them I have these 10. daies had Greisly in a readinesse to depart having every day expected a resolution from the Junto First in point of the portion and since in the daies of payment and at last I have received their answer in them both in such sort as your Highnesse will see in the paper inclosed which is an extract of the heads of the temporal Articles that we have agreed although I have onely consented unto them de bene esse until I shall receive his Majesties approbation and yours In the point of the portion I have had a tough and a knotty piece of work by reason that not onely the Conde de Olivarez but all the Junto were absolutely ignorant of what had passed in the late Kings time which I foresaw and that was the cause that I moved so earnestly at the Escurial to have the Conde de Gondomar remain here They made many presidents to be searched and found that the two millions demanded was four times as much as ever was given with any daughter of Spain in money They alledged that it would be said that the King of Spain was fain to purchase the friendship and alliance of England that this would be such a president as that Spain hereafter must marrie no more daughters I onely insisted that it was a thing by the last King settled and agreed with me that this King had by several answers in writing to me undertaken to pursue the businesse as it was left by his father and to make good whatsoever he had promised And thereupon desired that the original Papers and Consultos of the last King might be seen which very honestly by the Secretary Cirica were produced and appeared to be such that I dare say there was not a man that saw them that doubteth of the last Kings real intention of making the Match And questionlesse this had been the usefullest occasion to have disavowed former proceedings and I was resolved to put them to it But both the King and his Councel upon the sight of what had been promised by his father presently took resolution to make good the two millions onely to remonstrate unto his Majestie the vastnesse of the Portion and to desire him to consider how far the King had stretched himself in this particular for his satisfaction And therefore that he would have Consideration of it in such things for the future as might be treated of betwixt them and their Kingdoms As for the daies of payment I insisted to have had half a million upon the Deposories half a million to be carried along with the Infanta and the other million at their Fleets the two next years after by equal portions But I have now received the Kings answer in this particular which your Highnesse will see in the enclosed paper as likewise what I have done therein by the Copie of the dispatch which I now write about it to Mr. Secretary So not having any thing more to add concerning this particular I recommend your highnesse to Gods holy protection c. Madrid The E of Bristol to the Duke of Buckingham Decemb. 6. 1623. May it please your Grace THe present estate of the Kings affairs requireth the concurrencie of all his servants and the Co-operation of all his Ministers which maketh me desirous to make unto your Grace this tender of my service that if there have happened any errours or misunderstandings your Grace would for that regard passe them over and for any thing that may personally concern my particular I shall labour to give you that satisfaction as may deserve your friendship And if that shall not serve the turn I shall not be found unarmed with patience against any thing that can happen unto me And so wishing that this humble offer of my service may find that acceptation as I humbly desire I rest Madrid Your Graces most humble servant Bristol The E. of Bristol to Secretary Cottington Apr. 15. 1623. Good Mr. Secretary Cottington THere is no man living knoweth better then your self how zealous I have been unto the Prince's service and whilest I thought he desired the Match I was for it against all the World Now the Treatie is ended the world shall see I never had nor will have any affections of my own but will wholly follow my Masters as I have written unto you in my former Letters and have not these four moneths spoken a word in the marriage If his Majestie and the Prince will have a war I will spend my life and fortunes in it without so much as replying in what quarrel soever it be And of thus much I intreat you let his Highnesse be informed by you And I intreat you let me know his directions what he will have me do and how to behave my self for I absolutely cast my self at his feet which I desire to do the first thing after my landing to the end that understanding his pleasure I may commit no errour I beseech you to dispatch this bearer back unto me withal possible speed though it be with not one word more but what the Prince will have me do wherewith I shall come muy Consolado I understand that I have been much bound to the Prince for the procuring the 4000 l. to be payed and for my Pension I pray present unto him my most humble thanks and I confesse I have been much more comforted with that demonstration of his favour then I can be with the money I doubt not but at this time I shall have the effects of a real friendship from you in this particular And so desiring to have my service remembred to my Lady Cottington I rest Poitiers Yours c. Bristol Postscript I Pray move the Prince that one of the Kings Ships may be presently appointed to waft me over For I have a great charge of of the Princes with me W. Greisly met me within 10. posts of Burdeaux and is passed on to Madrid I think he shall find the Blandones for his Highnesse in a readinesse for Mr. Stone taketh care of them and hath the money in his hand The E. of Bristol to his Majestie 27 July 1624. May it please your most excellent Majestie I Hope your Majestie will not be displeased that I continue unto you that most humble and just suit which I have often made unto your Majestie and your Majestie hath been often gratiously pleased to promise which was that I should be no waies lessened or diminished in your Majesties favour and good opinion until you should be first pleased gratiously to hear me and my Cause And although your Majestie for just respects hath not been pleased hitherto to admit me into your presence which I esteem an infinite misfortune to me Yet I hope that time will no way confirm those impressions of displeasure which I do no way doubt but will be fully cleared whensoever I shall be so happy as by your Majestie to be heard For I take God to record that I have
told he heard your Grace move his Highnesse to speake unto me to quit my place after your Graces professions of friendship to me 6. Mr. Secretarie Conwaies and my Lord Carlile's estrangednesse from me which I suspected could not be for I ever loved them both but true copies of your Graces displeasure I have opened to my truest friend all my former thoughts and being fully satisfyed by his Highnesse how false they are in every particular do humbly crave your Graces pardon that I gave a nights lodging to any of them all Although they never transported me a jott further then to look about how to defend my self being resolved as God shall be my protector to suffer all the obloquie of the world before I would be drawn to the least ingratitude against your Grace All that I beg is an assurance of your Graces former Love and I will plainely professe what I do not in the least beg or desire from your Grace 1. No Patronage of any corrupt or unjust act which shall be objected against me this Parliament 2. No defence of me if it shall appear I betrayed my King or my Religion in favour of the Papist or did them any real respect at all besides ordinary complements 3. No refuge in any of my causes or clamours against me which upon a false supposal of your Graces displeasure may be many otherwise then according to justice and fair proceeding And let this paper bear record against me at the great Parliament of all if I be not in my heart and soul your Graces most faithful and constant poor friend and Servant His Highnesse desires your Grace to move his Majestie to accept of my Lord Sayes commission and to procure me leave to send for him Also to move his Majestie that my Lord of Hartford may be in the house accepting his fathers place and making his protestation to sue for his Grandfathers according to his Majesties Lawes when the King shall give him leave His Highnesse and my Lords do hold this a modest and submissive Petition His Highnesse upon very deep reasons doubts whether it be safe to put all upon the Parliament for fear they should fall to examine particular Dispatches wherein they cannot but find many Contradictions And would have the proposition onely to ayd for the recovery of the Palatinate To draw on an engagement I propound it might be to advise his Majestie how this recovery shall be effected by reconquering the same or by a War of diversion This will draw on a breach with Spain without ripping up of private dispatches His Highnesse seemed to like well hereof and commanded me to acquaint your Grace therewith and to receive your opinion I humbly crave again two lines of assurance that I am in your Grace's opinion as I will ever be indeed c. The Heads of that Discourse which fell from Don Francisco 7. Die Aprilis 1624. at 11. of the clock at night This Relation was sent by the Lord Keeper to the Duke HOw he came to procure his accesses to the King The Marquesse putting Don Carlos upon the Prince and Duke in a discourse thrust a Letter into the Kings hand which he desired the King to read in private The King said he would thrust it into his pocket and went on with his discourse as if he had received none The effect was to procure private accesse for Don Francisco to come and speak with the King which his Majestie appointed by my Lord of Kelley and he by his secresie who designed for Don Francisco time and place At his first accesse he told the King That his Majestie was a prisoner or at leastwise besieged so as no man could be admitted to come at him And then made a complaint against the Duke that he aggravated and pretended accusations against Spain whereas its onely offence was that they refused to give unto him equal honour and observance as they did unto his Highnesse And that this was the only cause of his hatred against them At the last accesse which was some 4. dayes ago he made a long invective and remonstrance unto the King which he had put into writing in Spanish which he read unto me corrected with the hand of Don Carlos which I do know It was somewhat general and very rhetorical if not tragical for the stile The heads of what I read were these viz. 1. That the King was no more a freeman at this time then King John of France when he was prisoner in England or King Francis when he was at Madrid Being besieged and closed up with the servants and vassals of Buckingham 2. That the Embassadours knew very well and were informed 4. moneths ago that his Majestie was to be restrained and confined to his Country house and pastimes and the Government of the State to be assumed and disposed of by others and that this was not concealed by Buckinghams followers 3. That the Duke had reconciled himself to all the popular men of the State and drawn them forth out of prisons restraints and confinements to alter the Government of the State at this Parliament as Oxford South-hampton Say and others whom he met at Suppers and Ordinaries to strengthen his popularity 4. That the Duke to breed an opinion of his own greatnesse and to make the King grow lesse hath oftentimes brag'd openly in Parliament that he had made the King yield to this and that which was pleasure unto them And that he mentioned openly before the Houses his Majesties private oath which the Embassadors have never spoken of to any creature to this hour 5. That these Kingdomes are not now governed by a Monarch but by a Triumviri whereof Buckingham was the first and chiefest the Prince the second and the King the last and that all look towards Solem Orientem 6. That his Majestie should shew himself to be as he was reputed the oldest and wisest King in Europe by freeing himself from this Captivity and eminent danger wherein he was by cutting off so dangerous and ungrateful an affecter of greatnesse and popularity as the Duke was 7. That he desired his Majestie to conceal this his free dealing with him because it might breed him much peril and danger And yet if it were any way available for his service to reveal it to whom he pleased because he was ready to sacrifice his life to do him acceptable service And this was the effect of so much of the penned speech as I remember was read unto me out of the Spanish Copy His Majestie was much troubled in the time of this speech His Offer to the King for the restitution of the Palatinate TO have a Treaty for three moneths for the restitution and that money was now given in Spain to satisfie Bavaria That in the mean time because the people were so distrustful of the Spaniard the King might fortifie himself at home and assist the Hollanders with men or money at his pleasure And the King of Spain
No. Mounsieur Langrack hath given this State many important advertisements as first that he hath obtained of the French Kng a continuance of the succours of the 3. Regiments of foot and 2. Troops of horse of that Nation for one year longer notwithstanding the opposition of the Spanish and Arch-Dukes Embassadours who advised the recalling of them upon occasion of the present troubles in France That there is order given and assignation for 120000 Crownes towards the arrearages of their pay That a resolution is taken in that Court by the advice of the new Councellours contrarie to the opinion of the old to prosecute the Princes by war and maintain the Kings authority henceforward by force That to this effect the King desires the State should perform their promises of sending towards the river of Burdeaux 5. men of war That he likewise requires of them in conformitie of the last treaties betwixt the Crown and this Stat an assistance of men to the number of the French which are here in service under some good Commander But the French themselves the King will not have for fear when they shall come into France of their revolting to the Princes That he demands free passage through these Countries down the Mause and the Rhene of 3000. Souldiers with their armes which are leaived by the Count John Giacomo Belioyosa in Luke-Land and thereabouts and shipping to transport them into France All these particulars were moved unto him as he writes by the Marshal de Anchre to which he adds That the King is so much incensed against the Duke of Bovillon for seeking to this State for protection by these Letters whereof I advertised your Honour in my last that there is a resolution taken to declare him Criminel de lese Majestate These Grauntes are so scantie the continuance of the French Troops in the service of the State being but for a year only and the payment of them arriving only to the tenth part of what is alreadie due that they here interpret them to proceed from the Marshal de Aucre Pour tenir as they say le bee en Leau and the demands are so large and extravagant that they are thought iniquum petere ut aequum ferant Whereby on the one side to keep this State in devotion to the French King and on the other to prevent the like requests of the Princes for there is small appearance they will give passage to so many men through their Countries armed and commanded by an Italian who hath born armes against them and is married into the Arch Dukes Countrie And when it comes to question of sending forces of their own thither it is like they will find as good excuses for that point as they have hitherto done for the sending of the ships now three months since promised and still solicited For howsoever the chief Persons here have been long particularly interested and ingaged as your Honour knowes by neer dependance on this Crown I find them of late very much alienated in consideration that it is so much governed by Spain which in the end they apprehended will turn to the ruine of this State In France they are jealous of this coldnesse and have of late expostulated the matter with Mounsieur Langrack as if they here did incline to the Princes there being a bruite raised in Paris that Count Maurice would go in Person to their assistance whereof the Queen Regent was very sensible but I do not find here that there was any ground for that report Here hath been lately a fame spread and nourished by such as desire to weaken the correspondence betwixt his Majestie and this State that his Majestie is in neer terms of matching our Prince with Spain Which report is now the more credited by an adviso out of Spain from a secret Minister this State entertaines under colour of solliciting Merchants causes That this match hath been there by order of the King of Spain debated in the inquisition and judged necessarie in regard it would serve for introduction of Poperie into England This I find to be the Remora of my chief affaires with this State my pressing the restitution of the Townes in Cleves and Juliers being thought by many of these jealous people to hang on this thread as a thing very acceptable and agreeable at this time to the King of Spain and much advantagious in this present conjuncture to his affaires and my insisting upon sending of Commissioners to his Majestie in the businesse of our Merchants they applie the same way as if the opinion which would be conceived of this Embassage howsoever Merchants affaires were pretended the chief intent was to play Davus in Comaedia should according to the use of Nitimur in Vetitum rather kindle then quench the desire of the Spaniard and draw the match to a more speedie conclusion At my last being with Mounsieur Barnevelt I did expostulate the States delay of sending Commissioners to his Majestie upon this occasion as neither answereth to Sir Noel Caron's word and promise to his Majestie nor to that which from his mouth I did advertise your Lordship of the States inclination in general and the resolution in particular of those of Holland To which he answered me That with much difficultie and opposition he had obtained the assent of Holland and that now the matter rested with Zealand but he doubted that his Majesties restoring the old Company of Merchants would make a stay of any farther proceeding as now lesse requisite howsoever that Sir Noel Carone had advertised that notwithstanding this change he thought the sending of Commissioners very necessary The Questions here about Religion rest in the same state as I advertised your Lordship in my last the Assembly of Holland being separated untill the end of February stil no. when they are to meet again Mean while a provisional order is taken that the Contra-Remonstrants shall continue their preaching in our English Church which they have accommodated with Scaffolds to make it more capable of their number There was much question in this Assemblie whether his Excellencie should be present or no but in the end he was called by the major part of voices contrary to Mounsieur Barnevelt's opinion and his authoritie over-swayed the matter in favour of the Contra-Remonstrants for the continuance of their preaching which it was proposed to hinder by some violent Courses By example of this place there is the like provisional order taken for preaching at the Brill and Rotterdam and certain of the Burghers are established in Tergow who were put from their Trade and Commerce for their expostulating with the Magistrate upon this quarrel I have been spoken unto by divers particular persons well affected in this cause to procure a Letter from his Majestie to his Excellencie whereby to comfort and encourage him in his Zeal for the maintenance of the true doctrine and the professours thereof against these Novellists and their opinions Which I most humbly refer to
Councel of State representing the rigorous and unjust proceeding against the said Scottish Masters and desired that they would send their order that the Apellation might be admitted and that their persons might be presently returned off of the Gallies I likewise repaired to the Conde of Olivarez acquainting him with the proceedings of the Duke and was able to give him some examples of divers Hollanders that had been treated in the like occasion with far lesse rigour Whereupon there is Command given according to what I have desired and whatsoever shall become of their goods I have a promise from the Conde of Olivarez that their persons shall be treated with all Courtesie It is published by the Ladies of the Palace that the Queen is with Child which hath filled this Court with much joy and her Majestie hath so much better health now upon her being new with Child then she hath had of the rest that they are already here full of hopes that she will bring them a Prince c. Your Honours c. Wa. Aston The Abstract of a Letter from Sir Walter Aston to the Lord Conway 17. July 1624. HE acknowledgeth the receipt of his Majesties Letters of the 27. of June by Mr. Wych and is busie in preparing to put those Directions in execution and that being done will give a speedy and full account The Marquesse Ynoisa dispatched away a Post to Spain from Calice and by him gave as malicious an account of his usage at his departure from England and also of all other late passages there as malice it self could have dictated He omits no libels or infamous songs nor spares his own inventions where they may serve to incense The Credit they are like to give to their Embassadour the height of discontent they are now in the assurance given them of the weak and mean estate of all things in England may tempt them to offer the giving us a blow where we are weakest And therefore no necessary preparations for defence to be neglected on our part None of their Armado stirres yet but only 4. Gallions appointed to accompany for some daies the Nova Espagna Fleet that put to Sea the fourth of this present Sir Walter Aston doubts that the light he hath received of the present state of things in England and the Arguments to answer their Objections will hardly be applyed to give any satisfaction things being in so much distemper there And where the best answers on both sides are recriminations he conceives little is to be expected but a direct falling out The cause of their retarding Mendoza's coming for England hath been their desire to see the issue of the proceedings with their Embassadour All the Grandees and principal persons of Spain are summoned to give their attendance with their armes which is done by three Letters 1. Admonitoria 2. Apercibitoria 3. Executoria The two first are already set forth And there is order likewise given for the Battalon to be in a readinesse which is the same as the Trained Bands in England This is an ancient practise there upon suspition of forraign invasion or domestique Commotion There are leavies new making according to custome for supplying of Garrisons and though these Leavies are greater then usually yet not much worthy of note An Embassadour arrived there for Denmark his coming being given out to be to negotiate the businesse of the Palatinate and to make overtures for a Peace with Holland but if nothing be heard of this in England it is not like to be true A Request presented unto the King by a Consulta from the Inquisiter general c. to procure a Jubile from Rome for expiation of the late great Contempt done by a Frenchman to the Sacrament The King promiseth to do it and he the Queen and the whole houshold will endeavour to deserve it by fasting and other duties In his answer to the Consulia there is a passage that intimates his intention of looking abroad with his armes The Frenchman was condemned burnt publiquely and dyed a Roman Catholique There have been divers processions in expression of the general grief for that action The King Queen his Brothers and Sister with the Grandees and the Councel went in procession about the two square Courts of the Palace where there were 4. Altars built one by the Kings care the rest by the Queen the Infanta Cardinal Don Carlos and Dona Maria who joyned in the care of one of them The greatest riches of Diamonds and Pearls that were in the Churches thereabouts and in the Kings store were presented on those Altars and were at ten millions They intend to dispatch one Jaquesse Brones Secretary of the Councel of Flanders by post into England to bring Don Carlos warrant to come away and to stay Agent in England until the arrival of another Embassadour which will not be long They stay the giving out of the order for the free admittance of English Merchandizes until they see what will be done with their Ships in the Downs c. Sir Walter Aston to the Duke 20. of Octob. 1624. May it please your Grace I Assure my self that your Grace is very confident that I have not only pursued the Complaint which I here made against the Marquesse of Ynoisa with the duty of a Minister in obedience to the King my Masters Command but as passionately interested against his person who maliciously attempted to stain if it had been possible the honour of the Prince his Highnesse and your Graces my noblest friend And certainly my Lord I should be infinitely afflicted in not having brought this businesse to that issue which I thirsted after could I accuse my self of having omitted any thing that might have sharpned them here against him But the Conde of Olivarez with a strong and violent hand hath delivered the Marquesse from any exemplary punishment which would certainly have been inflicted upon him had he been left to the Councel of State and without care either of the King his Masters honour or engagement hath saved the Marquesse and left the envy of it upon his Majestie if the King our Master will so please to understand it In my last unto your Grace which was of the 24th of the last moneth I humbly intreated you to procure me his Majesties leave to return into England for some few moneths which suit I do here again renew unto your Grace Howsoever in respect of this novelty in the Marquesse his businesse I will forbear putting my self upon the way until I hear of the receipt of this dispatch since if his Majestie shall please to give any demonstrations here of his sence of their unworthy proceedings I would be loath that those Commands should find me out of the way with the remembrance of my duty I rest Your Graces c. Wa. Aston Sir Walter Aston to the Duke the 10th of Decemb. 1625. May it please your Grace THe Portugal Armado put to Sea on the 12th of the last moneth Stil
Vet. It consists of 22. Ships of War 4. Victuallers and two small Pinnaces of Advice There goeth in it neer upon 4000. Land Souldiers From Cadiz I have now fresh advice That Don Frederique is still in the Port with the Fleet which he Commands but himself and his men all embarqued That Armado consisteth of some 35. Ships of War and about 8000. Souldiers and both the Fleets are victualled for 8. moneths That of Fortugal had first order to expect Don Frederique at the Cape St. Vincent but hath since received command to proceed on the journey It being now 27. dayes since the Fleet departed and this remaining still in the Harbour doth give me much cause of jealousie especially understanding that they have here advice which they give credit to that the Troops lately delivered to Count Mansfelt are sent to succour Breda fearing if it be so that they laying hold of it as a breach of the Peace which interpretation I meet with in every discourse should presently fall with this Armado upon some part of Ireland I have no farther ground for this distrust then what I have here represented which your Grace weighing with the importancy of their enterprise in hand for the recovering the Baya and the occasions that will be given them from England do best know what rigid judgment to make Sithence I wrote my other Letter unto your Grace which accompanies this I understand the French Embassadour by order from the King his Master hath given account unto this King of the Conclusion of the Match betwixt the Prince his Highnesse and Madam Christiene his Masters Sister Whereupon this King and the whole Court put on Galas I conceive howsoever I have not heard any thing thereof by any Letter unto me that this is ground enough to Congratulate with your Grace this good beginning which I shall affectionately wish may in the successe in all times prove a happiness to his Highnes and a particular blessing to your Grace The Conde of Gondomar hath newly received a Command from the King his Master signified unto him by the Secretary Don Andreas de Prada to put himself presently upon the way for England which he hath answered he will obey howsoever I believe he will keep his Christmasse here Mr. Butler whom your Grace left here placed with this King meets often with such discourses in the Palace that as a faithful servant to your Grace he hath no patience to bear which he hath reason to believe will in a short time throw him out of this Court which he would be glad to prevent if he might have your Graces command to return being infinitely desirous that your Grace would dispose otherwise of him I will conclude with the same suit for my self there being none that hath more need of comfort from your Grace I best know that I have no way deserved any change or decay in your Graces favour towards me having not been slow in upbraiding this Nation with their obligations to your Grace and their shameful ungratefulnesse nor without a constant and passionate desire to serve your Grace every way to your content if your Graces Commands would but direct me what to do I do therefore rest confident of your care and goodnesse towards me And so with my prayers to God to continue his blessings upon you I rest Your Graces c. W. Aston Dr. Williams to the Duke My most noble Lord IT hath pleased God to call for the Bishop of London I am so conscious of mine own weaknesse and undeservings that as I never was so now I dare not be a suiter for so great a charge But if his Majestie by your Honours mediation shall resolve to call me to perform him the best service I can in that place I humbly beseech your Honour to admit me a suiter in these three circumstances First that whereas my Lord of London hath survived our Lady day and received all the profits that should maintain a Bishop until Michaelmasse I may by his Majesties favour retain all my own means until the next day after Michaelmas day this is a Petition which I shall be necessitated to make unto his Majestie if his Majestie by your favour shall advance me to this place and injureth no man else in the world Secondly that whereas the Commissioners challenge from the Bishops revenues a matter of 200. l. per annum this Bishoprick being already very meanly endowed in regard of the continual charge and exhaustments of the place it would please his Majestie to leave in my hands by way of Commendam one Benefice of mine which falls into his Majesties dispose upon my remove until it be determined by the said Commissioners whether any part of the Bishops means be due unto the Fabrique My humble suit is for Walgrave a Benefice with Cure in North-hamptonshire where I have laid out all my estate in temporal Lands Lastly that if it be found that the Bishop is to joyn with the Residentiaries of Pauls in the repair of the Church his Majestie would qualifie me by a commendam to hold one of my own Prebends when it shall fall to be a Residentiarie also that if I be charged with the burthen of Residentiarie I might enjoy the profits of a Residentiarie These three requests do I confesse adde unto me but do not prejudice any one else whatsoever I submit them and my self to your Honours wisdom c. The names of such Ecclesiastical promotions as I now retain and will fall to be disposed of by the King if I should be removed 1. Deanery of Westminster 2. Rectorie of Dinam 3. Rectorie of VValgrave 4. Rectorie of Grafton 5. Prebendary of Peterborough 6. Chaunter of Lincoln 7. Prebendary of Asgarbie 8. Prebendary of Nonnington 9. Residentiaries place of Lincoln Lord Keeper to the Duke 27. July 1621. My most noble Lord AN unfortunate occasion of my Lords Grace his killing of a man casually as it is here constantly reported is the cause of my seconding of my yesterdayes Letter unto your Lordship His Grace upon this accident is by the Common Law of England to forfeit all his estate unto his Majestie and by the Canon Law which is in force with us irregular ipso facto and so suspended from all Ecclesiastical function until he be again restored by his Superiour which I take it is the Kings Majestie in this rank and order of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction If you send for Dr. Lamb he will acquaint your Lordship with the distinct penalties in this kind I wish with all my heart his Majestie would be as merciful as ever he was in all his life but yet I held it my duty to let his Majestie know by your Lordship that his Majestie is fallen upon a matter of great advice and deliberation To adde affliction to the afflicted as no doubt he is in mind is against the Kings nature to leave virum Sanguinum or a man of bloud Primate and Patriarch of all his Churches is
any man that is a Governour in the Church And since by his Majesties gratious goodnesse and your Grace's sole procurement I am made a Governour I would be loath to be excluded from that which might give me experience and so enable me to perform my dutie I am sure my Lord of Canterbury will leave me out as hitherto he hath done if his Majestie be not pleased to Command that I shall be in This I submit to your Grace but humbly desire even against my own ease and quiet that I may not be deprived of that experience which is necessary for my place I most humbly beseech your Grace to pardon this boldnesse and to know that in my daily prayers for your Grace's happinesse I shall ever rest Novemb. 18. 1624. Your Grace's most devoted and affectionate servant Guil. Menevensis The Bishop of Menevensis to the Duke Dr. Laud. My most Gracious Lord I Am heartily glad to hear your Lordship is so well returned and so happily as to meet so great joy God hath among many others his great blessings and I know your Grace so esteems them sent you now this extraordinarie one a son to inherit his fathers honours and the rest of Gods blessings upon both So soon as I came to any end of my journey I met the happie news of Gods blessing upon your Grace and it seasoned all the hard journey I have had out of Wales through the Snow When I had rested my self a little at my friend's house in the Forrest Mr. Windebank a servant of your Grace's whom I made bold to make known to your Honour I came to Windsor in hope to have been so happie as to meet your Grace at the great solemnitie but when I came I found that which I suspected that your Grace's greater joy would carrie you farther Which journey and the cause and the end of it I heartily wish and pray may be full of joy and all contentment to your Grace I made bold to trouble your Grace with a Letter or two out of VVales which I hope Mr. VVindebank took the best care he could to see delivered I have no means to do your Grace any service but by my prayers and they do daily attend and shall ever while I breathe to utter them I hope though I have missed this opportunitie yet I shall be so happie as to see and wait upon your Grace at London In the mean time and ever I leave your Grace and all your home-blessings to the protection of the Almightie and shall ever be found VVindsor 13. Decemb 1625. Your Graces most devoted and affectionate servant Guil. Meneven Doctor Mountague Bishop of Chichester to the Duke May it please your Grace YOur Highnesse vouchsafed at VVindsor to let me understand that his Majestie my gracious Master and Soveraign had taken me off from that trouble and vexation which by some mens procurement I was put unto in the House of Commons They as I understand think not so but intend to proceed against me so far as they can as having returned his Majestie no other answer but that I was freed from imprisonment It is true that besides 20 l. which the Scrieant had of me by exaction for fees they bound me unto him in a bond of 2000 l. to appear before them the first day of the next Sessions I beseech your Grace that as you have been pleased to tie me unto your excellent not onely self but also most honourable Sister in that bond of obligation as never was poor Scholar to such Worthies so you would be pleased to let his Majestie understand the case that by your means I may be absolutely discharged with the redeliverie of my bond from them whom I never offended who under correction have nothing to do with me and as his Majesties servant be left unto himself especially for that which was authorised by himself and commanded by his Father my late Master of ever blessed memorie If his Majestie will be pleased to call for their accusations against me if I do not really and thoroughly answer whatsoever is or can be imputed to me out of my books I will no further desire favour and protection of his Majestie and your Gracious self but be willingly left unto my enemies I must crave pardon for presuming thus to trouble your Grace the rather because through a grievous affliction of the Collick and Stone I am not able personally to attend your Grace whom according unto my most bounden dutie I daily recommend unto the Almightie being more obliged unto your noble self then ever to any one So remaining Petwerth 29. July Most humbly at your Graces service ever Ri. Mountague 1. IF any or all the Papists living can prove that the Roman Church as it now stands in opposition to the Church of England is either the Catholique Church of Christ or a sound member of the Catholique Church I will subscribe 2. If any or all the Papists living can prove unto me that the Church of England as it standeth at this day is not a true member of the Catholique Church I will subscribe 3. If any or all the Papists living can prove unto me that any one point at this day maintained by the Church of Rome against the Church of England was the received Doctrine of the Catholique Church or concluded by any general Councel or particular approved Councel or resolved of by any one Father of Credit to be such for 500. years at least after Christ I will subscribe Ri. Mountague The Bishops of Rochester Oxford and St. Davids to the Duke concerning Mr. Mountague May it please your Grace VVEE are bold to be suitors to you in the behalf of the Church of England and a poor member of it Mr. Mountague at this time not a little distressed We are not strangers to his person but it is the Cause which we are bound to be tender of The cause we conceive under correction of better judgment concerns the Church of England merely for that Church when it was reformed from the superstitious opinions broached or maintained by the Church of Rome refused the apparant and dangerous errours and would not be too busie with every particular School point The cause why she held this moderation was because she could not be able to preserve any unitie amongst Christians if men were forced to subscribe to curious particulars disputed in Schooles Now may it please your Grace the opinions which at this time trouble many men in the late Book of Mr. Mountague are some of them such as are expresly the resolved doctrine of the Church of England and those he is bound to maintain Some of them such as are fit onely for Schooles and to be left at more liberty for learned men to abound in their own sense so they keep themselves peaceable and distract not the Church And therefore to make any man subscribe to Schoole opinions may justly seeme hard in the Church of Christ and was one great
fault of the Councel of Trent And to affright them from those opinions in which they have as they are bound subscribed to the Church as it is worse in it self so it may be the Mother of greater danger May it please your Grace farther to consider that when the Clergie submited themselves in the time of Henry the 8th the submission was so that if any difference doctrinal or other fell in the Church the King and the Bishops were to be Judges of it in a national Synode or Convocation The King first giving leave under his broad Seale to handle the points in difference But the Church never submitted to any other Judge neither indeed can Shee though Shee would And we humbly desire your Grace to consider and then to move his most Gracious Majestie if you shall think fit what dangerous Consequences may follow upon it For first if any other Judge be allowed in matter of Doctrine we shall depart from the ordinance of Christ and the continual course and practise of the Church 2. Secondly if the Church be once brought down beneath her self we cannot but fear what may be next Strook at 3. Thirdly it will some way touch the honour of his majesties dear Father and our most dread Soveraign of Glorious and ever blessed memorie King James who saw and approved all the opinions in this Book and he in his rare wisdom and judgment would never have allowed them if they had Crossed with truth and the Church of England 4. Fourthly we must be bold to say that we cannot conceive what use there can be of Civil Government in the common Wealth or of preaching and external ministrie in the Church if such fatall opinions as some which are opposite and contrarie to these delivered by Mr. Mountague are shall be Publiquely taught and maintained 5. Fiftly we are certain that all or most of the contrarie opinions were treated of at Lambeth and ready to be published but then Queen Elizabeth of famous memorie upon notice given how little they agreed with the Practice of pietie and obedience to all Government caused them to be suppressed and so they have continued ever since till of late some of them have received countenance at the Synod of Dort Now this was a Synod of that nation and can be of no authority in any other National Church till it be received there by Publique authority And our hope is that the Church of England will be well advised and more then once over before Shee admit a forraign Synod especiallie of such a Church as condemneth her discipline and manner of Government to say no more And further we are bold to commend to your Graces wisdom this one particular His Majestie as we have been informed hath already taken this businesse into his own care and most worthily referred it in a right course to Church-consideration And we well hoped that without further trouble to the state or breach of unity in the Church it might so have been well and orderly composed as we still pray it may These things considered we have little to say for Mr. Mountagues person onely thus much we know He is a very good Scholler and a right honest man A man every way able to do God his Majestie and the Church of England great service We fear he may receive great discouragement and which is far worse we have some cause to doubt this may bred a great backwardnesse in able men to write in the defence of the Church of England against either home or forraign adversaries if they shall see him sink in fortunes reputation or health upon his book occasion And this we most humbly submit to your Graces judgment and care of the Churches peace and welfare So recommending your Grace to the protection of Almighty God We shall ever rest At your Graces service Jo. Roffens Jo. Oxon. Guil Meneven 2. August 1625. Doctor Field Bishop of Landaffe to the Duke My Gracious Good Lord IN the great Library of men that I have studied these many yeares your Grace is the best Book and most Classick authour that I have read in whom I find so much goodnesse sweetnesse and noblenesse of nature such an Heroick spirit for boundlesse bounty as I never did in any I could instance in many some of whom you have made Deanes some Bishops some Lords and Privy Councellours None that ever looked toward your Grace did ever go empty away I need go no farther then my self a gum of the Earth whom some 8. years ago you raised out of the dust for raysing but a thought so high as to serve your Highnesse Since that I have not played the Truant but more diligently studied you then ever before And yet Dunce that I am I stand at a stay and am a Non-proficient the book being the same that ever it was as may appear by the great proficiencie of others This wonderfully poseth me and sure there is some guile some wile in some of my fellow Students who hide my book from me or some part of it All the fault is not in mine own blockishnesse that I thrive no better I once feared this before that some did me ill offices Your Grace was pleased to protest no man had and to assure me no man could My heart tels me it hath been alwaies upright and is still most faithful unto you I have examined my actions my words and my very thoughts and found all of them ever since most sound unto your Grace Give me leave after so long Patience for which vertue you were once pleased to commend me to my old Master King James and I have not yet lost it now that for these 12 Months almost I have been not onely upon the Stage but upon the rack of expectations even distracted between hope and fear to comfort my self with recordation of your Loving kindnesses of old when on that great feast day of your being inaugured our Chancellour my look was your booke wherein you read sadnesse to which I was bold to answer I trusted your Grace would give me no cause You replyed with losse of blood rather that was your noble expression But God forbid so precious an effusion I would emptie all my veins rather then you should bleed one drop when as one blast of your breath is able to bring me to the haven where I would be My Lord I am grown an old man and am like old Househouldstuffe apt to be broke upon often removing I desire it therefore but once for all be it Eli or Bathe and Wells and I will spend the remainder of my dayes in writing an History of your good deeds to me and others whereby I may vindicate you from the envie and obloquy of this present wicked age wherein we live and whilest I live in praying for your Grace Whose I am totallie and finallie Theophilus Landaven The Bishop of Landaffe to the Duke My most honourable good Lord IT is meet before I beg a new that I
desire to match with the house of Austria it seemed good to use most affectionatetly to commend this your intent and to give clear testimony that at this time your person is the most principal care that our Church hath For seeing you pretend to match with a Catholique Damosel it may easily be presumed that the antient seed of Christian pietie which so happilie flourished in the minds of British Kings may by Gods Grace reverberate in your breast For it is not probable that he that desires such a wife should abhor the Catholique religion and rejoyce at the overthrow of the holy Romane Church To which purpose we have caused continual prayers to be made and most vigilant orisons to the Father of Lights for you fair flower of the Christian world and only hope of great Brittain that he would bring you to the possession of that most Noble inheritance which your Ancestors got you by the defence of the Apostolique authority and destruction of monsters of haerisies Call to memorie the times of old ask your forefathers and they will shew you what way leades to heaven and perceiving what path mortal Princes passe to the Heavenly Kingdom behold the Gates of heaven open Those most holy Kings of England which parting from Rome accompanied with Angels most piously reverenced the Lord of Lords and the Prince of the Apostles in his Chair Their works and examples are mouthes wherewith God speaks and warneth you that you should imitate their customes in whose Kingdomes you succeed Can you suffer that they be called Heretiques and condemned for wicked men when the faith of the Church testifieth that they reign with Christ in Heaven and are exalted above all the Princes of the Earth and that they at this time reached you their hands from that most blessed Country and brought you safely to the Court of the Catholique King and desire to turn you to the womb of the Romane Church wherein praying most humbly with most unspeakable groans to the God of mercy for your salvation to reach you the arms of Apostolical charity to imbrace most lovingly your children so often desired and to poynt out as it were with a finger the blessed hopes of Heaven And truly you could do no act of greater comfort to all Nations of Christendom then to return the possession of those most Noble Isles to the Prince of the Apostles whose authority for so many ages was held in England for the defence of the Kingdom and divine Oracle which will not be uneasie to do if you open your breast upon which depends the prosperity of those Kingdoms to God who is knocking And we have so great desire of the honour and exaltation of your Royal Name that we wish that you should be called through thee whole world together with your most Serene Father the Freer of Great Britain and restorer of her antient Religion Whereof we will not lose all hopes putting them in mind in whose hands the hearts of Kings lie and he that rules all nations of the world by whose Grace we will with all possible diligence labour to effect it And you cannot choose but acknowledge in these Letters the care of our Apostolical charity to procure your happinesse which it will never repent us to have written if the reading thereof shall at leastwise stir some sparks of Catholique religion in the heart of so Great a Prince who we desire may injoy Eternal comfors and flourish with the Glorie of all virtues Given in Rome in the Palace of St. Peter the 20. of April 1623. In the third of our Pontificado The Princes answer to the Popes Nuntio that brought him this Letter I Kisse his Holinesse Feet for the favour and honour he doth me so much the more esteemed by how much the lesse deserved of me hitherto And his Holinesse shall see what I do hereafter and I think my Father will do the like So that his Holinesse shall not repent him of what he hath done The Prince of Wales his Reply to the Popes Letter Most Holy Father I Received the Dispatch from your Holinesse with great content and with that respect which the pietie and care wherewith your Holinesse writes doth require It was an unspeakable pleasure to me to read the generous exploits of the Kings my predecessours in whose memorie posterity hath not given those praises and Elogies of honour as were due to them I do believe that your Holinesse hath set their examples before my eyes to the end I might imitate them inall my actions for in truth they have often exposed their estates and lives for the exaltation of the holy Chair and the courage with which they have assaulted the enemies of the Crosse of Jesus Christ hath not been lesse then the care and thought which I have to the end that the peace and intelligence which hath hitherto been wanting in Christendom might be bound with a true and strong concord for as the common enemy of the peace watcheth alwaies to put hatred and dissention amongst Christian Princes so I believe that the glory of God requires that we should endeavour to unite them And I do not esteem it a greater honour to be defcended from so great Princes then to imitate them in the zeal of their piety In which it helps me very much to have known the mind and will of our thrice honoured Lord and Father and the holy intentions of his Catholique Majestie to give a happy concurrence to so laudable a design for it grieves him exceedingly to see the great evils that grow from the division of Christian Princes which the wisdom of your Holinesse foresaw when it judged the marriage which you pleased to design between the Infanta of Spain and my self to be necessary to proture so great a good for 't is very certain that I shall never be so extreamly affectionate to any thing in the world as to endeavour alliance with a Prince that hath the same apprehension of the true Religion with my self Therefore I intreat your Holinesse to believe that I have been alwaies very far from Novelties or to be a partisan of any faction against the Catholick Apostolick Roman Religion But on the contrary I have sought all occasions to take away the suspition that might rest upon me and that I will imploy my self for the time to come to have but one Religion and one Faith seeing that we all believe in one Jesus Christ Having resolved in my self to spare nothing that I have in the world and to suffer all manner of discommodities even to the hazarding of my estate and life for a thing so pleasing unto God It rests onely that I thank your Holinesse for the permission you have been pleased to afford me and I pray God to give you a blessed health and his glory after so much pains which your Holinesse takes in his Church Signed Charles Steward The Pope to the Duke of Buckingham Gregorie P. P. XV. Nobleman health and the light
plots would be most acceptable to the Puritans not without great injury to your Councel of State from which he fled and disclaimed by way of an appeale and with such successe that we may be bold to say that the Parliament is now above the King Nay which is more that this daring Duke propounded many things to the Parliament in the Kings name your Majestie being neither acquainted with them nor willing to them Yea and that he propounded many things contrary to your Majesties service Who is there that doth not see and commend the royal disposition of the Prince adorned with so great endowments of his mind that he doth not in them all shew and approve himself to be a very good son of a very good King And yet neverthelesse that the Duke doth so much presume upon his favour that he contemneth all men as knowing that those who are obedient to his Highnesse will also subject themselves to his will I would to God he did direct those his actions to the good of the Prince But that is a thing so far from the opinion of good men that they rather believe that he who hath overthrown the marriage with Spain will be of no lesse power to the breaking of any other marriage and that is it which many do prophesie They knew in Spain that very same day that he had received Letters from the most illustrious Prince Palatine that he caused the procuration to be revoked and in a few dayes after when the comming of the foresaid Princes Secretarie and the confirmation of his hope of having his Daughter married to her Highnesse son all things were utterly dashed in pieces Let your Majestie have a care of your self and the Prince and foresee the hurts and damages which a man of such a turbulent humour may stir up whose headie spirit your Majestie saith you have noted and have desired to mittigate A man I say that is ambitious of popular ayr as plainly appeared in Parliament when the casting of all odious matter upon your Majestie he did arrogate the thanks of all things that were acceptable to himself being stiled the redeemer of his countrie I say again a man that hath envied so great a good to the Christian world and principally to the kingdomes of England and Spain having used some certain meanes which do argue that he aymed at such an end as many already do fear and to prophesie in it the worst event that can be if the Puritans desire a kingdome which they do against their wills they wish it not to the most illustirous Prince the best and true Heir of your Majestie but to the Prince Palatine whose spie and Scout Mansfelt is what shew soever he makes He that makes these things known to your Majestie dischargeth the part of a good man as well towards God as your Majestie and the illustirous Prince whom it now standeth in hand to foresee the vengeance of God provided by the Dukes plots and the furie of the Parliament there having been so many and so great testimonies published against Spain contrarie contrarie to truth so many and so frequent infamous Libels begotten and brought forth and many such other things so full of bitternesse and ignominie that they cannot be read even of our enemies without some taint upon the English Nation It is mostapparent and stories will testifie that here Leagues have been broken by the will and pleasure of them whom it especiallie concerneth to provide for your peace and quiet and to wish from the bottom of their hearts that after many and these most happie yeares that Motto of yours blessed be the Peace-makers might be verified in Letter of the person of your Majestie and to propound the same Counsel to the most illustrious Prince to be imitated which your Majestie hath done to the whole world to be commended and admired A happie Prince will he be if he comes and succceeds peaceably into the haereditarie possession of his kingdom and which will be of no lesse advantage to him having his peace established with those Princes whose friendship and amitie your Majestie hath procured and deserved He would certainly love and commend those that had given him those Counsels of peace Peace and tranquillitie are by haereditarie right devolved to the most illustrious Prince in as much as he is born of the Father who hath with so much industrie procured them not onely to this Island but to the continent also esteeming them at a higher value then his kingdomes themselves Which since it is thus and that the blood of his Father which is in him and the love wherewith he is carried towards your Majestie and the experience of this your most happie Government and that great example wherewith your Majestie hath drawn and won the Christian world to an admiration and love of you did all direct the most illustrious Prince with a kind of connatural motion to the same Counsel and purpose of peace as might have heretofore been likewise hoped Certainly this Machination is very strong violent and mighty which doth suddainely labour to turn him into a clean contrarie course And questionlesse if the very entrance into a war the war it self if it want justice it will want also happie successe It cannot be unknown to your Majestie that the Duke of Buckingham carrieth himself so lofty that he would have all men perswaded that he hath and doth exercise a kind of dominion over the will of your Majestie and of his Highnesse All things shall be made manifest to your Majestie if you will have them so for there are not meanes wanting whereby you may free your vassal from fear and diffidence who will otherwise dare nothing nor say nothing which certainely appeares so far to be true that when all things standing as they do it is an easie matter to find who will speak against your Majestie yet there is none that dare speak against the Duke Let your Majestie call some certain men unto you and sist out of them the opinion of the more moderate Parliament and enquire of those that come out of Spain who did first give the first cause of falling out whether the Complaints against the King of Spain be true or no whether that foresaid King were not desirous to satisfie the desire of the Prince his Highnesse Whether he did not faithfully endeavour to effect the marriage Whether the Duke of Buckingham did not many things against the authoritie and reverence due to the most illustrious Prince Whether he was not wont to be sitting whilest the Prince stood and was in presence and also having his feet resting upon another seat after an undecent manner Whether when the Prince was uncovered whilest the Queen and Infanta looked out at the Windowes he uncovered his head or no Whether sitting at the Table with the Prince he did not behave himself unreverently Whether he were not wont to come in to the Princes Chamber with his cloathes half on so