and those transcendent Honnors yea though for no other former merit else then the resolute and wise carriage of himselfe in the businesse of this Treaty amongst vs whereby he hath not onely assured himselfe of the affection and heart of the King and Prince but infinitely for his faithfull seruice another Fidus Achates vnto him gained the generall loue of the Common people as it not long since appeared when he was ill after his tedious Voyage by Sea the Prince himselfe all the time healthy and sound for whose returne the people had beene excessiue and beyond measure had it not beene somewhat allayed and tempored with the report of Buckinghams sicknesse The Duke of Buckingham for his true seruice to the King and Prince and State heartily beloued of the people they praying as heartily for his recouery as if he had beene some good land-Lord or great House-keeper amongst them whose losse had beene halfe their vndoing It were to be wished quoth Don Mendosa that the Prince of Wales and himselfe with the rest of the Parliament were not vpon iust cause I confesse so bent against vs. I remember quoth the Arch-bishop when I was a young Student a saying of Seneca Ingenuitas non recipit contemptum Ingenuitie or a generous spirit can in no wise brooke contempt shall we imagine then a Prince yea such a Prince as CHARLES of Wales and onely Sonne to the King of Great Brittaine vpon whom and whose action 's as a bright blazing Comet Europe begins to fixe her eye affraid and doubtfull where the fatall effect of his discontent will light will carry coales and not cry quittance with his enemies yet doubtlesse his mettle is of another temper and not so flexible as some take it for mine owne part I would not haue him our enemy if his friendship could be had though with the expence of many millions of Ducates Cuius contrariâ—â—◠〈◊〉 est As if Spaine quoth Rodrigo needed to feare that angle of the world England haue not we euermore giuen them their hands full haue they not more feared our Fleets and Armies then we theirs do we not equal them in men and expert Commanders aswell by land as by sea do we not exceede them in Treasure and money from our Indian mines that like euer-running Fountaines are neuer drawne dry that I may say nothing of the courage of our people our wisedome and policy whereby wee haue made our selues maisters of so many goodly Territories and gained so many braue victories both at Sea and Land Had we an enemy quoth the D. of Cea of farre lesse abillity and power then England is we ought not so sleightly to contemne him A quarrell about a load of Calues-skins cost the D. of Burgundy the losse of his life whole estate the wofull experience whereof our Nation naturaly haughty and opinionate of their valour as well as others haue proued the Duke of Burgundy out of an insolent pride so comtemned the Swisses the quarrell arising betwixt them but for the tole of a load of Calues skinnes that at the last by them he was depriued both of his estate and life at that vnfortunate encounter at Nancy Who could with-hold the Arch-duke Albertus The Spaniards pride contempt of vs how deare it cost them at Neuport and our grand Captaines from bidding Prince Maurice battle at Neuport But scorning the enemy in regard of his small number in respect of theirs together being puffed vp with that petty victorie against the Scots the same morning they had the reward of pride and contempt of a weake aduersary for the Arch-duke was forced to flye sauing himselfe very hardly leauing dead behind him the oldest and best Souldiers Spaine had Let vs beleeue the weakest may doe vs a mischeife as is wittily showne by Aesop in that fable or apoligy of his between the Eagle and the Conies But by your fauour my Lord you are much mistaken in the estate and strength of England and quallitie of the people and so you will tell me if we shall haue to doe with them as we haue found and had in former times let vs thinke two of the accession of Scotland vnto that Kingdome The strength of Ireland at this present and how Ireland standeth in good termes and is at this time so well peopled with English and Scottish that there is not so much as a starting hole left for Rebellion or so much ground to spare in that Countrey that might affoord any freinds horse of ours a bottle of Hay much lesse suffice for an Armie to martch ouer and to be maintained vpon I might hereto adde the valour and sufficient fidellity of that Noble Gentleman Sir Henry Carie Lotd Viscount Falkland the now present Lord Debuty thereof with many other braue Spirits that are imployed in his Maiesties seruice in that good Countrey But to returne to the Parliament of England what effects heare you is it likely to produce or wherein is it thought to prooue praeiudicious to the King our Maister or to the Catholique Religion First replied Gondomar it is likely to goe worse with the Catholiques then euer as who must expect no fauor but must prepare themselues to vndergoe the sharpest censure and animaduersion of the Law against them yea whosoeuer shall be found abettors maintainors concealors of their plots or harberours of their persons shall suffer for the same in like manner and I heare say that there is a Proclamation either comming forth or published already to that effect and now they are to depart the Realme by a prefixed day But what quoth Count de Monterey will then become of them or by whome shall they be entertained will they returne to their Coledges againe at Doway Rhemes Roome Villadolid The Seminary Colledges beyond the Seas almost empty at this time and other places some whereof I haue lately seene and obserue to stand emty Nothing lesse quoth Gondomar for I am perswaded though many wil colourably depart though returne againe shortly by new ports and new names moe will remaine behinde and since neuer likely againe to haue such an opportunitie of professing themselues openly and execising their functions which they could doe in a freinds Chamber and many times in the common Innes for the better avoyding suspition and concealing themselues some will turne School-maisters in priuate mens houses as there are many in England some Gentlemen Vshers vnto Collapsed Ladies are some such there are in Drury lane the L. T. in Yorkeshire hath one followes her in that Nature the L. S. not farre from my old house in Holborne in London the L. M. neere vnto Stratford-bow Some Falconers whereof I know two the one in Sussex the other in high Suffolke only one I was acquainted withall who was the keeper of a Parke and a good Huntsman and of whom I haue had many a good peece of Venison if he be liuing I know another Priest who hauing liued with an antient
THE SECOND PART OF VOX POPVLI or Gondomar appearing in the likenes of Matchiauell in a Spanish Parliament wherein are discouered his treacherous subtile Practises To the ruine as well of England as the Netherlandes Faithfully Transtated out of the Spanish Coppie by a well-willer to England and Holland The second Edition Simul Complectar omni◠Gentis Hispanae decus Printed at Goricom by Ashuerus Janss 1624. Stilo nouo TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCES FREDERICK and ELIZABETH by the Grace of God King and Queene of Bohemia Princes Palatines of the Rhine c. AS ALSO To the most Illustrious and victorious Maurice Prince of Orenge Count of Nassau c. Most High Most Illustrious Princes THAT I haue adventured in these vnfaithfull times so full of suspition and danger to passe without leaue your guardes and to presse into your Presence I most humbly craue pardon having I confesse no other excuse then that common one of the Countrie it was out of my loue out of my loyalty for such most gracious Q Elizabeth hath heeretofore your respect beene towards mee farre vnworthy God knowes of any of the least favours from so Magnificent a Princesse that ever since I haue contended with my selfe to adventure and Act something that might haue power still to preserue me in your Royall Memorie but albeit I had the will I find my selfe wanting in my Abilitie And most Illustrious Prince Maurice since I haue had sometime dependance on your Excellence I hold it my Dutie gratefully to repay some part of what I cannot say iniustly I haue gained vnder you that is Observation especially of the double dealing and cunning Iuggling of the Spaniard with all Nations And since a little Treatise of a Spanish Consultation whether really acted or poetically faigned I know not came to my hands first written in Spanish now by my selfe translated into English onely for the behoofe and loue I beare aswell to England my natiue Countrie as to the Netherlands I haue sent it abroad good it may doe hurt it cannot Abundans cautela non nocet heerein you shall perceiue the Curtaine though not fully drawne from before the Spaniard that the world may for certaine see that hee is not so beautifull as many of our English who so long haue doated on him would make him to be nor on the other side so terrible that your Dutch neede to feare him how grimme terrible soeuer he lookes vpō them But your Excellence knoweth him as we say Intus in cute can limne to the life better then any penne in the world can decipher him wherefore I vrge him no farther I onely leaue it to the world to thinke of since hee aymeth at the Monarchy of the West euery thing els being to little for his Ambitiō whose great Grand-sire the Earle of Halspurge was within these ninescore yeares of as mean estate and revenue as an ordinary knight of England how much I say concernes it England and your vnited Provinces to hold fast each by either which now by all meanes he laboureth to part and divide not vnmindfull of a Matchivillian and old Maxime Divide et Impera But I trust Almighty God as hee hath already begun will open the eyes of all Christian Kinges and Princes in time not onely to prie into but effectually to oppose these his immense and ambitious designes which else in time may fall heauie vpon our children and posteritie I end humbly beseeching the King of Kings and Kingdomes the Almighty Lord of Hoastes Most High Most Illustrious Princes to protect the persons of your selues and children with his grace to multiplie your Honors and Dignities foure-fold to restore your estates and after many yeares to crowne you in Heaven with the Diademes of Glorie and endles happines Who is most devoted vnto your Highnesses in all Loyall affection T. S. of V. THE SPANISHE PARLAMENT Ingentibus exidit ausis AFter the shouts and acclamations of all true hearted English for the safe and single returne of the Prince of Great Brittaine had made the roofe of Heauen to resound and with the noyse hād shooke such a terror into the ill affected body of Spaine that a cold and benumming feare ran through her ioynts her friends began to bethinke themselues of a timely recomfort to finde the meanes a fresh to rouse vp her spirits by this time halfe repenting her selfe of parting with so pretious a pawne the possession whereof she imagined might haue tied vs to haue precisely kept day though it were likely to haue had prooued more fatall vnto her then euer was the gold of Thousouse to Cepio's Souldiers and as it falleth out among sicke persons some of sounder iudgement then the rest about her inparticular and euery one in generall giuing their best opinions vndertooke so she would be ruled to rid her off that sit and distempered perplexity And for this purpose appointing for a further consultation to be at Seuill in Audaluzia whether already the King with most of the Nobility had retired themselues in regard they sayd the English who were in number about seauen-score had not long before eaten vp all the prouision in Madrid and within thirty miles about there came as truest and old-friends to her estate the Arch-bishop of Toledo the Dukes of Medina Coeli of Braganza of Ville Hermosa of Hijaz D. of Infantado D. of Cea D. of Sesa D. of Veragua Marques of Malagon Count de Penna-fiore Count de Monterry Count de Sanstephano c. Escalona the Marques of Castello Rodrigo the Admirant and Constable of Castile Count Olivares Count Gondomar Pedro de Toledo Gonzales de Cordua Lewes de Velasco with sundry others of remarke and note of the chiefest Nobility whither being come and hauing made choyse of a goodly and faire Pallace anciently belonging vnto to the D. of Beiar principall of the family of the Zanigas in a faire great Chamber hung with rich Arras ouer the leather guilded Guara Mazilla's after many an enterchange of complement each as his precedence required tooke his place like a colledge of wise Phisitians to consult of the state of that body and Kingdome how with medicines as Physitians call them to preuent her future danger withall for the present to repayre the ruine of her reputation and credit with the world since now her plots and practises are smoaked their gordian knots vntwisted euen by children Lastly how to gaine by strong hand what all this while shee could not compasse by artes and policie Being all set and silent the Duke of Medina Coeli stoode vp and spake as followeth My Lords it hath pleased his Catholique Maiesty the King our Mr. to giue way to this our meeting and Parlamentary assembly to consult and aduise among our selues what course is most fittest to be holden of vs in in these tempestuous times for the weather being changed and the bright beames of our hopes ouer-cast we are from euery side to expect rage and
stormes You are not ignorant how there is now a Parliament holden in England that bode vs no good in Holland a dayly consultation with present preparation In France a Councell together with an vnaminity of Kings and Peeres for some great vndertaking How nerely then concernes it vs of Spaine to be vigilant and to looke about vs first for the maintenance and aduancement of the Catholique Religion and holy Church Secondly for the defence of his Maiesties Kingdomes and Territories Thirdly to heare the grieuances of the people groaning vnder the heauy burthen of exaction and oppression though the couetuousnesse of publique offices Fourthly for the supply of the Treasury which a late hath beene much exhausted partly by preparation by Sea against our Common enemies Turkes and Hollanders and partly by the extraordinary entertainment of Charles Prince of Wales the charge wherof amounted to 49. thousand Ducates Fift and lastly for giuing the world satisfaction and the taking away of those vile scandales and imputations which euen within these few dayes haue beene and are hourely cast vpon vs especially as they giue it out in dealing doubly and dishonorably with England concerning the Treaty of the Match He hauing ended the D. of Braganza the next began thus I am sorry that I liue to see the day that the Honor of Spaine which was wont to dazle the eye of Europe with the vnsufferable splendor of its brightnesse should now be ouer cast with the blacke cloud of disgrace and the name of a Spaniarde so redoubted ouer the world become branded with the infamous attributes and epithites of false ambitious proud and cruell and those Nations who were wont to adore vs for our faith contemne and scorne vs now for treachery and falshood Certes loyalty and the Religious obseruance of our promises and faith was anciently held our prime vertue insomuch that Fey de Spagna grew into a Prouerbe like the gold of Ophir out valewing any other that I speake no new thing or vntruth you may plainely perceiue it by the multitude of discourses pamphlets and pasquills that are dayly vented against vs from all parts of the World wherein wee art iested at derided disgraced by verses and vnseemely Pictures especially of late dayes from Holland France and England yea as I vnderstand in songs and Ballades sung vp and downe the Streetes in many places whence this imputation vpon so iust and braue a Nation so potent a Monarch at the brandishing of whose sword Europe trembles should proceede I cannot ghesse yet desire to be satisfied herein in the King my Mr. and kinsmans behalfe my kinsman for you all know my neere alliance vnto his Maiesty and my Poesie may intimate no lesse vnto the world which is Pues vos nos after you we being next in blood if the issue Royall should faile But I am a fraide the ill carriage of some priuate men at home perhaps our Embassadors in For. raine parts haue throwne this aspersion vpon vs hauing eyther giuen abroad to many ouertures of our designes or attempted their ends with ouermuch hast and violence which in time and by gentle hand might haue beene easier won as a bough whose fruite we meane to gather is brought downe by degrees which else might breake and we loose our longing Surely in the first me thinke our Nation should not easily offend we being esteemed the most close and reserued to our selues in the world as the euent of our greatest and most important actions haue sufficiently shewne Did we not in 88. carry our businesse for England so cunningly and secretly as well in that well dissembled treaty with the English neere Ostend whereto for vs were deputed Aremberge Champigny Richardot and other as in bringing our Nauy to their shores while their Commanders and Captaines were at bowles vpon the hoe of Plimouth and had my Lord Alonso Guzman the Duke of Medina Sidonia had but the resolution but in truth his Commission was otherwise he might haue suprized them as they lay at Anker and the like In Ireland when Don Ivan d' Aquila had gotten footing in the Irish ground ere any of the mist How were our plots and correspondence with Biron carryed with infinite the like examples Touching the latter the Spanish Nation hath of all other in the world beene held for the most sober stayd and wise and were wont neuer to attempt any thing but vpon great and long aduice accounting it with Quintus Fabius more honorable to bee accounted droanes or cowards then to hazard our affaires or Armies French like onely in a vaine-glorious hastinesse to gaine the Honor of charging the first So that it seemeth strange to me that we haue I know not vpon what grounds incurred the hate and scorne of other Nations and that we especially of the Nobility should be thought ill of since of Nobility ours of Spaine hath beene euer held the most illustrious and eminent of the world The Duke hauing made an end Gondomar easily raysing himselfe from his chayre wherein he sat vpon two downe pillowes and resting himselfe vpon a little Brasill staffe spake as followeth My Lords I can deriue this slaunder of our Country and hate of our selues from no other fountaine then the Fanaticall humors and distracted spirits of some of the English who find themselues not a little gall'd and vexed with our politique delayes heretofore and now our finall reiection and I hope shaking hands with that Hereticall Nation for euer for if your Alteses and Honors will but consider what aduenture and boote we haue made by them I thinke you will say we might well endure these British Northen and cold blasts meane time in so suffering for our Catholique King and in the Catholique cause we ought to take such approbry rather as an Honor vnto vs then otherwise Moreouer if we shall consider who are the Authors of these lying Plamphlets wee shall finde to proceede from the pennes of light and vnstayed wits with intent eyther to winne the opinion of good intelligencers and statistes together with the aiery applause of the Vulgar or to rayse to their desperate Fortunes when the tempest is ouer as it oft hath happened and now likely we being fallen off from England and the Treaty at an end Yea but quoth the Duke of Medina Caeli what should be the reason of that inbred and Naturall hate the common people of England should beare to vs and our Country aboue any Nation in the world the Hollanders Turkes and Indians excepted Arch. B. Toledo Quoth the Arch-bishop of Toledo herein we are much deceiued for his Catholique Maiesty and our selues all haue very many faithfull and fast friends in England who would not sticke to hazard their liues and fortunes in the Seruice of his Maiesty might time and occasion be offered yea and some none of the meanest The Marquesse of Castello Rodrig then arising vp with a graue countenance and a deliberate vtterance said is it possible that any place
in the world should bring forth such a monster as a traytor to his Country or allow bread to any owne so vnnaturally base as to draw his sword and side with an enemy against her I will say that for our Spaine I do not remember or euer had read that shee afforded a Traytor or so much as one that serued a sworne enemy against her Prince By your fauour quoth Lewes de Velasco what Country-man was he of Count Iohn of Nassau's regiment that tooke the Admirant of Arragon prisoner at the battaile of Neuport It is true quoth Gonzales de Cordua he was a Spaniard but examples hereof are very rare Quoth Gondomar so they are and though England be the colder Country yet it hath bred more venemous Creatures of this Nature then euer Spaine yea euen vnder the Sunne-shine of their mildest and most moderate gouerments Whence quoth the Duke of Escalona should this proceede I will tell you quoth Gondomar my opinion the English naturally are desirous of nouelties and innouations and as it were sicke in the soft beds of their long liberty peace and plenty which they enioy vnder as wise and as good a King as euer liued they suppose nothing wanteth to their full happinesse but change and variety I must liken them to Giotto of Florence his Asse who when he went along with a rich saddle of beaten gold on his backe with a Crowne and Scepter lying thereon yet he could not choose but smell vpon a Carriers packe-saddle as it lay at an Inne doore Hence are strangers the most admired and entertayned amongst them and if of quality preferred many times to place and preferment before the English though perhaps their are many who deserue better I haue seene their a torne and tatter'd French Lacquay but as this day arriued out of France and the next he hath ietted in the Court in his Tissue or Scarlet at the least what preferment came that arch-hypocrite Spalato vnto Ascanio the Frier who left his wife in St. Martins lane and ranne againe to his Order And a poore and ignorant Italian Mountebanke sought after for his skill as if Aesculapius or Machaon were againe raised from the dead yea when but a Spanish gowne happily of the Embassadors Lady or of her gentlewoman how was it sought after by Ladies and Taylors for the fashion happy was she that could first get her into the Spanish fashion to their no small charge the Spanish garments exceeding all other in fulnesse compasse and length which by this time it may be they haue conuerted into Cushions My Lords you would hardly haue forborne laughter to haue heard how I haue beene enquired after for Maisters for the Spanish tongue that I may say nothing of so many bills set vp in euery corner of the City by Professors nay I could haue no seruice almost done me of my Mullettors and Groomes for being employed in teaching the Spanish among Ladyes and their maydes though I knew I tell you English must be that they were to trust too when all was done Touching my selfe being Embassadour there from his Catholique Maiesty and the sole instrument in the Treaty for the match which the Catholiques there so long thirsted after if I should relate vnto you the particulars of mine owne entertainment you would I suppose imagine I told you wonders beyond beleefe for beside the great and gracious respect I found and fauors I receiued from his Maiesty of Great Brittaine and sundry of the Nobility who seemed wholy to be compounded of curtesie and Noblenesse there passed not a day wherein I was not visited by some of the best ranke or receiued some present or other from Catholique Gentlemen or their Ladyes so welcome was the very thought of the Spanish match vnto them I returning them againe with thankes large promises and apparant hopes of preferment when the time should come And be it spoken among our selues since wee are falling off from England I made better vse of their kindnesse then so for there were few Catholiques in England of note from whom in this regard I wrested not out a good round summe of money Sir Robert Cotton a great Antiquary I heare much complaineth of me that from his friends and aquaintance onely I got into my purse the summe at the least of ten thousand pounds I deny it not and true it is I borrowed of the good old Lady W. of the Parish in St. Martins in the Feilds 300 pounds or thereabouts promising her repayment whereof I will not faile so soone as Donna Maria the Infanta should arriue in England and for the vse hereof I promised to make her mother of her maydes perswading her it was not fit that so graue and good a Lady as her selfe should lye obscured in priuate but rather attend vpon my young Mistresse the brauest and most hopefull Princesse of the World vpon these hopes she turned Catholique and since I neuer saw her I sold moreouer the place of Groomesse of her highnesse Stoole to six seuerall English Ladyes who were eager of it only cause be they might take place before their fellowes I lost nothing neither by a Noble Gentleman whom I caused to be knowne for a kinsman of the King my Mr. for that he was descended from the noble and ancient family of Aiala in Spaine these are but mites and crums in regard of those great presents and many pentions I had sent me vnder-hand from the Catholiques from all parts of England during my aboade there had my finger but aked or beene ill disposed as I often was in body I had sent me iewels sweet-meates perfumes linnen Rosewater and a thousand of such trifles only I returned them thenkes and promised them or their friends preferment when time serued If you were my Lord so nobly entertained in England quoth Braganza whence is it or vpon what occasion haue wee gotten to our selues the ill will and distast of that Nation I must confesse quoth Gondamer the common people of England beare generally an inbred spleene toward vs as it seemeth by many rude affronts we were offered there by the baser sort contrary to the will and pleasure of his Maiesty of great Brittany who published many Edicts and Proclamations in our behalfes punishing many times the offenders seuerely as they could be taken but why the name of a Spaniard should be so become odious vnto them is a question I cannot easily resolue Some thinke that there is a naturall antipathy or contrariety of affection betweene our disposition and theirs they liuing in the North and we in the South which being as Charron a French Author obserueth neerer to the Sunne the inhabitants are more crafty politique and religious though he his in that euen to superstition and Idolatry where as on the contrary those of the North howsoeuer goodlier in person better faced and more beautifull then our selues by reason of the coldnesse of the climate preseruing inwardly the naturall heate and radicall
moysture are plaine simple nothing so religious contemners withall of the glorious ceremonies of our Church wherewith we haue drawne more Heathen in eyther India to Christianity in one yeare then they can with their Lutheran and Caluinisticall Sermons in all their liues This very selfe same thing quoth Gonzales I once vrged by way of argument to an Earle of Germany who was a professed Lutheran Heritique and his reply herein was so are fooles and children taken with bells gilt pouches and colours and our Ladies and faire Gentlewomen we see oftentimes woed and wonne onely with a braue out-side on the back of a base knaue when an honest man and of deseruing parts is reiected in a plaine and ordinary suite of cloathes and not held worthy the looking after They talke as they are quoth Gondomar I am sure these drew more to my little priuate Chappell in Holborne then their best Preachers of Sermons could doe to any Church they had But quoth the Duke of Hijaz it may be they hate vs for the same cause that France Germany Italy and the rest of the Countryes of Europe for that many of vs are discended of the Moorish race wherefore we are termed of them in Italy Marani and of other Moros Blancos and Nue Vos Christianos For indeede it was but in the yeare 1492. when Granado was recouered from the Moores Mahomet sirnamed the Little and sonne of Muley Albohaceu being King thereof though Toledo and Cordona long before and it may be they hold vs still infected with Moorish mindes and a spice of their manners though they are assured wee are Christians yea and the most Catholique too I heare quoth Signior Gondomar it is obiected in their now present Parliament that in all treatises for the space of these two hundred yeares Spaine hath dealt with the English fide punica neuer kept touch with them in any serious capitulation but euer ayming at her owne ends vsed theyr aliance and freindshippe but as a stale or stalking-horse ouer their backes to shoote at others or serue her owne necessities for the present and hereof their Antiquaries they say haue found many presidents Among others they affirme and proue to the preiudice of our Treaty that Charles the fift was first himselfe bethrothed to Queene Mary and I know vpon what tricke and policie he vntied himselfe againe and vsed the meanes to conferre her vpon Prince Philip his Sonne But the very truth is they carry a vindictiue resolution against vs euer since our intended conquest of them in 88. and peraduenture the powder-plot in 1605. which yet seemeth Manere alta mente repostum Indeed Henrie the 4. of France sirnamed the GREAT laboured at one time a reconsiliation betweene vs but he found the rootes of eithers discontent so deepe and the sore so vnsaluable that hee gaue it ouer in the end Touching mine owne person I was generally hated I confesse of the common people for no other cause I imagine then for the great grace and fauour I was in with his Maiestie vnto whom I had free accesse at all times and his gracious eare to any reasonable suite or request I could demaund the particulars of the Seruice I did to the King my Master whom God long preserue I thinke are not knowne vnto you I omitting no one houre or minute of time wherein I did not benefit either him by my seruice my selfe by experience or a freind by a good turne For during the time of my abode in England and whilest I lay in London I got partly by the meanes of well affected freinds and partly by mine owne experience for in sommertime vnder the colour of taking the ayre I would take vew of the countrie I had perfect knowledge of the estate of the whole Land for there was no Fortification Hauen Creeke or Landing place about the Coast of England but I got a platforme and draught thereof I learned the depth of all their Channels I was acquainted with all Sands Shelues Rocks Riuers that might impeach or make for inuasion I had perpetually in a Role the names of all the Ships of King Iames his Nauy Royall I knewe to a haire of what burthen euery ship was what Ordinance she carried what numbers of Saylors who were the Captaines for what places they were bound which were in repaire and fit for seruice and which not I knewe the strength of the Tower of London what Armour Ordinance small shot and powder it might afford You knowe moreouer my Lords I acquainted the King my maister with Sir Walter Raleighs intended voyge to Guiana and euery particular thereof when it was but in embroyne and when he himselfe vowed onely three were acquainted with his purpose and resolution but the fourth should neuer know what he intended vntill he had set footing in America yet I say I knew what he aimed at what courses he ment to hold where to land what places he meant to surprise what forces he carried and by what way he resolued to returne with all which particulars as I haue already said I acquainted you long ere he went and he was no sooner gone but I was assured I had his head at my deuotion to take it when I listed hauing sufficient matter to alledge against him and at last though his treason for which he stood condemned many yeares before was the hatchet yet the hand was mine that gaue him the blow for it concerned vs aboue all the rest in case we should fall off from England and burst out into our old enmitie to make away with him who would haue proued the onely Boutifeu and Cendiarie of the world in stirring vp the hatred of the English and other Nations against vs he being a darling of our late deadliest enimie Queene Elizabeth and one of the last men to be borne of those great spirits and experienced Captaines the time of her raigne produced His Majesty I humbly thanke him tooke especiall notice of this seruice of mine and as it was told me gaue me great thankes for it aboue the rest I was no lesse diligent for the discouerie of the Inland then for the Shores and Sea-coasts For there was neuer a Sheire in England but I better know the estate power and qualitie thereof then the Inhabitants euen the best of them themselues did I could in particular relate the nature of the soyle what power of men and horse they were able to raise who were the cheife and of most abilitie and credit in the countrey who the most antient Gentlemen what they were worth in their reuenues and estates how they stood affected in Religion who were Puritanes and who Catholiques and among Catholiques who stood for vs and who for such there were were indifferent or against vs. And which moreouer is of equall consequence there was not a Sermon preached at Paules Crosse or indeed in any other Church of the City or place in the Kingdome that did but touch the hemme of my maisters garment
or the Treaty of the Match a whit since he found here the greatest content he could deuise he had a sight of the Lady Maria la Infanta his Mistris whose selfe knowne and seene exceeded her fame he was entertained and attended vpon by the most compleate and generous Nobles of Europe and had that entertainment no Nation could afford the like Lastly Maiorem habemus fidem ijs quae occulis vsurpamus quam quae auribus haurimus Quoth the Duke of Escalonia the effect hath fallen out quite contrary for the English report since their comming home they neuer came into a baser Countrey in their liues where they could get meat neither for themselues nor their horses Great want of victuall prouision in Spaine nor saw so much as one handfull of grasse in two hundred miles riding and if they dined at one place they were faine to goe 30. or 40. miles ere they could get any thing to their supper He that surfers are a Spaniards Table trust me I will pay for his physicke and then perhaps a peece of leane Kid or Cabrito a Tripe Tone's or such like indeede I remember when the Prince lay at Madrid wee were faine to send seauenteene miles off for a Calfe for his Highnesse dyet as for Mutton we may kill none without especiall Licence from the King for fish our Riuers affoord none and wee being most temporate our selues how should our dyet agree with their stomackes who are accounted the greatest feeders of the World I verily beleeue indeede quoth Gondomar that those places they call in England East-cheape and Smith-field Barres kills and vtters more Beefe and Mutton in a month then all Spaine cats in seauen yeares which plenty our men meeting withall at our first comming ouer into England and since some who attended Don Iniosa as I lately heard did ouer eat themselues and died shortly after The poore and miserable surface of our Country The Princes going ouer in person was happy for England quoth Escalona the scarcitie of victuall and hardnesse of lodging was not all the Prince of Wales by comming in Person discouered our plot and found how faire soeuer wee pretended wee meant nothing lesse when he thinking as also did the King of Great Brittaine his Father nothing had beene wanting to the absolute consummation of the marriage but the Rites of the Church he found all as Raw and as backward as he had beene all this while in a dreame and no such matter euer thought of so that he found the Honnor of our glorious entertainment to be but as a delicate sawce to help digestion The Marques of Castello Rodrigo then stepping vp said I will adde one thing more and whereof if he liues he vowes not to be vnmindfull of and that is as I am inform'd Adde moreouer the digging vp of tho bodies of our buried dead casting them into the Sea some affronts done him by the Clergie as that rude and barbarous putting him out of a Church which his Highnesse came in to view the arresting and taking away of a young youth a Page who attended I think on Maister Mounteague in a manner from his heeles which young Gentleman they say cannot be heard of to this day with that insolent and affrican pride of restraining him from that liberal accesse and conuerse not denied elsewhere to a meane person with the Lady Maria Infanta his Mistris which Princes by their his owne right may Challenge he being equivalent in birth and the rarest endowments of body and minde to any Prince whatsoeuer in the world with whom in all his time of his being here he had not aboue twice talked and then before either the Queene or your selfe Signior Olivares or some other if he had any thing to say afterward it was by vs to be penned to his hand and to be spoken before witnesse we must assuredly think and expect that so great and eminent a Prince and the darling of that Nation howsoeuer he could wisely smoother his discontent among vs in Spaine we may one day perhaps finde the fruites of our double dealing and the effects of his haught and incensed courage well knowing how like a young Lion though yet in his Denne and scarce acquainted with ranging his teeth and nayles are growne to that length that he is past iesting or playing withall Indeede my L. Olivares you are much blamed for that discouery and light you gaue to Buckingham of our designe The Infanta by her Faherts will bequeathed to the Emperors Sonne and the secret and tenor of the last Kings will wherein he charged vs not to match with England But rather to hold a faire Treaty with them hauing as you all know bequeathed Maria the Infanta to the Emperours Sonne so that now the English suppose themselues manifestly deluded Quoth the Duke of Sesa they know it well enough and I beleeue wee shall finde them so sensible of it that wee had beene better to haue playd faire then to hazard the loosing of our rest by such an encounter Now I pray you let vs take into our considerations the mischeifes which are like to follow First it is thought herevpon they haue called a Parliament which consisteth of the King Prince all the Lords Spirituall and Temporall or the Gentry and Commons of the ablest iudgments and vnderstanding in the Land vnto this Parliament the King they say hath wholy referred himselfe not onely for the examination and redresse of all abuses and misdemeanors at home but for the discussing and searching into all plots and practices of others abroad The Vnity sweet consent of the King his people in this present Parliameent obserued that may seeme any way to preiudice the quiet and well gouerned estate of his Kingdomes without interposition or mediation so that the King and people goe all on and together with that alacrity and constancy in prouiding for the good estate of the Kingdome as the like hath no beene seene these nany yeeares Prince CHARLES himselfe being there early and late assiduus accubuus amongst them whom I am informed with the Duke of Buckingham wee haue our prime and principall opposers A diffiernce betweene the Duke of Buckingham and Count Olivars which the Papist giue out though falsly to be the first occasion of the breach of the match I must confesse quoth Count Olivares there fell a difference betweene the Duke of Buckingham and my selfe which some haue rashly and inconsiderately giuen out to be the onely cause of this breach for they say before that time all things went forward in as faire a way as might be Indeede quoth Toledo the Catholikes of England haue so giuen it out laying all the fault vpon the Duke of Buckingham who is not guiltie of any such thing I will excuse him that peece was hammered vpon our owne Anuile Buckingham is a Noble Wise and Generous Prince vpon whom the King his Maister hath deseruedly conferred his grace