Thomas Campanella, an Italian friar and second Machiavel, his advice to the King of Spain for attaining the universal monarchy of the world particularly concerning England, Scotland and Ireland, how to raise division between king and Parliament, to alter the government from a kingdome to a commonwealth, thereby embroiling England in civil war to divert the English from disturbing the Spaniard in bringing the Indian treasure into Spain : also for reducing Holland by procuring war betwixt England, Holland, and other sea-faring countries ... / translated into English by Ed. Chilmead, and published for awakening the English to prevent the approaching ruine of their nation ; with an admonitorie preface by William Prynne, of Lincolnes-Inne, Esquire.

CHAP. XXIV. Of France. (Book 24)

SEeing that there is no Christian Kingdome, that is more able to oppose, and put a stop to the growing of the Spanish Monarc••y, then France is, (I speak here to such Kingdomes as are United, and lie compacted together all in a body) as being the greatest, richest, and most Populous in Christendome: for, it hath in it seven and twenty thousand Parish Churches in it, and feedeth about a hundred and fifty Millions of Soules; and is so fruitful by Nature, and so rich, through the care and industry of its Inhabitants, that it comes behind no other Country whatsoever: Adde hereunto, that It lies not far from Spain; and the Inhabitants thereof do naturally hate a Spaniard; and are besides excellent Souldiers, and have all but one Head over them, residing also in their own Country: all which Circumstances you shall not find to meet in any one Country besides: for some lye either very far off, as the Turks, and English do; or else are heartlesse, and unapt for War, as are the Italians; or else are divided among themselve••, as the Germans are: All these things (I say) being considered, it will be needful that I should here give a more exact, and punctual account of the F••ench then ordinary; wherein also I shall disco∣ver, what, and how great Errours we have of late years commit∣ted, in reference to them; that so for the future we may be the more wary, as to this Particular.

The French Nation, being descended from Iaphet, by Gomer, by their strength, and the force of their Armes, and having also their Religion, and the Fates Propitious to them, have had very great Successes; in that under the Conduct of Charles the Great, and King Pepin, they arrived to so great a Monarchy, as they then had. And certainly all the other Princes of Christendom had at that time an e••e upon the Kingdom of France: and if the French had but crusht the Impiety of the Mahumetans, when it was yet but in the Bud, they might easily have compassed the

Monarchy of the whole World: and that so much the rather, by reason that their Rivals, the Spaniards were divided into Many several Kingdomes, and were besides held in Play with the Moors, who had invaded their Country; so that at that time they were not at leasure to interrupt the French, or to take them off from their Designes: as the French at this day hinder Them in theirs. But for as much as the French have not the skill of carrying a Moderate Hand in Government over such Forraign∣ers as are under their Subjection, but are too Impatient, and In∣discreet; they could never yet attain to so great a height of Pow∣er. For they are apt to arrogate too much to themselves; & shew∣ing no gravity at all, they permit their Subjects to do what they please; and so sometimes they use them too cruelly, and sometimes again too gently; having no regard at all to their own defects, and weaknesses. And hence it hath come to passe, that though they have gotten many things abroad, yet they have not been able to keep any of them. For, in One evening•• they lost all Si∣cily: and almost in as short a time, the Kingdom of Naples too, together with the Duchy of Millan: and for no other reason, but only because that they knew not how, through want of Pru∣dence in Governing, to oblige their Subjects to them by the Love of the Publick Good: nor yet took any care to draw in others to put themselves under their Protection. For, when the people once perceaved, that there would be very litle or no dif∣ference to them, in respect of their Liberty•• whether they served the French, or the Spaniards, they would not vouchsafe so much as to draw a Sword in their behalf. And for the very same reason did the King of France, and the Duke of Millan several times lose their Dominion over the Genois. We may add hereto, in reference to the French, the Discord that was betwixt the Sons of Charles the Great; because that one of them would be King of Italy, another of Germany, and a third of France: and likewise the weaknesse of the French Nobility, who would needs all be free Princes, and live of themselves without any Head: such as are the Duke of Burgundy, the Earl of Flanders, the Duke of Bretaigne, of the Delphinate, of Savoy, the Count Palatine of the Rhine, with diverse others; each of which would needs be an Absolute Prince of himself•• So that as well for these Reasons, and because of their being d••vided in their Religion, and also as well by Fate, as by God himself,

and besides, by not laying hold upon Occasion, when it was offered, they seem to be excluded from ever attaining to the Universal Monarchy of the whole World. And therefore the Majesty of the Universal Dominion over all seemes rather to incline toward the Spaniards, both because Fate it self seemes to have destined the same unto Them; as also, because it seemes, in some sort, to be their Due, by reason of their Patience, and Discretion.

But because that the very Situation of the Country, the manner of their Armes in War, and the natural Enmity that there is be∣twixt the French and the Spaniards, seem to require that France should be continually in War with Spain, and should be still in∣terrupting their Glorious Proceedings; like as also when it was in a flourishing state under Charles the Fifth, it was hindred by Francis King of France; and as it may also at this day be troub∣led by the Hereticks of France, and their King Henry the Fourth, who is a Valiant, and Warlick Person; these things, I say, being considered, it nearly concerns the King of Spain se∣riously to consider the state of his own Affaires, and withal to weigh the Power of France; and to be sure, when any fit Oppor∣tunity is offered to fall upon them with all his might, & to set up∣on them on that part where they are Weakest, that ••o that other part, where they are more powerful, may sink of it self. See∣ing therefore that they are weak, not in Armes, but in Wisdom, and Brain; He ought to manage his War against them accord∣ingly. And therefore, first of all, he must be sure to lay hold on Fortune, and Opportunity, whensoever they offer themselves; as evidently appeares by the example of that good Fortune, that delivered the aforenamed King Francis, and Germany into the hands, and power of Charles the Fifth; by which means, had he pursued that Opportunity, he might have crushed all the Princes that were his Competitors; for he ought immediately to have bent his whole strength against France, and by the assistance of the Germans to have repressed, and curbed the Insolency of the French. I say, by the assistance of the Germans: for they, as being the more Fierce Nation of the two, have al∣waies been as an Antidote against the Fiercenesse of the French. And hence it is, that the Franconians, Normans, Swedes, Gotlanders, Danes, and other Northern Forraign Nations, have alwaies, in a manner, been to hard for the French, that lye not so Northerly

as they. And therefore, as I said Charles the Fifth ought immediately, with an Army of Germans, to have set upon France. And after that, he should have put Guards of Spaniards into all their Castles, and strong Holds, and should have placed Ita∣lians in all their Courts of Judicature, and have appointed them to regulate their Lawes; and then should either have brought France wholly under his own Power, and Obedience; or else should have put it into the hands of some Petty Princes, to be governed by them; and so should presently have declared Himself Head of the Christian World.

But he, instead of doing thus, had recourse to that Vain, use∣lesse course of securing himself, by marriage; chusing rather to winne over to him his Rivall Neighbour by Fair meanes; which is never to be done, but with those that are farther off; and which is especially to be declined, when a Prince hath so Potent Neighbours that are his Antagonists for an Empire. For, the F••ench had first a design of making themselves Uni∣versall Monarchs of the World, before the Spaniards had any such thought; whom the French afterwards envied, when they found them aspiring that way.

A second Opportunity of keeping France under in such sort, as that It should not have been able to have opposed, or hin∣dred the growing Potency of the Spaniard, was offered to his Son, Philip, had he but had the skill to have laid hold of it, and to have made the right use of it. For, Henry the III. of France being slain by a certain Dominican Frier, under pretense of his favouring those of the Religion; and the whole Kingdom of France being now divided into two Factions, namely, the Catholicks and the Huguenots; and many Governours of Pro∣vinces having at that time the said Provinces at their Devotion as, for example, Montmorency had that of Languedoc, and Es∣pernon, and others, had others: the Line of Valois being now quite extinct, and there being a great Controversy started amongst them, whether it were best for them to think of choo∣sing any New King of some other House, or not: and lastly, Henry of Navarre being, by reason of his being an Heretick, hated by the Catholick Party; King Philip had at that time five Opportunities offered him: either of which had He but laid hold of, it would have been sufficient to have made him Ma∣ster of France, or at least to have weakned the power of it very

much; not to say any thing what might have been done, when all of them concurred, and met together.

And yet to say truth, it lay not in his power at that time to effect this; for he saw, that if he should fall upon this design in an open way of making war upon them, it would have been necessary for Him then to have had good store of Souldiers to have brought into the Feild; (which at that time He had not,) to be able to divide, and distract all the Nobles of that King∣dome, and to set them together by the ears. And therefore he should first of all have dealt under hand either with the Duke of Guise, or of Maine, or with some other of the most Powerful amongst them, and have promised to make Him King, and be∣sides to make him His Son in Law: and at the same time to give hopes also to all the rest of the Nobility, that they should every man of them be made the Proprietary, and Absolute Lord of their several Provinces; as that Montmorency should have Lan∣guedoc confirmed to Him, Esper••on should have Provence; and every one of them should have had a promise made him of such Lordships as they liked best; and all of these He should also have furnished with mony, that they might have been the better enabled to make resistance against Henry of Navarre. He ought also to have entred into a League with the Pope, and the rest of the Catholick Princes; that so joyning all their for∣ces together, they might all at once have set upon Henry of Na∣varre, who was of a different Religion from them.

And then besides all this, He ought to have obliged to him the hearts of all the French Bishops, and Preachers, by confer∣ring upon them large Dignities, and Preferments. And when all these things had been thus ordered, then either the King him∣self in person, or else, if He should not think that fit, His Son, or the Duke of Parma should presently have invaded France with an Army of at least a Hundred Thousand men, consisting of Germans, Italians, and Spaniards; and He should also immediate∣ly have sent out some to make Excursions into France, by the way of the Duke of Savoys Country, and by Navarre, and Picar∣dy.

And all these things should have been, with all care and dili∣gence, put into Execution: which if they had, He had then cer∣tainly done his businesse, and had either added France to his other Dominions, or else might have Canton'd it out into many

small Baronies and Republicks, as Germany is; and so he should have been ever after secure from their being able to do Him any hurt.

But King Philip was not nimble enough in his businesse; and besides, He was deluded by the French Nobles, who almost all went over to the King of Navarre: whereas, had He been but as quick as He shonld have been, all this had never happened. For this is the usual Course of the World, that every man looks first of all to his Own Interest, and then to that of the publick; and accordingly men use to bestirr themselves in troublesome times.

But here, in this case, where every one of them perceived, that the good of the Publick did consist in the welfare of each Particular person, and so on the Contrary; they then presently made choice of that which they conceived would be for the Pub∣lick Good. And so, although those French Nobles, being at the first by Mony, and fair Promises, wrought over to favour the King of Spain, and so were brought to enter into Action in order thereunto; yet when upon better Consideration they found at last that in case the Crown of France should passe away to another, or that the Kingdom should be parcell'd out into small Dominions, and Republicks, the losse would at length redound to each of them in particular, whiles that the King of Spain might then with ease reduce them one by one, and bring them under his Obedience; seeing that they were so divided, as that they could not in any convenient time joyn their strengths together to make any opposition against him; and besides, knowing that France it self, which had been hitherto so much honoured by all other Nations, would now come to be despised by them; and that all hopes of ever attaining to the Crown would now be quite cut off from them; and, that they should afterwards find, that the Spaniards would but laugh at them for all their pains; they conceived it to be the safer, and more ad∣vantageous Course for themselves, to adhere to the King of Na∣varre, and receive him for their Prince. Which certainly when at the first, whiles they were inveagled, and blinded by the false hopes of the Spaniards Mony, they had not so well and through∣ly considered, as They did afterwards, when they had once weighed in their minds what the Event was like to be, and also saw with their eyes what the Kings Proceedings were; They

then at length began to elude Art with Art. Besides, the French, perceiving also how great Inconveniences would arise, by maintaining a War with the Spaniard, did therefore the more willingly and chearfully proceed to the election of a New King, because that they were perswaded, that when a King was once chosen, those evils would then be removed, which yet at the first they made litle account of.

But the King of Spain committed yet another Errour in this Point, in that by his Slownesse He gave the King of Navarre time to make over to his Party the Princes of Italy, and the Pope, only by making them believe, that He intended to abjure the Protestant Religion, and turn Catholick: besides, that those Princes did likewise consider, that when France was once sub∣dued by the Spaniards, whom they knew very well to gape ear∣nestly after an Universal Monarchy, their Own Turnes would probably have been next to have been swallowed up by them. This very Slownesse of his was the reason why the Spaniard gained the lesse, and was also the longer held in expectation; and besides, by gaping in this manner after what belonged to others, became hated by all: So true is that Common Saying; namely, That there is no place Inexpugnable, into which an Asse, la∣den with Gold, can but get in. But then this is also to be added to that Saying; namely, that That Golden Asse, or that Asse laden with Gold, must have many Horses laden with Iron to come after it: that so while the Citizens are all busied in weighing, and telling out their Mony, Thou mayest in the mean time make use of thy Iron in the subduing, and taking in of that Place.

To this we may adde, that the Spanish Commanders, as well as the French, plaid booty, as we say; neither of them fighting for the Victory, but for Gain onely. And the reason of this was, because that neither the King himself, nor his Son were present in person in the Army. And besides the Duke of Parma durst not at first, in the beginning of the War, hazard all in a Battel, without Commands from the King; by which means the King of Navarre had time given him to gain over to him the French Nobility, (whom the Spaniard had before wrought over by his Mony to His side,) only by an Opinion they had concei∣ved of his Military Valour. And in this He imitated those other most Valiant Princes, who, neglecting the Common People, made it their only businesse, to oblige the Nobles to them only:

Which hath been the Ancient Custome with the Polonians, Per∣sians, and French. And because, that the Nobles think it a thing too much below them, to march with Foot Souldiers; hence it is, that these very Nations have alwaies been very strong in Horse; but have still been but weak in Foot.

And seeing the businesse is come to this passe, that the King of France hath now won to himself the Affections both of his Subjects, the French, and of the Pope also; and hath thereby got himself more Renown, then if he had beaten the King of Spain himself; it is now to be feared, that He may sometime or other attempt to take in some part of Spain also. For, He is of a Turbulent, Unquiet Spirit, neither can the French hold, while they have well settled a Country that they have newly taken in; but they must on still, and fall upon some other; and this the King of France must the rather do, because that being out of Mony, He is forced to forrage abroad, and take from others, that he may ha••e to pay his own men. And therefore it will be necessary that the King of Spain take care that the Frontiers of Spain, and the Duchy of Millan also be well guarded, and fortified; and also, that he carefully observe these following Rules. The first whereof is, that he enter into a League with the French, who are his Competitors: and the Second is, that He hinder the coming of any Assistance to him either from England, or from Italy: both which things may be effected one and the same way; namely, if He do but perswade the Pope, that the King of France hath a purpose of Assisting the Here∣ticks; and that, should he but once come into Italy, he would scatter abroad the Poyson of his Heresie every where; and, that Tuscany, and the Venetian Territories will first be the Seat of the War, and afterwards will be his Prey. Let the King of Spain therefore deal with the Pope, that He would interdict the King of France the contracting of any League, or Friendship, either with the Queen of England, or with any other of the He∣reticks; such as are the Genevians, Helvetians, and Rhetians, or Grisons: for, these would be able to assist him very much. Let the Pope also make Him swear, that He will go to the Holy Land, and there joyn with the Italians in the Defence of the Christian Faith. But the best course of all would be, that the Nobility of France and of Italy should all joyn together, and should be sent in an Expedition against Greece; and that there should also be

another Association made betwixt the Princes of the House of Austria, against the Hereticks. For, if that the Christian Princes were but thus dispersed, and kept at a distance one from another, the Kingdom of Naples, together with that of Spain, and the Duchy of Millan also, would have none to stand in fear of, but would be secure on all sides: and besides, the King of Spain might in the mean time bethink himself what waies were the best to be taken for the reducing of the Net••erlands; over whom were he but once Conquerour, the forenamed Princes would be so much astonished at the report of that his Victory, and of his Military Strength, that they would never dare to at∣tempt any thing against Him; no, though they should return home Lords of all Asia. For, although Pompey was a Conque∣rou•• in Assia; yet he was not able to stand against Caesar, that had now subdued the Belgick Provinces For, the Belgians, by reason of their Fiercenesse in War, put Caesar much more to it to subdue them, then those of Asia did Pompey, who was for this reason also inferiour to Caesar in Power.

Now in case that Henry the Fourth should die, as he begins now to be an old man, and hath neither Successor, nor Wife; or if he should marry, and should leave a Son behind him, yet probably he would be under Age; and so Conde would either be the next Heir to the Crown, or else would at least have the Administration of the Government put into his hands, during the Minority of the Prince; whose Ancestors, having alwaies been the Leaders, and indeed the stirrers up of the Hereticks of France in all their Wars, were the Authors of shedding so much Catholick blood: I say, should things come to thi•• passe, it would then concern the King of Spain to lay hold on that Op∣portunity, in proposing to the Consideration of the Catholicks of France, whether they thought would be the better course, to make choyce of Conde, or else of some Catholick to be their King; remembring that He is the Son of that Father, that acted so much Cruelty upon the Catholicks, which this Prince suckt in with his Nurses Milk.

The King of Spain must also so order the matter, as that if He cannot bring it about, that the Kingdome of France should be divided in Judgment upon this particular, he must then deal with them, that it may be conferred upon some one that they shall pitch upon, by way of Election. Or else, in the last place, He

must speedily have recourse to the Arts before set down: which King Philip failed in before. And this manner of Electing a King, upon condition that he be a Catholick, would very much please the Italians; and the Catholick Princes of France also would very willingly assent thereto; because that every one of them would have some hope hereby of attaining to the Crown himself. And if this should once come to passe, it would prove a very great Weakning to the Kingdom of France: for, during the Vacancy of the Crown, there must needs arise very great, and long Dissentions amongst them; and, possibly, the King of Spain also, being called in by some or other of the Princes, might come to have a finger in the businesse.

Now for as much as Elective Kings are, for the most part, not much given to trouble themselves about the enlarging the Bounds of their Kingdome; because that they know very well, that their Sons are not their Successours; therefore neither will they expose themselves to danger upon the Account of another mans Interest. And this is the onely reason, why the Emperours of Germany n••ver trouble themselves about the enlarging of their Empire; as neither do the Kings of Poland, unlesse they chance to be Persons of a high, Warlick Spirit, as King Steven was, surnamed Battorius; and Sigismund; both which maintained Wars with the M••scovites, Tartarians, and others, about the Principality of Prussia, and some other Territories; because they hoped, that their Sons should at least have succeeded them in those. This Course is of very good use to a Prince, for the ac∣quiring of Military Glory, and through the Multitude of Victo∣ries, and the affection of his Souldiers, for the bringing his own Country under his subjection: which Course, I before shewed, was to be taken by the Emperour of Germany, according to the Example of Iulius Caesar. Yet notwithstanding, this piece of Craft being well understood by the French, hath been the cause, that they have now laid aside all desires of enlarging their Terri∣tories, meerly to avoid that Suspition. And This Suspition is the reason why the Venetians do not send Commanders of their Own into their Wars, but rather chuse to make use of Forraign Commanders, whom a Little Mony contents well enough for their Pay. For, as to this particular, it was no small hazard which they heretofore run, under Carmagnola•• and Ludovicus Vr∣sinus. And Francis Sforza, who was but a Mercenary Souldier

under the State of Venice, returning home a Conquerour, made himself Duke of Millan. For this very cause the Romans here∣tofore hated the Tarquins, their Kings, who till that time had al∣waies been Elective: and this very thing also was the Ruine of the Duke of the Athenians, that was Elected at Florence.

Neither are Opportunities at this time wanting of setting the French together by the ears among themselves: for although their Peace is not at this time at all disturbed by any Forraign Enemies; yet they being naturally of an Impatient, Unquiet spi∣rit, are alwaies rising up one against another, although it be perhaps but upon their quarrel about the Heresie of the Calvi∣nists, and I know not what New Gospel; which wheresoever it is preached, it bringeth, not Joy, but Mourning; not Peace, but horrid Wars; and filleth the Minds of Men, not with Good Will, but with rage and Madnesse. This Mischief therefore ought to be taken in due time, and have a stop put to it: for, this Contagion hath already infected above two hundred thousand persons in France. For, if so be it should spread further, and should infect the Nobility also, and Peers of the Kingdom, it would be much to be feared, that there would never be any end of the Troubles of France: which is now the Condition of Germany, by means of the Dukes of Saxony, Hessen, and others. For, as we see, such Kingdomes as abound with Nobles, are made in a manner Immortal; as we may evidently perceive by the examples of France and Persia. For, when France was heretofore in a manner all subdued, and brought in subjection by the King of England; yet it was afterwards, through the Industry, and by the endeavours of the Nobility and Gentry, wholly asserted & restored again to Its first, Natural Lord. And so likewise the Kingdome of Persia, which is one while annoyed by the Tartarians, and again another while by the Saracens; is yet so well defended by the Pe••sian Nobility, as that It is kept from falling under either of their Power, and Obedience. But yet, on the contrary side again, the very same Kingdomes are by reason of their Nobility also obnoxious to most unavoidable and miserable Calamities; seeing they are able at any time either to assist, or protect all such, as endeavour to introduce any Innovations, either in the State, or Religion.