by reason of its great privacy , obliged us to amuse our selves with what takes the eyes , but little satisfies the intellect . on ascention day by means of sir benjamin wright , we were permitted to stand in a corner of the chamber where the queen dined ; she is of a middle stature , rather inclining to be low ; over against her stands a lady that presents the dishes , and doth the office of carver ; on each side of her stands another ; she on the right , presents the glass , she on the left , the napkin ; she drinks very little , but eats well ; she was served with many dishes , but as we thought , few good ones ; she hath a buffoon that talks continually to endeavour to divert her ; four or five youths of the best families in spain bring in the meat out of the next chamber , these are called meninos , all habited in gray , yet with difference in the colour : we wondred to see the spanish gravity suffer such neglect of majesty ; these meninos using very little respect in the queens presence , they often prated and shared a dish of apples with the buffoon , and some of them at the door pushing one another , made a great noise , without any reprehending them ; none are admitted to see the infanta dine , and upon our expressing a curiosity for it , it was rumoured that the duke of savoy was incognito at aranjuez : an honest spaniard after the fight of bulls , brought me into a garden where i saw her take coach : she is low , of a sprightly meen and quick eye , her face rather long then round . it is pity the custom of the countrey obliges her to paint , for with less red she would certainly appear more lovely , though the queen and she seem less inflamed then the rest of the court , whose cheeks are scarlet , and that so grosly laid on , it seems rather to aim at disguise then beauty ; and indeed the most of them are so ill favoured , that all the paint in the world made use of with the greatest art , cannot help them . the maids of honour take the first three or four coaches : and the duenas : ( who are old women clothed in white , and almost covered with vails ) the last ; the queen and infanta follow in a coach with six horses , an old lady sitting in the boot ; their wide farthingales extreamly fill the coach , and one would take their thick and knotty elflocks for hempen stuffing , broke out of an old pack-saddle . their whisks or rather cravats are made of great points , which doubtlesly cost a great deal , though unhandsome : almost all of them have looking-glasses , watches or pictures hanging at their girdles ; i saw none court them but the marquis of aytona , who walked by a coach side talking with one that sate in the boot ; but i was told this is done with freedom enough in the queens withdrawing room ; and whensoever they appear at windows by signs agreed on between them and their servants in order to so gallant a conversation . when they marry , the queen adds fifty thousand crowns to their portions , which are very will paid ; besides these ladies and some querries , the queen hath no attendance at her going abroad but her buffoon , with some mean officers and footmen : she hath no guards , and i admired her being publick with so little state . the king hath about a dozen firelocks that wait daily at his stair-head ; these are either flemings or burgundians , the duke of arcos is their captain . on the guard they wear the kings livery ( which at other times they lay aside ) and an odd kind of sword or hanger called cuchilla : they are in all 150. there wait also daily sixteen spanish , and as many high-dutch halbardiers . this guard was first introduced in spain by the house of austria : and we were told there are besides these two old companies of spaniards formerly the guards of the kings of castile , which are but ill payed , and the rest not much better . the morrow after ascention day dom lewis de haro arrived , the king having sent for him to the solemnity of the herradura or marking of bulls : a little after which his majesty took horse at the point of the island of the garden , and having commanded the people to go without the rails , went with all his court to the end of a great alley , to drive the bulls into that part of the field that is inclosed : men on horseback with great cudgels enrage them , whilst others behind drive them forward with shouts and blows . then comes the king with his court , and the sport is at an end . their majesties having heard mass , the governor of aranjuez , the best torreador , that is champion against bulls , of all spain , begins the second hunting of these beasts , to drive them into the innermost partition , where they are to be marked with a hot iron : there they remain till 3. in the afternoon , at which time all windows and scaffolds abounding with spectators , their majesties take their seat , and give order to begin : within the barricadoes stand several young country fellows ( whom they call herradors ) expecting the bulls to grapple with them , and two or three being let loose , the bravest run and seise their horns , or tails , and seconded by the rest endeavour to cast them on the ground , whilst others with hot irons mark them on the thighs , some the mean while slitting their ears . much agility is necessary in this action , as well in performing it as afterwards , the bulls being very furious . to deceive them , the assailants present each a cloak or hat , and the beast shutting his eyes when he gores , one of the boldest leaps upon his neck , and catches hold of his horns , the rest doing the like to such other parts as they can light on , but he overthrows and hurts many , and it is strange that he kills not the most , for oftentimes running right upon them , he casts them down and passes over them , but those one would think dead ( i know not how ) sodainly rise again . they are indeed very nimble in avoiding their horns , and ready in falling to let them go by . this sport may be very pleasant , but not to the actors , and i admire so great a king vouchsafes to look on it , and conceive he does it rather out of policy to comply with the custom , then invited by any delight , he takes in it ; but that something extraordinary might be done for his diversion ; don lewis de haro caused his fool or buffoon to enter the lists , who clad in all manner of colours , and mounted on a white steed , was with it tossed into the air , and afterwards trampled on the ground : twenty two or twenty three of the bulls were marked , which will be made use of at the festivals of madrid , amongst which we hope to see that of st isadore , the patron of the town . a while after we went to the escurial , which to give it no less then its due , may in spain pass for an admirable structure , but where building is understood , would not be looked on as very extraordinary . in a general consideration , it seems a mass of stone of great perfection , but going to particulars , scarce any of them but falls very short of the magnificence imagined , and that so much , that if philip the second who built it , and was called the solomon of his age , did no more resemble that wise king then this edifice does his temple , to which it is often compared ; the copy comes very short of the original : in the mean time to stretch the comparison they please themselves in saying , that charles the fifth like another david only designed this holy work , which ( being a man of war and blood ) god reserved for his son. ignorant strangers are entertained with this tale , but such as are versed in history tell us , that after the battle of st quentin , philip the second made two vows , one never to go in person to the wars , the other to build this cloyster for the order of st hierom instead of that which had been burnt , it cost him neer six milions of gold , though out of consideration of parsimony and convenience of bringing stone , he made choice of the worst scituation in nature , for it is at the foot of a barren mountain , and hard by a wretched village called escurial , that can hardly lodge a man of any fashion ; this may seem very strange to those that know the court is there twice in a year : the place it stands on , is by transcendence called the seat , because it was levelled in order to build on . the fabrick is very fair , with four towers at the four corners , but coming to it , one knows not which way to enter , for as soon as out of the great walk , in a kind of piazza , you see only little doors , which when you are over it , lead into two pavilions that contain offices and lodgings for some of the court ; when you have well viewed this side of the square , you come to that which is towards the mountain , where is a very large magnificent portal , on each side beautify'd with pillars ; by this stately gate you enter a quadrangle , where right over against it stands the church , ascended to it by a stair of five or six steps , as long as the court is large , extending from one side of it to the other : very fair columnes support the porch , and on the top of the wall stand six statues , the middlemost of which are david and solomon , by whom they would represent charles the fifth , and philip the second . about the church are many pavillions , all comprehended in the exact square which environs that building . report mentions many bascourts , but we could not reckon above 7 or 8. that this is a very fair cloyster for friers cannot be denied , neither can it be allowed to be a pallace magnificent enough for such a monarch as philip the second , who having built it in one and twenty years , and enjoyed it twelve or thirteen , boasted , that from the foot of a mountain and his closet , with two inches of paper , he made himself obeyd in the old and new world . the king and queens apartment have nothing in them that appears roial , they are altogether unfurnished , and they say , when the king goes to any of his houses of pleasure , they remove all to the very bedsteds : the rooms are little and low ; the roofs not beautiful enough to invite the eyes to look up to them : it s many pictures of excellent masters , and especially of titian , that wrought a great while there , are very much vanted , yet there are not so many as report gives out . the spaniards have so little understanding of pictures , they are alike taken with all , and the marquis serra a genouese that accompanied us sufficiently , laughed at the foolishness of a castillian , who willing to have us admire the slightest and wretchedst landskips of a gallery where we were , told us nothing could equalize them , because in a place where their king sometimes walked . there are yet in the vestry some good pieces , especially a christ , and mary magdalen ; and in the church , others very estimable . for paintings in fresco , the quire done by titian is doubtlesly an excellent work , and so is the library , i think by the same hand , where amongst the rest is represented the antient roman manner of defending criminals , who stand by bound hand and foot ; cicero is also there pleading for milo , or some other , i not being sufficiently acquainted with his meen , to be positive and without apprehension of mistaking : this library is truly very considerable , as well for its length , breadth , height and light ; the pictures and marble tables that stand in the midst of it ; as for its quantity of choice and rare books , if we may beleeve the monks ; they are certainly very well bound and guilded , and if i mistake not , but seldom read . in the vestry they shew priests copes , where embroidery and pearl with emulation contend , whither art or matter renders them more rich and sumptuous ; they shewed us a cross of very fair pearl , diamonds , and emeralds ; it is a very pretty knack , and would not become less such if it changed countreys ; i would willingly have undertaken for it if they would have suffered it to pass the pyreneans , had it been only to shew my friends a hundred thousand crowns in a nutshel . the library i have spoken of ; the high altar and monument of their kings , which they call pantheon ( though i know not why , unless because a single round arch like the pantheon at rome ) are certainly the best pieces of this magnificent fabrick . the high altar is approached by steps of red marble , and invironed by sixteen pillars of jasper , which reach the top of the quire , and cost only a matter of 50 or 60 thousand crowns cutting , between these are niches with statues of guilded brass , and so there are on the side of the tables , and praying places ▪ the pantheon is under the altar , and descended by stairs , though narrow , very light ; at the entrance of this rich chappel , a marble shines , whose luster is heightned by reflexion of the gold , with which , all the iron work and part of that fair stone are overlaid : in the middle of it , and right against the altar is a fair candlestick of brass , guilded , and in six several niches , 24 sepulchres of black marble to receive as many bodies : above the gate are two more . this stately monument is small , but sumptuous , it was finished by the present king , who about six months since placed there the bodies of charles the v , philip the ii , and philip the iii. the first was most intire ; in the niches on the left , lie the queens , and the last of them queen elizabeth of burbon . he that preached the day that these seven tombs or sepulchres had bodies laid in them , began by his apprehension to speak in presence of so many kings who had conquered the world , and expressed himself so well , and so highly pleased the king that he got a yearly pension of a thousand crowns . nothing attaining such perfection as to secure it from the teeth of criticks , the three pieces i have now mentioned , have been attacqued by them . it is objected against the library , that its entrance suits not with its magnificence and grandeur , and that it stands as if stoln in , and not of the same piece with the rest . over against the great altar , where all is so well proportioned , they wish away a silver lamp , whose size corresponds not with that of the place it burns in , which is vast and large . in the pantheon they find great fault , that all the steps by which it is descended are not marble , and that the sides of the walls are not incrusted with it , the chappel being all so , and a like magnificence requisite every where : in the brazen candlestick , the inner part which is not guilded is discerned amongst the black and foul branches that extend from it . it cost 10 thousand crowns , which is ten times more then it is worth ; but it is common in this countrey to boast things of excessive price , which they would have admired on that account , as if because they are foolish merchants , the ware they buy too dear , were therefore the more valuable . these are my observations of the so famous escurial , adorned only by some smal parterras and fountains ; one side of it affords a handsome prospect , but the ground near it is the greatest part rock or heath ; some walks and groves are planted about it , but being cold and windy , trees thrive not . there are some deer in a kind of park , ill designed , and with very low walls ; the way to it is nothing pleasant , and the king who goes thither thrice every year , one of which times is in the winter , cannot certainly find any great diversion in those journeys , for during three months , all is covered with snow . i have no more to say of these two wonders of the world , the escurial for art , and aranjuez for nature , the paralels of the son of austria , ( as is here said , ) according to times and fancies . the twentieth of this month , all madrid assembled in the great piazza to see the bulls fought ; they mention this solemnity so advantagiously , as if it were to be compared to the noblest spectacles of the antients : every town of spain hath several days set apart for it , and not any one of them but enjoys this pleasure about midsummer . the people have so great an esteem for it , that they think you extreamly injure them if you prefer it not to all others , and if you seem not to admire all its circumstances , you may as safely deny their king to be the greatest in the world . the prospect of the piazza this day must needs be very agreeable : people of the best quality adorn all the windows and balconies , hung with silks and tapestrys of divers colours , with the greatest ostentation possible : each council hath its balcony hung with velvet or damask , with a scutcheon of the arms belonging to it . the kings is guilded , and under a state ; the queen and infanta sit by him , and the favorite or chief minister in a corner of it ; on his right hand is another great balcony for the ladies of the court , the rest are promiscuously taken up by others . both men and women set out themselves to all advantage possible , paying very dear for the balconies ; those on the first and second stories cost twenty or five and twenty crowns , though the first rank cannot contain above five or six persons : the king pays for those of such as are considerable to him , as ambassadors and envoies of forreign princes . before the balconies are scaffolds that extend some feet into the piazza ; they are extreamly crouded , all the people taking places dearer or cheaper according to the posts they make choice of . though these solemnities are very frequent , three or four being yearly celebrated in madrid , the meanest citizen will not once neglect to see them , and rather pawn his goods then fail for want of money . this takes its name of distinction from st isidore , protector of the town , which therefore bears the charge ; the reason it passes not for a royal spectacle ; it costs the king nevertheless something , and i was told , he gives every council that day three thousand crowns : those at midsummer and september are most esteemed , when several enter the lists a horseback , whereas at this of st isidore all do it afoot . there are four passages to the piazza , which is strewed with sand , and freed from those moving shops or booths that at other times pester it ; some ride , others walk about it till the king appears , then his guards break through the croud , and place themselves on each side to attend him : as soon as their majesties are seated in their balconies , all go out of the piazza , which being cleared , fully discovers its beauty . at the same time four or five alguazils well mounted , and better then becomes ordinary catchpoles , attend bare-headed , and as soon as the king gives the word , he of them that hath authority over the waggons , causes them to move from the place they stand ranged in , and the barrels and sheep-skins that are in them , distil water so artificially , that the whole piazza is equally bedewed : after which , they immediately depart by the four gates , which are shut as soon as they which are to fight the bulls are entered ; amongst these gallant champions was a fellow of valladolid , mounted on a bull , he had mannaged and accustomed to bridle and saddle ; one a foot carrying his lance by him : he rid streight up to the king , and after a profound obeisance , endeavoured to shew his own and his bulls address ; he caused him to trot , gallop , and turn every way , but that undisciplinable creature , weary at last of the tediousness of the mannage , fell a kicking and bounding so fiercely , he threw the poor peasant , who not at all daunted at his misfortune , ran after his bull that made away , attended by the hooting of all the assistance till he had retaken him ; but these quickly began again , for as soon as an alguazil had received the keys of the place where the bulls were inclosed , which don lewis de haro threw to him in observence of the custom , which requires the kings giving them to his favorite , and his casting them from the balcony to the alguazils ; and that those wild beasts were let loose , and furiously attacqued one another ; his , though so well mannaged and harnassed , set on a running without regard either to spur or bridle , making it impossible for his master to engage , who stood prepared to that purpose with his lance in rest ; so without any other effect then the laughter of the assistants , after several attempts , he retreated without striking stroke , though his bull and he had received many from those that avoided not the shock , but ran to it . at the beginning of this sport they usually let one bull loose after another , who according to his greater or lesser fury with precipitation attaques such as are within the lists , whom he soon drives away ; but such as are slower then the rest , when they can no longer avoid him , fall flat at their lengths , or present him their hats or cloaks ; he passes by those that lie on the ground without hurting them , because when he gores he shuts his eyes , and commonly strikes nothing but the air ; they which present their cloaks or hats , by them , put a stop to his rage , which lighting on any thing , is satisfied . what i have hitherto mentioned , is but the farce ; the serious part , and that in which the activity consists , is the darting certain arrows or little javelins , which the skilful fix between the bulls horns , with admirable dexterity , without which they would be torn in pieces . a barber signalized himself , the bull feeling the smart of these little javelins , ( which for their better support through the air are winged with red paper ) grows to a higher rage , whilst by his strugling and tormenting himself , the iron heads piercei farther . it is said , that between the horns of these creatures is a little place , so very tender and delicate that the smallest wound there is mortal ; at which some of the champions can aim so well , that they kill a bull at the first stroke ; when he seems almost tired and spent , the trumpets sound , the signal to hamstring him : then with swords and hangers they endeavor to cut the sinews of his hinder legs , after which , thrusts and slashes which they call cuchilladas showre on the poor beast . in this the common people make their bloody inclination apparent , for such as can come at him , would scarcely think themselves sons of honest mothers , did they not plunge their daggers in his body , after which , quasi re bene gesta , they march off triumphantly : when he moves no more , mules come a gallop to draw him out of the lists , and another is let loose . about a score were killed that day , the skins so pinked , they could be of no use but to make sives ; dogs are sometimes set against them when it is too troublesome and dangerous for men to joyn them , and the pleasure would sure be greater , if when the dogs have fastened on them , they forbore wounding them on all sides : the only horseman that appeared this day , was the buffoon of don lewis de haro , the same that shewed himself at aranjuez ; he made one carrier with his lance handsome enough , but the king unwilling he should get mischief , caused him to retire . this manner of fight is to be performed with short stirrups , otherwise a leg may be easily spoiled ; not with mannaged horses , but such only as are fleet , and have tender mouths : when the bulls are to be attacqued on horseback , such as have horses proper for it , cannot handsomly refuse to lend them , nor with honour pretend to any satisfaction , if ( as it often happens ) they be spoiled in the service . this days sport properly belonging to peasants , one such , in affront to cavaliers , came in mounted on an ass , which the bull at first overthrew , but the fellow having recovered his courage , and silly animal , attacqued the bull with so good success , that he gave him a great wound between the horns , which bled extremely : after so gallant an exploit , he begged the bull of the king , which being given him he went away with his famous prize , better satisfied then if crowned with laurel . the bull oftentimes falls upon the guards , who stand ranked on one side of the piazza with darts and halbards ; if they kill him he is theirs ; he twice charged them through , and overthrew some of them , nothing of gallantry appearing on their side , who suffered the bull to trample on their bellies , instead of killing him at their feet . the alguazils or serjeants are very conspicuous , with fair embroidered saddles , and their horses adorned with ribands , and tassels ; they were very nimble in quitting all places the bulls approached , and it had been the best of the sport to have seen them charged home , at least this was most wished , but by the readiness of their flight , they escaped these horns , though probably not those which are so common in madrid . the grand solemnity begins not till the afternoon , but five or six bulls are attacqued in the morning , for the sakes of such as cannot be present afterwards : at this , order is not so well observed , which sometimes occasions mischief . i was told that this day in the morning several were hurt , and one kill'd by a horn that entred by his eye . they end not but with day-light , and every gallant gives his mistriss a balcone and collation . in all the circumstances of this diversion , a certain inveterate cruelty derived from africk , and hat forsook not this countrey with the moor● is very remarkable : for the pleasure of ordinary spaniards is not fighting the bulls , the rabble delighting in nothing so much as shedding his blood . at tunis and algier are the like solemnities , but ( as they say ) with greater splendor . as the publick sports , the moors introduced in spain ; whilst they possessed it , continue after their exile ; the church also retains something of their superstition , especially on corpus christi day . the twenty seventh of may we saw all its ceremonies , which are many , and last long ; they begin by a procession , whose first ranks are intermixed with several hoboies , tabors , and castanettas , a great many habited in party coloured clothes , skip and dance as extravalantly as at a morrice . the king goes to st maries church not far from his palace , and after mass , returns with a torch in his hand , following a silver tabernacle , in which is the holy wafer , attended by the grandes of spain , and his several councils . this day to avoid dispute , they observe not order , so that the counsellors de la hazienda , joyn with those of the indies ; before these counsellors and certain other persons , move machines , representing giants ; these are statues of pasbord carried by men concealed under them : they are of several shapes , some very hideous ; all of them represent femals , except ths first , which is only the figure of a great head painted , within which is concealed a little man that gives it meen and motion : it being a colossus over the body of a pigmie . amongst these chimerical monsters , there is one which represents two giantesses , moors , or aethiopians , such having really been if we may beleeve the vulgar , who call them hios de vicinos , that is , neighbors children . the people are so taken with these gothick figures , that there is scarce any village without them . they report the giantesses to have lived in the time of king mammelin , and on that account sometimes call them mammelins , after the name of that gothick or moorish king , who once reigned in spain . i was told of another terrible pageant which they call tarasca , from a wood that was formerly in province , where at present stands the city of tarascon on the banks of rosne , over against beaucaire . they fancy that in this place was once a serpent ( no less enemy of mankind , then that which seduced our first ancestors in paradice ) called behemoth , and report that st martha by oraisons triumphed over it , leading it prisoner in her apron strings . be this history or fable , the tarasca is a serpent of enormous greatness , in form of a woman , moving on wheels , the body covered with scales , a vast belly , long tail , short feet , sharp talons , fiery eyes , gaping mouth , out of which extend three tongues , and long tusks . this bulbegger stalks up and down and they which are under the pastboard and paper , of which it is composed , by certain springs , cause it to move so dexterously , that it puts off the hat to the sots that stare at it , and sometimes lays hold on countrey fellows , whose fright moves laughter amongst the people . such as please themselves in telling wonders of this foppery , relate that a certain town having sent to some of its neighbors six of these paper giants , two pigmies , and the tarasca to be made use of on corpus christi day , they which give them their motion being entred , to divert themselves in the passage , caused them to dance as at processions by couples : they were met by certain muliters or carriers , who ( moonshine discovering at a distance , these imaginary monsters , ) marching with a great deal of prattle and loud laughter , for their merrier passing two or three leagues ) not recollecting what was to be done the day after , were so affrighted , that the terror still augmenting , by their contemplating those fantasmes , they at last run away with all their might . the conducters of the monsters perceiving this , casting off their vizards , went out of the machines to disabuse them , running after them to cause them to come back to their mules and charges ; this increased their astonishment , and hastened their pace , which aided by the wings of fear , soon transported them cross the fields to a village , which they allarmed to free the countrey of high-way men , so hideous , they could be little less then devils : the other in the mean time slipping their cases , and perceiving themselves masters of the the spoils , the muletiers had abandoned , began to visit the baggage , and finding wine , drank so much they fell fast asleep till morning . the muletiers after their raising the village , and bringing the justice to the place , perceived their mistake , and the countrey fellows laughing heartily at them , drank the remainder of the wine in recompence of their trouble . the village of the solemnity , a great while waited for those grim puppets , which came too late , and by their excuse and relation of what had happened , disordered the whole procession , changing it into a ring of such as abandoned the cross and banner , to hearken to their story . the pleasantest posture of these mammelinas that i saw was , when they made their salutes before the queens balcony , besides some seats of activity by address of those that dance them . the king passing by it , salutes the queen with a smile , and the queen and infanta rise a little before he comes at them , to return his compliment ; the procession having filed to the piazza , returns by the high street or calle major , adorned by many tapestries waving on the balconies , filled with men and women of all conditions : the croud is so great , one cannot pass without difficulty , and we had much ado to return to st maries church where the procession ended . as soon as free from it we went to the palace , and there saw the king , queen , and infanta , return with all the court ladies : i think i have mentioned all that is worth notice , unless it be that as on this day all the men put on summer cloaths , so do all the ladies , and those new and very rich , of several fashions and colours . in the afternoon about five a clock , autos are represented : these are ghostly comedies , with interludes , very ridiculous to give rellish to what is serious and tedious in the pieces themselves . the two companies of players that belong to madrid at this time , shut their theaters , and for a month represent these holy poems : this they do every evening in publick on scaffolds erected to that purpose in the streets before the houses of the presidents of several councils . they begin at court the day of the solemnity , where a seat under a state is provided for their majesties : the stage is at the foot of these scaffolds , and little painted booths rowled to it , environ it , and serve as tiring houses . this is continued certain days , every president having one , and a stage and scaffold erected before his house : before these autos begin , all the foppery of the procession dances , and the gigantine machines make the people sport ; but what i most admired in that which i saw at a distance in the old prado , is , that in the streets and open air they use torches to those pieces , which in the daily theaters , and within doors , they represent without other light then that of the sun : all these antick ceremonies appeared much more ridiculous to those that beheld them , then they can possibly do in my describing them , and confirm me in what i often observed , that the spaniards , and other wise and grave nations seem fondest in their diversions , as misers at their feasts sometimes become most prodigal . the next day the alguazils came to the house where we lodged to demand account of our hoste of his provision of victuals and what poultry he fatted . they were very inquisitive , what he did with such abundance , and where and why he had bought it ; he told them we gave him money to be our caterer , but this would not serve his turn , because so great store is forbidden by law , and gives a jealousie that the master of the house keeps an ordinary or pension , which is not allowed : besides all which certain witnesses deposed that he sent victuals abroad to some of the company that lay sick , and that he bought some at the private kitchins of don lewis de haro and others , all very streightly prohibited . the reason why neither ordinaries nor pensions are allowed in madrid , nor any part of spain , seems very strange , when they tell you that consideration of the sterility of the countrey , gives apprehension of famine , and an entire disfurnishing the markets by those that keep such houses ; for it appears to me , that liberty being left to every one to buy what he pleases , and as much as he pleases , provided it be by his domestick , the same inconvenience will no less follow . however , it is good to keep out of the laws clutches in spain ; especially , in occasions where the catchpoles interpose ; for , for a matter of nothing , they seize and carry away all , and the master to prison , from whence he escapes not without the aid of money , be his cause right or wrong ; especially , if he be thought rich : false witnesses are never wanting , and here the neighbors had deposed against our hoste out of envy ; but his good luck was to be tenant to an alguazil ; this serjeant mediating with his comrades , assisted by four pistols , the information was cancelled , and our host not carried to prison as they had intended : by this , all here appears vendible , though had this cheat of the alguazils been complained of they had run hazard of being sent to the gallies . this was almost the only punishment inflicted in those times by reason of want of men to be employed at the oar. an assentista , that is a patentee or farmer of levies of soldiers , or of the kings revenue , was a little before assaulted in his chamber by theeves , one of which being taken , discovered his confederates ; amongst whom , ( though they set daggers at his throat , and wounded him in the head ) was a frier ; the first with his comrade was whipped and sent to the gallies , and the frier condemned to pass the remainder of his days between four walls with bread and water . this man being a stranger , little befriended , and ignorant of the customes of the country , had much ado to obtain this justice . he was born at st. omer , but resides ordinarily at london , from whence he sends irishmen to serve in catalonia . such french as they take at sea are in like manner sent to the gallies , from which none can be freed , without putting one in his place , which costs dear , there being no other way but to find out some negro slave . the commerce of the indies hath restored rights of servitude in these countries , and in andalusia there are few other servants . the greatest part of these are either moors or perfect blacks , which gives occasion to the proverb , no assi tratan los hombres blancos : white men are not be so used . christianity requires , that such as embrace it be enfranchised , but this is not observed in spain , and those wretches are not made freemen by becomming christians . they are much more cruelly used in the indies , where inhumanity hath so long prevailed , that all imaginable rigor is exercised on those unhappy creatures , who are only such by occasion of their mines of gold and silver , to which their masters owe all their fortune and greatness . an incredible number of them found their graves , whilest they digged for those metals , so that scarce any remain to pursue that fatal imployment . besides this destruction made by the mines , it is said the wine sent thither , occasions so many diseases , that the greatest part of the indians die . they are passionate lovers of this liquor , and spare nothing that may obtain it ; and the spaniards to discover the treasures they may have concealed , sell it them , to the ruin of their goods , health , and strength for labour ; and i remember to have read a book intituled las excellentias del espannol , in four or five chapters where the author makes appear the prejudice the king and traffick of the indies , receive by the vines planted in peru ; and often repeats , that the vice of the west-indians being drunkenness , many of them perish by wine , not like their chica , made of maiz and more agreeable to their constitutions ; besides that , the spaniards to get more , and by selling it cheap , to make quicker returns , falsifie it , in such a manner , it is little better than poison . on these occasions the indians are so much wasted , that for some years there have not been enough to work in the vine-yards nor mines of peru. negro's are therefore made use of , bought in guine , or the kingdom of angola ; by which means the profit is much lessened , a negro costing 50 or 60 crowns , and since portugal hath re-established their true king , and that all those countries of the indies that are strongest in colonies , have acknowledged him , negro's are not had so cheap ; for besides the 60 pieces of eight they cost , the king of portugal hath laid an impost equal to the price , so that a negro comes not to carthagena , where they land , till he stands the spaniards in above 200 crowns . the profit the king of portugal makes by this , is incredible , those that understand trade , assuring it amounts yearly to some millions of gold. the consideration of this and some other things before mentioned , make evident to me what i was often told at madrid , that the great wealth of the indies belongs more to particular persons and strangers , than to the king of spain , and that at this time when the gallions are expected richer than in many late years , because of the return of the viceroy , it is thought 3 quarters of what it brings is on account of merchant strangers , and that there will not come to the king and natural spaniards above three millions of gold. they which manage the affairs of that countrey , very prosperously advance their own , and the earl of pigneranda president of its council , draws vast sums for licences to french merchants ; one i knew , that for leave to bring a hundred hides from st. domingo by the gallions , gave ten pistols . notwithstanding all which , much deceit is used in that particular , and the greatest part of the french that trade into spain , import and export at their pleasure all manner of commodities , by pretending to be walloons , burgundians , lorrainers , or flemings . for this reason the king was counselled to give freedom to trade , and to abolish the fees of licences , and impost of the tenth peny on all french merchandise ; representing that his profit would be greater , because the usual duties would be paid without any fraud ; whereas to avoid this tenth , the merchants combine , and they that have french goods , get one or other to attest they are english or flemmish , and so ( at most ) pay but the ordinary custom , of which also they are sometimes crafty enough to deceive him . the commerce of these is principally in andalusia , where they have found a place of freedom as convenient as cadis ; this is the haven of santa maria , a little town belonging to the duke af medina coeli , who protects them , and draws great trade to the prejudice of cadis and sevil. when spain and france were at peace , traffick was more difficult then at present , little merchandise arriving that was not confiscated under pretence of coming from holland . there never wanted two or three knights of the post to swear this , but time and care have given remedy to this mischief , and false swearers escape not , merchants by presenting a bever , or some other knack , putting themselves under the protection of some grande . by this is evident that spain cannot well be without commerce with france , not only on the frontiers of biscai and arragon , where it hath been almost ever permitted , but through the whole countrey where it is prohibited , for provence hath ever had correspondencies in the kingdom of valentia , by its necessity of the others commodities ; and for the same reason britaign , normandy , and other parts on the ocean have continually sent theirs to cadis and bilbo . i speak not of corn and stuffs of all sorts brought from that country , but even of iron-work and sword ; by which it appears a mistake to think that in these dayes the best come out of spain . no more being now made at toledo , few but forrain are used , unless a very small quantity that come from biscai , which are excessivly dear . it is moreover hard to imagine how much spain suffers for want of manufactures : so few artificers remain in its towns , that native commodities are carried abroad to be wrought in forrain countries . wools and silks are transported raw , and being spun and weaved in england , france , and holland , return thither at dear rates . the land it self is not tilled by the people it feeds . in seed-time , harvest , and vintage , husbandmen come from bearn and other parts of france , who get a great deal of money by sowing and reaping their corn , and dressing and cutting their vines . carpenters and masons are ( for the most part ) also strangers , who will be paid treble what they can get in their own countrey . in madrid there is hardly a water-bearer that is not a foreigner , such are also the greatest part of shoomakers and taylors , and it is believed the third of these come only to get a little money and afterwards return home , but none thrive so much as architects , masons , and carpenters . almost every house hath wooden windows ( here being no glass ) and a balcony jutting into the street . once in five years all fabricks are re-builded , of which the frontispiece only is done with lime , the sides and back-parts , being usually earth . every house in madrid pays duties to the king which mount high , the first floor of every one is his , which if not redeemed , he may sell at his pleasure ; this the proprietors usually buy , to do which if they be not able they build no more but it alone . this is the reason there are so many little houses in madrid , with only one stair to get up to the garret . the most considerable architecture is that which is adorned with some tower , only one of these is allowed , and he that will build more , must have permission to do it : a fellow that thought he should have much ado to obtain this , begged leave but for one , which being easily granted , he built one on account of the permission , and another because one had never been prohibited . nothing is more notorious , then that madrid wanting both some rivolet to void its filth and vault to receive it , casts all into the street ; but it is admirable to see that by vivacity and penetration of the air , all is consumed in a moment , it being as drying and corrosive ( if one may so call it ) as lime that devours a body before the corruption discovers it self , and i have found dead dogs and cats in the streets that smelt not , by which we may perceive they had reason that chose this place for the seat of their kings , the air being not only hard to corrupt , but takes away even the cause of corruption , by dissolution of elementary qualities as sudden as imperceptible . in antient times their queens repaired hither to lie in , that the princes might at their births breath an air whose purity is not to be equalized . the waters of this place have been weighed against several other , and none have been found so light . the cardinal infant had them carried with him into flanders , and great care was taken to ship for him tuns of the same the king drinks , the fountain of which is a little without the town . the streets here being common shores , one ran great hazard , were it allowed at all hours to cast out at window what the people will no longer keep in their houses ; but from day break til ten at night this is forbidden under a pecuniary mulct . once i remember i saw a woman that had forgot this , whom the serjeants , that wait on such little advantages , immediately caused to pay the fine , which is sixty rials , about 25 s. of our money . they which walk a nights , carry neither torch nor lantern , which i never saw born before any , whether in coach , a horsback , or a foot ; ladies of quality only make use of these , such as belong to the court especially , who then muster all their footmen . women here go abroad with much more splendor than their husbands , for besides a great number of servants about their sedans , a steward or master of the horse still follows them on horseback : in great houses , footmen neither enter their lords chamber , nor yet his apartment , they being served by their gentlemen , pages , and other officers ; when called , they kneel , receiving their commands ; this custom hath gone higher in the favourites family , for i have been assured , that when don lewis gives audience , and his secretary serves as interpreter , he kneels ; and what is stranger , that fernando de contreras ( none of his domestick , but the kings servant , and the most considerable of his secretaries of state , as having charge of the despecho universal ) pays him that honour . for what concerns the respect due to the king and all such as are near him ; they have many little customs very extraordinary ; amongst others , that no man ever mounts a horse the king hath once made use of : and they say , that after the taking of barcellona , in the cavalcade his majesty made to atocha ; the duke of medina de los torres , sent to present him his most beautiful horse that was so famous in madrid ; but the king returned him saying , scrina lastima , that is , it were pity , since by that means he would become useless , and rid only by querries : and indeed no horses are so little rid as the kings , who almost burst with fat , acquired by continual standing in the stable , which is not very well furnished , because he gives away the best ; he lately sent the queen of sweden twelve of the greatest value ; the wars have made horses very scarse and dear in spain , especially in the beginning of winter , when all provide themselves to ride about the streets of madrid , whose dirt is so troublesome , it can neither be avoided nor got out of any thing it lights on . they are cheaper in june , people going afoot during the fair weather , which lasts till the end of september . we were told of another custom , no less extraordinary , that no natural son of the king , owned to be such , may enter madrid ; and that don john of austria , who at present , commands in catalonia , was never there , he was bred at ocanna , some leagues from the court where the king sometimes visited him , and not long since he was within a league of this town where he also met him . it is believed this king hath more such issue , but being by ladys of quality , he owns them not ; he seldom attempted any without success ; yet a certain lady of madrid , is reported to have been inexorable to him , though she was not so to all the world ; she still excused her self with protestations of as much esteem as respect for his person , but that she could not without horror apprehend to become a whore of history . i enquired the reason why the kings natural issue may not come to madrid , but found none could satisfie me ; for that which is generally received , that it is to avoid disputes of the precedence between them and the grandes of spain , is of no validity , since i have seen a letter of don lewis de haro to don john of austria , which treats him , not only with highness , but most serene highness ; but whatsoever the cause may be that the gates of the court are thus shut against them , and of the jealousie real or imaginary , might be occasioned by their presence there ; it is most certain that this nation hath a great deal , for whatsoever in the least concerns it in love or honour , of which , many little stories of daily passages in madrid are related , where the extravagance of women produces various passions in the commerce of criminal gallantry , which hath its punctilios of honor as well as a knot of high-way men , its justice within it self ; they which keep amancebadas ; that is , mistrisses maintained at their charge , are more jealous of them then of their wives ; and such of these as have a servant that ordinarily visits them , call him infidel and traytor , if they ever know he goes to others , and to this purpose i have been told that the king himself being with a lady the admiral of castille kept , that young lord transported by jealousie , forgetting all respect and consideration , having knocked violently at the door , gave the mother of that wench who opened it , many boxes on the ear , saying , jade , thou makest me cuckold , but if i could get up , i would strangle both thee and thy daughter , were it in the kings presence . though the profession of curtisans admits no conceptions but of interest and design for rapine , they are sometimes excellent counterfeiters of passion , and borrow the transports of real affection . the earl of fieschi , who at his first arrival at madrid , passionately attacked that sex , tells as a gallantry , his usage by one of those cattle , who openly at the tour fell upon him with reproaches of infidelity , calling him traidor and picaro , because she had heard he had a new mistress . and mr. de mogeron was not a little surprized , by a womans treating him in the same manner one evening , pulling him by the hair with reproaches and injuries ; because he had not visited her according to a promise made her at the tour , where he met her the day before . they do a thousand such extravagances , and are really mistresses of the epithite bizarre , which in their language is understood in so good a sense . they are ridiculous in their habit , and wear their richest accoutrements under others very homely , so that you would not take any of them to be braver than the rest , unless you see them at some festival , or that as they pass by , they let the clinquant of their wastcotes appear ; their linnen is cambrick most generally used and best esteemed in spain : they paint not their faces only , but change also the colour of those parts that least appear . their smocks are also laid with bonelaces , where visible only to their gallants , indeed of those slight ones that are made in provence or lorrain , those of flanders being unknown to them , unless when they force some bits of them from strangers , tearing their bands or cuffs . besides the great numbers of loose women that are to be found up and down madrid , there are others in certain fixed quarters , countenanced by publick authority , for accommodation of any that will go to them . these are called cantonera's , perhaps bulkers . they have a salary from the town , for which cause so infamous an imployment is sought after , and when one of the jades dies or is disabled by the pox , the magistrates are sollicited for the vacancy . what their pension is i could not learn , but those which assured me of this beastly establishment , told me that every one that visits them is obliged to pay them 12 quarto's , about 6 pence of our money . physitians are fee'd by the publick , to take care they be free from those pestilential diseases that are gained by so honourable a profession . a matron also belongs to them , who is obliged to advertise the magistrate or physitian , as soon as she discovers any thing amiss . they which described to me the lives of these miserable creatures , told me that when they are accompanied , a second man is never admitted , on which account there never happens any disorder ; the first enterer leaving his sword and dagger at the door , which when they which come after perceive , they retire without more ado . sinning thus with impunity and toleration of publick authority ▪ they seldom forsake the vice they so openly professe , though one day in the year is devoted to exhort them to repentance : on a friday in lent , they are by an alguazil or two conducted to the church of penitents , and there seated near the pulpit , where the preacher does his best to touch their hearts , but seldom with success ; after many vain exhortations to amend their lives , descending from his pulpit , he presents them the crucifix , saying , behold the lord , embrace him ; which if any does , she is immediately taken away , and shut up in the cloister of penitents ; but usually they only hang down their heads and shed a few tears , without laying hold on what is offered , and after their grimaces continue their deboshed life ; neither can the story of st. mary magdalene so often inculcated to them , move them to imitation of her . in this antick of remarques which i have daubed with so many colours , i must not forget what concerns the imprisonment of the duke of lorrain . he failed but very little of an escape , and that news had not come of his being entered the frontiers of portugal when he was thought still in the heart of castille . as soon as he arrived in spain he was confined to toledo , without being admitted to the kings presence . when misfortunes of war of state cast one soveraign into the hands of another , methinks he ought not to be treated altogether as a prisoner , but that his captivity should be made use of , to work upon him and gain his affection by offices of honour and civility . of the two french kings that were taken prisoners , it is notoriously known that francis the first left spain intirely possessed by thoughts of hatred and revenge on account of his ill usage by charles the fifth : and that john returned from england so well satisfied , that he was ever afterward careful to live with edward as with a friend and brother : but the spanish austerity suffers not a maxime that may be deceitful , and graspes hard whatever it laies hold on to prevent escape : she would never let duke charles taste the air of her court , and notwithstanding his many instances , ever treated him as a simple prisoner of state , though she suffered him to go abroad under good guard both to church and to take the air , which incited him to attempt greater liberty . thus he laid his design , one of the kings coaches was appointed to attend him , whose coachman happened to be a lorrainer , and consequently his subject . he supposed this mans affection to his natural prince , would oblige him to be assisting towards his liberty , and resolved to have him sounded . i could not learn whom he made use of to engage him , nor in what manner he set it a foot , but it is said , that having gained him , he several times left tickets under the cushions of the coach , and the place he sate on , which the coachman very carefully took away ; and by means of a lorrain embroderer , sent to those that had the principal management of the affair . this went so far before its discovery , that the coachman had received instructions to drive the duke very often beyond a ruinated building that was near the part he usually frequented , and one day , when least suspected , 50 horsmen were appointed to lie concealed behind it , who having killed his guards and set him at liberty , were to convoy him to the frontiers of portugal , where 500 horse should be ready to receive him . a ticket , and perhaps the last that was necessary to this negotiation , discovered it ; for whether it were that it was not handsomly enough conveyed under the cushion , or whether the captain that then commanded the guard , and was in the coach with him , observed better what was done than others , or that he was more jealous , going out of the coach , searching the cushion , he found the ticket ; upon this the duke was more straitly shut up , the coachman imprisoned , and the ticket sent to madrid , where the dukes secretary and the embroiderer were secured ; the last of these was racked , but the particulars of what he deposed never published the light that appeared at the bottom of this affair , moved the spaniards themselves to say , that to hold the duke faster at the very time his liberty was most earnestly sollicited , they perswaded him he would have made an escape : whatever may be of it , it is certain the duke was not afterwards allowed to go out of toledo , and that this unfortunate prince might justly complain , that if the french neighbourhood was a smoke that drove him from his house with tears in his eyes , the spanish friendship was a fire that burnt him alive . which if we may believe publick report , was his own expression to the captain that guarded him . all that hath been given out of the causes of his imprisonment hath divulged but part of the mistery , and i sought at madrid to inform my self of the real motive . they which speak and judge most solidly say , that this was rather done on account of reason of state , and to spare money , than that he had indeed be●raied his party ; and truly the taking quarters in the land of liege that winter , rendred him no more culpable that year , then his seeking them at his swords point had done in those that went before : but the conjuncture differed , and the elector of cullen , who had made himself absolute master of that people , desirous to give them a more powerful protection , clamored much at the diet of ratisbonne , from whence , as misfortune would have it , he retired dissatisfied with the emperour , for having decided to the advantage of him of mentz , the dispute that was between them about the function of crowning the king of romans . as soon as he arrived at cullen , he wrote to the emperour , that without speedy succors , according to the laws of the empire , to free his countrey from the devastations of the lorrainers , he must have recourse to the protection of some foraign prince . this affair being taken into consideration , the emperour only wrote about it to brusselles and madrid . the elector in the mean time took heat , and resolving no longer to expect the event of those delays , raised forces , treated with france , and gave her opportunity of re-assuming the black eagle in her colours , and renuing the title of preserver of the german liberty . cardinal mazzarin , who during his retirement had been so well received by this elector , lost not the opportunity of making his acknowledgments , and sent him troops under the command of monsieur faber , which joyned to his own , forced the lorrainers to discamp , whom it was resolved to pursue even into brabant , to revenge the havock they had made in the land of liege , and assist the french in some conquest . i his bold proceeding , awaked the emperors jealousie , who perceived that in that very moment he had re-established his authority in the empire , and when he had given an end to a diet , in which he had caused his son to be crowned king of romans , one of the powerfullest princes of germany , sought other protection than his , and gave example to all his neighbours to do the like , as often as they should be oppressed by troops entertained by spain . these considerations obliged the emperour to send the earl of furstemberg to the elector of cullen , to work him , and prevent his going farther in the treaty with the french , promising him an effectual and real satisfaction for what was passed , and for the future to establish such order , he should no more need to apprehend the like visits . at the same time he wrote to madrid and brusselles , with all possible efficacy , to represent the dangerous consequences of this affair , how prejudicial it was to him , and necessity of the remedies he proposed , which were to satisfie the elector of cullen with money , so to oblige him to lay down arms and dismiss the french , to make sure of the person of the duke of lorrain , that he might be no less so of his conduct , the cause of all these inconveniences , and to use his brother duke francis for continuing the army in the spanish service , which he thought might easily be prevailed upon , by giving it a head of the same family , and presenting the chief officers with money . these reasons and expedients were the better rellished by the spanish ministers , out of apprehension of the storm that began to gather against them . the great services the duke had rendered the house of austria , were of no advantage to him in their council , nor any thing examined but his avaritious and unequal politicks , his irresolutions alone were represented , and the times in which he had declined their service , when they might have obtained great advantages , if he would have acted with his forces . the accompt was also cast up of the great sums he had cost the king of spain yearly , by a crafty selling him his army as if at an outcry , so that if they would make use of it in the beginning of a campagne , or continue it at the end of it , he must be paid at his own rates . it was at last concluded as well at madrid as brusselles , that for a certain remedy to all these mischiefs , to prevent falling again into the like inconveniences , and put a stop to the preparations making at liege , the elector was not only to be indemnified , and the protection of the duke of lorrain abandoned , but his person to be seised on and sent into spain . thus this prince saw himself treated as a soldier of fortune , and not like a soveraign , by a family whose friendship caused the loss of his countrey , and reduced him to the sad necessity of living like a vagabond at the head of an army that subsisted only by his industry . if what hath been reported of the first heats of his youth be true , and that he then lamented he was not born a private gentleman , to try how far his wit and courage could carry him ; one would think he had devested himself of his dominions , only to shew what he could do without them . that he had very eminent parts , is undeniable , but overshadowed by such uncouth policies , and in such a manner intermixed with humor and vanity , that one would think he had but one maxime sacred and inviolable to him , to prefer what was profitable above what was honourable or honest . it is not therefore strange that he built his ruin on so bad foundations , nor that after his imitation of that crafty lewis the moor duke of milan , and all his shifts and slights of hand , he is caught in a trap , from whence his deliverance is very incertain , and whether he end not his dayes in the castle of toledo , as the other did in the tower of loches ; though it is believed here , that were his army disbanded , his liberty might be obtained without much difficulty , because the spaniards are confident they need apprehend nothing from this prince , who loves his money too well to employ it in his revenge , and the 200 thousand livres a year he is reported to have within the dominions of the king of spain to forfeit them . to which they adde , that were he desirous to take arms , he needs the support of france , which he will probably fail of obtaining , without an entire giving up lorrain , which they will either keep still , or restore on conditions but little better , and such as he will never accept , for fear of depriving himself of what belongs to him for so small an advancement towards his particular satisfaction . on these grounds they adde , that even the ministers of spain wish the destruction of his army , which in the fashion it subsists and is disciplined , costs them very dear , but they would gladly gather together its ruins , and incorporate them with their other troops , that their enemies might not profit by them , the fear of which hinders their undertaking it . this makes evident that princes are incommoded by auxiliary forces that serve in a body , and under a head they own as their absolute master , for it is alwayes hard to oblige them to do well , and no less difficult to disband or be quit of them , and therefore the wisest princes , that have been necessitated to make use of such , have at first endeavoured to separate and mix them with their own , to prevent their correspondence , and diminish the authority of those that brought them . the venetians once endeavored to deal in this manner with the marquis of roquelaure , and the prince of orange , at relieving berghen ap zome , would have obliged mansfelt to suffer such a separation : but neither of them would consent , but made appear that this is not to be propounded or obtained , but of a soldier of fortune , that hath drawn together forces he is not able to make subsist . the most publick curiosity , whilst we were in spain , was to divine the designes of that fleet cromwel sent into the indies , and at our arrival at vittoria , being saluted by a man of good presence , who enquired what was spoken of it in the parts we came from , when we told him it was believed those great preparations were made to subdue the isle of hispaniola , he assured us that if the english began there they would fail of success , that he knew that country very well , having lived some time in it , and that this island was one of the strongest and most populous of america . that after the year 1586 , in which st. domingo ( its capital city ) was sacked by sir francis drake , it was put in such a posture as could no more apprehend the like misfortune , and a very fair citadel raised adjoyining to it , whose scituation is so advantageous , it seems , destined to command the neighbouring sea. when we came to madrid , i found that those little cabals , as well of spaniards as strangers , that met a mornings in the first court of the palace , usually entertained themselves with the assurances cromwel had given the spanish ambassador , that the fleet he had sent into the indies should attempt nothing against his king : that they therefore made no question but it was to drive the french out of what they possessed in new france , and that it was there he would begin a warre against them , and break that treaty of peace from which he had often declined , and again complied with , the better to amuse them . but the clear sighted easily judged so considerable preparations aimed not at so slight a conquest . computing his charge , they found that all the french possessed , whether islands or continent in those quarters was not equivalent to any considerable part of his expences , and therefore concluded he had some vaster and more important design . these men seemed to me to flatter themselves least , and to be most reasonable , for i had often heard such as had negotiated with cromwell say , that if they had any judgement , they assured themselves they mistook not in this observation , that he had a particular passion for some great enterprise in the indies . after he had made all europe admire and fear his naval power by a war against holland , which yet was more glorious than profitable to his country , it is probable he contrived how to imploy his arms in some part where he might reimburss part of his charges . although of all his neighbours he at that time used the french worst ; yet it may easily be judged it was not his interest to come to an entire rupture with them ; because their traffick for the most part making use either of english or holland vessels , he should by that means displease either his own merchants , or those with whom he had lately made peace , besides that the french had for some years been masters at free-booting against whom if he sent a fleet , they would easily avoid it , their design being only to pillage ; so that he should be at a great charge against them that would alwayes flye from him , and waiting for his merchants , oblige him to convoy's ; unless he would lose all the trade of the mediterranean , and part of that of the ocean . cromwels interest therefore requiring a war , and a war by sea , that may yield him profit proportionable to the great equipage of men , arms , and ships he is obliged to maintain , to make himself feared , by which he hath obtained the command of both seas , he will not attaque france , who having all within her self , waits till strangers bring home to her that she can be without , and fetch from her that which is absolutely necessary to them . for it hath been observed that her greatest and wealthiest cities are not scituated near the sea ( though two wash her coasts ) but in the middle of the country . by this appears that her stock of wealth is within her self , and that ( according to the polititians rule ) she is rather vendax than emax , selling more than she buys . her soil being so rich and fertil , it is no wonder she hath in all times abandoned the ocean to be plough'd by her neighbours , who employ a great part of their art and labour to send her as tribute the fruits of it . to make a war therefore against france with profit , it must most certainly be done by land ; but if we consider the present condition of england , a war of this nature seems not to agree with it ; for we may easily judge that englands design now aims at no more then to maintain her self in her present posture , and to become redoubtable to all the princes of europe by a power suitable to her scituation , which hinders their attempting any thing against her , and obliges them ( though against their wills ) to approve what hath passed , by owning her republick . to this purpose she resolves to be continually potently armed both at home and abroad , one of which puts her in a condition to concern her self in all the affairs of her neighbours , without their interposing in hers , whilst she is invironed by a prodigious number of invincible moving castles , which when she pleases she joyns for her defence , and causes to fly for her advantage to what part soever seems good to her ; by the other she thinks securely to fix her innovated tyranny , in continual danger of an insurrection of the people , to restrain whom her militia is a curb , as it is lightening to destroy those that attempt to war upon her . in fine she can make use of these winged coursers both near hand and at a distance , and nothing confining them to her coasts , where there will always remain enow ; for guards and rounds exact enough to justifie her media insuperabilis unda , the rest may seek their fortune abroad , and either wait for the indian treasures in their way to spain , or seize them in their mines . but it is not thus with her land-forces ▪ who must ever be at home to keep up her usurped power , which will be hazarded by the first shock she receives from the many male-contents that have much ado to suffer her . a war by land must needs therefore be prejudicial to england in the present conjuncture , and with france destructive , it being the most potent nation of christendom in this age , its forces the most united , and that may with the greatest ease be drawn to any part where there shall be occasion for them , so that it cannot be attacqued , but by great and courageous armies ; of which if this pretended republick make use , she must disfurnish her self of her trustiest commanders , and stoutest souldiers , which she cannot do without danger of losing her new form of government . neither is it very much to the purpose to say , that for securing it she can make new levies , to supply the places of the old ones she sends abroad ; for to an unsettled power , supported only by the boldness of the usurpers that raised it , such a change is very dangerous . it cannot be denied that england uniting with spain would turn the ballance that way ; but besides that , to do so would be of little advantage to her , there would be an incounter of the same inconveniencies . for she must either joyn her forces to theirs , and then france that is so great a nursery of souldiers , having put an end to its civil warre , minding only that which is forraign , would not need much to strain it self to oppose armies belonging to several masters , and of divers interests , which seldom succeed in any thing they undertake ; or else send an army of her own , against which france would immediately unite all its power , and be the mean while only on the defensive against spain , who to make a thrifty use of such a conjuncture , would move but slowly and weakly to assist her . however she might proceed , this is most certain , she would be constrained to weaken her land forces , the only supporters of that new republick . should she act only by sea , and furnish the spaniards with money , to recruit their armies , it hath been already shewed she would make no advantage by the former , and that a war attended by such booty and conquest as may countervail the charge and labour is only proper for her : for the second , it is sufficiently known that the treasure of england is much exhausted , and that she owes large sums both to her land and sea forces ; and that to prevent her over-charging her people , by the great expence she is obliged to , the gold of peru is more necessary to her , then to supply from her own treasury those that are masters of it . during these discourses , letters came to madrid that cleared all doubts , for after a long amusing the world with expectation of the fleet and the great treasure it was to bring with it , and after knowledge that what was on the principal gallion , which had been wracked , was for the most part saved , a rumor arose that it had been met with by the english , who made no difficulty of attacquing it , but that after a vigorous defence , in which it sunk two or three of their ships , it had retired into the havana , the chief city of the isle of cuba . i know not whether this particular was true , but am certain it was written from cadis and sevil , and from that time believed that cromwell intended to have his share of the treasure of the indies . more to confirm this , the english merchants that resided in spain , began to send away , and as well as they could to conceal their goods , fearing a confiscation in case of rupture ; a little after which it appeared that this pre-caution was not useless , for admiral blake who had passed the spring and part of the summer in the mediterranean , returned into the ocean just at the time the gallions were expected . it is said he desired to careen , which not being permitted , but on certain conditions , he seemed offended ; and having taken aboard him several english merchants with their consul , put out to sea , and scouted about cape st vincent . it was then quickly understood that he looked for the gallions , with intention to fight them if they escaped pen and venables , who were in the indies ; this caused several advice boats to be dispatched from cadis by order of the council in madrid , to give notice to the gallions that they should not leave the haven they were retired to , till farther order : at the same time a resolution was taken to fit up some ships , partly at the kings charge , and partly at that of the merchants , that were concerned to watch the motions of this admiral . great part of the traffick of europe depending on the arrival of the gallions , many ships are ever about cadis at the time it is expected . of these and some others a fleet was quickly made ready , and sent to anchor near blake , yet without hostility , if the other began not , and only to endeavour ( in case the gallions had not received the advice sent them ) to secure them from him . these two fleets contemplated one another two or three moneths without any act of hostility , either general or particular , and whilest one of them thus waited for his prey , and the other to secure it from him , news came that the spanesh fleet was advertised of the design against it , and would not leave the haven it had retired into without express order . at the same time also it was said that pen and venables had attacqued st. domingo , but with so bad success , that after loss of many of their men , they went off for the island of jamaica and conquered it . this proceeding of cromwell changed the discourses of those that looked on him as one of the nearest and faithfulled allies of spain , who had first of all acknowledged him : for as soon as an execrable party of the scum of this nation , violating all laws divine and humane , had possessed themselves of its government , and ( by an attempt so horrible it cannot be paralelled in foregoing times , nor scarce mistrusted in the worst that shall succeed ) at one stroke deprived their king of his crown and head , the spanish ambassador received order from madrid to endeavour to make advantage by it , and court the friendship of that new republick for his master , by giving it in his name all such titles and rights of a legitimate power as it should desire : it was very likely he might succeed in this , there being probability enough of a league against france , who not only received the exiled family of the king of england , and refused to own cromwell , but seised all his ships , and gave freedom of his havens to those that remained faithful to their king. the hopes of so advantageous a treaty increased in madrid , not only by englands giving letters of reprisal against france , and landing forces hostilely in bretaigne , but by her being so kind to spain , that she caused her fleet to take those ships france sent to succour dunkirk besieged by it . all these fair appearances of amity proved insignificant , and the usurper that governs in england , who seems no less crafty than bold so well understands the interests of his infant republick , that he by degrees accommodates all to them . she is mistriss of many strong and populous isies scituated on the passage to the indies , and that are keys to to the gates that may lay open a way to so rich a conquest , by means of which , she may surprize its treasures as they pass by , if she will not take the pains to dig them out of the mines , of which she may certainly make her self mistriss : she knows that all the great extent of land the spaniards possessed there , adheres to their dominion , more out of apprehension of their violence , and because none hath vigorously attempted to deprive them of it ▪ then by any real power they have established , capable of preventing this , england thus understanding the advantages she hath towards getting her share of the new world , with the weakness of those who pretend it discovered for them alone ; it is not strange if she endeavor to profit by both of them ; especially in a time , where they which sit at helme are obliged to be powerfully armed , and to employ their many fleets in some profitable war , that may make them subsist without the peoples murmuring at their great charge in entertaining them : and the spaniards , as quick sighted in their politicks , as slow paced in their enterprizes , very well foresee , that if the french negotiations with cromwel effect a peace between them , he will pursue his interest , and forget all advances spain hath made to gain his friendship , this they think they ought the firmlier to believe , when they remember they could never get satisfaction for several prizes taken by the english , especially , for the money designed for a whole campagne which they sent by sea to flanders , not knowing how to make it over by bills of exchange , by reason of their difference with genoua : however , that they might not in so considerable a conjuncture , be wanting to themselves , and out of consideration of the advice , philip the ii gave his son at his death , to be in peace with england , that he might be able to make a war with all the world ; they neglected nothing that might oblige cromwel to a good understanding with them . alfonso de cardenas their ambassador in england , and who having resided there since the beginning of the troubles , is looked on as very able in manageing those affairs , endeavoured all means of a good understanding , and to thwart the french treaty ▪ but his politicks being apprehended at madrid , to be less undertaking then those of de bourdeaux the french ambassador ; a resolution was taken to send thither out of flanders the marquis of leda , governour of dunkirk , as extraordinary ; these two persons joyned all their adress to bring cromwel to some friendly composure of differences about the complaints the spaniards made against him , and his against them ; but finding no favourable audience of their many proposals , the last of these resolved to be gone , with regret , to have done nothing for his masters service , but to have given him clearer light of cromwels bad intentions against him : it therefore began to be more publickly discoursed in madrid ; that the many delays in his negotiation with france , were but tricks to lull the spaniard asleep , whilst he sent to attacque his indies ; and that the treaty which he sometimes seemed ready to break off , and again to renew , had been agreed on , and privately signed three moneths before . spain now beleeved england intended a breach with her , and though the passion of the castilians , inveighed sharply against the avarice and ambition of cromwel , which moved him to invade their treasure ; the moderate sort reasoned otherwise , and in what was passed , sought the causes of what was present and to come . but by such discourses , one could not judge of the whole secret , or entire cause of the war they apprehended ▪ the thoughts of such as sit at the helme of government being covered with a cloud of appearances , which disguise them even to those that have the nearest prospect ; for the most part discovering nothing but the pretences ; their actions being like great rivers , of which , though the streams are viewed by all , the heads are invsiible . they yet at last easily perswaded themselves , that whilst their king had so many irons in the fire , that he knew not where to find either wood or coals to heat them , cromwel would make use of the occasion to attacque him both in the new and old world , where expecting little resistance , he needed not doubt of a certain profit , more considerable to him then the jealousie of the french progressions or cautions given by the maxime , decreseat iberus nec crescat gallus . on these grounds they concluded , that cromwel fearing a peace between france and spain , and standing in need of an advantagious war to justfy his continuing in arms , would attacque the weakest , and let the future safety of his estate giue way to the present necessity , and on that account agree with france , that he might share in her victories by leaving land enterprizes to her , and applying himself to those of the sea , which better suit with his affairs and the support of his power . but if all this discourse be grounded on conjectures , by which they which are curious in madrid , seem to divine of the future , and fancy reasons perhaps very different from the english councils ; it is not so where it concerns what they say of the right the english may have to attempt the indies . such amongst them as are most reasonable and least scrupulous freely confess , that by the law of nations , countreys that have made no treaty or compact , may be assaulted by them that on other accounts are in peace with those which appropriate them : so that the king of spain having , in all treaties he ever made with the kings his neighbors , declared , that whoever goes to the indies , either to settle or traffick , not being natural spaniards , shall be used as enemies , cannot complain of such acts of hostility , as are made by other nations , since himself hath chosen a perpetual state of war , owning neither friend nor ally beyond the line , especially in america . to this purpose the answer of a great spanish minister is remarkable , rallying on two healthes were drank to him , one to his masters wife , the other to his mistress : america says he , is my masters wife , and the east-indies his mistress ; for the later he is not so jealous as to think himself concernin honor , if any of his friends too freely caress her ; but his wife he would keep chaste and rereserved , without suffering any to court her . questionless when he called america his masters wife , he alluded to the popes bull , which gave him power and propriety in this intended marriage ; but it is generally said that a rape merits not such a benediction , since he possesses america without either her own consent , or that of her relations , europe , africa , and asia . to speak seriously , the popes donation is a ridiculous title to those that own not his authority ; besides , that a great number of those that do , believe not that it extends to things of this nature ; so that if spain have no other right than what is derived from rome , she is not well invested in the possession of the new world , neither can they which dispute it against her be accused of injustice , since some of them say they owe him no obedience , and others that he cannot dispose of that which belongs not to him . nothing then appropriates it to spain but the first discovery , to have landed colonies here and there , to have built cities and forteresses , subdued the barbarians , and given names to rivers and havens : but all this cannot have acquired a possession absolutely general , and without exception ; and since it made its seisure by the law of such things as are nullius & quae fiunt primi occupantis , it hath right to no more than it inhabits , cultivates , and hath entirely conquered . any nation may with justice take his part of the remainder , and ( spain going about to hinder ) make use of force , and by force drive away him that hath settled himself only by force . when philip the second fortified himself by the popes bull , for invading england , he added to that title the most considerable forces that had ever appeared on the ocean : what is spiritual thus stands in need of what is temporal , one of them well seconding the other , without which admirable conjunction it is very hard to seise what belongs to others . the spanish council spared neither wit nor industry , nor the wealth of the whole kingdom for this redoubted fleet , in which they neglected not to send fetters to enslave the inhabitants of great britain : but their forces both spiritual and temporal had very ill success , and that prodigious navy which could hardly be compleated in two years , was lost in two hours ; part of it the sea swallowed , and the rest fell into the hands of those it went to subdue , and of all that proud armado , scarse any escaped to carry the sad news into their country : by which it is very discernable that heaven does not alwayes correspond with the visible head of the church . if he disposes of what belongs to the indians , because barbarians , one would think it ought to be restored as they become christians ; but their conversion is to little purpose as to recovery of their country ; and the spaniards very exactly imitate ecclesiasticks in their acquisitions , like so many dismembrings of the patrimonies of the laity , from whom whatsoever is taken returns no more ; and if they well keep what they have once laid hands on , they can as well cause themselves to be obeyed . their empire is formidable , and he that doubts of this truth , may be convinced of it in their cloysters , where such religious persons as have neither dignity or parts to set them out , are rather slaves than brothers in christ to the other . if within their walls they exercise so absolute a power , on those which are as it were their fellow prisoners , and make the same profession , what will they not do to such as are of a different condition , if they obtain the authority they desire , and which some of them know so well how to make advantage of under pretence of religion and directing consciences , without fear of punishment , forsaking the functions of legitimate confessors , to creep into families , and make themselves arbitrators of their affairs and interests . but to return to this papal donation , it is very clear , that this imaginary propriety of a world as yet not well known , and of which probably not so much is hitherto discovered as we are ignorant of , cannot , nor ought not to hinder other people from trafficking there , because it belongs to the first finder , and that the spaniards acquired those parts of it they possess , without any consent of other nations to enjoy the propriety and soveraignty of the whole as heirs of it . if then the english now attacque the spaniards in the indies , such as are just acknowledge that this is not so much to begin as to continue a war , since they alwayes ( more or less ) molested them there , and that no formal treaty concerning that country was ever made with them . i have heard some very curious persons examine what good or evil might by it accrue to either of these potentates ; and they hold that the spaniards would be the first gainers , by an immediate seising all that belongs to the english in their dominion . they would find considerable summs in the hands of merchants of that nation , as well at bilbo , cadis , and sevil , as in many other of their port towns , which might assist them towards the first charge of the war. for we may remember that england hath for many years been possessed of all the trade of spain , hollanders , during their war , and the french , since their breach , trafficking only by her interposal . so that the english have established themselves very considerably , and possessed themselves of much wealth in a country that abounds in money , and is poor in commodities , and that cannot receive from its neighbours what is necessary for it but by their hands . we cannot oppose against this confiscation of the goods of english merchants in all parts of the spanish territories , the like to be done to the spaniards in england ; for as they never go abroad to serve any forrain prince in his wars , they have a maxim for security of their commerce , not to exercise it but in countries where their king is master . they go not therefore abroad how great soever their trade be , but content themselves to deal at home with merchants strangers , who for want of correspondence are forced to settle amongst them , which they do the more willingly , because having to deal with people not very well understanding their commodies they make the greater profit . we see now the king of spain without danger of a retaliation of his subjects ▪ when he shall seise what belongs to those of england , inhabiting here and there in his dominion : but this small and inconsiderable advantage , prejudicial only to private persons , is not to be compared to that the english will obtain , by cruising in both seas , and attacquing what ever is sent to spain from its neighbours , without which it cannot without difficulty subsist . genoua , naples , amsterdam , and antwerp , whose comerce with it is so great , will then be able to send little or nothing that shall not run hazard of falling into their hands ; and if they ever make conquests in america , or take the plate-fleet ( to which it seems they are forward enough ) the thames will be covered with the spoils of both worlds . to all these considerations of particular loss one of state is to be added , which is , that by a war with england , the vast and scattered body of the spanish monarchy will lose its ligaments , and all communication with its remoter members . france leaves her little liberty but by sea , of which this potent nation , that attributes to it self the empire of it will deprive her . it is true , some object that shift will be made to open a passage as was done in her war with holland , but others observe great difference between those powers , for besides that england is so advantageously scituated , that it can without difficulty break all correspondence between spain and flanders , the hollanders naval power appeared not at its height , till the war was grown old , and the first animosity decayed , where as now spain will have to do with a nation , that does not raise forces to fight , but fights to employ those that are already raised . besides all which , the king of spain was not then so drained of men and money , as at present , but could set out considerable fleets to oppose the hollanders , who making traffick alone the end of their navigation , rather sought for themselves free passage through all seas , then to deprive their enemies of communication by them ; and this so much , that though they have sometimes attempted the spanish fleets , and taken some of them , we may perceive they were not very greedy of such conquests , because their own merchants were concerned , and received almost as much prejudice as those of cadis or sevil. it is well known that at the same time their ships cruised up and down to interrupt the spanish traffick , their merchants passed and repassed between flanders , genoua , and naples in favour of it , and carried thither the secretest intelligence , and best ammunition , whereas in a war with england all will go in a more serious and real manner , and cromwell little caring to advance his nations trade , will vigourously fall on , and aiming directly at conquest of the indies , endeavor every where to incommode spain in order to it . about this time two books were published in madrid , which clearly and ingenuously discovered the great exigencies of the state. this was admired by such as could not imagine a natural spaniard would ever own its spirits spent , and it in a languishing condition . the author of the first was one don philippo antonio alosa , a knight of the order of calatrava , of the kings council , and his secretary in the council general of the holy inquisition . it contained an exhortation to ecclesiasticks to supply the king by voluntary contributions , in the so very pressing necessity of his kingdom ; of which having first declared the causes , which he derived from the time when philip the second engaged almost all his revenues , for aiding the french league and building the escurial , and represented how under philip the third his son , occasions of expence augmented , by reason of the wars of italy and flanders , removal of the court from valladolid to madrid , with his great charges in entertaining the princes of savoy , and reception of the english and french ambassadors ; and that which compleated the ruin of the state , and drew on it the extremest misery , the raising the value of copper money , by which sajavedra says more mischief happened to spain , than if all the serpents and monsters of africk had attacked it : he makes out , that the present king at his succession received the crown so poor , it was admirable there could be found wherewithal to resist so many enemies as at once proclaimed war against it ; and concludes , that after the many shocks it hath sustained , it will hardly any longer prove able to defend it self , without recourse to some sudden supply , though it be useless to fancy new imposts , or augmentation of the old ones , there being a general incapacity in the subjects to pay what is already laid upon them . this pre-supposed , he continues that applications ought to be made to the clergy only , who have ever kept their doors open to all manner of acquisitions , and closely shut against the least alienation , and who with little or no expence possess the greatest wealth of the kingdom , till a more learned pen make evident , they may justly be compelled to contribute to the kings urgent occasio●s , he declares his design to be no more but to oblige them to a voluntary loane , which he shews will be to their advantage ; because if the kings necessities force him to press the laity with rigor , they will abandon tillage and the country , in such manner , that ecclesiastical rents , deduced only from the hands of the other by tythes , and the like , will fail . going on he adds that such a liberality is more especially due to the most catholick king , who aims only at the churches good , and requires assistance for continuing the war only in order to an advantageous peace , neither does he demand any thing that he first gave not , all of them having received their benefices and dignities from his majesty as their patron : that they need only spare part of their plate , jewels , and rich moveables , abating something of their great trains , entertained questionlesly by them , shew that grandeur , they will more handsomly make appear by assisting their king : afterwards he sayes that to give this greater efficacy , the king may please to make choice of one of his great ministers of state , to whom the clergy have some kind of obligation on account of their preferments , and from whom they may reasonably expect more , by his report to the king and council of their forwardness and liberality : he advises farther , that addresses be not made to the body or convocation , but to particulars , and an exact register kept of the willingest , which will on all occasions be useful to them , towards acquiring greater favors . by this method , which is nothing else but a collection of state , he supposes the king may amass a considerable sum towards paying his troops , that perish for want , and re-establishing his affairs , which the same necessity hath so much disordered . the second book was a memorial drawn up by a certain captain called joseph puteol , in which he represented to the king , that by easing his people he would be the better enabled to make war , como assistiendo à todos se pue da lograr el hazer mejor la guerra . the expedients he propounded , spoke him a man of parts to such as knew him not , but in others prejudice , raised a contempt of his reasons because he was not in an eminent condition ; as if the validity of a medicine depended on the quality of the physitian , & aliquando etiam olitor commode potest esse locutus , &c. but passing by these , i will here recount what the former look on as most judicious in his book , which will also very much tend to the better understanding the condition in which i shall leave spain . after particulars of all the revenues his king draws from his kingdoms of castille and the indies , ( which in gross amount to no more than eighteen millions of gold , and of which philip the fourth when he came to the crown found but eight millions two hundred seventy four thousand crowns without incumbrances , which to supply his wars against france , he was immediately necessitated to engage , and afterwards to alienate , ( for reducing catalonia , appeasing the troubles of naples and sicily , defence of the dutchy of millain , recovery of portolongone and piombino , and many towns in flanders ; besides assisting such princes as had sided with him in the french revolutions : ) he concludes a very exact and parcimonious oeconomy for the future to be the only means of replenishing the kings coffers . the wayes he proposes for this , seem so many remarques of the former ill dispensation and administration of the publick treasure . in the first place he sayes , that what is necessary to the subsistance of their armies , fails of being supplied , not only by reason of the engagement of the principal revenues of the crown to such as have furnished the king in his necessities , but no less by the prodigious cheats of an infinite number of officers employed towards their recovery ; which gave the king just cause to complain to the cortes , that of ten millions paid yearly by castille , six stuck to the fingers of under treasurers , secretaries , receivers , tellers , and other exchequer men , that subsist only by rapines exercised on the king and his people . then he desires that difference be made between monopolists and farmers of customs , as well old as new , and that such of them as have dealt franckly , without making malicious advantage of the necessity of affairs , may be distinguished from those that have thriven by craft and design , in purchasing or renting the kings duties . with the first he holds it but reasonable to make a fair composition , and afterwards that they be permitted the enjoyment of what they acquired with so great equity : the other he would have treated with all possible severity , and compelled to refund with no less rigor than sorcerers are burnt and theeves hanged . for what concerns rewards , he allows it just to recompence all such as have done the crown service , be its necessities never so great ; but even for this he would not have the king draw any thing from his own purse , nor pretend to liberality at a time when he hath not wherewithal ; he therefore advises ( since high birth is not ever the source of eminent actions , neither do children alwayes inherit the prudence and vertue of their parents ) not to continue in the same families , 49● commanderies , which the eight orders of spanish knighthood possess , worth above a million of gold yearly ; but instead of bestowing them out of favour for the most part to persons unworthy and useless , hereafter to distribute them to such as either have preserved or extended the limits of his monarchy , or at least by an honourable profession of arms are in a capacity to do it . and if he ever suffers any of them to be diverted from the advantage of soldiers , to whom only they of right appertain , that it be to some able statesman or dextrous ambassador , who without drawing sword , hath saved some town or countrey , surprized an enemy , broken in pieces his levies , cut off ammunition and victual from his armies , drawn in neighboring princes to unite against him , obliged some of them to quit a neutrality , succored some ally , or confirmed some other that wavered ; in a word , to such a person whose industry and prudence hath been highly advantageous to his king and countrey . he no less complains , that instead of giving what is substantial in these orders to persons of merit , the very badges of them , which are only superficial , are for the most part refused . he instances in mr de st maurice , a gentleman of burgundie , who after very good service , pretended several years without obtaining this , though marquis caracene writ in his favour , and attested his valour and eminent merit . this takes away his admiration , that in all the troops that serve in the dutchy of millain , there are but eight knights that have this honour , the peculiar recompence of soldiers , being frequently bestowed on pen-men , or such as depend more on the gown than sword , though they wear the later , as a mark of what they ought to be , rather than of what they really are . after this detection of abuses in manageing his kings treasure , he passes to the wayes of increasing and better securing it . towards increasing it , he would have taken into consideration that spain is inhabited by some persons that are very rich , others indifferently so , the rest very poor , which is the greatest number , and that in raising contributions neither of these three can be favoured , without prejudice not only of the other two , but of the soveraign himself : such a geometrical proportion is therefore to be observed , as considers the means and faculties of each , and prevents that inconvenience in the state that often afflicts our bodies , when all the ill humors fall on the part that is weakest . after so good a foundation , he attacks those that possess most and pay least , and makes appear that the spanish clergy , being very wealthy , pays the king but four hundred forty seven thousand crowns , a trifle compared to its ability , and concludes that an augmentation of the kings revenue might in so pressing a necessity be charged on it with all justice and reason imaginable . he thinks it not fit to impose more on the nobility and gentry , who ought to be in a continual posture to do the king personal service , but upon citizens and farmers , and concealed treasure for the greatest part in the hands of persons faulty or disaffected , and that this might bring up a considerable aid , were the sources of their abundance well examined . for such taxes as are settled ill , he says that which is imposed on the eighth part of flesh , oil , and wine , is the worst of all others , giving occasion to a thousand cheats , as well by the officers , as by such as endeavour to bring those provisions into madrid and other towns without paying duties . to which i can adde , that i have been assured , an infinite number live only by that imployment , in so much that not only some poor gentlemen and ranting hectors that will live on nothing , and without doing any thing , with whom courts and great cities ever abound , concern themselves in it ; but even churchmen and the greatest noblemen , that are weakly revenued . for this cause guards have been appointed to attend the collection of these ●mposts , on condition that what they can seise of goods that have entered without paying duties , shall be their own . but this which was established , to redouble their diligence , they have turned into small politicks , that causing them to consider the kings interest , if vigorously pursued , as that which would put an end to their profits , they are not very exact , perceiving that should they not sometimes connive , they which busie themselves in stealing customs , would give over the trade , finding no effect but confiscation of their goods , after which the kings duties would be well paid , but they get nothing . they therefore correspond with them , and seise not their goods , till so much hath entered , as will make them more than savers . this confederacy against the king , is maintained at his charge , and drones suck the blood of the poor people , the effects of so great a disorder falling on their heads . amongst other impositions he thinks ill laid , and which i will not give my self the trouble of reciting ▪ he mentions seal'd paper , and says it is a ●ery incertain revenue , because founded on ●aw suits , to which the folly and obstinacy of humane nature alone gives being ; it is true that in england , madder in this particular than spain or any other part of the world , more profit might be derived from this , than in a countrey where that infamous imployment is not so much in request ; whereas in england it is exercised with such avarice , rapine , and so prodigious delays , that this horrible pestilence which feeds it self fat by means of infinite numbers of vile insects , attorneys , solicitors , attorneys lieutenants and sub-solicitors , it must needs pass for one of the heaviest scourges of the nation , and plagues of its best families . to conclude , he implores his king to cast off all those ill designed impositions , that will be destructive both to him and his subjects , and to lay the burthen more equally , which will make it light , and his people bear it chearfully , when free from vexations , that tend more to the advantage of pettifoggers , than of his revenue . if what he proposes may be endeavored , he doubts not but his king will vanquish all his enemies , there being already so many victories that testifie his valour , and so many books that publish his prudence , besides so much gold and silver stamped with his effigies , currant thorow the world , though spain admits none that is foreign ; an invincible demonstration of its inexhaustible treasure . whilst these two books were subjects of our discourse , by reason of their surprizing novelty , the genius of that nation considered , which seldom discovers where the shoo wrings it , and whose constancy is so admirable , it alwayes sets a good face on an ill game ; we received letters for some of the principal ministers of the catholick king : had they come to us at our first arrival at madrid , they would have introduced us to a nearer speculation of that court , but arriving in june , and we being resolved , for avoiding the great heats , to repass the pyreneans before they began , we had but little time to continue in a countrey , where the sun is something too prodigal of his beams . to make use therefore of all advantages possible , and that according to formalities , which are here essential , i addressed my self to don martin secretary of the earl of pigneranda , desiring him to give his lord the letter of recommendation we had for him . i acquainted him with the qualities of my lord b. and a. and inquired at what hour we might have access , least we should apply our selves to him when he gave not audience . such precautions are necessarily to be observed in this court , by all strangers , who without any to introduce them , desire to be particularly admitted to a principal minister of state : by means of which they escape being exposed to that dry gravity which receives strangers with a leaden austere fore head , close and reserved , all such whom they apprehend they may mistake in its civilities , for want of knowledge of their quality ; besides that , generally speaking , such as understand the world , ought never themselves to deliver such letters , which serve only to make them known to those they never saw before ; for if they be read in their presence , they suffer some time of vexatious incivility , and if the reading them be deferred till after their departure ; at the first visit they have but a cold reception , the complements faint and confused , directed more to him that sent the letter , then to those that bring it , and for whose sake it was written . this we avoided , for the earl having been informed , as well by the letter of dom estevan de gamarra , as report of his secretary , who we were , received us as well as we could wish : and to speak truth of him , none in this court understands civility and the world better . his first presenting himself is graceful and winning , and makes appear , that with the severity of his countries customs and imperious gravity of his nation , he hath mixed a certain forain air , that takes off from the austerity , and makes him so agreeable , that if the address and gallantry of the first of the tarquins caused it to be said , graecum ingenium miscuerat italicis artibus , he had added the complacency of greece to the arts of italy . we may conclude that those of this great man make evident , hispanicum supercilium potest moribus exteris & comitate exotica dilui . that spanish severity may be moderated by forain civility . his wit and judgement appeared in his embassy as plenipotentiary to munster ; and when news came to madrid of the promotion of cardinal chigi to the pontifical chair , and the great desire he expressed for peace between france and spain , this man was spoken of to be sent to rome with the embassy of obedience : though indeed he was chiefly designed to that employment , because it was hoped that by reason of the great friendship he had contracted with the new pope when he was nuncio in germany , he might do his master good service in all manner of negotiations . many advantages are also reported to have been offered on behalf of the king to oblige him to accept this , besides a considerable sum of ready money , particularly three thousand ducats a moneth , his son to be made an earl , and himself continued president of the council of the indies , and that the golden key he carried only as a badge of honour , should be conferred à exercicio , that is to be made use of , with all priviledges belonging to it : but nothing of this is yet effected , and they which understand the confidence of don lewis de haro in his fidelity and capacity , assure he will not remove him from the council where he is now president , till needs must . having thus received all manner of satisfaction in our first visit , to so accomplished a person , who omitted nothing that might assure my lord b. of the esteem he had for his quality and merit , at the very first sight remarkable to him by that vivacity which is so natural to extraordinary persons , they need not speak twice to those to whom they would make themselves known : we thought our selves very forward on our way , to obtain the like from don lewis de haro , when we should wait on him : for besides the letter we had for him , we doubted not but the earl would acquaint him with the visit we had made him ▪ and with all that could oblige him to receive us well . besides our letter for don lewis de haro , we had another for a gentleman called alonzo vercoca , cosin to dom stephen de gamarra the catholick kings ambassador in holland , who , we were assured was very well with this favorite . we therefore thought best first of all to visit seignior alonzo , that he might deliver our letter , and present us when it should be seasonable . we were not a little troubled in inquiring after his loding , but at last learned that he was usually resident in the countrey , and only a son of his who was one of don lewis de haro's gentleman lived in madrid . enquiring for him at the palace of this chief minister ▪ i was told he had a chamber in the town , and came not thither whilest his master was with the king at buen retiro ; the civility of the officers of whom i enquired his lodging , extended not so far as to send some body to shew it me , and he being seldom at home , i was either to seek him very early in the morning or late in the evening . at last i found him just out of bed , no less troubled how to enquire after us , because he had received a letter from the ambassador to his father , by which he reiterated his request for doing us all manner of good offices in that court. some dayes passed , in which he neither visited us nor returned any answer . this made me imagine that eithet he did not much value the ambassadors letter , or else had not sufficient access to his master to perform what was recommended to him . as soon as we thought of leaving spain , i began to consider how we might obtain an authentick passport , being sufficiently informed of the insolence and impudence on the passes called puertos , as well by the farmers of the customs as such as are there in guard . on which account many formalities are necessary to be observed in the passes , that they may be effectual enough to check the importunity and knavery of those harpies that lie in expectation of travailers , especially strangers , to put all imaginable affronts upon them . i made very solicitous enquiry of all circumspections necessary , and the earl of pigneranda having told my lord b. that not to leave spain without carrying along one of its greatest rarities , he should do well to take some horses ; to which purpose he would provide him all sufficient passports ; we did not in the least distrust , obtaining them as advantagious as we could wish : they which have no friends in court , are obliged to petition a certain council , whose secretary is called carnero : the petition considered on , if the pass be granted , the result goes from thence to the kings council , from whence it is returned sometimes confirmed , sometimes annulled , and often limited or amplified , according to the petitioners success in his solicitations . indeed , though either by favour or bribe , authentick passports are sometimes obtained , and that without delay ; such as are unknown and unfriended , find this trifle become a troublesome and tedious negotiation . ours was not so , for having drawn up a very exact memorial , and according to the sense of those that understand the form of a passport , to go out of spain without lett or molestations : i carried it to don martin , the earl of pigneranda's secretary : he read it , and told me so many particulars were not necessary ; and that our passport being to come immediately from the kings council , there needed no more but to translate into spanish , that we had brought from the arch-duke ; the like whereof , which would be every where respected , should be dispatched us ; i acquiesced in this , and went with him to geronimo de la torre , one of the secretaries of state , to whom he delivered a memorial for the said passport , recommending it to him in the name of his master ; he promised to carry it to the council of state that very day , using us with great civility , and accompanying us to the bottom of his stairs . our passport being in this forwardness , mr. b. and i , went one morning to visit segnior versosa , by it the better to understand the nations humour , and whether negligence or want of credit had caused his failing in what the ambassador desired of him : he instantly excused his not having waited on us , and told us he had delivered the letter to don lewis de haro , who had commanded him to accompany us to audience ( such is the manner of speaking in this court ) which he would give us the next day . this discovered that his slowness in returning us answer , was rather an effect of the humor of his nation , ( not very punctual nor forward in its civilities , no more then in its affairs ) then of his negligence or little power to perform what had bin recommended to him ; being a kin to the secretary geronimo de la torre , who had received our memorial , he would needs go along with us to him , and recommend it in our presence ; but i was strangely surprized to see this man in this visit we made in company of his kinsman , so different from what i had before found him ; for instead of our former civil reception of which i spoke but now , he would scarcely move from his table and papers , entertaining us with interrupted sentences , whilst he ranged the writings he held in his hand . i was scandalized at such an inequality , and the favourablest judgement i could make , was ( whilst i considered him to be of that nation which is esteemed so unvariable in its humor and actions ) that his thoughts were that day entirely possessed by something very important and vexatious . this prevented not our repairing next morning according to our appointment to visit the chief minister of so superbe a court. he is not difficult of access , nor environed with the pomp and splendor usually affected by such as possess the place next their master : he is not courted , nor his withdrawing room crouded with any that have not business with him ; none are refused admittance , but every man in his turn brought into his chamber , where having spoken , he retires and gives place to others ▪ to such as are not admitted , if they have formerly moved him in their concerns ; he signifies his pleasure by his secretary , which ( if they have nothing new to offer ) must of force content them ; such as have never opened their affair , or have any thing to add , are referred to the next day or another hour : so that few go away without some kind of satisfaction or hopes to receive it , at least , in obtaining audience . in other places , favourites or chief ministers seldom are accessible , and never till after many refufals ; and not content to participate of the soveraigns authority , pretend to a degree of adoration above it : and we may assure our selves , that though this quality occasions in most of these , pride , vanity , and pleasure ; it gives don lewis ( as he makes use of it ) trouble alone , and that amongst all that are in publick employment he is not only first in rank , but in attachment and subjection to the service of his king ; to which , to speak the truth , he intirely resigns himself : for in the morning immediately after his devotions , and visit of the kings apartment , about seven a clock he sits down in his chamber of dispatches , where he continues till one ; giving order to his secretaries in all that is to be done , and hearing such as are to speak with him , preented by order as hath already bin said : after dinsner he reposes , or retires some hours ; and about four or five , returns to the same chamber , and like imployment till seven . two days in the week he , as well as the king , gives publick audience ; then all enter , and i have seen there of all qualities , even lame and naked soldiers , who amongst others present themselves and pretences , without any other difference , then obliging them to advance with discretion and respect , if perhaps they observe it not . to all this is to be added , his care of the court , he being master of the horse , with his hours at both councils of state and privy , besides audiences of ceremony , and affairs of ambassadors , and agents of forreign princes ; so that i can imagine no life more agitated nor busied then his . i shall say nothing of his parts , which the spaniards hold not equal to those of his predecessor ; the other having bin quick and active in the most eminent degree ; but they add that they were not therefore more succesful , either in publick or particular ; and that the great moderation and good nature of this man , is equivalent to the heat and zeal of the former , who to attain his ends , suffered none to enjoy quiet : so true is that of the politians , that the greatest intellects are not most proper to govern states and kingdoms ; and that they look so far before them , they often stumble in such a manner as casts them into extremities , from whence all their dexterity hath much ado to free them , and the height of their good fortune to secure them from ruine ; whereas the middle sort by moving softly are not subject to those politick transports , which often toss interest of state into the air with the sublimest maximes of him that governs . as soon as we came to don lewis his lodging , which was then at the hermitage of buen retiro , we were received by don christopher his secretary . he is a little man , of address and subtilty beyond what is usual in his nation , being a german , of which countrey he hath so little the meen and presence , one would rather take him to have been born at the foot of the apennine or pyreneans , then on the banks of rhine or danube . he takes care of all forreign affairs , and serves his master as interpreter ; we were immediately presented to him , and thus he received us : he sate in a chair at the end of a table , with his cloak on his shoulders , and his sword by his side ; he rose up at our entrance , and after we had saluted him , caused seats to be presented us ; and immediately don christopher placed himself on his knees , on the carpet that was between his chair , and that of my lord b. who having spoken , don lewis answered by interpretation of don christopher , as obligingly as was possible . after the first compliments , he enquired after our journey , and continuance at madrid , and finding us inclined to leave it , asked , if we would not pass by sevil ; and we excusing our selves , by reason the summer was so far advanced ; he replyed , our time indeed pressed us , if we desired to be out of spain before the great heats ; but not visiting andalusia , we lost the sight of the pleasantest countrey in the world ; he afterwards made us many offers of service , and when we acquainted him that we desired to pass through arragon , and , if possible , enter france by catalonia ; he promised us two letters of recommendation ; one to the duke of monteleon , viceroy of arragon , the other for don john of austria . he asked us if we would kiss the kings hands ; but our time for leaving the countrey being so near , we thought it unnecessary to give him the trouble of obtaining that honour for us , having so often seen his majesty . in a word , he omitted nothing that was obliging , or might render our visit satisfactory ; he is indeed of a humour to discontent no body , and never favorite did less hurt : he suffers to live at court , not only such as envy him , but his professed enemies , as the duke de medina de los torres , and goes abroad with so small pomp , that his train little or nothing exceeds the meanest grand of spain : he is not crouded after , but observed to follow much better then his predecessor , the advice of a favourite of the same nation , who after his fall admonished all of the like condition , themselves to put a spoke in the wheel of fortune , when by too great an elevation she almost equalized them to the king , adding , that he which thinks himself advanced highest , is often nearest his ruine , and therefore ought never to be transported to receive such honours and attendances , as his fall cannot deprive him of , without shame ; on occasion of which i must needs mention , what was reported to me to have been spoken by a great statesman of this court : that a favorite ought to have the moderation and prudence of that angel before whom st john prostrated himself with adoration , and refuse some kind of respects that may be rendred him with a vide ne feceris , conservus tuus sum : for if god in that immensity of glory and power he possesses to reduce the universe to nothing , admits no companion in his adorations : kings whose authority is limited , and whose might only weakly imitates that which is infinite , will much less endure it . such boundless ambition , and excessive thirst of grandeur , in two years time strangely shook cardinal spinola , one of the greatest favorites of philip the ii. and at last overthrew that famous conde duke olivares , whose place is at present possessed by don lewis . besides what i have touched concerning his ministry , the curious find a considerable difference between the favors of the uncle and nephew , as well in the foundation as managements of them ; they consider that of the former was derived from his conformity of manners ( real or affected ) with those of his king ; and from the care he took to second his inclinations , and make himself a necessary instrument of his satisfaction in pleasures , perhaps contrary to his greatness and condition : but that of the second had its source from the kings obligations to him , for services rendred him in encounters where his life and crown were concerned : that the first had his good will and affection , which are but as blossoms that a thousand accidents blow away , whilst the other is established in the intellect , having been fixed there by experience , the true and only root of favour , proof against time and humor ; that the first arrived at so eminent a degree almost at the same time and the same manner as the duke of luines rose near lewis the xiii of france , and the later by a way very like that ascended by cardinal richlieu : the nephew had time to make use of the faults and misfortunes of the uncle , as well as the cardinal of the failings of his predecessor . but for what concerns the exercise of his authority , they observe it is very different from the other three . the duke de luines , and the conde duke olivares disturbed the quiet of their masters dominions ; the first , that he might make use of the sword of constable he had newly received , and the other to make ostentation of the vast capacity he pretended to above all mankind . richlieu , who succeeded the first of these , though with very different maximes , thought nevertheless he was to continue the war he found begun , to gain him reputation , and remove all obstacles that might prevent such a one as was more the interest of france , and would give him opportunity of entring the lists with that ambitious conde duke . don lewis was no sooner infavour , and entred on business , but he endeavoured to make understood , that the whole world and especially the house of austria , suffered by emulation of those two ministers . he well foresaw 〈◊〉 the condition of the spanish monarchy , attacqued in trunck and branch , considered ) that ●peace , ( the least dishonourable that could be obtained ) was necessary to prevent final destruction . it is said , he effectually represented to the king and his council the faults of his predecessor , and made it appear , that the universal desire of all the lesser potentates of europe , who wish equality amongst the greatest , as ballances where every one may find his counterpoise is very suitable both to the inclinations and interests of france and spain ▪ though not often so to the ambition of their kings , and vanity of the ministers that serve them ; and that which soever of them gains upon the other , would acquire most enemies , were not europe by artifice of their favorites ( who set their masters together by the ears to make ostentation of their own address during the combat , as pilots their skill in the height of a tempest ) divided into leagues , and almost all of it in arms in favor of one or other of these crowns ▪ that whilst war continued , the allies of france would never forsake her to become neuters , or turn their swords against her , but that in the mean time the dangers into which they precipitated themselves , were to be represented to them , with a great inclination to peace , even so far , as to purchase it at what price soever . that experience in all ages had made evident , they recovered by treaties what they had lost that by wars . that in germany even they were to be incited to cry up peace that were confederates with france and sweden , to oblige them to which , they should have intimation , that nothing was taken into greater consideration , then their satisfaction ; and that it was high time to divert the jealousie of their liberty against two forraign potenthtes , more ready to invade it , then ever the emperor was to impose fetters upon it . that in italy , flanders , and all other parts where there were leagues against france , the like was to be done ; and at the general treaty of peace , all desirable conditions given to their weakest enemies , to enfeeble the more potent by depriving them of the others assistance . thus the beginning of his ministry , ( if what hath been informed me , and i have here represented be true ) was not to cry up war in his masters ears , out of consideration only , of what might augment his own power , as is done by such epicures of favor as turn it to their particular advantage : he would neither seem idolatrous in his politicks , by giving no council but such as was to his masters advantage ; nor atheistical in valuing nothing but the good of the people , but with respect to both of them , shewed himself a good statesman ▪ dealing with them like husband and wife , and concluding that for their living happily together , they should admit no friend that might separate their interests . i had bin made acquainted with some of these particulars before i visited don lewis , and could set down more , were not a great part of the remarques as well effaced from my tablebook , as vanished from my memory : if it be expected , i say something of his person ; i must add , it is sufficiently taking , and that i was told , his wit was neither of the finest or grossest temper , not extravagantly high , nor insipidly low ; his countenance neither very airy nor excessively serious . nothi●● 〈◊〉 be discovered in his eyes , either too he●●● or too light , his make and posture of body is neither eminently heroick nor contemptibly vulgar , vt staturae & oris non est plus quam heroici , ita nihil in eo quod nimium vulgare sit . and he is looked upon to be no ways incommodious , either to prince or people ; and as he charms not the first by extraordinary endowments either of mind or body ; neither does he disgust the later . and a spaniard one day told me , en el semblante mismo este privado no enfada por lo atrevido , in desluce por l● disanimodo : to which i will give no other english , but , the meen of this favorite is neither insolent nor abject . the great revolutions in the affairs of this monarchy since don lewis had the managing of them , present me a vast field to expatiate on what seems vigorous or weak in his conduct ; for some particulars are observable , in which , nothing more could be wished then what he did , and others as discernable , in which he seems not to have made use of all advantages that presented themselves . the peace concluded at munster with the hollanders , is thought a masterpiece , they having received as an eternal maxime , never to have it with his king ; and the miracle became greater , not only in that he disarmed them by a particular treaty , under no other garranty , but that seal and oath they had so many years protested never to confide in ; but made use of the family of orange , which seeming no other way 〈◊〉 in the affairs of the world , then in 〈◊〉 it great captains , could not act towards 〈…〉 , without setting a knife at the throat of its own glory and reputation . after so politick an atchievement , he might have effected another little less considerable , if we may credit such as determine the affairs of princes , according to their particular capacities , had he ( during the troubles of france ) endeavoured a peace with that crown , which in such an extremity must needs have accepted it , on conditions , more advantagious to spain , then the towns retaken by it , because giving way to her intestine commotions , by removing the forraign object that might divert her dissentions and civil enmities , her fury would have rebounded on her own bosom , and she like a good mother have abandoned the greatest part of her conquests , to gain more leisure and better opportunity to chastise her disobedient children : here it is that considering affairs by their event , and seeing france again in as good a way as ever to pursue her victories , the spanish councils are blamed for neglecting that opportunity of putting such a stop to them , as should have prevented their progression . instead therefore of treaties with the city of paris , siders with the princes , and the princes themselves , it is said , spain ought to have negotiated with the court alone , from which , as is believed , it might have had good terms for abandoning the seditious , and their endeavors to encourage the rebellion , in which interim , the catholick king might probably have succeeded beyond the pyreneans , in reducing the catalonians , and recovering portugal , much more considerable to him , because very certain , that the revolt of the former , and separation of the later , are the greatest mischiefs , that have attacqued that monarchy during the whole war ; for remedy of which , it should have neglected some slight bruises in other places , and applyed it self only to the cure of those two wounds so near its heart . the ways of doing this , had bin more easie , more safe , and of less expence then those which recovered barcelone ; they which examined the affairs of that time , were of opinion that the spaniards lost more by retaking that town , and neglecting to relieve bourdeaux , then they would have done by some condiscentions to france in order to peace . for it was freely discoursed in that court , that the siege of barcellone cost so dear both in men and money , that so great a failing of spirits followed , that all the repose obtained by the french disorders , was not sufficient to their restoration , and that neglecting to relieve bourdeaux , gave the french opportunity of freeing themselves from the difficulties of appeasing their civil war , and almost at the same time of re-beginning an offensive one against the forraigners with vigor equal to their former . in the judgement therefore of these criticks , the spaniards could neither make all the progressions , might have been expected from them in such a conjuncture , notwithstanding their recovering three or four of the principal places they had lost , nor embrace the opportunity of the peace , to which france seemed necessitated , nor yet supply the flames of civil discord already so well kindled , but after so great charge and small profit , they looked on them as negligent merchants that had let slip the best time of the fair , and perhaps brought but one commodity from it , that will never sell for what was laid down in ready money , and is hereafter to be paid for it : i mean the prince of conde and rest of the french that are at present only a charge to them , and whom deceased quevedo , were he now alive , would joyn to the late queen mother of france and duke of — for that new kind of stratagem by which the king of france may batter by disgusting all his family , who repairing in discontent to the spaniard , will oblige him in assisting them to consume that which is designed to maintain his armies . now the prince of conde is retired to them , and hath no more places nor troops in france , they seem to understand this , and notwithstanding the miracles he did at the rout before arras , and on occasion of which it is reported , the king writ to him in these terms . mi primo , he intendido todo estava pardido , v. a. ha conservado todo ; cosin , i looked on all as lost , your highness hath preserved all ; they complain of the large pensions they allow him , though they pay them ill . in a word , some observe , that whilst they consume their treasure in entertaining him , and such as have followed him , the profit of those great pensions accrues to france , as well as the confiscation of his vast estate , by means of which she may well support the loss of some regiments to the weakening her own and strengthening her enemies army . their esteem for his person is indeed equal to his merit , and his name is in such veneration both amongst nobility and people , that he is looked on as the greatest captain that europe hath seen in many ages , and to be above all encomiums due to the highest courages ; his actions surpassing all that can be imagined ; notwithstanding which they consider him to be a stranger , and prince of the blood of a crown that is enemy , which makes the establishment of an entire confidence between him and spain , very difficult , but to prevent all appearance of such distrusts , which they have much ado to disguise , they have made use of an artifice , that hath been well enough discovered by his agents ; which is , that such of them as cannot be concealed , are imputed to the misunderstanding between him and fuensaldaigne , master of the intrigue of flanders , whilst to content him , they find expedients that rather amuse then satisfy him ; to take away which the prince hath declared against fuensaldaigne , and caused his calling home to be sollicited in court , with protestation , that as long as he continues in the low countreys , with the present power , he will not only ruine his affairs , but the kings his masters . monsieur de mazecolles his agent told me , he had made them sufficiently sensible of all the mischiefs occasioned by this mans conduct , but the kindness don lewis hath for him , prevails against any remedy . that the arch-duke had given the same advice , all which could not prevent their obstinacy in continuing him , grounded perhaps on this maxim , which requires ( as well in kingdoms as families ) to nourish dissention amongst those which serve , lest they conspire to betray us , or are not exact enough in observing the comportments of one another , nothing being so industrious or penetrating , as envy and animosity , which prie not only into what the master would not be ignorant of , but into such things of which he cares not for getting information . in the mean time let politick censors , who often judge of counsels and resolutions , rather by the events , and what is discernable , than the inductive reasons of which they are ignorant , please themselves in discoursing according to their fancies of this great intrigue of state , the effect of the french troubles : they shall not yet hinder my observing , that in consideration of several successes caused by them , as well in germany , where a king of romans was chosen , as in italy , where the affairs of the dutchy of milan were secured ▪ casal changed master , piombino , and portolongone were retaken , the rebellion of naples severely punished , and that furious courser reduced to curb and cavison , the spaniards are generally pretty well satisfied , with little other displeasure than that by not succouring bourdeaux , they suffered the french civil flames to be too soon extinguished ; so that they cannot without indignation mention the negligence of the marquis of st. cruz , when he endeavoured with the fleet under his command , that had been fitted up at st. sebastians , to open the passage of the river to the besieged . he was encharged with this employment , because not having comported himself satisfactorily in one like it , it was believed he would strive to make amends by some very eminent action in so pressing a necessity : but he failed even at his first setting out ; for having received his orders at madrid , where the earl of fiesque arrived to hasten him , he went away in a litter , with all the conveniencies of one that had time enough before him , and as if he had not had a commission that required the most extraordinary diligence . his delays were the same in embarking , and having shewn himself at sea ▪ and scarcely taken view of the enemy , he retreated to la corugna in gallicia , where amongst the delightful limon and orange-trees , that grow there abundantly , he let the bad weather pass over , and with it the opportunity of securing bourdeaux , whose loss was the intire ruine of the disaffected party in gasconie , and of the treaty of the prince of conti. his manner of proceeding astonished all that were concerned , though some suspected his orders required no more but to make a shew of relieving the place ; whether it were that the spaniards would hazard nothing in a war that could not last long in that part , or whether there were an understanding ( according to the ravings of such as on all occasions vent their imaginations ) by the return of bourdeaux to its kings obedience , to obtain the like for barcelona . whatever may be of this , he was secured and confined to a castle where he still remains , as is thought , more on accompt of reason of state then of his guilt . to conclude , the french troubles presented great speculations to the chief minister and other wits here , how far they ought to concern themselves in them : but those of naples which happened a little before , and which the king of spain beheld as a fire kindled in a corner of his dominion , he most valued , and distrusted were no less subjects of the discourse of such as had curiosity for the affairs of either crown . all agree that france drew not so great advantages from them as she might have done , had she more streightly embraced the neopolitan interests , and such as have discoursed with me about it , have made it evident , that spain in no occasion ever judged more solidly , or acted more effectually . at the first advice of that revolution she was not deceived in taking her measures , and the earl of ognate giving his sense of it , made the mischief and its remedy so intelligible , that he was employed to administer the later . i saw an extract of his letter , which represented that the fury of that people could not last , having at first declared open war against the nobility and all that were powerful . that such commotions ( the better part of the state being contrary to them ) bring forth only confusion and disorder , without any possibility of erecting a true form of government , which must be done ( if at all ) in a moment , and that a multitude that had neither feet nor wings proportionable to mounting so high must necessarily fall of it self , being imprudent in its councils , rash in its designes , and slow and timerous in its executions . that the people of naples went very aukwardly about forming them-themselves into a republick , beginning by desolation of the richest families , which could not be so totally ruined , but they would retain power to joyn with the offended prince in the publick revenge ; and that that which would be imposed on this enraged multitude would be the more advantageous , in that it would give opportunity of drawing the reins of government streighter , and binding them so fast , that notwithstanding their former several bloodlettings , a vein should then be opened , by which should be drawn the greatest part even of that which was best , provided all that was corrupted came away with it . his council was followed , and his hand employed in the execution , whilest he doubtlesly played the part of an able surgeon , the whole body of the rebels suffering his lancet , and the ringleaders his saw and rasor . all the world is witness of his admirable conduct in so dangerous a malady . i shall only add that he is looked on here as the ablest and zealousest polititian of spain ; and it is not doubted but if he had employment suitable to his wishes , he would add something of vigor that in several mens opinions is wanting . but his parts being apprehended he is kept at the greatest distance possible from the intrigue ; and setting aside what he must necessarily be made acquainted with by reason of his employments , little is communicated to him . he therefore passes his time in building , and employing part of the great treasure he amassed in naples , on a pal●ce that will be one of the fairest and vastest of madrid . among the great affairs and eminent negotiations of dom lewis , was one from the north , whose interest was at first well enough understood : for none admired that spain kept an ambassador at stockholm for facilitating the election of the son of the emperor to be king of romans . the swedes were judged to have great credit in the empire , and known to have too long opposed the house of austria , to look well on its elevations ; a man of parts might sound their intentions , discover their designes , and by dexterity allay their greatest animosity against the emperor , if not obtain something really favourable in his behalf . piementelli , chosen for this imployment , had success beyond what was expected , quickly possessing himself of the good opinion of that queen , ever charmed by novelty ; for amongst the great affluence of strangers she drew to her court , the last comer still carried it from all the rest . she was so much pleased in a spaniard , having never yet received any respects from that nation , that it was not difficult for him to make himself acceptable without taking pains to corrupt any of her council . such as understood how matters passed in swede were not suprised at her letters during the diet of ratisbone , as well to the emperor , as to the electors and other princes about election of a king of romans . they easily perceived that the counsellors of the kingdom and ablest heads had not contributed to so open and authentick a declaration in favour of the king of hungary . during her fathers reign , and in her minority , they had been otherwise inspired ; and if their opinions might have prevailed , doubtlesly the party of the princes and towns had rather been supported , who demanded a making good of all that had been agreed on by the peace of munster before they would proceed to th●t election . this makes easily comprehended that an ambassador from this court was necessary during all that time , but that he should be continued after the resignation of this princess , and that when she had left the kingdom ●iemente●●● should every where follow her under that character , is a mystery , of which no reason can be imagined , that seems not too flat and feeble to be real . for why should the spaniards be at such cost to keep in with this princess after she had dispossessed her self of her dominion , or court her then , their enemies having received all her favours whilst she sate on the throne ? the spaniards , i say , that never do any thing , where that interest , that as much governs kings as kings do subjects , is not exactly observed : that repine at the entertaining the many discontented princes that have sided with them , and that seldom abandon what is solid and necessary , for what is plausible and superfluous . notwithstanding all which they not only caused her to be attended by an ambassador , when she had no right to one , and who ( her prerogative being gone with her soveraignty ) must needs appear rather a gentleman usher than publick minister , but omitted not to complement and present her from madrid it self , with 12 of the beautifullest horses of the kings stable . what is rumored here that she hath still the disposal of forces , and that koningsmarc by her order marches to assist the arch-duke with an army of twelve thousand men , is a meer raillery . her resignation was doubtless a secret of state , spun and wove with more art than is imagined , and nothing less than what it seemed ; she retained neither credit nor authority to make her mistress of any thing more than her pensions ; and though because the pill was very well gilt , the world believed she swallowed it willingly , and tasted nothing bitter , a person of as great judgment as curiosity , told me , that as the palatine appeared a great captain when generalissimo in germany , he no less approved himself an able polititian , in a quiet possessing himself of the crown of the great gustavus his uncle , even in the life-time of his daughter and only heir : the manner of doing this seems very subtle , for after he was declared her successor ( partly on occasion of the over-heroick inclinations of that princess , who seemed amorous only of her own wit , and more ambitious to be thought a woman learned and liberal , than a queen prudent and capable of governing partly by reason of the inclination of the counsellors and states of the kingdom , who grew weary of obeying a maid , more sollicitous to be the miracle of her sex than of her dignity ) and a resolution taken that if she should marry , it must be with none but him , all his endeavors tended to make known he was fitter to espouse the kingdom than queen : in effect he quickly appeared equal to the former , and ( were it naturally or artificially ) so well acted the part of a king , that it was very apparent that whilest he fell back from probability of being such by means of the later , he advanced in hopes of it , by the general inclination of the people , and interest of state. his conformity of humors and manners with those of that countrey , opened him so fair a way to the throne , that the queen ( whose customs were directly contrary ) became jealous , with such an aversion for his person , as she could not sufficiently conceal . this obliged him to retire to an island , part of his inheritance , leaving all to time and the queen her self , who confirmed the people in their dislike of her . she continued to value less than she ought the most considerable persons , and most important affairs . her vast fancy and ardent thirst after curious sciences , joyned to that extraordinary manner of conduct that possessed her , made her flie from thought to thought , and from employment to employment , without ever fixing on the duties of her charge , and care of her crown and subjects . one while she was entirely taken up by letters with des cartes , salmasius , and bouchard , whom she had sent for , with the first to engage her self in the labirinth of his modern philosophy , with the other to trace the antiquities of rome and greece , and with the last to penetrate the mysteries of the catholick and protestant faith. sometimes she abandoned both books and scholars , calling all the first bawbles , and the last pedants . at the time of this gay humor , crowds of young people that swarmed about her , p●ssed their time very agreeably . masks , balls , plays , collations , huntings , tours , with all the little pleasures that are the principal ragouts of the idleness of courts , were then alone in request . wit and fancy , with all that boundless and extravagant jollity can produce , then displayed themselves with the highest advantages , and his parts were most applauded , that seemed capablest of these fond diversions which lead from pleasure to pleasure and pastime to pastime , without knowing what they seek , or on what to settle . in these several manners of living she equally scattered the crowns revenue amongst strangers , by whose counsel she governed her self in many things , and by her own head in all the rest . this gave occasion to one missenius , a physitian or historian , if i mistake not , that had been advanced by her , to publish a book little to her advantage . he highly extolled the prince palatin , then declared heir of the crown , addressing himself to him and the kingdoms senators , for remedy of the disorders he observed . his stile discovered him , and the queen made appear very great moderation on occasion of his ingratitude , and the prince no less address and judgment , in satisfying her that he too much detested the crime of that unworthy fellow , to have contributed any thing towards it . all this while a secret aversion for the queen insinuated it self amongst the greatest part of the senators and people . some said they must have a soldier to command them , others lamented the poverty of their country , and that rixdollers were so scarce amongst them . that peace suited ill with a countrey that produced nothing but iron , which they ought to truck for the ducats of poland or patagons of germany . that an occasion of rupture with one of these could not be wanting , that the truce with poland was almost at an end , and that they stood in need of nothing but a king , either a charles or another gustavus . that all that was defective in his daughter abounded in his nephew ; notwithstanding all which their respect to the next blood of that great king , suffered them not to open their mouths wide , nor to speak publickly ; but whether it were that the senators had more particularly expressed themselves to the queen in private , or that of her self she well understood , by the conjuncture of affairs and inclination of the people , that she had not long to raign , or else by some transport of heroick fancy , or were it that all these things together contributed to her renunciation , it at last became publick to the admiration of all the world . this change was the discourse of all europe , and as there had not happened any thing in many ages so suprizing , every man endeavored to find the causes of it in a thousand chymerical reasons . this great queen was so unfortunate , she escaped not the teeth of satyrists on occasion of it . they began by a bad opinion of her understanding , and jealousie of ill guided morals ; her affections and judgment seemed very unstable , and her enemies reported she quitted not a crown and scepter on a principle of vertue to live to her self , and in a solitude where she might the better cultivate her mind and exalt her faith , but out of of an inclination to wander , and expose to fame that prodigy of the north she had so highly vaunted . this so feeble motive of so great an action made some conjecture it was not her choice , but that her descent from the throne might be glorious , she was permitted or advised to cover with the mantle of generosity and austere vertue , the necessity to which they reduced her of resigning the crown to her cosin before her death . that great soul and vigorous intellect she ever pretended to , on this occasion doubtlesly furnished her with such maximes , it represented her resigning the soveraiguty as much better than its forsaking her , and that by anticipation of her defeat she should triumph in it : that a timely retreat is oftentimes better than an obstinat combat . that a good horseman alights , when he perceives his horse will not carry him to his journeys end . that she should do well to imitate that illustrious roman that vaunted to have been employed before himself desired it , and to have quitted before it was desired by others ; by the first designing the effect of his good fortune , and by the second giving testimony of his good conduct . the event shews she yielded to these reasons , and the better to disguise all appearance of constraint , omitted nothing that might conceal her displeasure . piementelli her favorite wrote in such terms to this court , clearly discovering the bottom of this affair and humor of this princess , with which he had order to comply , and offer her all manner of honour and good reception in the dominion of the king his master . he effected this without difficulty , because so well with her that all was acceptable from him . having entirely resigned her self to his counsel and conduct , she had no sooner cast off the royal robe , than she left swede in the equipage and habit of a modern amazon . she did not only in her actions retain nothing of the customs of her sex , whose weakness was so contemptible to her , but avoided all conversation with it , her attendants and servants were all men , scorning to use women either at her rising or going to bed . her own habit was mixed of what is used by both . a loose coat reaching to the middle of her leg , and under it a kind of vest almost to her heel , a handkerchief like a cravat about her neck , a black periwig , though her own hair was flaxen ; with a hat and feather , were her ordinary accoutrements , or rather her disguise , whilest she travailed : nay at antwerp and brusselles , where she continued some time , she changed nothing ; and they which have written of her , represent her in a dress very little different . humor or aversion made her alwayes ( as much as possible ) avoid the visits of women , and as thalestris for alexander , so she at first expressed a great impatience and extraordinary passion to see the prince of conde . she publickly said , she was sorry there was no house in brussels large enough to lodge them both ; that he was her hero , and the only man she admired . he was at that time at the siege of arras , whither she writ to him she would come , and after his example make no difficulty of wearing the spanish colours . this prince having augmented his glory , though by an unfortunate conclusion of that enterprise , her desire of seeing him was redoubled ; to testifie how much she was concerned in the honour he had acquired by a retreat that had equalized the defeat of the spaniards , to the victory of their enemies . after so handsom advances and obliging addresses for an interview she passionately desired , one would hardly believe she could become cold , and change so many evident testimonies of impatience , to as visible ones of indifference . one of that princes agents told me , that out of an humor very extraordinary and surprizing , she studied punctilio's on the form of his reception , when he was even ready to make his visit . the arch-duke after the rout before arras , went to see her at antwerp , and she received him with excessive respects and honours ; for not satisfied to attend him at her stair-foot , she passed over a great court , and met him at her outer gate . the prince of conde , whose courage may justly equalise him to what is greatest , and whose birth yields to few that wear not crowns , desired to know how she would comport her self towards him ; those he employed in this could never obtain any satisfactory answer , and therefore doubting she might make some difference between him and the archduke , he resolved not to see her : but because he was already on his way , and importuned not to come to an open rupture , he resolved of an expedient to see her incognito . he therefore sent his train to attend her as if himself were gone back , and that he might see her unknown to her , resolved to enter her chamber when full of his people , and to appear no otherwise than as one of those that waited on her on his account . at first she knew him not , but at last discovering him , when he went away she would have accompanied him ; but he told her he must have all or nothing , and without staying for an answer went as he came . it is most certain that he whom she looked on as the hero of this age , at that interview lost the opinion that she was the heroine . her resolution yet , that hath on so many occasions been remarquable , was not the principal cause of her inequality towards him : it was a trick put upon her by the spaniards , contrived by piementelli at instigation of the earl of fuensaldaigne , that was very ill with him : for though the king of spain had expresly ordered that he should be treated equally with the archduke , and the same honors paid him , this was not the first time that more had been promised at madrid than performed at bruxels , she who is entirely devoted to the spaniards , and governs her self by their councels only , did nothing on this occasion that was not agreed on with them : and most certain that the prince of conde made appear such a contempt of their vanity , and indifference for her , that they were ashamed as well of their own as his proceeding : this obliged the spaniards to endeavour their reconciliation , and to find a neutral place where they might accidentally meet : which happened in the pall mall , where a game was agreed on , in which both of them were on the same side ; but this had no effect , and they parted with the same indifference as at first . what i have observed of the humour and comportment of this princess , is but the sum of what i have heard from those that discourse of the designe of this court in its many caresses to her : of which publick curiosity hath gained so little light , we may conclude that nothing is so certain as the uncertainty of it . some will have that no northern puissance having been so fatal to the house of austria as that of the kingdom she abandoned , the chief minister aimed at acquiring her affection , and making use of her animosity against her country for discovering its greatest secrets . to this fancy they add , that it being improbable that the king that succeeds her should continue long in peace with the emperor , her councils and creatures that continue in swede , may be useful as most proper against all correspondence he may have in germany , for thwarting the election of the king of the romans , and forming a party capable of recalling him , with another manner of power then what he had before prague , when he retired with so great regret , and discovered that if he had not so strong a hand , nor so long an arm as the great gustavus his uncle ; he had no less thirst after victory . others as ridiculous , imagine that a principle of generosity and bounty obliges the king to maintain an ambassador with this queen , to comfort her in her eclipse of dignity , by continuing such an acknowledgement of power and honour ; and that to mitigate her resentments , he will in time make her vice-queen of naples , or some other realm , where though she command not over so largely extended a dominion , nor with a power so ablolute , as when she sate on the throne , she will have the satisfaction to enjoy a pleasanter climate . there are that when they must needs acknowledge they cannot comprehend to what purpose the chief minister is so solicitous in cultivating this queens good graces , have recourse to zeal for religion ; and that he proposeth to himself no other end nor other glory , then to cause an abjuration of her faith , to follow the renunciation of her crown , and to send her to rome as his triumph for so great a work . whatever it be that moves the spaniards to a negotiation , that to most wits seems very useless ; this is most certain that if they have complacency for this princess , she hath no less for them . for besides what i have already said , i have had advice that at her arrival at antwerp , she extolled the beauty of that city with such excess , she made no difficulty of preferring it before the kingdom she had quitted ; nor of saying , she had rather be marchioness of antwerp then queen of sweden . it is most certain , that in stockholm it self , in her familiar discourse she made it manifest , she had no great value either for her countrey or subjects , whither this were a designe and foresight , that as she should not long command the latter , so she would soon quit the former , or an effectual aversion for her people , caused by frequentation of strangers , and contempt of her countrey by reason of the relations they made her of the benignity of the air they breathed in the parts where they were born . besides all this , it is well known , that after she had testified a desire to become mediatress of a peace between france and spain , about which she had discourse with mr chanut , when he was to see her , ( assuring him that the spaniards wished it , and would put their concernments into her hands , if france would do the like ) she was angry when she knew her interposal was not accepted , and writ to him in terms very different from the former , and more advantagious to spain : amongst her respects for all that comes to her in the name of that king , might be reckoned her manner of living with antonio piementelli , were it believed she had the same value for his character as for his person : she hath an extraordinary propensity to all he propounds , even to a forcing her own inclinations to a compliance with his . she is known to be learned , and to love books and schollars , yet busies her self in trifles to suit his genius , in such a manner , that if any learned men visit her whilst he is present , she avoids such discourses as may discover his weakness , be tedious to him , strike him dumb and constrain that gay humour is reported to be so natural to him . having reported all that the spanish criticisms informed me in those matters of state , ( whether catholic or paradoxical ) which because of freshest date are their most usual entertainments , and having mentioned their opinions of those that manage them , or that are or have bin their principal or accessary objects ; it is time to say something of such ministers of forreign princes as i had the honour to be acquainted with in this court , the first of these was the earl of fieschi , agent for the prince of conde ; he was very kind to us , and being as well one of the greatest wits as gallants of the french court ; it is pity he hath engaged himself in a party and employment that hath so much altered his constitution , and changed his humor , so that he is hardly to to be known by those that have been most particularly acquainted with him : he is fallen into a sickness that by intervals makes him pale , disorders his pulse and disables him for company or discourse . he keeps a good table , the countrey he is in considered : when we eat with him , it afflicted us to see him in the middle of a meal rise from his seat and cast himself on a bed . at access of the fit , he sodainly changes colour , and one would think him fainting : this is supposed to be the effect alone of melancholly and displeasure caused by the troubles in which he is engaged , which have separated him from his relations , estate , and tranquility of the life he had wont to lead . he took the prince of conde's party out of inclination and generosity only , for it is said , he had not the least cause of discontent either from the court or chief minister , and his interest would rather have led him to have followed the duke of orleans and madamoiselle then any other , his wife relating to that princess ; but he thought he was to go on , and not boggle when he had once chosen a master . after serving him well at bourdeaux , and several rencounters , he was sent hither to give greater reputation to the affairs of that prince , managed by st agolin , in quality of gentleman of his chamber . at first he endeavoured to divert himself by all the recreations this place afforded , besides which , he enjoyed one peculiar to himself by reason of the excellent verses he composed : he was pleased to repeat to us some sonnets he had made in praise of the prince of conde , and almost a whole scene of a piece he begun in imitation of senecas medea : but neither love nor the muses had charms powerful enough against that discontent and melancholly , which reduced him to the lamentable condition in which we lef him ; his health being disturbed by so frequent and sodain alterations as neither himself , his friends , nor physitians could understand . he therefore forsook all pleasures , for devotions , and instead of seeking company that might divert his thoughts from contemplating his affairs and infirmity ; he made la casa del campo , his hermitage , whither he often went , either alone , or accompanied by one friend , whom he tired with silent walking . the king allowed him a coach with four horses , neither good nor bad ; but the coachman and footman very ill cloathed for servants of so great a king. besides this equipage which he commands whensoever he pleases ; he hath his particular train which consists of some footmen , a secretary , a master of the horse , a page , and some other officers ; to maintain himself and them , the king allows him 1800 crowns a month and pays his house-rent : he wears the spanish habit , and seems so far concerned in the interests of that court , whither really , or to justify his engagement with it , that he speaks of it with passion , and will allow nothing to be comparable to the manner of living in it ; this is not because without cause of complaint ▪ but , ( as is supposed ) obliged by prudence : he medles with little at present , as well by reason of his indisposition , as that the prince of conde sometime since , sent one of his counsellors , who seems to have the intrigue and principal affairs in his hand ; he is called mazeroles , and well qualified : he hath as much learning as is necessary to manage the affairs of the time ; he perfectly understands this court and nation ; his wit is solid , yet quick and supple ; his judgement exquisite , and in the affairs he handles there needs be no distrust of his mistaking the shadow for the substance , nor the point for the hilt ; his conversation is both agreeable and serious in such a manner , that none go from him without satisfaction , and instruction of many things remarkable in themselves or circumstances . in a word , one may say of him that his parts are solidly established , both by art and nature , were he not tormented by an astma , that gives him little repose . this indilposition was acquired by riding post on his masters occasions , and it is so violent , that for some years he hath not slept but in a chair , not daring to lie in a bed , for fear of being suffocated by a defluxion and shortness of wind . the king of spain allows him also one of his coaches , drawn by as many horses as that which attends the earl of fiesque . in the palace which is called conde house remain still some of those that followed that princes party , and accepted not the amnesty ; the chief of these is monsieur de trincars , counsellor in the parliament of bourdeaux , he is a man of parts and honour , and that was very well with monsieur d' espernon , but that carried with the stream , abandoned himself to follow the fortune of the prince of conde , when he came to possess himself of the government of gascone ; that party declining , the prince of conti sent him into england to solicite succors , whilst he was there , they of bourdeaux returned to their kings obedience , which exposed him to a great deal of rigor , the effects of which , would have been sensible to his estate , had it not been secured as his wives dowry . that his person might be in no less safety , he retired to this place ; after which , the prince made him intendant of his army , but he cannot obtain from these ministers 500 pistols the prince gave him to be paid out of his pensions ; neither doth he solicite them longer , nor press any thing but his discharge , which he knows they will not grant without the 500 pistols , lest his arrival with the prince , give him a new subject of complaint by so much the more just , in that this counsellor , whom he summons to an imployment , in which he will be necessary to him , demands not any gratification or ajuda de costa , as it is here called , but the payment of part of a sum that is due to him ; by what i guessed , the difficulty lay not in the expedition of the pasport , but of the money , without which they would not have him go away . in the same house lives also an agent of monsieur de marcin who solicits his masters pensions ( which amounts to 12000 crowns a year ) as general of the kings armies ; besides the assignation the prince of conde gives on the money he draws from hence ; all these and some others that are in this house , live on the 18 hundred crowns a month that are given the earl of fiesque ; it is true , that by the death of st agolin who was the princes first envoye ; this charge will be somewhat eased : st agolin was a gentleman of auvergne that lay sick long , and was at last killed by hot medicines ; they speak very pleasantly of his doctors , who after six months application of all manner of cold remedies , told him , that since those availed not , they must try hot ones , and so brought him to his end , in which he was happier then in so crasie a life : i saw his grave , and was pointed out one of the sumptuosities of this countrey , which requires persons of quality to have crimson velvet or red sattin nailed to their coffin , adorned with gold and silver lace , at least on the seams , if not covered over . the second agent or ambassador of forrain princes , was the dukes of florence ; he is a clergy-man that wants not wit , of good meen , and free and affable conversation . his brother , whom we knew at the great dukes court , where he is very considerable , had given us a letter for him , which we delivered quickly after our arrival at madrid : he received us well , and made many offers of service to my lord ..... but gave us occasion to observe that the study of spanish and its near relation to the italian , made it very difficult for us to use the latter without mixture of some words of the former : nay some italians could scarcely avoid this , nor speak their own languaage with purity after acquisition of some little of the castillian . no prince in italy being more streightened by the spaniards than the great duke , he alwayes keeps an ambassador in this court to get intelligence of whatever passes : for besides that which this king possesses in the isle of elba , he is master of the best havens in toscany that belonged to the republick of sienna , and therefore much concerned in the affairs of this crown particularly in those that belong to it in italy . seignior encontri , of whom i now speak , is very intelligent in these matters , and too active and quick-sighted to be ignorant of what passes here . he discovered the treaty of the genoueses with this king for acquisition of pontremoli ; and as soon as he had vented the mine , and recived the great dukes orders to act with all his might towards gaining a place so advantagious to him , he so well thwarted the genoueses in their bargain , he broke it off , and struck up for his master . in acknowledgment of which that prince a little after sent the ambassador a horse of massie gold , made sometime before for henry the fourth , or lewis the thirteenth of france , and removing the effigies of one of those kings which was of the same mettal , there needed no more but to place in its stead that of philip the fourth , to be presented to don lewis de haro , who accepting it , declared to do so on no other termes , but to bestow it in his masters cabinet , where , as was reported , he effectively placed it . my lord ..... made many visits to this ambassador , who also came twice or thrice to see him ; being an ecclesiastick he only wore along robe , without taking the habit of the country . the third forrain minister was seignior quirini , ambassador for the republick of venice : he is very magnificent and splendid , and of a meen altogether suitable to the majesty of that august senate : whose dignity yet he better supports by an acquired knowledg of all that belongs to a person of quality , accompanied by a judgment whose solidity incomparably moderates the exuberance of his memory in such a manner , that the promptitude of the one never clashes against the maturity of the other . a gentleman of piedmont called ranusio , who had been sent by the duke of savoy to the dutchess of mantua , his aunt , made us known to seignior ..... secretary of the embassy , who presented us to that excellent person . he received us perfectly well , and assured my lord ..... that the memory of his grandfather was dear to the senate , to whom he had been ambassador , and that they which then governed saw so many excellent qualities in that great personage , they mentioned him to their children ▪ as one of the ablest headpieces had ever appeared before them ; after this he discoursed with us about the troubles of england , and the war between cromwell and holland then lately ended , and told us that the seigniory of venice , who was the first that sent ambassadors to henry the fourth of france , before seated on his throne , which the league with great might and fury disputed against him , and that had made no difficulty of acknowledging the states of the low-countries when they had freed themselves from the spanish obedience , had not as yet sent any ambassador into england to own that republick or protector . the reason he gave us was , that that prudent senate would do nothing it might be forced to revoke ; and though these later might seem ( however so sodainly ) better established than the former , they could not subsist long , and would therefore wait till their power were better settled , less tumultuary and precipitous than as yet : that it would see what time would do with them , lest with other soveraigns it might suffer the displeasure to have adressed it self to mushrums , who started up in a night , and might vanish in the morning ; for though the forces and industry of the king of great britain had till that time failed of restoring him to his throne , it was probable enough he might recover it by means of internal revolutions , and such flowings of state , as return what the like ebbs have carried away . visits and acquaintance of this nature give a soul to travail , when a moment presents one part of what great personages resident , in the country where he is , have been long acquiring . and as such men observe all with great exactness , and have opportunity to do so , their discourses are sometimes more instructive than some years residence , they being usually most open to strangers . the three ambassadors i have mentioned were all we knew here , though there was also one on accompt of the emperor ▪ called comte lambert , who succeeded the comte of grain ; but we never visited him . at our being at antwerp he was also there with all his family ; his wife is daughter to compte wallenstine , lord high chamberlain of his imperial majesty . he received the collar of the golden fleece from the kings own hands , and went away no less satisfied than we , by vacancy of several chambers in the inne , for want of which we did little less than camp the night before his departure . he is a tall man , thin-faced , and of no extraordinary meen . they say he agreed better with this court than the earl of grain , a bold wit , that made himself more feared than loved , that spoke free truths to the king , and medled in more than belonged to his charge : he slighted the order , that no coach , except the kings and masters of his horse should be drawn with six mules or horses in the town . he did not think himself obliged to observe this , and still went through the streets as formerly : he was once in a passion against those that admonished him of it in the kings name , whereas the last complies and uses but four like other ambassadors . the king of denmark hath also an agent here , but we had no acquaintance with him ; he lives privately , and the people one day as he passed called him lutheran ; the king himself ( on occasion of a difference he had ) not using terms more favourable . besides some small interests of state of his masters in this court i think his residence is only to facilitate the commerce of his subjects and allies , he was upon his departure , and staid only for a pass from france , that he might not be arrested on the frontier . an envoy of the landgrave of armstadt was also upon going with more satisfaction , ( as i found by his discourse ) as well that he was no longer to trouble himself with ineffectual solicitations , as that he had obtained ( as he thought ) something for his masters interests . he came to demand the pensions the spaniards ought to pay him according to treaties made with him in germany , and of which the arrears mounted very high , but he carried away nothing but paper with assignations very incertain ( as i was told ) and no ready mony , besides aynda de costa , that is something to bear his charges . we saw also the popes nuncio who was likewise on his departure , for which he had long prepared , but , because he that was to succeed him , called seignior massimi ( if i mistake not ) had at his landing in the kingdom of valentia been arrested in the kings name , with prohibibition to go forward , he was fain to stay till that difference was accommoded , which arose from innocent the tenth's sending him that was to succeed , without having first given the court advice of it , and known whether it were acceptable ; and since the french had on the same occasion arrested the nuncio in provence , it was thought spain might do the like ; besides that , this came charged with some instructions relating to portugal and this court , which in the kings opinion were not sufficiently catholick , who possessed of that title with precedence of all others , required them after his own fashion . these difficulties , and such other as concerned his reception , being at last removed , after his passing sometime as a private person in the kingdom of valentia , he was permitted to come to this town , and exercise his function : he arrived on the eve of corpus christi , or a little before it , and saw the solemnity through a grated window , not appearing because not received ; and he in whose place he came ( doubtlessly not a little troubled to be removed from so profitable an employment ) did that day his last office in attending the king in that ceremonie . now i am speaking of the ambassadors and ministers of forrain princes , i will not omit what i have to say of margarite of savoy dutchess of mantua , who prepared to leave the court , and pass the rest of her life in the dutchy of millan , where the king had assigned certain lands for her entertainment . she is daughter of an infanta of spain and of charles emanuel duke of savoy : she was married to duke ferdinand , the last duke of mantua of that line , and had but one daughter during the life of her father married to the duke of rethel , son of the duke of nevers , to secure to him the succession of those estates as nearest heir ; but spain resolving to dispute it with him ; this woman , whose inclinations were totally spanish , sided with the house of austria against her own daughter ; the commotions that were consequences of this in italy , are known to all the world , it is enough that i remember here that this princess being retired to this court , for which she had so openly declared , was well received , and to employ her wit and zeal made vice-queen of portugal ; where , to speak truth she comported her self prudently . but the insolence and avarice of the ministers imposed to act under her , seconded by the countenance and approbation of the condeduke , at that time favorite , was so great she could not prevent their driving the people to dispair , discontenting the grandes , and wronging the clergy , giving occasion to all of them to take arms for reestablishng their liberty . these things she often wrote both to the king and his chief minister , particularizing all exorbitancies committed , and danger of a general revolt : but the favourite caused little regard to be given to her advice , ever crying out she was a woman , and all she writ trifles , more crediting the letters of the ministers he had sent with the intrigue than hers ; on which accompt after affairs in lisbonne had changed face , and a short exile that permitted her not to come to court was passed over , at her return from that lost kingdom , getting opportunity to speak with the king , she assisted towards ruining the duke of olivares in his opinion . she was afterwards entertained at madrid by his majesty , who now at last gave her permission to retire to her native country , there to lay her bones , being very aged . some nevertheless suppose her sent into italy , to be a means of inticing the duke of savoy her nephew ( now of age ) from the french alliance , and of continuing the duke of mantua her grandchild in the spanish interests , into which he entred after the taking casal , and from which they distrust he may be biassed by his great engagements to france , as well on accompt of his birth as of the estate he possesses there . during our stay at madrid we had many faithful companions of our travails monsieur ...... in whom to the desire of knowing things that are considerable , is joyned such a comprehension of them , he is become capable of signalizing himself in service of his country , as soon as he shall attain the rank his own merit , and his deceased fathers services seem to have acquired him . i will say nothing of his other vertues , that have made too deep impression in my memory , to believe they can ever be effaced , i had the happiness to know him in florence , where mr. ..... and he renewed the friendship they had contracted in their tender years , when they bore arms together in holland under prince william of orange . coming out of italy he landed in the kingdom of valentia , and from thence went streight to madrid in hope of meeting us , but having continued there sometime , despairing of our arrival , he resolved to be gone : when he least thought of us , and could not expect at madrid in the middle of the spring those that should have passed the winter there ▪ four horse-men passed by his lodging , whose habit and horses discovered them to be of the other side the mountains , his curiosity obliged him to follow them to the place where they ●●●ghted , not a little surprised to find those he had so impatiently expected : he was then in such an equipage , that i must confess at first i knew him not , he wore the cassock , rocket , thin and streight stockings , with pumps and breeches like holsters , which so strangely diguised him he seemed not the same person we had been acquainted with in florence ; his mustaches or whiskers grown long and turned up with irons , made me more a stranger to the air of his face , he not a little resembling the king of spain , of whom he hath more of the meen in that habit , than of himself , when clothed after the fashion of his countrey . after mutual expressions of our joy , we acquainted him with the delayes of our journey , and he told us the successes of his , and having passed three moneths in madrid , during which we failed not one day of seeing one another we resolved to pass together into france by way of arragon : but before we put this in execution , a troop of illustrious strangers , whom we were very glad to see arrived in madrid : amongst them were two gentlemen whose perfections of mind and body made evident , that if heaven hath given them great advantages by eminent birth , their education and docility have contributed no less to that virtue and prudence which surpasses their age . they brought many letters from the earl of fuensaldaigne , dom stephen de gamarra , and other of the king of spains ministers in the low-countries , to the best of this court , who received them very well , but wanting the language they took along with them a burgundian doctor called rognar , imployed in the businesses of several officers that serve in the kings armies , and other persons of his nation that are concerned in this court to be their interpreter , they were caressed by all , especially by don lewis and the earls of ognate & pigneranda : though they resolved to stay at madrid no longer then midsummer day to see the fight of bulls , they habited themselves according to the mode of the country , and intending within two moneths to leave it for portugal , they began at first to provide horses , and solicit the expedition of a pass to make the tour of spain , notwithstanding the excessive heat of those regions . as soon as we got our pass we prepared to be gone , it was in the same form as that we brought out of flanders from the arch-duke , very ample and unlimited , as well to time as persons . having taken our leaves , and besides the nags we brought out of france furnished our selves with some spanish horses , we left madrid the 17th of june , taking the way of arragon ▪ in the forenoon we rid six leagues , the country very dry , which continued to be so till we came to the river de los henares , on which stands the city of alcala , in latin called complutum . it is very famous for its university , founded ( as is reported ) on the model of that of paris , and like it divided into several colledges , every one provided of professors called cathedraticos . divinity and philosophy florish more here than in any other university of spain , and salamanca in the kingdom of leon most for students in the civil law , alone equalls it . the town is long but narrow , having little more than one fair street , in which the scholars lodge . here , as i was told , cardinal mazarin was a student , sent by cardinal colonna when legate in spain : the little river of henares that passes by it makes the land about it fertil , and renders it more agreeable than the rest of the country , where for want of water there are neither trees nor grass : leaving here the poste rode , and taking the shortest way that led to arragon , we lay at marcamalo ▪ about 4 leagues distant ; this is a little village without any thing remarkable . the 18th we dined at hita , a small town seated on the top of a little hill shadowed by a greater : that night we lay at cadadra a pretty town in a valley : from hence we went the next morning early , and dined at saguença ; we inned in the suburbs , where we drunk wine esteemed the best of castile ; but it is like aquavitae , not only strong but fiery , yet bears not water . having refreshed our selves , for we had a very cool chamber , and plenty of snow , we went to lodge at fuente caliente : or rather to do penance there for the pleasure we enjoyed at noon . it s name ( interpreted , the hot fountain ) is not given it without reason ; we suffered here very much , not only by heat , but bad accommodation on all accounts ; the host was rude and barbarous , suitable to so savage a habitation . the 20th over a very barren countrey and hot mountains we came to arcos , the last town of new castile , where consequently is a puerto or customhouse : it was a sunday and holiday , and the people all at mass when we passed ; we traversed it very leisurely without any one's saying any thing to us ; but as soon as we were beyond a certain gate , by which we went from the village to the high-way , in that part very streight by reason of the brook and mountain , and had gotten about 100 paces beyond all the barricado's , we perceived people running and calling after us ; i staied to know what they would have , and when they overtook me , they told me the puerto or custom-house was in that town . i replied we we were not merchants , nor had any obligation upon us on that account , having sufficient passports from the king , and that if they had had any thing to say to us , they ought to have done it in the town , and there have acquainted us that there was a custom-house , we having no moco de mulas , or guide to inform us . they desired that one of us would go back to shew our pass , which i did , though unadvisedly ; for i have been told since we might have gone on , and gained arragon , and so have avoided the cavils and impudence of those harpies . when i shewed my pass they said they must call a council to consider if it were valid , and that therefore i should send to the company to return . which being done they told us we might go a la posada , e que toda la nuestra ropa estava descaminada ; that we might go to the inn , for all our baggage was confiscated : then guessing they intended by terrifying to get money of us , i bid them read our pass , which was in these termes . it having been represented to me in the names of ..... and ..... at present in this court on occasion of business very much importing them , that being to return to their countrey , they desire i would please to order them a pass : i have condiscended , and therefore command all my viceroys , captains general , governors , corrigidors , alcades , and other judges and justices of my kingdoms and dominions of what degree or quality soever , where the above-mentioned persons with four servants and eight horses , their arms and baggage shall pass , not to give them any lett , impediment or disturbance whatsoever ; but on the contrary , all assistance and favour they may stand in need of , for such is our will and pleasure , i the king , and underneath geronimo de la torre . i thought this pass sufficient to prevent these publicans detaining us , but thirst of gain in which , on several other occasions they had had success against all justice and reason , made them obstinate by expectation of the like . i asked the cause of their disrespect to his majesties passe ? sometimes they said it was shewd too late , and otherwhiles that it was not on sealed paper ; by which i perceived they designed to bring us to a composition of 50 or 60 pistols . finding us not at all compliable , and that i caused a certificate to be made by a publick notary ; that francisco salazar , alcalde of the place , stayed us contrary to the kings passe , ( having plotted together to that purpose ) they began to talk high , hoping so to terrify us , and the alcalde seising our valises , caused them to be carried to the custom-house , where opening them he took an inventory of all , and not only of such money as we had in them , but in our pockets , and forming an accusation , obliged us to put in our answers ; in which they endeavoured to circumvent us , but i looked so near to what they writ , i suffered nothing to pass i had not spoken , otherwise protesting against signing it : these many formalities were made use of to fright us with the name of justice , of which , all their noise and scribling coming short , a priest that belonged to them and another fellow that did the office of a secretary , told me in private , that giving 50 pistols we might go freely ; i slighted this , but told them , i cared not if i gave them 30 patagons , though their insolence did not deserve it . and such indeed it was , particularly on the part of the alcalde salazar , a knight of st jago , but an arrant rascal as well as the customer nicholas lopes de cordoua that had the meen of a jew ; at last they became impudent and desperately outragious when they saw they could not effect their design of plundering us ; and perceiving it , resolved that i should return post to madrid , to complain of them and desire justice ; they also provided one to carry their justification to the receiver-general of the customs , and sent him away afoot : the remainder of the day was spent in such contestations with them , but at last they suffered me to go about eight in the evening ; their messenger being first dispatched : my lord — writ all to the earl of pigneranda . i was imposed upon by them at my first mounting , in the prices of the horses ; no posts in the world furnisht with better then those of spain , nor that are less ridden ; for , excepting such as carry letters and some extraordinary couriers that are sent to court from several parts , especially st sebastians and catalonia , this way is little made use of , they preferring hackney mules : which indeed are more commodious , as i found by experience on this occasion , for though the horses be good , one is tormented by wretched saddles , with very narrow seats , high pummels , and extraordinary hard . so that to be mounted in such a manner , one is little more at ease then on a rack . at the 3d stage , the horses for all furniture had only pannels with wooden stirrups hung in ropes . finding fault with such equipage ; the postmaster told me , it was not strange he had no saddles , and that i should find the pannel easier , i complied , and at first was in a great deal of disorder , because i could not settle on the stirrups , and by reason of the extraordinary breadth of the pannel ; but this passed over , i liked their pannels better then their saddles , and called for one at the next stage , but could not have it , and took a saddle , not so convenient as the pannel i was so unwilling to ride on . at the 3d stage they took me for the express of catalonia , carrying some good news to the king , which i did not much contradict , because i found my self better used on account of it ; they demanding for each horse but four rials , about 2 s. 6 d. of our money . few post-masters keep above two or three horses ; neither are they obliged to more , they have salaries of 3 or 400 crowns ; nay some 500 , for the keeping only of two horses and a post-boy . the earl of ognate is post-master-general , which is very profitable to him ; my horses were every where very good , and galloped all the way , but the postilions often stopping to give them breath , which they call rezelar , is very troublesome : besides , that at changing horses , especially in the night , they are very tedious . the post way is not the same we passed in going to arcos , but over a very fertile plain , watered by the river de los henares ; 5 or 6 leagues are often rid on the same horses , because the posts are not established as they ought to be at every two leagues . arriving at madrid , after some repose , and dining with monsieur de mogeron , i was forced to stop till the heat of the middle of the day passed over , before i could endeavour any thing in my business , for all here sleeping after dinner , i could not see the earl of pigneranda ( with whom i resolved to begin , and for whom i had a letter ) till about five a clock ; and therefore in the interim , went to consult of my business with some friends , and meeting in the calle major , a very honest fleming , called don pedro , that understood this court well , and spoke excellent spanish , giving him account of our accident , he drew a memorial to be presented by the earl of pigneranda to the council royal , not doubting of my success , but advising me not to be impatient of delays , it being most certain , that this people as much observe formalities in the slightest affairs , as in those of the highest concernment , and withal letting me understand there was great indulgence for farmers of customs , because the kings principal revenue , rising from it , their exactions are sometimes connived at . indeed , taxes on land bring up little or nothing in spain , because the countrey is not sufficiently manured , and were husbandmen burthened , would be less so , even to a want of necessary sustenance . he told me more , that when the customs are farmed , it is done in so absolute a manner , that nothing p●sses , not for the kings own use , without paying ; and if he give any exemptions , they are deducted from the rent the farmers agreed for . those fellows therefore make use of a hundred cheats ( too tedious to be here related ) in order to confiscation , which if they cannot effect with justice , they forge false suppositions , and under pretence of the kings rights , exercise their rapine with soveraignty , and are so insolent , that on all occasions they vaunt themselves to be the kings servants ; and a wretched waiter or other spawn of a publican , will sometimes be fancy enough to threaten an honest man to beat him , or break open his trunk if he be slow in delivering the key . in france one suffers no less by the extravagant greediness of this kind of cattle ; and i cannot forget the pains they took at diep , to send an army of guards aboard the vessel i arrived in , to visit my valise , tossing up and down my cloaths , annd taxing a bit of cloth that remained of a suit i had made at london two crowns ; so that if princes or their ministers limit not their exactions , travailers are miserably exposed to them , and this is their great scourge , the more to be apprehended , because seldom or never punished : the greatest part of those fellows in spain are thought to be jews , and when their plunderings have gorged them with wealth , the trap of the inquisition is set for them . going at nine a clock to the earl of pignerandas , he was not returned , but i acquainted his secretary don martin with my business , desiring him to move it to his lord , and to give him the letter i brought from my lord — with the memorial : the next day about the same hour i went again , and found that lord very much troubled at what had happened to us , who after , offering me a coach , money , and all else in his power , desired me to have a little patience , and told me he was very sorry my lords — and — were in so bad a place , and arrested by the insolence of those picaros , who should be exemplarily punished , and we receive all manner of satisfaction : the like i did to don lewis de haro , and found the like civility . to make short , my solicitations had such effect , that the king appointed a commission to be dispatched by the council of castille for an alguazil de corte , and a secretary to go along with me to arcos and bring francisco salazar to the publick prison of madrid in order to his punishment , and an ampler passport was given me that we might no more apprehend the like inconvenience . the alguazil and secretary that were appointed to go with me , refused to travail by night , or to ride post , so that i was fain to tarry till the 26th of june , and then return by mule. experience taught me , that this way of travailing , is very inconvenient ; for , besides that , for more expedition , the mules always trot , one cannot express how much their hard mouths press and weary the hand , nor what a torment it is , going down hill to suffer their slow progression . being thus excellently mounted , and in this honourable company ; i neglected nothing towards my speedy arriving at arcos , whither i came the 29th of iune , and found the lord — and — already advertised of the success of my journey by a letter from madrid ; i immediately carried the alguazil and secretary to execute their commission ; the alcalde was much surprized , but making use of his priviledge , as knight of the order of st iames , refused to obey without a mandate from the council of the orders . my alguazil who was of the higher order , and one of those that are called alguazil de corte , often summoned him to go along with him to madrid as his prisoner , but he still refused to obey , of which the alguazil took witness , saying ; he could not use force , because that town belonging to the duke of medina celi , there was no corrigidor above the alcalde , but that this would undo the alcalde , and that he doubted not to return from madrid with power to carry him thither bound hands and feet ; and we heard afterwards , that ( as spanish justice never pardons ) he was punished according to his deserts ; the rest of the officers of the custom-house seeing the bad condition of their protector , were as compliable and civil as they had been arrogant and insupportable : they returned all that belonged to us without the least diminution , and they which before pretended to plunder us , and threatened that we should pay for the tedious writings they had drawn , desired now nothing more then to be quit , not only of us , but of the prey we had redeemed from their clutches : we had no less impatience to get from amongst such rascals , which that we might the sooner do , we contented our selves , to recommend the punishment of them to those other harpies , who seldom suffer such as they seise on to escape , giving them all damages and costs we might pretend the more to incite them to our revenge . as soon as freed from those troubles , we made all haste towards arragon . several parts of this province are very agreeable , and when we had left the mountains that inclose arcos , we came to very pleasant vallies , and the 29th of iune in the evening , entred erizza or herizo , the first town on that side of that kingdom : the next day we dined at texa , that hath nothing remarkable , and lay at callatajud ▪ one of the principle cities of the kingdom , seated at the end of a very fertile plain , but in nothing considerable , unless in giving birth and abode to lorenzo brachian infanzon , a modern writer , very famous amongst the spaniards ; he hath published several treatises of morality and policy , amongst which , one is called el criticon , of which , two parts only are printed , a kind of satyr , very ingenious in imitation of barclais euphormio : in this piece his stile differs much very from those small treatises in which he is so concise , abrupt , and strangely laconick , one would think he had made it his business to be obscure ; the reader must often divine his sense , which found , he perceives an enigma hath been made of something not very extraordinary . seneca and tacitus are very short of him in this manner of writing , and if it be said of the former , that his stile is sand without lime , and that the second is so mysterious , he contains more then he expresses : we may conclude that of gracian , hath so little connexion in its periods and so much restraint in its words , that the conception is like a diamond ill set , whose flame and luster appear not so that it looses the esteem of the better half of the work . there lives in the same kingdom another virtuoso , affecting like him the lacedemonian eloquence , he is called vincencio ivan de lastinosa . by whose means most of the works of gracian are printed . this lastannosa is looked on as the most curious person of spain ; he dwels at huesca , the second city of arragon , where he is reported to have collected a cabinet that is a very agreeable theatre of grecian and roman antiquities ; there are many statues , vases , urnes , arms , precious stones , antient moneys , medals and rings ; in which he is so well studied , that he hath written a treatise of the antient moneys of spain , which passes for exquisite in its kind , and rare in its observations . the first of july having dined at ofranco we lay at almunia , seated in a fruitful valley , and yielding a fair prospect on which side soever it is beheld : saragosa is but nine leagues from it , and we intended to dine the next day at la muela , and to arrive before the heat , but unhappily lost our way on a great heath , without house , tree , bush , or water ; it extended even to the walls of saragossa , without giving any opportunity to refresh , or to avoid the suns beams for 5 or 6 leagues . it fell out well for us , that the day was not excessively hot , so that our sufferings were not extreme , though some of the company were in no little choller , to ride so far without drawing bit , and complained no less then if they had traversed the sands of libia , but it is folly to be troubled where no remedy can be had , and before our patience was quite tired , half a league short of saragosa we came to a brook , where we all alit to refresh our selves , and as nothing seems hard to a sharp hunger , our vehement thirst made that water ( none of the best ) to be drunk with pleasure : we came at last to sarragossa the capital city of arragon , seated in a largely extended plain ; it is divided by the river ebro , but the greatest part of it on the side where we arrived . a little short of it is an old castle called alta feria ; with a pitiful graft about it , we were told it had formerly bin a palace of their kings , and was then of the inquisition . the farmer of the customs had guards at the gate , who hearing that our servants followed with our baggage , detained us not long : we desired notice might be given them , that they should know where we lodged at the house of one redmondon a merchant , for whom we had letters of credit ; we alit at his house and found him at dinner , he presented us very good wine , which refreshed us , and restored the vigor the long journey and excessive heat had deprived us of ; he afterwards brought us to the best inn in the town , where we had a fair and cool room , and to prevent our valises being detained at the custom-house , whither they must of necessity be brought ; i went to speak with the arrendador-general , and shew him our pass , which obliged him to be civil and to send us our baggage as soon as it came to him ; we tarried here all day to repair our loss of baiting at la muelan ; some of the company went to bed , others only casting off their clothes , shifted their linnen . monsieur — who arrived last , was the most thirsty , though not the most weary , therefore he lay not down ; but at his first coming in , drank so much water , and afterwards so much wine to correct its crudity , he became sick , besides too suddain an attempt to quench his thirst ; he walked long unbuttoned , and almost naked , not only about the house , but came to us in slippers and without doublet , where we were on the banks of ebro that ran behind the inn , where we sucked a gentle gale that came down the river ; on the morrow a feavor took him which continued 5 or 6 days , and obliged us to tarry 10 in that city : soon after our arrival we visited the duke of monteleon , viceroy of this kingdom ; he is one of the greatest noblemen of naples , of whom in the last revolution of that city , the spaniards became jealous , though he had served them advatagiously in the former : that they might no longer fear him they sent for him into spain , and that they might disguise their distrust , made him viceroy of arragon . this charge is honourable , but not profitable , the king allowing but little , and the kingdom bringing in less , neither is any thing splendid in his family ; we delivered him the kings letter , and that of don lewis ; having read them in our presence , he made us offers of all that lay in his power : he seemed not to us of a genius much elevated , whither his resentments of the spaniards ill usage have dejected it , or whither he conceals a part , least ostentation of the whole might be prejudicial to him . besides the viceroy , whose charge ceases every three years ; here is a governour of the city , or rather of the countrey , since his power is reported principally to extend over it ; this charge is the more considerable because for life . though the viceroyalty and government of saragossa are the two great charges of this kingdom , yet no authority is equal to that of the chief justice , called el justicia , to shew that he is to do justice in all and above all : so that he determines of what concerns the king , kingdom , subjects , laws and priviledges : but for the better understanding this , and that which i shall hereafter observe touching the great contestation here between high powers : it is necessary that i set down what i have been told concerning the priviledges of this kingdom . after the moors had entred spain , on occasion of the injuiry done by don rodrigo to comt don julian in person of his daughter , called la cava , whom he ravished , arragon was the first province that freed it self from the yoke of the infidels , and that finding not only the race , but memory of its ancient kings totally extinct , by it self , made a recovery of its self , to it self , without owning any soveraign . but lest they should be a body without a head , and that they might enjoy secure repose in their new liberty , they soon after deliberated of electing a king , and cast their eyes on a private gentleman called garcia ximenez . it must yet be acknowledged that they made him rather prince or president of their state than their soveraign ; and in imitation of the spartans , so much limited his authority , that that of theopompus was not more streightned by the ephori , than that of this king by the rules imposed upon him : and it being very easie to violate the most fundamental laws of a state , when the supreme power is concerned so to do , if there be none with hazard of his life obliged to watch for their preservation , they established el justicia , a magistracy of which i have spoken , that who might fear nothing in the vigorous executing his charge , they ordered he should not be liable to condemnation either in person or goods on what accompt soever , but in the general assembly of estates called las cortes , that is the king and kingdom . having thus bound up him they should elect for their king , they made a law called de la vajon , which imported that as soon as the king infringed their priviledges , it should be in their power to elect another , though a pagan ; and in case of wrong to any vassal or subject , the nobility and most considerable of the realm might assemble to protect him , and hinder any duties to be paid the king , till the party injured were indemnified , and the priviledge re-established in its former validity . they erected el justicia as gardian of this law , ( with several others , ) who for greater authority sate in a chair with his hat on his head , whilst the king bare and on his knees swore their priviledges between his hands : afterwards they owned him as their king , but in a very grange fashion ; for instead of vowing fidelity , they told him nos que valemos tanto como vos os hazemos nuestro rey y sennor , con tal que guardeis nuestros fueros y libertades , sino , no : that is , we that are equal to you make you our king and lord , on condition that you preserve our laws and liberties , and if not , not . this detestable fashion of owning a king so much disgusted don pedro , surnamed the dagger , that partly by intreaty , partly by intrigue , and offering other priviledges in the place of it , he caused it to be abolished in an assembly of the estates , and as soon as he got the parchment in which the law for it was written , voluntarily cutting his hand , he said ; that a law which imported that vassals might elect and limit their king , was to be effaced with the blood of a king. ley de poder elegir rey los vassallos sangre de rey avia de costar , these are reported to be the very words he pronounced , on which occasion the surname of the dagger was given to him : his statue is yet to be seen in saragossa , in the hall of deputation , with the dagger in one hand , and the priviledge cancelled with his blood in the other . and indeed the sacred blood of kings can on no accompt be better employed ( no not against a forain enemy ) then in suppressing such exorbitant priviledges of subjects as destroy the very foundation of monarchy . besides the two priviledges i have mentioned , not at all regarded by later kings , there is another still in force called the law of manifestation : by this every subject that thinks himself injured either in goods or person , by what tribunal soever , may complain a el justicia , who is obliged to make an exact enquiry , and cause the judge that hath given a corrupt sentence to be punished . this city at our being there was much discontented , because endeavours were used to violate this law. teo judges were accused for a sentence by which a certain woman thought herself injured , who , according to custome , deputed 500 crowns , and complained of the judges . the king , the tribunal d'el justicia , the viceroy , the governor , and some others that sought to augment the authority of the prince , and lessen the kingdoms priviledges , took these judges into their protection . the party grieved finding she could get no remedy , for the wrong she pretended done to her self and the law , had recourse a las cortes , or the states of the kingdom , who ( though the inquisition favoured the judges that were accused ) deputed commissioners called here judicantes . these are 9 persons drawn from the four bodies of arragon , that is the higher nobility intituled sennores , the clergy , the gentry called hidalgos , or cavalleros , and the cities . from the first of these bodies three are taken , and from each of the other two they usually make choice of the most illiterate to judge gown-men , whether that it may be done without partiality , or that their laws ought to be so plain , that even peasants and others the most ignorant may understand their equity , and judge if it hath been observed . these 9 deputies or commissaries condemned the judges of injustice , and ordered them to be banished , and their estates confiscated . this sentence made great noise , and the viceroy and governor by order of the court did their best to hinder its effect , nay the king himself writ to the justicia . the people concerned themselves in the business , and pasquils and libels were every where cast abroad with menaces , should it not be put in execution . countrey people flocked to the town , entertaining themselves only with the violation of their priviledges . doubt that this affair going to extremity might cause great disorders , in a time when the war of catalonia made the people of arragon more fierce and hardie , caused the viceroy and other favourers of the judges , without any farther unseasonable mention of the kings pleasure to suffer them to be dismist from their charges , and banished the town . were the like practised in all places , there would not be so many sentences given out of favor , passion , and interest , rather than according to law and equity , not distinguishable but in this one part of europe , where the judges are reported to tremble when they give sentence , fearing it may be their own condemnation , either as to body or goods , if unjust or erroneous in the least . notwithstanding all this , justice here is soveraign ; for though the judge that hath determined amiss be punished , the sentence he hath pronounced remains in full efficacy : so that he which accuses his judge hath only the satisfaction of revenge , and serves the publick rather than himself , by preserving the peoples priviledges , in prosecuting him that hath done wrong , and putting other judges in mind of their duties . he that is found to have accused his judge without cause only loses the 500 crowns he depositated , and though it appear he have reason , recovers little more , which in that case is levied on the estate of the unjust judge . the banishment of those two judges freed saragossa from apprehension of troubles , the people , by execution of the sentence , satisfying themselves , that at that time no attempt would be made upon their priviledges . had we continued longer at sarragossa we might have seen a ceremony observed in beheading murtherers ; for he which hath slain a man face to face , receives the stroke that beheads him before ; but such as treacherously came behind him are punished in the same manner : this is only for distinction sake , for probably the blow behind gives less pain to the criminal than that before . whilst we sojourned in this town we received many civilities from dom pedro miranda , born at oleron in bearn , and one of the richest bankers of this town . we had letters of credit to him , of which though we made no use , he did us all manner of good offices , every day sending us his coach , and sometimes accompanying us to what was most remarkable . the buildings here are large and high , and generally fairer than in madrid : there is one long and broad street where the tour is made as at madrid in the calle major . the most considerable house belongs to the duke of villa hermosa , who pretends to descend from the ancient kings of arragon , and thinks they which enjoy the crown do him wrong . to speak generally of the humor of the people of arragon , they are no less proud than the castilians , and value themselves above them and all other of spain ; and it must be granted that they are equal to , and sometimes surpass the most of them in wit , whether applied to good or evil . their soil is barren , and , excepting some valleys and such parts to which the waters of ebro are conveyed by cut channels to moisten it , all sand , heath and rock , so that it hardly affords corn to sustain its inhabitants . though so little fertil in fruits it hath ever produced gallant men , and from their first king to ferdinand they reckon not one that made not himself considerable to his neighbours , either by his wit or courage : that last above all other was so prodigious in the art of reigning , and vast ambition ill suited to the narrow limits of his little kingdom , that he endeavoured to extend them , and did so even from the foot of the pireneans to the streights of gibralter . that success with some other put him upon the design of an universal monarchy , and his successors are still accused to retain the intrigue and model of it , which he then imparted to his grandchild , who was to be heir of so many provinces , and in his own person unite the many dominions , that when single had been so formidable to their neighbours : besides which he had the wealth of a new world to facilitate his enterprise , and assist towards establishing so vast an empire , as had never been known before . it is true , some of the curious say , that to pretend he had a thought of this , is to accuse him of a chimera ; but that famous arragonian , who hath given us a contracted draught of his politicks , tells us parecieronle a ferdinando estrechos sus hereditarios reynos de arragon para sus dilatados desseos , y assi anhelo siempre a la grandeza y anchura de castilla , y de alli a la monarquia de toda espanna y aun a la universal de entrambos mundos ; which is to say , the vast designs of ferdinando being too much confined in his hereditary realms of arragon ; he first aimed at castille , then at the monarchy of all spain , and at last of both worlds . he was not for all this any great captain ; neither was this ambition the effect of valor , living in a time when wit and policy bore more sway then courage . he made use of the politicks of lewis the xi . of france , the industry of pope alexander the vi. the subtilty of lodowick storza , duke of milan , the vigilance of henry the viii . of england , and prudence of the emperor maximilian the i. all their dissimulation and all their cunning the put into so good a cruicible , that he separated what was solid from what was airy , discovering what was strong and what weak in them , and extracting such an establishment for himself and successors , that philip the ii had great reason , when looking on his picture , he said ; we owe this man all . spanish writers are transported when they speak of the grandeur of their royal family , some of them even to impiety , and a modern author says of it , casa que escogio dios en la ley de gracia , assi como la de abraham en la escrita , para ll●marse dios de austria , dios de rodolpho , de philippo e de ferdinando . a family elected by god in the new law , as the seed of abraham in the old , that he might call himself the god of austria , the god of rodolphus , of philip , and of ferdinand . but to return to the people , amongst whom this dextrous prince was born , and whom the polititians equalize to tiberius and lewis the xi of france , for a third idol of their ragione di stato ; i must add , that they are nothing hospitable nor civil to strangers . their lofty humour is not allaied with so much affibility as that of the castilians , and it is from this province , that the highway-men they call vandaleros spred themselves even into castille , making the roads very unsafe ; perhaps , by reason of its being so near a neighbor to the war , its inhabitants incline more to arms then other spaniards ; the gentry certainly pretends to an effectual gallantry , by continual protestations , they are ambitious of nothing so much as drawing their swords in their kings service : neither are they free from the rodomontados natural to all spaniards , and i was told that a young gentleman having mounted himself , with all advantages his purse would reach to , to go into to cat●lonia , and serve a campagnia , pleased himself above a month in riding about the streets of saragossa , sometimes on one horse , sometimes on another ; and meeting any that commended his horses , his arms , or his own activity ; he asked whither with such an equipage and arms as his , it were not easie to draw the frenchmens teeth : con estas armas y esto brao no se sacaran las muelas a los gavachos ? he no sooner arrived in catalonia , but he met an opportunity of shewing his courage , but was so unfortunate , he was at first wounded both in his arm and leg , which last was for ever lamed , and he ever since called the tooth-drawer . in the mean time if the war have in some manner incomoded this kingdom , it hath made it richer , for the passage of the forces and rendezvous of ammunition have caused the kings money to roll up and down in its chief cities ; and having particular priviledges , and not governing it self according to the courts orders , but it s own customs , notwithstanding the war with france , it ever kept up a trade beyond the mountains ; and the merchants of oleron , tholouse , and other parts of bearn and languedoc , pass and repass freely , as well to saragossa as the adjacent quarters , nay the greatest part of the banquiers of saragossa are of those countries . it is true they are concerned to make no noise of this , nor to do any thing that may give the least occasion of f●lling upon them ; for being known to be rich , justice looks on them as a prey she would be glad to have pretence to seise on . don pedro miranda is one of the most splendid of these , and best supported , having married a wife very well allied in this country . he is the most curious person in saragossa , and by every ordinary receives the gazets of paris , and other written intelligence , but communicates them not except to particular friends . he told us that at the time of the siege of arras , there came an order from madrid to the magistrate of this town , to make preparations for a publick rejoycing for taking a place of so great importance . none doubting to hear very sodainly of its surrender , scaffolds were begun to be erected for a fight of bulls ; before which were half finished , miranda by a particular letter understood that arras had been relieved : but not daring to publish such bad news , he ( with admiration ) saw that work go on , yet could not imagine but the viceroy and other of the principal inhabitants had the same intelligence with him , though they prepared for a triumph before a victory . a while after , and when all was ready for the festival , the viceroy received a letter from madrid that the siege of arras had failed , who sending for the governor and magistrates of the town , when he shewed them his letter , they were not a little surprised , and for their better satisfaction summoned miranda , who acknowledged that besides that one of his correspondents in paris had acquainted him with it eight dayes before , he had then with the gazets , received a print which gave all the particulars . one of the magistrates grew very angry and ready to affront him , that he had not advertised them to prevent the unnecessary charge , and their being laughed at by the people , threatning that he should be made to pay the four or five hundred pound it had cost the town . but the viceroy , and such as were more moderate , pacified that man , and sent away miranda without ever after troubling him about it . the people in the mean time seemed more concerned for pulling down the scaffolds erected for the festival , than for the failing in recovery of arras . after we had sojourned eight dayes at saragossa and resolved to return into france rather by navarre than catalonia , where , as was reported , was neither safety nor convenience for travailers , we took leave of the duke of montelion , who gave us a letter for the earl of st. stephen , viceroy of navarre : the 10th of july we went away , and lodged at halagon , a poor village . a factor of miranda called bertrand served us as guide in this journey , and we had in our company a spaniard , a man of parts and good fellow according to that countries mode . he travailed in a very pleasant equipage ; according to the faishon of spain ; his valisa he carried before him on the pummel of his saddle , leaning upon it , at each side and on his thighs hung his wallet of provisions , instead of holsters two leathern cases contained two bottles of wine , cooled by ice he put in every time he filled them : for which reason such cases of leather are called refread●res . every league or half league he drew out a bottle , and very civilly invited us to refresh our selves with his wine , which when we excused he made use of bertrand ( better accustomed to such debauches than we ) to bear him company . he told us many pleasant stories , but i have forgot all but two gallantries of the duke of ossuna , so famous for wit and humour , when viceroy of naples . one day , he said , to revenge himself of a widow that had been something cruel to him , and who , he yet knew , was not so to every body , he caused a certain frier suspected to be well with her , and that was believed the consolation of her widowhood , to be watched : as soon as he knew he was in her house , he came , and with his gards invested it , commandding the door to be opened , for a search that was important to the kings service : it was late in the night , yet the servants were so much surprised , that they let him in whilest the monk was with their lady , without giving her any notice . he tarried rallying with her all night , and about 8 in the morning caused the reverend frier to be taken up behind a trooper , a trumpet going before , which was to make a stand at every turning , and after sounding to point him out and say : whoever stand in need of a frier to comfort widows at midnight , let them address themselves to this gallant , and they shall be accommodated ; afterwards he sent from cloyster to cloyster to enquire which of them had lost a frier , and when discovered , returned him to his abbot , who was to be intreated at his going to bed to take with him the key of that good fellows cell , least he might wander another time . his other story was , that three curtesans living at naples so excessively proud they hardly bowed when they met him , he caused them one day to be invited to a collation ; they failed not to come drest to all advantages , but with difference , as well in that as in their beauties , though alike proud ; so that they played the queens with this viceroy , who received them very civily ; but perceiving they became nothing more humble , be obliged them to undress themselves on pretence of heat , and being two much streightned in their clothes , afterwards causing many comfits to be scatte●ed in the chamber , he made them gather them up without quitting their chioppins , whilst with a trunck he shot the sugar pellets sometimes at one , sometimes at another . the father of this spaniard had been the dukes servant , and he told us many such tales , which i shall not trouble my self to repeat , they not deserving it no more then these , which i have set down only to discover the genius of this nation , very much taken with trifles and frothy relations . besides such gallant stories which they call dounosas , or conceits , they have others that they stile heroick , amongst which are reckoned all the sentences of ferdinand , apothegms of charles the fifth , and reparties of philip the second : those of charles the fifth they say imply courage , of philip the second prudence , of philip the third piety , and of philip the fourth love ; but their greatest esteem is for those of philip the second , whom they take to have been a prince of the quickest and sublimest fancy : amongst many other testimonies of which , they with admiration report this of his wit and liberality . a certain portughese having brought to his court a diamond of great value , immediately looked on by the courtiers as the richest miracle the east had ever produced , he not at all moved , beheld it with indifference , which the portughese perceiving , said , sennor setenta mille ducados que abrevie en este digno nieto del sol no son de asquear : sir , seventy thousand ducats which i have contracted in this worthy ofspring of the sun are not contemptible ; the king pleased in his confidence , asked what he thought when he laid out so much upon it , and the crafty portughese answered . that there was a philip the second . this sublety or flattery was so agreeable , that gracian who relates it in his hero , adds that the king immediately not only paid for the diamond ▪ but gave him more . ostendando ( sayes he ) la superioritad de su gusto en el precio y en el premio , manifesting the height of his satisfaction in the price and in the reward . the jollity of this spaniard , who travalled to biscai , hath made me forget to follow my own way ; but having omitted nothing of what i saw or heard , the follies i have now set down may pass amongst the rest . he will give me no farther occasion of digression ; for we parted at tudela , a pretty town , but as standing on the frontiers of castile , arragon , and biscay , a nest of rogues and banditi , that have forsaken their country to escape the punishment due to their crimes ; yet in some parts of it there are fair buildings , which makes us believe it is inhabited by some people of quality amongst the exiles . at our going away the guards pretended to stop us , but seeing our passport durst not persist . we were told that the cardinal de rets , after he had escaped out of france , passing from st. sebastians to the kingdom of valentia , where he intended to embark for italy , was stayed and very streightly garded in this city . he came in a litter with a small train , and the alcalde who was then walking on the bridge , sent to demand who he was , but he unwilling to be known , refused to tell his name and quality , upon which the alcalde set a guard upon him in the inn where he alighted . this surprised him , and he knew not what to think of such usage in a countrey where he thought he had secured the liberty lately recovered , and that he should not have lost it as soon as he began to rellish it : he therefore dispatched one of his servants to pampeluna , with a letter of his arrival to the viceroy , desiring him to punish the insolence of that judge , and deliver him out of his hands : the alcalde in the mean time sent to the viceroy and council of navarre a formal narrative of what he had done , according to the duty of his place , hoping so to avoid the blame might be laid upon him ; for having acted rather on account of humor and curiosity , then reason and judgment : then he had no other advantage by his letter , than the preventing the cardinals enlargement one day , because the viceroy was obliged to assemble the council of navarre , where the punishment of the alcaldes insolence was resolved on , and he turned out of his place , and for some time banished the town , where the cardinal as soon as known received many civilities , and at his going away was attended by the principal inhabitants with all respect and honour . at that time came news that the french had stormed the lines , and beaten the spaniards from before arras , but he maintained so effectually that this was impossible , that he left in all places where he came a contrary impression , which continues still amongst those people . pedro miranda , or some that belonged to him , being then at tudela , shewed him letters of it received from paris , but he persisted . one may easily perceive he endeavoured to cajole the spaniards by this flattery , not at all concerned that time would destroy it ▪ provided it obtained him the better reception in his passage , and made them sensible that he had intirely engaged himself in their interests . the 12th of july we dined at laborosso , and traversed olitor , where the antient kings of navarre kept their court and something of their palace still remains , though the town be now a miserable place , ruined by warrs between the true inheritors of the crown , and such as invaded them : we lay at tessalia , a good town , and its territory more fertil than the rest we had passed . next day we came to pampeluna , the capital city of that kingdom , it stands at the end of a large plain that seems but barren ; it is near the pireneans , yet out of command of any eminence . it s citadel , so famous in the world , looks towards the plain , and is on one side environed by a great marais . the town is not considerably fortified , and the ground it stands on hath many little risings and descents scarcely perceptible : there is a large piazza where the bulls are fought . the people are clownish , much addicted to small traffick , which they freely enough exercise with france , and as if there were no war between the two crowns : we arrived at the end of a fair , and met many french merchants : we tarried here three dayes as well because of the indisposition of my lord — not well recovered of the fevor he got at saragossa as that one of our horses were lame . the mean while we visited the earl of st. stephen , viceroy and captain general of this kingdom ▪ and delivered him the letter we brought for him ; he is a little man very civil , and no less curious of all rarities . he received us well , and ordered the captain of his guards to shew us the citadel in the afternoon . between the town and citadel is a spacious place set with trees for walks : it hath five bastions , and was built by philip the second with a great deal of consideration , as a strong rampier against france : the bastions are covered with stone , the grafts large , in most parts of them water ; it hath no outworks , neither doth it need any , because of the marais on that side where it may most easily be attacked : it stands on a rock , but though the most important place of the kingdom , and the only one that can hinder the french from marching to madrid , after they have passed the pyreneans , it is not well looked after . the works in many places want reparations , and the garrison is very inconsiderable , there being few souldiers , for want of which the country people are to come in on the first summons : of whom they then had sent for a good number , and mixed them with the souldiers , that we might not perceive that want : but we could easily distinguish , so little had they the meen of sword-men , some of them not wearing any , and parading with a musket only , or an old pike , which they handled so ill , it appeared they were more accustomed to the pitchfork . the body of the place is well designed , for in the middle of the bracks where the souldiers lodge , there is a great round place to draw up in battaglia , from whence by five broad streets they may march streight to the five bastions . they shewed us the magazins not very well furnished either with ammunition or victual , and a very fair towr built to keep powder , of which it is altogether unprovided , and serves for a prison for greatest criminals ; they shewed a very fine handmill for turning which they may also make use of horses . it is the best engin in its kind that i have seen , it hath 4 or 5 wheels and as many bins , in each of which they said they could in one day grind 24 load of corn : but this i thought impossible . i told them that so great a body composed of so many different pieces , could hardly move long without being disordered , and consequently uselese , and that unless the artist that made it lasted as long as the mill , nothing amiss in it could be amended , because i took it to be a particular invention , and that none but himself knew the fabrick , and all the springs , so as to set them right when broken ; but they replied they successivly kept one that understood it , who , that they might never be destitute , still taught some apprentice . here are two or three ponds , as they say , derived from springs . there were not many sentries on the rampart , nor at the canon . it hath a particular governor , that immediately depends on the king : he was absent , but we were very civily received by his lieutenant , who after he had led us about the walls gave us a collation ; his frankness pleased us , and we perceived that as by degrees we got farther from the gravity of castile , and severity of arragon , as little open to one another as to strangers , we approached a more sociable country . nothing else being to be seen in the castle , that we might not trespass on the lieutenants civility , nor tire that of the viceroys captain of his gard , we took leave of the first , expressing our satisfaction in his reception , and went with the other to our coach. next day we returned thanks to the viceroy , and finding him at leisure , had opportunity to discourse with him more particularly than at our first visit . being a knowing person , and one of the councils of state and warre , he presently fell upon the government of the low-countries , making it appear he understood those affairs very well . he told us afterwards that the earl of pigneranda was his near kinsman , and we could do no less than express the esteem we had for so accomplished a person one of the ablest ministers of spain , and to whom we had especially been recommended ; so we took our leaves . the 15th in the morning when we were about to take horse , that we might get that night to the last village of the king of spains dominions in the upper navarre , a servant of the viceroys captain of his guards came to enquire , if his masters gloves , which he thought he left in our chamber the day before , had been found : we ordered search to be made every where , and sent him with my lord — s valet de chambre ; but having long looked for what had never been lost he went away , and by his meen and comportment made us well enough comprehend , he came not on that account , but to try , if we would send him some pairs of those perfumed ones we had in our valises , and that were mentioned in our passes : but none being deafer than they which will not hear , we let him go , without seeming to understand him . but this served not our turn ; for thinking we were not ingenious enough to do so , he sent back his man with a very bad compliment , in plain terms to beg de los nostros guantes de ambar . we were amazed at this , and our valises being on the horses , and our selves ready to mount , let him see how troublesome it would be to take them off , and open them , but that if he pleased we would write to our merchant in madrid to send him as many pair as he desired . we thus freed our selves with all dexterity possible , not thinking we had done any thing contrary to civility , since he that demands too boldly , and without consideration , ought to take to himself the greatest part of the shame of a refusal having thus got out of pampelone , we took the great road of the pyreneans that leads to france . we were not far from the town ere we began to ascend a hill , and before we came to the next village met some souldiers that belonged to the garrison of the castle , who begged , which surprised me , for though the king of spain wants money , yet he never meddles with the forty thousand crowns they say the kingdom of navarre brings up , and i have been assured that all that is levied , though it exceed the sum i have spoken of , remains in the country to pay the viceroy , who hath a salary of 10 thousand crowns ( though he of arragon hath but six ) for the entertainments of a president and six counsellors , and maintaining his forts and garisons . they which know this kingdom , averr that the king of spain receives no advantage from it , besides the securing and extending his frontiers , even to the pyreneans , the true and natural barricade god hath placed between france and spain : yet were the taxes levied here as in castille , he might draw something . but the priviledges the people of navarre reserved to themselves , and the consideration that if they should rebel , they might possibly return to the obedience of their natural prince , for whom yet they have inclinations , son is the reason they are not pressed with taxes ; so that the certainest leavies for support of the publick charge come from the custome , and are reported to be 24 thousand crowns ; but the avarice and deceit of those that finger the money , raised there for maintaining the garisons that ought to be better paid then any others in spain , reduce the poor soldiers to beggery , and cause the kings service to be so much neglected , that were an army sent thither , it would probably make very great progression . it is true , that if we except the inconveniences they would give the king of spain , there is not expectation enough of advantages from that quarter to cause the best troops to be sent thither , which might more profitably be imployed in flanders , milan , or catalonia . before our arrival at burguette , we rather baited then dined at a pitiful village , where the guardian looked on our passes with a great deal of civility , and discoursed with us of the times in which he had served in flanders un-marquis spinola . having traversed woods , hills , and valleys with sometimes good sometimes bad way ; we arrived in the evening at the plain of roncevalles , famous for the great battle charlemain , fought , and lost in it , against the sarazens . my lords — and — spurring on , got to burguette before it was dark : they had much ado to find lodging , and were fain to adress themselves to the justice , who ordered them to be entertained in the house where we passed the night . the next day being the 6th of iuly , without much suffering by heat in so wide a plain , encompassed by the pyreneans , we traversed it , and by some merchants of oleron that often pass it , were shewed the place where the battle was fought ; here said they roland was killed , notwithstanding the force of his lance ; where this cross stands , died the brave renaldo , and had we been curious of all that tradition , true or false , had taught them , i believe they would have pointed out to us where every one of the 12 peers of france fell , and perhaps have shewed us some of their blood , for that of hero's never perishes , and they went about to perswade us , that one place is still red with it ; but we , whose curiosity never went so low as to busie it self about dumb objects , looked on those things only as we passed by , and went not a step out of our way to taste the air where they said so great persons had rendred , or vomited , the prodigious souls that animated bodies ranked amongst the antient giants . spurred on by impatience to be quickly beyond the pyreneans , we hasted over this romantick or historical valley ; coming to the end of it , we found a mountain , to whom it gives the name of roncevalles ; we were told this was the highest of the pyreneans , yet there was no snow on the top of it , though most of the other on our right hand had hoary heads ; but notwithstanding this , it seemed to approach nearer heaven then those that wore its livery ; and that it changed colour betimes , and in the beginning of the summer , by reason of the seas neighbourhood ; the acrimony of whose vapors aids to melt and dissipate its snow sooner then that of such as are more remote . when we were at the heighth of the mountain of roncevalles , egregia contemplatione pavimus animum ; and we paused to consider , on the one hand spain , that we had just then abandoned , and on the other france , which we were about to enter . the first seemed a scorched campania , where the bald mountains discovered only naked rocks , and concealed few plains or vallies that bore grass , or any thing else that is useful . the later on the contrary presented us a garden , where nature had disposed eminencies and depressions , plains , hills , woods , and valleys , to boast variety on a fair theater of universal fertility , so plentiully sowed , that the land we saw , though none of the best of france , was surprizingly delightful , as soon as compared with that we had left . to conclude , without hyperbole or exaggeration , and in a plain manner of describing things as they really are , i must declare , that contemplating two so different objects ; me thought that in the one the day of judgement would find little unburnt ; and that in the other ▪ the flames which shall celebrate the worlds funeral , would be last extinguished , because it seemed the fire of heaven had already fallen on the first , and almost rosted it ; and that to the other , it had imparted only a cherishing warmth to animate it : and the italian perhaps had reason , who vexed at the doctors that disputed about the seat of purgatory , said , he wondred men of learning should be so ignorant , for had they understood maps , they would have placed that of europe in spain , and that of africk in lybia . i shall not determine whither he spoke sense , or raved , but only add , that what i have said of the difference of these two prospects ; takes not off my esteem for spain , nor hinders my admiring the wisdom , temperance , prudence , and other moral and political virtues , that are eminent in the greatest part of the men it produces : it is not therefore out of contempt of the one , or too elevated an idea of the other , that i register the difference i observed : i know very well that the fattest soils are not ever most beneficial , neither do they always produce the greatest personages . the ablest of all the grecians was born amongst the rocks of ithaca ; and in provence there is a certain nook , called la crau , covered with flint , whith its lord will not exchange for any other that abounds with fruits and flowers , because in that very seat of barrenness there grows an herb of such virtue , that one twig of it is worth many handfuls of those of the most luxurious meddows ; this makes appear , that fruits of perfectest savor often abound in the defectiv'st foils , and that though spain be lean and dry , she is yet strong and vigorous : and experience teaches , that the spaniards are stouter and more capable of great fatique , then such as are born in more pleasant and plentiful countreys , and even amongst themselves , the most couragious races flourish amongst rocks and mountains , and in the sandiest provinces ; the other being inhabited by persons neither of so warlike spirits , nor elevated fancies , pusillanimity being almost always the companion of fertility ; and the romans were scarce ever more put to it , then in the conquest of this nation ; its invincible courage , the difficulty of passage , scarsity of provisions , and excess of heat , predominating , almost through the whole peninsula , resisted them sixscore years ; neither could it in less time be overcome in our age , were it still as populous as formerly . but ere i give over , and that i may do spain right before i loose the sight of it ; i must observe that this sterility and penury objected against it , is not caused so much by the default ( if i may so speak ) of the countrey , as by that of its inhabitants ; were they more industrious , and instead of feeding themselves with smoak and vanity in their wretched cabins , tilled better their land , and contemned not mechanick arts , she would be a liberal mother of all things necessary for life , whither to cloath or feed them , and they might have corn , wine , oyl , and all manner of fruits , to suffice them , without being beholding to their neighbors ; and did they understand husbandry , or would apply themselves to it , it would maintain them in such abundance , that not only the more fertile provinces would supply the sterility of some that are barrener , but they might vent part to forrainers , wools of segovia , silks of grenada , cordovans of ciudad rodrigo ; the flax and hemp of andalusia ; the iron and copper of biscai , with many other rich dispoils of its cattle , land , and mines , might croud its cities with artificers , and fill them with the best manufactures of europe ; but they send these abroad unwrought , which when forrainers have metamorphosed and disposed to humane use , part return to them from those who double the money they first paid for them . i have now passed the pyreneans , and top of the high mountain that separates france from spain , and whilst i contemplated those two great kingdoms , having ventured to compare their climates , and contract as in one mass all the remarks of my journey ; i will conclude by setting against each other the customs and politicks of this neighbouring people ; no less contrary then the motions that cause fire to mount and earth to descend . whilst i stayed at madrid i used my utmost endeavor to discover ; if the antipathy reported to be so natural and reciprocal , were really and substantially as strong as it seems , and is imagined ; but i found that the contrariety attributed to their humors , and comportment , whither publick or private , proceeds rather from several tempers and genius's , then any true and real antipathy that renders the french more incompatible with spaniards , then with englishmen , germans , italians , or any other nations every one of which hath its particular character and specifick impression , as well in body as mind , which may ( if i be permitted the expression ) be called its principle of distinction . if besides this common and general variety , proceeding from the air we first breath , there be any more express and formal between one people and another ; it is caused by some accidents , conjunctures or other circumstances , which as to contempt and hatred have the same influence on nations as on particular persons , who ( that excepted ) have no more of contrariety then two rivers that run different courses , and ever follow their channel with equal inclination , though not always with the same impetuosity . this granted , i averre , that besides competition of power and state of rivalship , in which these people have so long continued , and which have been animated by many wars and differences not yet reconciled or ended , no antipathy can be observed between them , more then each of them hath with all others : and when these considerations have bern removed , and the causes of aversion of state for state , and publick animosities have ceased they have lived as well one with another , as either of them hath done with other forrainers . my self have seen very many french inhabiting madrid , and saragossa , who not concerning themselves in the interest of their countrey , agree very well with the spaniards ; and the catalonians and portugueses give convincing testimonies of this verity ▪ all the world knows that these renouncing the catholick kings dominion , and abjuring , with the fealty they owed him , all the misteries of the spanish monarchy , there followed so great confidence and correspondence between them and france , that notwithstanding difference of humors , they have reciprocally been as well received and looked upon at paris and lisbon as they could be at stockholme or warsovia , where i suppose no man will imagin any antipathy for either of them : the former of these wheeled a little more , and cast themselves into the arms of france , the difference of customes and inclinations not preventing their corresponding as well as spaniards , neapolitans and flemings . it is only since that emulation of glory , which beg●n with the advancement of the spanish empire under ferdinand , increased under the charles the fifth , and continued under his successors , that these people cannot brook one another either in publick or particular , and that have added to the difference of their tempers and natures , a spirit of envy , hatred , and contempt , which make them incompatible . for one of them is not only reserved and speculative , but impatient of the gay and sociable humor of the other ; one of them is not only slow and dilatory , but cannot suffer the others activity and brisk temper ; one of them is not only satisfied to walk as if he counted his steps , but cannot abide the others negligent and interrupted gate : one of them does not only salute by leaning backwards , but scoffs at the other when he bows to do it . in a word one of them hath neither humor nor custom that displeases not the other , and which he blames not out of the principles of jealousie and ambition i have formerly mentioned . these different qualities caused and heightened by that emulation of grandeur , and thirst of precedence , that hath so long tormented them , and cost christendom so much blood , are the sourses of the diversity of their politicks . notwithstanding all which one of them sometimes borrows something of the nature and qualities of the other , and imitates some of its most subtil tracings ; but the hand and pencil ever differ : neither is it possible so to settle other mens clothes on our own backs , that it will not be discovered they were not made for us . there is ever something in their manner of acting , which makes apparent its principles are no more the same then its agents . they which have read the famous contest between pope paul the fifth and the venetians , and observed the forms and ends of those great potentates , for glory and interest , may find a manifest proof of this verity . it is most certain that in their politicks they now and then tread in one anothers footsteps ; but it is more so , that their pace is never equal which way soever they go . spain is represented in a chariot , seated on a throne of tortois-shell , drawn by remora's , who in tedious traversing vast spaces of time , lose many opportunities : yet her extraordinary patience and close application to the game , with her skill in packing the cards , oftentimes disturbs the designes of the craftiest gamesters . when at more violent exercises she never stumbles by too much haste , she waits the rebound of the ball , and if she misses it , is satisfied to have judged it well , and not to have lost her stroke by precipitation , and giving it before it came to ground . by a vast speculation she embraces the whole extent of an object , discovers the most minute parts of it , all its joynts and muscles ; and if she makes not her self mistress of it , it is never because she mistook the most advantageous part of lay hold on , but because too intent in studying the hour and moment , which either passes over , or is snatched away whilst she waits for it , or deliberates on it . it must be acknowledged that this misfortune doth not often happen to her in her council-chamber , nor in such affairs as depend on negotiations only . of all parts of the art of governing she succeeds best in this , where her considerations fixed on all circumstances are very happy , here she makes appear the ingenious fabrick of those artificial springs which give motion to a slow and circumspect proceeding , that secures her of a good effect in what ever she hath leisure and time to manage . but in the field , and affairs of warre , where she hath neither time nor liberty to comply with a long and mature deliberation , such occasions as cannot easily suffer this , and where opportunity must be anticipated , and more usually left to hazard and fortune , than to prudence and reason , she hath not the like advantage , and often comes so short in her reckoning , that she sees her most important designes perish because begun too late , and her self deceived in the hour she destined for their bringing forth . i will not be busie about examples of this truth ; for , besides the siege of mastricht , ( the opportunity of raising which she lost by delaying to undertake it as soon as it was begun , and where she pretended so much to force and council , that she at last employed neither the one nor the other , but in order to receiving a more publick affront ) the late warrs might furnish us testimonies so well known to all the world , that it were to no purpose to insert them here . but i will add that this gravity , and two great circumspection , which sometimes makes the spaniards fall by endeavouring to fix their feet more steadily , is in a manner recompensed by a very considerable quality , which is an extraordinary constancy after misfortunes that have been almost destructive to her , and an incessant perseverance with indefatigable vigor to pursue all advantages after good success . if we consider the rude trials of this to which she hath been exposed by insurrections of so many people , revolt of one of her richest provinces , and separation of a kingdom ; if we observe the great shocks she hath received both by land and sea , from the armies of so many princes allied against her , and examine the many battails she hath lost , we shall find cause enough of admiration that she is still on her feet , and that it is a grandeur altogether peculiar to that nation , to endure , so much without fainting , and that no other stomach could digest so many hard morsel without loss of appetite : that any thing of which remains is alone to be imputed to that gentle and natural heat which acts without precipitation , and suffers without alteration what it can neither concoct nor evacuate , casting it on time and a more favourable conjuncture : i mean that her policies are so pliable and constant , that if her expedients and power often fail , her heart never does so , though contemplating her condition , she hath nothing many times to comfort her , but patience , and such other vertues as she ever makes use of both in field and cabinet , how low soever . neither hath she been wont to give ove a loser , how unfortunate soever , seldom abandoning the gave and hope of revenge . though she lately consented to the liberty of the united provinces , and renounced her right to dispute it , it was not till after a war of fourscore years , nor without that absolute necessity which obliges of two evils to choose the least , so that we cannot inferre from it she was sick at heart , nor that she often regorges what she hath once swallowed . and perhaps if she ever disengages her self from the many tyes that restrain her , and gets leisure to make a free use of her power and wisdom , it will appear she laied not aside the cards , but because she had too many gamesters upon her hand , and that she will reassume them with this protestation , that there is no prescription to soveraigns ; and that the solemnest othes , if contrary to those of their coronation oblige them not , and that there may as well happen to them as to the honest casuist , a certain apprehension that may dispense with their making good their promise . if we consider on the other side ( to return to what i have said of the equality of their vigour in prosperity ) how we● the spaniards understand to make use of the favours of fortune , and all their advantages , when heaven hath complied with that circumspection and remote foresight according to which they act , we must needs acknowledge all other policies come short of theirs , being boldest , activest , and most vigilant after good success , that best pursue the gain of a battail , and carefullest secure a town after its surrender , that most aptly impose fetters on people they have conquered , or reduced to their ancient subjection , if straied from it ; and that better than any other accommodate to their own interests , those of the princes allied with them ; ( in a word ) that after victory are more solicitous to gather all the fruits that can be derived from it , and draw all the good consequences it can possibly afford . others in prosperity languish , and their industry stackens after conquest , chusing rather to enjoy the fruits of their good fortune , than to make an advantageous use of it , and to lose the honor and profit of their greatest actions , then not to repose and take breath at the end of the course . such politicks belong only to those that have better arms then heads , and that value not the prise so much as the race , nor crowns and triumphs as battails and victories ; i mean that preferre the way before the end , and great actions above the felicities they lead to . to the two high advantages i have mentioned of the spanish politicks , derived from the great circumspection that attends them , a third may be added , which is that whensoever they have any design in hand , they can so secretly give it maturity , that nothing is discovered of it till at once it surprises and ashonishes . they work under ground , and with much care that nothing of their design takes vent , least which may be discovered by their meen & countenance they counterfeit sleep when most awake , at sentry , and ready to discharge , and ( though at other times very jealous of reputation ) are not then displeased to have their power decried , nor to be accused of weakness , that such erroneous judgment may cause their enemies so much to neglect standing on their gard , they may take them unprovided and overthrow those that think them to be in a condition neither to attacque , nor defend themselves . shadowed by such secresie , and secured by such artifice , they have sometimes very sodainly advanced , and passing by the conquest of all sicilia , it is known that in our daies they have successfully done this , and when least apprehended appeared before tarragon and lerida with more forces then they were thought to be masters of . in a word they have ever been secret to admiration and so excellently practised in that politick dissimulation , so usefull in governing , and that can so well aid it self with disguise , that they have often by it obtained such effects , as by force they could never have arrived at . and when these little maxims fail of success in warr , they have recourse to treaties and conferences , where they so dexterously make use of them , that in one maner or other they gain all advantages can be expected from them . on account of which i must needs take notice , that they obtain the better in negotiations , by means alone of that flegmatick and extraordinary patience , that tires and quenches the heat of other people , leading them about through so many labyrinths , that at last weary of conferring so long , and concluding nothing , they comply with part of what is desired , and perhaps in conclusion yield to the rest , so to purchase that repose spain seems so unwilling to grant them , because sensible of their weakness , and that they pursue with impatience whatsoever they have once hoped for . thus by a judicious obstinacy they oftentimes overcome the greatest opposition against what they design , and by compliance possess themselves of what they cannot obtain by contestation . but to stay no longer on consideration of policies that have within themselves turnings and windings very particular , i will only add that it is conceived something might be amended in their catholicon , i mean in that excess of zeal , real or pretended , they make appear in matters of religion . it is very evident that this fire sometimes warms spain to its prejudice , and may sooner consume her , than convince those she would by it win to her interests : and no less known that the popes are not kinder to her on this account , but suspect her passion for the church of an humane infirmity , that stretches toward heaven only to grow higher upon earth : and that she gains no friends intirely , but a share only of their inclinations , by those wayes that make her real enemies , that have a perfect hatred and aversion for her . in a word her constant designe , and to which she seems engaged as by oath not to suffer protestants in her dominions , and to persecute them in their own , is a state secret that hath been so well examined by catholicks , that its true price and value is sufficiently understood by them , and no less by those against whom it is directed , which causes them to apprehend , that on such specious principles , she engages to their ruine , to satisfie her ambition , and that high aim of which she is accused , by uniting in one body so many different dominions , to become head of christendom . in the mean time the present composure of europe , and form of the establishment of christianity considered , she ought to cast off this thought , and recollect that the two parties into which it is divided , are almost equal , and if they should come to a shock with the body of their forces , victory would a long time hover incertain which side to take , and perhaps not hers , though seconded by all the roman legions . she ought to understand her catholicon to be but a thin visard to her ragione di stato that it hath often discovered the secret , which hath been known every where ; and to examine how small the advantages are of following maxims that exasperate one party , and gain not the other . my meaning , is she should confine her self within the limits of temporal interest , without mixing religion with it , which descended not from heaven to destroy society , and that it will nothing avail her to make so many signes of the cross , against protestants . let her therefore permit them to live , and living with them make them understand , she hath absolved her self from that vow ( at least if there were any such ) which obliged her on all occasions to endeavour their destruction and that of their church . from such a change of conduct she would derive two great advantages , for she would be more considerable at rome by seeming less attached to the interests of that court , and more redoubted by france , by diverting part of the inclination of those of the reformed religion , which it believes it self alone possesses , with exclusion of all other catholick princes , never giving testimonies of open hatred , nor persecuting with fire and fagot , that which ought to be the object only of prayer and perswasion . having drawn some lines of the nature and qualities of the spanish policies , it remains that i give such a draught of those of the french , as may discover part of their extent and forces , that by comparing them we may judge which is likely to get the better of its rival : the later are so variable , and of a form so transient , that hours and moments , which ever fly , have no swifter revolution ; and the former are as contrary , and appropriated to fixation ; it is very difficult to paint the one because of the rapidity of its course , and no less so to determine which of the two is more potent , by reason of the continual conflict they have so long strugled in , without yielding on either side . one would think they had divided between them all the skill of the fencing-school , and that the one comes on with better grace , and hath its arm more supple , but that the other reaches farther , and makes its thrust more home : thus heaven to preserve the power of these nations near an equality , hath opposed to the vivacity and spirit of one of them the prudence and constancy of the other , that what the last comes short in agility , may be recompensed by its attention to all it undertakes ; and what the first wants of circumspection and patience may be supplied by incredible diligence . it is yet probable that the french fire so allayed , as not to dasle the judgment , produces greater effects than the spanish ●●eam , how considerable soever . it is capable of all that is heroick even to miracle , it forces an alteration in the face of affairs , and chains fortune and victory to attend its banners ; when they seem inclining to forsake it . it is as quick in discovering and preventing mischiefs as in applying remedies to those that surprise it . it s eye , hand , and heart are continually directed to what may help or hurt it ; the first is usefull to embrace or avoid , the second to seise whatever is advantagious , and repel all that may be fatal , whilst the last animates to support all burthens , and often attains what its strength could not extend to , whilst with all three it on one side levels a way for misfortune , and banishes it , and on the other opens a door to success and meets it : whereas the profound intellect of the spaniards , by means of frosty irresolution and tedious deliberation , suffers the fruits of its best enterprises to be nipt in the blossom , because not so diligent to execute as subtle to invent them . i could draw examples from our present times conclusive enough of this truth , if i were not desirous to make an end . i will therefore only add that that i am not unsensible , that the french airiness often causes their designes to miscarry , that their diligence is not alwayes joyned with prudence , and that it sometimes hastens with so little discourse and reflexion , it observes nothing , and as if it had no other members but hands and feet , violently plunges into confusion , and falls headlong into misfortune , by reason of that precipitation which often astonishes , and puts it besides it self , so much that its great courage abandoning it , it retreats in disorder . the reproach of this is nevertheless much out of date , by reason of many modern great and couragious actions and enterprises , where it hath made appear a diligence in executions , as little destitute of judgement as courage . this was long ago , when experience had not purified their fire , nor moderated that excess of it which made them begin well and end ill , on which account all they did was attributed to furie and a blind transport , that after the first attempt was changed into fear : but they are no more the same men , neither , after going on like lions , do they come off like hares ; and when their enterprises fail of success , they many times retreat with honor , and without confusion . and certainly the greatest promptitude when accompanied by reason and judgement is as often the mother as stepdame of good fortune . alexander conquered all because he would leave nothing for the morrow ; and caesar allowed but a moment between deliberation and action , apprehending that either the greatness of the design might discourage it , or the opportunity be passed if he took time to examine it : but as the celerity of these two heroes was ever fortunate , by reason of their prodigious capacities in all they undertook , and the circumspection and delays of fabius maximus and the great gonsalvo re-established empire , and conquered kingdoms , we may say that each of these nations , according as their predominant humor is allaied by prudence , and illuminated by reason , can disgest the toughest morsels , and difficultest thwartings of fortune , though one of them hath defects of stomach , that sometimes cause vomitings , and the other is now and then afflicted with megrims that oblige it to repose . augustus had felt the pulse of both of them when he pronounced his festina lente : and we may infallibly conclude that a third constitution participating of the french promptitude and spanish solidity , were alone capable not only of conquering the world but governing it . and a great and wise frenchman having owned l interest d' angleterre estant bien suivi establira dans la chretientè vne troisiem puissance : that england pursuing her true interest will become a third power , equal to france and spain ( and this meant in regard of her scituation & strength alone ) i think i may modestly enough add , that the equality and harmony of her temper ( which neither heavily slumbers away opportunities , nor rashly snatches at them before maturity ) considered , did not some mistaken principles , introduced by a fond doting on such a liberty as is inconsistent with government , make the subordinate wheels too heavy , and the spring ( that is the supreme power ) too weak to produce regular and vigorous motions in them , by a perfect submission to her soveraign , she might under his conduct be able to make a farther progression towards giving laws to mankind than any other people ever arrived at . finis .