me one of the Junta as they called it of the selected Councellours and his imployment given me the last year as his Extraordinary Embassadour into Germany I told them I had been bred a Souldier as their Excellencies had been but that I wanted the capacity and abilities which they had and that for want of Language not affecting to speak by an Interpreter I had forborn to wait on their Excellencies as otherwise I would have done To that they returned the like Complement and then said Their Master had sent a good answer touching the Palatinate and they assured me that he would perform what he had promised with advantage I said if it were so I then hoped all things would sort to a good end They then asked me how his Majestie and the Lords were affected and whether therewith they were satisfied or no I answered That I conceived their Excellencies knew his Majesties mind as well as the Lords for that they had so lately audience of him They said It was true they had so but not a private audience nor could they obtain any though they had much desired the same but that others were still present I said merely that they were two and I believed that the King their Master had sent as able and experienced Ministers as he had any and therefore his Majestie might peradventure think fit not to hear them alone They said his Majestie might alone hear a thousand Ministers of any Kings but if he should be otherwise pleased they well liked of the Princes being present but they said there were also other great Ministers of the Kings who wished not well to their Masters affairs I said There might therein be a mistaking or misunderstanding on their part for if the King their Master mean so really as they said I conceived that no body would be willing to remove his Majestie from those purposes and that good affection which he bore unto his dear Brother the King of Spain The Marquesse said in English The King was a good King and the Prince a good Prince but some of their Ministers they doubted were ill willers to them I asked if greater demonstrations of reality could be devised then had been given on the part of the King and Prince instancing in the Prince his going in Person into Spain They confessed it but as the times now were they said ill offices were done them I assured them That I neither knew nor understood of any neither did I ever hear them spoken of but with due respect had unto them as to the Ministers of a great King and his Majesties dear Brother They said their meaning was not that the ill offices were done to their Persons but to the great Businesses which a certain Person had shewed a willingnesse to disturb but they hoped that the intended amity between our Masters would hold and proceed neverthelesse I professed that I knew nothing to the contrary neither understood I the particular at which they aymed The Marquesse swore as he was a Christian he knew that the King his Master did so truly and really esteem his dear Brother the King of England and the Prince of Wales that if they needed part of his blood they should have it for their good But he complained that they could not have their Messages delivered nor returned from the King of late but qualified according to the pleasures of others I said They misconceived it for I thought they had no cause to complain seeing they now had or might have as I supposed the Kings Ear when they craved it in due and befitting times They seemed to deny it alledging That they could not get their Messages and Papers answered as aforetime I said When the Prince was in Spain they had free accesse to his Majestie whensoever they desired it Yea said the Marquesse in Latine Tune but now he said the ease was altered I said the King had given many testimonies to the world of his willingnesse to comply with their Master and Them And if either his Majestie or the Prince seemed now more reserved and deliberate in their actions then heretofore it might be that his Highnesse had learned that wary and circumspect proceeding in Spain where they are said to use it in matters of far lesse moment They smiled hereat and prayed me to continue my good intentions and respects towards them and to the joynt affairs of both our Masters I said I would alwaies serve the King my Master with a true and faithful heart and so far as should be agreeable to his desires and good liking I would to my small power be ready to serve them In Conclusion they said They came but to visit me but being come they could not choose but say something and touch upon businesse Arthur Chichester 22. of May 1624. Having made visits at sundry times to the Spanish Embassadours I do here under my hand declare what passed betwixt them and me so neer as my memory serveth lest in my absence any such maâ—ter should fall in question I now intending to travel for a space VVHen his Highnesse was in Spain being upon my journy in Scotland I went to Elis-House to take my leave of Don Carles where Vanvail was present I expressing much joy of the march which in my mind would without all question be perfected did find no such humour nor inclination on their part which did much astonish me for they grumblingly did alleadge that the King my Master did perform nothing that he promised or how could any thing be expected the Infanta being here whereas nothing was per formed the Prince being in Spain I besought them to do better offices then without reason to put jealousies betwixt my Master and theirs who would never have sent his son to Spain without a real intention Which onely act was reason sufficient to remove all doubts Yet did they still continue their challenge of divers Bracks specially anent the sending of ships to Scotland to bring away the two Dunkirkers and not perfecting such conditions as were promised to Catholiques I did intreat them again that such conceits of my Master might be removed for they might be confident of full performance of what he had promised by reason he had never broke his promise to any I desired them likewise to consider with what love our Prince was gone and what a stain it should be to the State of Spain if uncourteously he should return with distast Besides it might fall out to be the worst act that ever they committed where anent if they had love to their Master they would prove good Instruments What was spoke by me in English was related in Spanish to Don Carlo so was it to me what they spoke in Spanish Sometimes Don Carlo spoke in French so that not a word passed which each man did not know I went again after the Treaties were given up and did remember Don Carlo of what I had forespoke when the Marquesse was present and took
and as it were a necessitie to destroy you But I hope he and the whole world here will fall before any misfortunes should fall upon so generous and so noble a deserver of his Master and so excellent a friend and Patron unto Your Graces Most humble and most obedient servant Holland Postscript THough the Embassadour deserves nothing but contempt and disgrace as Blanvile yet I hope as Embassadour he shall receive for publique Honours and accustomed respect to Embassadours all possible satisfaction and it will be conceived a generous action My dearest Lord ALL the joy I have hath such a flatnesse set upon it by your absence from hence as I protest to God I cannot rellish it as I ought for though beautie and love I find in all perfection and fulnesse yet I vex and languish to find impediments in our designs and services for you first in the businesse for I find our mediation must have no place with this King concerning a Peace We must only use our power with those of the Religion to humble them to reasonable Conditions and that done they would as far as I can guesse have us gone not being willing that we should be so much as in the Kingdom when the Peace is made for fear the Protestants may imagine we have had a hand in it For our Confederation made by you at the Hague they speak so of it as they will do something in it but not so really or friendly as we could wish But for these things you allow me I trust to refer you to the general Dispatch I come now to other particulars I have been a careful Spie how to observe intentions and affections towards you I find many things to be feared and none to be assured of a safe and real welcome For the king continues in his suspects making as they say very often discourses of it and is willing to hear Villanes say That the heart hath infinite affections you imagine which way They say there is whispered amongst the foolish young Bravado's of the Court That he is not a good Frenchman that suffers anchor to return out of France considering the reports that are raised many such bruits flie up and down I have since my coming given Queen Mother by way of discourse occasion to say somewhat concerning your coming as the other night when she complained to me That things were carried harshly in England towards France I then said That the greatest unkindnesse and harshnesse came from hence even to forbid your coming hither a thing so strange and so unjust as our Master had cause and was infinitely sensible of it She fell into discourse of you desiring you would respect and love her daughter and likewise that she had and would ever command her to respect you above all men and follow all your Councels the matter of her Religion excepted with many professions of value and respect unto your Person but would never either excuse what I complained of or invite you to come upon that occasion But though neither the businesse gives me cause to perswade your coming nor my reason for the matter of your safetie yet know you are the most happie unhappie man alive for the heart is beyond imagination right and would do things to destroy her fortune rather then want satisfaction in her mind I dare not speak as I would I have ventured I fear too much considering what practises accompany the malice of the people here I tremble to think whether this will find a safe conveyance unto you Do what you will I dare not advise you to come is dangerous not to come is unfortunate As I have lived with you and only in that enjoy my happinesse so I will die with you and I protest to God for you to do you the least service c. Postscript HAve no doubt of the partie that accompanied me for he is yours with his soul and dares not now as things go advise your coming Mr. Lorkin to the Duke the 30. of August 1625. May it please your Grace FRom an honest and truly devoted heart to receive the sacrifice of most humble thanks which come here offered for that excesse of favour which I behold in those gracious lines that you are so nobly pleased to honour me withal and which derive unto me farther the height of all contentment his Majesties gracious acceptance of my poor endeavours which howsoever they cannot shoot up to any high matter from so low an earth yet in their greatest force are eternally vowed with the price of my dearest blood as to his Masters faithful service in the first place so to your Graces in the next who have received I doubt not ere this what my former promised in the Savoyard Embassadours behalf and that as well from his own pen as mine But this State is very Euripus that flowes and reflowes 7. times a day and in whose waies is neither constancie nor truth The changes your Grace will find in my Letters to my Lord Conway whereunto I therefore make reference because I suppose there will be but one Lecture thereof to his Majestie and your self There in likewise your Grace will see a suddain comandement laid upon Mounsieur de Blanvile premire Gentilhome de la chambre du Roy speedily to provide himself to go extraordinary Embassadour into England The cause thereof I rove at in my dispatch taking my aime from two darke speeches to Queen Mother and the Cardinal I have since learned the interpretation of the riddle not from the Cardinals lips who yet being sounded by me pretended a further end then Ville-aux-cleres had done viz to entertain good intelligence betwixt the Queen of England and your Grace and to do you all the best offices and services that are possible but from the Duke de Chevereux who whatsoever pretexts may be taken makes the true ends of that Voyage to be first to try whether this man can mend what they conceive here the Duke hath marred in shewing himself more a servant to the King of England then to his own King and Master Secondly to spie and discover what he can and according as he shall find cause to frame Cabals and factions whereunto he is esteemed very proper being charactarized with the marks of a most subtile prying penetrating and dangerous man And therefore as an Antidote against the poison he brings the Duke gives this Caveat aforehand That every one keep close and covert towards him and avoid familiaritie with him though otherwise he wishes a kind and honourable entertainment Thus much I received from the Dukes own lips yesternight Bonocil being witnesse perhaps Counsellour of all that passed he promised a memorial in writing this day which I have attended till this evening and even now receive it I have not touched the least syllable hereof to my Lord Conway because I think both your Graces and the Duke de Chevereux's will may concur in this that these things be
Marriage where 106 107 Coke Sir Edward 104 122 Conde imprisoned 176 Conference betwixt Don Francisco and the Lord Keeper 86 87. betwixt Sir Arthur Chichester and the Spanish Embassadours 244. the Earl of Nithisdail and them 247 Confession of Don Pedro concerning the Armada of 88. 259 Conway Lord Secretary advises the Earl of Bristol 19 estranged from the Lord Keeper Lincoln 89 a Martial Secretary 198 enough the Dukes servant 316 Cordova Don Gonzales 328 329 Corona Regia See Libel Cottington Sir Francis 23 81 Councel Table of King James somewhat too much pressing upon the King 75 Courtenvant Marquesse 286 Coxe King Edward the sixt his Schoolmaster Master if Requests and Privie Councellour enters Orders 68 Cromwel Lord Counsels the Duke 263. D. DEnbigh Countesse 302 Denmark King his offers 190 191. Dispensation with a Lay man to hold care of soules cannot be 66 67 Dominican Fryer turns to the English Church 79 Don Francisco's Discourse to the Lord Keeper 86 87 90 91 92 93. His cunning to speak with King James 90. Accuses the Duke of Buckingham 90 91 Donato a Venetian Embassadour gives the lye to the Duke of Savoy an enemy to Paul the Father of Venice 187 banished once at Venice twice in England 192 Don Doctour 314. Presents the Duke with a book of devotions ibid. E. ELiot Sir John imprisoned 311 Elvis Sir Gervas his posterity restored in blood and estate 3 Most guilty of the death of Sir Thomas Overbury 3 Emperour Ferdinand the third deales unworthily with King James 166. and against his own Letter 234 changes the German Customes 171 his proceeding against the Palsgrave protested against 336 Elizabeth Queen of England her Speech to her Army at Tilbuty 260 Restrains the Papists and why 258 protects the Low-Countries and upon what termes 333 338 England alone happy in its Religion 112 inclined to popularity 228 229 not what it hath been 261 Episcopacy gone what will follow 117 Essex Earl commanded to fight the Spanish Ships le ts them escape 135 F. FEria Duke 168 Fiat Marquesse 293 302 288 Finch Lady created Viscountesse of Maidstone 79 Fleet of Spain 43 53 Plate-Fleet 48 49. part cast away 208 of Portugal 53. for Brasil 167 Of the Spaniards Venetians and Turks 186 207. of the Low-Countries for the West-Indies 341 346 Frenchman burnt in Spain for contempt to the host 51 Frenchmen use the English basely 149 their Contract for the English Ships 150 French King falls upon those of the Religion 164 177 France governed by the Queen Mother at the proposals of the Match with Madem which she is earnest for but will do nothing till the Treaty with Spain be broke 274 to 277. The French not much sollicitous for the English Recusants 275 284 285 Richnesse of their habits at a Masque in honour of the English 278 279 fear the Spanish greatnesse 281 desirous of the English alliance 282 283 287 articles of the Match disliked by the English 289 endeavour to break the Spanish Treaty 305 Give precedency to the English 254 G. GAbor Bethlem 335 Gage imployed about the Dispensation 233 238 Geere Sir Michael 135 Gerard Sir Thomas seized upon suspition of designes against the King 272 Gifford a Sea Captain his design upon a Gallion in the Gulph of Mexico 343 Gondomar his false relations of the Prince of Wales 15 Commanded again for England 54 Goodnesse ever most easily betrayed 270 Goring Sir George 96 200 330 316 339 Grandees of Spain severally present their King with summes of monies to relieve his wants 168 Grandmont French Mounsieur 285 Gregorie the 15. tempts the Prince of Wales to change Religion 212 213 tries to make the Duke of Buckingham 216 Greiham 316 Gresley ibid. Gelderland States have the leading voyce in the united Netherlands 323 Goring Sir George 200 Guicciardines Judgment of Venice 8 H. HAlberstat Christian Duke of Brunswick 240 Hamilton Marquesse 316 Hartford Earl's Petition 89 Harton Sir Christopher 226 Haughton Sir Gilbert complains of the Lord Keeper Williams his servants 74 Henderson Colonel slain at Bergen 328 Henderson Sir Francis 329 Henrietta Maria of France after Queen of England 253. beautiful discreet and full of respect to the Prince of Wales 270 277. See 278 290 sends privately for his picture 280 Herbert Lord of no faction his Informations to King James from France 304 305 Holland Earl Lord Kensington in France when the Treaty for the Match there was beginning for it 274 275 276 277 278 279. received by the French King 278. speaks to him concerning the Match 282. with the Queen Mother 289. with Madam 290. allowed at all times free entrance into the Louure 294 Howard Sir Robert 103 104. I. JAniville Prince for the Queen Mother 176. forwards the alliance with France 279 James King of England famous for wisedome mercy c. 7 Appoints Commissionere to inquire of the Archbishop of Canterburies Case 12. See Archbishop of Canterbury his promises to Williams Lord Keeper 56. Never breaks his word 77 Protectour of the Protestants 110 111 sought to to be declared Head and Protectour of that faith as the Spaniard would be taken to be of the Roman 305 Protectour of the Venetians owned so by them conservation of the publique tranquillity relyes upon him 179 180 Ayds the Savoyard joyns in the cause of Cleve 170 Promises not to draw his severity to Donato the Venetian Embassadour into example 192 sought to by the Spaniards to joyn against the Pyrates 207 writes to the Pope 211 aymes at the universal peace of Christendome 270 what a friend to the Low-Countries sleighted and ingratefully dealt with by them 331 The Germane Princes relye upon him 336 Infanta of Spain 15.16 21 22. her vertues and beauty she loved the Prince of Wales 26 her portion 27 Ingram 226 Inquisitor General presents a consulta to the Spanish King to procure a Jubile 51. See Jubile is the first who offere toward the Kings necessities 168 Joachim of Zealand 342 Irish raise aspersions in Spain of persecutions in England 15 practises of their Priests there 49 Isabella Clara Eugenia her Complement to the Bavarian 240. See 167 335 Jubilee from Rome to expiate for the Contempt done to the Host 51 Junto of Divines to consider of the Spanish Kings Oath by which he would undertake for the King of Englands performance of Articles 15 Jurisdiction Episcopal used in England without the Kings consent against Common Law 81 K. KEeper of the Seal where questionable 76 Killegrew 316 Kings Gods shadowes 12 yeelding to demands must deny nothing 227 L. LAken Nicholas his discoveries concerning Corona Regia 151 152 Lamb Dr. of Law favoured by the Bishop of Lincoln 56 62 Langrack Dutch Embassadour at Paris his advertisements of affaires 318 319 Landaffe Bishop sues for preferment troubled 119 120 Laud Bishop of St. Davids sues to be a Commissioner and why 113 Lawyers mischievous in Parliaments 226 Le grand professes service to the Prince of Wales 277 Laicester the Favourite
Councel of State representing the rigorous and unjust proceeding against the said Scottish Masters and desired that they would send their order that the Apellation might be admitted and that their persons might be presently returned off of the Gallies I likewise repaired to the Conde of Olivarez acquainting him with the proceedings of the Duke and was able to give him some examples of divers Hollanders that had been treated in the like occasion with far lesse rigour Whereupon there is Command given according to what I have desired and whatsoever shall become of their goods I have a promise from the Conde of Olivarez that their persons shall be treated with all Courtesie It is published by the Ladies of the Palace that the Queen is with Child which hath filled this Court with much joy and her Majestie hath so much better health now upon her being new with Child then she hath had of the rest that they are already here full of hopes that she will bring them a Prince c. Your Honours c. Wa. Aston The Abstract of a Letter from Sir Walter Aston to the Lord Conway 17. July 1624. HE acknowledgeth the receipt of his Majesties Letters of the 27. of June by Mr. Wych and is busie in preparing to put those Directions in execution and that being done will give a speedy and full account The Marquesse Ynoisa dispatched away a Post to Spain from Calice and by him gave as malicious an account of his usage at his departure from England and also of all other late passages there as malice it self could have dictated He omits no libels or infamous songs nor spares his own inventions where they may serve to incense The Credit they are like to give to their Embassadour the height of discontent they are now in the assurance given them of the weak and mean estate of all things in England may tempt them to offer the giving us a blow where we are weakest And therefore no necessary preparations for defence to be neglected on our part None of their Armado stirres yet but only 4. Gallions appointed to accompany for some daies the Nova Espagna Fleet that put to Sea the fourth of this present Sir Walter Aston doubts that the light he hath received of the present state of things in England and the Arguments to answer their Objections will hardly be applyed to give any satisfaction things being in so much distemper there And where the best answers on both sides are recriminations he conceives little is to be expected but a direct falling out The cause of their retarding Mendoza's coming for England hath been their desire to see the issue of the proceedings with their Embassadour All the Grandees and principal persons of Spain are summoned to give their attendance with their armes which is done by three Letters 1. Admonitoria 2. Apercibitoria 3. Executoria The two first are already set forth And there is order likewise given for the Battalon to be in a readinesse which is the same as the Trained Bands in England This is an ancient practise there upon suspition of forraign invasion or domestique Commotion There are leavies new making according to custome for supplying of Garrisons and though these Leavies are greater then usually yet not much worthy of note An Embassadour arrived there for Denmark his coming being given out to be to negotiate the businesse of the Palatinate and to make overtures for a Peace with Holland but if nothing be heard of this in England it is not like to be true A Request presented unto the King by a Consulta from the Inquisiter general c. to procure a Jubile from Rome for expiation of the late great Contempt done by a Frenchman to the Sacrament The King promiseth to do it and he the Queen and the whole houshold will endeavour to deserve it by fasting and other duties In his answer to the Consulia there is a passage that intimates his intention of looking abroad with his armes The Frenchman was condemned burnt publiquely and dyed a Roman Catholique There have been divers processions in expression of the general grief for that action The King Queen his Brothers and Sister with the Grandees and the Councel went in procession about the two square Courts of the Palace where there were 4. Altars built one by the Kings care the rest by the Queen the Infanta Cardinal Don Carlos and Dona Maria who joyned in the care of one of them The greatest riches of Diamonds and Pearls that were in the Churches thereabouts and in the Kings store were presented on those Altars and were at ten millions They intend to dispatch one Jaquesse Brones Secretary of the Councel of Flanders by post into England to bring Don Carlos warrant to come away and to stay Agent in England until the arrival of another Embassadour which will not be long They stay the giving out of the order for the free admittance of English Merchandizes until they see what will be done with their Ships in the Downs c. Sir Walter Aston to the Duke 20. of Octob. 1624. May it please your Grace I Assure my self that your Grace is very confident that I have not only pursued the Complaint which I here made against the Marquesse of Ynoisa with the duty of a Minister in obedience to the King my Masters Command but as passionately interested against his person who maliciously attempted to stain if it had been possible the honour of the Prince his Highnesse and your Graces my noblest friend And certainly my Lord I should be infinitely afflicted in not having brought this businesse to that issue which I thirsted after could I accuse my self of having omitted any thing that might have sharpned them here against him But the Conde of Olivarez with a strong and violent hand hath delivered the Marquesse from any exemplary punishment which would certainly have been inflicted upon him had he been left to the Councel of State and without care either of the King his Masters honour or engagement hath saved the Marquesse and left the envy of it upon his Majestie if the King our Master will so please to understand it In my last unto your Grace which was of the 24th of the last moneth I humbly intreated you to procure me his Majesties leave to return into England for some few moneths which suit I do here again renew unto your Grace Howsoever in respect of this novelty in the Marquesse his businesse I will forbear putting my self upon the way until I hear of the receipt of this dispatch since if his Majestie shall please to give any demonstrations here of his sence of their unworthy proceedings I would be loath that those Commands should find me out of the way with the remembrance of my duty I rest Your Graces c. Wa. Aston Sir Walter Aston to the Duke the 10th of Decemb. 1625. May it please your Grace THe Portugal Armado put to Sea on the 12th of the last moneth Stil
any man that is a Governour in the Church And since by his Majesties gratious goodnesse and your Grace's sole procurement I am made a Governour I would be loath to be excluded from that which might give me experience and so enable me to perform my dutie I am sure my Lord of Canterbury will leave me out as hitherto he hath done if his Majestie be not pleased to Command that I shall be in This I submit to your Grace but humbly desire even against my own ease and quiet that I may not be deprived of that experience which is necessary for my place I most humbly beseech your Grace to pardon this boldnesse and to know that in my daily prayers for your Grace's happinesse I shall ever rest Novemb. 18. 1624. Your Grace's most devoted and affectionate servant Guil. Menevensis The Bishop of Menevensis to the Duke Dr. Laud. My most Gracious Lord I Am heartily glad to hear your Lordship is so well returned and so happily as to meet so great joy God hath among many others his great blessings and I know your Grace so esteems them sent you now this extraordinarie one a son to inherit his fathers honours and the rest of Gods blessings upon both So soon as I came to any end of my journey I met the happie news of Gods blessing upon your Grace and it seasoned all the hard journey I have had out of Wales through the Snow When I had rested my self a little at my friend's house in the Forrest Mr. Windebank a servant of your Grace's whom I made bold to make known to your Honour I came to Windsor in hope to have been so happie as to meet your Grace at the great solemnitie but when I came I found that which I suspected that your Grace's greater joy would carrie you farther Which journey and the cause and the end of it I heartily wish and pray may be full of joy and all contentment to your Grace I made bold to trouble your Grace with a Letter or two out of VVales which I hope Mr. VVindebank took the best care he could to see delivered I have no means to do your Grace any service but by my prayers and they do daily attend and shall ever while I breathe to utter them I hope though I have missed this opportunitie yet I shall be so happie as to see and wait upon your Grace at London In the mean time and ever I leave your Grace and all your home-blessings to the protection of the Almightie and shall ever be found VVindsor 13. Decemb 1625. Your Graces most devoted and affectionate servant Guil. Meneven Doctor Mountague Bishop of Chichester to the Duke May it please your Grace YOur Highnesse vouchsafed at VVindsor to let me understand that his Majestie my gracious Master and Soveraign had taken me off from that trouble and vexation which by some mens procurement I was put unto in the House of Commons They as I understand think not so but intend to proceed against me so far as they can as having returned his Majestie no other answer but that I was freed from imprisonment It is true that besides 20 l. which the Scrieant had of me by exaction for fees they bound me unto him in a bond of 2000 l. to appear before them the first day of the next Sessions I beseech your Grace that as you have been pleased to tie me unto your excellent not onely self but also most honourable Sister in that bond of obligation as never was poor Scholar to such Worthies so you would be pleased to let his Majestie understand the case that by your means I may be absolutely discharged with the redeliverie of my bond from them whom I never offended who under correction have nothing to do with me and as his Majesties servant be left unto himself especially for that which was authorised by himself and commanded by his Father my late Master of ever blessed memorie If his Majestie will be pleased to call for their accusations against me if I do not really and thoroughly answer whatsoever is or can be imputed to me out of my books I will no further desire favour and protection of his Majestie and your Gracious self but be willingly left unto my enemies I must crave pardon for presuming thus to trouble your Grace the rather because through a grievous affliction of the Collick and Stone I am not able personally to attend your Grace whom according unto my most bounden dutie I daily recommend unto the Almightie being more obliged unto your noble self then ever to any one So remaining Petwerth 29. July Most humbly at your Graces service ever Ri. Mountague 1. IF any or all the Papists living can prove that the Roman Church as it now stands in opposition to the Church of England is either the Catholique Church of Christ or a sound member of the Catholique Church I will subscribe 2. If any or all the Papists living can prove unto me that the Church of England as it standeth at this day is not a true member of the Catholique Church I will subscribe 3. If any or all the Papists living can prove unto me that any one point at this day maintained by the Church of Rome against the Church of England was the received Doctrine of the Catholique Church or concluded by any general Councel or particular approved Councel or resolved of by any one Father of Credit to be such for 500. years at least after Christ I will subscribe Ri. Mountague The Bishops of Rochester Oxford and St. Davids to the Duke concerning Mr. Mountague May it please your Grace VVEE are bold to be suitors to you in the behalf of the Church of England and a poor member of it Mr. Mountague at this time not a little distressed We are not strangers to his person but it is the Cause which we are bound to be tender of The cause we conceive under correction of better judgment concerns the Church of England merely for that Church when it was reformed from the superstitious opinions broached or maintained by the Church of Rome refused the apparant and dangerous errours and would not be too busie with every particular School point The cause why she held this moderation was because she could not be able to preserve any unitie amongst Christians if men were forced to subscribe to curious particulars disputed in Schooles Now may it please your Grace the opinions which at this time trouble many men in the late Book of Mr. Mountague are some of them such as are expresly the resolved doctrine of the Church of England and those he is bound to maintain Some of them such as are fit onely for Schooles and to be left at more liberty for learned men to abound in their own sense so they keep themselves peaceable and distract not the Church And therefore to make any man subscribe to Schoole opinions may justly seeme hard in the Church of Christ and was one great
fault of the Councel of Trent And to affright them from those opinions in which they have as they are bound subscribed to the Church as it is worse in it self so it may be the Mother of greater danger May it please your Grace farther to consider that when the Clergie submited themselves in the time of Henry the 8th the submission was so that if any difference doctrinal or other fell in the Church the King and the Bishops were to be Judges of it in a national Synode or Convocation The King first giving leave under his broad Seale to handle the points in difference But the Church never submitted to any other Judge neither indeed can Shee though Shee would And we humbly desire your Grace to consider and then to move his most Gracious Majestie if you shall think fit what dangerous Consequences may follow upon it For first if any other Judge be allowed in matter of Doctrine we shall depart from the ordinance of Christ and the continual course and practise of the Church 2. Secondly if the Church be once brought down beneath her self we cannot but fear what may be next Strook at 3. Thirdly it will some way touch the honour of his majesties dear Father and our most dread Soveraign of Glorious and ever blessed memorie King James 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
Compassion of me in respect of the grief wherein he saw I had upon these occasions and to say That although the marriage were broken yet he would procure that his Catholique Subjects should not fare the worse for that yet I know that it is morally impossible for that honourable design of his to take place in respect of the People and the importunitie and malice of the Puritans and especially because it will now be a case of meer necessitie for my Lord the King to run in a course of very straight Conjunction with them of his Parliament that he may be able the better to serve himself of them in other occasions from which Parliament as now the case will stand what Catholique can expect any other then the extreamitie of rigour In consideration whereof I cast my self with a sad heart at the feet of your Majestie beseeching you that you will take into your royal remembrance the love which you owe and procure to paie to our holy Mother the Church and that some course may be taken and with speed for otherwise it will be too late to give the Prince some foot of ground upon which he may be able to stand in such sort as that without losse of honour and breach of that word which he hath given to the world and without prejudice to that obedience which he oweth to the least commandement of the King his Father his Highnesse may be inabled to comply with the incomparable affection which he beareth the Infanta your Majesties Sister And that by meanes hereof the two Crowns may be kindly in perfect union and the Catholique religion may be highly advantaged not only in the Dominions of my Lord the King but in many other parts of Christendom into which the Authority of these Dominions doth flow For my part I take the eternall God to witnesse whom I procure to serve and who hath given me a heart which disclaimeth from all other interesses then to serve God and my King that I conceive my self not to comply with a good conscience without laying this protestation under the Eye of your Majestie that if the Catholique subjects of the King my Lord shall grow liable to persecution or affliction by occasion of breaking this Match through the disgust of the King my Lord and his Councel or through the power which infallibly the Puritans assembled in Parliament will have with him upon this occasion that blood or miserie whatsoever it may partly be required at their hands who have advised your Majestie not to accept of those large conditions for Catholiques which my Lord the King and the Prince have condescended to and of that more then moral Securitie which they have offered for the performance thereof And on the other side I undertake to your Majestie under the pain of infamie in case that be not made good which here I affirm that if your Majestie will be pleased to give some such ground to the Prince as whereupon he may with Honour stay and perfect the Treatie of the Marriage by any such way or means as may occur to your Majesties royal wisdom the whole bodies of the Catholiques in England both religious and secular shall acknowledge it as a great blessing of God and shall oblige themselves to pray incessantly for your happie Estate c. Sir Tobie Mathew to the Dutchesse of Buckingham 9. June 1625. Madam THere was no cause till now why I should trouble your Ladyship with presenting my unprofitable service to you but now I shall venture to do it by reason of the good newes I shall send with it For our Queen arrived here yesterday and I was glad at the heart to see her such as she had seemed she is more grown then I had thought being higher by half the head then my Ladie Marquesse And whatsoever they say believe me she sits already upon the very skirts of womanhood Madam upon my faith she is a most sweet lovely Creature and hath a countenance which opens a window into her heart where a man may see all Noblenesse and Goodnesse and I dare venture my head upon the little skill I have in Physiognomie that she will be extraordinarily beloved by our Nation and deserve to be so and that the actions of her self which are to be her own will be excellent Me thought I discerned in her countenance a little remnant of sadnesse which the fresh wound of parting from the Queen Mother might have made yet perhaps I was deceived Her Aattyre was very plain for so Great a Queen can be thought to have nothing mean about her But I hope that amongst many other blessings which God will have provided for us by her means her example will be able to teach our Countrie wit in this kind I had the happinesse to see and hear her at a short distance by the Commandement which my Lady of Buckingham laid upon me to interpret for her and believe me she is full of wit and hath a lovely manner in expressing it But I confesse I was sorrie with all my heart to hear that her courage was so great as to carry her instantly after my Ladie of Buckingham had taken her leave for that time to Sea in a poore little boate in the company of her brother whom yet I have not had the honour to see I dare give my word for her that she is not afraid of her own shadow who could find in her heart to put her self at the first sight upon an element of that danger and disease for meer pastime Unlesse it were perhaps that she might carrie some Steel about her and that there is some Adamant at Dover which already might begin to draw her that way I am extreamly sorrie that we have lost the hope of seeing the two other Queens for if they had come we might have had beautie here as well in the preterperfect and in the present tense as now we have in the future But the Queen Mothers indisposition hath arrested her at Amiens in punishment of that malice wherewith she dissembled it too long at the first through the extream desire she had of coming hither Our Queen received my Lady of Buckingham with strange courtesie and favour and now there is no remedy but that the King will needs defray and treat her after a high manner And I have been told that Mounsieur will needs descend so much as to visit her in her lodging and the Dutchesse of Chevereux being that great Princesse as she is both by match and bloud will perforce give precedence not onely to my Ladie of Buckingham but to my Ladies her daughters also And I assure my self that a lesse puissant example then this will serve to convert our Great Ladies even to exceed in England towards the Ladies which are strangers and do but come and go But the while this Court doth so apply it self to do my Lady of Buckingham all imaginable honour I look on it so as that I