stormes You are not ignorant how there is now a Parliament holden in England that bode vs no good in Holland a dayly consultation with present preparation In France a Councell together with an vnaminity of Kings and Peeres for some great vndertaking How nerely then concernes it vs of Spaine to be vigilant and to looke about vs first for the maintenance and aduancement of the Catholique Religion and holy Church Secondly for the defence of his Maiesties Kingdomes and Territories Thirdly to heare the grieuances of the people groaning vnder the heauy burthen of exaction and oppression though the couetuousnesse of publique offices Fourthly for the supply of the Treasury which a late hath beene much exhausted partly by preparation by Sea against our Common enemies Turkes and Hollanders and partly by the extraordinary entertainment of Charles Prince of Wales the charge wherof amounted to 49. thousand Ducates Fift and lastly for giuing the world satisfaction and the taking away of those vile scandales and imputations which euen within these few dayes haue beene and are hourely cast vpon vs especially as they giue it out in dealing doubly and dishonorably with England concerning the Treaty of the Match He hauing ended the D. of Braganza the next began thus I am sorry that I liue to see the day that the Honor of Spaine which was wont to dazle the eye of Europe with the vnsufferable splendor of its brightnesse should now be ouer cast with the blacke cloud of disgrace and the name of a Spaniarde so redoubted ouer the world become branded with the infamous attributes and epithites of false ambitious proud and cruell and those Nations who were wont to adore vs for our faith contemne and scorne vs now for treachery and falshood Certes loyalty and the Religious obseruance of our promises and faith was anciently held our prime vertue insomuch that Fey de Spagna grew into a Prouerbe like the gold of Ophir out valewing any other that I speake no new thing or vntruth you may plainely perceiue it by the multitude of discourses pamphlets and pasquills that are dayly vented against vs from all parts of the World wherein wee art iested at derided disgraced by verses and vnseemely Pictures especially of late dayes from Holland France and England yea as I vnderstand in songs and Ballades sung vp and downe the Streetes in many places whence this imputation vpon so iust and braue a Nation so potent a Monarch at the brandishing of whose sword Europe trembles should proceede I cannot ghesse yet desire to be satisfied herein in the King my Mr. and kinsmans behalfe my kinsman for you all know my neere alliance vnto his Maiesty and my Poesie may intimate no lesse vnto the world which is Pues vos nos after you we being next in blood if the issue Royall should faile But I am a fraide the ill carriage of some priuate men at home perhaps our Embassadors in For. raine parts haue throwne this aspersion vpon vs hauing eyther giuen abroad to many ouertures of our designes or attempted their ends with ouermuch hast and violence which in time and by gentle hand might haue beene easier won as a bough whose fruite we meane to gather is brought downe by degrees which else might breake and we loose our longing Surely in the first me thinke our Nation should not easily offend we being esteemed the most close and reserued to our selues in the world as the euent of our greatest and most important actions haue sufficiently shewne Did we not in 88. carry our businesse for England so cunningly and secretly as well in that well dissembled treaty with the English neere Ostend whereto for vs were deputed Aremberge Champigny Richardot and other as in bringing our Nauy to their shores while their Commanders and Captaines were at bowles vpon the hoe of Plimouth and had my Lord Alonso Guzman the Duke of Medina Sidonia had but the resolution but in truth his Commission was otherwise he might haue suprized them as they lay at Anker and the like In Ireland when Don Ivan d' Aquila had gotten footing in the Irish ground ere any of the mist How were our plots and correspondence with Biron carryed with infinite the like examples Touching the latter the Spanish Nation hath of all other in the world beene held for the most sober stayd and wise and were wont neuer to attempt any thing but vpon great and long aduice accounting it with Quintus Fabius more honorable to bee accounted droanes or cowards then to hazard our affaires or Armies French like onely in a vaine-glorious hastinesse to gaine the Honor of charging the first So that it seemeth strange to me that we haue I know not vpon what grounds incurred the hate and scorne of other Nations and that we especially of the Nobility should be thought ill of since of Nobility ours of Spaine hath beene euer held the most illustrious and eminent of the world The Duke hauing made an end Gondomar easily raysing himselfe from his chayre wherein he sat vpon two downe pillowes and resting himselfe vpon a little Brasill staffe spake as followeth My Lords I can deriue this slaunder of our Country and hate of our selues from no other fountaine then the Fanaticall humors and distracted spirits of some of the English who find themselues not a little gall'd and vexed with our politique delayes heretofore and now our finall reiection and I hope shaking hands with that Hereticall Nation for euer for if your Alteses and Honors will but consider what aduenture and boote we haue made by them I thinke you will say we might well endure these British Northen and cold blasts meane time in so suffering for our Catholique King and in the Catholique cause we ought to take such approbry rather as an Honor vnto vs then otherwise Moreouer if we shall consider who are the Authors of these lying Plamphlets wee shall finde to proceede from the pennes of light and vnstayed wits with intent eyther to winne the opinion of good intelligencers and statistes together with the aiery applause of the Vulgar or to rayse to their desperate Fortunes when the tempest is ouer as it oft hath happened and now likely we being fallen off from England and the Treaty at an end Yea but quoth the Duke of Medina Caeli what should be the reason of that inbred and Naturall hate the common people of England should beare to vs and our Country aboue any Nation in the world the Hollanders Turkes and Indians excepted Arch. B. Toledo Quoth the Arch-bishop of Toledo herein we are much deceiued for his Catholique Maiesty and our selues all haue very many faithfull and fast friends in England who would not sticke to hazard their liues and fortunes in the Seruice of his Maiesty might time and occasion be offered yea and some none of the meanest The Marquesse of Castello Rodrig then arising vp with a graue countenance and a deliberate vtterance said is it possible that any place
and those transcendent Honnors yea though for no other former merit else then the resolute and wise carriage of himselfe in the businesse of this Treaty amongst vs whereby he hath not onely assured himselfe of the affection and heart of the King and Prince but infinitely for his faithfull seruice another Fidus Achates vnto him gained the generall loue of the Common people as it not long since appeared when he was ill after his tedious Voyage by Sea the Prince himselfe all the time healthy and sound for whose returne the people had beene excessiue and beyond measure had it not beene somewhat allayed and tempored with the report of Buckinghams sicknesse The Duke of Buckingham for his true seruice to the King and Prince and State heartily beloued of the people they praying as heartily for his recouery as if he had beene some good land-Lord or great House-keeper amongst them whose losse had beene halfe their vndoing It were to be wished quoth Don Mendosa that the Prince of Wales and himselfe with the rest of the Parliament were not vpon iust cause I confesse so bent against vs. I remember quoth the Arch-bishop when I was a young Student a saying of Seneca Ingenuitas non recipit contemptum Ingenuitie or a generous spirit can in no wise brooke contempt shall we imagine then a Prince yea such a Prince as CHARLES of Wales and onely Sonne to the King of Great Brittaine vpon whom and whose action 's as a bright blazing Comet Europe begins to fixe her eye affraid and doubtfull where the fatall effect of his discontent will light will carry coales and not cry quittance with his enemies yet doubtlesse his mettle is of another temper and not so flexible as some take it for mine owne part I would not haue him our enemy if his friendship could be had though with the expence of many millions of Ducates Cuius contrariâ—â—◠〈◊〉 est As if Spaine quoth Rodrigo needed to feare that angle of the world England haue not we euermore giuen them their hands full haue they not more feared our Fleets and Armies then we theirs do we not equal them in men and expert Commanders aswell by land as by sea do we not exceede them in Treasure and money from our Indian mines that like euer-running Fountaines are neuer drawne dry that I may say nothing of the courage of our people our wisedome and policy whereby wee haue made our selues maisters of so many goodly Territories and gained so many braue victories both at Sea and Land Had we an enemy quoth the D. of Cea of farre lesse abillity and power then England is we ought not so sleightly to contemne him A quarrell about a load of Calues-skins cost the D. of Burgundy the losse of his life whole estate the wofull experience whereof our Nation naturaly haughty and opinionate of their valour as well as others haue proued the Duke of Burgundy out of an insolent pride so comtemned the Swisses the quarrell arising betwixt them but for the tole of a load of Calues skinnes that at the last by them he was depriued both of his estate and life at that vnfortunate encounter at Nancy Who could with-hold the Arch-duke Albertus The Spaniards pride contempt of vs how deare it cost them at Neuport and our grand Captaines from bidding Prince Maurice battle at Neuport But scorning the enemy in regard of his small number in respect of theirs together being puffed vp with that petty victorie against the Scots the same morning they had the reward of pride and contempt of a weake aduersary for the Arch-duke was forced to flye sauing himselfe very hardly leauing dead behind him the oldest and best Souldiers Spaine had Let vs beleeue the weakest may doe vs a mischeife as is wittily showne by Aesop in that fable or apoligy of his between the Eagle and the Conies But by your fauour my Lord you are much mistaken in the estate and strength of England and quallitie of the people and so you will tell me if we shall haue to doe with them as we haue found and had in former times let vs thinke two of the accession of Scotland vnto that Kingdome The strength of Ireland at this present and how Ireland standeth in good termes and is at this time so well peopled with English and Scottish that there is not so much as a starting hole left for Rebellion or so much ground to spare in that Countrey that might affoord any freinds horse of ours a bottle of Hay much lesse suffice for an Armie to martch ouer and to be maintained vpon I might hereto adde the valour and sufficient fidellity of that Noble Gentleman Sir Henry Carie Lotd Viscount Falkland the now present Lord Debuty thereof with many other braue Spirits that are imployed in his Maiesties seruice in that good Countrey But to returne to the Parliament of England what effects heare you is it likely to produce or wherein is it thought to prooue praeiudicious to the King our Maister or to the Catholique Religion First replied Gondomar it is likely to goe worse with the Catholiques then euer as who must expect no fauor but must prepare themselues to vndergoe the sharpest censure and animaduersion of the Law against them yea whosoeuer shall be found abettors maintainors concealors of their plots or harberours of their persons shall suffer for the same in like manner and I heare say that there is a Proclamation either comming forth or published already to that effect and now they are to depart the Realme by a prefixed day But what quoth Count de Monterey will then become of them or by whome shall they be entertained will they returne to their Coledges againe at Doway Rhemes Roome Villadolid The Seminary Colledges beyond the Seas almost empty at this time and other places some whereof I haue lately seene and obserue to stand emty Nothing lesse quoth Gondomar for I am perswaded though many wil colourably depart though returne againe shortly by new ports and new names moe will remaine behinde and since neuer likely againe to haue such an opportunitie of professing themselues openly and execising their functions which they could doe in a freinds Chamber and many times in the common Innes for the better avoyding suspition and concealing themselues some will turne School-maisters in priuate mens houses as there are many in England some Gentlemen Vshers vnto Collapsed Ladies are some such there are in Drury lane the L. T. in Yorkeshire hath one followes her in that Nature the L. S. not farre from my old house in Holborne in London the L. M. neere vnto Stratford-bow Some Falconers whereof I know two the one in Sussex the other in high Suffolke only one I was acquainted withall who was the keeper of a Parke and a good Huntsman and of whom I haue had many a good peece of Venison if he be liuing I know another Priest who hauing liued with an antient
Lady of great estate and of good credit by reason he was enuironed with a pestilent crew of puritans on euery side and the better to colour his absence from the Church learned the art of Cookery and is growne so expert therein within a short space that hee is able to dresse a Dinner with such arte and good meat after the English fashion that neuer a Cooke in all Spaine is able to set the like by it and his manner is when he hath layed his meate to the fire to goe and say Masse which finished by that time or soone after his meate is boyled and rosted which with a cleane Apron and white sleeues with some small helpe of a kitchin boy he serueth vp to his old mistris Erasmus Quoth the Arch-bishop this was the condition of the old Christians The number Preists Iosuits in London only is â—55 in a manner for euery parish two if Masse were vp againe vnder the persecuting Emperours of which times it is said Ingeniosares fuit illis temporibus esse Christianum Without doubt quoth Gondomar they will bee seuerely proceeded against in this present Parliament and that for many respects First by reason of their number and dayly increase whereby they became formidable to the State God be thanked the house is well rid of them Secondly because of the correspondence they held with vs for by their meanes wee vnderstood the secrets of their State knew what they did or spake in their Parliaments in a word they were our onely instruments for any imployment were it neuer so desperate Thirdly wherein I must needes say they were to blame they abused the Kings grace and Lenity towards them The Kings lenity abused with their insolency and affronts oft times brauing their Aduersaries in the streetes to their faces Preachers in their Pulpits Iudges and Iustices on the Bench that had they so done with vs in Spaine they should haue soundly smarted for it of what Religion soeuer they had been For example vpon Easter munday last in the after noone Aske Maistes Primrose of the truth hereof came a Iesuit formally attired in blacke to the Court then at White Hall the day following being the day of the Kings healing of that disease they call there the Kings euill what time a great throng of people of all sorts being gathered together at the doore of Serieant Primrose who was to take the names and to search such as had need of helpe thrust into the Chamber and being demaunded what businesse he had there faining himselfe to be in drinke made answer he had none neither knew he how he came there they seeing him in such a case would haue carried him into another roome and haue layd him vpon a bed but he refused it and hearing by chance Mr. Primrose and one Mr. White conferre in Latine together he suddainly brake out and said know you not such a one who attendeth vpon such a Lord he is my brother and a Catholique whereat Mr. White replyed I pray get you gone I care for no such company where vpon he would haue drawne his Dagger and had not companie been nigh he had doubtlesse slaine him and no sooner was hee out of the Chamber but he returned with three or foure more of his freinds and acquaintance daring him to come forth and deeply vowing to be reuenged vpon him and the rest within c. Fourthly No treason commonly without a Preist or Iesuit at one end of it because say the English they are the only engines and complots of all Treasons authors of Tumults and seditions within the land they instance long since the rebâ—ellion in the North of late the Gun-powder Treason Watsons plot with that of St. Walter Raleighes and many more the like Fift and lastly because their carriage not answering the reuerend and high dignity of their profession they are growne odious say they to those euen of their owne side for indeede they are the only boone Companions about the Towne loosing hereby much of their valew which I like not of St. Francis was reputed so holy a man After the naming of St. Francis you are to licke your lippes that the Popes Holinesse ordained that whosoeuer did but name St. Francis he should licke his lippes after so sweete and Saint-like was his life and conuersation Yet now I remember at my departure out of England I gaue it some of them in charge to get what they could of whom or by what meanes soeuer because I foresaw their haruest would be short and the money would stand vs all in stead for indeede the greatest part was at my deuotion and to be employed as I saw cause And this stirred vp one Gee an Apostate Calvinist to publish a pestilent and malicious against the Priests and Iesuites residing in and about London wherein after hee hath discouered their practises he setteth downe in a Catalogue at the end all their names with the places of their lodging what bookes they haue at any time published with the names of Catholique Doctors of Physicke and Apothecaries to their no small disgrace and praeiudice The things my L. quoth Sesa at your beeing in England were by your meanes wont to be seuerely looked into and punished It is true quoth Gondomar either hanging or losse of the Authors cares had ensued or else I had missed of my ayme but the case is now altered I was then powerfull and in grace and by my pollicy effected those things which were they now to be wrought againe would require the labour and all the strength of Hercules But my L. quoth the D. of Braganza what newes lately from England in what state stands things there and how doth D. Iniosa carry himselfe among the English at this turbulent season and amidst the deepest of their discontent displeasure against vs Well enough quoth Gondomar and the better if he be carefull to obserue some directions I gaue him at my last departure but for nouelty sake I will produce a Letter I receiued from him written with his owne hand within these few dayes My L. all health and happinesse euer attend our Soueraigne his Catholique Maiesty The Proclamation against Priests and Iesuites next your selfe and yours You are much desirous to know to heare what the English Parliament hath already effected or what they entend touching our selues and the Catholiques and the rather by your wisedome that you might preuent further dangers which if foreseene are euer the better encountered withall and withstood Either house of Parliament with great vehemency against the Catholiques hauing published a Proclamation for their finall banishment and our selues euery day grow more odious in coÌ„tempt with that Nation then other which I cannot remedy I did what lay in my power and according to my direction to breake off this Parliament So all the World supposeth by laying an aspersion vpon the Prince and D. of Buckingham to breed a iealousie in
Castello Rodrigo Signior Gondomar if there remaine any more newes from England impart it freely we are I hope of one minde Quoth the Arch-bishop of Toledo I haue heard that since this little time of respite and freedome wherein the Catholique Religion hath taken breath a little there haue beene many miracles done in England Yes assuredly very many quoth Gondomar I heard it credibly reported for a truth that St. Patricke visibly appeared to many Religious Priests and Friers at his Purgatory This is as true as St. Francis cate a Spider and scratched her againe out of his thigh confirming and preaching vnto them dayly prophesing moreouer a great time of percution ere long to befall vpon them Moreouer our Blessed Lady appeared to an English mayd arraied as bright as the Sunne with the Moone vnder her feete whereupon she became wholy to be conuerted Catholique No doubt quoth the Duke of Medina Coeli many of this Nature are meere impostures what thinke you my L. Arch-bishop No question quoth Gonzales de Cordua I cannot be perswaded that that which they call the holy Blood of Boxall which the Bradanders and all the Netherlands visit in Pilgrimage and euery yeare lookes as red and fresh as if it had beene taken from the body but yesterday can be the very blood of Christ Nor that a young married wife shall haue a child the same yeare if she can stride ouer at once Saint Rombauts breeches at Mechlin Nor that as many of the Hollanders hold that Mary was buried at Hueclom for which cause it hath beene in times past a place by Pilgrimes much frequented since we hold her Assumption into heauen for quoth the Arch-bishop Signior Gonzales these are Contraria in eodem obiecto you are a Souldier and you know for the most part they are none of the deuoutest men I wish you rather modestly and piously with the Church that all these things are true Abuses may creepe in by accident but neuer to be publickly allowed by the Sacred Authority of the Church No how chanced it replied Gonzales that a Painter of Shertogenbosch my Lord of Gorbhendonck gouernour of the Towne I my selfe haue often seen the picture though neuer worshipped it told me the tale beeing deadly in loue with a faire and beautifull Lady neere to Pirroy Huesden and being to drawe our Ladies Image for a Chappell either in St. Iohns or some other Church in the Bosch The Church of Rome like one of her Images take off the golden coate of ceremony vnderneath it is rubbish or a rotten block to insinuate himselfe the farther into this Ladies fauour drewe her picture with her young sonne in her armes which he hung vp for our blessed Ladies picture and is at this day worshipped with great deuotion as if her selfe were discended from heauen and were there in person I cannot beleeue quoth the Arch-bishop there was any such thing if there were so long as it brings in good store of mony to the poore Priests of the Church it may easily be endured besides if these things should be ouer narrowly looked into it would hazard the credit of the Catholicke Church betraying to the vulgar and ignorant her greatest mysteries and as it were pulling off her fairest plumes expose her naked to vulgar scorne and contempt But the D. of Escalono who had sitten silent this good while now stepping vp sayd the end of our present assembly is not to trouble our selues about these by discourses and triuiall matters now it stands vs in hand to looke to our selues to prouide money men and all necessaries for the warre with all speed holding it fit to call home our Embassadour who I beleeue hereafter is like to get no better answere concerning our affaires with England then Mendoza did of Henry Cary Baron of Hunsdon and Lord Chamberlaine in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth who beeing commanded by the Q. to giue him his answere she denying him accesse by reason say the English his demaunds were insolent and vnreasonable told him the Queene hath commanded me to answere you my answere is Setting your Oranges and Limmons aside a figge for your Embassage his meaning was sauing for sause for their Hennes and Capons they could liue neither caring for vs nor our Country A Banquet sent out of Spaine to Prince Charles not long since It seemeth quoth Villa Hermosa they care not much for that neither for when as a various and a delicate Banquet such as Spaine afforded was sent ouer whether by your selfe my L. Olivares your Lady or some other to the Prince of Wales I heard that the Prince touched not any whit of it but the figges and other iunkettings were giuen some to one some to another and at last refused euen of Boyes and Pages for feare there should be dropped in a figge or two worse rellished then their fellowes Then Castello Rodrigo stood vp and sayd Spice the English are so bufie at home to prouide for themselues and happily to offend some body else whom yet we know not let vs also timely prouide least we be to seeke paries cum proximus ardet and like true hearted Patriots and loyall Subiects to our Catholique King and Country euery one sincerely and freely deliuer his opinion and reasons how our Religion our selues friends and allyes might be best secured in case the storme should fall on our heads for this was the maine end of our meeting Then quoth the Duke of Medina Signior Gondomar since you are best acquainted with the state and affaires of England giue your aduise what is best to be done whither to haue open warre with them to wind them vp still with new pretences and ouertures of the Match or to entertaine a seeming league of amity and vnity and the Infanta to take her Fortune else where For the first quoth Gondomar I vtterly disallow it that we vpon no apparant ground Spaine vnwilling to be at oddes with England and probable reason should prouoake so potent and irreconcilable a Nation who are content to let vs alone so that they may enioy their peace and quiet you know the danger of awaking a sleepie Lyon but hereof by the way I will tell you a pretty and a pleasant accident of a sleepie dogge that happened at my beeing in England one D. W. well knowne about Paules and Feete-streete in London a place whereto I many times resorted for some priuate occasion finding his Dogge a great huge Mastiue lying fast a sleepe by his Kitchin fire A tale of D. W. Dogge sayd to a friend that stood by my Dogge is fast a sleepe I will to wake him go hallow in his eare hee no sooner began to hallow but the Dogge vsed to no such alarmes leaped vp and laying his forefeete on his Maisters shoulders tare him downe on eyther cheeke from the eyes almost to the mouth Let vs by no meanes hallow in the eares of the English For first we are not so
of Count Henry Vanden Berges Iourney this last winter into Frizland yes doubtlesse as the euent shewed For hee vpon my knowledge was secretly informed that the Spanish Horsemen had caused in Antwerpe and other places all their horse-shoes to be altered and as many new to be made as would suffice for sixe or eight thousand horse all calked sharpe and frost-nayled of purpose for trauaile ouer the Ice whereby hee knewe as hee is most circumspect and prouident that some enterprise was to be attempted vpon either Holland or Frizland in that time of the great frost The expeditioÌ„ of Count Henry Vanden-Berge into Freezeland all Fennes Riuers and Marishes being passible by reason of the thicknesse of the Ice for it froze continually therefore he doubled the Garrisons within the Frontier Towne sent certaine Troopes of horse to obserue and watch the most suspected places for passage and had shippes abroad to bring him tydings vpon the least motion or occasion Lastly he sent in waggons six thousand Skippers and Water men to breake Ice in the most common and likely places of passage in the Riuer of Rhine Isell the Wael and about the ditches of Townes Marishes and other places neither did his prognostication saile him For Count Henry Vandenberg presently after our Consultation at Madrill had his Commission at Brussells for eighteene thousand horse and foote with which and eleuen peeces of Ordinance and a great multitude of Waggons he passed by Emmerick in exceeding bitter and could weather towards Frizland but turning another way between Duisburgh and Bronkhorst a Castle belonging vnto the Graue of Stirumen which hee tooke and spoyled hee came to the Isell with 4. peeces of Ordinance whereof one the Ice breaking sunke the rest hee lest at Bronkhorst hauing passed the Riuer hee fortified his foote at Diterbusch with trees he filled vp the Riuer The Estates beleeuing hee went directly for Arnhem they sent Marquet with troopes of horse and certaine foote Companies but Vandenberge saluting the Towne with a volley of small shot and beside making a shot or two into the Towne with his great Ordinance departed I heard great quoth Pennatiore outrages were by him committed in that Iournie wherein he spared neither Age nor Sexe Crueltie replied Gonzales is naturall and inhaerent to our Nation for except our victories be drowned in blood we cannot tast them It is most true that he gaue way to his Souldiers in the depth and greatest bitternesse of the frost and snow this last winter to turne men and women starke naked out of their houses to shift for themselues in the open fields to rauish young Girles not aboue eight or ten yeares of age wilfully to beate out the heads of their Wine and Beare Vessels that they might drinke onely water in that extremitie of could weather that many Infants their parents flying away for feare at their returne were found either starued for foode or frozen to death with the could hauing neither fire nor cloathing What quoth Don Pedro slept the Prince of Oreng all this while or was no manner of reueng taken by the Dutch Yes it seemed so quoth Velasco for the most part of our Spanish Souldiers were cut off in their marching away and retreat by the Garrisons of Duisburgh Arnhem Dauentrie Campen and Zutphen beside great numbers who perished with extremitie of cold some hauing their noses some their hands frozen and rotted off beside those that were starued for want of bread so that wee cannot boast of this voyage wee staying in the Velue but seauen dayes which a Spaniard had not seene in aboue thirtie yeares before All this discourse quoth Count Gondomar had on all sides I see tenderh to no other end then to intimate our disabillity and disproportion of strength if wee should vndertake a present Warre against the Netherlands without either making our selues maisters of great Brittaine a thing which his Maiesties Predecessors for this hundred yeares haue aimed at and we may truely say and beleeue is a matter impossible or by faire meanes intreate them from the Cliffes of Douer to be but onely Spectators while wee wrestle for the remnant of our right in the Low Countries wherefore at the last to end and shut vp this our Consultation I haue with Aduise drawne together certaine Heades and Conclusions as Maximes of State for the present and future securing of our Countries and selues which I humbly submit to all your gratious and honorable censures Herewith Gondomar kissing the paper deliuered the same to the D. of Braganca which the D. againe deliuered to a Secretary of Estate commaunding him to reade them openly and distinctly before the whole house the contents whereof were as followeth 1 First aboue all thinges to maintaine and vphold the Catholique Religion against Pagans and Heretiques and to doe our best to plant and propagate the same in all places of the world 2 To hold fast with both hands if wee can the friendship of his Maiesty of great Britraine which setting and declining from vs let vs labour to reassure and gaine by all meanes possible vpon what pretence or condition soeuer for hereupon depends the fortunate or ill successe of all our affaires either now for the present or hereafter imitating herein good Enginers or Workmen when they would build a Bridge to keepe off or turne the maine Channell another way 3 That being effected otherwise let vs thinke neuer to take Weapons in hand Let St. Gonzales Spinola with your selfe breake at an instant into Braâ—ant and trie your strength vpon Breda or Bergen op Zoome giuing them an alarum in those parts while Count Henrie Vanden-Berge ioyned with Tillies Forces shall by Wezell or Rees passing the Rhine come like an inundation vpon them in Freezeland 4 That our Garrisons be doubled in Dunkerke Ostend and other Townes of Flanders and the hauens well guarded and defended 5 That the Emperour take a truce for sixe yeares with his deadly enemie Bethlem Gabor and that we hold good correspondence with the D. of Savoy and the Venetians 6 That all shipping be slayed whether English French Scottish Hamburgers or of what Nation soeuer till our pleasure be further knowne 7 That all our Magazins and store-houses be examined and furnished with all manner of prouision lead powder match bullets and cordage 8 That a certaine number of Ships be newly built and sent into the West Indies as well to secure and guard our Nauy home as to supplant those Hollanders who haue gotten sooting in our Kingdome of Peru. 9 That all strangers of what Nation or Country soever be banished the Land 10 That wee take an order for the reliefe of such Priests and Iesuites as shall be banished England and Ireland and to encrease the number of our Intelligencers 11 That we barre the English French Dutch Scottish and other Nations whatsoeuer from all accesse to the Indies either to traffique or plant 12 That we set vp and maintaine the Inquisition in
flesh onely to eate or giue away as a cullor for the rest For the venting of hallowed Oyle Beades Agnus-Deies Maddalles Pardons Crucifixes c. You may doe it by some one poore yet trustie Catholique or two to goe vp and downe the Countrie in the habit and nature of Pedlers this also is a good way to hold intelligence with friends in many places I haue knowne some vnder the cullour of selling Tobacco haue carried Letters handsomely preuily in the balles or roules Also wee advise you if persecutions come vpon you to flye into Scotland for a season and when you see your best time returne againe for it seemeth by this Proclamation you sent that you are not bannished Scotland therefore that may be a good shelter vnto you Be sure to haue going in the North or west part of England two Printers presses at worke which let be well stocked also a small rouling presse for litle pictures of Saints Veronica's heads Crucifixes and the like much money may be gained hereby Haue a care whensoeuer any Booke or Picture comes out to our preiudice set some freinds to buy them all vp though you burne them forthwith except some few which faile not still but to send vs of every sort three at the least for they will bee vnto vs of great vse Many moe directions Holy Fathers there are which are alike necessary to be thought vpon but I referre them to your owne graue and pious considerations So committing you to the tuition of our blessed Lady and my selfe to your holy and deuout prayers I rest From Siuill this 6. of May. Count Gondomar hauing made an end they all with one voyce applauded and highly commended his directions and Counsell not onely for his particular Letter but for the wise carriage of himselfe heretofore in many and weightie affayres that concerned the Catholique Religion the honour of his Maiestie and the generall good of the Estate Esteeming him worthily honored with the Title of a Grande at home in Spaine and of his Maisters Ambassadour abroad hauing effected more by his wit and pollicy then could haue beene wrought by the strength of many Armies And now when they were almost come to a period and full conclusion of their Consultation for that time there came a Messenger in post who brought Letters from the King to Count Olivares his favorite to call him to the Court vpon some speciall imployment what it was could not bee certainly knowne but as I heard some complaint was lately come out of England against the Ambassadours resident there moreouer that a great fight had beene lately betweene nine great Spanish ships 5. men or ships of warre of Horne and Enchuisen in Holland wherein the report went the Hollanders had taken two and sunke one whereupon they all arose vp together in a great confusion euery one hasting to his horse which stood ready in a faire base Court without they tooke their way some with Olivares to the Court others to their owne houses where I leaue them till wee heare further of their proceedings TO THE ILLVSTRIOVS MAGNIFIQVE AND GRAVE Assembly of the High Court of Parliament in England HEre as in a little glasse may you Most Honorable Great and Graue Senate viewe the epitome or rather the effect of a seauen yeares Treaty with Spaine yee may plainly see the holde and assurance wee were euer like to haue had of that Nation yea euen when wee thought our selues surest of them Here wee may to our warning of taking heede whom wee trust behold to the life the Haughty-Pride Thirsty-Couetousnes and kind dissimulation of the same Fox populi Count Gondomar the * For they say he is a Grande in Spaine GREAT Here may the Netherlands perceiue the imminent danger that hung-ouer their heades shortly without doubt to haue fallen vpon them had not the Spanish ambushes beene timously discouered Heere may that Illustrious King and the most renowned and second Queene Elizabeth for her constancy and spirit of Bohemia and princes Pallatines of the Rhine consider how assuredly faithfully the surrendring of their Pallatinate should haue beene performed In a word heere may wee all see the great Mercies of God towards vs whose providence it hath beene that we should cleare our selues from these Spanish Rockes that all this while lay vnder water and vnseene doubtlesse to our ruine had wee not I say by immediate helpe from heauen beene relieued Let vs then as wee are one people of the same Language Religion Lawes Gouerned by the same Gracious and good King embrace with that wise Lord and graue Councellor as in his Poesie Vuam cor vnam viam then neede not our Brittaine so famous of ould for her triumphes and many victories over other Nations nor care a strawe for the vaine and windy threats of proude Spaine nor the menaces of the most daring Aduersarie whosoeuer Your Humblest servant who is and euer shall be T. S. FINIS