The 21. Discourse.

THe great Orator Demosthenes in one of his * Orations, sayth: that Like as the maister ship∣wrights going about to build a ship, do lay stronge and steadfast foundations thereof: so the princi∣ples of publike actions ought to be iust and honest. This peraduenture is not vnfitly alleadged in the beginning of this small discourse, for the better representing to those that gouerne great estates, those neces∣sarie rules whereby they ought to compasse their affayres. And like as for the most part those men doe amisse, who cleauing too much to their owne opinions, doe go from the lawfull wayes: So do they seldome straie, who borrowing good examples of y^e instruction and wisedome of the elders, doe followe the same. In the meane time whatsoeuer care man maye take to containe himselfe within the bounds thereof, yet can he not alwayes bee exempt from transgres∣sing the rules of equity through the imperfection of his iudgement, and force of his passions. Howbeit he must at the least take heede of encurring those great faultes that breede bad consequences, as di∣uerse Princes both afore time and still haue done and doe, whereby there haue growen irrecouerable losse to theyr estates.

A Prince seeing himselfe oppressed and his Countrie in necessi∣tie, * deuiseth with himselfe, and hath those that do also counsaile him to seeke all meanes to preserue it: which peraduenture hath made men too free to make leagues with barbarous Nations, the fruite whereof hath neuerthelesse bene so small, that few there haue bene but haue soone repented their rashnesse.

But before we propound anie examples of these wretched confe∣deracies, * I thinke it requisite in a word to teach the originall of the Turkish nation, their increase and terrible behauiours. Iohn Cari∣onPage  235 in his briefe Chronicle of the world faithfully corrected out of al histories, sayth the Turkes to be descended out of the straightes of the mount Caucasus. And that (as some reporte) they dispearsed themselues out of the North into some small corners of Asia about two hundred yeres before the comming of Christ, where they re∣mayned almost vnknowen vnto the time of the the Emperour He∣raclius, who raigned in the yere 612. Then Orismada king of the Persians finding himselfe assayled by the Sarazens, called to them for succour whome they assisted. But after his death seeing the Sa∣razens had seased vpon the Realme, the beautie and fruitfulnes of the land so allured them, that they stayed about the Caspian sea, in that place which in olde time was called Hircanie, and finallie so compounded with the Caliph of Babylon; that he suffered them to possesse and till the land where they had stayed. There also they im∣braced Mahumets religion, and obeied the Caliph a long time. Af∣terward the Sarazens growing into dissention and warres among themselues, the Souldan finding himselfe too weake to defend his partie called the Turkes to his helpe, and expulsed the Caliphes. After this victorie the Turkes demanding their paie, he denied it, which so prouaked them, that they set vpon him, ouerthrew him, and braue him out of his Realme. Thus did they establish theyr domini∣on in both the Armenies, whereto they adioyned Capadocia, Ga∣lacia, and Bithinia, which by little and little they conquered, and this was about the yere of Christ 1050. Shortly after the Tartari∣ans tooke awaie the Turkes dominion, and brought them into sub∣iection to them, vntill that in the yere 1300. they rebelled, and for∣tified themselues, destroying the Tartarian Empire. Then (the o∣ther ancient families hauing through enmitie & domesticall wars destroied each other) begāthe race of the Ottomans to beare sway. Under this race grew the Turkes to that mightinesse wherein we now see them. Thus the name and Empire of the Sarazens decay∣ing, this nation got the dominion of all the rest. Carion saith, that this famely at the first was but small, but through I wot not what destinie, it grew to this vnreasonable greatnes w^t wonderful speed & prosperitie, as a cruel people whō God would haue to beare sway all ouer, to punish the sins of all other Nations. Furthermore, the occasion that moued the Turkes to inuade Europe, as also of the victories that they haue obtayned, hath growen of the dissentions, wickednes treasons; disloyalties, idlenes, couetousnes, rashnes, and mistrust of all states Christian; from the least to the greatest▪ Page  236 And the reuoltes of Christians haue wonderfully increased the Turkes. For many vnthrifts from time to time through the liber∣tie of warres, seeing the flourishing estate of y^e Mahumetists, haue forsaken the Christian Church, to cleaue to their sect, as well in re∣spect that libertie is of it selfe agreeable to mens fansies, as also be∣cause their wils do incline anie waie where they see things prosper well.

It will be needlesse here to number the Empires, Realmes, and Prouinces by them conquered within these two hundred yeres: for such as haue bene conuersant in the world, or that haue perused the histories will confesse that they possesse much more land than all Christendome doe containe. Their sect is replenished with all impietie and blasphemie against God and against Christ Iesus and his doctrine, and their gouernment with the most horrible and cru∣ell tyrannie that euer was: as being (as it seemeth) erected rather to ouerthrow all lawes, discipline, and honestie, than to maintaine them. Thus much briefly concerning the estate of the Turkes, the knowledge wherof may tend greatly to the opening of that which shall hereafter be spoken of.

The first Christian Prince punished for all such confederaties, * was Guy of Lusignian, the last king of Hierusalem. For hee ha∣uing a quarell with Reymond Earle of Tripolie, and finding him∣selfe too weake to follow it, made a couenant and called to his aide Saladin the gouernour of the Sarazens, who hauing ouerthrowen Reimond, did afterward expulse Guy, and so ouerthrow the state of the Christians in Siria, and finally suppressed the realme of Hieru∣salem. And albeit the Sarazens and Turkes are not all one, yet did they concurre in Mahumets lawe and all trecherie. About sixe score yeres after Iohn Paleologue Emperour of Constantino∣ple, being molested by sundrie Lordes of Greece, whome the Bul∣garians* fauoured, determined to enter league with Amurathes the first, then ruler of the Turkes, and craued his helpe, which was graunted.

Herevpon they passed into Europe, whereof insued the destruc∣tion of Greece. For these Lords presumption being suppressed, the Turkes remayned in garison in the townes of Greece, and short∣ly after Amurathes allured by the beautie of the Countrie came into Europe with 60000. men. and seased vpon Philippopolly & Adrionople, with other places, whiles Peleologue bewayled, and too late confessed his fault that he had committed in entering Page  237 a league with so traiterous an enimie, whereby he sawe his Coun∣trie become a praie vnto thē. These vnfortunate beginnings might haue bene a warning to other Princes their successors, not to be o∣uer hasty of the acquaintance of such a nation, according to the pro∣uerbe which sayth: Happie is he whom other mens harmes can make to beware. But his next successors forsooke not the same path, ney∣ther had they other payment than he. For after that Emanuel Pa∣leologue had made a steadfast league with Baiazet, the tyrant bea∣ring him no long good wil, besieged Constantinople, which when he coulde not winne by force, hee determined to famish, and had so done, had not the comming of Tamberlane preuented his purpose. Two or three other Emperors following were through the errors and bad examples of their predecessors constrayned, as it were, to cleaue to these barbarous people, vntill they inuaded the Empires of Constantinople and Trapizond, before in the possession of the Greeke Princes. Whereby wee see that the thing which in the be∣ginning was done of an vndiscreete free will, grew in the end to be followed of forced necessitie. But howsoeuer it was, wee may saie that the vniustice of such actions hath beene the cause to bring in great mishaps.

It may be obiected, that within these three hundred yeres sundry * weake Christian Princes haue made confederacies with such as haue bene strong, thinking by the same the better to preserue them∣selues, & yet haue found that they haue turned to their destruction, because the others haue vsed those occasions to oppresse them: and therevpon would conclude, that onely indiseretion hath bene cause of their mishaps, when they haue called to their helpe, coueted to ioyne neighborhood, or confederated themselues out of season with such a one as hath bene mightie, or desirous to climbe, for small faith raigneth in ambitious persons.

Heereto we may answere, that in truth in such deedes there is want of iudgement and consideration, and that the histories, though we set not down the examples, do beare witnes of many that haue tried the hurt proceeding of such follies. Neuerthelesse wee must make a difference and haue other regard when we come to ioyne a∣mitie with the Princes afornamed, either with tyrants, whether to assayle the Christian Princes, or to defende our selues from them. For when a Prince through ambition or disloyaltie vseth con∣federacies to the end to deceiue, the infamie still ••eaueth to him, and as for him that hath bene too simple and so circumuented Page  238 or indomaged, wee doe rather pittie than accuse him. But in all such leagues as wee make with these destroiers and scourges of the worlde, in whom treason, impietie, vniustice and crueltie, haue their continuall habitation, there is alwayes errour, especial∣ly if we exceede certaine bounds prescribed by reason, because it is in no case lawfull to confederate with them, except for matter of small importance, and such as bindeth not the hearts with any strict amitie, neither the persons in anie great bond. For what stedfast so∣cietie * can there be with those whose continuall imaginations tend onely to subdue you to vngodly bondage, & so to destroy you. Wee cannot neuerthelesse here inferre that no man may enter anie trea∣tie with them, because somtime necessitie induceth vs to grow ther∣to with the most diuellish enimies that we can imagine: as to craue truce or peace, to agree controuersies for Lordships or territo∣ries, to demand amends for iniuries, and to deale for trafick & assurance for merchants. In these cases it is lawfull to deale and & treate with these tyrants. Who so therefore would compare these agreements with those true and lawfull leagues which are vsually made betweene Princes, to the ende each to helpe other against all that seeke their trouble, shall see a wonderful difference betwéen them. For these are grounded vpon equitie, and tend to the preser∣uation and maintenance of ciuill amitie betweene them, whereas Princes do vse the other agreements vppon necessitie somewhat to bridle their rage, whereof doe grow some assurance to their subiects and their affaires.

The Wallachians, Moldacians, Transiluanians and Sclauons, haue bene forced to proceede farther, as to submit themselues to the Turkes, to the ende to eschue their furious cruelty, for want of meanes of defence, and of them wee ought to take compassion. Some would peraduenture think that this proud nation would be loth to enter amitie with the Christians: But the contrarie is most true: For albeit they be barbarous, yet doe they herein imitate the auncient pollicie of the Romaines, who vnder coulour of confede∣racies set foote in Greece and Gaule, which afterwarde they sub∣dued.

The lyke would these doe if they might: but at the least in their haunting among Christians, they discouer our affaires, diligently considering our forces and meanes, which afterward doe the more kindle their desire to enterprise against vs, neither doe our men through their conuersation among them, reape any other fruit than Page  239 apprentiship of most wicked customes which doe infect particular persons with corruption and entangle the mindes of those whome they gouerne with tyrannous precepts.

I will yet alleadge other of the most notable examples of such as * haue abused thēselues & found inconuenience in reposing too much confidence in Turkish infidelitie. One shall bee of the last king of Hungarie named Iohn, whome the Hungarians chose after that Lewes was slaine in battaile against the Turkes. This king soone after his election did Ferdinand expulse vnder some pretended title to the Realme: which forced him to haue recourse & to put himselfe into the protection of Sultan Soliman, who thereby had a good oc∣casion: For he waited only how through the meanes of the Christi∣ans, to get accesse into those places where he sought to establish his greatnesse. Thus hauing for the time restored him into his dignity, and beaten Ferdinandes men, he kept not his promise long: for af∣ter the decease of Iohn he dispossessed the Queene his widow & his orphane, who had craued his helpe against Ferdinand, that had be∣sieged them: and euer since haue the most part of Hungarie conti∣nued in the hands of the Turkes. In this their deede the grieuous iniuries offred by y^t aforenamed, may to some seeme to excuse their submissiō to Soliman: howbeit they were not free frō blame, in that for their owne particular interest they were the cause on that side to aduance the destruction of the Christians, peraduenture 30. yeres sooner thā it would haue happened, besides that, they ought rather to haue summoned the Christian princes to take order for their con∣trouersies, or else to haue growen to composition with Ferdi∣nand.

But how should these confederaties be other than mishaps to those * that put them in practise, sith such Princes as haue made them on∣ly to the end to reuenge themselues of, or resist their enimies haue come to euil ends? Of whom Alphons king of Naples is one, who fearing the power of Charles the 8. king of France, did after the imitation of Pope Alexander the 6. who before had done the like, sent his Embassadors to Baiazet to craue helpe. As also Lewes Sforza, who to the end to molest the Venetians, sought to y^e Turks of whom he brought a certaine number into Italy: but neither of thē attained to their pretences, as being preuented by the subiection of themselues and their estates.

It is no meruayle that shame and destruction doe followe such deliberations, and who so liste well to consider the causes Page  240 thereof, shall see that a vehement desire of reuenge stirred vp these * Princes to call them in. Is it not as much as if a man should go in∣to the woods to hier theeues to murther his kinseman or friend in his owne house, for some debate risen betweene them? Either to o∣pen the windowe to the wolfe, and so to bring him into the flock to deuour the sheepe? Those that were at the first war in Hungarie, when Soliman came in person, doe affirme that in that one onelie voyage there were aboue 200000. persons of that onely Realme, either slaine or caried awaie captiue, which violences together with innumerable other more haue bene such pastimes as these horrible monsters haue within these two hundred yeeres taken, to our costs. Who is he that reading or hearing of the cruelties, villanies, & tor∣ments, which the poore Christians indured at the taking of Con∣stantinople, but will euen faint for sorrow and pittie: In this ship∣wracke neither the greatnesse, nobilitie, and affabilitie, neither the teares nor lamentations of the olde, yong, women, or children could any whit mitigate their crueltie, vntill that hauing glutted theyr desires and reuenges with the bloud, riches, & beautie of the youth of each kinde, they graunted some small release to those miserable persons that remayned of that furie, who had ben farre more happy to haue bene swallowed vp among the rest.

I could heere adde sundrie other deeds wherewith to describe the fiercenesse of this nation, but it shall not greatly neede, because wee * are to beleeue theyr proceedings to haue bene almost alwaies alike, as if theyr onely drift tended to tread all mankinde vnder their feet. Our neighbours alwayes haue and still doe thinke it wonderfull strange how such learned wise men as haue continually florished in France, could counsayle our kings to enter league with these, yea, and so long to perseuere therein, considering how infortunate such confederacies haue bene. Some auncient persons haue in this sort reported the cause. That king Frances the first seeing himselfe stil beset with the Emperour Charles a mightie Prince, Henrie king of England, and diuerse other enimies, who oft brought his state in to daunger, was for his owne saferie counsailed to confederate him∣selfe with Sultan Seliman, to the end when they should molest him, to oppose agaynst them so mightie an enimie. And this treatie was concluded about the yeere 1535. by vertue whereof wee haue often times had succour from the Turkes, which haue greatly hindered those that troubled France, and without the which it must needes haue indured much more through the ambition of them that ought Page  241 not to haue brought our Kings into necessitie to employe so terri∣ble armies. All these accusations and iustifications haue moued me to peruse some histories, to the ende to see what profite or hurt wee haue reaped by their succour.

I haue noted three or fower armies by Sea brought into Chri∣stendome* at the pursuite, as they say, of the French men vnder the conduct of Barberossa and other Admiralles, who haue bred great terror. The most notable of al their exployts, in my opinion, was the taking of Boniface in Corse. But I haue laboured to learne of diuers auncient Captaines and other skilfull persons both Italians and Spanyards, what their nations either thought or sayd of these Turkish tempestes: who all reported vnto me that these barbarous people wrought lamētable desolations, as hauing burned, sacked, yea and led into perpetuall bondage a merueilous number of poore Christians: for the most part, which was worse, were forced to renounce Christianitie and to embrace the false doctrine of Mahumet, a most lamentable destruction truely of so many soules fallen into such horrible gulfes of perdition! Neither is it almost to bee imagined how grieuously these mischiefes haue moued all countrie people both to speake and write in the reproach of the French nation. What then might, sayd they, the kindred and friends of those that were led into this miserable bondage doe? One lost his father and mother: an other his wife and children: this man his brother, that man his cosen. It is very likely that their iust so∣rowe haue wrested from them infinite complaints, teares and la∣mentations, which haue peraduenture knocked at heauen gates. This confederacie seemeth to haue bene the cause of the deminish∣ing of the glorie of so florishing a Realme as France: for euen at the death of King Henry the second it was fallen from a great parte of that greatnesse which fortie yeeres before it did enioye. And although other causes might set forward this declination, yet doe many thinke this to haue bene none of the least. Yea, say they, if*we should compare the commoditie reaped by all this Turkish succour with the onely tainting of the French good name among all nations in Europe, we must of force confesse that the reproach doth farre exceede the profite. For what is the winning of two or three townes to the re∣proofe of so many people for actions so vniuersally condemned? Yea our selues can yet testifie that at the concluding of the peace betweene the two Kings of France and Spayne Anno 1559. the common speech of Germany, Italie and Spayne was that one of the chiefest causes of our Page  242 misfortunes proceeded of confederating with the Turkes, & bringing in and fauouring them to the hurt of the Christians. To whome I aunswered: That they did too sharply taunt those things which in some respects might be borne with, neither were so vnlawfull but that vpon necessitie they might bee vsed: likewise that the offence was in him that forced others for their safegard to haue recourse to such meanes. But they replyed: That it is one thing to confederate with a Christian Prince though vniust and ambitious, and an other with these barbarous people which are the instrumēts of Gods wrath. Also that those which seeke to excuse these errors, ought to shew what wisedome there is in backing our selues with the succour of such as ble∣mish the Princes fame and bring him into reproach. Moreouer, whe∣ther it be not mere blindnes to passe the same way wherin we see euery man encurre shipwracke? Finally, that their opinion was, that no wise man endued with any conscience could much gainsay so euidēt a truth, but would rather yeeld and grannt not onely to condemne that which was so vnlawfull, but also to abstaine from perseuering therein. These in brief were the reasons that they propounded, which also I could not finde to be much impertinent. Neuerthelesse, for my better sa∣tisfying, I thought good to trye the opinions of some Deuines which came to visite me, whether Christian integritie were empai∣red by such confederaties. To this question they aunswered: that Daniel in his prophetie, speaking of the 4. Monarchies which should*be in the world, and describing them vnder the shape of 4. beastes, she∣weth that toward the declining of the fourth which was the Ro∣maine, there should spring vp a little horne, that is to say a kingdome, which should be more mightie then the rest, also that this horne should haue eyes & a mouth. That the eyes signified a law craftely inuented, & the mouth blasphemy against God, also that this power should fight against the Saincts and haue great victories. This did they affirme to signifie the doctrine of Mahumet houlden first by the Sarazens, and then by the Turkes. That if we list well to consider the Turkish king∣dome, wee should finde it to be a terrible tyrannie, whose subiects were wonderfully enthralled: their warres destitute of all good foundation: their politique gouernmēt being wel examined to be but a bare name: their Ecclesiastical regiment to be none: but in liew thereof wee should see a wicked prophaning of the name and seruice of the true God: their household affayres subuerted with Poligamy & other disorders which dissolued all humaine societie. And as for their trecherie and crueltie the histories together with experience & the matters afore alleadged Page  243 doe yeeld sufficient testimonie to make vs to beleeue that prophetie to belong to them, as being therein so figured as they are.

Now presupposing the premises to be true, say they, we would weete*how a Christian Prince can confederate or make any stedfast league with such barbarous nations as are as it were marked and appoynted to be the scourges to Christians? For as we thinke, they can hardly be vsed without offence to pietie. In olde tyme God expressely forbad the Iewes to enter amitie with the Canaanites or Amorites, people whom for their abominable vice he did abhorre. Neither were the compa∣rison amisse in setting the Turkes downe for the one, and our selues for the other: whereof it must of necessitie followe, that the same defence ought to stand vs in stead of a lawe to restraine vs, least we pollute our selues in their abominations. Then did I tell them, that I much meruailed how so many Cardinalles, Bishoppes and Doctors endued with great learning, of whome France had no want, could brooke this league, or made no meanes to breake it. Hereto their aunswer was: that many tymes Princes made the gownes to yeeld to the sword, and the counsaile of the Clergie to the necessitie of the state. And so wee brake off our conference: which hauing since well considered, hath forced me to say: That these barbarous peo∣ple are the same against whome the Pope ought to turne his ex∣communications, and all Christian Potentates their wrath and weapons, rather then against them selues or their Subiects, to whome very rashly they impute Heresie, when they should haue in much greater abomination all Turkish infidelitie. Against those should they drawe their Swordes, not to conuert them (for the Gospell taketh no roote in mens mindes, but by preaching and holinesse of life) but to represse their crueltie and tyrannie: and these warres would bee as necessarie as our domesticall bee vnnecessarie.

But there are some, who seeing the Turkes prosperitie to con∣tinue so long, and to encrease rather then deminish, are as it were * confounded in themselues, and cannot thinke their dominion to bée so detestable, considering that God powreth not his wrath vpon them, but rather his fauour. I doubt not but such as want instruc∣tion in Gods prouidence, are sometimes, when they enter into dis∣course hereof, euen shaken: but they ought to bee assured that this power can haue no perpetual continuance, which hath her bounds, as had the Sarazēs that is ended, together with their name, so that these many yeeres we haue heard no newes thereof.

Page  244 These rods doth the Lord entertaine to the ende only to punish and chastise those who bearing the glorious title of Christians, doe neuerthelesse through their iniquities dishonor him, neither neede we elsewhere seeke the cause of the Turkish prosperitie then in our owne sinnes, the continuance whereof doe thereto minister suste∣nance and strength: where contrariwise our amendment would bée an occasion that the Lord should pull it downe. I would wish all such as are familier with Princes, often to put them in minde that lawfull Monarchies, which ought to be supported with Pietie and Iustice, cannot bee preserued by any meanes repugnant to these vertues, so to resolue them the more, not to seeke any profite in ac∣tions vtterly seperate from honestie.

I knowe there may be some that will say that France is now so * weake and brought so low, that it were not meete it should for sake those leagues which seeme to retaine her enemies in any feare, who would peraduenture be easely enduced to set vpon her so soone as the proppe, which is to them a terror, shall be taken away. First the Germaines would redemaund the imperiall townes: Then the Spanyard, who hath sundrie both olde and new quarels, would alleadge some one or other: and it is to bee doubted but such migh∣tie enémies would deale hardly with her. Indeede this requireth consideration. But the Germaines will aunswer: That their na∣tion is not so hot to entangle the Empire in so great a warre which they would not wish to bee mightier then it is, least it should gripe them as did the Emperour Charles the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgraue. Neither would they aduance the ruine of France, which they knowe to bee a good counterpaize for the inner side of Christendome, and a strong shield for the outer side. The Spa∣niards do say that the long peace betweene their King & France, together with his affayres in the Low countries, doe sufficiently declare that he intendeth not to molest her with warres: For it is enough for him that she daily decayeth through her owne ciuill dis∣sentions: whereby now he no whit feareth her power, which afore∣time hath bene a terror vnto him. So as it were rather to be belée∣ued, that if the Princes her neighbours might see France for an v∣niuersall benefite, to giue ouer their league with the Turkes, they would like very well of so commendable a worke which they haue long desired.

Howbeit, I referre my selfe to the matter as it is, and to con∣clude, * doe say, that our Kings in olde time shewed forth their affec∣tion Page  245 to the rooting out of the enemies of Christendome: for them selues trauailed personally together with the flower of their Sub∣iects euen into Asia and Affricke to fight with them: namely, Lewes the yong, Phillip August and S. Lewes: as also Godfrey of Bolein, with most of the Princes that accompanied him in his voyadge to Ierusalem, were for the most part French men. Like∣wise long before them what scourges were Charles Martell and Charlemaigne to the Sarazens, who being the Lords of y^e French nation obteyned mightie victories against that terrible people? Wherevpon I conclude, that vpon good occasion, with condition and assurance sufficient vnto our King that none would attempt a∣gainst his state, I thinke we should not finde him to haue any whit degenerated from his auncesters zeale to wisedome and valour.