possibly be at rest as long as your fatal displeasure reigns still in his family and makes it the house of continual mourning Remove then if it be your blessed will the clouds that have been so long hanging over our heads and let not the present storm that wants matter to produce extort a thunderbolt For what is Philips or the son of Philips that your Majesty should so destroy them We are unworthy of Caesar's anger as well in regard of our means as of our innocencie To conclude my prayers I most humbly beseech your Majesty to forgive them and let not the ignorance of the stile or ceremonies used in the Court be imputed to your humble and well-meaning Suppliant as a willing want of reverence in whose breast these two legal qualities Love and Fear do more vigorously meet or who could more willingly part with his essence to add the least acquisition to the greatness and majesty of his Soveraign True it is that the subject that imployed the faculties of my soul at this present is of such a nature as I could not deny it the uttermost of my affection and he that thinks he can never speak enough may easily speak too much That neither my self nor my brother have failed in any thing but words that your Majesty will pardon without that all crimes are equal and as much danger lies in an humble Petition as in a plot of high Treason Be pleased then most gracious Soveraign to give us back one gracious word and keep our undoubted hearts at least shew us so much mercy as to judge us according to your own goodness For if we had not liberty to appeal thither we should be in danger of losing the best part of our birthright and instead of your Majesties subjects become other mens slaves From your Majesty therefore and from no other your faithful suppliant craves and expects the joyfull word of grace which if I may be so happy as to carry my poor brother before he grows any elder in misery I shall fill an honest heart with prayers and thanksgiving And for my particular your Majesties greatest favour and liberality shall not more oblige or better affect others then your Royal clemencie shall me In memory whereof I shall daily pray that your Majesty may obtain all your desires of heaven and so be obeyed in all your commandments on earth that we may live to see your holy intentions to take effect for the good of Christendom and so you may honour the age you live in with the miracles of your wisdom Finally that your felicity in this world may overtake that in the highest to make you wear a perpetual Crown to Gods glory and your own Your Majesties most humble loyal and true-hearted English subject FRANCIS PHILIPS Oliver St. Johns to the Major of Marlborough against the Benevolence AS I think this kind of Benevolence is against Law Reason and Religion First the Law is in the Statute called Magna Charta 9. H. 3. cap. 29. That no Free-man be any way destroyed but by the Lawes of this Land Secondly besides that the said Statute of Magna Charta is by all Princes since established and confirmed it is in the speciall case of voluntary or free grants enacted and decreed 25. E. 1. cap. 5. That no such be drawn into custome and cap. 6. That henceforth be taken no such Aids Tasks free Grants or Prizes but by assent of all the Realm and for the good of the same And in primo R. 3. cap. 2. That the Subjects and Commons in this Realm from henceforth shall in no wise be charged by any charge or imposition called a Benevolence or any such like charge and that such exactions called a Benevolence shall be damned and annulled for ever First it is not onely without but against reason that the Commons in their severall and particulars should be made relievers or suppliers of his Majesties wants who neither know his wants nor the sums that may be this way raised to supply the same Secondly it is against reason that the particular and severall Commons distracted should oppose their judgment and discretion to the judgement and discretion of the wisdom of their Land assembled in Parliament who have there denied any such aid It argueth in us want of love and due respect of our Soveraign Lord and King which ought to be in every of us towards each other which is to stay every one which we see falling and reduce the current What prosperity can there be expected to befall either our King or Nation when the King shall haply of ignorance or 'tis I hope out of forgetfulnesse or headinesse commit so great a sin against his God as is the violating of his great and solemn oath taken at his coronation for the maintaining of his Lawes Liberties and Customes of this Noble Realm his Subjects some for fear some in pride some to please others shall joyn hands to forward so unhappy an atchievement can he any way more highly offend the Divine Majesty whom he then invocated as also can he then give unto another Hen. 4. If such an one should rise up which God forbid a greater advantage let these Articles put up against R. 2. be looked on it will appear that the breach of the Laws infringing the Liberties failing in this his oath were the main blemishes wherewith he could distain and spot the honor of that good and gentle Prince who indeed was rather by others abused then of himselfe mischievously any way disposed Secondly as very irreligiously and uncharitably we help forward the Kings Majesty in that grievous sin of perjury so into what an hellish danger we plunge our selves even so many of us as contribute is to be learned out of the severall curses and sentences of excommunination given out against all such givers and namely the two following viz. the great curse given out the 36. H. 3. against all breakers of the Liberties and customes of the Realm of England with their Abettors Councellors and Executioners wherein by the sentence of Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury and the chief part of all the Bishops of this Land are ipso facto excommunicated And that of 24. Ed. 1. denounced immediatly upon the Acts made against such Benevolence free Grants and Impositions had and taken without common assent which because it is not so large as that former I will set down as our Books deliver the same IN the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost Amen Whereas our Soveraign Lord the King to the honour of God and of the Holy Church and for the common profit of the Realm hath granted for him and his heirs for ever these Articles above written Robert Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England admonished all his Province once twice and thrice because that shortness will not suffer so much delay as to give knowledge to all the people of England of these presents in writing We therefore enjoyn all
This motion did trouble the President not a little who hath all the Provincials at his beck and some of the forraign Divines too but especially the Palatines Yet there was a publique Synode called for this purpose where the President of the Delegates did make a speech desiring the Synode to depute some who joyned with the President and the Assessours might take pains for moulding of the Canons In the delivering of the voices most testified their dislike of this course and their singular respect to the Presidents Credit but Scultetus did by many reasons approve the course which the President had begun and disprove this new course which was suggested yet he taxed no man personally But Sibrandus when he came to deliver his voice like a mad-man did inveigh against those who were the suggesters of this change and said That strangers should not take upon them to prescribe what was good for the estate of their Church and that some others who had joyned in that were worthy to be noted Censurâ Ecclesiasticâ therein he aymed at the South Holland who did likewise much dislike the President his Course Sibrandus spake so furiously that both the Praeses Politicus and the Praeses Ecclesiasticus desired him either to hold his peace or else speak that which might not disturb the peace of the Synode Yet since it was the Delegates pleasure the whole Synode added to the President and the Assessours three forraign Divines viz. my Lord of Landaff Scultetus and Deodatus 3. Provincials viz. Poliander Vallaeus and Triglandius who should mould and conceive the Canons upon every Article and then send a Copie of what they have done to every Colledge that they may adde power and change what they will the Colledges observations being considered by them and the Canons according to them amended they are to be returned to the Colledges and the Colledges to return them again and so to keep the course ever till there be no exceptions against them When they are thus agreed upon by all several Colledges they shall publiquely be concluded and approved by the Synode We are now hard at polishing the Canons which these Deputies send us All our trouble is in the second Article The most part of the Synode would cry us down with voices for the restriction of the general propositions in Scripture and the Confessions of the Reformed Churches concerning Christs death ad Solos Electos We stand for leaving them unexpounded and unrestricted as we found them and rejoyce exceedingly that the Directions which my Lord Embassadour sent us from his Majestie concerning this point agreeth so fully with our judgment subscribed with our hands given in to the Synode upon the second Article By this doing we first leave a found and sufficient ground for preaching of the Gospel to all men Next we shun a great deal of offence which otherwise we must needs have given to the Lutheran Churches Thirdly we retain the same phrases and forms of speaking which those Fathers did who wrestled with the Pelagians in the same point If this Article be well looked into I hope there shall moderation enough be observed in all the rest If it were not for the moderation of the forraign Divines we should have such Canons as I think have not been heard of for there is never a Provincial Minister here who hath delivered any rigid Proposition and hath been taxed by the Remonstrants for it but he would have that Proposition thrust into one Canon or another that so he may have something to shew for that which he hath said As soon as the Canons are agreed upon I shall by Gods grace with all expedition send them unto your Honour Our next work will be Vorstius whose book they would censure without citation of himself The President wrote to our Colledge in the Delegates name to know whether we thought it fit to have him personally cited but especially to know what we thought would be most agreeing to his Majesties mind To the latter concerning his Majesties mind we answered That we thought my Lord Embassadour could give them the best resolution for that point For the former we thought it would be evil taken If any man should be condemned not being first heard But because they that Vorstius would keep them as long as the Remonstrants had done We told them That we desired they would not suffer him to make any defences or explications of his blasphemous propositions but simply to answer per ita vel non whether he would plainly abjure them or not And so accordingly proceed against him and so we should make no great losse of time so I think he shall be personally cited This is all for we have had no Synodical meetings these 12. daies I can see no end of the Synode before Whitsontide With my best prayers for your Honours and the remembrance of all my faithful respects I take my leave And am Your Honours In all true observance and service Walter Balcanquel Sir William Beecher to his Majestie 4th of February Most Gracious Soveraign BEsides the relation of the apparance of change in the affairs of the Court wherewith my Dispatch to Mr. Secretarie Lake will acquaint your Majestie I thought it my duty to give you particular account that being yesterday with the Prince of Jain ville after some earnest protestations made to me of his desire to do your Majestie service falling into discourse of those occurrences he grew into these terms That the complaints of the Queen Mother were founded upon good reason that if she had offended the King or the State why did they not make her processe if she had not offended why should she not see the King and her children that when the Queen fell upon these Complaints they thought to fright her by Pretending to bring forth the Prince of Conde but that the Queen had astonished them by telling them That she was so far from opposing as she desired the liberty of the Prince That the Queens friends would be glad of his liberty for that it could not be prejudicial but rather advantagious at the least it would be honourable for them if his liberty were wrought if not by their intercession at least by their occasion further he told me That he was confident that the Queen would not be gained by their fair words but would persist in her resolution Which discourse of his with some other advertisements doth perswade me that this matter hath a farther root and is likely to bring forth some great alteration here in no long time And I doubt not but that Monsieur de Luine will find with repentance how much better it had been for him to have furthered your Majesties advice for the delivery of the Prince whereby he might have acquired to the King a reputation of Justice and to himself an obligation of a powerful friend in the Prince rather then to leave him to the adventure of the changes that time may produce But if
seek to King James 178 179 sue to him to forbid exportation of Artillery c. 180 refuse Turkish ayds against Christians 186. incivil to the Duke of Savoy 187 Velville Marquesse 274 284 286 287 289. Vere Sir Horatio sleighted unreasonably by Sir Edward Cecyl as inferior in birth and worth 134 323 Viceroy of Portugal 45 Ville-aux Cleres 293 300 Vorstius questioned for blasphemous propositions 175 Uprores in Naples Millain c. 188 W. VVAke Sir Isaac imployed in Savoy his prudence 180 181 186. governs himself according to his instructions 184 not supplyed with monies 189 War the most prosperous hath misfortune enough in it to make the author unhappy 33 knowledge of it the highest of humane things 133 preparation of things shewes experience what war is lawful 258 Weston Sir Richard Earl of Portland 198 199. a fit Minister 234 treats for the Palatinate at Brussels cannot prevail 201 234. accused to the Duke 202 Intercedes for the Earl of Middlesex 203 Wilford Sir Thomas sinks a Turkish man of war 141 Williams Dean of Westminster Lord Keeper and Bishop of Lincoln after sues for the Bishoprick of London 54 his Ecclesiastical promotions 55 advanced by the Duke of Buckingham 62 70. his opinion of the Archbishop of Canterburies mischance where his ambition is visible 56 Will serve the Earl of Southampton while he makes good his professions to the Duke 58 loves the Earl of Bristol at this rate 23 sits in the Common Pleas. 61 Will not seal the Lord St. Albans pardon and why 61 62 81. nor Sir Richard Westons Patent 93 nor an order for a Papist Priests liberty 62. nor the Earl of Arundels Patent for the Earl Marshals place 68 An enemy to the Lord Treasurer 62 To the Earl of Arundel 62 63 64. Will not discharge a prisoner for contempt of a Decree in Chancery 65 seems to advise King James to dissolve the Parliament of 1621. to find out other wayes to supply his wants and acquaint the Kingdom with the undutifulnesse and obstinacy of the Commons 66 accused by the Lord Treasurer of making injust advantages of his place vindicates himself 71 72 74. forbidden the Court 78 Will not seal the Kings Patent of honour without knowledge of the Dukes good pleasure 79 against the Councel Table 75 Dislikes prohibiting execution of Statutes against the Papists 80 His advice to hang the titulary Bishop of Calcedon 81 Would have all honours and offices derived from the Duke 83 84 Is his vassal 85 100 101 103 Lives not but in the Dukes favour 107 Loves and hates as the Duke does 84 88 94 does equal Justice 83 Wants 85 Would not be over-topped 94 charged by the Duke to run Courses dangerous to his Countrey and to the cause of Religion betrayes the Duke esteemed by him a fire-brand and not worthy of trust 87 88 his Reply 89 96. Writes unworthily of King James to the Duke 94 sues to the Duke for the Countesse of Southampton 96 Would have the Duke to be Lord Steward 101 102 Mercy with Sir Edward Coke 104 advises concerning the Proxies and Marriage with France 106 107 In disgrace the Seal taken away excuses himself to King Charles 108 suspected as a Malecontent and willing to imbroil 225 Wimbledon Viscount See Cecyl Sir Edward c. Wotton Sir Henry 193 194. sends rare Pictures to the Duke 195 Complains that after his long service his Embassage should be given another and himself left naked without any rewards or provision for his subsistance 196 197 too bashful 199 Wynwood Sir Ralph Embassadour in the Netherlands how contemned there 331. Y. YElverton Sir Henry 310 Ynoiosa Marquesse Embassadour in England his ill Offices here and false informations 40 41 50. endeavours to stain the Prince of Wales his honour 52. See Olivarez for the Duke of Bavaria's pretences 167 Young Patrick 94 Z. ZAnten Treatie 318 Zapara Cardinal Viceroy of Naples 188 Zutenstein of Utrecht 317 Books Printed for William Lee. D. Pakeman Ga. Bedel REports of certain Cases Arising in the several Courts of Records at VVestminster in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth King James and the late King Charles with the resolutions of the Judges of the said Courts upon debate and solemn Arguments Collected and lately reviewed by Justice Godbold in Quarto The Touchstone of common assurances by William Sheppard Esquire in Quarto The whole office of a Countrey Justice of Peace both in Sessions and out of Sessions with an Abridgement of all the Acts and Ordinances of Parliament relating to the office of a Justice of Peace in Octavo A Collection of several Acts of Parliament published in the yeares 1648 1649 1650 1651. very useful especially for Justices of Peace and other Officers in the execution of their duties and Administration of Justice with several Ordinances of the like concernment by Henry Scobel Esquire Clark of the Parliament in Folio A Collection of several Acts of Parliament which concern the Adventurers of Ireland by Henry Scobel Esquire Clark of the Parliament in folio A General Table to all the several Books of the Reports of the Lord Cook with two Tables one of the principal Cases the other of the general Titles arising out of the matter of the Reports done into English in Octavo The new Natura Brevium of the Reverend Judge Mr. Antho. Fitzherbert with the Authorities of Law Collected out of the year-Books an Abridgment with Writs and return of Writs translated into English never before Printed in octavo The Grounds and Maximes of the Lawes of England by William Noy Esquire in Octavo The Atturney's Academy being the manner of proceedings in all the Courts of Record at VVestminster and other Courts of Law and Equity in Quarto An excellent Treatise entituled For the Sacred Lawes of the Land by Francis White Esquire in Octavo De Priscis Anglorum Legibus being the ancient Lawes of England in Saxon and Latine out of the Authors Mr. Lambert own Manuscript Copy published with the Additions of Mr. Wheelock of Cambridge in folio Reports and Pleas of Assises at York held before several Judges in that Circuity with some Presidents useful for pleaders at the Assises never Englished before in Octavo Reports or Cases in Chancery collected by Sir George Cary one of the Masters of the Chancery in Octavo A perfect Abridgment of the Eleven Books of the Reports of the Lord Cook written in French by Sir John Davis and now Englished in Duodecimo Reports or new Cases of Law by John March in Quarto Statuta pacis containing all Statutes in order of time that concern a Justice of Peace in Duodecimo Three Learned Readings the first by the Lord Dyer of Wils second by Sir John Brograve of Joyntures third by Thomas Risden of forcible Entryes in quarto The Learned Arguments of the Judges of the Upper Bench upon the Writ of Habeas Corpus with the opinion of the Court thereupon in Quarto The Book of Oaths with the several forms of them both Antient and
reason I think it will appear how well grounded their complaints be Upon those two former Anchors I will therefore rest and that so far from Cowardlinesse that I will either challenge them before his Majestie to make good their suggestions or else which I hold the greater valour of all and which I confesse I wanted before this check of your Lordships go on in my Course and scorn all these base and unworthy scandals as your Lordship shall direct me I have sent a Copy of a Letter of mine to my Lord Anan which his Majestie hath seen and given his assent it should not be kept private yet I would humbly crave your Lordships opinion thereof by Mr. Packer before any Copy goeth from me I am ever c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 12th Octob. 1622. My most Noble Lord I Will speak with the Jesuit to morrow and deliver him his admonition from the King but do send your Lordship here inclosed a Copie of the Conference which I procured from him without his privity onely to make his Majestie and your Lordship merrie I have also received a Letter concerning the French Embassador which I will be ready to put in execution as your Lordships servant and Deputy but not otherwise Yet your Lordship will give me out of that freedom which was wont to be well interpreted by your Lordship to let your Lordship understand that I find all businesses of restitution of ships and goods thus taken to have been handled before the Councel in Star-chamber all the reigns of Henry 7th and H. 8th without any contradiction of the Lord Admiral for the time being But this to your Lordship in secret I will be very careful of the Earl of Desmond that neither his cause nor your Lordships reputation shall suffer thereby And this is the account I can yet give of your Lordships Letter save that I humbly expect that answer which your Lordships own Luckie hand hath promised in the postscript of one of them I would ease your Lordship in this place but to prevent complaint that peradventure may be first invented and then presented Your Lordship shall heare of a long narrative of our Councel Table dispatches That passage of our letter which as it now goeth doth hope that his Majestie will spare to confer any suites of moment in Ireland until the return of the Irish Committee was a blunt request to the King to grant no suites there without our advice Against this concluded in my absence the first day of the Tearm I spake first to the Prince privately who allowed of my reasons then when the President would not mend it at the Table openly that I did utterly dislike we should tutour his Majesty how to grant suits especially in Letters that are to remain upon record My Lord of Cantuar and the Earle Marshal said they had many Presidents in that kind I answered I knew they had none but in the Kings time and that I wished them as I do all torn out of the book and cast into the fire I concealed my reasons which now I will reveal unto your Lordship because this is the third time I have expressed unto your Lordship under my hand my dislike of this kind of Limiting his Majestie otherwise then by word of mouth First if his Majestie which we see so often done shall dispose of these suites otherwise here are so many records remaining to malitious men to observe his Majesties aversenesse from following the advice of the Councel board Secondly if your Lordship shall procure any suit in this kind here are records also in time to come that you crosse and thwart the government of the Kingdom And I pray God this be but mine own jealousie The passage in the Letter with my Prating and his Highnesse help was altered and for fear of misreporting I make bold to relate the truth hereof to your Lordship My Lords proceeded very resolutely in those reformations which concerned other men The Commission of fees enables the Committees to call before them all the Judges as well as their under Officers which was more then the King exprest at Hampton Court amongst whom the Lord Keeper is one who from the Conquest to this day was never subjected to the call of any power in the Kingdom but the King and the Parliament And although I have not one Pennie of Fee which hath not continued above one hundred years yet for the honour of the Prime place in the state though now disgraced by the contemptiblenesse of the Officer I am an humble suiter unto your Lordship that my Person may be exempted from the command of Sr. Edwin Sandys or indeed any man els besides the King my Master Otherwise I shall very patiently endure it but the King hereafter may dislike it The Justices of the Peace are also appointed but if the Judges and my self be not utterly deceived to no purpose in the world nor service to his Majestie But when their Lordships came to surrender the under Leivtenantships to his Majesties hands whom the Lord President and I held fit to be created henceforward by several Commissions under the Great Seal it was stiffly opposed and stood upon that the King should name them in their Lordships Commissions onely according to a President in the late Queens time that is the King shall have the naming but they still the appointing of them And now it was pressed that his Majestie intended not to disgrace his Lords c and your Lordship is to have a Letter from Mr. Secretarie to know his Majesties mind herein If his Majestie shall not ordain them to be created by several Pattents it were better a great deal they should continue as they do I am very tedious in the manner and peradventure in the matter of this Letter I humbly crave pardon c. Passages between the Lord Keeper and Don Francisco HE was very inquisitive if I had already or intended to impart what he had told me the night before in secret to any man to the which he did adde a desire of secresie Because 1. The King had charged him and the Frier to be very secret 2. The Embassadours did not know that he had imparted these things unto me 3. The Popes were secret instructions which they gave to the Fryer to urge and presse the same points which himself had done to the King He confessed that the greatest part of the Friers instructions were to do all the worst offices he could against the Duke and to lay the breach of the marriage and disturbance of the peace upon him He excused the bringing the Copy of that paper unto me because the Marquesse had it yet in his custody but said he would procure it with all speed I desired him to do it the rather because besides my approbation of the form and manner of the writing I might be by it instructed how to apply my self to do his Majestie service therein as I found by that Conference
his Majesties bent and inclination He having understood that there was though a close yet an indissoluble friendship betwixt the Duke and my self desired me to shew some way how the Duke might be won unto them and to continue the peace I answered I would pursue any fair course that should be proposed that way but for my self that I never meddled with matters of State or of this nature but was onely imployed before this journey of the Prince's in matters of mine own Court and in the Pulpit He desired to know if they might rely upon the King whom onely they found peaceably addicted otherwise they would cease all mediation and prepare for War I answered That he was a King that never broke his word and he knew what he had said unto them He commended much the courage and resolution of the Lord Treasurer which I told him we all did as a probable sign of his innocency He said that the Marquesse had dispatched three Curreos and expected large Propositions from Spain to be made unto his Majestie concerning the present restitution of the Palatinate And that if this failed they were at an end of Treaty and the Embassadours would forthwith return home 11th April 1622. The Lord Keeper to the Duke May it please your Grace I Received your Graces Letter by Mr. Killegrew so full of that sweetnesse as could never issue from any other Fountain then that one breast so fraught with all goodnesse and virtue Dick Winne may write freely as he talks but alas what can my wretched self perform that should deserve the least acknowledgment from him to whom I owe so infinitely much more then the sacrificing of my life amounts to onely my love makes me sometimes write and many times fear fondly and foolishly for the which I hope your Grace will pardon me I have been frighted more about three weeks since about quarrels and jarres which now Dick Greyhams hath related in part unto the King then at this present I am For Gods sake be not offended with me if I exhort you to do that which I know you do to observe his Highnesse with all lowlinesse humility and dutiful obedience and to piece up any the least seam-rent that heat and earnestnesse might peradventure seem to produce I know by looking into my self these are the symptomes of good natures And for Gods sake I beg it as you regard the prayers of a poor friend if the great negotiation be well concluded let all private disagreements be wrapped up in the same and never accompany your Lordships into England to the joy and exultation of your enemies if any such ingrateful Divels are here to be found I am in good earnest and your Lordship would believe it if your Grace saw but the tears that accompany these lines I beseech you in your Letter to the Marquesse Hamilton intimate unto him your confidence and reliance upon his watchfulnesse and fidelity in all turns which may concern your Grace I have often lied unto his Lordship that your Grace hath in many of my Letters expressed as much and so have pacified him for the time If we did know but upon whom to keep a watchful eye for disaffected reports concerning your service it is all the intelligence he and I do expect His Majestie as we conceive is resolved to take certain oaths which you have sent hither and I pray God afterward no farther difficulties be objected I have had an hours discourse with his Majestie yesterday morning and do find him so disposed towards your Lordship as my heart desireth yet hath been informed of the discontentments both with the Conde de Olivarez and the Earl of Bristol Here is a strange Creation passed of late of a Vice-Counteship of Maidenhead passed to the Heires Males who must be called hereafter Vice-Countesse Fynch But my Lady Dutchesse hath the Land and as they say hath already sold it to my Lord Treasurer or shared it with him I stayed the Patent until I was assured your Lordship gave way thereunto My good Lord because I have heard that they have in those parts a conceipt of our church as that they will not believe we have any Liturgie or Book of common prayer at all I have at mine own cost caused the Liturgy to be translated into Spanish and fairely Printed and do send you by this bearer a Couple of the Books one for his Highnesse the other for your Grace Not sending any more unlesse your Grace will give directions His Majestie was acquainted therewith and alloweth of the businesse exceedingly The Translator is a Dominican a zealous Protestant and a good Scholer and I have secured him to our Church with a Benefice and a good Prebend Because we expect every day the dispatching of Sr. Francis Cottington thitherward I will not trouble your Grace farther at this time but do earnestly pray unto God to blesse your Grace both now and ever hereafter with all his favours and blessings spiritual and temporal And rest c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 30. Aug. 1623. My it please your Grace I Have no businesse of the least Consideration to trouble your Grace withal at this time but that I would not suffer Mr. Greyham to return without an expression of my respect and obligation I would advertize your Grace at large of the course held with our Recusants but that I know Mr. Secretary is injoyned to do so who best can His Majestie at Salisbury having referred the suit of these Embassadors to the Earl of Carlile and Mr. Secretary Conway sent by their resolutions some articles unto us the Lord Treasurer Secretary Calvert Sir Richard VVeston and my self to this effect 1. To grant a pardon of all offences past with a dispensation for those to come to all the Roman Catholiques obnoxious to any laws made against the Recusants 2. And then to issue forth two general Commands under the Great Seal the first to all the Judges and Justices of the Peace anp the other to all Bishops Chancellours and Commissaries not to execute any Statute made against them Their general pardon we have passed and sent unto his Majestie from whence it is not returned in as full and ample manner as they could desire and pen it The other general and vast prohibition I prevailed with the rest of the Lords to stop as yet and gave in three dayes conference such reasons to the 2. Embassadors that although it is no easie matter to satifie the Caprichiousnesse of the Latter of them yet they were both content it should rest until the Infanta had been six Months in England My reason if it may please your Grace was this Although this general favour and connivence whereof there are 20. of the Prime Councel know nothing as yet must at last be known to all the Land yet is there a great difference between the publishing thereof A Golpe at one push as it were and that instilling of it into their knowledg by
who saw and approved all the opinions in this Book and he in his rare wisdom and judgment would never have allowed them if they had Crossed with truth and the Church of England 4. Fourthly we must be bold to say that we cannot conceive what use there can be of Civil Government in the common Wealth or of preaching and external ministrie in the Church if such fatall opinions as some which are opposite and contrarie to these delivered by Mr. Mountague are shall be Publiquely taught and maintained 5. Fiftly we are certain that all or most of the contrarie opinions were treated of at Lambeth and ready to be published but then Queen Elizabeth of famous memorie upon notice given how little they agreed with the Practice of pietie and obedience to all Government caused them to be suppressed and so they have continued ever since till of late some of them have received countenance at the Synod of Dort Now this was a Synod of that nation and can be of no authority in any other National Church till it be received there by Publique authority And our hope is that the Church of England will be well advised and more then once over before Shee admit a forraign Synod especiallie of such a Church as condemneth her discipline and manner of Government to say no more And further we are bold to commend to your Graces wisdom this one particular His Majestie as we have been informed hath already taken this businesse into his own care and most worthily referred it in a right course to Church-consideration And we well hoped that without further trouble to the state or breach of unity in the Church it might so have been well and orderly composed as we still pray it may These things considered we have little to say for Mr. Mountagues person onely thus much we know He is a very good Scholler and a right honest man A man every way able to do God his Majestie and the Church of England great service We fear he may receive great discouragement and which is far worse we have some cause to doubt this may bred a great backwardnesse in able men to write in the defence of the Church of England against either home or forraign adversaries if they shall see him sink in fortunes reputation or health upon his book occasion And this we most humbly submit to your Graces judgment and care of the Churches peace and welfare So recommending your Grace to the protection of Almighty God We shall ever rest At your Graces service Jo. Roffens Jo. Oxon. Guil Meneven 2. August 1625. Doctor Field Bishop of Landaffe to the Duke My Gracious Good Lord IN the great Library of men that I have studied these many yeares your Grace is the best Book and most Classick authour that I have read in whom I find so much goodnesse sweetnesse and noblenesse of nature such an Heroick spirit for boundlesse bounty as I never did in any I could instance in many some of whom you have made Deanes some Bishops some Lords and Privy Councellours None that ever looked toward your Grace did ever go empty away I need go no farther then my self a gum of the Earth whom some 8. years ago you raised out of the dust for raysing but a thought so high as to serve your Highnesse Since that I have not played the Truant but more diligently studied you then ever before And yet Dunce that I am I stand at a stay and am a Non-proficient the book being the same that ever it was as may appear by the great proficiencie of others This wonderfully poseth me and sure there is some guile some wile in some of my fellow Students who hide my book from me or some part of it All the fault is not in mine own blockishnesse that I thrive no better I once feared this before that some did me ill offices Your Grace was pleased to protest no man had and to assure me no man could My heart tels me it hath been alwaies upright and is still most faithful unto you I have examined my actions my words and my very thoughts and found all of them ever since most sound unto your Grace Give me leave after so long Patience for which vertue you were once pleased to commend me to my old Master King James and I have not yet lost it now that for these 12 Months almost I have been not onely upon the Stage but upon the rack of expectations even distracted between hope and fear to comfort my self with recordation of your Loving kindnesses of old when on that great feast day of your being inaugured our Chancellour my look was your booke wherein you read sadnesse to which I was bold to answer I trusted your Grace would give me no cause You replyed with losse of blood rather that was your noble expression But God forbid so precious an effusion I would emptie all my veins rather then you should bleed one drop when as one blast of your breath is able to bring me to the haven where I would be My Lord I am grown an old man and am like old Househouldstuffe apt to be broke upon often removing I desire it therefore but once for all be it Eli or Bathe and Wells and I will spend the remainder of my dayes in writing an History of your good deeds to me and others whereby I may vindicate you from the envie and obloquy of this present wicked age wherein we live and whilest I live in praying for your Grace Whose I am totallie and finallie Theophilus Landaven The Bishop of Landaffe to the Duke My most honourable good Lord IT is meet before I beg a new that I should first acknowledge those benefits and more specially give thanks for the last noble favour your Lordship did me in standing up the last day of Parliament and pleading my cause Never was poor man more bound to a gracious Lord for protecting his innocencie and it came seasonable like a showr of rain in the time of drouth My very heart was parched with grief till it came and it had ere this been broken had not your Lordships speech then dropt comfort in strength whereof it yet lives For an abortive thought which never came into act some 2. or 3. years ago conceived and that tending to a work of mercy and charitie a deed of justice and due thankfulnesse how far how foulie have I been traduced your Honour cannot imagine how deeply I have been wounded in my good name as if I had deserved deprivation degradation yea to be hanged drawn and quartered This can none cure but God or the King Deus in monte God hath done his part in providing an occasion Besides London which is too high for me to look after and the removes which may be thereby Hertford the next Seat to mine whither my Predecessors have oft been removed is said to be now void Now good my Lord speak once more seasonably It is a doubled and
one day be your self and be governed by your own noble thoughts and then I am assured to obtain what I desire since my desires be so reasonable and but for mine own Which whether you grant or no the affliction my poor husband is in if it continue will keep my mind in a continual purgatorie for him and will suffer me to sign my self no other but Your unfortunate Sister F. Purbeck Dr. Donne to the Marquesse of Buckingham 13th Septemb. 1621. My most honoured Lord I Most humbly beseech your Lordship to afford this ragg of paper a room amongst your evidences It is your evidence not for a Mannour but for a man As I am a Priest it is my sacrifice of prayer to God for your Lordship and as I am a Priest made able to subsist and appear in Gods service by your Lordship it is a sacrifice of my self to you I deliver this paper as my Image and I assist the power of any Conjurer with this imprecation upon my self that as he shall tear this paper this picture of mine so I may be torn in my fortune and in my fame if ever I have any corner in my heart dispossessed of a zeal to your Lordships service His Majestie hath given me a royal Key into your Chamber leave to stand in your presence and your Lordship hath already such a fortune as that you shall not need to be afraid of a suitor when I appear there So that I protest to your Lordship I know not what I want since I cannot suspect nor fear my self for ever doing or leaving undone any thing by which I might forfeit that title of being alwaies Your Lordships c. J. D. Dr. Donne to the Duke My Honoured Lord ONce I adventured to say to the Prince his Highnesse That I was sure he would receive a book from me the more gratiously because it was dedicated to your Grace I proceed justlie upon the same confidence that your Grace will accept this because it is his by the same title If I had not overcome that reluctation which I had in my self of representing devotions and mortifications to a young and active Prince I should not have put them into your presence who have done so much and have so much to do in this world as that it might seem enough to think seriously of that No man in the bodie of storie is a full president to you nor may any future man promise himself and adaequation to his precedent if he make you his Kings have discerned the seeds of high virtues in many men and upon that Gold they have put their stamp their favours upon those persons But then those persons have laboured under the jealousie of the future Heire And some few have had the love of Prince and King but not of the Kingdom and some of that too and not of the Church God hath united your Grace so to them all that as you have received obligations from the King and Prince so you have laid obligations upon the Church and state They above love you out of their judgement because they have loved you and we below love you out of our thankfulnesse because you have loved us Gods privie Seal is the testimonie of a good conscience and his broad-Seal is the outward bessings of this life But since his Pillar of fire was seconded with a Pillar of Cloud and that all his temporal blessings have some partial Eclipses and the purest consciences some remorses so though he have made your way to Glorie Glorie and brought you in the armes and bosome of his Vicegerent into his own arms and bosome yet there must come a minute of twilight in a natural death And as the reading of the actions of great men may assist you for great actions so for this one necessarie descent of dying which I hope shall be the onely step of Lownes that ever you shall passe by and by that late you may receive some Remembrances from the Meditations and Devotions of Your Graces Devoutest Servant J. Donne Sir John Hipsley to the Duke My Noble Lord I Find that all my Lord of Bristols actions are so much extolled that what you command me to say is hardly believed I will say no more in it but leave the rest to Mr Greihams only this that you have written much to the King in some mans behalf and Mr. Gresley hath a 100. a year given him during his life all which I think is without your knowledge And Mr. Killegrew hath the like that came for your sake after the other was granted Mr. Greihams can tell you how that came My Lord of Southampton hath offered his son to marrie with my Lord Treasurers Daughter and tells him this reason that now is the time he may have need of friends but it is refused as yet the event I know not what that will be I have spoken to the King of all that you gave me in command and he doth protest that what he hath done was meerly for your sake and indeed he is very careful of all your businesse as if you were here your self but yet for Gods sake make what haste you may home for fear of the worst For the carriage of Captain Hall I will not trouble you till you come home only this by the way that my Lord Treasurer hath it but upon what tearms I know not nor indeed desire you should be troubled with it Sir George Goring came home but this last night and is gone to the Court and desires to be excused for writing to you My Ladie Hatton and my Ladie Purbeck came home with him from the Hague My Lord of Arundel hath not been at Court since the death of his son I fear the newes that Charles Gleman did shew you was true For I can assure you Marquesse Hamilton was much troubled till I had spoken with him There be some have done no good offices betwixt you Pray have a care of the Letter I mean the man Mr. Gleman did shew you and keep as many friends as you may I have spoken with no man but my Lord Keeper who is yours or not his own as he sweares And Mr. secretarie Conway is yours bodie and soul I never heard of the like of him for he flies at all men that be not yours Here is much admiration that they hear not from you but I thank God the King is not troubled at it for I do assure him that it is the better that he heares not from you for now he may be confident that you keep your day in comming away which doth much please him I will write nothing of my own businesse though there be nothing done in it but do hope that you will not see your Servant perish If I be too tedious I pray pardon mee it is my love that makes me so and yet I have an humble suite unto you which is to begg at your hands for patience for now is the time to shew it or
Zealand When I call to mind what Patents I procured of the King of Bohemia and sent your Grace by Sir William Saint Lieger amongst which was one of submission to any accommodation his Majestie shall at any time like well of for the King of Bohemia I think it necessary to advertize your Grace that knowledge being come hither of the Infanta's sending the Count Shomburgh to the King of Denmark with a fair Message and the Count Gondomar's overtures to Mr. Trumbal tending to reconcilement and restitution of the Palatinate it is so willingly hearkned unto by the King of Bohemia that there is no doubt of his Consent but withal he well considers that if Treatie alone be trusted unto and thereupon Armes now leavied by his Majestie and his Friends be laid aside all will prove as fruitlesse as formerly For howsoever the King of Spain for more free prosecution of other quarrels or designs may be induced to quit what he possesseth in the Palatinate the shares the Emperour the Duke of Bavier and the two Electours Majenct and Trevers with a great rabble of Popish Priests and Jesuites have therein will require more then bare negotiation to wring it out of their hands and nothing but Victorie or at least a well armed Treatie can serve that turn The time seems long both to the King and Queen and growes very irksome every day more then other of their abode here in this place which indeed doth prove in all respects very uncomfortable and that your Grace will gather out of Mr. Secretarie Morton's report and my Letters to my Lord Conway In this very Consideration I beseech your Grace be the more mindful of Your Graces Most humble and most devoted servant Dudley Carleton Hague 20th of August 1625. FINIS The Table of things most remarkable A. ADmiral of England his Office p. 102 of Castile takes place of the Imperial Embassadour 165 Aerscus 342 Algier Voyage 143 144 Allegiance Puritanes will not swear it 121 Alpes when passable 186 Anchre Marshal of France 320 Archbishop of Canterbury shoots a Keeper by mischance 12. see tit James King c. for the Palsgraves accepting the Bohemian Crown 169 170 Archbishop of York against Toleration of Popery blames the Voyage into Spain 13 Argile Earl 291 Arminians chief in the Dutch State 322 Arundel Earl Marshal no friend to the Bishop of Lincoln 62 63 74 302 307 316. Ashley Sir Anthony gives the Duke of Buckingham intelligence of Plots against him 308 Aston Sir Walter will not consent that the Prince Palsgrave should be brought up in the Emperours Court 17 see Bristol Earl Concurs with the Earl of Bristol in prefixing a day for the Deposorio's without making certain the restitution of the Palatinate which is heynously taken by the Prince 35. in danger for it to be called off there 36 37. His Care to discover Plots against his Masters Crownes 49 51 53. of the Merchants 168. see Merchants Prosecutes the Marquesse of Ynoiosa in defence of the honour of England 52. sues to return home 52 54. will not see the Arch-Duke in Spain and why 166 AustrianVsurpation 191. See tit Spain B. BAcon Viscount St. Albans Lord Chancellour declines all Justification of himself 5 6. Casts himself upon the Lords 6 Discontents the Marquesse of Buckingham 8. his wayes to make the Kingdom happy 9 advises King James concerning his revenues devises a book of his estate there-how he carried himself when a Councellour and otherwise how esteemed 10. Never took bribe to pervert Justice 11. his pardon 60 82 Barnevelt 318 factious no friend to the English an Arminian 331 Bavaria Duke offers to depend wholly on Spain 167. see Palatinate Beamont Lord fined in the Star-Chamber 16. E. 2. 58 Bergen besieged 328 Bergstrate given the Archbishop of Mentz 335 Blanvile the French Embassadour an enemy to the Duke of Buckingham holds intelligence with the Dukes English enemies 295. his Character by the French 300. See 274 296 197 302. Blundel Sir George 129 Book of Common Prayer translated into Spanish and why 73. See Spaniards Borgia Cardinal 178 Bovillon Duke 165. seeks the protection from the States united 320. weary of the Palsgrave 327 Brandenburgh Elector 317 336 Bret a Peusioner in disgrace 204 Bristol Earl first mover in the Spanish Match negotiates in it 16. Earnest to conclude it 24 25 26 306 ohidden by the King Charles for giving the Spaniards hopes of his inclination to a change in Religion for his manage of things concerning the Match and undervaluing the Kingdome of England 16 17. Consents that the Prince Palsgrave shall be bred in the Emperors Court which the King Charles takes ill 17. Proffered by the King the favour of the general pardon or to put himself upon his tryal 18. under restraint for his errours in Spain 19. removed from his offices forbidden the Court denyed his Parliament Writ there Justifies himself 19 20. to King James 30. Differs in opinion from the Duke of Buckingham concerning the Match 21. Seeks the Duke of Buckingham his savour 28. charged to be his enemy his wisdome and power at Court 161 162. Conde of Olivarez offers him a blank paper signed by the King bids him choose what was in his Masters power he refuses 42 Brule Peter his practises 302 Buckingham Duke his carriage and esteem in Spain 16 22. See Olivarez contemns the Earl of Bristol 22. See Bristol an enemy to him 231 The Spaniards will not put the Infanta into his hands 22 thought an enemy to the Match with Spain 32 92 159 218 219 222 237 243 248 Censured 159 160 218 219 221 222 263 210. Forgives wrongs 58 Steward of VVestminster 69 Haughty to the Prince of VVales 78 Used to sit when the Prince stood c. 221 falls from his affection to VVilliams Lord Keeper 87. See Don Francisco his power 91 King James his words of him on Don Francisco's relation 92 Mediates for the Earl of Suffolk 125 No audience of Embassadours without him 216. taxed to King James freely 218 219 220 221 223. defended 224 225 226 227. a faithful servant 229 Charge against him in Parliament 228 229 230 Procures graces for the Nobility and Gentry 231 Breaks the Spanish Designes and Party 265 for the Match with France 291 A Consederacy by Oath against him 307 308 The Queen of England had need of his friendship 303 Dares submit the judgment of his Actions to any tryal 87 Buckingham Countesse 254 302 Buckleugh Lord 327 329 Button Sir Thomas in the Voyage of Algier 143 144. C. CAlcedon a titulary Roman Bishop in England 81 Calvert Sir George 202. See 304. Carlile Earl Viscount Doncaster loves not the Bishop of Lincoln 74 89. See 180 182. perswades King James to feed his Parliament so he with some crums of the Crown 270. refuses See 288. Count Mansfelts Commission for Colonel to his son 273 Carlos Arch-Duke in Spain 165 Calderon Don Rodrigo Marquesse de las Siete Iglesias his Riches confined 208
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 undergoe 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 since my want both of conveniency and learning would make me fall very short herein but it shall bee enough for me to intimate my conceptions and to offer them up unto you in their own simple and naked forme leaving to your better Judgment the examination of the waight of them and after perusal of them beseeching you to reduce me if you perceive me to erre It is evident that the Authors intention in this Canto is to describe the body of man informed with a rational soule and in prosecution of that designe he setteth down particularly the several parts of the one and the faculties of the other But in this Stanza he comprehendeth the general description of them both as being joyned together to frame a compleat man they make one perfect compound which will appear better by taking a survey of every several Clause thereof by it selfe The frame thereof seem'd partly circuler And part trianguler By these figures I conceive that he meaneth the Mind and the Body of man the first being by him compared to a Circle and the latter to a Triangle for as the Circle of all figures is the most perfect and includeth the greatest space and is every way full and without angles made by the continuation of one onely line so mans soul is the noblest and most beautiful creature that God hath created and by it we are capable of the greatest gifts which God can bestow which are Grace Glory and Hypostatical union of the humane Nature to the divine and she enjoyeth perfect freedom and liberty in all other actions and is made without composition which no figures are that have angles for they are caused by the coincidence of several lines but of one pure substance which was by God breathed into a body made of such compounded earth as in the preceding Stanza the Author describeth and this is the exact image of him that breathed it representing him as fully as it is possible for any creature which is infinitely distant from the Creator For as God hath neither beginning nor ending so neither of these can be found in a Circle although that being made of the successive motion of a line it must be supposed to have a beginning somewhere God is compared to a circle whose center is every where but whose Circumference no where but mans soul is a circle whose circumference is limited by the true center of it which is only God For as a circumference doth in all parts alike respect that indivisible point and as all lines drawn from the inner side of it do make right angles with it when they meet therein so all the interior actions of mans soul ought to have no other respective point to direct themselves unto but God and as long as they make right angles which is that they keep the exact middle of vertue and decline not to either of the sides where the contrary vices dwell they cannot fail but meet in their Center By the Trianguler figure he very aptly designeth the Body For as the