now a little the businesse will be quickly done and in a good manner I beseech your Lordship preach to him a Christian Sermon as is most needful for there comes from thence divers wayes such reports thither that I am ashamed and out of countenance in the streets as I go and they do me a favour that they do not stone me knowing that I am treating and labouring this businesse at the same time when the poor Catholiques are so cruelly used in England Scotland and Ireland And when I excuse it that it is not by the Kings order but by the abuse and malice of some ill affected Ministers it will not be received neither do they want Replies Besides there is a rumour all over Rome that the King in a Speech which he made at the beginning of the Parliament affirmed publiquely That for all this marriage with Spain the Catholique party in England should not be in one jott better condition then they are But I cannot be yet discouraged My confidence is in the King and in the desire which I know he hath to procure a good Wife for his Son And now that the time is come let him play the part of a Couragious Wooer and frustrate the intentions and desires of all those that are adverse to it It is a comfort unto me that I do not find here an impossibility but that though there be difficulties yet I find many here that desire to overcome them And above all I hope that God will assist this businesse as his own Cause I am going to prepare my self for the Congregation of the Cardinals and a Consultation of Divines to whom I understand we shall be remitted this next week I shall give your Lordship an account punctually of all things that happen in those Conferences Ous Lord c. Your Lordships c. Padre Maestre Don Carlos to the Lord Conway 3. September SIR I Have understood by Mr. Strada with particular contentment the newes of your good health which God continue for many years I see by yours received by Strada what his Majestie hath been pleased to order concerning the ships of the Indies which is as much in effect as could be hoped for from so great a King so zealous of Justice and Equitie In the Conduct of this businesse we will observe the order given by his Majestie in confidence that the Subjects of the King my Master shall obtain their ends and his Catholique Majestie receive the contentment to know that the excesses of those that shall be convinced have been punished By the last Currier of Flanders we received neither from the Infanta nor any other person any other newes then what Mr. Trumbal sent by his Letters I confesse freely that the Marquesse and my self have been much troubled both of us being exceedingly desirous that his Majestie should receive in every thing even in words and formalities the same satisfaction which we hope he shall receive in the effects Neverthelesse in discharge of her Highnesse I will say that which is fit for me as I am her servant and which I pray you from me to deliver unto his Majestie but thus understood that it is onely my own particular discourse By the displeasure his Majestie hath been pleased to testifie unto me upon many occasions of the Prince Palatines refusal to sign and ratifie the Treatie of suspension of Armes He may be also pleased to judge how it may have been taken by the King my Master in Spain and the Infanta in Flanders and the rather because of the continual reports that at the same time went up and down and increased as ordinarily it falls out of the descent of Alberstat with a mighty Army of 20000 foot and 6000 horse not any more to make war in Germany but to joyn with the Prince of Orange and fall upon those Provinces in obedience to his Catholique Majestie which was no other but directly to aym at the vital parts of the Spanish Monarchie If for these just fears which cannot certainly be held vain being considered with those of the year past proceeding from one and the same Cause both of which have been scattered by the Almighty hand of God in his secret Judgments it hath not onely been lawful but also necessary to conserve the ancient alliances and procure new I leave it to the judgment of every man of understanding not doubting but for this respect you will be of the same opinion with me And much more his Majestie whom God hath endowed with so great knowledge and royal qualities as are known to all the world Morover let us see if in the Law of gratitude the Infanta could do lesse then acknowledge towards the Duke of Bavaria the valour wherewith his Army had resisted the pernitious designs of Alberstat having hazarded his own estate to hinder the imminent danger of the King my Masters Again let us consider if the Infanta sending to visit and give him thanks could excuse her self from giving him all those titles which the Duke of Bavaria gives himself and desires should be given him And if he might not if she had done otherwise have thought the ingratitude the greater then the acknowledgement And therefore things being in this state the Infanta could not excuse her self from sending to visite him seeing he had succoured her in a time of need and in visiting him to give him that which he desired should be given him And the like is to be said for the King my Master in case he hath done the like as Mr. Trumbal writes the Infanta should tell him and with a great deal more reason because the Countries are his own And therefore since his Majestie of Great Brittain is so great a King and hath so great a reputation of the exact performing of his royal obligations I doubt not but he will judge that in this formality the King my Master and the Infanta his Aunt have but acquitted themselves of their obligations For the rest if at the conferrence of Cullen which his said Majestie and her Highnesse have desired and do yet desire his Majestie of great Brittain shall see that they are wanting on their part to proceed with that sincerity and truth which they have so often offered and which the Marquesse of Ynoiosa doth still offer on the behalf of the King my Master so that only the Prince Palatine make the submissions due to the Emperour as his natural Lord and resolvie to follow the Paternal counsels of his Majestie of great Brittain his Majestie shall then have reason to complain And in the mean time the Prince Palatine should do but well not to entertain those Amities he endeavours to conserve nor to sollicit those Leagues which he labours to procure not only with the declared rebells of the King my Master and of the House of Austria but also with the enemies of all Christendom I will ingage my head if following this way his Majestie and his son in law find themselves
me one of the Junta as they called it of the selected Councellours and his imployment given me the last year as his Extraordinary Embassadour into Germany I told them I had been bred a Souldier as their Excellencies had been but that I wanted the capacity and abilities which they had and that for want of Language not affecting to speak by an Interpreter I had forborn to wait on their Excellencies as otherwise I would have done To that they returned the like Complement and then said Their Master had sent a good answer touching the Palatinate and they assured me that he would perform what he had promised with advantage I said if it were so I then hoped all things would sort to a good end They then asked me how his Majestie and the Lords were affected and whether therewith they were satisfied or no I answered That I conceived their Excellencies knew his Majesties mind as well as the Lords for that they had so lately audience of him They said It was true they had so but not a private audience nor could they obtain any though they had much desired the same but that others were still present I said merely that they were two and I believed that the King their Master had sent as able and experienced Ministers as he had any and therefore his Majestie might peradventure think fit not to hear them alone They said his Majestie might alone hear a thousand Ministers of any Kings but if he should be otherwise pleased they well liked of the Princes being present but they said there were also other great Ministers of the Kings who wished not well to their Masters affairs I said There might therein be a mistaking or misunderstanding on their part for if the King their Master mean so really as they said I conceived that no body would be willing to remove his Majestie from those purposes and that good affection which he bore unto his dear Brother the King of Spain The Marquesse said in English The King was a good King and the Prince a good Prince but some of their Ministers they doubted were ill willers to them I asked if greater demonstrations of reality could be devised then had been given on the part of the King and Prince instancing in the Prince his going in Person into Spain They confessed it but as the times now were they said ill offices were done them I assured them That I neither knew nor understood of any neither did I ever hear them spoken of but with due respect had unto them as to the Ministers of a great King and his Majesties dear Brother They said their meaning was not that the ill offices were done to their Persons but to the great Businesses which a certain Person had shewed a willingnesse to disturb but they hoped that the intended amity between our Masters would hold and proceed neverthelesse I professed that I knew nothing to the contrary neither understood I the particular at which they aymed The Marquesse swore as he was a Christian he knew that the King his Master did so truly and really esteem his dear Brother the King of England and the Prince of Wales that if they needed part of his blood they should have it for their good But he complained that they could not have their Messages delivered nor returned from the King of late but qualified according to the pleasures of others I said They misconceived it for I thought they had no cause to complain seeing they now had or might have as I supposed the Kings Ear when they craved it in due and befitting times They seemed to deny it alledging That they could not get their Messages and Papers answered as aforetime I said When the Prince was in Spain they had free accesse to his Majestie whensoever they desired it Yea said the Marquesse in Latine Tune but now he said the ease was altered I said the King had given many testimonies to the world of his willingnesse to comply with their Master and Them And if either his Majestie or the Prince seemed now more reserved and deliberate in their actions then heretofore it might be that his Highnesse had learned that wary and circumspect proceeding in Spain where they are said to use it in matters of far lesse moment They smiled hereat and prayed me to continue my good intentions and respects towards them and to the joynt affairs of both our Masters I said I would alwaies serve the King my Master with a true and faithful heart and so far as should be agreeable to his desires and good liking I would to my small power be ready to serve them In Conclusion they said They came but to visit me but being come they could not choose but say something and touch upon businesse Arthur Chichester 22. of May 1624. Having made visits at sundry times to the Spanish Embassadours I do here under my hand declare what passed betwixt them and me so neer as my memory serveth lest in my absence any such maâ—ter should fall in question I now intending to travel for a space VVHen his Highnesse was in Spain being upon my journy in Scotland I went to Elis-House to take my leave of Don Carles where Vanvail was present I expressing much joy of the march which in my mind would without all question be perfected did find no such humour nor inclination on their part which did much astonish me for they grumblingly did alleadge that the King my Master did perform nothing that he promised or how could any thing be expected the Infanta being here whereas nothing was per formed the Prince being in Spain I besought them to do better offices then without reason to put jealousies betwixt my Master and theirs who would never have sent his son to Spain without a real intention Which onely act was reason sufficient to remove all doubts Yet did they still continue their challenge of divers Bracks specially anent the sending of ships to Scotland to bring away the two Dunkirkers and not perfecting such conditions as were promised to Catholiques I did intreat them again that such conceits of my Master might be removed for they might be confident of full performance of what he had promised by reason he had never broke his promise to any I desired them likewise to consider with what love our Prince was gone and what a stain it should be to the State of Spain if uncourteously he should return with distast Besides it might fall out to be the worst act that ever they committed where anent if they had love to their Master they would prove good Instruments What was spoke by me in English was related in Spanish to Don Carlo so was it to me what they spoke in Spanish Sometimes Don Carlo spoke in French so that not a word passed which each man did not know I went again after the Treaties were given up and did remember Don Carlo of what I had forespoke when the Marquesse was present and took
that have served in this Land which by proclamation and promise of mony in hand or more pay will easily discover themselves whom some of the new men to be released will be glad to satisfy without charge to his Majestie Sir Edward Cecyl to the Duke My most excellent Lord THere are some Letters of mine that had come to your Lorships hands a good many dayes since had not the wind been contrary and withstood their passage The substance whereof was onely to shew you how thankful I hold my self to your excellencie for so great and infinite a favour as it hath pleased your excellencie to think me worthie of But as is it a favour that will set me on work all the dayes of my life so is it greater then I can ever deserve Howsoever my resolution is to do my best And I humbly beseech your Excellencie to believe that with my diligence and the best understanding I have I will seek nothing but to please you and to honour you and if God say Amen to make the world speak of your design as much I hope as ever our Nation hath given cause And for the faults of my self and those I shall bring with me they shall not be excused but with our lives and bloods for I hope I shall bring none but such as know what to do and when they come to it will bite fooner then bark I do promise my self your Excellencie will have no cause to doubt or repent you of your favours for I know what men have done and what they can do in my occupation But God is God and men are but men All my discouragement is that the States answer not his Majesties expectation being fearful especially since the losse of Breda to part with any of their old Officers or old Souldiers but my hope is now better for we have put them to another resolution by answering all their objections By this disposition of the States to the keeping all their old Souldiers I wish your Excellencie will be pleased to be as careful in your choice as you are desirous of great designs For otherwise the honour and the charge will both be cast away as your Excellencie may perceive in some of our latter expeditions seeing that although there are many called Souldiers in the world yet but a few there be that are so for so long a man must live in the profession to inable him sufficiently that many grow unable to perform what they know before they have attained to the knowledge of what to perform The knowledge of war being the highest of humane things that God suffereth mans understanding to reach unto I have according to your Excellencies command made as many provisions as I can for the shortnesse of the time of such things as cannot be gotten in England And I could have wished I had known of this imployment but some months sooner for then I could have saved his Majesty somewhat and have added many things that would very much have advanced the service For in our profession the preparing of things belonging to the war doth more shew a mans experience and judgment then any thing else by reason the first errours are the begetting of many more that afterwards cannot be avoided Your Exellencie may be pleased to inform your self of all the exployts and undertakings of our nation that none of them hath suffered for the most part more then through the negligence of provisions as in victual munition boats for Landing and for the receiving of sick men to keep the rest from infection In this point of provision it is not good to trust upon a particular man for gain is a corrupter where the care is not publique And in so great an expedition one must do with living men as they do with the dead there must be overseers and executors to have a true intent well performed I have presumed to write thus much to shew my thankfulnesse to your Excellencie and my great affection to his Majesties service whereof I am infinitely possessed I hear your Excellencie is in France but my prayers to God are to send you safe and happie home for the World holds you the soule of advancing his Majesties affairs wherein his Honour is ingaged as it is especially in this action being the first and a Great One. And as for my self who am now a creature you have made I know not what I shall do when I come to England being your Excellencies shadow only I have here attended the wind and since I cannot force it I am glad of the opportunitie to send the Letters by Sir Henry Vane who goes over Land a Passage I am not capable of having been so long their enemie But I hope God will send me soon after leaving Sir William St. Leiger here for the dispatch of that which remains I have written more particularly to my Lord Conway which I dare not set down here for fear of being tedious and knowing his Lordship will give your Excellencie an account of it And so in all humblenesse and dutie I pray God send your Excellency honour and length of life for his Majestie 's affairs and for the happinesse of Your Lordships most humble faithful and obedient servant Ed. Cecill Hagh the 3d. of June 1625. Sir Edward Cecil to the Duke My most Excellent Lord THe occasion of my boldnesse in presenting your Excellency with these lines is for that contrary to my expectation I hear that there is a Commission a drawing to make Sir Horace Vere a Baron of England It is strange to me at this time to hear it for that I know not what worth there is more in him then in those that are equal in profession and before him in birth If your Excellencie have made choice of me to be your second in this journey of so much charge and expectation and to make me lesse then I was what courage shall I have to do you service or what honour will redound to your Excellencie But although I write it yet I cannot believe it for that I know you of that judgment and noblenesse that you will rather adde to your faithful servants although they beg it not then to disgrace them and make them lesse Therefore I will continue my belief and rest Your Excellencies most humble and devoted servant Ed. Cecill 19. of July 1625. My Lord Wimbledon to the Duke My Gratious Lord IT hath not a little troubled your faithful servant at my last being with your Excellencie in White-Hall Garden to understand after I had attended so long that I had ill offices done me to his Majestie and yet the World is of opinion that I have your Excellencies favor I presently went home and ever since I have mused and considered and can find no reason or policie for my being kept from his Majesties presence which maketh me and my neer friends astonished For hitherto I have received no favour but rather the most strictest proceeding that ever was
cast in their shares And Hungarie as I hope being in that same cause will run the same fortune for the meanes to support the war I hope Providebit Deus The Parliament is the old and honourable way but how assured at this time I know not yet I will hope the best certainly if countenance be given to the action many brave spirits will voluntarily go Our great Master in sufficient want of mony gave some ayde to the Duke Savoy and furnished out a prettie army in the cause of Cleve We must trie once again what can be done in this businesse of a higher nature and all the mony that may be spared is to be turned that way And perhaps God provided the Jewels that were layd up in the Tower to be gathered by the Mother for the preservation of her Daughter who like a noble Princesse hath professed to her Husband not to leave her self one Jewel rather then not to maintain so religious and righteous a cause You see that lying on my bed I have gone too far but if I were with you this should be my language which I pray you humbly and heartily to represent to the King my Master telling him that when I can stand I hope to do his Majestie some service herein So commending me unto you I remain Your very loving friend Geo. Cant. The Lord Brook to the Duke 11. November 1623. May it please your Grace OUt of Spain we hear the world comes so fast after you since your departure as we assure our selves this great work is at a good end with contentment to our blessed Prince and like a Princely treaty with addition of honour to the Monarchie he intends to match with But Sir we hear of a new treaty sprung up between the Palsegraves Eldest son and the Emperours youngest Daughter A Labrynth into which what hope soever leades us I fear no one thread will be able to guide us well out Because in the passages between these far distant Princes education of children seemes like to be demanded Ballancing of Councels to the jelousie of friends Question whether the Palatinate shall be delivered in the Nonage before marriage or after Then whether sequestred into a Catholique or Protestants hands If into a Catholique a probable argument that both it and the Valtoline are equally reserved free to fall with associated forces upon our antient Bulwark the Nether-Lands at pleasure Lastly whether the Myter and these Scepters thus united with their advantage in number of swords and Deskes abroad their new springing partie at home strengthes by sea and land Constant ambition of adding Crown to Crown and perfect Auditt of their neighbours powers and humors even while the second Heire male of this Kingdom shall live in the hands of enemies and strangers I say whether these will not prove fearful in equalities casual to the lives of our King and Prince dangerous to the Crown by changing successive rights into tenures of Courtesie and charging of the peoples consciences with visions of confusion or bondage Again Sir admit this new project should vanish into smoak as undigested vapours use to do yet give me leave to question whether to your Grace you have overtlie protested against the intricate Courses of the Spaniard even the specious issue of the Palatinates delivery before consummation of marraiage but not like to prove Mother of many Colourable and unavoydable delayes Because suppose the proposition should be granted yet who sees not that the effecting of it will prove an act of so many parts Viz the Pope Emperour King of Spain Duke of of Bavaria c. and of so great consequence joyntlie and severally to them all and must of necessity require divers assemblies commissions perchance Dietts c. And then what time the execution of the Minutes under these Heads will demand he that knowes the divers natures of Nations in treating may easily conceive To begin with the least what mony or other conditions can be offered like to satisfie the honour humour and huge expence of the Bavarian for quitting his Conquest to so unreconcileable a neighbour and if there be possibility yet out of whose estate or treasury are these conditions or large proportions of Dowrie probably to be expected touching the Emperour Is there any forraign alliance able to perswade this Prince who having by an untimely war changed all tenures of Election into succession and thereby shaken the antient freedom of our Germany Princes what I say can in likelihood winn him to restore these dead forces of his Enemies to the prejudice of all he injoyes or aspires Besides what shall move this Emperour to take away the Bann from the Palsegraves person who hath so desparately hazarded not only his own private Kingdomes and Provinces but by his undertaking waved the main ambition of of the Austrian familie For the Spanish King if he be prest his answer will be ready and fair that he hath no right in him but mediation as appeares by the divisions already made Notwithstanding how little right soever pretends yet his Councel his instruments his charge by diversion Overt Ayde insensible succours the world sees have been used in all these wars so as this together with his right by strong hand gotten and kept by arts of depositing upon the Voltaline may lead us to discern clearly that he finds the passage of his forces through them equal and so resolves both to over-run the Low countries when he please Against which little State whether out of revenge or ambition of greater conquests by them he will constantly carry a warchfull and Griping enemies hand Concerning the Pope who knowes not that his universal affected supremacie howsoever dissembled yet hath doth and ever will urge his Holinesse to stir up colourable Warres of Religion Since Warres Contentions and tumults among Princes have been his old way of adding more wealth and power to his sanctified Sea How I say this new fashion'd Monarch shall be won to suffer Heidelberg the most dangerous nest of Heretiques after Geneva to return to her former strength is a poynt beyond my Capacity By these short hastie and imperfect images your Grace may yet judg that except the restitution of the Palatinate be instantly pressed and like a work of Faeries either furnished or broken off at once we may easily be over-shot in our own bowes by having the strengths and free Councels of England Scotland and Ireland during this treaty kept under a kind of Covert-baron and so long made a forge for other Princes ends as my Blessed Soveraigns trust may perchance find it self compelled to play an After-Game amongst discouraged friends and combination of powerful enemies such as under characters of Allyance will think they have won one great Step towards their inveterate Ambition of a Westerne Monarchie Noble Duke If you find me lifted above my earth in handling a subject to which I am utterly a stranger yet bear with a Monks humour in a man that is
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