Sieur de Bethune once and again dexteriously hinted to him a reason which could admit of no reply which was this That the Valtolines could not with Justice assume the liberty of putting themselves under the domination of any one whoever he were they being born true and natural Subjects to the Grisons and that the King his Master would never give way to it He well knew that to put the Valtoline into the Popes hands would be the same thing as if they were given up to the Spaniard for that the Popes are either by affection or fear more inclined to the Spaniard then to the French But it was very ridiculous to see the Artifices which the Deputies did use to perswade the Sieur de Bethune that the Proposal they had made was for the Kings advantage They several times protested to him that they themselves and all the rest of the Valtoline did bear so great a submission to his Majesties judgment that they would wish for nothing else but onely that his Majesty would pass his word for the Grisons accommodation which if he would they would then do whatever he would command them But in conclusion they added that his Majesty would be pleased with their resolutions of neither submitting themselves to the Grisons or Spaniards Because they evidently knew there would be little security or advantage to the French either in one or t'other of these expedients withall that to oblige them to come under the Grisons were to force them to flie to the Spaniards which if his Majesty should do they must of necessity run to them for assistance for that they could not trust themselves under the Dominion of the Grisons for that there was not any other Prince neer them from whom they might receive a more ready or favourable relief That they would full willingly have desired his Majesty to protect them but that they doubted it would be a means to ingage his Majesty in a perpetual War in their Country against the Spaniard who would never consent to it and that all these considered there could not any other party be found out more proper or fit then the Pope and that France had some reason to accord to it in respect that the Pope shewed himself very favourable to the French Interests The Sieur de Bethune answered them with Civilities nothing inferior to theirs assuring them of the affection which his Majesty did bear to their concerns and obliging them to be confident he would never abandon them and that his Majesty would never consent to any Peace by which they should not have a full and perfect Freedom for the exercise of their Religion But as to the ground-work of the business he discovered to them that in case they could find a means to be assured of this Liberty that then they had no reason to exchange Masters and especially seeing they were not in a condition to dispose of themselves He openly professed to them That his Majesty did not pretend in the least to the Supream Power over them but that his resolution was to preserve them to the Grisons procuring to them full Liberty for the free exercise of their Religion and that he would never consent the business should be ended upon other terms This answer was both resolute and full of Justice but however as Passion takes away the use of Reason so they seemed not to apprehend the reasonableness of it as also they thought good That the Spaniards should cause a second discourse to be writ by a Prelate of Milan in which they indeavoured to clear by several reasons which were willingly assented to by the Pope That the King had no right in the Valtoline to hinder their giving up themselves to the holy See so unjust and unreasonable is the inconsiderate zeal into which men do sometimes suffer themselves to be carried for Religions sake Politique Observation ZEal is a Passion very commendable when it is confined within the limits of knowledge and Charity but without this it passeth onely for an unreasonable fury not a vertue The Apostle would have it accompanied it with these two qualities and judgeth it to be blame worthy if without them Indeed it is like Oyl cast in the Fire it provoketh and raiseth up such heat in their Courages that it hurries them both beyond Reason and Justice That people which knoweth not how the son of God hath commanded to honour all Kings of what Religion soever they be as they who are established by his hand of which himself shewed an example as also his Apostles do animate themselves with an indiscreet zeal for the Interests of Religion if they follow any wayes contrary to them they do easily suffer themselves to be hurried on to shake off the yoke of Obedience to take up Arms to resist them to conspire against their persons to ruine all with Fire and Sword and to over run the whole land with those mis-fortunes which ever attend on Civil Wars This is that which made the learned Origen to say the zeal of God is nothing worth if it be not accompanied with the knowledge of God introducing the Jews for an example who by an inconsiderate zeal for Gods glory made themselves culpable of the most horrible Sacriledge that ever was yet heard of against his Son I shall add onely this that such a zeal is not onely unprofitable for Gods service but also very dangerous and prejudicial to the good of those States and Churches where it is by that heat of it which hurries on to extremities and serves for a Torch to kindle Civil Wars which undermines the Foundations of States and Religion it self and furnisheth them whom it possesseth with pretences for the doing of any thing which Fury it self can be capable of The Hollanders send Deputies to his Majesty to ingage him in a League offensive and defensive against the Spaniard VVHilest the Legate was at Fountain Bleau the Embassadour of Holland came thither upon very different thoughts he onely designing to bring things to a peaceable conclusion but they to ingage the King in an Offensive and Defensive War against the Spaniards and desire him to fall in upon their Countries There had been a Defensive League made with them the fore-going year which was sufficient to entertain all the Spanish Forces in those Countries and to give advantage to the States to make some further progress But as it is troublesom to continue a War any long time without obtaining some Victories they having lately lost the Town of Breda for want of good Conduct made it their earnest desire to the King that he would declare a War against the Spaniards that they might be revenged on them The Embassadour represented to the King and the Cardinal that the States Signiories and Lordships were not the onely places the Spaniards had designed to invade but that France too was comprised in the same design that the attempts which they had made but lately in Germany in the Valtoline
have the reputation of an extraordinary Honesty especially to the transacting of such things which notwithstanding their innate Justice may provoke any evil spirits For though the most upright regulate their Judgements by some Principles which serve them as a Law in the Government of a State yet the most part ghuessing onely by their own senses and apprehensions judge of the Affairs by the Persons who conduct them Opinion guides the whole world and sets a price upon virtue it self and the reputation alone of him who negotiates may cause his designs to passe under the notion of good and lawful If the Foxes good counsel be once suspected by a man he will be hardly perswaded that a Person replenished with all the ornaments of a singular integrity will engage himself in unjust designs The repute of such a person sets a value and a price upon his words and actions and the opinion which is conceived of him is so absolute an Empire that there is no Appeal from his Judgement It is an ancient saying Truth is the strongest thing in the world But however if once Opinion hath fixed her Throne in the mindes of the people Truth will have somewhat to doe to disappoint her The prescriptions of a Physitian who is in esteem doe even passe for good And the Acts of a person who hath the credit of a sublime Virtue cannot be found fault withall The wiseft of the Pagans were not ignorant hereof but made great advantages by it as occasion offered it self Scipio the African would sometimes be a long while together all alone in the Capitol pretending he did conferr with Jupiter concerning the affairs of the Commonwealth and all this he did that he might be thought to be endued with a more than humane Piety Minos the Law-giver of Candia went down to make Laws into a subterranean Cave which he called Jupiters Grot and thence brought them all written perswading the people to believe that they were inspired into him by that Divinity And this was an easie way to perswade the people to whatsoever they had a mind to God himself hath thought it very proper too when he would bring any great thing to passe for he hath chosen usually such men who by their eminent virtue are able to make all people believe that whatsoever they declare could not be but truth He hath commanded the Prophets and Apostles to publish such sayings as would jarr and clash with the senses of most men and yet he hath replenished them in respect of his choice with the many graces that it were almost impossible for the most part not to believe them The deputation of the Sieur de la Ville-aux-clercs to the King of England in the qualitie of an Extraordinary Ambassador AFter the King had payed this respect to the Pope and that the Articles of Mariage had been coucluded upon the twentieth of November His Majestie cast his eys upon the Sieur de la Ville-aux-clerâ—s one of his Councellors and Secretary of State to dispatch him into England as an Extraordinary Ambassador He gave him particular order to testifie unto the King of Great Britain and the Prince of Wales the great affection which he had to live with them in a strait and near intelligence and to assure them that one of the chiefest reasons which drew him to agree to the Mariage was the consideration that as one link of their Friendship was tyed by Blood this would render it indissolvable After these Complements were once past he commanded him to procure the Articles of Mariage to be ratified and to obtain their Oaths and Promises by Writing according to what the Ambassadors had engaged their words He discharged himself with honour both to the one and t'other Commission and having several times entertained them with the Content that his Master would conceive by their Alliance he at last concluded with such dexteritie that he had instilled into them all sorts of good will and affection for France and in particular for his Majesties Interests and so invited them to a quick consummation of the Treatie that the sudden chances which usually happen to affairs of this consequence might not breed any alteration or change This was the ground-work upon which he founded his demands for their Instruments and Oaths which had been promised and which both of them were readily disposed to effect and accordingly they promised upon the Holy Evangelist not to attempt by any wayes or means to induce the Princesse to change the Roman Catholique Apostolique Religion or to force her to any thing which might be contrary to it They likewise promised upon their Faith and words of Princes to grant to the Catholiques more Liberties and Franchises in every thing which concern'd their Religion than had been given in favour of the Match with Spain not to force them to take Oaths contrary to the Rules of the Roman Church and to take effectual care that they were no more troubled in their Persons or Estates for their Religion provided they exercised it in private and lived in obedience as good Subjects ought to doe and finally both of them signed and delivered two Deeds for the better assurance of their Oaths and Promises After all this his Instructions did not oblige him to be contented with words onely as to that which concern'd the Libertie of the Catholiques so that he proceeded with great earnestness to obtain the effects of it and he was assured that upon the conclusion of the Mariage there should be a Patent of Enlargement granted to all such as were Prisoners for their Religion-sake without being any more troubled for the future and for what related to all in general there was a Deed made under his Majesties own Hand and Seal directed to the Lord Conway Secretary of State commanding him to signifie to all whom it concern'd that it was his Majesties pleasure no farther prosecution should be made against them and accordingly the Lord Conway gave notice hereof to the Chancellor Treasurer to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and to all other chief Officers principally requiring the Grand Treasurer to restore unto them all the monies which had been forced from them and payd into the Exchequer with order not to do the like hereafter and thus by obtaining their Promises Words and Assurances they had as much security as they could wish for could they but be contented to exercise their Religion in private and without noyse Politique Observation THe word of a King hath alwayes pass'd for so sacred that ours have sometimes scrupel'd at the confirmation by Oath of what they once gave upon their words It was for that reason Saint Lewis would not swear in his own person to the League then made with Henry the third King of England at the Camp neer St. Aubin Anno 1231. but desired it might suffice if he caused it to be sworn in his name and presence by the Prior of St. Martin the fields Indeed there being nothing
ebb that they were not able to secure themselves They well knew our Kings have ever been the Churches Refuge the Scourge of Heretiques the Protectors of the Holy Sea and that all Ecclesiastiques have ever secured themselves from those storms which threatned their ruine by retiring themselves under their Power neither were they ignorant that he who now welldeth the French Scepter hath destroyed Heresie in this Kingdom and made his Actions illustrious as well by Piety as Justice Hereupon they sent their deputies unto him to implore his assistance The Bishop of Wittsbourg was chief of the Embassie on whom that imployment was more especially imposed in regard he was most concerned to animate their complaints by the report of the great losses himself had sustained the Baron de Teâ—iff accompanied him from the Elector of Cologne and the Sieur Ruter from the Duke of Baviers neither of them was backward in laying before his Majesty a large description of their miseries of the increase of Heresie of the calamities whereunto the Catholiques were exposed of the Swedish Kings Ambition of the Churches Interests of France's concernments and all this they frequently did at large in their Audiences that by this means they might infuse some jealousie into the King's mind which might draw him off from the Swede and instill some Ambition into his Soul which inducing him to pretend unto the Empire might ingage him in their protection But his Majesty informed by his Embassadours of the Swedish proceedings and that their Victories were not extraordinary from others but conformable to the Treaty of Alliance presently apprehended that the losses they had suffered together with the fear of totally losing the remainder if they continued to countenance the ambitious designs of the House of Austria had perswaded them to make such pittifull complaints He could not be perswaded to change a War of State into a War of Religion or to believe the King of Sweden intended the ruine of the Church being fully assured his intents were only to abase the Emperours pride and to curb his Ambitious designs Yet the Compassion he had at the sense of their miseries would not permit him to dispatch them without some satisfaction and the using his intercession with the Swedish King for their safeties and the securities of their States Having kissed his Majesties hands they visited the Cardinal whose zeal for the Churches interests gave them a most kind reception and ample assurances that his advices should second their requests unto his Majesty In future comming to discours the means how to secure them he ingeniously told them that the King of Swede striking directly at the Imperial Party it would be impossible to mediate any Treaty in their behalfs unlesse they withdrew themselves from that association that this was it they were necessarily to resolve upon unlesse they would totally disable his Majesty from making any interposition with the Swedish King who no doubt would never be perswaded to spare them whilest they indeavoured to give a subsistence unto the Imperial Army both by assistances of men money and provisions of all sorts This discourse although equally tempered with Prudence and sincerity seemed very harsh unto them in regard of their affection to the House of Austria But as no interests are neerer then particular so they shewed a great deal of readinesse to submit unto the Kings Will and Judgement to do as he should think most proper whereby they might the more strongly ingage him in their protection and defence Whereupon it was thought fit that his Majesty should deal with the Swedish King to permit them to continue Neuters they hoping to pick out some way or other of accommodation hereby at least to gain some time which might produce an overture to avoid the storm which threatned their present â—ine Politique Observation PRinces are not in any thing more industrious than in making their demands seem plausible now no pretences make a deeper impression on mens minds than those of Religion whence it is that if they can with it cloak their designs they think they have done sufficiently under this veil have they often palliated their most vicious and ambitious devices and they who treat with them if truly wise do not easily believe whatever is proposed under the notion of Religion The Faith which they professe maketh them zealous for the Churches good but this very Faith teacheth them that somtimes Wolves cloath themselves in Sheep-skins and that as the Tree is known by his fruit so there is no safer way to judge of Princes Proposals then by reflecting on the government of their actions the true fruits of their designs King Achas that he might deceive Isaiah played the Hypocrite and did at first refuse the proposition made unto him of craving a Miracle from God for assurance of his promise pretending himself to be respectfull and fearful of offending God that he made a difficulty of tempting him by an extraordinary belief Many there are who use such like slights when they find it may conduce to their advantage in a word it is great Prudence not alwaies to believe those who cover their designs with the Church but maturely to examine their Proposals and to observe them by their former conduct and proceedings The King sendeth the Marquis de Breze towards Gustavus Adolphus Kign of Sweden THe Cardinal informed his Majesty of the Propositions of Neutrality to which the Embassadours of the Catholique League seemed to incline and his Majesty having cast his eyes upon the Marquis de Breze as a person capable by reason of his Prudence and Ability to give a happy successe thereunto dispatch'd him unto the King of Swedâ—n to obtain his assent in that behalf He departed from Mets not long after and arrived at Mayence accompanied with above fifty Gentlemen Voluntiers ambitious oâ— seeing that King whose victories were so publiquely famous over the World The Marquesse of Breze comming neer unto Mayence was met upon the way by two Cornets of Horse and the King of Swedes own Coach to receive him the was conducted unto his Audience where after he had made his respects unto that victorious Prince he told him the King his Master being so near had commanded him to wait upon him and to assure him of his joy for his victories The King of Sweden returned those Civilities and Honours due unto the Ambassadours of France which passed over they began to discourse of affairs He represented unto him how his Master being eldest Son and protector of the Church looked on himself as obliged to make a request unto him in behalf of the Catholiques of Germany and to beseech him to permit them to become neuters they being readily disposed to fall off from the interests of the House of Austria and not to uphold his forces by any way or means whatever how that his Master was the more willing to second their desires in regard he thought it very advantagious for the design which invited him
from Rome unsatisfied They might easily have obtained as heretofore thundring Excommunications against France and have exposed the Kingdom to ruine had Gregory the Fourteenth been yet alive but we do not now live in those times The Masque of Religion wherewith the House of Austria use to cover their designs is now taken off and the Cardinal who knoweth of what concernment it is for States to hold Rome in friendship was not backward both for the good of the Church and this Kingdom to inform his Holinesse of the design contrived by the House of Austria for the over-running of Italy and bringing the Holy Sea into such subjection that themselves might overaw the Censures Decrees and Excommunications of the Church so the Pope convinced of the truth hereof was not possibly to be surprized but blamed the German Princes for exposing their States to such miseries in behalf of the ambitious design of the House of Austria and on the contrary commended his Majesty for his readinesse and willingnesse to protect the Church and those very Princes in case they would recede from their wicked designs That Catholick Princes ought to hold good correspondence with Rome IT was not without great reason what Antonio Peres once told the late Henry the Great viz. that the French being unmatchable for courage would undoubtedly conquer the whole earth if to their natural valour the favour of Rome the mastery of the Sea and a fix'd Council of able Statesmen were adjoyned These three things make a Prince truly great And the course of affairs now leadeth me to discourse of one of them viz of the necessity of holding a fair correspondence with the Roman Sea which I may well say is necessary partly for the avoiding of those evils which may happen by want thereof and partly for the inducing the people by its approbation to admit of the many and several undertakings in a State The Empire of Souls is both great and tickleth if it were only in relation of those Anathemas which may be darted out against Princes One of the most conspicuous church-lights said and that with great judgement that the Thunders of the Church are to be feared how unjust soever and indeed so they are because the execrations of Christ Jesus Vicar are of great efficacy before God who holdeth the Government of Kingdomes in his hands and also because of the terrours they strike into the people who concluding a Prince reproved by God as soon as by the Holy Sea do not only lose their respect due to such rulers but even run into disobedience and insurrection Did not those Thunders in the times of the late League kindle the flames which did long consume this Kingdom what was it which brought Navar into the Spaniards hands but the imbroils between Lewis the Twelfth and Julius the Second Now if a good intelligence with the Sea of Rome is security from such like misfortunes it is no lesse an advantage to a State in regard of its approbation of a Soveraigns enterprizes This is it which holdeth the people in quiet which maketh them think the yoak of obedience to be easie which preserveth the love of their Prince in their minds and which rendreth contributions imposed by necessity the more supportable and in general it may be said that there is not any thing how bad soever which they will distast if approved by the Holy Sea so great a respect doth Religion produce in the minds of men King Numa had no better invention to make his actions received by the people of Rome then by telling them he did nothing but by the Counsel of the Nymph Egeria who communicated the Will of the Gods unto him No one is ignorant of the repute which the South-sayers had with the people of Rome in perswading them to approve of their Consuls and Emperours designs and undertakings Could then any more likely way be invented both to justifie their undertakings and incourage their Souldiers then by telling them the Gods approved of them Neither can it be doubted but the Pope's approbation is an effectual way to perswade people to like their Princes designs to live in quiet and to be well satisfied with the Government under which they live But how much then are the Popes obliged to be favourable towards France which hath ever been their Refuge their Asylum their Prop and Protection Besides their Interests are the same with ours seeing the French use not such under-hand shuffling as the Spaniards and are far enough from such ambitious designs as the House of Austria who are still contriving to oppress the Liberties of the Church to subjugate the holy See and to over-awe its Decrees whereas the French endeavour only to preserve every one in his own Right and to be contented with a good Pope an honest and stout man who will not suffer himself to be surprized by their Enemies but shew himself a common Father to all without procuring any ditriment to one by the suggestion of another The Cardinal endeth a difference between the Bishops and Friers NOt long after the Kings return from Lorrain the Cardinal undertook to compose a difference between the Bishops and Friers which had made a great noise for sundry ages together The Friers relying upon their priviledges obtained from the holy See pretended to have power both to Preach and Confess without permission from the Bishops and the Bishops unto whom all people within their Diocess are subject by common right did perpetually thwart that pretension They could not down with the Friers Priviledges alledging they ought to be declared void as being oppugnant to the primitive constitutions of the Church which ought to be preserved in the same model for the continuation thereof in its pristine splendour This quarrel had been especially fomented during the last year by reason some Books had been published in the name of the English Catholiques which preferr'd the Monastical life before that of the Prelats and seemed to imply that Friers were more necessary at least more useful to the Church then the ordinary Pastors To say the Truth these Propositions were bold and without offence to any one may safely be termed rash and inconsiderate But that likelyhood was there of composing these differences Was it probable that the whole Society of Friers would relinquish the priviledges they had obtained from the holy See On the other side What reason was there that the Prelats should have so little authority over them in Administration of Sacraments and the Word of God seeing in the Primitive times Friers were only mix'd amongst the Laity and addressed themselves unto the Bishops Congregations to receive the Sacraments from their hands or those who executed their charge No one but the Cardinal could give an end to these differences there being not a man who durst so much as make a a Proposal whereby each party might receive satisfaction neither did he wave the trouble but willingly took it upon himself though he was
her usuall residence there That the King of Great Britain should be obliged to treat her and her Family with that Port which was fit for one of her quality that there should be fifty thousand crowns in Jewels presented to her by the King of Great Britain as a marriage favour which should remain to her and hers as well as those which she then had as also such as she should have in future That she should have the free disposal of Benefices and Offices in those lands which should be given her in Dower and that one of those lands should be a Dutchie or an Earldome that it should be lawfull for her in her Widdow-hood to return into France whether she had children or not that in case she should return the King of Great Brittain should conduct her at his own proper charges to Callis with such honour as should be fit for one of her quality That her house should be furnished with such dignity and should be filled with as many Officers as any Princess yet had or as had been accorded to the Infanta of Spain upon the late Treaty which had been proposed Briefly that for the assurance of these conditions he of the two Kings who should be deficient to accomplish what belongeth on his part to do should be bound to pay four hundred thousand crowns to the other as a penalty for breach of them This was as much security as could be had for the present but one thing is not to be forgotten which was that all the Treaty all the promises given and taken and all the Acts which were concluded on passed in the Kings name as the Person to whom the marrying of the Princesses of the Bloud did really appertain and which he might do according to his own pleasure and upon such conditions as he should think fit whereas they are onely concern'd to give their consents both to the Persons and Articles which are resolved on Custome may raise obstacles against marriages and make them void if there bee any defect of following the usual order which is prescribed The Popes have found by the Canon Law that they have this Power Particularly Alexander the third who when a Bishop asked him the Question whether Marriage between the Children of two Gossips were allowable answered him yes in case the custome of the Country did permit it But I shall say moreover that the same Pope hath declared that there might be such Customes in France which might annull marriages though on the other side those of Rome may license them According to that answer which was made to the Bishop of Amiers who desiring to know if a marriage made with a Eunuch were good was answered that the general custome of the French Church was to dissolve it and he was contented so to permit it though the Roman Church used the contrary It is the Custome of France that no Princesses or Ladies of great quality whose marriages may be of concern to the State may marry but by and with the Kings order and consent The second Race of our Kings furnisheth us with an example very remarkable in the marriage of Judeth Widdow of Edmulph King of England who being married without the consent of Charles the Bauld with Bauldwin grand Forrestier and afterwards first Earl of Flanders he declared the said marriage to be nul by the Prelates Clergy of France assembled at Senlis though she were at her own disposal by her first marriage and royalty though Pope Nicholas the first would have pickt a quarrel at it and have confirmed it Some one perchance not well informed may suppose that this Pope wanted courage but there is no reason for it seeing he had spirit enough to excommunicate Lotharius for marrying a second wife leaving his first though his Clergy at Merz and Calogue did favour him to constrain him to quit his last Wife and to receive his first as also to dispossess two Bishops who had Abetted the disorder the true reason is he knew that the Custome of France did not permit Judith to re-marry without the Kings consent The third Race affords us another proof reported by a Historian who deserves so much the rather to be credited he being generally known for one of the enemies of France It was the marriage contracted by Proxy between Maximilian and Anne of Brittain It 's true it was not consummated as that of Judith was but because it was concluded without the consent of Charles the Eighth one of our Kings His Majesty making use of his Power declared it Null by reason of that default In fine it was allowed for naught and both parties remained Free Maximilian afterwards marrying Margaret of Milan and Charles the Eighth married the same Anne of Brittain and no one doubted the validity of either of the marriages If these examples evince to us the Antiquity of this Custome and how the Church hath allowed of it we cannot suspect or doubt but that they are grounded upon just reasons seeing the marriages of persons of such quality are of great importance to the State and ordinarily are the originals of Peace or War and serve for a Stair-Case to such who aspiring higher then they ought raise enterprizes against the Soveraignty as Cornelius Tacitus hath observed it doth therefore rest safely to bee concluded on that the Princesses of France cannot lawfully marry without the Kings consent So that neither men or women who have had them in their possession did never make a difficulty to promise either by Oath or any other assurance that they would not contract them in any marriage without their consents and approbation Philippes Auguste took security of Mahaut Countess of Flanders that if it should happen that she and Eude the third Duke of Burgogn should separate she should not re-marry without permission Philip Earl of Namur promised the same King that he would not marry Jane or Margaret of Flanders his Neeces whose Guardian he was without his consent Jane Countess of Flanders promised by a particular instrument unto St. Lewis the King that she would not marry with Simon de Montfort but with his allowance Jane daughter to Philip of Burgogn being delivered to King John by the Treaty between him and the Earl of Savoy amongst other things it was then concluded that she should be married where his Majesty should think fitâ—â— provided it were not to the Daupâ—ine his eldest son And Francis Duke of Brittain ingaged by a Treaty with Charles the Eight not to marry either of his two daughters without his advise under the penal forfeiture of two hundred thousand crowns of Gold and for the greater security he bound unto him the principallest Towns in his whole Dutchee The Deputation of Father Berule to his Holiness to obtain a Dispensation for the above-mentioned Marriage THe respect wherewith the King had ever honoured the Holy Father made him resolve with the English Embassadours in the first Article of the Treaty That in
consideration of that diversity of Religion between the Princess and the Prince of Wales his Majesty should send to his Holiness to procure a Dispensation before the Marriage were effected to obtain the said Dispensation the Cardinal proposed to the King to send Father Berule Superior General of the fathers of the Oratory and to commit the charge of it to him as a person capable of such a negotiation and whose Piety which amongst the People is extreamly recommendable might take off all shadows or apparencies which the weakness of their senses or the malice of the Spaniards might raise abroad concerning it It should seem he did fore-see that Fury wherewith the Spanish Partisans writ against this marriage So angry they were that they had not prevented it not reflecting that for eleven whole years they had testified to the world that they would have done the self-same thing But that I may not be hindred by those outragious speeches which proceeded from those spirits puft up with Ambition who then began to discover that France had a Minister capable to countermine them and to oppose their unjust designs I shall inform you that the instruction which was give to Father Berule was to go to Rome with all diligence and to obtain the Dispensation from the Pope to which purpose he was to represent to his Holiness That the King of Great Brittain having demanded the Princess Henrietta Maria the Kings Sister in marriage for the Prince of Wales his son his Majesty was the more inclinable to hearken to the Proposition because hee looked upon it as a probable means to convert the English as heretofore a French Princess married into England had induced them to imbrace Christianity But that the Honour which hee owed to the Holy Chair and in particular to his Sanctity who had formerly held him at the Font of Baptism in the name of Pope Clement the Eighth had not permitted him to conclude upon the Treaty before the obtainment of his Dispensation That this Marriage ought to be regarded for the Interest not onely of the Catholicks in England but of all Christendome who would receive great advantages by it that there is not any thing of hazard for the Princesse seeing she is as firm as could be desired both in the Faith aâ—â— Piety That she should have a Bishopâ— and eight and twenty Priests to do all Offices That she should have none but Catholicks in her Houshold That the King of Great Brittain and the Prince of Wales would oblige themselves by Writing and Oath not to solicite her directly or indirectly neither by themselves or any other persons to change her Religion Moreover that there being nothing to be feared in relation to the Princesse there were great hopes that she might be intirely beloved by the King who was well disposed already to become a Catholick and by the Prince of Wales That shee might the more contribute to their conversion in regard that women have very great power over their Husbands and Father-in-Laws when Love hath gotten any power in their affections That for her part she was so zealous in Religion that there was no doubt but she would employ her utmost industry in so pious a design That admitting God should not succeed her iâ—tentions either upon King James or the Prince of Wales there were hopes her Children might become restorers of that Faith which their Ancestors had destroyed seeing she had the education and bringing of them up in the belief and exercise of the Catholique Religion until they were thirteen years old and that their first seeds of Piety having being instilled into their souls and cultivated with carefulnesse when they became capable of good Instructions might infallibly produce stable and permanent Fruits that is so strong a Faith as might not be shaken by Heresie in a riper age And after all That the Catholiques of England would forthwith receive great advantages by it seeing both the King of Great Britain and the Prince of Wales his Son would oblige themselves by worâ— and deed not to hunt them out or when they were discovered to punish them To free out of Prison all such as were layed up to restore them their Monies and Goods which had been forced from them after the last Act if they were possible to be had and generally to treat them with more favour than if the Treaty with Spain had gone on Lastly he had order to inform the Pope that to render a greater respect to the Church he had conditioned that the Princess should be affianced and contracted according to the Catholique form like that which was observed they Charlâ—s the Ninth in the Mariage of Margarice of France with the late King Henry the Fourth then King of Navarr These things spoke in their own behalf and were so eminently visible that no doubt could be made of them The Father Berule too wanted neither Ability nor Good-will but represented them to his Holyness with such dexterity that his Sanctity gave him hopes of a favourable answer 'T is true the Pope would not grant him a dispence without conferring with the Cardinals that he might give no jealousie to Spain who had been dealt with in the very same manner when they desired a Dispensation for the Inâ—anca but they were of his own naming and such as no one could think were more subject to Passion than Justice So they met divers times about it and though it were with the ordinary delayes of the Court at Rome without which they esteem no affair can be discussed and judged with Prudence or Majesty enough yet in sine they referred the expediting of the Dispensation to the Popes pleasure All that was cross in the business was barely this Father Borielâ— being naturally addicted to refine all things was perswaded that there had not been assurances strong enough obtained from the English for the securing and hindring the placing of Protestant Officers over the Princesses children the solicitation of Officers to change their Religion the continuation of forcing English Catholiques to take Oaths of Abjuration against the Catholique Religion and the holy See though indeed it had been expresly concluded and agreed on That the King of England and Prince of Wâ—lâ—s should engage both by Writing and Oath not to enforce them any more However this induced both the Pope and Cardinals to think fit not acquainting the â—ieurâ—dâ— Bethune with it though the Cardinals Prudence had tyed up the said Father Bâ—rulâ— in his Instructions not to doe any thing without him to oblige the King in the Instrument of Dupensation to procure from the King of Great Britain new assurances in these parcicuâ—ars So that he following his own sense and specious reasons upon which he relyed his Holyness dispatched him upon those conditions and sent him back to the King with all diligence Politique Observations IF Piety prohibit Ministers to doe things contrary to Religion Prudence obligeth them to referre the management of affairs to Persons who