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. XXVIII. Of Africk. (Book 28)

THe Turk possesseth in Africk all Egypt, Algier, and Tunis. The Ki••gdome of F••z hath a peculiar King of its own; who nothwithstanding might very easily be cast out of his Throne; because that Mahumetanisme in those parts is divided into above sixty several Sects. The rest of the Kings in Africk have but very small Dominions; except only the King of the Abyssines, who is commonly called Prester Iohn, and hath above fifty smaller Kingdomes under him. This King of the

Abyssines is a Christian, although He doth not professe the Pure, Catholick Religion. It is necessary therefore, that Forces should be brought over thence into Spain, seeing that the passage to and fro is very easie. For, our King is possessed of the King∣dome of Oran there already, where He is in continual Wars with the Moors: who might easily all of them be conquered, if he should but make One Invasion only upon them with an Army of Germans. Neither indeed need the King fear any Obstructi∣on to His Spanish Monarchy from those Parts. For, those Na∣tions are much fitter to serve, then to Command, and bear Rule: neither have They ever been able to conquer any of the Northern Nations, but rather themselves have been alwaies conquered by Them: excepting only Carthage, which was a Colony of Tyre; who yet were at length utterly ruined by the Romans. And the Arabians also passed over out of Africk into Spain; where they kept their footing for the space of Eight Hundred yeares; yet were at length quite driven out again. Neither indeed were they truly Africans: but only the Novelty of their Armes, together with that of their M••hometan Religion encouraged them so far, as to fall upon so bold an attempt. But the Africans at this day are a very Weak, unwarlike People: and, for as much as they are Naturally Envious, Crafty, and of a servile Nature, the King of Spain, by making use of one of the little Kings there, might in a little time break in upon them, and make his way to the most Inmost Countries of all Africk; as the Romans of old did, by the help of M••sinissa. And therefore Sebastian, King of Portugal, did wisely, when he made use of the King of F••z his sons, for the getting, and possessing himself of that Kingdom; although he was not so very wise, in venturing his own Person in that Expe∣dition. And indeed, because that the sons of those Kings are wont to kill one another, they are so much the more easily con∣quered, if a man do but make any one of them over to him. But seeing these People are so much divided among themselves, there is no need of fearing them at all.

The King of Spain ought therefore to get further footing in Africk; seeing that he hath opportunity enough of doing so, by reason of the many strong Holds that He is Master of, all along the Western, and So••thern Coast of Africk. And He should do well, to make over to him the above named Prester Iohn; whom he should cunningly set against the rest, and get him to make

War upon them. And the King of Spain may very easily con∣tract friendship with this Prester Iohn by means of the Jesuites, whom he may send thither; And He should also, by his Em∣••assadours sent to him for that purpose, put him in mind of the Duty, and Obedience that he owes to the Pope; (which was formerly done in the time of Pope Eugenius IV. and Clemens VII. by means of the Portuguez;) and so should make a League with him. There should therefore be sent thither such as are both true Catholicks, and Learned men, to instruct them in the Arts, and in the True Religion, both which they are as yet Ig∣norant of: For, they would be easily converted; and that so much the rather, because they say it hath been heretofore fore∣told them, by a certain Prophetesse, whose name was Sinoda, that They were predestinated to joyn with the Latines, and to root out the Turk, and to set at Liberty the Holy Sepulchre of Christ.

Seeing therefore that the King of Spain is Master of all the African shores, He must make it his care, that none may have any Fleets to passe by the said Coasts: but that it may be free and safe for the aforesaid Prester Iohn, by the assistance of the Portuguez, to sayl into Palestine, when ever he pleases, by the Gulf of Arabia, and there to fall upon the Turks, and to do them what mischief he can. And to this purpose He is to be furnished with all Necessary Means, (as namely•• Engines of War, and other such Provisions) whereby he may be the better enabled to con∣quer the Turk. For, if Mahumetanisme should but once be in∣troduced into that Kingdom of his, it would prove extreamly prejudicial to the whole Christian World, and especially to Spain. He may also come in by Egypt, and so fall upon the Turk. And if there were but a gallant Fleet lying about Naples, that might go out at pleasure, and scour the Seas all along the Northern Coast of Africk, it might easily be brought under the King of Spain's power: and those Slaves also that are at Algier, and in Cyrene, might be dealt with, to rise up all at once, and rebel, in favour of the Spaniard. And such a Fleet, as I but now spake of, might be maintained meerly by the Prizes that they should take: and so by that means would both Italy be secured; and all such other places also, that are now obstacles to the Spanish Monarchy, might be taken in.