Castello Rodrigo Signior Gondomar if there remaine any more newes from England impart it freely we are I hope of one minde Quoth the Arch-bishop of Toledo I haue heard that since this little time of respite and freedome wherein the Catholique Religion hath taken breath a little there haue beene many miracles done in England Yes assuredly very many quoth Gondomar I heard it credibly reported for a truth that St. Patricke visibly appeared to many Religious Priests and Friers at his Purgatory This is as true as St. Francis cate a Spider and scratched her againe out of his thigh confirming and preaching vnto them dayly prophesing moreouer a great time of percution ere long to befall vpon them Moreouer our Blessed Lady appeared to an English mayd arraied as bright as the Sunne with the Moone vnder her feete whereupon she became wholy to be conuerted Catholique No doubt quoth the Duke of Medina Coeli many of this Nature are meere impostures what thinke you my L. Arch-bishop No question quoth Gonzales de Cordua I cannot be perswaded that that which they call the holy Blood of Boxall which the Bradanders and all the Netherlands visit in Pilgrimage and euery yeare lookes as red and fresh as if it had beene taken from the body but yesterday can be the very blood of Christ Nor that a young married wife shall haue a child the same yeare if she can stride ouer at once Saint Rombauts breeches at Mechlin Nor that as many of the Hollanders hold that Mary was buried at Hueclom for which cause it hath beene in times past a place by Pilgrimes much frequented since we hold her Assumption into heauen for quoth the Arch-bishop Signior Gonzales these are Contraria in eodem obiecto you are a Souldier and you know for the most part they are none of the deuoutest men I wish you rather modestly and piously with the Church that all these things are true Abuses may creepe in by accident but neuer to be publickly allowed by the Sacred Authority of the Church No how chanced it replied Gonzales that a Painter of Shertogenbosch my Lord of Gorbhendonck gouernour of the Towne I my selfe haue often seen the picture though neuer worshipped it told me the tale beeing deadly in loue with a faire and beautifull Lady neere to Pirroy Huesden and being to drawe our Ladies Image for a Chappell either in St. Iohns or some other Church in the Bosch The Church of Rome like one of her Images take off the golden coate of ceremony vnderneath it is rubbish or a rotten block to insinuate himselfe the farther into this Ladies fauour drewe her picture with her young sonne in her armes which he hung vp for our blessed Ladies picture and is at this day worshipped with great deuotion as if her selfe were discended from heauen and were there in person I cannot beleeue quoth the Arch-bishop there was any such thing if there were so long as it brings in good store of mony to the poore Priests of the Church it may easily be endured besides if these things should be ouer narrowly looked into it would hazard the credit of the Catholicke Church betraying to the vulgar and ignorant her greatest mysteries and as it were pulling off her fairest plumes expose her naked to vulgar scorne and contempt But the D. of Escalono who had sitten silent this good while now stepping vp sayd the end of our present assembly is not to trouble our selues about these by discourses and triuiall matters now it stands vs in hand to looke to our selues to prouide money men and all necessaries for the warre with all speed holding it fit to call home our Embassadour who I beleeue hereafter is like to get no better answere concerning our affaires with England then Mendoza did of Henry Cary Baron of Hunsdon and Lord Chamberlaine in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth who beeing commanded by the Q. to giue him his answere she denying him accesse by reason say the English his demaunds were insolent and vnreasonable told him the Queene hath commanded me to answere you my answere is Setting your Oranges and Limmons aside a figge for your Embassage his meaning was sauing for sause for their Hennes and Capons they could liue neither caring for vs nor our Country A Banquet sent out of Spaine to Prince Charles not long since It seemeth quoth Villa Hermosa they care not much for that neither for when as a various and a delicate Banquet such as Spaine afforded was sent ouer whether by your selfe my L. Olivares your Lady or some other to the Prince of Wales I heard that the Prince touched not any whit of it but the figges and other iunkettings were giuen some to one some to another and at last refused euen of Boyes and Pages for feare there should be dropped in a figge or two worse rellished then their fellowes Then Castello Rodrigo stood vp and sayd Spice the English are so bufie at home to prouide for themselues and happily to offend some body else whom yet we know not let vs also timely prouide least we be to seeke paries cum proximus ardet and like true hearted Patriots and loyall Subiects to our Catholique King and Country euery one sincerely and freely deliuer his opinion and reasons how our Religion our selues friends and allyes might be best secured in case the storme should fall on our heads for this was the maine end of our meeting Then quoth the Duke of Medina Signior Gondomar since you are best acquainted with the state and affaires of England giue your aduise what is best to be done whither to haue open warre with them to wind them vp still with new pretences and ouertures of the Match or to entertaine a seeming league of amity and vnity and the Infanta to take her Fortune else where For the first quoth Gondomar I vtterly disallow it that we vpon no apparant ground Spaine vnwilling to be at oddes with England and probable reason should prouoake so potent and irreconcilable a Nation who are content to let vs alone so that they may enioy their peace and quiet you know the danger of awaking a sleepie Lyon but hereof by the way I will tell you a pretty and a pleasant accident of a sleepie dogge that happened at my beeing in England one D. W. well knowne about Paules and Feete-streete in London a place whereto I many times resorted for some priuate occasion finding his Dogge a great huge Mastiue lying fast a sleepe by his Kitchin fire A tale of D. W. Dogge sayd to a friend that stood by my Dogge is fast a sleepe I will to wake him go hallow in his eare hee no sooner began to hallow but the Dogge vsed to no such alarmes leaped vp and laying his forefeete on his Maisters shoulders tare him downe on eyther cheeke from the eyes almost to the mouth Let vs by no meanes hallow in the eares of the English For first we are not so
in the world should bring forth such a monster as a traytor to his Country or allow bread to any owne so vnnaturally base as to draw his sword and side with an enemy against her I will say that for our Spaine I do not remember or euer had read that shee afforded a Traytor or so much as one that serued a sworne enemy against her Prince By your fauour quoth Lewes de Velasco what Country-man was he of Count Iohn of Nassau's regiment that tooke the Admirant of Arragon prisoner at the battaile of Neuport It is true quoth Gonzales de Cordua he was a Spaniard but examples hereof are very rare Quoth Gondomar so they are and though England be the colder Country yet it hath bred more venemous Creatures of this Nature then euer Spaine yea euen vnder the Sunne-shine of their mildest and most moderate gouerments Whence quoth the Duke of Escalona should this proceede I will tell you quoth Gondomar my opinion the English naturally are desirous of nouelties and innouations and as it were sicke in the soft beds of their long liberty peace and plenty which they enioy vnder as wise and as good a King as euer liued they suppose nothing wanteth to their full happinesse but change and variety I must liken them to Giotto of Florence his Asse who when he went along with a rich saddle of beaten gold on his backe with a Crowne and Scepter lying thereon yet he could not choose but smell vpon a Carriers packe-saddle as it lay at an Inne doore Hence are strangers the most admired and entertayned amongst them and if of quality preferred many times to place and preferment before the English though perhaps their are many who deserue better I haue seene their a torne and tatter'd French Lacquay but as this day arriued out of France and the next he hath ietted in the Court in his Tissue or Scarlet at the least what preferment came that arch-hypocrite Spalato vnto Ascanio the Frier who left his wife in St. Martins lane and ranne againe to his Order And a poore and ignorant Italian Mountebanke sought after for his skill as if Aesculapius or Machaon were againe raised from the dead yea when but a Spanish gowne happily of the Embassadors Lady or of her gentlewoman how was it sought after by Ladies and Taylors for the fashion happy was she that could first get her into the Spanish fashion to their no small charge the Spanish garments exceeding all other in fulnesse compasse and length which by this time it may be they haue conuerted into Cushions My Lords you would hardly haue forborne laughter to haue heard how I haue beene enquired after for Maisters for the Spanish tongue that I may say nothing of so many bills set vp in euery corner of the City by Professors nay I could haue no seruice almost done me of my Mullettors and Groomes for being employed in teaching the Spanish among Ladyes and their maydes though I knew I tell you English must be that they were to trust too when all was done Touching my selfe being Embassadour there from his Catholique Maiesty and the sole instrument in the Treaty for the match which the Catholiques there so long thirsted after if I should relate vnto you the particulars of mine owne entertainment you would I suppose imagine I told you wonders beyond beleefe for beside the great and gracious respect I found and fauors I receiued from his Maiesty of Great Brittaine and sundry of the Nobility who seemed wholy to be compounded of curtesie and Noblenesse there passed not a day wherein I was not visited by some of the best ranke or receiued some present or other from Catholique Gentlemen or their Ladyes so welcome was the very thought of the Spanish match vnto them I returning them againe with thankes large promises and apparant hopes of preferment when the time should come And be it spoken among our selues since wee are falling off from England I made better vse of their kindnesse then so for there were few Catholiques in England of note from whom in this regard I wrested not out a good round summe of money Sir Robert Cotton a great Antiquary I heare much complaineth of me that from his friends and aquaintance onely I got into my purse the summe at the least of ten thousand pounds I deny it not and true it is I borrowed of the good old Lady W. of the Parish in St. Martins in the Feilds 300 pounds or thereabouts promising her repayment whereof I will not faile so soone as Donna Maria the Infanta should arriue in England and for the vse hereof I promised to make her mother of her maydes perswading her it was not fit that so graue and good a Lady as her selfe should lye obscured in priuate but rather attend vpon my young Mistresse the brauest and most hopefull Princesse of the World vpon these hopes she turned Catholique and since I neuer saw her I sold moreouer the place of Groomesse of her highnesse Stoole to six seuerall English Ladyes who were eager of it only cause be they might take place before their fellowes I lost nothing neither by a Noble Gentleman whom I caused to be knowne for a kinsman of the King my Mr. for that he was descended from the noble and ancient family of Aiala in Spaine these are but mites and crums in regard of those great presents and many pentions I had sent me vnder-hand from the Catholiques from all parts of England during my aboade there had my finger but aked or beene ill disposed as I often was in body I had sent me iewels sweet-meates perfumes linnen Rosewater and a thousand of such trifles only I returned them thenkes and promised them or their friends preferment when time serued If you were my Lord so nobly entertained in England quoth Braganza whence is it or vpon what occasion haue wee gotten to our selues the ill will and distast of that Nation I must confesse quoth Gondamer the common people of England beare generally an inbred spleene toward vs as it seemeth by many rude affronts we were offered there by the baser sort contrary to the will and pleasure of his Maiesty of great Brittany who published many Edicts and Proclamations in our behalfes punishing many times the offenders seuerely as they could be taken but why the name of a Spaniard should be so become odious vnto them is a question I cannot easily resolue Some thinke that there is a naturall antipathy or contrariety of affection betweene our disposition and theirs they liuing in the North and we in the South which being as Charron a French Author obserueth neerer to the Sunne the inhabitants are more crafty politique and religious though he his in that euen to superstition and Idolatry where as on the contrary those of the North howsoeuer goodlier in person better faced and more beautifull then our selues by reason of the coldnesse of the climate preseruing inwardly the naturall heate and radicall
Lady of great estate and of good credit by reason he was enuironed with a pestilent crew of puritans on euery side and the better to colour his absence from the Church learned the art of Cookery and is growne so expert therein within a short space that hee is able to dresse a Dinner with such arte and good meat after the English fashion that neuer a Cooke in all Spaine is able to set the like by it and his manner is when he hath layed his meate to the fire to goe and say Masse which finished by that time or soone after his meate is boyled and rosted which with a cleane Apron and white sleeues with some small helpe of a kitchin boy he serueth vp to his old mistris Erasmus Quoth the Arch-bishop this was the condition of the old Christians The number Preists Iosuits in London only is â—55 in a manner for euery parish two if Masse were vp againe vnder the persecuting Emperours of which times it is said Ingeniosares fuit illis temporibus esse Christianum Without doubt quoth Gondomar they will bee seuerely proceeded against in this present Parliament and that for many respects First by reason of their number and dayly increase whereby they became formidable to the State God be thanked the house is well rid of them Secondly because of the correspondence they held with vs for by their meanes wee vnderstood the secrets of their State knew what they did or spake in their Parliaments in a word they were our onely instruments for any imployment were it neuer so desperate Thirdly wherein I must needes say they were to blame they abused the Kings grace and Lenity towards them The Kings lenity abused with their insolency and affronts oft times brauing their Aduersaries in the streetes to their faces Preachers in their Pulpits Iudges and Iustices on the Bench that had they so done with vs in Spaine they should haue soundly smarted for it of what Religion soeuer they had been For example vpon Easter munday last in the after noone Aske Maistes Primrose of the truth hereof came a Iesuit formally attired in blacke to the Court then at White Hall the day following being the day of the Kings healing of that disease they call there the Kings euill what time a great throng of people of all sorts being gathered together at the doore of Serieant Primrose who was to take the names and to search such as had need of helpe thrust into the Chamber and being demaunded what businesse he had there faining himselfe to be in drinke made answer he had none neither knew he how he came there they seeing him in such a case would haue carried him into another roome and haue layd him vpon a bed but he refused it and hearing by chance Mr. Primrose and one Mr. White conferre in Latine together he suddainly brake out and said know you not such a one who attendeth vpon such a Lord he is my brother and a Catholique whereat Mr. White replyed I pray get you gone I care for no such company where vpon he would haue drawne his Dagger and had not companie been nigh he had doubtlesse slaine him and no sooner was hee out of the Chamber but he returned with three or foure more of his freinds and acquaintance daring him to come forth and deeply vowing to be reuenged vpon him and the rest within c. Fourthly No treason commonly without a Preist or Iesuit at one end of it because say the English they are the only engines and complots of all Treasons authors of Tumults and seditions within the land they instance long since the rebâ—ellion in the North of late the Gun-powder Treason Watsons plot with that of St. Walter Raleighes and many more the like Fift and lastly because their carriage not answering the reuerend and high dignity of their profession they are growne odious say they to those euen of their owne side for indeede they are the only boone Companions about the Towne loosing hereby much of their valew which I like not of St. Francis was reputed so holy a man After the naming of St. Francis you are to licke your lippes that the Popes Holinesse ordained that whosoeuer did but name St. Francis he should licke his lippes after so sweete and Saint-like was his life and conuersation Yet now I remember at my departure out of England I gaue it some of them in charge to get what they could of whom or by what meanes soeuer because I foresaw their haruest would be short and the money would stand vs all in stead for indeede the greatest part was at my deuotion and to be employed as I saw cause And this stirred vp one Gee an Apostate Calvinist to publish a pestilent and malicious against the Priests and Iesuites residing in and about London wherein after hee hath discouered their practises he setteth downe in a Catalogue at the end all their names with the places of their lodging what bookes they haue at any time published with the names of Catholique Doctors of Physicke and Apothecaries to their no small disgrace and praeiudice The things my L. quoth Sesa at your beeing in England were by your meanes wont to be seuerely looked into and punished It is true quoth Gondomar either hanging or losse of the Authors cares had ensued or else I had missed of my ayme but the case is now altered I was then powerfull and in grace and by my pollicy effected those things which were they now to be wrought againe would require the labour and all the strength of Hercules But my L. quoth the D. of Braganza what newes lately from England in what state stands things there and how doth D. Iniosa carry himselfe among the English at this turbulent season and amidst the deepest of their discontent displeasure against vs Well enough quoth Gondomar and the better if he be carefull to obserue some directions I gaue him at my last departure but for nouelty sake I will produce a Letter I receiued from him written with his owne hand within these few dayes My L. all health and happinesse euer attend our Soueraigne his Catholique Maiesty The Proclamation against Priests and Iesuites next your selfe and yours You are much desirous to know to heare what the English Parliament hath already effected or what they entend touching our selues and the Catholiques and the rather by your wisedome that you might preuent further dangers which if foreseene are euer the better encountered withall and withstood Either house of Parliament with great vehemency against the Catholiques hauing published a Proclamation for their finall banishment and our selues euery day grow more odious in coÌ„tempt with that Nation then other which I cannot remedy I did what lay in my power and according to my direction to breake off this Parliament So all the World supposeth by laying an aspersion vpon the Prince and D. of Buckingham to breed a iealousie in
all our Dominions and to enhaunse our Customes 13 That we make our selues able to encounter whosoeuer shall oppose or stop our passage on the narrowe Seas and that we giue it out what ever our intent is that our Fleets passe that way onely but for the chastising of the Hollander 14 That hereafter wee entertaine no English nor Scots into our pay but the Irish onely to the intent after they haue gotten experience and are able to commaund they may stand vs in stead in case we should hereafter make any attempt vpon Ireland 15 That we call in as much of our gold and siluer as is possible 16 That you speedily write to our Ambassadour in England to giue notice to all our trustie well beloued the Iesuites and secular Priests with some of the best minded Catholikes towards vs that they labour as much as in them lyeth to take away all aspersion whatsoeuer may tend to our dishonuor for this cause to giue vs notice of all scandolous Bookes Pictures Inuectiues Pasquills c. that shall be printed against vs in Holland England and other places That they curiously search into the proceedings of the Parliament and send vs an abbreviate of all the passages thereof with what forces and how soone they resolue to succour the Low-Countries Lastly that in the Name of their obedience to his Holinesse and obseruation to his Catholique Majestie they labour where euer they liue to educate and instruct their freinds Children in the Catholike Religion and timely to enable either their sonnes for our Seminaries or their Daughters for our Nunneries so the houses shall bee supplied still with novices our Treasuries with money and wee with freinds and instruments at all occations Concerning these two last propositions for a conclusion I will produce a Letter vnto me subscribed with the handes of many of the chiefe among them whose pourtraitures with their names yee haue here inserted of the manner of their proceedings and that you may know they spend not their time in vaine in England For I must my LL. tell you I hold intelligence with the wisest and best learned among them and where euer they are transeo per medium illorum Therefore I thought it not amisse by a draught to let you see them in their Consultation as they were wont to sit at the house of one L. a Goldsmith in Fetter lane by Holborne in London this L. L. a Goldsmith and one that furthereth the-Printing of Popish Bookâ— hath for many yeares closely kept a Printing house to the great furtherance and increase of the Catholique Religion in that Land for by his meanes thousands thousands of good Bookes hath beene dispersed over the Land which albeit they are sold at an excessiue rate and he hath beene a great gainer by them yet are they printed and reprinted againe and much money gotten by them though vttered at a third hand but I will reade the Letter it is not long your Honors therefore daigne it the hearing Illustrious and excellent Lords it is now wee all thinke a long time since wee heard from your Honor or recieued any instruction from you concerning the businesse you wot of we in England here are like shortly to groane vnder the heauie and vnsupportable burthen of persecution but wee shall I hope the better indure it so long as our cause is warranted and our constancy assisted and increased by the prayers and suplications of the Church we labour dayly in the Catholique Haruest and recover with wonderfull successe thousands of soules from the Abysse of Perdition into the bosome of the Church the onely difficulty is in con cealing our selues and intendments from that many headed Monster Herisie Wee walke openly and haue our time alotted vs till the 14 day of Iune next which is the vtmost period of our stay in the meane time wee desire to be advised by your Lordship what afterward were fittest to be done of vs for your Honours depth of Iudgement and all admired pollicy is the compasse by which we all Steere to escape present danger Our Lord protect your Honour to all our Comforts and our blessing be vpon you From London this 3. of May. 〈◊〉 haue here seâ—â— the true portrature of the Iesuits and pristâ— as they vse to sitt at Counsell in England to further y e Catholicke Cause D. Wright D. Bristow F. Barlow D. Bishop F. Fisher F. Pattison F. Porter D. Smith F. Sweete F. Ployden F. Louett F. Wothington F. Heyham F. Palmer F. Townsend c. To this Letter I gaue them this answer as followeth Holy Fathers I receiued your Letters to my great comfort but I confesse I am neerely touched with the so suddaine approach of your common calamitie but as the greatest sore findeth his salue so the greatest affliction some consolation or other in the middest of extremitie For mine owne part know that I will not be wanting to your comforts in any thing that lyeth in me or that I can procure in your behalfes either from his Holinesse at Rome or my Master his Catholique Maiestie here The times are dangerous carrie your selues therefore wisely with that peruerse Nation which scornes you and hourely consulteth how to sweepe you from the face of the earth and even now haue they the broome in their hands I meane the present Parliament who will leaue no dust or Sluts corners behind them favour you are to expect none therefore with the Foxe when hunted out of breath you must relie vpon your Arts and subtle sleights Of which nature may be these following If your credits be so good with any great or eminent personage make him your Instrument to sow dissention betwixt the Prince people imitating herein Souldiers when they would get an aduantage of flying or running away they vse to set fire on villages and their baggage that they might escape vnseene by the benifit of the smoake Learne or devise new and the most difficult Characters for writing Letters with all the sleights and devises of privy conveyance you may practice Physicke as Doctors of Padua or set vp bills as Mountebankes venting collor'd Oyles Balsames counterfeit Bezar perfumed Lozenges Receipts for the tooth-ach with a thousand the like get the perfect and true receipt for any one disease or ach it is enough to gaine credit to your practice and make you passe for currant If you send any youths over to our Seminaries let them be the Sonnes of the richest and ablest men so shall you not want a place for retraict and meanes to relieue you at an extremitie Young Gentlewomen you may convey over to Bruxells or whether you please by putting them in boyes apparell theyr hayre being handsomely tyed vp with a Fillet and a wrought cap worne over it with a great broad-brimmd Hat If you would at any time convey over any Silver or Gold the Searcher commonly may be couzened if you send it over in Pasties baked provided that you haue some of