A German diet, or, The ballance of Europe wherein the power and vveaknes ... of all the kingdoms and states of Christendom are impartially poiz'd : at a solemn convention of som German princes in sundry elaborat orations pro & con ... / by James Howell, Esq.

THE ORATION OF The Lord GEORGE FREDERIQUE, Baron of LIMBURG, and Hereditary Officer to the Sacred Roman Empire, and allwayes Free. Against SPAIN.

Most Illustrious Prince and President, &c.

WE have hitherto delivered sundry opinions, wheron ther have been many learned and Rhetoricall descants; I observe allso ther are som divorcements and discrepancies in the said opinions; But for my particular suffrage, I will preferr France before any Province of the Europaean world; and if I shold attempt to speak more then hath bin presented by that high-born Prince Duke Ioachim Ernest upon this subject, it wold be an argument of rashnes in me, and so I shold incurr no small hazard of my reputation: Me thinks I see Ciceno before me, and saying, Illam O∣rationem solùm populus Gallicus parem Imperio suo habet, France hath that Oration alone, equall to her Empire. But though ther was much spoken of Spain by that noble Prince, Duke Magnus of Wirtemberg, yet I will endeavour to shew that Spain doth not deserve either the Elogium or love of so great a Prince in so high a degree; For as shadows use to make bodies bigger then they are really in bulk, so it seemes his affection hath made Spain more then she is in intrinsique value. For truly unlesse I be stark blind, I find Spain to be the most unhusbanded, and the sterillest Country of Europe, the thinnest of peeple, the fullest of fruitlesse Hills, which they call Sierras, and are indeed no better then Wildernesses: In so much that though she be so scant of Inhabitants, yet hath she not Bread enough to put into the mouths of the sixt part of them: So that unlesse she be very ingratefull and impudent, she must ac∣knowledge Germany and France to be her Nources, and Sicily her Barn, as she was somtimes to the Romans. And among these ther was a computation made once of foure millions of tresure that France receav'd that yeer from Spain for Corn in Pi∣stolls and Patacoons, which made Henry the fourth say that the great store of tresure which Spain hath, discovers her necessity as well as her plenty, because she cannot keep her money at home, which she might well do, if she had Corn as well as Wine. For our Wheat is scarce grown ripe, but the Spaniard is gaping for it at our Ports, or some other Nation for them.

In Portugall, if a Vessell com and cryes Traygo•…•…trigo, I bring Corn, he may turn it to present Silver, and carry it away in the palm of his hand, which is not permit∣ted for any other commodity but Frumentarian: Which makes Frossard report that those English which went for the succour of Spain under the Duke of Lancaster to Portugall cry out that they wold be loth to return to Spain, where they found such

rough Craggs which could not be eaten with Verjuyce, a feverish Air, troubled Waters, indigent peeple, nasty and ill cloath'd. But ther is no man can judge of Spain but he who hath travell'd the Countrey, where his Mule and he must lodg to∣gether in som places, and haply the Mule may fare better then the Master▪ yet ther is not any that can dissemble Saturity as much as the Spaniard, who useth to stroake his beard and breast from crumms, and pick his teeth with that state, as if he had bin at a feast in Germany. Therfore it was charitably spoken by one, Beati qui sterilita∣tem non viderunt, sed crediderunt, They are happy who have not seen the sterility of Spain, but beleeve it. For whosoever doth purpose to see Spain, must resolve before∣hand to undergo hardshipps of all sorts, to have oftentimes the lower Region of the Air for his Canopie, Hunger for his food, and Thirst for his drink; he must resolve to fast perpetually, and if he lights by chance upon som edible things, as root, fruit, an ounce of flesh, or the like, tis a question whether he eats or fasts; yet one shalbe sure to stay there as much for such little modicums, as one shold do in France or Ger∣maay at a Crown Ordinary.

Frederique the II. Count Palatine of the Rhine going to Spain to visit the Em∣perour Charles the V. came to a Town call'd Cervera upon Corpus Christi Eve, and thinking to rest there the next day being a Holy-day for the refreshment of himselfe, his Train and Horses, the Corregidor or chief Magistrat of the Town sent to him, desiring him to depart the place, for fear of enhancing the rates of things. The next day going to Gomorrha, a Town of the second Classis in Spain, and sending his Caterer to market to buy som Butter, where being asked how much he wold have? answered twenty or thirty pound: the Shop-keeper cross'd himself, and said, You cannot find such a proportion in all this Town, you must go to Estremadura, where ther is good store of Oxen and Cowes. At last he brought him a Kids blad∣der full of Butter, as if he went to grease the wheele of a Cart.

But this scarcity brings one comodity with it, that Spain is not so subject to be o∣ver-run by any forren force, for an Army wold quickly starve there for want of ali∣ment. Which inconvenience diverted Murat the great Turk once from invading Spain. Yet of late yeers ther is a better accommonation for passengers in som of the chief Towns, but they are strangers that do it. Most of their Opificers are also Forre∣ners, specially French, insomuch that in Valentia alone ther were reckond at one time above ten thousand Artists. For indeed the Spaniard himself is of a flothfull, and stately nature; he puts his Sword by his side, his great Ruff about his neck, and only goes with his Asse to the market to buy him bread, with other necessities, which strangers use to provide for him.

Now, since the expulsion of the Moriscos, which were a laborious peeple, and wold grubb up Corn from among those craggy hills, Spain is poorer then she was, and wold be more poor, were it not for those swarmes of Gascons that crosse the Py∣reneys thither for love of their money.

And as the Countrey of Spain is so indigent, so the Inhabitants are poor in point of Vertu, but rich for sundry sorts of Vices. They use to make use of Religion for a mantle to palliat their designs; They rap out somtimes horrid blasphemies, and ther is an Author (but he is a Frenchman) who relates that a King of Spain having had divers ill successes, fell into that impatience, that he swore he wold be reveng'd, ther∣fore he comanded that none of his Subjects shold adore God, or beleeve in him, or speak of him for so long a time. What shall I say of the Portugalls, which are calld the new Christians, whereas they are for the most part Iewes in their hearts. It is re∣corded, that in the battaile where Don Sebastian was killd in Barbary, ther were a∣bove 1500. Renegado Christians of Andaluzia that were in the Army of Moley Molue King of Morocco.

'Tis tru, that they have planted Christianity in both the Indies, raysd up the Stan∣dard of the Crosse, and taught Sauvages the way to heaven; But those Pagans may say as Robert Duke of Normandy said when he was going to the holy Sepulcher, who being met by one of his own Subjects, as he was mounted upon a great Sarracens backe, & being much tyrd, he said, Commend me to all in Normandy, & tell them I am

going to Heaven upon the Devills back. So the converted Infidels may be said to goe to Heaven upon the Spanish Iesuitts backs.

But now that I have touch'd upon the Iesuits, who are a tru Spanish ospring, and the most intimat Confidents of the Catholic King, I will enlarge my self a little on this subject, for by laying open these men, you will better discover the humor of the Spaniard. It was the saying of a Burgundian Nobleman, That a Spaniard without his Iesuit, is like a Partridg without an Orenge. Un Espagnol sans son Iesuite, est come un Perdrix sans Orenge. These Jesuitts have turnd all the world topsitervy; they have bin the Inceadiaries of all the differences, the fire-brands of all the Warrs, the fo∣menters of all the Rebellions that have bin in Christendom ever since they had a Bull to establish their Society by Pope Teatin from whom they bear the name. And indeed it must be confessd, that they have bin very thankfull to the Pope for it, for they have bin the greatest supporters of his Chair ever since: in regard that all their consulta∣tions tend principally to depresse the power of Kings, and enhance the prerogative of the Pope, whom they hold to be the universall Lord Paramount of the Universe among men, and the highest Vice-roy of God Allmighty in this elementary world. They take him for a speaking Scripture, and that Heresie is nothing else but a Tenet in the points of Faith, contrary to the decision of the Pope. They hold he can absolve any from his Allegeance and fidelity to his naturall lawfull Prince, excommunicat any earthly Monark, and not only so, but tumble him out of his throne, yea into hell both Soul and Body by the thunderbolts of Excommunication. They hold he can dispense with Subjects to levy armes against their soveraign Prince, to meet him in the field and murther him, insomuch that the verses of the Prince of Pagan Poets may be most fitly applyed to these kind of Christians.

Tu potes unanimes armare in praelia Fratres, Atque odiis versare domos, Tu verbera tectis Funereasque inferre faces, tibi nomina mille Mille nocendi artes—

Moreover 'tis their tenet that the holy Father cannot only depose any earthly potentat, but dispose of his dominions to any other. And if a new Countrey be discover'd, the party cannot possesse it, till he receive it as a gift from him, wherin the King of Spain did so far comply with him, that as soon as he had discover'd and conquer'd America, the first thing he thought upon, was to make his humble ad∣dresses to his Holines for investiture.

But the sages of the Parlement of Paris, and the most acute learned Doctors of the Colledg of Sorbon detested such Doctrines, therfore by a solemn arrest of that high Court abetted by those great Divines, caus'd the Institutions of Mariana the Arch-Jesuit, who broach'd such tenets and expos'd them to the world, to be made a Sacrifice to Vulcan by the hand of the common Executioner, with another intitled de temporali potestate Papae adversus Gulielmum Barclaium, and that under pain of committing High-Treason, none should keep, communicat, print or vend any of those damnable bookes.

The Venetians, the prudentst and politiquest Republic that ever was, as we may infer by the constancy of her goverment, and longaevity, did shew France the way of using the Jesuits in this manner, but that grave Senat went a rounder way to worke, for they did not only burn their pages, but banish their persons eternally from the Republic of Venice and all her Territories. And although Henry the 4. did earnestly mediat for their readmission, yet all wold not do, for ther was a double inconvenience in it, first, a hazard of disreputation, and opinion of rashnes upon the Senat for revoking so solemn a Decree, which was debated and deter∣mined with such mature deliberation contrary to their custom; And secondly, ther wold be a continuall encrease of danger to the Republique, for admitting such strangers into her bosome, For they were not ignorant that whersoever they live, or what Countrey soever they are in, They are the Subjects of another Prince, viz. the Popes.

Furthermore the Iesuits have another dangerous doctrine prejudiciall to all soveraign Princes, de confessione non detegenda, ne in causa quidem Majestatis, & presenti Regis ac regni periculo, That the confession of a penitentiary must not be reveal'd, no though it reflect upon Majesty, and to the danger both of King and Kingdom; this is an Appendix of the Hildebrandine Iesuiticall Doctrine. The English Cronicle makes mention that Father Garnet the Jesuit being interrogated by the Earl of Notingham if any one wold confesse unto him in the morning, that he had a purpose to murther the King the next evening, whether he was bound in con∣science to reveale it? Garnet answer'd no. Which opinion Binetus the Jesuit con∣firm'd to Causabon in these words, praestare Reges omnes perire quam si vel semel Confessionis Sigillum violaretur, Regem enim ait humani juris Imperium esse, Con∣fessionem Iuris divini; It were better that Kings should perish then that the seal of confession should be broken, for the power of Kings is by humane right, Con∣fession by Divine. Moreover another Jesuit in France did dare openly to affirm, si Dominus noster Iesus Christus in terris versaretur morti obnoxius, & aliquis sibi in confessione dixisset velle se illum occidere prius quam confessionem revelaret, passu∣rum se ut Christus occidatur, If our Lord Jesus Christ were himself again upon Earth subject to death, and one under the seal of confession should tell him that he had a purpose to kill him, before he would reveale the confession he wold suffer that Christ shold be slain. Henricus Henriques also another furious Jesuit averrs that the Holy seal of Confession must not be broken for any cause whatsoever; and the said Spanish Jesuit saith thus, Quamvis se ageretur totius Orbis salus; aut ipsius paenitentis utilitas, nec pro vitando ullo damno gravissimo Innocentis, aut quod esset totius orbis conflagratio, aut perversio Religionis; & omnium sacramentorum in∣tentata demolitio. Although it tended to the salvation of the whole world, or the utility of the penitentiary, or that som Innocent might escape som grievous dan∣ger, or that the conflagration of the whole world depended upon it, or the perver∣sion of Religion, and the utter overthrow of all the Sacraments, All these wold not be causes sufficient to impell the Ghostly Father to break the seal of Confession. All this Isaac Cansabon doth averr to be tru in his works to Fronton Pucaeus, and Cardinall Perronius. For such a high and most venerable opinion they have of au∣ricular Confession, that what the penitentiary poures in the Priests breast, is put up in the Closet of God Almighty, and so it must be kept with sacred silence. This may be one of the reasons that more penitentiaries make their addresses to the Jesuits then to any other Order, and it may be a reason also why other Monasticalls do so much Envie them, som Malign them, others detest them. Those which for∣merly were mentioned, are the tenets of the Jesuits, touching privat Auricular con∣fession, if Causabon may be believed, who ('tis tru) was a profess'd enemy of theirs, yet the positions are maintained but by the rigidst sort of Teatins not generally as som affirm; By these meanes of Confession, they open the Cabinets of Princes, and know more of State-matters then any: For ther are none who have sooner and surer intelligence then they from all parts, and their correspondencie is admirable for the punctuality of it. Ther are no Ecclesiastiques so frequent in Princes Courts, and Noble mens Palaces, then they, which makes them have more Legacies given them then any other.

They have also another way besides secrecy of confession to oblige the Nobility by instructing their Children gratis, and they have a rare method of Education that way, it cannot be denied. But in Spain her self, though the Jesuits have a powerfull hand over the King himself, and in the Councell of the Inquisition, as also a great stroak among the Nobility and Gentry, yet the common peeple malign and hate them generally, as appeers by the Libel which was made in the Court of Spain which I think worthy the relating here.

Los mandamientes de los Teatinos Mas Humanos son que Divinos.

• 1. Adquirir mucho diuero,
• 2. Sugetar todo el mundo,
• 3. Buen Capon, y buen Carnero,
• 4. Comprar Barato, y vender car•…•…
• 5. Con el blanco aguar el tinto,
• 6. Tener siempre el lomo en siesto;
• 7. Guardarse bien del sereno,
• 8. Obrar lo suyo y lo ageno,
• 9. Hazer del Penitente esclav•…•…
• 10. Mesclarse en cosas d'estado.

Estos diez Mandamientes se encierran en dos. Todo para Mi, y nada para vos.

The Commandements of the Teatine Are more humane then Divine.

• 1. To rake up much riches,
• 2. To subjugat all the world,
• 3. Good Capons, and good Mutton,
• 4. To sell deare and buy cheap
• 5. To water red Wine with White.
• 6. To lye warme and easie
• 7. To take heed of the serenes, and ill ayr•…•…s,
• 8. To do his own busines and others,
• 9. To make their Penitentiaries slaves.
• 10. To be busie in matters of State.

All these ten may be made two: All for my selfe and nothing for you.

Thus you see though som hug, yet divers hate the Jesuit in Spain it self.

Alexander Hayes a Jesuit himselfe gives this character of them, Iesuita est omnis Homo, A Jesuit is every man; That is in their subtile and nimble way of negotiation, wherein they will represent, and personat the humour of any man; They are the great Architects of all politic designes which tend to enrich themselfs, and enhance the omnipotency of the Pope, For the wisest men are of opinion, that had it not bin for this pragmaticall order, Saint Peters chair might have tumbled down ere this, his bark sunk, and his keys lost. When they first negotiated to take footing in the Academy of Paris, they were asked whether they were Seculars or Regulars, they answered, they were Tales Quales, they were such and such; herupon the Parisian Students brought up this character of them, that the Jesuits were Ta∣les Quales, and are nick'd so to this day; herupon one applied this Distic unto them.

Vestra datis cùm verba datis, nam 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vestrum est, Et cùm verba datis nil nisi vestra datis.

In England it was their equivocations that caus'd the clause without Mentall re∣servation to be inserted in the Oath of Supremacy.

One compares them to those little Animals that Seneca speaks of, qui mordent & non sentiuntur, that bite and are not felt, onely the swelling shews they are bit∣ten; so this subtile sort of Ghostly Fathers by insensible encroachments damnifie where they nestle, though the party knowes not where he is hurt.

When they were first to be introduc'd to France, the Parlement of Paris desir'd the opinion of Sorbon Colledg compos'd of the acutest Theologues in France, which they deliver'd thus as it stands upon Record. Novem hanc societatem appella∣tione insolita Iesus nomen sibi vindicantem praebere occasionem—This new society arrogating to themselfs by an unusuall appellation, the name of Jesus, doth admini∣ster occasion of Schisme in the Church, they subtract the obedience that is due to Prelates, they deprive Ecclesiastic Lords and others of their rights, They induce much perturbation both in civill and sacred administrations, they usher in quarrells, contentions, debates, emulations, and divers scissures into the Church, therfore they held them to be dangerous instruments in the busines of Religion, as such that wold disturb the peace of the Church, overthrow Monasticall Discipline, and that their Order tended more to Destruction then Edification; yet by the power of the Guysian faction, they were admitted, but the Parlement wold demur upon it a little before, Herupon Stephen Paschasius an eminent Doctor, did sharply argue against them▪ sectam eam ambitiosam & fucatae Religionis plebem appellans, in Hispa∣nia natam—He call'd them an ambitious sect, fellowes of a counterfet Religion, born in Spain, but foster'd in Paris, strengthned in Rome, who under the spe∣cious shew of a gratuitous institution of children, cheat and exhaust many fami∣lies, infusing pernicious principles into the brains of youths—Then he went on with high exaggerations, and said, that their Provinciall was alwayes chosen by the King of Spain, to which Provinciall, they yeeld an unquestionable blind obedi∣ence,—Therefore he concludes, that if these new sectaries were admitted, they wold introduce a Trojan horse into the bowels of the Kingdome full of armed Ene∣mies, and that France shold repent her of her credulity when it would be too late, for these men by their subtilties, and superstition, by their praestigiatiory kind of arti∣fices, would distract the settlement and tranquility of the whole Kingdome. Herupon while this busines was in agitation, King Henry the IV. was thrust in lieu of his breast into the Mouth by a yong Jesuit, with the losse of one tooth, the King having escap'd so great danger, sayed pleasingly; falloit il que les Iesuites fussent convaincus par ma bouche? Was it needfull then that the Jesuits shold be convinced by my mouth? Herupon by a solemn arrest of the Court of Parlement, they were utterly exterminated, and commanded to quit the Kingdome by such a day under great penalties; Ther was also in the sentence an interdictory clause, that none shold send their children abroad to be instructed by the Jesuits under pain of trea son.

Herupon ther was a new Gallowes of Stone erected before the Pallace gate, to execute the transgressors of this decree; But the King finding that his life could never be safe while he stood out with the Jesuits, rather out of fear then affection, connived for the non-execution of the Sentence, causing the said Gallowes to be ta∣ken down, herupon one sung wittily to the King,

Sire, si vous voulez du tout a l'adenir De l'Assassin Chastel oster le souvenir, Ostant la Pyramide, & l'Arrest qui la touche, Quon vous remitte donc une dent dans la bouche.

Sir, If you will for the future extinguish the remembrance of Chastel, take down the Jesuits Pyramid and Sentence, then let them put in a new tooth into your mouth. Elizabeth Queen of England had so ill a conceit of this order, that by the credit the great Turk gave to her Embassador, and by her advise he banished them out of Pera on the Asian shore, over against Constantinople where he had permit∣ted them formerly to reside.

But you will say Iesuits are a great advantage to a State, because they propagate learning, and instruct youth so dexterously; 'tis tru, they instruct them, but they infuse into them besides, most dangerous principles of equivocation and cunnning, you will say they are the greatest and most masculine propugnators of the Roman Church; 'tis tru, but they are great weakners of the power of temporall Princes; They have planted the standard of the Cross in the Indies, and are the greatest pro∣pagators of Christian Faith among Infidells. 'Tis tru, but they do it as much for extending the Spanish Monarchy; for as they are the chiefest Agents of the Pope's where e're they come, so are they Factors also for the King of Spain, the bent of all their projects being to enlarge the power of the one, and establish the omnipotency of the other; That Prince or peeple are in a dangerous condition, when any censures from Rome come against them, if ther be Jesuits there, who are the punctuallest executioners of the Papall excommunication; such respects the Spaniards give them, that they are called Apostles in America, and Disciples in Portugall; But finding at first that they were malign'd for assuming the name of Jesuits, they did moderat it, and cal'd themselfs socios Iesu, the companions of Jesus: Now, in the Holy Scriptures we read but of one that was cal'd the companion of Christ, and that was Iudas.

But, most Noble Princes, be pleased to excuse me that I have bin so tedious and tart in displaying this new Ignatian Order, the reason is, that being to speak of Spain, it was pertinent to speak also of them, who are so great Votaries of that Crown.

I will give you now a little touch of the Spanish Inquisition, which is, that if any be found to doubt or dispute any thing of the Roman Church, he is answered with a syllogisme of fire or hemp, which concludes more strongly then a syllogisme in Barbara. But such kind of arguing is fitter for Butchers, Hangmen and Devils, then for the Doctors of the Christian Church. Now, as we read that Heliogabalus the scandall of Emperours, wold have had the Vestall fyres extinguished, with all religious invocations and victimes, and the name of Heliogabalus to be only ador'd, so the Spaniard endeavours to extinguish all other orders and government, to set up the Iesuit (his chief chaplain) and the Inquisition.

Now this proceeds from the ignorance of the Spaniard, who reads no Authors commonly but his own Countrey-men, because he understands no Language but his own, which in the Spanish Academies and Schools, sways more then Latin, though the fourth part of the Language be meer Morisco, and patched up of Ara∣bick words.

But I wonder, my noble Cosen Magnus, that in the Catalog you give of the learned men of Spain, you extoll Raymundus Lullius so much, a man foolishly sub∣tile, who scarce understanding the Latine tongue, which he mingled with his own, yet he dared expose som things to the world, but involv'd in darknes, such obscuri∣ties that few of his Readers understand him. For my part, I hold his Philosophers stone; and his Learning to be all one, but meer imaginary things, in so much that one may say;

Qui Lulli Lapidem quaerit, quem quaerere nulli Profuit, haud Lullus; sed mihi nullus erit.

Now for the nature of the Spaniards, they are most made up of Imagination, and a kind of fantastique gravity, under which is cloak'd a great deale of pride: They beleeve more what they fancie, then what they do. Nor doth the Portugais deny it, when he confesseth that he acts according to that which he thinks himself to be, then what he really is. Portugalli dictitant se niti eo potius quod se esse putant, quam eo quod reverasunt.

Now for Portugall, it is made up most of Slaves, for the nomber of them in som pla∣ces are allmost equall to the Inhabitants; and ther are few Countreys where ther is lesse distinction made twixt men and beasts, for they are both sold in the market for money alike. Now for the state of the Spaniard, you shall have him march gravely;

with a croud of servants or slaves, two before him, another holds his hat upon occa∣sion, another his cloak if it doth rain, another carryes a clout to wipe the dust off his Shoos, another a cloth to rub his Ginet while he hears Mass, another a Curry∣comb to keem his mane, and all these when they come home will be content haply with a loaf and a radish a peece for their dinner. It is admirable and indeed hate∣full to see with what a Tympany of self-conceitednes the Spaniard useth to swell, and how a common fellow will stand a tipto pulling out his Mustachos, and saying, Voto a tal jo soy tan buen•…•… como el Rey don Felipe, I vow by Hercules that I am as good as King Philip: They mightily puff themselfs up with hopes of preferment, ayming more at the honor of the thing then the profit. Among many others I will instance in Antonio de Leyva, who from a Gregarian common Soldier came to be a Generall to Charles the V. and comming to attend the Emperour, he was permitted to sit down, because he was troubled with the gout, but the Emperour being told that he verily beleev'd he shold be a Knight of the golden fleece, or one of the Grandees of Spain, and complaining of his gout one day, the Emperour said, I beleeve you are more indispos'd in your brain then in your feet. Barclay in his Euphormio hath a story of a Spanish woman that comming with three of her Sons a begging to a French Shomaker one day, he told her, good woman, I will ease thee of one part of thy charge, for if thou leave one of thy children with me, I will breed him up in my trade, wherby he may by his labour be able to live like a man; O Sir, God forbid I shold cast away my childe to a stranger, and to so Mechanick a trade, for who knowes but he may be Viceroy of Naples or Mexico? One Matheo Serran a Spaniard, was Governor of the Sluce, in the time of Marquesse Spinola, who asking him what provision & defence he had in the place, & advising to be carefull of fur∣nishing it, he rapt out a great Rodomontado, saying, Marquesse look you to your siege at Ostend, I know well what belongs to the conservation of the Sluce without a Mo∣nitor; for if the enemy shold com with fifty thousand Devills after him to besiege the place, he shall not thrust me out: yet for all this vanity this Captaine lost the Sluce afterwards; And this fancy of pride raignes in the Spaniard more then any other, for if one shold go to a Casa de Locos, a Bedlam house in Spain, and observe the humors of the Prisoners; he will find that one will say he is an Emperour, another that he is King of such a Countrey, another that he is Pope, and so he shall ob∣serve that ther will be more of this kind of madnes then of any other distem∣per.

Now as the Spaniards are bladder'd up generally with this arrogance, and altitude of mind, so they care not how they com by their wealth though they take it from another by violence to support it; nor how little they worke to get a subsi∣stance, for they are sloathfull and idle to a proverb, unlesse it be in the Warrs; This makes them to be cryed up for such theeves, Herupon Charles the V. their own King, being accompanied with many Spanish Dons, as he pass'd in Germany by a great Inne, where divers were a drinking and merry▪ he asked his Dons, are not the Germans personable proper men, well complexion'd and limm'd? This cannot be deny'd, the Spaniards answer'd, but they are excessively given to drinking; the Emperour replyed, 'tis tru, but do you know what vices the Spaniards are guilty of? for as these are greedy of Wine, so are the Spaniards greedy of another mans wealth, and so to interdict the German his wine were the same as to prohibit the Spaniard he shold not robb, which was one of the ten Commandements of God Almighty, where you shall not find any against drinking.

And as the peeple of Spain are such robbers, so the Kings of Spain are the great∣est of all; They are Robbers of whole Kingdoms, and Countreys, they are the Harpies of the earth, for whersoever they confine, they cast about how to devoure their Neighbours, using all artifices, and picking any quarrell to that end, in so much that those Virgilian Verses may very well quadrat with their practi∣ses.

Armati Terram exercent, semperque resentes Convectare juvat praedas, & vivere rapto.

The greatnes of this Nation is but Modern and upstart, when the fortune of France was a little wayning, Spain began to shine, first under Ferdinand King of Aragon Grandfather to Charles the V. so that as one sayd, Ubi Galli desierunt Rerum potiri, ibi Hispani inceperunt. This Ferdinand, the first Catholique King, vail'd and varnish'd all his Enprizes with the plausible pretext of advancing Reli∣gion, yet were his pen and his tongue double in doing this, he carryed oftentimes two faces under one hood, and played with a staff of two ends in his greatest ne∣gotiations, specially in the performance of Articles 'twixt him and the French King Lewis the XII. about the division of the Kingdom of Naples, that he shold have Ca∣laba and Apulia, and the French Naples, and Campania; But afterwards he sent his great Captain Gonsalvo who conquer'd both. He got also the Kingdom of Na∣varr by a trick, for when an English Army who was sent from Hen. the 8. of Eng∣land for his assistance, was to passe from Spain to Aquitain, and the King of Navarr (who tis tru was then under Excommunication, together with the King of France) desiring his English son-in-lawes Forces leave to passe through his Country, Ferdi∣nand took his advantage hereby, with the help of the English, to seaze upon the Kingdom of Navar, and thrust out Iohn Labretan, who was then lawfull King. And to make his cause more specious, and pretend som right, he insisted upon the cen∣sure of the Pope, saying, That they who were enemies to the Holy Father, might be assaulted by any Christian King, and that his Holines was to give the Countrey to the first Conquerour.

Now touching the East and West Indies, the Spanish title is unquestionable there you will say, but let us examin the busines a little. The right which the Spaniards pre∣tend to these two Indies, is Right of Discovery; For the East Indies, it hath been so celebrated by ancient Pagan Writers, that to hold the Spaniard to be the first De tector therof, were to maintain the grossest paradox that ever was; For Pliny re∣lates how Hanno the Carthaginian being carryed about from the feet of Gibraltar to the farthest end of Arabia was the first discoverer of India, by twice crossing the Equinoctiall; And 'tis easie to finde in antient Authors, that Malacca was call'd Aurea Cherchonesus, and that huge Iland Sumatra was known formerly by the name of Tatrobana; what is he who is never so little vers'd in Antiquity but hath read the Orientall Brachman Philosophers, and of the Sinenses the peeple of China? Touching the West Indies, they were not unknown to Plato, for whereas he placeth Atlantidis at the mouth of the Gaditan Frete, which is the mouth of the Mediterranean, he sayeth, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Ther is from Atlantidis a passage to other Ilands, and from them to a great opposit Continent—What doth he intimat herby but the great Canarie with other Ilands in the Atlan∣tique Sea, and by the other Ilands Cuba, and Hispaniola, & by the opposit Continent Peru and Mexico. Moreover the Spaniards themselfs confesse that in a valley call'd Cautis in the Province of Chyli, they found among the Sauvages many pictures and formes of two-headed Eagles in midst of their houses, therfore the Spaniards call that part of AMERICA The Imperiall Province to this day, because the Armes of the Roman Empire were found there.

There is a greater evidence then this that the Spaniards were not the first disco∣verers of America, for ther was a Welsh Epitaph found there upon Madoc a British Prince, who it seems flying from the fury of the Saxons in England, put himself in som Bark to the fortune of the Sea, and landed in America. And that the old Britains or Welsh were there, it may be confirmd further, in regard ther are divers British words found amongst them to this day.

But what shall we wander so far in the Indies? We will come neerer home. We know well that Solyman the Turk denied Charles the V. the title of Roman Emperor,

alledging that he himself was the tru successor of Constantin the Great, who was Emperour of East and West; And that consequently the City of Rome belongd to the Ottoman Empire, and Selim, Solymans son urgd such an argument when he took Cypres from the Venetians, for he sayed that the sayed Ile appertained to the Soldans of Egipt which was now under his dominion.

But the Apostolicall concession and bounty of Pope Alexandor the VI. entitles the King of Spain to America; touching that I pray here what Attabalipa a wild Pagan King sayd, when he heard that his Kingdome was given by the Pope, to the Spanish King; surely, said he, that Pope must be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fo•…•…l, or som injust and impu∣dent Tyrant that will undertake to bestow oth•…•…r mens possessions so freely.

But his title may be just, you will say, for the propagation of Christian Religion: yet Christ enacted no such Law, that any free peeple shold be made slaves, much lesse murther'd, and tortur'd, either for refusing the Gospell, or continuing in their former Religion, ther was not any of the Apostles claym'd a Kingdom for his preaching; Saint Paul preaching to the Romans, did not demand the Empire; Our Saviour sayd, Go and preach the Gospell to all Nations, The Spaniard's lesson is, Go and preach the Roman Religion, and the Spanish Empire to all Nations, and keep under you, or kill whosoever shall resist: For the first Doctrine which the Spaniards were us'd to vent in any place was▪ Vos Indiani hujus loci—Yee▪ Indians of this place, we make known unto you All▪ that there is but one God, one Pope, one King of Spain, which you must all obey. Thus Motezuna King of Mexico, and Ataba∣lipa Emperour of Peru were brought under the yoke, though they gave a house full of Gold for their ransome. But the Indians did more upon the Spaniards, then the Spaniards could do upon them; for they brought more Spaniards to adore the Indian Gold, then the Spaniards brought Indians to adore Christ; Herupon a company of Indians being ready to fall into the Spaniards hands carryed som Gold into the Market place, saying▪ This is the Spaniards God, lets dance about him, and worship him, for so he may command the Spaniards not to be •…•…oruell unto us. Ther is not far from Conimbria in Spain, a Well call'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which swallowes any thing thats cast into it, and yet she is never full as 'tis found by experience, it seems the Spaniards have an Analogie with that Well, in reference to Gold which they have swallow'd in the Indies, and yet are never satisfied:

And as the Spaniard is covetous, so is he extreamly cruell, for how many mil∣lions of men hath he made away in America? Bartholome de Casa affirmes, that in 45. yeers, there were above ten millions of humane soules (though Savage) kill'd in the new world as they call it, in so much that the Indian Husbands forbore to lye with their wives for fear they should prove with child, and bring more slaves for the Spaniards. These millions before mention'd were kill'd out right, and if we add to them those who have died of working in the mines, of doing the offices of Asses, Oxen, and Mules, to what a number do you thinke will they accrew? som of them carry burdens upon their back of 160. pound weight, and that above 300. Miles. How many of these poor wretches have perished by water as well as by land, being forc'd to dive so many fadomes deep for the fishing of Perl, and to stay there som∣times halfe an houre under water panting and drawing in the same breath all the while, and being fed of purpose with corse bisket and dry things to be long∣winded for that work. And if what is reported be tru, they hunt the poor Indians with doggs to find them sport: wherupon ther goes a tale of a Spaniard, who to exercise his dog and make himself some sport with an old Woman, made shew as if he sent her with a letter to the Governor of the next town hard by, the poor woman being gone a flight shot off, he let slip his dog after her, which being com neer, she fell down on her knees, saying, Senior dog, Senior dog, do not kill me, for I am going with letters from your Master to the Governour: the dog it seems was mov'd with compassion, and so only lift up his legg and piss'd upon her.

One may easily imagine how detestable the Spaniards became to these poor Pagans for these cruelties, there is a tale of Hathu Cacico a stout Indian, who be∣ing

to dye, was perswaded by a Franciscan Fryer to turn Christian, then he shold go to Heaven, Cacico ask'd whether ther were any Spaniards in Heaven? yes said the Fryer, 'tis full of them, Nay then said he, I had rather go to Hell then have their company.

But how hath the Indian discovery prosper'd? or what profit hath it brought to Europe? It cannot be denyed but we brought among them all slavery and cruelty, and I beleeve more vices and infirmities then we found, we brought them the small Pox, the gastliest disease that can befall a humane body, and in exchange they gave us the Venerean Pox; Touching the tresure that hath been transported thence, it hath fomented all the Warrs of Europe ever since, upon this a French Poet de∣scants wittily.

Par Toy, superbe Espagne, & lo'r de tes doublons Toute la pouvre France insensez nous troublons, Et si de tes doublons qui causent tant de troubles Il ne nous reste rien a la fin que de doubles.

Plutarch speakes of Attinius Asiaticus who brought Gold first into Peloponne∣sus, but it was found that it became an instrument of corruption, therfore Attinius was accounted a publick enemy to his Countrey; the Indian Gold in Europe hath not bin only the cause of corruption, but of the effusion of an Ocean of bloud; Nor hath it much prosper'd with the Spaniard, for although such a Masse of tresure hath been transported from time to time, yet Spain hath the least of it, for the common coyn there is copper and no countrey fuller of it; Moreover Spain may be said to furnish all the world, yea the great Turk, with tresure to fight against her self, and the rest of Christendom.

This Indian tresure hath wrought another disadvantage to the Spanish King, for it hath puff'd him up with a pride and an ambition that hath no horizon, it makes him flatter himself that he shall be at last Monark of the Western world, which drawes upon him not onely the Emulation, but the hatred of all his Neighbours, who are ready ever and anon to confederat and bandy against him, for fear he shold swallow them up one after another to satiat his ambition; It was a witty say∣ing of King Iames, when he was only King of Scotland, when he receav'd a caveat from his Godmother Queen Elizabeth of England, to take heed of the Spanish fleet, He answer'd, Se non aliud ab Hispano beneficium expectare quam quod Ulyssi Polyphemus promiserat, scilicit ut aliis devoratis postremus degluriretur, For his part he desir'd but one request of the Spaniard, such a one that Po∣lyphemus had promis'd Ulysses, that when he had devour'd others, he wold swallow him last of all.

Now as among those poor Pagan Indians, the cruelty of the Spaniard was so much discover'd, so was it here in Europe among Christians, witnes els the Tyran∣ny of the Duke of Alva, who may be call'd the sponge of Belgian bloud, for he bragg'd that he had dispatch'd to the other world above 18000. Belgians, either by Fire, Water, the Rack, or the Axe, his principles being, that a Rebell must be us'd like a madd dogg, for whom ther is no cure but to be knock'd in the head, and we know mortui non mordent.

Now touching the Gigantik power of the Catholique King, if it be well weigh∣ed in the ballance of a knowing judgment, is not so great as we conceive it to be, the unsociable distance of his territories, the infinit sommes he owes to the Geno∣wayes and others, the vigilance and Emulation, with the apprehensions they have of his still growing greatnes; the Universall dis-affection, and a kind of antipathy that all Nations have to the peeple themselfs, is a great weaknes to him one way, as his riches and power another way; For matter of Justice, who is the Queen of Vertues, I beleeve she raigns as little in Spain as among any peeple, unlesse it be among them∣selfs, nor universally among themselfs, but only the Castilians may have her with more ease, and lesse expences then their Conterraneans and the rest of their

Fellow-subjects; I will produce an example of an Arragonez who having a sute there long depending which put him to mighty expence and attendance, at last he came to the King himself, Philip the second, who, opening his businesse unto him, gave him this absolute Answer, Ther's nothing that you have propos'd can be granted; Sir, answer'd the Aragones, I thank you, that you have refuted the lies of threescore Ministers of yours in so few words, who with much expence of time and tresure did put me still in hopes that my busines was just, and it wold take effect, but had I known it, I wold have come to your Majestie at first, and then I had been wiser then I was, and a better Husband; Now for Forreners it is as easie to redeem a damn'd soul out of Hell as almost to recover any thing if they have got it once among their clutches: did not Philip the second break, and make himself an absolute bankrupt with many thousand besides, when he alter'd the intrinseque value of coines and hois'd it higher, and found out som Puntillios to pay the Ge∣noways their interest, which was cryed up to be a high point of injustice: How many hundred sutes have strangers had there, wherein the processall charges countervail oft times the value of the thing?

Now for the power of the Spanish Monarchy, I must tell you that her Castillia her head is grown almost bald; Portugall which was no other then a waxen Nose to her is melted off; her Aragonian eyes have still som defluctions falling into them for their priviledges; Navarr one of her Armes begins to have a Gangreen, which none but French Surgeons can cure; her golden bowels of Peru begin to be exulce∣rated, and so doth the Duodenum of Mexico: Her hipps in Italy feare they have a symptome of the Sciatica, and her feet in Belgium are pittifully sick of the Gout, to cure which, she hath often applyed Playsters made over with Elixir of Indian Gold, which hath cost her more then Belgium is worth ten times over, if it were to be sold in the Market.

Now for tru reall innated and personall valour, how few Spaniards shall you find indu'd with it! It is a rare thing to heare of a Duell in an age there, though every Cobbler weare a Sword by his side; If they have receav'd affronts by any, they use to shew their courage, and draw their Swords one upon another in the Market∣place, where they are sure to be parted, and commonly the Minister of Justice takes away both their weapons for the time, and so makes them friends; The Spaniards have a saying of the French, that al primer impetu son mas que hombres, y de∣spises menos que mugeres, The French at first is more then a man, and afterwards lesse then a woman; but the French have an illfavour'd saying of them, that the Spa∣niards in point of tru active courage are bearded Women. 'Tis tru in the conquest of the new world, they did exploits, but it was against men who had scarce any defensive Armes, they had neither Horse, Steele, Iron or Gun-powder, they had no coats of Males, they were poor naked inermous creatures, and so simple that they thought the horse and the man was but one animall, and a kind of Monster or Devill, therefore 10. Horsemen only were able to profligat, and make their party good against many thousand Indians, for they thought they had a conceit they were not borne after the ordinary cours of humane nature, but rather of som infernall fiends, which bugbeare opinion scar'd the ignorant American away more then the Spanish valour.

Where was the Spanish manhood in Afrique, when Sebastian was slain, and the Moor got so signall a victory? Where was it at Goleta nere Tunis which was so shamefully lost? which important place, Sinan Bassa got, by the pride as much as the pusillanimity of the Spaniard, for Pedro Carera the Castellan thinking to have the glory of preserving that place himself with his Spaniards, would not admit of 500. Italians, who offer'd themselfs for the service; so the Spaniards were thrust out of Afrique in lesse then 30. dayes, and besides the Castle they took 500. peece of Ordnance in the place, which arm'd Algier and Tunis ever since, and brought them to be such Pyrats; And it was confidently reported that Captain Carrera during the furious siege and storming of the Castle was under-ground in a Vaut all the while, so that when the news was brought to Rome, that Goleta was

lost, and consequently the whole Kingdom of Tunis, there was a pasquill went up and down that Carrera's cowardise, the Duke Sesa's gout, Don Iohn of Austria's Codpish, and Cardinal Granvills (then Viceroy of Naples) his Breeches had lost the Guleta. Yet your Thrasonicall Castillians will say that un Espannol vale quatro Tudescos, tres Franceses, y dos Italianos, That one Spaniard is worth four Germans, three Frenchmen▪ and two Italians.

Now touching this vainglorious foolish humor of raunting, it is more peculiar to the Spaniard, then to any other peeple: witnes this following Rodomontado of a Castillian Captain, which goes far beyond that of Pirgopolinices in Plau∣tus.

Quando yo pienso en mi mesmo demi terribilissima terrible terribilidad, de tal manera me espanto que no puedo caber en mi mesmo, pienso que 22. mill maestros de guarismo no podrian contar en tres annos has hazannas que ha hecho esta espada Durindana, Castiga Vellacos, pobladora de ciminteries; Viene megana de reyr todas y quantas vezes, que yo me acuerdo que el gran Turco estando al pique de perder su Imperio contra el Sophy, me embiava llamar, yo por no ser acustumbrad, de matar canalla can baxa l'embiava mi ritrato hecho por manos de quinientos Pintores los quales todos murieron haziendo los 〈◊〉〈◊〉 d'este rostro Basilisco, y como el Gran Turco lo vio cayo enfiermo de una Ca∣lentura que le durava tres annos y mas, y embiandolo despues al campo luego que los •…•…nemiguos lo miravan con la mayor presteza del mando alearon el cerco con perdida de quarenta mill y ochenta soldados los quales todos perecieron mirando este mi espantable rostro; Tengol•…•…s calcones llenos de barbas—

When I descend into my self, and contemplat my most terrible horrible terribi∣lity, I can hardly hold my self within my self; I beleeve that all the publick No∣taries of Biscay are able in three yeers to cast up an account of those miraculous achievments which this Toledo blade, this Durindana, this scourge of Lutherans, this converter of Pagans, this peepler of Church-yards hath performd: I can∣not choose but smile when I call to mind how the great Turk sending for me once, to preserve his Empire, which was ready to be swallow'd up by the Sophy, I, scorn∣ing to bath my hands in the bloud of such infidells, sent him only my picture. But the gran Signor, as soon as he look'd upon it, out of pure fear he fell into such a loosenes, which lasted him divers Months, that it had like to have cost him his life, and sending it afterwards to the army, the enemies at sight thereof, ran away like so many hares, when they beheld the Basiliscan eyes of this Physiognomy of mine▪ These Breeches I wear, are stuff'd with Captains beards, and the Mustachos of French Generalls, the pillow I lay my head upon, is fill'd with Amazonian hair, my Cushion is made of a Turban took off from the Sultans head, my Coverlet is the skin of that Nemean Lion which Hercules kill'd, my Courtains are made up of colours and Ensignes taken in divers battailes, when I march into the field I commonly carry two drumms as pendants at my eares, I am lul'd asleep by noyse of trumpets, and brasse kettles, and Perillus bull stretch'd along, serves me for a pillow. The month and day of my Nativity was Mars, who was then the predo∣minant Planet and my Ascendant; I came into the world about break of day, Sol himself then suffer'd an Eclypse, Saturn stood astonish'd and dull, Iove and Mer∣cury hid themselfs, and Cynthia took in her hornes for fear, but Mars and Venus did cast benign influences being then in Conjunction, yet that morning it rain'd blood, the streames of the greatest River turn'd redd, Mongibel and strombola belch'd out more fire then ordinary, terrible Earth-quakes happen'd in divers places, Eolus blew very furious, which rais'd such impetuous stormes, that made Neptune to tumble and swell very high; Nere the place which I was nurst in, ther was a den of Lions that I might be inur'd to their roaring, and one time my Mother caus'd a yong cubb to be slain of purpose to feed me with the bloud thereof; To con∣clude, I am that Invincible, transcendent great Captain Basilisco, Espheramonte, Generalissimo of all the Melitia of Europe, I am he who useth to swallow moun∣tains, to breath out whirlwinds, to spit Targets, and sweat Quicksilver—

By this Rodomontado you may give a guesse at the vanity, and extravagant humour of the Spaniard, who though he be not so big, yet he looks higher then any other Nation in his own conceit, which makes them have that vapouring say∣ing of themselfs in point of valour, that Tres espanoles son quatro diables en Francia, three Spaniards are fower Devills in France.

When Mendoza was Ambassador in France, he wold break out often into this prophane Ostentation, Dios es poderoso en el Cielo, y Don Felipe en Tierra, Gods power is in Heaven, and King Philips on earth, he can command both Sea and Land, with all the Elements to serve him. When the English Drake swomme to Santo Domingo, and plunder'd the place, ther was a Pyramis erected in the Mar∣ket-place, whereon was engraven this arrogant Motto,—Non sufficit Orbis, one world will not suffice Don Philip, yet that Philip, that invincible Philip, was over∣com at last by a Regiment of poor contemptible things, for Herod-like, he went out of the world by the pediculary disease, which made no mean modern Poet to sing,

—Rex Ille Philippus Tot populis Terrisque potens, lateque Tyrannus Occiditu â faedo rosus grege Vermieulorum, Carnificesque suos miserando corpore pavit Vivens, atque Videns, & propria funera planxit.

Som imputed this foul gastly kind of death to his lasciviousnes and lust; som gave out it was a judgment upon him for doing away his Son Don Carlos; others gave out that hé suffer'd for Alva's Tyranny in Flanders; som gave out it was for be∣reaving Portugall of her right Heir; But most affirm'd it was a visible judgment from Heaven, because the bloud of so many hundred thousands of poor American souls did cry for vengeance, who for their Gold and Silver were made away, and ex∣tinguished by so many kindes of deaths, according to the Italian proverb, La coda condanna spesso la volpe alla morte per esser troppo lunga. The Foxes tayl condemns him to death, because it is too long. How far further could I enlarge my self on this subject? but I will grate the eares of so princely an auditory no longer, ther∣fore I will conclude with a character which a most ingenuous Poet gives of one part of Spain, when he sayld thence to France.

Iejuna misera tesqua Lusitaniae Gebaeque tantùm fertiles penuriae, Valeta longùm, At tu beata Gallia Salve bonarum blanda nutrix Artium, Caelo Salubri fertili frugum solo, Umbrosa colles pampini molli comâ, Pecorosa saltus, rigna Valles fontibus, Prati virentis picta campos floribus Velifera longis Amnium decursibus Piscosa stagni, rivulis, lacubus, mari, Et hinc & illinc portoso littore Orbe receptans hospitem, atque Orbi tuas Opes vicissim non avara impertiens, Amaena Villis, tuta muris, turribus; Superba, testis lauta, culta, splendida, Victu modesta, moribus non aspera. Sermone comis, patria gentium Omnium Communis, animis fida, pace florida, Iucunda, facilis, Marte terrifico minax, Invicta, rebus non secundis Insolens,

Nec sorte dubia fracta, cultrix numinis Syncera, ritum in exterum non degener, Nescit calores laenis aestas torridos Frangit rigores bruma flammis asperos, Non pestilentis pallet Austri spiritu Autumnus aequis temperatus flatibus. Non ver solutis amnium repagulis Inundat agros, & labores elicit, Ni Patrio te Amore diligam, & colam Dum vivo, rursus non recuso visere. Iejuna miserae tesqua Lusitaniae Glebaeque tantùm fertiles penuriae Valete longùm—

Thus the Scottish Poet descants upon France, making Portugall a foyl to her, and so he might have made his own Countrey as well.

And now, most Highborn Princes, I hope ther is not any of this Auditory that will wrong his judgment so far as to think that Spain for any respects shold carry away the Palm, and claime precedencie of the rest of the Provinces of Eu∣rope.

DIXI.