propounded unto him from the King of Great Brittain he would most heartily and affectionately receive it but this was with such a fashion of Courtesie as shewed that he desired cause to have said more and I am fully satisfied not onely from him but the Queens and most of all of Madam her self who shewes all the sweetnesse and contentment that may be and likewise from all the Officers of the Crown and State that they can desire nothing equal with this alliance A better and more large preparation then this my instructions cannot make and I wonder to see it thus fair considering the hinderances and defacings the Spanish Embassadour desires to cast upon it who besides the Rodomontado's and threatenings of the preparations of his Master doth here take a contrary but cunning way letting them know that the Prince cannot have two Wives for their Infanta is surely his onely to create a jealousie and shienesse in them towards me that he suspects labours to do offices that are not to his liking You will therefore I hope speedily put this State out of these doubts and clearly and freely proceed with them Upon my credit and reputation they are all of that disposition that we can wish them to be and it appears by their tender care of the States and their resolution to ayd them And likewise in sending Captain Coborn that came from the Duke of Brunswick to demand a supplie of men who is returned with answer unto him that he shall have double what he required and great satisfaction to the Count Mansfelt that sent a Gentleman hither to let the King know he was not yet in such disorder but that he could assemble his Troops to such a number as might do his Majestie good service if he would be pleased to take him into his protection and favour And the King hath sent a Gentleman of the Religion a Sedanois to Leige to give information to this State of the proceedings of the Spaniards there and to be ready to receive if the Town shall seek it the protection of them But these passages I am sure you continually understand from our Embassadour the which makes me omit many particularities in this kind that I could inform you of I have sent this Bearer of purpose the which I beseech your Grace return with some speed and with him the resolutions of our dear and Sacred Master whom God ever blesse and keep to our glorie and comfort My Lord I am The humblest and most obliged of all your Graces servants Kensington The Lord Kensington to the Secretary the Lord Conway Right Honourable ACcording to his Majesties order which your last of April the 14. derived unto me I have represented such reasons to the King and his ministers of State here against the sending of any person in what quality soever to the Duke of Baviers as they acquiesce in them speciallie for that they come commanded under his Majesties desire which they professe to be very willing to comply with not only in this but in any other occasion wherein his Majestie may directly or indirectly be any way interessed I took the same opportunity of preparing the way a little farther to a formal treaty of alliance by feeling once again their pulse in matters of religion and find that it beats so temperately as promises a very good Crisis of any thing that may concern that particular I dealt plainely with the Marquesse de la Veiville touching the course that his Majestie may be driven to hold against Jesuites and Priests of banishing them the Kingdom and of quickning the lawes against the other Catholiques as well out of necessity of reducing them within the bounds of sobriety and obedience as of keeping good intelligence with his Parliament without which he could not possibly go thorough with such a weighty work as he is now to undertake He approved of the course for the ends sake under hope notwithstanding that his Majestie would not tie his own hands from some moderate favour hereafter which is all they pretend unto and desire it may flow from the mediation of this State upon an alliance here for the saving of their honour who otherwise will be hardly reputed Catholiques In representing a facility in these things I leave no other difficulties to be imagined Their good inclination to the match in general they are willing to demonstrate as by many other evidences so by the care they are now under of lodging and defraying my Lord of Carlile and my self in a more splendid and Magnifique manner then ever yet they did any Embassadour whatsoever for such is the language that Ville-aux Cleres holds to me upon that subject The Count of Soissons sees it and stormes and manifests his discontent towards me who am the instrument more fellie then discreetly I encountred him the other day and gave him the due that belonged to his rank but instead of returning me my salute he disdainfullie turned back his head I was somewhat sensible thereof and I told Mounsieur de Grandmont of it and as he and I were discoursing of it the day following Soissons offered himself full butt upon us a second time I again repeated my courtesie and he is childish in civility Grandmont found it strange and intimated to the Marquesse de la Valette a familiar and confident of the Counts both my observation and his own distaste of such an uncivil kind of proceeding Valette conveyes the same to Soissons himself who answered that he could not afford me a better countenance not for any ill will he bore unto my person but to my errand and negotiation which were it not in the behalf of so great a Prince went so near his heart as he professed he would cut my throat if he could Nay were any Prince of Savoy Mantova or Germany here in person to sollicit for themselves in the like nature he would hazard his life in the cause Such is the language that despaire brings forth which put me into an expectation of no lesse then a challenge to decide the quarrel And I once verily believed it sent for the Count de Lude came very soberly to me and told me he had a message to deliver me from a great Personage which he intreated he might do without offence I desired him to speak freely what it was and from whom He told me he was sent by the Count of Soissons and I presently replyed that nothing should come amisse from him In conclusion the errand was to signifie an extream liking that the Count took to one of my Horses which he was desirous to buy of me upon any rate I answered that if the Count would expresse to me his desire himself and receive him of guift he should be at his service otherwise he should remain still as he was Since that I have met him been prevented with a very courteous salute from him I have been thus ample in these particular passages betwixt the Count and
even of the biggest party as I am informed which I approve in all but in the last point in the delivery whereof I find something to dislike and therefore tell them that things are not to be judged alone by the successe and that when they would not look so high as Gods providence without which no place is secure they might find even in reason of State so much as might sufficiently warrant his Highnesse person and liberty to return I will come from the ordinary voice to the selecter judgement of the Ministers of State and more intelligent people in this Kingdom who though they nothing vary from the above recited opinion yet as more profoundly looking into the state of this long treated of Alliance betwixt your Sacred Majestie and Spain in the persons of his Highnesse and the Infanta they comprehended their sentence thereof as I am informed in three Propositions First that the protestation which the King of Spain made to his Highnesse upon his departure whereby he promised to chase away and disfavour all those who should oppose this marriage doth extend no further then to the said Kings Servants or at furthest not beyond the temporal Princes his Neighbours so that the Pope being not included herein it is though his consent must be yet obtained and consequently that the businesse is in little more forwardnesse then when it first began Secondly that the Pope will never yield his consent unlesse your Sacred Majestie grant some notable priviledges and advantage to to the Roman Catholique religion in your Sacred Majesties Kingdomes Thirdly that the said King of Spain would never insist upon obtaining those priviledges but that he more desires to form a party in your Sacred Majesties Kingdomes which he may keep alwaies obsequious to his will then to maintain a friendly correspondence between your Sacred Majestie and himself I must not in the last place omit to acquaint your Sacred Majestie very particularly with the sense which was expressed by the bons Francois and bodie of those of the Religion who heartily wish that the same Greatnesse which the King of Spain doth so affect over all the world and still maintaines even in this country which is to be Protector of the Jesuited and Bigott partie your Sacred Majestie would imbrace in being defender of our faith The direct answer to which though I evade and therefore reply little more then that this Counsel was much fitter when the union in Germany did subsist then at this time Yet do I think my self obliged to represent the affection they bear unto your Sacred Majestie This is as much as is come to my notice concerning that point your Sacred Majestie gave me in charge which therefore I have plainely layd open before your Sacred Majesties eyes as understanding well that Princes never receive greater wrong then when the Ministers they put in trust do palliate and disguise those things which it concerns them to know For the avoiding whereof let me take the boldnesse to assure your Sacred Majestie that those of this Kings Councel here will use all meanes they can both to the King of Spain and to the Pope In whom they pretend to have very particular interest not only to interupt but if it be possible to break off you Sacred Majesties Alliance with Spain For which purpose the Count de Tilliers hath strict command to give al punctual advice that accordingly they may proceed It rests that I most humbly beseech your Sacred Majestie to take my free relation of these particulars in good part since I am of no faction nor have any passion or interest but faithfullie to perform that service and dutie which I owe to your Sacred Majestie for whose perfect health and happinesse I pray with the devotion of Your Sacred Majesties most obedient most Loyal and most affectionate Subject and Servant Herbert From Merton Castle the 31. of October 1623. Stil No. Mr. Edward Clark to the Duke May it please your Grace I Have been hitherto very unfit by reason of my sicknesse to give your Lordship any account of my time at Madrid So that without your Lordships favourable construction I may be thought forgetful of the trust committed to my charge and the rather in that as yet your Lordship hath only heard what I have done but not why I presume I have faithfullie followed the Princes direction and on such probable inducements as will I hope both in your Highnesses and your Lordships opinion plead my excuse at least The verie day the Prince arrived at St. Anderaet my Lord of Bristol seeing me verie weak told me he was verie sorrie I was not able to perform the journie for England for that now there was an extraordinary occasion of a dispatch not only in respect of the ratification come the night before but because also they were almost come to a final conclusion of all articles which were to be engrossed and signed the next day Hereupon I was inquisitive to know what assurance he had the Ratification was come He answered that that verie day he had been summoned to attend the Junto and that there they had earnestlie pressed him that the Articles might be speedilie drawn up and signed since they had now received full warrant to authorize them to proceed And that the next day was appointed accordingly Thereupon unwilling to omit the present opportunitie conceiving withal the purpose of the Princes Letter to be either to expresse his Highnesse further pleasure before the meeting of the Junto or to prevent the concluding of some other particular Article they might otherwise fall upon I delivered his Letter to his Lordship pretending it came to my hands amongst other Letters that same day I found him exceedinglie troubled in reading it nor did he forbear to tell me it must for a time be concealed for he feared if they should come to the knowledge of it they would give order to stay the Prince Upon these motives and in this manner I parted with it wherein I humbly submitting my self to his Highnesse Construction I remain Your Graces humblest servant to command Ed. Clark Madrid 1. Octob. 1623. Mr. Edward Clark to the Duke My Lord THe Infanta's preparation for the Disposorio was great but greater sorrow good Ladie to see it deferred It hath bred in them all some distraction The multitude know not what to conjecture what to say but cry Piden el Palatinato They confesse the demand just but unseasonable and do publish that the Disposorio past the Infanta on her knees should have been a suitor to the King to restore it making it thereby her act and drawing the obligation wholly to her I must confesse I want faith to believe it and the rather because I see it reflect secretly and malitiously upon your Lordship who are made the authour of all the impediments that happen not by your enemies onely but by those that should suppresse it Which troubles me so much that I hasten all I
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
implore your assistance having once laid down their weapons which the oppression of their enemies made so necessary because they knew such was your desire to take them up again so soon as they heard that your Majesty did oblige them thereunto by your Counsel and Promises they have upon this only assurance continued all dangers surmounted all oppositions accounted their estates as nothing and are still ready to spend their bloud till the very last drop they esteem your love and favour more precious then their own lives and whatsoever promises or threatnings have been used to shake their constant resolution they could never be brought to make any breach in that they had tyed themselves to never to hear of any Treaty without your consent This great zeal for the preservation of all the Churches of this Kingdome which is naturally knit to the preservation of these few we have left and that fidelity with our example are worthy and glorious subjects to exercise your Charity and Power You are Sir Defender of that Faith whereof they make profession suffer it not to be so unjustly oppressed you have stirred up their affection in this defence by your royal promises and those Sacred words that your Majesty would imploy all the power in your Dominions to warrant and protect all our Churches from the ruine that threatned them have been after Gods favour the onely foundation of all their hope so the Churches should thinke no greater a Crime could be committed by them then doubt of your Royal performance thereof if their miseries and Calamities have at the beginning moved your Compassion This wofull subject hath increased with such violence that nothing but your succor can prevent their utter undoing for at this day the greatest offence our Enemies lay to our Charge and proclaim nothing can expiate but our blood is to have implored your aid and hope for it for this cause our Lands and Possessions are taken away and destroyed our houses made desolate and reduced to ashes our heads exposed to sale to murtherers our families banished and wheresoever the cruelty of them that hate us can extend men and women are dragged and beaten to Mass with Bastinadoes To be short the horrour of the persecution we suffer is so great that our words are too weak to express it Moreover we see great and mighty Armies at our Gates that waite their onely fit time to fall with impetuosity upon the places of retreat that remain and after that to expel and banish the exercise of Religion and massacre all the faithfull ones throughout the whole kingdomes These things considered Sir I do beseech your Majesty not to forsake us I should feare by such words to offend so great so potent and so faithfull a king But because of urgent necessity that presseth us I have presumed importunately to intreat the hastening of your assistance to keep us from falling under the heavy burthen of our Enemies endeavors Your Majesty need not to draw but out of the source of your own profound wisedom for the fit meanes how to make your succor dreadfull and powerfull to those that contemne it and salutiferous to so many people that wait and long for it Your Majesty shall by this meanes acquire the greatest glory that can be desired pluck out from the fire and sword three hundred thousand families that continually pray to God for your prosperity preserve a people whom God hath purchased with his most pretious blood and which hath even in the middest of most eminent dangers and cruellest torments kept intire a sound and an upright faith both towards God and man you shall settle the fidelity of your word the reputation of your kingdomes and Armes to a pitch worthy of your grandeur and in repressing of the audaciousness of those that go about every day to blemish the same through their vile and unworthy reproches you shal add to your titles that of the Restorer of a people the most innocent and most barbarously persecuted that ever was In that which concerns me Sir I will not make mention to your Majesty of my owne Interest though I might doe it having as it seems the honor to be unto you what I am but I have so long since consecrated all things with my selfe to the publicke good that I shall esteeme my self happie enough so that the Church were not miserably distressed and that I may have this advantage that through my actions which your Majestie will not disavow I may make it known that I am Your Majesties most humble and most obedient servant Henry de Rohan Pope Gregory the 15 to the Inquisitor-General of Spain April 19. 1623. Venerable Brother THe protection of the Orthodox Religion in the most spacious Kingdoms of Spain we think to be happily committed to your Fraternity for we know with what watchful vigilancie in this renowned station you are careful that Monsters of wicked doctrine steal not into the bounds of the Church and Vine But at this time occasion from heaven is offered you by which you may extend the benefits of your piety beyond the bounds of those Kingdoms and extend them also to forraign Countries We understand that the Prince of Wales the King of Great Britains son is lately arrived there carried with a hope of Catholike Marriage Our desire is that he should not stay in vain in the Courts of those Kings to whom the defence of the Popes authority and care of advancing Religion hath procured the renowned name of Catholique Wherefore by Apostolike Lettets we exhort his Catholike Majestie that he would gently endeavour sweetly to reduce that Prince to the obedience of the Romane Church to which the ancient Kings of Great Britain have with heavens approbation submitted their Crowns and Scepters Now to the attaining of this victory which to the conquered promiseth triumphs and principalities of heavenly felicity we need not exhaust the Kings treasure nor levie Armies of furious souldiers but we must fetch from heaven the armour of Light whose divine splendor may allure that Princes eye and gently expel all errours from his minde Now in the managing of these businesses what power and art you have we have well known long ago wherefore we wish you to go like a religious Counsellor to the Catholike King and to try all ways which by this present occasion may benefit the Kingdoms of Britain and the Church of Rome The matter is of great weight and moment and therefore not to be amplified with words Whosoever shall enflame the minde of this Royal youth with the love of the Catholike Religion and breed a hate in him of Heretical impiety shall begin to open the Kingdom of heaven to the Prince of Britain and to gain the Kingdoms of Britain to the Apostolike See into the possession of so great glory I make no doubt but that your Fraternity armed with the sword of Verity will be desirous to come About which matter our venerable brother Innocent Bishop of
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
can be no more safety for him to continue in these provinces He doth further undertake that in case his Majestie will be pleased to grant him his demands allow mony for the expences of the journy and give him two persons of courage and fidelity to accompanie him he will either lose his life or put the sayd author into their hands who may carry him as he thinketh with little danger either into the Pallatinate or the united Provinces Hereupon I guesse that if this report be well grownded that wicked fellow must be in or near about the town of Cullen I cannot amongst all those of my acquaintance and his Majesties subjects here call to mind any one so fit for this interprize as the Gentleman whose name is written in Cipher in my letter to his Majestie For he is universally well spoken of for his honestie and other good Parts and in sundry occasions hath given good testimony of his ardent desire to do his Majestie some remarkeable and meritorious service And his sufficiencie being better known to his Majestie then to my self I will not commend it any further The want of imployment and some disgustes he received in Holland while he served there compelled him by necessity to looke for preferment under the King of Spain But hitherto his religion the respect he beareth to his Majestie and my perswasions have detained him from those Courses By him I am told that he hath heard out of the mouths of one Captain Carpentine and his son in law Captain Hamilton pencioners to the King of Spain but subjects to his Majestie that they being one day walking in a street at Antwerp called the Major Brugg where they reside with 4. or 5. others in their companie and there happening some speech amongst them about a book his majestie had then published against the Pope it fell out that one of them apprehending that opportunity said that he had subject enough to furnish a book which should more vex the King of great Brittain then his Majesties book could offend his Holinesse and if he could meet with a Schollar that were able to put it into a method and good latine he would be ready to perform his word Another of the troop made answer that he would undertake the work upon that condition and they both for a great whiles after were absent at Lovain even about the same time that the Libel was forged Perhaps some part of this may draw neer to the verity But they both depending upon the King of Spain as is before mentioned and being averse in religion I am much afraid I shall do little good upon them by examining then before the Arch Dukes Commissioners seeing they may delude me and the truth with equivocation and mental reservation Although he conceiveth that if they were called before a judge and summoned upon their oathes to speake the truth they would not refuse to discharge their consciences I have seriously intreated him to bestow his best indeavour in attempting what he can further learn about this relation and he hath accepted to perform my request The said Gentleman from whom I had it is not willing to be brought publiquely upon the Stage for this businesse lest thereby he should incurre the note of an informer then which nothing is or can be more odious in these parts Neverthelesse he hath promised if his Majestie like to have it so and will be pleased to give commandement for it to justifie what is before rehearsed to their faces Whether both these parties encounter upon one and the same authour or understand them to be divers men I can neither judge nor fortell yet it seemeth that one of them may hit on the right And as I will not spare any paines charges nor peril whatsoever to bring the parent of this child of darkenesse into the light so I hope his Majestie whose cause it is will not refuse to hazard a little mony to give himself satisfaction These things having passed in this manner I humbly beseech your Honour at a fit opportunity when the King is alone to acquaint him with these particulars and intreat his Majestie to keep them secret for I am of opinion being spoken under humble correction and without offence that had not his Majestie by communicating this businesse at the first to Mounsieur Borschot given him meanes to advertize it to his wife who by tatling divulged it and foyled the way we had never been put to half this trouble but had taken Flavius in the form and by him discovered the authour My intention is not that his Majestie should be induced to put 2000. Pistols or the summe that shall be allotted Laken into his hands before the service be done but that his Majestie would vouchsafe if he approve the project to cause so much mony as in his profound wisdom he shall think meet for this occasion to be forthwith remitted to me by Mr. John More by the meaner of Mr. Ducket a Marchant dwelling in Milk-street in London to be repayed at Antwerp by Mr. Lionel Wake trading there or by the companie of our English Marchants at Middleborough in Zealand in the name of reward for service done or to buy Tapestries or linnen for his Majestie And I will either return it back again by exchange if this design cannot be effected or defaulk the remaines thereof upon my entertainment All that I would venture in this case should only be for those mens necessary expences that are to be imployed therein and that also I would have not to exceed but to be limitted within the compasse of 200. pounds sterling By apprehending these men the Arch-Dukes cannot take any just occasion of offence against his Majestie or his Ministers seeing one of them is not their Vassal and both are out of their Dominions It may for these Considerations please your Honour to advise with his Majestie whether it be fitter to proceed herein Via facti or Via Juris to send Laken to seek out the Author and others to apprehend him or the Printer or upon promise of a reasonable recompence for his pains to deal with him effectually to declare their names and habitations and afterwards leave it to his Majesties gracious and Princely pleasure to prosecute or let fall his action In either of which kind I will yield humble obedience to his Majesties Commands and your Honours directions as things to my self indifferent But I am doubtful that by continuing of the course formerly holden in the carriage of this businesse we shall never attain our desired ends I am not so slight as to give credit to all reports nor so prodigal as to part with money for nothing My most humble and earnest suit is that his Majestie and your Honour after mature deliberation upon the several points of this Letter will vouchsafe to send me by my servant Marsham who is now at London particular and distinct answers for my better direction I have been the more prolixe
overtures to lay asleep the jealousies of the house of Austria and offering huge summes towards the charge of the War which if he should attempt and prevail therein it would prove of far greater prejudice for many reasons that may be given in the interest of Estate to your Majestie though not in the interest of your affection then the losse of the Palatinate What may in France be resolved upon these motives is uncertain But I do conceive hereupon that it may be useful for your Majesties service effectually to propound in France a Confederacie for the Conservation of the Palatinate to which if they do hearken your Majestie shall proceed in that design with greater strength and reputation and occasion the King of Spain to proceed with greater remissenesse or else absolutely to relinquish the Palatinate by a Treaty But if in France it be not hearkened to your Majestie may take it for an assured argument that they mean to proceed against those of the Religion in which case your Majestie may make use of the same Embassage to revive again some of their factions in the Court whereby those of the Religion may be strengthened in their defence and it will not be hard to effect if it be well proceeded in And herein doth properly offer it self the person of the Duke of Bovillon who for his great experience and wit and intelligence in that Court is best able to guide and further your Majesties intentions and for his interest in the person of the Palatine and in the conversation of those of the Religion doth precisely square with your Majesties ends whose advice you may first suddenly and secretly enquire c. Sir Walter Aston to the Duke 10. December 1624. May it please your Grace THe Arch-Duke Don Carlos brother to the Emperour made his entrie into this Town on the 15th of the last moneth Stil Vet. He was met by the Almirante of Castile two daies journey from this place who went from hence well accompanied and attended by many Liveries richly set forth Some 400. paces without a Gate of this Town called Alcala the Arch-Duke was received by the two Infants Don Carlos and the Cardinal and about 200 paces without the said Gate by the King himself who came attended with the greatest part of this Court and in his Coach accompanied with the Duke of Newbergh and the Conde of Olivarez The King lighted out of his Coach to receive the Arch-Duke and some complements being past between them returned into his Coach and set the Arch-Duke by him on his left hand in the other end of the Coach set the two Infants in one boot the Duke of Newbergh and the Conde of Olivarez and in the other the Emperours Embassadour and the Almirante the Almirante taking place of the Embassadour Being come to the Palace the King accompanied the Arch-Duke to the Queens Quarter where his Majestie left him to be conveyed from thence to his own Quarter which is the same was given to the Prince his Highnesse at his being in this Court by the Infants his Brothers as he was having finished his complements with the Queen and the Infanta Dona Maria There were preparations here making for the honouring his reception with several feasts and entertainments after their manner here But these have been stopped by the Arch-Dukes sicknesse who felt himself indisposed the day after his arrival and applying some Physical remedies by the advice of a Physitian which he brought along with him his distemper increased and as it is pretended by these Physitians by a wrong course held with him What hath been the true cause of his infirmity I leave to be disputed by them He hath been held divers dayes with a terrible Calenture which proved at last a Tabardillo whereupon there was little hope conceived of his life but he hath since received some ease and is now in a good way of amendment In respect of the Emperours unworthy proceedings with the King our Master I have not dared to visit him untill I shall have notice of his Majesties pleasure therein which I shall be glad to understand from your Grace Since the expiring of the Truce betwixt this Crown and the Hollanders this King hath given License to divers Port Towns on the Coasts of Biscay to arm out what ships they shall think good and to make prize to their own particular benefit of what they shall light upon belonging to the enemies of this Crown by which meanes it is here hoped That these Coasts will be much the better secured from the daily pillages of the Holland men of War and the Turkish Pyrates For the advancing whereof upon request made of those of Sevil there is License given unto them to arm what men of War they can find means The Duke of Maqueda likewise with leave hath lately set forth six ships which are abroad in Pyracie There is advice given hither that the Duke of Brandenbergh hath given his consent to the conferring of the Electoral dignitie upon the Duke of Bavaria which I can hardly believe though I find it assured from very good hands The Duke of Newborgh remains still in this Court and presses to carry a cleer resolution in his businesses from hence but for any thing I can yet learn his negotiation remains in the same estate as I advertised in my last to Mr. Secretarie Conway The Armada prepared in Portugal for the recovering of Brasil is gon to Sea and whereas they were to have stayed at the Cape St. Vincent for the Armado of Castile upon advice that is given hither that the Hollanders in Brasil are not able to make any resistance of consideration they have order to proceed in their journey Twenty ships of war and 4000. land Souldiers which is the force of that Fleet being here held sufficient for that enterprize The Armado in Cadiz is not yet departed but hath her men aboard and there is daily expectation of newes that it is gone to Sea The Duke of Saxonie having received letters from the King our Master and the King of Denmark sent presently coppies of them unto the Emperour with his answers unto their Majesties and accompanied them with a letter of his own unto the Emperour All which the Emperour sent unto the King The carriage of the Duke is much esteemed here for having given as I am informed by his Letters unto the King our Master and the King of Denmark such an answer as they are here much satisfied withal Nothwithstanding in this Letter to the Emperour with many reasons and much instance he advises him to apply himself to the setling of the peace in Germany and expressing much affection to the composing of the affaires of the Prince Palatine doth earnestly intreat his Majestie not to destroy that ancient house In the mean time the Duke of Bavaria uses all diligence to combine himself with this Crown and now doth offer to cast off all other thoughts of leagues and to depend
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
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
so be his forces at this present be otherwise so imployed as that they cannot give us that assistance which we here desire and as we think we have deserved yet at the least he will permit us a free and friendly passage through his Territories and Dominions for such forces as we shall send and imploy into Germany for this service of all which disjunctively if you receive not of the King of Spain within ten days at the furthest after your audience and proposition made a direct assurance under his hand and seal without delay or putting us off to further Treaties and Conferences that is to say of such restitution cessation of Arms and proceeding to a generall treaty as is before mentioned or else of assistance and joyning his forces with ours against the Emperour or at least permission of passage for our forces through his said Dominions that then you take your leave and return unto our Presence without further stay otherwise to proceed in the negotiation of the marriage of our Son according to the instruction we have given you Given c. at Hampton Court Octob. 3. 1622. Earl of Bristol to King James Octob. 21. 1622. MAy it please your most excellent Majesty I received your Majesties Letter of the 9. of Septemb the 23. of the same moneth by them understand that your Majesty hath received much satisfaction by what I had formerly written unto your Majesty both concerning the restitution of the Prince Palatine as likewise of this Kings resolution to proceed to the conclusion of the Match but that your Majesty findeth the effects very unsuitable both by the proceeding at Bruxels in the Palatinate as also by what you understand from Rome by Mr. Gage of the Popes demands I hope by the arrival of Mr. Cottington your Majesty will have received satisfaction in some measure at least that there hath been no diligence or time omitted either for the redressing of any thing that hath been amiss or for the advancing of yâ—ur Majesties affairs The very day I received your Letters I sent a Gentleman post unto the King who was gone into the Escurial to demand audience which he presently granted me and I repaired thither unto him upon the third of October the Conde de Gondomar being likewise commanded to wait upon the King I was there well received and presently upon my arrival the Conde de Olivarez came to me to the lodgings which were appointed for me to rest in To him I delivered fully in the presence of Sir Walter Ashton and the Conde de Gondomar what I had to negotiate with the King both in the business of the Match and of the Palatinate In the Match I represented how much it imported your Majesty that a speedy resolution might be taken therein both in regard of the Prince being your Majesties onely son now arrived to the age of 22 years and for the setling of your affairs in England I repeated unto him all the passages in this Treaty how many years had been already spent in it that after so long an expectation the diligences used in Rome for the obtaining of the Dispensation had wrought but small effect since the Pope had lately made such demands as were altogether impossible for your Majesty to condescend unto and therefore your Majesty seeing the business still delayed held it fit that some such course might be taken that both your Majesties might speedily know what you were to trust unto and therfore had comanded me to signifie unto this King your uttermost resolution how far you would condescend in point of Religion towards what the Pope had demanded if herewith this King could be satisfied your Maj. desire that we might proceed to a final and speedy conclusion otherwise that this King would likewise cleerly declare himself that your Majesty might lose no more time in the disposing of the Prince your son Hereunto the Conde de Olivarez answer'd with some length the substance I shall only presume to set down briefly to your Majesty He proposed a sincere intention and resolution in the King to make the Match and that there should not be one day lost for the speedy dispatch thereof imported them as much as your Majesty and to the end that no time may be lost this King had the next day after for Don Balthazar de Zuniga appointed Don Ferdinando de Giron in his place in the Commission That for the going of Mr. Gage from Rome and the Popes demands they were absolutely ignorant of them That the King had done all that I my self desired for the redress of this error That I might assure your Majesty that you shall find all sincerity and cleer proceeding without any houres delay more then of necessity the nature of the business required As for the business of the Palatinate I presented at large the merits of your Majesties proceeding the many promises made from hence yet notwithstanding the whilst your Majesty was treating at Bruxels Heidelberg one of the three places which were only left and where your Majesty had Garrisons was besieged by the Archduke Leopold and Monsieur Tilly that this King had withdrawn his Forces and so exposed the Palatinate absolutely to the Emperor and the Duke of Bavaria The Conde de Olivarez answered me by acknowledging how much your Majesties proceedings had deserved at the Emperor and this Kings hands That whatsoever your Majesty could expect or had been at any time promised should by this King be really performed That the Prince Palatines own courses hitherto had been the only hinderance of the effecting of it That he referred it unto your Majesties own just judgment whether the calling of this Kings forces out of the Palatinate were with any ill intention or meerly for the defence of Flanders which otherwise had been put in great hazard by Count Mansfield as your Majesty saw by what had really passed That the siege of Heidelbergh was no way by the consent or knowledge of this King or any of his Ministers but was generally disapproved by them all I told them I conceived that was not enough for that your Majesty had engaged your self to this King that in case your Son-in-law would not conform himself you would not only forsake him but would declare your self against him and give the Emperor assistance for the reducing of him to reason and that your Majesty could not but expect a like reciprocal proceeding from the King He answered your Majesty should see the Kings sincerity by the effects and that if Heidelbergh should be taken and the Emperor refuse to restore it or to condescend to such accommodation as should be held reasonable this King would infallibly assist your Majesty with his Forces And this he spake with great assurance and wished me to desire your Majesty to be confident you would find nothing but real and sinc ere proceedings from hence I was â—hen presently called for to the King to whom I spake first in the
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
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
it so much importeth your Lordship to know in what terms you stand I could not conceal it from you being agreeable to those reports your Lordship hath already heard saving that his Grace told me he doth not seek your ruine as some others had related but onely will hereafter cease to study your fortune as formerly he hath done and withal added the reason that your Lordship hath run a course opposite to him which though he had cause to take ill at your hands yet he could have passed it over if it had been out of conscience or affection to his Majesties service or the Publique good but being both dangerous to your countrie and prejudicial to the cause of religion which your Lordship above all other men should have laboured to uphold he thought he could not with reason continue that strictnesse of friendship where your Lordship had made such a separation especially having divers times out of his love to you assayd to bring you into the right way which once you promised to follow but the two last times you met in Councel he found that you took your kue just as other men did and joyned with them in their opinions whose aim was to tax his proceedings in the managing of the Princes businesse But instead of laying it upon him they did no lesse then throw dirt in the Princes teeth For either they would make him a minor or put the refusal of the Ladie upon his Highnesse and to lay an aspersion upon his carriage there His Lordships Conclusion with me was that for any carriage of his he desireth no other favour but that the greatest Councel in England may be judge of it and the like he wisheth for other mens actions Yet I did what I could to perswade his Grace to expostulate the matter with your Lordship which he told me he would no more do having done it already but found no other satifaction but that by your practise you rejected what he had said and besides divulged what had passed between you as he evidently perceived meeting with it among others Whereby you gained onely thus much that they esteemed of you as of a man fit by reason of your passion to set all on fire but held you not worthy of trust because you that would not be true to him would never be so to them My Lord this is a part I would never have chosen but being imposed by your Lordship I could do you no better service then faithfully and plainely to discharge it leaving the use to your Lordships wisedom and ever resting Your Lordships most humbly at command J. P. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 2. Feburary 1623. May it please your Grace NOt presuming to write unto your Grace being so offended at me but resolved with sorrow and Patience to try what I was able to suffer without the least thought of opposition against your absolute pleasure his Hignesse hath encouraged and commanded the contrary assuring me which I cannot repeat again without teares that upon his credit your Grace neither did nor doth conceive any such real distast against me but did onely suspect I had conceived his Highnesses mind in that full manner which his Highnesse himself is now fully satisfied I did not In the which errour and mistake of the Prince his resolution for want of conference with your Grace or some other I did as I freely confessed offend his Highnesse but not your Grace at all Being ever resolved to stand or fall though diversified in opinion Your Graces most faithful and constant servant I humbly therefore beseech your Grace first to receive back this enclosed Letter of Mr. Packers and to burn the same then to receive my soule in gage and pawn 1. That I never harboured in this breast one thought of opposition to hurt your Grace from the first hour I saw your face 2. I never consulted much lesse practised with any Lord of that Commitee to vote on the one or the other side 3. I do not know that Lord in England that hath any design against your Grace and when I shall know any such whosoever it be I shall be his enemy as long as he continueth so unto your Grace 4. I do not know nor do I believe but that your Grace stands as firm in his Majesties favour and in his Highnesse as ever you did in all your life 5. I never made the least shew of siding with any opposite Lord unto your Grace and I defie any man that shall avow it 6. I never divulged your Graces or the secrets of any man In the next place I do most humbly and heartily crave your Graces pardon for suspecting that is the utmost of my offence so true real and Noble a friend Yet that I may not appear a very beast give me leave once to remember and ever after to forget the motives which drew me so to do And I will do it in the same order they came into my head 1. Your Graces charge upon me at York house that I was a man odious to all the world 2. Michels Voluntary Confession that my Lord Mandevil shewed him a Letter from Spain avowing that the first action your Grace would imbarque your self in should be to remove me out of this place which the least word of your mouth unto me is able to do 3. A report of the Venetian Embassador that amongst others your Grace intended to sacrifice me this Parliament to appease the dislike of immunities exercised towards the Catholiques 4. Your Graces motion unto my self concerning my place which now I absolutely know proceeded out of love at White-hall 5. A most wicked lie that one told he heard your Grace move his Highnesse to speake unto me to quit my place after your Graces professions of friendship to me 6. Mr. Secretarie Conwaies and my Lord Carlile's estrangednesse from me which I suspected could not be for I ever loved them both but true copies of your Graces displeasure I have opened to my truest friend all my former thoughts and being fully satisfyed by his Highnesse how false they are in every particular do humbly crave your Graces pardon that I gave a nights lodging to any of them all Although they never transported me a jott further then to look about how to defend my self being resolved as God shall be my protector to suffer all the obloquie of the world before I would be drawn to the least ingratitude against your Grace All that I beg is an assurance of your Graces former Love and I will plainely professe what I do not in the least beg or desire from your Grace 1. No Patronage of any corrupt or unjust act which shall be objected against me this Parliament 2. No defence of me if it shall appear I betrayed my King or my Religion in favour of the Papist or did them any real respect at all besides ordinary complements 3. No refuge in any of my causes or clamours against me which upon a
to put all those statutes in execution against the Protestants in those parts which are here enacted and as they falsely informed severally executed upon the Papists I would therefore see the most subtile State-monger in the world chalk out a way for his Majestie to mediate for Grace and favour for the Protestants by executing at this time the severity of the Lawes upon the Papists And that this favour should mount to a Toleration is a most dull and yet a most divelish misconstruction A Toleration looks forward to the time to come This favour backward onely to the offences past If any Papist now set at liberty shall offend the lawes again the Justices may nay must recommit him and leave favour and mercy to the King to whom onely it properly belongeth Nay let those 2. writs directed to the Judges be as diligently perused by those rash Censures as they were by those grave and learned to whom his Majestie referred the penning of the same and they shall find that these Papists are no other-otherwise out of prison then with their shackles about their heels sufficient sureties and good recognisances to present themselves again at the next assises As therefore that Lacedemonian posed the Oracle of Apollo by asking his opinion of the bird which he grasped in his hand whether he were alive or dead so it is a matter yet controversed and undecided whether those Papists closed up and grasped in the hands of the law be still in prison or at libertie Their own demeanours and the successe of his Majesties negotiations are Oracles that must deside the same If the Lay-papists do wax insolent with this mercy insulting upon the Protestants and translating this favour from the person to the cause I am verily of opinion his Majestie will reman d them to their former state and condition and renew his writ no more But if they shall use these graces modestly by admitting Conference with learned Preachers demeaning themselves neighbourly and peaceably praying for his Majestie and the prosperous successe of his pious endeavours and relieving him bountifully which they are as well able to do as any of his Subjects if he shall be forced and constrained to take his sword in hand then it cannot be denied but our Master is a Prince that hath as one said plus humanitatis penè quam hominis and will at that time leave to be merciful when he leaves to be himself In the mean while this argument fetcht from the Devils topicks which concludes a Concreto ad abstractum from a favour done to the English Papists that the King favoureth the Romish Religion is such a composition of follie and malice as is little deserved by that gracious Prince who by word writing exercise of Religion acts of Parliament late directions for catechizing and preaching and all professions and endeavours in the world hath demonstrated himself so resolved a Protestant God by his holy Spirit open the eyes of the people that these aierie representations of ungrounded fancies set aside they may clearly discern and see how by the goodnesse of God and the wisdom of their King this Island of all the Countries in Europe is the sole nest of peace and true Religion and the inhabitants thereof unhappie onely in this one thing that they never look up to heaven to give God thanks for so great a happinesse Lastly for mine own Letter to the Judges which did onely declare not operate the favour it was either much mis-penned or much misconstrued It recited four kinds of recusancies onely capable of his Majesties clemencie not so much to include these as to exclude many other crimes bearing amongst the Papists the name of Recusancies as using the function of a Romish Priest seducing the Kings liege people from the Religion established scandalizing and aspersing our King Church State or present Government All which offences being outward practises and no secret motions of the conscience are adjudged by the Lawes of England to be merely civil and political and excluded by my Letter from the benefit of those Writs which the bearer was imployed to deliver unto the Judges And thus I have given your Lordship a plain account of the carriage of this businesse and that the more suddenly that your Lordship might perceive it is not Aurea Fabula or prepared tale but a bare Narration which I have sent unto your Lordship I beseech your Lordship to let his Majestie know that the Letters to the Justices of Peace concerning those four heads recommended by his Majestie shall be sent away as fast as they can be exscribed I will trouble your Lordship no more at this time but shall rest ever Your Lordships servant and true friend Jo. Lincoln C. S. The Bishop of Menevensis to the Duke Dr. Laud. My most Gratious Lord I May not be absent and not write And since your Grace is pleased with the trouble I must professe my self much content with the performance of the dutie I am not unmindful of the last businesse your Grace committed to me but I have as yet done the lesse in it because I fell into a relaps of my infirmitie but I thank God I am once more free if I can look better to my self as I hope I shall My Lord I must become an humble suitor to your Grace I hear by good hand that my Lord of Canterbury intends shortly to renew the High Commission Now I am to acquaint your Grace that there is never a Bishop that lives about London left out of the Commission but my self and many that live quite absent are in and many inferiours to Bishops The Commission is a place of great experience for any man that is a Governour in the Church And since by his Majesties gratious goodnesse and your Grace's sole procurement I am made a Governour I would be loath to be excluded from that which might give me experience and so enable me to perform my dutie I am sure my Lord of Canterbury will leave me out as hitherto he hath done if his Majestie be not pleased to Command that I shall be in This I submit to your Grace but humbly desire even against my own ease and quiet that I may not be deprived of that experience which is necessary for my place I most humbly beseech your Grace to pardon this boldnesse and to know that in my daily prayers for your Grace's happinesse I shall ever rest Your Grace's most devoted and affectionate servant Guil. Menevensis Novemb. 18. 1624. The Bishop of Menevensis to the Duke Dr. Laud. My most Gracious Lord I Am heartily glad to hear your Lordship is so well returned and so happily as to meet so great joy God hath among many others his great blessings and I know your Grace so esteems them sent you now this extraordinarie one a son to inherit his fathers honours and the rest of Gods blessings upon both So soon as I came to any end of my journey I met the happie
Turk God grant it be true and yet the pride of the Grand Seignior is not asswaged but he threatens a new attempt in the spring I hope I have hitherto done his Majestie no dishonour nor can I boast of services but being under your Lordships protection I will hope for a good interpretation beseeching you to present my name to his Majestie that I be not forgotten in these great distances wherein my humble fortune hath kept me and as I have observed your Lordship to be the Amparo of those that pretend to virtue and honour and not to desert them till they have forsaken themselves So I beseech you take me upon those conditions which cannot shame you and leave me when I am other then Your Lordships faithful and honest servant Tho. Roe Messina 7 17. Decemb 1621. L. R. H. to the Duke of Buckingham My dear Lord I Have since my departure from you used all diligence in the Princes service and punctually observed all his Commands Onely with the King I have dealt so freely in my relation of the Prince his carriage and your extraordinary care of working his content in all points that I did move him to shed tears in expressing his happinesse for such a son and likewise his good fortune in having a Favourite who is framed according to his own heart in all points Neither have I pressed any thing to injure any farther then my dutie bound me and my faithful love to your service which shall alwaies have a prime place in my heart My Lord there are contrary opinions in Court and City by the one you are much admired for your noble expressions of true honor and love to your King Prince and Country with many observations of your special care and zeal to Religion and your immovable resolution to Contest with all oppositions to the contrary By the other you are maligned and they give it out That you have with your wilfulnesse occasioned these delayes by diverting and changing their waies wherein they had begun to treat but the falsenesse hereof hath been shewen and it appears malice without ground the which though heretofore I have told you not out of any other end then to do you service yet have you so slightly regarded me for it and so much respected those ill-deserving Great ones as if you had intended to receive your enemies into your bosome and to cast off your faithfullest friends yet shall not any usage discourage me from discharging the office of a most loving and zealous affected friend and servant yea insomuch that I will rather displease you in doing you that faithful service that both my honour and love obligeth me to then be silent and they let you run into apparent danger My Lord amongst the protestants your are divulged as much as ill disposed ones dare a Papist Among the Papists it is avowed you are the greatest enemy they have For which reports I am not troubled for they have made you the much more pittyed and as highly esteemd and honoured amongst the most juditious and best deserving subjects as any thing could do And I dare assure you that since your being at Madrid you are much better beloved of all people who have not ends then you were before Noble Lord I find the King both resolute and couragious but wise and secret to my own hearts joy and not to be won upon by the subtil and false policie of any I made it my humble suit upon my knees that he would consent to no proposition of this Spanish Embassadour concerning peace or war till the Princes return Which suite he tooke well at my hands and granted I have told him freely what I observed in Spain both of their manners usage and honestie and left it to his wisedom to make what use he pleased His Majestie longs to see the Prince and you and so do all the subjects and will not be satisfyed with any thing but your speedy return Except you have jelousies put into the Spaniards heads and prevent the danger which will be by hasting the marriage with all possible speed for there are some whose buttons break with venom that you have got so much honour and so well deserved of the King and Prince But you believe me not but think I speak of Spleen when God knowes I never bore any to any man but for your sake Your most vertuous lady mourns for your absence and will not be comforted Your fair Daughter deserves your staying withall and your faithful friends and the good of the Kingdom want you most of all And for your greater comfort the King is so reserved in the Princes affaires as that he neither imparts the businesses of Spain nor his intents therein to any of hit privie Councel Since your pattent the Earl Marshal is become a great stranger at the Court But all men find you so fast revited into the Kings heart that they see it is an impossibility to work you any way displeasure in your absence and therefore forbear to expresse what willingly they would effect but find it in vain to go about it But let not the Kings love to you or their small ability to do you harm make you too carelesse or too credulous of those your enemies last it give too great incouragement to them and too great dishartning to your faithful friends I am sorrie at my being with you at Madrid that you durst not impart those secrets wherein I am sure my faithfulnesse and love unto you would have done you all service as the thing I most desire but I see the zeale of my heart to you is not rightly considered yet am I confident that time will make me best known and better esteemed by you as one whose true heart is alwayes watchful of taking all opportunities to do you service My Lord you shall find me not only a word-friend but an active who never am better pleased then when I find most opposition And for conclusion I am so far from shunning dangers to do you service as that I would willingly wade in blood at any time to manifest my self yours And therefore I should receive great content if you knew how truly I were yours because then I am sure in the Noblenesse of your nature it would be impossible for any to be able to do me wrong in your Honourable thoughts My dear Lord pray suffer no longer delayes in Spain but either dispatch what you went for quickly or else return speedily for assure your self their desire to have you continue there is for no love to you but to further thereby their own designs elsewhere Nay I dare justifie it out of my own weak judgment that the longer you stay the farther off you shall be from obtaining what you desire And if you resolutely purpose your return with speed you will force them out of their dull pace and put them upon the rock from which they cannot escape except they fulfil your desires Besides your presence
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
your Counsel did prove fruitlesse to them by their misconceit of it yet it doth and will every day prove more honourable to your Majestie who by your wisdom have foreseen and by your goodnesse have premonished all your neighbours of the mischiefs that threatned them Peradventure they may overcome this effort of the Queenes by fair words to her Person and threats signified afar off and continue the state of affairs in the same condition that now it is which is in few words extreamly Romish Jesuitish and by consequence Spanish Mounsieur de Luine seemeth to me a man in himself capable of reason and by the death of the Marshal d'Anchre eternally bound to be a good Patriot but that he applyes himself wholly to the Kings person and that distrusting his own judgment relies upon the judgment of the Ministers of the State and principally * Du Ageu Du Augen the Chancellour and the Gardeseaux They utterly neglect all the Alliances of our Religion abroad and care not how inconsiderately they oppresse it at home Onely they seem desirous to entertain themselves well with the King of Spain by the intervention of the Nunce and do think that no advantage which they can give the Spaniard by this proceeding in other parts can equal that which they pretend to receive at home by suppressing the State and doctrine of those of the Religion If they proceed long in this train it will undoubtedly breed mischievous designes which there is no so ready way to prevent as to let them generally perceive that they are discovered whereby the proceedings of the Ministers of State will grow so detestable to all those here that have any sense of the love of their Countrey that it will produce either a change of their persons or of their Councels But I do humbly submit the Censure hereof to your Majesties most exquisite judgment whom I do beseech the Almighty long to preserve in health and all perfect happinesse Your Majesties Most humble Subject and Loyal Servant Will. Beecher To King James ab ignoto Most wise and Glorious Prince BEcause the departure of your Majestie doth not permit me to hope for the honour of seeing you and that the advertisements and orders which I have to communicate unto you do merit your speedy review and magnanimous resolution I have presumed to trust them unto this paper which I do humbly desire may rest in the hands of your Majestie alone The treaty of restoring all that had been taken by Sea which by a motion from Spain was put into the hands of some Ministers in Rome is accompanied with so little hope of obtaining the end that was pretended that by reason of their continuing at Naples to dissipate and waste such goods as they had taken in our ships and the Cardinal Borgias reservednesse to promise any thing that negotiation may be held as vain and as an insidious invention to gain time Neverthelesse my Masters marching still with a constant desire of purchasing the publique tranquillity have been content to render all such vessels as they had taken within their Gulph in hope that having gotten the advantage of the cause by this honest proceeding they might prevail in which they had made at Naples for the restitution of their Galeasses and of the ship called Rosse But the actions and operations of the Spaniards do not answer unto what is desired and hoped For in the Kingdome of Sicilie Naples and Calabria they do muster new Souldiers and they make great preparations for a war by the Sea The subjects of those Kingdomes are taxed with extraordinary Contributions of mony and in daily councels held by the duke of Ossuna the Marquesse Santa Croce and other ministers they do consult of the meanes of making war and doing hurt But that which is most important is that in the conjuncture there is likewise in divers parts of Spain a terrible concourse of great provisions For they have put in a readinesse armour for 30000. men they have ingrossed all the ammunition that could be purchased and have put in good equipage 60. tall ships which being added unto those they have already in the Streights make 80. at Naples they have 20 ships more besides all their own Gallies and an order they have obtained for the Gallies of Malta Florence and the Pope to joyn with them All the Italian Souldiers are quartered along the Coast of Apulia which is opposite to our Gulphe and they have 14000. foot of Walloons French and Spaniards lodged within the Kingdom of Naples In Flanders at this present they make a new Leavie of 6000. foot and a 1000. horse And in the state of Millan they do retain still 3000. horse supernumeraries All which forces and provisions as they do deserve for their greatnesse to be regarded and looked upon with a jealous eye of every one so those who do suffer at the present many jnjuries and acts of hostility at the hands of the Spaniards and in particular the State of Venice which is betrayed by their fraudulent treaties cannot chuse but fear and doubt more then any other Neither can any pretences of enterprises or designs against the Turk secure those who set the sword bended against their breasts and the fire kindled in their own houses Whereupon your Majestie is humbly desired that you will be pleased to consider seriously of what hath been remonstrated and to take such a resolution as may best befit your wisdom and Greatnesse and the safety and indemnity of a State so observant of your Majesty as ours is and of a member so important of the liberty of Italie and of Europe There is not at this day Invincible Sir any Prince in the whole world upon whom the Conservation of the publique tranquillity doth more rely then upon your Majestie For there being none that doth equal your Majestie in wisdom and experience possessing your Kingdomes in perfect peace quietnesse and plenty to the infinite praise of your name and being free from the molestation of all stormes and tempests it seemeth that the eyes of all men are turned towards your Majestie as towards a Sun that ought to clear the Skie and that they expect deliverance onely from your hand These resolutions oh most wise King will be the strongest walls upon which your eternity can be reared These will be the Jewels and the crown which will adorn you in earth and in Heaven These will be the immortal Glorie of your powerful name The resolutions in cases of such weight and danger ought to be magnanimous quick and powerful The very noise of your putting in order your royal Navie the sending a person of quality to the place from whence the danger is feared and the declaring your self in favour of those whom you shall find to have the right on their side may perhaps prove sufficient to procure a peace If words will not prevail deeds must follow and such a resolution will prove the true Antidote to
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
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
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
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
hath sought to compound these bloudy home-quarrels but the King of Great Brittain She most humbly desires the rest of the Princes that they would Commiserate her most afflicted estate her Cities taken her houses spoiled her children murthered her Matrons and Virgins defloured her waies full of Thieves her Seas of Pyrates all the helps of life taken from her in many parts her flocks and herds scattered her Tillage ceased her Trade decayed the Lawes silent Learning fallen good manners ruined neither fear of God left nor care of men that all things seem to tend to the first Chaos c. And therefore she doth beseech the Princes to whose trust God hath committed not to whose power he hath permitted his two Wards two Twins the Common Wealth and the Church as to Guardians that they will look better to their charge And first not suffer the Common Wealth of Christendom by their armes at the Popes secret instigation to be destroyed and to this end she first useth the example of good Heathen Emperours to perswade them as Augustus Vespasian Titus Nerva Trajan Antoninus Marcus Aurelius Alexander Severus Probus that they will settle peace at home and by joynt Forces make War abroad upon the Common enemy of their Kingdomes and so make the Common-Wealth to Honour them being made by them rich in wealth strong in power famous in glory honest in manners the felicity of every earthly Common-Wealth Now for the other Ward or Twin the Church the Heavenly Common-Wealth because she hath before professed that as she had been long a Pagan so now by the Grace of God hath long been a Christian and did take this to be her greatest honour to be the harbour of the Christian Church she stirres them up to be more careful by the example of the best Christian Emperours Constantine Jovinian Gratian Theodosius Arcadius Honorius Charlemaign and his Sons Lotharius and Lodovicus to defend her from heresies within and from violence without And now she begins to tell them That as one walking with others in the Sun not thinking on it must needs be Sun-burned so she walking with her reformed children in this new-risen Sun of the Gospel of Christ did feel her self coloured as it were with the Spirit of Christ by observing the differences between the two Churches with great indifferencie Here because she hath before challenged the Pope and the Jesuites of cruelty and perswading first that as men they should spare humane bloud Secondly as Europeans they should spare European blood Thirdly as Christians they should spare Christian blood She is first thus answered by the Pope speaking for himself and his Jesuites That they are not the authors of shedding Christian blood but haeretical blood And that her reformed sonnes as she terms them are not Christians because they be no Catholiques And therefore Hereticks to be taken away by death according to the sentence of St. Paul Haereticum hominem post unam aut alteram admonitionem devita Hoc est de vita tolle as Cardinal Allen doth expound it and according to the Decree of the Councel of Lateran And where I pray you was this your Reformed Church before Luther And as for my Jesuites you call them bloudy even as you call your Physitians bloodie who for driving away a Pestilential Feaver do take more corrupt and putrified blood from the party then they would And thereupon he doth twitt Europe as an old doting Sibylla in her youth being the Concubine of one Taurus whom she feigned to be Jupiter to cover her fault with the greatnesse of her lover who did also give her the name of this divided World that by the honour of her title she might excuse the shame of her fact And bytes the fond Oratour that put this person upon her a whelp of Luthers that makes this Minion to accuse him before the Princes of Homicide or an insensible piece of Earth to plead his Cause To which Europe answereth First for her self Then for the Church This Summe I thought good to present to your Majestie if it please your judgment I shall bring the whole work to your Majestie when I am recovered And thus craving pardon of your Majestie for troubling your greater thoughts though this tend to the good of Christendome which you intend I rest Your Majesties Most humble Chaplain Leonel Sharp Dr. Sharp to the Duke of Buckingham May it please your Grace IT is not my purpose to advise but to attend what others shall determine of the Match of the Palatinate but if that be broken off and this not restored according to promise every one may conceive that Peace must give place to War abroad but with whom and where and how it is to be made it is for an higher Councel then for any private man to resolve Peace were best if it had Nihil infidiarum as Tully saith but it is to be feared that the malice of the Catholique League doth and will hinder the work of the Kings most Noble and Christian heart and then it will be a War wrapt in the name of Peace A just War is the exercise of Faith as Peter Martyr well collects out of those Wars which those Worthie Kings and Princes Heb. 11. fought for their God and his Israel so war is just which is made for the maintenance of Gods true religion and for the safety of the Common Wealth either for the keeping of that we have or recovering of that we have lost Every one therefore doth rejoyce to see the King and his Subjects so joyned in love together and in the purpose of this defence every one I mean that is a true Christian and good subject and do wish that two things presently were added care at home to Coupe up all false-hearted Subjects that are known and provision to meet with the secret and open practises of such forraign Enemies as are like to abet them The good policies of the former reign in such times is the best president for this at this time The heads were then committed liberali Custodiae divided from their inferiour parts the Papists disarmed their clawes pared that they might not hurt us the lawes executed upon the Jesuites and Priests fire-brands of sedition and rebellion withal Or if not blood drawn of them yet close imprisonment or banishment enjoyned them Large subsidies granted to prepare the Navie and pay the armies And a great while no war proclaimed but brave Adventurers sent forth as to Portugal the Groine to the West-Indies c. And before Letters of reprisal granted to the Marchants to make up their losses a Rowland for an Oliver because they had granted Letters of Mart against us By this meanes Carricks were brought in the treasure of their West-Indian mines laid for at their return so to make war upon them with their own mony till they had made the enemie bankerout Ausbâ—ug and to break with their banquers of Auspurg and Genua that he was not able to pay his
and Kinsman Middlesex The Earl of Middlesex to his Majestie 26. April 1624. Sacred Majestie and my most gracious Master YOur goodnesse is such to me your oppressed servant in this my time of persecution as I know not how to expresse my thankfulnesse otherwise then by pouring forth my humble and heartie prayers to the great God of heaven and earth to grant your Majestie all happinesse here and everlasting happinesse hereafter Between 5. and 6. of the clock upon Saturday in the evening I received my Charge from the Lords assembled in Parliament with an Order by which I am commanded to make my appearance at the Bar upon Thursday next by 9. of the clock in the morning with my answer And in the mean time to examine my witnesses This Charge of mine hath been in preparing by examining of witnesses upon oath and otherwise 23. daies And hath been weighed by the Wisdom of both Houses and doth concern me so neerly in point of honour and faith to your Majestie to answer well as I value my life at nothing in comparison of it I may grieve though I will not complain of any thing my Lords shall be pleased to Command but do hope that upon a second consideration they will not think three daies a fitting time for me to make my Answer and to examine witnesses in a cause of such importance and so neerly concerning me when twenty three daies hath been spent almost from morning until night in preparing my Charge I know the House whose Judgment I shall never desire to wave is the proper place for me to move to be resolved herein and therefore shall upon Wednesday morning make my humble motion there to have 7. daies longer time as well to make my answer and apparance as to examine my witnesses which are many and upon several heads But because the Prince his Highnesse and many of the Principal Lords are now with your Majestie at VVindsor my most humble suit to your Majestie is That you would be pleased to move them on my behalf to yield me so much further time that my Cause may not suffer prejudice for want of time to make my just defence that which I have propounded being as moderate as is possible With my most humble and heartie prayer to Almightie God for continuance of your health with all happinesse I humbly kisse your Royal hands and will ever rest Your Majesties most humble c. Middelsex The Earl of Carlile to his Majestie 14. February 1623. My it please your most Excellent Majestie THough my present indisposition deprives me of the Honour to attend your Majestie with the rest of the Commissioners with whom your Majesty was pleased to associate me yet I most humbly beseech your Majestie to give me leave in all humility to represent unto your Majestie what my heart conceiveth to be most for your Majesties service in the present conjuncture of your affaires During this time of my distemper I have been visited by divers Gentlemen of quality who are Parliament-men none of those popular and plausible Oratours but solid and judicious good patriots who fear God and honour the King Out of their discourses I collect That there are three things which do chiefly trouble your people The first that for the subsidies granted the two last Parliaments they have received no retribution by any bills of Grace The second that some of their Burgesses were proceeded against after the Parliament were dissolved And the third that they misdoubt that when they shall have satisfied your Majesties demands and desires you will neverthelesse proceed to the conclusion of the Spanish match It would be too much importunity to trouble your Majestie with the several answers which I made to their objections and would be too great presumption in mee to advise your Majesties incomparable wisdome what should be fittest to be done for your Majesties honour and the contentment of the people yet if it would please my Lord the King to give his humblest Creature leave to give vent to the loyal fervour of his heart restlesse and indefatigable in continual meditation of his Gracious Masters honour and service I would thus with all humble submission explain my self That there is nothing which either the enemies of this State or the perverse industry of false-hearted servants could invent more mischievous then the misunderstandings which have grown between your Majestie and your people nothing that will more dishearten the envious Maligners of your Majesties felicity and incourage your true hearted friends and Servants then the removing of those false feares and jealousies which are meer imaginarie Phantasmes and bodies of ayr easily dissipated whensoever it shall please the sun of your Majestie to shew it self clearly in its native brightnesse lustre and goodnesse God and the World do know the scope and the end of all your Majesties pious affections and endeavours to have been no other then the setling of an universal peace in Christendom a felicity only proper for your Majesties time and only possible to be procured by your incomparable goodnesse and wisdom but since the malice of the Divel and deceitful men have crossed those fair wayes wherein your Majestie was proceeding abusing your trust and goodnesse as Innocencie and goodnesse are alwayes more easily betrayed then wilinesse and malice you must now cast about again and sail by another point of the compasse and I am confident your Majestie will more securely and easily attain your Noble and pious end though the way be different The meanes are briefly these three First let your Majesties enemies see that the Lion hath teeth and clawes 2. Next imbrace and invite a strict and sincere friendship and association with those whom neighbourhood and alliance and common interest of state and religion have joyned unto you 3. And last of all cast off and remove jealousies which are between your Majestie and your people Your Majestie must begin with the last for upon that foundation you may afterwards set what frame of building you please And when should you begin Sir but at this overture of your Parliament by a gracious clear and confident discovery of your intentions to your People Fear them not Sir never was there a better King that had better subjects if your Majestie would trust them Let them but see that you love them and constantly rely upon their humble advice and readie assistance and your Majestie will see how they will tear open their breasts to give you their hearts and having them your Majestie is sure of their hands and purses Cast but away some crums of your Crown amongst them and your Majestie will see those crums will make a miracle they will satisfie many thousands Give them assurance that your heart was alwayes at home though your eyes were abroad invite them to looke forward and not backward and constantly maintain that with confidence you undertake and your majestie will find admirable effects of this harmonious concord Your Majestie as
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
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
John hath changed his purpose of going and his excuse will be made at his intreatie by his Excellencie who hath since let me know Though he would not deny me his leave yet he is better content in regard he is so slenderly accompanied with Colonels in a time when the State hath need of their service with his stay So as Sir John hath the obligation to your Lordship of a favourable recommendation and for his not prevailing himself of his leave when it was granted I must leave to himself to render a reason For my part having accomplished what I find by your Lordships Letter to be agreeable both to his Majesties pleasure your Lordships I thought it my dutie to advertize That there is an ancient difference between Sir Horacio Vere and Sir Edward Cecyl about the extent of their Commands whereupon followeth a great inconveniencie to the dishonor of our Nation which as it appears when they were last in the field before Reez are divided hereby and march and lodge in several bodies and quarters Much endeavour hath been formerly used in these parts to reconcile them but all in vain by reason of some ill Instruments who wrought upon both their discontents to set them farther asunder Now they are both in England and are both written for to come over It were a work worthy of your Lordship to make them understand one another better and what they will not yeeld to of themselves to over-rule by his Majesties authoritie I may not conceal from your Lordship that I am intreated by the Prince of Orange himself to do this office both with his Majestie and your Lordship wherein he would not be seen himself because having dealt between them fruitlesly heretofore he doubteth of the like successe now But when their agreement shall be made he will acknowledge his obligation to your Lordship and for the better proceeding therein I sent your Lordship a Copie of an order formerly set down betwixt them with the translate of Sir Horacio Vere's Commission both which I had of his Excellencie and likewise the beginning and proceeding of their difference as I have collected the same in brief out of other mens reports The projects I sent your Lordship with my last of a West-Indian Companie having been proposed to the States of Guelderland for their ratification who have the leading voice in the Assemblie of the States general end were ever least forward in that businesse hath thus far their allowance that they will concur therein with the rest of the Provinces But withal I do understand they have given their Deputies secret charge not to give way thereunto in case they find it prejudicial to the Truce Which makes the matter evident that the project of the Company though it be never so advanced will stand or fall according to the proceeding of the Truce The expiration whereof approaching so neer and here being advertisements from Paris that a French Gentleman one Belleavium who was lately imployed hither to the Prince of Orange about the difference betwixt him and the Prince of Conde had secret instructions to sound the States how they stood affected to the renewing thereof I have used all diligence to know how far he went and am well informed he hath done nothing therein of Consideration onely this past between him and his Excellencie He telling his Excellencie from Mounsieur Desdiguieres and some of the French Kings Councel how acceptable the extraordinarie Embassage intended from hence will be in that Court and thereupon perswading a speedie imbracing the opportunitie From whence said his Excellencie after his round manner cometh this alteration To speak plainly said he they fear in France you will renew the Truce without them and therefore by your Embassadours they would interpose themselves Here are good advertisements both from Bruxels and Paris that the Spaniards intent is not to renew the Truce but to have a Peace proposed with these plausible conditions That the King of Spain will pretend nothing in the Regiment of these United Provinces nor require any thing of them in the point of Religion but leave all in terms as it now stands with recognition onely of some titular Soveraigntie which he cannot in honour relinquish This is already proposed to France as a glorious work to establish a settled Peace in these parts of the world but with this condition That if it be not imbraced here then France shall refuse to give this State any further support or countenance of which it is here believed that Spain hath already obtained a firm promise in that Court. And that either the like overture is already made or will be within few daies to his Majestie Under which doth lie hidden many mysteries much to the advantage of the Spaniard and prejudice of this State for the very proposition of a new Treatie will distract them here very much in regard of their unsettlednesse and aptnesse upon any dispute to relapse into faction besides many Considerations of importance belonging properly to the Constitution of their Government but the acceptation of the old by renewing of the Truce upon the former terms for so many years more or lesse as shall be thought sitting will in my poor opinion which notwithstanding is not slenderly grounded take place without much difficultie The importance of this businesse hath made me give your Lordship this trouble and your Lordship may be pleased to let his Majestie understand as well that little as is done by Mounsieur Belleavium as what they here conceive to be further intended by the Spaniard So I most humbly take leave ever resting Your Lordships Most faithful servant Dudley Carleton Hague this 10th of June 1620. Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke Most Honourable NOt to give your Lordship the trouble of often Letters I render an account of his Majesties Commandments by the same hand I usually receive them One I had lately by an expresse Letter from his Majestie accompanied with another from your Lordship touching my Lord of Buckleugh to demand full satisfaction of the States for all his Lordships pretentions and to that effect to procure Instructions and Commission to be sent to Sir Noel Carone to end this businesse To which effect I have moved both his Excellencie and the States and whilest they were treating thereof Colonel Brogue arrived here out of Scotland with whom they are now handling to put him to Pension and to give my Lord the Command of his Regiment in lieu of his Pretensions Which when they come to calculate my Lord will find a short reckoning of them and to send accounts out of their accountants hands and refer them to others they will never be moved Wherefore if the course they now take can be gone thorough with which Colonel Brogue doth most unwillingly hear of it will be then in my Lords choice whether he will remain satisfied or not And within few daies I hope to return my Lords Secretarie with advertisement of what is
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
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
Infant-Princess your daughter Try me good King but let me have a lawful trial and let not my sworn enemies sit as my accusers and Judges yea let me receive an open Trial for my truths shall fear no open shames then shall you see either my innocencie cleered your suspition and conscience satisfied the ignominy and slander of the world stopped or my guilt openly declared So that whatsoever God or you may determine of me your Grace may be freed from an open censure and my offence being so lawfully proved your Grace is at liberty both before God and man not only to execute worthy punishment on me as an unfaithfull wife but to follow your affection already setled on that party for whose sake I am now as I am whose name I could some while since have pointed to your Grace being not ignorant of my suspition therein But if you have already determined of me and that not only my death but an infamous slander must bring you the enjoying of a desired happiness then I desire of God that he will pardon your great sin herein and likewise my enemies the instruments thereof and that he will not call you to a strict accompt for your unprincely and cruel usage of me at his general Judgment-seat where both you and my self must both shortly appear and in whose just judgment I doubt not whatsoever the world may think of me my innocencie shall be openly known and sufficiently cleered My last and onely request shall be That my self may bear the burthen of your Graces displeasure and that it may not touch the innocent souls of those poor Gentlemen who as I understand are in strait imprisonment for my sake If ever I have found favour in your sight if ever the name of Anne Bullen have been pleasing in your ears let me obtain this last request and I will so leave to trouble your Grace any further with my earnest prayers to the Trinity to have your Grace in his good keeping and to direct you in all your actions From my dolefull prison in the Tower this sixth of May. Your most loyal and faithful wife ANNE BULLEN Queen Elizabeths Letter to the Lady Norris upon the death of her Son ALthough we have deferred long to represent unto you our grieved thoughts because we liked full well to yield you the first reflections of our misfortunes whom we have always sought to cherish and comfort yet knowing now that necessity must bring it to your ears and nature consequently must move many passionate affections in your heart we have resolved no longer to smother either our care for your sorrow or the sympathy of our grief for his death wherein if society in sorrowing work diminution we do assure you by this true messenger of our mind that Nature can have stirred no more dolorous affections in you as a mother for a dear son then the gratefulness and memory of his services past hath wrought in Us his Soveraign apprehension of the miss of so worthy a servant But now that natures common work is done and he that was born to die hath paid his tribute let that Christian discretion stay the flux of your immoderate grieving which hath instructed you both by example and knowledge that nothing of this kind hath happened but by Gods providence and that these lines from your loving and gracious Soveraign serve to assure you that there shal ever appear the lively characters of you and yours that are left in our valuing rightly all their faithfull and honest endeavours More we will not write of this subject but have dispatched this Gentleman to visit both your Lord and condole with you in the true sense of your love and to pray you that the world may see that what time cureth in weak minds that discretion and moderation may help in you in this accident where there is so opportune occasion to demonstrate true patience and true moderation Thomas Duke of Norfolk to Queen Elizabeth O Most dear and dread Soveraign and Lady Queen and most gracious Mistress when I consider with my self how far I have transgressed my duty to your most gracious Majesty I dare not now presume to look up or hope for your gracious favour I confess my self so far unworthy thereof but again when I look into your Highness manifold mercifull and most pitifull nature of which so many have so abundantly tasted of since your Majesties most prosperous reign I am emboldened with penitent and sorrowfull heart to make my trembling hand to offer unto your Highness my most ruful lowly submission having none other means to ease my oppressed mind I am for my sins and disobedience to ask pardon that is of Almighty God and of your most excellent Majesty the first I have done to Almighty God and so I by the grace of him will continue with a new heart and full mind of amendment not doubting but asking mercy to receive it according to the Scripture he that knocketh at the door shall have it opened unto him Now do I prostrate my self at your Highness most gracious feet my poor children and all that I have hoping more in your Majesties most gracious clemency then in any of mine unadvised deserts I seek to excuse my self no way but wholly submit my self to what shall please your most mercifull heart like a most gracious Queen to a man that hath been astray who finding mercy hath afterwards with bad service oftentimes redoubled his former folly O most noble Queen it is in your most gracious power to make of my wretched mould what it pleaseth you my faith and religion reserved to my Saviour my body being already to your Highness subject and imprisoned for my most just desert I dedicate my mind and heart to be hereafter as it shall please your Majesty to direct it I do not seek favour at your Majesties hands in respect of my former good service I confess undutifulness hath now blotted the same out neither dare I remmeber which heretofore was my greatest comfort because I deserve not that honor which was that it hath pleased your Highness to account me indeed your unworthy kinsman Wo wretch that day when I entred into that matter which hath made such alteration of your Majesties most gracious favour unto me and hath heaped upon my self these intolerable troubles O unworthy that I am that in all the days of my life counting upon nothing but a quiet life I take God to witness whatsoever some have judged the contrary of me I was so unhappy to give ear to that which hath done and ever was like to bring me to the contrary A Defiance sent by the Grand Seignieur to Maximilian the second BY the sufferance of the great God We Solyman God in earth great and high Emperour of all the world Patron and Distributer of all Christians We send and declare unto thee Maximilian all wrath and ill fortune and infidelity and to all thy Princes subjects and helpers
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
and that Soveraign Princes ought distinctly to punish the practice in contempt though coloured with the pretence of Conscience and Religion According to these principles her Majesty at her coming to the Crown utterly disliking the tyranny of Rome which had used by terror and rigor to settle commandments of mens faiths and consciences though as a Prince of great wisdom and magnanimity she suffered but the exercise of one Religion yet her proceedings towards the Papists was with great lenity expecting the good effects which time might work in them And therefore her Majesty revived not the Laws made in the 28. and 35. of her Fathers reign whereby the Oath of Supremacie might have been offered at the Kings pleasure to any Subject though he kept his conscience never so modestly to himself and the refusal to take the same oath without further circumstance was made Treason But contrariwise her Majesty not liking to make windows into mens hearts secret thoughts except the abundance of them did overflow into overt and express acts or affirmations tempered her Laws so as it restraineth every manifest disobedience in impugning and impeaching advisedly and maliciously her Majesties supreme power maintaining and extolling a foraign jurisdiction And as for the Oath it was altered by her Majesty into a more gratefull form the hardness of the name and appellation of Supreme Head was removed and the penalty of the refusal thereof turned only into disablement to take any promotion or to exercise any charge and yet with liberty of being reinvested therein if any man should accept thereof during his life But after when Pius Quintus had excommunicated her Majesty and the Bulls of Excommunication were published in London whereby her Majesty was in a sort proscribed and that thereupon as upon a principal motive or preparative followed the Rebellion in the North yet because the ill humours of the Realm were by that Rebellion partly purged and that she feared at that time no foreign invasion and much less the attempt of any within the Realm not backed by some potent succour from without she contented herself to make a Law against that special case of bringing and publishing of any Bulls or the like Instruments whereunto was added a prohibition upon pain not of treason but of an inferior degree of punishment against the bringing in of Agnus Dei hallowed bread and such other merchandise of Rome as are well known not to be any essential part of the Romish religion but only to be used in practise as Love-tokens to inchant the peoples affections from their allegiance to their natural Soveraign In all other points her Majesty continued her former lenity but when about the 20. year of her reign she had discovered in the King of Spain an intention to invade her Dominions and that a principal point of the plot was to prepare a party within the Realm that might adhere to the Foreigner and that the Seminaries began to blossom and to send forth daily Priests and professed men who should by vow taken at Shrift reconcile her Subjects from their obedience yea bind many of them to attempt against her Majesties sacred person and that by the poyson which they spread the humours of most Papists were altered and that they were no more Papists in conscience and of softness but Papists in faction then were there new Laws made for the punishment of such as should submit themselves to such reconcilements or renunciations of obedience And because it was a Treason carried in the clouds and in wonderfull secresie and came seldom to light and that there was no presuspition thereof so great as the Recusants to come to Divine Service because it was set down by their Decrees that to come to Church before reconcilement was absolutely heretical and damnable Therefore there were added Laws containing punishment pecuniary against such Recusants not to enforce Conscience but to enfeeble and impoverish the means of those of whom it resteth indifferent and ambiguous whether they were reconciled or no. And when notwithstanding all this provision this poyson was dispersed so secretly as that there was no means to stay it but by restraining the Merchants that brought it in then lastly there was added another Law whereby such seditious Priests of new erection were exiled and those that were at that time within the Land shipped over and so commanded to keep hence upon pain of Treason This hath been the proceeding though intermingled not only with sundry examples of her Majesties grace towards such as in her wisdom she knew to be Papists in conscience and not in faction and singularity but also with an ordinary mitigation towards the offenders in the highest degree committed by Law if they would but protest that in case this Realm should be invaded with a foreign Army by the Popes authority for the Catholique cause as they term it they would take party with her Majesty and not adhere to her enemies For the other part which have been offensive to this State though in other degree which named themselves Reformers and we commonly call Puritans this hath been the proceeding towards them a great while When they inveighed against such abuses in the Church as Pluralities Non-residence and the like their zeal was not condemned only their violence was sometimes censured When they refused the use of some Ceremonies and Rites as superstitious they were tolerated with much connivencie and gentleness yea when they called in question the Superiority of Bishops and pretended to bring a Democracie into the Church yet their Propositions were heard considered and by contrary writings debated and discussed Yet all this while it was perceived that their course was dangerous and very popular As because Papistry was odious therefore it was ever in their mouths that they sought to purge the Church from the reliques of Popery a thing acceptable to the People who love ever to run from one extreme to another Because multitudes of Rogues and Poverty were an eye-sore and dislike to every man therefore they put it into the Peoples head that if Discipline were plaintive there should be no Beggers nor Vagabonds a thing very plausible And in like manner they promise the people many other impossible wonders of their Discipline Besides they opened the People a way to Government by their Consistory Presbytery a thing though in consequence no less prejudicial to the liberties of private men then to the soveraignty of Princes yet in the first shew very popular Nevertheless this except it were in some few that entred into extreme contempt was borne with because they pretended but in dutifull manner to make Propositions and to leave it to the Providence of God and the authority of the Magistrate But now of late years when there issued from them a Colony of those that affirmed the consent of the Magistrate was not to be attended when under pretence of a Confession to avoid slanders and imputations they combined themselves by Classes
Precincts after the manner of some French Edicts seemeth to me to be a matter warrantable by Religion and in Policie of absolute necessity and the hesitation of this I think hath been a great casting back of the affairs there Neither if any English Papist or Recusant shall for liberty of his conscience transfer his person family and fortunes thither do I hold it a matter of danger but expedient to draw on undertaking and to further population Neither if Rome will cozen it self by conceiving it may be some degree to the like Toleration in England do I hold it a matter of any moment but rather a good mean to take off the fierceness and eagerness of the humour of Rome and to stay further Excommunications and Interdictions of Ireland But there would go hand in hand with this some course of advantage Religion indeed where the people is capable of it is the sending over of some good Preachers especially of that sort which are vehement and zealous perswaders and not Scholastical to be resident in the principal Towns endowing them with some stipend out of her Majesties revenues as her Majesty hath most religiously and graciously done in Lancashire and the recontinuing and replenishing the Colledge begun at Dublin the placing of good men Bishops in the Sea there the taking care of the versions of Bibles Catechisms and other books of Instruction into the Irish language and the like religious courses both for the honour of God and for the avoiding of scandal and insatisfaction here by a toleration of Religion there For instance the Barbarism and desolation of the Country considered it is not possible they should find any sweetness at all of it which hath been the error of times past formal and fetched far off from the State because it will require running up and down for process of polling and exactions by fees and many other delays and charges And therefore there must be an interim in which the Justice must be only summary the rather because it is fit and safe for a time the Country do partioipate of Martial government And therefore I do wish in every principal Town or place of habitation there were a Captain or a Governour and a Judge such as Recorders and learned Stewards are here in Corporations who may have a Prerogative-Commission to hear and determine secundum sanam discretionem and as neer as may be to the Laws and Customs of England and that by Bill or Plaint without Original Writ reserving from their sentence matter of Freehold and Inheritance to be determined before a superior Judge itinerant to be reversed if cause be before the Councel of the Province to be established with fit Informations For obligation and reward it is true no doubt which was anciently said That a State is contained in two words Praemium Poena And I am perswaded if a penny in the pound which hath been spent in poena a chastisement of Rebels without other fruit or emolument of this State had been spent in praemio that in rewarding things had never grown to this extremity But to speak forwards The keeping of the principal Irish persons in term of contentment and without particular complaint as generally the carrying of an eaven course between the English and the Irish whether it be in competition or whether it be in controversie as if they were one Nation without the same partial course which hath been held by the Governours and Councellors that some have favoured the Irish and some contrary is one of the best medicines for that State And as for other points of governing their Nobility as well in this Court as there of Knighthood of Education of their Children and the like points of comfort and allurement they are things which fall into every mans consideration For the extirpating of the seeds of troubles I suppose the main roots are but three The first the ambition and absoluteness of the chief of the Families and Sects the second the licentious idleness of their Kerns and Souldiers that lie upon their Country by sesses and such oppressions the third the barbarous customs in habits of apparel in these Poets or Heralds that inchant them in savage manners and sundry other such dregs of Barbarism and Rebellion which by a number of politique Statutes of Ireland meet to be put in execution are already forbidden unto which such additions may be made as the present time requireth But the reducing of this branch requireth a more particular notice of the state and manners there then falls within my compass For Plantations and buildings I do find it strange that in the last plot for the population of Munster there were limitations how much in Demesnes and how much in Farm and Tenantry how many buildings should be erected how many Irish in mixture should be admitted but there was no restraint that they might not build sparsim at their pleasure much less any condition that they should make places fortified and defensible the which was too much secureness to my understanding So as for this last point of plantaâ—ions and buildings there be two considerations which I hold most material th' one of quickning th' other for assuring The first is that choyce be made of such persons for the government of Towns and places and such undertakers be procured as be men gracious and wel-beloved and are like to be well followed wherein for Munster it may be because it is not Res integra but that the former undertakers stand interessed there will be some difficulty but surely in mine opinion either with agreeing with them or by over-ruling them by a Parliament in Ireland which in this course of a politique proceeding infinite occasions will require speedily to be held it will be fit to supply fit qualified persons for underakers The other that it be not left as heretofore to the pleasure of the undertakers and adventurers where and how to build and plant but that they do it according to a prescript or formality For first the places both Maritine and Inland which are fittest for Colonies or Garrison as well for doubt of Foreigners as for keeping the Countrey in bridle would be found surveighed and resolved upon and then that the Patentees be tied to build those places onely and to fortifie as shall be thought convenient And lastly it followeth of course in Countries of new populations to invite and provoke inhabitants by ample liberties and Charters FR. BACON Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer touching his speech in Parliament It may please your good Lordship I Was sorry to find by your Lordships speech yesterday that my last speech in Parliament delivered in discharge of my conscience my duty to God her Majesty and my Countrey was offensive if it were misreported I would be glad to attend your Lordship to disavow any thing I said not if it were misconstrued I would be glad to expound my words to exclude any sense I meant not if my
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
enjoy now only the name and now since hath so much quickned and enlightned me by his gracious countenance and assured me by his daily favours to make me to depend upon him and that I should deliberately and determinately take any flowers from his Crown to place them on the heads of others or to betray his Majesties interest into the hands of others I hope his Majesty will vouchsafe me so much favour not to value me at so low a rate as to think these things came in de industria For if I had felt any such Eccho arise in my breast I protest I would have laid hands on my self and judged my self unworthy of any society My Lords the corruption of my hands are far inferior to the corruption of the heart and the hand that runs wilfully into error works meerly from the corruption of the heart and that makes it the more inexcusable as the bleeding of a wound inwardly ever becomes mortal and were I conscious to my self I would not have any color of excuse I thank his Majesties Councel that howsoever these hands were at first mistrusted yet since they are not at all misdoubted nor the least corruption laid to my charge But this doth most grieve me that my faithfulness to his Majesty should be suspected And I humbly desire upon my knees that his Clemencie in this case may stop the issue of his Justice that though a long time his face hath been hid yet now at length his mercy will break through the clouds to support me that am now fallen I lay my self at his Majesties feet to do with me as it pleaseth him and humbly desire his Majesty would take me to his own sentence I never thought of my self otherwise then clay in his Majesties hands to mould me to honour or dishonour When I look and behold this solemnity and spectacle about me I make no other account of it then Pompa mortis and such a Prince as he is knows that Life and Reputation are equall if the last be not the greatest I know your Lordships have such power and his Majesty takes such pleasure in you you are so dear in his eyes that he can deny you nothing and therefore I would desire you that you would be suiters in my behalf that his favour might once again shine upon me I know his grace and clemency sleepeth if I be not unworthy to partake and the rather because the River that did run another way is now turned into the Sea again and the Charter given up surrendred and cancelled I know much life might be added to the sinewes of my happinesse by your Lordships intercessions for me in vouchsafing whereof I shall pledge a perpetuall assurance of better service for the time to come and shall be bound and engaged to every one of your Lordships so that my desire is that his Majesty might first be acquainted with this submission before you proceed into the merits of the cause remaining still a prisoner to his Justice knowing his Majesty may if he please turn me to vanity Ferdinand the second Emperour to the Catholique King Most gracious King my most loving Nephew FAther Jacinthus comes over to your Court to negotiate with your Majesty in the Popes name about a business much concerning the conservation of our holy Faith and consequently the support of our Family as your Majesty shall understand of the said Father to whom I refer my self as also to Don Balthazar de Zuniga to whom I have written more distinctly fearing to be over-tedious to your Majesty and being well assured how well your Majesty stands inclined to either of these points Ferdinand the Emperour to Don Balthazar de Zuniga October 15. 1621. To the Honorable and sincerely beloved Don Balthazar de Zuniga Cousin and Councellour of State to the most excellent and Catholique King of Spain Honorable and sincerely beloved WHat my mind and purpose is touching the translating of the Electorship to the Duke of Bavaria according to the promise I made him and wherefore I think that business so necessary and profitable as for Germany in generall so particularly for securing our House from all attempts of Heretiques as his Holiness exhorts me not to be further delayed You shall understand as well by conference with Father Jacinthus whom his Holiness hath for that purpose addressed unto me his Majesty of Spain my Nephew and other Catholiqne Princes of Germany as by these ensuing reasons whereof the principall are That when I repeat from the beginning the whole course of my Reign and the difficulties through which I have attained my Kingdoms and Provinces I behold with reverence the admirable providence of God over me which makes me the more bound to repose my trust in him and not to omit any occasion which may tend to the advancement of his glory and the honor of so admirable tried providence and therfore that I should use that most notable victory to the honor of God and extirpation of all seditious factions which are nourished chiefly among the Galvinists and that I should withdraw my self from that judgement that the Prophet threatens to the King of Israel Because thou hast dismissed a man worthy of death thy Son shall be for his soule The Palatine keeps now in Holland exiled not onely from the Kingdom which he rashly attempted but despoiled almost of all his own Territories expecting as it were the last cast of Fortune whom if by an impious kind of commiseration and subtile Petitions I be perswaded to restore to his Electorall dignity and nourish in my bosome as a troden half living snake what can I expect less then a deadly stinging For it is in vain for me to think that he should be able to discern the greatness of such a benefit For the Polititians saying is true Vltionem quaesivi gratiam oneri habere especially since the injuries he did me are so heynous his projects so subtile that although I should overcome him with Christian charity yet I should never be able to take him from the guilt of his offences and make him soundly faithfull unto me but he will always gape at all occasions whereby he may free himself from fear of his ill deservings and cover his own prostituted honor with new attempt Add hereunto the Calvinists institution of whose Sect the proper genius is to hold nothing either fraud or wickedness which is undertaken for the Religion no sanctity of oath nor fear of dishonour hinders them From such an one what caution can either the house of Austria or other Catholique Princes with whom he is no less in enmity because for Religion as because they are interessed in the war receive The King of England will be engaged but of the same Religion nor is there any thing mere easie then when there is occasion of perpetrating any wickedness to palliate it with a pretext of a breach of the League Histories are fraughted with examples in some there are no
cautions sufficient in such a business then to drive him where he cannot hurt all other means are frail and he which once believed is despised It is likewise a consideration of no less moment that the Palatine being restored will draw all his power and policie as hitherto so hereafter where he thinks he can do most hurt and that most easily to wit to Bethlem-Gabor and the Turks whom he hath already incited to hostility against me and will never cease hereafter to instigate the Calvinists intire hopes in them These untill they recover breath and recollect their forces they endeavour to disarm and exhaust me of monies ranging in my territories as they have done hitherto by fire and sword But if with them also whom notwithstanding I cannot trust alike I should make peace what conditions will Gabor who remains yet unconquerd require if I should restore the Palatine already conquered to his Electorall dignity Therefore since long before God granted me that famous victory I firmly forecast with my self that the Palatine could not be restored to his Electoral dignity without the extreme danger of the Catholiques and my house I offered freely on my own motion but being directed questionless by God the Electorship to the Duke of Bavaria a most eager Defender of the Catholique cause whose territories on the other side lie as a Rampire between me and other Princes of Germany and since I made so good use of his help and so profitable in the recovery of my Kingdoms and Provinces and continue yet to this day time it self more then the said Duke doth cry out that I should accomplish my promise without further delay and by translation of the Electorship take away quite all hopes from the Palatine and them that sollicite us so importunately for a restitution that we may be freed from all molestation which thing since it needs the help of his Majesty of Spain although I know his Majesty be propense enough of himself to all things which appertain to the honor of God and the security of our House yet I thought good to admonish you of this occasion lest this opportunity of establishing of our Religion and Family escape which I conceive might conveniently be done by you Neither do I suppose his Majesty to be ignorant that it was alwayes judged of our Ancestors that the House of Austria which by Gods permission doth now signiorize far and neer upon the earth to have its chief foundation here in Germany which is the more to be defended the nearer its ruine depends thereupon In times past this House hath had proof of many adversaries to its greatness as the Histories under Maximilian the first Charles the fift Ferdinand the second and Rodulf the second do shew the perfidiousness of Holland against his Majesties Grandfather Philip the second fetcht her food from the Palatinate neither can his Majesty ever reduce the rebellious Hollanders to obedience unlesse his root be pluckt up which onely motive besides these which I alledged before might justly induce him not to suffer a fallen enemy to rise and resume as his stomack will never fail him strength again But albeit it is not to be dissembled that the Lutheran Princes especially the Elector of Saxony will not approve haply of this translation because they fear it conduceth too much to the corroborating of the Catholique Cause Nevertheless since he cannot accuse that act of Charls the fifth who for a far lighter cause deprived John Frederick of the Electorship and confer'd it on Maurice this Dukes great Uncle and perceiving that all the Councels of the Calvinists do aim to bring in the Turk he will not condemn his translation For no less is the Lutherans hatred against the Calvinists as the Catholiques and they think less danger do proceed from the later It is to be hoped therefore that the Elector of Saxony and other Lutheran Princes when they see the business brought to this point will not so far disapprove thereof as to put themselves in Arms which I shall shortly understand of the most excellent Archduke Charls my brother who is for this cause to treat with the Elector of Saxony And these motives as they are of great consequence so I imagine you which are daily of his Majesties Councell have pondered them as diligently as my self and therefore that you will omit nothing that is pertinent to establish this business whereby we obtain the long and wished fruit thereof which is the propagation of the honor of Almighty God through the Empire and the augmentation of the common safety Family and Dignity Beloved Don Balthazar I understand that there was a motive of great consideration omitted in my Letter to wit that if we had more countenance of his Catholique Majesty then we have at this present the Empire should always remain in the hands of Catholiques and so according to reason in our House to whose advancement the Duke of Bavaria will willingly concur in recognition of such a benefit being promoted by an Emperour of that House to so eminent and high a dignity as in our letters Vienna Octob. 15. 1621. King James to Ferdinand the Emperour concerning the Palatinate Novemb. 12. 1621. IAmes by the grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. wisheth health and constant peace unto the most mighty and invincible Prince Ferdinando by the same grace elected Roman Emperour King of Germany Hungary and Bohemia Archduke of Austria c. our loving friend and cousin Most mighty and invincible Prince Brother Cousin and speciall loving Friend It is not unknown unto the whole world much less to your Imperiall Majesty how earnestly we have hitherto sought and endeavoured as well by the diligence of our Ambassadors whom we have sent as by the intercession of the chief German Princes the appeasing of those Bohemian wars ever since they first began and with what ardent zeal and affection we have so much hunted after the desire of peace Let it not therefore seem strange unto any man that we take it ill that all the very time when we were to the uttermost of our power treating of peace and giving our best furtherance for the overture of wholsome means to effect it even then notwithstanding we found clean contrary effects to ensue thereupon whereat we much marvelled seeing the Treaty was in hand and already begun on all sides as namely among the rest that our son-in-law was wholly despoiled and robbed of his hereditary patrimony that remained unto him excepting the lower Palatinate which was all by commandment of your Imperiall Majesty taken and possessed by the Duke of Bavaria according as himself confessed with strong hand and force of Arms and that for such reasons as are meerly new and such as the like were never hitherto once heard of That notwithstanding it plainly appeareth by the answer given unto our Ambassador that your Imperial Majesty had caused the suspension of that Ban or
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
deal plainly with him I neither found in your Majesty or in the Councel any kind of thought or imagination of any possibility of having any such motion again revived But this I found not to grow from any particular dislike or want of affection in your Majesty to Spain or that many of the greatest or the principallest person in England judged not the neerness and alliance of Spain equally valuable with any other of Christendom but that out of a distastefulness of the former answer given from hence all expectation of any business of this nature was absolutely extinguished and therefore again to revive it there would need more then ordinary endeavours or ordinary assurances But in case that they might be given I know that this Match would neither want well-willers nor assistants and for my own part I would freely make profession that no man more desired it then my self nor would more willingly imploy his endeavours for the furthering thereof when by the descending to particulars I should see both in regard of the conditions and the assurances of sincere proceeding the motion worthy and fit by a discreet and good servant to be offered to his Master neither then should I be wholly out of hope of good success though I would not but esteem it a business of infinite difficulty The Duke replied That any discourse that I thought fit herein should be condescended unto for that all time was lost that was spent in generalities And therefore if I so liked he would move this King that one or two besides himself might be appointed to have conference with me for that if he should only retain it in his hands by reason of his many occupations it would have a slower progress then he wished but if I would by way of conference digest the difficulties into heads and particulars he would as often as he might be present at our meeting But for his own part he said he apprehended few but what would arise out of the difference of Religion I told the Duke that I very well approved of the descending into particulars neither should I refuse conference with any herein whom the King would appoint to speak with me But if his meaning were that these persons should be nominated or joyned by way of Commission I thought fit to let him understand that I neither had any time nor did at present speak of this business either by order or direction no nor so much as by your Majesties privity but as a Minister that desired to lay hold of all occasions for the increasing of further love neerness betwixt his Master and the Prince to whom he is imployed I should be glad to the uttermost of my power to advance and further this cause as that which I apprehended to be the greatest which the world now affordeth for the firm uniting of your Majesties and your estates The Duke told me that the King would make no scruple to declare his good inclination and desire to have this Match proceeded in and that for the accommodating of the difficulties he had already used divers diligences with the Pope as likewise with the greatest Divines of this Kingdom whereof he named some unto me whom he said he found very well inclined to the Match he told me also he would be glad they might speak with me to the end I might truly understand of them all kind of scruples that could be alleadged I answered I desired nothing more and that I could not but approve of those courses he prescribed as the most probable to produce a good effect and that I hoped God would give happy success unto the business But I should be bold in one thing to deliver my opinion which was No wayes to interess our Masters herein unless by the understanding and cleering the difficulties on both sides there should be great appearances and probabilities that the business would take effect For if their names should be herein used and after their Treaty should not be successfull it would but exasperate and breed a greater distaste betwixt your Majesties The Duke told me he himself misliked not my opinion though he said that howsoever that business succeeded yet your Majesty should have reason to accept kindly this Kings good intention for that if it miscarried it should appear not to be their default but that they had stretched as far as honor and conscience would give them leave And thus much he said I might write unto your Majesty if I thought fit or to my confident friends in England upon his word and assurance and so telling me that he would presently appoint those that should confer with me in this business we then parted Within two days after I went to the Duke and after that I had spoken with him about the business of Cleves according to my instruction whereof I gave an account unto Mr. Secretary in a dispatch directed unto him we fell again into the speech of the match The Duke told me had well considered of that which I had said unto him and much approved it not to interest our Masters in the business until we should see some likelihood of good success And for that he supposed the difference of Religion like to prove the onely difficulty of consideration he thought it fit that it should be first cleared and therefore he would break the matter with the Cardinall of Toledo the Kings Confessor and with them he joyned another learned man one Father Frederick who since I understand is a Jesuite but truly hath the report of a moderate man These the Duke said should have order to confer with me as far as might be reserving safe the grounds and sincerity of their Religion I answered the Duke that I was well satisfied herewith and that if their demands were such as might content any other Catholique Prince I should have hope of good success if otherwise I should judge it a happiness to be put out of doubt and suspence and so we passed from this subject I presume to set down to your Majesty all the passages of this business with so much length and fulness for that I no way dare adventure to offer unto your Majesty any opinion or belief of my own either for the fitness of the match or the sincerity of their intention or the possibility of accommodating differences of Religion But your Majesty seeing undisguised all that hath hitherto passed with every circumstance may be pleased out of the consideration and knowledg of those particulars to frame unto your self both such a beliefe of their direct meaning and such a resolution of the further proceeding herein as shall be most suitable to your Majesties wisdom onely I think it fit to set down further unto your Majesty the particular ends which may be conceived they aim at by setting this business afoot at this present in case they should not intend really to perform it The first may be to stagger and divert your Majesties Treaty
you as a good ground for you to work on that our Son did write us out of Spain That that King would give us a Blank in which we might form our own Conditions concerning the Palatinate and the same our Son confirms to us now What observation and performance that King will make we require you to express and give us a speedy account c. Given c. Earl of Bristol in answer to King James Octob. 29. 1623. MAy it please your most excellent Majesty I have received your Majesties Letters of the 8. of October on the 21. of the same moneth some houres within night and have thought fit to dispatch back unto your Majesty with all possible speed referring the answer to what your Majesty hath by these Letters commanded me to a Post that I shall purposely dispatch when I shall have negotiated the particulars with this King and his Ministers wherein God willing all possible diligence shall be used But forasmuch as I find both by your Majesties Letter as likewise by Letters which I have received from the Prince his Highness that you continue your desires of having the Match proceeded in I held it my duty that your Majesty should be informed that although I am set free in as much as concerneth the doubt of the Infanta's entring into Religion for the delivering of the powers left with me by his Highness yet by this new direction I now received from your Majesty that the Deposories should be deferr'd till Christmas the said powers are made altogether useless and invalid it being a clause in the bodies of the said powers that they shall onely remain in force till Christmas and no longer as your Majesty may see by the copie I send herewith inclosed Your Majesty I conceive will be of opinion that the suspending of the execution of the powers untill the force and validity of them be expired is a direct and effectuall revoking of them which not to do how far his Highness is in his Honor ingaged your Majesty will be best able to judge by viewing the powers themselves Further if the date of these powers do expire besides the breach of the Capitulations although the match it self jealousies and mistrusts be hazarded yet the Princes coming at the Spring will be almost impossible For by that time new Commissions and Powers shall be after Christmas granted by the Prince which must be to the satisfaction of both parties I conceive so much of the year will be spent that it will be impossible for the Fleets and other preparations to be in a readiness against the Spring for it is not to be imagined that they will here proceed effectually with their preparations untill they shall be sure of the Desposorios especially when they shall have seen them severall times deferred on the Prince his part and that upon pretexts that are not new or grown since the granting of the Powers but were before in being and often under debate and yet were never insisted upon to make stay of the business so that it will seem that they might better have hindered the granting of them then the execution of them Now if there were not staggering in former resolutions the which although really there is not yet can it not but be suspected and the clearing of it between Spain and England will cost much time I most humbly crave your Majesties pardon if I write unto you with the plainness of a true-hearted and faithfull servant who ever hath cooperated honestly unto your Majesties ends I knew them I know your Majesty hath been long time of opinion that the greatest assurance you could get that the King of Spain would effectually labour the intire restitution of the Palatinate was that he really proceeded to the effecting of the match and my instructions under your Majesties hands were to insist upon the restoring the Prince Palatine but not to annex it to the treaty of the match as that therby the match should be hazarded for that your Majesty seemed confident that here it would never grow to a perfect conclusion without a setled resolution to give your Majesty satisfaction in the business of the Palatinate The same course I observed in the carriage of the business by his Highness and my Lord Duke at their being here who though they insisted on the business of the Palatinate yet they held it fit to treat of them distinctly and that the marriage should proceed as a good pawn for the other Since their departure my Lord Ambassador Sir Walter Ashton and my self have been pressed to have this Kings resolution in writing concerning the Palatinate and the dispatches which your Majesty will receive herewith concerning that business were writ before the receit of your Majesties Letters and doubtless it is now a great part of their care that that business may be well entred before the Infanta's coming into England And his Highness will well often remember that the Conde dé Olivarez often protested a necessity of having this business compounded and setled before the marriage saying otherwise they might give a Daughter and a War within three moneths after if this ground and subject of quarrell should still be left on foot The same language he hath ever held with Sir Walter Ashton and my self and that it was a firm peace and amity as much as an allyance which they sought with his Majesty So that it is not to be doubted but that this King concluding the match resolveth to imploy his uttermost power for your satisfaction in the restitution of the Prince Palatine The question now will be whether the business of the Prince Palatine having relation to many great Princes that are interessed therein living at distance and being indeed for the condition and nature of the business it self impossible to be ended but by a formall treaty which of necessity will require great length whether the conclusion of the match shall any way depend upon the issue of this business which I conceive to be far from your Majesties intention for so the Prince might be long kept unbestowed by any aversness of those which might have particular interest in the Princes remaining unmarried or dislike with his matching with Spain But that which I understand to be your Majesties aim is onely to have the conclusion of this match accompanied with a strong engagement as can be procured from this King for the joyning with your Majesty not onely in all good Offices for the entire restitution of the Palatinate but otherwise if need require of his Majesties assistance herein These days past I have laboured with all earnestness and procured this Kings publique answer which I am told is resolved of and I shall within these few days have it to send to your Majesty as also a private Proposition which will be put into your hands and shall not fail further to pursue your Majesties present directions of procuring this Kings Declaration in what sort your Maiesty may rely
will labour to find some handsom and fair occasion for the deferring of them without alleadging any directions in that kind from your Majesty or the Prince The reasons why I have thought it fit to take this resolution are First I find by your Majesties letters and the Princes that your intent is to proceed in the marriage and to that purpose your Majesty and the Prince have set me free to deliver the powers according to the first intentions by removing that scruple of the Infanta's entring into Religion whereupon they were only suspended Secondly your Majesties Letter only intimateth a desire not a direction of having the marriage upon one of the holidays of Christmass which I conceive is to be understood if it may well and fittingly be so not if there shall be impossibility therein by reason of the expiring of the powers before and that the intention of having it then should be overthrown thereby when I am confident that what your Majesty writeth is for want of due information of the clause of expiration of the powers Thirdly if your Majesty upon these reasons and such as I have formerly alleadged unto your Majesty should as I no way doubt but your Majesty will give me order for the present proceeding to the marriage yet by my refusing of the powers and alleadging your Majesties or the Princes directions although afterwards all things should be cleered yet would it cast some kind of aspersion and jealousie upon the sincerity of your Majesties and the Princes proceedings On the contrary side if your Majesties intention be not to proceed in the match whereof I see no ground the intimation of that may be as well a moneth hence as now And I judge it duty in a servant especially in a business of so high a consequence and wherein your Majesty hath spent so much time to give his master leisure to repair to his second cogitations before he do any act that may disorder or overthrow This I offer with all humility unto your Majesties wise and just consideration and beseech you to make interpretation of my proceedings herein according to my dutifull and zealous care of your honour and service I have of purpose dispatcht this Post with this Letter to the end I may receive your Maiesties directions in this particular with all possible speed which I hope shall be to proceed directly to the marriage according to the Capitulations and so to order all things for the Princess her journy in the Spring And for the Palatinate your Maiesty may be confident there shall be diligence used in procuring a speedy and good resolution So c. King James to the Palsgrave My most dear Son WE have been carefull and are at this present to perform the promise which we made unto you to imploy all our power to re-establish you into your estates and dignities and having by the patience and industry which we have used reduced matters within a more neer circle and of a less extent then the generality in which they were heretofore We have thought good to give you knowledge of such things whereof hope is given to us that we shall in all apearance obtain them to the end you may have recourse to your wisdom and after a mature deliberation make choyce agreeable to the providence honor and safety of your estates duly weighing and examining all circumstances and therefore we present unto you these Propositions to wit In the first place a due submission to the Emperour under convenient limitations which first shall be granted and agreed in conformity to that which is Noble with a safe conduct and assurance requisite and sufficient for the free and safe going and return of your Person and Train This being done we make you offer of a present and full restitution of all the Palatinate unto the person of your son and that you shall be his Administrator during your life And that after the death of the Duke of Bavaria your son shall be re-established in the Electorall dignity And for the better confirming the sound Amity and assuring your Possessions and enioying of all according to the contract which is presently to be made and also to serve for a preparation for the bettering of the said conditions to your person which will be in all likelihood when the marriage will be resolved and concluded to be made betwixt your eldest son our Grand-child and one of the Emperours daughters In contemplation whereof they have approached a degree neerer to wit that the Electorall dignity shall come again to your person after the Duke of Bavaria's death In which Treaty of marriage to clear the principall difficulty which consisted with the education of your son with the Emperour we have taken from them all hope therein wherein we assure our selves you will be content and are purposed that he shal have his education with our son and with and in the presence of the Infanta when she shall be in our Court We have exactly shewed you the state of this Negotiation which chiefly concerns you and yours to the end you may fix your eyes upon your necessity and bare condition and manner of living which dependeth on the courtesie and assistance of others and that you may judge advisedly whether your ready entrance into the possession of your own and with a kind of present liberty of living with insurance in time to recover the possession of it shall not be more convenient for you then a hazardous long expectation upon other uncertain means The former whereof I prefer before the later We pray you to consider what probable and feasible means we may undertake to reduce your condition to that state as you promise your self wherein we doubt not but you will weigh our forces and those of our Allyes and such other whereof we may hope to be assured to the end that if it should happen that we cannot obtain to the entire of that we desire by way of treaty or that we should take another course you may be partaker of Councels as well as the issues and uncertain events And forasmuch as we are desirous to consider with you for your personall estate and as we are obliged to have regard to the right of our only daughter and to the inheritance of your children with the hope of their posterity by what way it may be most easily established and by what fit means provision may be made best to that effect And herein we remain your most affectionate Father From White-Hall Novemb. 20. Jacobus Rex The Palsgraves Answer to King James SIR I Take as a great honor and favour your Majesties Letter of the 2â— of November delivered unto me by the hands of your Ambassador Sir Dudley Carleton who hath further explained your Majesties intention touching that which concerneth my restitution unto my honors and patrimonial estate that you continue firm and constant in conformity to your promises to labour and effect by one way or other so that
not what to hope but the same effect of fraud and deceit which my forenamed predecessor found with a sorrowful repentance of the evil when it was past remedy And the Emperor wanteth but two or three years of leisure which he shall easily gain by a treaty of a marriage to establish in Germany the translation of my Electoral dignity and Patrimonial estate without any hope ever hereafter to recover the like opportunity as at this time that my pretensions are not prejudiced by a long interposition of time and that the memory of undue proceeding in the publication of the Ban against my person and the said translation of my Electoral dignity and seisure of my patrimonial inheritance are yet fresh in the affections and minds of the Princes of Germany who are by the consideration of their own interests moved with the greater compassion to see the wounds of my miseries yet fresh and bleeding and with passion and earnest desire to see them remedied And in this place I will say something in answer to the last point of your Majesties Letter wherein you commanded me to consider the means probable and feasible whereby my condition may be reduced to the former state and to weigh your Majesties forces with those of your Allies and others whereof your Majesty may hope and be assured If your Majesty hopeth for my restitution in Germany as an effect of the marriage with Spain nothing else is to be done but attend the event with patience And if you continue to distinguish between the Spaniards and the Imperialists there is no more to be said on this subject but as they have with joint consent conspired my ruine with the same forces the same councels and the same designs your Majesty will find if you please to unmask the fair seeming and hidden malice of the Spaniard the same effect as in the end you found the open and declared violence and hostility of the Imperialists who besieged your Majesties garrisons in my Towns taken into your protection I will use the liberty you have given me to discourse of your Majesties forces and those of your Allies and what may further with good probability be hoped from other friends and well-willers In the last rank I place what may be hoped from the Princes of Germany who to wit the two Electors of Saxony and Brandenburgh and in effect all the rest except those of the Catholique league have sufficiently declared the disavowing of the Emperors proceeding against me and their opinions that the peace of Germany dependeth upon my restitution besides the Levies which they made in the beginning of the last summer though by the unlucky accident of the Duke Christian of Brunswick they were soon after dismissed And certainly no want of any other thing to be converted to my aid but the countenance of a great Prince to support them against the power of the house of Austria the same affections remaining still in them and the same resolution to imbrace the first good occasion that shall be presented for the liberty of Germany Will there want hands for the accomplishing of such a work when it shall be undertaken openly and earnestly seeing that the number of those that have their interest conjoyned with mine is great and mighty For the greater part of the people both horse and foot which marched under the Catholique banner were of a contrary Religion to the Catholique and of affection as it is notorious to all the world more inclined to the ruine of those Leagues then to their preservation But the conduct of some powerfull Prince is necessary as well to the men of war as we have seen by experience the last year The King of Denmark is he upon whom all have set their eyes but he being a Prince full of circumspection and unwilling to enter into play alone answereth unto all instances which are made unto him to that end That as the other Princes have their eyes upon him so hath he his upon your Majesty It is not for me to judge but since you have commanded me I will weigh them by the ballance of common judgment That the felicity wherewith God hath blessed the person of your Majesty having conjoyned the three Crowns of England Scotland and Ireland upon one head the power of the one of the three alone having done great matters in the affairs of Europe on this side the sea yea when it was counterballanced by the other gives demonstration what your Majesty may do with the joynt forces of the three together when you shall be pleased to take a resolution therein chiefly the question being for the interest of your own Children and by the voluntary contribution which we have already had in our support from your Majesty we may easily comprehend what may be promised of them when the publike authority of your Majesty shall be conjoyned with their particular affections there being no Prince in the world more loved and reverenced of his subjects nor more soveraign over their affections and means for the service of your person and Royal house Touching the Allies it is to my great grief that the unhappiness of this time hath separated a great part of them the united Provinces of Germany who make profession of the same Religion whereof they acknowledge your Majesty for Defendor and Protector But the same affection remaineth still in them entire and firm though they have been constrained to yield to the present necessity of their affairs and the occasion presenting it self your Majesty may accompt of them The rest the Estates of the united Provinces to whom we have recourse in our afflictions who support themselves by the help of God and the situation of their Country and Forces of their people alone untill this time against the puissance of Spain seconded by the Imperialists And in stead of fainting under such a burthen or of giving ear unto the overtures and submissions which from day to day are presented unto them they now put themselves to the offensive by a good Fleet prepared and ready to set sail to the West-Indies to the end they may at least interrupt the peaceable and annual return of the gold and silver of those parts by which the house of Austria doth continually advance their greatness This is commended by all good men and lovers of the publike liberty as the sole and only means to cast to the ground the fearfull power of Spain even as a great tree of large exten◠〈◊〉 up by the root but is held too great for such a little extent of Country as this is and yet practically and to be done by forces answerable to the importance of such an enterprize And if your Majesty would be pleased to use the Forces of this estate by sea and land to the opposition of their enemies and by consequence of mine their profession of a loyall and sincere affection with the hazard of their lives and goods for the service of your Majesty grounded
profitable order Secondly that every Bishop ordain in his Diocess that every Lecturer do read Divine Service according to the Liturgy printed by authority in his Surplice and Hood before the Lecture Thirdly That where a Lecture is set up in a Market Town it may be read by a company of grave and Orthodox Divines neer adjoyning and in the same Diocess and that they preach in Gowns not in Cloaks as too many use to do Fourthly That if a Corporation do maintain a single Lecturer he be not suffered to preach till he professe his willingnesse to take upon him a living with cure of souls within that Incorporation and that he actually take such Benefice or Cure so soon as it shall be fairly procured for him Fifthly That the Bishops do countenance and encourage the grave Orthodox Divines of their Clergy and that they use means by some of the Clergy or others that they may have knowledge how both Lecturers and Preachers within their Diocess do behave themselves in their Sermons that so they may take order for any abuse accordingly Sixthly That the Bishops suffer none under Noblemen or men qualified by Law to have any private Chaplain in his house Seventhly That they take speciall care that Divine Service be diligently frequented as well for Prayers and Catechismes as for Sermons and take particular note of all such as absent themselves as Recusants or others Eighthly That every Bishop that by our grace and favour and good opinion of his service shall be nominated by us to another Bishoprick shall from that day of nomination not presume to make any Lease for three lives or one and twenty years or concurrent Lease or any way renew any estate or cut any Wood or Timber but meerly receive his Rents due and to quit the place For we think it an hatefull thing that any man leaving the Bishoprick should almost undo his Successor And if any man shall presume to break this Order We will refuse him Our Royall assent and keep him at the place he hath so abused Ninthly and lastly We command you to give us an account every year the second of January of the performance of these our commands Subscribed at Dorchester I. R. Bishop of Winchester to his Archdeacon to the same effect SAlutem iu Christo I have received Letters from the most Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury the tenor whereof foloweth Right reverend Father in God 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 For as much as the abuses and extravagancies of Preachers in the Pulpit have been c. According to the tenor of these Letters you are to see that these limitations and cautions herewith sent unto you be duly and strictly from henceforth observed and put in practice and that several Copies of those Directions be speedily communicated to every one of those whom they shall concern and that you may imploy your uttermost endeavors in the performance of so important a business considering that his Majesty will have a special eye over you and me and expect a strict accompt at both our hands whereof praying you to have all possible care I commend your endeavours therein to the blessing of God Your very loving friend Lan. Winton From Farnham Aug. 15. 1622. The Bishop of Lincoln L. Keeper to the Bishop of London concerning Preaching and Catechising My very good Lord I Doubt not before this time you have received from me the directions of his most excellent Majesty concerning Preaching and Preachers which are so graciously set down that no godly or discreet man can otherwise then acknowledge that they do much tend to edification if he take them not up upon report but do punctually consider the tenor of the words as they lie and doth not give an ill construction to that which may receive a fair interpretation Notwithstanding because some few Church-men and many of the people have sinisterly conceived as we here find that those Instructions do tend to the restraint of the exercise of Preaching and do in some sort abate the number of Sermons and so consequently by degrees do make a breach to ignorance and superstition his Majesty in his Princely wisdom hath thought fit that I should advertise your Lordship of the grave and weighty reasons which induced his Highness to prescribe that which was done You are therefore to know that his Majesty being much troubled and grieved at the heart to hear every day of so many defections from our Religion both to Popery and Anabaptism or other points of Separation in some parts of this Kingdom and considering with much admiration what might be the cause thereof especially in the reign of such a King who doth so constantly profess himself an open adversary to the superstition of the one and madness of the other his Princely wisdom could fall upon no one greater probability then the lightness affectedness and unprofitableness of that kind of Preaching which hath been of late years too much taken up in Court University City and Country The usuall scope of very many Preachers is noted to be soaring up in points of Divinity too deep for the capacity of the people or mustering up of so much reading or a displaying of their own wit or an ignorant medling with Civill matters as well in the private severall Parishes and Corporations as in the publique of the Kingdom or a venting of their own distastes or a smoothing up those idle fancies which when the Text shall occasion the same is not onely approved but much commended by his Royall Majesty both against the persons of Papists and Puritans Now the people bred up with this kind of teaching and never instructed in the Catechism and fundamentall grounds of Religion are for all this airy nourishment no better then a brass Tabret new Table-books to be filled up either with Manuals and Catechismes of the Popish Priests or the papers and pamphlets of Anabaptists Brownists and Puritans His Majesty therefore calling to mind the saying of Tertullian Id verum quod primum and remembring with what doctrine the Church of England in her first and most happy Reformation did drive out the one and keep out the other from poysoning and infecting the people of this Kingdom doth find that the whole scope of this doctrine is contained in the Articles of Religion the two books of Homilies the lesser and the greater Catechism which his Majesty doth therefore recommend again in these Directions as the theams and proper subjects of all sound and edifying preaching And so far are these Directions from abridging that his Majesty doth expect at our hands that it should increase the number of Sermons by renewing every Sunday in the afternoon in all Parish-Churches throughout the Kingdom that primitive and most profitable exposition of the
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
Church-yards others in the streets some in their houses some on the floore others in their beds besides them that died without the Gates under hedges and in ditches round about the Towne which I saw my selfe when I was there halfe devoured with Ravens and other beasts and fowls of the aire In fine the like misery hath not been seene nor heard of The King on All-Saints day which was the day of his entry with a wax Candle in his hand together with the Cardinall and all the Nobility in like manner went all over the Town in procession with the B. Sacrament The chiefe Temple of the Hugonots shall be converted into a Church Cathedral and Rochel to be a Bishoprick All the fortifications and walls to Landwards to be razed and the Fosses filled so that a plough may passe as in arable Land The Maior with some of the chiefest are banish'd for ever others for a certaine time limited though quietly to possesse their goods moveable and immoveable and a general remission of all crimes past and all others that were in the Towne before the descent of the English into Rhee and when the Town was rendred shall likewise enjoy the same priviledge though no child or heir absent is or shall be capable to inherit the goods or lands of his parents or friends deceased but all is at the Kings disposing The King hath granted them free liberty of their Religion in the Town of Rochel which in short time will all be rooted out for no Forrainer though naturalized shall be admitted to repair and inhabit in Rochel nor French but Roman Catholicks The King hath added to the revenues of his Crown 20000 Franks per annum which was a rent belonging to the Town-house for the maintenance of the fortifications and State of Rochel The Town-house is to be razed and a pillar or pyramids with an ample inscription of the particulars of the siege and rebellion there to be erected The forts of the Isle of Rhee and Oleron to be razed as it is said most of all the chief forts of France except on the frontiers Four Regiments are yet in Rochel the rest of the Army at least the most part are gon to winter in those parts of France towards the coasts of Italy to be ready on all occasions to succor the Duke of Mantua as it is thought The Fathers of the society have very faire buildings given them for their establishing there and 1000 Franks to begin to build to which is added a revenue which I know not the place is said to be where the Hereticks kept their schools of Divinity and Councel of warre or rebellion And where the English had their Church the Oratorians are likewise established with large augmentations The Capuchins are where was the chiefest Fort called Le Bastion de Levangile The Minors are where the Dike was and divers other elsewhere There are at least 8000 houses in Rochel which are faine to fall to the King to dispose of for want of heirs The Parisians are preparing a most sumptuous and magnificent receipt for the King which is the cause he hath not been at Paris since his return from Rochel but is at St. Germins and thereabouts till all things are ready for his entry which is thought will exceede in bravery and magnificence all the presidents of many years The Jesuits are by the body of Paris imployed to make the speeches and inscriptions for that purpose which the body of the Sorbon take ill The Prince of Conde doth daily get ground of Rohan and hath lately taken prisoners as it is said thirty Captaines and eight hundred souldiers Those of Montauban boast as it is said that they have provision for three or four years and will stand out til the last though some of the best esteeme think it is only to draw the King to the best composition they can The Protestants of France to Charles King of Great Britain SIR the knowledg and resentment which it hath pleased your Majesty to take of the misery of the afflicted Churches of France hath given us the boldnesse to awaken your Compassion in such measure as our calamities are aggravated by the unmercifull rigour of our persecutors and as the present storme doth threaten neer at hand the total ruine and lamentable destruction of that which the mercy of God had yet kept intire unto us since the desolation of Rochel and as we have adored with humility the judgment of God in this bad successe which we impute only to his wrath justly kindled against us for our sins so our silence could be thought no lesse then ingratitude if we had not at the beginning of our Assembly resolved the most humble and most affectionate acknowledgment which wee now render to your Majesty for the great succour which you have sent us interessing your self so far in the grief of our oppression and in the means of our deliverance The most humble supplication which we do offer to your Majesty next after this our thansgiving is that your Majesty according to the sweet inclination of your goodnesse would permit us stil to present our complaints and discover our wounds before the eyes of your royall charity protesting unto your Majesty that we see none other hand under heaven by which we may be healed but your Majesties in case your Majesty will still vouchsafe to lift it up on the behalfe of oppressed innocents and of the Church of our Lord outragiously persecuted by the most invenom'd passion that our age or any age preceedent hath seen we most humbly beseech your Majesty to read this letter which is written with our tears and with our blood and according to your exquisite judgement your incomparable wisdome and the devotion of your zeale to the glory of God to consider our estate which is such that our persecutors upon the losse of Rochel supposing we had been put to utter discomfiture and into a weaknesse without recovery or resistance and boasting themselves that now there remained no more any eyes unto us but to bewaile our selves nor any sense but to feel the smart thereof without further imploying our hands or our arms for our defence have made use of this advantage with so much fiercenesse insultation and cruelty that they have not only sacked the houses and with an unheard of rudenesse and barbarisme rifled the goods of our poore brethren of this Province of Languedock relying themselves upon publick faith and the benefits of the edicts of pacification especially of the last which your Majesty had favourably procured and confirmed unto us dissipating whole families and exiling them with perfidious inhumanity but also they have laid wast and destroyed almost all the Churches of the sâ—me whâ—ch are at their command and discretion under the liberty of edicts imploying Monkes the Pâ—pes Emâ—ssaries assisted with force of souldiers and of the tyrannicall Authâ—rity of Governours to ravish mens souls and to draw the most constant with violence to
_____ the Apostolike Nuncio shall discourse with you more at large whom you may trust And we with most accurate prayers will endeavour to procure the assistance of God for you upon whom most lovingly we bestow our Apostolical benediction Given at Rome in St. Peters under the Fishers Seal April 19. 1623. of our Popedom 30. Pope Urban to Lewis the 13. Aug. 4. 1629. To our dearest Son in Christ Jesus Lewis the most Christian King of France Pope Urban sendeth greeting MOst dear Son in Christ Health and Apostolical benediction The high exploits of your Royal valour which have drawn upon them all the eyes of Christendom bring a great deal of comfort to our fatherly care as well in regard of the glory of your Arms as the hope of your triumphs For considering as we do with much grief the impiety of Hereticks living in some places without fear or danger we now thank the Lord of hosts that hath in so fit an opportunity made your Majestie to maintain with Arms the dignity of the Catholike Religion Oh fair Apprentiship of Royal Warfare and worthy of a most Christian King What an admirable thing it is that the age which other Princes out of a kinde of softness and idleness use to pass away in sports and delights your Majesty should employ so generously so fortunately in appeasing differenâ—es conducting Armies and besieging the strongest places of Heretiâ—ks and all not without the special counsel of God by which Kings raign Is it almost credible that the very first steps of your thoughts should carry you in so high and troublesome an enterprise and that the dangers and difficulties which have stopt others in their course should onely serve for a spur to the greatness of your courage Enjoy dear Son the Renown your name hath got and follow the God that fights for you to the end that as you are now held the Thunderbolt and Buckler of War so you may hereafter be esteemed the praise of Israel and the glory of the world From the height of our Apostolick Dignity whereto it hath pleased God of his goodness to raise us unworthy of so great grace we assist your Arms with heart and affection and by our frequent prayers prepare the divine remedies And though we doubt not but your own vertue will make you constant in the work you have begun nevertheless we have thought good to adde Exhortations that the world may see the care we have of the advancement of true Religion and how willing we are to give way to your glory You have been hitherto infinitely bound to God for his bounty towards you and as we hope and wish you shall hereafter a great deal more For you having your minde endued with celestial doctrine and not with the bare precepts of humane wisdom do well know that Kingdoms have their foundation upon the truth of Orthodox faith and unless God keep the City what principality can subsist with any assurance It may easily be judged with what fidelity they are likely to defend your Royal Throne that have cast the very Saints themselves out of their Temples and done as much as in them lay to put them out of the number of the blessed yea out of Paradise it self that with impious temerity condemn the Institutions of our Fathers the Custom of Kings the Decrees of Popes and the Ceremonies of the Church These are the disturbers of the Christian Commonwealth and the reproaches of France whom the great God hath reserved to be exterminated as it were in the beginning of your Raign Know then that all Europe which the event of your Arms holds all this time in suspence hopes shortly it will hoyse sail upon the Ocean under the conduct of your Greatness and Power and go to the place which serves now for Sanctuary and protection to the Hereticks and Rebels and it will shortly serve for a Trophie of your Victories We are confidently perswaded that neither fear nor inconstancie shall ever be able to divert you from the pursuit of your so glorious enterprise nor hinder you to subvert that unsanctified people Onely by the way we would have you remember that the Saints in heaven assist that Prince who takes upon him the defence of Religion and fight on his side like fellow-souldiers The same God that hardned the waters like dry land and turned the waters of the Sea into walls to give safe passage to his childrens Army will certainly in this most pious action be as favourable to you and then we shall have good cause to hope that having establisht your own Kingdom and crusht the impiety that was and yet is there you may one day by the progress of your victorious Arms joyn the Orient to the Occident imitating the glories of your Ancestors who have ever born as much respect to the Exhortations of Popes as to the commandment of God St. Lewis whose name you bear and whose steps you follow invites you to it so did the first of your Race who in defending the Apostolike authority and propagating Christian Religion laid the best and surest foundation to your Royal House Follow dear Son which are the ornaments of the world the commandments of heaven pour out your wrath and indignation upon those people that have not nor will not know God and our Apostolike benignity to the end the divine treasure of heaven may belong unto you by a just acquisition In the mean time we send you most affectionately our Apostolike benediction Given at Rome at great St. Maries under the Seal of the Fisher the 4 day of August 1629. being the seventh yeer of our Pontificate The Duke of Buckingham Chancellor elect to the University of Cambridge June 5. 1626. MR. Vice-Chancellor and Gentlemen of the University of Cambridge there is no one thing that concerneth me more near then the good opinion of good and learned honest men amongst which number as you have ever held the first rank in the estimation of the Commonwealth and fame of the Christian world so in conferring of this Honour of Chancellorship upon me I must confess you have satisfied a great ambition of mine own which I hope will never forsake me and that is To be thought well of by men that deserve well and men of your profession Yet I cannot attribute this Honour to any desert in me but to the respect you bear to the sacred memory of my Master deceased the King of Scholars who loved you and honoured you often with his presence and to my gracious Master now living who inherits with his blessed Fathers vertues the affection he bore your University I beseech you as you have now made your choice with so many kinde and noble circumstances as the manner is to me acceptable and grateful as the matter so to assure your selves that you have cast your votes upon your servant who is as apprehensive of the time you have shewed your affection in as of the Honour you have given him And
Vice Chamberlaine Mr. Secretary Cooke AT this Sitting the Lord Viscount Dorchester declared that his Majesty being informed of the bold and open repaire made to several places and specially to the houses of forraine Ambassadors for the hearing of Masse which the Lawes and Statutes of this Kingdome do expresly forbid his Subjects to frequent and considering in his Princely wisdome both the publick Scandals and dangerous consequence thereof is resolved to take present order for the stopping of this evil before it spread it selfe any further and for this purpose had commanded him to acquaint the Board with his pleasure in that behalfe and what course he thinketh fit to be held therein and withal to demand the opinion and advice of their Lordships concerning the same his Majesty being desirous to use the best and most effectuall expedient that can be found Hereupon his Lordship proceeding did further declare that his Majesty to shew the clearnesse and earnestnesse of his intention herein hath begun at his owne house viz. Wheresoever the Queens Majesty hath any Chappel being intended for the only service of her and for those French who attend her for which the Earl of Dorset Lord Chamberlaine to her Majesty hath been commanded to take special care according to such directions as he hath received from his Majesty That for so much as concerneth the repaire to the houses of Forraine Embassadors at the time of Masse his Majesty thinks fit that some messengers of the Chamber or other officers or persons fit for that service shall be appointed to watch all the several passages to their houses and without entring into the said houses or infringing the freedoms and priviledges belonging unto them observe such persons as go thither but at their coming from thence they are to apprehend them and bring them to the Board and such as they cannot apprehend to bring their names But to the end that the said Forraine Embassadours may have no cause to complaine of this proceeding as if there were any intention to wrong or disrespect them his Majesty doth likewise think fit that for the preventing of any such mistaking and sinister Interpretation the said Embassadors shall be acquainted with the truth of this businesse and likewise assured in his Majesties name that he is and wil be as careful to conserve all priviledges and rights belonging to the quality of their places as any of his Progenitors have been and in the same manner as himselfe expecteth that their Princes shall use towards his Embassadors Lastly That it is his Majesties expresse pleasure that the like diligence be used for the apprehending of all such as repaire to Masse in prisons or other places The Board having heard this declaration did unanimously conclude that there could not be taken a more effectuall course for the preventing of these evils then this which his Majesty in his wisedome hath set downe and therefore did order that the same be immediately put in strict and careful execution And it was likewise thought fit that the Lord Viscount Dorchester and Mr. Secretary Cooke should be sent to the forraine Embassadours severally to acquaint them with his Majesties intention as is before mentioned and that the messengers of the Chamber to be imployed in the service before specified shall be appointed and receive their charge from the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Lord Bishop of London and the Secretaries who are to take a speciall care to see this put in execution King of Spaine to Pope Urban Sept. 21. 1629. MOst Holy Father I condescended that my forces should be imployed in the execution of Mountferrat to divert the introduction of strangers into Italie with so evident danger of Religion I suffered the siege of Cassal to run on so slowly to give time that by way of negotiation those differences might be composed with the reciprocal satisfaction of the parties interessed and to shew in effect what little reason all Italy had to be jealous of the Arms of my Crown for having possessed many places of importance some I have freely given away and others after I had defended them in a time the owners had need I presently restored with much liberality Upon this moderation the Duke of Nivers being hardned against the Emperor my Uncle and he perhaps and other Princes calling thither the most Christian King who not contenting himselfe to have attained that which he publickly professed to desire and having left Garrison in Mount-ferrat and in Suza and as I am told having fortified some places hath thereby given occasion to the Emperour my Uncle to give order his Army should passe into Italy to maintaine the Authority Jurisdiction and preheminency of the Empire with whom I can doe no lesse then concurre and give him assistance in respect of the great and strict obligation of Blood of Honour and of Conveniency which I hold with his imperial Majesty and for the which I doe acknowledge from the sacred Empire declaring now as I have done heretofore and as my Embassadours have told your Holinesse that in this businesse I do neither directly nor indirectly aim at any other end of mine own particular interest But beholding the numerous Armies of the Emperour in Italy and with extreme griefe foreseeing the harmes inconveniences and dangers that Italy must thereby suffer in matter of Religion being that which most importeth I doe not only resent it in respect of that portion which God hath given me in Christendome but especially as a King and Prince of Italy the peace of those Provinces being disturbed which my Progenitors with so much Judgment and providence and with so much Authority and benefit of the Natives had so many years preserved Wherefore I thought it my duty to present unto your beatitude that experience hath demonstrated that to oppose and straighten the Jurisdiction of the Emperour and to resist his commandments hath brought matters to these difficult terms and this way being still persisted in there must needs follow those mischiefs which we desire to shun Now the most convenient manner how to compose these businesses is that your Holinesse doe effectually perswade the Duke of Nivers to accomodate himself to the Justice and obedience of the Emperour and the King of France to recall his Armies out of Italy and the Princes that doe aid Nivers no more to interest themselves in the businesse even as from the beginning my Ministers have propounded to your Beatitude because this difference being ended juridically all the persons interessed shall come off with honour and reputation and so all of them shall have a ground to beseech the Emperour that out of his wonted clemency he wil take off that impression which he justly might have conceived against the Duke of Nivers whereupon things inclining to this issue I shal with a very good will imploy my best offices to the end that speedy and exact justice may be administred and also that his Caesarian Majesty may give experimental effects of his
growing of such evils for where such people be permitted to swarm they wil soon grow licentious and endure no government but their own which cannot otherwise be restored then by a due and seasonable execution of the Law and of such directions as from time to time have been sent from his Majesty and this Board Now it redoundeth much to the honour of his Majesty that the world shall take notice of the ability and good service of his Ministers there which in person he hath been pleased openly in Councel and in most gracious manner to approve and commend whereby you may be sufficiently encouraged to go on with like resolution and moderation til the work be solely done as well in City as in other places of your Kingdome the carriage whereof we must leave to your good discretions whose particular knowledge of the present state of things can guide you better when and where to carry a soft or harder hand only this we hold necessary to put you in mind that you continue in that good agreement amongst your selves for this and other services which your Letrers do expresse and for which we commend you much that the good servants of the King and state may find encouragement equally from you all and the ill affected may find no support or countenance from any nor any other connivances used but by general advice for avoiding of further evils shall be allowed and such Magistrates and Officers if any shal be discovered that openly or underhand favour such disorders or do not their duties in suppressing them and committing the offenders you shall doe well to take all fit and safe advantages by the punishment or displacing of a few to make the rest more cautious This we write not as misliking the faire course you have taken but to expresse the concurrency of our Judgments with yours and to assure you of our assistance in all such occasions wherein for your further proceedings we have advised And his Majesty requireth you accordingly to take order first that the house wherein Seminary Friars appeared in their habits and wherein the Reverend Arch-Bishop and the Maior of Dublin received the first affront be spedily demolished and be the mark of terror to the resisters of Authority and that the rest of the houses erected or imployed there or elsewhere to the use of suspicious societies be converted to houses of correction and to set the people on work or to other publick uses for the advancement of Justice good Arts or Trades and further that you use all fit meanes to discover the Founders Benefactors and Maintainers of such Societies and Colledges and certifie their names and that you find out the Lands Leases or Revenues applyed to their uses and dispose thereof according to the Law and that you certifie also the places and institutions of all such Monasteries Priories Nunneries and other Religious houses and the names of all such persons as have put themselves to be brothers and sisters therein especially such as are of note to the end such evil plants be not permitted to take root any where in that Kingdome which we require you take care of For the supply of Munition which you have reason to desire we have taken effectuall order that you shall receive it with all convenient speed And so c. Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Lord President Lord Privy Seale L. high Chamberlain Earl of Suffolk Earl of Dorset Earl of Salisbury Earl of Kelly Lord Viscount Dorchester Lord Newbergh Mr. Vice Chamberlaine Mr. Secretary Cooke Sir William Alexander The Lord Faulkland's Petition to the King MOst humbly shewing that I had a Sonne until I lost him in your Highnesse displeasure where I cannot seeke him because I have not will to find him there Men say there is a wilde young man now prisoner in the Fleete for measuring his actions by his own private sense But now that for the same your Majesties hand hath appeared in his punishment he bowes and humbles himselfe before and to it whether he be mine or not I can discern by no light but that of your Royal Clemency for only in your forgivenesse can I owne him for mine Forgivennesse is the glory of the supremest powers and this the operation that when it is extended in the greatest measure it converts the greatest offenders into the greatest lovers and so makes purchase of the heart an especial priviledg peculiar and due to Soveraigne Princes If now your Majesty will vouchsafe out of your owne benignity to become a second nature and restore that unto me which the first gave me and vanity deprived me of I shall keep my reckoning of the full number of my sons with comfort and render the tribute of my most humble thankfulnesse else my weake old memory must forget one The Duke of Modena to the Duke of Savoy July 30. 1629. WHen I was deprived of my Mistriss the Infanta Izabella so intimately beloved of me I was suddenly possessed with a most ardent desire of finding the meanes how to follow her into Paradise and distrusting in regard of my weaknesse and life past that I was not able to stand in those dangers wherein that holy soule knew how to finde security and tranquillity I resolved to retire my selfe out of the tempestuous sea of Government and to shelter my selfe in the harbour of Religion rejoycing to sacrifice that unto God which useth to be so highly esteemed in the world and knowing that truely to raigne is to serve his Divine Majesty hitherto I deferred the execution of my purpose because being bound in this to depend upon the Counsel of him that governed my soule it seemed not expedient to him that I should retire my selfe while there was need of my assistance both in respect of the age of the Duke my father which was Caesar d'Este who dyed 1628 and of the nonage of the Prince my son which is Don Francisco who now governeth Now that these impediments are removed I goe most contentedly whither the Lord doth call me namely to take upon me the Capuchin Religion out of Italy and I doe promise to find for my self in one little Cel that repose which all the greatnesse of the world cannot give me True it is if I should look back upon my life past I should find motives rather of terrour then of comfort But the mercy of God doth make me confident and my having for his love and to performe his wil renounced all that I could or had I departed also most comforted because I leave the Prince my son so well qualified that I may confidently expect an excellent issue of his Government especially if your Highness shall vouchsafe to direct him with your most prudent Counsels and to shrowd him under your benigne protection whereunto with reverent affection I doe recommend him together with the rest of my sonnes especially Carlo Alexandro who is now living in your Highnesse his Court since that as a man may say they
King of Spain touching the affaires of Holland the secresie whereof neverthelesse your Majestie had so recommended that besides the King and the Conde of Olivares no man in Spain knew of it If the Duke do not appear guilty of all these things let him be still your Majesties most faithful servant and let your Majestie yet confer upon him greater Honours if you can For I would have these things conceived to be spoken for the securitie of your Majestie not for the hurt of him to whom I wish prosperitie if by him the Christian world might be in prosperitie It onely remaineth that your Majestie will be pleased to take in good part this my service and obedience shewed to your Commandements To the King ab ignoto Best and most excellent King YOu will wonder that he who at first protesteth to be neither Papist nor Puritan Spaniard nor Hollander or yet in any delirium fit should presume in this Libel-like way to lay down to your Majestie the strong zeal he beareth to the safetie of your Majestie and his Countrie by shewing in this dark Tablet drawn by the worst Painter the common opinion of all those which are not possessed as above They say the businesse of greatest consequence that ever your Majestie handled is now at point to go well or ill The marriage or none and as it is carried a present War or a continued Peace The match of your son they wish you may perfect in your own time and think that for the quiet of your self and Kingdomes the shortest time the best And that this already traced will far sooner piece then any new one have beginning and accomplishment They fear this suspension carried by Killegrew was brought by Buckingham not for what he pretends and plainly say It was not onely to prevent his Highnesse marriage there but any where Whereby 1. His particular greatnesse may still stand absolute 2. His Wife and Tribe still present the Princesse person 3. And your Majestie be and remain their Pupil The Parliament so much urged they say is to be a marrying his Mightinesse unto the Common Weal that as your Majestie is his good Father It may be his Mother and so he stand not only by the King but by the People and popular humour that he hath lately so earnestly courted and especially from those who are noted to be of the most troubled humour How your Majestie should gain upon a Parliament they cannot imagine seeing all are resolved to sell your Courtesies at the dearest rate both by ill words and for double as much again the humour of it being so inconstant that twenty to one but those very tongues which in the last did cry War War War will now curse him that urgeth for one poor Subsidie to raise a War And miserable is he that is to make a War or to defend against it with money that is to be given and gathered from them They say our Great Duke hath certainly a brave desire to War but in that also he hath some great end of enriching himself which he too well loveth being carried away with that sweet sound how Nottingham gained yearly during that sicknesse 40000 l. by his Admirals place but what his Majestie gained they find not in the Exchequer or Kingdome Somewhat also they fear this his Graces precipitate humour and change of humour hath of pride to shew his power as great here as is Olivares his there as also of revenge against him in particular For were it love to his now much beloved Countrie they say there was as much reason for breach both of the Match and Peace when the Parliament urged it as there is now They say There is a rumour of his Graces a match for his Mary with the young Palatine It is no Gorgon and will concern his Highnesse if they that are now our best friends the Hollanders should change their Copie In this his Highnesse coming off from Spain they say He hath advised him to no worse then he did himself for how many did he deflour abuse and cousen with marriage by his grace in Court and power with your Majestie In short your Subjects that have sence of your estate do most earnestly beseech your Majestie to have more especial care of your own preservation then ordinarily you have both in respect of the desperate staggering which their Priests now stand in and of your own Phaeton himself who in truth wanteth nothing of man enough but a good nature and being in custome to carry all with a high hand must be desperate if he fail in any Punto of his violent will We know your Majestie according to the sweetnesse and virtue of your Nature agreeing with Gods blessed Will hath long preserved your people in all peace and plentie And all good and sensible people pray you even for Gods sake not to be cousened of your own life and liberty Oh be not mislead to trouble your own Kingdoms quiet but that after many and many a happie year you may die happily in peace To his Sacred Majestie ab ignoto May it please his most excellent Majestie to consider THat this great opposition against the Duke of Buckingham is stirred up and maintained by such who either malitiously or ignorantly and concurrently seek the debasing of this free Monarchie which because they find not yet ripe to attempt against the King himself they endeavour it through the Dukes side These men though agreeing in one mischief yet are of divers sorts and humours viz. 1. Medling and busie persons who took their first hint at the beginning of King James when the union was treated of in Parliament That learned King gave too much way to those popular speeches by the frequent proof he had of his great abilities in that kind Since the time of H. 6. these Parliamentary discoursings were never suffered as being the certain symptomes of subsequent rebellions civil Wars and the dethroning of our Kings But these last 20 years most of the Parliament men seek to improve the reputation of their wisdomes by these Declamations and no honest Patriot dare oppose them lest he incur the reputation of a Fool or a Coward in his Countries Cause 2. Covetous Landlords Inclosers Depopulators and Justices of the Peace who have got a habit of Omniregencie and an hope to extend the same against the King in Parliament as they do on his Subjects in the Countrey Hereby the King loseth 24000 l. in every whole Subsidie for Anno 1600. it was 80000 l. and now it is but 56000 l. which cometh by the decay of the yeomandry who were three and four pound men And these Gentlemen most of them of the Parliament do ease themselves to afflict those who are the true Commons and yet perswade them that the grievances are caused by the Duke and the ill government of the King 3. Recusants and Church Papists whose hatred is irreconcileable against the Duke for the breach of the Spanish Match The