and those transcendent Honnors yea though for no other former merit else then the resolute and wise carriage of himselfe in the businesse of this Treaty amongst vs whereby he hath not onely assured himselfe of the affection and heart of the King and Prince but infinitely for his faithfull seruice another Fidus Achates vnto him gained the generall loue of the Common people as it not long since appeared when he was ill after his tedious Voyage by Sea the Prince himselfe all the time healthy and sound for whose returne the people had beene excessiue and beyond measure had it not beene somewhat allayed and tempored with the report of Buckinghams sicknesse The Duke of Buckingham for his true seruice to the King and Prince and State heartily beloued of the people they praying as heartily for his recouery as if he had beene some good land-Lord or great House-keeper amongst them whose losse had beene halfe their vndoing It were to be wished quoth Don Mendosa that the Prince of Wales and himselfe with the rest of the Parliament were not vpon iust cause I confesse so bent against vs. I remember quoth the Arch-bishop when I was a young Student a saying of Seneca Ingenuitas non recipit contemptum Ingenuitie or a generous spirit can in no wise brooke contempt shall we imagine then a Prince yea such a Prince as CHARLES of Wales and onely Sonne to the King of Great Brittaine vpon whom and whose action 's as a bright blazing Comet Europe begins to fixe her eye affraid and doubtfull where the fatall effect of his discontent will light will carry coales and not cry quittance with his enemies yet doubtlesse his mettle is of another temper and not so flexible as some take it for mine owne part I would not haue him our enemy if his friendship could be had though with the expence of many millions of Ducates Cuius contrariâ—â—◠〈◊〉 est As if Spaine quoth Rodrigo needed to feare that angle of the world England haue not we euermore giuen them their hands full haue they not more feared our Fleets and Armies then we theirs do we not equal them in men and expert Commanders aswell by land as by sea do we not exceede them in Treasure and money from our Indian mines that like euer-running Fountaines are neuer drawne dry that I may say nothing of the courage of our people our wisedome and policy whereby wee haue made our selues maisters of so many goodly Territories and gained so many braue victories both at Sea and Land Had we an enemy quoth the D. of Cea of farre lesse abillity and power then England is we ought not so sleightly to contemne him A quarrell about a load of Calues-skins cost the D. of Burgundy the losse of his life whole estate the wofull experience whereof our Nation naturaly haughty and opinionate of their valour as well as others haue proued the Duke of Burgundy out of an insolent pride so comtemned the Swisses the quarrell arising betwixt them but for the tole of a load of Calues skinnes that at the last by them he was depriued both of his estate and life at that vnfortunate encounter at Nancy Who could with-hold the Arch-duke Albertus The Spaniards pride contempt of vs how deare it cost them at Neuport and our grand Captaines from bidding Prince Maurice battle at Neuport But scorning the enemy in regard of his small number in respect of theirs together being puffed vp with that petty victorie against the Scots the same morning they had the reward of pride and contempt of a weake aduersary for the Arch-duke was forced to flye sauing himselfe very hardly leauing dead behind him the oldest and best Souldiers Spaine had Let vs beleeue the weakest may doe vs a mischeife as is wittily showne by Aesop in that fable or apoligy of his between the Eagle and the Conies But by your fauour my Lord you are much mistaken in the estate and strength of England and quallitie of the people and so you will tell me if we shall haue to doe with them as we haue found and had in former times let vs thinke two of the accession of Scotland vnto that Kingdome The strength of Ireland at this present and how Ireland standeth in good termes and is at this time so well peopled with English and Scottish that there is not so much as a starting hole left for Rebellion or so much ground to spare in that Countrey that might affoord any freinds horse of ours a bottle of Hay much lesse suffice for an Armie to martch ouer and to be maintained vpon I might hereto adde the valour and sufficient fidellity of that Noble Gentleman Sir Henry Carie Lotd Viscount Falkland the now present Lord Debuty thereof with many other braue Spirits that are imployed in his Maiesties seruice in that good Countrey But to returne to the Parliament of England what effects heare you is it likely to produce or wherein is it thought to prooue praeiudicious to the King our Maister or to the Catholique Religion First replied Gondomar it is likely to goe worse with the Catholiques then euer as who must expect no fauor but must prepare themselues to vndergoe the sharpest censure and animaduersion of the Law against them yea whosoeuer shall be found abettors maintainors concealors of their plots or harberours of their persons shall suffer for the same in like manner and I heare say that there is a Proclamation either comming forth or published already to that effect and now they are to depart the Realme by a prefixed day But what quoth Count de Monterey will then become of them or by whome shall they be entertained will they returne to their Coledges againe at Doway Rhemes Roome Villadolid The Seminary Colledges beyond the Seas almost empty at this time and other places some whereof I haue lately seene and obserue to stand emty Nothing lesse quoth Gondomar for I am perswaded though many wil colourably depart though returne againe shortly by new ports and new names moe will remaine behinde and since neuer likely againe to haue such an opportunitie of professing themselues openly and execising their functions which they could doe in a freinds Chamber and many times in the common Innes for the better avoyding suspition and concealing themselues some will turne School-maisters in priuate mens houses as there are many in England some Gentlemen Vshers vnto Collapsed Ladies are some such there are in Drury lane the L. T. in Yorkeshire hath one followes her in that Nature the L. S. not farre from my old house in Holborne in London the L. M. neere vnto Stratford-bow Some Falconers whereof I know two the one in Sussex the other in high Suffolke only one I was acquainted withall who was the keeper of a Parke and a good Huntsman and of whom I haue had many a good peece of Venison if he be liuing I know another Priest who hauing liued with an antient
moysture are plaine simple nothing so religious contemners withall of the glorious ceremonies of our Church wherewith we haue drawne more Heathen in eyther India to Christianity in one yeare then they can with their Lutheran and Caluinisticall Sermons in all their liues This very selfe same thing quoth Gonzales I once vrged by way of argument to an Earle of Germany who was a professed Lutheran Heritique and his reply herein was so are fooles and children taken with bells gilt pouches and colours and our Ladies and faire Gentlewomen we see oftentimes woed and wonne onely with a braue out-side on the back of a base knaue when an honest man and of deseruing parts is reiected in a plaine and ordinary suite of cloathes and not held worthy the looking after They talke as they are quoth Gondomar I am sure these drew more to my little priuate Chappell in Holborne then their best Preachers of Sermons could doe to any Church they had But quoth the Duke of Hijaz it may be they hate vs for the same cause that France Germany Italy and the rest of the Countryes of Europe for that many of vs are discended of the Moorish race wherefore we are termed of them in Italy Marani and of other Moros Blancos and Nue Vos Christianos For indeede it was but in the yeare 1492. when Granado was recouered from the Moores Mahomet sirnamed the Little and sonne of Muley Albohaceu being King thereof though Toledo and Cordona long before and it may be they hold vs still infected with Moorish mindes and a spice of their manners though they are assured wee are Christians yea and the most Catholique too I heare quoth Signior Gondomar it is obiected in their now present Parliament that in all treatises for the space of these two hundred yeares Spaine hath dealt with the English fide punica neuer kept touch with them in any serious capitulation but euer ayming at her owne ends vsed theyr aliance and freindshippe but as a stale or stalking-horse ouer their backes to shoote at others or serue her owne necessities for the present and hereof their Antiquaries they say haue found many presidents Among others they affirme and proue to the preiudice of our Treaty that Charles the fift was first himselfe bethrothed to Queene Mary and I know vpon what tricke and policie he vntied himselfe againe and vsed the meanes to conferre her vpon Prince Philip his Sonne But the very truth is they carry a vindictiue resolution against vs euer since our intended conquest of them in 88. and peraduenture the powder-plot in 1605. which yet seemeth Manere alta mente repostum Indeed Henrie the 4. of France sirnamed the GREAT laboured at one time a reconsiliation betweene vs but he found the rootes of eithers discontent so deepe and the sore so vnsaluable that hee gaue it ouer in the end Touching mine owne person I was generally hated I confesse of the common people for no other cause I imagine then for the great grace and fauour I was in with his Maiestie vnto whom I had free accesse at all times and his gracious eare to any reasonable suite or request I could demaund the particulars of the Seruice I did to the King my Master whom God long preserue I thinke are not knowne vnto you I omitting no one houre or minute of time wherein I did not benefit either him by my seruice my selfe by experience or a freind by a good turne For during the time of my abode in England and whilest I lay in London I got partly by the meanes of well affected freinds and partly by mine owne experience for in sommertime vnder the colour of taking the ayre I would take vew of the countrie I had perfect knowledge of the estate of the whole Land for there was no Fortification Hauen Creeke or Landing place about the Coast of England but I got a platforme and draught thereof I learned the depth of all their Channels I was acquainted with all Sands Shelues Rocks Riuers that might impeach or make for inuasion I had perpetually in a Role the names of all the Ships of King Iames his Nauy Royall I knewe to a haire of what burthen euery ship was what Ordinance she carried what numbers of Saylors who were the Captaines for what places they were bound which were in repaire and fit for seruice and which not I knewe the strength of the Tower of London what Armour Ordinance small shot and powder it might afford You knowe moreouer my Lords I acquainted the King my maister with Sir Walter Raleighs intended voyge to Guiana and euery particular thereof when it was but in embroyne and when he himselfe vowed onely three were acquainted with his purpose and resolution but the fourth should neuer know what he intended vntill he had set footing in America yet I say I knew what he aimed at what courses he ment to hold where to land what places he meant to surprise what forces he carried and by what way he resolued to returne with all which particulars as I haue already said I acquainted you long ere he went and he was no sooner gone but I was assured I had his head at my deuotion to take it when I listed hauing sufficient matter to alledge against him and at last though his treason for which he stood condemned many yeares before was the hatchet yet the hand was mine that gaue him the blow for it concerned vs aboue all the rest in case we should fall off from England and burst out into our old enmitie to make away with him who would haue proued the onely Boutifeu and Cendiarie of the world in stirring vp the hatred of the English and other Nations against vs he being a darling of our late deadliest enimie Queene Elizabeth and one of the last men to be borne of those great spirits and experienced Captaines the time of her raigne produced His Majesty I humbly thanke him tooke especiall notice of this seruice of mine and as it was told me gaue me great thankes for it aboue the rest I was no lesse diligent for the discouerie of the Inland then for the Shores and Sea-coasts For there was neuer a Sheire in England but I better know the estate power and qualitie thereof then the Inhabitants euen the best of them themselues did I could in particular relate the nature of the soyle what power of men and horse they were able to raise who were the cheife and of most abilitie and credit in the countrey who the most antient Gentlemen what they were worth in their reuenues and estates how they stood affected in Religion who were Puritanes and who Catholiques and among Catholiques who stood for vs and who for such there were were indifferent or against vs. And which moreouer is of equall consequence there was not a Sermon preached at Paules Crosse or indeed in any other Church of the City or place in the Kingdome that did but touch the hemme of my maisters garment
in the world should bring forth such a monster as a traytor to his Country or allow bread to any owne so vnnaturally base as to draw his sword and side with an enemy against her I will say that for our Spaine I do not remember or euer had read that shee afforded a Traytor or so much as one that serued a sworne enemy against her Prince By your fauour quoth Lewes de Velasco what Country-man was he of Count Iohn of Nassau's regiment that tooke the Admirant of Arragon prisoner at the battaile of Neuport It is true quoth Gonzales de Cordua he was a Spaniard but examples hereof are very rare Quoth Gondomar so they are and though England be the colder Country yet it hath bred more venemous Creatures of this Nature then euer Spaine yea euen vnder the Sunne-shine of their mildest and most moderate gouerments Whence quoth the Duke of Escalona should this proceede I will tell you quoth Gondomar my opinion the English naturally are desirous of nouelties and innouations and as it were sicke in the soft beds of their long liberty peace and plenty which they enioy vnder as wise and as good a King as euer liued they suppose nothing wanteth to their full happinesse but change and variety I must liken them to Giotto of Florence his Asse who when he went along with a rich saddle of beaten gold on his backe with a Crowne and Scepter lying thereon yet he could not choose but smell vpon a Carriers packe-saddle as it lay at an Inne doore Hence are strangers the most admired and entertayned amongst them and if of quality preferred many times to place and preferment before the English though perhaps their are many who deserue better I haue seene their a torne and tatter'd French Lacquay but as this day arriued out of France and the next he hath ietted in the Court in his Tissue or Scarlet at the least what preferment came that arch-hypocrite Spalato vnto Ascanio the Frier who left his wife in St. Martins lane and ranne againe to his Order And a poore and ignorant Italian Mountebanke sought after for his skill as if Aesculapius or Machaon were againe raised from the dead yea when but a Spanish gowne happily of the Embassadors Lady or of her gentlewoman how was it sought after by Ladies and Taylors for the fashion happy was she that could first get her into the Spanish fashion to their no small charge the Spanish garments exceeding all other in fulnesse compasse and length which by this time it may be they haue conuerted into Cushions My Lords you would hardly haue forborne laughter to haue heard how I haue beene enquired after for Maisters for the Spanish tongue that I may say nothing of so many bills set vp in euery corner of the City by Professors nay I could haue no seruice almost done me of my Mullettors and Groomes for being employed in teaching the Spanish among Ladyes and their maydes though I knew I tell you English must be that they were to trust too when all was done Touching my selfe being Embassadour there from his Catholique Maiesty and the sole instrument in the Treaty for the match which the Catholiques there so long thirsted after if I should relate vnto you the particulars of mine owne entertainment you would I suppose imagine I told you wonders beyond beleefe for beside the great and gracious respect I found and fauors I receiued from his Maiesty of Great Brittaine and sundry of the Nobility who seemed wholy to be compounded of curtesie and Noblenesse there passed not a day wherein I was not visited by some of the best ranke or receiued some present or other from Catholique Gentlemen or their Ladyes so welcome was the very thought of the Spanish match vnto them I returning them againe with thankes large promises and apparant hopes of preferment when the time should come And be it spoken among our selues since wee are falling off from England I made better vse of their kindnesse then so for there were few Catholiques in England of note from whom in this regard I wrested not out a good round summe of money Sir Robert Cotton a great Antiquary I heare much complaineth of me that from his friends and aquaintance onely I got into my purse the summe at the least of ten thousand pounds I deny it not and true it is I borrowed of the good old Lady W. of the Parish in St. Martins in the Feilds 300 pounds or thereabouts promising her repayment whereof I will not faile so soone as Donna Maria the Infanta should arriue in England and for the vse hereof I promised to make her mother of her maydes perswading her it was not fit that so graue and good a Lady as her selfe should lye obscured in priuate but rather attend vpon my young Mistresse the brauest and most hopefull Princesse of the World vpon these hopes she turned Catholique and since I neuer saw her I sold moreouer the place of Groomesse of her highnesse Stoole to six seuerall English Ladyes who were eager of it only cause be they might take place before their fellowes I lost nothing neither by a Noble Gentleman whom I caused to be knowne for a kinsman of the King my Mr. for that he was descended from the noble and ancient family of Aiala in Spaine these are but mites and crums in regard of those great presents and many pentions I had sent me vnder-hand from the Catholiques from all parts of England during my aboade there had my finger but aked or beene ill disposed as I often was in body I had sent me iewels sweet-meates perfumes linnen Rosewater and a thousand of such trifles only I returned them thenkes and promised them or their friends preferment when time serued If you were my Lord so nobly entertained in England quoth Braganza whence is it or vpon what occasion haue wee gotten to our selues the ill will and distast of that Nation I must confesse quoth Gondamer the common people of England beare generally an inbred spleene toward vs as it seemeth by many rude affronts we were offered there by the baser sort contrary to the will and pleasure of his Maiesty of great Brittany who published many Edicts and Proclamations in our behalfes punishing many times the offenders seuerely as they could be taken but why the name of a Spaniard should be so become odious vnto them is a question I cannot easily resolue Some thinke that there is a naturall antipathy or contrariety of affection betweene our disposition and theirs they liuing in the North and we in the South which being as Charron a French Author obserueth neerer to the Sunne the inhabitants are more crafty politique and religious though he his in that euen to superstition and Idolatry where as on the contrary those of the North howsoeuer goodlier in person better faced and more beautifull then our selues by reason of the coldnesse of the climate preseruing inwardly the naturall heate and radicall