110 111 sought to to be declared Head and Protectour of that faith as the Spaniard would be taken to be of the Roman 305 Protectour of the Venetians owned so by them conservation of the publique tranquillity relyes upon him 179 280 Ayds the Savoyard joyns in the cause of Cleve 170 Promises not to draw his severity to Donato the Venetian Embassadour into example 192 sought to by the Spaniards to joyn against the Pyrates 207 writes to the Pope 211 aymes at the universal peace of Christendome 270 what a friend to the Low-Countries sleighted and ingratefully dealt with by them 331 The Germane Princes relye upon him 336 Infanta of Spain 15 16 21 22. her vertues and beauty she loved the Prince of Wales 26 her portion 27 Ingram 226 Inquisitor General presents a consulta to the Spanish King to procure a Jubile 51. See Jubile is the first who offers toward the Kings necessities 168 Joachim of Zealand 342 Irish raise aspersions in Spain of persecutions in England 15 practises of their Priests there 49 Isabella Clara Eugenia her Complement to the Bavarian 240. See 167 335 Jubilee from Rome to expiate for the Contempt done to the Host 51 Junto of Divines to consider of the Spanish King's Oath by which he would undertake for the King of Englands performance of Articles 15 Jurisdiction Episcopal used in England without the Kings consent against Common Law 81 K. KEeper of the Seal where questionable 76 Killegrew 316 Kings Gods shadowes 12 yeelding to demands must deny nothing 227 L. LAken Nicholas his discoveries concerning Corona Regia 151 152 Lamb Dr. of Law favoured by the Bishop of Lincoln 56 62 Langrack Dutch Embassadour at Paris his advertisements of affaires 318 319 Landaffe Bishop sues for preferment troubled 119 120 Laud Bishop of St. Davids sues to be a Commissioner and why 113 Lawyers mischievous in Parliaments 226 Le grand professes service to the Prince of Wales 277 Leicester the Favourite 226. refuses to be Admiral for the Lord Stewards place 102. no man in Parliaments durst touch him 226 Letters of Mart against the Spaniard 344 Libel against King James by the Papists called Corona Regis 151 152 Liberty of a free Subject 19 a pretence 229 Of Kings invaded by the Spaniard 191 Of Westminster impeached by the Lord Steward and Earl Marshal 68 69 where Liberties are to be impleaded 69 Liege King of Spain raises a Fort there 279 Offered protection by the French King 283 Lieutenants of Counties chosen 76 Londoners deceive the King in his Customes undo all other Townes transport silver enemies to the Duke 226 Low-Countries offers of those States to Sir Edward Cecyl 130 their proceedings in affairs 317 to 320 how much bound to England 339 Jealous of the English their courses for Religion 321. carry themselves strangely to the English 331 apt to fall into faction 324 desire the King of England's protection 337 why they haste not to conclude 339 Send Embassadours into England to treat 342 Lude Count 285 Luines the great French Favourite 176 177. M. MAconel Sir James a fugitive Scot seeks to be entertained in Spain 209 Magnus of Zealand 317 Malecontents of King James and King Charles their Reigns 225 Mansel Sir Robert b fore Argier Commands against the Turks 140 141 142. Mansfelt Earl hates the house of Austria entertained by the Venetians how obedient to the Palsgrave 189. In the Low Countries 328 329 Maqueda Duke a Pyrate 166 Marriages of Princes of different Faiths in what manner 106 Marshal of England his office power c. once hereditary Marshal of the Kings house 63 64 Masques in France 278 279 Master of the Horse to the King 102 Mathewes Sir Tobie 251 252 253. Match with the Infanta of Spain the proceedings 15. See Infanta Many things yeelded to for it 236 The Portion and all the temporal Articles were settled 23 25 Difficulties in it from Rome and Spain 233 234 236 238 239. The Proxie 106 107 Betwixt the Prince of Wales and Madam of France 275-279 Concluded 292 53 agitated betwixt the Emperours Son and the Infanta Donna Maria 167 Isabella Clara Eugenia moves for the Prince of Poland 167 Betwixt the Emperours Daughter and Palsgraves Son 170 171 Maurice of Nassaw Prince of Orange a blunt Prince 324 331 against the Novellists 321 322 would reconcile Sir Horatio Vere and Sir Edward Cecyl 323 he and the Prince Conde differ ibid. gives away Colonel Hyndersons Regiment contrary to an act of the States 329 desires the protection and friendship of King James 331 332 337 338 Melon seeds sent out of Italie to King James by Sir Henry Wotton 195 Merchants of England denyed the free entrance of their Commodities in Spain 46 47. the order of prohibition staid 52 168 ill used there 48 Michel Sir John sues injustly in Chancery 83 84 Middlesex Earl sues to the King for grace 203 fined 204 will not consent to any diminution of the Crown revenues 266 begs time for his defence 268 Medena Dutchesse 188 Mole an Englishman in the Inquisition concerning King James his Book for Allegiance 194 Montague after Bishop of Chichester imprisoned by the House of Commons who so he had nothing to do with him 115 Requires the Papists to prove certain questions 115 116 Three Bishops defend him 116 117 118. and his Book Appello Caesarem so much disliked by the Puritanes 116. 118 Montgomery Earl taxed 27. See 302. Murray Schoolmaster to the Prince of Wales a Puritane preferred to be Provost of Eaton 66 67 68. N. NEcessity onely drives men to Sea 102 Newburgh Duke in Spain 165 166 shares in the Palatinate 335 Nithisdail Earl his Conference with the Spanish Embassadours 247 Nove Mounsieur 319 O. OFfice of the Originals 70 Ogle Sir John gives Extracts of the Duke and Embassadours Letters 137. See 322. Olivarez Conde the Favourite of Spain his and the Duke of Buckinghams farewell 16 his protestation to the Earl of Bristol 40 saves the Marquesse of Ynoiosa from the prosecution of Sir Walter Aston 52 his Rodomontade 289 The Condessa of Olivarez prayes for the Duke of Buckingham 33 Opinions of some in the Church dangerous 117 Ornano Colonel Monsieur of Orleans his Governour 286 Ossuna Duke Vice Roy of Naples counterfeits madnesse to cover his disloyalty 182 Threatens the Venetians because they would not be robbed by him 183 Confirmed in his Government avoids the Spanish trap 184 Oxford Earl 22 imprisoned 209 seeks to the Duke of Buckingam but gallantly 312 P. PAlatinate of the Rhine cause of breach in the Spanish Match 17 35 38 234 235 307. mangled by the Emperour by guists 335 difficulties in the restitution of it 171 172 346 Ever beaten upon 245. 248 the upper settled on the Bavarian 335 Pardon of the Lord of St. Albans 60 Parma Duke 186. imprisons his bastard son 188 Parliament of England House of Commons no where before Henry the 1. thwart the King their priviledges graces of Kings 65 grown in the late
Petition of Francis Philips to King Iames for the release of Sir Robert Philips prisoner in the Tower P. 155 Oliver St. John to the Major of Marlborough against the Benevolence P. 159 The Justices of Peace in Com. Devon to the Lords of the Councel P. 182 The Archbishop of Canterbury to the Bishops concerning K. James his Directions for Preachers with the Directions Aug. 14. 1622. P. 183 King James his Instructions to the Archbishop of Canterbury concerning Orders to be observed by Bishops in their Dioceses 1622. P. 187 Bishop of Winchester to his Archdeacon to the same effect P. 189 The Bishop of Lincoln Lord Keeper to the Bishop of London concerning Preaching and Catechising P. 190 Instructions for the Ministers and Churchwardens of London P. 193 Mons Bevayr Chancellor of France discharged to the French King ibid. Mons Richere forced recants his opinions against the Papal supremacie over Kings P. 196 Car. Richlieu to the Roman Catholicks of Great Britain Aug. 25. 1624. P. 197 Mons Balsac to the Cardinal de la Valette ibid. Mons Balsac to the King Louis P. 200 Mons Toyrax to the Duke of Buckingham P. 201 Ab ignoto concerning the estate of Rochel after the surrender P. 202 The Protestants of France to Charles King of Great-Britain P. 204 The Duke of Rohan to his Majesty of Great-Britain Mar. 12. 1628. P. 208 Pope Greg. 15. to the Inquisitor-general of Spain April 19. 1623. P. 210 Pope Urban to Lewis the 13. Aug. 4. 1629. P. 211 The Duke of Buckingham Chancellor Elect to the Vniversity of Cambridge Iune 5. 1626. P. 213 King Charles to the Vniversity of Cambridge in approbation of their election Iune 6. 1626. P. 214 The Vniversity of Cambridge its answer to the Duke Iune 6. 1626. P. 215 The Vniversity of Cambridge its answer to the King P. 216 A Privy-Seal for transporting of Horse Iune 6. 1624. P. 217 The Vniversity of Cambridge to the Duke P. 218 The Dukes answer P. 219 The Vice-chancellor of Cambridge to the King upon the Dukes death ib. King Charles to the Vniversity of Cambridge for a new election P. 220 The Earl of Holland to the Vniversity P. 221 The Vnimersity of Cambridge to the King P. 222 An Order made at Whitehall betwixt the Vniversity and Town of Cambridge Decemb. 4. 1629. P. 223 The Vniversity of Cambridge to the Archbishop of York P. 224 The Vniversity of Cambridge to the Earl of Manchester P. 225 The Vniversity of Cambridge to Sir Humphrey May P. 226 Instructions by K. Charles to the Vicechancellor and Heads of Cambridge for Government c. Mar. 4. 1629. P. 127 The Vniversity of Cambridge to the Lord chief Iustice Richardson P. 228 The Bishop of Exeter to the Lower-House of Parliament P. 229 King Charles to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal P. 230 A Councel-Table Order against hearing Mass at Ambassadors houses March 10. 1629. P. 232 The King of Spain to Pope Urban Sept. 11. 1629. P. 234 The Councel of Ireland to King Charls in defence of the Lord Deputy Faulkland Aug. 28. 1629. P. 235 Ab ignoto Of the affairs of Spain France and Italy June 5. 1629. P. 239 The Lords of the Councel of England to the Lords of the Councel of Ireland Jan. 31. 1629. P. 240 The Lord Faulklands Petition to the King P. 242 The Duke of Modena to the Duke of Savoy July 30. 1629. P. 243 Sir Kenelm Digby to Sir Edward Stradling P. 244 Mr. Gargrave to the Lord Davers P. 253 A Declaration of Ferdinand Infanta of Spain July 5. 1636. P. 257 FINIS King HENRY the 8. to the Clergie of the Province of York An. 1533. Touching his Title of Supreme Head of the Church of England RIght Reverend Father in God Right trusty and welbeloved We greet you well and have received your Letters dated at York the 6. of May containing a long discourse of your mind and opinion concerning such words as hath passed the Clergie of the Province of Canterbury in the Proeme of their Grant made unto us the like whereof should now pass in that Province Albeit ye interlace such words of submission of your Judgment and discharge of your duty towards us with humble fashion and behaviour as we cannot conceive displeasure nor be miscontent with you considering what you have said to us in times past in other matters and what ye confess in your Letters your self to have heard and known noting also the effect of the same We cannot but marvail at sundry points and Articles which we shall open unto you as hereafter followeth First ye have heard as ye say ye have the said words to have passed in the Convocation of Canterbury where were present so many learned in Divinity and Law as the Bishops of Rochester London S. Assaph Abbots of Hyde S. Bennets and many other and in the Law the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Bath and in the Lower House of the Clergie so many notable and great Clerks whose persons and learning you know well enough Why do ye not in this case with your self as you willed us in our great matter conform your conscience to the conscience and opinion of a great number Such was your advice to us in the same our great matter which now we perceive ye take for no sure counsel for ye search the grounds not regarding their sayings Nevertheless forasmuch as ye examine their grounds causes and reasons in doing whereof ye seem rather to seek and examine that thing which might disprove their doings then that which might maintain the same We shall answer you briefly without long discourse to the chief points of your said Letters wherein taking for a ground that words were ordained to signifie things and cannot therefore by sinister interpretation alter the truth of them but only in the wits of perverse persons that would blind or colour the same by reason whereof to good men they signifie that they mean only doing their office and to men of worse sort they serve for maintenance of such meaning as they would imagine so in using words we ought only to regard and consider the expression of the truth in convenient speech and sentences without overmuch scruple of super-perverse interpretations as the malice of men may excogitate wherein both overmuch negligence is not to be commended and too much diligence is not only by daily experience in mens writings and laws shewed frustrate and void insomuch as nothing can be so cleerly and plainly written spoken and ordered but that subtile wit hath been able to subvert the same but also the Spirit of God which in his Scripture taught us the contrary as in the places which ye bring in reherse if the Holy Ghost had had regard to that which might have been perversly construed of these words Pater major me est and the other Ego Pater unum sumus there should have been added to the first humanitas to the second substantia And
Contempts of sacred persons And having also observed that this so long continence of ours at so manifold injuries hath served to no other purpose but to make our enemies more audacious and insolent and that the compassion we have had of France hath drawn on the ruine of those whom God had put under the obedience of their Majesties For these considerations according to the power which we have received from his Imperiall Majestie we have commanded our Armies to enter into France with no other purpose then to oblige the King of France to come to a good secure Peace for removing those impediments which may hinder this so great a good And for as much as it principally concerneth France to give end to these disorders we are willing to believe that all the Estates of that Kingdome will contribute not only their remonstrances but also if need be their forces to dispose their King to Chastise those who have been the Authors of all these Warrs which these seven or eight years past have beene in Christendome and who after they have provoked and assayled all their neighbours have brought upon France all those evils which she doth now suffer and draw on her those other which do now threaten her And although we are well informed of the weaknesse and devisions into which these great disorders and evil counsels have cast her yet we declare that the intentions of their Mastjesties are not to serve themselves of this occasion to ruine her or to draw from thence any other profit then by that means to work a Peace in Christendom which may be stable and permanent For these reasons and withal to shew what Estimation their Majesties do make of the prayers of the Queene Mother of the most Christian King wee doe give to understand that we wil protect and treat as friends all those of the French Nation who either joyntly or severally shall second these our good designes and have given Order that Neutrality shal be held with those of the Nobility and with the Townes which shal desire it and which shal refuse to assist those who shal oppose the good of Christendome and their own safety against whom shall be used all manner of hostility without giving quarter to their persons or sparing either their houses or goods And our further wil is that all men take notice that it is the resolution of their Majesties not to lay down Arms til the Queene Mother of the most Christian King be satisfied and contented til the Princes unjustly driven out of their estates be restored til they see the assurances of peace more certain then to be disturbed by him who hath violated the treaties of Ratisbone others made before and sithence he hath had the managing of the affairs of France Neither do we pretend to draw any other advantage from the good successe which it shal please God to give unto our just prosecutions then to preserve augment the Catholick Religion to pacifie Europe to relieve the oppressed and to restore to every one that which of right belongeth unto him Given at Ments the fifth of July 1636. FINIS An Alphabeticall Table of the most Remarkable Things A AGnus Dei 38 Alchimie 75 Alchoran false because not to be disputed 194 Alfons d'Este turns Capuchin 243 Ancre Marquesse would get the Dutchy of Alanson and Constables Office into his hands in arere to the Crown of France for 80000 pounds 195 Anderson Edmund 73 Anne of Bullen Queen of England sues to King Henry that her enemies may not be her accusers and Judges protests her innocence declares the cause of the Kings change begs the lives of her brother and the other Gentlemen 9 10 Archbishop of Dublin affronted by the Friars 241 Ashton Sir Walter 130 132 138 139 Austria House 114 B. Bacon Sir Nicholas Lord Keeper 69. Antony Francis friends to the Earl of Essex 32. Francis after Lord Verulam Viscount St. Alban his discourses to the Earl concerning Ireland 42 43 c. concerning Tyrone 44. his huge opinion of the Earl of Essex 45 46 47. against the Subsidie in Parliament how 54 68. makes wayes to get into King James his favour 56 58. expostulates with and advises Sir Edward Cook 60 61. expostulates with Sir Vincent Skinner 66. would be Sollicitor 68 69 71. his good services to the Crown 72 See Bodley Sir Thomas Balsac impudently abuseth King James and Qu. Elizabeth 198 199. flatters the French King grosly 200 201 Barbarians of old placed justice and felicity in the sharpnesse of their swords 47 Bavaria Duke linked with the House of Austria 135. designed Elector of Rhine 113. seiseth part of the Palatinate 131 Bevayr Chancellour of France discharged complains to the King of the Government 193 194 195 196. Commanded to discharge an account for 80000 li. 195. has no other fault but that he is an honest man 196 Bishops in what manner parts of the Common-wealth 5. submitted to Kings 6. chief against the Mass 233. too remiss 185 Bodeley Sir Thomas against Sir Francis Bacons new Philosophie 74 75 76. For setled opinions and Theoremes 76 77 78 Bouillon Duke 37 198 Bristol Earl See Digby Lord. Brograve Atturney of the Dutchy 69 Broke George 79 80 Brunswic Christian Duke 148 Buckingham Duke chosen Chancellor of Cambridg 213. unkindness between him and Bristol 151. and Olivarez ibid. murthered 220. See Charles King Burleigh Lord for Kings and against usurpation 136 C Caecil Sir Robert after Earl of Salisbury in France 36. a friend to Sir Francis Bacon 69 70 Caesar d' Este Du. of Modena 243 Calvinists dangerous 112 Cambridg differences betwixt the Town and Vniversity 223 Car Earl of Somerset 86 Carlo Don Infant of Spain 126 Carlo Alessandro of Modena 243 Carlton Sir Dudley Embassadour in the Low Countries 145 Caron Sir Noel Embassadour in England from the Low Countries 92 93 Cassal S. Vas beleaguered by the Spaniard 239 Causes of conscience growing to be faction 38 Charles King of great Brittain ingagement of his person in Spain cause why things were not carryed on to the height 151 See Gregory Pope His piety and care toward the Hugonots of France 206. acknowledged by them after the losse of Rochel 208 209. his opinion of the Duke of Buckingham 214 215. A great lover of the Vniversity of Cambridg 220 223. will rule according to the Laws wil give the Judges leave to deliver and bail prisoners according to Magna Charta and the Statutes 231. forbids hearing of Mass 232. careful to root out Papistry in Ireland 242. commands the house in Dublin to be pulled down where the Friars appeared in their habits 241 Charles the Fifth 145 Church Orders by K. James 193 of England its service damnable by the Popes decree 40 Clergy where punished 6 Cleves and Juliers pretended to 123 124 Clifford Sir Coniers 42 Coeur Marquess 240 Coke Sir Edward disgraces Sir Francis Bacon 60. described 62 63 Colledg of Dublin 52 Colomma Don
CABALA SIVE SCRINIA SACRA MYSTERIES OF State Government IN LETTERS Of illustrious Persons and great Agents in the Reigns of Henry the Eighth Queen Elizabeth K James and the late King Charls IN TWO PARTS In which the Secrets of Empire and Publique manage of Affairs are contained With many remarkable Passages no where else Published LONDON Printed for G. Bedel and T. Collins and are to be sold at their Shop at the Middle-Temple-gate in Fleetstreet 1654. MVNIPICENTIA REGIA 1715 GEORGIV 5 D.G. MAG BR PR ET HIâ— REX P.D. J.P. Sc. Cabala Mysteries of State IN LETTERS of the great MINISTERS of K. James and K. Charles WHEREIN Much of the publique Manage of Affaires is related Faithfully Collected by a Noble Hand LONDON Printed for M. M. G. Bedell and T. Collins and are to be sold at their Shop at the Middle-Temple Gate in Fleetstreet 1654. The Preface to the Reader HEre is published a Piece not to be matched in Antiquity a Collection not so much of Letters as of the mysteries of Government the wisdom and manage of Publick businesses in the late Reigns where the great Ministers of State are presented naked their Consultations Designs Policies the things done by them are exposed to every mans eye as they were brought forth by themselves The most famous of all Modern Historians glories in the helps and advantages he had above all men else to write He came so he tells us prepared and furnished from the Cabinets of Princes Strada he had seriously perused and sifted their Letters and Orders the Letters of the Illustrious Persons imployed by them the private Commands Dispatches and Instructions of Embassies Debates and Resolutions of Councels without which all History must be lame and imperfect This was the way to make the causes of actions as visible as their effects and without which all Diligence and Faithfulness else will do little Much of the History of the last years of King James and beginnings of King Charles may be here read Here the height of the mighty Favourite the Duke of Buckingham may be taken The Arts and Subtleties of Spain of the Conde Gondomar and the English-Spanish Party are discovered the Journey into Spain breach of the Spanish overtures for the French Match for the renuing Leagues with the enemies of the Spanish Pride and Vniversality the carriage of the Imperialists French Netherlanders and other Concurrents of those Reigns are exactly Related with the Practises of our home Roman Catholicks and growth of those who were here called Puritans then the Secrets of the Court and State without any false glosse to writhe or streighten to deprave or extenuate with more truth and sincerity then all the Annals can show where Passion and Interest sway oftentimes too much and the cleanest hand makes blots and stains carried away with Love or Hatred to the side or man Here are no snares set to catch or inveagle any mans judgment all things are left clearly to their own worth and Reputation A TABLE OF THE LETTERS Contained In this Collection EArl of Sommerset to King James Page 1. Lord Chancellour Bacon to the King 31. July 1617. p. 8 Lord Chancellour Bacon to the King 2. Januar. 1618. 5 Lord Chancellour Bacon to the Lords 5 Lord Chancellour Bacon to the Marquesse of Buckingham 25 March 1620. p. 10 Lord Chancellour Bacon to the King the 25. of March 1620. p. 10 Lord Chancellour Bacon to the Duke 122 Magdibeg to the King 11 A Letter by King James to the Lord Keeper Bishops of London Winton Rochester St. Davids and Exeter Sir Henry Hubbard and others 30. Octob. 1621. 12 The Archbishop of York to King James 13 A Letter from Spain concerning the Princes arrival there 30. Septemb. 1623. Madrid 17 The Earl of Bristol to the Prince touching the Proxies Madrid 24 The Earl of Bristol to Secretary Cottington April the 15th 1623. 28. The Earl of Bristol to the Bishop of Lincoln August the 20. 1623. p. 20. The Earl of Bristol to the Bishop of Lincoln 24. Septemb. 1623. Madrid 22 The Earl of Bristol to the Prince September 24. 1623. Madrid page 26. The Earl of Bristol to the Duke the 6. of December 1623. Madrid 28 The Earl of Bristol to King James the 27. of July 1624. London 30 King Charles to the Earl of Bristol Jan. 21. 1625. 17 The Earl of Bristol to the Lord Conway the 4. of March 1625. Sherborn 19 The Lord Conway to the Earl of Bristol March 21. 1625. 19 Sir Walter Aston to the Duke 30 Sir Walter Aston to the Duke 15. Novemb. 1623. 34 The Duke of Buckingham to Sir Walter Aston 34 The Duke of Buckingham to Sir Walter Aston 36 Sir Walter Aston to the Duke of Buckingham December 22. 1623. 37 A Memorial pressing for the Palatinate c. given to the King of Spain by Sir Walter Aston 19. Jan. 1623. 38 Sir Walter Aston to the Duke 22. Jan. 1623. 40 Sir Walter Aston to Secretary Conway the 22. of January 1623. 40 Sir Walter Aston to the Lord Conway 44 Sir Walter Aston to the Lord Conway 5. June 1624. 46 Sir Walter Aston to the Lord Conway 17. July 1624. 58 Sir Walter Aston to the Duke 20. of Octob. 1624. 52 Sir Walter Aston to the Duke the 10. of December 1624. 165 Sir Walter Aston to the Duke 10. of Decemb. 1625. 53 Dr. Williams to the Duke 54 Williams Lord Keeper to the Duke 27. July 1621. 55 The Earl of South-hamptons Letter to the Bishop of Lincoln 57 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 22. July 1621. 61 The Lord Keeper his answer to the Earl of South-hampton 2. August 1621. 58 The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning the same Earl of South-hampton 2. Aug. 1621. 59 The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning the Lord of St. Albans Octob. 27. 1621. 60 The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning the Earl Marshals place 1. September 1621. 62 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 16. Decemb. 1621. 65 The Lord Keeper to the Duke about Mr. Thomas Murrayes Dispensation c. 23. Febr. 1621. 66 The Lord Keeper to the Duke about the Liberties of Westminster the 6. May 1621. 68 The Lord Keeper to the Duke Aug. 23. 1622. 69 The Lord Keeper to the Duke about the Lord Treasurer September 9. 1622. 70 The Lord Keeper to the Duke of Buckingham the 14. of October 1621. 82 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 8. Aug. 1623. 83 The Lord Keeper to the Duke the 21. of September 1622. 93 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 12. Octob. 1622. 75 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 78 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 84 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 6. Jan. 1623. 86 Mr. John Packer to the Lord Keeper the 21 of January 1623. 86 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 2. Febr. 1623. 88 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 24. May 1624. 93 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 22. Aug. 1624. 95 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 11. Octob. 1624. 95 The Lord
defuit unum I therefore whom onely love and duty to your Majestie and your royal line hath made a Financier do intend to present unto your Majestie a perfect book of your estate like a perspective glasse to draw your estate neer to your sight beseeching your Majestie to conceive that if I have not attained to do that that I would do in this which is not proper for me nor in my element I shall make your Majestie amends in some other thing in which I am better bred God ever preserve c. The Lord Chancellour to the Marquesse of Buckingham 25. March 1620. My very good Lord YEsterday I know was no day Now I hope I shall hear from your Lordship who are my anchor in these flouds Mean while to ease my heart I have written to his Majestie the inclosed which I pray your Lordship to read advisedly and to deliver it or not to deliver it as you think Good God ever prosper your Lordship Yours ever what I am Fr. St. Alban Canc. The Lord Chancellour to the King March 25. 1620. It may please your most excellent Majestie TIme hath been when I have brought unto you Gemitum Columbae from others now I bring it from my self I flie unto your Majestie with the wings of a Dove which once within these seven daies I thought would have carrried me a higher flight When I enter into my self I find not the materials of such a tempest as is come upon me I have been as your Majestie knoweth best never authour of any immoderate Counsel but alwaies desired to have things carried suavibus modis I have been no avaritious oppressor of the people I have been no haughty or intolerable or hateful man in my conversation or carriage I have inherited no hatred from my father but am a good Patriot born Whence should this be for these are the things that use to raise dislikes abroad For the house of Commons I began my Credit there and now it must be the place of the Sepulture thereof And yet this Parliament upon the Message touching Religion the old love revived and they said I was the same man still onely honesty was turned into honour For the Upper House even within these daies before these troubles they seemed as to take me into their arms finding in me ingenuity which they took to be the true streight line of noblenesse without Crooks or angles And for the briberies and guifts wherewith I am charged when the books of hearts shall be opened I hope I shall not be found to have the troubled fountain of a corrupt heart in a depraved habit of taking rewards to pervert Justice howsoever I may be frail and partake of the abuses of the Times And therefore I am resolved when I come to my answer not to trick my innocency as I writ to the Lords by Cavillations or voidances but to speak to them the language that my heart speaketh to me in excusing extenuating or ingenuous confessing praying God to give me the grace to see to the bottom of my faults and that no hardnesse of heart do steal upon me under shew of more neatnesse of Conscience then is Cause But not to trouble your Majestie any longer craving pardon for this long mourning Letter that which I thirst after as the Hart after the streams is that I may know by my matchlesse friend that presenteth to you this letter your Majesties heart which is an abyssus of goodnesse as I am an abyssus of mercy towards me I have been ever your man and counted my self but as an usufructuary of my self the property being yours And now making my self an oblation to do with me as may best conduce to the honour of your Justice the honour of your Mercy and the use of your Service resting as Clay in your Majesties gracious hands Fr. St. Alban Canc. Magdibeg to his Majestie May it please your most excellent Majestie I Make bold after a long silence to prostrate my self before your Majestie and being the Ambassadour of a great King that counteth it an honour to stile himself your friend I do beseech you to afford me that justice which I am sure you will not refuse to the meanest of your Subjects At my first arrival into this your happy Kingdome I was informed by the general relation of all that had recourse unto me that one here who had the title of Ambassadour from my Master did vainly brag that he had married the King of Persia's Neece which kindled in me such a vehement desire to vindicate my Masters honor from so unworthy and false a report that at my first interview with him my hand being guided by my dutie I endeavoured to fasten upon him a Condigne disgrace to such an imposture But the caution that I ought to have of my own justification when I return home biddeth me the more strictly to examine the truth of that which was told me whereon my action with Sir Robert Shirley was grounded and to have it averred in the particulars as well as by a general voice Therefore I humbly beseech your Majestie that out of your Princely goodnesse you will be pleased to give such order that this point may be fully cleared Wherein for the manner of proceeding I wholly and humbly remit my self to your Majestie And this being done I shall return home with some measure of joy to ballance the grief which I have for having done ought that may have clouded your Majesties favour to me And so committing your Majestie to the protection of the greatest God whose shadowes and elect instruments Kings are on earth I humbly take my leave and rest c. The Copy of a Letter written by his Majestie to the Lord Keeper the Bishops of London Wynton Rochester St. Davids and Excester Sir Henry Hubbert Mr. Justice Dodderidge Sir Henry Martin and Dr. Steward or any six of them whereof the Lord Keeper the Bishops of London Wynton and St. Davids to be four IT is not unknown unto you what happened the last Summer to our trusty and welbeloved Councellour the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury who shooting at a Deer with a Crossebowe in Bramzil Park did with that shoot casually give the Keeper a wound whereof he dyed Which accident though it might have happened to any other man yet because his eminent rank and function in the Church hath as we are informed ministred occasion of some doubt as making the Cause different in his person in respect of the scandal as is supposed we being desirous as it is fit we should to be satisfied therein and reposing especial trust in your learnings and judgments have made choice of you to inform Us concerning the nature of this Cause and do therefore require you to take presently into your Considerations the Scandal that may arise thereupon and to certifie Us what in your Judgements the same may amount unto either to an irregularity or otherwise And lastly what means may be found for the
of them being under the Command of such as are either this Kings servants or absolutely under his dispose that his Majestie will be able to overcome the businesse and they are now busie how to settle the manner of the leavie of the said sum by yearly and equal portions They having found here divers inconveniences in their new Government of Portugal by way of Governours are resolved to place vice-Vice-Kings again there And for to gratifie the Emperour have elected for that charge his third Brother Don Carlos who is presently to make his repair thither On the 27th of the last moneth my Lord of Bristol took his leave of the Queen and the Infanta and on the Sunday following being the 29. of the said moneth his Lordship delivered unto me the Powers which his Highnesse left with him and those which have been since sent hither His Lordship is preparing for his journey and saith that he is already in such a forwardnesse as upon the arrival here of Mr. Greisley or any other from England whereby he shall receive means for the taking up of moneys here he will presently put himself upon the way The Queen here some few daies since fell suddenly ill and swooned two or three times but her indisposition lasted not above two or three dayes Her Majestie is now thanks be to God very well again The King having received advice thereof intended as it is said to come presently post hither but upon better news his Majestie proceeds in his journey and for any thing that I can understand it will be May before his return to this Town There are lately thrown abroad in this Town divers Copies of a Proclamation pretended to be published in Ireland bearing date the 27. of January last It hath made a great noise here and divers of their Ministers have spoken with me about it they conceiving it to be contrary to what hath been lately Capitulated For my part I have been able to give them no answer not having yet understood from your Honour nor any of his Majesties Ministers of any such Proclamation I have seen the Proclamation as it came printed from thence and do here inclosed send your Honour a Copy thereof desiring you that you will acquaint his Majestie therewithal that he may be pleased to Command therein what to his wisdom shall seem fit To those that have spoken with me about this Proclamation having first disclaimed the having had knowledge of any such thing I have used discourses of mine own touching the abuses of those which are called titulary Archbishops Bishops c. letting them understand here that if those kind of people have been busie there to plant secretly their Government they have far exceeded the favour which was promised them and given his Majestie just cause to give order for the reformation My last to your Honour was of the 7th of February last by Albert Rivas whom I dispatched with all diligence to you since when I have received nothing from your Honour I shall therefore c. Your Honours c. Wa. Aston Sir Walter Aston to the Lord Conway 5th June 1624. Right Honourable IN a former Dispatch which I lately made unto your Honour I sent unto you the Copy of a Letter which I then had newly received from the Secretarie Don Andreas de Prada by which he advertised me That the King his Master according to what I had requested by memorial had commanded that all English Commodities and Manufactures which I have long since advertized were prohibited by Prematica's published here for the reformation of abuses should enter into these Kingdoms I have long since performed divers diligences my self both with the Secretary and President of Castile for the procuring a declaration of the said order being careful to prevent such inconveniences as the King our Masters Subjects might fall into for want thereof But having been tossed up and down between the Secretarie and the President with several delayes the one remitting me to the other I repaired to the Conde of Olivarez suspecting some novelty in the businesse and acquainted him that upon the receipt of a Letter sent me from the Secretary Don Andreas de Prada concerning the free entrance of English Commodities I had given notice by a Copy of the said Letter unto the King my Master of what was therein Commanded and had likewise advertised the Merchants that reside in these Kingdomes of the said Order I also gave him account of the several diligences which I had performed with the President and the Secretary for the procuring a declaration thereof and desired that he would presently command that there might be such course taken that there should be no further delayes used therein since I should be loath to see the King my Masters Subjects encouraged by the said Order to repair hither with their Merchandizes and fall into inconveniencies for want of notice given thereof unto their Ministers in the Ports The Conde fell into discourses far from my expectation asking me whether it was not free for any King in his own Kingdom to Command his own Subjects to wear what he pleased saying further that the English were not prohibited to bring in their Commodities but that the King his Master might command his Subjects to spend the Bayes and other Commodities of his own Kingdoms and not to make use of those that came from forraign parts as to his wisdom for the good of his Kingdoms should seem best That there should be a suspension of the execution of the said Pramatica's until St. James-tide and no longer To which I answered That I made no doubt of the power that every King had over his own Subjects notwithstanding where it was articled betwixt two Kings that there should be a free admittance of each others Commodities unto their several Kingdomes and after a Command should be given prohibiting either of them unto their Subjects the making use thereof it could not but be understood a defrauding and deluding of the Articles and the true intention of them but I told him I came not to dispute this now for the Secretaries Letter had desired me to take notice of another resolution therefore I desired that there might be a speedy and publique declaration made of what was therein signified unto me or if there were any new resolution that I might understand it To which he answered pretending that he spake it as a freedom which he used with me but came out with it in such a manner as I saw he was full of it That the truth was that they would proceed here as they were proceeded withal in England That the King my Master had lately given leave to the Hollanders to transport Artillery out of England and had denied the like to their Embassadours having required it which was as he said directly against the articles of peace wherein it was Capitulated That neither should assist with any kind of armes the enemy of the other He said farther That
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 Consulta 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 Portugal 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 dâ—parted 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 a thing that sounds very harsh in the old Councels and Canons of the Church The Papists will not spare to descant upon the one and the other I leave the knot to his Majesties deep wisdom to advise and resolve upon A rheume falne into mine eye together with the rumour I last wrote unto your Lordship about hath fastened me unto my bed which makes this Letter the more unhandsome But I will take nothing to heart that proceeds from his Majestie or from that King who hath raised me from the dust to all that I am If the truth were set down 1. That my self was the first mover for a temporary Keeper 2. That his Majestie hath promised me upon the relinquishing of the Seal or before one of the best places in this Church as most graciously he did 3. The year and a halfs probation left out which is to no purpose but to scare away my men and to put a disgrace upon me 4. That my assisting Judges were desired and named by my self which your Lordship knowes to be most true Such a declaration would neither shame me nor blemish his Majesties service in my person And it were fitter a great deal the penning thereof were referred to my self then to Mr. Secretarie or the Lord Treasurer who if he had his demerit deserves not to hold his staffe half a year I do verily
him too unsufferably God from Heaven blesse you Remember your Deanerie and Dean of Westminster c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning the Earl Marshals place 1. Septemb. 1621. My most Noble Lord I Beseech your Lordship to interpret this Letter well and fairly which no malice though never so provoked but my duty to his Majestie and love to your Lordship hath drawn from me both which respects as long as I keep inviolably I will not omit for the fear of any man or the losse of any thing in this world to do any act which my Conscience shall inform me to belong unto that place wherein the King by your favour hath intrusted me I received this morning two Commands from his Majestie the one about a Pension of 2000 l. yearly and the other concerning the office of the Earle Marshal both conferred on the Right Honourable the Earle of Arundel For the former although this is a very unseasonable time to receive such large Pensions from so bountiful a King and that the Parliament so soon approaching is very like to take notice thereof and that this pension might under the correction of your better judgment have been conveniently deferred until that Assembly had been over Yet who am I that should question the wisedom and bounty of my Master I have therefore sealed the same praying secretly unto God to make his Majestie as abounding in wealth as he is in goodnesse But the latter I dare not seale my good Lord until I heare your Lordships resolution to these few Questions Whether his Majestie by expressing himself in the delivery of the staffe to my Lord of Arundel that he was moved thereunto for the easing of the rest of the Comissioners who had before the execution of that office did not imply that his Majestie intended to impart unto my Lord no greater power then was formerly granted to the Lords Comissioners If it were so this Pattent should not have exceeded their Pattent whereas it doth inlarge it self beyond that by many dimensions Whether it is his Majesties meaning that the Pattent leaping over the powers of the three last Earles Essex Shrewsbery and Sommerset should refer onely to my Lords own Ancestors Howards and Mowbrayes Dukes of Norfolk who clamed this place by a way of inheritance The usual reference of Pattents being unto the last and immediate predecessour and not unto the remote whose powers in those unsettled and troublesome times are vage uncertain and unpossible to be limited Whether it is his Majesties meaning that this great Lord should bestow those offices settled of a long time in the Crown Sir Edward Zouch his in the Court Sir George Reinel's in the Kings Bench and divers others All which this new Pattent doth sweep away being places of great worth and dignity Whether that his Majesties meaning and your Lordships that my Lord Stewards place shall be for all his power of Judicature in the Verge either altogether extinguished or at leastwise subordinated unto this new Office A point considerable because of the greatnesse of that person and his neernesse in bloud to his Majestie and the Prince his Highnesse Lastly Whether it be intended that the offices of the Earl Marshal of England and the Marshal of the Kings house which seem in former times to have been distinct offices shall be now united in this great Lord A power limited by no Law or Record but to be searcht out from Chronicles Antiquaries Heralds and such obsolete Monuments and thereupon held these 60 years for my Lord of Essex his power was clearly bounded and limited unfit to be revived by the policy of this State These Questions if his Majestie intended onely the renewing of this Commission of the Earl Marshals in my Lord of Arundel are material and to the purpose But if his Majestie aymed withal at the reviving of this old office A la ventura whose face is unknown to the people of this age upon the least intimation from your Lordship I will seal the Patent And I beseech your Lordship to pardon my discretion in this doubt and irresolution It is my place to be wary what innovation passeth the Seal I may offend that great Lord in this small stay but your Lordship cannot but know how little I lose when I lose but him whom without the least cause in the world I have irreconcileably lost already All that I desire is that you may know what is done and I will ever do what your Lordship being once informed shall direct as becometh c. That there is a difference betwixt the Earl Marshal and the Marshall of the Kings house See Lamberts Archiron or of the High Courts of Justice in England Circa Medium The Marshal of England and the Constable are united in a Court which handleth onely Duels out of the Realm matters within the Realm as Combats Blazon Armorie c. but it may meddle with nothing tryable by the Lawes of the Land The Marshal of the Kings Houshold is united in a Court with the Seneschal or Steward which holds plea of Trespasses Contracts and Covenants made within the Verge and that according to the Lawes of the Land Vid. Artic. Super Cart. C. 3. 4. 5. We do all of us conceive the King intended the first place only for this great Lord and the second to remain in the Lord Stewards managing But this new Patent hath comprehended them both This was fit to be presented to your Lordship The Lord Keeper to the Duke 16. Decemb. 1621. Most Noble Lord I Have seen many expressions of your love in other mens Letters where it doth most naturally and purely declare it self since I received any of mine own It is much your Lordship should spare me those thoughts which pour out themselves in my occasions But to have me and my affaires in a kind of affectionate remembrance when your Lordship is saluting of other Noble men is more then ever I shall be able otherwaies to requite then with true prayers and best wishes I received this afternoon by Sir John Brook a most loving Letter from your Lordship but dated the 26th of Novemb. imparting your care over me for the committing of one Beeston for breach of a Decree My Noble Lord Decrees once made must be put in execution or else I will confesse this Court to be the greatest imposture and Grievance in this Kingdom The damned in Hell do never cease repining at the Justice of God nor the prisoners in the Fleet at the Decrees in Chancery of the which hell of prisoners this one for antiquity and obstinacy may passe for a Lucifer I neither know him nor his cause but as long as he stands in Contempt he is not like to have any more liberty His Majesties last Letter though never so full of honey as I find by passages reported out of the same being as yet not so happy as to have a sight thereof hath notwithstanding afforded those Spiders which infest that noble
Prince and the Church of England It remains now that I should as I will religiously obey whatsoever I shall be directed in the sequel of this businesse And so I rest c. Postscript MY Lord Mr. Murray since came unto me to whom I shewed this Letter and told him I would send it unto you to be shewed unto the King and the Prince I find him willing to run all courses Priesthood onely excepted If the King will dispence with him my Letter notwithstanding I humbly beseech his Majestie to write a Letter unto me as a warrant to admit him only Ad Curam et Regimen Collegii instead of the other words Ad Curam animarum I schooled him soundly against Puritanisme which he disavowes though somewhat faintly I hope his Highnesse and the King will second it The Lord Keeper to the Duke about the Liberties of Westminster 6. May. 1621. My most Noble Lord I Humbly beseech your Lordship to be a little sensible of those injurious affronts offered without any shew of equity unto this poor Liberty of VVestminster And for Gods sake let me not want that protection which not your Lordship only but the two Cicils and the Earl of Sommerset who neither regarded the Church Learning nor Honour in any measure as you do have ever afforded every Dean of this Church When I had to my thinking given the Knight Marshal full and too much satisfaction this day a Letter was offered to the Table in my presence violently pursued by the Lord Steward and the Earl Marshal to command this liberty which had stood unquestioned these 700 years to shew reason to Mr. Attourney and Mr. Solliciter why they prescribe against the Knight Marshal A Course as my Lord President said openly not to be offered to any subject of England It is our Charter and freehold of inheritance to be shewed only in a Court of Justice and at the Kings Bench which we are very ready to do And we may as well be questioned by a Letter from the Councel for all the Land we have as for this My Lord the jurisdiction of this place brings not a penny to my purse but it hath brought much sorrow to my heart and now teares to my eyes that I should be that unfortunate Contemptible man who for all the King and your Lordships favour and the true pains I take in answer thereunto must be trampled down above all the Deans that lived in this place Nor would it ever grieve me if I had deserved it from these Lords by the least disrespect in all the world I beseech you for the Churches sake and your Honours sake to be sensible hereof and to know of the Bishop of Winchester London Duresme Mr. Packer or Sir Robert Pye whether ever any question hath been made to this liberty in this kind If a Letter had been recorded to question the same when the Lord Admiral was Steward and the Lord Keeper Dean thereof judge you in your Wisdom what would become thereof in future posterity c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke Aug. 23. 1622. My most noble Lord YEsterday upon the receipt of your Lordships Letters of the 19th of this instant concerning the hastning of the businesse of the original Writs I sent presently for Mr. Attourney and Mr. Solliciter who were altogether unprovided for their parts of the dispatch and are casually forced so to be because three several Officers in whose records they are to search are now out of Town and do not return yet these 7. daies But your Lordship shall not fail to have all things concluded 3. weeks before the Term and I will of purpose put off all general sealing until it be effected In the mean time your Lordships Letter notwithstanding it will be nothing for your Lordships case to have Sir George Chaworth any way interested in this office of the originals but I hold it fitter to leave it as it is in Law and Equity forfeited for non-payment of rent in his Majesties hands for upon that issue I do not doubt but my Lord of St. Albons and Sir George will be content to hear reason I have received extraordinary respects and expressions from my Noble Lord the Lord Marquesse Hamilton which doth exceedingly comfort and encourage me to go on with some more alacrity through the difficulties of this restlesse place I beseech your Lordship who is Causa Causarum the first Cause that sets all these other Causes of my Comforts in Going to take notice of the same and to undertake this favour to be placed upon a poor honest hearted man who would if he were any way able requite it Gods blessings and the prayers of a poor Bishop ever attend your Lordship c. Postscript THe Spanish Embassadour took the alarum very speedily of the titulary Romish Bishop and before my departure from his house at Islington whither I went privately to him did write both to Rome and Spain to prevent it Sir Tobie Mathewes But I am afraid that Tobie will prove but an Apocryphal and no Canonical intelligencer acquainting the State with this project for the Jesuites rather then for Jesus sake The Lord Keeper to the Duke about the Lord Treasurer Septemb. 9th 1622. My most Noble Lord THat I neither wrote unto your Lordship nor waited upon your Lordship sithence my intolerable scandalizing by the Lord Treasurer this is the true and only cause I was so moved to have all my diligent service pains and unspotted justice thus rewarded by a Lord who is reputed wise that I have neither slept read written or eaten any thing since that time until the last night that the Ladies sent for me I believe of purpose to VVallingford house and put me out of my humour I have lost the love and affection of my men by seizing upon their Papers perusing all their answers to Petitions casting up their moneys received by way of fees even to half Crowns and two shillings and finding them all to be poor honest Gentlemen that have maintained themselves in my service by the greatnesse of my pains and not the greatnesse of their fees They are most of them landed men that do not serve me for gain but for experience and reputation And desire to be brought to the Test to shew their several books and to be confronted by any one man with whom they contracted or from whom they demanded any Fee at all The greatest summe in their books is five pounds and those very few and sent unto them from Earls and Barons All the rest are some 20 s. 10 s. 5 s. 2 s. 6 d. and 2 s. And this is the oppression in my house that the Kingdom of the Common Lawyers peradventure who have lost I confesse hereby 20000 l. at the least saved in the purses of the Subjects doth now groan under Now I humbly beseech your Lordship to peruse this paper here inclosed and the issue I do joyn with the Lord Treasurer and to acquaint at
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 should not be offended therewith His opinion of our preparing of this Navie IT was a design of the Duke to go to the Ports of Sevil and there to burn all the Ships in the Harbour which he laught at Speeches which he said fell from his Majestie concerning the Prince 1. THat when he told the King that his greatnesse with the Duke was such as might hinder his Majestie from taking a course to represse him His Majestie replyed He doubted nothing of the Prince or his own power to sever them two when he pleased 2. His Majestie said That when his Highnesse went to Spain he was as well affected to that Nation as heart could desire and as well disposed as any son in Europe but now he was strangely carried away with rash and youthful Councels and followed the humour of Buckingham who had he knew not how many Devils within him since that journey Concerning the Duke 1. THat he could not believe yet that he affected popularity to his disadvantage Because he had tryed him of purpose and commanded him to make disaffecting motions to the houses which he performed whereby his Majestie concluded he was not popular 2. That he desired Don Francisco and the Embassadours and renewed this request unto them by Padre Maestro two dayes ago to get him any ground to
their particular for any thing whatsoever done till now either by the league in general or by whomsoever of the united in particular because that the league was made two years and more before his Majestie of great Brittain broke with Spain or that the King of Denmark had declared himself Since the time that these two Kings are come to the Dance your Highnesse hath not levied one man and the Forces which you do yet keep as they were not levied so are they not maintained in Contemplation of the two Kings but onely for the first reasons of the League The onely thing here sought for is to go with a common pace that those that are now too heavily laden may be supported by their friends either by way of diversion or by way of assistance And therefore your Highnesse and other Princes are now requested to help seeing there is small appearance of diversion And set the case that the Peace between Spain and France should be firm would it not turn against the Common Cause Italiae incendium ruina Germaniae extinguere To quench a little fire in Italy by the ruine of whole Germany In Chronical diseases Physitians do not so much respect the symptomes and accidents as they do the causes of the evil The Valtoline Palatinate Hussia Marchisat of Baden Dukedome of Brunswick and so many other Countries attempted and oppressed by the Spanish and Austrian usurpation are grievous and dangerous symptomes and accidents but the Cause and fewel of the evil remains yet in the ambitious bowels of the Spaniard who now with spread sailes goeth on towards the universal Monarchie unlesse there be applied betimes some fit remedies all topick remedies will do but little good The King of Denmark doth offer himself ready to apply such an issue whereby he may be brought back to terms of modestie and with the assistance he doth expect from your Highnesse and other interessed Princes he hopeth to bring his good intent to passe And being prodigal of his great Soul there is no doubt he will ever go back unlesse he be forsaken Thus there remains the Common liberty almost in your hands and if this most excellent Senate resolves to give ayd unto that King that libertie will be preserved If you do forsake him that will also be indangered yea lost I therefore beseech your Highnesse to ponder well this matter and to grant such an assistance as is requested by the King of Denmarks Embassadour Sir Henry Wootton to the Duk. My most Noble Lord I Will be bold by this opportunity to give his Majestie through your Lordships hands an accompt of a Command which I had from him at Theobalds about sounding how the Venetian Embassadour stood satisfied with the late determination touching his predecessour Donato I did visit the said Embassadour immediatly at my return from the King and saluted him as by expresse Commandment interjecting some words of mine own gladnesse that he had received contentment in this tender point which would signalize his beginnings This I said because in truth I had found him alwaies before the more passionate in it by some reflection upon himself His answer after due thanks for his Majesties gracious remembrance of him from abroad was That for his own part he was Contentissimo and had represented things home in the best manner He hoped likewise it would be well tasted there also though with some doubt because the State out of their own devotion towards his Majestie might form a confidence of expecting more I replyed that the King upon the matter if we consider disgrace had done more then themselves for he was but once banished at Venice and twice here viz. once from the Verge of the Court and secondly from London which was as much as could be done with preservation of National immunities and more then would have been done at the suit of any other Embassadour here resident or perhaps of any of their own hereafter if the like case shall occur For as I told him it was the Kings expresse will that his particular respect to the republique and to him in this businesse should not be drawn into examples With this point he was not a little pleased for his own glory and said that indeed Mr. Secretarie Nanton had told him so This was the summe of what passed between us omitting impertinencies Let me end my dear Lord as I am bound in all the use either of my pen or of my voice with an humble and hearty acknowledgment of my great obligations towards your Lordship which will make me resolve and in good faith unhappy till I can some way shew my self Your Lordships most thankful and faithful servant Henry Wootton 25th of January 1619. Sir Henry Wotton to the Duke My most honoured Lord and Patron THese poor lines will be presented unto your Lordship by my Nephew one of your obliged servants and withal some description as I have prayed him of my long infirmities which have cast me behind in many private and often interrupted even my publique Duties with which yet I do rather seek to excuse some other defects of service then my silence towards your Lordship For to importune your Lordship seldom with my pen is a choice in me and not a disease having resolved to live at what distance soever from your sight like one who had well studied before I came hither how secure they are whom you once vouchsafe any part of your love And indeed I am well confirmed therein by your own gracious lines for thereby I see that your Lordship had me in your meditation when I scant remembred my self In answer of which Letter after some respite from mine own evils I have deputed my said Nephew to redeliver my fortune into your Noble hands and to assure your Lordship that as it should be cheerfully spent at your Command if it were present and actual from whose mediation I have derived it so much more am I bound to yeeld up unto your Lordship an absolute disposition of my hopes But if it should please you therein to grant me any part of mine own humour then I would rather wish some other satisfaction then exchange of Office yet even in this point likewise shall depend on your will which your Lordship may indeed challenge from me not onely by an humble gratitude and reverence due to your most worthy person but even by that natural charity and discretion which I owe my self For what do I more therein then onely remit to your own arbitrement the valuation of your own goodnesse I have likewise committed to my foresaid Nephew some Memorials touching your Lordships familiar service as I may term it in matter of art and delight But though I have laid these Offices upon another yet I joy with mine own pen to give your Lordship an account of a Gentleman worthier of your love then I was of the honour to receive him from you We are now after his well spent travailes in the
prosperously succeed as all men would desire it If it please his Majestie to remove and set aside all these disadvantages He shall find the Charge laid against the Duke will prove very empty and of small moment And for them if his Majestie and the Duke's Grace think it no impeachment to their Honors all that the Parliament hath objected against the Duke is pardoned at the Kings Coronation which benefit every poor Subject enjoyeth Three things onely excepted which may most easily be answered Mr. Ch. Th. to the Duke of Buckingham My Lord IT is intimated to your Lordship first that you would procure his Majestie to desire the Lords to choose six or so many as you shall think fit of whom they have most confidence to attend him to morrow morning to whom his Majestie may be pleased to declare That he hath endeavoured to divert the charges against your Lordship because his Majestie hath had sound knowledge and experience of the service and fidelity though in outward shew the contrarie might justly appear and because also he saw it was urged with a great deal of private spleen and perhaps not without some Papisticall device of troubling his Majesties businesse in Parliament but seeing no suite or perswasion could prevail to appease the distempered course his Majestie is now forced and so pleased to reveal some secrets and Arcana of State which otherwise in the wisedom of Kings were unfit to be opened Here his Majestie may let them know that the King his Father finding the Palatinate more then in danger to be lost and after his Majestie being in Spain and there deluded and his abode and return both unsafe It was a necessity of State to sweeten and content the Spaniards with a hope of any thing that might satisfie and redeem those ingagements and therefore willed your Lordship to yield discreetlie to what you should find they most desired and this was chiefly the point of religion so as in this and all of the like kind your Lordship upon his Majesties knowledge was commanded and but the instrument trusted by your Master in this exigent or if you will extremitie And this with other more Potent overtures such as your Lordship best understands may Cancel all those objections of that nature Upon this same ground though not in so high a degree the sending of the ships to Rochel may be excused and this is not the least fault objected in the opinion of the wisest Touching the vast creation of Nobility his Majestie may ask those six Lords whereof perchance some of them may be concerned in this article whether they conceive any reason of King James his doing herein to which I suppose they will stand mute Then his Majestie may say I will tell you and therein discover a truth and a secret of State My Father who was born a King and had long experience of that Regiment especiallie more traversed in this point then perhaps ever any King found that this State inclined much to Popularitie a thing apparent universallie in all the Courts viz. in that of Star-chamber which was at first erected to restrain the insolence of Great men in great outrages but now for every pettie offence the meanest Tennant may be bold to call thither his Lord. A thing also appearing in the sawcie approaches of the Puritans upon the Bishops and plainely in the boldnesse of the house of Commons against the Kings pattents and edicts which in all good times out of their necessity have been powerful And especiallie this humour hath been comforted by the sturdie example of the Neighbour States of the Low-countries as in their insolencies in the East-Indies c. From this place an inticing voice hath sounded in our eares of libertie and freedom though indeed a feigned voyce and but in sound unsound I say when the king my Father had well beheld these things he could not foresee a remedie more proper or easier as being unserviceable and in his own gripe then to inlarge the number of his Nobles that these being dispersed into several Counties might as lambs of Soveraigntie in protection of their own degrees and at their own charge inure the people with respect and obedience to greatnesse and yet not to amate and discourage them he thought good to raise some neer or of their own rank whereby they might see themselves in possibility of the like honour if either by virtue wealth or honestie they make themselves worthie This I protest was a child of my Fathers best judgment in this poynt and the Duke but the instrument thereof And if you say that there was mony many times given for these Honours nay if you say that mony hath been given for places of Clergie and Judicature I pray take this of me that this is so in all other Countries as in France and Spain And those Councels seem a little to smile at our dulnesse that we have so lately apprehended their soundnesse herein for say they when men pay well for such places it is the best kind of security for their honesties especially when fayling in their dutie they shall be sure to be as much punished as they were advanced Howbeit I am not satisfied in this opinion And if it be said that the King should have had the mony which the Duke took to his own use I believe this last is more then any can prove neither will I deliver what I know therein Howsoever it matters not much being no popular disbursment Only this I will say that I know the Dukes particular service and affection to me and that he and his will lay down themselves and all they have at my Feet Neither is this bare opinion since the Duke alone hath dibursed and stands engaged more for my affaires and the States then any Number of Noblemen of England whatsoever and therefore there is reason that from a King he would receive his own and more And now my Lords since I have thus far opened a Kings Cabinet unto you at least by the measure of this foot of answer you may discover what may be said concerning that great bodie and bulk of accusations of the Highest kind made against the Duke I desire you would take it to heart remembring that it is your King that speaketh this who therefore expects your service and love herein and who will requite the same assuredly hoping you will believe me indeed and do accordingly indeed and that you will also rest assured that my spirit is not so young though a young King as that I would bring this testimony in mine own wrong were not that I say true in my own knowledge And being so you also will grant that it is not for a King to use his Servant and Instrument as he doth his Horses which being by hard riding in his service foundred and lamed to turn them off to grasse or to the Cart. I must therefore in right of the King my Fathers Honour and my own protect a
I am Your Lordships Most devoted and most humble servant Kensington Postscript IF the French Embassadour or my Lord of Carlile wonders I have not written unto them I beseech your Lordship let them know this Messenger is not of my sending and in such haste as he cannot be stayed The Lord Kensington to the Prince May it please your Highnesse I Cannot but make you continual repetitions of the value you have here to be as justly we know you the most Compleat young Prince and person in the world This reputation hath begotten in the sweet Princesse Madam so infinite an affection to your fame as she could not contain her self from a passionate desiring to see your Picture the shadow of that person so honoured and knowing not by what means to compasse it it being worn about my neck for though others as the Queen and Princesses would open it and consider it the which ever brought forth admiration from them yet durst not this poor young Ladie look any otherwise on it then afar off whose heart was nearer it then any of the others that did most gaze upon it But at the last rather then want that sight the which she was so impatient of she desired the Gentlewoman of the house where I am lodged that had been her servant to borrow of me the picture in all the secresie that may be and to bring it unto her saying She could not want that Curiositie as well as others towards a person of his infinite reputation As soon as she saw the party that brought it she retired into her Cabinet calling onely her in where she opened the picture in such haste as shewed a true picture of her passion blushing in the instant at her own guiltinesse She kept it an hour in her hands and when she returned it she gave with it many praises of your person Sir this is a businesse so fit for your secresie as I know it shall never go farther then unto the King your Father my Lord Duke of Buckingham and my Lord of Carliles knowledge A tendernesse in this is honourable for I would rather die a thousand times then it should be published since I am by this young Lady trusted that is for beautie and goodnesse an Angel I have received from my Lord of Buckingham an advertisement that your Highnesse opinion is to treat of the General league first that will prepare the other Sir whatsoever shall be propounded will have a noble acceptation though this give me leave to tell you when you are free as by the next newes we shall know you to be they will expect that upon those declarations they have here already made towards that particularitie of the Alliance that your Highnesse will go that readier and nearer way to unite and fasten by that knot the affection of these Kingdomes Sir for the general they all here speak just that language that I should and do unto them of the power and usurpation of the Spaniards of the approaches they make to this Kingdom the danger of the Low-Countries the direct Conquest of Germany and the Valtoline By which means we have cause to joyn in opposition of the Ambitions and mightinesse of this King The which they all here say cannot be so certainly done as by an Alliance with us This they speak perpetuallie and urge it unto my consideration Sir unlesse we proceed very roundly though they be never so well affected we may have interruptions by the arts of Spain that make offers infinite to the advantage of this State at this time But they hearken to none of them untill they see our intentions towards them The which if they find to be real indeed they will give us brave satisfaction But Sir your Fathers and your will not my opinion must be followed and what Commandments your Highnesse shall give me shall be most strictly obeyed by the most devoted Your Highnesse Most dutiful and humblest servant Kensington The Lord Kensington to the Duke the 14. of March 1624. My Lord I Have already acquainted your Grace how generally our desires are met with here much more cannot be said then I have already for that purpose There was never known in this Kingdome so intire an agreement for any thing as for an Alliance with England the Count of Soysons onely excepted who hath had some pretensions unto Madam but those are now much discouraged upon a free discourse the Cardinal of Rochfalcout made unto the Countesse his Mother telling her That if she or her son believed or could expect the King would give him his sister in marriage they would as he conceived deceive themselves for he imagined upon good grounds that the King would bestow his Sister that way that might be most for her honour and advancement and likewise for the advantage of his Crown and Kingdom and he professed for his part although he much honoured the Count as a great Prince of the bloud yet was he so faithful unto his Master as he would advise him to that purpose The Queen Mother and Mounsieur Le Grand have advised me to say something unto the King concerning my businesse I told them I could say nothing very directly unto him and yet would I not so much as deliver my opinion of the King my Masters inclinations to wish an alliance with him unlesse I were assured his answers might make me see his value and respect unto him They then spake unto him and assured me I should in that be satisfied Having that promise from them I told the King that I had made this journey of purpose to declare unto him my humble service and thankfulnesse for all his Honours and favours the which I thought I could not better expresse then by informing his Majestie that our Prince whom he had ever so much valued would be as I conceived free and dis-ingaged from our Spanish Treatie by reason that the King could not find them answer his expectation in those things that made him principally desire their Conjunction the which your Lordship seeing you have exercised your interest and credit with the King your Master and the Prince to convert those thoughts towards his Majestie from whom you were perswaded nothing but truth and honour would be returned the which at this time more then ever would be an infinite advantage to both these Kingdoms and that I believed if his Majestie would shew a disposition as affectionate to receive Propositions to this purpose as the King my Master had to make them a long time would not passe before the effects of this might appear the which would shew the report raised here of the ends of my coming to be false and me to be free of all other designs then those which I had expressed unto him He told me that he had not heard that the Spanish Match was yet broken the which justly might give him cause to be reserved yet thus far he would assure me in the general That whatsoever should be
unto your worthie servant my Lord Duke as he hath written a private Letter unto the King the which I saw by the favour of a friend that he is in a condition of danger to be ruined by the furie and power of the Parliament And to confirm him in that opinion hath sent all the passages amongst them that concern my Lord Duke adding to that of great factions against him at the Councel Table and naming some Lords the which makes me see he hath intelligence with all those that he believes may contribute any thing towards the mischieving of him But those that know the magnanimitie and noblenesse of your Majesties heart know that so noble a vessel of honour and service as he is shall never be in danger for all the storms that can threaten him when it is in your Majesties hands not onely to calm all these tempests but to make the Sun and beams of your favour to shine more clearly upon his deservings then ever the which upon this occasion your courage and virtue will no doubt do to the encouragement of all deserving and excellent servants and to his honour and comfort that is the most worthie that ever Prince had And so affectionate that the world hath no greater admirations then the fortunes that the Master and servant have run together And certainly our good God will ever preserve that affection that in so many accidents and one may say afflictions hath preserved your Persons Sir this boldnesse that I take proceeds not from the least doubt these foolish rumours give me of changes but out of a passionate meditation of those accidents that your courage and fortune hath carried you through blessing God for your prosperitie the which will be by his grace most glorious and lasting according to the prayers of Your Majesties Most humble and most obedient Subject and servant Holland Paris 1 13. March 1625. The Earl of Holland to the Duke My dear Lord THis Messenger is so rigid and such an enemie to all Jantileise as by him I will not send any news in that kind but when the little Mercurie comes you shall know that which shall make you joy and grieve that you cannot injoy what your fate and merit hath so justly destined unto you We have such daily alarums here out of England from Blanvile of the beating of his servant and at the last the danger that of late he himself hath been in of being assassinated in his own house for the first word that his servant said unto the King and the whole Court was The Embassadour had run such a hazard of his life as no man that heard him believed he had escaped with lesse then 5. or 6. wounds Insomuch as your friend Bouteve asked Fait vn belle fine And this hath so animated this Court being as your Lordship knowes apt upon all occasions to be fired and stirred up as the King hath been moved to forbid us our entries and liberties here And yesterday Madam de Blanvile did openly petition the King to imprison us for the wrongs and injuries done unto her husband and his Embassadour that she feared was by this time dead But that had no other effect but to be laught at I never I confesse saw the Queen Mother in so much distraction and passion for she never speaks of her Daughter but with tears and yesterday with some heat and bitternesse to me about it the Circumstances I have taken the boldnesse to present unto his Majestie That which distracts me infinitely is to hear that they do traduce you as the cause of all these misfortunes and that you stirre up the King to these displeasures And so much impression it hath made into the Queen Mother as this day at the audience she told me That you had made the marriage and were now as she imagined and was informed resolved to destroy your work I asked her what particularitie could make her say and believe so against the general and continual actions and endeavours that the whole world ought to be satisfied of your infinite care and affection to fasten and tye together a good and constant intelligence and friendship between these Crowns She told me that you intreated Madam de St. George to do some service for you to the Queen the which she did and instead of giving her thanks you threatned the sending of her away I told her Though I had as yet heard nothing of this particularitie yet I knew your nature to be so generous as you would never do any action unjust I told her that she must distinguish between what you say as Commanded by the King and what you say of your self for if it be his pleasure to make the instrument to convey his will upon any occasion of his displeasure you are not to dispute but to obey his Command in that and in all other things I told her farther that I saw the continual malice of the Embassadour that invents daily injuries and falshoods of your Lordship to unload himself from his insolencies and faults but I hoped that nothing should light upon your Lordship but what you deserved the which to my knowledge was more value and esteem then any man in the world could or can ever merit from this Kingdome And I desired her not to entertain the belief of these things too hastily until we had newes out of England that we knew would contradict all these malitious discourses And I must tell your Grace that by a friend whom I am tyed not to name I was shewed the private Lettter that Blanvile wrote to the King in the which he sent him the whole proceedings of the Parliament and concludes they will ruine you naming great factions against you and as it were a necessitie to destroy you But I hope he and the whole world here will fall before any misfortunes should fall upon so generous and so noble a deserver of his Master and so excellent a friend and Patron unto Your Graces Most humble and most obedient servant Holland Postscript THough the Embassadour deserves nothing but contempt and disgrace as Blanvile yet I hope as Embassadour he shall receive for publique Honours and accustomed respect to Embassadours all possible satisfaction and it will be conceived a generous action My dearest Lord ALL the joy I have hath such a flatnesse set upon it by your absence from hence as I protest to God I cannot rellish it as I ought for though beautie and love I find in all perfection and fulnesse yet I vex and languish to find impediments in our designs and services for you first in the businesse for I find our mediation must have no place with this King concerning a Peace We must only use our power with those of the Religion to humble them to reasonable Conditions and that done they would as far as I can guesse have us gone not being willing that we should be so much as in the Kingdom when the Peace is made for
Zealand When I call to mind what Patents I procured of the King of Bohemia and sent your Grace by Sir William Saint Lieger amongst which was one of submission to any accommodation his Majestie shall at any time like well of for the King of Bohemia I think it necessary to advertize your Grace that knowledge being come hither of the Infanta's sending the Count Shomburgh to the King of Denmark with a fair Message and the Count Gondomar's overtures to Mr. Trumbal tending to reconcilement and restitution of the Palatinate it is so willingly hearkned unto by the King of Bohemia that there is no doubt of his Consent but withal he well considers that if Treatie alone be trusted unto and thereupon Armes now leavied by his Majestie and his Friends be laid aside all will prove as fruitlesse as formerly For howsoever the King of Spain for more free prosecution of other quarrels or designs may be induced to quit what he possesseth in the Palatinate the shares the Emperour the Duke of Bavier and the two Electours Majenct and Trevers with a great rabble of Popish Priests and Jesuites have therein will require more then bare negotiation to wring it out of their hands and nothing but Victorie or at least a well armed Treatie can serve that turn The time seems long both to the King and Queen and growes very irksome every day more then other of their abode here in this place which indeed doth prove in all respects very uncomfortable and that your Grace will gather out of Mr. Secretarie Morton's report and my Letters to my Lord Conway In this very Consideration I beseech your Grace be the more mindful of Your Graces Most humble and most devoted servant Dudley Carleton Hague 20th of August 1625. FINIS The Table of things most remarkable A. ADmiral of England his Office p. 102 of Castile takes place of the Imperial Embassadour 165 Aerscus 342 Algier Voyage 143 144 Allegiance Puritanes will not swear it 121 Alpes when passable 186 Anchre Marshal of France 320 Archbishop of Canterbury shoots a Keeper by mischance 12. see tit James King c. for the Palsgraves accepting the Bohemian Crown 169 170 Archbishop of York against Toleration of Popery blames the Voyage into Spain 13 Argile Earl 291 Arminians chief in the Dutch State 322 Arundel Earl Marshal no friend to the Bishop of Lincoln 62 63 74 302 307 316. Ashley Sir Anthony gives the Duke of Buckingham intelligence of Plots against him 308 Aston Sir Walter will not consent that the Prince Palsgrave should be brought up in the Emperours Court 17 see Bristol Earl Concurs with the Earl of Bristol in prefixing a day for the Deposorio's without making certain the restitution of the Palatinate which is heynously taken by the Prince 35. in danger for it to be called off there 36 37. His Care to discover Plots against his Masters Crownes 49 51 53. of the Merchants 168. see Merchants Prosecutes the Marquesse of Ynoiosa in defence of the honour of England 52. sues to return home 52 54. will not see the Arch-Duke in Spain and why 166 AustrianVsurpation 191. See tit Spain B. BAcon Viscount St. Albans Lord Chancellour declines all Justification of himself 5 6. Casts himself upon the Lords 6 Discontents the Marquesse of Buckingham 8. his wayes to make the Kingdom happy 9 advises King James concerning his revenues devises a book of his estate there-how he carried himself when a Councellour and otherwise how esteemed 10. Never took bribe to pervert Justice 11. his pardon 60 82 Barnevelt 318 factious no friend to the English an Arminian 331 Bavaria Duke offers to depend wholly on Spain 167. see Palatinate Beamont Lord fined in the Star-Chamber 16. E. 2. 58 Bergen besieged 328 Bergstrate given the Archbishop of Mentz 335 Blanvile the French Embassadour an enemy to the Duke of Buckingham holds intelligence with the Dukes English enemies 295. his Character by the French 300. See 274 296 197 302. Blundel Sir George 129 Book of Common Prayer translated into Spanish and why 73. See Spaniards Borgia Cardinal 178 Bovillon Duke 165. seeks the protection from the States united 320. weary of the Palsgrave 327 Brandenburgh Elector 317 336 Bret a Peusioner in disgrace 204 Bristol Earl first mover in the Spanish Match negotiates in it 16. Earnest to conclude it 24 25 26 306 ohidden by the King Charles for giving the Spaniards hopes of his inclination to a change in Religion for his manage of things concerning the Match and undervaluing the Kingdome of England 16 17. Consents that the Prince Palsgrave shall be bred in the Emperors Court which the King Charles takes ill 17. Proffered by the King the favour of the general pardon or to put himself upon his tryal 18. under restraint for his errours in Spain 19. removed from his offices forbidden the Court denyed his Parliament Writ there Justifies himself 19 20. to King James 30. Differs in opinion from the Duke of Buckingham concerning the Match 21. Seeks the Duke of Buckingham his savour 28. charged to be his enemy his wisdome and power at Court 161 162. Conde of Olivarez offers him a blank paper signed by the King bids him choose what was in his Masters power he refuses 42 Brule Peter his practises 302 Buckingham Duke his carriage and esteem in Spain 16 22. See Olivarez contemns the Earl of Bristol 22. See Bristol an enemy to him 231 The Spaniards will not put the Infanta into his hands 22 thought an enemy to the Match with Spain 32 92 159 218 219 222 237 243 248 Censured 159 160 218 219 221 222 263 210. Forgives wrongs 58 Steward of VVestminster 69 Haughty to the Prince of VVales 78 Used to sit when the Prince stood c. 221 falls from his affection to VVilliams Lord Keeper 87. See Don Francisco his power 91 King James his words of him on Don Francisco's relation 92 Mediates for the Earl of Suffolk 125 No audience of Embassadours without him 216. taxed to King James freely 218 219 220 221 223. defended 224 225 226 227. a faithful servant 229 Charge against him in Parliament 228 229 230 Procures graces for the Nobility and Gentry 231 Breaks the Spanish Designes and Party 265 for the Match with France 291 A Consederacy by Oath against him 307 308 The Queen of England had need of his friendship 303 Dares submit the judgment of his Actions to any tryal 87 Buckingham Countesse 254 302 Buckleugh Lord 327 329 Button Sir Thomas in the Voyage of Algier 143 144. C. CAlcedon a titulary Roman Bishop in England 81 Calvert Sir George 202. See 304. Carlile Earl Viscount Doncaster loves not the Bishop of Lincoln 74 89. See 180 182. perswades King James to feed his Parliament so he with some crums of the Crown 270. refuses See 288. Count Mansfelts Commission for Colonel to his son 273 Carlos Arch-Duke in Spain 165 Calderon Don Rodrigo Marquesse de las Siete Iglesias his Riches confined 208
Carleton Sir Dudley Embassadour in the Low-Countries 317. writes to reconcile Sir Horatio Vere and Sir Edward Cecyl 323. his prudence to reunite England and the States 331 332 Carone Sir Noel Embassador in England from the Low-Dutch 321-325 Cavendish 97 Cecyl Sir Edward General 128 345. sues for Command will save the King in Expences 128. a loser by his service 129. see 345. See Vere Sir Horatio Viscount Wimbledon commands in chief at Sea neglected malitiously accused examined 135 137 138 Charles Prince of Wales King of England after how entertained and honoured in Spain 14 15 16. Not to be shaken in Religion contrary to Conde Gondomar's Information to his Master 15. got the love of all men in Spain 16 22 159 Will not proceed in the Match without restitution of the Palatinate and Electoral dignity 17 35 36 Displeased with the Earl of Bristol for raising an opinion among the Spaniards of his willingnesse to become Roman Catholique and his offers of seducing that way 17 will not be bargained with for future favours 18. will not be drawn to things but freely 18 His affability patience constancy 22 his civil and wise Reply to the Popes Letter 215 No lover of women 237 Defends the Duke of Buckinghams actions as done out of politick Compliance for the Palatinate cause 228 229 230 will favour as he pleases will grant the Lords and Commons all things fair and honest 230 Ill used by delayes in Spain his Voyage thither censured 288 289 3â—4 Chevereux Duke a servant of the Prince of Wales 277 278 230. See 300 301. Chichester Sir Arthur distrusted by the Duke 243 his conference with the Embassadours of Spain 244 245 Chidley a Sea Captain 141 Churchman an homicide 12 55 56 Church of England Reformed 116 Church differences Judges of them 117 Clerk Edward 306 307 Cleves and Juliers the succession of them pretended to 317 Coborn a Captain of the Duke of Brunswick 283 Contracts ever before Marriage where 106 107 Coke Sir Edward 104 122 Conde imprisoned 176 Conference betwixt Don Francisco and the Lord Keeper 86 87. betwixt Sir Arthur Chichester and the Spanish Embassadours 244. the Earl of Nithisdail and them 247 Confession of Don Pedro concerning the Armada of 88. 259 Conway Lord Secretary advises the Earl of Bristol 19 estranged from the Lord Keeper Lincoln 89 a Martial Secretary 198 enough the Dukes servant 316 Cordova Don Gonzales 328 329 Corona Regia See Libel Cottington Sir Francis 23 81 Councel Table of King James somewhat too much pressing upon the King 75 Courtenvant Marquesse 286 Coxe King Edward the sixt his School-master Master of Requests and Privie Councillour enters Orders 68 Cromwel Lord Counsels the Duke 263. D. DEnbigh Countesse 302 Denmark King his offers 190 191. Dispensation with a Lay-man to hold cure of soules cannot be 66 67 Dominican Fryer turns to the English Church 79 Don Francisco's Discourse to the Lord Keeper 86 87 90 91 92 93 His cunning to speak with King James 90. Accuses the Duke of Buckingham 90 91 Donato a Venetian Embassadour gives the lye to the Duke of Savoy an enemy to Paul the Father of Venice 187 banished once at Venice twice in England 192 Don Doctour 314. presents the Duke with a book of devotions ibid. E. ELiot Sir John imprisoned 311 Elvis Sir Gervas his posterity restored in blood and estate 3 Most guilty of the death of Sir Thomas Overbury 3 Emperour Ferdinand the third deales unworthily with King James 166. and against his own Letter 234 changes the German Customes 171 his proceeding against the Palsgrave protested against 336 Elizabeth Queen of England her Speech to her Army at Tilbury 260 Restrains the Papists and why 258 protects the Low-Countries and upon what termes 333 338 England alone happy in its Religion 112 inclined to popularity 228 229 not what it hath been 261 Episcopacy gone what will follow 117 Essex Earl commanded to fight the Spanish Ships le ts them escape 135 F. FEria Duke 168 Fiat Marquesse 293 302 288 Finch Lady created Viscountesse of Maidstone 79 Fleet of Spain 43 53 Plate Fleet 48 49. part cast away 208 of Portugal 53. for Brasil 167 Of the Spaniard's Venetians and Turks 186 207. of the Low-Countries for the West-Indies 341 346 Frenchman burnt in Spain for contempt to the host 51 Frenchmen use the English basely 149 their Contract for the English Ships 150 French King falls upon those of the Religion 164 177 France governed by the Queen Mother at the proposals of the Match with Madam which she is earnest for but will do nothing till the Treaty with Spain be broke 274 to 277. The French not much sollicitous for the English Recusants 275 284 285 Richnesse of their habits at a Masque in honour of the English 278 279 fear the Spanish greatnesse 281 desirous of the English alliance 282 283 287 articles of the Match disliked by the English 289 endeavour to break the Spanish Treaty 305 Give precedency to the English 254 G. GAbor Bethlem 335 Gage imployed about the Dispensation 233 238 Geere Sir Michael 135 Gerard Sir Thomas seized upon suspition of designes against the King 272 Gifford a Sea Captain his design upon a Gallion in the Gulph of Mexico 343 Gondomar his false relations of the Prince of Wales 15 Commanded again for England 54 Goodnesse ever most easily betrayed 270 Goring Sir George 96 200 330 316 339 Grandees of Spain severally present their King with summes of monies to relieve his wants 168 Grandmont French Mounsieur 285 Gregorie the 15. tempts the Prince of Wales to change Religion 212 213 tries to make the Duke of Buckingham 216 Greiham 316 Gresley ibid. Gelderland States have the leading voyce in the united Netherlands 323 Goring Sir George 200 Guicciardines Judgment of Venice 8 H. HAlberstat Christian Duke of Brunswick 240 Hamilton Marquesse 316 Hartford Earl's Petition 89 Harton Sir Christopher 226 Haughton Sir Gilbert complains of the Lord Keeper Williams his servants 74 Henderson Colonel slain at Bergen 328 Henderson Sir Francis 329 Henrietta Maria of France after Queen of England 253. beautiful discreet and full of respect to the Prince of Wales 276 277. See 278 290 sends privately for his picture 280 Herbert Lord of no faction his Informations to King James from France 304 305 Holland Earl Lord Kensington in France when the Treaty for the Match there was beginning for it 274 275 276 277 278 279. received by the French King 278. speaks to him concerning the Match 282. with the Queen Mother 289. with Madam 290. allowed at all times free entrance into the Louure 294 Howard Sir Robert 103 104. I. JAniville Prince for the Queen Mother 176. forwards the alliance with France 279 James King of England famous for wisedome mercy c. 7 Appoints Commissioners to inquire of the Archbishop of Canterburies Case 12. See Archbishop of Canterbury his promises to Williams Lord Keeper 56. Never breaks his word 77 Protectour of the Protestants
Reigns tumultuous and licentious 224 private grudges made publick businesse 230 what men dangerous in Parliaments 215 See 226. Of Spain grant their King 60. Millions of Duckets which the Guies will not ratifie 45 Palsgrave a dâ—sperate enemy to the Emperour 172. promised restitution conditionally 241. content to submit 337 Passages betwixt the Keeper Lincoln and Don Francisco a Spaniard concerning Peace or war betwixt England and Spain upon breach of the Match 77 Paul the Father of Venice 187 Peckius 333 Peeres Judges in Parliament 6 Bennington Sir John 141. will not deliver up the Kings Ship for the French service 147 148 his advice concerning the Contract of the French for the use of some English Vessels 150 Persian Embassadour his suit to King James 12 Philibert of Savoy Viceroy of Sicily his good affection to King James 158 at Messina 182 dares not fight the Turkish Fleet which he finds too strong for him 186 Philips Sir Robert 264 mediates with the Duke for the Earl of Bristol 265 Pirates of Algier 142 Of the Levant seek for pardon 156 formidable 158 infest the Coasts of Spain 206 207 Popes their arts 172 Porcheres 301 303 Portland Earl See Weston Sir Richard Presents given on both sides in Spain 16 Prisoners in the Fleet and the damned in Hell compared by the Keeper Lincoln 65 Priviledges of Parliament 65 made a colour 227 Procession upon the Jubile in Spain by the King Queen c. 51 Proclamation concerning the signature of Bills 82 Protestants of all parts beholding to King James 110 111 Provost of Eaton hath cure of soules must be in Orders 66 67 Purbeck Lady so she much affects her husband 313 Complains highly of the Duke and his Family 313 314. Puritanes see Allegiance haters of the Government begun in Parliaments fall upon the Councellours of State willing to clip the King 225 Putcan had a hand in Corona Regia the Libel 152 Q. Queen of Bohemia her virtues 329 337 Queen Mother of France 176. for the Match with England 290 296 young Queen shewes great respect to the English Prince and is earnest for the Match with Madam 277 not Spanish though a sister of Spain 278 R. RAwleigh S'r Walter insolent 226 his Western Voyage had described those Countries makes the Duke of Buckingham his Intercessour 308 309 Records of the Order of the Garter 221 Reformation of Justice rules for it 6 7. Refuges Monsieur 319 Religious life entring into it after betrothing 24 Richlieu Cardinal when first of the Cabinet Councel 287 Richmond Duke Lord Steward 100 101. See 336. Richmond Dutchesse gives 1600 l. the year for a house to sleep in 106 Rochel so streightly blocked up in November 1625. no intelligence could be had from thence 272 Rochfort Viscount his generosity 209 suâ—s for the Earl of Oxfords Liberty 210. See 310. Rochfoulcaut Cardinal 282 Roâ— Sir Thomas frees 13. English from the Spanish Gallies by the favour of Philibert of Savoy 158 Roman Catholicks favoured in England because of the Spanish Match and to comply with the Articles 80 81 Bishop of Lincoln his advice concerning it ibid. titular Bishop of Calcedon in England see tit Williams Complain of persecution in England 95 238 to the Spanish Embassadour turbulent 105 King James his Clemency to them disliked what that was 110 111 112. and why 233 236 242 Jesuites stir up the French King against the Calvinists because King James executes his Lawes against the Papists 111. their practises in Parliament against the King 225 229 Imprisoned in the time of the Queen and why 258 Contrive tumults disarmed by the King their insolency 271 272 S. ST George Madam 296 302 Saint-Leger Sir William 334 335 Sandys Sir Edwin 76 Santa Croce Marquesse 178 Sarmientos Don 318 Savil Sir Henry Provost of Eaton 67 Savoyard Embassadour 275 299 300 301 303. Savoy Duke 168 a friend to the Palsgrave distrusted by the Spaniards 185 defeats them 208 Say Viscount a Malecontent 225 307 Saxonie Duke a friend to King James and the Palatine Family 167 Scor Doctour described by the Bishop of Lincoln 99 100 101 Scotch Masters confiscated in Spain and sentenced to the Gallies 50 Scultetus at the Synod of Dort 173 Serclaus a Dutch Gentlewoman trotting on both sides betwixt the Dutch and SpaÌ„nish 332 Shipwrack of the Plate Fleet 48 49 Ships attempted to be fired 135 Sibrandus a furious Calvinist at the Synod of Dort 174 Soissons Count a Prince of the Blood of France would marry Madam of France 282 his incivility to the Earl of Holland 285 altered 286 Sommerset Earl sues to the King for his life and estate rise upon his Fathers Merits 1 2 3 4 South-hampton Earl confined to his own house 57 hardly dealt with but without the Kings Order 61. See 316. Spanish King gives precedencie to the Prince of Wales 14 Much sought to by the English Papists 252 aymes at the universal Monarchie 274 281 Spaniards committed many errours in the Match 23 forward to give any security to the accomplishing it 24 25 Cautelous in their proceeding 243 247 arm the Grandees summoned and the Battalon 51. for the Sea 166 Sleight and wrong the English 54 Seise the Venetian Vessels in the Ports of Naples arm in all their Dominions 178 179 182 their subleties they rob the Venetians 183. their plots upon the States united 333. Complain they cannot obtain free audience 246 Spanish Rodomontades 289 248 Intended with their Armada to have rooted out the English Nation 259 by the Match to have formed a party here 305. See 338 339. Get more by their policies then Swords 261. no peace can be with them there would make peace with the Dutch 327 will not believe the English had either Faith Church or Liturgie 79. See Book of Common-Prayer burn the Princesse Palatines Joynture in sight of the English Embassadour 329 Spinola 328 333 Star-Chamber an ancient Court 58 held Pleas of restitution of Ships and goods 75 State when the word came first over hither 226 Steward of the house 63 Office of Lord Steward what 101 102 Successe things not to be judged by it 304 Suffolk Earl his Staffe of Treasurer taken away 126 sentenced in the Star-chamber 122 will not perswade his sons to leave the Court delivered from the Tower 123 124 125 Synod of England 117 of Dort passages of it 173 174 175 of no authority with us 117 T. TIlley count besieges Heidelbergh 234 329 Tilliers Count 305 Toirax 286 287 Treasurer of England accuses the Lord Keeper of Lincoln 72 73 Treasure ill managed 122 Tresham of the Powder Treason preserved his estate 3 Truger Madamoiselle 301 Trumbal an Agent at Brussels for King James his care to find out the Authour of Corona Regia 152 153 Turkish kindnesse to the Venetians 186 Tyrconnel Page to the Queen of Spain 49 V. VAlette Marquesse 285 Vandenbergh grave Henric 328 Vaux Lord committed to the Fleet for resisting the Kings commands 271 Venetians in danger of the Spaniard
exceeding sorrow that it could not be sooner and with as much care by all his best means to effect it I much thank your Lordship for your favour to Sir Charls Blunt of whom if he be not thankfull I shall not onely be deceived but also revenged I will pray continually for your Lordships prosperity and that it shall be impossible to make me otherwise then Your Lordships most honest and faithfull servant MOUNTJOY Sir Robert Cecil after Earl of Salisbury to the Lord Burleigh his Father from France Febr. 26. 1597. MY duty humbly remembred to your Lordship Having lately made dispatches from Diep and having made little way in France by reason of Sir Thomas Wilks indisposition your Lordship can expect little from me especially having joyned with my associates in a letter to your Lordship Nevertheless because love and duty will find easily occasion to express themselves I am bold to yeild your Lordship some more trouble by my private Letter I have met here with the primier President of Roan a man of great credit and reputation one that untill meer necessity did force him kept much hold here for this King he afterward retired and kept the Parliament at Caen he is learned grave of good person good discourse well affectionate to England his name is Claude Grollart he is now next the Duke Monpencier the stay of all those quarters insomuch that when the King will be merry with him he calls him one of the petty Dukes in Normandy he did visit me with great respect and fell into familiar discourse with me of your Lordship whom he had known in England many years since and hath had correspondency with your Lordship by letters in Mr. Secretary Walsinghams time And being talking thereof he desired me to tell your Lordship by occasion that when these troubles were like to grow by the League you writ him a letter of advice to stick fast to the King and not to be doubtfull though he saw difficulties for you did hold it for a true Oracle That the Kings on earth are like the Sun and that such as do seek to usurp are like falling Starres For the Sun although it be ecclipsed and obsuscated with mists and clouds at length they are dispersed where the other are but figures of stars in the eyes view and prove no more but exhalations which suddenly dissolve and fall to the earth where they are consumed Because I have little else to fill my paper I presume to trouble your Lordship thus far to whom I think it cannot be offensive to hear that for your sake I am by many the better used and that by your own wisdom you are by men of place and gravity both honored and remembred The marriage of the Duke of Tremouille to the Count Maurice his sister hath drawn the Duke of Bovillon towards Britany where I am informed by this President that he meaneth to stay and to attend the King to whom he will clear himself if he take any knowledge of any jealousie and the rather because he is there well fortified in a Countrey full of those that are of the religion It shall behove me being there to cary my self tenderly towards him The Kings prosperity in Britany hath already made his Catholikes begin to quarrel with the Accord which hath been made at the Assembly For the persons that were appointed to frame the Articles into an Edict have varied upon some principall points onely to trifle out the time thereby to discover whether the King may need their assistance or no. But the Duke of Bovillon hearing inckling of it made more haste and hath been with the King and doth return forthwith to him as soon as he hath been at the marriage of the Lady Tremoville Your Lordship knows the circumstances of my journey are not such as can afford me any means to judge but this your Lordship may assure that by that time I have spoken to the King things will break out one way other so far as it will appear whether it be worth the tarrying to treat or no after once the King has been dealt with to which I will address my self with all speed and not tarry for the States who may be come to Paris by that time I do return for I believe they will be content to treat any where I shall have a miss of Sir Thomas Wilks were it not we were well instructed and surely he was grown very heavy of late and dull If I should stay here to attend his recovery it would comsume me to no purpose I have written a Letter to the Queen of some such gathering as I have gotten and of the speeches between me and the President because her Majesty may not be offended that I write not particulatly to her selfe of something Although the Spaniards from Callis have spoyled Base-Bologne yet it is not holden here that the Cardinall will sit down before any Town speedily for he will not be able Neverthelesse the Constable is come into Picardy to give stay to the Province if that be the fruit of the Treaty we shall have less need to disswade the King I much fear Sir Tho. Wilks to be in a Lethargie Since your Lordships Letter of Feb. 15. which found me at Dover a little before my imbarking the wind hath not served to bring me any Letter out of England The Lord of heaven send me tidings of your Lordships health for whom I will daily pray I received also a Letter from the Earl of Essex of the 16. and did imbark the 17. I humbly take my leave and rest Feb. 26. 1597. Your Lordships humble and obedient Son RO. CECIL Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary to Monsieur Critoy Secretary of France SIR WHereas you desire to be advertised touching the proceedings here in Ecclesiastical causes because you seem to note in them some inconstancie and variation as if we somtimes inclined to one side somtimes to another and as if that clemencie and lenity were not used of late that was used in the beginning all which you impute to your own superficial understanding of the affairs of this State having notwithstanding her Majesties doing in singular reverence as the real pledges which she hath given unto the world of her sincerity in Religion and of her wisdom in Government well meriteth I am glad of this occasion to impart that little I know in that matter to you both for your own satisfaction and to the end you may make use thereof towards any that shall not be so modestly and so reasonably minded as you are I find therefore her Majesties proceedings to have been grounded upon two principles 1. The one That consciences are not to be forced but to be won and reduced by the force of truth with the aid of time and the use of all good means of instruction and perswasion 2. The other That the Causes of Conscience wherein they exceed their bounds and grow to be matter of faction lose their nature
which our selves pretended unless the difficulty of the Conditions should make it desperate But if those things should be expected by Spain which in the Treaty for the late Princess were demanded it were better by much not to renew the business then by impossible or unfitting propositions on either side to give distaste or lessen the friendship which now was betwixt your Majesties And therefore except that in Spain they would be contented with such conditions as your Majesty most fittingly and conveniently might yield unto and all other Catholique Princes were willing to content themselves with I neither saw cause to hope for good success or reason to set the treaty on foot But in case I might know that the conditions in point of Religion might be such as I should see a possibility of your Majesties condescending unto them I should be far from despairing of some good effect for that I knew that divers not of the meanest nor least power with your Majesty were hereunto well inclined and would give their helping hands Hereupon the Spanish Ambassador dispatcht his Secretary into Spain and received answer from the Duke that he should give me all assurance that there was a great desire and inclination to the making of the Match and that at my return into Spain they no way doubted but that I should receive such satisfaction as should make it appear on their part there should be nothing wanting for the effecting of it It now remaineth what hath passed herein since my last coming to this Court. I arrived here in Madrid only a day or two before Christmass and having some six dayes after my audience appointed by the King whilst I was in a with drawing chamber expecting the Kings coming forth the Duke of Lerma came thither to bear me company and after many respectfull demands of your Majesty and the Queens and the Princes health and some few complements unto my self concerning my welcom again unto this Court he fell to speak of the false Alarms we had in England concerning a Spanish Armado seeming much to be displeased that any credit should be given to any thing to his Majesties dishonour and want of fidelity as he termed it But your Majesty he said did never believe it And it seems he heard of some pleasant answer your Majesty should make to some one of your Ministers that in great haste came unto your Majesty when you were a hunting and told you that the Spanish Fleet was in the Channel From this he entred into great protestations of the sincerity of this Kings affection and intention towards your Majesty telling me that I should now see how much they desired to work a greater neerness and uniting between your Majesties And that of the principal business of which we had in former time spoken meaning the Marriage he desired to speak with me but it must be at more leisure I answered that I would not fail shortly to wait upon him and that he should find me answerable to the professions I had made which was that being induced thereunto by such sufficient and good grounds as might satisfie my Master both for the conveniencie and fittingness of having such a Treaty set on foot and likewise might take away all objections of their intents of entertaining and diverting your Majesty hereby I would be as ready to do all good offices and give furtherance to the business as any Minister the King of Spain had And this was all that at our first meeting passed in this business About some eight days after I having not in all this time stirred out of my house under colour of being ill disposed though the truth was indeed to inform my self of some particulars which concerned your Majesties service before I would speak with the Duke He being as I have since understood something troubled that in all this time I made no means to come unto him one morning by nine of the clock very privately came to my house without advertising of his coming as the custom is here untill the Coach stayed at my gate and then he sent in a Gentleman to me telling me that the Duke was there to speak with me When I had conducted the Duke into a room where we were private he fell into th' aforesaid matter and in the manner as I shall here set down unto your Majesty without making any other pretence or intent of his coming or without using in the space of an houre any speech touching any other business After some few questions of your Majesty and the Queen he began to ask many things of the Prince as of his age his stature his health his inclination to what sports he was chiefly given And then suddenly as it were with a passionate expression of affection he desired God to bless him and to make him the means by which your Majesties might be conjoyned in a neerer alliance and your Kingdoms in a perpetual amity saying unto me that he was out of doubt of my good inclination to this business both by what had formerly passed between our selves as likewise by my proceedings in England whereof he had been fully informed by the Spanish Ambassador And therefore he would in few words deal with me with much cleerness and freeness assuring himself he should receive the like measure from me and thereupon entred into a solemn protestation how much this King desired the Match and for himself he solemnly swore there was no one thing in the world he more desired to see before he dyed then the effecting thereof But my Lord Ambassador said he you must deal as justly with me to let me understand whether you conceive the like desire to be in the King of England and his Ministers and then I shall proceed to speak further unto you I answered the Duke That I ever esteemed more the reputation of a man of truth and integrity then of skill and subtilty which I did hope he did well perceive by what I was to say for that I was much more desirous fairly to go off from this business then easily to go into it And therefore if he would have me speak my conscience I neither conceived that either in your Majesty or any of your Ministers there was any kind of inclination thereunto for that they having formerly given so resolute and distastefull an answer your Majesty had just cause never again to cast so much as your thoughts this way And though it might be alleadged that the fitness of the Prince his years and other civil regards might cause new resolutions yet the difference of Religion were still the same and the same were the truths and opinions of Divines in matter of conscience and therefore it would not but be a thing of great difficulty to perswade your Majesty and your Ministers that a Match should be hearkened unto much less desired from hence but upon the same terms the very thought and remembrance whereof is yet unpleasing in England So that to
and communicated to every Parson Vicar and Curate Lecturer and Minister in every Cathedrall and Parish Church within their several Diocesses and that you earnestly require them to imploy their uttermost indeavour in the performance of this so important a business letting them know that we have a speciall eye to their proceedings and expect a strict account thereof both of you and them and every of them And these our Letters shall be your sufficient Warrant and Discharge in that hehalf Given under our Signet at our Castle of Windsor the fourteenth day of August in the twentieth year of our reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the fifty sixt Directions concerning Preachers THat no Preacher under the degree of a Bishop or a Dean of a Cathedrall or Collegiat Church and that upon the Kings days and set Festivals do take occasion by the expounding of any Text of Scripture whatsoever to fall to any set Discourse or Common-place otherwise then by opening the coherence and division of his Text which be not comprehended and warranted in essence substance effect or naturall inference within some one of the Articles of Religion set forth by authority in the Church of England and the two Books of Homilies set forth by the same authority in the year 1562. or in some of the Homilies set forth by authority of the Church of England not onely for the help of non-preaching but withall for a Patern or a Boundary as it were for the preaching Ministers and for their further instruction for the performance hereof that they forthwith read over and peruse diligently the said Book of Articles and the two Books of Homilies 2. That no Parson Vicar Curat or Lecturer shall preach any Sermon or Collation hereafter upon Sundays or Holidays in the afternoon in any Cathedral or Parish-Church throughout the Kingdom but upon some part of the Catechism or some Text taken out of the Creed the ten Commandments or the Lords prayer Funeral-sermons only excepted And that those Preachers be most encouraged and approved of who spend their afternoons exercises in the examination of Children in their Catechism which is the most antient and laudable custom of teaching in the Church of England 3. That no Preacher of what title or denomination soever under the degree of a Bishop or Dean at the least do from henceforth presume to preach in any popular Auditory the deep points of Predestination Election Reprobation or the universality efficacie resistibility or irresistibility of Gods grace but leave these Theams to be handled by learned men and that moderately and modestly by way of use and application rather then by way of positive doctrine as being fitter for Schools and Universities then for simple Auditories 4. That no Preacher of what title or denomination soever shal presume from henceforth in any Auditory within this Kingdom to declare limit or bound out by way of positive doctrine in any Sermon or Lecture the power prerogative jurisdiction authority right or duty of soveraign Princes or otherwise meddle with these matters of State and the differences betwixt Princes and people then as they are instructed and presidented in the Homilies of Obedience and in the rest of the Homilies and Articles of Religion set forth as before is mentioned by publique Authority but rather confine themselves wholly to these two heads Faith and good life which are all the subject of ancient Homilies and Sermons 5. That no Preacher of what title or denomination soever shall causelesly or without invitation of the Text fall into bitter invectives or undecent railing speeches against the persons of either Papists or Puritans but modestly and gravely when they are occasioned thereunto by the text of Scripture cleer both the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England from the aspersions of either adversary especially when the Auditory is suspected with the one or the other infection 6. Lastly That the Archbishop and Bishops of this Kingdom whom his Majesty hath good cause to blame for their former remisness be more wary and choise in the licensing of Preachers and revoke all grants made to any Chancellor Official or Commissary to pass Licences in this kind And that all the Lecturers throughout the Kingdom a new body and severed from the antient Clergie of England as being neither Parsons Vicars nor Curates be licensed henceforward in the Court of Faculties only upon recommendations of the party from the Bishop of the Diocess under his hand and seal with a Fiat from the Archbishop of Canterbury and a confirmation under the great seal of England and that such as transgress any of these Directions be suspended by the Lord Bishop of that Diocess or in his default by the Lord Archbishop of that Province ab officio beneficio for a year and a day untill his Majesty by the advice of the next Convocation shall prescribe some further punishment By this you see his Majesties Princely care that men should preach Christ crucified obedience to the higher powers and honest and Christian conversation of life but in a regular form and not that every young man should take unto himself an exorbitant liberty to teach what he listeth to the offence of his Majesty and to the disturbance and disquiet of the Church and Commonwealth I can give unto your Lordship no better directions for the performance hereof then are prescribed to you in his Majesties Letter and the Schedule hereunto annexed Wherefore I pray you be very carefull since it is the Princely pleasure of his Majesty to require an exact account both of you and of me for the same Thus not doubting but by your Register or otherwise you will cause these Instructions to be communicated to your Clergy I leave you to the Almighty and remain your Lordships loving brother Croydon Aug. 15. 1622. George Cant. King James Instructions to the Archbishop of Canterbury concerning Orders to be observed by Bishops in their Diocesses 1622. 1. THat the Lords the Bishops be commanded to their severall Sees excepting those that are in necessary attendance at Court 2. That none of them reside upon his land or lease that he hath purchased nor on his Commendum if he hold any but in one of his Episcopall Houses if he have any and that he waste not the woods where any are left 3. That they give their charge in their Trienniall Visitations and at other convenient times both by themselves and the Archdeacons and that the Declaration for setling all questions in difference be strictly observed by all parties 4. That there be a speciall care taken by them all that the Ordinations be solemn and not of unworthy persons 5. That they take great care concerning the Lecturers in their severall Diocess for whom we give these special Directions following First That in all Parishes the after-noon Sermons may be turned into Catechising by Question and Answer when and wheresoever there is no great cause apparent to break this ancient and
Carlo 152 Commission for the Deputies place of Ireland 13. for delivery of Vlushing Bril c. 9â— 93. of union of the Kingdoms 72 Conde Prince 204 254 Conscience not to be forced 51 Considerations touching the service in Ireland 49 50 Constable of France the Office intended to be taken away by Henry the Great 195 Cornwallis Sir Charles Embassadour in Spaine 95 Cottington Sir Francis after Lord 130 Critory Secretary of France 38 Custome of Spain to give notice of visits 120 D Danish King 95 148 149 Davers Lord 253 Davison Secretary in disgrace 22 See Essex Earl Defiance to the Emperour Maximilian from the Grand Seignieur 12 Deputy of Ireland his power 13 14 Desmond Earl dissembles dutifulnesse 18. his Rebellion 45 Digby Lord after Earl of Bristol in Spain treats concerning the Match 117 118 119 120 121 c. zealous for it 138 139 140 142 Sir Kenhelm 240 244. See Fairy Queen Directions for preaching 184 c. Discipline See Presbytery Disloyalty the doom of it seldome adjourned to the next world 46 E Egerton Sir Thomas Lord Ellesmere and Lord Chancellour a friend to the Earl of Essex 27 87 to Sir Francis Bacon 71 sues to be discharged 87 88 89 Elizabeth Queen of England comforts the Lady Norris 10 11 her care for Ireland 5 16 50. cast not off her creatures slightly 32. Questions the Earl of Essex in the Star Chamber unwillingly and forced 32 33. Her Government in things Ecclesiastical she will not force mens consciences 38 39 40. her dealing with Papists 39 See Walsingham Sir Francis Gives stipends to preachers 52 Essex Earle a lover of Secretary Davison 20 21 c. would bring him again into favour 22 25. writes to King James in his defence 23. to the Queen being lesse graced and discontented 25 26. will not approve the Chancellors advice 29. suddenly before his Rebellion Religious 35 F Fairy Queen the 22d Staffe of the ninth Canto of the second Booke discoursed of by Sir Kenhelm Digby 244 c. Faulkland Viscount Lord Deputy of Ireland 235 236. Petitions the King for his son imprisoned in the Fleet 242 Ferdinand the second wil not restore the Palatine 112 113 c. aims to settle the Empire perpetually in the house of Austria 113. abuses K. James 113 115 116 146 his Armies in Italy 234 235 Ferdinand Infanta of Spain 254 Feria Duke 102 Fitzwilliams Sir William 42 Frederic father 123 Frederic the 2d Palatine 146 147 Frederic the fifth driven out of his estates 112 113 116. will not quit the electoratâ— nor submit 145. see 198 French the estate of things in the minority of Lewis the thirteenth 195. authority of the French King ibid. French Kings reverence the exhortations of Popes as much as the Commands of God 213 G Gabor Bethlem Prince of Transylvania 113 146 Gage imployed at Rome 129 130 Giron Don Hernando 130 Gondomar Conde 130 Gregory the 15 puts the Inquisitor Generall of Spain upon it to gaine the Prince of Wales to the Church of Rome fearfull of his stay in the Spanish Court 210 unreasonable in the businesse of the dispensation 130 Groillart Claude President of the Parliament of Rhoan 36 Guise Duke 240 H Hereticks abuse Scripture 2 Hall Bishop of Exceter 229 Harrington Sir Henry 18 Heidelberg taken by the Spaniards 127 Henry the 8 writes to the Clergy of York in defence of his title Caput Ecclesiae 1 2 3 4 5 c. Henry the 4 of France 36 Hessen Landgrave Philip 145 Homily bookes 184 Hoskins Sir Thomas 59 Hugonots of France acknowledge many obligations to Charles King of great Britain 204 205 Persecuted 205 206 I Jacynthus father 109 112 Jagerndorf Brandenburg Marquesse John Georg 116 James King of great Britain described 59. will take care of London 81 yeelds up Vlushing c. 94 95 his fairenesse to the Spanish King 100 101. will not make Cambridge a City his care of the Vniversity 105. Indeavours to appease the Bohemian tumults 113 Offers Conditions to the Emperour on the behalfe of the Palatine 114. his Propositions to the Palatine 143 144. acknowledged Protectour of the Germane Protestants 149. his directions concerning Preachers 183. makes Romane Martyrs 199 Janin President of the Parliament of Paris 195 Infantasque Duke 98 Inquisition of Spaine 97 Instructions to Sir John Perot Deputy of Ireland 15 16 By King Charles for the Vniversity of Cambridg 227 Ireland in what condition in Sir John Perots time 16 17 18 In the beginning of King Charles 235 236 237 238 239 Irish delight in change 17. barbarous 46. murder theft c. legall with them 51. renegadoes in Spaine 100 101 Isabella Clara Eugenia Infanta of Spain 127 128 Isabella Infanta of Savoy 243 Isidore Spanish Saint 125 126 Italians dangerous to France 195 196 Justinian made Lawes concerning the Clergy 5 K Kings no man above them 6. like the Sun 36. of France and Spaine 198 L Lady of Antiochia 125 Lawes of England most jealous for the safety of her Kings 85 Leicester Earle out of favour turns religious 31 Lecturers dangerous 186 Lerma Duke in the life of Phil. the third moves the Spanish Match 117 c. 121 Lincoln Bishop Lord Keeper 190 Lisle Viscount after Earle of Leicester governour of Vlushing c. 93 Loanes denyed the King 182 London sometime the chamber of her Kings 81 Louis the thirteenth in his minority 123 c. enters Rochel 203. see Urbane Pope Louvre of France the prison of her King 194 Low Countries 149 Luenza Don John 126 M Mac Frogh Phelim 237 Magick 75 Magog a renegado Irishman guilty of thirteen murders 101 Manchester Earle 225 Manheim besieged 127 Mansfield Count 116 131 Maried men seven yeares older the first day 71 Mantua Duke 204 234. defended by the French and Venetians 239 Maria Donna Infanta of Spaine 126 133 134. deserved well of the Prince of Wales 140 Gives over learning English 151 Match with France 117 118. with Spaine 117 118 119 120 121 122 123. never intended by the Spaniards 133 Mathews Sir Toby 67 May Sir Humphrey 226 Merchants in Spaine see Spaniards Merit is worthier then fame 47 Monmorencie Duke 195 Monpensier Duke 36 Montauban in rebellion 204 Monteri Spanish Embassadour 210 Mountjoye Lord after Earle of Devon 35 36 Munster in Ireland marked for the Spanish invasions 17 N Nevers Duke see Mantua Duke Newburgh Duke 147 Norfolk Duke sues to the Queen for his life 11 Norris Sir Thomas 17. Sir John 42. Sir Francis 89 Northumberland Earl 58 59 Nottingham Countess 95 O Oath of Supremacy why urged 39 Odonnel 44 Ognate Spanish Embassadour at Rome 240 Oleron Iland 203 Olivarez Conde 130 131 139 Contrives to compose the Palatine differences without the Match 135 Order submitting the Town of Cambridge to the Vniversity 223 See Charles King Ordination of Priests c. how to be 187 Ormond Earl 42 44 45 Ossuna Duke 125 126 P Palatinate a motive of the Spanish match 129 134. Without which the Kings of
Keeper to the Duke concerning the Countesse of South-hampton 17. Novemb. 1624. 96 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 24. Decemb. 1624. 99 The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning Dr. Scot the 4. of Jan. 1624 100 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 2. March 1624. 101 The Lord Keeper to the Duke about Sir Robert Howard 11. March 1624. 103 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 13. March 1624. 104 The Lord Keeper to the Duke 22. March 1624. 106 The Bishop of Lincoln to the Duke the 7. of January 1625. 107 The Bishop of Lincoln to his Majestie 108 The Lord Keeper to the Viscount Annan the 17. of September 1622. 109 The Bishop of St. Davids to the Duke the 18. of November 1624. 113 The Bishop of St. Davids to the Duke 114 The Bishop of Chichester to the Duke 114 The Bishops of Rochester Oxford and St. Davids to the Duke concerning Mr. Mountague 2. Aug. 1625. 116 Dr. Field Bishop of Landaffe to the Duke 118 Bishop of Landaffe to the Duke 119 Dr. Corbet to the Duke 121 Earles of Worcester Arundel and Surrey and Montgomery to the King 121 The Earl of Suffolk to his Majestie 122 The Earl of Suffolk to the Duke 123 The Earl of Suffolk to his Majestie 124 The Lady Elizabeth Howard to the King 126 The Lady Elizabeth Norris to the Duke ibid. Sir Edward Cecyl to the Duke 128 Sir Edward Cecyl to the Duke 129 Sir Edward Cecyl to the Lord Conway Secretary 2. of June 1625. 130 Sir Edward Cecyl to the Duke 3. June 1625. 132 Sir Edward Cecyl to the Duke 19. July 1625. 134 The Lord Wimbledon to the Duke 28. April 1626. 135 The Lord Wimbledon to the Duke 137 Sir John Ogle to the Duke 3. June 1625. 138 Sir Robert Mansel to the Duke 9. June 1621. 140 Sir Robert Mansel to the Duke 10. July 1621. 143 Sir John Pennington to the Duke 27. July 1625. 144 Captain Pennington to the Duke 150 Mr. Trumbal to the Secretary 31. March 1619. 151 Mr. Trumbal to the Secretary 23. Octob. 1619. 156 Sir Thomas Roe to the Marquesse of Buckingham Lord Admiral 17. Decemb. 1621. 158 L. R. H. to the Duke of Buckingham 159 Sir George Carie to the Marquesse of Buckingham the 8. of Decem. 1619. 162 To King James ab ignoto 163 Archbishop Abbot to Secretary Nanton 12. of September 1619. 169 The Lord Brook to the Duke 11. Novemb. 1623. 170 Dr. Belcanquel to Secretary Nanton 26. March 173 Sir William Beecher to his Majestie 4. Febr. 176 To King James ab ignoto 178 Sir Isaac Wake to the Secretary the 27. of September 1619. 180 Sir Isaac Wake to the Secretary the 5th of October 1619. 184 Sir Isaac Wake to the Duke 13. Febr. 1621. 188 Sir Isaac Wake 's Proposition for the King of Denmark 190 Sir Henry Wotton to the Duke 25. Jan. 1619. 192 Sir Henry Wotton to the Duke 29. July 1622. 193 Sir Henry Wotton to the Duke the 2d. of December 1622. 194 Sir Henry Wotton to the Duke 196 Sir Henry Wotton to the Duke 197 Sir Richard Weston to the Duke 26. June 1622. 200 Sir Richard Weston to the Duke Bruxels 3. of September 1622. 201 Sir Richard Weston to the Duke 17. July 1623. 202 Sir Richard Weston to the Duke 20 May 1624. 203 Sir Richard Weston to the Duke Chelsey the 23 of July 1624. 204 Sir Richard Weston to the Duke Chelsey 12. of August 1624. 206 Sir Francis Cottington to the Duke Madrid 1. October 1616. 206 Viscount Rochfort to the Duke of Buckingham 209 King James to Pope Gregorie the 15. the 10. of September 1622. 211 Pope Gregory the 15. to the Prince of Wales Rome 20. of April 1623. 212 The Prince of Wales his Reply to the Popes Letter 214 The Pope to the Duke of Buckingham Rome the 19 of May 1623. 216 To King James ab ignoto 217 To King James ab ignoto 222 Mr. Ch. Th. to the Duke 228 To Count Gondomar 233 Conde de Gondomar to the Duke 13. Febr. 1625. 237 Padre Maestre at Rome to the Spanish Embassadour in England 12. June 1621. 238 Don Carlos to the Lord Conway 3. Septem 239 Marquesse Ynoiosa to the Lord Conway 5. of September 1623. 242 Collections of Passages and Discourses betwixt the Spanish Embassadours and Sir Arthur Chichester 18 Jan. 1623. 244 Sir Arthur Chichester to the Duke 25. Jan. 1623. 243 Passages betwixt the Lord Nithisdale and the Spanish Embassadours 22. May 1624. 247 The Lord Nithisdale to the Duke 22 June 1624. 249 Sir Tobie Mathew to the King of Spain 251 Sir Tobie Mathew to the Dutchesse of Buckingham From Bulloign 9. June 1625. 253 Dr. Sharp to King James 255 Dr. Sharp to the Duke of Buckingham 257 The Lord Cromwell to the Duke 8. Sept. 1625. 262 Sir Robert Philips to the Duke of Buckingham 21. of Aug. 1624. 264 The Earl of Middlesex to the Duke 266 The Earl of Middlesex to his Majestie the 26. April 1624. 267 The Earl of Carlile to his Majestie 14. Febr. 1623. 269 The Lord Kensington to the Duke 273 The Lord Kensington to the Prince the 26. of February 1624. 276 The Lord Kensington to the Duke 274 The Lord Kensington to the Prince 26 Febr. 1624. 276 The Lord Kensington to the Duke 278 The Lord Kensington to the Prince 280 The Lord Kensington to the Duke 4. March 1924. 282 The Lord Kensington to the Secretary Lord Conway 284 The Lord Kensington to the Duke 288 The Lord Kensington to the Duke 291 The Lord Kensington Earl of Holland to the Duke 292 The Earl of Holland to his Majestie Paris 13 March 1625. 294 The Earl of Holland to the Duke 296 Mr. Lorkin to the Duke 30. August 1625. 299 Mr. Lorkin to the Duke 17 Sept. 1625. 301 The Lord Herbert to his Majestie From Merton Castle 13 Octob. 1623. 304 Mr. Edward Clerk to the Duke Madrid 6. Sept. 1623. 306 Mr. Edward Clerk to the Duke Madrid the 1. of October 1623. 307 Sir Anthony Ashley to the Duke 12 May. 1621. 307 Sir Walter Rawleigh to the Duke 12. Aug. 308 Sir Henry Yelverton to the Duke the 15. of March 1623. 310 Sir John Eliot to the Duke 8. Novemb. 1623. 311 The Earl of Oxford to the Duke 311 The Lady Purbeck to the Duke 313 Dr. Donne to the Marquesse of Buckingham 13. September 1621. 314 Dr. Donne to the Duke 315 Sir John Hipsley to the Duke London the 1. of September 1623. 316 Sir Dudley Carleton to the Marquesse of Buckingham Hague 24. Febr. 1616. 317 Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke of Buckingham Hague 10. June 1620. 322 Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke Hague 31. of January 1622. 325 Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke Hague 23. of August 1622. 327 Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke Hague 9. of December 1623. 334 Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke Hague 13. Decemb. 1623. 334 Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke Hague 18 of December 1623. 337 Sir Dudley Carleton to the
power then other Courts and if you be not tied to the ordinary course of Courts or presidents in point of strictnesse and severity much more in points of mercy and mitigation And yet if any thing I should move might be contrary to your honourable and worthy ends to introduce a reformation I should not seek it But herein I beseech your Lordships to give me leave to tell you a story Titus Manlius took his sons life for giving battail against the prohibition of his General Not many years after the like severity was pursued by Papirius Cursor the Dictator against Quintus Maximus who being upon the point to be sentenced was by the intercession of some principal persons of the Senate spared whereupon Livie maketh this grave and gracious observation Neque minus firmata est disciplina militaris periculo Quinti Maximi quam mirabili supplicio Titi Manlii The discipline of War was no lesse established by the questioning onely of Quintus Maximus then by the punishment of Titus Manlius And the same reason is of the reformation of Justice for the questioning of men of eminent place hath the same terrour though not the same rigour with the punishment But my Case stayeth not there for my humble desire is that his Majestie would take the Seal into his hands which is a great downfal and may serve I hope in it self for an expiation of my faults Therefore if mercy and mitigation be in your Lordships power and do no wayes crosse your ends why should I not hope of your favours and Commiserations Your Lordships may be pleased to behold your chief Pattern the King our Soveraign a King of incomparable Clemencie and whose heart is instructable for wisdom and goodnesse You well remember that there sate not these hundred years before in your House a Prince and never such a Prince whose presence deserveth to be made memorable by records and acts mixt of mercy and justice Your selves are either Nobles and Compassion ever beateth in the veins of noble bloud or Reverend Prelates who are the servants of him that would not break the bruised reed nor quench smoaking flaxe You all sit upon a high Stage and therefore cannot but be more sensible of the changes of humane Condition and of the fall of any from high places Neither will your Lordships forget that there are vitia temporis as well as vitia hominis and that the beginning of reformation hath a contrary power to the pool of Bethesda for that had strength onely to cure him that was first cast in and this hath strength to hurt him onely that is first Cast in and for my part I wish it may stay there and go no further Lastly I assure my self your Lordships have a noble feeling of me as a member of your own body and one that in this very Session had some taste of your loving affection which I hope was not a lightning before the death of them but rather a spark of that grace which now in the Conclusion will more appear And therefore my humble suit to your Lordships is that my voluntary Confession be my sentence and the losse of the Seal my punishment and that your Lordships will spare any farther sentence but recommend me to his Majesties grace and pardon for all that is past And so c. Your Lordships c. Francis St. Alban Can. Five Letters more of my Lord Bacons Bacon to the King July 31. 1617. Lord Keeper Bacon to his Majestie I Dare not presume any more to reply upon your Majestie but reserve my Defence till I attend your Majestie at your happy return when I hope verily to approve my self not onely a true servant to your Majestie but a true friend to my Lord of Buckingham and for the times also I hope to give your Majestie a good account though distance of place may obscure them But there is one part of your Majesties Letter that I could be sorry to take time to answer which is that your Majestie conceives that whereas I wrote That the height of my Lords Fortune might make him secure I mean that he was turned proud or unknowing of himself Surely the opinion I have ever had of my Lord whereof your Majestie is best witnesse is far from that But my meaning was plain and simple that his Lordship might through his great fortune be the lesse apt to Cast and foresee the unfaithfulnesse of friends and the malignity of enemies and accidents of times Which is a judgment your Majestie knoweth better then I that the best Authors make of the best and best tempered spirits Vt sunt res humanae Insomuch as Guicciardine maketh the same judgment not of a particular person but of the wisest state of Europe the Senate of Venice when he sayeth their prosperity had made them secure and under-weighers of perils Therefore I beseech your Majesty to deliver me in this from any the least imputation to my dear and Noble Lord and friend And so expecting that that Sun which when it went from us left us cold weather and now it is returned towards us hath brought with it a blessed harvest will when it cometh to us dispel and disperse all mists and mistakings I am c. Lord Chancellour to his Majestie 2. Jan. 1618. It may please your most excellent Majestie I Do many times with gladnesse and for a remedy of my other labours revolve in my mind the great happinesse which God of his singular goodnesse hath accumulated upon your Majesty every way and how Compleat the same would be if the state of your meanes were once rectified and well ordered your people militarie and obedient fit for war used to peace your Church illightened with good Preachers as an heaven of Stars your Judges learned and learning from you just and just by your example your Nobility in a right distance between Crown and People no oppressors of the people no overshadowers of the Crown your Councel full of tributes of Care faith and freedom your Gentlemen and Justices of Peace willing to apply your Royal Mandates to the nature of their several Counties but ready to obey your servants in awe of your wisdome in hope of your goodnesse The fields growing every day by the improvement and recovery of grounds from the desert to the garden The City grown from wood to brick your Sea-walls or Pomerium of your Island surveyed and in edifying your Merchants imbracing the whole compasse of the World East West North and South The times give you Peace and yet offer you opportunities of action abroad And lastly your excellent Royal Issue entayleth these blessings and favours of God to descend to all posterity It resteth therefore that God having done so great things for your Majestie and you for others You would do so much for your self as to go through according to your good beginnings with the rectifying and settling of your estate and means which onely is wanting Hoc rebus
redresse thereof if need be of all which points we shall expect to have your Reports with what diligence and expedition you may Dated at Theobalds Octob. 3d. 1621. The Archbishop of York to King James May it please your Majestie I Have been too long silent and am afraid that by silence I have neglected the duty of the place it hath pleased God to call me unto and your Majestie to place me in But now I humbly beseech that I may discharge my Conscience towards God and my dutie towards your Majestie And therefore I beseech you Sir to give me leave freely to deliver my self and then let it please your Majestie to do with me as you please Your Majestie hath propounded a Toleration of Religion I beseech you to take into your Consideration what your Act is and what the Consequence may be By your act you labour to set up that most damnable and heretical doctrine of the Church of Rome the Whore of Babylon How hateful will it be to God and grievous to your Subjects the true professours of the Gospel that your Majestie who hath often defended and learnedly written against those wicked heresies should now shew your self a Patron of those doctrines which your Pen hath told the world and your Conscience tells your self are superstitious idolatrous and detestable Also what you have done in sending the Prince without Consent of your Councel and the privitie and approbation of your People For although Sir you have a large interest in the Prince as the Son of your flesh yet have your People a greater as the Son of the Kingdom upon whom next after your Majestie are their eyes fixed and their Welfare defends And so slenderly is his going apprehended that believe Sir how ever his return may be safe yet the drawers of him unto that action so dangerous to himself so desperate to the Kingdome will not passe away unquestioned and unpunished Besides this Tolleration you endeavour to set up by your Proclamation it cannot be done without a Parliament unlesse your Majestie will let your Subjects see that you now take unto your self a libertie to throw down the Lawes of the Land at your pleasure What dreadful Consequence these things may draw after I beseech your Majestie to Consider And above all lest by this Tolleration and discountenance of the true profession of the Gospel wherewith God hath blessed us and under which this Kingdome hath flourished these many years your Majestie doth draw upon the Kingdom in general and your self in particular Gods heavy wrath and indignation Thus in discharge of my dutie to your Majestie and the place of my Calling I have taken the humble boldnesse to deliver my Conscience And now Sir Do with me what you please Next of all in order follow the Letters that passed between the King and his Agents about the Spanish Transactions The first Letter written per anonymum brings newes of the Princes arrival The Copy of a Letter sent from Spain concerning the Princes arrival there c. I Presume his Highnesse being now returned you may by Conference have such choice and free relations of his proceedings in Spain that I may well hold my Pen it being not priviledged with that freedom that the tongue is yet to comply with that constant obligation I purpose still to owe you I will write something and point at some passages where others perhaps may not so punctually inform you The Prince's coming hither seemed not so strange as acceptable and pleasing unto all The Common sort expressed it by extraordinary shouts and acclamations of joy offering and marrying the Infanta as it were presently by publique voice as having wonne and truly deserved her by so brave an adventure The King and State studied how to do him all the honour that might be The first decree that the Councel of State made was that at all occasions of meetings he should have the precedencie of the King That he should make entrie into the Palace in the form of State as the Kings of Spain do in the first day of their Coronation That he should have one of the chief Quarters of the Kings House for his lodgings one hundred of the Guard to attend him all the Councel to obey him as the Kings own person All prisoners were released the new Proclamation against excesse in apparel revoked and sundry other arguments of joy But a wonder lasteth not but for nine daies This universal joy was grounded upon hopes that the Prince came not onely to fetch a wife but also to make himself a Catholique Say you so The Pope incited him hereunto by Letters which his Nuntio delivered He sent a charge to the inquisitor general to use all possible diligence herein Many processions and shewes were made to stirre him But they soon saw how improbable it was to win him For which God be thanked how amongst all his servants there was not one Catholique about him what slight esteem they made of the Churches and Religion here some committing irreverent and scandalous actions in the Kings own Chappel so that they began to behold the English with an ill aspect to inveigh against the Conde de Gundomar that he should inform the King and State that the Prince had a disposition easie to be wrought upon to be made a Catholique Adde hereunto the ill offices that the Irish do who to preserve themselves in the Spanish pension did prejudice the businesse by casting aspersions upon the English the mis-information of the persecution in their Country and in England notwithstanding being here and the abuse of the Ambassadours servants in London When the Prince came there wanted nothing for the final consummation of all things but the dispensation which came two moneths after And whereas it was expected to come absolute and full it came infringed with Cautions and limitations viz. That the Infanta should not be married till matters in England were in perfect execution that in case the King of England could not give sufficient security the King of Spain himself should swear and undertake the oath for him Hereupon a Junto of Divines was appointed to determine hereof Whether the King might do this with a safe Conscience or no. These Divines went gravely and tediously to work which put the Prince upon that impatiency that he was upon point of departure When at last the businesse came to a resolution and so the Match was publiquely declared The Prince had then often though publiquely accesse to the Infanta the King being still himself present and in hearing After this a Ratification was sent for from Rome but the Pope dying in the interim and the new Pope falling suddenly sick it could not be speedily procured For want of this Ratification there was no Contract made and the Prince himself seemed not to desire it A little before his departure the King and the Councel of State with the Patriarch of the Indies the Prince-Prelate after the Bishop of
Toledo who is under age swore to all the Capitulations so that the Prince seemed to depart well satisfied The King brought him to the Escurial and a little before his departure the King and he went into a close Coach and had a large discourse together my Lord of Bristol being in another Coach hard by to interpret some hard words when he was called And so they parted with many tender demonstrations of love A Trophy of Marble is erected in the place where they parted Many rich Presents were given on both sides The Prince bestowed upon the Queen the biggest Crown Pearl in the world between two Diamonds He gave the Infanta a rope of Pearl and an anchor of great Diamonds with many other Jewels He hath been very bountiful to every one of the Kings house and all the Guard Never Prince parted with such an universal love of all He left every mouth filled with his Commendations every one reporting him to be a truly Noble discreet and well deserving Prince I write what I hear and know and that without passion for all he is the Prince of my Countrey My Lord of Buckingham at first was much esteemed but it lasted little his French garb with his stout hastinesse in negotiating and over-familiarity with the Prince was not liked Moreover the Councel of Spain took it ill that a green head should come with such a superintendent power to treat of an affair of such Consequence among so many grave Ministers of State to the prejudice of so able and well-deserving a Minister as my Lord of Bristol who laid the first stone of this building Hereupon his power was called in question and found imperfect in regard it was not confirmed by the Councel Thus the businesse began to gather ill bloud between Olivarez and him and grew so far out of square that unlesse there had been good heads to peece them together again all might have fallen quite off the hinges He did not take his leave of the Countesse of Olivarez and the farewel he took of the Conde himself was harsh for he told him he would be an everlasting servant to the King of Spain the Queen and the Infanta and would endeavour to do the best offices he could for the concluding of this businesse and strengthening the amity between the two Kingdomes but for himself he had so far disobliged him that he could make no profession of friendship to him at all The Conde turned about and said he accepted of what he had spoken and so parted Since his Highnesse departure my Lord of Bristol negotiates closely he is daily at the Palace to attend the Infanta and he treats by means of the Countesse of Olivarez There is a new Junto appointed for the disposing of the Infanta's affairs and we hope here that all things will be ripe against the next Spring to bring her over And so I rest c. From Madrid 30. Septemb. 1623. His Majesties to the Earl of Bristol Jan. 21. 1625. VVEE have read your Letter addressed to us by Buckingham and We cannot but wonder that you should through forgetfulnesse make such a request to us of favour as if you stood eavenly capable of it when you know what your behaviour in Spain deserved of Us which you are to examine by the observations We made and know you will remember how at our first coming into Spain taking upon you to be so wise as to foresee our intentions to change our Religion you were so far from disswading us that you offered your service and secresie to concur in it and in many other open Conferences pressing to shew how convenient it was for us to be a Roman Catholique it being impossible in your opinion to do any great action otherwise how much wrong disadvantage and disservice you did to the Treaty and to the right and interest of our dear Brother and Sister and their Children what disadvantage inconvenience and hazard you intangled us in by your artifices putting off and delaying our return home The great estimation you made of that State and the vile price you set this Kingdome at still maintaining that we under colour of friendship to Spain did what was in our power against them which you said they knew very well And last of all your approving of those Conditions that our Nephew should be brought up in the Emperours Court to which Sir Walter Aston then said he durst not give his Consent for fear of his head you replying to him that without some such great action neither marriage nor peace could be had c. Lord Conway to the Earl of Bristol March 21. 1625. My Lord I Received a Letter from your Lordship dated the 4th of this month written in answer to a former which I directed to your Lordship by his Majesties Commandment This last Letter according to my duty I have shewed unto his Majestie who hath perused it and hath commanded me to write back this unto you again That he finds himself nothing satisfied therewith the question propounded to your Lordship from his Majestie was plain and clear Whether you did rather choose to sit still without being question'd for any errours past in your negotiation in Spain and enjoy the benefit of the late gratious pardon granted in Parliament whereof you may have the benefit or whether for the clearing of your innocency whereof your self your friends and your followers are so confident you will be contented to wave the advantage of that pardon and put your self into a legal way of examination for the tryal thereof His Majesties purpose hereby is not to prevent you of any favours the Law hath given but if your assurance be such as your words and letter import he conceiveth it stands not with that publique and resolute profession of your integrity to decline your tryal His Majestie leaves the choyce to your self and requires from you a direct answer without Circumlocution or bargaining with him for future favours before hand But if you have a desire to make use of that pardon which cannot be denyed to you nor is it any way desired to be taken from you His Majestie expects that you should at least forbear to magnifie your service and out of the opinion of your own innocency cast an aspersion upon his Majesties Justice in not affording you that present fulnesse of liberty and favour which cannot be drawn from him but in his own good time and according to his own good pleasure Thus much I have in command to write unto your Lordship and to require your answer cleerly and plainly by this Messenger sent on purpose for it And so c. The E. of Bristol to the Lord Conway 4. March 1625. My Lord I Received your Letter of the 25. of February and therein a Commandment from his Majestie and in his Majesties name to make a cleer and plain answer Whether I desire or rest in the security I am now in and to acknowledge the gratious favour of his
my Lord Duke can be truly instanced in by any man I will be contented to incur his Majesties high displeasure and your Lordships Censure For the present Newes here it is that the ninth of this Moneth the Prince intendeth God willing to begin his journey for England And the day before I conceive the Contract will be The Infanta is to follow in the Spring and the Prince hath commanded my stay here I know not how things may be reconciled here before my Lord Dukes departure but at present they are in all extremity ill betwixt this King and his Ministers and the Duke and they stick not to professe that they will rather put the Infanta headlong into a Well then into his hands I write unto your Lordship you see with much freenesse and I intreat you let it remain with you And so in much haste I onely intreat your Lordship to believe that you have not living an honester nor a true hearteder a friend and servant then Your Lordships ever to be commanded Bristol The E of Bristol to the Lord Bishop of Lincoln 24. of Septemb. 1623. My singular Lord I Have dispatched this Bearer my servant Greislie with the draught of the temporal Articles which I hope will be to the King and Prince his satisfaction and he will let your Lordship have a sight of them Since the departure of the Prince there have every day passed Letters of extraordinary affection between the King and the Prince and the love that is here generally born unto the Prince is such as cannot be well believed by those that daily hear not what passeth both from the King and his chief Ministers And to say the truth his Highnesse hath well deserved it for in the whole time of his being here he hath carried himself with the greatest affability patience and constancie and at his departure with the greatest bountie and liberality that I think hath been known in any Prince in our times And I protest unto your Lordship as a Christian that I never heard in all the time of his being here nor since any one exception taken against him unlesse it were for being supposed to be too much guided by my Lord Duke of Buckingham who is indeed very little beholding to the Spaniards for their good opinion of him and departed from hence with so little satisfaction that the Spaniards are in doubt that he will endeavour all that shall be possible to crosse the Marriage Wherein certainly they are very much mistaken For my Lord cannot but be obliged a servant for any particular distastes of his own to crosse the advancement of his Majestie and the Prince's service especially in a businesse of so high Consequence as this It may be your Lordship will hear many Complaints and that the Match never was nor yet is intended I beseech your Lordship to give little belief in that kind and the effects will now speedily declare the truth if the fault be not on our side It is true that the Spaniards have committed many errours in their proceedings with the Prince but the businesse is now by the Prince overcome if we our selves draw not back For which I confesse I should be heartily sorry and so I conceive would most honest men for if this match and the alliance with Spain hath been so long desired by his Majestie and that for it he hath heen pleased to do so much and the Prince to take so hazardous a voyage if all the same reasons are yet on foot which have ever moved the King and Prince to wish the match if to this may be added that his Majestie hath overcome all the difficulties on his part and that both he and the Prince do stand ingaged for the performance of it as far as Princes can be God forbid that any particular distastes or misunderstandings which God knoweth have little relation to the businesse should be of power to disturb it especially now when the Match is past all danger of miscarrying the portion and all temporal Articles settled and I hope to the Kings Content and all other good effects that could be expected by this allyance in a very fair way I hope there will be no cause of doubt in this kind if there should be I am sure that your Lordship would put to a helping hand to keep the businesse from being overthrown since you have done so much for the overcoming of former difficulties and the bringing it to the passe 't is now in If there be no cause of writing this I beseech your Lordship to impute it to my zeal to the businesse and my freenesse with your Lordship upon whose true love and friendship I so much rely as I shall not forbear to tell you any of my fears I hope within 3. daies Sir Francis Cottington will be able to begin his journey towards your Lordship He will tell you many truths being on my knowledge as hearty a servant and friend as 't is possible for your Lordship to have He hath told me how much I am bound to your Lordship for your love and favour and truly I will deserve it the best I can and that I think will be onely by loving you for otherwise I conceive I am like to have little means of meriting at any bodies hands yet at your Lordships it may be I may by being a man of honesty and honour And such an one I will labour to be and your affectionate friend and servant And so I kisse your Lordships hands Madrid c. The E. of Bristols Letter to the Prince touching the delivery of his Proxie to the King of Spain May it please your Highnesse IN this Letter I shall onely speak unto your Highnesse concerning that particular whereof you were pleased to write unto me after your departure from St. Lorenzo and have presumed to set down exactly the case as it stands In what sort a woman betrothed and post Matrimonium ratum may before the Consummation of marriage betake her self unto a religious life I have likewise set down unto your Highnesse all sorts of security that may be taken before the betrothing for the preventing of any such course in the parties that are to be betrothed To this your Highnesse may adde any other you can think of for that the King and his Sister and all the Ministers professe so really the punctual and present performance of all that is capitulated with your Highnesse That they will refuse no kind of security that in reason can be demanded in this behalf so that your Highnesse may set down whatsoever you think this King and his Sister may do with decencie and honour and they will be ready to perform it I must now crave leave to speak unto your Highnesse like a faithful plain servant which is if your Highnesse pleasure be to have use made of the Powers you have left in my hands I no way doubt but in this particular such satisfaction will be given as will appear
cold find in any other servant What an honest thankfulnesse can be I am and what an honest servant can yield you shall be ever vigilant in me to serve you Since the departure of the last post by whom I wrote lately unto your Grace my Lord of Bristol hath had audience with this King taking me along with him to whom his Lordship represented the King our Masters desire concerning the Palatinate in conformity to what his Majesty hath commanded by his late letters we are now soliciting to hasten this kings answer which we hope we shall shortly send unto his Majesty and there is no diligence omitted by my Lord of Bristol nor my self that we can think on to negotiate such an answer as may be to his majesties good liking The Dispatches from Rome are not yet come but by letters which they have lately received from the Duke of Pastrana it is advertized that all things are concluded and that he would send them away within a few dayes By my Lord of Bristols Letter to his Majesty your grace will understand the resolution which his Lordship hath taken concerning his proceedings upon the arival of of the dispaches from Rome his Lordships hath communicated with me his Majesties Letter and desired my opinion concerning the resolution which he had taken wherein I have concurred with his Lordship not understanding it any way to be differing in substance from his Majesties directions the altering of the day mentioned in his Majesties letters being onely the changing it from a time when the powers are of no force to a time when they may be of use the putting of any thing in execution in the one time or in the other depending upon his Majesties and his Highnesses further directions I have hitherto understood that his Majesty and his highnesse have really affected this match and have laboured faithfully to second their desires with my utmost endeavours There is none I am sure a better witnesse then my self of the affection which your Grace hath born unto it which I have seen remain constant through many tryals And therefore until I understand the contrary from your self I must believe that your desires are the same which I have seen them I must ever speak my heart freely unto your Grace and confess that upon the letter which I received from his Highnesse and upon the sight of his Majesties to my Lord of Bristol I have been jealous of his Majesties heart and his Highnesse that they are not that to the match which they have been but these are but distrusts of my own and not foundation sufficient to slacken or cool those diligences which I daily perform in conformity to his Majesties and his Highnesse Commands and to what remains apparent of their desires I shall therefore humbly desire your Lordship to open mine eyesa nd if I am out of the way to set me straight for I have no affections of mine own but what agrees with my Masters and will ever submit with all humility my self and my judgment unto his Majesties wisedome and faithfully labour to serve him accordingly to what I shall understand to be his will and pleasure But untill I know by your Graces favour by what Compasse to guide my Course I can onely follow his Majesties revealed will and will once take the boldnesse to represent unto your Grace in discharge of what I owe you these Considerations which my desire to serve you forceth from me I do look upon your Grace as a person infinitely provoked to be an enemy to this match and believe that you have had represented unto you many reasons shewing how much it concerns you to seek to break it with all the force you have But I can neither believe that the errour of one man can make you an enemy to that which brings along with it so much happinesse and content unto his Majestie and his Highnesse nor that your Graces judgment can be led by those arguments that under the colour of safety would bring you into a dangerous labyrinth Your Grace hath given noble testimonie how little you have valued your own safety in respect of his Majesties service and therefore I assure my self you would contemn all Considerations concerning your self that might hinder the advancement of his Majesties ends In the proceeding to this Match there is the same conveniency to his Majestie that ever hath been there is the same Lady the same portion the same friendship desired they professing here an exact complying with what is capitulated and a resolution to give his Majestie satisfaction in whatsoever is in their power From your Grace none can take away the honour of having been the principal means by which this great businesse hath been brought to a Conclusion And whatsoever others may suggest against your Grace the Infanta truly informed cannot but understand you the person to whom she owes most in this businesse Your Grace and the Conde Olivarez have fallen upon different waies that which concerns the honour of the King our Master being different to that which he understood concerned most his Master your ends were both one for the effecting of the Match and with the Conclusion of it he cannot but better understand you Would your Grace would commit it to my charge to inform the Infanta what you have merited and to accommodate all other mistakes here concerning the proceeding If your Grace would reconcile your heart I would not doubt but with the Conclusion of the Match to compose all things to your good satisfaction and to bring them to a truer understanding of you and of their obligation unto you In what a Sea of Confusions the breaking of this alliance would ingage his Majestie I will leave to your Lordships wisdom to consider of it being too large a discourse for a Letter I will therefore onely desire your Lordship to consider that even the most prosperous War hath misfortune enough in it to make the Authour of it unhappie of which how innocent soever your Lordship is the occasions that have been given you will ever make you liable to the aspersion of it This I write not unto your Grace as thinking to divert you from what you are falling into for I am confident your heart runs a more peaceable way but I am willing that you should see that howsoever others should be inclined to carrie you into this tempest it concerns you in your care of their happinesse and your own to divert them from it I humbly desire your Grace to pardon this errour of mine if it be one which I can excuse with the affection and infinite desire which I have to see you ever happie and flourish Concerning my self your Grace knowes my wants and I doubt not but your Care is what I could wish I should be glad when you have done with Peter Wych to see him dispatched away with some supplies unto me which I shall be in extream want of by Christmasse my debts besides in
reason to fear the power of his enemies yet he trusted much upon the innocency of his own Cause and the Justice of the King and that he could not understand himself in any danger but were he sure to lose his head at his arrival there he would go to throw down himself at his Majesties feet and mercy and rather there die upon a Scaffold then be Duke of Infantada in Spain On the 16th of this moneth there was declared here in Councel a resolution of this King to make a journey to his frontier Towns in Andaluzia with an intention to begin his journey upon the 29. of this moneth Stil Vet. And as I am informed his Majestie will there entertain himself the greatest part of these three moneths following so that his return hither will not be until the beginning of May. My Lord of Bristol hath sent divers to the Conde for leave to dispeed himself of the King but in respect of his Majesties being at the Pardo he hath been hitherto delayed and hath yet no certain day appointed for it But I conceive it will be sometime this week The Cause of the delaying of his Lordships admittance to the King as I understand is that the same day that his Lordship shall declare his revocation to the King they will here in Councel declare the revocation of the Marquesse of Ynoisa Howsoever in respect of the Kings departure at which time they use here to embarge all the mules and means of carriage in this Town I believe his Lordship will not begin his journey so soon as he intended All the relations which are lately come out of England do wish them to entertain themselves herewith no farther hopes that there is any intention to proceed to the Match and this advice comes accompanied with such a report of the state of all things there that hath much irritated all these Ministers and let loose the tongues of the people against the proceedings of his Majestie and Highnesse I labour as much as I can and as far as my directions will give me latitude to give them better understandings of the real intentions of his Majestie and Highnesse but divers of them cleerly tell me That I professe one thing and the actions of his Majestie and Highnesse upon the which they must ground their belief are differing from it I shall therefore here in discharge of my duty advertize your Honour that they do here expect nothing but a War about which they have already held divers Councels and go seriously to work preparing themselves for what may happen Which I desire your Honour to advertize his Majestie being high time as far as I am able to judge that am here upon the place that his Majestie do either resolve upon some course for the allaying of these storms or that he go in hand with equal preparations Having observed in former times the strange rumours that have run in England upon small foundations I have thought it fit to prevent the credit which may be given to idle relations by advertizing your Honour that I cannot conceive how any great attempt can be made from hence this year howsoever businesses should go The Squadron of the Kings Fleet under the Command of Don Fadrique de Toledo is come into Cadiz and joyned with that which Don Juan Taxardo is Captain of And as I am credibly informed this King will have by the end of April between 50. and 60. Gallions at Sea It is true that other years the number commonly falls short of what is expected and their setting forth to Sea some moneths later then the time appointed but there is extraordinary care taken this year that there be no default in neither The chief end that I can understand of this Kings journey being to see the Fleet of Plate come in to take view of his Armado and see them put to Sea That which I understand is onely left alive of the Marriage here is that the Jewels which the Prince left with this King for the Infanta and her Ladies are not yet returned but it is intimated unto me that if the Letters which they shall receive out of England upon the answer they have given to his Majestie about the businesse of the Palatinate be no better then such as they have lately received they will return the Jewels and declare the businesse of the Match for broken I shall therefore intreat your Honour to know his Majesties pleasure how I shall carry my self if they be offered unto me being resolved in the mean time untill I shall know his Majesties pleasure if any such thing happen absolutely to refuse them The Princesse some few daies since fell sick of a Calenturae of which she remaineth still in her bed though it be said she is now somewhat better I will conclude with many thanks for your friendly advertizements concerning my own particular which God willing as far as I can I will observe and do earnestly intreat you that you will please to continue the like favours unto me which I shall highly esteem of And so with a grateful acknowledgment of my obligations I rest Your Honours c. Wa. Aston Sir Walter Aston to the Lord Conway Right Honourable I Have advertized by former dispatches that the Parliament here had granted unto this King 60 millions of Duckats to be paid in 12 years which with 12 millions which remain yet unpaid of what was given the King at the last Session this King was to receive 72 millions in the 12 years next following I shall now acquaint your Honour that there are only 19. Cities that have voice in this Parliament and that each of them do send hither two Provadores as they call them here but these have no power finally to conclude any thing but what is agreed on by them is to be approved of by the said Cities or the greatest number of them before it have the force of an Act of Parliament and that therefore there hath been all possible art used to procure the Cities to confirm what hath been granted by their Procuradores touching the 60. millions and it is here thought that one of the motives of this Kings journey was hoping by the authority of his presence to procure the consent unto the said gift of the 4. Cities which he is to passe by in this journey namely Cordova Sivel Joen and Granado it being here doubted that the said Cities might make great opposition to the said grant notwithstanding his Majestie hath not had such successe as was expected But Cordova which was the first City with which his Majestie began hath absolutely refused to give their Consent letting his Majestie understand though in as fair and respectful terms as they could expresse themselves That it was a demand impossible for them to Comply withal What the success of this may be is doubtful Cordova having given but an ill example to the other Cities and yet it is rather believed here that the greatest number
believe they will hasten to finish this act before I shall hear from your Lordship which if they do God send me patience and as much care to serve him as I have and ever had to serve my Master And then all must needs be well I send your Lordship a Copy of that speech I have thought upon to deliver at London upon Munday next at the Commission of the Subsidies If his Majestie have leisure to cast his eye thereupon and to give direction to have any thing else delivered or any point of this suppressed I would be directed by your Lordship whom I recommend in prayers to Gods good guiding and protection And do rest c. The E. of Southhamptons Letter to the Bishop of Lincolne My Lord I Have found your Lordship already so favourable and affectionate unto me that I shall be still hereafter desirous to acquaint you with what concerns me and bold to ask your advice and councel which makes me to send this bearer to give your Lordship an account of my answer from Court which I cannot better do then by sending unto you the answer it self which you shall receive here enclosed Wherein you may see what is expected from me that I may not onely magnifie his Majesties Gracious dealing with me but cause all my friends to do the like and restrain them from making any extenuation of my errours which if they be disposed to do or not to do is impossible for me to alter that am not likely for a good time to see any other then mine own family For my self I shall ever be ready as is fit to acknowledg his Majesties favour to me but can hardly perswade my self that any errour by me committed deserved more punishment then I have had and hope that his Majestie will not expect that I should not confesse my self to have been subject to a Star-chamber sentence which God forbid I should ever do I have and shall do according to that Part of my Lord of Buckinghams advice to speak of it as little as I can and so shall I do in other things to meddle as little as I can I purpose God willing to go to morrow to Tychfield the place of mine confinement there to stay as long as the King shall please Sir William Parkhurst must go with me who hoped to have been discharged at the return of my Messenger from Court and seemes much troubled that he is not pretending that it is extream inconvenient for him in regard of his own occasions He is fearful he should be forgotten If therefore when your Lordship writes to the Court you would but put my Lord of Buckingham in remembrance of it you shall I think do him a favour For my part it is so little trouble to me and of so small moment as I meane to move no more for it When this bearer returns I beseech you return by him this inclosed Letter and beleive that whatsoever I am I will ever be Your Lordships most assured friend to do you service H. Southampton c. The Lord Keepers answer to the E. of Southhamptons Letter 2. August 1621. My Lord I Have perused your Lordships Letter and that enclosed I return back again And doubt nothing of my Lord Admirals remembring of you upon the first opportunity Great works as I hope this will be a perfect reconciling of his Majesties affections to you of your best studies and endeavours to the service of his Majestie do require some time They are but poore actions and of no continuance that are Slubbered up in an instance I know my Lord mens tongues are their own nor lieth it in your power to prescribe what shall be spoken for you or against you But to avoid that Complacentia as the Divines call it that itching and inviting of any interpretation which shall so add to your innocencie as it shall derogate from the Kings mercie which I speak as I would do before God had a great cloud of jealousies and suspitions to break through before it came to shine upon you This I take it is the effect of my Lords exhortation and I know it ever hath been your Lordships resolution How far you could be questioned in the Star-Chamber is an unseasonable time to resolve The King hath waved off all judgment and left nothing for your meditation but love and favour and the increasing of both these Yet I know upon my late occasions to peruse Presidents in that Court that small offences have been in that Court in former times deeply censured In the sixteenth of Edward the second for the Court is of great antiquity Henry Lord Beaumont running a way of his own about the invading of Scotland and dissenting from the rest of the Kings Councel because of his absenting himself from the Councel Table was fined and imprisoned though otherwies a most worthy and deserving Noble man But God be thanked your Lordship hath no cause to trouble your head about these meditations For if I have any judgment you are in a way to demean your self as you may expect rather more new additions then suspect the least diminution from his Gracious Majestie For mine own part assure your self I am your true and faithful servant and shall never cease so to continue as long as you make good your professions to this Noble Lord. Of whose extraordinary goodnesse your Lordship and my self are remarkable reflections The one of his sweetnesse in forgetting of wrongs the other of his forwardnesse in conferring of courtesies With my best respect to your Lordship and my Noble Lady and my Commendations to Sir William Parkhurst I recommend your Lordship c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning the E. of South-hampton 2. Aug. 1621. My most noble Lord I Humbly crave your pardon for often troubling your Honour with my idle Lines and beseech you to remember that amongst many miseries my sudden greatnesse comes accompanied with this is not the least that I can no otherwaies enjoy the happinesse of your presence God is my witnesse the Lord Keeper hath often not without grief of heart envied the fortunes of a poor Scholar one Dr. VVilliams late Dean of VVestminster who was so much blessed in the free accesses in that kind as his Lordship without a great quantity of goodnesse in your self may scarse hope for This inclosed will let your Lordship understand that somewhat is to be finished in that excellent piece of mercy which his Majestie your hand guiding the Pencil is about to expresse in the E. of Southhampton It is full time his Attendant were revoked in my poor opinion and himself left to the Custody of his own good Angel There is no readier way to stop the mouthes of idle men nor to draw their eyes from this remainder of an object of Justice to behold nothing but goodnesse and mercy And the more breathing time you shall carve out between this total enlargement and the next accesse of the Parliament the better it
will be for his Majesties service Onely remember this that now you are left to be your own Remembrancer Of all actions forget not those of mercy and Goodnesse wherein men draw nighest to God himself Nor of all Persons prisoners and afflicted Josephs Celerity doth redouble an act of mercy But why do I turn a Preacher of goodnesse unto him who in my own particular hath shewed himself to be composed of nothing else Remember your Noble Self and forget the aggravations of malice and envy and then forget if you can the E. of Southhampton God blesse you and your royal Guest and bring you both after many years yet most happily run over here upon earth to be his blessed guests in the Kingdom of Heaven The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning the Lord of St. Albons October 27th 1621. My most noble Lord I Have received your Lorships expression concerning the Pause I made upon the two Patents The Proclamation of writing to the Kings hand and my Lord of St. Albons pardon The former I have sealed this morning in duty and obedience to your Lordships intimation The latter I have not yet sealed but do represent in all lowlinesse and humility these few Considerations by your Lordship to his sacred Majestie wherein let your Lordship make no question but I have advised with the best Lawyers in the Kingdom And after this representation I will perform whatsoever your Lordship shall direct His Majestie and your Lordship do conceive that my Lord of St. Albons pardon and grant of his fine came both together to my hands and so your Lordship directs me to passe the one and the other But his Lordship was too cunning for me He passed his fine whereby he hath deceived his Creditors ten dayes before he presented his pardon to the Seal So as now in his pardon I find his Parliament fine excepted which he hath before the sealing of the same obtained and procured And whether the house of Parliament will not hold themselves mocked and derided with such an exception I leave to your Lordships wisdom These two Grants are opposite and contradictory in this point the one to the other The King pardons in particular words All sums of money and rewards taken for false judgments or decrees And therefore the exception of the Parliamentary Censure being inflicted but for the same taking of moneys and rewards coming a good way after falleth too late in Law and is of no force to satisfie the Lords as I am informed and I believe this clause was never seen in any other pardon The King pardoneth in my Lord of St. Albon the stealing away altering rasing and interlining of his Majesties Rowles Records Briefs c. which are more in a Lord Chancellors pardon then the imbezeling of his Majesties jewels in a Lord Chamberlains And yet the Lord Chancellour Elsmore could not indure that clause in my Lord of Sommersets Pardon unlesse he would name the jewels in particular I will not meddle or touch upon those mistakings which may fall between the Parliament and his Majestie or the mis-interpretation that enemies may make hereof to your Lordships prejudice because I see in his Majesties great wisdom these are not regarded Onely I could have wished the Pardon had been referred to the Councel board and so passed I have now discharged my self of those poor scruples which in respect onely to his Majesties service and your Lordships honour have wrought this short stay of my Lord of St. Albons Pardon Whatsoever your Lordship shall now direct I will most readily craving pardon for this not undutiful boldnesse put in execution Because some speech may fall of this dayes speech which I had occasion to make in the Common Pleas where a Bishop was never seen sitting there these 70. years I have presumed to inclose a Copy thereof because it was a very short one Your Lordship shall not need to take that great pains which your Lordship to my unexpressible comfort hath so often done in writing What Command soever your Lordship shall impose upon me as touching this pardon your Lordships expression to Mr. Packer or the bearer shall deliver it sufficiently God from heaven continue the showring and heaping of his blessings upon your Lordship c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 22. July 1621. My noble Lord VVIth my truest affections and thankfulnesse premised I do not doubt but his Majestie and your Lordship do now enjoy the general applause of your goodnesse to the Earl of South-hampton Saturday last he came and dined with me and I find him more cordially affected to the service of the King and your Lordships love and friendship then ever he was when he lay a prisoner in my house Yet the Sunshine of his Majesties favour though most bright upon others more open offenders is noted to be somewhat eclipsed towards him What directions soever his Majestie gave the order is somewhat tart upon the Earl The word of Confinement spread about the City though I observed not one syllable so quick to fall from his Majestie his Keeper much wondred at The act of the Councel published in our names who were neither present thereat or heard one word of the same yet upon my credit the Earl takes all things patiently and thankfully though others wonder at the same Mr. Secretary signed a Petition of one Rookwood a Papist and prisoner in the Fleet upon five several executions that I should grant him his liberty The Kings name is used and the mediation of the Spanish Embassadour If I breaking rules so fouly in favour of a Papist which I am resolved to keep straight against all men whatsoever I shall infame my self in the very beginning If his Majestie will have any special indulgence in this kind I expect intimation immediately from the King or your Lordship and no third Person Your Lordship will not expect from me any account of Councel businesse nor the setting at liberty of the late prisoners Mr. Secretary is secret enough for imparting any thing unto me so as I must remain in a necessary ignorance There is a Country man of mine one Griffith a suiter unto the Court for the reversion of an Auditors place recommended thereunto by his Master the Lord Treasurer The place is of great Consequence for the disposing of his Majesties revenewes The man is unfit for this as presumptuous and daring for any place Sir Robert Pye saith he hath already written to your Lordship and I doubt not of your care thereof Doctour Lamb the bearer is a very sufficient and for ought I ever heard of him an honest man The King hath imployed him in discovery of counterfeit Witchcrafts in reforming of no ounterfeit but hearty Puritanes and he hath done good service therein If his Majestie now in our pure ayr of Northhamptonshire do not shew him some favor or grace either by Knighting or by using him courteously The Brethren having gotten out their Yelverton again will neglect and molest
House of Commons some poyson and ill constructions to feed upon and to induce a new diversion or plain Cessation of weightier businesses His Majestie infers and that most truly for where were the Commons before Henry the first gave them authority to meet in Parliaments that their priviledges are but Graces and favours of former Kings which they claim to be their inheritance and natural birthrights Both these assertions if men were peaceably disposed and affected the dispatch of the common businesses might be easily reconciled These priviledges were originally the favours of Princes and are now inherent in their persons Nor doth his Majestie go about to impair or diminish them If his Majestie will be pleased to qualifie that passage with some mild and noble exposition and require them strictly to prepare things for a Session and to leave this needlesse dispute his Majestie shall thereby make it appear to all wise and just men that these persons are opposite to those common ends whereof they vaunt themselves the onely Patrons But do his Maiestie what he please I am afraid although herein the Lord Treasurer and others do differ from me they do not affect a Sessions nor intend to give at this time any Subsidie at all Will the King be pleased therefore to add in this Letter which must be here necessarily upon Munday morning that if they will not prepare bills for a Session his Majesty will break up this Parliament without any longer Prorogation and acquainting the Kingdom with their undutifulnesse and obstinacy supply the present wants by some other meanes Or will his Majesty upon their refusal presently rejourn the the Assembly until the appointed 8th of Feburary This course is fittest for further advice but the other to expresse a just indignation I dare advise nothing in so high a point but humbly beseech almighty God to illuminate his Majesties understanding to insist upon that course which shall be most behoveful for the advancement of his service In our house his Majesties servants are very strong and increase every day nor is there the least fear of any Malignant opposition God reward all your Lordships goodnesse and affection towards c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke about Mr. Thomas Murrayes Dispensation c. 23. Febr. 1621. My most Noble Lord I Should fail very much of my duty to his Majestie if before the sealing of Mr. Thomas Murrayes Dispensation I should not acquaint his Majestie explicitely and freely with the nature of this act far differing from any dispensation in this kind ever granted by his Majestie since his happie coming to the Crown of England For to say nothing of the right of the election of this Provost which being originally not in the King but in the fellowes and now by their neglect devolved unto me shall be fully and absolutely at his Majesties command the place is a living with cure of souls and I am to institute and admit him to the cure of souls of the Parish of Eaton by the expresse Letter of the Statute without admission it is impossible he should receive any real or rightful possession of the same Now that his Majestie or any of his Predecessors did ever dispence with a Lay-man to hold cure of souls I think will be hard for any man to shew by any warrantable president or record whatsoever And I know his Majestie to be as much averse from giving any such president as any Prince in Christendome living this day This is altogether differing a Deanery or an Hospital which being livings without cure have been and may be justly conferred by his Majestie upon Lay-men with dispensations de non promovendo If Sir Henry Savil's example be objected I answer besides that the Queen made Clayme to the guift of the place by lapse occasioned through the promotion of the Provost to the Bishoprick of Chichester whereas his Majestie hath no such Clayme thereunto at this time That Savil never durst take true possession of the place but was onely slipt in by the Bishop who for fear of the Earl of Essex made bold with the conscience Ad Curam et regimen Collegii that is to the care and government of the Colledge Whereas by the expresse words of the foundation he is to be admitted Ad Curam annimarum Parochianorū Ecclesia Aetonianae to the Cure of the souls of all the people of the Parish of Eaton Secondly I hold it no Disparagement to Mr. Murray nor do find him all together averse from the same to enter into orders in the raign of a King so favourable to our Coat as Gods name be praised for it raigns now over us This will give satisfaction to all the Church bring him into this place according to statute and the foundation of that dead King prevent such a dangerous president for a Lay-man to possesse cure of souls in the Eye and Center of all the Realm and by an everlasting testimony of his Majesties Piety to the Church of England Thirdly what opinion this Gentleman hath of our Church government is better known to his Majestie then to me If he should be averse thereunto it were such a blow unto the Church the number of the Fellowes and Students there considered as the like were never given by publique authority these 50. Years Fourthly howsoever his Majestie and the Prince his Highnesse shall resolve thereof at whose feet I lie to be wholly disposed I hope it is neither of their royal intendments to transfer the Bishopprick of Lincolne upon the Fellowes of that house who have rashly usurped a Power of admitting their Provost by any example seen before Whereas all Provosts as well the Churchmen who come in by Election as the Lay-men recommended by the late Queen were as the foundation exactly requires it admitted by the Bishop of Lincolne their Diocaesand and Visitor I hope it was Mr. Murraies inexperience rather then neglect never deserved by me that directed them to this strange course subscription and other conformities to be acted in the presence of the Visitor are essentially to be required before he can be admitted Provost of Eaton Lastly Mr. Murraie hath hitherto mistaken all his course He must be first dispensed withal If his Majestie in his wisedom shall hold it fit and then Elected first Fellow and then Provost of the Colledg if he will come in regularly and safely whereas now contrary to Savils president he is first Elected and then goes on with his dispensation All this I most humbly intreat your Lordship to make known to the Prince his Highnesse and as much as your Lordship thinks fit thereof to his Majestie I will only adde one note and so end It will be no more disparagement for Mr. Murray his Highnesse Schoolmaster to enter into orders then it was for Coxe King Edwards Schoolmaster a Master of Requests and Privie Counsellour to do the like who afterwards became a worthy Prelate of this Church I have discharged my duty to the King
the least the King and the Prince how unworthily I am used by this Lord who in my soul and conscience I believe it either invents these things out of his own head and ignorance of this Court or hath taken them up from base unworthy and most unexperienced people Lastly because no act of mine who am so much indebted for all my frugality could in the thoughts of a devil incarnate breed any suspition that I gained by this office excepting the purchase of my Grandfathers Lands whereunto my Lord Chamberlains noblenesse and your Lordships encouragement gave the invitation I do make your Lordship as your Lordship hath been often pleased to honour me my faithful Confessor in that businesse and do send your Lordship a note enclosed what money I paid what I borrowed and what is still owing for the purchase I beseech your Lordship to cast your eye upon the paper and lay it aside that it be not lost And having now poured out my soul and sorrow unto your Lordships breast I find my heart much eased and humbly beseech your Lordship to compassionate the wrongs of Your most humble and honest servant J. L. C. S. The Fair and Familiar Conference which the Lord Treasurer had with the Lord Keeper after some Expostulations of his own and the issue joyned thereupon at White-Hall Septemb. 7. 1622. Object 1 THere is taken 40000 l. for Petitions in your house this year Sol. Not much above the fortieth part of the money for all the dispatches of the Chancery Star-Chamber Councel-Table Parliament the great Diocesse of Lincoln the jurisdiction of VVestminster and St. Martins le Graund All which have resort to my house by Petitions Object 2 You have your self a share in the money Sol. Then let me have no share in Gods Kingdom it is such a basenesse as never came within the compasse of my thoughts Object 3 It is commonly reported you pay to my Lord Admiral 1000 l. per mensem Sol. As true as the other The means of my place will reach to no more then two moneths Object 4 You never receive any Petitions with your own hands but turn them to your Secretaries who take double Fees one for receiving and the other for delivering Sol. Let the Cloysters at Westminster answer for me I never to this day received any Petition from my Secretaries which I had formerly delivered unto them with my own hands This is a new fashion which my Lord hath found in some other Courts Object 5 You sell dayes of hearing at higher rates then ever they were at Sol. I never disposed of any since I came to this place but leave them wholly to the Six Clarks and Registers to be set down in their Antiquity Unlesse his Lordship means hearing of motions in the paper of Peremptories which I seldom deny upon any Petition and which are worth no money at all Object 6 You usually reverse Decrees upon Petitions Sol. I have never reversed altered explained or endured a motion or Petition that touched upon a decree once pronounced but have sometimes made orders in pursuance of the same Object 7 You have 3. Door-keepers and are so locked up that no man can have accesse unto you Sol. I have no such officer in all my house unlesse his Lordship meanes the Colledge Porters nor no locks at all but his Majesties businesse which I must respect above Ceremonies and Complements You are cryed out against over all the Kingdom for an unsufferable Object 8 oppression and grievance His Lordship if he have any friends may hear of such a Cry Sol. and yet be pleased to mistake the person cryed out against All the Lords of the Councel cry out upon you and you are a Object 9 wretched and a friendlesse man if no man acquaints you with it I am a wretched man indeed if it be so Sol. And your Lordship at the least a very bold man if it be otherwise I will produce particular witnesses and make all these Charges Object 10 good I know your Lordship cannot and I do call upon you to do it Sol. as suspecting all to be but your Lordships envie and malice to that service of the Kings and ease of his Subjects which God hath enabled me to accomplish and perform in this troublesome Office J. L. C. S. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 21. of September 1622. My most noble Lord MY Lord Brook diswarning me from his Majestie from coming to Theobalds this day I was enforced to trouble your Lordship with these few lines My most humble thanks for your Lordships most free and most loving Letter I do willingly confesse my errour yet still of the mind that your Lordship only who justly taxed it hath made it to be an errour If your love to me had not exceeded all reason and desert of mine my complaints were not effects of melancholy but of a real suffering and misery I do confesse and rest satisfied withal that his Majesties Justice and your Lordships love are anchors strong enough for a mind more tossed then mine is to ride at Yet pardon me my Noble Lord upon this Consideration if I exceeded a little in passion the natural effect of honesty and innocency A Church-man and a woman have no greater Idol under heaven then their good name And yet they cannot fight at all Nor with credit scold and least of all recriminate to protect and defend the same Their onely revenge left them is to grieve and complain My misery I took to be this I am one of those that labour in his Majesties Cole-mines under the earth and out of sight My pains from five a clock in the morning to 10. or 12. at night are restlesse and endlesse but under earth and out of his Majesties sight What other men do or but seem to do it is ever before the Kings face and if his Majestie will not look on it if he hath eares about him he shall be told of it so often by the parties themselves that he must hear of it whether he will or no. And as my service by this remotenesse is hidden from the King so is it liable to be traduced to the King and my relief as in dispatching the motions of poor men by Petitions allowable to my orders made to be a Grievance to the Common Wealth But in all these fourteen dayes wherein by the voice of the City I have remained a prisoner in my house where is that one party grieved that hath troubled his Majestie with Complaints against me Onely my Lord Marshal hath dealt with my noble Lord Marquesse Hamilton my Lord of Carlile my Lord Treasurer as your Lordship may soon know by asking the question to make a faction to disgrace the poor Lord Keeper who never dreamt thereof Sir Gilbert Haughton hath complained to my Lord Treasurer of my men for taking Hugh Holland was by and heard him If your Lordship do but ask him his
reason I think it will appear how well grounded their complaints be Upon those two former Anchors I will therefore rest and that so far from Cowardlinesse that I will either challenge them before his Majestie to make good their suggestions or else which I hold the greater valour of all and which I confesse I wanted before this check of your Lordships go on in my Course and scorn all these base and unworthy scandals as your Lordship shall direct me I have sent a Copy of a Letter of mine to my Lord Anan which his Majestie hath seen and given his assent it should not be kept private yet I would humbly crave your Lordships opinion thereof by Mr. Packer before any Copy goeth from me I am ever c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 12th Octob. 1622. My most Noble Lord I Will speak with the Jesuit to morrow and deliver him his admonition from the King but do send your Lordship here inclosed a Copie of the Conference which I procured from him without his privity onely to make his Majestie and your Lordship merrie I have also received a Letter concerning the French Embassador which I will be ready to put in execution as your Lordships servant and Deputy but not otherwise Yet your Lordship will give me out of that freedom which was wont to be well interpreted by your Lordship to let your Lordship understand that I find all businesses of restitution of ships and goods thus taken to have been handled before the Councel in Star-chamber all the reigns of Henry 7th and H. 8th without any contradiction of the Lord Admiral for the time being But this to your Lordship in secret I will be very careful of the Earl of Desmond that neither his cause nor your Lordships reputation shall suffer thereby And this is the account I can yet give of your Lordships Letter save that I humbly expect that answer which your Lordships own Luckie hand hath promised in the postscript of one of them I would ease your Lordship in this place but to prevent complaint that peradventure may be first invented and then presented Your Lordship shall heare of a long narrative of our Councel Table dispatches That passage of our letter which as it now goeth doth hope that his Majestie will spare to confer any suites of moment in Ireland until the return of the Irish Committee was a blunt request to the King to grant no suites there without our advice Against this concluded in my absence the first day of the Tearm I spake first to the Prince privately who allowed of my reasons then when the President would not mend it at the Table openly that I did utterly dislike we should tutour his Majesty how to grant suits especially in Letters that are to remain upon record My Lord of Cantuar and the Earle Marshal said they had many Presidents in that kind I answered I knew they had none but in the Kings time and that I wished them as I do all torn out of the book and cast into the fire I concealed my reasons which now I will reveal unto your Lordship because this is the third time I have expressed unto your Lordship under my hand my dislike of this kind of Limiting his Majestie otherwise then by word of mouth First if his Majestie which we see so often done shall dispose of these suites otherwise here are so many records remaining to malitious men to observe his Majesties aversenesse from following the advice of the Councel board Secondly if your Lordship shall procure any suit in this kind here are records also in time to come that you crosse and thwart the government of the Kingdom And I pray God this be but mine own jealousie The passage in the Letter with my Prating and his Highnesse help was altered and for fear of misreporting I make bold to relate the truth hereof to your Lordship My Lords proceeded very resolutely in those reformations which concerned other men The Commission of fees enables the Committees to call before them all the Judges as well as their under Officers which was more then the King exprest at Hampton Court amongst whom the Lord Keeper is one who from the Conquest to this day was never subjected to the call of any power in the Kingdom but the King and the Parliament And although I have not one Pennie of Fee which hath not continued above one hundred years yet for the honour of the Prime place in the state though now disgraced by the contemptiblenesse of the Officer I am an humble suiter unto your Lordship that my Person may be exempted from the command of Sr. Edwin Sandys or indeed any man els besides the King my Master Otherwise I shall very patiently endure it but the King hereafter may dislike it The Justices of the Peace are also appointed but if the Judges and my self be not utterly deceived to no purpose in the world nor service to his Majestie But when their Lordships came to surrender the under Leivtenantships to his Majesties hands whom the Lord President and I held fit to be created henceforward by several Commissions under the Great Seal it was stiffly opposed and stood upon that the King should name them in their Lordships Commissions onely according to a President in the late Queens time that is the King shall have the naming but they still the appointing of them And now it was pressed that his Majestie intended not to disgrace his Lords c and your Lordship is to have a Letter from Mr. Secretarie to know his Majesties mind herein If his Majestie shall not ordain them to be created by several Pattents it were better a great deal they should continue as they do I am very tedious in the manner and peradventure in the matter of this Letter I humbly crave pardon c. Passages between the Lord Keeper and Don Francisco HE was very inquisitive if I had already or intended to impart what he had told me the night before in secret to any man to the which he did adde a desire of secresie Because 1. The King had charged him and the Frier to be very secret 2. The Embassadours did not know that he had imparted these things unto me 3. The Popes were secret instructions which they gave to the Fryer to urge and presse the same points which himself had done to the King He confessed that the greatest part of the Friers instructions were to do all the worst offices he could against the Duke and to lay the breach of the marriage and disturbance of the peace upon him He excused the bringing the Copy of that paper unto me because the Marquesse had it yet in his custody but said he would procure it with all speed I desired him to do it the rather because besides my approbation of the form and manner of the writing I might be by it instructed how to apply my self to do his Majestie service therein as I found by that Conference
his Majesties bent and inclination He having understood that there was though a close yet an indissoluble friendship betwixt the Duke and my self desired me to shew some way how the Duke might be won unto them and to continue the peace I answered I would pursue any fair course that should be proposed that way but for my self that I never meddled with matters of State or of this nature but was onely imployed before this journey of the Prince's in matters of mine own Court and in the Pulpit He desired to know if they might rely upon the King whom onely they found peaceably addicted otherwise they would cease all mediation and prepare for War I answered That he was a King that never broke his word and he knew what he had said unto them He commended much the courage and resolution of the Lord Treasurer which I told him we all did as a probable sign of his innocency He said that the Marquesse had dispatched three Curreos and expected large Propositions from Spain to be made unto his Majestie concerning the present restitution of the Palatinate And that if this failed they were at an end of Treaty and the Embassadours would forthwith return home 11th April 1622. The Lord Keeper to the Duke May it please your Grace I Received your Graces Letter by Mr. Killegrew so full of that sweetnesse as could never issue from any other Fountain then that one breast so fraught with all goodnesse and virtue Dick Winne may write freely as he talks but alas what can my wretched self perform that should deserve the least acknowledgment from him to whom I owe so infinitely much more then the sacrificing of my life amounts to onely my love makes me sometimes write and many times fear fondly and foolishly for the which I hope your Grace will pardon me I have been frighted more about three weeks since about quarrels and jarres which now Dick Greyhams hath related in part unto the King then at this present I am For Gods sake be not offended with me if I exhort you to do that which I know you do to observe his Highnesse with all lowlinesse humility and dutiful obedience and to piece up any the least seam-rent that heat and earnestnesse might peradventure seem to produce I know by looking into my self these are the symptomes of good natures And for Gods sake I beg it as you regard the prayers of a poor friend if the great negotiation be well concluded let all private disagreements be wrapped up in the same and never accompany your Lordships into England to the joy and exultation of your enemies if any such ingrateful Divels are here to be found I am in good earnest and your Lordship would believe it if your Grace saw but the tears that accompany these lines I beseech you in your Letter to the Marquesse Hamilton intimate unto him your confidence and reliance upon his watchfulnesse and fidelity in all turns which may concern your Grace I have often lied unto his Lordship that your Grace hath in many of my Letters expressed as much and so have pacified him for the time If we did know but upon whom to keep a watchful eye for disaffected reports concerning your service it is all the intelligence he and I do expect His Majestie as we conceive is resolved to take certain oaths which you have sent hither and I pray God afterward no farther difficulties be objected I have had an hours discourse with his Majestie yesterday morning and do find him so disposed towards your Lordship as my heart desireth yet hath been informed of the discontentments both with the Conde de Olivarez and the Earl of Bristol Here is a strange Creation passed of late of a Vice-Counteship of Maidenhead passed to the Heires Males who must be called hereafter Vice-Countesse Fynch But my Lady Dutchesse hath the Land and as they say hath already sold it to my Lord Treasurer or shared it with him I stayed the Patent until I was assured your Lordship gave way thereunto My good Lord because I have heard that they have in those parts a conceipt of our church as that they will not believe we have any Liturgie or Book of common prayer at all I have at mine own cost caused the Liturgy to be translated into Spanish and fairely Printed and do send you by this bearer a Couple of the Books one for his Highnesse the other for your Grace Not sending any more unlesse your Grace will give directions His Majestie was acquainted therewith and alloweth of the businesse exceedingly The Translator is a Dominican a zealous Protestant and a good Scholer and I have secured him to our Church with a Benefice and a good Prebend Because we expect every day the dispatching of Sr. Francis Cottington thitherward I will not trouble your Grace farther at this time but do earnestly pray unto God to blesse your Grace both now and ever hereafter with all his favours and blessings spiritual and temporal And rest c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 30. Aug. 1623. My it please your Grace I Have no businesse of the least Consideration to trouble your Grace withal at this time but that I would not suffer Mr. Greyham to return without an expression of my respect and obligation I would advertize your Grace at large of the course held with our Recusants but that I know Mr. Secretary is injoyned to do so who best can His Majestie at Salisbury having referred the suit of these Embassadors to the Earl of Carlile and Mr. Secretary Conway sent by their resolutions some articles unto us the Lord Treasurer Secretary Calvert Sir Richard VVeston and my self to this effect 1. To grant a pardon of all offences past with a dispensation for those to come to all the Roman Catholiques obnoxious to any laws made against the Recusants 2. And then to issue forth two general Commands under the Great Seal the first to all the Judges and Justices of the Peace anp the other to all Bishops Chancellours and Commissaries not to execute any Statute made against them Their general pardon we have passed and sent unto his Majestie from whence it is not returned in as full and ample manner as they could desire and pen it The other general and vast prohibition I prevailed with the rest of the Lords to stop as yet and gave in three dayes conference such reasons to the 2. Embassadors that although it is no easie matter to satifie the Caprichiousnesse of the Latter of them yet they were both content it should rest until the Infanta had been six Months in England My reason if it may please your Grace was this Although this general favour and connivence whereof there are 20. of the Prime Councel know nothing as yet must at last be known to all the Land yet is there a great difference between the publishing thereof A Golpe at one push as it were and that instilling of it into their knowledg by
little and little by reason of favours done to particular Catholiques The former course might breed a general impression if not a mutinie This Letter will but loosen the tongues but of some few particulars who understand of their neighbours pardon and having vented their dislikes when they have not many to Sympathise with them they grow coole again so as his majestie afterwards may enlarge these favours without any danger at all Secondly to forbid Iudges against their oaths and Justices of the Peace sworn likewise to execute the law of the Land is a thing unpresidented in this Kingdom et Durus Sermo a very harsh and bitter pill to be digested upon a suddain and without some preparation But to grant a pardon even for a thing that is Malum in se and a dispensation with Penal Lawes in the profit whereof the King onely is interested is usual and full of presidents and examples And yet is this Letter onely tending to the safety the former but to the glory and insolencie of the Papists and the magnifying the service of the Embassadors ends too dearly purchased with the indangering of a tumult in three Kingdomes Thirdly and Lastly his Maiestie useth to speak to his Bishops Judges and Justices of the peace by his Chancelour or Keeper as your Grace well knoweth and by his Great Seal and I can signify his Majesties pleasure unto them with lesse noise and danger which I mean to do hereafter if the Embassadors shall presse it to this effect unlesse your Grace shall from his Highnesse or your own judgment direct otherwise That whereas his Majestie being at this time to mediate for favour to many Protestants in forraign parts with Princes of another religion and to sweeten the entertainment of the Princess into this Kingdom who is as yet a Roman Catholique doth hold a mitigation of the rigour of those lawes made against Recusants to be a necessary inducement to both those purposes and hath therefore issued forth some pardons of Grace and favour to such Roman Catholiques of whose faithfulnesse and fidelity to the state he rests assured That therefore you the Lords Bishops Judges and Justices each of those to be written unto by themselves do take notice of this his Majesties pardon and dispensation with all such penal Lawes and demean your selves accordingly c. Thus have I been too tedious and troublesome unto your Grace and Crave your pardon therefore and some directions which you may cause Sir Francis Cottington or some other to write without your Graces trouble if there shall apeare any cause of alteration Doctor Bishop the new Bishop of Calcedon is come to London privately and I am much troubled thereabouts not knowing what to advise his Majestie in this posture as things stand at this present If you were shipped with the Infanta the onely Councel were to let the Judges proceed with them presently hang him out of the way and the King to Blame my Lord of Cantuar or my self for it But before you be shipped in such form and manner I dare not assent or Connive at such a course It is my gracious Lord a most insolent Part and an offence as I take it Against our common Law and not the statutes onely which are dispensed withall for an English man to take such a consecration without the Kings consent and especially to use any Episcopal Jurisdiction in this Kingdom without the royal assent and Bishops have been in this State put to their fine and ransom for doing so three hundred years ago I will cease to to be further troublesome and pray to Almighty God to blesse your Grace and in all humblenesse take my leave and rest c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 14th of October 1621. My most Noble Lord I Humbly thank your Lordship for your most sweet and loving Letter which as Sir George Goring could not but observe hath much revived me drooping under the unusual weight of so many businesses Let God suffer me no longer to be then I shall be true plain faithful and affectionately respectful of your Lordship as being most bound unto your Lordship for these so many fruits but far more for the tree that bore them your love and affection If your Lordship shall not think it inconvenient I do beseech your Lordship to present this Petition inclosed either by word or writing unto his Majestie and to procure a speedy dispatch thereof because we are to meet on Thursday next Also to acquaint his Majestie that I stumble at the Proclamation now coming to the Seal against any that shall draw or present any bill for his Majesties signature besides those Clarks which usually draw them up by virtue of their places It is most prejudicial to my place the Lord Treasurer and the Judges itinerant who are often occasioned to draw up and present to his Majestie divers matters and especially pardons of Course It is also too strong a tie upon your Lordships hands being intended by his Majestie against Projectors and Scriveners only If it shall please his Majestie therefore to make an exception of the Lords of his Councel and Judges of Assize it may passe to the contentment of all men Mr. Attourney saith he meant this exception but I find it not sufficiently expressed in the Proclamation Also I humbly beseech your Lordship to meddle with no pardon for the Lord of St. Albons until I shall have the happinesse to confer with your Lordship the pardoning of his fine is much spoken against not for the matter for no man objects to that but for the manner which is full of knavery and a wicked president For by this assignation of his fine he is protected from all his Creditors which I dare say was neither his Majesties nor your Lordships meaning I have presumed to send your Lordship a true Copy of that speech which I made at VVestminster Hall at my entrance upon this office because somewhat was to be spoken at so great a change and alteration in so high a Court And I was never so much troubled in my life not how but what to speak I humbly crave pardon if I have failed in points of discretion which a wiser man in such a case might easily do With my heartiest prayers unto God to continue all his blessings upon your Lordship I rest deservedly c. Postscript MY Lord I find my Lord Treasurer affectionately touched with removing from the Court of Wards and do wish with all my heart he may have contentment in that or any thing else but orderly and in a right method Let him hold it but by your Lordships favour not his own power or wilfulnesse And this must be apparent and visible Let all our greatnesse depend as it ought upon yours the true original Let the King be Pharaoh your self Joseph and let us come after as your half-brethren God blesse you c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning Sir John Michel 8. Aug. 1622. My most noble
my sorrow and affliction that I have no matter or occasion at all wherein to shew actuallie my affections and earnest desires to comply with my bounden duty in serving your Grace and humbly to desire your Grace to believe that there is no soul living shall do it more sincere-ly and faithfully to the utmost of my understanding then my self will do I add this Caution the rather because if ever I have offended your Grace I take Almighty God to witnesse it was onely forwant of a perfect understanding of those high matters and the persons bent whom they concerned not out of any corruption of affections towards your Grace or the least staggering in a conti nued resolution to live and die your Graces most constant and most faithful servant This God in heaven who seeth what I now write and the King and Prince upon earth do perfectly know and I nothing doubt it will acknowledg unto your Grace And thus with my most humble thanks unto your Grace for that assurance I received that I remain though unimployed and unprofitablely yet in your Graces good affection I beseech Almighty God to preserve your health and to increase your favour day by day with God with the King with the Prince and with all good men The daily vowes of c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning the Countesse of South hampton 17. Novemb. 1624. May it please your Grace I Know how few arguments I need to use to perswade your Grace to works of Noblenesse and charity Your fashion hath been ever since my happinesse of dependance upon you to outrun and prevent all petitions in this kind Yet pardon my boldnesse to be an humble suitor unto your Grace to go on as I know you have already begun in extending your Grace and goodnesse towards the most distressed widdow and children of my Lord of South-hampton Your Grace cannot do any work of charity more approved of by God more acceptable unto men and that shall more recommend the memory of your Noblenesse to future posterity Sir VVilliam Spencer the onely Sollicitor this sorrowful Lady hath now to imploy will present some particulars unto your Grace whom God ever preserve in all health and happinesse And so c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 11. Octob. 1624. May it please your Grace VVIth my most humble and hearty thanks for all your favours extended and multiplyed daily towards me in sicknesse and health which are such and so many that although I trust in God I shall never prove so inhumane as to fail in any service or faithfulnesse to your Grace I must for all that ever live and die ungrateful I thought fit to return unto your Grace this account of the message received by your Grace's Steward I spake with that Lord and although he seemed to be quite off from the businesse and had to my knowledg disposed of his money for a great and a fair purchase here in London and was resolved never to touch any more upon VVatt Steward who had touched somewhat of his and with whom he had agreed for 4000 l. yet hearing the proposition to come so intirely from me as proceeding immediately from your Grace whose good favours this Lord I protest unto your Grace hath earnestly desired and if at any time he hath straggled aside from the Prince's desires and yours it was merely and solely because he thought he was not so much relied upon as others of his rank He promiseth me sometime to morrow a reasonable answer His material Objections were these 1. Quantity of the money so as first and last he is out 16000 l. whereas Cavendish his Countryman and neighbour got up from a Gentleman for 14000 l. I answered That I observed your Grace never got by any of these bargains but that in this compasse of a year or two your favours exceed any gratuity presented 2. Precedencie before VVallingford and especially Vane I did promise for your service to dispute the latter but could say nothing to the former because he was a Viscount and his far ancienter Baron 3. Your Grace's favour and reflection upon himself bred up in the experience of war and peace and upon his sons all of them well bred but most towards the War I did answer generally that upon his application of himself towards your Grace I made little doubt but he should receive good satisfaction in those expectances 4. Times of payment I told him I knew he would demand but a convenient time therein and that I knew your Grace would never stand upon If I have erred in any of these addresses I pray let your Steward come and reform me therein as also to tell me whether if I find him coming forward I may not say unto him That your Lordship upon a former motion of mine was willing upon the next change of the Commission for the Councel of the War to adde him unto the number I propose this 1. Because 't is a new thing 2. Because he desires some excuse unto the World by reason of some future services why his Majestie should receive him unto this honour I have wearied my self and by this time which doth lesse become me your Grace too I beseech your Grace to pardon the blottings and extravagancies my head being yet but meanly settled I beseech God to blesse your Grace And so c. Postscript MAy it please your Grace this Lord hath returned his answer which in good faith seemeth to be with due respect unto your Grace 1. That although the place was offered him for 4000 l. yet because the Offer proceeds from your Grace which he voweth to esteem as an especial favour as long as he liveth he will pay to whom you shall assign 5000 l. and account it a real obligation of service to your Grace for ever if you shall remit him the other thousand pound 2. That for the time with humble thanks for your noble favour which becometh not him to take in appointing the time he returns it to your Grace to nominate two daies of payment as your Steward or the person assigned shall think meet and fit for your Graces occasions desiring some small respite for the former but as little as the party please afterwards for the second payment for his Lordship will send in for his moneys forthwith And he will give his bonds or which I hold superfluous from so sure a Card his Morgage in present for both payments 3. If your Grace shall make him your servant with this favour so nobly condition'd he hopes your Grace may proceed on with his Patent thus forward without any stay for any other Corrival which notwithstanding he humbly refers 4. But desires if his presentment be accepted he may have leave by me to render his thanks unto your Grace personally sometime to morrow And so I leave your Grace for this time in Gods protection And rest Yours c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 24. December 1624. My most
pocket until I shall have the honour to wait upon your Grace when you have made use of the same 2. If your Grace shall hear him complain of the Judges in their charges and of their receiving of Indictments your Grace may answer That those charges are but orations of Course opening all the penal Lawes and the Indictments being presented by the Country cannot be refused by the Judges But the Judges are ordered to execute nothing actually against the Recusants nor will they do it during the negotiation 3. Your Grace may put him in mind that my Lord Keeper doth every day when his the Lord Embassadours Secretary calls upon him grant forth Writs to remove all the persons indicted in the Country into the Kings Bench out of the power and reaches of the Justices of the Peace And that being there the King may and doth release them at his pleasure 4. That the Spanish Embassadour never had nor desired more then these favours 5. That you are informed that Copies of Letters written from the King to both the Archbishops are spread abroad in Staffordshire to his Majesties disadvantage for so it is and that thereby my Lord Embassadour may perceive the bent of the English Catholiques which is not to procure ease and quietnesse to themselves but Scandals to their neighbouring Protestants and discontentments against the King and State I humbly crave your Graces pardon for this boldnesse and tediousnesse and with my hearty prayers for your health do rest yours c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 22. March 1624. May it please your Grace I Send your Grace here inclosed the Kings Commission and the Prince's Proxie not fairly written which the Embassadours upon the place may procure in a frech hand but yet legibly and passably The Prince's Proxie refers the manner unto the articles and particularly to the second third and fourth Section of those Articles which gives me occasion to begg of your Grace pardon to desire your Grace to think seriously upon the third Section to advise with the Prince and to give Mr. Packer charge to inform your Grace punctually what he knoweth and may inform himself concerning those particulars That is How the Queen Margaret of France was married to Henry the fourth and how Madam his sister was married to the Prince of Lorrain For although they are both made alike in the article yet surely they were not married after the same fashion For the Dutchesse of Barr was married in a closet without a Masse by words onely of the Present tense as I believe I have read in the Historie of Thuanus A favour which will hardly be granted to your Grace And how Queen Margaret was married my Lords the Embassadours will soon learn if your Grace will be pleased to write unto them I hold it in a manner necessary that your Grace do carrie over with you in your company one Civilian to put your Grace in mind of the formalities required and if your Grace be of that mind your own Doctor Dr. Reeves is as fit as any man else who is a good Scholar and speaks that language Your Grace hath revived my Lord of Clare sithence I spake with your Grace And I beseech your Grace to follow that resolution and to let Mr. Packer draw up a warrant of 3. or 4. lines signed by the King to me to place him with the rest of the Councel of War It will be an occasion to take up more of that time which he now spends with the Lady Hatton For now I am resolved that I was of the right in my conjecture to your Grace that his Lordship had utterly refused my Lady Purbecks cause of the which the very common peopple begin to be ashamed but is deeply ingaged against my Lady of Richmond Dutchesse of Richmond in the businesse of that famous or rather notorious foeminine Contract and bargain of sixteen hundred pounds by the year for a house to sleep in When your Grace shall draw up your Instructions you will be pleased to use the words To Contract Espouse and marrie Our Welbeloved Son c. because they do in those parts contract alwaies before marriage And your Grace will be pleased to expresse his Majesties pleasure that this is to be done by your self and no other Because although the two Earls upon the place have some such general words in their Commission yet your Grace only is named in the Prince's Proxie and now solely imployed by the King to that purpose Although I conceived this restraint to be fitter a great deal for the instructions then the Commission I am extream sorry to hear what a grievous fit his Majestie had this last night But I hope it is a farewel of the Agues and I pray God it be the last fit And now am an humble suitor again that I may come and look upon his Majestie resolved to say nothing but that which I will never cease to say God blesse him If your Grace holds it inconvenient I beseech your Grace to excuse me and to account me as I will ever be found Yours c. The Bishop of Lincoln to the Duke 7th of January 1625. Most Gratious Lord BEing come hither according unto the dutie of my place to do my best service for the preparation to the Coronation and to wait upon his Majestie for his Royal pleasure and direction therein I do most humbly beseech your Grace to crown so many of your Grace's former favours and to revive a Creature of your own struck dead onely with your displeasure but no other discontentment in the universal world by bringing of me to kisse his Majesties hand with whom I took leave in no disfavour at all I was never hitherto brought into the presence of a King by any Saint besides your self Turn me not over most noble Lord to offer my prayers at new Altars If I were guiltie of any unworthy unfaithfulnesse for the time past or not guiltie of a resolution to do your Grace all service for the time to come all considerations under Heaven could not force me to beg it so earnestly or to professe my self as I do before God and you Your Grace's most humble affectionate and devoted servant Jo. Lincoln The Bishop of Lincoln to his Majestie Most Mighty and dread Soveraign I Have now these four moneths by the strength of those gracious speeches your Majestie used when I took my leave of your Majestie at Salisbury and the conscience of mine own innocencie from having ever wilfully or malitiously offended your Majestie comforted my self in these great afflictions to be thus injoyned from your Majesties presence the onely heaven wherein my soul delighted having submitted my self I hope dutifully and patiently to the discharge from that great Office for the execution whereof I was altogether unworthy My required absence from the Councel Table my sequestration from attending your Majesties Coronation And your Majesties favourable pleasure for so I do esteem that to spare my
presence at this next Parliament And I trust in God I shall most readily obey any other Command that bears the image and superscription of your Majestie without any desire of searching after the hand that helps to presse and ingrave it Yet because I suffer in some more particulars then peradventure is explicitely known to your Majestie And that I have no friend left about your Majestie that dares for fear of displeasure relate unto your Majestie my griefs and necessities I humbly crave your gratious Pardon to make some two representations and some few Petitions unto your most excellent Maiestie First I humbly shew unto your Majestie that besides my former Calamities I am not paid that part of my Pension which should pay the Creditors who lent me money to buy the same notwithstanding your Majestie hath been gratiously pleased to order otherwise Secondly I have not yet received my Writ of Summons unto the Parliament denied to no Prisoners or condemned Peers in the late raign of your blessed Father that I might accordingly make my Proxie the which I cannot do the Writ not received nor can I my self go into the Countrie as I had done long ere this had not the expectation of this Writ together with the special service of my Lord Duke and no other occasion whatsoever detained me These two particulars I present with all submission unto your Majestie and shall rest satisfied with what royal resolution your Majestie shall make therein These petitions that follow I must earnestly beg at your Majesties hands and for Gods sake and your blessed Fathers sake whose Creature and most painful servant I was First that your Majestie would be pleased to mitigate and allay the causelesse displeasure of my Lord Duke against me who is so little satisfied with any thing I can do or suffer that I have no means left to appease his anger but my prayers to God and your Sacred Majestie Secondly I beseech your Majestie for Christ Jesus sake not to believe newes or accusations against me concerning my carriage past present or to come whilest I stand thus injoyned from your Royal presence before you shall have heard my answer and defence unto the particulars Those that inform your Majestie may God he knoweth be oftentimes mis-informed My last supplication unto your Majestie is That in my absence this Parliament no use may be made of your sacred name to wound the reputation of a poor Bishop who besides his Religion and Dutie to that Divine Character you now bear hath ever affectionately honoured your very Person above all the objects in this world as he desires the salvation of the world to come But I crave no protection against any other accuser or accusation whatsoever So shall I never cease to pray to the Almighty God to make your Majestie the Happiest and Greatest King that ever was Crowned and Anointed which shall be the continual orisons of Your Majesties most dutiful and most humble Vassal Jo. Lincoln The Lord Keeper to the Lord Viscount Anan 17. Septemb. 16. Right Honourable I Owe more service to that true love and former acquaintance which your Lordship hath been pleased to afford me now these full ten yeares then to be sparing or reserved in satisfying your Lordship about any doubt whatsoever the resolution whereof shall lie in my power Concerning that offence taken by many people both on this side the borders and in Scotland from that Clemencie which his Majestie was pleased to extend to the imprisoned Lay-Recusants of this Kingdom and my Letter written unto the Justices for the reigling of the same which your Lordship did intimate unto me yesterday at Mr. Henry Gibbs his house out of some newes received from a Peer of Scotland This is the plainest return I can make unto your Lordship In the general as the Sun in the firmament appears unto us no bigger then a Platter and the Stars but as so many nails in the pummel of a saddle because of the Elongement and disproportion between our eyes and the object so is there such an unmeasurable distance betwixt the deep resolution of a Prince and the shallow apprehension of common and ordinary people that as they will be ever judging and censuring so must they be obnoxious to errour and mistaking Particularly for as much as concerns my self I must leave my former life my profession my continuall preaching my writing which is instant in the hands of many my private indeavours about some great persons and the whole bent of my actions which in the place I live in cannot be concealed to testifie unto the world what favour I am likely to importune for the Papists in their religion For the King my Master I will tell you a storie out of Velleius Paterculus A Surveyor bragging to M. Livius Drusus that he would so contrive his house Vt Libera à conspectu immunis ab omnibus arbitris esset that it should stand removed out of sight and be past all danger of peeping or Eves-dropping was answered again by Drusus Tu vero si quid in te artis est ita compone domum mean ut quicquid agam ab omnibus Conspici possit Nay my good friend if you have any devices in your head contrive my house after such a manner that all the world may see what I do therein So if I should indeavour to flourish up some artificial Vault to hide and conceal the intentions of his Majestie I know I should receive the same thanks that the Surveyor did from Drusus I was not called to Councel by his royal Majestie when the resolution of this Clemencie to the Lay-Recusants was first concluded But if I had been asked my opinion I should have advised it without the least haesitation His Majestie was so Popishly addicted at this time that to the incredible exhaustments of this Treasurie he was a most zealous interceder for some ease and refreshment to all the Protestants in Europe his own Dominions and Denmarks onely excepted Those of Swithland having lately provoked the Pole had no other hope of peace those of France of the exercise of their Religion those of the Palatinate and adjoyning Countries of the least connivencie to say their prayers then by the earnest mediation of our gracious Master And advised by the late Assembly of Parliament to insist a while longer in this milkie way of intercession and Treatie What a preposterous argument would this have been to desire those mighty Princes armed and victorious to grant some liberty and clemencie to the Protestants because himself did now imprison and execute the rigour of his lawes against the Roman Catholiques I must deal plainely with your Lordship Our viperous countrymen the English Jesuits in France to frustrate these Pious endeavours of his Majesties had many months before this favour granted retorted that argument upon us by writing a most malitious book which I have seen and read over to the French King inciting him and the three Estates
redoubled an infinitely multiplied benefit which is so given Never had I more need of the Cordial his Majestie gave me at my going into Wales which was that I should not stay long there It would be a restorative too not onely of my Credit so cruelly crackt with the sharp teeth of the wide mouth of vulgar lying fame but of my estate also alwaies poor but lately much more impoverished and made crazie by occasions of the Church which drew me to London a place of great expences as the busie times were to little purpose And the Parliament overtaking me which have held me long and longer yet are like to hold me here even to the undoing of my self my wife and six children from whom I have now lived 6. or 7. moneths And what shall I carry home with me but disgrace and infamie Yet my good Lord at least procure me of my Lord the King a Nunc dimittis leave to depart I shall be further out of the reach of pursuing malice there in the Countrie do his Majestie better service in gathering up his Subsidies praying and teaching my children whilest I read a Lecture to them my self was never yet able to get by heart of parcimony which must be to them instead of a patrimonie to pray for his Majesties long life health and happinesse In which prayer shall your Lordship ever be duly remembred by Your Lordships daily devote Beadsman Theophilus Landavensis Dr. Corbet to the Duke May it please your Grace TO consider my two great losses this week one in respect of his Majestie to whom I was to preach the other in respect of my Patron whom I was to visit If this be not the way to repair the latter of my losses I fear I am in danger to be utterly undone To presse too near a great man is a means to be put by and to stand too far off is the way to be forgotten so Ecclesiasticus In which mediocrity could I hit it would I live and die My Lord I would neither presse near nor stand far off choosing rather the name of an ill Courtier then a saucie Scholar From your Graces most humble servant Rich. Corbet Postscript HEre is news my noble Lord about us that in the point of Allegiance now in hand all the Papists are exceeding Orthodox the onely Recusants are the Puritanes The E. of Worcester Arundel and Surrey Montgomery to the King May it please your most excellent Majestie ACcording to the Orders and Constitutions made and established by your Majestie and all the Companions of the Order at the last general Chapter held at White-Hall the 21. of May last past we are bold to inform your Majestie that we having diligently viewed divers of the Records of the said Order do in the black book find that the keeping of the little Park at VVindsor next adjoyning unto the Castle is in direct words annexed for ever to the Office of the Usher for the said Order So humbly kissing your Royal hands We rest Your Majesties most humble and faithful Subjects and servants E. Worcester Arundel and Surrey Montgomery White-Hall 1. July 1622. The Lord Chancellour Bacon to the Duke My very good Lord MY Lord of Suffolk's cause is this day sentenced My Lord and his Lady fined at 30000 l. with imprisonment in the Tower at their own charges Bingley at 2000 l. and committed to the Fleet. Sir Edward Cook did his part I have not heard him do better and began with a sine of an 100000 l. But the Judges first and most of the rest reduced it as before I do not dislike that things passe moderately and all things considered it is not amisse and might easily have been worse There was much speaking of interceding for the Kings mercie which in my opinion was not so proper for a sentence I said in conclusion that mercy was to come ex mero motu and so left it I took some other occasion pertinent to do the King honour by shewing how happy he was in all other parts of his Government save only in the manage of his treasure by these Officers I have sent the King a new Bill for Sussex for my Lord of Nottingham's Certificate was true and I told the Judges of it before but they neglected it I conceive the first man which is newly set down is the fittest God ever preserve and keep you c. The Earl of Suffolk to his Majestie Gratious Soveraign IN this grievous time of my being barred from your presence which to me is the greatest affliction that can lie upon me and knowing by my former service to you the sweet and Princely disposition that is in you naturally together with that unmatchable judgement which the world knoweth you have is the occasion that I presume at this time to lay before your Majestie my most humble suit which is that you would be pleased to look upon the Case of your poor servant who after so many faithful desires of mine to do you service I do not say that successe hath fallen out as I wished should now not only have suffered for my weaknesse and errours but must be further questioned to my disgrace I would to God your Majestie did truly understand the thoughts of my heart and if there you could find one the least of ill affections to you I wish it pulled out of my body Now to adde to my miseries give me leave to let your Majestie know the hard estate I am in for I do owe at this present I dare avow upon my fidelitie to you little lesse then 40000 l. which I well know will make me and mine poor and miserable for ever All this I do not lay down to your Majesties best judging eyes that I mean this by way of complaint For I do acknowledge the reason that your Majestie had to do what you did neither do I go about to excuse errours to have escaped me but will now and ever acknowledge your Gracious favourable dealing with me if you will be pleased now to receive me again to your favour after this just correction without which I desire not to enjoy fortune of Goods or life in this world which in the humblest manner that I can I beg at your Princely feet as Your c. T. Suffolk The E. of Suffolk to the Duke My Honourable good Lord AT the first minute of mine and my wives delivery out of the Tower I had returned such acknowledgment due for so great a favour but that Sir George Coring only desired to be the Messenger as well as he was of the other Let not my Lord my late misfortunes make me or mine more unable to serve and thank you then any hee that thus takes advantage thereby to wrong me in your belief for what I have both received in abatement of my fine and speedy libertie I must confesse to come from your Noble mediation to his Majestie whose displeasure hath been more grievous to my soul then all the
rest this world can inflict upon me As your Lordships kindnesse hath begun to ease me so now let the same hand cure and preserve me from a worse relapse wherein I am like to fall if your power prevent it not The motion of his Majesties for my perswading my sons out of their places was the grievousest sound that ever entred me for thereby I still breathed under the heavy weight of all my afflictions not despairing but their Care charged upon them with my blessing might somewhat redeem my errours and assure his Majestie that my will was never tainted with offending him I know my Lord there is little benefit in serving against Masters minds but they are unworthy servants that will leave such Masters upon any conditions Such as make suit to chop or change for their own advantage are better lost then kept But as for mine my curse should follow them if ever I could think they followed his Majestie with such indifferencie My obedience to his Majestie was ever of more force with me then mine own ends any way layed nor ever joyed I more then in running to his Commands But this my Lord rends my heart to think that unfortunate I should bury my sons alive and pronounce that sentence which would make me and them Scorns to posteritie Whilest I have knee to bend eye to lift up or tongue to begg I must implore his Majesties pardon and mercy in this kind As for that more drossie part of my estate it still lies at his Majesties feet and if he now please to recal what he remitted without further condition I must obey and let his Majestie see no change of time or place can change me my love my dutie or my zeal to him My Lord here you may read me in my greatest griefs that ever did fall to me weigh them well and think that one day you may be a father and be as neerly touched as now I am The favour you shall do me herein shall prove no hidden talent for the increase shall not onely be the happinesse of a good work well done but the hearty acknowledgment of a whole family and all theirs that shall as faithfully serve and honour you as the best of those that would succeed them which I hope your Lordship will believe from me who will ever be Yours c. T. Suffolk The Earl of Suffolk to his Majestie Most Gracious Soveraign Your Princely favour in dilivering me and my wife out of the tower must and shall ever be acknowledged of us with all humble thanks And now be pleased to give me leave to be an humble suitor to your Majestie that out of the tender compassion of your Princely heart you will be pleased to cast your eye upon the miserable estate of your distressed afflicted and old Servant now brought into fear of never recovering of your Majesties favour and so wretced my case is as the little hope that remained in me to live in your memorie was by my two sons service to your Gracious self and the Prince It is now required of me to impose upon them the resignation of their places which with all humility I beseech you to give me leave to say I would sooner use my power over them to will them to burie themselves quick then by any other way then enforcement to give up their places of service which onely remaines to me to be either my dying comfort or my living torment Besides they are now past my government being both married and have children onely I have a Paternal Care of them which I humbly beseech your best judging Majestie to weigh respectively how unhappie I must of necessity think my self if I should be the perswader of that misfortune to my children that their children within a few years would curse me for either living or dead Upon all these just considerations most Gracious Master give me leave to turn my cruel unnatural part of perswading them to yield to that for which I should detest my self to my humblest desire upon the Knees of my heart to beg humbly of your Majestie that whatsoever favour you have ever had to me for any service done that your Majestie will be pleased to spare the ruine of these two young men whom I find so honestlie disposed in their desire of spending their fortunes and lives in your Majesties and your Princely son's service as if your displeasure be not fullie satisfyed with what I have suffered already that you lay more upon me and spare them I have written to my Lord of Buckingham to be my mediator to your Majestie in this behalf which I assure my self he will noblie perform as well as he hath formerly done in being my means to your Majestie in obtaining this great begun favour To conclude with my prayer to God that your Majestie may ever find the same zeal and Love to your person in whomsoever you shall imploy that my hearts Sole-affection did and ever shall carrie unto you which God knowes was and is more to your Majestie then to my wife and children and all other worldy things which God measure unto me according to the truth as Yours c. T. Suffolk The Lady Elizabeth Howard to the King VVHen I waited upon you at Theobalds to beseech your Majesty that my Lord of Suffolk might not come into the Star-chamber you protested that you loved the man but that you must shew cause to the world why you took the Staffe from him but for his fortune that your Majestie would not meddle with it the same my Lord of Buckingham told me with this assurance of your promise I went away secure in that poynt Sithence his cause was heard he moved all that heard it with much compassion to him and the people did think that when you sent him to the Tower you would have sent for him to have kissed your hand But your Majestie is abused for they do not let you know what is thought of the proceeding against this good man knowing how truely he loveth you with the truth of his cause that you would not follow him and his children with crueltie Which might have been better spent My Lord hath spent in running a Tylt in Masques and following the Court above 20000. And Sir shall his reward now be to be turned out of his place without any offence committed Sir I am the child of your old Servant and am now great with child I know it will kill me and I shall willingly die rather then desire life to see my unfortunate self and mine thus miserably undone Sir I beseech your Majestie remember my Father that is dead and me his distressed child for if he could know any worldly thing he would wonder to see me and those that shall come of me thus strangly used But my hope is still in your Majesties goodnesse and that you will not be carried away with the malice of other men In this confidence I rest with my daily
I know not how my Lord of Essex can take any thing ill from your Excellencie unlesse it be to have you do injustice or against all reason He may rather give your Excellencie many thanks that his Lordship is not called into question for letting passe the King of Spain's ships that offered him fight which would have been the chief service having instructions not to let any flie or break out without fighting with them Now my Lord I humbly beseech your Excellencie to consider my Case that hath been so severely examined and no body else and that after my Examination I have lingred so long in my wrongs and disgraces and by the ill offices your Grace doth see are done me to his Majestie which will rather increase then diminish so long as I shall be kept from the presence of his Majestie that is I know of himself the justest Prince in the world and yet to be in your Excellencies favour And I hold my self clear of all imputations in despight of all malice and practice that hath been against me to obscure all my endeavours which my adversaries in their consciences can best witnesse that when they slept I waked when they made good chear I fasted and when they rested I toyled And besides when they went about to hinder the journey at Plimouth by railing on the beggerlinesse of it and discrediting of it I was content to take it upon me though against my judgment as I did secretly deliver both to his Majestie and your Grace before I departed from the Coast Nominating in my Letter to his Majestie all the inconveniencies that did after happen unto the Fleet for had it not been in my obedience to his Majestie and my good affection to your Excellencie that I did see so much affect it and was so far ingaged I would have been rather torn in pieces then to have gone with so many ignorant and malicious people that did shew so little affection or courage to his Majesties service or any affection at all to your Excellencie Yet for all this all hath been laid upon me having had rather hard courses taken against me then any way maintained in my Commission which was given me which no State that I have ever heard of did before I pray God his Majesties future service do not suffer for it for where his Majesties Officers are not obeyed he can never be served Wherefore my suit is that if I have any ill offices done me to his Majestie that I may clear my self before him by your favour which I have so long attended after or by way of Petition which the meanest Subject is not to be hindred in for as I continue now I have not onely wrong done to me but I suffer as much punishment without any fault as if I had been condemned And that your Excellencie will do me the favour to deal plainly with me to let me know why I am deferred from his Majesties presence which is not denied to any having received so much wrong If my suffering be to adde any service to your affaires in these troublesome times let but this honest friend of mine know so much and I will suffer any inconvenience as I have misery danger and decay of my fortunes for your Excellencies sake And so I rest Your Excellencies most devoted and faithful and thankful servant and Creature Wimbledon 28th Apr. 1626. My Lord Wimbledon to the Duke My Gracious Lord I Understand that it pleased the Lords to grant the Colonels leave to accuse me a new and they have taken to them the most discontented Seamen they could get to help their malice forward I had thought that before my coming they should have had time and advantage sufficiently to have shewen all their envie And I was perswaded that they could not have desired more then to have been present when I should be examined and my journal read At the reading whereof they took all the exceptions that might be and I did answer them all in your Excellencies presence as I thought fully whereupon they seemed to be so content as they had no more to say neither did they at that time desire to make a journal or to say any more Then the Lords resolutions were only to hear the Seamen speak upon whom all the businesse did lie If they may be suffered upon new Combinations to bring new slanders upon me I cannot tell what to think of it But this I can say that if this course be taken his Majestie will never be without a mutinous Armie which all States in policy do shun For when the Common Souldiers shall see their Chiefs give them such examples they will soon follow being that all Armies are subject to it especially a new Armie I had thought that one Trial had been sufficient being it was before such an Assembly But if I should be accused I should desire to have new accusers and not the same that have already accused me for so there would be no end that upon their Petition I might have been heard what I could justly say why they should not have leave to make a journal and not to give them leave before I were heard I am afraid there was never any such president before and what inconveniencies may come of it time will shew I have sought to none of the Lords as I fear my enemies have done I know not whether I shall suffer for it or no but my trust hath only been in your Excellencie and the justnesse of my Cause I have been your Excellencies Officer in as difficult and as miserable an action as ever any one hath undertaken and with as little assistance as ever any one had For many of those that should have assisted me were more careful in betraying me then in forwarding his Majesties service And if this course be held to encourage them there is no man shall suffer more then his Majesties service will For it will be folly for any man to look to his Majesties service or to take any pains to prevent or hinder that which may be committed against it But to let every man do what he will so all will be pleased and he that Commands shall have no man to slander him which is the way to live in quiet Thus much I thought was fit for me to let your Excellencie understand and withal that I held it a great unhappinesse for me that have taken such toyl and pains and suffered so many slanders to be kept back by my enemies from that honour that never any one of my rank and place was hindered in which is from kissing the hand of my Soveraign Lord the King All Power is in your Lordships hands whether you will uphold me in my just cause or no or let me be ruinated for want of it So that I can say no more but that if I suffer I shall be your Excellencies Martyr if not I shall all my life rest Your Excellencies most humble and most thankful
this Warrant I would not deliver over the ship unto him neither if I would would the company give way unto the same we not holding it a sufficient discharge for us But that we were ready to receive a competent number of Souldiers aboard with a chief Commander and to go upon such service as his Christian Majestie should direct us according to the agreement with the King my Master but nothing would satisfie him but to have her delivered over to him which if I did not presently my head should pay for it I desired his patience for two or three daies till I had written and sent to your Grace and that he would let me have a Shallop for that purpose but he denied both the one and the other notwithstanding sent away a Barque himself with one to your Grace but would not suffer me to send thereby which made me the more jealous of the real intent of the businesse The 23. he sent your Lordships Secretarie aboard to work and perswade me but I could not give other answer then I had done formerly only that I would attend until I heard farther from your Grace though I must confesse I had much ado to perswade my Company who were very unwilling to it But I had hope still to have a more ample Order how to proceed in this great and weighty businesse And upon the 24. at two of the clock in the morning Mr. Ingham whom I sent from Stokes Bay to your Grace returned unto me with two Letters one from your Grace and another from my Lord Conway the former part of both commanding me to put your former Commands in execution but the latter part prohibiting me to depart with my charge gave me the more courage to stand upon my former tearms This day your Graces Secretarie came aboard me again after I had sent your Graces Letter to him being sent by the Embassadour to prosecute the businesse for the deliverie of the ship unto them But after I had shewed him that part of your Graces Letter he knew not what to say to it I willed him to tell the Embassadour that this Letter was nothing but an answer of mine written from Stoken Bay concerning the not coming of the rest of the ships I further offered his Lordship this day for the more expedition of the businesse to take 150 of his men aboard and to run over for the Coast of England and to send presently to your Grace that we were ready to surrender over there upon an authentique Warrant from his Majestie or your Grace His answer to this was That he would not put his men in to be prisoners nor that we should be the major part I then offered him to take in as many French as I had English man for man but without arms yet nothing would satisfie him but the possession of the Ship either by delivering of her over into their hands or by receiving 400 armed men aboard wherewith they would quickly have taken her from us as you may plainly see their intent by their proceeding Which I refusing to do this night about ten of the clock he sent his Secretarie aboard with three or four others to make a protestation against me as a Rebel to my King and Countrey as you may perceive by the Copie of it which I send your Grace herewith and this he said was the last he would have to do with me for that on the morrow he would away for Paris Whereupon the next morning I sent this Gentleman Mr. Ingham unto him to know what farther service he would command me and whether he would have me attend his pleasure longer here for that I was ready to go upon any service they would command according to the former agreement and to receive as many men aboard as possibly I could but he said he had nothing to do except I would either deliver up the ship or take in the 400. Souldiers In the interim came his Secretarie with the same company he had before and made another protestation against me in regard I would not take in his 400. men and therewithal brought me a Letter from your Graces Secretarie for he is so jealous that he will not suffer him to come aboard but when he listeth which Letter was That the Embassadour would stay till Thursday next if I would give it him under my hand to deliver up the ship then if I had not order to the contrary before which I had as good have done at the present for I expect no Letters from your Grace in regard they would not suffer me to write to you as I desired And if your Grace should write to me by his messenger they would be sure not to deliver them till the day were past except such as were for their turn In all which your Grace may see their intents that there hath been no slights or wayes left unassayed to bring their purpose to passe first by fair words then by seeking to get me become the French Kings servant with promises of a great Pension and brave employment with offers of good sums to be laid down upon the surrender of the ship as aforesaid And when none of these courses could prevail with me then followed their threatnings of having my head and such like All which I thank God I have withstood for I had rather live all my life with bread and water then betray my King and Country of so precious a Jewel as this and had rather the King should take my life then to have a hand in the surrender or valuing of such a Bulwark of the Kingdom Upon the making of the last Protest and with the threats they gave us my Company grew into such a fury and tumult that they got up their Anchors and set sail for England without acquainting me with it or order from me saying They would rather be hanged at home then surrender the Kings Ships or be slaves to the French or fight against those of the Religion But I must confesse I heard what they were a doing but let them alone because I saw they had reason otherwise I should rather have died amongst them then to have suffered it And thus I have related the principal passages unto your Grace wherein if I have offended his Majestie or your Grace it hath been for want of discretion and not of true zeal to do his Majestie your Grace and my Countrey service which if it be found to be an offence I humbly crave pardon I am now come to an anchor in the Downs where I shall attend your Grace's farther pleasure to be disposed of as his Majestie and your Grace shall please But to return again to France I can assure your Grace that all the people in the ship will rather be hanged then do it they have been so well used there Thus praying for your Graces many happie and prosperous daies I humbly rest Your Graces most humble and faithful servant Jo. Pennington From aboard
is most necessary here for home-affairs for your absence hath caused too great insolencie in the Court by such as bear themselves very loftily and insuâ— very much over yours especially your poore servant Mewtis is much threatned as being yours and must suffer till you come back Some other things likewise are otherwise carried in your absence then would be in your presence therefore for Gods sake return but with the Prince and count delayes denyals And the longer you stay there the stronger you make them and your selves the weaker My Lord of Bristol hath a great and more powerful party in Court then you imagine in so much that I am confident were the King a newter he would prevail and I do not much marvail at it for you trust upon the honour and justification of all your actions desirous to make no friends because you need none but he deales with a great deal of cautelous wisedom and as he hath wrought into the Kings opinion by reason of some pleasing services so hath he into all those who are about the King or powerful that they may better his good services and smother his bad Besides the man who is suspitious as he must needs be hath far greater care of after-reckonings how to make fair glosses then he who doth all things with the avowment of all honour and the only intent of service to his King and Country It grieves me I am not thought worthie to hear from you any word by these last messengers especially being promised the imployment from which I was put Farewell dear Lord and the Almightes protection be upon our unmatchable Prince upon whose worth and brave atchievements all eyes are fixed and the same protection light upon you his right hand and give you the good fortune to make as brave a return as you did voyage thither to the eternal praise of your future memories And upon these hopes I rest happie to think my self Yours H. R. Sir George Carie to the Marquesse of Buckingham 8. December 1619. Your Lordship VVIll be satisfied before this of mine will have the happinesse to kisse your noble hands that the great Mysterie of iniquity in the Star-chamber is now revealed and as many as could be discerned to have the mark of the beast upon them have undergone their censure Some I must confesse and great fishes too have broken out of the nett But that escape must be objected to the errours of some of the pursuers whose courses in some things were not enough direct to warrant what otherwise might have been done And your Lordship who is a good Woodman well knowes unlesse the Wind-lace be well carried the Bowes which stand up can never shoot Notwithstanding all the defaults of the meaner Agents the Court maintaining the honour of their own uprightnesse and integritie hath with moderation too yet such as leaves subject to his Majesties mercy to work upon some particulars raised in Fine some 130000 l. or thereabouts If no errours had been committed whereupon those Defendants which escaped took advantage to be safe by this which is done you may imagine what it would have amounted to For my part I rejoyce to conceive how with the shortest of the daies we are at the worst of our estate hoping by this means with the return of the Sun to see some such return of the money the riches of his Majesties Treasurie and bloud of the Common-Wealth as that the Exchequer may flow and the Veins of the State may fill again and both with the Spring renew their strength lustre and complexion I have now stayed here so long attending this businesse that I hold it too late to wait upon you at Newmarket That gives me cause to crave your pardon for this presuming imperfect Accompt of this daies action and withal to desire the assurance that I live in your estimation the same I will ever be Your Lordships Most sincerely honest and humble servent G. Cary. To King James ab ignoto Your Majestie BOth in the eminencie of your regal dignitie and in the excellencie of your judgment doth truly represent the common sense whose part it is to judge and discern of all things whereas the other senses do but report their particular objects And in that manner do I humbly offer to your Majesties Consideration in this importune Chrisis of the affairs of Christendom so much as I have observed in France that may now concern your service in which place I have been heretofore imployed in your affaires And first considering the present estate of things in France and weighing against it the seizure made of the Valtoline by the King of Spain the late invasion of the Palatinate and now this new defeat arrived in Bohemia I do put this for an infallible ground that either the King of France will resolve out of jealousie of the progressions of the house of Austria effectually to succour the Palatinate or else abandoning the affairs of Germany to their own successe and neglecting the increase of the house of Austria on that side he will think more then to recompence himself by taking this opportunity to extinguish the body of those of the Religion in France And as undoubtedly he will resolve on one of those two points so on both of them for sundry reasons he cannot To move him to the succour of the Palatinate the main motive will be the jealousie between those two Monarchies which can never die so long as they do both subsist in no greater a disproportion of strength and power As also that France shall by their usurpation of the Palatinate be on all sides Circled by the house of Austria and particularly on that part where France hath before usurped on the Empire in which regard his interest of estate is greater then your Majesties in the Conservation of the Palatinate though your personal interest be incomparable with his Then he cannot but think of the losse of his Correspondencies and breach of his Confederacies in Germany which have been very ancient and very particular with the house of the Palatine And if the reason of mutual gratitude and vindication of injuries may move Frenchmen there are plentiful arguments on both kinds to move them to defend the House of the Palatine against that of Austria But now on the other side to move him against those of the Religion at home first doth present it self his successeful beginning against them in the businesse of Bearn then which nothing could be more unjust both in regard of the matter it self and of his own faith and promise and of the desert of those of the Religion towards him in these late troubles nor could any thing be more suddenly or violently I do not say cruelly executed then that was And again the present tearms wherein that King and those of the Religion do stand will push him on Then there will not want to this purpose the powerful perswasions of the Pope and his adherents both by propounding
all their poysons For the better effecting whereof the world doth attend with great devotion to see a good correspondencie renewed betwixt your Majestie and the French King and for the disposing your Majesties heart thereunto the State of Venice doth joyn her humble prayers unto the earnest intreaty of many others In the mean time I am to request your Majestie that you will be pleased to forbid the exportation of Artillerie ships and Marriners out of our Kingdomes for the service of the Spaniards it being neither just nor agreeable to your Majesties Piety that your Arms should be stayned with the blood of a State and Prince that hath no equal in love to your Royal Crown and that will ever testifie to all the world by effects of their observance the pure and sincere devotion that they have to your Glorious name For my own particular I humbly crave leave to kisse your royal hands Sir Isaac Wake to the Secretarie Right Honourable I Have safely received the Letter wherewith your Honour hath been pleased to favour me dated at Theobalds the 19th of July Stil Vet. and have to my singular comfort understood that you have been pleased not onely to give favourable acceptance unto such weak dispatches as I have made bold to addresse unto you but done me the honour likewise to acquaint his Majestie with the contents of them and to direct my proceedings in in this intricate businesse which instructions dictated by his Majesties wisedom this light will be sufficient to direct my steps in the middest of an Egyptian darknesse which doth not only obscure the Horizon of this Province where I reside but almost the whole face of Europe by reason of the great mists which are cast artificially in all mens eyes to cover the designs of those who do presume that they have in all places arbitrium Belli et Pacis I most humbly crave pardon of your Honour if you do not receive my answer so soon as perhaps you might expect For yours having stayed upon the way a month and a day did not come to my hands until the 20th of August Stil Vet. At which time it was brought unto me by Mr. Rowlandson whom I had dispatched into Germany to advertize those Princes of the motion made to the Duke of Savoy for the passage of Spanish forces through his State My Lord of Doncaster under whose Cover I received that Letter did not think fit to send it to me by an expresse messenger for fear of increasing the suspition of some in those parts who are jealous that his Majesty doth favour the Duke of Savoy more then they could wish And I must confesse that the same reason induced me likewise to send that Gentleman of the Duke of Savoy's into Germany rather then any servant of mine own for fear least allees and vennes of messagers betwixt my Lord of Doncaster and me in these doubtful times might so far injealous the contrary party as might prejudice the service of his Majestie in that Negotiation The instructions that your Honour hath been pleased to give me from his Majestie concerning my treating with 52. 52. c. the Duke of Savoy 93. a. the Bohemians 95 a. the Emperour Ferdinand 51. a. the King of England 97. a. Germany 99. a. the King of the Romans 71. c. the Agent of England 51. b. the Prince Palatine 52. b. the Marquesse Brandenbergh 54. b. the Marquesse Auspach 50. b. the Princes of the Union 56 b. Count Ernest Mansfelt c. in favour of 93. a. having reference unto the inclination of 95. a. to peace or the probability of defence to be made by 93. a. I held it more safe for me to govern my self by such informations of the state of those affairs as I have received from the favour of the 1. 32. 7. 5. 47. 48. 2. 10. 40. 45. of 51. a. in 97. a. And for the better justification of my proceedings I send your Honour here inclosed the Copie of his Letter unto me wherein you will see that I have no reason as yet to spend the name of 51. a. in favour of 93. a. nor to imbargue 52. c. in a businesse which may draw a great charge and envie upon himself and not much advantage the 93. a. I must confesse that the 50. b. in general and particularly the 54. b. and the 41. 45. 23. 34. 9. 12. of 5. 35. 22. 4. 30. 50. have represented the state of those affairs at this present unto 52. b. in a manner not onely different from the advertisements sent me but almost contrary and they do seem not only to be confident of the prevailing of 93. c. but likewise they continue to give hope that the 10. 51. 29. 15. of 48. 3. 59. 15. will concur with 51. b. and 52. b. in the 12. 30. 13. 9. 50. 27. 40. 35. of 99. a. But because I have reason to suspect that they make relation of those affairs rather as they wish they were then as they be indeed and that their intention to draw somewhat from 52. c. towards the succours of 93. a. I will forbear to joyn with them therein until I can have some better ground then their advertisements which may be thought to savour of partiality and I have reason to be backward therein because I know that 5â— c. would presently take me eu mot and put to the account of 51. a. that which he is most willing to do of himself I do not affirm this out of conjecture but upon good ground for besides that he did signifie so much unto me at my return out of England I do know that within this fortnight he hath sent unto 56. b. 3000. 41. 24. 48. 49. 40. 30. 47. in part of 42. 2. 60. 32. 15. 35. 50. and in the conveyance of this 33. 39. 34. 35. 61. there was extraordinary diligence used to conceal it from the knowledge of the 71. c. whereof no other construction can be made but that 52. c. would fain be intreated by 71. c. to do that which he hath already a mind to do If upon more fresh Letters which I expect from my Lord of Doncaster I shall find that the affairs there have changed face since the writing of his last unto me I will govern my self accordingly as I shall receive warrant from him We are here at a stand expecting with devotion the issue of the affairs of Germanie The Army in the Kingdom of Naples is still retained and no order given either for the dismissing of those Troops or the employing them in any service Prince Philibert is at Messina with the Gallies and hath with him 10. or 12000 men The Ships and Gallions remain at Naples and the Walloons Lombardes and Neapolitanes which should have come to Vado are since their dis-imbarquing again quartered round the City of Naples It is impossible to guesse what they mean to do but the most probable conjecture is that under the colour of suspecting the Duke of Ossuna the
them the coming of the West Indian Fleet which is now very near But from hence they have commanded the Armada which was divided into three Squadrons to be joyned together and advice is brought that it is so and now consists of twenty strong ships Don John Faxardo the General hath also expresse order to fight with the Pyrats not admitting any excuse whatsoever but the common opinion is here that we will be able to do them little harm because his ships are of great burthen and they will be able to go from him at their pleasure And the other Squadron within the Straights will alwaies be able to secure their retreat thither I doubt not but in my next dispatch I shall be able to tell your Honour what Don John Faxardo either hath or will do to them If this year they safely return to Argier especially if they should take any of the Fleet it is much to be feared that the King of Spains forces by Sea will not be sufficient to restrain them hereafter so much sweetnesse they find by making prize of all Christians whatsoever The Secretary of the Councel of war hath hereupon discoursed much unto me and by him I perceive that here is an intention to move his Majestie the King our Master that he will be pleased to joyn some of his Sea-forces upon good terms with this King for the suppressing of these Pyrats if they should hereafter grow and increase as hitherto they have done Seeing they now professe themselves the common enemies of Christendom Many reasons he gave me that he thought might move his Majestie thereunto but that whereon for my part I most reflect is that these courses of the Pyrats do but exercise the forces of the King of Spain by Sea and put an obligation on him by all meanes to strengthen and increase his Armada and keep in practise his Sea-souldiers without doing him any great harm for that the greatest dammage will alwayes fall upon the Merchants that trade into those parts of which the English will ever be the greatest number and the greatest losers And as for the taking of his Fleet it is not to be imagined for that besides that they come very strong consisting of 50 great ships of which eight are Gallions of war they shall alwayes be meet and guarded by the Armada Your Honour may be pleased to acquaint his Majestie with what I here write for I perceive it is expected that I should advertize what the Secretarie hath discoursed to me which I would have done more at large but I am straightned with want of time Yet I may not forbear to advertize your Honour that the said Secretarie told me withal that the last year the States desired leave of this King for certain ships of war which they had armed to Sea against Pyrats might have safe recourse into these parts which was accordingly granted them but that instead of offending the Pyrats the same ships sold in Argeir as much Powder and other warlike provision especially powder unto the Turks as furnished the foresaid Fleet which they have now at Sea a thing which is here he sayes very ill taken I doubt not but from Piemount your Honour hath better advertizement at least more speedier then I can give you from hence yet have I thought it fit to advertize you that in a late ambush which the Duke of Savoy had layed at Don Pedro de Tolledo's entrance into Piemount the Maestro de Campo of the Spanish armie was slain the Son of the Prince of Astoli was hurt so was the Prince of Morveles who serves this King there and many other Captaines and Gentlemen of note slain and hurt They here say that the number of men Don Pedro lost was but few but their custome is to dissemble their losses howsoever it is to be conceived that when so many principal men were touched the common Souldiers could not well escape At Lisbone there is arrived two Caracks and a Gallion from the East-Indies the Caracks very rich and much richer then in former years but as in a former Letter I advertised you two others as rich as they and that should have come in company with these were cast away coming home Don Roderigo Calderon now the Marquesse de Las Siete Iglesias is suddenly commanded from this Court and confined to a small Village and Judges are appointed to examine by what means he is so suddenly grown to so great an estate which in my time is risen from nothing to above 60000. Duckets a year rent besides an infinite treasure in moveables and doubtlesse some heavie sentence will fall upon him for he hath many enemies and I understand that the Duke of Lerma hath much withdrawn his favour New supplies of Souldiers are here raised for the Governour of Millan and 30. Companies are ready to be embarqued at Valentia where the Gallies attend them Here is lately come hither one who calls himself Sir James Mackonel a Scotchman and sayes he is Cousin german to the Earl of Arguile I have not seen him but I hear he discourses of his breaking out of the Castle of Edenborough of the unjustnesse of his imprisonment there of his integritie in the Popes Religion and so desires to be entertained into this Kings service which doubtlesse he shall obtain if he can make it here be believed that he hath a true fugitives heart My Lord Rosse is now much hearkened after and they think he staies very long By the ordinarie God willing I shall write again to your Honour And so for this time I humbly take my leave Your Lordships to be Commanded Fran. Cottington Madrid the first of Octob. 1616. Stil Vet. The Lord Viscount Rochfort to the Duke of Buckingham My Lord I Have received great wrongs about my Lord of Oxford by reports which can find no authour yet have they wrought such impressions in the hearts of some that it is hard to remove those Calumniations for divers are possessed that I am to be his accuser which is so strange and so malitiously bruited that it is somewhat suspected yet know I not any one particular for which he is in the Tower neither if I knew any such slip in so noble a person as might deserve the Kings displeasure would my nature give me leave to play the Informer except it neerly concerned the safetie or the honour of my King and then should my discoverie be publique to the face and not private behind the back for that I account too base to be found faultie in Sorry I am to be so much as suspected but since ill disposed persons will raise ill rumours without any ground the cleernesse of my heart is sufficient content unto me and as my heart hath been alwaies most faithful and watchful to do you service so good my Lord let me intreat you that for my sake my Lord of Oxford may receive some testimonies of your great favour for his speedy enlargement and that it may
French Lady though as zealous a Catholique doth not please him for they were tyed to Spain by their hopes of a change of Religion that way All the Priests are sent from the Spanish Dominions and the sons and daughters of the Papists remain as hostages of their fidelities in the Colledges and Nunneries of the King of Spain And though the Papists have no place in the house of Commons yet privately they aggravate all scandals against the Duke to kindle a separation between the King and his people and avert them from enabling the King to resist or be avenged of our great enemy Remember the course held by these men in the Parliament of undertakers also Dr. Eglesham and all the Priests daily practice libelling against all great men about the King 4. Needy and indebted persons in both Houses who endeavour by these Parliamentary stirres not so much the Dukes overthrow as a rebellion which they hope will follow if it be not done This is much to be suspected as well by their Calumniations against his Majestie as for their own wants many of them being outlawed and not able to shew their heads but in Parliament time by priviledge thereof and they know that there are enough to follow them in the same mischief 5. Puritans and all other Sectaries who though scarce two of them agree in what they would have yet they all in general are haters of Government They begun in Parliament about Anno 23. Eliz. and spit their venom not only against the Bishops but also against the Lord Chancellour Hatton and others the Queens favourites and Councellours as they do now against the Clergie and the Duke But their main discontentment is against the Kings Government which they would have extinguished in matters Ecclesiastical and limited in Temporal This is a fearful and important Consideration because it pretends Conscience and Religion and they now more deadly hate the Duke because he sheweth himself to be no Puritan as they hoped he would at his return from Spain 6. Malecontents censured or decourted for their deserts as the kindred and dependants of the Earl of Suffolk and of Sir Henry Yelverton Coke Lake Middlesex though all of them the last excepted were dejected by King James without any Concurrencie of the Duke Others because they are not preferred as they do imagine that they deserve as the Lord Say Earl of Clare Sir John Eliot Selden and Glanvile Sir Dudley Diggs and the Bishops of Norwich and Lincoln These and many others according to the nature of envy look upon every one with an evil eye especially upon the Duke who either hath or doth not prefer them to those places or retain them in them which their ambition expecteth 7. Lawyers in general for that as Sir Edward Cook could not but often expresse our Kings have upholden the power of their Prerogatives and the rights of the Clergie whereby their comings in have been abated And therefore the Lawyers are fit ever in Parliaments to second any Complaint against both Church and King and all his servants with their Cases Antiquities Records Statutes Presidents and Stories But they cannot or will not call to mind that never any Nobleman in favour with his Soveraign was questioned in Parliament except by the King himself in case of Treason or unlesse it were in the nonage and tumultuous times of Rich. 2. Hen. 6. or Edw. 6. which happened to the destruction both of the King and Kingdom And that not to exceed our own and Fathers memories in King Hen. 8. time Wolsies exorbitant power and pride and Cromwels contempt of the Nobility and the Lawes were not yet permitted to be discussed in Parliament though they were most odious and grievous to all the Kingdom And that Leicester's undeserved favour and faults Hatton's insufficiency and Rawleigh's insolence far exceeded what yet hath been though most falsly objected against the Duke yet no Lawyer durst abet nor any man else begin any Invectives against them in Parliament 8. The Merchants and Citizens of London convinced not by the Duke but by Cranfield and Ingram to have deceived the King of Imposts and Customs and deservedly fearing to be called to accompt for undoing all the other Cities and good Towns and the poor Colonie of Virginia as also for transporting of our silver into the East-Indies these vent their malice upon the Duke in the Exchange Pauls Westminster-Hall with their suggestions and therein they wound both to Subjects and strangers the honour of his Majestie and his proceedings 9. Innovators Plebicolae and King-haters At the latter end of Queen Elizabeth it was a phrase to speak yea to pray for the Queen and State This word State was learned by our neighbourhood and Commerce with the Low-Countries as if we were or affected to be governed by States This the Queen saw and hated And the old Earl of Oxford his Propositions at her death they awakened King James to prevent this humour and to oppose the conditions and limitations presented unto him by the Parliaments The Lawyers Citizens and Western men who are most hot infected with Puritanisme stood strong against him under a colour of Parliaments and Parliamentary priviledges His Majestie therefore strengthened himself ever with some Favourite as whom he might better trust then many of the Nobility tainted with this desire of Oligarchie It behoveth without doubt his Majestie to uphold the Duke against them who if he be but decourted it will be the Corner stone on which the demolishing of his Monarchie will be builded For if they prevail with this they have hatched a thousand other demands to pull the feathers of the Royalty they will appoint him Councellours Servants Alliances Limits of his expences Accompts of his Revenue chiefly if they can as they mainly desire they will now dazle him in the beginning of his reign 10. King James and King Charles lastly are the Dukes Accusers my meaning is with all humble reverence to their Honours and Memories and to speak in the sence of the House of Commons both their Majesties are Conjuncta Persona in all the aspersions that are laid upon the Duke For instance The Parliaments money destined for the Wars spent in the Treaties Messages Embassadours and Entertainments of the Kings marriage and the burial of his Father and the War in the name of the Count Palatine the Breach of both the Treaties which then Canonized the Duke but now is made evidence against him the Honours and Offices conferred upon him by King James That his Majestie might with his own Councels direct their managing the setting forth of the Navy though to the Duke 's great charge by both their Commandments the Match with France and generally whatsoever hath not been successeful to mens expectations All these though the Acts of the Kings are imputed to the Duke who if he suffer for obeying his Soveraigns the next attempt will be to call the King to accompt for any thing he undertakes which doth not
man though I have said justly seeming guiltie yet in mine own knowledge innocent and free as I have delivered it will you then deny the King to savour whom he please which the King hath never denyed you that are his subjects will you controle me your Head and Governor in things wherein your selves have taken liberty uncontroled would you that I should require accompt of your liberalitie nay of all your failings which are liable to my authority well commend me to my Lords and tell them that if any thing had been formerly done amisse by others I have power and will to redresse it and to prevent the like I speak it in the word of a King neither Lords nor Commons can desire of me any thing that is honest which I am not ready to give them Let not therefore the world by these mistakings make Table-talk any longer of your King and his negotiations nay of his secrets and necessities for alas what great wrong or indignity can the Glorie of the State receive then that the private grudges of subjects accusing to the ignorant when in their consciences they could excuse should be the businesse of our Parliament and that the King himself should be forced to appear us a partie No doubt this is a Cocatrice egge that craftie heads of our enemies seek to hatch whilest the weightie affaires that in present concern the Honour and welfare of the King and State and the peace of all Christendome are by us utterly neglected I end hoping your Lordship now privy to these things will be tender of your Soveraigns honour and will so satisfie and treat with the rest that those particular janglings may be by some other course and in some other place and time discussed and determined that so our minds and time may be employed in the care of better things which earnestly invoke our ayd at this instant Thus much spoken or written or the like for I seek but to awaken your Lordships higher spirit and invention I conceive it may get this effect That these 6. Lords won by these reasons and by other the Kings invitations may deliver to the House that for their parts they have received unexpected satisfaction in those greatest points of the accusation against your Lordship and of such secret nature as are not fit to be published without further deliberation Wherefore since it pleased their Lordships to have made choyce of them to be trusted in this imployment they have faithfully served accordingly and do upon their Honours freely and without any ingagement or respect protest the same And therefore humbly desire their Lordships that they would intreat his Majestie to be President in advice with their Lordships What further were to be done in this private Contention betwixt your Lordship and the Lord Digbie which obtained something may then follow for your Lordships good by yeelding up that Cause into the Kings hands And his Majestie hath great reason to bend it that way because it is conceived that the Lords will be loath to admit the King to be supream Judge and Accuser which point will much touch his Majestie And his Majestie were better give some ease to the Lord Digbie then permit that dispute And now for my self I beseech your Lordship to pardon my strange boldnesse I know I am a mere stranger to you and if ever you have heard of me it must be as of a friend of such you then did not love I know it shewes me a medler in businesse or an insinuator which are suspitions that may distast you and make you suspect my pretences though they were not altogether witlesse I know this disadvantage and am in my own nature offended for putting my self thus into your notions But yet I resolved to undergo all this First because you made my Brother a Captain in Ireland who had otherwise perished Next for the favour you did to my Lord of Northumberland and the retiring of disfavour from my Lord of Sommerset And lastly for your firm hand that advanced the now Lord Treasurer To all which Lords I am familiarly known and bound But neerest to you your Lordship may hear of me from the Lord Treasurer I am confident of your Lordships noble interpretation since I seek no ends no acquaintance no other thanks being one that have no Court-suits to your Lordship but being one that loves not ruines which my friends have tasted nor that the publique should wrestle with a private Inturn of Spleen And I offer it but as a simplicity yet with good will enough for what can a man that is not privy to the Elements of State demonstrate any conclusion thereof yet I hear sometimes how the world goes as other men do I conceive I have said something to your Lordship and though perhaps short yet enough to occasion and stir up your deeper thoughts I also may have deeper but also I know that little pinnes of wood do sustain the whole building More I could have said touching the other points but these greatest elided the fall of the others may be easily directed What I have said against those objections I touched doth arise from grounds of truth and they must win and prevail and my conceit is fitted to the Kings part and to the occasions now on foot I humbly cease your Lordship further trouble and with you all good desiring your Lordship also to pardon my tedious and hasty scribled hand Your Lordships unknown servant Ch. Th. Postscript YOur Lordship shall be pleased to take off some part of my boldnesse and impute it to the obligation and service I owe this worthy Lady the Bearer To Count Gondomar My Lord I Thought my hands bound that I could no sooner have occasion to write unto you being forced against my will to delay my writing from day to day in expectation of the news of your arrival at that Court assuring my self that I should then receive from you some ground whereupon to write But after a long expence of time before that I could hear of your arrival and in the Pacquet that his Majesties Embassadour sent thereafter receiving no Letters nor word from you as I expected I do now by these break my long silence unto you As for news from hence I can in a word assure you that they are in all points as your heart could wish for here is a King a a Prince and a faithful friend and servant unto you besides a number of your other good friends that long so much for the happy accomplishment of this match as every day seems a year unto us and I can assure you in the word of your honest friend that we have a Prince here that is so sharp set upon the businesse as it would much comfort you to see it and her there to hear it Here are all things prepared upon our parts Priests and Recusants all at liberty all the Roman Catholiques well satisfied and which will seem a wonder unto you our Prisons are
might but ought to grant a dispensation to this marriage but now we are surcharged with a number of new Articles from Rome and in the mean time the Dispensation is as far off as ever it was His Majestie hopes that you are not ignorant that the treatie is between him and your Master He hath no treatie with Rome neither lyes it in his way to dispute with them upon this question yet that his readinesse to imbrace your Masters friendship may the better appear he is contented to yield to so many of their demands as either his Conscience Honour or safetie can permit if so the King your Master shall think it necessarie But on the other part we three remember that when as you first moved this match unto him and perswaded him to break off with France you then promised that he should be pressed to nothing in this businesse that should not be agreeable to his conscience and honour and stand with the love of his people As to the particular Articles new added at Rome I will not clogg this paper with them which I fear without them will be too troublesome unto you For what his Majesties opinion is of them his Majesties Embassadour there will particularly acquaint you But whereas the Pope desires in the end of his Articles that he may see what ponum publicum the King our Master will grant unto that may perswade to grant this dispensation I will remit it to your conscience and knowledge whether if the favours his Majestie daily grants to those of his religion and is resolved still to continue if not to increase them if they shall by their good behaviour deserve it be not a real bonum publicum considering that if the match should break off which God forbid his Majestie would be importunatly urged by his people to whose assistance he must have his recourse to give life and execution to all the penal Lawes now hanging upon their heads It only rests now that as we have put the ball to your foot you take a good and speedie resolution there to hasten a happy conclusion of this match The Prince is now two and twenty years of age and so a year more then full ripe for such a businesse the King our Master longeth to see an issue proceed from his Loins and I am sure you have reason to expect more friendship from the posterity that shall proceed from him and that little Angel your Infanta then from his Majesties Daughters Children Your friends here are all discomforted with this long delay your enemies are exasperated and irritated thereby and your neighbours that envie the felicity of both Kings have the more leisure to invent new Plots for the Crosse and hinderance of this happy businesse And for the part of your true friend and servant Buckingham I am become odious already and counted a betrayer both of King and Countrey To conclude all with I will use a similitude of hawking which you will easily understand being a great Faulkoner I told you already that the Prince is God be thanked extreamly sharp set upon this Match and you know that a Hawke when she is first dressed and made ready to flie having a great will upon her if the Faulkoner do not follow it at that time she is in danger to be dulled for ever after Take heed therefore lest in the fault of your delayes there Our Prince and Faulcon-gentle that you know was thought slow enough to begin to be eager after the Foeminine prey become not so dull upon these delayes as in short time hereafter he will not stoop to the Lure though it were thrown out to him And here I will end to you my sweet friend as I do in my prayers to God Onely in thee is my trust and say as it is written on the outside of the Pacquets Haste Haste Post-haste Conde de Gondomar to the Duke 13. Febr. 1625. Most Excellent Sir AT last Sir the Earl of Gondomar goes for England There will be many good discourses made in Holland about this voyage But the truth is that the intention of his journey is not to offend any one but only to desire and procure peace and the publique good And onely with this intent the King my Master Commands me to go thither and I go with a great deal of joy as well for this as for to kisse his Majesties and his Highnesse his hands and your Excellencies in particular And therefore I do appoint for the field of our Battail your Excellencies Gallerie over the Thames where I hope your Excellencie shall see that the Earl of Gondomar is an honest man and that he hath been is and ever will be a faithful and true servant and friend to Sir George Villiers Duke of Buckingham whom God preserve many happy years The Countesse my Wife and my self kisse my Lady the Countesse and my Lady Dutchesse their hands Your Excellencies Constant and faithful servant Gondomar Padre Maestre at Rome to the Spanish Embassadour in England 12. June 1621. My Lord I Have received two Letters from your Lordship the one of the 15th of March brought me by Mr. George Gage and the other of the 30. of April which came by the Ordinarie In both which Letters I have received a special favour from you and much comfort The coming of Mr. Gage hath given me infinite contentment then which there could nothing have happened more fitly and to the purpose for the matter which is in negotiation nor any man have come hither that could better advance the businesse then he as well in respect of his good affection as for his wisdom and dexterity in all things And if the King of Great Brittain will withal help 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 ordinraily 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 deceived You know Sir that I treat in truth and freedom and do therefore hope you will impute my excuses to that and will not call this libertie of my discourse rashnesse but an immortal desire in me in all things to procure the service of our Kings laying aside all occasions of misunderstandings now we treat of nothing els but uniting our selves more by the strickt bonds of love over and above those of our Alliance I do humbly beseech you to say thus much to his Majestie and to assure him from me that when he shall be pleased to imploy me in this matter as in all other he shall ever find me faithful and real as I have offered my self and alwayes continue being well assured that even in that I shall serve my Master And I pray you to believe in your particular that I am and will be eternallie Yours c. The Marquesse Ynoiosa to the Lord Conway 5. September 1623. I Answered not long since to both your Letters and now I will add this that only the sport and pleasure that Don Carlos and I consider his Majestie hath in his progresse may make tollerable the deferring by reason of that and not hearing the newes we expect to hear of his Majesties good health For
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 Tunc but now he said the case 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 ma 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 Elie-House to take my leave of Don Carlos where Vanvail was present I expressing much joy of the match 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 performed 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 the speech they did demand of me whether I was come of my self or by Commission for they professed to account me their friend I answered that I came meeâ—ly of my self and was sorrie that by their own deserving they had procured such alterations and I thought strange of such demands as they had made at Hampton Court which did both expresse much spleen and lack of good intelligence They did avow their demands were reasonable but from that time they would make visits to the Duke and love him better then before because they were in doubt before but now they know him to be an Enemie I did answer that I was sorrie for their proceeding and was their friend so long as they were friends to my Master After a few haughty words such as it was a wrong waie to deal with their Master by threatnings who gave pay daily to 300000. Souldiers that they had followed the wars a long time and had seen men killed by the Cannon Musket Pike and sword but never saw men killed with words they desired me to speak to his Majestie that they might either be dismissed or have freedome to go about their businesse with security They did desire me likewise to speak to his Majestie that the treatie
for the Palatinate might continue I did demand of them how these two things did agree both to threaten and intreat whereupon they passed upon me with odd complaints I went once more of late to give them a farwel I said they proved themselves good Servants to their Master in pressing to raise jealousies in this State but they were now too well known to do harm The Marquesse swore that by this time the Infanta had been here the Palatinate restored if the blame had not been on our Part. I did intreat I might be excused not to believe that I did ask whether they did not condemn their own judgments in accusing the Duke of Buckingham of that whereof he was cleared both by the King and State Their answer was He was cleared by those who were his confiderates all as guiltie as himself I demanded why they should still expresse their malice against the Duke of Buckingham Did they not think but our Prince was a man sensible of what injuries he had received their answer was if the Duke were out of the way the Prince would be well disposed They said farther his Highnesse was an obedient son before the Duke guided him but since he was not So that when we speak of his Majestie they speak with much respect but for the Prince did not use them kindly they did make the lesse accompt of him So after I took my leave and parted Nithisdail MUch I have omitted for brevitie wherein they did expresse much respect to his Majestie much of their threatning to the Duke of Buckingham The Lord Nithisdail to the Duke 22 June 1624. My most Noble Lord FInding matters at great uncertainty when I came hither I resolved to make farther tryal before I should part from hence What thanks is due to the Embassadours for their paineful and discreet Carriage can hardly be expressed Matters now being drawn to such a conformity which I confesse I thought impossibilities though withall I found much respect alwayes to the Prince with a sensible desire of the Match expressed both by the King and those I spake withal our Embassadours seem still to be discontent that all things are not remitted to our Masters verbal promise which though it may be assurance sufficient to all Catholiques who have the sence to consider that it must be our Masters and the Princes gracious disposition must be our safety more then either word or writ yet the writ being desired privately as they pretend merely to draw the Popes consent without the which nothing is to be finished the difference is not so great their Princely promise being given already What cause of jealousie the refusing hereof should procure you may consider besides my judgment failes me if a more easie way shall be assented unto upon this side If the Embassadours have bestirred themselves to get this out of the publique Articles I can bear witnesse Thus much I dare avow that neither time nor place have been omitted by them to do good though I must confesse what intelligence I had in the proceeding hath rather been from the French then from them Their Reasons as I conceive was their doubts that did bring me hither having neither Letters from the King the Prince nor your Grace Whereupon to remove these conceits I shewed them that I did onely take this in my way intending to go see the Jubilees wherewith though his Majestie nor the Prince neither yet your Grace were acquainted with at my parting you will be pleased to make my excuse I am infinitely beholding to the Embassadours noble Courtesie which I know hath proceeded from that relation which they know I have to you My Lord let the happinesse which shall come to the Prince by matching with such a Lady as I protest before God hath those perfections to my thinking can hardly be equalled be a means to hasten a happy Conclusion And let not matter of Ceremonie draw delayes where the substance is agreed upon So shall all that belong to our Master be made happy in general and you in particular for that love which thex expresse here to your self Once more I humbly begg you will consider particularly upon each one of the Articles and I hope you shall not find such unreconcileable difference as an affected Puritan may pretend Whereupon if I have looked more with eyes of a Papist then was fitting it is my lack of judgment and not of zeal to my Masters Honour which of all earthly things shall be preferred Beseeching God to give a happy successe hereunto with a sound recovery of your own health I humbly take my leave Your Graces Faithful servant Nithisdail Dated at Compion Sir Tobie Mathew to the King of Spain DOn Tobea Mathei Cavallero Yngles y Catholico Romano beseecheth your Catholique Majestie with all humility and reverence to give him leave to speak these few words unto you He understandeth that the Theologos have persisted precisely upon the Voto which they gave before and he findeth clearly that the Prince conceiveth that he can by no means submit himself thereunto with his Honour And besides my Lord the King hath expresly required him to return with all possible speed in case that Voto should not be qualified And it is certain that he will depart for England within very few daies And whosoever shall inform your Majestie that the Treatie of this marriage may be really kept on foot after the departure of the Prince upon these terms doth deceive your Majestie through the ignorance wherein he is of the State of England So that the Prince departing thus the Catholique Subjects of all my Lord the Kings Dominions are to be in lamentable case For although the Prince did yesterday vouchsafe to have Compassion of me in respect of the grief wherein he saw I had upon these occasions and to say That although the marriage were broken yet he would procure that his Catholique Subjects should not fare the worse for that yet I know that it is morally impossible for that honourable design of his to take place in respect of the People and the importunitie and malice of the Puritans and especially because it will now be a case of meer necessitie for my Lord the King to run in a course of very straight Conjunction with them of his Parliament that he may be able the better to serve himself of them in other occasions from which Parliament as now the case will stand what Catholique can expect any other then the extreamitie of rigour In consideration whereof I cast my self with a sad heart at the feet of your Majestie beseeching you that you will take into your royal remembrance the love which you owe and procure to paie to our holy Mother the Church and that some course may be taken and with speed for otherwise it will be too late to give the Prince some foot of ground upon which he may be able to stand in such sort as that without losse of honour and
breach of that word which he hath given to the world and without prejudice to that obedience which he oweth to the least commandement of the King his Father his Highnesse may be inabled to comply with the incomparable affection which he beareth the Infanta your Majesties Sister And that by meanes hereof the two Crowns may be kindly in perfect union and the Catholique religion may be highly advantaged not only in the Dominions of my Lord the King but in many other parts of Christendom into which the Authority of these Dominions doth flow For my part I take the eternall God to witnesse whom I procure to serve and who hath given me a heart which disclaimeth from all other interesses then to serve God and my King that I conceive my self not to comply with a good conscience without laying this protestation under the Eye of your Majestie that if the Catholique subjects of the King my Lord shall grow liable to persecution or affliction by occasion of breaking this Match through the disgust of the King my Lord and his Councel or through the power which infallibly the Puritans assembled in Parliament will have with him upon this occasion that blood or miserie whatsoever it may partly be required at their hands who have advised your Majestie not to accept of those large conditions for Catholiques which my Lord the King and the Prince have condescended to and of that more then moral Securitie which they have offered for the performance thereof And on the other side I undertake to your Majestie under the pain of infamie in case that be not made good which here I affirm that if your Majestie will be pleased to give some such ground to the Prince as whereupon he may with Honour stay and perfect the Treatie of the Marriage by any such way or means as may occur to your Majesties royal wisdom the whole bodies of the Catholiques in England both religious and secular shall acknowledge it as a great blessing of God and shall oblige themselves to pray incessantly for your happie Estate c. Sir Tobie Mathew to the Dutchesse of Buckingham 9. June 1625. Madam THere was no cause till now why I should trouble your Ladyship with presenting my unprofitable service to you but now I shall venture to do it by reason of the good newes I shall send with it For our Queen arrived here yesterday and I was glad at the heart to see her such as she had seemed she is more grown then I had thought being higher by half the head then my Ladie Marquesse And whatsoever they say believe me she sits already upon the very skirts of womanhood Madam upon my faith she is a most sweet lovely Creature and hath a countenance which opens a window into her heart where a man may see all Noblenesse and Goodnesse and I dare venture my head upon the little skill I have in Physiognomie that she will be extraordinarily beloved by our Nation and deserve to be so and that the actions of her self which are to be her own will be excellent Me thought I discerned in her countenance a little remnant of sadnesse which the fresh wound of parting from the Queen Mother might have made yet perhaps I was deceived Her Aattyre was very plain for so Great a Queen can be thought to have nothing mean about her But I hope that amongst many other blessings which God will have provided for us by her means her example will be able to teach our Countrie wit in this kind I had the happinesse to see and hear her at a short distance by the Commandement which my Lady of Buckingham laid upon me to interpret for her and believe me she is full of wit and hath a lovely manner in expressing it But I confesse I was sorrie with all my heart to hear that her courage was so great as to carry her instantly after my Ladie of Buckingham had taken her leave for that time to Sea in a poore little boate in the company of her brother whom yet I have not had the honour to see I dare give my word for her that she is not afraid of her own shadow who could find in her heart to put her self at the first sight upon an element of that danger and disease for meer pastime Unlesse it were perhaps that she might carrie some Steel about her and that there is some Adamant at Dover which already might begin to draw her that way I am extreamly sorrie that we have lost the hope of seeing the two other Queens for if they had come we might have had beautie here as well in the preterperfect and in the present tense as now we have in the future But the Queen Mothers indisposition hath arrested her at Amiens in punishment of that malice wherewith she dissembled it too long at the first through the extream desire she had of coming hither Our Queen received my Lady of Buckingham with strange courtesie and favour and now there is no remedy but that the King will needs defray and treat her after a high manner And I have been told that Mounsieur will needs descend so much as to visit her in her lodging and the Dutchesse of Chevereux being that great Princesse as she is both by match and bloud will perforce give precedence not onely to my Ladie of Buckingham but to my Ladies her daughters also And I assure my self that a lesse puissant example then this will serve to convert our Great Ladies even to exceed in England towards the Ladies which are strangers and do but come and go But the while this Court doth so apply it self to do my Lady of Buckingham all imaginable honour I look on it so as that I am no way discouraged thereby from bearing devotion to the blessed Virgin when I see that men who are sick of love towards the Son are put even by a kind of Law of nature into pain till they revenge themselves upon the Mother I beseech Jesus c. From Bulloign â— Dr. Sharp to King James The Complaint of Europe our Mother aged and oppressed TO whom To the Kings and Princes of Europe Of whom Of the Pope of Rome For what matter For causing by his Catholique League so much bloud to be spilt within these few yeares in Europe To this effect as that excellent Poet speaks with a little change of his words Quis non Europaeo sanguine pinguior Campus sepulchris impia praelia Testatur auditumque Turcis Europaeae sonitum ruinae Qui gurges aut quae flumina lugubris Ignara belli quo Mare Civicae Non decoloravere caedes Quae Caret ora cruore nostro And what further danger is it like to breed Even to bring the Turk into Austria Italy Germany into Vienna and into Rome it self as it hath brought him into Pannonia and of late into Pollonia to the great danger of all Christendome Which danger she doth foresee and lament and telleth That no European King
out in general that which the Prince hath cryed and your Grace hath uttered in Parliament in special that Colloquia de Contractibus are with them Mera ludibria parata tantum Regum animis Ne noceant distinendis dum ea quae ipsi intendunt perficiantur Which Guicciardine also doth in general affirm That the Spaniards bring more things to passe by Treaties and subtilties then by force of Armes And that you may truly understand the full intention of the Spaniard to the state of this Kingdom and Church I would your Grace would read a notable Discourse of the late most Noble Earl of Essex made by the Commandment of Queen Elizabeth and debated before her Majestie and her Councel concerning this point Whether Peace or War was to be treated with Spain The Lord Buckhurst speaking for a Treatie of Peace to the which the Noble Queen and her old Lord Treasurer inclined The Earl speaking for War because no safe peace could be made with that State for 3. special Reasons which are in that Treatise set down at large which is not fit for me yet to deliver by writing but there you shall find them Your Grace may have the book of divers Noblemen your friends If you have it not if I may understand your pleasure I will get it for you It was of that effect that it brought the Queen and Treasurer contrary to their purpose to his side for the very necessity of the common safetie Your Lordship having angred them and endeared your self to us you had need to look to your self you are as odious to them as ever the Earl of Essex was The Jesuite Walpool set on one of the stable Squire one well affected to my Lord to poyson the rests of his Chair And seeing they strike at the Ministers which deal effectually for his Church witnesse worthy Doctor White what will they do to such Pillars of State as you are The Lord preserve your Grace and watch over you And thus I rest Your Grace his most humble at Commandment Leonel Sharp The Lord Cromwell to the Duke 8. Septemb. 1625. May it please your Grace I Am now returned from mine own home and am here at Fulham neer Mr. Burlemachi making my self ready to attend your Command in the best manner my poor fortunes will give me leave and with what speed I may Some things I have sent to Plymouth and some Gentlemen so as when I come there I hope to find that your Lordship hath appointed me a good sailing ship and one that shall be able to play her part with the best and proudest enemy that dare look danger in the face Though your Grace hath placed a Noble Gentleman in the Regiment was intended to my Lord of Essex yet I will not despair of your favour or that you will not give me some taste of it as well as to any other I will study to be a deserving Creature and whether you will please to look on me with an affectionate eye or no I will love honour and serve you with no lesse truth and faith then those you have most obliged What concerns me I will not here speak of for fear I offend My prayers shall ever attend you and my curses those that wish you worse then their own soules Divers I do meet that say your Grace hath parted with your place of the Mastership of the Horse which makes the world suspect that some disfavour your Lordship is growing into And that this prime feather of yours being lost or parted with be it as it will it will not be long ere the rest follow They offer to lay wagers the Fleet goes not this year and that of necessitie shortly a Parliament must be which when it comes sure it will much discontent you It is wondered at that since the King did give such great gifts to the Dutchesse of Chevereux and those that then went how now a small summe in the Parliament should be called for at such an unseasonable time And let the Parliament sit when it will begin they will where they ended They say the best Lords of the Councel knew nothing of Count Mansfelts journey or this Fleet which discontents even the best sort if not all They say it is a very great burthen your Grace takes upon you since none knowes any thing but you It is conceived that not letting others bears part of the burthen you now bear it may ruine you which heaven forbid Much discourse there is of your Lordship here and there as I passed home and back and nothing is more wondered at then that one Grave man is not known to have your Ear except my good and Noble Lord Conway All men say if you go not with the Fleet you will suffer in it because if it prosper it will be thought no act of yours and if it succeed ill they say it might have been better had not you guided the King They say your undertakings in the Kingdom and your Engagements for the Kingdome will much prejudice your Grace And if God blesse you not with goodnesse as to accept kindly what in dutie and love I here offer questionlesse my freedom in letting you know the discourse of the world may much prejudice me But if I must lose your favour I had rather lose it for striving to do you good in letting you know the talk of the wicked world then for any thing else so much I heartily desire your prosperitie and to see you trample the ignorant multitude under foot All I have said is the discourse of the world and when I am able to judge of your actions I will freely tell your Lordship my mind Which when it shall not be alwaies really inclined to serve you may all noble thoughts forsake me Because I seldom am honoured with your Ear I thus make bold with your all-discerning eye which I pray God may be inabled with power and strength daily to see into them that desire your ruine Which if it once be I will never believe but so good a King will constantly inable you daily with power to confound them Many men would not be thus bold and saucie If I find you distaste me for my respect to you I will respect my poor self who ever hath honoured you so much as hereafter to be silent So I kisse the noble hands of your Grace Your Lordships servant during life Tho. Cromwell Sir Robert Philips to the Duke of Buckingham 21. August 1624. May it please your Grace BEfore the receipt of that Dispatch with which you were pleased to honour me from Apthorp dated the last of July I was fully determined at your return to Woodstock to have presented your Grace my most humble and faithful service and by that means to have obtained the knowledge in what state and condition of health you had passed this part of the progresse Your former weaknesse together with the dangerous temper of the season giving me cause both to doubt and
honour to entertain the Queen Mother She was willing to know upon what terms stood our Spanish alliance I told her that their delayes had been so tedious that they had somewhat discouraged the King and had so wearied the Prince and State which the dilatorie proceedings in it as that Treatie I thought would soon have an end She streight said of marriage taking it that way I told her I believed the contrarie and I did so the rather because the Spanish Embassadour hath given it out since my comming that the Alliance is fully concluded and that my journey had no other end then to hasten his Master unto it only to give them Jealousies of me because he at this time feares their dispositions stand too well prepared to desire and affect a conjunction with us And truly his report and instruments have given some jealousies to the persons of power in this State especially since they find I can say nothing directly unto them yet thus much I have directly from them Mounsieur de Vievielle and others but he is the chief guider of all affaires here That never was the affection of any State so prepared to accept all offers of amitie and alliance so we will cleerly and as disingaged persons seek it as is this but as a wise minister he saies that until we have whollie and truly abandoned the treatie with Spain they may lose the friendship of a brother in law that is alreadie so in hope of gaining another that they may fail of But when we shall see it reallie by a publique Commission that may declare all dissolved that touches upon the way of Spain we shall then understand their hearts not to be capable of more joy then that will bring them And the Queen Mother told me she had not lost those inclinations that she hath heretofore expressed to desire her Daughter may be given to the Prince with many words of value unto the King and person of the Prince and more then this she could not she thought well say it being most natural for the woman to be demanded and sought It is most certain that under-hand Spain hath done all that is possible to procure this State to listen to a crosse-marriage but here they are now so well understood as this baite will not be swallowed by them This I have from a grave and honest man that would not be brought to justifie it therefore he must not hear of it It is the Savoy Embassadour that is resident here a wise and a Gallant Gentleman who vowes this to be most true So general a desire was never expressed as is here for alliance with us and if the King and Prince have as many reasons of State at this time besides their infinite affection here to have it so continued let it be roundly and clearly pursued and then I dare promise as respective and satisfactorie a reception as can be imagined or desired And if it were not too much saucinesse for me to advise I could wish that the propositions of a league and marriage may not come together but may be treated a part For I doubt whether it may not be thought a little dishonourable for this King to give his sister conditionallie that if he will make war upon the King of Spain his brother we will make the alliance with him on the other part if the league should be propounded here with all those reasons of State that are now pressing for them to make it they have causes to doubt and so have we too that we may both be interrupted in that for certainly the King of Spain will if he can possibly please one side the which they think here may be us with the restitution of the Palatinate and we may likewise fear may be them with the rendring of the Valtoline these being the only open quarrels we must ground upon Now as long as these doubts may possesse us both this will prove a tedious and jealous work of both sides But if we fall speedily upon a treatie and conclusion of a marriage the which will find I am perswaded no long delayes here neither will they strain us to any unreasonablenesse in conditions for our Catholiques as far as I can find then will it be a fit time for to couclude a league the which they will then for certain do when all doubts and feares of fallings off are by this conjunction taken away and the necessity of their own affaires and safety will then make them more desire it then we and so would they now if they could think it so sure and so honourable for them For the King of Spain hath so imbraced them of all sides as they fear and justly that he will one day crush them to their destruction My Lord I do not presume to say any thing immediately to the King thorough your hands this I know will passe unto him and if he should find any weaknesse in this that I have presumed to say let the strength of your favour exercise those accustomed Noblenesses that you have alwayes expressed unto Your Graces most humble and obliged Servant Kensington Postscript VVIthin these few dayes your Grace shall hear again from me for as yet I have not seen the King no otherwise then the first night I arrived here This night he is come unto the Town again The Lord Kensington to the Prince 26. February 1624. May it please your Highnesse I Find here so infinite a value of your Person and virtue as what Instrument so ever my self the very weakest having some commands as they imagine from you shall receive excesse of honours from them They will not conceive me scarce receive me but as a publique Instrument for the service of an Alliance that above all the things in this world they do so earnestly desire The Queen Mother hath expressed as far as she thinks is fit for the honour of her Daughter great favour and good will in it I took the boldnesse to tell her the which she took extreamly well that if such a proposition should be made your Highnesse could not believe that she had lost her former inclinations and desires in it She said your trust of her should find great respect there is no preparation I find towards this businesse but by her and all perswasions of amitie made light that look not towards this end And Sir if your intentions proceed this way as by many reasons of State and wisdom there is cause now rather to presse it then slacken it you will find a Ladie of as much Lovelinesse and Sweetnesse to deserve your affection as any creature under Heaven can do And Sir by all her fashions since my being here and by what I hear from the Ladies it is most visible to me her infinite value and respect unto you Sir I say not this to betray your belief but from a true observation and knowledge of this to be so I tell you this and must somewhat more in
my self that by the trouble you find in his disconsolate breast you may judge of the constancie of Madams heart towards our Prince upon whom assuredly it is most strongly set as she continually expresses upon all occasions Yesterday I had the honour to entertain her two hours together and received so many testimonies of respect as witnessed very warm affections towards the Personage I did represent Amongst other discourse She fell to speak of Ladies riding on horseback which she said was rare here but frequent in England and then expressed her delight in that exercise There is lately arrived here a French Genleman Duport by name with commission from the King of Bohemia to sollicit this Kings favour in consequence of his Majesties generous and Gracious declaration in his behalf for the recovering of his rightful inheritance to intreat that Baviers may no wayes be countenanced in his unjust pretensions and to crave in this his extreamity a reimbursement of the remainder of that sum which his father lent to Henry the fourth in the times of his necessities which may arise to the sum of 30000 Crownes the facilitating of this negotiation is recommended unto me who contribute what I can to the good successe thereof There hath happened here this last Munday a dispute between the Marquis de Courtenvant one of the first Gentlemen of the Kings Chamber and the Colonel de Ornano Mounseiurs Governour about a lodging which this pretended unto as most convenient for him in regard that it adjoyned to that of Mounseiurs but the other claimed a right unto it by a former assignation and possession Ornano at the first prevailed till the other complained to the King who commanded the Colonel to quit the lodging to him which his people refusing out of a presumption perhaps that the commandement was rather formal then real the King sent 3. or 4. of his guard to reiterate the commandement and in case of refusal to obey to cast out all the stuff and to kill all such as should oppose Thus Courtenvant got the day perhaps by Vievilles recommendation in opposition of Toirax between whom there hath been lately a little contestation upon this occasion Vieville being desirous to strengthen himself and to stand upon the surest bottom he could endeavoured to joyn a confident of his in equal commission with the Garde des Seaux that so he might in time work it out and prevail himself of that office at his devotion The Garde des Seaux finding feeble resistance in himself addressed his course to Toirax to seek under his Covert shelter from that disgrace and injurie Toirax undertakes his defence Vieville expostulates the matter with him and alleadges many reasons to justifie his intentions which the other gainesaying with some little warmnesse hath occasioned by that heat a coldnesse of affection between them ever since and that so far forth as it hath grown to be notorious To the same original I reduce the Cardinal de Richlieus introduction into the Councel of the Cabinet by the favour of Vieville being made also an Instrument thereunto by the Queen that by making his own partie strong in Councel he may the more easily crush any adversarie that shall grapple with him Yesterday he was admitted so that now that Councel is composed of the Queen Mother the Cardinal de la Rouch-foulcant Richlieu the Constable Vieville and the Garde des Seaux Before I had finished this Letter I had occasion to visit the Constable to whom I used the same language that formerly I had done to la Vieville and with the like approbation And when I touched upon the point of dispensation how it might be passed over he assured me in general that such was the disposition of this King and State to give the Prince content as he might be in a manner his own Carver how he pleased This is the account I can give you of the publique but how shall I expresse the deep sense I have of my obligations to your favour in particular shall I multiply in thanks It is too ordinary a payment for so many Noble expressions of your love I will rather endeavour by my deeds constantly and continually to witnesse unto you that I intirely rest Your most faithful and most Humble Servant Kensington The Lord Kensington to the Duke My most dear and Noble Lord BEsides that joynt Letter to your Lordship from my Colleague and my self I think fit to add this particular account of what passed yesterday at Ruel betwixt Queen Mother and me whither going to give her double thanks as for the libertie she had given me of accesse at all times to Madam to entertain her henceforth with a more free and amorous kind of language from the Prince so for having so readily condescended to an humble suit of mine in the behalf of my Lord of Carlile for a favourable Letter for him to your Lordship she was pleased to oblige me farther in telling me she did it meerly for my sake I redoubled my thanks and added that I knew your Lordship would esteeme it one of the greatest happinesses that could befal you to have an occasion offered whereby you might witnesse how much you adored her Majesties royal virtues and how infinitely you were her Servant readie to receive law from her whensoever by the least syllable of her blessed Lips or Penn she should please to impose it And this I did as on the one side to gratifie my Colleague who would be infinitely sensible of the disgrace he apprehends in the misse of the Ribbon being thus brought upon the Stage for it as also to help to mesnage that your Gratious favour which Mounsieur de Fiatts to my Lord represents unto him by giving you meanes withal to oblige this sweet blessed Queen who hath your Lordship in a very high account and would be glad to find occasions how she may witnesse it The mention of my Lord of Carlile upon this occasion refreshed her remembrance of the late falling out betwixt the Cardinal and him and though she were sufficiently informed of the particulars by the Cardinal himself yet she would needs have a relation from me who in a merrie kind of fashion obeyed her command and salved every thing the best I could She would needs know my opinion of the Cardinal who so magnified to her his wisdom his courage his courtesie his fidelity to her service his affection to our businesse as pleased her not a little Neither did my heart and my tongue differ for I esteem him such This discourse she left to fall upon a better subject the Prince concerning whose voyage into Spain the censure of Italie she said was that two Kings had therein committed two great errours The one in adventuring so precious a pledge to so hazardous an enterprise the other in badly using so brave a guest The first Madam answered I may be excused from the end the common good of all Christendom which then standing upon
desperate tearmes had need of a desperate remedie The second had need of a better advocate then I to put any colour of defence upon it But his Highnesse had observed as great a weaknesse and follie as that in that after they had used him so ill they would suffer him to depart which was one of the first speeches he uttered after he was entred into the ship But did he say so said the Queen Yes Madam I will assure you quoth I from the witnesse of my own eares She smiled and replyed Indeed I heard he was used ill So he was answered I but not in his entertainement for that was as splendid as that countrie could afford it but in their frivolous delayes and in the unreasonable conditions which they propounded and pressed upon the advantage they had of his Princely Person And yet smilingly added I you here Madam use him far worse And how so presently demanded she In that you presse quoth I upon that most worthie and Noble Prince who hath with so much affection to your Majesties service so much passion to Madam sought this Alliance The same nay more unreasonable conditions then the other and what they traced out for the breaking of the match you follow pretending to conclude it very unseasonablely in this Conjuncture of time especiallie when the jealousies that such great changes in state are apt to beget are cunningly fomented by the Spanish Embassadour in England who vaunts it forth that there is not so great a change in La Vievilles particular person as there is in the general affections which did but follow before the stream of his Greatnesse and credit Thus casting in the Kings mind the seed of doubts whereunto the Conde de Olivares in Spain hath been willing to contribute by this braving speech to our Royal Masters Embassadour there That if the Pope ever granted a dispensation for the match with France the King of Spain would march with an armie towards Rome and sack it Vrayement nous l'en empescherous bien promptly answered She Car nous lui taglierous assez de besongne ailleurs Mais qu'est-ce qui vous presse le plus I represented unto her the unfitnesse of the seventh Article even qualified by that interpretationt hat it is and the impossibility of the last which requires and prescribes an oath And desired that the honour of the Prince with whom she pretended a will to match her Daughter might be dearer to her then to be ballanced with that which could add nothing to their assurance I also humbly besought her to imploy her Credit with the King her son her authority to the Ministers for a reformation of those two Articles especially and a friendly and speedy dispatch of all And if we must come to that extreamitie that more could not be altered then already was yet at least she would procure the allowance of this protestation by the King our Master when he should swear them that he intended no further to oblige himself by that oath then might well stand with the safety peace tranquility and conveniency of his State This shee thought reasonable and promised to speak with the King and Cardinal about it And if you speak as you can replied I I know it will be done Though when all is done I know not whether the King my Master will condescend so far yea or no. Here I intreated I might weary her Majestie no further but take the libertie she had pleased to give me in entertaining Madam with such Commandments as the Prince had charged me withall to her She would needs know what I would say Nay then smiling quoth I your Majestie will impose upon me the like Law that they in Spain did upon his Highnesse But the case is now different said she for there the Prince was in person here is but his Deputie But a Deputie answered I that represents his person Mais pour tout cela dit elle qu' est ce que vous direz Rien dis-re qui ne Soit digne des oreilles d'vne si vertueuse Princesse Mais qu' est ce redoubled she Why then Madam quoth I if you will needs know it shall be much to this effect That your Majestie having given me the libertie of some freer Language then heretofore I obey the Prince his Command in presenting to her his service not by way of Complement any longer but out of passion and affection which both her outward and her inward beauties the vertues of her mind so kindled in him as he was resolved to contribute the uttermost he could to the Alliance in question and would think it the greatest happinesse in the world if the successe thereof might minister occasion of expressing in a better and more effectual manner his devotion to her service with some little other such like amorous Language Allez Allez Il n'y a point de danger en tout cela smilingly answered she je me fie en vous je me fie en vous Neither did I abuse her trust for I varied not much from it in delivering it to Madam save that I amplified it to her a little more who drank it down with joy and with a low Curtesie acknowledged it to the Prince adding that she was extreamly obliged to his Highnesse and would think her self happie in the occasion that should be presented of meriting the place shee had in his good Graces After that I turned my speech to the old Ladies that attended and told them That sith the Queen was pleased to give me this liberty it would be henceforth fit for them to speak a suitable Language I let them know that his Highnesse had her Picture which he kept in his Cabinet and fed his eyes many times with the sight and contemplation of it sith he could not have the happinesse to behold her person All which and other such like speeches she standing by took up without letting any one fall to the ground But I fear your Lordship will think I gather together too much to enlarge my Letter thus far but it is that by these Circumstances your Lordship may make a perfect judgment of the issue of our negotiation which I doubt not but will succeed to his Majesties his Highnesse and your Lordships contentment And so yeeld matter of triumph to you and infinite joy to me Your Lordships Most most humble most obliged and most obedient servant Kensington The Lord Kensington to the Duke My most dear Lord THis Bearer your Cousen's going is in such haste as what you receive from me must be in very few words I was yesterday with the Marquesse de Vieville whom I find cordial to do good offices between ours and this Kingdome and he assures me by all the promises and protestations that may be he will ever use his credit and power to do so knowing these Kingdoms can as the King of Spain's power and ambition increases have no true safetie and good unlesse we joyn in
friendship and alliance He is very free to me telling me That to prevent this the King of Spain offers now the largest conditions of satisfaction and friendship that can be imagined but their thoughts here are wholly bent towards us And although as yet the King cannot with honour or wisdom say more then he hath done yet we may be assured when we are free to be satisfied in all we can desire This day I understand the Earl of Argile is like lightning passed by for Spain and by a special Command from the King it is to put us in more terrour That he will use his service in Scotland where I believe he hath little credit and power to offend us But howsoever they omit nothing that may dishearten us but we are of too noble and constant a temper either to fear their cunning or power My Lord give me leave to beseech you not to defer our businesse for never can this State be found so rightly and truly inclined in love and affection towards us And the rather hasten it because all the art that may be is daily used from Spain to prevent us and if we go not roundly and clearly with them here they may have jealousies and discouragements that may change them Take them therefore now when I dare promise they are free very free from those thoughts My Lord pardon the haste of this Letter that hath no more time given me but to tell you that you never can have any servant more devotedly yours then is Your Graces Most obliged and most humble servant Kensington The Earl of Holland to the Duke My dearest Lord VVEE have made a final conclusion of this great Treatie Upon what terms the dispatch at large will shew your Grace We have concluded honourably that which we could not do safely for to receive words that obliged not would have appeared an unwise and unperfect Treatie of our part and no way worthy of the greatnesse of our Master nor the passion of his Highnesse the which now hath a brave expression since his Mistresse is only considered and desired and the only object of our Treatie But I must tell you that since we have proceeded thus they say they will out-go us in the like braverie doing ten times more then we expect or they durst promise fearing the World would conceive all their doings conditionally the which would be dishonourable for Madam But that being safe they now say their interest is greater then ours for the recovering of the Palatinate and they will never abandon us in that action I hope we shall shortly have the honour and happinesse to see your Grace here where you will be as justly you deserve adored You must make haste for we are promised our sweet Princesse within six weeks I beseech you let me know your resolution that I may contrive which way I may best serve you against your coming I have carefully laboured according unto your Commands in that which the Marquesse de Fiat You may assure him of a speedie and good successe in it the which he will more fully understand when Mounsieur de la Ville-aux-Cleres shall be in England He begins his journey from hence within 3. daies He is worthy of the best reception that can be given him having throughout all this Treatie carried himself discreetly and affectionately I beseech you put the Prince in mind to send his Mistris a Letter And though I might as the first Instrument imployed in his amours expect the honour to deliver it yet will I not give my Colleague that cause of envie But if his Highnesse will write a private Letter unto Madam and in it expresse some particular trust of me And that my relations of her have increased his passion and affection unto her service I shall receive much honour and some right since I onely have expressed what concerned his passion and affection towards her If you think me worthy of this honour procure a Letter to this purpose and send it me to deliver unto her and likewise your Commands the which I will receive for my greatest comforts living in unhappinesse untill I may by my services expresse how infinitely and eternally I am Your Graces Most humble and most obliged and devoted servant Holland Postscript THe Presents that the Prince will send unto Madam I beseech you hasten The Earl of Holland to his Majestie May it please your most excellent Majestie VVE are in all the pain that may be to know what to answer to the malicious and continual complaints made by Blanvile of wrongs and violences done him even to the assaulting of him in his own lodging the which he hath represented with so much bitternesse as it took great impression here in the hearts of all especially of the Queen Mother whom yesterday I saw in the accustomed priviledge hath ever been given me to have at all times my entrance free into the Louure And I the rather went because I would not shrink at all their furies and clamours and it came to such a height as Petitions were given by Madam de Blanvile that she might for the injuries done to her husband his Embassadour have satisfaction upon our persons But she was as she deserved despised for so passionate a follie yet was it in consideration as I suspect by a word that the Queen Mother uttered in her passion to me who with tears before all the World being accompanied by all the Princesses and Ladies told me but softlie That if your Majestie continued to affront and suffer such indignities to be done to the Embassadour of the King her Son your Majestie must look that your Embassadours shall be used a la pareylie I confesse this stirred me so much as I told her That if the intentions of your Majestie were no better considered by the King here your Majestie commanding us for the good and happinesse of his Kingdom to endeavour to bring and give him the which we have done the greatest blessing in this World Peace in his Countrie then to be ballanced with a person that in requital hath stirred up and dailie desires to do it disputes and jarres even between your Majestie and the Queen we had reason to believe your Majestie most unjustly and most unworthily requited And it might take away upon any such occasion the care that otherwise you would have had to do the like And for my part it took from me all desire ever to be imployed upon any occasion hither where our Actions that their acknowledgments have been acceptable but a few daies past are now of so little consideration as we are of no more weight then the unworthiest Minister that ever was imployed Upon that I found she was sorrie for having expressed so much But this day we had from her a more favourable audience and from the King the effects and circumstances of that which we have in our Dispatch presented unto my Lord Conway Sir the malice of this Blanvile is so great
fear the Protestants may imagine we have had a hand in it For our Confederation made by you at the Hague they speak so of it as they will do something in it but not so really or friendly as we could wish But for these things you allow me I trust to refer you to the general Dispatch I come now to other particulars I have been a careful Spie how to observe intentions and affections towards you I find many things to be feared and none to be assured of a safe and real welcome For the continues in his suspects making as they say very often discourses of it and is willing to hear Villanes say That hath infinite affections you imagine which way They say there is whispered amongst the foolish young Bravado's of the Court That he is not a good Frenchman that suffers to return out of France considering the reports that are raised many such bruits flie up and down I have since my coming given Queen Mother by way of discourse occasion to say somewhat concerning your coming as the other night when she complained to me That things were carried harshly in England towards France I then said That the greatest unkindnesse and harshnesse came from hence even to forbid your coming hither a thing so strange and so unjust as our Master had cause and was infinitely sensible of it She fell into discourse of you desiring you would respect and love her daughter and likewise that she had and would ever command her to respect you above all men and follow all your Councels the matter of her Religion excepted with many professions of value and respect unto your Person but would never either excuse what I complained of or invite you to come upon that occasion But though neither the businesse gives me cause to perswade your coming nor my reason for the matter of your safetie yet know you are the most happie unhappie man alive for is beyond imagination right and would do things to destroy her fortune rather then want satisfaction in her mind I dare not speak as I would I have ventured I fear too much considering what practises accompany the malice of the people here I tremble to think whether this will find a safe conveyance unto you Do what you will I dare not advise you to come is dangerous not to come is unfortunate As I have lived with you and only in that enjoy my happinesse so I will die with you and I protest to God for you to do you the least service c. Postscript HAve no doubt of the partie that accompanied me for he is yours with his soul and dares not now as things go advise your coming Mr. Lorkin to the Duke the 30. of August 1625. May it please your Grace FRom an honest and truly devoted heart to receive the sacrifice of most humble thanks which come here offered for that excesse of favour which I behold in those gracious lines that you are so nobly pleased to honour me withal and which derive unto me farther the height of all contentment his Majesties gracious acceptance of my poor endeavours which howsoever they cannot shoot up to any high matter from so low an earth yet in their greatest force are eternally vowed with the price of my dearest blood as to his Masters faithful service in the first place so to your Graces in the next who have received I doubt not ere this what my former promised in the Savoyard Embassadours behalf and that as well from his own pen as mine But this State is very Euripus that flowes and reflowes 7. times a day and in whose waies is neither constancie nor truth The changes your Grace will find in my Letters to my Lord Conway whereunto I therefore make reference because I suppose there will be but one Lecture thereof to his Majestie and your self Therein likewise your Grace will see a suddain comandement laid upon Mounsieur de Blanvile premire Gentilhome de la chambre du Roy speedily to provide himself to go extraordinary Embassadour into England The cause thereof I rove at in my dispatch taking my aime from two darke speeches to Queen Mother and the Cardinal I have since learned the interpretation of the riddle not from the Cardinals lips who yet being sounded by me pretended a further end then Ville-aux-cleres had done viz to entertain good intelligence betwixt the Queen of England and your Grace and to do you all the best offices and services that are possible but from the Duke de Chevereux who whatsoever pretexts may be taken makes the true ends of that Voyage to be first to try whether this man can mend what they conceive here the Duke hath marred in shewing himself more a servant to the King of England then to his own King and Master Secondly to spie and discover what he can and according as he shall find cause to frame Cabals and factions whereunto he is esteemed very proper being charactarized with the marks of a most subtile prying penetrating and dangerous man And therefore as an Antidote against the poison he brings the Duke gives this Caveat aforehand That every one keep close and covert towards him and avoid familiaritie with him though otherwise he wishes a kind and honourable entertainment Thus much I received from the Dukes own lips yesternight Bonocil being witnesse perhaps Counsellour of all that passed he promised a memorial in writing this day which I have attended till this evening and even now receive it I have not touched the least syllable hereof to my Lord Conway because I think both your Graces and the Duke de Chevereux's will may concur in this that these things be not subject to many eyes Even now the Savoyard Embassadour sends an expresse Messenger unto me to hasten to Fountain-Bleau Perhaps it may be to facilitate the Treatie with Rochel by either some Letter or Journey of mine thither But upon the conference I have had with the Duke de Chevereux I shall temporise till I hear his Majesties pleasure or see good evidences of generous effects like to ensue Being desirous to shape my course so as may be most acceptable to his Majestie and pleasing to your Grace whose virtues I adore in qualitie of Your Graces Most humble most faithful and most obedient servant Tho. Lorkin Postscript THe Duke de Chevereux expects the Cypher from your Grace if I be not deceived Mr. Lorkin to the Duke 17. September 1625. May it please your Grace TO read and consider two contrary advertisements the one given me on Munday evening by des Porches who repeating what he had told me before D'avoir destrompé la Royne mere en mil et mil choses assured me that her thoughts were now so far changed from what they were as she remitted every thing to his Majesties pleasure to do what he list provided that he attempted not upon the conscience of the Queen her Daughter which was the only point she was tender in and
scrupulous that she had written a very sharp Letter full of good lessons and instructions to her that she had as clear a heart to your Grace as was possible had sent for Blanvil expressely to alter his instructions and that howsoever he like a hollow-hearted man had uttered in confidence to a friend of his That he would perswade the Queen of England to put on a reconciled countenance for a time till the way should be better prepared to give your Grace a dead lift yet the Queen Mothers intentions were assuredly sincere and good The Savoyards Embassadours voyage was not then resolved but his Secretarie prepared to make it in his room Of whom Pocheres by the way gave this touch That there was a great correspondence between Madamoiselle de Truges and him contracted upon occasions of frequent visits that had passed betwixt her Mother and the Embassadour and that therefore a careful eye was to be had of him Another who must be namelesse sent for me yesterday in the forenoone to tell me that Pore Berule's errand hither was only to make out-cries against the decree or proclamation against the Catholiques and to accuse your Grace as the Principal if not the only author who was now of a seeming friend become a deadly foe That the Earl of Arundel had out of his respect unto this State purposely absented himself that he might not be guilty of so pernicious a Councel That your Grace and my Lord of Holland had both but very slippery hold in his Majesties affections that if this King would imploy his credit as he might it would be no hard matter to root you both out thence that there were good preparatives for it alreadie and that my Lords Arundel and Pembroke would joyn hands and heads together to accomplish the effect Whereupon Blainville was sent for back to be more particularly instructed in the waies how to compasse it and would speedily post away in diligence The same party added that the propositions which the Marquesse de Fiatt had made bout the League and Fleet were before Brule's arrival somewhat well tasted but since slighted as those that became cheap by their offer to divers others as well as them that the said Marquesse should have visited Blainville at Paris and sounded him about his errand after this manner First whether he had order to disnestle Madam de St. George Whereto the answer was No and that it was against all reason of State so to do and when the other replyed that the world was come to a bad passe if reason of State descended as low as her Blainville remained silent Secondly whether he had commission to introduce the Dutchesse of Buckingham and the Countesse of Denbigh into the Queenes bed-chamber Answer was made that it was a nice and tender point and if that were once condescended to they would be continually whispering in the Queenes ear how dear she would be to the King her Husband how plausible and powerful among the people how beloved of all if she would change her religion against which they were in conscience here bound to provide and therefore conclude with a refusal of that likewise Thirdly whether he carried any good instructions about an offensive or defensive league whereunto the negative was still repeated but that he carried brave offers for the entertainment of Mansfelt And when the Marquesse replied that if that were all the contentment he carried he feared she would find but a very cold welcome the other added that perhaps he might be an Instrument to make the Queen and Duke friends This were good quoth the Marquesse if the Queen had not as much need of the Dukes friendship as the Duke of hers and upon these terms they parted The same lips that utterred all this gave caution likewise against the Savoyard Embassadour as a cunning deep hollow-hearted man And being felt by me how his pulse beat towards Porcheres told me he was a mercenarie man and no wayes to be trusted In the issue of all this his Councel was That your Grace would consider well your own strength and what ground you have in his Majesties favour If it be solid and good then a Bravado will not do amisse may be powerful here to make them to see their own errour and to walk upright so it end with a good close but if your station be not sure then he Counsels to prevent the storm for to break with all Spain France Puritanes Papists were not wisdom And desires that by any meanes you instantly dispatch a Currier to me to represent the true state of things at home and how you desire matters should be ordered for your service here abroad so that there may be fabriqued a more solid contentment to your Grace whose hands I most humbly kisse in quality of Your Graces Most humble most faithful most obeent and most obliged Servant Tho. Lorkin Postscript IF my stay be intended long it will be necessary that I use a Cypher which I humbly beseech your Grace to send me or to give me leave to frame one as I can As I was closing up my Letter Mr. Gerbier arrived who hath been somewhat indisposed in his health by the way but now is reasonably well God be thanked His coming is very seasonable and I assure my self will be useful By the discourse I have had with Mr. Gerbier I see a little clearer into the state of things here and think Porcheres his advertisement may be truer as being perhaps grounded upon knowledge the other springing only upon conjecture built upon Berule's clamours and overtures and the suddain sending for Mounsieur Blanville back Your Grace will see day in all shortly But assuredly the latter advice comes from a heart that is affectionately devoted to your Graces service This Bearer will kisse your Graces hands from the Authour and thereby you will know his name which he stipulated might not come in writing The Lord Herbert to his Majestie My most Gracious Soveraign NOw that I thank God for it his Highnesse according to my continual prayers hath made a safe and happie return unto your Sacred Majesties presence I think my self bound by way of Compleat obedience to these Commandements I received from your Majestie both by Mr. Secretary Calvert and my Brother Henry to give your Majestie an account of that sense which the general sort of people doth entertain here concerning the whole frame and Context of his Highnesse voyage It is agreed on all parts that his Highnesse must have received much contentment in seeing two great Kingdomes and consequently in enjoyning that satisfaction which Princes but rarely and not without great peril obtain His Highnesse discretion diligence and Princely behaviour every where likewise is much praised Lastly since his Highnesse journey hath fallen out so well that his Highnesse is come back without any prejudice to his person or dignity they say the successe hath sufficiently commended the Councel This is the most common censure
Souldiers followed him the one for spoil the other for place but if with safetie to your Grace though with peril to my self I may serve you let me die if I do it not rather then want any longer what my humble love ever led me to and I still affect the honour To be yours Henry Yelverton Sir John Eliot to the Duke 8. Novemb. 1623. Right Honourable WIth what affection I have served your Grace I desire rather it should be read in my actions then my words which made me sparing in my last relation to touch those difficulties wherewith my Letters have been checkt that they might the more fully speak themselves I shall not seek to glosse them now but as they have been leave them to your Graces acceptance which I presume so noble that scandal or detraction cannot decline it It were an injurie of your worth which I dare not attempt to insinuate the opinion of any merit by false colours or pretences or with hard circumstances to endear my labours and might beget suspition sooner then assurance in your credit which I may not hazard My innocence I hope needs not these nor would I shadow the least errour under your protection But where my services have been faithful and not altogether vain directed truly to the honour and benefit of your place onely suffering upon the disadvantage of your absence I must importune your Grace to support my weaknesse that it may cause no prejudice of your rights and liberties which I have studied to preserve though with the losse of mine own My insistance therein hath exposed me to a long imprisonment and great charge which still increaseth and threatens the ruine of my poor fortunes if they be not speedily prevented For which as my endeavours have been wholly yours I most humbly crave your Graces favour both to my self and them In which I am devoted Your Graces thrice-humble Servant J. Eliot The Earl of Oxford to the Duke My Lord I Cannot but believe that I have had some undeserved ill offices done me unto your Lordship otherwise I should not find this difficultie in being preferred if not afore at least equally in ballance with my Accusers It is common unto all mens understanding that it is not the guilt of the accused but the legal and just proceeding which cleares the Kings honour and this I do and ever will acknowledge to have been held towards me Neither was it ever known that the Kings Grace the more it came sweetned with his favour did lessen or diminish his honour but rather seemed as a lustre to make his goodnesse shine brighter and oblige the Receiver in a more strict Tye of gratitude My Lord it cannot wrong you to oblige me to your service nor add reputation to you throw me upon Rocks I appeal to the King and your own Conscience whether ever I have harboured any treasonable thoughts either against his Majestie or his issue that should make me uncapable of receiving his grace without imputation to those faithful and dutiful respects with which I have ever served his Majestie If it shall please him to line me out my path to death the period whither we must all travel to by imprisonment I shall be far from repining at the sentence but with all humblenesse will undergo it and employ my heartiest prayers for the long continuance of his honour and happinesse I beseech your Lordship receive my Character of what I am and have ever been towards you not from Conjectures and reports of others but from my own mouth and actions For yet I have reason to suspect your opinion of me else sure I should have found better fruits of your power I was alwaies as much as lay in me desirous to outstrip rather then come short of any in doing you service and the same affections still remain with me of the truth of which I pray you be confident To this onely I will add one request more which is That since your Lordship is pleased to mediate with his Majestie for my freedom you will procure it so free from rubs as that my obligation may be the greater which I will ever willingly and faithfully pay unto your Lordship in all respects like him who truly is Your Lordships c. H.O. The Lady Purbeck to the Duke My Lord THough you may judge what pleasure there is in the conversation of a man in the distemper you see your Brother in yet the dutie I owe to a husband and the affection I bear him which sicknesse shall not diminish makes me much desire to be with him to adde what comfort I can to his afflicted mind since his onely desire is my Companie Which if it please you to satisfie him in I shall with a very good will suffer with him and think all but my dutie though I think every wife would not do so But if you can so far dispense with the Lawes of God as to keep me from my Husband yet aggravate it not by restraining from me his means and all other contentments but which I think is rather the part of a Christian you especially ought much rather to studie comforts for me then to adde ills to ills since it is the marriage of your Brother makes me thus miserable For if you please but to consider not only the lamentable estate I am in deprived of all Comforts of a husband and having no means to live of besides falling from the hopes my fortune then did promise me for you know very well I came no beggar to you though I am like so to be turned off For your own honor and Conscience sake take some course to give me satisfaction to tye my tongue from crying to God and the world for vengeance for the unworthy dealing I have received And think not to send me again to my Mothers where I have stayed this quarter of a year hoping for that my Mother said you promised order should be taken for me but I never received pennie from you Her confidence of your Noblenesse made me so long silent but now believe me I will sooner begg my bread in the streets to all your dishonours then any more trouble my friends and especially my Mother who was not onely content to afford us part of the little means she hath left her but whilest I was with her was continually distempered with devised Tales which came from your Familie and withal lost your good opinion which before she either had or you made shew of it but had it been real I cannot think her words would have been so translated nor in the power of discontented servants Tales to have ended it My Lord if the great honour you are in can suffer you to have so mean a thought as of so miserable a creature as I am so made by too much Credulitie of your fair promises which I have waited for performance of almost these five years And now it were time to despair but that I hope you will
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 Ancre 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 his Majesties wisdom in case he judge this office necessarie whether it be sit to be done by Letter or Message the former of which will be of greater vertue but the latter lesse subject to crosse construction of the Arminian faction which your Honour knowes how potent it is here amongst those who have chief rule in this State Thus I humbly take leave ever resting Your Lordships most faithfully to be commanded Dudley Carleton Hague this 24. Febr. 1616. Stil Vet. Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke of Buckingham My most honourable Lord IMmediately upon receipt of your Lordships Letter concerning Sir John Ogle I moved the Prince of Orange not onely for his leave for Sir John to go into England but likewise for his Letters of recommendation whereby to give your Lordship subject upon some such testimonies of his Excellencies good satisfaction to set him upright in his Majesties favour both which he granted unto me though against the first he alledged the absence of all the English Colonels and touching the latter he called to mind old matters which notwithstanding upon what I undertook for Sir John's future intentions he was content to forget I did once again upon Sir John's instance put his Excellencie in mind of his dispatch wherein I found no difficultie Since I find Sir
And this use your Grace may make thereof to his Majesties service that now this King and Queen are both of them no lesse confident of your affection then they are of your sinceritie what you advise them in their affairs will be of much weight to sway them in the ballance of their judgment Which now a Proposition is made unto them on which their whole estate doth depend as well for themselves as their posteritie full of doubtful circumstances on both sides the choice not being as they conceive betwixt one thing certain and another uncertain but betwixt two unequal uncertainties it is hard to say which way they incline but if they be left to themselves I perceive they will rather stand to the hazard of the latter with preservation of their honour and lawful pretensions then submit themselves to the former with shame and disgrace and no assurance of better dealing then was used to the deported House of Saxe by a better Emperour then this accounted of which we have the Heir one of the worthiest Princes in Germanie here in hard Conditions amongst us And he serves as a spectacle to these Princes of their fortunes by the same way as his Predecessors took of submission Yet other things being before agreed of and settled in that sort as his Majestie hath alwaies assured these Princes to be his full intention of restitution to their Patrimonial Honours and estate This King I find will conform himself to what his Majestie shall think fit touching a due submission But this being a matter of ceremony the other of substance he judgeth that if this precede that is the Submission the other of restitution will never follow Neither can it be well seen how in possibility it may be effected considering that whilest things have been held sometimes in terms alwaies in talk of accommodation the Electoral is given to Bavier by the Emperour and avowed by a Congratulatory Embassage from Bruxels the upper Palatinate setled in his possession with some portion to Newburgh for his Contentation and ingagement A principal part of the lower Palatinate the Bergstrate given to the Elector of Mentz with the consent of those of Bruxels where he was lately in person to obtain it though they grossely dissemble it and promises of parts of the rest made to other Princes So as what is now pretended I must deal plainly with your Grace is no otherwaies interpreted then as experience doth teach of these three former years proceedings Ever new Overtures in Winter and new Ruptures in the Summer And as of two former Treaties with this Prince which passed my hands one a Consent to a Submission sent to Vienna the other a Ratification of a Suspension oftentimes sent to Bruxels no other use was made but with the first to accelerate Bethlem Gabor in his Treatie of Peace with the Emperour as then on foot and with the second to intimidate both the Electours Saxe and Brandenburgh with the Princes of the Nethes Saxe and Creyes from entring into Armes to which they were well disposed upon the discontentment they received of the preposterous courses that were taken in the Diet at Ratisbone and to this effect Copies of the very projects of the said Treaties were dispersed by the Imperialists before the Instruments themselves were perfected so it is here believed that now Gabor is again in armes and other Princes ready to imbrace any good occasion of redresse of affaires time is onely sought to be gained by this new Overture and the King of Bohemin's Credit with his friends and well wishers in Germanie to be weakned if not lost for if once he submit himself allowing the translation of the Electoral he shall thereby avow the Emperours undue procedings in that cause which have been protested against by Saxe and Brandenbergh and all the other Germane Princes excepting those onely of the Catholique league and by whom afterwards upon any ill dealing can he expect to be befriended who forsakes himself and his own cause This is the discourse of these Princes upon this occasion but when they are asked What then can you trust unto their recourse is to his Majestie who they hope knoweth the meanes to effect in their behalf what he hath so long and so constantly undertaken for them And though for these three or four years past affaires on this side have gone in a continual decadence and now threaten a final ruine unlesse it be withstood by some Princelie Resolution not of pettie but of great Princes yet here is no such discouragement but that it is thought there is yet strength and vigour enough left in the good Party not onely to subsist but to rise and flourish again as well as ever And in this cogitation the King and Queen remain not prescribing any thing to his Majestie nor willing to submit themselves anew to the same rod with which they have been so often scourged Your Grace was lately invited with my Lord of Richmond to christen their young Son which being excused by my Lord of Richmond in both your names And the King of France undertaking that office it was performed by that King and the King of Swede yesterday was seven-night represented by the French Embassadour here resident and the Prince of Orange in the same manner and the same Church as the Princesse Louise bearing the same name was christned the last year when the Duke Christien of Brunswick being invited to be Godfather though absent and for some respects of precedence could not have a Deputie was understood notwithstanding to be one of the Parrins and so do the King and Queen hold both your Grace and my Lord of Richmond I must now render your Grace my humble thanks for your manifestation of your favour to my self which you are pleased to do in such ample manner as to tell me farther for my Comfort who are my friends And a farther effect of friendship I could not expect of them then to procure me the assurance I now receive from your Grace who have won the reputation by your Constancie to those you take into your Care that your word is taken for your deed And though that which I thought fittest for my self failes me if your Grace can think me fit for any thing else towards the amendment of my poor fortune I shall attend the same with much patience of mind though great extreamitie otherwise by reason of a small estate charged with great debts which are no small burthen to an honest mind And ever remain Your Graces Most faithful devoted servant Dudley Carleton Hague 13th Decemb. 1623. Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke May it please your Grace THe Queen of Bohemia desirous to draw the Prince of Orange to more then general professions of service to his Majestie hath sometimes in my presence when I waited on her highnesse given occasion of discourse her self and at other times I have spoken in her name with his Excellencie to the like effect as in my
seek to King James 178 179 sue to him to forbid exportation of Artillery c. 180 refuse Turkish ayds against Christians 186. incivil to the Duke of Savoy 187 Velville Marquesse 274 284 286 287 289. Vere Sir Horatio sleighted unreasonably by Sir Edward Cecyl as inferior in birth and worth 134 323 Viceroy of Portugal 45 Ville-aux Cleres 293 300 Vorstius questioned for blasphemous propositions 175 Uprores in Naples Millain c. 188 W. VVAke Sir Isaac imployed in Savoy his prudence 180 181 186. governs himself according to his instructions 184 not supplyed with monies 189 War the most prosperous hath misfortune enough in it to make the author unhappy 33 knowledge of it the highest of humane things 133 preparation of things shewes experience what war is lawful 258 Weston Sir Richard Earl of Portland 198 199. a fit Minister 234 treats for the Palatinate at Brussels cannot prevail 201 234. accused to the Duke 202 Intercedes for the Earl of Middlesex 203 Wilford Sir Thomas sinks a Turkish man of war 141 Williams Dean of Westminster Lord Keeper and Bishop of Lincoln after sues for the Bishoprick of London 54 his Ecclesiastical promotions 55 advanced by the Duke of Buckingham 62 70. his opinion of the Archbishop of Canterburies mischance where his ambition is visible 56 Will serve the Earl of Southampton while he makes good his professions to the Duke 58 loves the Earl of Bristol at this rate 23 sits in the Common Pleas. 61 Will not seal the Lord St. Albans pardon and why 61 62 81. nor Sir Richard Westons Patent 93 nor an order for a Papist Priests liberty 62. nor the Earl of Arundels Patent for the Earl Marshals place 68 An enemy to the Lord Treasurer 62 To the Earl of Arundel 62 63 64. Will not discharge a prisoner for contempt of a Decree in Chancery 65 seems to advise King James to dissolve the Parliament of 1621. to find out other wayes to supply his wants and acquaint the Kingdom with the undutifulnesse and obstinacy of the Commons 66 accused by the Lord Treasurer of making injust advantages of his place vindicates himself 71 72 74. forbidden the Court 78 Will not seal the Kings Patent of honour without knowledge of the Dukes good pleasure 79 against the Councel Table 75 Dislikes prohibiting execution of Statutes against the Papists 80 His advice to hang the titulary Bishop of Calcedon 81 Would have all honours and offices derived from the Duke 83 84 Is his vassal 85 100 101 103 Lives not but in the Dukes favour 107 Loves and hates as the Duke does 84 88 94 does equal Justice 83 Wants 85 Would not be over-topped 94 charged by the Duke to run Courses dangerous to his Countrey and to the cause of Religion betrayes the Duke esteemed by him a fire-brand and not worthy of trust 87 88 his Reply 89 96. Writes unworthily of King James to the Duke 94 sues to the Duke for the Countesse of Southampton 96 Would have the Duke to be Lord Steward 101 102 Mercy with Sir Edward Coke 104 advises concerning the Proxies and Marriage with France 106 107 In disgrace the Seal taken away excuses himself to King Charles 108 suspected as a Malecontent and willing to imbroil 225 Wimbledon Viscount See Cecyl Sir Edward c. Wotton Sir Henry 193 194. sends rare Pictures to the Duke 195 Complains that after his long service his Embassage should be given another and himself left naked without any rewards or provision for his subsistance 196 197 too bashful 199 Wynwood Sir Ralph Embassadour in the Netherlands how contemned there 331. Y. YElverton Sir Henry 310 Ynoiosa Marquesse Embassadour in England his ill Offices here and false informations 40 41 50. endeavours to stain the Prince of Wales his honour 52. See Olivarez for the Duke of Bavaria's pretences 167 Young Patrick 94 Z. ZAnten Treatie 318 Zapara Cardinal Viceroy of Naples 188 Zutenstein of Utrecht 317 Books Printed for William Lee. D. Pakeman Ga. 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the Palatine Germans of the Hugonots the siege and taking in of Rochel c. Heresie and Superstition every where triumphing over truth To speak of the spirit and worthines of our Hero's were impossible we might cull out some Letters here of which were there no more might be said An hand or eye By Hyliard drawn is worth a History Of these Letters we may safely be believed though they come out thus late and are so little known their merit will easily weigh down the age and fame of those which have gone before Temple-Gate May 1. 1654. G. B. T. C. ERRATA Pag. 13. movendis for moventib p. 16. l. 13. dele Statute of usus l. 17. d. port-corn p. 21. d. a few days before my departure p. 20. l. 22. d. opera p. 33. l. 22. put in not p. 50. taglaes r. tailles 61. tain r. retein 75. Quadruials r. Quadrivials 77. im r. in 80. r. cartel 81. Loe r. Lee. 83. nos r. eos p. 85. l. 14. put in no less l. 17. Claudius r. Clodius 88 temeriti r. emeriti 93. Fintons r. Fenton 98. Almonte r. Ayamonte 105. d. nimis l. 13. vel quod in villa villae in incolorum c. l. 17. distata r. dilatata tenenda r. tenendae aucupandam r. aucupanda obstrictam reverentiam r. obstricta est reverentia vetera r. veteri 124. Briston r. Digby 130. l. ult add requires 145. r. ewig einig 153. Inijosa r. Ynoyosa p. 202. d. Mook or 229. sacrum sacrum r. sacrum saxum eadem r. iter 241. solely r. fully A Table of the Letters contained in this COLLECTION KIng Henry 8. to the Clergie of the Province of York An. 1533. touching his title of Supreme head of the Church of England P. 1 Q. Anne of Bullen to K. Henry from the Tower May 6. 1536. P. 9 Q. Elizabeths Letter to the Lady Norris upon the death of her son P. 10 Thomas Duke of Norfolk to Queen Elizabeth P. 11 A Defiance sent by the Grand-Seignieur to Maximilian the second P. 12 Sir John Perrots Commission for Lord Deputy of Ireland P. 13 The whole Contents of the Commission for the Lord Deputy ibid. The Queens Warrant to the Lords c. of Ireland for ministring the Oath and delivery of the sword to him Jan. 31. 1583. P. 14 Another for his Entertainment there P. 15 The Queens Instructions to him ibid. Sir John Perrot to the Lords of the Councel Jan. 31. 1583. P. 16 Earl of Desmond to the Earl of Ormond June 5. 1583. P. 18 Sir Henry Wallop to the Queen Aug. 12. 1583. P. 19 The Earl of Essex to Mr. Secretary Davison P. 20 Again to Secretary Davison P. 21 Again to Secretary Davison July 11. 1589. P. 22 Again to Secretary Davison ibid. E. of Essex to K. James concerning Secretary Davison April 18. 1587. P. 23 Earl of Essex to Mr. Secretary Davison P. 24 Again to Secretary Davison upon the death of Secr. Walsingham P. 25 Earl of Essex to the Queen ibid. Again to the Queen P. 26 Sir Tho. Egerton L. Chancellor to the Earl of Essex P. 27 The Earls Answer P. 29 Two Letters framed one as from Mr. Anthony Bacon to the Earl of Essex the other as the Earls answer P. 31. 34 Lord Mountjoy to the Earl of Essex P. 35 Sir Robert Cecil after Earl of Salisbury to the Lord Burleigh his father from France Feb. 26. 1597. P. 36 Sir Francis Walsingham Secr. to Mr. Critoy Secretary of France P. 38 Sir Fr. Bacon to the Earl of Essex when Sir Ro. Cecil was in France P. 42 Sir Fr. Bacon to the Earl of Essex concerning the Earl of Tyrone P. 43 Another to the Earl before his going to Ireland P. 45 Another to him after his enlargement P. 48 Sir Fr. Bacon to Sir Ro. Cecil after defeat of the Spaniards in Ireland ib Considerations touching the Queens service in Ireland P. 49 Sir Fr. Bacon to the L. Treasurer touching his Speech in Parliament P. 54 Sir Francis Bacon to the Earl of Northampton P. 55 To the Lord Kinloss upon the entrance of King James P. 56 To King James ibid. To the Earl of Northumberland concerning a Proclamation upon the Kings entry P. 58 To the Earl of Southampton ibid. To the Earl of Northumberland P. 58 To Sir Edward Coke expostulatory P. 60 To the same after L. Chief Justice and in disgrace ibid. To Sir Vincent Skinner expostulatory P. 66 Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Chancellor P. 71 To King James P. 72 Mr. Edmond Andersons Letter to Sir Francis Bacon P. 73 Sir Thomas Bodeley to Sir Francis Bacon upon his new Philosophy P. 74 Mr. George Brook to a Lady in Court P. 79 To his Wife P. 80 King James to the Major and Aldermen of London after he was proclaimed Mar. 28. 1603. P. 81 The Roman Catholiques Petition to King James for Toleration P. 82 Sir Walter Raleigh to King James before his Trial. P. 85 Sir Walter Raleigh to Sir Robert Car after Earl of Somerset P. 86 Sir Tho Egerton Chancellor after L. Ellesmere to the E. of Essex P. 87 Lord Chancellor Ellesmere to King James ibid. Again to the same King P. 88 Sir Francis Norris to King James P. 89 A Patent for the Admiralty of Ireland P. 90 A Commission to divers Lords c. for the delivery of Flushing Brill c. May 14. Jac. 14. P. 92 A Commission to Visc Lisle Governour to deliver them up May 22. J. 14. P. 93 Countess of Nottingham to the Danish Ambassador P. 94 Sir Charls Cornwallis Lieger in Spain to the Spanish King July 23. 1608. ibid. Again to the Spanish King Jan. 16. 1608. P. 98 Again to the Spanish King P. 100 101 K. James to the Vniversity of Cambridge Mar. 14. 1616. P. 105 Mr. Ruthen to the Earl of Northumberland P. 106 Sir Henry Yelvertons submission in the Star-chamber P. 107 Ferdinand the second Emperor to the Catholique King P. 109 Ferdinand Emperor to Don Balthazar de Zuniga Octob. 15. 1621. P. 110 K. James to Ferdinand Emp. concerning the Palatinate Nov. 12. 1621. P. 113 His Imperial Majesty to King James Jan. 14. 1621. P. 116 Earl of Bristol to King James P. 117 Ab ignoto to Conde Gondomar concerning the death of Philip 3. P. 125 K. James to the Earl of Bristol Ambassador in Spain Octob. 3. 1623. P. 127 Earl of Bristol to King James Octob. 21. 1622. P. 129 K. Philip the third of Spain to the Conde of Olivarez P. 133 Conde Olivarez his answer to the King ibid. K. James to the Earl of Bristol Octob. 8. 1623 P. 136 Earl of Bristol in answer to King Iames Octob. 9. 1623. P. 137 Again to King Iames Novemb. 1. 1623. P. 141 King Iames to the Palsgrave P. 143 The Palsgraves answer to King Iames P. 145 Ab Ignoto from Madrid P. 151 A Memorial to the King of Spain by Sir Walter Ashton Ambassador in Spain Aug. 29. 1624. P. 152 The
Scholar that hath liberty of discourse without committing of any absurdity If not I pray your Honour to believe I ever loved her Majesty and the State and now love your self and there is never any vehement love without some absurdity as the Spaniard well saith De suario con la calentura So desiring your Honours pardon I ever continue c. FR. BACON Considerations touching the Queens service in Ireland by Sir Francis Bacon THe Reduction of the Country as well to Civility and Justice as to Obedience and Peace which things as th' affairs now stand I hold to be unspeakable consisteth in four points 1. The extinguishing of the Reliques of War 2. The Recovery of the hearts of the People 3. The removing of the root and occasions of new troubles 4 Plantation and buildings For the first concerning the places times and particularities of further prosecution in fact I leave it to the opinion of men of war onely the difficulty is to distinguish and discern the propositions which shall be according to the ends of the State here that is final and summary towards the extirpation of the trouble s from those which though they pretend the publick ends yet may referre indeed to the more private and compendious ends of the Councel there or other particular Governors or Captains But still as I touched in my letter I do think much letting blood in declinatione morbi is against method of cure and that it will but exasperate necessity and despair and per case discover the hollowness of that which is done already which none blazeth to the best shew For Taglaes â—nd proscription of two or three of the principall Rebels they are no doubt jure Gentium lawfull in Italy usually practised upon the Banditi best in season when a side goeth down and may do good in two kinds the one if it take effect the other in the distrust which followeth amongst the Rebels themselves But of all other points to my understanding the most effectuall is the well expressing or impressing of the design of this State upon that miserable and desolate kingdom containing the same between these two lists or boundaries the one that the Queen seeketh not an extirpation of the people but a reduction and now that she hath chastised them by Royall power and Arms according to the necessity of the occasion her Majesty taketh no pleasure in effusion of blood or displanting of ancient generations the other that her Majesties Princely care is principally and intentionally bent upon that action of Ireland and that she seeketh not so much the ease of charge as the Royall performance of her Office of Protection and reclaim of those her Subjects And in a word that the case is allowed as far as may stand with the honor of the time past which it is easie to reconcile as in my last note I shewed And again I do repeat that if her Majesties design be ex professo to reduce wild and barbarous people to civility and justice as well as to reduce Rebels to obedidience it maketh weakness true Christianity and conditions turn graces and so hath a sineness in turning utility upon point of honor of these times And besides if her Majesty shall suddenly abate the lists of her Forces and shall do nothing to countervail it in the point of reputation of a publick proceeding I doubt things may too soon fall back into the state they were in Next to this adding reputation to the cause by imprinting an opinion of her Majesties care and intention upon this action is the taking away the reputation from the contrary side by cutting off the opinion and expectation of foreign succours to which purpose this enterprise of Algiers if it hold according to the advertisement and if be not wrapped up in the period of this Summer seemeth to be an opportunity Coelitus demissa And to the same purpose nothing can be more fit then a Treaty or a shadow of Treaty of a Peace with Spain which methinks should be in our power to fasten at least rumore tenus to the deluding of as wise a people as the Irish Lastly for this point that the Antients called potestas facta redeundi ad sanitatem and which is but a mockery when the Enemy is strong or proud but effectual in his declination that is a liberal Proclamation of grace and pardon to such as shall submit and come in within a time prefixed and of some further reward to such as shall bring others in that our sword may be sharpned against anothers as a matter of good experience and now I think will come in time And per case though I wish the exclusions of such a Pardon exceeding few yet it will not be safe to continue some of them in their strength but to translate them and their generation into England and give them recompence and satisfaction here for their possessions there as the King of Spain did by divers families of Portugal The effecting of all the which fall within the points aforesaid and likewise those which fall within the divisions following Nothing can be in priority either of time or matter precedent to the sending of some Commission of the continuance ad res inspiciendas componendas For it must be a very significant demonstration of her Majesties care of that Kingdom a credence to any that shall come in and submit a bridle to any that have their fortunes there and shall apply their propositions to private ends and an evidence of her Majesties politique courses without neglect or respiration and it hath been the wisdome of the best examples of Government Towards the recovery of hearts of the people there be but three things in natura rerum 1. Religion 2. Justice and Protection 3. Obligation and reward For Religion to speak first of Piety and then of Policie All Divines do agree that if Consciences be to be inforced at all whereby they differ yet two things must precede their inforcement th' one means of information th' other time of operation Neither of which they have yet had Besides till they be more like reasonable men then they yet are their society were rather scandalous to true Religion then otherwise as pearl cast before swine For till they be cleansed from their blood incontinencie and theft and which are now not the lapses of particular persons but the very laws of the Nation they are incompatible with Religion formed with Policie There is no doubt but to wrestle with them now is directly opposite to their reclaim and cannot but continue their alienation of mind from this government Besides one of the principal pretences whereby the heads of the Rebellion have prevailed both with the people and the Foreigner hath been the defence of the Catholique religion and it is that likewise hath made the Foreigner reciprocally more plausible with the Rebel Therefore a Toleration of Religion for a time not definite except it be in some principal Towns and
heart be mis-judged by imputation of popularity or opposition I have great wrong and the greater because the manner of my speech did most evidently shew that I spake most simply and onely to satisfie my conscience and not with any advantage or policy to sway the cause and my terms carried all signifification of duty and zeal towards her Majesty and her service It is very true that from the beginning whatsoever was a double Subsidy I did wish might for presidents sake appear to be extraordinary and for discontents sake might not have been levied upon the poverty though otherwise I wished it as rising as I think this will prove or more This was my mind I confess it and therefore I most humbly pray your good Lordship first to continue me in your own good opinion and then to perform the part of an honorable good friend towards your poor servant and all in drawing her Majesty to accept of the sincerity and simplicity of my zeal and to hold me in her Majesties favour which is to me dearer then my life And so c. Your Lordships most humble in all duty FR. BACON Sir Francis Bacon to the Earl of Northampton May it please your good Lordship AS the time of sowing of a seed is known but the time of coming up and disclosing is casuall or according to the season so I am witness to my self that there hath been covered in my mind a long time a seed of affection and zeal towards your Lordship sown by the estimation of your vertues and your particular honors and favours to my brother deceased and to my self which seed sti l springing now bursteth forth into this profession And to be plain with your Lordship it is very true and no winds or noyses of evill matters can blow this out of my head or heart that your great capacities and love towards studies and contemplations of an higher and worthier nature then popular a matter rare in the world in a person of your Lordships quality almost singular is to me a great and chief motive to draw my affection admiration towards you and therefore good my Lord if I may be of any use to your Lordship I humbly pray your Lordship to hold me your own and therefore withall not to do so much disadvantage to my good mind as to conceive that this commendation of my humble service proceedeth out of any straits of my occasions but meerly out of an election and indeed the fulness of my heart And so wishing your Lordship all prosperity I continue yours c. FR. BACON To the Lord Kinloss upon the entrance of K. James My Lord THe present occasion awaketh in me a remembrance of the constant amity and mutual good offices which passed between my Brother deceased and your Lordship whereunto I was less strange then in respect of the time I had reason to pretend and withall I call to mind the great opinion my Brother who seldom failed in judgment of a person would often express to me of your Lordships great wisdom and soundness both in head and heart towards the service and affairs of the Lord our Soveraign King The one of those hath bred in me an election and the other a confidence to address my good will and sincere affection to your good Lordship not doubting in regard that my course of life hath wrought me not to be altogether unseen in the matters of the Kingdom that I may be in some use both in points of service to the King and your Lordships particular And on the other side I will not omit to desire humbly your Lordships favour in furthering a good conceit and impression of my most humble duty and true zeal towards the King to whose Majesty words cannot make me known neither mine own nor others but time will to no disadvantage of any that shall forerun his Majesties experience by their humanity and commendations And so I commend your Lordship to Gods protection Your c. FR. BACON From Grayes-Inne c. To King James MAy it please your most excellent Majesty It is observed upon a place in the Canticles by some Ego sum Flos Campi Lilium Convallium that it is not said Ego sum flos horti lilium montium because the Majesty of that Person is not inclosed for a few nor appropriate to the great And yet notwithstanding this Royal vertue of access which nature and judgment hath placed in your Majesties mind as the portal of all the rest could not of it self my imperfections considered have animated me to have made oblation of my self immediately to your Majesty had it not been joyned to a habit of like liberty which I enjoyed with my late dear Soveraign Mistress a Princess happy in all things but most happy in such a Successor And yet further and more neerly I was not a little encouraged not only upon a supposal that unto your Majesties sacred eares open to the aire of all vertues there might have come some small breath of the good memory of my Father so long a principal Councellor in your Kingdom but also by the particular knowledge of the infinite devotion and incessant endeavours beyond the strength of his body and the nature of the times which appeared in my good Brother towards your Majesties service and were on your Majesties part through your singular benignities by many most gracious and lively significations and favours accepted and acknowledged beyond the thought of any thing he could effect All which endeavours and duties for the most part were common to my self with him though by design between brethren dissembled And therefore most high and mighty King my most dear and dread Soveraign Lord since now the corner-stone is laid of the mightiest Monarchy in Europe and that God above who is noted to have a mighty hand in bridling the floods and fluctuations of the seas and of peoples hearts hath by the miraculous and universal consent the more strange because it proceedeth from such diversity of causes in your coming in given a sign and token what he intendeth in the continuance I think there is no Subject of your Majesty who loveth this Island and is nâ—â— hollow and unworthy whose heart is not on fire not only to bring you Peace-offerings to make you propitious but to sacrifice himself as a Burnt-offering to your Majesties service Amongst which number no mans fire shall be more pure and fervent but how far forth it shall blaze out that resteth in your Majesties imployment For since your fortune in the greatness thereof hath for a time debarred your Majesty of the fruitly vertue which one calleth the principal Principis est virtus maxima nosse suos because your Majesty hath many of yours which are unknown unto you I must leave all to the trial of further time and thirsting after the happiness of kissing your Royal hand continue ever Your c. FR. BACON To the Earl of Northumberland concerning
terrible blows but true Christian wisdom gives us armour of proof against all assaults and teacheth us in all estates to be content for though she cause our truest friends to declare themselves our enemies though she give heart then to the most cowardly to strike us though an hours continuance countervail an age of prosperity though she cast in our dish all that ever we have done yet hath she no power to hurt the humble and wise but onely to break such as too much prosperity hath made stiff in their own thoughts but weak indeed and fitted for renewing when the wise rather gather from thence profit and wisdom by the example of David who said Before I was chastised I went wrong Now then he that knoweth the right way will look better to his footing Cardan saith That weeping fasting and sighing are the chief purgers of griefes Indeed naturally they help to asswage sorrow but God in this case is the onely and best Physician the means he hath ordained are the advice of friends the amendment of our selves for amendment is both Physitian and Cure For friends although your Lordship be scant yet I hope you are not altogether destitute if you be do but look on good books they are true friends that will neither flatter nor dissemble be you but true to your self applying what they teach unto the party gtieved and you shall need no other comfort nor counsell To them and to Gods holy Spirit directing you in the reading of them I commend your Lordship beseeching him to send you a good issue out of these troubles and from henceforth to work a reformation in all that is amiss and a resolute perseverance proceeding and growth in all that is good and that for his glory the bettering of your self this Church and Common-wealth whose faithfull servant whilst you remain I remain a faithfull servant to you To Sir Vincent Skinner expostulatory Sir Vincent Skinner I See that by your needless delayes this matter is grown to a new question wherein for the matter it self if it had been staid at the begining by my Lord Treasurer and my Lord Chrncellor I should not so much have stood upon it For the great and daily travels which I take in his Majesties service either are rewarded in themselves in that they are but my duty or else may deserve a much greater matter Neither can I think amiss of any man that in furtherance of the Kings benefit moved the doubt that I knew not what warrant you had But my wrong is that you having had my Lord Treasurers and Mr. Chancellors warrant for payment above a moneth since you I say making your payments belike upon such differences as are better known to your self then agreeable to due respect of his Majesties service have delayed all this time otherwise then I might have expected either from our antient acquaintance or from that regard as one in your place may owe to one in mine By occasion whereof there ensueth to me a greater inconvenience that now my name in sort must be in question amongst you as if I were a man likely to demand that that were unreasonable or to be denied that that is reasonable And this must be because you can pleasure men at pleasure But this I leave with this that it is the first matter wherein I had occasion to discern of your friendship which I see to fall to this That whereas Mr. Chancellor the last time in my mans hearing very honourably said that he would not discontent any man in my place it seems you have no such caution But my writing to you now is to know of you where now the stay is without being any more beholden to you to whom indeed no man ought to be beholden in those cases in a right course And so I bid you farewell FR. BACON To Mr. Toby Matthews Mr. Matthews DO not think me forgetfull or altered towards you But if I should say I could do you any good I should make my power more then it is I do fear that which I am right sorry for that you grow more impatient and busie then at first which makes me exceedingly fear the issue of that which seemeth not to stand at a stay I my self am out of doubt that you have been miserably abused when you were first seduced and that which I take in compassion others may take in severity I pray God that understands us all better then we understand one another continue you as I hope he will at least within the bounds of loyalty to his Majesty and natural piety to your Country And I intreat you much to meditate sometimes upon the effect of Superstition in this last Powder-Treason fit to be tabled and pictur'd in the chambers of Meditation as another Hell above the ground and well justifying the censure of the Heathen that Superstition is far worse then Atheism by how much it is less evil to have no good opinion of God at all then such as are impious towards his divine Majesty and goodness Good Mr. Matthews receive your self back from these courses of perdition Willing to have written a great deal more I continue Your c. FR. BACON To the Lord Treasurer concerning the Sollicitors place AFter the remembrance of my humble duty though I know by late experience how mindfull your Lordship vouchsafeth to be of me and my poor fortune and since it pleased your Lordship during your indisposition when her Majesty came to visit your Lordship to make mention of me for my imployment and preferment yet being now in the Country I do presume that your Lordship who of your self had an honorable care of the matter will not think it a trouble to be sollicited therein My hope is this that whereas your Lordship told me her Majesty was somwhat gravelled upon the offence she took at my Speech in Parliament your Lordships favourable endeavour who hath assured me that for your own part you construe that I spake to the best will be as a good tide to remove her from that shelf And it is not unknown unto your good Lordship that I was the first of the ordinary sort of the lower House that spake for the Subsidie and that which I after spake in difference was but in circumstance of time which methinks was no great matter since there is variety allowed in Councel as a Discord in Musick to make it more perfect But I may justly doubt her Majesties impression upon this particular as her conceipt otherwise of my insufficiencie and unworthiness which though I acknowledge to be great yet it will be the less because I purpose not to divide my self between her Majesty and the causes of other men as others have done but to attend her business only hoping that a whole man meanly able may do as well as half a man better able And if her Majesty thinketh that she shall make an adventure in using one that is rather a man of study then of
far greater matter and if it were nothing else I hope the modesty of my suit deserveth somewhat for I know well the Sollicitors place is not as your Lordship left it time working alteration somewhat in the profession much more in that speciall place And were it not to satisfie my wives friends and to get my self out of being a common gaze and a speech I protest before God I would never speak word for it But to conclude as my honorable Lady was some mean to make me to change the name of another so if it please you to help me as you said to change mine own name I cannot be but more and more bounden to you And I am much deceived if your Lordship find not the King well inclined as for my Lord of Salisbury he is forward and affectionate Yours c. FR. BACON To King JAMES It may pleaase your excellent Majesty HOw honestly ready I have been most gracious Soveraign to do your Majesty humble service to the best of my power and in a manner beyond my power as I now stand I am not so unfortunate but your Majesty knows both in the Commission of Union the labour wherof for men of my profession rested most upon my hands and this last Parliament for the Bill of Subsidy both body and preamble In the Bill of Attainders of Tresham and the rest in the matter of Purveyance in the Ecclesiasticall Petitions in the grievances and the like as I was ever carefull not without good success sometime to put forward that which was good sometime to keep back that which was worse so your Majesty was pleased kindly to accept of my services and to say to me such conflicts were the warres of peace and such victories the victories of peace and therefore such servants as obtained them were by Kings that reign in peace no less to be esteemed then Conquerors in the warres In all which nevertheless I can challenge to my self no sufficiencie that I was diligent and reasonably happy to execute those directions which I received either immediatly from your Royall mouth or from my Lord of Salisbury At that time it pleased your Majesty also to assure me that upon the remove of the then Attorney I should not be forgotten but be brought into ordinary place and this was after confirmed unto me by many of my Lords And towards the end of the last Term the manner also in particular spoken of that is that Mr. Sollicitor should be made your Majesties Serjeant and I Sollicitor for so it was thought best to sort with both our gifts and faculties for the good of our service And of this resolution both Court and Country took notice Neither was this any invention or project of mine own but moved from my Lords I think first from my Lord Chancellor whereupon resting your Majesty well knoweth I never opened my mouth for the greater place although I am sure I had two circumstances that Mr. Attorney that now is could not alleadge the one nine years service of the Crown the other the being Cousin-german to my Lord of Salisbury for of my Fathers service I will not speak But for the less place I conceive it was never meant me but after that Mr. Attorny Hubbard was placed I heard no more of any preferment but it seemed to be at a stop to my great disgrace and discontentment For gracious Soveraign if still when the waters be stirred another shall be put in before me your Majesty had need work a miracle or else I shall be a lame man to do your services And therefore my most humble suit unto your Majesty is That this which seemed to me intended may speedily be performed and I hope my former service shall be but as beginnings to better when I am better strengthened For sure I am no mans heart is fuller I say not but many may have greater hearts but I say not fuller of love and duty towards your Majesty and your children as I hope time wil manifest against envy and detraction if any be To conclude I humbly crave pardon for my boldness c. Your c. FR. BACON Mr. Edmond Andersons Letter to Sir Francis Bacon Noble Sir THere is ever a certain presumption to be had of the favour of great men so as there be a reason added to accompany their justice mine that gives boldness to call upon your succour is that I am fallen more under the malignity of rumor then severity of laws though that hath ever set mine offence at the blackest mark to force this latter cloud away none can but the breath of a King th' other which threatneth and oppresseth more every good Spirit may help to disperse In this name honorable Sir I beseech your goodness to spend some few words to the putting of false fame to flight which hath so often endangered even the innocent And if the saving of a poor penitent man may come to be part of your care let it ever be reckoned to your vertue that you have not only assisted to preserve but create a person so corrected by necessity as the example of his repentance was not worthy to be lost who will live and die thankfully yours EDMOND ANDERSON Sir Thomas Bodeley to Sir Francis Bacon upon his new Philosophy Sir AS soon as the Term was ended supposing your leisure was more then before I was coming to thank you two or three times rather chusing to do it by word then letter but I was still disappointed of my purpose as I am at this present upon an urgent occasion which doth tie me fast to Fulham and hath made me now determine to impart my mind in writing I think you know I have read your Cogitata visa which I protest I have done with great desire reputing it a token of your singular love that you joyned me with those your friends to whom you would commend your first perusall of your draught for which I pray you give me leave to say but this unto you First that if the depth of my affection to your person and spirit to your works and your words and to all your ability were as highly to be valued as your affection is to me it might walk with yours arm in arm and claim your love by just desert but there can be no comparison where our states are so uneven and our means to demonstrate our affections so different insomuch as for mine own I must leave it to be prized in the nature that it is and you shall evermore find it most addicted to your worth As touching the subject of your Book you have set afoot so many noble speculations as I cannot chuse but wonder and I shall wonder at it ever that your expence of time considered in your publique profession which hath in a manner no acquaintance with Scholarship or Learning you should have culled forth the quintessence and sucked up the sap of the chiefest kind of Learning For howsoever in some
to be buried with them should not hold me equivalent with any new Melchisedech without father or mother I protest Madam I could not presage any ill success to my self but onely out of the means of my ambition and have held it therefore superfluous to claim any favour in vertue of supererogation esteeming it too great a derogation from my self for so poor a thing as a Spittle-house to raise the dead to speak for me or challenge any thing more then my own But it is neither the strangeness of the matter nor the hardness of my belief that can alter the decree of a Prince But I must take it in good payment that is no less then for as great a disgrace as can outwardly befall me yet must I ever hold my self beholding to this suit for though I lose the Hospital yet have I lost many errors withall I have weighed my friends in a balance and taken a just measure of my fortune I must not despair it is not impossible for a man well taught to make a retreat into himself neither will I yet despair of my suit onely for this reason that this change cannot proceed of her Majesties proper motion but must be procured by some blind practise that dares not see the light though it may be my fortune to bring it forth blushing howsoever it be it shall never distemper my dutifull affection towards her Majesty though that be for ever barred from her knowledge for they who are able to prevent her goodness will be ever likely to prevent my service That the place is already meant to a Divine cannot be true nor my impediment For there is no kind of her Majesties servants and subjects so provided for there being such store of places that fall daily both better then this in value and more proper for their function Your Ladiship hath been hitherto an honorable and faithfull intercessor for me Good Madam be not weary to continue so still as I shall do ever to acknowledge it and if I be able in part to deserve it G. B. To his Wife LEt me intreat you to read my Letter once again and if you can find no cause of quarrell do but then think what you have done all this time to send me such a Cartoll you cannot be more void of fault then I of suspition and what you speak I cannot understand But doth my imprisonment abridge me that I cannot give you counsell Or have you resolved to follow the counsell of the Lady you know Know then as my ill fortune cannot deject me so ought it much less to make you brave and insolent You have your choyce of two courses let me know which you will take that I trust not to a broken Reed And yet what need I care seeing that you who were my chief care do now begin to sever your self I will not yet condemn you you may see how unapt I am to entertain ill thoughts I will yet both hold and write my self Your loving Husband G. BROOKS King James to the Major and Aldermen of London after he was proclaimed March 28. 1605. To our trusty and wel-beloved Robert Loe Lord Major of our City of London and to our welbeloved the Aldermen and Commons of the same TRusty and welbeloved we greet you heartily well Being informed of your great forwardness in that just and honorable action of proclaiming us your soveraign Lord and King immediately after the decease of our late deceased Sister the Queen wherein you have given a singular good proof of your ancient fidelity a reputation hereditary to that our Citie of London being the Chamber of our Imperiall Crown and ever free from all shades of tumultuous and unlawfull courses We could not omit with all possible speed we might to give you hereby a Test of our thankfull mind for the same and withall assurance that you cannot crave any thing of us fit for the maintenance of you all in generall and every one of you in particular but it shall be most willingly performed by us whose speciall care shall ever be to provide for the continuance and increase of your present happiness desiring you in the mean time to go constantly forward in doing all and whatsoever things you shall find necessary or expedient for the good government of our said City in execution of justice as you have been used to do in our said dearest Sisters time till our pleasure be known to you in the contrary Thus not doubting but you will do as you may be fully assured of our gracious favour towards you in the highest degree we bid you heartily farewell Hallyrud-House March 28. 1603. JAMES R. The Roman Catholiques Petition to King James for Toleration MOst puissant Prince and orient Monarch Such are the rare perfections and admirable gifts of wisdom prudence valour and justice wherewith the bountifull hand of Gods divine Majesty hath endued your Majesty as in the depth of your provident judgment we doubt not but you foresee what concerneth both the spiritual and temporal Government of all your Kingdoms and Dominions Notwithstanding your Graces most afflicted Subjects and devoted Servants the Catholiques of England partly to prevent sinister informations which haply may possess your sacred ears before our answer be heard partly as men almost overwhelmed with persecutions for our consciences we are inforced to have speedy recourse in hope of present redress from your Highness and to present these humble lines unto your Royal person to plead for us some commiseration and favour Alas what allegiance or duty can any Temporal Prince desire or expect at his Vassals hands which we are not addressed to perform How many Noblemen and worthy Gentlemen most zealous in the Catholique Religion have endured some loss of lands and livings some exile others imprisonment some the effusion of blood and life for the advancement of your blessed Mothers right unto the Scepter of Albion Nay whose finger did ever ake but Catholiques for your Majesties present title and dominions How many fled to your Court offering themselves as hostages for their friends to live and die in your gracious quarrel if ever adversary had opposed himself against the equity of your cause If this they attempted with their Princes disgrace to obtain your Majesties grace what will they do nay what will they not do to live without disgrace in your Graces favor The main of this Realm if we respect Religion setting petty Sects aside consists of four parts Protestants who have domineered all the Queens dayes Puritans who have crept up apace amongst them Atheists or Polititians who were bred upon their brawls and contentions in matters of faith and Catholiques who as they are opposite to all so are they detested of all because error was ever an enemy to truth Hardly all or any two of the first three can be suppressed Therefore we beseech your Majesty to yield us as much favour as others of contrary Religion to that which shall be
publiquely professed in England shall obtain at your hands For if our fault be like less or none at all in equity our punishment ought to be like less or none at all The Gates Arches and Pyramids of France proclaimed the present King Pater patriae Pacis restitutor that is the Father of his Country and Restorer of their peace because that Kingdom being well neer torn in peeces with Civil wars and made a prey to foraign foes was by his providence wisdom and valour acquitted in it self and hostile strangers expelled the which he principally effected by condescending to tolerate them of an adverse Religion to that which was openly professed Questionless Dread Soveraign the Kingdom of England through the cruel persecution of Catholiques hath been almost odious to all Christian Nations Trade and traffique is exceedingly decayed Wars and blood hath seldom ceased Subsidies and Taxes never so many discontented minds innumerable All which your Princely Majesties connivance to your humble suppliants the afflicted Catholiques will easily redness especially at this your Highness first ingress Si loquaris ad nos verba levia erunt tibi servi cunctis diebus 1 King 12.7 that is if you speak comfortable things unto them or if you hearken unto them in this thing they will be servants unto you or they will serve all their days say the sage Councellors of Solomon to Roboam For enlargement after affliction resembleth a pleasant gale after a vehement tempest and a benefit in distress doubleth the value thereof How gratefull will it be to all Catholique Princes abroad and honorable to your Majesty to understand how Queen Elizabeths severity is changed into your Royal clemencie and that the lenity of a man reedified what the misinformed anger of a woman destroyed that the Lyon rampant is passant whereas the passant had been rampant How acceptable shall your Subjects be to all Catholique Countries who are now almost abhorred of all when they shall perceive your Highness prepareth not pikes or prisons for the Professors of their Faith but permitteth them Temples and Altars for the use of their Religion Then we shall see with our eyes and touch with our fingers that happy benediction of Isa 14.7 in this Land that swords are turned into mattocks or ploughs and lances into sithes and all Nations admiring us will say Hi sunt semen cui benedixit Dominus that is these are the seed which the Lord hath blessed We request no more favour at your Graces hands then that we may securely believe and profess that Catholique Religion which all your happy Predecessors professed from Donaldus the first converted unto your late blessed Mother martyred a Religion venerable for antiquity majestical for amplitude constant for continuance irreprehensible for doctrine inducing to all kind of vertue and piety disswading from all sin and wickedness a religion beloved by all primitive Pastors established by all Oecumenicall Councels upholden by ancient Doctors maintained by the first and best Christian Emperours recorded almost alone in all Ecclesiasticall Histories sealed with the blood of millions of Martyrs adorned with the vertues of so many Confessors beautified with the purity of thousands of virgins so conformable unto naturall sense and reason and finally so agreeable with the sacred Texts of Gods Word and Gospell The free use of this Religion we request if not in publick Churches at the least in private houses if not with approbation yet with toleration without molestation Assuring your Grace that howsoever some Protestants or Puritans incited by morall honesty of life or innated instinct of nature or for fear of some temporall punishment pretend obedience unto your Highness Laws yet certainly the onely Catholiques for conscience sake observe them For they defending that Princes Precepts and Statutes oblige no subject under the penalty of sin will have little care in conscience to transgress them which principally are tormented with the guilt of sin But Catholiques professing merit in obeying and immerit in transgressing cannot but in Soul be grievously tortured for the least prevarication thereof Wherefore most mercifull Soveraign we your loving afflicted subjects in all dutifull subjection protest before the Majesty of God and all his holy Angels as loyal obedience and immaculate allegiance unto your Grace as ever did faithfull subjects in England or Scotland unto your Highness Progenitors and intend as sincerely with our goods and lives to serve you as ever did the loyallest Israelites King David or the trustiest Legions the Roman Emperours And thus expecting your Majesties customary favour and gracious bounty we rest your devoted suppliants to him whose hands do manage the hearts of Kings and with reciprocate mercy will requite the mercifull Your Majesties most devoted servants the Catholiques of England Sir Walter Raleigh to King James before his triall IT is one part of the Office of a just and worthy Prince to hear the complaints of his vassals especially such as are in great misery I know not amongst many other presumptions gathered against me how your Majesty hath been perswaded that I was one of them who were greatly discontented and therefore the more likely to prove disloyall But the great God so relieve me in both worlds as I was the contrary and I took as great comfort to behold your Majesty and always learning some good and bettering my knowledge by hearing your Majesties discourse I do most humbly beseech your Soveraign Majesty not to believe any of those in my particular who under pretence of offences to Kings do easily work their particular revenge I trust no man under the colour of making examples should perswade your Majesty to leave the word Mercifull out of your Stile for it wil be no less profit to your Majesty become your greatness then the word Invincible It is true that the Laws of England are no less jealous of the Kings then Caesar was of Pompey's wife for notwithstanding she was cleared for having company with Claudius yet for being suspected he condemned her For my self I protest before Almighty God and I speak it to my Master and Soveraign that I never invented treason against him and yet I know I shall fall in manibus eorum a quibus non possum evadere unless by your Majesties gracious compassion I be sustained Our Law therefore most mercifull Prince knowing her own cruelty and knowing that she is wont to compound treason out of presumptions and circumstances doth give this charitable advice to the King her Supream Non solum sapiens esse sed misericors c. cum tutius sit reddere rationem misericordiae quam judicii I do therefore on the knees of my heart beseech your Majesty from your own sweet and comfortable disposition to remember that I have served your Majesty twenty years for which your Majesty hath yet given me no reward and it is fitter I should be indebted unto my Soveraign Lord then the King to his poor Vassal Save me therefore most mercifull Prince
of great wisdom knowledge and judgment meet and worthy to be followed of which leaving all other I will remember that of William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England who after long service was upon his humble suit discharged of the office of Chancellor of England in respect of his great age Seeing then such a cloud of witnesses against me which in my private Soliloquies and Meditations are daily and continually represented to my view and mine own conscience more then a thousand witnesses concurring with me Pardon me my most gracious Soveraign to conclude with good Barzillai Quot sâ—nt dies annorum vitae meae quare servus tuus sit oneri domino nostro Regi obsecro ut revertar servus tuus moriar c. So I most humbly beseech your sacred Majesty graciously to regard the great age infirmity and impotency of your most devoted obedient loyall and faithfull servant Let me not be as Domitius after was Maluit deficere quam desinere But with your Princely favour give me leave to retire myself from the careful service of this great office and from the troubles of this world and to spend the small remnant of this my life in meditation and prayer I wil never cease to make my humble supplications to Almighty God to bless prosper your Majesty the Queen the Prince all your Royal issue with all heavenly and earthly felicity which is the last and best service your poor aged weak and decayed servant can do for you THO. ELLESMERE Canc. Sir Francis Norris to King James Most gracious Soveraign THe advantage which mine adversary hath taken in first presenting his complaint freely and uncontrolled would have afflicted me greatly had I not known that your Majesty hath given to your Judges Injunction Auditne alteram partem That I entered into discourse with the Lord Willoughby in Church or Church-yard may make it manifest that I had no disposition at all to quarrell The rest of the world is wide enough for men so affected They that prophane such places trust more to the place the ntheir own worth That I was improvidently in such a place by him surprized muffled in my own Cloak and treacherously buffeted shewed that I suspected no such assault as was there made upon me and where I was so disgracefully and ignobly assaulted by the Lord Willoughby and he in no sort by me yet wel I hope to satisfie every indifferent judgement much more the supream Judge that I had nothing in my intention either towards the Master or the Man It is true most gracious Soveraign that after the Lord Willoughby's dishonorable indignity by me expelled I seeing an unknown face coming fiercely with his sword upon me for my life in defence whereof God himself the law of Nature and Nations doth warrant us to contend I was forced to have forgone it at a Ruffins command or by resisting to yeild it up to your Majesty to whom I have vowed it whensoever you shall command it to your service This I presume to write to a King in whom rests the spirit of honor and by that spirit I hope your Majesty will judge that he which will run from his own defence being injuriously assaulted will also run from the defence of his Soveraign Master I also presume in all humility to address my self to a Prince indued with the spirit of Justice joyned to the divine vertue of compassion by both which I nothing doubt your Majesty will judge when you shall be truly informed of the preceding and succeeding wrongs offered me that I am and will be Your Majesties most humble and loyall subject FR. NORRIS A Patent for the Admiralty of Ireland RIght trusty and welbeloved Cousin and Councellor We greet you well Whereas we are graciously pleased as well for the increase of our Navy and Navigators as also for the better enabling and enriching of our subjects in our Realm of Scotland to give way and liecnce unto our loving subjects of Scotland and so many of them as may make a full able and compleat company for Traffick and Merchandizing into the East Indies to erect and set up among themselves a Company to be called The East Indian Company of Scotland making their first Magazin Storehouse for the said Company in some parts of our Realm of Ireland But for that our Ports and Seas upon the Coasts of our said Realm of Ireland have of late and still are likely without our speciall aid and assistance to be much troubled and annoyed with Pirats and other Sea-Robbers to the great discouragement of our loving Subjects and Merchants passing that way We for the avoyding of those inconveniences and for the better heartning of the said Company in their intended voyage and traffick have for reasons to us best known resolved notwithstanding any other imployments of our Ships there by our Letters Patents under our great Seal of England and at the humble request and Petition of our loving Subjects of the said Company to nominate and appoint A. B. our trusty servant to be imployed in those Seas and Coasts of Ireland as fully and amply as our servant Sir F. H. is now for our narrow Seas And to the end he may with more courage and less prejudice to our said servant Sir F. H. by his diligence and industry in the said imployment free those Seas from the said annoyances our pleasure is That you by your Deed Poll do give unto our said Servant such and the like power and authority for the Irish Seas and Chanell of St. George as the said Sir F. H. hath for the Narrow Seas So always as the power and authority of the said A. B. may begin where the power and authority of the said Sir F. H. doth end that is to say from our Island of Scilie in our Realm of England unto and alongst the Coast of Ireland and the Chanell of St. George So not doubting of your speedy effecting of what is here required for the furtherance of so good a work We bid you heartily farewell From our Court at c. A Commission to divers Lords c. for the delivery of Ulushing Brill c. May 14. Jac. 14. IAMES by the grace of God King of England c. To the right Reverend Father in God our right trusty and welbeloved Councellor George Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and to our right trusty and welbeloved Councellor Tho. Ellesmere Lord Chancellor of England and to our right trusty and welbeloved Cousins and Councellors Tho. Earl of Suffolk Lord Treasurer of England Edward Earl of Worcester Lord Keeper of our Privy-Seal Lodowick Duke of Lennox Lord Steward of our houshold Charls Earl of Nottingham Lord Admiral of England William Earl of Pembroke Lord Chamberlain of our houshold Tho. Earl of Exeter John Earl of Mar and Alexander Earl of Dumfermlin and to our right trusty and right welbeloved Councellors Tho. Viscount Fenton Tho. Bishop of Winton Edward Lord Zouch Lord
said States his superiors touching the rendition and yeilding up of the said Town of Vlushing with the Castle of Ramakins in Zealand and of the said town of Brill in Holland with the Forts and Sconces thereunto belonging and of the Artillery or Munition formerly delivered by the said States with the same Towns and Castles and Forts and which are now remaining in them or any of them and have not been spent or consumed And for the delivery of the said Towns Castle Forts Artillery and Munition into the hands of the said States upon such terms as by the said Lords and other of our Privy Councell or the more part of them shall be thought fit for our most honor and profit and for the manner thereof to give instructions to our several Governors of our said Garrisons according to such their conclusion which conclusion according to our said Commission is already made and perfected We do therefore hereby give power and authority unto and do charge and command you the said Lord Lisle for us and in our name to render and yield up into the hands of the said States of the United Provinces or to such persons as shall be lawfully deputed by them the aforesaid Town of Vlushing and Castle of Ramakins whereof now you have charge by vertue of our Letters-Patents aforesaid together with the Artillery and Munition now remaining in them or any of them heretofore delivered by the said States with the said Town and Castle and as yet not spent or consumed observing and performing in all points such instructions as you shall receive under the hands of the said Lords and others of our Privy-Councel or the more part of them concerning the rendring up and delivery of the said Town And we do further give you full power and authority and by these presents do charge and command you for us and in our name to discharge and set free all the subordinate Officers Captains and souldiers under your charge of that oath and trust which heretofore they have taken for the keeping and preserving of that Town and Castle to our use and service and for that purpose to make such Declaration Proclamation and other signification of our Royal pleasure commandment and ordinance in that behalf as in your wisdom you shall think fit and these our Letters-Patents or the inrollment or exemplification thereof shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalf In witness c. Witness our self at Westminster the 22 day of May in the 14 year of our reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the 49. Countess of Nottingham to the Danish Ambassador SIR I Am very sorry this occasion should have been offered me by the King your Master which makes me troublesom to you for the present It is reported to me by men of honour the great wrong the King of the Danes hath done me when I was not by to answer for my self For if I had been present I would have letten him know how much I scorn to receive that wrong at his hands I need not to urge the particular of it for the King himself knows it best I protest to you Sir I did think as honorably of the King your Master as I did of my own Prince but now I perswade my self there is as much baseness in him as can be in any man For although he be a Prince by birth it seems not to me that there harbours any Princely thought in his breast for either in Prince or Subject it is the basest that can be to wrong any woman of honour I deserve as little that name he gave me as either the mother of himself or of his children and if ever I come to know what man hath informed your Master so wrongfully of me I should do my best for putting him from doing the like to any other but if it hath come by the tongue of any woman I dare say she would be glad to have companions So leaving to trouble you any further I rest Your friend M. NOTTINGHAM Sir Charls Cornwallis Lieger in Spain to the Spanish King Iuly 23. 1608. YOur Majesty hath shewed the sincerity of your Royal heart in applying remedy to many inconveniences and injustice offered by your Ministers to the King my masters subjects in their goods and bodies and therein have performed not only what belongeth to your Kingly dignity but also what might be expected from a Prince so zealous of justice and of so good intention It resteth that now I beseech you to cast your Royal eyes upon another extreme injustice offered not only to their bodies and goods but to their very souls who being by your Majesties agreement confirmed with your oath to live within these your Kingdoms free from molestation for matter of opinion and conscience except in matters of scandal to others are here laid hold on and imprisoned by your Majesties Officers of Inquisition continually upon every light occasion of private information of some particular persons of their own Country who being fugitives out of their own houses and having according to the nature of our people removed not only their bodies but their hearts from the soil that bred them and from their brethren that were nourished with them do here seek to grace themselves by professing and teaching the observations of the Romish Church and that not out of any zeal but as plainly appeareth by many of their actions out of malice and envy By the Commissioners authorized by both your Majesties for the agreeing of the Peace it was clearly discerned that if upon private or particular informations his Majesties vassals here should be questioned for matter of Religion it was not possible that they should exercise any commerce in these kingdoms where they should be no one moment assured either of their goods or liberties It was therefore provided that they should in no sort be impeached but in case of scandal and that scandal with your Majesties favour must be understood to grow out of some publike action not out of private opinion or single conscience for if otherwise very vain and inutile had been that provision How the word scandal is in the most usual and common sense to be understood is in no books more evident then in the Divine Scriptures themselves Our Saviour in regard of his publique teaching of the Gospel and the abolishing of the Law-Ceremonial was said to be to both houses of Israel a stone of scandal The sin of David if it had lain covered in his own heart or been committed in private should not have been either published or punished as a scandal to the enemies of God St. Paul himself declareth that his own eating of flesh offered to Idols could not be an offence but only his eating before others of weak conscience whereby to give the scandal Besides I humbly beseech your Majesty consider how fitly that of the Apostle Quis es qui judicas alienum servum may be applied to
business of the Match and delivered him the contents thereof in writing which I have sent to Mr. Secretary I received from him the same answer in effect as from the Conde de Olivarez That he desired the Match no less then your Majesty That on his part there should be no time lost for the bringing of it to a speedy conclusion In the business of the Palatinate I spake unto the King with some length repeating many particulars of your Majesties proceedings and how much your honour was like to suffer that now whilst you were treating Heidelborgh defended by your Garrisons was like to be taken The King answered me He would effectually labour that your Majesty should have entire satisfaction and rather then your Majesty should fail thereof he would imploy his Arms to effect it for you My Lord Ambassador Sir Walter Ashton accompanied me at my audience and was a witness of all that passed as wel with the King as with the Conde de Olivarez Within few dayes after the newes of the taking of Heidelbergh came hither whereupon I dispatched again to the King in such sort as I have at large advertised Mr. Secretary Calvert The effect of my Negotiation was that they on the 13. of October dispatched Letters away of the Emperors and Duke of Bavaria's proceedings But pressing them further in regard their former Letters have wrought so little effect they have given me at present a second Dispatch which I have sent unto the Infanta and whereof Mr. Secretary will give your Majesty an account which I conceive will procure your Majesties better satisfaction then hitherto you have received from the Emperor and his party For the business of the match I have written to Mr. Secretary what is to be said at present and will only add that as I should not willingly give your Majesty hope upon uncertain grounds so I will not conceal what they profess which is That they will give your Majesty real and speedy satisfaction therein And if they intended it not they are falser then all the Devils in hell for deeper oaths and protestations of sincerity cannot be made It will only remain that I humbly cast my self at your Majesties feet for that addition of Title wherewith it hath pleased you to honour me and my posterity My gratitude and thankfulness wanteth expression and shall only say unto your Majesty That as all I have either of fortunes or honour I hold it meerly of your bounty and goodness so shall I ever cheerfully lay them down with my life into the bargain for the service of your Majesty and yours So with my humble prayers for the health and prosperity of your Majesty I humbly commend your Majesty to Gods holy protection and rest Your Majesties most humble servant and subject BRISTOL Madrid Octob. 21. 1622. King Philip the third of Spain to the Conde of Olivarez THe King my Father declared at his death that his intention never was to marry my sister the Infanta Donna Maria with the Prince of Wales which your Uncle Don Baltezer well understood and so treated this match ever with an intention to delay it notwithstanding it is now so far advanced that considering withall the aversness unto it of the Infanta as it is high time to seek some means to divert the treaty which I would have you find out and I will make it good whatsoever it be but in all other things procure the satisfaction of the King of Great Britain who hath deserved very much and it shall content me so that it be not the match Conde Olivarez his Answer to the King Sir COnsidering in what estate we find the Treaty of marriage between Spain and Emgland and knowing certainly how the Ministers did understand this business that treated it in the time of Philip the third who is now in heaven that their meaning was never to effect it but by enlarging the treaties and points of the said marriage to make use of the friendship of the King of Great Britain as well in the matter of Germany as those of Flanders and suspecting likewise that your Majesty is of the same opinion although the demonstrations do not shew so joyning to those suspitions that it is certain that the Infanta Donna Maria is resolved to put her self into the Monastery the same day that your Majesty shall press her to make the marriage I have thought fit to present to your Majesty that which my good zeal hath afforded me in this occasion thinking it a good time to acquaint your Majesty withall to the end you may resolve of that which you shall find most convenient with the advice of those Ministers that you shall think fit The King of Great Britain doth find himself at this time equally in the two businesses the one is the marriage to the which he is moved by the conveniences which he finds in your Majesties friendship with making an agreement with those Catholiques that he thinks are secretly in his Kingdom and by this to assure himself of them as likewise to marry his son to one of the house of Austria knowing that the Infanta Donna Maria is the best born Lady in the world Th' other businesse is the restitution of the Palatinate in which he is yet more ingaged For besides that his reputation is at stake there is added the love and interest of his Grandchildren sons of his onely daughter So that both by the law of Nature and reason of State he ought to put them before whatsoever conveniences might follow by dissembling what they suffer I do not dispute whether the King of Great Britainy be governed in this business of the Palatinate by Art or friendship I think a man may say he hath used both but as a thing not precisely necessary to this discourse I omit it I hold it for a maxime that these two Ingagements in which he finds himself are unseparable for although the marriage be made we must fail in that which in any way of understanding is most necessary which is the restitution of the Palatinate This being supposed having made the marriage in the form as it is treated your Majesty may find your self together with the King of Great Brirain engaged in a war against the Emperour and the Catholique league so that your Majesty shall be forced to delare your self with your Arms against the Emperour and the Catholique league a thing which to hear will offend your Majesties godly ears or declaring your self for the Emperour and the Catholique league as certainly you will your Majesty will find your self ingaged in a war against the King of England and your sister married with his son with the which all whatsoever conveniences that was thought upon with this marriage do cease if your Majesty shall shew your self Newtrall as it may be some will expound The first will cause very great scandall and with just reason since in matters of lesse opposition then of Catholiques against Heretiques the Armes
of this Crown hath taken the godly against the contrary part And at this time the French men have taken part with the Hollanders against your Majesty your piety hath been such that you have sent your Arms against the Rebels of that Crown leaving all the great considerations of State only because those men are enemies of the faith and the Church It wil oblige your Majesty and good occasion to those of the League to make use of the King of France and other Catholique Princes ill affected to this Crown for it will be a thing necessary for them to do so and those even against their own Religion will foment and assist the Heretiques for hatred to us without doubt they will follow the contrary part onely to leave your Majesty with that blemish that never hath befaln any King of these Dominions By the second the King of England will remain offended and disobliged seeing that neither interesses nor hopes do follow the Allyance with this Crown as likewise the pretext of particular resentment for having suffered his daughter and grand-children to be ruined for respect of the said Allyance The Emperour though he be well-affected and obliged to us in making the translation at this time as businesses now stand the Duke of Bavaria being now possessed of all the Dominions although he would dispose all according to our conveniences yet it will not be in his power to do it as you and every body may see And the memoriall that the Emperours Ambassador gave your Majesty yesterday makes it certain since in the List of the Souldiers that every on of the League is to pay he shews your Majesty that Bavier for himself alone will pay more then all the rest joyned together the which doth shew his power and his intention which is not to accommodate matters but to keep to himself the superiority of all in this broken time The Emperour is now in the Dyet and the translation is to be made in it The opposition in this estate is by conserving the means for conference which your Majesties Ministers will do with their capacities zeal and wisdom and it is certain they wil all have enough to do for the difficulty consists to find a way to make the present estate of affairs straight again which with lingring as it is said both the power and time will be lost I suppose that the Emperour as your Majesty knows by his Ambassador desires to marry his daughter with the King of Englands son I doubt not but he will be likewise glad to marry his second daughter with the Palatines son Then I propound that these two marriages be made and that they be set on foot presently giving the King of England full satisfaction in all his propositions for the more strict union and correspondency that he may agree to it I hold for certain that all the conveniences that would have followed the allyance with us wil be as full in this it doth accommodate the matter of the Palatinate and the succession of his grand-children with his honor without drawing a sword or wasting treasure After I would reduce the Prince Elector that was an enemy to the obedience of the Church by breeding his sons in the Emperours Court with Catholique Doctrine The business is great the difficulty greater then perchance have been in any other case I have found my self obliged to represent to your Majesty and to shew if you please to command me what I think fit for the disposing of the things and of the great Ministers that your Majesty hath I hope with the particular notice of these things and all being helped with the good zeal of the Conde de Gondemer it may be that God wil open a way to it a thing so much for his and your Majesties service King James to the Earl of Bristol Octob. 8. 1623. WE have received yours brought us by Gresly and the Copy of yours to our dear Son and we cannot forbear to let you know how well we esteem your dutifull discreet and judicious relation and humble advise to our self and our Son whereupon having ripely deliberated with our self and communicated with our dear Son we have resolved with the great liking of our Son to rest upon that security in point of doubt of the Infanta's taking a Religious house which you in your judgment shall think meet We have further thought meet to give you knowledge that it is our special desire that the betrothing of the Infanta with words de praesenti should be upon one of the dayes in Christmass new stile that holy and joyfull time best fitting so notable and blessed an action But first we will that you repair presently to that King and give him knowledge of the safe arrival of our dear Son to our Court so satisfied and taken with the great entertainments personal kindness favour and respect he hath received from that King and Court as he seems not able to magnifie it sufficiently which makes us not know how sufficiently to give thanks but we will that by all means you endeavour to express our thankfulness to that King and the rest to whom it belongs in the best and most ample manner you can And hereupon you may take occasion to let that King know that according to our constant affection to make a firm and indissoluble amity between our Families Nations and Crowns and not seem to abandon our honour nor at the same time we give joy to our onely Son to give our onely Daughter her portion in tears By the advice of that Kings Ambassadors we have entred a Treaty concerning the restitution of the Palatinate as will more particularly appear to you by the copies herewith sent Now we must remember you that we ever understood and expected that upon the marriage of our son with the Infanta we should have a clear restitution of the Palatinate Electoral dignity to our son-in-law to be really procured by that King according to the obligation of our honor as you have wel expressed in your reasons why the person of our Son-in-law should not be left out of the Treaty but that the Emperor should findout a great title or by increasing the number of Electorate stiles wherewith to satisfie the Duke of Bavaria We now therfore require you that presently in your first audience you procure from that King a punctual answer what course that King will take for the restitution of the Palatinate and Electorate to our Son-in-law and in case that either the Emperor or the Duke of Bavaria oppose any part of the expected restitution what course that King will take to give us assurance for our content in that point whereof we require your present answer and that you so press expedition herein that we may all together receive the full joy of both in Christmass resting our self upon that faithfull diligence of yours we have approved in all your service Though almost with the latest we must remember to
upon the experience of things past their present interest and the judgement which may be made of the future makes me assured that your Majesty may absolutely dispose of them and by their means being firmly conjoyned with your Majesty give the Law to Europe It is in obedience to your Majesties commandment that I have enlarged my self so far into this discourse which I will send with my most humble thanks for the continuance of your most gracious and paternall bounty particularly shewed in the care you have of the education of my eldest son in your Court who with all the rest are at your Majesties disposing and we hope to live notwithstanding our hard and dolefull condition to yeild unto your Majesty the fruits of a devout and filiall gratitude and I will remain untill the last day of my life From the Hague Decemb. 30. 1623. new stile Your Majesties most c. FREDERICK Postscript I am advertised from a good part that the Elector of Mentz and the other Princes of the Popish league are very instant with the Elector of Saxony and Brandenburgh to perswade them to acknowledge the Duke of Bavaria as an Elector of the Empire which if they obtain it were easie to judge how much it would prejudice my affairs and the common cause of the Empire I therefore most humbly beseech your Majesty that you will be pleased to prevent and hinder such an evil by the interposition of good offices and exhortations to the said secular Electors be it by some Ambassador by serious Letters or such other way as you shall hold meet and suitable to the importance of the matter which above all requireth singular celerity Your Majesty shall increase more and more my obligations and that of the publique of Germany c. Abignoto from Madrid THe Spaniard begins now to be sensible of the great disobligation and gross oversight he committed in suffering the Prince to go away without his Infanta For it hath given occasion of advantage to the English who now seem indifferent whether they match with him or no to proceed more stoutly and to add to the former Articles which the Prince had sworn at his being here certain new Propositions about the Palatinate which was thought to be unfit to motion at his being here by reason of the engagement of his person And there is a Commission sent to the Earl of Bristol to treat of these two businesses joyntly and if the King of Spain give not a satisfactory answer therein then he is to return home Buckingham hath little obligation to Spain therefore for his own particular he hath good reason if he cannot prop him-himself this way to find other means for his support unkindnesses passed between him and Olivarez and a hot heart-burning between him and Bristol who told him here before the Prince that being so far his superior in honor and might he might haply contemn him but he could never hate him Ever since his departure he hath attempted to crush Bristol to pieces who is out of purse two thousand pound of his own since his coming hither he is so crossed that he cannot get a peny from England If he cannot get a surrender of the Palatinate to the Kings mind he is in a poor case for he must hence presently he is much favoured of the King here and Olivarez therefore they will do much for him before Buckingham work his revenge upon him he hath received lately more comfortable dispatches from England and in the last the King sent him he requires his advice in certain things The Proxie the King of Spain had to marry the Infanta in the Princes name is proroged till March There is great resentment of the delayes in the Court here and the Infanta hath given over studying of English The two Ambassadors here ever since the Princes departure have visited the Infanta as vassals but now they carry themselves like Ambassadors again We are all here in suspense and a kind of maze to see the event of things and how matters will be pieced together again we know not A Memoriall to the King of Spain by Sir Walter Ashton Ambassador in Spain Aug. 29. 1624. SIr Walter Ashton Ambassador to the King of Great Britain saith That the King his Master hath commanded him to represent to your Majesty that having declared to your Majesty the reasons why he could receive no satisfaction by your Majesties answer of the first of January and that thereby according to the unanimous consent of his Parliament he came to dissolve both the Treaties of the Match and Palatinate he received another answer from your Majesty wherein he finds less ground to build upon and having understood that either by the Padre de Maestro or your Majesties Ambassadors which have assisted these dayes past in this Court there was something to be propounded and declared touching the business of the Palatinate whereby he might have received satisfaction the said Ambassadors untill now have not said any thing at all to purpose which comparing with other circumstances of their ill carriage he gathers and doubts that according to the ill affection and depraved intentions wherewith they have proceeded in all things but especially in particular they have laboured to hinder the good correspondency and so necessary and desired intelligence which should be conserved with your Majesty Furthermore he saith That the King his Master hath commanded him to give account to your Majesty that in an Audience which he gave to the Marquess de Injiosa and Don Carlo Colomma they under Cloak and pretext of zeal particular care of his person pretended to discover unto him a very great conjuration against his person and Royall Dignity and it was That at the beginning of the Parliament the Duke of Buckingham had consulted with certain Lords of the arguments and means which were to be taken touching the breaking and dissolving of the Treaties of the Palatinate and Match and the consultations passed thus far That if his Majesty would not accommodate himself to their councels they would give him a house of pleasure whither he might retire himself to his sports in regard that the Prince had now years sufficient to and parts answerable for the government of the Kingdom The Information was of that quality that it was sufficient to put impression in him of perpetual jealousies in regard that through the ribs of the Duke he gave wounds to the Prince his son and the Nobility and it is not probable that they could bring to effect such designs without departing totally from the obligation of faith and loyalty which they owed to his Person and Crown because the Lords made themselves culpable as concealers And it is not likely that the Duke would hurl himself into such an enterprize without communicating it first with the Prince and knowing his pleasure And because this information might be made more clear he did make many instances unto the said Ambassadors that they would
persons of what estate soever they be that they and every of them as much as in them is shal uphold and maintain those Articles granted by our Soveraign Lord the King in all points and all those that in any point do resist or break those Ordinances or in any manner hereafter procure counsel or in any ways assent to resist or break those Ordinances or go about it by word or deed openly or privatly by any maner of pretence or colour We therefore the said Archbishop by our authority in this Writing expressed do excommunicate and accurse and from the body of our Lord Jesus Christ and from all the company of Heaven and from all the Sacraments of the holy Church do sequester and exclude Sir hearing that to morrow the Justices will be here about this busie work of Benevolence wherein you have both sent unto and talked with me and thinking that it may be you would deliver up the names of the not-givers Forasmuch as I think I shal scarcely be at home to make my further answer if I should be called for I pray you both hereby to understand my mind your self and if cause so require to let the Justices perceive as much So leaving others to their own consciences whereby in that last and dreadfull day they shal stand or fall before him who will reward every man according to his deeds I commend you to the grace of the Almighty and rest Your loving Neighbour and Friend OLIVER St. JOHN The Justices of Peace in the County of Devon to the Lords of the Councell THe Letters from his sacred Majesty unto the Justices of Peace in this County together with your Lordships have been opened and read according to the directions in your Locdships Letter to our high Sheriff expressed and the weighty business therein contained hath been maturely and speedily debated according to our most bounden duties to his excellent Majesty and the many concurring necessities which press the expedition of such a service and in those respects we can do no less then give your Lordships a timely knowledge of the vote and opinion of us all which was this day almost in the same words delivered by every of us That the sum enjoyned to be levied by the first of March is not to be so suddenly raised out of this County by any means much less by way of perswasion and hereof we had lately a certain experience in the business of the loans which notwithstanding the fear apprehended by the presence of the Pursivant hath come at least 6000. l. short of the expected sum and without him we suppose would have been much less and we are confident that nothing but extremities which had need also be back't by Law will raise his Majesty a sufficient quantity of treasure for his occasions For our selves at the time of the proposition of the forementioned Loans we did according to his Majesties proclamation and instruction then sent us engage our faithfull promise to our Countreymen that if they willingly yeilded to his Majesties necessities at this time we would never more be Instruments in the levy of aids of that kind his Majesties intentions so clearly manifested not to make that a president was the cause of that engagement and we conceive it cannot be for his honor or service for us to be the means of such a breach That his Majesties affairs and of his Allies do all want an instant supply of Royall provisions his provident and Princely Letter hath fully taught us but we have much more cauâ—â— to wish then hope that these parts so lately and so many ways impoverished can yeild it Your Lordships may vouchsafe to remember how much this County hath been charged since the beginning of the war though sometimes refreshed with payment which we acknowledge with humble thanks By our own late loan of 35000. l. and 6000. l. more sent by Sir Thomas Wise and Mr. Stroad and yet there remains due to it for the Coat and Conduct of their own imprest Soldiers for divers voyages for the Recruits intended for the Isle of Ree for the conduct of the whole Army hence besides three Companies stand yet here for Silly and no small number of scattered sick whose mortall infection hath more discouraged the people then the charge That many and almost unaccountable are our ways of expence few or none have we of in-come for the want of Trade how then can there be any quantity of money to disburse their bodies and goods are left which we are assured will be ever ready for his Majesties defence and to be imployed in his Majesties service as far forth as ever our forefathers have yeilded them to his Majesties Royall Progenitors Particular proofs we would have made of the peoples disability to have satisfied his Majesties demands but we had rather adventure our selves and this humble advertisement upon your Lordships private and favourable instructions then to expose his Majesties honor to publique deniall and misspend his pretious time which applied to more certain courses may attain his Princely and religious ends wherein to be his Majesties Instruments will be our earthly happiness and singular comfort to be your Lordships obedient servants The Archbishop of Canterbury to the Bishops concerning King James his Directions for Preachers with the Directions Aug. 14. 1622. RIght Reverend Father in God and my very good Lord and Brother I have received from the Kings most excellent Majesty a Letter the tenor whereof here ensueth Most reverend Father in God right trusty and right entirely beloved Councellor we greet you well Forasmuch as the abuses and extravagancies of Preachers in the Pulpit have been in all times repressed in this Realm by some Act of Councell or State with the advice or resolution of grave and learned Prelates insomuch as the very licencing of Preachers had beginning by an Order of Star-Chamber the 8. day of July in the 19. year of King Henry 8. our Noble Predecessor and whereas at this present divers young Students by reading of late Writers and ungrounded Divines do broach many times unprofitable unsound seditious and dangerous Doctrine to the scandall of the Church and disquieting of the State and present Government We upon humble representation to us of these inconveniences by your self and sundry other grave and reverend Prelats of this Church as also of our Princely care and zeal for the extirpation of schisme and dissention growing from these seeds and for the setling of a religious and peaceable government both of the Church and State do by these our speciall Letters straitly charge and command you to use all possible care and diligence that these limitations and cautions herewith sent unto you concerning Preachers be duly and straitly henceforth observed and put in practice by the severall Bishops in their severall Diocesses within your jurisdictions And to this end our pleasure is that you send them forthwith severall Copies of these Directions to be by them speedily sent
Catechism wherewith the people yea very children may be timely seasoned and instructed in all the heads of Christian Religion The which kind of exposition to our amendment be it spoken is more diligently observed in all the Reformed Churches of Europe then of late it hath been here in England I find his Majesty much moved with this neglect and resolved if we that are Bishops do not see a reformation thereof which I trust we shall to recommend to the care of the Civil Magistrate so far is his Highness from giving the least discouragement to solid preaching or discreet and religious Preachers To all these I am to add That it is his Majesties Princely pleasure that both the former Directions and those reasons of the same be fairly written in every Registers Office to the end that every Preacher of what denomination soever may if he be so pleased take out Copies of either of them with his own hand gratis passing nothing in the name of fee or expedition But if he do use the pains of the Register or the Clerk then to pay some moderate Fee to be pronounced in open Court by the Chancellor and Commissaries of the place taking the direction and approbation of my Lords the Bishops Lastly That from henceforward a course may be taken that every Parson Vicar Curate or Lecturer do make and exhibit an account for the performance of these his Majesties directions and the reasons for the same at the ensuing Visitation of the Bishops and Archdeacons paying to the Register 6 d. for the exhibiting And so wishing but withall in his Majesties name requiring your Lordship to have a special and extraordinary care of the premisses I leave you to the Almighty Your very loving friend J. Lincoln C.S. Septemb. 3. 1622. Instructions for the Ministers and Church-Wardens of London Jan. 28. 1622. 1. THat his Majesties declaration published Anno Dom. 1628. before the Articles of Religion for settling all questions in difference be strictly observed 2. That speciall care be had concerning Lectures in every Parish 3. That the Minister and Church wardens in every parish or one of them do by writing under his or their owne hands certifie unto the Arch-Deacon of London or his official at or before the 28 of this present January and afterwards at or before every visitation the Christian and Sirnames of every Lecturer in their parishes and the place where he preacheth whether exempt or not exempt together with his quality or degree 4. That they doe in like manner certifie the names of such men as being not qualified by Law do keep Chaplains in their houses 5. That they do further certifie the names of all such as absent themselves from or are negligent in coming to divine service as wel Prayers as Catechising and Sermons 6. That the Minister and Church-Wardens of every Parish successively doe keep a severall Copy of those Instructions by them whereby they may be the better informed of their duty and that the said Copies be shewed at every visitation when they shall present all such persons as have disobeyed these instructions that according to his Majesties pleasure such as do conforme may be encouraged and such as are refractory may be punished Subscribed Tho. Paske Arch-Deacon of London Monsieur Bevayr Chancellour of France discharged to the French King LO Sir I willingly resign into your hands the charge with which you were pleased to honour me and with the same Countenance that I received it without seeking for it I leave it without grieving for it the Law had sufficiently taught me to obey your Majesty so that I needed not to have been sent for by a Captain of the Guard and twenty Archers violence should only be used against those that resist and not against me that know how to obey and that have ever esteemed this honour a heavy burden rather then a dignity which yet I had accepted for the good of your service because every able man owes his cares and his years to the publick good and because it had been a shame for me to refuse to die with the stern in my hand being able to binder or at the least delay the shipwrack that threatens us God grant Sir that I be the greatest loser in this disfavour and that you and your state be the least touched in it This accident hath not taken me on the suddaine having ever well foreseen that as I followed as much as I could the integrity and vertues of Monsieur de Villeroy and the President Janin so I ought to expect the like fortune to theirs your commandment in this agrees with the choice my self had made if I had been at full liberty for I love a great deal better to be companion in their disgraces if I ought so to stile the being disburthened of affaires then to be imployed in the managing the State with them that there remaine since I might in time have taken an ill day by the Company of such people to whom I no whit envy the increase of authority which is given them at my cost for I have not used to give accompt of my actions every morning by stealth neither will I be prescribed what I ought to doe if the States good and reason doe not counsell me unto it This is much more honourable for me then to have betrayed your Majesty in sealing a discharge to an accomptant of 80000 pound in the great poverty of the Treasury and that to further the good of a man that blushes not besides this to demand the Dutchy of Alanson by way of mortgage which is the portion of the Kings Sons and to pretend to the office of Constable which the late Kings will expresly was should be suppressed after the death of the late Lord Monmorency Think not Sir that in not giving my consent to this I desired to oppose my self against your Authority I know well that that hath no bounds but those of your wil but yet are you bound to rule your self according to reason and to follow the Counsel of those which have entred into the managing of the State by the choice which the late King had made of them as being more able to give it you then certain new comers drawn out of the dregs of businesse and of the people This exchange which is made of us for them is the trick of the Wolves to the Sheepe when they tooke their dogs from them doth not your Majesty perceive it or dare you not redresse it for fear of disobedience Sir you owe obedience by nature to those that preach it to you but they themselves owe it you both by divine and humane right and though you should yeild them lesse they have given you but too many examples so to doe Remember if it please you that you are past fifteen years old and Kings are of age at fourteen Isaac followed Abraham his Father to be sacrificed because he was not old enough to fear any thing I believe
but must doe businesse where it findes none It crosses the Sea and passes over the Alpes without my consent and because there is nothing to doe at France it goes to seeke some at Constantinople at Madrid at Lâ—ndon and at Montauban Now to the end you may not thinke me a lyer and that under an honest pretext I would palliate a reproveable idlenesse I am going to write you the adventures of my yesterdaies walk and speak to you in the same stile and the same sort as I rave While the King is busied to make warre the King of Spaine passeth his time with Ladies and into places that may not honestly be named I will give no judgment upon the different inclination of these two Princes but I very well know that so long as they live in that fashion the King of Spaine shal take no Townes nor the King of France the Pox. You have surely heard it reported that the Polanders have defeated the Turks Army which was composed of two hundred thousand Combatants the halfe whereof lay dead upon the place It must necessarily be granted that but he only after such a losse could make such a second and that he hath a source of men that cannot be drawn dry either by warres by plagues or by any other ill disposition of the aire seeing that in the abundance of all things that his Empire produces there is nothing at so low a price as the lives of souldiers When I dream that the Duke of Bouillon is shut up in Sedan from whence he cannot come forth to goe and make his partie I imagine to my selfe a poore mother standing upon the brink of a River seeing her sonne slaine on the other side neither being able to help him or bid him farewel never was man so assaulted with such diversity of thoughts nor opprest with unprofitable cares one while it vexes him that sufficient resistance was not made at St. Jehan de Angeli and again I find that they made not use of the advantage which they might have taken At one and the same time I would have been at Montauban to defend and in England to get succour for it But why dwels so great a spirit in a body that hath no more heate in it then a feaver gives it and which is never removed but by Amber-Greece and Phisick It s known that the better part of it dwels in the history of troubles and that in this world it holds but the place of another In the mean time the affaires of the Rebels grow to ruine and if they make any small attempts it is not that their hopes increase nor their courage strengthens but it is Gods will that they shall not have either victory or peace The Duke of Bouillon sees all this not being able to remedy and if sometimes to divert his spirit from so vexing an object he thinks to seek some comfort out of the kingdome and amongst strangers affaires of one side he discovers a puissant Army under the conduct of Spinola which threatens all Germany and of the other side he sees his Nephew whom from having been Count Palatine and King of Bohemia is become pensioner to the Hollanders and a Gentleman of the Prince of Orange his traine as the beasts in time past were wont to be crowned which ought to be sacrificed so fortune presented a Kingdome to this poor man to the end he should lose his life but not to lie he hath shewed himselfe craftier then she and fled so we he could never be overtaken Notwithstanding to speak home the gaine which he got by not dying at the battaile of Prague is not so great as the reproach which shall be cast upon him for living by his owne fault and for having witnessed to all the people of the world that the end of his desires was only to attaine to be old and without doubt as it is a great advantage to be the Grand-child of an usurper so there is not a more miserable condition then to have been a King and now to be no more but the subject or tragedy to playes Let men then as much as they please praise the designes of this man and his good intention I for my part find nothing so easie as to fly and lose and posterity shall put him rather in the number of theeves that have been punished then of conquerours which have triumphed upon the earth Since it is true that the persecution ceases in England and that the King wearieth himself with giving us Martyrs it may be that within a short time he will altogether set soules at liberty that stil makes one step to his mother Church As for my part I despaire not of this great conversion that all honest men will with salt tears desire this from heaven knowing to the contrary that he hath a reasonable spirit and may be perswaded upon a thing that he determined on I assure my selfe that he studies every day the truth of the instructions the great Cardinall Peron left him See King James his Remonstrance against Cardi Peron and that that will be the strongest in his Kingdomes assoon as his Conscience authority better reestablished then his His predecessors knew not how to reigne in regard of him no not she that plaid with so many heads and who was more happy then needful for the Christian Common-wealth It is certain that heretofore England believed in God but this day it only believes in its Prince and Religion makes but a part of the obedience yeilded unto him in so much that if he would but set in the place of all the points of Faith all the fables of Poesie he should find in his subjects complying enough to bring them to his will and perswade himself that he may make all things just that he does and all things culpaple that he condemns his Authority came not so far at the first stroake and there must be time to make men lose * The way for Romish Conversion reason but at this time when all spâ—rits are vanquished and that the great beliefe that he hath given of his judgment takes away the liberty of theirs they can imagine nothing above the wisdome of thâ— King and without medling with any thing that passes between God and him they believe that if he command them to tread under foot all the Holy things and to violate all the Lawes all that was but for the safety of their Consciences But it is to be believed that this Divine providence which conducts things to their ends by means which in apparance are contrary will use the bloodinesse of this people to procure their salvation and cause them to come again into the Church by the same doore they went out of it And since the hearts of Kings are in the hands of God there wants nothing but a good motion sent unto him to build againe the Altars which he hath beaten downe and at one clap to turne to the true Religion the
detrudatur et certe usque adeo praeclusus est industriae nostrae ad eadem honoris et emolumenti aditus ut multi repudia literis in aeternum renunciare mallent quam post tot laboribus consumptam juventutem et senectam studiis immature acceleratam vanae spei cassa nuce ludificari cum non solum sua nobis negare beneficia sed et nostra abripere terrarum Domini flagitiosè contendant Quid ad te haec verba spectant facile conjicias Nos te Patronum appellamus quem adversarii nostri Judicem et per omnia patrocinia tua nobis ante hac gnaviter concessa per omnia sacra clementiae tuae et amoris in Academiam te obtestamur ut huic Alumno nostro jus suum et Academiae dignitatem sarctam tectam authoritate tuâ conservare velis et cum tua merita non aliâ re consequi valeamus quam debiti agnitione cui sumus impares memorisque animi gratâ testificatione utramque tibi sempiternam religiosè pollicemur Dat' è frequenti Senatu nostro ê‘ridie Calend. Maii 1630. Honoris tui Clientes assidui Procancel ' et Senatus integer Academ ' Cantabrig Bishop of Excester to the lower House of Parliament Gentlemen FOR Gods sake be wise in your well meant zeale why doe we argue away precious time that can never be revoked or repaired Wo is me whilst we dispute our friends perish and we must follow them Where are we if we break and I tremble to thinke it we cannot but break if we hold too stiffe Our Liberties and properties are sufficiently declared to be sure and legal our remedies are cleare and irrefragable what do we fear Every subject now sees the way chalked out before him for future Justice and who dares henceforth tread besides it certainly whilst Parliaments live we need not misdoubt the like violation of our freedomes and rights may we bee but where the loanes found us we shall sufficiently enjoy our selves and ours It is now no season to reach for more O let us not whilst we over rigidly plead for a higher straine of safety put our selves into a necessity of ruine and utter despair of redresse let us not in a suspicion of evil that may be cast our selves into a present confusion if you love your selves and your Country remit something of your owne Terms and since the substance is yeilded by your noble compatriots stand not too curiously upon points of circumstance fear not to trust a good King who after the strictest Law made must be trusted with the execution think that your Country yea Christendom lyeth in the mercy of your present resolution relent or farewell Farewell from him whose faithful heart bleeds in a vowed sacrifice for his King and Country King Charles to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal WEE being desirous of nothing more then the advancing of the good peace and prosperity of our people have given leave to free debates of higest point of our prerogative Royal which in the times of our Predecessors Kings and Queens of this Realm were ever restrained as matter they would not have disputed and in other things we have been willing so farre to descend to the desires of our good subjects as might fully satisfie all moderate minds and free them from all just feares and jealousies which those messages we have sent unto the Commons House wil well demonstrate to the world and yet we find it stil insisted on That in no case whatsoever should it never so neerly concerne matters of State and Government we or our privy Counsel have power to commit any man without the cause be shewed The service it selfe would be thereby destroyed and defeated and the cause it selfe must be such as may be determined by our Judges of our causes at Westminster in a legal and ordinary way of Justice whereas the cause may be such as these Judges have not capacity of Judicature nor rules of Law to direct and guide their Judgments in cases of transcedent nature which happening so often the very intermitting of the constant rules of Government for so many ages within this Kingdome practised would soone dissolve the very frame and foundation of our Monarchy wherefore as to our Commons we made faire propositions which might equally preserve the just liberties of the subject So my Lords we have thought good to let you know that without the overthrow of our soveraignty we cannot suffer this power to be impeached yet notwithstanding to clear our conscience and intentions this we publish that it is not in our heart or will ever to extend our Royal power lent unto us from God beyond the just rule of moderationin any thing which shall be contrary to our Lawes and Customes wherein the safety of our people shal be our only aime And we do hereby declare our Royal pleasure and resolution to be which God willing we wil ever constantly continue and mantaine that neither we nor our Privy Counsel shall or will at any time hereafter commit or command to prison or otherwise restraine the person of any for not lending mony unto us or for any other cause which in our conscience doth concern the publick good and safety of us and our people we wil not be drawn to pretend any cause which in our conscience is not or is not expressed which base thought we hope no man can imagine can fall into our Royal brest and that in all causes of this nature which shall hereafter happen we shall upon the humble Petition of the party or addresse of our Judges unto us readily and really expresse the true cause of their Commitment or restraint so soone as with conveniency or safety the same is fit to be disclosed and expressed and that in all causes Criminal of ordinary Jurisdiction our Judges shall proceede to the deliverance and bailment of the Prisoner according to the known and ordinary rules of the Lawes of this Land and according to the Statute of Magna charta and those other six statutes insisted on which we do take knowledge stand in full force and which we intend not to weaken or abrogate against the true intent thereof This we have thought fit to signifie unto you the rather for the shortning of any long debate upon this question the season of the year being so far advanced and our great occasions of State not lending us many daies of long continuance of this Session of Parliament Given under our signet at our Pallace at Westminster the twelfth day of May in the Fourth Year of our Reigne CAROLUS REX A Counsel Table Order against hearing Mass at Embassadors houses March 10. 1629 At White-hall the tenth of March 1629. PRESENT Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Lord President Lord Privy Seale Lord Steward Lord Chamberlaine Earl of Suffolk Earl of Dorset Earl of Salisbury Lord Wimbleton Lord Viscount Dorchester Lord Viscount Wentworth Lord Viscount Grandison Lord Viscount Faulkland Lord Savile Lord Newbergh Mr.
magnanimity and stability desiring with a most sincere affection that so much Christian blood may be spared as would be spilt in this war and that those forces might be imployed to the service and not to the prejudice of Christendome Thus have I cleerly and sincerely delivered my meaning unto your Holinesse to the end that knowing my intention you may do those offices which your manifold wisedome shall find proper for the place whereto God hath advanced you and if God for our sins have decreed to chastise Christendome by continuing the war let this dispatch be a testimony of my good wil and real intention towards peace for the prosecuting whereof I on my part will alwaies imbrace any reasonable and proportionable meanes Oar Lord God preserve your Beatitude a thousand yeares The Councel of Ireland to King Charles in defence of the Lord Deputie Faulkland April 28. 1629 MAy it please your most excellent Majesty we stand so bounden to your royall Self and your most blessed Father our late deceased Soveraigne Lord and Master as we are urged in duty to prostrate this act of our faith at your Majesties feet as an assay to cleer some things wherein misinformation may seem to have approached your high Wisdome We understand that it is collected out of some late Dispatches from hence that there are such disorders in the Government here as by the present Governors are remedilesse all which is ascribed to the differences between persons of chief place We do in all humility testifiie and declare that we have not seen or known any inconvenience to the publick service by the difference between your Majesties Deputy and Chancellor neither have of late seen or heard any act or speech of contention between them Other difference between persons of any eminent Action wee understand none neither are any disorders here yet so overgrown as to surpasse the redresse of the present Governour especially so long as he hath such a standing English Army as your Majesty now alloweth if only we may receive some supply of Armes and munition which we have often written for do daily expect and which shall be no losse to your Majesty It is true most gracious Soveraign that in some late dispatches we mentioned three grievances in this government which in extent may threaten much if we be not timely directed from thence concerning them viz. the insolence and excrescence of the Popish pretended Clergie the disorder and offence of the Irish Regiment and the late outragious presumption of the unsetled Irish in some parts towards all which being parties perhaps otherwise conceived of there then understood here your Deputy and Councel have of late used particular abstinence holding themselves somewhat limited concerning them by late Instructions Letters and directions from thence And therefore lest countenance of that course might turn to greater damage we make choice seasonably to crave expression of the good pleasure of your Highnesse and the most Honourable Lords of your Councel lest our actions and zeal therein might vary from the purposes on that side and so want of unanimity in both States breake the progresse of the Reformation not that we any way make doubt to give your Majesty a good accompt of our selves therein and of the ful eviction of those evils in due time so we might be assured of your Majestys and their Lordships good allowance of our endeavours being confident in all humility to declare and affirme to your Sacred Majesty that the rest of this great body as to the civil part thereof is in far better order at this time then ever it was in the memory of man as wel in the current and general execution of Justice according to the Lawes in the freedome of mens persons and estates the present charge of the Army excepted and in the Universal outward subjection of all sorts of setled inhabitants to the Crowne and Lawes of England and also in the advancement of the Crowne Revenues and lastly in the competent number of Bishops and other able and Learned Ministers of the Church of England of all sorts which we especially attribute to the blessednesse of your time and to the Industryes Zeale Judgment and moderation of your Deputy as well in your Majesty service as towards this people having now well learned this great office and to the good beginnings of the two last precedent Deputies under direction of your most Renowned Father Secondly we understand that your Deputy and Councel are blamed for the present surcharge of your Revenues here far beyond the support thereof Herein your Royal Majesty may be pleased to cause a review of our dispatch from hence in August 1627. wherein it wil appear that their part in that offence hath been only obedience to extraordinary warrants from thence and that if those warrants had not beene fully performed out of your Revenues you had had about 40000 pound Irish to pay pensioners in your Coffers and answer other necessities which have since increased So as we humbly crave pardon freely to affirme that the fault hath not been here and further also to say for your Majesties honour and our comfort that during 200 years last past England hath never been so free of the charge of Ireland as now it is Thirdly we understand that your Deputy is accused for miscarriage in the legal prosecution of Phelim Mach Frogh and others adhering to him in certain treasonable Acts and Practises Herein we most humbly beseech your Majesty that a review may be of a declaration sent from hence about the beginning of your Deputies government signed by him and all the Counsel then here whereby wil appear how the parts of Lemster at least have been from age to age infested by him and his predecessors and the inhabitants of the territory of Ranelagh wherein he tooke upon him a Chiefery and therein will also appeare that it was the special affection and endeavour of several worthy Deputies here to have cleared that offensive plot which no wise State could suffer so neer the seat thereof and that they also severally attempted it by force the said Phelims Father being slain by actuall Rebellion by Sir William Russels prosecution but the generall Rebellion of the Kingdome alwaies interrupted the settlement thereof This being at that time the declaration of the State moved your Deputy being a stranger to have a wary aspect upon the people for the Common peace which he hath carefully performed Afterwards at the time when the general voice was amongst the Irish that the Spaniards would be here your Deputie had cause to examine several persons and causes concerning that Rumour wherby fell out to be discovered to him among others that this Phelim had confederated for raising a Commotion in Lemster and murthering a Scottish Minister and Justice of peace a ready instrument in Crown Causes inhabiting about the border of the said territory Before which time we never heard of any displeasure or hard measure born by your
England will do nothing 136 138 141 143 151. Dismembred 147 Parliaments tumultuous 229 230 Pastrana Duke 142 Patent for the Admiralty of Ireland 90 Perez Don Antonio Secretary to Philip the Second of Spain 100 Perrot Sir John Deputy of Ireland 13. His care of that Kingdome 17 Philip the Second of Spain transplants whole Families of the Portugese 51 Philip the Third of Spain upon his death-bed 125 c. Philips Sir Robert 155. Francis his brother ibid. Physick modern 75 Pius Quintus his Excommunication of the Queen because of the Rebellion in the North 39 Polander defeats the Turks 198 Pope not more holy then S. Peter 8 Tyranny of Popes 39 Powder plot 67 Pretence of conscience 38 Preachers Licences to preach 183 Directions for preaching 184 Presbytery as mischievous to private men as to Princes 41. See Puritans Priesthood how to be honoured 45 Princes to be obeyed and by whom ibid. by Christs Law 7. Supreme Heads 5. Driven out must not give their Vsurpers too long time to establish themselves 147 Privy Seal for transporting of Horse 217 Puritans in the time of Queen Elizabeth 40. Would bring Democracie into the Church promise impossible wonders of the Discipline 41. Fiery Rebellious contemn the Magistrate ibid. Feared not without cause by King James 193 Q Quadrivials 75 R Ranelagh in Ireland 237 Rawleigh Sir Walter 85 86 Ree Iland 203 Rich Baronness sister to Essex writes to the dishonour of the Queen and advantage of the Earl 32 Richardson Chief Justice of the Bench 228 Richer forced by Richlieu recants his opinions against the Papal Supremacy over Kings 196 Richlieu Cardinal greatly solicitous for the English Romane Catholicks 197 Rochel 200. in what condition at the surrender 202 â—03 Fifteen thousand dye of the famine ibid. Rohan Dutchess in Rochel during the siege 202. Dukâ— 204 206 208 210 Romish Priests seduce the subjects from their obidience their practices against the Queens sacred person 39 40 Roman Catholicks sue to King James at his entrance for toleration 82 83. great lovers of him the only g od subjects witness the Mine then plotted 82 their Religion upon their own words 83 84 Russel Sir William 237 Ruthuen after Lord Ruthuen unhandsomely used by the Earl of Northumberland 106 107 S St. John Oliver against Taxes contrary to Magna Charta c. would not have Oathes violated in which the divine Majesty is invocated fearful of the Arch-Bishops Excommunication 160 Saxonie Elector 114 Scandal what 97 Scriptures how to be expounded 23 Seminaries blossom 39 in Ireland seditious appear in their habits 240 241 Serita Don John 125 Sin immortal to respect any of the English Church 101 Southampton Earl 58 Spaniards designe upon Ireland 17 spoil base Bologne 37. lose their Apostles 47. wrong and oppress the English Merchants 97 98 99 102 103. suits in Spain immortal ibid. give pensions to the Irish renegadoes 100 101. unreasonable in the businesse of the Match 127 137 146. swear and damn themselves yet never intended it 132 c. their unworthy sleights to make K James jealous of the Prince and others 152 153 oppose the rights and successiâ—n of the Duke of Nevers to Maâ—tua and Mâ—ntferrat 234 lose their silver Fleet poor 240 Spencer Edmund see Fairy Queen his worth and Learning 245 252 Spinola Marquess 198 199 Spiritualia how to be taken 56 Stanley Sir William 18 Superstition worse the Atheisme 160 Supreme Head the Kings Title 1â—2 c. 39 T Tilly Count 131 Toirax Governor of the Fort in the I le of Ree 201 Toledo Cardinal 123 Toleration of Religion in Ireland necessary 52 Treason of the Papists in the clouds 40 cannot beget fâ—ir passions 86 Treaty with Tyrone 43 44. of Bruxels 127 128 Trimouille Duke 37 Turks against the Pander 198 Tyrone 43 44 101 V Valette Cardinal 197 Venetians side with the Mantouan 239 240 Villeroye Secretary of France 195 Urban the Eight encourages Louis the Thirteenth to fall upon the Hugonots 211 212. against the Spaniards 240 Usurpers exhalations 37 W Wallop Sir Henry has ill Offices done him to the Queen 19 Walsingham Sir Francis his reasons why the Queene sometimes restrains and punishes the Puritans 38 Warham Archbishop of Canterbury 98 Warrants of the Queen to the Lords of Ireland at the going over of Sir John Petot 14 15 Weston Sir Ridhard Chancellour of the Exchequer after L. Treasurer and Earl of Portland 128 Wilks Sir Thomas 36 37 Willoughby Lord 90 Winchester Bishop 189 Words are to be construed to make truth 8 Y. Yelverton Sir Henry censured in the Starchamber 107 108 109 Ynoiosa Marquesse 152. his base carriage to King James 153 Z. Zunige Don Balthazar 109 112 c. 130 FINIS
reasonable to all the world But if your Highnesse desire that these Powers should not be used they may be detained upon other just reasons which will arise in the treatie of the temporal articles And I doubt not but the Deposorio's may be deferred for some few daies upon other fair pretexts But these inconveniencies I conceive will follow First it will be of great discomfort to the Infanta who until the Deposorio's are past is not her own woman but must be governed by the pleasure of the Junto which I think she is very wearie of neither till then may she declare her self to be yours nor Comply with your Highesse in answering of your Letters and Messages and giving you those respects and Comforts which I know she would be glad to do But if she should any way judge that the delay of the Deposorios should arise from your Highnes part I conceive she would take it most heavily Secondly it will certainly raise great jealousies in this King and his Ministers and retard the resolutions that are fit to be taken with speed for the putting in execution that which is capitulated I therefore offer it unto your Highnes wisdom whether upon the satisfaction which they will give in this particular which will be whatsoever you can desire and upon the agreement of the temporal articles your Highnesse would upon the coming of the Popes approbation make any farther scruple in the delivering of your Highnesse powers If I shall I am confident they will not presse it as not decent for the womans part to urge the hasting of the Marriage But I conceive it will cast such a cloud of Jealousie and distrust upon the businesse that besides the discontent and affliction which I know it will give the Infanta which most worketh upon me it will so disorder the businesse that it will make a stand in your whole proceedings and preparations wherein they now go on chearfully and confidently and I conceive will punctually perform all that they have capitulated with your Highnesse I dare not so much as give my self leave once to question your Highnesse intentions of proceeding to the real effecting of the match which makes me desirous that all things may be executed that may any way retard or disturb it Only I shall like a faithful poor servant presume to say thus much to your Highnesse That for divers years past I know the King your father and your self have held this the fittest Match in the World and by a desire of effecting it your Highnesse was induced to undertake that hazardous journey of coming to this Court in person In the time of your being here admitting that their proceedings have been in many things unworthy of you And that divers distastes have grown by intervenient accidents Now things are reduced to those terms that the Match it self is sure the portion and the temporal Articles settled I hope to the Kings liking and yours And all other good effects that could be hoped for by this alliance are in a fair way If to these reasons may be added That on his Majestie and your Highnesse part you have already passed by and overcome the main difficulties and your Highnesse by your journey hath satisfied your self of the person of the Infanta God forbid that either any personal distastes of Ministers or any indiscreet or passionate carriage of businesses should hazard that which his Majestie and your Highnesse have done so much to obtain and whereby doubtlesse so much good and peace is to accrew to Christendom by the effecting of it and contrariwise so much trouble and mischief by the miscarrying of it Besides the individual happinesse of your Highnesse in such a Wife which the World supposeth you infinitely esteem for her person And for her Birth and Portion is no where to be matched And questionlesse for her vertue and settled affection to your Highnesse deserveth you better then any woman in the World I humbly crave pardon for writing unto your Highnesse in this manner which I hope your Highnesse well enough knowes neither the benefits I have received from Spain nor their grateful usage of me upon occasions nor I protest unto your Highnesse any other earthly respect moveth me unto it but the zeal and love I bear to your service for which I shall ever undervalue any thing that may concern my self And therefore I shall conclude by intreating your Highnesse that if you would have things go well that a Post may instantly be dispatched back unto me authorizing me to deliver the said power upon the arrival of the dispensation and having taken fitting securitie in this particular point And this I earnestly beseech your Highnesse may be done with all possible speed and secresie and that the Spanish Ambassadours may not know that ever there was any suspension made of the delivery of the powers In the interim I will find means if the dispensation come for 20 or 24 daies to alledge some other fair pretexts for the deferring of the Deposorios But herein I desire I may know your Highnesse resolution with all possible speed c. And so with c. Bristol Madrid The E. of Bristol to the Prince his Highnesse Septemb. 24. 1623. VVHen your Highnesse shall remember that your Highnesse being here in person it was not possible in lesse then a moneth to get that dispatcht which you were promised Mr. Secretary Cottington should have carried with him if your Highnesse would have but stayed him 24 hours I hope you will pardon your servants although they sometimes mistake in the time which they limit for the procuring of the dispatch of businesse especially if they depend upon the dispatches that are to be procured from 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 Deposorios 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 Your Graces most humble servant Bristol Madrid 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 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 faithfully and honestly served you and exactly pursued your ends to the best of my understanding and abilities And I do no way doubt but your Majestie will in the end protect so faithful a servant as I have been and shall appear to be to your Majestie And in the interim my most humble suit unto your Majestie is that since I am neither admitted my self nor any man else will speak any word in my defence or justification your Majestie according to your Justice will let nothing that may be said of me redound to my prejudice in your gracious opinion For it shall be found that I will in all things wholly conform my self unto your Majesties will and pleasure So wishing unto your Majestie a happy journey and a safe return with the increase of all hapinesse I humbly c. Your Majesties c. Bristol London Here next of all follow divers Dispatches and Letters from Sir Walter Aston to the Duke Sir Walter Aston to the Duke May it please your Grace I Have received so much comfort by the care which I see in your grace to take all occasions to honour and favour me that I should be glad if it were possible in my affection to your person and in my desire to serve you that your grace might see something in me above what you
wholly upon Spain so that this King will protect him in his Electoral dignity and what he hath lately possessed himself of in those parts This offer of the Dukes hath been several dayes debated in Councel where the Marquesse Ynoiosa hath been busie in the behalf of the Duke but the wiser part of this Councel seeing how prejudicial the increase of the Dukes greatnesse may prove to the Empire do no way favour his pretentions They likewise hold fit to continue the state of things in a possibility of an accommodation without our Master The Arch-Duke Don Carlos hath brought power from the Emperour to proceed to the consummation of a marriage betwixt the Emperours son and the Infanta Donna Maria wherein he sayes he hath nothing to Capitulate but brings them a blanck paper and hath power and order to confirm what conditions they shall here set down The Emperour's Embassadour doth much presse to proceed to the Capitulations but there is yet nothing done The Infanta of Brussels hath lately written hither importing this King to admit of a treaty of marriage betwixt the Prince of Polonia and the Infanta his Sister extolling with many expressions the worth and parts of that Prince There hath been some moneths a general stop of their proceedings here in all suites of English Merchants depending in this Court but I have at last procured a Junto to be assigned for the hearing of all English Causes wherein I am promised there shall be a speedy Resolution taken of whatsoever is at present in Question The Duke of Feria hath lately advertised hither from Millain that the French King and the Duke of Savoy do minister much occasion of jealousie that they intend to attempt some novelty in those parts and doth therefore desire that his Troops may be augmented whereupon above the ordinary charge there was instantly remitted unto him 2000. Duckets The great annual Assiento which this King makes with the Genoueses is newly concluded it is for 7. millions whereof 4. are remitted for Flanders to be paid by monethly portions In a late meeting of the Councel of State upon a discourse that passed amongst them taking into consideration this Kings wants and the present distemper of his affairs the Inquisidor General expressing how necessary a time it was for his Majesties Subjects to assist his present occasions made offer of 100 Duckets for his part which the Conde of Olivares followed with a tender of 300 the Conde of Monterrey of 100 all the rest of the Councel of State following their example gave according to their quality Notice being taken of this abroad the Condestable wrote a Letter unto this King wherein he made tender of 200 Duckets the Marquesse of Castel Rodrigo of 100 the Marquesse of Carpio of the like summe Divers others have likewise declared themselves in this donative and it is hoped that it will go over the whole Kingdome and bring in an extraordinary Treasure into the Kings purse Thus with the remembrance of my duty I rest Your Graces c. W A. Archbishop Abbots to Secretarie Nanton 12. Septemb. 1619. Good Mr. Secretarie I Have never more desired to be present at any Consultation then that which is this day to be handled for my heart and all my heart goeth with it But my Foot is worse then it was on Friday so that by advice of my Physitian I have sweat this whole night past and am directed to keep my bed this day But for the matter my humble advice is That there is no going back but a countenancing of it against all the world yea so far as with ringing of Bells and making of Bon-fires in London so soon as it shall be certainly understood that the Coronation is past I am satisfied in my Conscience that the Cause is just wherefore they have rejected that proud and bloody man and so much the rather because he hath taken a course to make that Kingdom not elective but to take it from the donation of another man And when God hath set up the Prince that is chosen to be a mark of honor through all Christendom to propagate his Gospel and to protect the oppressed I dare not for my part give advice but to follow where God leads It is a great honour to the King our Master that he hath such a Son whose virtues have made him thought sit to be made a King And me thinks I do in this and that of Hungary foresee the work of God that by piece and piece the Kings of the earth that gave their power unto the beast all the Word of God must be fulfilled shall now tear the Whore and make her desolate as St. John in his Revelation hath foretold I pray you therefore with all the spirits you have to put life into this businesse and let a return be made into Germany with speed and with comfort and let it really be prosecuted that it may appear to the World that we are awake when God in this sort calleth us If I had time to expresse it I could be very angry at the shuffling which was used toward my Lord of Doncaster and the slighting of his Embassage so which cannot but touch upon our Great Master who did send him and therefore I would never have a Noble Sonne forsaken for respect of them who truly aym at nothing but their own purposes Our striking in will comfort the Bohemians will honour the Palsgrave will strengthen the Union will bring on the States of the Low Countries will stirre up the King of Denmark and will move his two uncles the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Bovillon to-together with Tremoville a rich Prince in France to 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 we 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 for 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 ancient Bulwark the Neither Lands at pleasure Lastly whether the Myter and the Scepter thus united with their advantage in number of swords and Deskes aboard 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 Against 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 specitious 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 ancient 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 prisoner to old age Hide my follie from the eyes of Critiques And pardon my freedom that hath wearied you with a mind ever to remain Your Graces loving Grandchild and humble servant Tho. Brook Dr. Balcanquel to Secretarie Nanton 26. of March Right Honourable THe reason why I have not of late written to your Honour is the discontinuance of our Sessions of the Synod this great while but since my last unto your Honour we have thus spent our time The publique reading of all the Collegial judgments upon the 5. Articles was made an end of In which God be thanked for it there was a greater harmonie and consent then could almost be hoped for in such variety of learned men who did not know one of anothers judgment The onely difference was in the second Article After that the President never asking advice from the Synod took upon him to conceive and dictate the Canons himself to us but we who were sent by his Majestie conceiving that course to be altogether against the dignity of the Synod consulted with some of the Delegates who approved our Counsel and thought it fit that there should be some deputed by the Synod and joyned to the President for conceiving of the Canons that so whatsoever was done might be done by publique authority
appear you are the more willing to do it for my earnest intreatie My Lord you shall not onely hereby oblige all my Lord of Oxford's friends but likewise the Lady Diana's who doth lose a great deal of precious time by my Lords imprisonment and therefore let all be arguments to excite your noble heart to procure his freedome And so I kisse your hands and rest More yours then his own H. R. Postscript PRay make all haste from Spain for neither are your pleasures and contents so great there as you may find them here neither have you so faithful friends there as you deserve but sure I am you have many false ones For I have work enough both in Court and Citie to falsifie their reports of you yea some of them about women very base ones and much tending to your great dishonour And it goes currant among very great ones that the Prince hath been somewhat displeased with you of late I have sent you another Letter of larger contents and I should be glad to hear from you King James to Pope Gregorie 15th 30. September 1622. James by the Grace of God King of great Brittain France and Ireland Defender of the faith c. To the most Holy Father Pope Gregorie the the 15th greeting and all manner of Felicitie Most Holy Father YOur Holinesse will perhaps marvel that we differing from you in point of Religion should now first salute you with our Letters Howbeit such is the trouble of our mind for these calamitous discords and bloudsheds which for these late years by past have so miserably rent the Christian World and so great is our care and daily sollicitude to stop the course of these growing evils betimes so much as in us lies as we could no longer abstain considering that we all worship the same most blessed Trinitie nor hope for salvation by any other means then by the bloud and merits of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus but breaking this silence to move your Holinesse by these our Letters friendly and seriously that you would be pleased together with us to put your hand to so pious a work and so worthy of a Christian Prince It is truly to be wished and by all means to be endeavoured that this mischief creep on no farther but that these storms at the last ceasing and the rancor being removed by which they were at the first raised the hearts of these Princes whom it any way concerns may be re-united in a firm and unchangeable friendship and as much as may be knit together in stricter obligations then before one unto another This we have alwaies had in our desires and to bring it to passe have not hitherto spared any labour or pains not doubting but your Holinesse out of your singular pietie and for the credit and authoritie that you have with the parties both may and will further this work in an extraordinary manner No way can any man better merit of the state of Christendome which if it shall take the desired effect in your daies and by your assistance your Holinesse shall worthily reap the glorie and the reward due to so excellent a work That which remains for us further to say concerning this matter this Gentleman our Subject George Gage will deliver unto you more at large Praying your Holinesse that you will give him in all things full credence and belief beseeching Almightie God from our heart to preserve you in safetie and to grant you all other happinesse From our Palace at Hampton Court the last of Septemb. 1622. Pope Gregorie the 15th to the Prince of Wales Most Noble Prince Health and light of Divine Grace c. GReat Brittain abounding with worthy men and fertile virtues so that the whole earth is full of the glorie of her renown induceth many times the thoughts of the great Shepherd to the consideration of her praises In regard that presently in the infancie of his Church the King of kings vouchsafed to choose her with so great affection for his inheritance that almost it seems there entred into her at the same time the Eagles of the Roman Standard and the Ensigns of the Crosse And not few of her Kings indoctrinated in the true knowledge of Salvation gave example of Christian pietie to other Nations and after-ages preferring the Crosse to the Scepter and the defence of Religion to the desire of Command So that meriting heaven thereby the Crown of eternal blisse they obtained likewise upon earth the lustre and glorious ornaments of sanctitie But in this time of the Brittanicks Church how much is the case altered yet we see that to this day the English Court is fenced and guarded with moral virtues which were sufficient motives to induce us to love this Nation it being some ornament to the Christian name if it were likewise a defence and sanctuarie of Catholique virtues Wherefore the more the glorie of your most Serene Father and the property of your naturall disposition delighteth us the more ardently we desire that the gates of Heaven should be opened unto you and that you should purchase the universal love of the Church For whereas that the Bishop Gregorie the Great of most pious memorie introduced amongst the English people and taught their Kings the Gospel and a reverence to the Apostolical Authority we much inferiour to him in virtue and sanctity as equal in name and height of dignity it is reason we should follow his most holy steps and procure the salvation of those Kingdomes especiallie most Serene Prince there being great hopes offered to us at this time of some successeful issue of your determination Wherefore you having come to Spain and the Court of the Catholique King with 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 shall 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 descended 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 procure 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 of Divine Grace THe authority wherein we have understood your Noblenesse to flourish in the Brittish Court is accounted not onely the reward of your merits but also the patronage of virtue certainly an excellent renown and every way so worthy that the people desire a diuturnity to be annexed unto it But it is almost ineffable what an increase of glory thoroughout the world would be annexed unto it if by Gods favour it should become the defence of Catholique Religion Certainly you have gained an opportunity by which you may insert your self into the Councels of those Princes who obtaining an immortal name have attained the Celestial Kingdom Suffer not then O Nobleman this occasion presented to you from God and commended by the Bishop of Rome to slip out of your hands You that are privie to their royal Councels cannot choose but know in what estate the affaires of Brittain at this time stand and with what voyces of the Holy Ghost speaking in them they daily sound in the ears of your Princes What Glorie would redound unto your Name if by your exhortation and perswasion the English Kings should again recover their Celestial inheritance of that Glorie left unto them by their Ancestours in those Kingdomes in abundant manner by providing for
that I may ow your Majesty my life it self then which there cannot be a greater debt Limit me at least my Soveraign Lord that I may pay it for your service when your Majesty shall please If the Law destroy me your Majesty shall put me out of your power and I shall have none to fear but the King of Kings WALTER RALEIGH Sir Walter Raleigh to Sir Robert Car after Earl of Somerset SIR AFter many losses and many years sorrows of both which I have cause to fear I was mistaken in their ends It is come to my knowledge that your self whom I know not but by an honorable favour hath been perswaded to give me and mine my last fatal blow by obtaining from his Majesty the Inheritance of my Children and Nephews lost in Law for want of a word This done there remaineth nothing with me but the name of life His Majesty whom I never offended for I hold it unnatural and unmanlike to hate goodness staid me at the graves brink not that I thought his Majesty thought me worthy of many deaths and to behold mine cast out of the world with my self but as a King that knoweth the poor in truth hath received a promise from God that his Throne shall be established And for you Sir seeing your fair day is but in the dawn mine drawn to the setting your own vertues and the Kings grace assuring you of many fortunes and much honour I beseech you begin not your first building upon the ruines of the innocent and let not mine and their sorrows attend your first plantation I have ever been bound to your Nation as well for many other graces as for the true report of my trial to the Kings Majesty against whom had I been malignant the hearing of my cause would not have changed enemies into friends malice into compassion and the minds of the greatest number then present into the commiseration of mine estate It is not the nature of foul Treason to beget such fair passions neither could it agree with the duty and love of faithfull Subjects especially of your Nation to bewail his overthrow that had conspired against their most natural and liberal Lord. I therefore trust that you will not be the first that shall kill us outright cut down the tree with the fruit and undergo the curse of them that enter the fields of the fatherless which if it please you to know the truth is far less in value then in fame But that so worthy a Gentleman as your self will rather bind us to you being sixe Gentlemen not base in birth and alliance which have interest therein And my self with my uttermost thankfulness will remain ready to obey your commandments WALTER RALEIGH Sir Thomas Egerton Chancellor after Lord Ellesmere to the Earl of Essex SIR HOw things proceed here touching your self you shall partly understand by these inclosed Her Majesty is gracious towards you and you want not friends to remember and commend your former services Of these particulars you shall know more when we meet In the mean time by way of caution take this from me There are sharp eyes upon you your actions publique and private are observed It behoveth you therefore to carry your self with all integrity and sincerity both of hands and heart lest you overthrow your own fortunes and discredit your friends that are tender and carefull of your reputation and well-doing So in haste I commit you to God with my very hearty commendations and rest Your assured loving Friend THO. EGERTON C. S. At the Court at Richmond 21 Octob. 1599. Lord Chancellor Ellesmere to King James Most gracious Soveraign I Find through my great age accompanied with griefs and infirmities my sense and conceipt is become dull and heavy my memory decayed my judgment weak my hearing imperfect my voice and speech failing and faltering and in all the powers faculties of my mind body great debility Wherefore conscientia imbecilitatis my humble suit to your most sacred Majesty is to be discharged of this great Place wherein I have long served and to have some comfortable Testimony under your Royal hand that I leave it at this humble suit with your gracious favour So shall I with comfort number and spend the few dayes I have to live in meditation and prayers to Almighty God to preserve your Majesty and all yours in all heavenly and earthly felicity and happiness This suit I intended some years past ex dictamine rationis conscientiae Love and fear stayed it now Necessity constrains me to it I am utterly unable to sustain the burthen of this great service for I am come to St. Pauls desire Cupio dissolvi esse cum Christo Wherefore I most humbly beseech your Majesty most favourably to grant it Your Majesties most humble and loyal poor Subject and Servant THO. ELLESMERE Cane Again to the same King Most gracious Soveraign YOur royal favour hath placed and continued me many years in the highest place of ordinary Justice in this your Kingdom and hath most graciously borne with my many but unwilling errors and defects accepting in stead of sufficiencie my zeal and fidelity which never failed This doth encourage and stir in me an earnest desire to serve still But when I remember St. Pauls rule Let him that hath an office wait on his office and do consider withall my great age and many infirmities I am dejected and do utterly faint For I see and feel sensibly that I am not able to perform those duties as I ought and the place requires and thereupon I do seriously examine my self what excuse or answer I shall make to the King of Kings and Judge of all Judges when he shall call me to accompt and then my conscience shall accuse me that I have presumed so long to undergo and weild so mighty and great a charge and burthen and I behold a great Cloud of witnesses ready to give evidence against me 1. Reason telleth me and by experience I find Senectus est tarda obliviosa insanabilis morbus 2. I heard the precepts and councel of many reverend sage and learned men Senectuti debitur otium solve senectutem mature c. 3. I read in former Laws that old men were made temeriti rudè donati And one severe Law that saith Sexagenarius de ponte whereupon they are called Depontanei And Plato lib. 6. de legibus speaking of a great Magistrate which was Praefectus legibus servandis determineth thus Minor annis 50 non admittatur nec major annis 70 permittatur in eo perseverare And to this Law respecting both mine office and my years I cannot but yeeld But leaving foreign Laws the Stat. anno 13. E. 1. speaketh plainly Homines excedentes aetatem 70 annorum non ponantur in Assissis Juratis So as it appeareth that men of that age are by that Law discharged of greater painfull and carefull especially Judiciall Offices 4. Besides I find many examples of men
possibly be at rest as long as your fatal displeasure reigns still in his family and makes it the house of continual mourning Remove then if it be your blessed will the clouds that have been so long hanging over our heads and let not the present storm that wants matter to produce extort a thunderbolt For what is Philips or the son of Philips that your Majesty should so destroy them We are unworthy of Caesar's anger as well in regard of our means as of our innocencie To conclude my prayers I most humbly beseech your Majesty to forgive them and let not the ignorance of the stile or ceremonies used in the Court be imputed to your humble and well-meaning Suppliant as a willing want of reverence in whose breast these two legal qualities Love and Fear do more vigorously meet or who could more willingly part with his essence to add the least acquisition to the greatness and majesty of his Soveraign True it is that the subject that imployed the faculties of my soul at this present is of such a nature as I could not deny it the uttermost of my affection and he that thinks he can never speak enough may easily speak too much That neither my self nor my brother have failed in any thing but words that your Majesty will pardon without that all crimes are equal and as much danger lies in an humble Petition as in a plot of high Treason Be pleased then most gracious Soveraign to give us back one gracious word and keep our undoubted hearts at least shew us so much mercy as to judge us according to your own goodness For if we had not liberty to appeal thither we should be in danger of losing the best part of our birthright and instead of your Majesties subjects become other mens slaves From your Majesty therefore and from no other your faithful suppliant craves and expects the joyfull word of grace which if I may be so happy as to carry my poor brother before he grows any elder in misery I shall fill an honest heart with prayers and thanksgiving And for my particular your Majesties greatest favour and liberality shall not more oblige or better affect others then your Royal clemencie shall me In memory whereof I shall daily pray that your Majesty may obtain all your desires of heaven and so be obeyed in all your commandments on earth that we may live to see your holy intentions to take effect for the good of Christendom and so you may honour the age you live in with the miracles of your wisdom Finally that your felicity in this world may overtake that in the highest to make you wear a perpetual Crown to Gods glory and your own Your Majesties most humble loyal and true-hearted English subject FRANCIS PHILIPS Oliver St. Johns to the Major of Marlborough against the Benevolence AS I think this kind of Benevolence is against Law Reason and Religion First the Law is in the Statute called Magna Charta 9. H. 3. cap. 29. That no Free-man be any way destroyed but by the Lawes of this Land Secondly besides that the said Statute of Magna Charta is by all Princes since established and confirmed it is in the speciall case of voluntary or free grants enacted and decreed 25. E. 1. cap. 5. That no such be drawn into custome and cap. 6. That henceforth be taken no such Aids Tasks free Grants or Prizes but by assent of all the Realm and for the good of the same And in primo R. 3. cap. 2. That the Subjects and Commons in this Realm from henceforth shall in no wise be charged by any charge or imposition called a Benevolence or any such like charge and that such exactions called a Benevolence shall be damned and annulled for ever First it is not onely without but against reason that the Commons in their severall and particulars should be made relievers or suppliers of his Majesties wants who neither know his wants nor the sums that may be this way raised to supply the same Secondly it is against reason that the particular and severall Commons distracted should oppose their judgment and discretion to the judgement and discretion of the wisdom of their Land assembled in Parliament who have there denied any such aid It argueth in us want of love and due respect of our Soveraign Lord and King which ought to be in every of us towards each other which is to stay every one which we see falling and reduce the current What prosperity can there be expected to befall either our King or Nation when the King shall haply of ignorance or 'tis I hope out of forgetfulnesse or headinesse commit so great a sin against his God as is the violating of his great and solemn oath taken at his coronation for the maintaining of his Lawes Liberties and Customes of this Noble Realm his Subjects some for fear some in pride some to please others shall joyn hands to forward so unhappy an atchievement can he any way more highly offend the Divine Majesty whom he then invocated as also can he then give unto another Hen. 4. If such an one should rise up which God forbid a greater advantage let these Articles put up against R. 2. be looked on it will appear that the breach of the Laws infringing the Liberties failing in this his oath were the main blemishes wherewith he could distain and spot the honor of that good and gentle Prince who indeed was rather by others abused then of himselfe mischievously any way disposed Secondly as very irreligiously and uncharitably we help forward the Kings Majesty in that grievous sin of perjury so into what an hellish danger we plunge our selves even so many of us as contribute is to be learned out of the severall curses and sentences of excommunination given out against all such givers and namely the two following viz. the great curse given out the 36. H. 3. against all breakers of the Liberties and customes of the Realm of England with their Abettors Councellors and Executioners wherein by the sentence of Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury and the chief part of all the Bishops of this Land are ipso facto excommunicated And that of 24. Ed. 1. denounced immediatly upon the Acts made against such Benevolence free Grants and Impositions had and taken without common assent which because it is not so large as that former I will set down as our Books deliver the same IN the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost Amen Whereas our Soveraign Lord the King to the honour of God and of the Holy Church and for the common profit of the Realm hath granted for him and his heirs for ever these Articles above written Robert Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England admonished all his Province once twice and thrice because that shortness will not suffer so much delay as to give knowledge to all the people of England of these presents in writing We therefore enjoyn all