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 particularly 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. 1507. 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 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 Prince 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
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 seditions factions which are nourished chiefly among the Calvinists 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 attempts 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 more 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 Galvinists 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 unconquered require if I should restore the Palatine already conquered to his Electoral 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 mine 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
Sir COnsidering in what estate we find the Treaty of marriage between Spain and Emgland and knowing certainly how the Ministers did understanding this business that treated it in the time of Philip the third who is now in heaven that their meaning was never to effect it but by enlarging the treaties and points of the said marriage to make use of the friendship of the King of Great Britain as well in the matter of Germany as those of Flanders and suspecting likewise that your Majesty is of the same opinion although the demonstrations do not shew so joining to those suspitions that it is certain that the Infanta Donna Maria is resolved to put her self into the Monastery the same day that your Majesty shall press her to make the marriage I have thought fit to present to your Majesty that which my good zeal hath afforded me in this occasion thinking it a good time to acquaint your Majesty withal to the end you may resolve of that which you shall find most convenient with the advice of those Ministers that you shall think fit The King of Great Britain doth find himself at this time equally in the two businesses the one is the marriage to the which he is moved by the conveniences which he finds in your Majesties friendship with making an agreement with those Catholiques that he thinks are secretly in his Kingdom and by this to assure himself of them as likewise to marry his son to one of the house of Austria knowing that the Infanta Donna Maria is the best born Lady in the world Th' other businesse is the restitution of the Palatinate in which he is yet more ingaged For besides that his reputation is at stake there is added the love and interest of his Grandchildren sons of his onely daughter So that both by the law of Nature and reason of State he ought to put them before whatsoever conveniences might follow by dissembling what they suffer I do not dispute whether the King of Great Britainy be governed in this business of the Palatinate by Art or friendship I think a man may say he hath used both but as a thing not precisely necessary to this discourse I omit it I hold it for a maxime that these two Ingagements in which he finds himself are unseparable for although the marriage be made we must fail in that which in any way of understanding is most necessary which is the restitution of the Palatinate This being supposed having made the marriage in the form as it is treated your Majesty may find your self together with the King of Great Brirain engaged in a war against the Emperour and the Catholique league so that your Majesty shall be forced to delare your self with your Arms against the Emperour and the Catholique league a thing which to hear will offend your Majesties godly ears or declaring your self for the Emperour and the Catholique league as certainly you will your Majesty will find your self ingaged in a war against the King of England and your sister married with his son with the which all whatsoever conveniences that was thought upon with this marriage do cease if your Majesty shall shew your self Newtrall as it may be some will expound The first will cause very great scandall and with just reason since in matters of lesse opposition then of Catholiques against Heretiques the Armes of this Crown hath taken the godly against the contrary part And at this time the French men have taken part with the Hollanders against your Majesty your piety hath been such that you have sent your Arms against the Rebels of that Crown leaving all the great considerations of State only because those men are enemies of the faith and the Church It wil oblige your Majesty and good occasion to those of the League to make use of the King of France and other Catholique Princes ill affected to this Crown for it will be a thing necessary for them to do so and those even against their own Religion will foment and assist the Heretâ—ques 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
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 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 â—â—quisitor 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 Letters 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 souldierâ— but we must fetch from heaven the armour of Light whose divine solendor 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 _____ 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 Hereticks 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 if 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
Indeavours to appease the Bohemian tumults 113 Offers Conditions to the Emperour on the behalfe of the Palatine 114. his Propositions to the Palatine 143 144. acknowledged Protectour of the Germane Protestants 149. his directions concerning Preachers 183. makes Romano Martyrs 199 Janin President of the Parliament of Paris 195 Infantasque Duke 98 Inquisition of Spaine 97 Instructions to Sir John Perot Deputy of Ireland 15 16 By King Charles for the Vniversity of Cambridg 227 Ireland in what condition in Sir John Perots time 16 17 18 In the beginning of King Charles 235 236 237 238 239 Irish delight in change 17. barbarous 46. murder theft c. legall with them 51. renegadoes in Spaine 100 101 Isabella Clara Eugenia Infanta of Spain 127 128 Isabella Infanta of Savoy 243 Isidore Spanish Saint 125 126 Italians dangerous to France 195 196 Justinian made Lawes concerning the Clergy 5 K Kings no man above them 6. like the Sun 36. of France and Spaine 198 L Lady of Antiochia 125 Lawes of England most jealous for the safety of her Kings 85 Leicester Earle out of favour turns religious 31 Lecturers dangerous 186 Lerma Duke in the life of Phil. the third moves the Spanish Match 117 c. 121 Lincoln Bishop Lord Keeper 190 Lisle Viscount after Earle of Leicester governour of Vlushing c. 93 Loanes denyed the King 182 London sometime the chamber of her Kings 81 Louis the thirteenth in his minority 123 c. enters Rochel 203. see Urbane Pope Louvre of France the prison of her King 194 Low Countries 149 Luenza Don John 126 M Mac Frogh Phelim 237 Magick 75 Magog a renegado Irishman guilty of thirteen murders 101 Manchester Earle 225 Manheim besieged 127 Mansfield Count 116 131 Maried men seven yeares older the first day 71 Mantua Duke 204 234. defended by the French and Venetians 239 Maria Donna Infanta of Spaine 126 133 134. deserved well of the Prince of Wales 140 Gives over learning English 151 Match with France 117 118. with Spaine 117 118 119 120 121 122 123. never intended by the Spaniards 133 Mathews Sir Toby 67 May Sir Humphrey 226 Merchants in Spaine see Spaniards Merit is worthier them fame 47 Monmorencie Duke 195 Monpensier Duke 36 Montauban in rebellion 204 Monteri Spanish Embassadour 210 Mountjoye Lord after Earle of Devon 35 36 Munster in Ireland marked for the Spanish invasions 17 N Nevers Duke see Mantua Duke Newburgh Duke 147 Norfolk Duke sues to the Queen for his life 11 Norris Sir Thomas 17. Sir John 42. Sir Francis 89 Northumberland Earl 58 59 Nottingham Countess 95 O Oath of Supremacy why urged 39 Odonnel 44 Ognate Spanish Embassadour at Rome 240 Oleron Iland 203 Olivarez Conde 130 131 139 Contrives to compose the Palatine differences without the Match 135 Order submitting the Town of Cambridge to the Vniversity 223 See Charles King Ordination of Priests c. how to be 187 Ormond Earl 42 44 45 Ossuna Duke 125 126 P Palatinate a motive of the Spanish match 129 134. Without which the Kings of 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 29 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 4 5 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 202 203. Fifteen thousand dye of the famine ibid. Rohan Dutchess in Rochel during the siege 202. Duke 204 206 208 210 Romish Priests seduce the subjects from their obidience their practices against the Queens sacred person 39 40 Roman Catholickâ—â— sue to King James at his entrance for toleration 82 83. great lovers of him the only good 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 2 3 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 succession of the Duke of Nevers to Mantua and Montferrat 234 lose their silver Fleet poor 240 Spencer Edmund see Fairy Queen his worth and Learning 45 252 Spinola Marquess 198 199 Spiritualia how to be taken 5 6 Stanley Sir William 18 Superstition worse then Atheisme 160 Supreme Head the Kings Title 1 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 Perot 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
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 Seigniour 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 We give it known unto thee That We by the sufferance of the great God named the Perpetuall and Universall God in earth most mighty Emperour Soldan in Babylon Lord of Armenia the most mightiest in Persipolis and Numidia the great helper of God Prince from the Rode of Barbary unto the mountains of Achaia King of Kings from the Meridian to the Septentrian of the earth from the rising place of the Sun to the setting of it the first and chiefest placed in the Paradise of Mahomet the destroyer of all Christendom and of all Christians and that do profess Christianity the keeper and defender of the Sepulcher of thy God crucified the onely victorious and triumphant Lord of all the world and of all Circuits and Provinces thereof Thou Maximilian which writest thy selfe King of our Kingdom of Hungary which is under our Crown and obeysance We will visit thee for that cause and also perswade thee that with our strength and force of thirteen Kingdoms with might and strength to the number of one hundred thousand as well Horsemen as Footmen prepared for war with all the power and strength of Turkish munition and with such power as thou nor none of thy servants have seen heard or had knowledge of even before thy chief Citie Vienna and the Countrey thereabouts We Solyman God on earth against thee with all thy assisters and helpers with our Warlike strength do pronounce protest your uttermost destruction and depopulation as we can by all means possible devise it And this we we will signifie unto thee to the which thou and thy miserable people may prepare your selves With us it is determined with our men appointed thee and all thy German Kingdoms and Provinces altogether to spoyl This misery we have consented unto against thee and thy Princes and have thou no doubt but we will come Dated in the City of Constantinople out of the which we did expulse your predecessors their wives children and friends and made them most miserable slaves and captives the year of our reign fourty seven Sir John Perrots Commission for Lord Deputy of Ireland ELizabetha Dei gratia c. omnibus ad quos presentes literae pervenerint salut Sciatis quod nos certis urgentibus causis considerationibus nos specialiter movendis de provida circumspectione industria praedilecti fidelis nobis Johannis Perrot milit plenius confidentes de advisamento Concilii nostri assignavimus fecimus ordinavimus constituimus deputavimus per praesentes assignavimus c. eundem Johannem Perrot milit Deputat nostrum Generalem Regni nostri Hiberniae habend tenend gaudend exercend occupand officium praedict eidem Johanni Perrot milit durante beneplacito nostro dantes concedentes eidem Deputat nostro Generali plenam tenore praesentium potestatem ad pacem nostram ac ad leges consuetudines regni nostri praedict custodiend custodirifaciend ad omnes singulas leges nostras c. The whole Contents of the Commission for the Lord Deputy TO conserve the peace to punish offenders to make Orders and Proclamations to receive offenders to grace to give pardons and impose fines to levy forces to fight and make peace to dispose Rebels lands to pardon all treasons saving touching the Queens person and counterfeiting of coyn to give offices saving the Chancellor Treasurer two chief Justices chief Baron and Master of the Rolls to dispose of Ecclesiasticall livings except Archbishops and Bishops to receive homage and the oath to make
which it was not in me to let and amplifie and practise occasions to represent to her Majesty a necessity to bring me to the one can and will do the like to stop me from the other You say my errors were my prejudice and therefore I can mend my self It is true but they that know that I can mend my self and that if I ever recover the Queen that I will never lose her again will never suffer me to obtain interest in her favour and you say the Queen never forsook utterly where she hath inwardly favoured but know not whether the hour-glass of time hath altered her but sure I am the false glasse of others informations must alter her when I want access to plead mine own cause I know I ought doubly infinitely to be her Majesties both jure creationis for I am her creature and jure redemptionis for I know she hath saved me from overthrow But for her first love and for her last protection and all her great benefits I can but pray for her Majesty my endevour is now to make my prayers for her and my self better heard For thanks be to God that they which can make her Majesty believe I counterfeit with her cannot make God believe that I counterfeit with him and they that can let me from coming near to her cannot let me from drawing nearer to him as I hope I do daily For your brother I hold him an honest Gentleman and wish him all good much rather for your sake your self I know hath suffered more for me and with me then any friend that I have But I can but lament freely as you see I do and advise you not to do that I do which is to despair You know Letters what hurt they have done me and therefore make sure of this and yet I could not as having no other pledge of my love but communicate openly with you for the ease of my heart and yours Your loving friend R. ESSEX Lord Mountjoy to the Earle of Essex MOst noble Lord the Queen is now removing towards a Progress wherein after I have somwhat waited upon her I shall have a desire to write to your Lordship of some things more at large which I will do as safely as I can your Lordships vertue and your clear conscience must be your own brazen wall for we that are not of the Councell do see no hope to keep long together this State from assured ruine I pray God the Queen may with all prosperity out-live their negligence and your care to be a just Judge if not a rewarder thereof In the mean time you owe unto her and your own vertue extraordinary patience Your Lordships mind I do protest cannot labour more in the storm wherein you are then mine doth in this dangerous and miserable calm For it is some comfort to perish doing somewhat and yet my Lord why should we despair since there is a Providence that looks beyond and concludes contrary to the practices of the world which Providence hath shewed us ways how rugged soever they be which will bring unto true happiness and though we lose these mortall Barkes we sail in yet he will assuredly save the passengers Noble Lord in respect of that great Haven contemn these tempests and shipwracks at sea Your Lordships servant Mr. Bushel doth fear to have you impute his slow dispatch unto any want of his diligence and hath shewed his fear in 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 obfuscated 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
upon this action is the taking away the reputation from the contrary side by cutting off the opinion and expectation of foreign succours to which purpose this enterprise of Algiers if it hold according to the advertisement and if be not wrapped up in the period of this Summer seemeth to be an opportunity Coelitus demissa And to the same purpose nothing can be more fit then a Treaty or a shadow of Treaty of a Peace with Spain which methinks should be in our power to fasten at least rumore tenus to the deluding of as wise a people as the Irish Lastly for this point that the Antients called potestas facta redeundi ad sanitatem and which is but a mockery when the Enemy is strong or proud but effectual in his declination that is a liberal Proclamation of grace and pardon to such as shall submit and come in within a time prefixed and of some further reward to such as shall bring others in that our sword may be sharpned against anothers as a matter of good experience and now I think will come in time And per case though I wish the exclusions of such a Pardon exceeding few yet it will not be safe to continue some of them in their strength but to translate them and their generation into England and give them recompence and satisfaction here for their possessions there as the King of Spain did by divers families of Portugal The effecting of all the which fall within the points aforesaid and likewise those which fall within the divisions following Nothing can be in priority either of time or matter precedent to the sending of some Commission of the continuance ad res inspiciendas componendas For it must be a very significant demonstration of her Majesties care of that Kingdom a credence to any that shall come in and submit a bridle to any that have their fortunes there and shall apply their propositions to private ends and an evidence of her Majesties politique courses without neglect or respiration and it hath been the wisdome of the best examples of Government Towards the recovery of hearts of the people there be but three things in natura rerum 1. Religion 2. Justice and Protection 3. Obligation and reward For Religion to speak first of Piety and then of Policie All Divines do agree that if Consciences be to be inforced at all whereby they differ yet two things must precede their inforcement th' one means of information th' other time of operation Neither of which they have yet had Besides till they be more like reasonable men then they yet are their society were rather scandalous to true Religion then otherwise as pearl cast before swine For till they be cleansed from their blood incontinencie and theft and which are now not the lapses of particular persons but the very laws of the Nation they are incompatible with Religion formed with Policie There is no doubt but to wrestle with them now is directly opposite to their reclaim and cannot but continue their alienation of mind from this government Besides one of the principal pretences whereby the heads of the Rebellion have prevailed both with the people and the Foreigner hath been the defence of the Catholique religion and it is that likewise hath made the Foreigner reciprocally more plausible with the Rebel Therefore a Toleration of Religion for a time not definite except it be in some principal Towns and 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
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. JAMESR 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 persections for our considences 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 allegeance 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 arid 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 savour as others of contrary Religion to that which shall be publiquely professed in England shall obtain at your hands For if our fault be like less or none at all in equity our punishment ought to be like less or none at all The Gates Arches and Pyramids of France proclaimed the present King Pater patria 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 Questionlessm 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 easily redress especially at this your Highness fisft ingress Si loquaris ad nos verba levia erunt tibi servi cunctis diebus 1 King 7.7 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 Occumenicall 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
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 those Officers of the Inquisition attempting to lay hands on the subjects of another Prince your Majesties confederate offering none offence to the Laws or publike prejudice to their profession yea in divers parts of your Majesties dominions the subjects of my Master have suffered this restraint The Inquisitor-Generall lately deceased who in all his actions shewed himself a considerate Minister and carefull in regard of your Majesties honour of the observing of what you have capitulated upon my complaint never failed to give the remedy that in justice I required He being now with God and one of my Soveraigns subjects having been long without cause detained by the Inquisitors in Lisbon and another of good account a man moderate and temperate in all his actions lately apprehended by that Office in Almonte and restrained in their prison at Sivil I am commanded from his Majesty and importuned by my Country-men who all with one voice complain and protest that they dare not longer continue their commerce without present order for remedy of so extream and perillous an injustice do beseech your Majesty that you will be pleased not only to give present order for the release of those that without scandal are known for the present in your prisons but also that in time to come the true intention of that Article be observed which is That without known offence and scandal the King my Masters subjects be not molested The accomplishment of this considering how much it imports your Majesty in honour your Majesty and the Archduke having in that Article in no other sort then in all the rest covenanted by especial words that your selves would provide that in no case but only in giving scandal to others the subjects of my Soveraign should be troubled for their consciences I cannot but expect from so just and sincere a Prince And therefore will not trouble your Majesty with more words but offering my self in all things within my power to your Majesties service I remain with a desire to be reckoned in the number of your Majesties humble and affectionate servants C. C. Iuly 23 stilo novo 1608. Sir Charls Cornwallis to the Spanish King Jan. 16. 1608. THe largeness and liberality of your Majesties Royall hand being such that it hath made your Greatness and Munificence of so much note through most parts of this world I assure my self it is far removed from the thoughts of your Princely heart to straiten in matter of Justice that so naturally and necessarily belongeth to your Kingly Office your Majesty hath been pleased to refer to the Constable the Duke of Infantasque and two of the Regents of your Councell of Arragon the understanding and determining of the extream and barbarous usage outrage and spoyl committed by ships set out in course under the commission at the charge of your Majesties Viceroy of Sardinia and his son-in-law Don Lewis de Calatana and others by their procurement those Lords and others there authorized by that Commission very nobly and justly desiring that of the spoyl committed there might be made intire satisfaction gave order divers months since but your Majesties Viceroy adding to his former offence contempt of your Majesties authority hath not onely disobeyed in his own person but contradicted and withstood in others the accomplishment of your commandements it seemeth that God is pleased for the good of your Majesties Estate and Government to disvizard that man and make apparent to the world how unfit he is to be trusted with your command of so great importance whose covetous
year before had received so unpleasing and unequal an answer should now be perswaded that there was here so great a change as that a match was really desired there would now need more then ordinary assurance But the Duke of Lerma continuing severall times the same profession and telling me besides that the greatest Cases might be altered by circumstances and that the Age of this Prince was much more proper then that of his brother I freely let the Duke know that in case I might see that it was really desired here and that I might be able to propound unto my Master conditions of so much advantage and certainty as might put him and his ministers out of doubt that this overture was not again revived from hence either for diversion or winning of time I would then willingly intimate unto your Majesty the inclination and desire I found here of having a proposition for this match once again set on foot The Duke told me he would have a further conference with me and that he then no ways doubted to give such satisfaction as might well assure your Majesty and your Ministers that they sincerly desired the match in generall and would omit nothing on their side for the accomodating of particulars that might give furtherance unto it But the very night before the Duke had appointed a meeting with me there came a Post dispatcht out of England from the Spanish Ambassador upon the arrivall of Sir Thomas Edmonds into England who brought word that the match with France was absolutely concluded and that within few days it was to be published Whereupon the Duke at our meeting the next morning told me that it would be needless now to descend to any particulars in the business whereof we are to treat since that they had newly received advertisement that the match with France was fully concluded And thus for the present the matter rested untill some five or six weeks after about which time my self was to go into England and so taking leave of the Duke he asked me whether I had not received advertisement that the match with France was published I told him no but I had certainly heard that it was not as yet fully concluded Whreupon he intreated me that in case I found not the French match in such forwardness as it could not be stayed I would let him know of it and that if I should see any kind of possibility that the business we had spoken of might be set on foot I would advertise him and that thereupon he would proceed to those particulars which he formerly intended for my satisfaction Herewith I acquainted your Majesty and finding the Spanish Ambassador in England had notice from the Duke of our former proceedings and order to further them by all possible means he could especially if he should understand that your Majesty were not fully resolved of the French match I thought it fit by this means to let the Duke understand in what estate I found those businesses in England and thereupon with your Majesties permission I wrote a letter unto him to this effect That although it were true that the Match with France had been treated of with much earnestness on both sides and with great likelihood of being concluded yet there daily arose so many difficulties and new cases of delay that I judged it far from any perfect conclusion neither did I see cause absolutely to despair of the businesses 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 withdrawing 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 convenience 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 Matters 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 with France The second for entertaining your Majesty with fair hopes and promises thereby to keep you from declaring your self opposite unto them in the present business of Juliers and Cleves which remaineth still uncompounded But this being so your Majesty may be pleased to understand that they serve themselves with this occasion not that there could be any such thing primarily in their intention for that the expression of their desire to the match was the last year long before these differences happened Further the Duke of Lerma should be the most fals and dishonorable man living without Christianity or soul if he should voluntarily damn himself with oathes and protestations of a thing that he sincerely meant not and truly he should deal contrarily to the wisdom of his other proceedings wherein he layeth all occasions of distaste or discourtesie upon other inferior Ministers labouring still to clear himself of the imputation of them if in this he should make himself the author and instrument of so unjust and indirect proceeding between Princes But the course of most security and caution is that your Majesty suffer none of your other resolutions to be interrupted by this overture onely if your Majesty be pleased for a while to entertain and suspend the conclusion of the match with France I conceive it can be little to your Majesties disadvantage It lastly now remaineth that I become an humble suiter unto your Majesty for your clear and full directions in this business desiring if your Majesty will have it further entertained that I may have ample instructions from your Majesty both that I may intimate what may be expected in point of Dowry and in all other things to be required by your Majesty as likewise how far I may proceed in satisfying in point or Religion For it is not to be supposed that they wil proceed with that freeness and directness which is to be wished unless in a fitting measure they shall see me likewise able and willing to declare my self in such points wherein they may expect satisfaction I intend not hereby to move for a formall Commission to treat but onely a private instruction for my direction and warrant how to behave my self as may be most advantagious to the cause and your Majesties ends So humbly desiring your Majesty to command this Bearer to be dispatched back with all convenient speed I commend your Majesty to the holy protection of God Your Majesties faithfull subject and servant BRISTOL Abignoto to Conde Gondomar concerning the death of Philip the third VPon the last day of February being Sunday 1620. his Catholique Majesty after he had heard Mass and the Sermon in the Chappel was taken with a Feaver which continued with him eight dayes with a ruddiness and pimples which appeared plainly in his face which afterwards began to diminish but he was suddenly taken with a vomiting and a great feaver which continued with him till the 21. day and the Physitians were of opinion to have him rise out of his bed which was accordingly done both that day and the next but about dinner-time happened unto him a great swouning which much astonisht him and the 23. day in the night his feaver did redouble upon him with a vomiting and a flux in the belly and a great melancholy and an opinion that he should die which feaver continued with divers reduplications the Physitians having an ill opinion of him till on Saturday night the 27. when his reduplications were more violent his water bad and the King persevered in saying how
Infanta having an absolute commission to conclude a suspension and cessation of Arms should now at last when all objections were answered and the former solely pretended obstacles removed not onely delay the conclusion of the Treaty but refuse to lay her command upon the Emperours Generals for abstaining from the siege of our Garrisons during the Treaty upon pretext of want of authority So as for avoyding of further dishonor we have been enforced to recall both our Ambassadors as well the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is already returned to our presence as also the Lord Chichester whom we intended to have sent unto the Emperour to the Dyet at Ratisbone Seeing therefore that out of our extraordinary respect meerly to the King of Spain and the firm confidence we ever put in the hopes and promises which he did give us desiring nothing more then for his cause principally to avoid all occasions that might put us into ill understanding with any of the House of Austria We have hitherto proceeded with a stedfast patience trusting to the treaties and neglecting all other means which might probably have secured the remainder of our childrens inheritance Those Garrisons which we maintained in the Palatinate being rather for honor sake to keep a footing untill the generall accommodation then that we did rely so much upon their strength as upon his frienpship and by the confidence security of ours are thus exposed to dishonor reproach you shal tell that King that seeing all those endeavours and good offices which he hath used towards the Emperour in this business on the behalf of our son-in-law upon confidence whereof that our security depended which he continually by his Letters and Ministers here laboured to beget and confirm in us have not sorted to any other issue then to a plain abuse both of his trust and ours whereby we are both of us highly injured in our honour though in a different degree we hope desire that out of a true sense of this wrong offered unto us he will as our deer and loving brother faithfully promise and undertake upon his honor confirming the same also under his hand and seal either that the Castle and Town of Heidelbergh shall within threescore and ten dayes after this your audience and demand made be rendred into our hands with all things therein belonging to our son-in-law or our daughter as neer as may be in the state wheirn they were taken and the like for Manheim and Frankindale if both or eithe of them shall be taken by the enemy whilst these things are in treating as also that there shall be within the said term of threescore and ten days a cessation or suspension of Arms in the Palatinate for the future upon the severall Articles and Conditions last propounded by our Ambassador Sir Richard Weston and that the generall treaty shall be set on foot again upon such honorable terms and conditions as were propounded unto the Emperour in a letter written unto him in November last and with which the King of Spain then as we understand seemed satisfied or else in case all these particulars be not yeilded unto and performed by the Emperour as is here propounded but be refused or delayed beyond the time afore mentioned that then the King of Spain do joyn his forces with ours for the recovery of our childrens honors and patrimony which upon this trust hath been thus lost Or if 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 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 your 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
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 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 â—hat 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 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 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 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 effeftuall 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 tor 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
the Match will be a good pawn in the business and the help and assistance which the Princes being once betrothed would be able to give in this Court to all your Majesties businesses would be of good consideration So fearing I have already presumed too far upon your Majesies patience I humbly crave your Majesties pardon and recommend you to the holy protection of God resting Your Majesties most humble and faithful subject and servant BRISTOL Madrid Octob. 29. 1623. Earl of Bristol to King James Novemb. 1. 1623. MAy it please your most excellent Majesty I find that upon the news that is now come from the Duke of Pastrava that the Pope hath cleerly passed the Dispensation which is now hourly expected here There is an intention to call presently upon me for the Princes powers for the marriage left in my hands the which I know not upon what ground or reason to detain the Prince having engaged in the said powers the faith and word of a Prince no way to revoke and retract from them but that they should remain in full force till Christmass and delivered unto me a politique declaration o his pleasure that upon the coming of the Dispensation I should deliver them unto this King that they might be put in execution and hereof likewise was there by Secretary Serita as a publique Notary an Instrument drawn attested by all the witnesses present If I shall alleadge your Majesties pleasure of having the marriage deferred untill one of the Holidays although they should condescend thereunto that impossible for the powers will be then expired If I shall insist upon the restitution of the Palatinate this King hath therein declared his answer and it would be much wondred why that should be now added fo a condition of the marriage having ever hitherto been treated of as a business apart and was in being at the granting of the said powers and hath been often under debate but never specified nor the powers delivered upon any condition of having any such point first cleered and I must confess unto your Majesty I understand not how with honour and that exact dealing which hath ever been observed in all your Majesties actions the powers can be detained unless there should appear some new and emergent cause since the granting of them whereof as yet I hear none specified Therefore being loath to be the instrument by whose hands any thing should pass that might have the least reflection upon your Majesties or the Princes honour which I shall ever value more then my life or safety and judging it likewise to conduce more to your service and assuring my self that your Majesties late direction to have the marriage upon one of the holidays in Christmass was for want of due information that the powers will be then expired I have thought it fit with the advice of Sir Walter Ashton to raise no scruple in the delivery of the said powers but do intend when they shall be required to pass on to the nominating of a prefixed day for the Deposorio's but I shall endeavour to defer the time untill I may be advertised of your Majesties pleasure if it may be within the space of 24 dayes and 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 he 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 m 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 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 extent cut 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 upon the experience of things past their present interest and the judgement which may be made of the future makes me assured that your Majesty may absolutely dispose of them and by their means being firmly conjoyned with your Majesty give the Law to Europe It is in obedience to your Majesties commandment that I have enlarged my self so far into this discourse which I will send with my most humble thanks for the continuance of your most gracious and paternall bounty particularly shewed in the care you have of the education of my eldest son in your Court who with all the rest are at your Majesties disposing and we hope to live notwithstanding our hard and dolefull condition to yeild unto your Majesty the fruits of a devout and filiall gratitude and I will remain untill the last day of my life From the Hague Decemb. 30. 1623 new stile Your Majesties most c. FREDERICK Postscript I am advertised from a good part that the Elector of Mentz and the other Princes of the Popish league are very instant with the Elector of Saxony and Brandenburgh to perswade them to acknowledge the Duke of Bavaria as an Elector of the Empire which if they obtain it were easie to judge how much it would prejudice my affairs and the common cause of the Empire I therefore most humbly beseech your Majesty that you will be pleased to prevent and hinder such an evil by the interposition of good offices and exhortations to the said secular Electors be it by some Ambassador by serious Letters or such other way as you shall hold meet and suitable to the importance of the matter which above all requireth singular celerity Your Majesty shall increase more and more my obligations and that of the publique of Germany c. Abignoto from Madrid THe Spaniard begins now to be sensible of the great disobligation and gross oversight he committed in suffering the Prince to go away without his Infanta For it hath given occasion of advantage to the English who now seem indifferent whether they match with him or no to proceed more stoutly and to add to the former Articles which the Prince had sworn at his being here certain new Propositions about the Palatinate which was thought to be unfit to motion at his being here by reason of the engagement of his person And there is a Commission sent to the Earl Bristol to treat of these two businesses joyntly and if the King of Spain give not a satisfactory answer therein then he is to return home Buckingham hath little obligation no Spain therefore for his own particular he hath good reason it he cannot prop himhimfelf this way to find other means for his support unkindnesses passed between him and Olivarez and a hot heart-burning between him and Bristol who told him here before the Prince that being so far his superior inhonor and might he might haply contemn him but he could never hate him Ever since his departure he hath attempted to crush Bristol to pieces who is out of purse two thousand pound of his own since his coming hither he is so crossed that he cannot get a peny from England If he cannot get a surrender of the Palatinate to the Kings mind he is in a poor case for he must hence presently he is much favoured of the King here and Olivarez therefore they will do much for him before Buckingham work his revenge upon him he hath received lately more comfortable dispatches from England and in the last the King sent him he requires his advice in certain things The Proxie the King of Spain had to marry the Infanta in the Princes name is proroged till March There is great resentment of the delayes in the Court here and the Infanta hath given over studing of
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 6d 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-Warde us of London Jan. 28. 1622. 1. THat his Majesties declaration published Anno Dom. 1628. be fore 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 Churchwardens 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
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 subâ—ect 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 stâ—l 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 w ll be the strongest in his Kingdomes assoon as his Conscience authority better reestablished then his His predecessors knew not â—ow 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 sp 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 bloodâ—nesse 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 soules of three Kingdomes A while agoe he sent a Gentleman expresly to this Court that it might not be contrary with the Marriage which he treated with Spaine and to endeavour to make the Romans think well of it and that one of these daies it may be he will call his Holinesse and the sacred Colledge of Cardinals but hitherto these are terms of a tongue unknowne to him Furthermore in this Country we imagine that there will be no lack of warrs till Rochel be reduced to extremity It is very true that the forces which the King hath left before it are not great but for how many men think you they count the Captaine into whose bands he hath put them It is not permitted to judg of that which he will doe by the ordinary course of the things of this world his actions cannot be drawn into example and though he be infinitely wise notwithstanding it is certaine that in what he undertakes it alwaies appears somewhat greater then mans wisdome Yet truly my Lord after having considered the motion of the Stars which are so just the order of the seasons which are so governed the beauties of nature which are so divers I find in the end that there is nothing in the world where God sheweth himself so admirable as in the guiding of the life of my Lord your Father But to the purpose behold this that I added yesterday to the great discourse which I made by your Commandment and which you much praised the first time Monsr. Balsac to the King Louis SIR The late King your father hath not done more and neverthelesse not to speak of the Actions of his life your Majesty knowes that his last thoughts made all the Kings of the earth to tremble and his memorie untill this day is reverenced to the uttermost ends of the world Notwithstanding Sir be it that you are come in a better time then he be it that God hath destinated your Majesty for higher things the glory which you have gotten at the going out of your infancy is not lesse then that which that great Prince deserved when he was was growne old in Armes and in affaires as he so you make your selfe redoubted without tyranny as he so you governe your people But I am constrained to avow that your Majesty must needs yeild to him in one thing which is that you have not yet begot a Sonne that resembles you But certainly Sir wee cannot any longer time have this advantage over you All Europe requires Princes and princesses of you and it is certaine that the world ought not to end but when your race shall faile if you will then that the beauty of the things we see passeto another age If you wil that the publick tranquillity have an assured foundation and that your victories may be eternal you must talke no more of working powerfully nor of doing greate Acts of State but with the Queen Mon r Toyrax to the Duke of Buckingham MY Lord your curtesieâ— are sufficiently known to all the world and you place them with so much judgment that those only may hope after them that make themselves worthy by their actions Now I know no action so worthy of that merit as for a man to imploy himself if in the defence of this place he vanquish not all difficulties so that no despair of succor nor fear of rigor in case of extreamity can ever make me quit a design so generous as also I shall esteeme my self unworthy of any your favours if in this action I omit the least point of my duty the issue whereof cannot be but honourable and by how much you adde to this glory by your valour and carriage by so much I am more bound to remaine during my life your Lordships humble and most
obedient servant Toirax Abignoto concerning the estate of Rochel after the surrender SIR I presume you have long since heard the particulars of Rochel and that by farre better relations then mine notwithstanding you may be pleased to know what I observed and learned there my selfe eight daies after the Kings entrance whither curiosity and some other causes drew me For the siege and Dike they prae caeter is excellens were in all parts most royall and farre more perfect and uniforme then relation could make me conceive The misery of the siege almost incredible but to such only as have seene it or some part thereof Corn was worth after the rate of 800 Franks the bushel an Oxe or Cow sold after the rate of 2000 Franks The host where I lay sold a Jade horse worth it may be four or five pounds for 800 Franks and for five and twenty weeks tasted no bread of twelve persons in his family only he and his wife are living who also within two daies had dyed if the Town had not been rendred He and his wife made a Collation the day before the Town was rendred which cost him about six or seven pound sterling their chear was a pound of bread made of Straw Sugar and other Spices halfe a pound of horse flesh three or foure ounces of Comfits and a pint of Wine which they imagin'd was the last good chear they should make together and in like case were all the rest of the Towne only two or three families of the better sort excepted by which you may conjecture what rates such kind of provision were at There were eaten between 3000 or 4000 Cow-hides all the dogs cats mice and rats they could get not a horse left alive which was food for the better sort only Madam Rohan after having eaten her Coach horse and her servants the Leather of her Coach removed though full sore against her will her lodging from Rochel to the Castle of Mooke or Niâ—eul where she is under guard and since it is said to the Bastile in Paris God send her and hers to heaven There died for want of food in Rochel 15000 and rested living when the King entred betweene three and four thousand of which there are since very many dead they dayly discover new miseries which when I was there were not spoken of the mother and the child at the brest both dead the child having eaten most part of the mothers brest a souldier was found dead with a piece of his fellows flesh in his mouth a Burger having a servant killed powdred her which fed him and his wife a long time and dainty meat too many languishing and finding themselves draw neer their ends caused their coffins to be carried into the Churches said them down in them and so dyed these were of the better sort The common sort laid themselves down in Coffins in the Church yards and there dyed others in the streets others not able to go out of their houses dyed and remained there their friends being not able to remove them thence So that when the first Forces of the King entered there were in the Town of Corps unburied some in 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
to the most eminent degree of dignity and power to be the nursing father of his Church she hath right being thus mangled and bloody to stretch forth her arms unto you even shee that Spouse of Jesus Christ the common mother of Christians and and your mother also by the respect of her bruised members and of the searing of her innocent brest covered with wounds she will move your pity She assures her selfe Sir that the glorious title which you beare of the Defender of the faith shall interceede for your accepting of her humble request if you doe extend unto us your cares your affections and your formidable Armes you shall nourish in our hearts affections of honour and obedience which shall never die you shall daunt all powers that would raise themselves against your Crown you shall raise your glory to such a height that all the earth shall admire it all Christendome shall celebrate it and your name shall be of sweet odour unto Angels and men and in perpetual benediction unto all posterity of Saints and your reward shall be great and eternal in heaven May it please your Majesty to pardon us if our necessities pressing us we all do presse your Majesty by our instant supplications accompanied with a most humble respect to strengthen our selves so soon as may be with the honour of your commandments and the declaration of your favâ—ur the wholesome effects of your assistance according to the sweetnesse of your compassion and Charity and we will redouble our prayers to the divine clemency for the length and safety of your life and the prosperity of your estate being ready with a most holy and ardent affect on to expose our goods and lives to render us worthy of the quality which we dare take of your most humble most obedient and moâ—t faithful servants the Deputies of the reformed Churches of France in their general Assembly held at Nismes and for all Jaques de Maresey adjunct la Reque The Duke of Rohan to his Majesty of great Brittain the 12 of March 1628. SIR the deplorable accident of the losse of Rochel which God hath suffered to humble us under his hand hath redoubled in the hearts of our enemies their passionate fiercenesse to our utter ruine with an assured hope to attain thereunto But it hath not taken away from the Churches of those Provinces either the heart or the affection to oppose their unjust plots by a just and lively defence This is it hath made them take resolution to assemble themselves to cojoyn in the midst of these commotions to assist me with their good counsels and with me to provide the means of their deliverance And for as much as the greatest support which God hath raised unto them upon earth is the succour our Churches have and do look to receive from your Majesty the general Assembly hath desired that my Letters which alone hitherto have represented unto your Majesty the interest of the publick cause might be joyned to their most humble supplications put up to your Majesty I do it Sir with so much the more affection because I am a witnesse that these poor people who with sighes and groanes 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 Bastinâ—does 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
Judicature nor rules of Law to direct and guide their Judgments in cases of transcedent nature which happening so often the very intermitting of the constant rules of Government for so many ages within this Kingdome practised would soone dissolve the very frame and foundation of our Monarchy wherefore as to our Commons we made faire proposition which might equally preserve the just liberties of the subject So my Lords we have thought good to let you know that without the overthrow of our soveraignty we cannot suffer this power to be impeached yet notwithstanding to clear our conscience and intentions this we publish that it is not in our heart or will ever to extend our Royal power sent unto us from God beyond the just rule of moderationin any thing which shall be contrary to our Lawes and Customes wherein the safety of our people shal be our only aime And we do hereby declare our Royal pleasure and resolution to be which God willing we wil ever constantly continue and mantaine that neither we nor our Privy Counsel shall or will at any time hereafter commit or command to prison or otherwise restraine the person of any for not lending mony unto us or for any other cause which in our conscience doth concern the publick good and safety of us and our people we wil not be drawn to pretend any cause which in our conscience is not or is not expressed which base thought we hope no man can imagine can fall into our Royal brest and that in all causes of this nature which shall hereafter happen we shall upon the humble Petition of the party or addresse of our Judges unto us readily and really expresse the true cause of their Commitment or restraint so soone as with conveniency or safety the same is fit to be disclosed and expressed and that in all causes Criminal of ordinary Jurisdiction our Judges shall proceede to the deliverance and bailment of the Prisoner according to the known and ordinary rules of the Lawes of this Land and according to the Statute of Magna charta and those other six statutes insisted on which we do take knowledge stand in full force and which we intend not to weaken or abrogate against the true intent thereof This we have thought fit to signifie unto you the rather for the shortning of any long debate upon this question the season of the year being so far advanced and our great occasions of State not lending as many daies of long continuance of this Session of Parliament Given under our signet at our Pallace at Westminster the twelfth day of May in the Fourth Year of our Reigne CAROLUS REX A Counsel Table Order against hearing Mass at Embassadors houses March 10. 1629 At White-hall the tenth of March 1619. PRESENT Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Lord President Lord Privy Seale Lord Steward Lord Chamberlaine Earl of Suffolk Earl of Dorset Earl of Salisbury Lord Wimbleton Lord Viscount Dorchester Lord Viscount Wentworth Lord Viscount Grandison Lord Viscount Fraulkland Lord Savile Lord Newbergh Mr. 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 to wards 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 sot 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. 1619. 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
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 weak old memory must for get 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 have no other Father then your Highnesse and are branches of your Princely house Unto your Highnesse was in all respects due from me the accompt which I have given you of my vocation I beseech you to accept it and to believe that I will alwaies be answerable to my dutie and will pray for the spirituall and temporal increase of your Highnesse whose hands I reverently kisse Your Highness most humble and most obliged servant Alfons d'Este From Salsuolo the 30th of July 1629. Sir Kenhelm Digby to Sir Edward Stradling To my Honourable Friend Sir Edward Esterling aliàs Stradling aboard his ship MY much honoured freind I am too well acquainted with the weaknesse of my abilities that are farre unfit to undergoes such a task as I have in hand to flatter my selfe with the hope that I may either informe your understanding or do my selfe honour by what I am to write But I am so desirous that you should be possessed with the true knowledge of what a bent will I have upon all occasions to doe you service that obedience to your Command weigheth much more with me then the lawfulnesse of my excuse can to preserve me from giving you in writing such a testimony of my ignorance and erring fantasie as I fear this will prove Therefore without any more circumstances I wil as near as I can deliver to you in this paper what the other day I discoursed to you upon the 22d Staffe of the ninth Canto in the second book of that matchlesse Poem The Fairy Queen written by our English Virgil whose words are these The Frame thereof seem'd partly Circuler And part Trianguler O work Divine These two the first and last proportions are Th' one imperfect mortal faeminine Th' other immortal perfect masculine And twixt them both a quadrat was the base Proportion'd equally by seven and nine Nine was the Circle set in heavens place All which compacted made a goodly Diapase In this Staff the Author seemeth to me to proceed in a differing manner from what he doth elsewhere generally through his whole booke for in other places although the beginning of this Allegorie or mistical sense may be obscure yet in the processe of it he doth himselfe declare his owne conceptions in such sort that they are obvious to any ordinary capacity But in this he seemeth only to glance at the profoundest notions that any science can deliver to us and then of a suddaine as it were recalling himself out of an Enthusiasme he returneth to the gentle relation of the Allegorical history that he had begun leaving his readers to wander up and down in much obscurity and to rove with much danger of erring at his intention in these lines which I conceive to be dictated by such a learned spirit and so generally a knowing soule that were there nothing else extant of Spencers writings yet these few words would make me esteeme him no whit inferiour to the most famous men that ever have been in any age as giving an evident testimony herein that he was throughly versed in the Mathemeticall sciences in Philosophy and Divinity unto all which this might serve for an ample Theame to make large Commentaries upon In my praises upon this subject I am confident that the worth of the Author will preserve me from this censure that my ignorance only begetteth this admiration since he hath written nothing that is not admirable But that it may appeare I am guided somewhat by my owne Judgement although it be a very meane one and not by implicit faith and that I may in the best manner I can comply with what you may expect from me I will not longer hold you in suspence but begin immediately though abruptly with the declaration of what I conceive to be the true sense of this place which I shall not goe about to adorne with any plausible discourses or with authorities and examples drawne from others writings
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 then presently called for to the King to whom I spake first in the business of the Match and delivered him the contents thereof in writing which I have sent to Mr. Secretary I received from him the same answer in effect as from the Conde de Olivarez That he desired the Match no less then your Majesty That on his part there should be no time lost for the bringing of it to a speedy conclusion In the business of the Palatinate I spake unto the King with some length repeating many particulars of your Majesties proceedings and how much your honour was like to suffer that now whilst you were treating Heidelborgh defended by your Garrisons was like to be taken The King answered me He would effectually labour that your Majesty should have entire satisfaction and rather then your Majesty should fail thereof he would imploy his Arms to effect it for you My Lord Ambassador Sir Walter Ashton accompanied me at my audience and was a witness of all that passed as wel with the King as with the Conde de Olivarez Within few dayes after the newes of the taking of Heidelbergh came hither whereupon I dispatched again to the King in such sort as I have at large advertised Mr. Secretary Calvert The effect of my Negotiation was that they on the 13. of October dispatched Letters away of the Emperors and Duke of Bavaria's proceedings But pressing them further in regard their former Letters have wrought so little effect they have given me at present a second Dispatch which I have sent unto the Infanta and whereof Mr. Secretary will give your Majesty an account which I conceive will procure your Majesties better satisfaction then hitherto you have received from the Emperor and his party For the business of the match I have written to Mr. Secretary what is to be said at present and will only add that as I should not willingly give your Majesty hope upon uncertain grounds so I will not conceal what they profess which is That they will give your Majesty real and speedy satisfaction therein And if they intended it not they are falser then all the Devils in hell for deeper oaths and protestations of sincerity cannot be made It will only remain that I humbly cast my self at your Majesties feet for that addition of Title wherewith it hath pleased you to honour me and my posterity My gratitude and thankfulness wanteth expression and shall only say unto your Majesty That as all I have either of fortunes or honour I hold it meerly of your bounty and goodness so shall I ever cheerfully lay them down with my life into the bargain for the service of your Majesty and yours So with my humble prayers for the health and prosperity of your Majesty I humbly commend your Majesty to Gods holy protection and rest Your Majesties most humble servant and subject BRISTOL Madrid Octob. 21. 1622. King Philip the third of Spain to the Conde of Olivarez THe King my Father declared at his death that his intention never was to marry my sister the Infanta Donna Maria with the Prince of Wales which your Uncle Don Baltezer well understood and so treated this match ever with an intention to delay it notwithstanding it is now so far advanced that considering withall the aversness unto it of the Infanta as it is high time to seek some means to divert the treaty which I would have you find out and I will make it good whatsoever it be but in all other things procure the satisfaction of the King of Great Britain who hath deserved very much and it shall content me so that it be not the match Conde Olivarez his Answer to the King