The KING of SPAIN'S Cabinet Council Divulged; OR, A DISCOVERY of the PREVARICATIONS of the SPANIARDS With all the Princes and States of Europe, for obtaining the Universal Monarchy.  
LONDON, Printed by J. H. for J. S. and are to be sold by Simon Miller, at the Star in St Paul's Churchyard. 1658.   

The Contents of the several Chapters.  

CHap. 1. The hatred of the Spaniards towards the Protestants and their Religion, pag. 1  
Chap. 2. The prevarications of the Spaniards in order to the Pope and his Elections. pag. 9  
Chap. 3. The prevarications and excesses of the Spaniards towards the rest of the Catholics, pag. 17  
Chap. 4. Of the Spanish Inquisition, pag. 24  
Chap. 5. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Empire. pag. 30  
Chap. 6. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Kings and Kingdom of France. pag. 40  
Chap. 7. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Kings and Kingdom of England. pag. 48  
Chap. 8. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the King and Kingdom of Portugal. pag. 54  
Chap. 9 The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Low Countries pag. 59  
Chap. 10. The prevarications and excesses of the Spaniards against the Kingdom or Principate of Catalonia. pag. 62  
Chap. 11. The prevarications of the Spaniards against the Kingdom of Arragon pag. 69  
Chap. 12. The prevarications against the Kingdom of Naples. pag. 73  
Chap. 13. The prevarications of the Spaniards against Italy and the Commonwealths thereof. pag. 77  
Chap. 14. The prevarications of the Spaniards against other Kingdoms pag. 80  
Chap. 15. The Spaniards ardent desire of Monarchy and rule. pag. 87  
Chap. 16. The Ambition, Arrogance, boasting and scorn of the Spaniards. pag. 94  
Chap. 17. The Spaniards perfidious violation of Leagues and Promises. pag. 97  
Chap. 18. The Spaniards Hypocrisy and Dissimulation. pag. 101  
Chap. 19 The ingratitude of the Spaniards toward such as oblige them. pag. 104  
Chap. 20. What the Spanish succours are, pag. 110  
Chap. 21. The tricks of the Spaniards in contracting Marriages. pag. 114  
Chap. 22. The hatred of the Spaniards towards the Germans. pag. 117  
Chap. 23. How the Spaniards treat and keep peace. pag. 120  
Chap. 24. The Briberies and pecuniary Corruptions of the Spaniards. pag. 123  
Chap. 25. The Spaniards are Murderers. pag. 126  
Chap. 26. The Cruelty and promiscuous Tyranny of the Spaniards. pag. 129  
Chap. 27. The Cruelties and Barbarities of the Spaniards in America. pag. 132  
Chap. 28. The rapacity, avarice, lust, adultery, and other vices of the Spaniards. pag. 137  
Chap. 29. Other Arts and Tricks of the Spaniards to work their designs. pag. 145  
Chap. 30. The various Apothegms and Observations concerning the Spaniards. pag. 151  
The Conclusion. pag. 157    

Courteous Reader, These Books following are printed for, or sold by Simon Miller at the Star in St Paul's Churchyard.  

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The History of this Iron Age.  
Dr. Lightfoot his Harmony of the N. Testam.   

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John Barckley his Argenis, Translated by his late Majesty's special command. The Prose by Sir Robert le Grise, The Posy by Tho. May.   

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Camden's Remains concerning Britain, with many choice Additions, by W. D. Gent.  
Christ tempted, the devil Conquered, being an Exposition on part of the fourth Chap. of St. Mathews Gospel, by John Gumbledon Rector of Coily in Glamorgan.  
Abraham's faith, or the good old Religion, proving the Doctrine of the Church of England, to be the only true faith of God's Elect: By J. Nicholson Minister of the Gosp.  
The Anatomy of Mortality: by George Stroad.  
Aynsworth on the Canticles.  
Paul Bayne, his Diocesans Trial.  
The Supreme Power of Christian States and Magistracy, vindicated from the insolent pretences of Gulielmus Apolonius: By E. Gralle.  
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Ed. Waterhouse Esq; his Discourse of piety and charity.  
A view and defence of the Reformation of the Church of England, very useful in these times.  
Mr. Peter du Moulin, his Antidote against Popery; published on purpose to prevent the delusions of the Priests and Jesuits, who are now very busy amongst us.  
Herbert's Devotions, or a Companion for a Christian, containing Meditations and prayers, useful upon all occasions.  
Mr. Knowles his Rudiment of the Hebrew Tongue.  
A Book of schemes or figures of heaven, ready set for every four minutes of times, and very useful for all Astrologers.  
Florus Anglicus, or an exact History of England from the reign of William the Conqueror, to the death of the late King.  
Lingua, or the Combat of the Tongue and the five Senses for Superiority: a serious Comedy.  
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In 24.  
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The third part of the Bible.   
FINIS.   

The Causes of the Public Hatred of the King of Spain, and the Spanish Nation.  

CHAP. I. The hatred of the Spaniards towards the Protestants, and their Religion.  
TO shun the suspicion of fancying to write Iliads after Homer, I will not now make a large martyrology, which of itself, were enough to fix a Title to this Chapter; nor will I compile Histories of the Belgic, or Low-countries War, especially of that which was waged by the Duke of Alva; for those are both sufficiently known, and there is store of them to be had. This I shall only say, and this for their sakes, who think the Spaniards will prove milder to them, because they imagine to themselves, that they are included in the Pacification of Religion (they who are commonly called by the envious name of Calvinists being excluded) then to the Reformats, as they term them; that they are superlatively mistaken. For whosoever they be that differ in opinion from the Spaniards, whether in matter of Religion, or in order to their long-dreamed of Monarchy, are all alike to them.  
1. The cruelty which the Duke of Alva exercised upon them of the Reformed Religion in the Low-Countries, is notorious enough; yea, and himself, a little before his end, boasted, that by his command above eighteen thousand persons passed through the hands of the Executioner, with different sorts of punishments, for Religion's sake.  
2. Philip the second, freely and boldly answered the Emperor Maximilian, his Cousin-German by the Fathers-side (who, having sent his Brother Charles into Spain) exhorted him to moderation in the business of Religion, That he had rather lose all his Provinces, then seem to grant, or favour any thing, which might be prejudicial to the Catholic Religion. Thuan. lib. 133.  
3. The Spaniards in the Pacification of Colein, 1580. were wont to say, That the Protestants would be well served, if they were stripped of all their goods, and forced to go seek new Countries, like Jews, Egyptians and Nubians, who wander up and down like Rogues and Vagabonds, without any place of abode.  
4. The Citizens of Aquensis had been much more mildly dealt with in the year, 1605 had it not been for the importunate flatteries of King Philip's Ambassadors, as Thuan. testifyes, lib. 133.  
5. The Spaniards once took the French in the Isle of Florida, and hanged them all with this title, This I do not as to French, but as to Lutherans. Camer. horis subcessivis, c. 98.  
6. In the year 1577. when by the Emperor's demand, there was a Conference appointed between the King's Ministers, and the States of Holland, the said Ministers urged only this, That the liberty of any other Religion whatsoever might be excluded out of the Low-Countries, and the Catholic only admitted, which was the cause of dissolving the Conference, re infectâ.  
7. Ought the Count of Bructerons' calamity to be silenced, whose Castle the Admiral unjustly, and violently seized upon, took his person prisoner, ejected his wife and children, plundered his goods, killed the Countrymen whom he found there, yea, and wickedly murdered the very Count himself, together with his Kinsman, and a Preacher, contrary to his word which he had given them; and this for no other colour, but out of hatred to the Reformed Religion, which he most constantly professed, and from which he would not be removed by any menaces whatsoever. See Speculum Arragonicum, as also Speculum Tragicum.  
8. Philip King of Spain, in the year 1590. the 8. of March, made a Proclamation at Madrid, wherein he declared, that after France was cleared, he would make War upon all such Provinces as were infected with any Sectarian Contagion. Ancellus apud Thuan. lib. 118. in oratione ad Principes Germaniae, 1570. where the words of the Proclamation are also recited.  
9 If there were no other example to be found of the Spanish hatred against the Gospel and Gospelers, that most cruel Fact of Alphonso Dias, a Spaniard, would suffice, 
The example of Dias.  who caused his brother Juan Dias to be killed by his own Executioner, because he embraced the Doctrine of the Gospel, in the year 1546. and however the Law were prosecuted against the said Fratricide, he yet obtained his Pardon by the intervention of the Emperor's Letters.  
10. The King of Spain, by his Duke of Parma, urged the Senate of Aquensis, to banish them of the Reformed Religion out of the City, as Peter Beck a Canon of that City confesses, cap. 13. Comment. sui de urbe Aquensi.  
11. Cardinal Granvellanus was often wont to boast, that he would reduce the Catholic Religion in all places, though a hundred thousand men were to be burnt in an hour, and that he would begin with Saxony and Orange. See Gaspar Grevinus, in sua Institutione, p. 192.  
12. The Emperor Maximilian the second, most faithfully advised, and entreated the King of Spain, to treat the Flemings more gently in matter of Religion, but he could obtain nothing, as himself writes in a certain Letter of his to Lazarus Swendius, 1579. the 22. of February from Vienna. This Letter is to be read, lib. 16. Apoph. Baudartii. See also Speculum tyrannidis Hispanicae in Belgio per totum.  
13. And who ever either saw, or heard of a greater fact of barbarous tyranny, and hatred against Religion, then that which by the instinct of some ill Instruments, the Archduke Albert committed, in a certain Maid called Anne Vandenhoven at Brussels, whom he caused to be set quick in earth, and smothered? Martyrologium, Meteranus, Speculum Hisp. Tyrant. in Belgio. p. 91, 93.  
14. It may also be a most sufficient testimony of the hatred of the Spaniards against the Protestants and Lutherans (and chief the later) that when they have a mind to dishonour any one very much, or call him by any injurious name, they call him, Vellaco Lutherano, i. e. Lutheran Knave; so that even by this reproach they who are willing, and glad to be styled Lutherans, may be sufficiently taught, what they are to hope for from the Spaniards, when the Protestants are suppressed (who are as much oppugned by others, as by the Papists) to wit, that they shall be served with the same sauce.  
15. When, after the Smalcaldick war, and the taking of John Frederick, Elector of Saxony, Wittenberg was yielded to Charles the fifth, the Spaniards petitioned the said Charles, to give them leave to dig up the dead body of Luther, and burn it; but the Emperor refused it, saying, Let him rest; for if he hath done ill, God will revenge it: I am Emperor of the living, and not of the dead. He further added, Let him alone, I desire to see him no more; for I saw him enough at Worms. Zingrefius p. 2. Apoph. p. 11.  
16. Charles the fifth, presently after the Diet of Auxburgh, aught to have surprised and oppressed the Heretics, & Luther by Art, under some other pretext. See Thomas Campanella, a Spanish Friar, Discursu de Monarchia Hisp. c. 16.  
17. In the first place it was an extreme error, to let Luther go off alive, from the Diets of Worms and Auxburgh: And then, it was indeed well done of Charles the fifth (I say) to keep his word with Luther, whilst he was at the Diet; but afterwards, in his going home, he should have surprised him, and after having already suppressed the Protestant Princes, have utterly extinguished them. The same Campanella, c. 27.  
18. That Peace was to be granted for a time, and sometimes the Heretics (says Campanella) were to be flattered with magnificent banquets, c. 27. And besides it was an error in Charles the fifth (says the same Campanella) that he did not suppress the Countries of the Electors of Saxony, and Brandenburg, and of the Landgrave of Hassia, etc. by thrusting out the Inhabitants, and making them slaves, and planting new Colonies therein, and depriving the Free Cities of their Privileges, c. 16. These things may also be referred to the 22. chap. of the hatred of the Spaniards towards the Germans.  
19 It is also showed by the same Author, c. 1. to what end the Goths, Italians, and Spaniards together, aught to conspire against them (i. e. the Protestants in Germany) utterly eradicate their Sects after having subdued them, and place new Colonies in their stead.  
Thuanus, lib. 28 in his History De Concilio Possiaceno in Gallia, shows, that the hatred of the Spaniards against the Reformed Religion, is more than Odium Vatinianum.   

CHAP. II. The Praevarications of the Spaniards, in order to the Pope, and his Election.  
IT may chance to seem strange to thee Reader, that in the Catalogue of the Spanish Praevarications, amongst all the Powers and Kingdoms of the world, the Pope of Rome should also come into the number, yea, and that in the second place, and as it were in the Front. But thou must know, that such is the ambition of this Nation, and the conception of its Monarchy, that they cannot forbear their most Holy Father, when there is question of their own ends, having no respect ●o his Holiness, nor considering at all, that he uses to style them, his most Catholic, most Beloved, and First begotten sons: And this is the very cause, why I thought fit to put, and show the Spanish Praevarications against his Holiness in this second place.  
Let my kind Reader therefore know, that the Spaniards, at the choosing of a new Pope, employ all their studies and labours, that either a Spaniard by birth, or a Favourer of the Spanish Party, may be elected: This may be showed by many examples, and first in the year 1591. when after the Death of Pope Vrban the 7th. there grew a great contention amongst the Cardinals about a Pope; the Spaniards desiring, forsooth, one who was a sworn friend to their Party; yea, and they at length prevailed for the Election of Nicholas Sfondrato, a most sworn Crony of theirs. Thuanus.  
2. The same thing happened in the year 1592. after the death of Innocent the 9th. when the Free Election was again hindered by the Spaniards, through the assistance of Ludovico Madrucus, who was of their party; and when Antonio de Columna, King Philip's Ambassador, went into the Conclave himself, with resolution, that before the said Conclave were shut, Antonio Sanctio should be nominated, and created Pope; and yet he was stoutly opposed by Francisco Sfortia, and Columnio Sfortia, who threatened and prepared force against force, and added, that before that should be, blood should be seen run out of the Conclave, down the stairs to St. Peter's Church. Many reproaches were thrown upon Sanctio; and the Cardinals being divided, grew into a long dispute, till yet at length, by the intervention of some pecuniary corruptions from the Spanish Faction, Hippolito Aldobrandino was elected Pope. Thuan. lib. 103.  
3. The Spaniards at present, by their Factions, reign in the Pope's Court; and however they make not what Popes they will (because their too much greatness is much suspected) yet do they hinder such as they will not have by their ambitious Courtships, from rising to that dignity: and they of the House of Austria are in such a degree of favour at Rome, that it is believed by the Senate of the Holy See, that the conservation of Religion, and the dignity of the said See, depends upon them. Thuan. lib. 134. Therefore, after the death of Clement the 5th. the Spaniards fearing least Noble Cardinal Caesar Baronius, the writer of the Ecclesiastical Annals, should be chosen Pope, revoked a complaint, which was begun against him during the life of the said Clement, by certain Letters supposed to be written by Lorenzo Suarez Figuera Duke of Feria, and Viceroy of Sicily, brought into the Congregation by Ptolemaeo Gallo Cardinal of Coma, and Dean of the College, and recited by Don Francisco Mexia Avila, a Spanish Cardinal, because they were written in that language: at the reading whereof Baronius, who was present, was not a little troubled, and taking his grounds (after his fashion) out of the holy Scripture, suddenly answered, 
Et melius est mihi mori, quàm ut evacuetur gloria mea;  
It is better for me to die then lose my honour.   
Now there was a place in the eleventh Book of his Annals, where he had written, that the Right, which the Kings of Spain claim to themselves in the Monarchy of Sicily, was grounded upon false and suspected testimonies, etc. See Thuan. lib. 134. and though Baronius excused himself, yet afterwards, when his Works were Printed at Antwerp, the eleventh Tome was prohibited, and those Copies which were set forth at Rome, were also prohibited in the King of Spain's Territories.  
4. The stupidity of some Catholics is to be wondered at, who refuse to do nothing in favour of the Spaniards, when in the mean while, nothing is more familiar to the Spaniards, then to make a stalking horse of the very Pope himself, as it clearly appears in the Controversy of Portugal, An. 1579. when the Pope, by Philippo Sega, his then Ambassador with King Philip, willing to interpose his Authority, and desiring that the composure of the business between him and Henry might be referred to his arbitration; King Philip, at first, by the advice of Juan de Sylva, made a show of relishing the Pope's kindness very well; and till he had transacted with Henry, baffled Sega with various shifts and protractions, Thuan. lib. 69.  
6. But was not Rome itself taken, pillaged, and vexed the Pope, and Clergy forced to yield themselves in the Capitol, and then to ransom themselves with a huge sum of money, (viz. Four hundred thousand Ducats in gold) besides a certain gratulatory coin, which was made with this Motto, In spem prisci honoris? Luckius, p. 64. And this was the fourteenth seizure of that City. Erasmus in his Epist. 26. lib. 22. says, that Pope Clement was most inclemently treated. The Emperor indeed excused himself, that it was done without his knowledge; but it is ordinary with the Spanish Nation, either to deny their wicked actions, or to stuff and palliate them with specious pretences.  
7. That the Spaniards do not much value the Pope of Rome's authority, if by any means they could work their ends otherwise, it is apparent by that war, which the Duke of Alva in his King's name, waged against his Holiness in Italy, 1556. of which, Thuan. lib. 17. & 18. where it is related, how the said Duke had a design to take Rome itself.  
8: When the Spaniards had pulled Perez out of the Church wherein he had taken Sanctuary, the Pope's Nuncio, for the maintenance of the Privileges of the Church, urged that the said Perez might be restored to the Church from whence he was taken, but could effect nothing. See In relatione rerum Perezii, p. 31.  
8. The Vice King of Sicily or Naples, put to death a certain Nobleman of that Kingdom, a Kinsman of the Popes, notwithstanding the Pope's intercession.  
9 How the Spaniards gulled the Censure of Pope Vrban the 8th. against Poza the Jesuit, Alphonso de Vergas in his relation teaches at large. See also the Appendix to that relation.  
10. Thomas Campanella a Spanish Dominican Friar, in his Discourse of the Spanish Monarchy, cap. 6. says, We must labour to get a Spanish Pope, or rather one of the house of Austria.  
11. That the Spaniards bear not that reverence, and respect which they pretend, to the Bishop of Rome, but abuse his Authority for their own Interest, is clear enough out of Ancellus, in his Speech which he made to the Princes of the Empire, 1597. Thuan. lib. 118.  
12. What stone did the Spaniards leave unmoved, in the Election of Clement the 8th. to wit, that by the exclusion of him, a more Hispaniolized Pope might be chosen, and chief Sanctorio; though yet for all that, Clement were elected, who after he had absolved Henry the fourth, King of France from his Excommunication, the Spaniards said openly, That the Pope was worse, and more an Heretic, than he whom he had absolved. Perionius in his Epistle to Henry the fourth, Thuan.  
13. When Leo was chosen Pope, the Spaniards reclaimed much against it, especially Cardinal the Avila, who, when Pope Leo was nominated, cried out as loud as he could, Treason, Treason! I protest, I protest! He is an enemy to the Catholic King! See Perionius in his Epistle to the King. And Hulsius in Leon. two. They had a design to poison the Pope, nor was it far short of truth, for he lived but 25. days, and the Spanish Arts are known.  
14. In like manner did the Spaniards behave themselves, at the Election of urban the 8th. which when they were not able to hinder, they set forth a Libel at Rome, wherein they asked, Whether the Pope were a Catholic, or no? To which Pasquil answered, Peace, peace, He is most Christian; And at the Pope's Arms, they jeered thus, 
Mella dabunt Gallis, Hispanis spicula, verum  
Spicula si figunt, vita cum melle carebunt.  
Their Honey France; to Spain their stings they'll give:  
If stings they fix, nor Bees, nor Honey'l live.   
But another answered, 

Pope Urbans Arms were, as I remember, three Bees.  Vrbani Imperium, vis dicam, quale futurum?  
Dùm dominantur apes, copia mellis erit  
What Urbans sway shall be, wilt thou needs know?  
Whilst Bees bear sway, still shall their Honey flow.    

CHAP. III. The Praevarications, and excesses of the Spaniards, towards the rest of the Catholics.  
THE rule whereby I have purposed to myself, briefly, and as it were, by Indices, to show the Praevarications of the Spaniards, permits me not to recount whole Histories, of their excesses, and Praevarications towards the rest of the Catholics themselves for the confirmation of the Argument of this Chapter: it will suffice, slightly, and cursorily to hint such Histories, and Authors, as have written them more at large.  
2. In the year 1580. when the war was hot in Portugal, besides other extraordinary cruelties committed by the Spaniards against the Catholics and Clergy, they came to the Church of St. Roch, near the Almeda (which is the Jesuits College, and whither many people, out of respect to the Jesuits, and for safety sake, had transported their goods of most value) and thrusting out the Italians, under colour of Friendship, and as if they had been sent by their Commanders to guard the Place, partly by force, and partly by theft, they plundered the said goods, and carried them to the Navy, then near at hand. Thuan. lib. 70. And many of the Clergy, who would not adhere to the Spaniards in their Invasion of Portugal, were killed, and destroyed by them, as is delivered by the Historians who wrote that War.  
3. When Charles the 5th. sent his Spanish Soldiers against the Turk, under the conduct of Antonio de Leva, the said Soldiers used all kinds of baseness, covetousness, and libidiousness, towards the Catholics in Austria, plundering, and firing of Towns, as if they had been amongst their open enemies.  
4. Who can choose but be strucken with extreme horror, to read the sacking of the City of Antwerp 1576. as it is described by Thuan. lib. 62. when it began to be a vulgar saying amongst the Spaniards, to them of the same Religion, (when they begged them to spare them for Religion's sake) If you have a good faith, that is for your souls; but if you have much money, that is for us, and our Trunks.  
5. The fine Latin Speech, and the form of condemning men, which Vargas the Spanish Inquisitor was wont to use, when, being drunk and drowsy, he pronounced the same Sentence upon all such as were accused, unseen, and unheard; viz. Haeretici franxerunt templa & simulachra, Catholici nihil fecerunt contra, ergo utrique debent patibulari: The Heretics have broken the Churches, and Images; the Catholics have done nothing to the contrary; therefore they must both be hanged.  
6. Nor is that usual scoff of the Duke of Alva, related by Thuan. lib. 42. to be silenced, viz. That one Salmon's head was more worth than fifty Frogs heads: for the said Duke fulfilled this verse, Tros Tyriusque fuat, nullo discrimine habendi: Be they Protestants, or Catholics, if they be not Hispaniolized, etc. away with them. Hereof the Counts of Egmond, Horn, Montigni, and other Noblemen had sad experience; yea, and all the Catholic part of the Low-Countries likewise. Witness so many Towns taken, sacked, and dispeopled. Witness those Towns, which even yet, being loaded with Spanish Garrisons, are brought almost to the utmost calamity, by various exactions, pressures, and burdens. Witness the Clergy of Portugal heretofore; and at present, the Kingdom of Catalonia, omitting that of Arragon, Sicily and Naples. Witness some Bishops of the Empire, one whereof, to another great man, broke out into these words: I see, and foresee, that the Spaniards seek nothing more, then that we, and other Bishops, may speedily die, and bequeath our Bishoprics, and habits to them by Will. But what do we read? Yea, even whilst we are yet living, they are plotting and struggling, to pull them from us, and put them upon themselves. And further, says he, It is not enough for them, to have invaded the Electoral Land, but they will needs mount up to our Altars, and place themselves near the Virgin and her child. We need not (says he) go far; for the Archbishop of Trevirs, and the Abbot of Maximinus can testify by experience, etc.  
13. Philip the second, King of Spain, in his Pardon which he granted them who had resisted him in Portugal, ever excepted sacred Persons, so that he gave leave to all people, either to kill, or severely punish them. For when that War of Portugal was ended, it is known, that two thousand Religious men, in the Islands and in Portugal, either by the sword, or some other mischief, lost their lives for the said Wars sake. Thuan. lib. 75. anno 1582.  
Philip the second, son to Charles the fifth, confiscated all the goods of the Archbishop of Toledo, and caused him to be poisoned, because he had said (and that constantly indeed) that the said Charles last Confession was, that he confided only in the merit of Christ. See Baudartius, lib. 16. Apoph. where also is rehearsed that contemptible Epitaph made upon Charles the fifth.  
Hic jacet intùs,  
Carolus quintus.  
Ora pro eo bis vel ter,  
Ave Maria & Paternoster.  
15. Anno 1576. in that fury, and direption of Antwerp, raised by the Spaniards, wherein they spared none of what Religion soever, they ran up and down the Markets, and streets, crying out as loud as they could, Todo, todo, todo; All, all, all; Dineros y no palabras; Moneys and not words. They broke open gates and windows with their guns, and weapons, crying, Fuora, fuora, vellacoes, Out Knaves, out; and one of the chief of them, caused these words to be wrought upon his pillow, Castigador de los Flamengos; The Chastiser of the Flemings.  
16. At Mechlin, they plundered all the Archbishops of that Town, and all the Bishops of Namurs, his Church-stuff; the damage whereof was valued at some millions of gold. See Speculum Hisp. Tyrant. in Belgio, p. 41.  
17. At Owdenard, they threw some of the Clergy into the water. Ibid.  
18. The Spaniards likewise sufficiently testified their cruelty towards the Catholics, when the Admiral of Arragon invaded Westphalia, the Bishopric of Munster and Paterborn, nor spared so much as the Bishopric of Colein. See Speculum Arragonicum, & Specul. Hisp. tyrant. in Belgio, p. 99, 100, 101, etc.  
19 The Spaniards did more hurt in the Indies by their cruelty, then good by their Religion; yea, they were often cause, that the Religious men were murdered and ill used by the Indians, as Bartholomè de la Casa teaches in his spec. Hisp. tyrant. in India. And the same moreover says, that the Spaniards could not endure, that the said Religious men should be there, and teach, in regard that thereby the Indians were not so much their slaves, as being better informed; yea, and they took it ill, that any of them should be converted to the Christian Faith. The same Barthol.  
20. The Noblemen of Catalonia discover remarkable examples of the Spanish Praevarications against the Catholics, and Clergy, in their Catholic Complaint, especially p. 4.10, 12. See below, Cap. de Cataloniae regno relata nostra.  
21. Nojo Moncata, who first profaned the Church in the Vatican at Rome (never violated before, and dedicated from the times of the very Goths and Vandals, to St. Peter and Paul, the Saints Guardian of the City,) was a Spaniard. Jovius in ejus Elogio.  
22. The Spaniards use Churches for their safe●●, as Sanctuaries; and yet if others fly thither for refuge, they violently pull them out and carry them away, without any respect to the Sacredness of the place, or privilege; whereof the Reader hath an example in Perez, in the Kingdom of Arragon. And Anno 1640. the Vice-King of Naples drew a certain Grandee of Naples out of the Church, and put him to death.   

CHAP. IU. The Spanish Inquisition.  
THat all mischiefs were brought into the world by this Pandora, the more sincere, and more prudent Catholics themselves cannot deny, how much soever the Fathers of the Council of Trent defend it, and how much soever the Spaniards, like some Divine Palladium (as without which their Religion can hardly stand) adore it. Whereof Thuan. lib. 104. says thus.  
1. The Inquisition is a Benc●●●r Tribunal) in Arragon, to enervate or weaken the Rights of their Countrey-Liberty, invented by the Kings against such as bore public Offices. The Inquisitors, a kind of men, of a more than Scythick, or barbarous nature, ingenious for the invention of most unheard of torments, thought nothing sharp and bitter enough to torture men's bodies, without sparing either sex or age. Robertus Abbatius. The Citizens of Lisbon offered King Philip five and twenty hundred M, as the Author of the Book of the Inquisition says: not that the said Inquisition might be taken away; but that, in the terrible jurisdiction thereof, this temperament might be kept, That no body might be imprisoned, without first knowing his accuser's name, and expressing the heads of his Crime; that so the accused, by the knowledge thereof, might be able to prepare his answer before his condemnation: And in short, that the prisoners might be heard, according to custom in other Trials, before sentence were pronounced against him. But the Inquisitors would not endure to have their terrible power so circumscribed; for it rambles up and down to express its jurisdiction at pleasure, and hath this privilege in it, to give credit to the testimonies of base and perfidious fellows, of whom no account is had in other causes. By this trick was weakened the liberty of Lombary, and the Kingdom of Naples; the Arragonese privileges broken; the Lisbonezes and Portuguezes by degrees disarmed. Author anonymus ad ordines Belgicos An, 1605. apud Thuan. lib. 133.  
2. It was the Duke of Alva's design having reduced the Low Countries to a hard servitude, and destroyed the Noblemen, to build a Castle for the Spanish Inquisition, or Tyranny, from whence he might send Armies, to destroy the Germans, English and French, under colour of establishing Religion; but the truth is, to impose their Monarchy upon the whole Christian World, which the Spaniards have long had in their thoughts; and for the achievement whereof, there is nothing so detestable in counsel, nothing so horrible in fact, nor nothing so dishonest in issue, but they hold it lawful for them; witness Mounts and Berghs, seat upon the public trust, with leave of Margaret, Duchess of Parma, into Spain, and unworthily put to death, so many Noblemen beheaded, and more than 20000 innocent persons butchered by the Hangman. The States in their answer to the King of Denmark, 1597. Thuan. lib. 11.9.  
3. The perverse and preposterous form of the Trials of the Inquisition, against all natural equity, and lawful order, is observed in the explication of that jurisdiction, as also the barbarousness of the torments, wherewith (contrary to truth) whatsoever the Deputies should think fit to fancy, they extorted confession from the wretched and innocent prisoners; whereby it happened, that they said, that it was not invented so much for the maintaining of piety, (for which there was another way showed by the ancient Discipline of the Church) as for that, by ruining the fortunes of all, freemen might by this means be brought into danger. Thuan. lib. 3. where he likewise recounts how the Dominican Inquisitors being ejected by the Neapolitans, there arose tumults about it. Anno 1542.  
4. How much the Dominican Inquisitors were also hated by the people at Rome, and how odious the Inquisition grew to the Romans after the death of Pope Paul 4 Thuanus teaches, lib. 23. Anno 1559.  
5. Charles 5. An. 1550. granted the Inquisitors power to question not only the common people, but the Magistrates also, and make them swear to answer to their Interrogatories, and discover their knowledge; besides, that part of the goods of the accused, was proposed to the Informers for a reward: and so a large gate was opened to calumnies and vexations both against all the subjects of the Low-countrieses, and all such strangers also, as for any respect of business betook themselves thither, whereof the number was very great. Thuan. lib. 6. where it is also related, how the people of Antwerp, by the intercession of the Emperor's sister Mary, got this Decree to be mitigated, and the hateful name of Inquisition to be abolished.  
6. The Spanish Inquisition, in the space of hardly thirty years, hath most cruelly consumed, by various afflictions, and sundry kinds of deaths, a hundred and fifty thousand persons of the reformed Religion. Balaeus de Act. Pont.  
7. The Spanish Inquisition spares not so much as the blood of Kings; many are ready to show from hence, that they affirm, that Charles, son to King Philip the second was questioned by the Inquisition for saying, That the Flemings were to be more mildly handled, which saying is reported to have hastened his death; yea, it is held for certain, that the Inquisitors disputed, Whether the bones of Charles 5, were not to be digged up and burned, because he seemed before his death, to be inclined to the opinion, that man is only saved by Faith through Christ.  
8. A certain Spanish Inquisitor called Diego Hesselio, in the Low Countries, was wont in the afternoon when he was drunk and drowsy, to exercise his bloody Trials; and when he was asked his sentence, rubbing his eyes for sleep, he would say, To the gallows, to the gallows; and so the wretched prisoners were carried to the gallows. See Speculum Hispan. Tyrant. in Belgio, p. 70.  
9 The bloody Judge Vergas was also bold to say, That the overmuch connivency of the King, and the Duke of Alva, lost the Low Countries. Ibid.  
10. The Spanish Inquisition, against the Rights and Privileges of the Kingdom of Arragon, unjustly forced Antonio Perez out of prison at Saragoza, whither he fled for safety, and clapped him up in their own Jail, out of which he was nevertheless again delivered by a concourse of the people, See the Relation of Perez, p. 57, etc.  
11. Poza the Jesuit congested various erroneous opinions in his Book, and dispersed them amongst his Countrymen the Spaniards: the Pope prohibited the Book. But the jesuits despising the Pope's censure, published it at Lions, and wrought so far with the Spanish Inquisition, as not to confirm the said censure, as it hath not done hitherto. Alonzo Vargas of Toledo, cap. 17. Relationis suae Anno 1641.   

CHAP. V The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the Empire.  
THe Emperor Charles 5. though by nature a most mild Prince, and most constant in his word, was like notwithstanding, by the continual whisper of the Spaniards, whom he had about him, to be carried away to the contrary, as it appears in the cause of Luther, in the cause of Frederick Elector of Saxony, and of Philip Landgrave of Hessia. For what endeavour did they not use to make him deprive Luther of his Pass, and the public faith, and abandon him to their disposal. But he generously bid them be gone, saying, Though there were no faith in the world, yet shall it be found in me.  
2. The kindlers of that war which he waged against the Protestants, were certainly no other but his Spanish Counsellors.  
3. And that the Landgrave was not faithfully dealt with, was not so much to ●e imputed to the Emperor, as to the Duke of Alva, and the Archbishop of Arra●, who interpreted the word of Captivity not to be so understood, as if he were not to be detained at all, but that he was not to be perpetually detained. And it is also to be ascribed to the bloody counsels of the Spaniards, that John Frederick Duke of Saxony, fell into hazard of his life, by a sentence already pronounced against him by the Emperor, N●r was it any bodies work but theirs (for they could do all things with Caesar) that the Religion and form of Government was changed, in many free Cities of the Empire; and that those captive Princes, for five years together, to the huge dishonour of the Germane Nation, were carried up and down by the Emperor as it were in triumph. These and the like enormities exercised by the Spaniards through the whole Empire in Charles his time, the Reader may find in Sleidens' Commentaries.  
6. An. 1597. Francisco de Mendoza very earnestly urged the Emperor in K. Philip's name, that the Vicecounty of Vezonson, (which being hereditary in the Family of the Cabillers', was transferred by lawful succession upon the Nassaws) being now devolved upon the Empire by the prescription of Willi●● Prince of Orange, might be tranferred upon the said Philip, with the Title of Deputy.  
7. The Emperor being desired to constitute a Governor and a Senate in the Territory of Cleve, and Gulick: he answered, that he must consult thereof with the Princes of the Empire; & for the rest that he would take care that a man very well affected to the Reformed Religion, should be sent into those Dutchies; but that King Philip must have a strict eye over all by his officers, though still with this caution, not to raise suspicion in the breasts of them to whom that succession belonged. Thuan. lib. 9 c. 118,  
8. The same Mendoza treated with the inhabitants of Newburgh, Franckfurt, and others, about appointing a Church for the Catholics. Ibid. etc.  
9 The Spaniards had long since (in hope) devoured the Duchy of Cleve; which afterwards by their Hispaniolized Councillors, after the decease of the Prince, they in part obtained. Acta Principum.  
10. The same Francisco de Mendoza, anno 1598. invaded the said Duchy of Cleve and Gulick, with 20000 men of various nations, took Orso, and other Towns, and made incursions into Westphalia, and the neighbouring places, and seized upon Alpen, though it were declared Neutral. In the same manner served he the Countess of Moersen, who, though she made her complaint to the Archduke Albert, got nothing but words for her labour. He likewise attempted the City of Cleve, which is the Prince's seat, and he perfidiously killed and burnt Wirich, Count of Bruchen, after he had surrendered himself and his Castle to him upon Quarter. He also took other Towns Buderick, Dinslack, Holt, Rese, and Wesal, he sufficiently oppressed and afflicted; the Counties of Swartzenburgh, and Benthemien he devasted, nor spared he the County of Altenburgh, or the Bishopric of Paterburn, etc. To omit other insolences & excesses surpassing all measure, which were done and committed in the Empire, whereof Thuan. lib. 121. Metteranus, and the Author Speculi Tyrant. Hisp. in Belgio, p. 94, 95, 96, 97, etc.  
11. With what right, and to what end the Spaniards thrust themselves into the business and cause of Aquensis, Gulick and Mulhemien, even a blind man may see, to wit, with the self same right, and to the self same end, that the Duke of Parma in his King's name, seized upon the County of Moersen: and the like aim had the Spaniards, in seizing upon Rheinbergh, and other Towns in the Empire.  
12. With no better seasons did they invade the lower Palatinat, the Duchy of Simmeren, and the Bishopric of Trevirs, there they committed the former excesses and prevarications in the Empire; and indeed it is but like them, to keep Frankental against the express Articles, and their promise made to King James of England, to restore it to his daughter the King of Bohemiah's Widow: But they think it a piece of policy to cheat Kings with oaths, as men do children with nut●.  
13. Anno 1598. a Citizen of Gro●ninghen being taken, Letters were found about him to Ezard Earl of East Freezland, wherein he was bid by a Courtier of the Archduke Albert's, to fly speedily to King Philip's protection, which was offered him. Thuan, lib. 122.  
14. At the same time, by the instigation of King Philip's Ambassador, and Mendoza, a sentence was pronounced against the Citizens of Aquensis. Ibid.  
15. Anno 1584. when there arose a war between Gebhard Archbishop of Colein, and the College, the Spaniards instantly thrust themselves into the business, however the Emperor and Princes often admonished the Duke of Parma to withdraw his Soldiers out of the Empire, Thuan. lib. 78.  
16. Ancellus the French Ambassador in his speech to the Princes of Germany, Anno 1597. says; In Italy there are few Countries which turn from the Empire under pretext of protection, do not groan under the cruel yoke of the Spaniards: Nor is Germany to hope better, in which the Town of Berk upon the Rhine, is already, against all right and equity, held by a foreign Garrison; and the Castle of Starkenburgh in Westphalia is daily fortified with all expedition. The excursions of the Spaniards as far as into Hassia these former years, are notorious, etc. Thuan. lib. 118. Germany hath two potent enemies hanging over her head; the one, the Turk, a plundering, indefatigable, terrible, and insuperable Prince, the other the Spaniard, who craftily, and by the ruin of the Princes his Ally's, opens his way to the Empire. It must be warily considered whether of these two is to be thought the more formidable, by comparing the Alcoran with the Spanish Inquisition: and whether it be better to have to do with the Eastern or Western Turks. The Author of the Exequys of the Pacification of Prague, printed at Rotterdam, 1593. writes, that the Spanish Ambassador at Ratisbon, visited the Electors, house by house only, like a perpetual Dictator, and dictated to their pens what his King's pleasure was. p. 32. and a while after he adds, Unless the Electors shake off the Lethargy, and the Lords of the Chapters in the principal Churches, look more attentively to their business, it will shortly come to that pass, That upon the Ecclesiastical Electors ●ill be obtruded the Albani, Farnesii, Leopoldi, and upon the very Chapters themselves, and Collegiate Churches, the proud Leirae, Vergosii, and others of that stuff, (whose character is sufficiently known in the Belgic History) who value as much the Nobility of Germany, as Bethleem Gabor did Priscian's Rules, who having often made the Assembly laugh with his Latin, handsomely answered, Quid curaremus Priscianum Grammaticum, qui non metuimus Imperatorem Romanorum? Why should we care for Priscian the Grammarian, when we fear not the Emperor of the Romans? Idem ibidem, p. 33.  
17. The Spanish Ambassador was wont to brag at the Diet of Ratisbone, that his King maintained three Electors there, a●d fed th●m amongst his Flocks; ye●, and th●● his King Ferdinand ruled the then King of Kings. In Exeq. Pacif. Pra●. p. 66.  
18. Anno 154●. The Spaniards, who marched under the conduct of Charles 5. assaulting partly by force, and partly by cunning, the City of Constance, had already seized upon the Suburbs; where, after they had committed many outrages, being repulsed by the inhabitants, they fired it and retreated. Sleid. lib. 21. Come sui.  
16. The States of the Empire assembled at Norimbergh 1640, amongst other things, earnestly petitioned the Emperor, that he would command the Spaniards (as disaffected to the Empire) to departed from his Council, and assembly of Princes, as very well understanding, that that Nation uses to fish in other men's Pools, the better to obtain their own ends.  
19 The Princes of Germany did not without ground suspect Charles the fifth; as if, under pretext of Religion and establishing the Empire, he looked upon his own private advantage, and the translation of the Empire by right of inheritance, upon his own family. Thuan. lib. 107.  
20. The Spanish faction highly threatened Mathias K. of Hungary, to deter him for giving free exercise of Religion to the Austrians & Hungarians, whereby it clearly enough appears, how much the Spaniards esteem the house of Austria, with the rest of the Catholics, and how much they hate them of the Reformed Religion. By the same way they overruled the Emperor Rodolph, for granting liberty of Religion to the Bohemians and Silesians. Metteranus lib. 30. Anno 1608, 1609.  
21. Thomas Campanella, a Spanish Friar, in his Discourse of the Spanish Monarchy, c. 5. speaks thus, of adding the Empire to the Spanish Kingdoms, The Pope must make it his business to excommunicate the three Protestant Electors, threatening them, that unless they return to the Roman Church, he will deprive them of their Electoral dignity: And then, it were better, if the King of Spain would get himself chosen Emperor, and so invade Germany with a great Host, and subdue it; but he must do it under pretext of going into Hungary.   

CHAP. VI The Praevarications of the Spaniards, against the Kings and Kingdoms of France.  
AS France is nearest to the Empire in limits, so is it also nearest to the plots and tricks which are framed against it by the Spanish Nation. For, in regard that no kingdom is a greater Remora to the Spanish Monarchy than France: therefore do the Spaniards bend all their forces and studies, to the conquest thereof; insomuch as I could discover the whole Magazine of their plots, designs, and prevarications against it, were I not hindered by other reasons: but amongst many it may suffice for the present to bring some few. I will silence the wars between Charles & Francis, because they were public, as also other Martial differences, and will only touch upon some clancular attempts, and such as were exercised secretly, and under colour, if not of true friendship, yet certainly with no show of open hostility.  
1. In the first place, we meet with the League of the Henotickes, who affected to be called Zelots; in which action, not only and singly of the Spaniards, but a manifold prevarication might be observed, of which conspiracy, or Holy League, (as they would needs have it styled) the Noble Historian Thuan says thus, lib. 90. Never was there Portent in France, to be compared with that pernicious faction, who fancied to be called Zelots: for having seduced the hearts of the common people, the Towns and Cities throughout the whole kingdom revolted from their lawful King and Magistrate, and letting the Spaniards into the kingdom, laid all France open to foreign & pernicious enemies to the French name; insomuch as that a certain learned man, not unpleasantly said, That though the Prodigy which appeared in Nero's time, (when, in the Agro Marruccino, the whole Olivet of Vectius Mercellus was carried over the high way, and ploughed lands instantly brought in its stead) were very great, yet the French were a greater miracle to us in our days, namely to see Spain come into France, and Frenchmen to behold Spaniard's strutting in the middle of Paris. Thua. Lib. 90.  
2. That King Philip of Spain entered into league with the Guisians, to the disadvantage of the kingdom of France, may be read as well elsewhere as in Thuan, lib. 81. where the conditions of the league are also expressed.  

The crown of France is desired for Isabel.  3. An 1593. the Duke of Feria, Ambassador to the King of Spain, most highly extolled Clara Eugenia Isabel, the Spanish Infanta, in an Assembly of the Noble men in France, desiring at last, that in the choice of a King, (though Henry the fourth were already King) the said Infanta might be remembered, Thuan. lib. 106. which was manfully opposed by, etc.  

The Petition for Isabel iterated by the Spaniards.  4. The same petition was likewise afterwards renewed with the States, and most vehemently urged by John Baptist Taxis, and Inigo Mendoza. Idem Thuan. lib. 16. But these men were refuted by some who posted up papers in certain places; wherein, amongst other things were found these: If the French should do this, they would not only be condemned of high treason for betraying their Country to their enemy (and nominatively the Spaniard) but also show themselves mere madmen, by trusting the security of their Religion with that faithless Nation, (the greatest part of them being Marianists, and such as held it a common crime, not to know God) and render their wives, children, and whatsoever is dear and good to them, to the lust and cruelty of those white Moors, (whose ways were not to be endured even by their own subjects) to be greedily and cruelly dealt with, and thereby stir up the most just hatred, revenge, and arms of the neighbouring people and Princes against themselves, to whom the Spanish ambition is (with good reason) both extremely suspect, and hateful, in regard they seek nothing else, but that under pretence of Religion they may every where usurp a tyrannical Rule, thereby to deceive the simple, and suffer the wicked to transgress with impunity, etc.  
5. The Spaniards observing that this business of the Infanta would not succeed, 
The crown of France desired for Ernestus.  propound Ernestus (to whom Isabel was to be married) to the Confederates, but finding a rub also there, they proposed, 
The D. of Lorraine is propounded to the French for their king, by the Spaniards  that the Noble men would choose some one of the Princes of France, as aiming at the Duke of Lorraine, to whom Isabel was afterwards to marry. But at length they nominated the Duke of Guise, promising to give him the Infanta to wife, and ask Low Britain for her Jointure. They prescribed also other insolent conditions to the French, as if, forsooth, they had been sent into the full possession of France, and had treated with conquered people; which yet was understood by Meduan and Bassompierre, and therefore they rejected their propositions. See Thuan lib. 106. & lib. 107.  
7. The Spaniards under the pretext of succouring their Allies and Confederates, seize upon some Towns, whereof the Citizens of Lions being sensible 1594, secured themselves betimes, and agreed with Henry the fourth. Thuan. lib. 108.  

A plot against the life of the King of France, framed by the Spaniards. The attempts against Henry 4.  8. Fontano and Steven Ibarra, Ministers of the King of Spain's, suborned Emanuel Andrada, with huge promises, to poison the King of France with a Nosegay, Thuan. lib. 109.  
9 The high endeavours of the Spaniards to alienate the Pope from Henry the fourth, are described by Thuan. lib. 107.  
10. Philip the second, at first, by private plots, but afterwards by open force, broke into France, and fished as it were with a golden hook, for the ill affected persons. Thuan. lib. 110.  
11. Henry the fourth complains grievously of the Noblemen of France upon the discovery of the new plot, Anno 1604. That the Spaniard would want no matter for his crimes, for that he could not reduce his mind from the vice it got on the other side of the Pyreneans, nor cease to draw his subjects to wicked actions, etc. Which letter is exhibited by Matthaeo in Historia Franciae, lib. 7.  
12. By what means the Spaniards attempted to intercept Masseilles, Anno 1596, and how Menargus was punished for it, is taught by Matthaeus, lib. 1. tom. 3. Hist. Fran. & Thuan. lib. 116.  
13. The King of Spain's various prevarications against France, are deduced by Henry 4. in denunciatione belli Provinciis Philippi, Thuan. lib. 3.  
14. The Spaniards incited Peter Owen, a Carthusian Monk, to murder Henry the fourth; but the King pardoned him, notwithstanding he were condemned, Thuan sub finem, lib. 118.  
15. The Spaniards, however there were peace on both sides, complotted with Byron, Anno 1610. by Fontano Parario, Thuan, lib. 125.  
16 What was their design Anno 1602. when it was agreed between the King of Spain and Byron, to seize upon King Henry when he was a hunting, and send him into Spain, Thuan. lib. 128.  
17. Fontano, Anno 1600, (at which time there was peace between France & Spain) had forty thousand men, and forty pieces of Ordnance ready, wherewith he intended to invade. France, because King Henry was then busy with the war of Savoy, Thuan. lib. 128.  
18. What pernicious counsels Taxis and Sunica, King Philip's Ambassadors took in France against the kingdom of France, is manifest out of the confession of Balsack, Count of Eutrage, Thuan. lib. 134. As also out of another, with other Noblemen at the same time; as out of another with Merargus Governor of Marseilles, where King Henry's speech is likewise related, wherein he both freely and largely upbraids Sunica King Philip's Ambassador, with the Spaniards plots, Thuan lib. 134.  
20. Santa Cruz King Philip's General, after his victory against the French near the Tercera Island, condemned and executed 28 Noblemen, about 50 Gentlemen, and 300 common men, Thua. lib. 75.  
21. In like manner Valemundo, General of the Spanish Army in Florida, perfidiously broke his word with Ribald, and Otigni, and most cruelly murdered above 600 French men after Quarter given, and caused their eyes to be plucked out after they were dead, and to be stuck upon the points of their pikes, as Thuan amply describes, lib. 41, Anno 1568.  
22. The Spaniards, howbeit they had made peace and league with Charles the eighth, yet by private dispatches of letters and Agents to all parts (and especially to Venice) they broke it, and instantly made war upon the French, as Comines testifies, lib. 5. belli Neapolitanis, p. 926.  
23. An. 1614 Francisco Suarez, a Spanish Jesuit, set forth a scandalous Book against the State of the kingdoms of England & France, which was publicly burnt at Paris, by order of Parliament; howbeit the said Book was set forth by the approbation of Joan Alvarez, Provincial of that Society.   

CHAP. VII. The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the Kings and Kingdom of England.  
WE have stayed long enough in a continent, let us now pass the Sea, and see whether the King of Spain have shown himself more faithful to the English then to the French, and others. Not a whit. Read what follows, and you will find with me, that a Wolf is every where a Wolf, 
Attempts against Q Elizabeth.  and would as well take and devour the marked as unmarkt sheep. And to begin with Queen Elizabeth, it cannot be denied, but that the Spaniard used all possible means to deprive her both of her kingdom and of her life. Thuan testifies, lib. 44. Anno 1569. that Mary Queen of Scots, by the instigation of the Spaniards, and others, endeavoured to innovate things in England; and to that end Rudolphus Robertus came into England, to solicit the English to disloyalty, and promise them great matters from the Pope, and the King of Spain, and he was employed by the Queen, as her chief Minister and Assistant.  
2. That the Spanish Ministers by their Emissaries the Jesuits, induced the Duke of Norfolk, Anno 1572. to undertake dangerous designs against Queen Elizabeth, was not doubted of by the wiser sort of those times; yea, and he was brought to lose his head for it. Hist. Belg.  
3. In the year 1601. the King of Spain, by the instigation of Garnet Robert, a Jesuit, endeavoured to trouble affairs in England; but that enterprise being detected, vanished into smoke. Metteranus lib. 27.  
4. That the King of Spain did direct all his enterprises, that by the Jesuits he might molest the affairs, and innovate Religion in England, so many reiterated designs, but most of them being frustrated, the writing made against the Jesuits in England 1602. in which among other titles they have this name that they are the King of Spain's Trumpeters.  
I cannot forbear to speak of that stupendious Fleet which was sent against England and the Queen, Anno. 1588.  
5. The King of Spain treacherously thinking to destroy Queen Elizabeth, and to possess himself of the English Nation, provided a mighty Navy, consisting of one hundred and thirty ships, where of Galleasses and Galleons seventy two goodly ships like to floating Towers, in which were Soldiers 19290. Mariners 8350. Galley slaves 2080. great Ordnance 2630. On the twentieth of May they weighed Anchor from the River Trigas, but were by tempest so miserably dispersed, that it was long ere they met again: But they sent before to the Prince of Parma, that he with his Forces consisting of fifty thousand old Soldiers, should be ready to join with them, and with his shipping to conduct them into England, and to land his Army at the Thames mouth. But God so ordered, that partly by distress of weather, and partly by the valour of the English, they were driven back with infinite loss and disgrace.  
6 Fontano, a Spaniard, with a vast sum of money (to wit, 50000 Pistols) corrupted Doctor Lopez, to poison Queen Elizabeth, as the said Lopez himself; together with Emanuel Ludovicus Tinotius, & Stephanus Errera, freely confessed. Thuan. lib. 109.  
7. Ibarra attempted the same plot upon the said Queen, by Edmond of York, Cousin german to him who perfidiously betrayed the Fort of Zutphan to the enemy: as also by Richard Williams, besides another youth, and other complices, for which he promised them 40000 Pistols.  
8. Anno 1601. the Spaniards were brought into Ireland by Hugh Earl of Tiron, but were but scurvily entertained there. Thuan. lib. 125.  
9 When, in the year 1603. certain Engglish were taken and executed for a conspiracy against the King, Carolus Ligneus, Count of Aremberg, who was then Ambassador there from the Archduke Albert, was suspected to have conspired with them, Thuan. lib. 129.  
10. The King of Spain, not long after the death of Mary Queen of Scots, ordered the Duke of Parma, than Governor of the Low Countries, to promise in his name, the King of Scotland, both men and money, against the Queen of England, thereby the more easily to revenge his mother's death. And to that end the said Duke sent Robert Bruss, a Scotch Gentleman, into Scotland, with a great deal of money. Besides, that the Scotch King was put in hope to marry the Infanta of Spain, provided that he embraced the Roman Religion, which was proposed by one William Crich●on, who then belonged to the Pope's Nuntio, and had formerly been Rector sometime of the Jesuits College at Lions, and he endeavoured to persuade Bruss, either by force or fraud to kill John Metelan, High Chancellor of Scotland; and because Bruss abhorred so wicked a fact, Crichton accused him to Fontano, who clapped him up in prison for fourteen months together. See Hospinian.  
11. How cunningly some of the Spanish Emissaries endeavoured to persuade James (than King of Scotland, and afterwards of England too) that it was necessary for him to have a league and friendship with the King of Spain, saying that it would much advantage him to have the favour of the Spaniards. Thuan. lib. 83.  
12. The dangerous designs of the Spaniards, by the Jesuits and their Emissaries, to destroy both the Queen and Kingdom of England, Anno 1596. is described by Thuan and others in the English Complaint to Pope Clement the eighth.  
13. Divers outrages and Acts of hostility have been committed by the Spaniards against the subjects of England in their Colonies of the West Indies.  
14 Anno 1605. Certain English men being on the North side of Hispaniola, were enticed a shore by a Priest named Father John, on promise of secure trading, were inhumanly and barbarously murdered by the Spaniards. The Master was tied naked to a tree, and most cruelly pinched and stung to death.  
15. An. 1608. The Richard of Plymouth trading to Virginia, was assaulted by the King of Spain's ships, and notwithstandding the Master produced the Broad Seal of England, he with all the men were condemned to the Galleys, where some were with much cruelty, beaten to death.  
16. With what tricks and juggles the Match in Spain, between the late King Charles, and the King of Spain's daughter, was treated, prolonged, and at last quite eluded, is sufficiently known to such as were employed in that business. So that Spaniards are every where Spaniards,   

CHAP. VIII. The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the King and Kingdom of Portugal.  
WHen Sebastian King of Portugal, Anno 1578. resolved to undertake that Expedition into Africa, (fatal both to him and his Kingdom) Philip King of Spain, seemed, forsooth, at first, to disapprove, and dissuade it; but it was observed by the wiser sort, that he was not real in the business, as promising much, and performing little; yea, and sometimes instantly denying his promises, Thuan. lib. 65.  
2. King Philip of Spain by his Emissaries the Jesuits, deterred Henry successor to Sebastian aforesaid, as well by menaces as other persuasions, from his purpose of subrogating John Duke of Braganzia in his place, in respect of his age, howbeit all the Nobility of Portugal favoured the said Duke; yea, and he also wrote Letters to the common people of Lisbon, to debauch them, and gain them to himself, which he at length, in his Npehew, Anno 1640 achieved. Thuan. lib. 65. sub finem.  
3. None have ever more sharply resisted free election for want of Male-issue, and in a dubious right of succession to the Crown of Portugal, than King Philip and his adherents, Thuan. lib. 69.  
4. Philip, by Ferdinand of Castille, deterred Henry, King of Portugal, from marriage, that by his dying a Bachelor, he might more easily come to the Crown of Portugal. Thuan, lib. 69.  
5. Thuanus saith, that Philip intended to prosecute his right to the Kingdom of Portugal by way of Arms, as putting more confidence in his might then in his right, or in the opinions of his Lawyers.  
6. Philip made many large promises to King Henry, and the Portuguezes, by the Duke of Ossuma his Ambassador, to make him King; which afterwards were not half performed. Thuan. lib. 69.  
7. Whilst the suit was still depending, and King Henry yet living, King Philip armed himself against Portugal; which Henry perceiving, began to boggle, as being persuaded by Leo Euric, a Jesuit, that he would merit heaven, if he would appoint Philip for his Successor. Thuan. lib. 69.  
8. The matter being come to blows, Philip referred the business to the Divines, (the Jesuits and the Franciscans) to be discussed at leisure: A fine way of proceeding, and proving his cause! For they, excluding the Pope's authority, because it was a mere earthly business, etc. gave their votes for Philip. Thuan. lib. 69. And howbeit the Pope indeed first by Sega his Nuntio, and afterwards by Alexander Riario, were urgent with Philip to desist from war, till the business were composed, yet could he effect nothing at all with him. See Thuan. lib. 70. Anno 1580. but put off the Conference with various reasons, delays, and excuses.  
10. The Duke of Alva took Cascaio by force; and although before it were done, the besieged put forth a white Colour, and desired a Parley, the Spaniards, notwithstanding in hope of prey, stormed the Town▪ and put Diego de Meneses, whom they found there, together with Enric Perei ra Governor of the Castle, with some others, to death, Thuan. lib. 70.  
11. An. 1581. King Philip of Spain at his coronation, gave the Nobility of Portugal a general pardon for what was passed; but the event answered not their expectation: for not only Antonio Prior, Francisco Portugallo, Count of Vimioso, and Bishop Juan Garda, brother to the said Count, together with fifty more principal men of the contrary faction, and all religious men, were excluded from it. Thuan. lib. 73.  
12. Philip readily granted the Portuguezes all such of their requests as were of almost no moment; but such as were of any concernment, he either flatly denied, or answering them ambiguously in the margin eluded. Thuan. lib. 73. In the same manner he also denied the requests of the Nobility.  
13. How Philip guled the demands of such of the Portuguezes as had rendered him faithful service in the acquest of the Crown, Thuan teaches, lib. 75. saying, That either the Kingdom of Portugal, in right, belonged to him, and then they were bound in justice to help him get it, or not; and so they were traitors to their own Country: but whethersoever it were of both, he owed them nothing, and that it ought to suffice them that he had given them their lives.  
14. How inexorable and severe Philip shown himself to some sacred persons, who were against him in his acquisition of Portugal, see by the Letters above, Chap. 2. for two thousand of them perished in that war. Thuan. lib. 72.  
15. Immediately after Philip got the Kingdom of Portugal, he utterly outed the Portuguezes, and preferred Spaniards in the government thereof; Whereupon Thuan. lib. 78. Anno 1583. It troubled the Portuguezes, that Francisco Villefanga, a Castilian, and not a Portuguez, was made high Treasurer of Portugal.  
16. Michael de Vasconcellis, the Spanish King's Secretary, shown himself so proud and insolent in the said King's Council at Lisbon, that he forbore not to strike some prime persons, who came to him upon business. Others of the chief Nobility, he condemned, and sent to the Galleys, and used other insolences Ex Relationibus Portugalliae. Anno 1640.  
17. Comines near the end of his fifth Book of the Neapolitan war, says, that the Spaniards do naturally hate and contemn he Portuguezes.   

CHAP. IX. The Praevarications of the Spaniards against the Low Countries.  
TIme, & the greedy Readers expectation require me now to return out of foreign parts, into our Low Countries, and show what things have been cruelly, perfidiously, treacherously, and lecherously, both done & suffered then by the Spaniards, before and, after this war, which hath already been begun, (and with no less variety, than heat, and courage of the parties contending) continued since the year 1566. But in regard there is so great a cloud and bulk of them, that one my sooner grasp the sky in ones hand, then relate them either with tongue or pen: Besides, that there be many other Authors extant, of both Religions, who have collected them with as much faith as care, and have inserted them in their Histories according to the series of years; I will forbear to tyre my pen with setting them down. There are few who have not seen the History of Emanuel Metterano, together with the continuation of William Baudert, written in Low-Dutch; as also the Relations of P. Boorn, of the same War: besides the History of Eberhard Raid; to be silent of the noble Historian Jacobo Augusto Thuano, the Livies of the French Kingdom, by whom both the beginning and success of the Low-Countrey-war, are written with great elegancy, and integrity; where we may also see what plots were contrived against the Noblemen, and especially against them of the house of Orange, both Father & Son, how many Towns taken, and miserably plundered, and the Inhabitants more than barbarously treated: how many rebellions raised by the Spanish Soldiers; and how miserably the subjects and Citizens (especially they of Antwerp and Mecklin) were abused and pillaged: yea, how many thousands died by the Hangman's hands, excluding such as perished in the wars. To which may also be added the Martyrology of Corvinus, and the Apology of the Prince of Orange, besides the speech of Ansellus to the Germane Princes, together with other Apologetic writings, set forth by the Noblemen of the Low Countries; likewise Speculum Hispan. Tyrant. In which book the Reader will find such things as will amaze him, principally pag. 35, 36, 37. at Brussels, Mounts in Hennault upon the Moze, Lile, Tornay, Rotterdam, Mechlin, Zutphan, Nard, Harlem, Antwerp, (the sacking whereof exceeded all the rest, above 8000 Citizens, and Soldiers being massacred in it) besides that they extorted and took from the Inhabitants above forty Tuns of gold, excluding Jewels, and other things of price, etc.  
For these, and other causes, I shall not weary my own hands with writing, nor the Readers eyes with reading of these things; but will make a leap over the sea into Catalonia.  
That excellent book of Thomas Camponella, a Spanish Friar, must not be left out of this Catalogue, wherein be shows above thirty ways, for the King of Spain to subjugate the Low countries': as first, by sowing the seeds of discord amongst the Inhabitants, Secondly, by throwing them out of their Country; to which he adds this advantage, that the King should fly to Jason's Arts, and procure some Medea, that is, some promiscuous marriages.   

CHAP. X. The Praevarications and Excesses of the Spaniards against the Kingdom or Principal of Catalonia.  
THe States and Noblemen, chief the Magistrates of Barcelona, Anno 1640. published a Book called, A Catholic Complaint to King Philip; wherein first, they demonstrated their fidelity and constancy in his service, freeness, zeal, submission, and other deserts towards him, whereby they justly deserved and ought to be more gently, and better used by the Spaniards; for, as they writ, chap. 7. whilst the war lasted between him and the King of France in the County of Rossillion, Anno 1640. they maintained 30000 men for seven months together. Gathered and presented him an infinite sum of money at several times, for his necessary uses, without order, insomuch that scarce any Province hath deserved more & better. But what thanks received they? Those, which in their Preface, or Epistle to the King, they complain of, to wit, that they had been bitterly treated by his Soldiers, who (as they writ c. 4.) had extorted a great deal of money from the Husbandmen; that they had committed various sacrileges in Monasteries, Churches, and other sacred places, plundered Churches, and fired▪ them, broken Fonts, burned consecrated Hosts, violated the Images of Christ and the Virgin. In the seventh chapter they show how the favour which they had merited, was bestowed upon the Spaniards, for that they bade been traduced by them to the King, to have run out of the field; and afterwards they accuse the Spaniards of envy and falsehood, and purge themselves to the King, of the crimes objected against them, saying, that the Spaniards make other men's merits and honour their own, & by all means extenuate, obliterate, and forget the praises of others. They recount the various Arts of the Spaniards, adding, that since the year 1620, the Spaniards had done nothing in Catalonia but vex, torture, and suppress the Catalonians in manifold manners, infringed their ancient privileges and immunities, and took them quite from them, traduced and accused them to the King, sowed differences and discords between the King and the States of the kingdom, utterly averting his Majesty's heart from them, imposed unnecessary charges upon the King and kingdom, exhausted the Country with exactions and expeditions, and brought it even to beggary: Adding moreover, that now they were worse, and more cruelly used by their Associates, and Auxiliaries the Spaniards, than they formerly were by their professed and open enemies the Moors: that the Count of Fonteclaro, squeezed a great sum of money out of the Company of Merchants, violated their wives and daughters, killed their husbands, and others, plundered their goods and estates, fired their villages, many whereof they express by their names, That Leonardo Mala, the king's Captain, seized upon the Gates of Villa Franca, extorted money from the inhabitants for going in and out; and that adulteries, rapes, murders, plunders, house-breaking, and firings, were but sport and pleasure to the Spaniards. That Baron Lisaga took away their goods, and sold them by outcry, fired their houses, and committed an infinity of other tyrannical facts and insolences against the Catalonians. And although they complained of these excesses to the king's Officers, and Ministers, they had effected nothing but to be sent back with scorn; which irritated the Soldiers to commit still greater outrages. They complain likewise, that the king's Officers were still desirous of wars, and to prolong them; yea, and to sow wars out of wars, thereby to gain time and opportunity to vex and burden the people, and enrich themselves and theirs; as finding that it was better to be rich Soldiers in war, then poor and contemptible Fellows in peace, chap. 8. They often complain that one (and he no rich Countryman neither) was forced to quarter and maintain above a dozen Soldiers, which was enough to devour them to the very bones: and when there was no more left to give them, that they plucked them by the Beards, dragged them about the floor, beat them and crippled them with their swords, abusing them moreover with most bitter scoffs, saying, Go now, and sell thy wife and children, and give us meat and drink. They besieged the Castle of Antonio de Fulvia (a man of prime Nobility, and beloved by all for his integrity of life) burned the gates, pillaged the Country peoples goods, brought thither to be secured, and most cruelly massacred the said Antonio, with some others, in the very Church, with a sacred Image in his hand, and left him naked on the ground.  
Cap. 10. They relate how in a certain village called Gava, the Spaniards proceeded, by killing, ravishing of wives in the presence of their husbands, hanging men by the arms to extort their money from them, & beating of a Priest in the Church, saying, Though it were the Apostle Paul himself, and had the Sacrament of the Altar in his hands, he should not be better used. And in another place, they stole all the ornaments out of the Church, ravished young women, and murdered their parents who came to help them; and all this without punishment; nay, they say, that the Spanish Officers and Ministers severely forbade the Lawyers to undertake the cause or defence of the Catalonians: Their petitions were derided, and the Inhabitants prohibited under pain of death, to complain of the injuries done them; so that the Spaniards do often more cruelly and heinously handle their Friends and Associate● then open Enemies.  
In Catalonia there is nothing seen or heard, but women bewailing the murtherings of their husbands, and husbands the ravishing of their wives, and abusing of their marriage beds: old men complaining of the violating of their daughters, and the daughters lamenting the loss of their chastity: Orphans howling for the violent death of their parents, & both Citizens and Countrymen invocating the help of Heaven in these calamities, etc.  
Chap. 12. They recount how the City of Perpinian was vexed, besieged, and fifty two Fire-balls thrown into it, and five hundred sixty four houses consumed with fire, and 1115. pillaged; not so much as the very Churches spared, and the Monastery of the Carmelites, together with other sacred places plundered by the Spaniards, who took above eight thousand Ducats, in despite of the intercession of the Bishop, and the Religious. The Inhabitants of Perpinian disarmed; no body permitted to go out of the Town, and the Townsmen imprisoned. The complaints which were made hereof to the Spaniards, were either not accepted, or plainly rejected, or else put off till other times. Many of the prime Citizen were taken and cast in prison without cause, and there retained for some months, before they could know why; no justice administered, the rents of the Bishop, and Clergy of Barcelona taken away; all Jurisdiction, both Temporal and Spiritual transferred upon the Spaniards, etc.  
They also complain of the Spanish King's ingratitude, concluding thereby, that they were forced to take arms against their wills, etc. But I will stay here, and remit my Reader to their Catholic complaint, out of which I have taken this.   

CHAP. XI. The Praevarications of the Spaniards against Arragon.  
What I have written elsewhere, that the Spaniards endeavour to diminish the ancient liberties and immunities of other Kingdoms and Provinces, thereby to give the inhabitants an occasion to rebel, and themselves a fair pretence to chastise them (as they call it) and to invade, depress and plunder others, and do all things according to their lust, is testified by the process, and suit of Antonio Perez, which I will briefly relate here.  
Philip the second, resolved for some suspicions, to destroy Escovedo, Secretary to Don Juan de Austria his brother, and that by some clancular Art not to offend his said brother, to whom Escovedo was chief Favourite; which thing he brought to pass by Antonio Perez, his own Secretary, and aemulator of Escovedo. But Escovedo's friends and kindred, petitioned the King, that this murder might be revenged upon the murderers employed by Antonio Perez. The King who had incited Perez to this fact, and promised him protection and safety under his hand, craftily, after a thousand tergiversations, and as many sharp instances of the Escovedo's, at last imprisoned Perez to satisfy them, and by this means secure his life, whom they plotted to destroy. After a long imprisonment, wherein Perez was sometimes proclaimed free, and then instantly clapped up again, and at length also racked; the Letters, wherein the King had commanded him to do this act, were, the greatest part of them, extorted from his wife, by the fraud of her Confessor, or Ghostly Father, and she, together with her children, also taken, and all their goods sold by an out cry; so that poor Perez had nothing left him but his life, and even that in imminent danger too. But he made his escape to Saragosa in Arragon; whither the King's Officers pursuing him, took him out of Sanctuary, and threw him in Jail, from whence he was freed, and taken again, and delivered to the King's Governor. The Saragosians angry hereat, as a thing against their privileges, making a concourse of the people, forced him out of that Inquisition, and killed some of the King's Officers in the tumult, and so Perez being freed, & absolved by a public sentence of Justice, evaded. After he had been three years in this misery, sometimes a prisoner, and sometimes a freeman, sometimes condemned, and sometimes absolved, the king by the instigation of the Spaniards, to revenge this injury done them by the Saragosians, sent an Army into Arragon, under the conduct of Antonia Vergas, which that State by vigour of their privileges, opposed. But the king wrote kind Letters to such of them, as whom, afterwards by the dissembling of Vergas, he chief punish●; for as soon as Vergas was admitted, he first laid hold of them, to whom the king had written so kindly, and afterwards of the rest of the principal Officers of the kingdom; restoring them who had formerly been thrown out of their places by the Deputies, as traitors to their Country, and subverters of the Laws. He confiscated the estates of most of them; he also seized upon the Lord chief Justice of Arragon. whose name was Juan de Nuzza, and twenty hours after admitting of no excuse, or defence, caused him to be beheaded, and his estate to be confiscated. The Citizens were deprived of their privileges; so that that murder of Escevedo proved highly damageable to Perez, destructive to the kingdom of Arragon, reproachful to the King, dishonourable to the Spaniards, and scandalous to the whole world. Ex relatione Historiae de Perezzio.  
The Catholic Kings Governor in Arragon, sent once for the Advocate Misero Sarces, who conceiving that the Governor wanted his advice, came speedily to him; and as soon as he came, the Governor caused him to be strangled, without any lawful proceeding at all. Ex eadem relatione.  
Perez, whilst he was in prison, was fain to live upon alms, amongst the king's Ministers in Arragon, his Majesty's Officers having taken away all his goods; yea, and pulled off his very children's shirts. Ibidem.  
The Spaniards also most injuriously treated the Religious, because out of compassion they had undertaken to protect and mediate for Perez; as seizing upon them, and plundering them, and casting them in prison; insomuch as a certain Canon died of grief. Ibid.  
In which relation many things are described of the attempts of the Spaniards against that kingdom and their privileges.   

CHAP. XII. The Praevarications against the kingdom of Naples.  
IN the description of the kingdom of Naples, which is in Thesauro Politico apotelesmate 62. the Author says thus.  
1. That the Spaniards have extenuated this Body (i. e. Naples) monstrously, and yet they hold it with such suspicion, that not content to have dulled the heart of it, and broken all its members, they labour still by all means, to hinder it from gathering strength, lest it should afterwards abhor physic, and with great loss of reputation, and disadvantage, extrude the Physician.  
2. King Ferdinand of Spain, after the death of Queen Joan (howbeit she by her Will transferred the kingdom of Naples upon Rene, brother to the Duke of Anjou) took it, and made himself free Lord thereof, pretending that it was reverted to the Church, etc.  
3. The Spaniards always take a course to have the Pope's favourable to them, in the cause of the kingdom of Naples, and to lessen and depress all such as maintain the report of any other power in the said kingdom.  
4. The Spaniards sometimes grant the Neapolitan Noblemen some Offices, especially in the Court, but public administrations to none, or very seldom, and with great limitations.  
5. Whilst the King of Spain committed the government of all things in the kingdom of Naples to the Spaniards, and suffered no complaints to be made of his Ministers, the insolency and licentiousness of the said Spaniards swelled so big, that abusing the king's design, they tyannically satiated their intolerable pride by the depression of others.  
6. That the Vice-kings Officers and Governors have engrossed all the riches of all the Provinces. Ibid.  
7. By how much the severer an Officer professes himself in the kingdom of Naples, especially towards the Nobility, in so much the more favour and esteem is he with the Spaniards, by whom he is advanced in Court, and exalted to higher degrees and titles.  
8. The aforementioned Author also complains of other burdens imposed and daily to be imposed upon that kingdom; as of an extraordinary Donative, of certain * Granos, 
Granos (is as I remember) about an English penny, or somewhat more in value.  which every Fire or Family is bound to pay for the quartering of Soldiers, and for salaries to the Vice-kings Train, of seven Granos for the guard of the Towers, of five Granos for the Field-Sergeants, of nine Granos for the reparation of the ways; of the tax for five foot Soldiers, upon a hundred fires; of yearly pensions, of the new tribute put upon wrought and unwrought silk; of the tax upon Cards, which is farmed at 20000 Crowns a year, and other emunctions of this kind.  
9 He complains that the King of Spain's Vice king commanded the Neapolitans once to make and eat the bread of a certain root called Panis porcinus, or Hogs bread; which proclamation was nevertheless forthwith suspended under pretext, that it was commanded only to try, whether in time of need that bread would suffice.  
10. He complains that the Vice-king would needs crown a certain fellow called Catinario, who was rich indeed, but not considerable otherwise, in despite of the Order of Knighthood.  
11. He complains, that he took the Prince's daughter out of a Monastery by force, under pretext to try, whether she had a mind to marry, or no, when the true reason of it was, because he resolved to match her to his own son.  
12. He complains that when the States of the kingdom intended to send the Donative of the kingdom to the King by their own men, the Vice-king would needs send it by his men, and forced them to deliver it to him.  
14. He complains, that he got in a short time, seven thousand pistols a year for his wife, and as much for his son Bernardino, out of the Church Revenues, etc. That Dispute was written An. 1579. in the beginning of April. and it is to be seen in Thesauro Politico Casp. Ensi. part. 3. Apothegmate 62.   

CHAP. XIII. The Praevarications of the Spaniards against Italy and the Commonwealths thereof.  
IT would be a business of too much length for me, by going through a series of Histories, to pick out all the prevarications of the Spaniards against Italy, and the Princes and Republics thereof, and insert them into this Narration; especially since some of them against the Pope, are already alleged, and other are to be alleged, Cap. de Praevaricationibus, etc. And yet in regard that though there be so various Principates, and so various Commonwealths, there is yet scarce any, which complains not of the Spanish domination and ambition, it seems fit to allege at least some of them, and omit the rest, to avoid prolixity.  
1. What monuments of their ambition they have expressed towards the Pope and his dominions, is said above. What intention they have towards the Republic of Venice, is very well known to the said commonwealth, though she think fit to dissemble it; and yet she hath not forgotten how craftily they carried themselves in the Confederation, or war against the Turk; and in the Controversy between Paul the fifth and Her. Nor do I think the Genuezes have also forgotten what their designs were against them, both in and after the time of Dory. How they seized upon the Duchy of Milan, Sleiden shows. In the Countries of Piedmont and Savoy, and other territories, they have erected very many monuments of their prevarications, and are daily erecting more. What the Sienneses and Florentines have suffered by the Spaniards, is taught by the Historians both of this and the former Age. I willingly pass by the Dutchys of Mantua, Montferat, Ferrara, Appulia, and Calabria, nor will I touch the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily. because every body knows by what tricks they got those, & how unworthily the Spanish Ministers treat the Noblemen and subjects thereof, insomuch as that, according to Histories and Relations, for never so slight a cause, as sometimes for an inconsiderate word, their lives and fortunes are in danger.  
2. How the king of Spain invited Charles the eighth king of France, to make war upon Italy. Comines 5. lib. Belli Neopolitani near the end.  
3. Anno 1617. Whilst the wars yet lasted between Ferdinand of Austria, and the Commonwealth of Venice, the Vice-king of Naples invited and encouraged the Turks to make war upon the Venetians; but the Turks made an impression into Sicily, and carried away great booty. Baudart. lib. 38.  etiam Epistola ipsa.  
4. It is written also in the same book, how the Ambassador of Savoy complained to the Princes of Germany, at the Diet at Hailbrun, of the breach of Articles.  
5. Anno 1618. in the beginning of May, was discovered a dangerous plot and treason of the Spaniards against Italy and the Republics thereof, when they intended by their Emissaries, to set Venice in many places on fire, and kill the Senators; but the business being detected, many of the Conjurators were hanged, many stifled, and many executed other ways. Baudart. lib. 38.  
6. At the same time the Spaniards attempted to surprise Cremona; but the business had the same issue which the plot upon Venice had. Ibid.   

CHAP. XIV. The Praevarications of the Spaniards against other Kingdoms.  
THe King of Sweden smelling the Catholic Kings designs, howbeit he could hope for nothing from the house of Orange, yet he despised all the said Kings great promises, and refused him the use and loan of his great Vessels, whereof he hath good store; and for that reason the Poles several times rejected the Austrians, lest by the addition of so vast a kingdom to Bohemia and Hungary, the City of Dantz, by the benefit thereof, should forbid commerce, and force the Hollanders to submit. Thuan. lib. 107.  
2. Nor was it without some remorse of conscience, that when Philip the second, and his Father were a dying, they desired that the business of the kingdom of Navarre might be looked into by Lawyers and learned men; to wit, because they were convinced that they held it unjustly, by the exclusion of the right heir. Thuan. lib. 120.  
3. The reason why the Spaniards gape for the possession of Saluces, and the Territories adjoining, is, because they can most conveniently send Soldiers from thence into the Low-countrieses; and therefore Fontano, Anno 1600. earnestly urged the Pope's Nuntio, that the King of France might yield up the County of Bress. Thuan. 125  
Anno 1605. Don Pedro Guzman Fontano, Vice-King of Lombary, summoned most of the Princes of Italy, by the Precedent and Treasurers of the Extraordinary Revenues of the Duchy of Milan, and for that cause a proclamation was made by the said Fontano's authority, in King Philip's name, which was smartly answered and opposed by the Family of the Malaspines', and had almost given an Alarm amongst the said Princes, had not most of the Ambassadors in King Philip's Court interceded with him, and at length obtained that the prosecution of the business might be protracted, and suffered to vanish. Thuan lib. 134.  
5. Anno 1606. there arose a controversy between Pope Paul the fifth, and the State of Venice, about certain Privileges; which when it was almost brought to a friendly composition, by the endeavour of Henry the fourth of France, the Spanish faction, (the chief whereof were Cardinal Pompeio Arrigovio, Paulo Sfondrato, and Ferdinando Pacero Duke of Ascalonia) by the pravalency of King Philip's Ambassador with the Pope, the business was not only frustrated, but also brought to open war, and the Pope excommunicated the Venetians; and Philip forthwith by letters artificiously penned, offered his service to the Pope, & to that end Fontano listed Soldiers apace; and yet nevertheless he sent Francisco de Castro, as Extraordinary, to Venice, with intention, that if the matter inclined to a peace, (which he having kindled the war at first, began already to suspect) he might precept the honour of the pacification from the King of France, or at least have a great share in it, by his intervention. But the common report in the Court of Rome was, that Philip, according to the Rule of his Ancestors, was glad to hear of such Disputes amongst other Princes, concerning the Pope's Supremacy, as in relation to Civil Government, yea and to have them agitated up and down in Spain itself by connivency, as conceiving them not to belong to him at all, he being very potent, and using to quash the Pope's attempts in all his dominions with a word, well knowing that his Holiness dares not so much as hiss against him; which was sufficiently demonstrated afterwards in the business of Sicily; yea, and the Spaniards boiling with the heat of ambition, convert such wars and feditions as spring from thence, to their own private advantage; as lying in ambush in the mean while, to see if any of the weaker Princes be prescribed, that so they have an occasion to invade their Dominions, as it happened in the seizure of the kingdom of Navarre, even in our parents days. Thuan. lib. 137.  
7. When Ferdinand, King of Spain and Arragon, Anno 1501. attempted the Kingdom of Naples, and took the City of Tarento, with Ferdinand son to Frederick King of Naples in it, he swore to him by Gonsalvo, before the Altar, that he would leave him the liberty of a King; but yet he slighted his oath, sent him prisoner into Spain, and reserved the kingdom for himself.  
8. By the exhortation of Ferdinand, called the Catholic, Henry the eighth, King of England, sent 6000 English into Spain to join with the Spaniards in the invasion of the Duchy of Chira: but Ferdinand, who had a quite other design, sent them against John Albert, King of Navarre by the right of Catherine de la Fosse, who being wholly unprovided (for Ferdinand carried his business with high dissimulation towards him) fled into France; and so Ferdinand seized the kingdom of Navarre without any cost or pains. Speculum Tragicum. Anno 1612.  
9 It is no news for the Spaniards to sow sedition in divers kingdoms at one and the same time, as they did Anno 158●. in France and England. Thuan. lib. 179.  
10. Anno 1581. The Spaniards sowed discord amongst the Knights of Maltha, by setting Matuirno Scuto Romaegassio, against John Bishop of Casserio Avernio, chief of that Order, and casting him in prison; from whence he was cited to Rome to his trial; whither he came, and stoutly acquitted himself, howbeit he died during his abode there. Thuan. lib. 74.  
12. The Spaniards raised seditions in Scotland, and solicited with vain promises some Noblemen to a revolt, some of whom were beheaded for it. The States to the Letters of Ernestus. Anno 1594. Thuan. lib. 109.  
13. Antonio de Laeva, a Spaniard, and Governor of Lombary for Charles the fifth, being besieged at Milan, thought fit to spare neither things Humane nor Divine, for the maintenance of his own honour and Caesar's dignity; and in stead of pay, granted every City, and every Citizen thereof to be most inhumanly plundered by the Soldiers, that by the ejection of the Duke of Milan, Sforza might enjoy the command of so great a Principate. Paulus Jovius, lib. 6. Elogiorum.  
14. Hugo de Moncada governed Sicily after such a fashion, that he left many monuments of avarice and cruelty behind him; for he put many Sicilian Gentlemen to death, and amongst the rest, the Lord of Camerata, for that he lived somewhat seditiously, according to the ancient looseness of that Nation. Paul. Jou. lib. 6. Elog.  
15. How cruelly did they use the Hussites in Bohemia, as beating them, dragging them, cutting children in two, and throwing them to their mothers, saying, Jam habes sub utraque Now thou hast it under both, alluding to the ceremony of the Hussites, who took the Sacrament under both species.  
16. Thomas Campanella in his Discourse of the Spanish Monarchy. Chap. 26. faith, That the King of Spain must take care that none but a Catholic king be elected to the Crown of Poland. And therefore wise & noble Ambassadors must be sent to C●achoven to give weight and authority to the Spanish union amongst the Electors, and prevail to have one of the King of Spain's younger sons chosen King of Poland. And the people of Scandinaven and Dantzick must also be moved to set forth a Fleet to sea against the English, etc.   

CHAP. XV. The Spaniards ardent desire of Monarchy and Rule.  
IF that old saying, Semper imperare, & superiorem esse aliis, Always to command, and be superior to others, be innate to any Nation, it is certainly so, more to the Spaniards then to any other; since all their actions, cogitations, and consultations tend to that end, and therefore they may most clearly consent and say with Caesar, Si violandum est jus, regnandi causa violandum. If right must be wronged, it must be wronged for Powers sake. For this reason they are not afraid, by public writings, to admonish and exhort their king; yea, and to show him the ways and means how he may arrive to the universal Monarchy, amongst whom Thomas Campanella is the Ringleader. Nor did Charles the fifth seem to have laid slight foundations for this Monarchy, when besides those kingdoms which he possessed by right of succession in the West, and elsewhere, he was also made Emperor of the Romans, to which were yet added other titles afterwards; and it hath been hitherto the only business of the Spaniards, to be always in wars, that so they may be ready upon all occasions to produce that Monarchy of the whole Christian world, which they have long since conceived. For to this end were there so many matches proposed for the Infanta Isabel, and the Crown of France so impudently as it were put to sale: to this end were the seditions raised in Scotland, etc. The same craft was used in the Bishop of Strasburghs cause, and in the Duchy of Cleve, Gulick, and the Imperial City of Aquisgrane. Ordines ad Ernesti Lit. anno 1594. apud Thuan. lib. 109.  
5. The Spaniards hold this as a Delphic Oracle, and most infallible prophecy, That the last Monarchy shall be fixed in Spain, and that for this reason, that in regard it came in order, from the East to the West out of Asia into Greece, and returned for a few years into Asia again, under Alexander and his successors, at length out of Greece to Rome, therefore it necessarily follows, that it must be established in Spain, as being the most Westward of all other countries'. Thuan. lib. 133.  
6. The Spaniards for the settling of their Monarchy by wars, fraud, and other plots, destroy as many as are able to oppose them; as Anno 1584. when Andino (according to most men's opinions) was poisoned, whereof he being dead, the Prince of Orange was also forthwith killed, by one hired of the Duke of Parma; and the Queen of England aimed at by the same Arts, at the same time, lib. 79.  
7. That the kings of Spain labour for nothing more, then by subduing all other Kings and Princes, to make themselves Monarches of the whole Christian world, Ancellus teaches in his speech to the Princes of Germany, Anno 1597. apud Thuan. lib. 118.  
8. At the election of Charles the fifth, Anno 1519. one of the Episcopal Electors said, That the Spaniards having once gotten the Empire, would hardly restore it again to its liberty. Sleidanus.  
9 The Spaniards for the better security of their Monarchy, do not only permit, but allow, and persuade, even incestuous marriages, lest by the division of kingdoms, forsooth, their Monarchy should suffer an eclipse. Thuan. lib. 107.  
10. Moreover, for the greater assurance of their said Monarchy, they labour to destroy the Noblemen of their Provinces; to straighten their privileges & liberties, to impose new taxes, and to reduce the inhabitants from their old plenty and riches, to poverty and misery. Ordines Belgici in responsione Schwartzenburgio, Legato Caesario data anno 1575. Thuan. lib. 60.  
11. Another earnest endeavour of the Spaniards is, to take off all free Elections; which was done Anno 1570. in the kingdom of Portugal and at present in the election of the Emperors, and in the kingdoms of Bohemia and Hungary; yea, and by the exclusion of the right heirs, to advance their own Kings to kingdoms, as in the said kingdom of Portugal. Thuan. lib. 69.  
13. When Philip the second had married his daughter Isabel to the Archduke Albert, and had assigned him the seventeen provinces for a portion. his son Philip was troubled at it, as if he had not had kingdoms enough even without those Provinces; which when the Father observed, he comforted him, saying, 
Quidvis promittas, quid enim promittere laedit.  That he had indeed promised those Provinces, but that there were many byways and tricks to be found out, to shun the performance. Speculum Hisp. Tyrant. in Belgio. p. 108.  
14. The Duke of Larma heretofore made a speech to an Assembly of the States of Spain in Arragon, wherein he told them in most eloquent words, That the King of Spain had free power either by right or wrong, to get and occupate other kingdoms, that so he might come to the long hoped for Monarchy: For it was f●r, that since there was but one Head, (namely the Pope) in spiritual affairs; so there should be also but one (namely the King of Spain) in temporal; and that he was therefore called Catholic, because he ought to be the universal Monarch of the world. Now the wiser sort do justly conceive (these are the words of Ancellus to the Princes of Germany, Anno 1597.) That the inexpleble covetousness of the king of Spain, was not to be contained within the limits of the Rhine, and that they were reputed his enemies, by him, whosoever should endeavour to stop, or hinder his design, to fix the Monarchy of the whole world in his family. Thuan. lib. 118.  
15. The Spaniards are so much inflamed with desire of Power, that they never fail in all their king's dominions, to change their Native Officers and Ministers of the said dominions, with all kinds of calumnies and lies to the King, till they work him to deprive them of their employments and offices, and substitute castilians in their places; which more disgusted the Catalonians, than any thing else, as may be seen up and down in their complaint, anno 1640. where they beseech the king to be more circumspect in this point, and especially chap. 34.35.  
16. Antonio de Leva, charged Francisco Sfortia with various grievous calumnies to the Emperor, and used all means possible to get him thrown out of the government of the Duchy of Milan, and himself put in his place. Paul Jovius, lib. 6. Elog.  
17. Charles the fifth was excessively earnest with his brother Ferdinand, to abdicate the Roman Empire, and transfer it upon his son Philip, or at least to make him his Deputy of Italy, and the Low Countries. But Ferdinand answered him, That he was called Augustus, or the enlarger of the Empire, and therefore he could not grant aught thereof to any other. Zniegrefius part. 1. Apotheg. p. 112.  
18. It being asked why the king of Spain had an ambition to be preferred even before the Emperor: and answer being made, That Europe was like a man's Body, and that Spain represented the Head: And for this reason the King of Spain would go before the Emperor: Livius Fink Graecensis replied, If so then Germany wins the day, for she is like the Belly, and it is clear that the Belly rules all, and all obey the Belly. Znicgrefius, p. 1. Apotheg. p. 309.   

CHAP. XVI. The Ambition, Arrogance, Boasting, and Scorn of the Spaniards.  
AS it happened to C. Caesar, and Cn. Pompeius, that the one could not endure a Superior, and the other an Equal, so is it also with the Spanish Nation. For, conceiving themselves only to be Eagles, and to fly above the clouds, they look upon all others as Dolopes, or creepers, as they frequently testify, both by their words and deeds.  
When Anno 1579. the difference arose about the Successor to the Crown of Portugal, the Spaniards to terrify the Portuguezes boasted thus, That there was no power equal to that of the Spaniards, who as often as they had had wars, had vanquished France, led the Princes of Germany in triumph, put the Turk to flight, and freed Maltha from the Barbarians. Thuan. lib. 97.  
2. King Philip the second, after the seizure of Portugal (whether justly or unjustly I say not) caused money to be coined with this Inscription, Non sufficit orbis. Luckius in Nummis. p. 279.  
3. When the Spaniards besieged Leyden, they said, That the stars in the Firmament would be pulled down with ones hand, before that City would be freed from the siege. Olerus in Lauro Nassovica, pag. 30.  
4. The pride of the Spaniards is such, that if they see themselves reduced to straits, they will not first ask conditions of peace, but seek it by some second or third hand, as they did anno 1597. when they suborned the Emperor, and he the king of Denmark, to move the Princes to a pacification. Thuan. lib. 119.  
7. A certain arrogant and proud Spanish Count asked a certain Gentleman coming out of the Court, what was said of him in Court? The other answered, Nor bad nor good. The Count being angry, cudgeled him, and presently after gave him fifty Ducats, saying, Go thy ways now to the Court; and tell what I have done to thee; to wit, both bad and good. Florista Oratione de gloria.  
The Duke of Alva used to say, That he would bring the Low Country people to obedience in despite of Heaven and Earth; and also that the Sun and Moon should lose their light, before h● would remit or take off the tax of the tenth penny. Metteran. And Juan de Vergas, that bloody Precedent of the Council was also wont to say, Vergas habet virgas, Vergas has Rods.  
9 When the Professors of Louvain complained to him, for having taken Prince Philip of Orange out of the University, and violated the privileges of the said University, he answered, Non curamus vestros privilegios. Such as himself was, such was his Latin.  
10. That Navy which was sent against England 1588. the Spaniards termed Invincible, and compose these verses upon it, alluding to the Queen of England.  
Tu quae Romanas voluisti spernere leges,  
Hispano disces subdere colla jugo.  
Thou, who the Roman Laws scornd'st to obey,  
Shalt learn to bow thy neck to Spanish sway.  
But hese words were indeed but Wind and Smoke.  
11. The Duke of Alva caused a most magnificent Trophy of Brass to be set up at: Antwerp, with various Elegies of his own exploits, as Thuan describes it, lib. 44. Anno 1569. upon which the Duke of Areschots jest may be seen beneath. cap. 33. Apotheg.  
12. The Spaniards after they had so miserably used the Indians, were wont to brag, that God had given them those victories, because they made so just a war against Barbarians and Infidels. Bartholomaeus de Casa.   

CHAP. XVII. The perfidious violation of Leagues and Promises.  
NO wonder that this vice is common to the Spaniards with the Africans; For in regard that they are, for the most part, their successors, they seem to be also heirs of their vices, amongst which perfidy was not the least; and therefore I have thought fit to show some examples thereof, that so this Chapter may have credit.  
True it is, that King Philip sometimes promised the United Provinces pardon for what was past, and made proclamation thereof; but the States being taught by the examples of others, were not so credulous as for that reason to lay down Arms, or consent to a wily & fallacious pacification. For so, an 1576. Don Juan de Austria feigning conditions of peace with the States, was convicted of fraud by that, that amongst the Letters of Hieronymo Rhoda, there was found one, That he should first court his Countrymen with fair words, and by other means and assistance reduce Holland and Zealand, and then he should punish the rebels according to their merit; mean while that he should carry himself warily, and conceal his design with exquisite Art. Thuan. lib. 62.  
1. How true and faithful the Spaniards be to their Associates, the case and end of Gomeron may show, whom Fontano cunningly enticed to Brussels, cast him & his two brothers in prison, & afterwards beheaded him in the sight of Han●e, (which Orvilliers would not yield up to him) without any respect to the Nobleness of his Family, or that he served the Henoticks, who yet were most zealous to the Spaniards, etc. See Thuan. lib. 112. Anno 1595. Nor did they deal much more faithfully with Mercuriano, chief Captain after Metuanio of the Legists; for they endeavoured by all means to alienate the Nobility from him, and force him to live as they pleased. Thuan. lib. 113.  
7. How the Spaniards have performed their promises to such as had done them any kindnesses, the example of the Portuguezes' shows. Thuan c. 3. lib. 78.  
8. Don Juan. de Austria, Anno 1577, being put in mind of the Contract made and signed by the States, said, That the States must show more prudence, then to complain, if the King's interest were advanced by the breach of conditions.  
9 It is the Spanish Maxim, That the promises of Princes made to their rebellious subjects, are not binding.  
10. Lewis the 12. King of France, said, That the perfidy of the Paenes and Carthaginians was anciently much celebrated; but that now the Spaniards sufficiently supplied their places.  
11. Anno 1577. Don Juan de Austria renewed the pacification of Gant with king Philip's Provinces, and took away the Spanish Soldiers, but forthwith brought them back again, and so made the later worse than the former: And when he resolved to cut off the head of Peter Pan of Mecklin, and was informed that it was against the Pacification, he answered, That the pacification only concerned such as were banished, and not such as remained in their Country. A fine interpretation. Speculum Hisp. Tyrant. in Belgio. p. 106.  
12. Howbeit the Spaniards made a peace with Charles the eighth; King of France, and many other magnificent promises, yet they sent private Letters and Agents to various Princes, and chief to the Venetians, and made war against him, not only by themselves, but by others also. Comines lib. 5. Bello Neopolitani.  
13. The Duke of Ossuna, the King's Deputy in the Kingdom of Naples, Anno 1617. presumed to maintain, 1. That Agreements and Oaths obliged Princes of smaller Countries to keep them, but not his King, because forsooth he was the greatest and most potent of the Christian world. 2. That all the King's promises and engagements ought to be accommodated to the resolutions of his Counsels, and the variations of times. 3. That the King's Ministers were not bound to what the King commanded, but to what was advantageous to the King and Kingdom. Baudart. lib. 38. Anno 1617.   

CHAP. XVIII. The Spaniards Hypocrisy and Dissimulations.  
AS the Spaniards fall short of no nation in the breaking of Promises and Engagements, so do they also excel in the Art, and skill of Hypocrisy and dissimulation, whereof there be many old and modern examples; amongst which, that great one of Philip the second may be noted, who when Anno 1579, he invaded the kingdom of Portugal with his Army, and knew well enough notwithstanding, what sinister reports went up and down of him, not only in Portugal, but even in Italy too, finding it fit to indulge Fame a little, by a dissimulation very familiar to him, as if he had repent himself of that enterprise, would needs have the whole business examined by the Rule of Conscience: for, on the one side he found himself solicited by the Pope, and on the other, censured by the opinion of men, as if he had violently invaded another's kingdom, (having calculated the Title in Law to which the weaker submitted) and consequently oppressed the liberty of the kingdom which he ambitionated, & the States thereof complaining, that their right was thereby taken from them; and alleging besides, that they were bound by oath not to obey him; for the avoiding of which difficulties without difficulty, he committed the business to the Divines, an Assembly of Divines to be discussed at leisure, who forthwith gave him their votes, affirming, That he ought not to submit the disputation of his right to any body, no not so much as to the Pope himself. Thuan. lib. 67.  
2. When, Anno 1614 in the transaction of Xant, for the Controversy concerning the Duchess of Cleve and Gulick, the business was already Articled and subscribed, and the main point remaining was, that the Spaniards should draw their Soldiers out of Wezel, one of them laughed, and said, Do you think us to be men of so narrow consciences, as to suffer ourselves to be forced to observe words and subscriptions?  
4. Bartholomaeus de la Casa, in his book of the Tyranny of the Spaniards in the East-Indies, saith, That they would needs cloak all their cruelties, enormities, tyrannies, rapes and murders, under the pretext of Religion and conversion to the faith, & reduction to the king of Spain's obedience, when yet those wretched people knew less of God and Faith, than they did before the Spaniards came thither: And as for the rest, they wre softer than wax, and milder than sheep, and never rebelled against the king, but were most ready to obey the commands, even of the common Soldiers. And how often they have deceived the West-Indians with Hypocrisy and feigned kindness, is demonstrated by the Histories of the Invasions and Seizures of those countries', and chief that of Athanasius juga, printed at Amsterdam, Anno 1624.   

CHAP. XIX. The Ingratitude of the Spaniards toward such as oblige them.  
NOw as for you Lords, and Gentlemen, who serve the Spaniards, you may learn to know what thanks & favour you are to expect from them; to wit, such as the Countryman received from the Fox which he had brought up. And you Germans in the first place, who have been so often pinched in your Ancestors, learn once to be wise, like the Fish from the hook.  
1. To begin with Charles the fifth, he most dishonourably removed Ferdinando Gonzaga, who had highly deserved of him, from the government of Milan, deprived him of all command and dignity, and most ungratefully & unmercifully put him to death: Which fact is not yet so much imputed to the Emperor, as to the envy of the Duke of Alva. Thuan. lib. 75. But most memorable is the example of the Counts of Egmund and Horn, and chief of the former, of whom Thuan. lib. 41. says thus, This was the end of Count Egmund, when he was 46 years old, a man for splendour of birth, and military virtue▪ to be compared with few of his time, and who in the battles of St. Quintin and Gravelling (the story whereof was attributed to him by the consent of all men) had most highly deserved of King Philip; and yet there was then no account at all made of so many gallant and happy actions.  
3. To Egmunds' case may justly be added the tragedy of Florentio Momerantio, Baron of Montigny, who being sent as Ambassador from the States, into Spain, was there taken, miserably treated for some years, and at length put to death, without any respect at all to his blood, or merits; whose story is recounted at large by the Author of Speculum Tragicum.  
4. Fontano Ibarra, and the rest of the most powerful in the King's Council, out of love to their own Nation, and a natural scorn of others, paid the Spanish soldiers when they mutinied, without taking any notice of the Italians, and other Nations; which they resenting very highly, that for so many labours and dangers, they reaped injury for a reward, miseries for comforts, punishment for patience, and despair for ease, began also to mutiny at Areschot. Thuan. lib. 109. Thus Francisco de Velasco, when he retired from Henry the fourth, shut himself and his Spaniards up in the town of Graves, and shut the French and the rest who served both Meduanio and him, out of the town, and sent them wounded, as a scorn to the enemies, and the peasants; howbeit they were more mildly used by Henry the fourth, then by their own Commander. Thuan. lib. 112. anno 1595.  
6. Duke Maurice of Saxony, and others, although they deserved superlatively well of Charles the fifth, yet because they would not receive the 
An Imperial decree so called.  Interim, by the instigation of his Spanish Counsellors, he threaned to proscribe them.  
7. Charles Croy, Prince of Cimay, and son to the Duke of Areschot, Anno 1584. delivered up Bridges to the Spaniards, but received but small, yea no honour, or recompense from them for it. Thuan lib. 79.  
8. Selly, Egmund & Campaniac, three of the king of Spain's Captains were offered by the States to be changed for Lanoy, who was taken by the Spaniards, with a great precedent of civility toward a stranger (for he was a Frenchman) but with a greater testimony of an opinion of his virtue; which was the reason, as it is believed, that king Philip by the persuasion of Cardinal Granvellano, would not consent to the freedom of an Officer of so great reputation; which did not a little embitter the Nobility of the Country, to find themselves daily exposed to danger, with little hope of life, and none at all of liberty, if they chanced to be taken; and so Selly and Egmund were shut up in the Castle of Rammekens, with a closer and stronger guard, where Selly four years after died with grief, often exprobrating the Spaniards with ingratitude, and lamenting that his own and his brother's merits were so little valued by the king. Thuan. lib. 71. anno 1580.  
9 The greatest satisfaction for ones merits towards the Spaniards, is to expect no recompense thereof, but for the most part also disfavour of the king, by the instigation of that envious Nation. Proceres Cataloniae c. 33. where they add, That the Duke of Alcala suffered so many injuries and abuses for his many deserts, that he languished with grief, and died. In like manner the Marquis of Aytona, to whom the preservation of Flanders was only to be ascribed, had so many troubles cast upon him, that it hastened his death. And the Duke of Feria, because he ever carried himself so well, was accused for having distributed a sum of money to the Soldiers. Consalvo de Cordua died with mere sorrow, when he found his warlike exploits to be so slighted. The Duke of Ossuna, to whose prudence all the kingdoms of Spain might be committed, was himself committed, and died with grief of mind. etc. Nor did the Duke of Braganza, or the Marquis de Monte Real, obtain their rewards, and dignities, expected from king Philip, from whence they both of them had suffered much affliction; the former, a while after deceased, lamenting that his Country was brought under the castilian yoke, and the kings promises not performed. Thuan. lib. 78.  
10. The ingratitude of the Spaniards towards Marquis Spinola, may appear by this, That the king did not only not pay him his promised Salary, but did not also satisfy those debts, which he had contracted in the said king's name, and for which he had past his word; so that when he died, he left nothing to his son but debts, for which he durst not claim his inheritance.  
11. The Ingratitude of the Spaniards towards such as do them service, & especially the Germans, is showed by Thuan. lib. 16. where he says, That the king paid the Spaniards, and neglected the rest. But Count Henry Vandenberg lays it more open, when in his Letter to the Infanta Isabel, Anno 1632. amongst other things he complains, That without any respect to his forty years' services done the King of Spain (in which time he lost six brothers in his Majesty's wars) he had not only received no thanks, but moreover by the envy of the Spaniards (& especially of the Marquis of Leganes) he was deprived of his charge of chief General of the King's Army: That the Flemings were every where thrust out, and Spaniards preferred, who every way oppressed and suppressed them, and contemned their Nobility. That they labour by all means to protract the war, thereby the better to exhaust and impoverish the Belgic Provinces: That they were angry if they had not always the best Commands in the Army: That they shot his Image through at Brussels, and defaced it: Tha they intercepted and concealed the King's Letters to him, etc. Which later complaints were taken out of his Letters to the Lords of Brabant.   

CHAP. XX. What the Spanish succours are.  
AS it was said by I know not whom of the Ancients: A socio infido, qui concilium petit vel accipit, ex poculo inaurato venenum haurit. He who asks or takes counsel of an unfaithful companion, drinks poison out of a guilded Cup. The same may they also say, who have recourse to the succours of the Spaniards: for the Spaniards what they dare not do openly (as hindered either by some reason of Blood or Religion) that they indirectly attempt, with a vain offer, and ostentation of defence. Cardinal Perron, and others agree in this opinion; for in his speech to Pope Paul the fifth, concerning the pacification with the Venetians, he argues thus; That the Spaniards through their in-begotten ambition, would make use of their time, and so it would come to pass, that his Holiness by the Sectaries on the one side, and the Spaniards on the other (who sell themselves for Auxiliaries) would be most unhappily endangered & vexed. And presently after, The Spanish succour will be unsafe, and very small besides; for they are for the most part burdensome, and importunate to their friends. Thuan. lib. 137.  
2. Anno 1575. When there was a disturbance betwixt the Nobles and Citizens of Genua. K. Philip craftily feigned himself to be troubled at those dissensions and gave leave for Corn to be brought out of Sicily, for the use of the City. But Don Juan de Austria ingenuously confessed, That he consented to the war against the Genuezes; and that he had rather (when he saw them who were in the City refuse equal conditions) have them try it out amongst themselves, then fly to any other Prince, but such as were Philip's friends for their protection: nor did his Ministers cease more and more to inflame the Nobles against the Citizens; But by the intervention of Princes, his hope was eluded Thuan. lib. 61.  
3. That the Spaniards succours prove, for the most part, to the ruin of them to whom they are given, may be learned by the ruin of Frederick of Arragon: for Gonsalvo, king Ferdinand's General, feigning that those Forces which were sent for his destruction, were sent for his relief, under colour of securing his said Forces, seized upon some Towns of Calabria, by frederick's own consent, and a while after laid open both his own and his King's designs: yea, and frederick's son was also detained, and sent into Spain, and there kept prisoner, contrary to his word given. See the story in Spec. Tragic. anno 1501.  
5. The private differences of emulation which arose between Meduanio, the chief of the Henotick faction, and the Duke of Parma, were increased by suspicions, as if the said Duke by king Philip's order, had undertaken an Expedition into France, that so under show of friendship and aid, he might take all the authority from Meduanio, and putting Garrisons into the places taken, oppress the French, who aspired to liberty with the hard yoke of slavery. Thuan. lib. 99  
6. For the succour which the Spaniards gave the Duke of Newburgh in the controversy about Cleve and Gulick, neither the said Duke himself, nor any of his subjects, have any great reason to thank them: for they did not only exhaust those Principates, but carried all things according to their pleasure, as if forsooth they had been the lawful Lords thereof.  
7. The Spaniards under show and pretext of succouring their sociates and confederates, seek how themselves may be able to surprise and draw Cities to their own power and possession; which had almost happened to the Citizens of Lions in France, Anno 1594. had they not perceived the fraud, and reconciled themselves with Henry the fourth. Thuan. lib. 104. who says moreover, lib. 107. that the Spaniards are wont to undertake the protection of kingdoms, but that those protections at last draw domination with them. Thus was the kingdom of Bohemia and Hungary (which are otherwise carried by election) and thus was the Commonwealth of Genua subdued, under the colour of protection. But the protection of an inferior is useless; of an Equal, fruitful; of a Supeperior suspect and perilous.   

CHAP. XXI. The tricks of the Spaniards in contracting Marriages.  
THere was a proverb amongst the Ancients, Eadem fideli● duas dealbare parietes, To whiten two walls with one Chalk, which we interpret thus, with one daughter to get two sons in law.  
1. That the Spaniards have this Art in daily practice, the better to advance their interest thereby, it plainly appears by the many matches▪ which they pretended for the Infanta Isabel, a● sometimes to Guise, sometimes to Ernesto, and sometimes to others. Thuan. lib. 106. 107.  
2. The marriages with the daughters of Spain have scarce succeeded well to any; for either they have been barren, as Eugenia was; or the causes of wars, as the Duke of Savoys wife was; or screws into the secrets of the Princes their husbands, as those of the house of Austria are Anonymus.  
3. Philip the second, king of Spain, caused his lawful wife Isabel, the king of Frances sister, to be killed, that so he might marry his own sister's daughter. Thuan. lib. 71.  
4. Amongst the Austrians and Spaniards it is no news for brothers to marry their sister's daughters; so Ferdinand of Austria, son to Ferdinand the Emperor, married Anna Catharina, the Duke of Mantua's daughter by his own sister Elinor, anno 1580. as before him, Philip, a Prince of the Family, did Anne, his sister Mary's daughter, by the Emperor his cousin german. Thua. lib. 71.  
5. When Anno 1581. the match was treated between Andino and Queen Elizabeth of England, king Philip by his Ambassador, expostulated with the king of France, and afterwards laboured to sow seditions in France. Thuan lib. 73.  
6. What detriment the Spanish matches and friendships have brought upon France, is taught by Evagrius de Origine & Gestis Francorum, lib. 1. fol. 40. & lib. 2. fol. 66. & lib. eod. fol. 86.  
7. What good did the English get by the marriage of king Philip to Queen Mary? And what the Portuguezes, but that by this pretention, that kingdom fell into the hands, and under the yoke of the castilians?  
8. The Spaniards assign their daughters great portions, but they keep not their words.  
9 Thomas Campanella, cap. 30. says, that it imports, that the kings of Spain never marry any woman of the House of Austria, unless he grow thereby to be heir of some new Country.   

CHAP. XXII. The hatred of the Spaniards towards the Germans.  
IT is no new thing for the Spaniards to envy the felicity of the Germans; ●or they did it many years ago. About he year of Christ 1419. the King of Spain forbade the Germane Merchants to sail in the Spanish Seas, and punished such of them as he took in disobedience to that Order, he took 40 ships, and killed all the Merchants. Albert. Cratzius in Sax. suo. l. 11. c. 3.  
2. The Spaniards do all they can to obscure and lessen the fame of the Germane Nation; which Avila did in his Pamphlet, whereof Albert, Marquis of Brandenburg, Anno 1522. complained, Thuan. lib. 9  
3. How unjustly and rigidly they treated the Citizens of Mentz (men of their own Religion) upon whom the Bishop put two thousand for a Garrison, at that time when Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden. (i. e. anno 1631.) made war in Germany, is demonstrated by the Histories of that war, and especially by Cornelius Danckhard in his History of the Swedish affairs.  
4. Anno 1582. when the Spaniards and French fought at the Tercera Island, Santa Cruz the Spanish General, left the Germane Soldiers to Hieronymo Ladron, to punish them as he pleased. Thuan. lib. 75.  
5. Ancellus in his speech to the Princes of Germany, Anno 1597. says, That the King of Spain was not so well affected towards Germany, in regard he plainly neglected the imminent danger of his common country from the Turk, and assisted the Emperor and his Countrymen with so small succours: And moreover, that he sought his own advancement by the overthrow of the house of Austria. Thuan. lib. 118.  
6. How rigidly, and contrary to the Electoral dignity, Charles the fifth treated John Frederick, Duke of Saxony, and Philip Landgrave of Hessia, is amply described by Sleydan; as also of the cruelties and outrages of the Spaniards in the Duchy of Wirtenbergh.  
7. The Spaniards used to commit such Towns as are either far off, or ill fortified, to the trust and government of the Germans, to the end that if they be lost, the dishonour, and infamy thereof may redound to the Germans, and not to themselves; which, besides other, appeared in the rendition of Lingen and Groll, which were governed by Herman, and Frederick, two brothers of the house of Bergh. Thuan. lib. 119. Anno 1597.  
8. An. 1590. The General of the Spanish Army, hanged sixty Germane Soldiers at once, because they demanded their pay; and afterwards made an example of an hundred and fifty more, by cutting off the right hands of some, and the three fore-fingers of others.  
9 The Spaniards in Charles the fifth's time, being distributed up and down in Garrisons in Germany, exercised no less enormities upon the said Emperor's party, then upon the other. Sleidanus.  
10. In the distress of the Palatine, when the Spaniards seized upon the lower Palatinate, it happened that a poor Tailor having let fall some passionate words, was taken and carried ●efore the Captain, who ask him ●o great a sum of money, as he was neither able to pay it, nor to provide any body to be bound for it, he forthwith caused the man to be hanged, without compassion of his wife and seven children who begged for him. Relationes.  
11. If the king of Spain (says Campanella) would seize upon Germany, he must first be made Emperor, and then under colour of going against the Turk, march into Hungary, and so surprise the Protestants suddenly at unawares, together with the Imperial Cities, before they are able to oppose him (as Charles the fifth cunningly did) and make new Colonies, and new laws, with Italian Ministers, because that Climate endures not the Spaniards, etc. c. 23. Disc. de monarch. Hisp.   

CHAP. XXIII. How the Spaniards treat and keep Peace.  
That the Spaniards show bread in one hand, and hid a stone in the other; treat peace, and prepare for war, shall be proved in this Chapter.  
1. In that treaty of the Emperor Maximilian, the Spaniards basely, and deceitfully gulled the Princes, by taking the Towns of Bower, Leerdam, Schoonhof, Owdtwateren, Bommel, and Zirzea.  
2. The Pacification and Union of Gant, 1576. was sworn to and approved of by king Philip, but not kept.  
3. The conference at Colein was pretended to be liked of, but in the Interim, the people of Hennault, Arras, and Mastricht, were solicited to disloyalty.  
4. The Conference being begun in Flanders, Queen Elizabeth's Deputies were also invited to it; and in the mean while, that formidable Fleet, anno 1588. was prepared and sent to surprise England. Thuan. lib. 119. where the States at large express the fraudulent Arts of the Spaniards.  
5. That the Spaniards peace is not to be trusted to, is taught by the Lords of the United Provinces in their answer to the Emperor Rodolph, Anno 1591. and there was many stamped by them at that time, with this Emblem, A Holland virgin fits sweetly sleeping under a quickset hedge, with this adscription, Pax patet insidiis: and upon a sudden her enemies break through the hedge, assault and surprise her. Then she sits again under another hedge waking, with a Sword and a Guard by her, with these words, Tuta salus bello est; and the breach being stopped, the enemy's designs are frustrated. Luckius in Numismatis. p. 328.  
6. When the Truce was made between Spain and Holland, the Spaniards said, That the King made a step backwards, thereby to leap the further forwards upon occasion.  
7. That the conditions of the truce were not candidly and sincerely kept by the Spaniards, may appear by the States answer to Peck.  
8. It is undoubted, that the Spaniards treat peace to no other end, then to collect their forces, and work their designs by any means they can to screw into the secrets of their adversaries, to corrupt some, and draw them to their party; and to sow the seed of discord amongst others, which hath been tried by France, Flanders, and Savoy, and may be seen in various discourses of de jure Publico; and what is more common than Lipsius his Consultatio Epistolica.  
9 All endeavour must be used (saith Thomas Campanella Discursu de Monar. Hisp. c. 23.) to breed perpetual discord between the Marquis of Brandenburg, the Landgrave of Hassia, and the Duke of Saxony; between the Duke of Brunswick and the Palatine of the Rhyne; between the Duke of Wirtenbergh and the lower States of Germany, etc.   

CHAP. XXIV. The Briberies and Pecuniary corruptions of the Spaniards.  
THe Kings of Spain have learned to fight as well with silver and golden pikes, as their Soldiers with iron one's; yea, and perhaps they effect ten times more with those then these; and therefore they spare no Bribes, how great soever, to the Councillors and Secretaries of Kings and Princes, to render them obnoxious to themselves; or to tempt and seduce the Governors of Towns and Castles, etc.  
1. Nicolas Hosta Villaroy's Secretary, had a yearly pension of MCC crowns to reveal his Master's secrets to the Spaniards; who when the business was discovered, endeavouring to save himself by flight, was drowned, and his body proceeded against according to Law. Thuan. lib. 132.  
2. Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham, being Ambassador in Spain Anno 1605. had ptesents made him by that king, which were said to be worth above XXXM pounds, besides the presents sent to his wife, his sons, and son in law; yea, and Willongs, Norrice, and others of his train, were also richly presented; & finally, a pension of XIIM pounds (as it is reported) promised the said Ambassador. Thuan. lib. 133.  
3. The Spaniards offered the Counsellors of Frederick, Elector of Saxony, a great sum of money at the election of Charles the fifth; and they ask their foresaid Master; whether they should take it, or no, he answered, Yes, you may take it; but know withal that afterwards you must be no more any Counsellors of mine. Znickgrefius Apothegmate.  
4. When Anno 1607. The consultation of Truce began between the Archduke and the States of Holland, Friar Ney forthwith began to tempt some men with money, whereof Barnefeldt publicly complained. Thuan. lib. 138.  
5. Ancellus in his speech to the Princes of Germany, Anno 1597. says, That the King of Spain uses all means possible to corrupt the Ministers of Princes with gifts and bribes; yea, and sometimes also with menaces, and by their means to get their Masters into his power, and under colour of Protection to circumvent them, and hurry them up and down at his pleasure.  
6. I forbear to relate the corruptions of the Governors of Towns, and Castles, etc. For the treacherous conditions of Gertrudenbergh, Geldres, Zutphan, Doesburgh, etc. are sufficiently known.  
7. The Spaniards got the lower Palatinate rather by money then force of Arms: for as one said, Hispanicos duplones facere duplices nebulones. The Spanish Dublons make double Knaves. And Thomas Campanella cap. 26. saith, That the Spanish Gold hath a great strength.   

CHAP. XXV. That the Spaniards are murderers.  
DOlus an virtus, quis in host requirat? This was anciently a Symbol of the Heathens; but it is now the fifth Gospel of our Spaniards. We have already spoken of other juggles and frauds; but there is yet one trick more whereby when they cannot do their business by open wars, they endeavour to destroy Kings and Princes by secret, deceitful, and murderous plots: Nor need we fetch examples from the Indies, as having plenty of them in Kingdoms and States near at hand: for who is so great a stranger to the proceed in France in our times, but that he knows, that the Spaniards incited Peter Auden, a Carthusian Monk, to kill Henry the fourth. Thuan. lib. 118. sub finem. And of their practices against the Queen of England, I have spoken sufficiently before.  
2. The Prince of Orange was no less than six times attempted to be murdered by the Spanish Emissaries & sicariss, as, 1. Au. 1589. by John Jaurege. Thuan. l. 75. 2. by Nicolas Salcedo, etc. who also endeavoured to kill Allenson Duke of Brabant. 3. by Peter du Vignon. 4. by Balthasar Gerardi, who also often sought to murder Prince William, and at last effected it upon the sixth of July, 1584. Thuan. lib. 79. Spec. Hisp. Tyrant. in Belgio, p. 84.  
3. In the same manner was Prince Maurice of Orange exposed to the danger of his life by men corrupted by the Spaniards with money to that end, who voluntarily confessed it, and were punished according to their deserts; amongst whom was Michael Renichove, 1594. 2. Peter du Four. 3. Peter Pan, and others, of whom Thuan and Metteran.  
4. I will omit to speak of persons of meaner quality, who have perished by the Spanish treachery, since it appears both by History and experience, that nothing is more treacherous, and more practical in this Art, than the Spanish Nation.  
5. A certain Spaniard having murdered two women, and being condemned to die for it, the Governor of Gant (a Spaniard) said, That it was not fit that so honourable a person, then employed in the King's service (for he was a common Soldier) should be put to death for killing of a paltry woman or two. Met. lib. 27. 1606.  
6. Indeed, there is nothing more frequent with the Spaniards, then to poison and destroy privately, such as they cannot do openly, according to the Flemish Proverb, Yemandt een Spaensche Vijgh koocken. To dress any one a Spanish Fig.   

CHAP. XXVI. The Cruelty and promiscuous tyranny of the Spaniards  
ALthough it be evident enough by what I have already related, that there is nothing more cruel, nor more barbarously tyrannical than the Spaniards; yet will it be convenient for the confirmation of the argument of this chapter, to allege some examples thereof here, that so I may seem not to neglect the Readers satisfaction; and from whence can I more properly take my rise, then from the Low-countrieses? For how many of the prime Nobility did the Duke of Alva destroy, partly by the hand of the Executioner, and partly by the wars? etc. He condemned them promiscuously, both Gentle and Simple, to nasty jails, caused many of them to be dragged to death unheard, and unconvicted; confiscated their Estates: The Trees through all Holland he made frequently serve for Gallows, where men were hanged, and their wives put to Spaniards against their wills; yea, and some women were put to death, because by disguise, or otherwise, they helped to save their husbands. At Vtrick he hanged a man for suffering his son (who was banished) to lodge one night in his house; and another, for giving a poor Widow, whose husband was put to death for his Religion, a little corn; and a third, for sending his friend, who was banished in England, a little money. He rebaptised some children, and caused some to be cut out of their mother's wombs, and stabbed with daggers. Some wives were violated in the sight of their husbands, and if they resisted, they were hanged, as was done at Lyle, teste Speculo Hisp. Tyrant p. 36. But it would be too long to relate all, and therefore I remit my Reader ad Spec. dictum. p. 36, 37, 38, 39, etc. where the tyrannies of the Spaniards at Lyle, Tornay, Rotterdam, Mecklin, Zutphan, Narden, Harlem, Owdwater, Mastrickt, and Antwerp, are described.  
Anno 1576. The Spaniards mutinying for want of pay, took Antwerp, and killed two thousand Citizens and Soldiers, besides such as were drowned, or burnt, they hanged some Women naked, with huge heavy stones at their feet; drove stakes through the natural parts of others, and extended some upon the Racks by the Breasts, as they also hung some men (with as much immodesty as cruelty) out at their windows by the genitals, crying and howling with torment, till they either ransomed themselves with money, or confessed what they had hidden. They racked children before their parents, and killed them, etc. whereby they got so much money, as by the computation of such as knew it, amounted to forty tuns of gold, that is two millions of Pistols, besides Plate, Jewels, and other things of price. Nor was the damage of the fire much less, where they also got so much, that a common Soldier would make nothing to play ten pistols a throw at Dice, some made Hilts to their Swords, others to their Daggers; yea, and some whole Corslets and Helmets of beaten Gold, Thuan lib. 62.  
Anno 1610. The Inquisition of Spain prevailed with the King to banish all the Moors out of the kingdoms of Granada, Andaluzia, Valentia, and Murcia, and transport them into Barbary, where many thousands of them perished with hunger, thirst, and other cruelties cast upon them, partly by the Spaniards, and partly by the Barbarians. Metteranus.   

CHAP. XXVII. The Cruelties and Barbarities of the Spaniards in America.  
BEcause some may perhaps make slight of the barbarous Excesses of the Spaniards upon the Low Country people, saying, That they were the king's enemies, as having revolted from him, and therefore they ought to be treated like enemies, as they had deserved (though that way of correction exceeds all measure) let us now see whether they have carried themselves more gently to the Americans, the Indians, and others beyond our Orb.  
1. That the Spaniards had no right at all to those Countries, as being so fare distant from Spain, and governed by Kings of their own, and never so much as in the least sense provoking them to a war, the more moderate Spaniards themselves are forced to acknowledge; yea, and they say moreover. That when the Spaniards came first thither, they were received, entertained, and treated like Gods, or sons of Gods, abating them only the adoration, worship, and observance of their chief Gods.  
2. Bartholome de la Casa, a Dominican Friar, and a Bishop, lib. de Tyrant. Hisp. in India occident. dedicated to Charles the fifth, and his son Philip, and printed at Sevil, Anno 1552. saith, That the people of that Nation were as peaceful as sheep, not very covetous, nor ambitious, content with little, solitary, and almost Heremetical, against whom came the Spaniards like greedy wolves, and not only like wolves, but like Lions and Tigers. He further adds, That in the space of forty years, above twelve millions, yea above fifteen millions of men were destroyed by the Spaniards in those Islands. A certain Spanish Captain ravished a King's wife. Others knocked out the brains of small children, and crushed them against the Rocks and stones, singed and burnt the bodies of some Lords and Princes of the Countries, and threw them to their Dogs, beat down their houses, and fired them, and forced them out; hanged queen Anacaon and another, condemned some men to work in the Mines, and their Wives to the Country labours, affording them little or no food; so that in tract of time those kingdoms grew quite dispeopled; they used them in stead of Mules and Asses, driving them long journeys, overladen with insupportable burdens; in such sort, as that once, of four hundred, there returned no more than six; they took all their victuals and provisions from them, and starved above 30000 of them at once. They forced the great-bellied women to carry packs, etc. In Nova Hispania they destroyed above four millions of men in twelve years' time, and in the City of Mexico, they treacherously massacred the flower of the Nobility, and afterwards many Citizens, etc.  
3. The same Author also saith, That to write down all the tyrannies of the Spaniards exercised in Guatimala, would require a Book of a foot and a half thick. Nor were their proceed otherwise in Naco, and the Honduras, where in 12 years' compass, they destroyed above two millions of men. It was to no purpose at all for the poor Indians to oblige the Spaniards; for they became the more cruel by their kindness and simplicity; as torturing them a thousand ways to make them confess where their gold was, tumbling them into deep ditches and pits upon stakes pointed with iron, to lengthen and increase their torments, and dragging their children into slavery, etc.  
4. In the kingdom of Guatimala, in the space of sixteen years, they killed above five millions by various tortures: Nor gave they their prisoners any sustenance, but granted them leave to catch, and eat other Indians, etc.  
5. In the kingdom of Excalisco they burned eight hundred Villages, and sold the sons of Princes to one another for slaves. In Jucatano a Prince's son was sold for a Cheese, and a hundred Indians for a horse; they hunted the Indians like wild beasts, and gave them as a see to their Dogs.  
6. The Indians have been so ill used by the Spaniards, that they abhor the name of a Christian, and had rather die in war, then live in slavery to the Spaniards. In the kingdom of Venecula they destroyed above five millions of persons, and used the like cruelty in the kingdom of Florida; as overloading the people with burdens, and when they fainted, cutting off their heads, and leaving them in the highways. In the Island de la Plata they killed above 1503 men at once; yea, and amongst the rest they also basely murdered such as came to serve them.  
In the Isle of Cuba 7000 infants were starved in three month's time, the Spaniniards having so exhausted their mothers with continual labour and hunger, that their breasts grew dry, and so the poor babes could not be nourished. Bartholo. de la Casa.  
8. Spain (says the la Casa) is in great danger to be invaded and destroyed by other Nations, for this tyranny. And again towards the end of his book. Unless the King (says he) do better preserve and provide for the Indians, there is nothing more sure, then that God will most grievously punish, if not quite overthrow Spain. Thus writes, thinks and foretells a Spaniard, of the Spaniards. And his authority ought to be so much the greater, in regard he was an eye, and not an ear witness thereof.  
9 Thomas Campanella, in the last Chapter of his Discourse of the Spanish Monarchy, copiously complains of the tyranny, avarice, and cruelty of the Spaniards in both the Indies,   

CHAP. XXVIII. The rapacity, avarice, lust, adultery, and other vices of the Spaniards.  
POpe Julius the second was wont to call the Spaniards, Volucres coeli, Birds of Heaven, alluding to their pride and ambition, to outstrip and soar above all others. But since he was pleased to call them Birds, why did he not rather name them Stymphalidas, or Harpies, since the rapacity, theevishnesse, and greediness of that Nation is so well known, by extruding lawful heirs from their kingdoms, and unjustly and violently invading, seizing, and impoverishing them? By contaminating all things, sacred, profane, private, and public, and hooking them into their clutches? Witness the Kingdoms of Naples, Navarre, and Portugal, besides their rapacities and thefts in the Low-Countries, where it is reported by some Historians worthy of credit, that the Duke of Alva drew yearly fourscore tuns of gold out of the confiscated Estates, besides the ordinary tributes; insomuch as that in six years' time, he extorted, 52 millions of gold from those provinces.  
2. The exaction of the tenth penny upon all vendible commodities, sufficiently shows their greediness of gold; for when the States so earnestly beseeched the said Duke to forbear that Tax, he answered. That he would not remit it, though all the Low-countrieses were sunk thereby, and though Heaven and Earth came together. And this was not the last and least cause why the States took Arms, and renounced their obedience to the Spaniard.  
Many other examples there are; as of the plunder of Antwerp and Mecklin; their proceed in Portugal and the Tercera Islands; the new Taxes against the privileges of the kingdoms of Naples, and Sicily, and the like, which are not necessary to be repeated here, in regard they have been cited before in various chapters of this book.  
But amongst other causes of the public hatred of the Spanish Nation, their lusts and promiscuous adulteries are not to be omitted; though yet because they may seem to be excused by some, by the common example of military exorbitances, and in regard also that there be too many of them to be comprised in this short Discourse, it shall suffice to remit the Reader to these Authors, Thuanus, Metteranus, Everardus à Raid, and others▪ however, it will not be tedious to recite some few of those which were committed by them in the Low-Countries.  
1. Anno 1598. When Don Francisco de Mendoza devasted the Dutchies of Gulick, Cleve, and Mounts, the Spaniards amongst other things, plundered the Monastery of Schlehenhorst, stripped the Nuns, crowded them together, and ravished them. Thuan. lib. 121.  
2. At the same time they bond the Judge of Dussimont in a Cellar, and seven Spaniards lay with his wife before his face.  
8. In the village of Giffick they endeavoured to ravish a Woman with child, who when she had long resisted them, they thrust a sword into her womb, and killed both her and her fruit.  
4. At Bulcholz they attempted to force the Burgomaster's daughter, and her father coming to help her, they killed him, and then tied her to his dead body and ravished her. Ibidem.  
5. The same Author, lib. 66. recounts a generous revenge, taken by the daughter of John Milet, a Country man, upon a Spanish Captain, who had violated her chastity: and instantly after he brings another, how a Lawyer's daughter revenged herself upon a Spaniard, who vitiated her, by stabbing him with his own dagger, and how at his death he left her his heir.  
6. How libidinously they carried themselves in the Indies, with all sorts of persons; yea, even with Queens themselves Barth. de la Casa shows at large, in Spec. Tyrant. Hisp.  
The Spaniards are also naturally (in respect of other Nations) great lovers and criers up of themselves, and contemners of others.  
1. Thus Pedro Roycio Mauraeo, a famous Spanish Poet, at that time (to wit, 1548) being once with Langius, a Germane, and king Ferdinand's Ambassador, and hearing his servants waiting at table, speak Dutch with a hard and affected kind of tone and pronunciation, jeeringly said, The Germans do not speak, but thunder; and turning towards the Ambassador, I believe (quoth he) that God out of his indignation, made use of this Thunderbolt, when he threw our Forefathers out of Paradise. To whom Langius answered, And I think it very likely on the other side, that the Serpent used this smooth and flattering Spanish tongue when he cheated Eve. Mordamus in vita Langii.  
2. The presentation of the Golden Fleece was studiously and craftily invented by the King of Spain to feed men's vanity. Illicium. Thus the Emperor in king Philip's name, presented Sigismond Bathorius with the Golden Fleece at Prague, anno 1567.  
3. So great is the insolency of the Spaniards, that even in extreme necessity they cannot show their want; which the Count of Mont-major in Sicily found with sad experience, Anno 1604. For when he was speaking to the vice-king in the behalf of the Sicilians, to moderate the exportation of Corn, thereby to prevent a scarcity, or dearth, which he well foresaw was suddenly like to follow; the said vice-king took him scornfully up, as if he had spoken too saucily to him, and caused him to be killed by his Guards before his face. Thuan. lib. 3. an. 1604.  
Many other vices of the Spaniards we have already demonstrated in other chapters of this Book, and therefore forbear to recapitulate them here; however it be not amiss, to reiterate some few examples of their falsehood and juggling, in regard that this is the main hinge upon which their most important designs depend.  
1. It is the Spanish fashion easily to complain of others, when themselves are only guilty; as Don Juan de Austria did, Anno 1577. when by his Ambassador he accused the States of Holland to the Emperor, the Electors, and the Queen of England, that they had not kept the peace, when himself had broken it before. Thuan lib. 94.  
2. Barth. de la Casa against Sepuluenda says, That it is not true that the Spaniards (as they writ in the Indies) converted every year so many thousand men from Gentilism to Christianism: But this (says he) is true indeed, that the Spaniards since their coming to the Indies, have butchered and sacrificed more Indians for avarice and rapacities sake, than the Indians had done to their Idols in a hundred years together: And that the Spaniards did falsely accuse the poor innocent and simple Indians to the King, of such crimes, as whereof the most wicked in the world could not be guilty.  
3. The king of Spain promised Saladin, Count of Isenburgh, at the taking of Mounts in Hennault, that if he would be ruled by him, he would not only make him Archbishop of Colein, but that the City of Colein herself should settle him as her Lord. But falsely all. Fruchchessius in Literis ad Colonienses apud Thuan. lib. 179.  
4. A certain Franciscan Friar, to prevail with Ferdinand king of Spain for the expulsion of the Jews, secretly made a Table of lead, wrote what he thought good therein touching the said expulsion, (with threats, etc. if it were not done) hide it in a sacred place, and caused it three years after to be digged up by a Comrade of his, as if it had been some divine thing, and a Prophecy; but the king observing the fraud, neglected it. Majolus in Canicularibus 351.  
5. Howbeit envy seem to be a vice of prosperity only, and proper to the rich, yet are the Spaniards so much possessed with it, that it seems to be as it were hereditary to them; as Thuan. lib. 75. says of the Duke of Alva, That he was most ambitious in confidence of his own merits. A Detractor of the virtue of others; and (by the vice of his Country) contumelious towards other Nations, and imperious and severe to such as were just. And by and by, The envy and hatred of the Duke of Alva (says he) made Charles the fifth deal so ungratefully with Gonzaga. Ibid.   

CHAP. XXIX. Other Arts and Tricks of the Spaniards to work their Designs.  
THe other ways which the Spaniards use for the acquisition of Kingdoms, are very many, but chief six: 1. Persuasions to the people, and mercenary sermons, especially of the Jesuits. Thus was it carried in that French League, against Henry the third, and Henry the fourth, and in the acquest of the kingdom of Portugal by the Jesuits. 2. Force of Arms. 3. Bribes and Corruptions. 4. Marriages and Alliances. 5. Presentations of the Golden Fleece to various Lords of the Spanish Union. 6. If they suspect any one, to destroy him, as they did Egmund, Horn, and the Battenburghs, etc. Or if that cannot be done, to send him by all means out of their Territories, as they intended to do Mansfeldt, and Prince Maurice of Orange, by making them Generals against the Turk, with large praises of their valour and prudence. Thuan. lib. 120.  
1. The Spaniards ever have, and still do, take extremely ill the Confederation of the Swissers with the French; and therefore when Henry the fourth, Anno 1602. desired to renew it, Fontano Governor of Milan, moved every stone to hinder it, Thuan. lib. 129.  
2. It is a very familiar thing with the Spaniards to hinder Leagues and Confederacies, thereby to obtain their ends. Thus Pedro Guzman, Toledo, Fontano, Vice-king of Lombary, Anno 1605. to disturb the confederation contracted between the Venetians and the Swissers, made severe proclamations at Milan, whereby he inconvenienced the commerce of both, and at an appointed place, (viz. a Rock five miles from Nova-Camo, having Clavenna and the Veltelin on each side) built a Castle with five Forts Royal, and called it by his own name, to hinder the importation of Corn to the neighbouring parts: yea, and he sowed so many seeds of dissension amongst the Swissers, that it was like to have proved their utter ruin. Thuan. 134.  
3. Charles the fifth seeing Genua to be a convenient place, as well for other causes, as chief for the transportation of Forces out of Spain into Italy, and therefore intending to fortify it, could never bring Dory, either by threats or promises, to give way to the building of a Castle in it, that is, to the putting of a yoke upon his Country; wherefore he thought fit to take another course to bridle the City, which was to borrow the Genuezes money (which is upon the matter their whole support) at what rate they pleased; conceiving that thereby he should quickly (by degrees) draw the wealth of those greedy men to himself, and so have the City in his debt, that is, the affections of the Citizens at his disposal. Which trick his son Philip, in imitation of his father's example, being involved in the Low-countries war (which was hugely expensive) used and took occasion to draw vast sums of money of the principal of the Nobility, for which he paid huge interest, and assigned the chief taxes of the Indies and Spain for the payment thereof. Thuan. lib. 61.  
4. Anno 1577. Some letters of Don Juan de Austria to king Philip, were intercepted, wherein amongst other things, they advised him to sow discord between the Gentry and Commonalty of the Low-Countries about Religion and liberty of conscience. lib. 64.  
It was the Maxim of Escovedo, and now of the Spaniards in general to breed and cherish dissension amongst the Princes of the world, that so since they could not check them altogether, they might check them apart.  
6. The Spaniards permit no Counsels or Assemblies amongst their Noblemen▪ because they hold them very prejudicial to their affairs, and therefore they flatly prohibited them to the Lords of the kingdom of Portugal. Thuan. lib. 78. Anno 1583.  
7. Another of the Spanish practices is, to take lawful heirs out of the Dominions of their ancestors, as they did Anno 1583. when Augusta, Philip's sister, under colour of visiting a Monastery of Nuns, took away Julian of Lancaster, Heiress to the Principate of Avernus, to the high displeasure of the Portuguezes, who conceived themselves by this example, to be hurried into a wretched captivity to the castilians. Thuan lib. 78.  
8. The Spaniards in the Duke of Alva's time, made it their business to provoke the Low country men to novelty and war, by diminishing and taking away their Privileges and Immunities; yea, and they openly boasted, that that was the only thing they aimed at, that so they might have a fairer pretext to rifle the goods and estates of the people, and destroy Cities and Provinces. Spec. Hisp. Tyrant. in Belgio. p. 35. Thus the aforesaid Duke stripped the Citizens of Vtrick of their privileges, Anno 1571. And thus also did the Spaniards in this age of ours, serve the Catalonians, etc. Status Barcenonenses, & Catalauni in quer. sua Cath. hinc inde, imprimis, c. 8.12.29.  
9 The Spaniards, if at any time, any Commander or Governor of theirs, commit any remarkable crime, to save themselves, lay hold of some poor, innocent and undeserving Soldier or other, and sacrifice him to the Hangman to satisfy for their wickedness. One example whereof is related by Janus Duza Satyra. 40, sub finem: and the like was also done heretofore in the mutiny at Vtrick, and at the firing of Duiburgh in Cleve.  
10. Thomas Campanella, Disc. de Monar, Hisp. c. 14. says, Care must be taken that the sons of such Lords and Noblemen as live in Kingdoms distant from Spain, and under the Spanish Government, may have Spaniards to their Tutors to Hispaniolize them in habit, manners, and customs; and when they are grown potent they must be humbled, and under pretext of honour, be d●spatcht to some Office or employment, fare from their Lordships, where they may spend more than they get; and if the King chance to go on progress, he should do well to lodge at their houses, thereby to put them to extraordinary charges. And he further saith chap. 15. That as soon as the King hath conquered any Nation, he must take away the  goods of the people, allow them only food and clothing, and make them till the earth, forcing their sons to be either Soldiers or Husbandmen.  
11. Nor must this practice of the Spaniards be passed over in oblivion, namely, that they use to call Lords and Earls, and such as are richest, and most in power and favour with the people, in any of their Dominions, to the king's Court, under any pretext whatsoever, as of bearing an Embassy, or commanding an Army, etc. out of hope whereof they are not wont to appear without great magnificence and splendour; and when they have made their appearance, the Spaniards pretending sometimes one thing, and sometimes another, delay and detain them, not only one, but many years, till by expectation they have spent, and wasted the greatest part of their estates, and are fain to pawn them to others. And this practice they chief observe in the kingdom of Naples.   

CHAP. XXX. The various Apothegms and Observations concerning the Spaniards.  
A Certain Spaniard called Ferdinando Soto, coming into the Isle of Florida said, He was the son of God; to whom one of the natives answered, If your God, whose son thou sayest thou art, commands you to invade the Dominions, Provinces, and Estates of others, and there to kill, slay, snatch, wrist, steal, spoil, whore, adulterate, etc. we tell you plainly, that we cannot believe in such a God.  
Another Indian speaking with Hieronymo Benzoon, said, What kind of people are these Christians? They take away our bread, our honey, our sugar, our , our wives, our daughters, our silver, our gold, and what ever we hold dear. They will not work, they are cheaters, thiefs, robbers, & plunderers; before they go to Mass, they brawl scuffle, and hurt one another. And when Benzon told him they were not all such, he replied, I never yet saw a good and honest Spaniard. Joan. Petit. in Chron. Holland. lib. 6.  
Martin Luther was wont to say, That as the Spaniards writ otherwise then they read, so they think otherwise then they speak.  
At the siege of Frankendal, a certain Captain fell into the hands of the Spaniards, who bidding him yield himself, and they would give him quarter: he cried out aloud, I will have no quarter of the Spaniard, but quarter in heaven; and so after he had received many wounds, died with his sword in his hand.  
The Spaniards having once petitioned Charles the fifth to remove all the drunken Germans from his Court, he at length convocated all the Germans, and showing them the petition of the Spaniards, pretended to go along with them; which the Spaniards perceiving, most earnestly besought him to stay. Idem. pag. 94.  
A certain Spanish Captain asked a subject of the Palatin, why they so strongly and faithfully adhered to their Prince, since he had been the cause of their being so oppressed and exhausted in war by strangers? The other answered, Why should we not love him, and stick close to him; for we paid not so much to him in a whole year, as to you in a month? Znickgref. p. 1. Apotheg. p. 336.  
A certain Gascon called Pyrrhinuncule, coming to his Inn, and having a Ducklin oiled and garlickt, set to Table, a Spanish traveller suddenly stepped in, and casting his eye upon the Ducklin, Sir, (quoth he) may a friend be welcome to you? What is your name sir, said the Gascon? the Spaniard strutted and answered, Don Alopanzo Ansimarchides, Hiberoneus Alorchides. Marry out, quoth the Gascon, Four Spanish Lorsd to one poor little Bird? God forbidden: here is but enough for Pyrrhinuncle alone; for small things become small persons. Simon Majolus in Canicularibus. p. 326.  
The Spaniards traduced the Germans to Charles the fifth, (and especially the Souldlers) entreating him to make a proclamation, to forbid them drunkenness, To whom he answered, I should effect as much with them by such a Proclamation, as I should with you, by forbidding you fornicacation, adultery, and rapacity.  
Hector Vogelman, Chancellor of Wirtenbergh, being asked by Duke Frederick his Master, what rarities he had seen in Spain, answered, Mountains of pride, and valleys of tears, and happy is he who believes it without going to see it.  
A Spaniard seeing a Fleming at dinner with a boiled Capon without Limmons, cried out with great wonder, What is a Capon without Limmons? The Fleming answered, And what are Limmons without a Capon?  
Spinola, at the treaty of the Truce between the King of Spain and the States, shown Prince Maurice some golden Apples and Citrons, and bragged that they grew twice a year in Spain; but the Prince shown him a Holland Cheese, and said, This Fruit grows every day with us in Holland.  
Bartholome de la Casa, a Spanish Bishop so often cited in this Book, lib. de Descrip. Tyrant. Hispan. in India. Describes the Spaniards with various Epithets, and Titles, and amongst others he says, That they are hellish Tyrants, plunderers of the Empire, that by too much greediness of gold, they sold, and still sell, denied, and still deny Jesus Christ,; that they are not Christians, but Devils; Not servants of God, or Ministers of their King, but Traitors, Destroyer's, Robbers, and Overthrowers of the Laws and Ordinances of their King, Villains, fell Tigers, devouring Wolves, fierce Lions, pestilent men, more mischievous than any plague from heaven, voracious Dragons, wild Beasts, Butchers, Hangmen, etc.  
The Book entitled, Speculum Indiae occident. printed at Amsterdam in Low Dutch, says thus, A Spaniard is like the Devil, the more good a man does him, the more will he plague him; but such as value him not, and care not for him, he lets alone.  
The Nobility of the Kingdom of Maguara, being advised by the Spaniards, to render themselves to the obedience of the king of Spain, and embrace the Christian Religion, said amongst themselves, That they could not perceive, that they should receive a better Religion than they should forsake, in regard (say they) that we see no more good nor righteousness in their actions, then in our own; and our faith does us no hurt, as long as our Gods defend our religion, and are favourably inclined thereto. But their religion brings us much mischief and unsafety, and therefore neither can their Gods be good, nor can the Christians be any where welcome, for that they endeavour to overthrow and extirpate such merciful Gods, and such a merciful Religion.  
The Emperor Charles the fifth being to departed out of the Low-Countries for Spain, most earnestly commended those Provinces, and the Nobility thereof, for their singular faith and loyalty towards him (for which indeed he extraordinarily loved them) to Philip 2. his son, exhorting him to love them, cherish them, and advance them as his most faithful subjects, and not to show too much favour to the Spaniards, (whose natures he very well knew, as having had them always about him), nor suffer them to contemn, oppress, or in any wise abuse the said Nobility and subjects. For (said he) I very much suspect the innate haughtiness and pride of the Spaniards, if they get to the helm of the Government, they should convert, pervert, and evert all, and run the ship against the Rocks. And some of the Dutch Nobility standing not fare off, pointing them out with his finger to his aforesaid son, Seest thou my son (said he) those Lords and Gentlemen; Those are they upon whose faith I have hitherto relied, and whom I have chief trusted, rely thou also upon them, and trust, them, etc. But Philip quickly forgot this advice of his Fathers, and trusted chief to the persuasions of the Spaniards, and consequently both he, and his Successors, received such fruit as they desired not from them.   

THE CONCLUSION.  
I Have now showed you enough, and more then enough indeed of the Spaniards; and yet if any body fall short of his satisfaction herewith, I remit him to the various Authors, which I have cited, and alleged in this small Book. But methinks it should suffice the courteous reader as well as it doth me for the present, to have demonstrated that there is no Nation which hath given more and greater testimonies and prejudices of prevarications and exorbitations both in this and in the other world, than the Spaniards; & therefore have they most deservingly incurred the hatred of all other nations. I will add no more, but only declare in this writing, that such as (either blinded by the Spaniards gold, or enticed by their briberies) make it no scruple of conscience to serve them to the destruction of their Country, Religion, and Liberty, do not only not perform the duty of good Patriots, or trueborn men of their said Country, but are rather Sinon's, who lay open the walls, and gates thereof to the common enemy, and make a bridge for the Trojan Horse to come to invade, fire, and destroy our Ilium, ah truly Ilium! But God avert that evil both from them and us. Amen.   
FINIS.