wearisom course rather to be retired then tired If any of envy take advantage of absence seeking by cunning to draw me into suspition of discontentment my conscience is setled in your never erring Judgment that if he come with Esau's hands and Jacob's voice your Highness will censure it a wrought malice under such simplicity It is true that grief cannot speak but this grief hath made me write lest when I leave you I should so far forsake my self as to leave this unsaid To your gracious acceptance I commit it and with all humble and reverent thoughts that may be rest ever to be commanded to die at your Majesties feet RO. ESSEX Again to the Queen FRom a mind delighting in sorrow from spirits wasted with passion from a heart torne in pieces with care grief and travel from a man that hateth himself and all things that keepeth him alive what service can your Majesty expect since your service past deserves no more then banishment or prescription in the cursed'st of all other Countries Nay nay it is your Rebels pride and success that must give me leave to ransom my life out of this hatefull prison of my loathed body which if it happen so your Majesty shall have no cause to mislike the fashion of my death since the course of my life could never please you Your Majesties exiled Servanâ— RO. ESSEX Sir Thomas Egerton Lord Chancellor to the Earl of Essex My very good Lord IT is often seen that he that stands by seeth more then he that playeth the game and for the most part every one in his own cause standeth in his own light and seeth not so cleerly as he should Your Lordship hath dealt in other mens causes and in great and weighty affairs with great wisdom and judgment now your own is in hand you are not to contemn or refuse the advice of any that love you how simple soever In this order I rank my self among others that love you none more simple and none that love you with more true and honest affection which shall plead my excuse if you shall either mistake or mistrust my words or meaning but in your Lordships honorable wisdom I neither doubt nor suspect the one nor the other I will not presume to advise you but shoot my bolt and tell you what I think The beginning and long continuance of this so unseasonable discontentment you have seen and proved by which you aim at the end If you hold still this course which hitherto you find to be worse and worse and the longer you go the further you go out of the way there is little hope or likelihood the end will be better You are not yet gone so far but that you may well return The return is safe but the progress is dangerous and desperate in this course you hold If you have any enemies you do that for them which they could never do for themselves Your friends you leave to scorn and contempt you forsake your self and overthrow your fortunes and ruinate your honour and reputation You give that comfort and courage to the foreign enemies as greater they cannot have for what can be more welcome and pleasing news then to hear that her Majesty and the Realm are maimed of so worthy a Member who hath so often and so valiantly quailed and daunted them You forsake your Country when it hath most need of your Councel and aid And lastly you fail in your indissoluble duty which you owe unto your most gracious Soveraign a duty imposed upon you not by nature and policie only but by the religious and sacred bond wherein the divine Majesty of Almighty God hath by the rule of Christianity obliged you For the four first your constant resolution may perhaps move you to esteem them as light but being well weighed they are not light nor lightly to be regarded And for the four last it may be that the cleerness of your own conscience may seem to content your self but that is not enough for these duties stand not only in contemplation or inward meditation and cannot be performed but by external actions and where that faileth the substance also faileth This being your present state and condition what is to be done what is the remedy my good Lord I lack judgment and wisdom to advise you but I will never want an honest true heart to wish you well nor being warranted by a good conscience will fear to speak that I think I have begun plainly be not offended if I proceed so Bene cedit qui cedit tempori and Seneca saith Cedendum est fortunae The medicine and remedy is not contend and strive but humbly to yield submit Have you given cause and yet take a scandal unto you then all you can be is too little to make satisfaction Is cause of scandal given unto you yet policie duty and religion enforce you to sue yield and submit to our Soveraign between whom and you there can be no equal proportion of duty where God requires it as a principal duty and care to himself and when it is evident that great good may ensue of it to your friends your self your Country and your Soveraign and extreme harm by the contrary There can be no dishonour to yield but in denying dishonour and impiety The difficulty my good Lord is to conquer your self which is the height of true valour and fortitude whereunto all your honorable actions have tended Do it in this and God will be pleased her Majesty no doubt well satisfied your Country will take good and your Friends comfort by it and your self I mention you last for that of all these you esteem yourself least shall receive honour and your Enemies if you have any shall be disappointed of their bitter sweet hope I have delivered what I think simply and plainly I leave you to determine according to your own wisdom if I have erred it is error amoris and not amor erroris Construe and accept it I beseech you as I meant iâ— not as an advice but as an opinion to be allowed or cancelled at your pleasure If I might conveniently have conferred with your self in person I would not have troubled you with so many idle blots Whatsoever you judge of this my opinion yet be assured my desire is to further all good means that may tend to your Lordships good And so wishing you all happiness and honour I cease Your Lordships most ready and faithful though unable poor Friend Tho. Egerton Cust Sigil The Earles Answer MY very good Lord though there is not that man this day living whom I would sooner make Judge of any question that might concern me then your selfe yet you must give me leave to tell you that in some cases I must appeal from all earthly Judges And if in any then surely in this when the highest Judge on earth hath imposed upon me the heaviest Punishment without triall or hearing Since then I must either answer your
after I having not in all this time stirred out of my house under colour of being ill disposed though the truth was indeed to inform my self of some particulars which concerned your Majesties service before I would speak with the Duke He being as I have since understood something troubled that in all this time I made no means to come unto him one morning by nine of the clock very privately came to my house without advertising of his coming as the custom is here untill the Coach stayed at my gate and then he sent in a Gentleman to me telling me that the Duke was there to speak with me When I had conducted the Duke into a room where we were private he fell into th' aforesaid matter and in the manner as I shall here set down unto your Majesty without making any other pretence or intent of his coming or without using in the space of an houre any speech touching any other business After some few questions of your Majesty and the Queen he began to ask many things of the Prince as of his age his stature his health his inclination to what sports he was chiefly given And then suddenly as it were with a passionate expression of affection he desired God to bless him and to make him the means by which your Majesties might be conjoyned in a neerer alliance and your Kingdoms in a perpetual amity saying unto me that he was out of doubt of my good inclination to this business both by what had formerly passed between our selves as likewise by my proceedings in England whereof he had been fully informed by the Spanish Ambassador And therefore he would in few words deal with me with much cleerness and freeness assuring himself he should receive the like measure from me and thereupon entred into a solemn protestation how much this King desired the Match and for himself he solemnly swore there was no one thing in the world he more desired to see before he dyed then the effecting thereof But my Lord Ambassador said he you must deal as justly with me to let me understand whether you conceive the like desire to be in the King of England and his Ministers and then I shall proceed to speak further unto you I answered the Duke That I ever esteemed more the reputation of a man of truth and integrity then of skill and subtilty which I did hope he did well perceive by what I was to say for that I was much more desirous fairly to go off from this business then easily to go into it And therefore if he would have me speak my conscience I neither conceived that either in your Majesty or any of your Ministers there was any kind of inclination thereunto for that they having formerly given so resolute and distastefull an answer your Majesty had just cause never again to cast so much as your thoughts this way And though it might be alleadged that the fitness of the Prince his years and other civil regards might cause new resolutions yet the difference of Religion were still the same and the same were the truths and opinions of Divines in matter of conscience and therefore it would not but be a thing of great difficulty to perswade your Majesty and your Ministers that a Match should be hearkened unto much less desired from hence but upon the same terms the very thought and remembrance whereof is yet unpleasing in England So that to deal plainly with him I neither found in your Majesty or in the Councel any kind of thought or imagination of any possibility of having any such motion again revived But this I found not to grow from any particular dislike or want of affection in your Majesty to Spain or that many of the greatest or the principallest person in England judged not the neerness and alliance of Spain equally valuable with any other of Christendom but that out of a distastefulness of the former answer given from hence all expectation of any business of this nature was absolutely extinguished and therefore again to revive it there would need more then ordinary endeavours or ordinary assurances But in case that they might be given I know that this Match would neither want well-willers nor assistants and for my own part I would freely make profession that no man more desired it then my self nor would more willingly imploy his endeavours for the furthering thereof when by the descending to particulars I should see both in regard of the conditions and the assurances of sincere proceeding the motion worthy and fit by a discreet and good servant to be offered to his Master neither then should I be wholly out of hope of good success though I would not but esteem it a business of infinite difficulty The Duke replied That any discourse that I thought fit herein should be condescended unto for that all time was lost that was spent in generalities And therefore if I so liked he would move this King that one or two besides himself might be appointed to have conference with me for that if he should only retain it in his hands by reason of his many occupations it would have a slower progress then he wished but if I would by way of conference digest the difficulties into heads and particulars he would as often as he might be present at our meeting But for his own part he said he apprehended few but what would arise out of the difference of Religion I told the Duke that I very well approved of the descending into particulars neither should I refuse conference with any herein whom the King would appoint to speak with me But if his meaning were that these persons should be nominated or joyned by way of Commission I thought fit to let him understand that I neither had any time nor did at present speak of this business either by order or direction no nor so much as by your Majesties privity but as a Minister that desired to lay hold of all occasions for the increasing of further love neerness betwixt his Master and the Prince to whom he is imployed I should be glad to the uttermost of my power to advance and further this cause as that which I apprehended to be the greatest which the world now affordeth for the firm uniting of your Majesties and your estates The Duke told me that the King would make no scruple to declare his good inclination and desire to have this Match proceeded in and that for the accommodating of the difficulties he had already used divers diligences with the Pope as likewise with the greatest Divines of this Kingdom whereof he named some unto me whom he said he found very well inclined to the Match he told me also he would be glad they might speak with me to the end I might truly understand of them all kind of scruples that could be alleadged I answered I desired nothing more and that I could not but approve of those courses he prescribed as the most
the said Marquis de Injiosa and Don Carlos Colomma making your Majesty Judge of the great scandall and enormous offence which they have committed against them and the publick right and expect justice from your Majesty in the demonstrations and chastisements which your Majesty shall inflict upon them which for his proceeding sake with your Majesty and out of your Majesties own uprightness and goodness ought to be expected Furthermore he saith that the King his Master hath commanded him to assure your Majesty that till now he hath not mingled the correspondence and friendship he held with your Majesty with the faults and offences of your Ministers but leaves and restrains them to their own persons and that he remains with your Majesty in the true and ancient friendship and brotherhood as heretofore and that he is ready to give hearing to anything that shall be reason and to answer thereunto and when your Majesty is pleased to send your Ambassadors thither he will make them all good treaty and receive them with that good love that is due For conclusion the said Ambassador humbly beseecheth your Majesty will be pleased to observe and weigh the care and tenderness wherewith the King his Master proceeded with your Majesties Ambassadors not obliging to precipitate resolutions but giving them much time to prove and give light of that which they had spoken and besides opening unto them many ways that they might comply with their orders if they had any such Which course if they had taken they might well have given satisfaction to the King his Master and moderated the so grounded opinion of their ill proceedings against the peace and so good intelligence and correspondence betwixt both the Crowns Madrid Aug. 5. 1624. The Petition of Francis Philips to King James for the release of Sir Robert Philips Prisoner tn the Tower Most dread Soveraign IF the Thrones of Heaven and Earth were to be sollicited one and the same way I should have learned by my often praying to God for your Majesty how to pray to your Majesty to other But the Liturgies of the Church and Court are different as in many other points to especially in this That in the one there is not so poor a friend but may offer his vows immediately to the Almighty whereas in the other a right loyal subject may pour out his soul in vain without an Ora pro nobis Now such is the obscure condition of your humble Suppliant as I know no Saint about your sacred Majesty to whom I can address my orisons or in whose mediation I dare repose the least assurance Let it be therefore lawful for me in this extraordinary occasion to pass the ordinary forms and raising my spirits above uncertainties to fix my intire faith upon your Majesties supreme goodness which is an ever ought to be esteemed both the best Tribunal and the best Sanctuary for a good cause But how good soever my cause be it would be high presumption in me to stand upon it I have therefore chosen rather to cast my self at your Majesties feet from whence I would not willingly rise but remain a monument of sorrow and humility till I have obtained some gracious answer to my Petition For though your Majesties thoughts cannot discern so low as to conceive how much it importeth a poor distressed Suppliant to be reviled neglected yet you may be pleased to believe that we are as highly affected and as much anguished with the extremities that press our little fortunes as Princes are with theirs Which I speak not out of any pride I take in comparing small things with great but only to dispose your Maiesty to a favourable construction of my words if they seem to be overcharged with zeal and affection or to express more earnestness then perhaps your Majesty may think the business merits as my self values it The suit I am to make to your Majesty is no sleight one it may be easily granted without references For I dare assure your Majesty upon my life it is neither against the Laws of the Kingdom nor will diminish any of your treasure either that of your coffers or that of your peoples hearts it being an act of clemencie or rather a word for even that will satisfie to create in your poor dejected Suppliant a new heart and send him away as full of content as he is now of grief and despair Nor is it for my self I thus implore your Majesties grace but for one that is far more worthy and in whom all that I am consists my dear Brother who I know not by what misfortune hath fallen or rather been pushed into your Majesties displeasure not in dark and crooked ways as corrupt and ill-affected subjects use to walk and near to break their necks in but even in the great road which both himself all good Englishmen that know not the paths of the Court would have sworn would have led most safely and most directly to your Majesties service from your Majesties displeasure there needs no other invention to crucifie a generous and honest-minded suppliant upon whom hath issued and been derived a whole torrent of exemplary punishment wherâ—in his reputation his person and his estate grievously suffered For having upon the last process of Parliament retired himself to his poor house in the Countrey with hope a while to breathe after these trouble some affairs and still breathing nothing but your Majesties service he was sent for ere he had finished his Christmas by a Sergeant at Arms who arrested him in his own house with as much terror as belongs to the apprehending of treason it self But thanks be to God his conscience never started and for his obedience herein shewed it was not in the power of any authority to surprize it For at the instant without asking one minutes time of resolution he rendered himself to the officers discretion who according to his directions brought him up captive and presented him at the Councell Table as a Delinquent from whence he was as soon committed to Tower where he ever since hath been kept close prisoner and that with so strict a hand as his own beloved wife and my self having sometime since urgent and unffaigned â—â—â—casion to speak with him about some private business of his Family and here upon making humble petition to the Lords of your Majesties most honorable Privy Councell for the favour of accesse we were to our great discomforts denied it by reason as their Lordships were pleased to declare unto us that he had not satisfied your Majesty fully in some points which being so far from being his fault as I dare say it is the greatest part of his affliction that he sees himself debarred from means of doing it The Lords Commissioners that were appointed by your Majesty to examine his offence since the first week of his imprisonment have not done him the honor to be with him by which means not onely his body but the most part of his
provision for his houshold according to the ancient custome to assemble the Parliament with her Majesties privity to receive the account of Officers saving the Treasurers to exercise martiall law The Queens Warrant to the Lords c. of Ireland for ministring the Oath and delivery of the Sword to him 31 Ian. 1583. RIght Reverend Father in God right trusty welbeloved and trusty and right welbeloved we greet you wel Whereas upon the departure from thence of our right trusty and welbeloved the Lord Gray of Wilton late our Deputy there we thought it meet for our government there to appoint you joyntly to have the place of our Justices until such time as we should resolve to send another thither to be our Deputy there We let you wit that meaning now no longer to burthen you with such a charge wherein you have according to the trust imposed in you very wisely behaved your selves greatly to our contentation we have chosen and appointed our right trusty and welbeloved Sir Jo. Perrot Knight this bearer to be our Deputy of that our said Realm that for that purpose to send him presently thither Wherefore our will and pleasure is and by vertue of these our Letters we authorize you upon the view of our letters Patents made and delivered unto him in that behalf both to minister unto him the oath accustomed to be given unto the Deputy there also to deliver unto him the Sword as heretofore hath been used And further that you communicate unto him amply the present estate of that our Realm and of all our affairs there for his better instruction at his entrance into that Government and the advancement of our service And these our Letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalf Given under our Signet c. the last of January 1583. the 26 year of our reign Another for his Entertainment there TRusty and welbeloved we greet you well Whereas we have now appointed our right trusty and welbeloved Sir John Perrot Knight to be our Deputy in that our Realm of Ireland for which Office allowance aswell of dyets as of entertainments for certain Horsmen is to be given him These be therefore to let you wit that we allow unto him for his ordinary dyet one hundred pounds sterling according to the last Establishment in March 1589. and for his Retinue fifty Horsmen and fifty Footmen with such wages for every Horsman and Footman and for their Officers as was allowed to Sir William Fitzwilliams and Sir Henry Sydney Knights in the late times of their Governments in that Realm After which rates as well for his own dyet as for the said fifty Horsmen and fifty Footmen and for their Officers We will and command you to make payment to him during his imployment and service in that place from the date of our Letters-Patents authorising him to that government And these our Letters shall be sufficient Warrant as well to you as to any Treasurer or Vice-treasurer there for the time being and to your and their Substitutes as also to the Auditor or his Deputies and to all other Commissioners to be appointed over your Accompts to pass and allow the same payments to you accordingly Given c. the fourth of April 1583. in the 26. year of our Reign of England c. The Queens Instructions to him YOU shall see immediately upon your arrival into that Realm assembled our Councel there and confer with them what course of Government upon due consideration had of the present estate of the said Realm may be held so as Justice may take place our Charges be lessened our Revenues increased and our Subjects there not oppressed You shall also consider what Forces are meet to be continued in pay and how the rest chargeable unto us and burthensom unto the Country may be discharged and also how the Horsmen and Footmen serving there may be reduced to their old pay which by reason of the general Rebellion in that Realm the Country being wasted we were driven to increase And therefore we see no reason but the Band residing in those Countries that are not wasted may live well enough of the old pay especially being victualled by us and for the ease and diminishing of our charges in that behalf We do think it meet that you should treat with those Countries that are not wasted as well in Munster or elswhere in that Realm to see if you can draw them with good contentment to contribute somthing towards the finding of that Garrison at Carberrie heretofore hath done And for that our Subjects in that Realm c. To advise of the inhabiting of Munster the attainted Lands to be let out at easie rents Survey certifie what States Statute of Vsus 5. Port-Corn 6. Th'attainted Lands to be bestowed in reward upon Servitors 7. Younger Brothers of Noblemen Diminish Pensioners 9. Review former Instructions 10 11. Renewing of forfeited Leases for three years Beef Port-Corn Remittal of Arrearages 12. Reversion of Lands to the Governours 13. Lands of the attainted to be appointed to house-keeping 14. Reservation of Timber-woods 15. Residence of Officers 16. Report to the State outrages of disloyal Subjects 17. Profits of Customs Escheats c. 19. Establishment for Connaught 20. President for Munster allowance begin at May Transportation 21. Councellors B. of Meath John Norris Richard Biâ—gham Tho. Strange 22. Refer the choice of a person to the Chancellor and others 23. Certificate of the last Treasurers Receipts and Expences Every one of these Articles doth contain half a side of Paper and therefore I have rather thought fit to abbreviate them then to transcribe them at large the whole Contents being contained in this Abbreviation Sir John Perrot to the Lords of the Councel Jan. 31. 1585. May it please your good Lordships ALthough I and this Councel have by our joynt-Letters truly declared unto you the dutifull state of things here and the causes both foraign and domestical whereupon we gather it and withall have shewed our extreme wants and what supplies are desired Yet understanding thence but not from your Lordships for I have had no kind of advertisements answer or resolution from the same these twelve moneths that there is a great preparation made by the Spanish King against the Realm and that your Lordships have intelligence thereof I cannot but as one whose chief charge and care it is importune your Lordships to cast your eye more carefully this way humbly praying you to consider what case we are in to try with a most mighty Prince whether this Realm shall be still her Majesties or his if there be any such matters as your Lordships know best then I beseech your Lordships to think whether it be more safety to say that we have sent provision to encounter the danger or else you will send when perhaps it will be too late And withall for mine own discharge if I shall tarry and have nothing wherewith I have but
which it was not in me to let and amplifie and practise occasions to represent to her Majesty a necessity to bring me to the one can and will do the like to stop me from the other You say my errors were my prejudice and therefore I can mend my self It is true but they that know that I can mend my self and that if I ever recover the Queen that I will never lose her again will never suffer me to obtain interest in her favour and you say the Queen never forsook utterly where she hath inwardly favoured but know not whether the hour-glass of time hath altered her but sure I am the false glasse of others informations must alter her when I want access to plead mine own cause I know I ought doubly infinitely to be her Majesties both jure creationis for I am her creature and jure redemptionis for I know she hath saved me from overthrow But for her first love and for her last protection and all her great benefits I can but pray for her Majesty my endevour is now to make my prayers for her and my self better heard For thanks be to God that they which can make her Majesty believe I counterfeit with her cannot make God believe that I counterfeit with him and they that can let me from coming near to her cannot let me from drawing nearer to him as I hope I do daily For your brother I hold him an honest Gentleman and wish him all good much rather for your sake your self I know hath suffered more for me and with me then any friend that I have But I can but lament freely as you see I do and advise you not to do that I do which is to despair You know Letters what hurt they have done me and therefore make sure of this and yet I could not as having no other pledge of my love but communicate openly with you for the ease of my heart and yours Your loving friend R. ESSEX Lord Mountjoy to the Earle of Essex MOst noble Lord the Queen is now removing towards a Progress wherein after I have somwhat waited upon her I shall have a desire to write to your Lordship of some things more at large which I will do as safely as I can your Lordships vertue and your clear conscience must be your own brazen wall for we that are not of the Councell do see no hope to keep long together this State from assured ruine I pray God the Queen may with all prosperity out-live their negligence and your care to be a just Judge if not a rewarder thereof In the mean time you owe unto her and your own vertue extraordinary patience Your Lordships mind I do protest cannot labour more in the storm wherein you are then mine doth in this dangerous and miserable calm For it is some comfort to perish doing somewhat and yet my Lord why should we despair since there is a Providence that looks beyond and concludes contrary to the practices of the world which Providence hath shewed us ways how rugged soever they be which will bring unto true happiness and though we lose these mortall Barkes we sail in yet he will assuredly save the passengers Noble Lord in respect of that great Haven contemn these tempests and shipwracks at sea Your Lordships servant Mr. Bushel doth fear to have you impute his slow dispatch unto any want of his diligence and hath shewed his fear in exceeding sorrow that it could not be sooner and with as much care by all his best means to effect it I much thank your Lordship for your favour to Sir Charls Blunt of whom if he be not thankfull I shall not onely be deceived but also revenged I will pray continually for your Lordships prosperity and that it shall be impossible to make me otherwise then Your Lordships most honest and faithfull servant MOUNTJOY Sir Robert Cecil after Earl of Salisbury to the Lord Burleigh his Father from France Febr. 26. 1597. MY duty humbly remembred to your Lordship Having lately made dispatches from Diep and having made little way in France by reason of Sir Thomas Wilks indisposition your Lordship can expect little from me especially having joyned with my associates in a letter to your Lordship Nevertheless because love and duty will find easily occasion to express themselves I am bold to yeild your Lordship some more trouble by my private Letter I have met here with the primier President of Roan a man of great credit and reputation one that untill meer necessity did force him kept much hold here for this King he afterward retired and kept the Parliament at Caen he is learned grave of good person good discourse well affectionate to England his name is Claude Grollart he is now next the Duke Monpencier the stay of all those quarters insomuch that when the King will be merry with him he calls him one of the petty Dukes in Normandy he did visit me with great respect and fell into familiar discourse with me of your Lordship whom he had known in England many years since and hath had correspondency with your Lordship by letters in Mr. Secretary Walsinghams time And being talking thereof he desired me to tell your Lordship by occasion that when these troubles were like to grow by the League you writ him a letter of advice to stick fast to the King and not to be doubtfull though he saw difficulties for you did hold it for a true Oracle That the Kings on earth are like the Sun and that such as do seek to usurp are like falling Starres For the Sun although it be ecclipsed and obfuscated with mists and clouds at length they are dispersed where the other are but figures of stars in the eyes view and prove no more but exhalations which suddenly dissolve and fall to the earth where they are consumed Because I have little else to fill my paper I presume to trouble your Lordship thus far to whom I think it cannot be offensive to hear that for your sake I am by many the better used and that by your own wisdom you are by men of place and gravity both honored and remembred The marriage of the Duke of Tremouille to the Count Maurice his sister hath drawn the Duke of Bovillon towards Britany where I am informed by this President that he meaneth to stay and to attend the King to whom he will clear himself if he take any knowledge of any jealousie and the rather because he is there well fortified in a Countrey full of those that are of the religion It shall behove me being there to cary my self tenderly towards him The Kings prosperity in Britany hath already made his Catholikes begin to quarrel with the Accord which hath been made at the Assembly For the persons that were appointed to frame the Articles into an Edict have varied upon some principall points onely to trifle out the time thereby to discover whether the King may need their
wonderfull secresie and came seldom to light and that there was no presuspition thereof so great as the Recusants to come to Divine Service because it was set down by their Decrees that to come to Church before reconcilement was absolutely heretical and damnable Therefore there were added Laws containing punishment pecuniary against such Recusants not to enforce Conscience but to enfeeble and impoverish the means of those of whom it resteth indifferent and ambiguous whether they were reconciled or no. And when notwithstanding all this provision this poyson was dispersed so secretly as that there was no means to stay it but by restraining the Merchants that brought it in then lastly there was added another Law whereby such seditious Priests of new erection were exiled and those that were at that time within the Land shipped over and so commanded to keep hence upon pain of Treason This hath been the proceeding though intermingled not only with sundry examples of her Majesties grace towards such as in her wisdom she knew to be Papists in conscience and not in faction and singularity but also with an ordinary mitigation towards the offenders in the highest degree committed by Law if they would but protest that in case this Realm should be invaded with a foreign Army by the Popes authority for the Catholique cause as they term it they would take party with her Majesty and not adhere to her enemies For the other part which have been offensive to this State though in other degree which named themselves Reformers and we commonly call Puritans this hath been the proceeding towards them a great while When they inveighed against such abuses in the Church as Pluralities Non-residence and the like their zeal was not condemned only their violence was sometimes censured When they refused the use of some Ceremonies and Rites as superstitious they were tolerated with much connivencie and gentleness yea when they called in question the Superiority of Bishops and pretended to bring a Democracie into the Church yet their Propositions were heard considered and by contrary writings debated and discussed Yet all this while it was perceived that their course was dangerous and very popular As because Papistry was odious therefore it was ever in their mouths that they sought to purge the Church from the reliques of Popery a thing acceptable to the People who love ever to run from one extreme to another Because multitudes of Rogues and Poverty were an eye-sore and dislike to every man therefore they put it into the Peoples head that if Discipline were plaintive there should be no Beggers nor Vagabonds a thing very plausible And in like manner they promise the people many other impossible wonders of their Discipline Besides they opened the People a way to Government by their Consistory Presbytery a thing though in consequence no less prejudicial to the liberties of private men then to the soveraignty of Princes yet in the first shew very popular Nevertheless this except it were in some few that entred into extreme contempt was borne with because they pretended but in dutifull manner to make Propositions and to leave it to the Providence of God and the authority of the Magistrate But now of late years when there issued from them a Colony of those that affirmed the consent of the Magistrate was not to be attended when under pretence of a Confession to avoid slanders and imputations they combined themselves by Classes and Subscriptions when they descended into that vile and base means of defacing the Government of the Church by ridiculous Pasquils when they began to make many Subjects in doubt to take an Oath which is one of the fundamental points of Justice in this Land and in all places when they began both to vaunt of their strength and number of their partizans and followers and to use the communications that their Cause would prevail though with uprore and violence then it appeared to be no more zeal no more conscience but meer faction and division And therefore though the State were compelled to hold somwhat a harder hand to restrain them then before yet it was with as great moderation as the peace of the Church and State could permit And therefore to conclude consider uprightly of these matters and you shall see her Majesty is no Temporizer in Religion It is not the success abroad nor the change of servants here at home can alter her only as the things themselves alter so she applied her religious wisdom to correspond unto them still retaining the two rules before mentioned in dealing tenderly with consciences and yet in discovering Faction from Conscience Farewell Your loving Friend Francis Walsingham Sir Francis Bacon to the Earl of Essex when Sir Robert Cecil was in France My singular good Lord I Do write because I have not yet had time fully to express my conceit nor now to attend you touching Irish matters considering them as they may concern the State that it is one of the aptest particulars that hath come or can come upon the stage for your Lordship to purchase honour upon I am moved to think for three reasons Because it is ingenerate in your House in respect of my Lord your Fathers noble attempts because of all the accidents of State at this time the labour resteth most upon that and because the world will make a kind of comparison between those that set it out of frame and those that shall bring it into frame which kind of honour giveth the quickest kind of reflection The transferring this honour upon your self consisteth in two points The one if the principal persons imployed come in by you and depend upon you the other if your Lordship declare your self to undertake a care of that matter For the persons it falleth out well that your Lordship hath had no interest in the persons of imputation For neither Sir William Fitz-Williams nor Sir John Norris was yours Sir William Russel was conceived yours but was curbed Sir Coniers Clifford as I conceive it dependeth upon you who is said to do well and if my Lord of Ormond in this interim do accommodate well I take it he hath always had good understanding with your Lordship So as all things are not only whole and entire but of favourable aspect towards your Lordship if you now chuse well wherein in your wisdom you will remember there is a great difference in choice of the persons as you shall think the affairs to incline to composition or to war For your care-taking popular conceit hath been that Irish causes have been much neglected whereby the very reputation of better care will be a strength And I am sure her Majesty and my Lords of the Councel do not think their care dissolved when they have chosen whom to imploy but that they will proceed in a spirit of State and not leave the main point to discretion Then if a Resolution be taken a Consultation must proceed and the Consultation must be governed upon
called in question must go away uncensured yet consider that accusations make wounds and leave scarres and though you see your tale behind your back your self free and the Covert before yet remember there are stands trust not a reconciled enemies but think the peace is but to secure you for further advantage expect a second and a third encounter the main battell the wings are yet unbroken they may charge you at an instant or death before them walk therefore circumspectly and if at length by means of our good endeavours and yours you recover the favour that you have lost give God the glory in action not in words onely and remember us with sense of your past misfortune whose estate hath doth and may hereafter lye in the power of your breath There is a great mercy in dispatch delays are tortures wherewith we are by degrees rent out of our estates do not you if you be restored as some others do fly from the service of vertue to serve the time as if they repented their goodness or meant not to make a second hazard in Gods House but rather let this cross make you zealous in Gods cause sensible in ours and more sensible in all which express thus You have been a great enemy to Papists if you love God be so still but more indeed then heretofore for much of your zeal was heretofore wasted in words call to remembrance that they were the persons that prophesied of that cross of yours long before it hapned they saw the storm coming being the principall contrivers and furtherers of the plot the men that blew the coals heat the Iron and made all things ready they owe you a good turn and will if they can pay it you you see their hearts by their deeds prove then your faith so too The best good work you can do is to do the best you can against them that is to see the Law severely justly and diligently executed And now we beseech you my Lord be sensible both of the stroak and hand that striketh learn of David to leave Shimei and call upon God he hath some great work to do and he prepareth you for it he would neither have you faint nor yet bear this cross with a Stoical resolution There is a Christian mediocrity worthy of your greatness I must be plain perhaps rash Had some notes which you have taken at Sermons been written in your heart to practise this work had been done long ago without the envy of your enemies But when we will not mind our selves God if we belong to him takes us in hand and because he seeth that we have unbridled stomacks therefore he sends outward crosses which while they cause us to mourn do comfort us being assured testimonies of his love that sends them to humble our selves therefore before God is the part of a Christian but for the world and our enemies the counsell of the Poet is apt Tune cede malis sed contra andentior ito The last part of this counsell you forget yet none need be asham'd to make use of it that so being armed against casualties you may stand firm against the assaults on the right hand and on the left For this is certain the mind that is most prone to be puft up with prosperity is most weak and apt to be dejected with the least puff of adversity Indeed she is strong enough to make an able man stagger striking terrible blows but true Christian wisdom gives us armour of proof against all assaults and teacheth us in all estates to be content for though she cause our truest friends to declare themselves our enemies though she give heart then to the most cowardly to strike us though an hours continuance countervail an age of prosperity though she cast in our dish all that ever we have done yet hath she no power to hurt the humble and wise but onely to break such as too much prosperity hath made stiff in their own thoughts but weak indeed and fitted for renewing when the wise rather gather from thence profit and wisdom by the example of David who said Before I was chastised I went wrong Now then he that knoweth the right way will look better to his footing Gardan saith That weeping fasting and sighing are the chief purgers of griefes Indeed naturally they help to asswage sorrow but God in this case is the onely and best Physician the means he hath ordained are the advice of friends the amendment of our selves for amendment is both Physitian and Cure For friends although your Lordship be scant yet I hope you are not altogether destitute if you be do but look on good books they at true friends that will neither flatter nor dissemble be you but true to your self applying what they teach unto the party grieved and you shall need no other comfort nor counsell To them and to Gods holy Spirit directing you in the reading of them I commend your Lordship beseeching him to send you a good issue out of these troubles and from henceforth to work a reformation in all that is amiss and a resolute perseverance proceeding and growth in all that is good and that for his glory the bettering of your self this Church and Common-wealth whose faithfull servant whilst you remain I remain a faithfull servant to you To Sir Vincent Skinner expostulatory Sir Vincent Skinner I See that by your needless delayes this matter is grown to a new question wherein for the matter it self if it had been staid at the begining by my Lord Treasurer and my Lord Chancellor I should not so much have stood upon it For the great and daily travels which I take in his Majesties service either are rewarded in themselves in that they are but my duty or else may deserve a much greater matter Neither can I think amiss of any man that in furtherance of the Kings benefit moved the doubt that I knew not what warrant you had But my wrong is that you having had my Lord Treasurers and Mr. Chancellors warrant for payment above a moneth since you I say making your payments belike upon such differences as are better known to your self then agreeable to due respect of his Majesties service have delayed all this time otherwise then I might have expected either from our antient acquaintance or from that regard as one in your place may owe to one in mine By occasion whereof there ensueth to me a greater inconvenience that now my name in sort must be in question amongst you as if I were a man likely to demand that that were unreasonable or to be denied that that is reasonable And this must be because you can pleasure men at pleasure But this I leave with this that it is the first matter wherein I had occasion to discern of your friendship which I see to fall to this That whereas Mr. Chancellor the last time in my mans hearing very honourably said that he would not discontent any man in my
morall honesty of life or innated instinct of nature or for fear of some temporall punishment pretend obedience unto your Highness Laws yet certainly the onely Catholiques for conscience sake observe them For they defending that Princes Precepts and Statutes oblige no subject under the penalty of sin will have little care in conscience to transgress them which principally are tormented with the guilt of fin But Catholiques professing merit in obeying and immerit in transgressing cannot but in Soul be grievously tortured for the least prevarication thereof Wherefore most mercifull Soveraign we your loving afflicted subjects in all dutifull subjection protest before the Majesty of God and all his holy Angels as loyal obedience and immaculate allegiance unto your Grace as ever did faithfull subjects in England or Scotland unto your Highness Progenitors and intend as sincerely with our goods and lives to serve you as ever did the loyallest Israelites King David or the trustiest Legions the Roman Emperours And thus expecting your Majesties customary favour and gracious bounty we rest your devoted suppliants to him whose hands do manage the hearts of Kings and with reciprocate mercy will requite the mercifull Your Majesties most devoted servants the Catholiques of England Sir Walter Raleigh to King James before his triall IT is one part of the Office of a just and worthy Prince to hear the complaints of his vassals especially such as are in great misery I know not amongst many other presumptions gathered against me how your Majesty hath been perswaded that I was one of them who were greatly discontented and therefore the more likely to prove disloyall But the great God so relieve me in both worlds as I was the contrary and I took as great comfort to behold your Majesty and always learning some good and bettering my knowledge by hearing your Majesties discourse I do most humbly beseech your Soveraign Majesty not to believe any of those in my particular who under pretence of offences to Kings do easily work their particular revenge I trust no man under the colour of making examples should perswade your Majesty to leave the word Mercifull out of your Stile for it wil be no less profit to your Majesty become your greatness then the word Invincible It is true that the Laws of England are no less jealous of the Kings then Caesar was of Pompey's wife for notwithstanding she was cleared for having company with Claudius yet for being suspected he condemned her For my self I protest before Almighty God and I speak it to my Master and Soveraign that I never invented treason against him and yet I know I shall fall in manibus corum a quibus non possum evadere unless by your Majesties gracious compassion I be sustained Our Law therefore most mercifull Prince knowing her own cruelty and knowing that she is wont to compound treason out of presumptions and circumstances doth give this charitable advice to the King her Supream Non solum sapiens esse sed misericors c. cum tutius sit reddere rationem misericordiae quam judicii I do therefore on the knees of my heart beseech your Majesty from your own sweet and comfortable disposition to remember that I have served your Majesty twenty years for which your Majesty hath yet given me no reward and it is fitter I should be indebted unto my Soveraign Lord then the King to his poor Vassal Save me therefore most mercifull Prince that I may ow your Majesty my life it self then which there cannot be a greater debt Limit me at least my Soveraign Lord that I may pay it for your service when your Majesty shall please If the Law destroy me your Majesty shall put me out of your power and I shall have none to fear but the King of Kings WALTER RALEIGH Sir Walter Raleigh to Sir Robert Car after Earl of Somerset SIR AFter many losses and many years sorrows of both which I have cause to fear I was mistaken in their ends It is come to my knowledge that your self whom I know not but by an honorable favour hath been perswaded to give me and mine my last fatal blow by obtaining from his Majesty the Inheritance of my Children and Nephews lost in Law for want of a word This done there remaineth nothing with me but the name of life His Majesty whom I never offended for I hold it unnatural and unmanlike to hate goodness staid me at the graves brink not that I thought his Majesty thought me worthy of many deaths and to behold mine cast out of the world with my self but as a King that knoweth the poor in truth hath received a promise from God that his Throne shall be established And for you Sir seeing your fair day is but in the dawn mine drawn to the setting your own vertues and the Kings grace assuring you of many fortunes and much honour I beseech you begin not your first building upon the ruines of the innocent and let not mine and their sorrows attend your first plantation I have ever been bound to your Nation as well for many other graces as for the true report of my trial to the Kings Majesty against whom had I been malignant the hearing of my cause would not have changed enemies into friends malice into compassion and the minds of the greatest number then present into the commiseration of mine estate It is not the nature of foul Treason to beget such fair passions neither could it agree with the duty and love of faithfull Subjects especially of your Nation to bewail his overthrow that had conspired against their most natural and liberal Lord. I therefore trust that you will not be the first that shall kill us outright cut down the tree with the fruit and undergo the curse of them that enter the fields of the fatherless which if it please you to know the truth is far lesâ— in value then in saâ—ne But that so worthy a Gentleman as your self will rather bind us to you being sixe Gentlemen not base in birth and allâ—ance which have interest therein Aâ—d my self with my uttermost thankfulness will remain ready to obey your commandments WALTER RALEIGH Sir Thomas Egerton Chancellor after Lord Ellesmere to the Earl of Essex SIR HOw things proceed here touching your self you shall partly understand by these inclosed Her Majesty is gracious towards you and you want not friends to remember and commend your former services Of these particulars you shall know more when we meet In the mean time by way of caution take this from me There are sharp eyes upon you your actions publique and private are observed It behoveth you therefore to carry your self with all integrity and sincerity both of hands and heart lest you overthrow your own fortunes and discredit your friends that aâ—â— tender and carefull of your reputation and well-doing So in haste I commit you to God with my very hearty commendations and rest At the Court at Richmond 21 Octob. 1599.
and ungodly condition is come to such height is hath drawn him not onely to spoil unlawfully and so barbarously to use the subjects of so great a King your confederate and thereby to hazard a breach of the amity between your Majesties so necessary for both your Estates and so utile to the whole Commonwealth of Christendom but also to neglect and contemn the authority of your Majesty his own Soveraign to whom besides the obligation of his naturall allegiance he is so infinitely bound for preferring and trusting him with a matter of so great consequence and dignity By this paper inclosed your Majesty shall understand the manner of proceeding of the King my Master against such of his subjects as commit the like crimes and outrage against any of yours and thereby conceive what my said Soveraign expecteth of your Majesty in this and the like and what I am commanded in conformity thereof to require which is that there be no proceeding in so clear and plain a case by way of processe or suit in Law which in this kingdom as by experience is known are immortall but that according to the sixth Article of the Peace and the most Christian and just example shewed by my Soveraign who so punctually and conscionably in all things observeth with your Majesty you will be pleased that there be not onely an intire and immediate satisfaction to the parties but that as well your said Viceroy and Don Lewis his son-in-law as all others their aiders partners and receivers in that crime may be criminally proceeded against and suffer such punishment as so enorm and unlawfull actions have justly deserved The performance of this considering with what patience the King my Master out of his love to your Majesty notwithstanding the daily complaints and importunities of the parties the generall exclamation of other his subjects who hold it rather agreeable with his honor and Kingly Office not so long to permit unsatisfied or unpunished so intollerable an outrage hath more then three whole years attended it I cannot but expect from so just and pious a Prince without further delay or protraction of time .. Jan. 16. novo stilo 1608 Sir Charls Cornwallis to the Spanish King WEll knoweth your Majesty in your Royall wisdom how necessary to Kings is the conservation of authority and respect to their Kingly dignities as also that the greatest and most absolute precept of Justice is to do to others what we would be done unto our selves How religiously punctually the King my master hath observed these unto your Majesty hath appeared by many demonstrations and not the least in the deniall he made to Antonio de Perez to abide in his Kingdom or to have accesse to his person onely out of a conceit he had that he came with a mind determined to disauthorize your Majesty in his speeches or to make offer of some practise against your estates in his overtures Your Majesties own Royall and gratefull inclination I know to be such as you are not without desire to pay my Soveraign with the like equivalent retribution but with your Majesties pardon and favour duty inforceth me plainly to tell you that the Ministers of these your Kingdoms shew not the like affection where not one but many my of Soveraigns worst affected subject are daily received cherished and honored with entertainments in your service Were that sort of people contented onely to abuse your Majesties Kingly munificence and Christian charity and to deceive your Ministers with their falsified genealogies and with putting the Don upon many whose fathers and Ancestors were so base and beggerly as they never arrived to be owners of so much as convenient apparell to cover their nakedness it were much more tolerable but when having here tasted the warmth of your Majesties liberall and pious hand they become furnished in such ample and abundant manner as their poor and miserable ancestors durst never so much as dream of like Aesops serpent they turn their venemous stings towards the bosoms that gave them heat and life and endeavour with all the force and Art they have to give cause of distaste and by consequence of division between your Majesty and your faithfullest and most powerful Confederate in uneven paiment for your Majesties so great and gracious favour With generalities for the present I will not deal as he whose cares and desires have ever been to soften and not to sharpen Two Irish in your Court the one a son as by his own Countreymen is generally reported either to a vagabond Rimer a generation of people in that Countrey of the worst account or to give him his best title of a poore Mechanicall Surgeon The other descended rather of more base and beggerly parents neglecting what by the Laws of God they ow to their own Soveraign and as little regarding their obligation to your Majesty who from the dust of the earth and miserable estate hath made them what they are notwithstanding that they cannot be ignorant of the strait charge and commandements your Majesty hath given that all due respect be had to the King my Master and his Ministers and subjects the first in irreverend and irrespective behaviour towards my self and some of mine the other in obstinate defending his companions unmannerliness delivering by way of direct asseveration that I am an heretique and such an one as to whom it is not lawfull under the pain of deadly sin to use any courtesie or reverence whatsoever have of late miscarried themselves as I hold it not agreeable either with what I ow to the King I serve or the honor I have to represent his person to passe over with silence but to present it instantly to your Majesty The names of the parties are Magg Ogg a Sollicitor as here is said for the fugitive Earle of Tyrone condemned by the verdict of his own Contreymen besides his delict of Treason of thirteen several murders The other names himselfe Condio Mauricio and is here as I am informed allowed for a for his vagabonding Countreymen hath put on the habit of a Priest and hath of your Majesty thirty crowns a moneth in Pension The parties and the offences I have made known unto your Secretary of State and I cannot doubt your Majesty in conformity of what the King my master hath by so many arguments demonstrated towards your Majesty and your Ministers will command such exemplary punishment to be made of them as a behaviour so undecent a slander and reproach so intolerable and an opinion so desperate and dangerous and so contrary to what your Majesty and all those of your Councell Nobility and Clergy do practise do worthily merit c. Feb. 1608. Sir Charls Cornwallis to the Spanish King YOur Majesty to whom God hath given so large an Empire so much exceeding that of other Princes and whom he hath blessed with so great an inclination to piety clemency and other vertues becoming your Royall dignity and Person will
great Uncle and perceiving that all the Councels of the Calvinists do aim to bring in the Turk he will not condemn his translation For no less is the Lutherans hatred against the Calvinists as the Catholiques and they think less danger do proceed from the later It is to be hoped therefore that the Elector of Saxony and other Lutheran Princes when they see the business brought to this point will not so far disapprove thereof as to put themselves in Arms which I shall shortly understand of the most excellent Archduke Charls my brother who is for this cause to treat with the Elector of Saxony And these motives as they are of great consequence so I imagine you which are daily of his Majesties Councell have pondered them as diligently as my self and therefore that you will omit nothing that is pertinent to establish this business whereby we obtain the long and wished fruit thereof which is the propagation of the honor of Almighty God through the Empire and the augmentation of the common safety Family and Dignity Beloved Don Balthazar I understand that there was a motive of great consideration omitted in my Letter to wit that if we had more countenance of his Catholique Majesty then we have at this present the Empire should always remain in the hands of Catholiques and so according to reason in our House to whose advancement the Duke of Bavaria will willingly concur in recognition of such a benefit being promoted by an Emperour of that House to so eminent and high a dignity as in our letters Vienna Octob. 15. 1621. King James to Ferdinand the Emperour concerning the Palatinate Novemb. 12. 1621. IAmes by the grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. wisheth health and constant peace unto the most mighty and invincible Prince Ferdinando by the same grace elected Roman Emperour King of Germany Hungary and Bohemia Archduke of Austria c. our loving friend and cousin Most mighty and invincible Prince Brother Cousin and speciall loving Friend It is not unknown unto the whole world much less to your Imperiall Majesty how earnestly we have hitherto sought and endeavoured as well by the diligence of our Ambessadors whom we have sent as by the intercession of the chief German Princes the appeasing of those Bohemian wars ever since they first began and with what ardent zeal and affection we have so much hunted after the desire of peace Let it not therefore seem strange unto any man that we take it ill that all the very time when we were to the uttermost of our power treating of peace and giving our best furtherance for the overture of wholsome means to effect it even then notwithstanding we found clean contrary effects to ensue thereupon whereat we much marvelled seeing the Treaty was in hand and already begun on all sides as namely among the rest that our son-in-law was wholly despoiled and robbed of his hereditary patrimony that remained unto him excepting the â—lower Palatinate which was all by commandment of your Imperiall Majesty taken and possessed by the Duke of Bavaria according as himself confessed with strong hand and force of Arms and that for such reasons as are meerly new and such as the like were never hitherto once heard of That notwithstanding it plainly appeareth by the answer given unto our Ambassador that your Imperial Majesty had caused the suspension of that Ban or prescription in those Countries yet did your Imperial Majesty permit the taking of Arms again in hand which also after the same your Imperial Majesties answer was yet again likewise commanded to be done in the Lower Palatinate whereby there hath therein been since raised a grievous and cruel war and most part of the Country taken in by the Spaniards powerfull strength But as we diligently observed those things we cleerly see what great trouble and misery hath been occasioned by this our great patience and long delaying forbearing and doubtfulness which without all doubt may be hereafter further occasioned and which may perhaps prove heavier then the chief reasons of this misery it self And therefore we hold it best and most expedient that your Imperial Majesty do at length put a period to this most unhappy business And for that end and purpose have thought good at this time so propound what we prescribe our Son in law on th' one part to perform towards your Imperial Majesty which we have always councelled and exhorted our Son in law to do nor will we so much as in the least once doubt of the contrary and adverse success therein but are perswaded that your Imperial Majesty will be most graciously moved to receive our Son in law into grace and favour to redeliver unto him his hereditary lands and titles which he had enjoyed before those Bohemian wars and fully to restore him to his former honours and dignities In regard whereof the Count Palatine shall perform unto your Imperial Majesty as followeth 1. He shall for himself and his Son wholly renounce and acquit all pretence of right and claim unto die Crown of Bohemia and the incorporated Countries thereof 2. He shall from henceforward yield all constant due devotion unto the Imperial Majesty as do other obedient Princes Electors of the Empire 3. He shall upon his knee crave pardon of the Imperial Majesty 4. He shall not hereafter any manner of way either unfittingly carry or demean himself towards the Imperial Majesty or disturb your Kingdoms or Countries 5. He shall upon reasonable conditions reconcile himself with other his neighbour Princes and States of the Empire and hold good friendship with them 6. And shall really do all other like things as is above contained and that shall be reasonable and necessary Which proposed Conditions if your Imperial Majesty shall please to receive and accept of the same will be a notable testimony of your Imperial Majesties goodness and grace which how well and acceptable it will be unto us shall be acknowledged and shewed by our very willing service and unfeigned friendship as well towards your Imperial Majesty as towards the most renowned house of Austria But if it shall fall out contrary to our expectation that these our just demands and well-willed presentation shall not find acceptance or after this our diligent endeavor you shall seek to delay us by the using some new tergiversation and pretend to use that long councel and deliberate advice of the Princes of the Empire upon these our propounded conditions whereas notwithstanding your Imperial Majesty expresly promised in your last answer freely to declare what should be your purpose and resolution therein So that there being no ground to the contrary as we call God and the world to witness there is not and being forced and constrained by the duty and natural affection which we owe and bear to our Children for the preservation of their honour and welfare we are resolved to try the uttermost of our power
he saw well that he should die he commanded that the Image of our Lady of Antiochia should be carried about which was performed on Sunday the 28. in a solemn Procession wherein the Councilors of Spain assisted In the evening commandment was given to the Churches that the blessed Sacrament should be set upon the Altar and the body of S. Isidore should be placed in the Court. On Munday the 29. about four of the clock in the evening his disease then grew violent and some ulcers appeared on his belly on his reins and on his thighs and the King still assuring himself that he should die the Physitians then feeling his pulse affirmed that undoubtedly they assented unto the King in the opinion he conceived of his infirmity At the same time the President of Castile was sent for and the Confessor who having had some speech with the King and the Duke of Ossuna they went and fetcht the Councellors before whom and the Grandees of Spain who were present the King sealed his Testament which John de Serita Secretary of State had set down in writing in his presence Afterwards they caused him to eat somewhat and being advised how it would be good for him to sleep he made this answer in Spanish En jornada tan longa y tiempe tan bréve ne conviéus reposar Upon so long a journey and so short a time to perform it I must not rest Then he sent for the Prince and the young Child Don Carlo to whom having spoken for a good while at length in particular to the Prince he said aloud how he recommended unto him the Child and that he grieved that he should have been unprovided but he hoped he left him in the hands of a good loving brother Then said he to the Prince that he requested him that he would not do as he did at his coming to the Crown in removing his Fathers old Officers and Servants but that he would imploy those who were experienced in affairs of the Commonwealth he then commended unto him particularly John de Luenza Secretary of the Memorials and his Confessor and afterwards the Duke of Ossuna Then was presently brought in the Infanta Maria and the Infante-Cardinal He cryed out when he saw the Infanta and said Maria I am full sorry that I must die before I have married thee but this thy brother shall have care of He then turned towards her brother and said unto him Prince do not forsake her till you have made her an Empress Then he spake unto the Cardinal Infant whom he appointed to be a Priest so soon as he should come to be of fit age and said that he should be much grieved if he thought he would not undertake this profession He had sent for Madam the Princess but she swouned upon her entry at the chamber-door which was the cause that she was conducted back again unto her own chamber fearing lest it might be prejudicial unto her being great with child Which being reported to the King he shewed great compassion thereat and said that he ever constantly believed that Madam the Princess loved him as well as any of his own children After that he began to speak of the Queen saying how she should lose a good Husband and that he had always loved her dearly Afterwards he distributed between the Prince and the Infanta the Reliques and other memorials he had except one Crucifix which hung at the testern of the bed and said unto the Prince that he could not give it him then because was the same with which his Grandfather and Father had dyed but he commended it to him to be held with great reverence after his death and that the Popes had given unto it special Indulgences Afterwards giving them all his blessing he caused them to go forth and so calling for the blessed Sacrament which was administred unto him about midnight he received the Extreme unction at two of the clock in the morning and so commended himself unto God Yet did he not for all this forbear to seal to a great number of papers which were brought him And complaining very much he refused such meat as they would have had him take About noon the Body of St. Isidore was placed neer unto his bed his Confessor and Father Florence perswading him to make a vow for his health and that he would build a Chappel to the same Saint which he did but withall said Peró ya es táde But now it is very late He continued all the rest of the day speaking continually to the Father Confessor Father Florence and Rochas Many processions of penance were solemnized in the Town and the Councel assembled twice About the evening his infirmity renewed with violence and having languished the whole night in the morning his departure was published though indeed it was not till about nine of the clock in the morning the last of March the self same day of our return Which will inform you of all things passed at least of such as came any ways to our knowledge The Queen stir'd not out of her bed all that day for fear lest either trouble or grief of mind whereof she gave plentiful testimony by her tears might prejudice her health or the fruit of her body which she hath passed over thanks be to God whereof we send you word that the good news may shut up the discourse of an accident so lamentable and unlooked for King James to the Earl of Bristoll Ambassador in Spain Octob. 3. 1622. Right trusty and right well beloved Cousin and Councellor we greet you well THere is none knowes better then your self how we have laboured ever since the beginning of these infortunate troubles of the Empire notwithstanding all opposition to the contrary to merit well of our good brother the King of Spain and the whole House of Austria by a long and lingring patience grounded still upon his friendship and promises That care should be had of our honour and of our Childrens patrimony and inheritance We have acquainted you also from time to time since the beginning of the Treaty at Bruxels how crossly things have there proceeded notwithstanding the fair professions made unto us both by the King of Spain the Infanta all his Ministers and the Letters written by him unto the Emperor and them effectually at the least as they endeavoured to make us believe but what fruits have we of all these other then dishonour andd scorn Whilst we are treating the Town and Castle of Heidilbergh taken by force our Garrison put to the sword Manheim besieged and all the hostility used that is within the power of an Enemy as you will see by the relation which we have commanded our Secretary to send you Our pleasure therefore is That you shall immediatly as soon as you can get audience let the King understand how sensible we are of those proceedings of the Emperour towards us and withall are not a little troubled to see that the
Infanta having an absolute commission to conclude a suspension and cessation of Arms should now at last when all objections were answered and the former solely pretended obstacles removed not onely delay the conclusion of the Treaty but refuse to lay her command upon the Emperours Generals for abstaining from the siege of our Garrisons during the Treaty upon pretext of want of authority So as for avoyding of further dishonor we have been enforced to recall both our Ambassadors as well the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is already returned to our presence as also the Lord Chichester whom we intended to have sent unto the Emperour to the Dyet at Ratisbone Seeing therefore that out of our extraordinary respect meerly to the King of Spain and the firm confidence we ever put in the hopes and promises which he did give us desiring nothing more then for his cause principally to avoid all occasions that might put us into ill understanding with any of the House of Austria We have hitherto proceeded with a stedfast patience trusting to the treaties and neglecting all other means which might probably have secured the remainder of our childrens inheritance Those Garrisons which we maintained in the Palatinate being rather for honor sake to keep a footing untill the generall accommodation then that we did rely so much upon their strength as upon his frienpship and by the confidence security of ours are thus exposed to dishonor reproach you shal tell that King that seeing all those endeavours and good offices which he hath used towards the Emperour in this business on the behalf of our son-in-law upon confidence whereof that our security depended which he continually by his Letters and Ministers here laboured to beget and confirm in us have not sorted to any other issue then to a plain abuse both of his trust and ours whereby we are both of us highly injured in our honour though in a different degree we hope desire that out of a true sense of this wrong offered unto us he will as our deer and loving brother faithfully promise and undertake upon his honor confirming the same also under his hand and seal either that the Castle and Town of Heidelbergh shall within threescore and ten dayes after this your audience and demand made be rendred into our hands with all things therein belonging to our son-in-law or our daughter as neer as may be in the state wheirn they were taken and the like for Manheim and Frankindale if both or eithe of them shall be taken by the enemy whilst these things are in treating as also that there shall be within the said term of threescore and ten days a cessation or suspension of Arms in the Palatinate for the future upon the severall Articles and Conditions last propounded by our Ambassador Sir Richard Weston and that the generall treaty shall be set on foot again upon such honorable terms and conditions as were propounded unto the Emperour in a letter written unto him in November last and with which the King of Spain then as we understand seemed satisfied or else in case all these particulars be not yeilded unto and performed by the Emperour as is here propounded but be refused or delayed beyond the time afore mentioned that then the King of Spain do joyn his forces with ours for the recovery of our childrens honors and patrimony which upon this trust hath been thus lost Or if so be his forces at this present be otherwise so imployed as that they cannot give us that assistance which we here desire and as we think we have deserved yet at the least he will permit us a free and friendly passage through his Territories and Dominions for such forces as we shall send and imploy into Germany for this service of all which disjunctively if you receive not of the King of Spain within ten days at the furthest after your audience and proposition made a direct assurance under his hand and seal without delay or putting us off to further Treaties and Conferences that is to say of such restitution cessation of Arms and proceeding to a generall treaty as is before mentioned or else of assistance and joyning his forces with ours against the Emperour or at least permission of passage for our forces through his said Dominions that then you take your leave and return unto our Presence without further stay otherwise to proceed in the negotiation of the marriage of our Son according to the instruction we have given you Given c. at Hampton Court Octob. 3. 1622. Earl of Bristol to King James Octob. 21. 1622. MAy it please your most excellent Majesty I received your Majesties Letter of the 9. of Septemb the 23. of the same moneth by them understand that your Majesty hath received much satisfaction by what I had formerly written unto your Majesty both concerning the restitution of the conclusion of the Match but that your Majesty findeth the effects very unsuitable both by the proceeding at Bruxels in the Palatinate as also by what you understand from Rome by Mr. Gage of the Popes demands I hope by the arrival of Mr. Cottington your Majesty will have received satisfaction in some measure at least that there hath been no diligence or time omitted either for the redressing of any thing that hath been amiss or for the advancing of your Majesties affairs The very day I received your Letters I sent a Gentleman post unto the King who was gone into the Escurial to demand audience which he presently granted me and I repaired thither unto him upon the third of October the Conde de Gondomar being likewise commanded to wait upon the King I was there well received and presently upon my arrival the Conde de Olivarez came to me to the lodgings which were appointed for me to rest in To him I delivered fully in the presence of Sir Walter Ashton and the Conde de Gondomar what I had to negotiate with the King both in the business of the Match and of the Palatinate In the Match I represented how much it imported your Majesty that a speedy resolution might be taken therein both in regard of the Prince being your Majesties onely son now arrived to the age of 22 years and for the setling of your affairs in England I repeated unto him all the passages in this Treaty how many years had been already spent in it that after so long an expectation the diligences used in Rome for the obtaining of the Dispensation had wrought but small effect since the Pope had lately made such demands as were altogether impossible for your Majesty to condescend unto and therefore your Majesty seeing the business still delayed held it fit that some such course might be taken that both your Majesties might speedily know what you were to trust unto and therfore had comanded me to signifie unto this King your uttermost resolution how far you would condescend in point of Religion towards what
tend to edification if he take them not up upon report but do punctually consider the tenor of the words as they lie and doth not give an ill construction to that which may receive a fair interpretation Notwithstanding because some few Church-men and many of the people have sinisterly conceived as we here find that those Instructions do tend to the restraint of the exercise of Preaching and do in some sort abate the number of Sermons and so consequently by degrees do make a breach to ignorance and superstition his Majesty in his Princely wisdom hath thought fit that I should advertise your Lordship of the grave and weighty reasons which induced his Highness to prescribe that which was done You are therefore to know that his Majesty being much troubled and grieved at the heart to hear every day of so many defections from our Religion both to Popery and Anabaptism or other points of Separation in some parts of this Kingdom and considering with much admiration what might be the cause thereof especially in the reign of such a King who doth so constantly profess himself an open adversary to the superstition of the one and madness of the other his Princely wisdom could fall upon no one greater probability then the lightness affectedness and unprofitableness of that kind of Preaching which hath been of late years too much taken up in Court University City and Country The usuall scope of very many Preachers is noted to be soaring up in points of Divinity too deep for the capacity of the people or mustering up of so much reading or a displaying of their own wit or an ignorant medling with Civill matters as well in the private severall Parishes and Corporations as in the publique of the Kingdom or a venting of their own distastes or a smoothing up those idle fancies which when the Text shall occasion the same is not onely approved but much commended by his Royall Majesty both against the persons of Papists and Puritans Now the people bred up with this kind of teaching and never instructed in the Catechism and fundamentall grounds of Religion are for all this airy nourishment no better then a brass Tabret new Table-books to be filled up either with Manuals and Catechismes of the Popish Priests or the papers and pamphlets of Anabaptists Brownists and Puritans His Majesty therefore calling to mind the saying of Tertullian Id verum quod primum and remembring with what doctrine the Church of England in her first and most happy Reformation did drive out the one and keep out the other from poysoning and infecting the people of this Kingdom doth find that the whole scope of this doctrine is contained in the Articles of Religion the two books of Homilies the lesser and the greater Catechism which his Majesty doth therefore recommend again in these Directions as the theams and proper subjects of all sound and edifying preaching And so far are these Directions from abridging that his Majesty doth expect at our hands that it should increase the number of Sermons by renewing every Sunday in the afternoon in all Parish-Churches throughout the Kingdom that primitive and most profitable exposition of the Catechism wherewith the people yea very children may be timely seasoned and instructed in all the heads of Christian Religion The which kind of exposition to our amendment be it spoken is more diligently observed in all the Reformed Churches of Europe then of late it hath been here in England I find his Majesty much moved with this neglect and resolved if we that are Bishops do not see a reformation thereof which I trust we shall to recommend to the care of the Civil Magistrate so far is his Highness from giving the least discouragement to solid preaching or discreet and religious Preachers To all these I am to add That it is his Majesties Princely pleasure that both the former Directions and those reasons of the same be fairly written in every Registers Office to the end that every Preacher of what denomination soever may if he be so pleased take out Copies of either of them with his own hand gratis passing nothing in the name of fee or expedition But if he do use the pains of the Register or the Clerk then to pay some moderate Fee to be pronounced in open Court by the Chancellor and Commissaries of the place taking the direction and approbation of my Lords the Bishops Lastly That from henceforward a course may be taken that every Parson Vicar Curate or Lecturer do make and exhibit an account for the performance of these his Majesties directions and the reasons for the same at the ensuing Visitation of the Bishops and Archdeacons paying to the Register 6d for the exhibiting And so wishing but withall in his Majesties name requiring your Lordship to have a special and extraordinary care of the premisses I leave you to the Almighty Your very loving friend J. Lincoln C. S. Septemb. 3. 1622. Instructions for the Ministers and Church-Warde us of London Jan. 28. 1622. 1. THat his Majesties declaration published Anno Dom. 1628. be fore the Articles of Religion for settling all questions in difference be strictly observed 2. That speciall care be had concerning Lectures in every Parish 3. That the Minister and Churchwardens in every parish or one of them do by writing under his or their owne hands certifie unto the Arch-Deacon of London or his official at or before the 28 of this present January and afterwards at or before every visitation the Christian and Sirnames of every Lecturer in their parishes and the place where he preacheth whether exempt or not exempt together with his quality or degree 4. That they doe in like manner certifie the names of such men as being not qualified by Law do keep Chaplains in their houses 5. That they do further certifie the names of all such as absent themselves from or are negligent in coming to divine service as wel Prayers as Catechising and Sermons 6. That the Minister and Church-Wardens of every Parish successively doe keep a severall Copy of those Instructions by them whereby they may be the better informed of their duty and that the said Copies be shewed at every visitation when they shall present all such persons as have disobeyed these instructions that according to his Majesties pleasure such as do conforme may be encouraged and such as are refractory may be punished Subscribed Tho. Paske Arch-Deacon of London Monsieur Bevayr Chancellour of France discharged to the French King LO Sir I willingly resign into your hands the charge with which you were pleased to honour me and with the same Countenance that I received it without seeking for it I leave it without grieving for it the Law had sufficiently taught me to obey your Majesty so that I needed not to have been sent for by a Captain of the Guard and twenty Archers violence should only be used against those that resist and not against me that know how to obey
Viscount St. Alban his discourses to the Earl concerning Ireland 42 43 c. concerning Tyrone 44. his huge opinions of the Earl of Essex 45 46 47. against the Subsidie in Parliament how 54 68. makes wayes to get into King James his favour 56 58. expostulates with and advises Sir Edward Cook 60 61. expostulates with Sir Vincent Skinner 66. would be Sollicitor 68 69 71. his good services to the Crown 72 See Bodley Sir Thomas Balsac impudently abuseth King James and Qu. Elizabeth 198 199. flatters the French King grosly 200 201 Barbarians of old placed justice and felicity in the sharpnesse of their swords 47 Bavaria Duke linked with the House of Austria 135. designed Elector of Rhine 113. seiseth part of the Palatinate 131 Bevayr Chancellour of France discharged complains to the King to the Government 193 194 195 196. Commanded to discharge an account for 80000 li. 195. haâ— no other fauls but that he is an honest man 196 Bishops in what manner parts of the Common-wealth 5. submitted to Kings 6. chief against the Mass 233. too remiss 185 Bodeley Sir Thomas against Sir Francis Bacons new Philosophie 74 75 76. For setled opinions and Theoremes 76 77 78 Bouillon Duke 37 198 Bristol Earl See Digby Lord. Brograve Atturney of the Dutchy 69 Broke George 79 80 Brunswic Christian Duke 148 Buckingham Duke chosen Chancellor of Cambridg 213. unkindness between him and Bristol 151. and Olivarez ibid. murthered 220. See Charles King Burleigh Lord for Kings and against usurpation 136 C Caecil Sir Robert after Earl of Salisbury in France 36. a friend to Sir Francis Bacon 69 70 Caesar d' Este Du. of Modena 243 Calvinists dangerous 112 Cambridg differences betwixt the Town and Vniversity 223 Car Earl of Somerset 86 Carlo Don Infant of Spain 126 Carlo Alessandro of Modena 243 Carlton Sir Dudley Embassadour in the Low Countries 145 Caron Sir Noel Embassadour in England from the Low Countries 92 93 Cassal S. Vaâ— beleaguered by the Spaniard 239 Causes of conscience growing to be faction 38 Charles King of great Brittain ingagement of his person in Spain cause why things were not carryed on to the height 15â— See Gregory Pope His piety and care toward the Hugonots of France 206. acknowledged by them after the losse of Rochel 208 209. his opinion of the Duke of Buckingham 214 215. A great lover of the Vniversity of Cambridg 220 223. Will rule according to the Laws wil give the Judges leave to deliver and bail prisoners according to Magna Charta and the Statutes 231. forbids hearing of Mass 232. careful to root out Papistry in Ireland 242. commands the house in Dublin to be pulled down where the Friars appeared in their habits 241 Charles the Fifth 145 Church Orders by K. James 193 of England its service damnable by the Popes decree 40 Clergy where punished 6 Cleves and Juliers pretended to 123 124 Clifford Sir Coniers 42 Coeur Marquess 240 Coke Sir Edward disgraces Sir Francis Bacon 60. described 62 63 Colledg of Dublin 52 Colomma Don Carlo 152 Commission for the Deputies place of Ireland 13. for delivery of Vlushing Bril c. 92 93. of union of the Kingdoms 72 Conde Prince 204 254 Conscience not to be forced 51 Considerations touching the service in Ireland 49 50 Constable of France the Office intended to be taken away by Henry the Great 195 Cornwallis Sir Charles Embassadour in Spaine 95 Cottington Sir Francis after Lord 130 Critory Secretary of France 38 Custome of Spain to give notice of visits 120 D Danish King 94 148 149 Davers Lord 253 Davison Secretary in disgrace 22 See Essex Earl Defiance to the Emperour Maximilian from the Grand Seignieur 12 Deputy of Ireland his power 13 14 Desmond Earl dissembles dutifulnesse 18. his Rebellion 45 Digby Lord after Earl of Bristol in Spain treats concerning the Match 117 118 119 120 121 c. zealous for it 138 139 140 142 Sir Kenhelm 240 244. See Fairy Queen Directions for preaching 184 c. Discipline See Presbytery Disloyalty the doom of it seldome adjourned to the next world 46 E Egerton Sir Thomas Lord Ellesmere and Lord Chancellour a friend to the Earl of Essex 27 87 to Sir Francis Bacon 71 sues to be discharged 87 88 89 Elizabeth Queen of England comforts the Lady Norris 10 11 her care for Ireland 5 16 50. cast not off her creatures slightly 32. Questions the Earl of Essex in the Star Chamber unwillingly and forced 32 33. Her Government in things Ecclesiastical she will not force mens consciences 38 39 40. her dealing with Papists 39. See Walsingham Sir Francis Gives stipends to preachers 52 Essex Earle a lover of Secretary Davison 20 21 c. would bring him again into favour 22 25. writes to King James in his defence 23. to the Queen being lesse graced and discontented 25 26. will not approve the Chancellors advice 29. suddenly before his Rebellion Religious 35 F Fairy Queen the 22d Staffe of the ninth Canto of the second Booke discoursed of by Sir Kenhelm Digby 244 c. Faulkland Viscount Lord Deputy of Ireland 235 236. Petitions the King for his son imprisoned in the Fleet 242 Ferdinand the second wil not restore the Palatine 112 113 c. aiâ—s to settle the Empire perpetually in the house of Austria 113. abuses K. James 113 115 116 146 his Armies in Italy 234 235 Ferdinand Infanta of Spain 254 Feria Duke 102 Fitzwilliams Sir William 42 Frederic father 123 Frederic the 2d Palatine 146 147 Frederic the fifth driven out of his estates 112 113 116. will not quit the electorate nor submit 145. see 198 French the estate of things in the minority of Lewis the thirteenth 195. authority of the French King ibid. French Kings reverence the exhortations of Popes as much as the Commands of God 213 G Gabor Bethlem Prince of Transylvania 113 l46 Gage imployed at Rome 129 130 Giron Don Hernando 130 Gondomar Conde 130 Gregory the 15 puts the Inquisitor Generall of Spain upon it to gaine the Prince of Wales to the Church of Rome fearfull of his stay in the Spanish Court 210 unreasonable in the businesse of the dispensation 130 Groillart Claude President of the Parliament of Rhoan 36 Guise Duke 240 H Hereticks abuse Scripture 2 Hall Bishop of Exceter 229 Harrington Sir Henry 18 Heidelberg taken by the Spaniards 127 Henry the 8 writes to the Clergy of York in defence of his title Caput Ecclesiae 1 2 3 4 5 c. Henry the 4 of France 36 Hessen Landgrave Philip 145 Homily bookes 184 Hoskins Sir Thomas 59 Hugonots of France acknowledge many obligations to Charles King of great Britain 204 205 Persecuted 205 206 I Jacynthus father 109 112 Jagerndorf Brandenburg Marquesse John Georg 116 James King of great Britain described 59. will take care of London 81 yeelds up Vlushing c. 94 95 his fairenesse to the Spanish King 100 101. will not make Cambridge a City his care of the Vniversity 105.
over-tedious to your Majesty and being well assured how well your Majesty stands inclined to either of these points Ferdinand the Emperour to Don Balthazar de Zuniga October 15. 1621. To the Honorable and sincerely beloved Don Balthazar de Zuniga Cousin and Councellour of State to the most excellent and Catholique King of Spain Honorable and sincerely beloved WHat my mind and purpose is touching the translating of the Electorship to the Duke of Bavaria according to the promise I made him and wherefore I think that business so necessary and profitable as for Germany in generall so particularly for securing our House from all attempts of Heretiques as his Holiness exhorts me not to be further delayed You shall understand as well by conference with Father Jacinthus whom his Holiness hath for that purpose addressed unto me his Majesty of Spain my Nephew and other Catholiqne Princes of Germany as by these ensuing reasons whereof the principall are That when I repeat from the beginning the whole course of my Reign and the difficulties through which I have attained my Kingdoms and Provinces I behold with reverence the admirable providence of God over me which makes me the more bound to repose my trust in him and not to omit any occasion which may tend to the advancement of his glory and the honor of so admirable tried providence and therfore that I should use that most notable victory to the honor of God and extirpation of all seditions factions which are nourished chiefly among the Calvinists and that I should withdraw my self from that judgement that the Prophet threatens to the King of Israel Because thou hast dismissed a man worthy of death thy Son shall be for his soule The Palatine keeps now in Holland exiled not onely from the Kingdom which he rashly attempted but despoiled almost of all his own Territories expecting as it were the last cast of Fortune whom if by an impious kind of commiseration and subtile Petitions I be perswaded to restore to his Electorall dignity and nourish in my bosome as a troden half living snake what can I expect less then a deadly stinging For it is in vain for me to think that he should be able to discern the greatness of such a benefit For the Polititians saying is true Vltionem quaesivi gratiam oneri habere especially since the injuries he did me are so heynous his projects so subtile that although I should overcome him with Christian charity yet I should never be able to take him from the guilt of his offences and make him soundly faithfull unto me but he will always gape at all occasions whereby he may free himself from fear of his ill deservings and cover his own prostituted honor with new attempts Add hereunto the Calvinists institution of whose Sect the proper genius is to hold nothing either fraud or wickedness which is undertaken for the Religion no sanctity of oath nor fear of dishonour hinders them From such an one what caution can either the house of Austria or other Catholique Princes with whom he is no less in enmity because for Religion as because they are interessed in the war receive The King of England will be engaged but of the same Religion nor is there any thing more easie then when there is occasion of perpetrating any wickedness to palliate it with a pretext of a breach of the League Histories are fraughted with examples in some there are no cautions sufficient in such a business then to drive him where he cannot hurt all other means are frail and he which once believed is despised It is likewise a consideration of no less moment that the Palatine being restored will draw all his power and policie as hitherto so hereafter where he thinks he can do most hurt and that most easily to wit to Bethlem-Gabor and the Turks whom he hath already incited to hostility against me and will never cease hereafter to instigate the Galvinists intire hopes in them These untill they recover breath and recollect their forces they endeavour to disarm and exhaust me of monies ranging in my territories as they have done hitherto by fire and sword But if with them also whom notwithstanding I cannot trust alike I should make peace what conditions will Gabor who remains yet unconquered require if I should restore the Palatine already conquered to his Electoral dignity Therefore since long before God granted me that famous victory I firmly forecast with my self that the Palatine could not be restored to his Electoral dignity without the extreme danger of the Catholiques and my house I offered freely on my own motion but being directed questionless by God the Electorship to the Duke of Bavaria a most eager Defender of the Catholique cause whose territories on the other side lie as a Rampire between me and other Princes of Germany and since I made so good use of his help and so profitable in the recovery of my Kingdoms and Provinces and continue yet to this day time it self more then the said Duke doth cry out that I should accomplish my promise without further delay and by translation of the Electorship take away quite all hopes from the Palatine and them that sollicite us so importunately for a restitution that we may be freed from all molestation which thing since it needs the help of his Majesty of Spain although I know his Majesty be propense enough of himself to all things which appertain to the honor of God and the security of our House yet I thought good to admonish you of this occasion lest this opportunity of establishing of our Religion and Family escape which I conceive might conveniently be done by you Neither do I suppose his Majesty to be ignorant that it was alwayes judged of our Ancestors that the House of Austria which by Gods permission doth now signiorize far and neer upon the earth to have its chief foundation here in Germany which is the more to be defended the nearer its mine depends thereupon In times past this House hath had proof of many adversaries to its greatness as the Histories under Maximilian the first Charles the fift Ferdinand the second and Rodulf the second do shew the perfidiousness of Holland against his Majesties Grandfather Philip the second fetcht her food from the Palatinate neither can his Majesty ever reduce the rebellious Hollanders to obedience unlesse his root be pluckt up which onely motive besides these which I alledged before might justly induce him not to suffer a fallen enemy to rise and resume as his stomack will never fail him strength again But albeit it is not to be dissembled that the Lutheran Princes especially the Elector of Saxony will not approve haply of this translation because they fear it conduceth too much to the corroborating of the Catholique Cause Nevertheless since he cannot accuse that act of Charls the fifth who for a far lighter cause deprived John Frederick of the Electorship and confer'd it on Maurice this Dukes