it It is built amongst a company of Craggy-barren-hills which makes the air the hungrier and wholsommer it is all built of Free-stone and Marble and that with such solidity and moderat height that surely Philip the seconds chief design was to make a sacrifice of it to eternity and to contest with the Meteors and Time it self It cost eight Millions it was twenty four yeers a building and the Founder himself saw it finish'd and injoy'd it twelve yeers after and carried his Bones himself thither to be buried The reason that mov'd King Philip to wast so much tresure was a vow he had made at the battell of Saint Quentin where he was forc'd to batter a Monastery of Saint Laurence Friers and if he had the victory he would erect such a Monastery to Saint Laurence that the world had not the like therfore the form of it is like a Gridiron the handle is a huge Royall Palace and the body a vast Monastery or Assembly of quadrangular Cloysters for ther are as many as ther be moneths in the yeer Ther be a hundred Monks and every one hath his man and his mule and a multitude of Officers besides ther are three Libraries there full of the choisest Books for all Sciences It is beyond expression what Groâ—…s Gardens Walks and Aqueducts ther are there and what curious Fountains in the upper Cloysters for ther be two Stages of Cloysters In fine ther is nothing that 's vulgar there To take a view of every Room in the House one must make account to go ten miles ther is a Vault call'd the Pantheon under the highest Altar which is all pav'd wall'd and arch'd with Marble ther be a number of huge Silver Candlesticks taller than I am Lamps three yards compas and divers Chalices and Grosses of massie Gold Ther is one Quire made all of burnish'd Brass Pictures and Statues like Giants and a world of glorious things that purely ravish'd me By this mighty Monument it may be inferr'd that Philip the second though he was a little man yet had he vast Gigantic thoughts in him to leave such a huge pile for posterity to gaze upon and admire his memory No more now but that I rest Madrid Mar. 9. 1623. Your most humble Servitor J. H. XXXVI To the Lo Vicount Col. from Madrid My Lord YOu writ to me long since to send you an account of the Duke of Ossuna's death a little man but of great fame and fortunes and much cried up and known up and down the World He was revok'd from being Vice-roy of Naples the best employment the King of Spain hath for a Subject upon som disgust And being com to this Court when he was brought to give an account of his government being troubled with the Gout he carried his Sword in his hand in steed of a staff the King misliking the manner of his posture turn'd his back to him and so went away therupon he was over-heard to mutter Esto es para servâ—… muchachâ—…s This it is to serve boys This coming to the Kings â—…are he was apprehended and committed prisoner to a Monastery not far off wher he continued som yeers untill his Beard came to his girdle then growing very ill he was permitted to com to his House in this Town being carried in a bed upon mens shoulders and so died som yeer ago Ther were divers accusations against him amongst the rest I remember these That he had kept the Marquis de Campolataros wife sending her husband out of the way upon employment That he had got a bastard of a Turkish woman and suffer'd the child to be brought up in the Mahumetan religion That being one day at High Masse when the host was elevated he drew out of his pocket a pâ—…ece of Gold and held it up intimating that that was his god That he had invited som of the prime Courtisans of Naples to a Feast and after dinner made a banquet for them in his Garden wher he commanded them to strip themselves stark naked and go up and down while he shot Sugar-Plums at them out of a Trunk which they were to take up from off their high Chapins and such like extravagancies One amongst divers other witty passage was told me of him which was That when he was Vice-roy of Sicily ther died a great rich Duke who left but one Son whom with his whole estate he bequeath'd to the Tutele of the Iesuits and the words of the Will were When he is pass'd his minority Darâ—…te al mio figlivolo quelque voi volete you shall give my son what you will It seems the Iesuits took to themselves two parts of three of the estate and gave the rest to the heir the young Duke complaining hereof to the Duke of Ossuna then Vice-roy he commanded the Iesuits to appear before him he ask'd them how much of the estate they would have they answer'd two parts of three which they had almost employed already to build Monasteries and an Hospitall to erect particular Altars and Masses to sing Dirges and Refrigeriums for the soul of the deceased Duke Hereupon the Duke of Ossuna caus'd the Will to be produc'd and found therin the words afore recited When he is pass'd his minority you shall give my son of my estate what you will Then he told the Iesuits you must by vertue and tenor of these words give what you will to the son which by your own confession is two parts of three and so he determin'd the busines Thus have I in part satisfied your Lordships desire which I shall do more amply when I shal be made happy to attend you in person which I hope will be ere it be long In the Interim I take my leave of you from Spain and rest Madrid 13 Mar. 1623. Your Lordships most ready and humble Servitor J. H. XXXVII To Simon Digby Esq. SIR I Thank you for the severall sorts of Cyphers you sent me to write by which were very choice ones and curious Cryptology or Epistolizing in a Clandestin way is very ancient I read in Agellius that C. Caesar in his Letters to Cajus Oppius and Balbus Corâ—…lius who were two of his greatest confident'st in managing his privat affairs did write in Cyphers by a various transportation of the Alphabet wherof Probus Grammaticus de occulta litterarum significatione Epistolarum C. Caesaris writes a curious Commentary But me thinks that certain kind of Hieroglyphics the Caelestiall Signes the seven Planets and other Constellations might make a curious kind of Cypher as I will more particularly demonstrate unto you in a Scheme when I shall be made happy with your conversation So I rest Madrid Mar. 15. 1623. Your assured Servitor J. H. XXXVIII To Sir Iames Crofts from Bilbao SIR BEing safely come to the Marine in convoy of his Majesties Iewells and being to sojourn here som dayes the conveniency of this Gentleman who knows and much honoureth you he being to ride Post through France invited me
the Spaniards 54 Of the old Duke of Larma 54 Materiall thinks of the Match 55 The witty Speech of the Marquis of Montesclares 57 Of Count Mansfields notable retreat to Breda his chiefest exploit 58 Of our Prince his arrival at the Court of Spain his usage there and som passages of Gondamars 60 Of his comportment in courting the Lady Infanta c. 64 A witty saying of a Spanish woman 63 Of their baiting of Bulls with men 64 Verses upon the Prince his wooing 66 The monstrous manner of Osman the great Turks death with som Observations theron 70 Of his ominoâ—…s dream and the grand Visiers Prediction to Sir Tho. Roe 73 A Discours 'twixt our Prince and the King of Spain 74 Of our Prince his departure thence 76 How matters stood after his departure 77 Preparations made for the wedding day 79 The Earl of Bristolls Audience upon his receiving a new Commission 80 Probabilities that the Spaniard intended a Match with England 79 My Lo. Pagetts witty Speech in Parlement 80 Of the Bishop of Halverstadt 81 The notable Plot the two Spanish Ambassadors invented to demolish the Duke of Buck. 82 The high proffers that wer made the Earl of Bristoll if he would stay in Spain 97 Of the manner of the proceedings of the Spanish Match by way of comparison 83 The breach of the Spanish Match by a Philosophical comparison 83 An Abstract of the Spanish Monarchy of its growth of the soyl and the humor of the Inhabitants from 87 to 93 Of things happen'd at the siege of Bergen op Zooma A pleasant Tale of a lame Captain 94 Of the vertu of Familiar Letters 96 Of that stupendous Monument the Escurial 96 Of the late famous Duke of Ossuna divers passages 98 Of writing by Cypher 99 A memorable Passage of the Jesuits 98 A facetious Tale of a Soldier 100 This third Section contains divers intrinsecall Passages more of the Treaties both of Match and Palatinat The fourth Section OF the Jewels that were left in the Court of Spain to be presented at the Betrothing day 101 Of the fruitfulnes of frendship 103 Of Count Mansfelt 104 An exact Relation of his late Majesties death by an eye-witnes 106 Of my Lo Verulam after his fall 108 Cautions for Marriage 109 The disasterous death of young Prince Frederic 110 Of the Treaty of a Match with France and of Cardinal Richelieu 111 How lively Letters represent the inward man 112 The Capitulation of the Match with France 114 Of Monsieurs marriage 115 The rare perfections of the late Marchioness of Winchester 116 Of Grave Maurice's death of the taking of Breda 117 The sorry success of our Fleet to Cales under the Lord Wimbledon 119 Som advertisements to the Duke of Buckingham before the Parlement 121 The tru nature of love 12â—… Of Count Mansfelt 124 Cardinall Richelieu's first rise 111 A facetious saying of the Queen of France touching Co Mansfelt 124 A clashing 'twixt Buckingham and Bristoll 124 A Comparison 'twixt the Infanta and the Daughter of France 126 A facetious Pasquil in Rome 125 The speedy conclusion of the French Match and a facetious tale of the Pope 125 Her Majesties arrivall in England 126 The dissolution of the Parlement at Oxon and of the Lord Keeper Williams 127 Of the Renvoy of her Majesties French servants c. 130 The reasons alleaged for Lone-monies 131 A memorable example in the person of a Spanish Captain how strangely a sudden conceit may work within us 132 The fifth Section A Northern Letter 135 Our breach with France and our ill success at the Isle of Rets 139 The Lord Denbighs sorry return from before Rochell 140 Of the Wars in Italy about the Dutchy of Mantoua 137 A circumstantiall relation of the D. of Buck death by an eye-witness 141 The Lord of Lindseys return from before Rochel the taking and dismantling of her by the French King 143 Colonell Grayes quick device to save his life out of a saltpit 139 A methodicall Incitement for an Oxford Student 144 Of the taking the great Royall Ship the Holy Spirit of the French by Sir Sackvil Trever 145 A dehortatory letter from swearing with examples of all sorts 147 A Hymn therupon 149 The properties of a Foot-man 151 Of Ben Iohnsons Genius 154 Of tardy Courtesies 156 Som amorous Sonnets of black eyes c. 158 A check against habit of drinking 162 A Poem upon the British language 164 A witty reply to Sir Ed Coke by a Country man 155 A character of Sir Posthumus Hobby 156 The first rise of the Lord Strafford 156 The King of Swedens first rushing into Germany 165 The King of Denmarks ill success against Tilly and the favourable peace he obtained 165 Of a ragged illegible hand 166 The proud inscription the French King left upon a triumphant Pillar on one of the Alpian hills 167 Of Sir Ken Digbies Exploits against the Venetian Galleasses c. 168 A geere put upon Sir Tho. Edmonds being Ambassadour in France 169 Another geere of the French Ambassadour 169 Of Sir Tho. Wentworth's violent rising up 170 Of the King of Swedens monstrous Progres his clashing with the English and French Ambassadors 173 A Letter of thanks 172 A discription of an Ollapodrida 174 Of the Spanish Inquisition 178 The death of the Queen Dowager of Denmark His Majesties Grandmother the richest Princess of Christendom c. 175 The sixth Section AN exact relation of the Erl of Leicesters Embassie to the King of Denmark and other Princes 188 Som remarkable passages in the Danish Court 183 Of Hamburgh and the Hans Towns their beginning and the famous quarrell they had with Queen Eliza. 184 The marvelous resemblance of Holsteyn men with the English c. 187 The King of Swedens related by an eye-witnes his aversion to the English c. 193 The Palsgraves death 193 The late Pope's compliance with him 191 A strange apparition happened in the West about a dying Gentleman 194 Of Noy the Atturney and of ship-money 196 Of the Lord Westons Embassie to Italy and a clashing 'twixt my Lord of Holland and him 196 The Queen Mothers and Monsieurs retirement to Flanders 195 A Christmas Hymn 197 Of the condition of the Jewes squanderd up and down the World how they came to be so cunning and hatefull from whence they expect their Messias c. 202 〈…〉 The sudden comfort of Letters 203 Of a strange Pattent given a Scotchman 203 Of Atturney Noy's death and the od wilâ—… he made c. 204 The arrivall of the Prince Elector and of Prince Rupert to England their designes 205 Monsieur steales from Brussells 206 A Herald of Armes sent from France to denounce War against Spaine 206 Of Mountmorencys death 206 A memorable example of the force of affection in the person of a French Lady 207 Of Peter van Heyns mighty Plaâ—…e prize c. 210 Of judgements fallen upon disobedient children 211 The Earl of Arondels return from the German
did rise betimes and went thither taking your brother with him they were let into the house and into the garden but the Infanta was in the orchard and there being a high partition wall between and the door doubly bolted the Prince got on the top of the wall and sprung down a great hight and so made towards her but she spying him first of all the rest gave a shâ—…eck and ran back the old Marquis that was then her gardien came towards the Prince and fell on his knees conjuring his Highnesse to retire in regard he hazarded his head if he admitted any to her company so the door was open'd and he came out under that wall over which he had got in I have seen him watch a long hour together in a close Coach in the open street to see her as she went abroad I cannot say that the Prince did ever talk with her privatly yet publickly often my Lord of Bristoll being Interpreter but the King always sat hard by to over-hear all Our cosen Archy hath more privilege than any for he often goes with his fools coat where the Infanta is with her Meninas and Ladies of honor and keeps a blowing and blustering amongst them and fluâ—…ts out what he list One day they were discoursing what a marvellous thing it was that the Duke of Bavaria with lesse then 15000 men after a long toylsom March should dare to encounter the Palsgraves army consisting of above 2500â—… and to give them an utter discomfiture and take Prague presently after Wherunto Archy answered that he would tell them a stranger thing than that was it not a strange thing quoth he that in the year 88 ther should com a Fleet of one hundred and forty sails from Spain to invade England and that ten of these could not go back to tell what became of the rest By the next opportunity I will send you the Cordovan pockets and gloves you writ for of Francisco Morenos persuming So may my dear Captain live long and love his Madrid Iuly 10. 1623. J. H. XIX To my Cosen Tho. Guin Esqr. at his house Trecastle Cosen I Received lately one of yours which I cannot compare more properly than to a posie of curious flowers ther was therin such variety of sweet strains and dainty expressions of love And though it bore an old date for it was forty days before it came to safe hand yet the flowers were still fresh and not a whit faded but did cast as strong and as fragrant a sent as when your hands bound them up first together only ther was one flower that did not savor so well which was the undeserved Character you please to give of my smal abilities which in regard you look upon me through the prospective of affection appear greater unto you than they are of themselvs yet as smal as they are I would be glad to employ them all to serve you upon any occasion Wheras you desire to know how matters pass here you shall understand that we are rather in assurance than hopes that the match will take effect when one dispatch more is brought from Rome which we greedily expect The Spaniards generally desire it they are much taken with our Prince with the bravery of his journey and his discreet comportment since and they confess ther was never Princess courted with more gallantry The wits of the Court here have made divers Encomiums of him of his affection to the L Infanta Amongst others I send you a Latin Poem of one Marnieriâ—…s a Valenciano to which I add this ensuing Hexastic which in regard of the difficulty of the Verse consisting of all Ternaries which is the hardest way of versifying and of the exactness of the translation I believe will give you content Fax grata est gratum est vulnus mihi grata catena est Me quibus astringit laedit urit Amor Sed flammam extingui sanari vulnera solvi Vincla etiam ut possem non ego posse velim Mirum equidem genus hoc morbi est incendia ictus Vinclaque vinctus adbuc laesus ustus amo Gratefull's to me the fire the wound the chain By which love burns love binds and giveth pain But for to quench this fire these bonds to loose These wounds to heal I would not could I choose Strange sickness where the wounds the bonds the fire That burns that bind that hurt I must desire In your next I pray send me your opinion of these verses for I know you are a Critic in Poetry Mr Vaugham of the Golden-grove and I were Camerades and bedfellows here many moneths together his father Sir Iohn Vaughan the Prince his Controuler is lately com to attend his Master My Lord of Carlile my Lord of Holland my Lord of Rochfort my Lord of Denbigh and divers others are here so that we have a very flourishing Court and I could wish you were here to make one of the number So my dear cosen I wish you all happiness and our noble Prince a safe and successfull return to England Madrid 13 Aug. 1623. Your most affectionate Cosen J. H. XX. To my noble friend Sir John North. SIR THe long look'd-for Dispensation is come from Rome but I hear it is clogg'd with new clauses and one is that the Pope who allegeth that the only aim of the Apostolicall See in granting this Dispensation was the advantage and case of the Catholics in the King of great Britaines Dominions therfore he desir'd a valuable caution for the performance of those Articles which were stipulated in their favor this hath much puzled the busines and Sir Francis Cotington comes now over about it Besides ther is som distast taken at the Duke of Buckingham here and I heard this King should say he will treat no more with him but with the Ambassadors who he saith have a more plenary Commission and understand the busines better As ther is som darknes hapned twixt the two Favorits so matters stand not â—…ight twixt he Duke and the Earl of Bristoll but God forbid that a busines of so high a consequence as this which is likely to tend so much to the universall good of Christendom to the restitution of the Palatinat and the composing those broils in Germany should be ranversd by differences twixt a few privat subjects though now public Ministers Mr Washington the Prince his Page is lately dead of a Calenture and I was at his buriall under a Figtree behind my Lord of Bristols house A little before his death one Ballard and English Priest went to tamper with him and Sir Edmund Varney meeting him coming down the stairs out of Washingtons chamber they fell from words to blows but they were parted The busines was like to gather very ill bloud and com to a great height had not Count Gondamar quasht it which I beleeve he could not have done unles the times had bin favorable for such is the reverence they bear to
wives and merchandizing which they are now permitted to do contrary to their first institution which makes them more worldly and less venturous This disgracefull return from Poland stuck in Osmans stomach and so studied a way how to be revengd of the Ianizaries therfore by the advice of his grand Visier a stout gallant man who had bin one of the chief Beglerbegs in the East he intended to erect a new Soldiery in Asia about Damasco of the Coords a frontier people and consequently hardy and inur'd to Arms. Of these he purpos'd to entertain 40000. as a lifegard for his peâ—…son though the main design was to suppress his lazie and lustfull Ianizaries with men of fresh new spirits To disguise this plot he pretended a pilgrimage to Mecha to visit Mahomets Tomb and reconcile himself to the Prophet who he throught was angry with him because of his late ill success in Poland but this colour was not specious enough in regard he might have performd this Pilgrimage with a smaller train and charge therfore it was propounded that the Emir of Sâ—…dm should be made to rise up in arms that so he might go with a greater power and treasure but this plot was held disadvantagious to him in regard his Ianizaries must then have attended him so he pretends and prepares only for the Pilgrimage yet he makes ready as much treasure as he could make and to that end he melts his plate and furniture of horses with divers Church lamps this fomented som jealousie in the Ianizaries with certain words which should drop from him that he would find soldiers shortly should whip them Hereupon he hath sent over to Asias side his pavilions many of his servants with his jewells and treasure resolving upon the voyage notwithstanding that divers petitions were delivered him from the Clergy the civill Magistrate and the Soldiery that he should desist from the voyage but all would not do therupon upon the point of his departure the Ianizaries and Spâ—…ies came in a tumultuary manner to the Seraglio and in a high insolent language disswaded him from the Pilgrimage and demanded of him his ill counsellors The first he granted but for the second he said that it stood not with his honor to have his neerest servants torn from him so without any legall proceeding but he assur'd them that they should appear in the Divan the next day to answer for themselves but this not satisfying they went away in a fury and plunderd the Grand Visiers Palace with divers others Osman hereupon was advis'd to go from his private gardens that night to the Asian shore but his destiny kept him from it so the next morning they came armd to the Court but having made a covenant not to violate the Imperiall Throne and cut in peeces the Grand Visier with divers other great Officers and not finding Osman who had hid himself in a small lodge in one of his gardens they cried out they must have a Musulman Emperor therfore they broke into a Dungeon and brought out Mustapha Osmans Unkle whom he had clapt there at the beginning of the tumult and who had bin King before but was depos'd for his simplicity being a kind of santon or holy man that is twixt an Innocent and an Idiot This Mustapha they did reinthronize and place in the Oâ—…toman Empire The next day they found out Osman and brought him before Mustapha who excus'd himself with tears in his eyes for his rash attempts which wrought tendernes in som but more scorn and fury in others who fell upon the Capi Aga with other Officers and cut them in peeces before his eyes Osman thence was carried to Prison and as he was getting a horsback a common soldier took off his Turban and clapt his upon Osmans head who in his passage begd a draught of water at a Fountain The next day the new Visier went with an Executioner to strangle him in regard ther were two younger brothers more of his to preserve the Oâ—…tomans race where after they had rushd in he being newly awakd and staring upon them and thinking to defend himself a robust boysterous rogue knockt him down and so the rest fell upon him and strangled him with much adoe Thus fell one of the greatest Potentats upon earth by the hands of a contemptible slave for ther is not a free born subject in all that vast Empire Thus fell he that Entitles himself most puissant and highest Monarch of the Turks King above all Kings a King that dwelleth upon the earthly Paridise son of Mahomet keeper of the grave of the Christian God Lord of the Tree of Life and of the River Flisky Prior of the earthly Paridise Conqueror of the Macedonians the seed of great Alexander Prince of the Kingdoms of Tartary Mesopotamia Media and of the martiall Mammaluckâ—… Anatolia Bithynia Asia Armenia Servia Thracia Morta Valachiâ—… Moldavia and of all warlike Hungary Soverain Lord and Commander of all Greece Persia both the Arabia's the most noble kingdom of Egypt Tremisen and African Empire of Trabâ—…sond and the most glorious Constantinople Lord of all the white and black Seas of the holy City Mecha and Medina shining with divine glory commander of all things that are to be commanded and the strongest and mightiest Champion of the wide world a Warrior appointed by Heaven in the edge of the sword a Persecutor of his Enemies a most perfect jewell of the blessed Tree the chiefest keeper of the crucified God c. with other such bombardicall Titles This Osman was a man of goodly Constitution an amiable aspect and of excesse of courage but sordidly covetous which drove him to violat the Church and to melt the Lamps therof which made the Mufti say that this was a due judgment faln upon him from Heaven for his Sacrilege He us'd also to make his person too cheap for he would go ordinarily in the night time with two men after him like a petty Constable and peep into the Cauphhouses and Cabarets and apprehend Soldiers there And these two things it seems was the cause that when he was so assaulted in the Seraglio not one of his Domestic servants wherof he had 3000 would liâ—…t an Arm to help him Som few days before his death he had a strange dream for hee dreamt that he was mounted upon a great Camell who would not go neither by fair nor foul means and lighting off him and thinking to strike him with his Cimitier the body of the beast vanisht leaving the Head and the bridle only in his hands when the Mufti and the Hoggies could not interpret this dream Mustapha his Uncle did it for he said the Camell signified his Empire his mounting of him his excesse in Government his lighting down his deposing Another kind of Prophetic speech dropt from the Grand Visier to Sir Thomas Roe our Ambassador there who having gone a little before this Tragedy to visit the said Visier told him what whisperings and mutterings there were
in every corner for this Asiatic voyage and what ill consquences might ensue from it therfore it might well stand with his great wisdom to stay it but if it held he desir'd him to leave a charge with the Chimacham his Deputy that the English Nation in the Port should be free from outrages wherunto the Grand Visier answer'd Trouble not your self about that for I will not remove so far from Constantinople but I wil leave one of my legs behind to serve you which prov'd too true for he was murther'd afterwards and one of his legs was hung up in the Hippodrome This fresh Tragedy makes me to give over wondring at any thing that ever I heard or read to shew the lubricity of mundan greatnes as also the fury of the vulgar which like an impetuous Torrent gathereth strength by degrees as it meets with divers Dams and being come to the hight cannot stop it self for when this rage of the soldiers began first there was no design at all to violat or hurt the Emperor but to take from him his ill Counsellors but being once a foot it grew by insensible degrees to the utmost of outrages The bringing out of Mustapha from the Dungeon where he was prisoner to be Emperor of the Musulmans puts me in mind of what I read in Mr. Camden of our late Queen Elizabeth how she was brought from the Scaffold to the English Throne They who profess to be Criticks in policy here hope that this murthering of Osman may in time breed good bloud and prove advantageous to Christendom for though this be the first Emperor of the Turks that was dispatcht so he is not like to be the last now that the soldiers have this precedent others think that if that design in Asia had taken it had been very probable the Constantinopolitans had hoisd up another King and so the Empire had been dismembred and by this division had lost strength as the Roman Empire did when it was broken into East and West Excuse me that this my Letter is become such a Monster I mean that it hath past the sise and ordinary proportion of a Letter for the matter it treats of is monstrous besides it is a rule that Historicall Letters have more liberty to be long than others In my next you shall hear how matters pass here in the mean time and always I rest Madrid Aug. 17. 1623. Your Lordships most devoted Servitor J. H. XXII To the Right honble Sir Tho. Savage Knight and Baronet honble SIR THe procedure of things in relation to the grand busines the match was at kind of a stand when the long winded Iunta deliver'd their opinions and fell at last upon this result that his Catholic Majesty for the satisfaction of St. Peter might oblige himself in the behalf of England for the performance of those capitulations which reflected upon the Roman Catholics in that Kingdom and in case of non-performance then to right himself by war since that the matrimoniall Articles were solemnly sworne unto by the King of Spain and his Highness the two Favorits our two Ambassadors the Duke of Infantado and other Counsellors of State being present hereupon the eighth of the next September is appointed to be the day of Desposorios the day of affiance or the betrothing day ther was much gladnes exprest here and luminaries of joy were in every great street throughout the City but there is an unlucky accident hath interven'd for the King gave the Prince a solemn visit since and told him Pope Gregory was dead who was so great a friend to the match but in regard the busines was not yet com to perfection he could not proceed further in it till the former Dispensation were ratified by the new Pope Vrban which to procure he would make it his own task and that all possible expedition should be us'd in 't and therfore desir'd his patience in the interim The Prince answer'd and prest the necessity of his speedy return with divers reasons he said ther was a generall kind of murmuring in England for his so long abseuce that the King his Father was old and sickly that the Fleet of shipe were already he thought at Sea to fetch him the winter drew on and withall that the Articles of the match were sign'd in England with this proviso that if he be not com back by such a month they should be of no validity The King replyed that since his Highness was resolv'd upon so suddain a departure he would please to leave a Proxy behind to â—…ish the marriage and he would take it for a favor if he would depute Him to personat him and ten days after the ratification shal come from Rome the busines should be don and afterwards he might send for his wife when he pleas'd The Prince rejoyn'd that amongst those multitudes of royall favors which he had receiv'd from his Majesty this transcended all the rest therfore hee would most willingly leave a Proxy for his Majesty and another for Don Carlos to this effect so they parted for that time without the least ombrage of discontent nor do I hear of any engendred since The last month 't is true the Iunta of Divines dwelt so long upon the busines that ther were whisperings that the Prince intended to go away disguis'd as he came and the question being ask'd by a person of quality ther was a brave answer made that iâ—… love brought him thither it is not fear shall drive him away There are preparations already a foot for his return and the two Prexies are drawn and left in my Lord of Bristolls hands Notwithstanding this ill favord stop yet we are here all confident the busines will take effect In which hopes I rest Madrid 18 Aug. 1623. Your most humble and ready Servitor J. H. XXIII To Captain Nich Leat at his house in London SIR THis Letter comes to you by Mr. Richard Altham of whose sudden departure hence I am very sorry it being the late death of his brother Sir Iames Altham I have been at a stand in the busines a gond while for his Highness comming hither was no advantage to me in the earth He hath done the Spaniards divers courtesies but he hath been very sparing in doing the English any It may be perhaps because it may be a diminution of honor to be beholden to any forraign Prince to do his own Subjects favors but my busines requires no favor all I desire is justice which I have not obtain'd yet in reality The Prince is preparing for his jorney I shall to 〈◊〉 again closely when he is gone and make a shaft or a bolt of it The Popes death hath retarded the proceedings of the match but we are so far from despairing of it that one may have wagers thirty to one it will take effect still He that deals with this Nation must have a great deal of phlegme and if this grand busines of State the match suffer such
in his tent how therby his Army much encreas'd and so rush'd further into the heart of the Countrey but passing neer Magdenburg being diffident of his own strength he suffer'd Tilly to take that great Town with so much effusion of bloud because they would receive no quarter your Lordship hath also heard of the battell of Leipsick where Tilly notwithstanding the Victory he had got ore the Duke of Saxony a few daies before receav'd an vtter discomfiture upon which victory the King sent Sir Thomas Roe a present of two thousand pounds and in his letter calls him his strenuum consultorem he being one of the first who had advis'd him to this German war after he had made peace 'twixt him and the Polander I presume also your Lordship heard how he met Tilly again neer Auspurg and made him go upon a woodden leg wher of he died and after soundly plunder'd the Bavarian and made him flee from his own house at Munchen and rifled his very Closets Now your Lordship shall understand that the said King is at Mentz keeps a Court there like an Emperour there being above twelve Ambassadors with him The King of France sent a great Marquis for his Ambassador to put him in mind of his Articles and to tell him that his Christian Majesty wondred he would cross the Rhine without his privity and wondred more that he would invade the Church-lands meaning the Archbishop of Mentz who had put himself under the protection of France The Swed answer'd That he had not broke the least title of the Articles agreed on and touching the said Archbishop he had not stood Neutrall as was promised therfore he had justly set on his skirts The Ambassador replied in case of breach of Articles his Master had eighty thousand men to pierce Germany when he pleas'd The King answer'd that he had but twenty thousand and those should be sooner at the walls of Paris then his fourscore thousand should be on the frontiers of Germany If this new Conquerer goes on with this violence I beleeve it will cast the pollicy of all Christendom into another mould and be get new maximes of State for none can foretell wher his monstrous progress will terminat Sir Henry Vane is still in Germany observing his motions and they write that they do not agree well as I heard the King should tell him that he spoke nothing but Spanish to him Sir Robert Anstruther is also at Vienna being gon thither from the Diet at Ratisbon I hear the Infante Cardinal is design'd to com Governor of the Netherlands and passeth by way of Italy and so through Germany his brother Don Carlos is lately dead So I humbly take my leave and rest My Lord Your Lopps most humble and ready Servitor J. H. Westmin 23 Apr. 1630. XXXVIII To my noble Lady the Lady Cor. Madam YOu spoke to me for a Cook who had seen the world abroad and I think the bearer hereof will fit your Ladiships â—…urn He can marinat fish make gellies he is excellent for a pickant sawce and the Haugou besides Madame he is passing good for an ollia He will tell your Ladiship that the reverend Matron the olla podrida hath intellectualls and senses Mutton Beef and Bacon are to her as the will understanding and Memory are to the soule Cabbage Turnips Artichocks Potatoes and Dates are her five senses and Pepper the common sense she must have Marrow to keep life in her and som birds to make her light by all meanes she must go adorn'd with chaines of Sausages He is also good at Larding of meat after the mode of France Madame you may make proof of him and if your Ladyship find him too sawey or wastfuli you may return him whence you had him So I rest Westmin 2 Iun. 1630. Madame Your Lapps most humble Servitor J. H XXXIX To Mr. E. D. SIR YOu write to me that T. B. intends to give money for such a place if he doth I feare it will be verified in him that a fool and his money is soon parted for I know he wil be never able to execut it I heard of a laâ—…e secretary of State that could not read the next morning his own hand writing and I have read of Caligulas horse that was made Consull therfore I pray tell him from me for I wish him well that if he thinks he is fit for that Office he looks upon himself through a fals glass a trotting hors is fit for a coach but not for a Ladies saddle and an ambler is proper for a Ladies saddle but not for a coach If Tom undertakes this place he wil be as an ambler in a coach or a trotter under a Ladies saddle when I com to town I will put him upon a far fitter and more feasable busines for him and so comend me to him for I am his and Westmin 5 Iune 1630. Your true friend J. H. XL. To my Father SIR THer are two Ambassadors extraordinary to go abroad shortly the Earl of Leycester and the Lord M'eston this latter goes to France Savoy Venice and so returns by Florence a pleasant journey for he carrieth presents with him from King and Queen The Earl of Leycester is to go to the King of Denmark and other Princes of Germany The maine of the Embassy is to condole the late death of the Lady Sophia Queen Dowager of Denmark our Kings Grandmother She was the Duke of Meclenburgs daughter and her husband Christian the third dying young her portion which was forty thousand pound was restor'd fier and living a Widdow forty four years after she grew to be so great a huswife setting three or four hundred people at worke that she died worth neer two millions of dollars so that she was reputed the richest Queen of Christendom By the constitutions of Denmark this estate is divisible amongst her children wherof she had five the King of Denmark the Dutchess of Saxony the Dutchess of Brimswick Queen Ann and the Dutchess of Holftein the King being Male is to have two shares our King and the Lady Elizabeth is to have that which should have belong'd to Queene Anne so he is to returne by the Hague It pleas'd my Lord of Leycester to send for me to Baynards Castle and proffer me to go Secretary in this Ambassage assuring me that the journey shall tend to my profit and credit So I have accepted of it for I heaâ—… very nobly of my Lord so that I hope to make a boon voyage of it I desire as hitherto your prayers and blessing may accompany me so with my love to my Brothers and Sisters I rest London 5 May 1632. Your dutifull son I. H. XLI To Mr. Alderman Moulson Governor of the Merchant adventurers SIR THe Earl of Leicester is to go shortly Ambassador extraordinary to the King of Denmark and he is to pass by Hamburgh I understand by Mr. Skinner that the Staple hath som grievances to be redress'd If this
My Lord I Have deliverd Mr. Secretary Coke an account of the whole legation as your Lordship inordred me which contain'd neer upon twenty sheets I attended him also with the Note of your extraordinaries wherin I find him somthing difficult and dilatory yet The Governor of the Eastland Company Mr. Alderman Clethero will attend your Lordship at your return to Court to acknowledge your favor unto them I have delivered him a Copy of the transactions of things that concern'd their Company at Rhensberg The news we heard at Sea of the King of Swedens death is confirm'd more and more and by the computation I have been a little curious to make I find that he was kill'd the same day your Lordship set out of Hamburgh But ther is other news com since of the death of the Prince Palatin who as they write being return'd from visiting the Duke De deux Ponts to Mentz was struck there with the Contagion yet by speciall ways of cure the malignity was expelld and great hopes of recovery when the news came of the death of the King of Sweden which made such impressions in him that he dyed few dayes after having overcom all difficulties by concluding with the Swede and the Governor of Frankindall and being ready to enter into a repossession of his Countrey A sad destiny The Swedes bear up still being somented and supported by the French who will not suffer them to leave Germany yet A Gentleman that came lately from Italy told me that ther is no great joy in Rome for the death of the King of Sweden The Spaniards up and down will not stick to call this Pope Lutherano and that he had intelligence with the Swede T is true that he hath not been so forward to assist the Emperor in this quarrell and that in open Consistory when ther was such a contrasto 'twixt the Cardinalls for a supply from Saint Peter he declard That he was well satisfied that this war in Germany was no war of Religion which made him dismiss the Imperiall Ambassadors with this short answer That the Emperor had drawn these mischiefs upon himself for at that time when he saw the Swedes upon the Frontires of Germany if he had imployed those men and moneys which he consum'd to trouble the peace of Italy in making war against the Duke of Mantova against them he had not had now so potent an enemy So I take my leave for this time being Westm. 3 Iune 1632. Your Lordships most humble and obedient Servitor J. H. IX To Mr. E. D. SIR I Thank you a thousand times for the Noble entertainment you gave me at Berry and the pains you took in shewing me the Antiquities of that place In requitall I can tell you of a strange thing I saw lately here and I beleeve 't is true As I pass'd by St. Dunstans in Fleet street the last Saturday I stepp'd into a Lapidary or Stone-cutters shop to treat with the Master for a stone to be put upon my Fathers Tomb and casting my eyes up and down I might spie a huge Marble with a large Inscription upon 't which was thus to my best remembrance Here lies John Oxenham a goodly young man in whose Chamber as he was strugling with the pangs of death a Bird with a white brest was seen fluttering about his Bed and so vanish'd Here lies also Mary Oxenham the sister of the said John who died the next day and the same Apparition was seen in the Room Then another Sister is spoke of Then Here lies hard by James Oxenham the son of the said John who died a child in his Cradle a little after and such a Bird was seen fluttering about his head a little before he expir'd which vanish'd afterwards At the bottom of the Stone ther is Here lies Elizabeth Oxenham the Mother of the said John who died sixteen years since when such a Bird with a white brest was seen about hex Bed before her death To all these ther be divers Witnesses both Squires and Ladies whose names are engraven upon the Stone This Stone is to be sent to a Town hard by Exeter wher this happen'd Were you here I could raise a choice Discours with you hereupon So hoping to see you the next Term to requite som of your favors I rest Westmin 3 Iuly 1632. Your true frend to serve you J. H. X. To W. B. Esq. SIR THe upbraiding of a courtesie is as bad in the Giver as ingratitude in the Receiver though which you think I am loath to believe be faulty in the first I shall never offend in the second while VVestmin 24. Octob. 1632. J. Howell XI To Sir Arthur Ingram at York SIR OUr greatest news here now is that we have a new Attorney Generall which is news indeed considering the humor of the man how hee hath been always ready to entertain any cause wherby he might clash with the Prerogative but now as Judg Richardson told him his head is full of Proclamations and Divices how to bring money into the Exchequer Hee hath lately found out amongst the old Records of the Tower som precedents for raising a tax cald Ship-money in all the Port Towns when the Kingdom is in danger Whether we are in danger or no at present 't were presumption in me to judg that belongs to his Majesty and his Privy Counsell who have their choice Instruments abroad for Intelligence yet one with half an eye may see wee cannot be secure while such huge Fleets of men of War both Spanish French Dutch and Dunkâ—…rkers som of them laden with Ammunition Men Arms and Armies do daily â—…ail on our Seas and confront the Kings Chambers while we have only three or four Ships abroad to guard our Coasts and Kingdom and to preserve the fairest Flower of the Crown the Dominion of the Narrow-Seas which I hear the French Cardinall begins to question and the Hollander lately would not vail to one of his Majesties ships that brought over the Duke of Lenox and my Lord Weston from Bullen and indeed we are jeer'd abroad that we send no more ships to guard our Seas Touching my Lord Ambassador Weston he had a brave journey of it though it câ—…st dear for 't is thought 't will stand his Majesty in 25000 pounds which makes som Criticks of the times to censure the Lord Tresurer That now the King wanting money so much hee should send his son abroad to spend him such a sum only for delivering of Presents and Complements but I believe they are deceiv'd for ther were matters of State also in the Ambassie The Lord Weston passing by Paris intercepted and open'd a Packet of my Lord of Hollands wherin ther were some Letters of Her Majesties this my Lord of Holland takes in that scorn that he defied him since his comming and demanded the combat of him for which he is confin'd to his House at Kensinton So with my humble service to my Noble Lady I rest Westmin
pence for every Oath which the Justices of Peace and Constables had power to raise and have still but this new Patentce is to quicken and put more life in the Law and see it executed He hath power to nominat one or two or three in som Parishes which are to have Commission from him for this Public Service and so they are to be exempt from bearing Office which must needs deserve a gratuity And I beleeve this was the main drift of the Scot Patentce so that he intends to keep his Office in the Temple and certainly he is like to be mighty gainer by it for who would not give a good peece of money to be freed from bearing all cumbersom Offices No more now but that with my dear love to my sister I rest Westmin 1 Aug. 1633. Your most affectionat Brother J. H. XVII To the Right honble the Lord Vicount Savage at Long-Melford My Lord THe old Steward of your Courts Master Attorney-Generall Noy is lately dead nor could Tunbridg-waters do him any good Though he had good matter in his brain he had it seems ill materialls in his body for his heart was shrivelled like a Leather peny-purse when he was dissected nor were his lungs sound Being such a great Clerk in the Law all the World wonders he left such an odd Will which is short and in Latin The substance of it is that having bequeathd a few Legacies and left his second son 100 Marks a year and 500 pounds in Money enough to bring him up in his Fathers Profession he concludes Reliqua meorum omnia progenito meo Edoardo dissipanda nec meliùs unquam speravi lego I leave the rest of all my goods to my first-born Edward to be consum'd or scatterd for I never hoped better A strange and scarce a Christian Will in my opiniâ—… for it argues uncharitablenes Nor doth the World wonder less that he should leave no Legacie to som of your Lordships children considering what deep Obligations he had to your Lordship for I am confident he had never bin Attorney Generall els The Vintners drink Carowses of joy that he is gon for now they are in hopes to dress Meat again and sell Tobacco Beer Sugar and Fagots which by a sullen Capricio of his he would have restraind them from He had his humors as other men but certainely he was a solid rational man and though no great Orator yet a profound Lawyer and no man better versd in the Records of the Tower I heard your Lordship often say with what infinit pains and indefatigable study he came to this knowledge And I never heard a more pertinent Anagram then was made of his name William Noye I moyle in law If ans be added it may be applied to my Country-man Judge Iones an excellent Lawyer too and a far more Gentile man William Iones I moile in laws No more now but that I rest Westmin 1 Octo. 1635. Your Lopps most humble and obliged Servitor J. H. XVIII To the Right honble the Countess of Sunderland Madam HEre inclos'd I send your Ladiship a Letter from the Lord Deputy of Ireland wherin he declares that the disposing of the Attorniship in York which he passed over to me had no relation to my Lord at all but it was meerly don out of a particular respect to me your Ladyship may please to think of it accordingly touching the accounts It is now a good while the two Nephew-Princes have bin here I mean the Prince Elector and Prince Robert The King of Swedens death and the late blow at Norlingen hath half blasted their hopes to do any good for recovery of the Palatinat by land Therfore I hear of som new designes by Sea That the one shall go to Madagascar a great Island 800 miles long in the East Indies never yet coloniz'd by any Christian and Captain Boâ—…d is to be his Lieutenant the other is to go with a considerable Fleet to the West Indies to seize upon som place there that may countervail the Palatinat and Sir Henry Mervin to go with him But I hear my Lady Elizabeth opposeth it saying that she will have none of her sons to be Knights-errant Ther is now professed actuall enmity twixt France and Spain for ther was a Herald at Arms sent lately to Flanders from Paris who by sound of Trumpet denounced and proclaimed open War against the King of Spain and all his Dominions this Herald left and fixed up the Defiance in all the Townes as he passed so that wheras before the War was but collaterall and auxiliary there is now proclaim'd Hostility between them notwithstanding that they have one anothers sisterâ—… in their beds evry night What the reason of this War is truly Madame I cannot tell unlesse it bee reason of state to preveâ—… the further growth of the Spanish Monarchy and ther be multitude of examples how Preventive Wars have been practisâ—… from all times Howsoever it is too sure that abundance of Christian bloud will be spilt So I humbly take my leave and rest Westminster 4 Iune 1635. Madame Your Ladiships most obedient and faithfull Servitor I. H. XIX To the Earl of Leicester at Penshurst My Lord I Am newly returned out of France from a flying Journey as far as Orleans which I made at the request of Mr. Secretary Windâ—… bank and I hope I shall receive som fruits of it hereafter Ther is yet a great resentment in many places in France for the beheading of Montmorency whom Henry the fourth was us'd to say to be a better Gentleman than himself for in his Colors he carry'd this Motto Dieu ayde le premier Chevalier de France God help the first Knight of France Hee dyed upon a Scaâ—…told in Tholouze in the flower of his years at 34 and hath left no Issue behind so that noble old Family extinguish'd in a snust His Treason waâ—… very foul having received particular Commissions from the King to make an extraordinary Levy of men and money in Languedoc which he turn'd afterwards directly against the King against whose person he appear'd arm'd in open field and in a hostile posture for fomenting of Monsieurs Rebellion The Insante Cardinall is com to Brussells at last thorow many difficulties and som few days before Monsieur made semblance to go a Hawking and so fled to France but left his mother behind who since the Arch-Dutchess death is not so well look'd on as formerly in that Countrey Touching your busines in the Exchequer Sir Robert Pye weâ—… with me this morning of purpose to my Lord Tresurer about it and told me with much earnestnes and assurance that ther shall be a speedy cours taken for your Lordships satisfaction I deliverd my Lord of Linsâ—…y the Manuscript he lent your Lordship of his Fathers Embastie to Denmark and herewith I present your Lordship with a compleat Diaâ—…y of your own late legation which hath cost me som oil and labor So I rest always Westm. 19 Iune
1635. Your Lopps most humble and ready Servitor J. H. XX. To my Honored Frend and Fa. Mr. Ben Johnâ—…n Fa. Bâ—…n BEing lately in France and returning in Coach from Paris to Roüen I lighted upon the Society of a knowing Gentleman who related unto me a choice Story wherâ—…f peradventure you may make som use in your way Som hundred and odd yeers since ther was in France one Captain Coucy a gallant Gentleman of an ancient extraction and Keeper of Coucy Castle which is yet standing and in good repair He fell in love with a young Gentlewoman and courted her for his wife ther was reciprocall love between them but her parents understanding of it by way of prevention they shuffled up a forced Match twixt her and one Monsieur Faiâ—…l who was a great Heir Captain Coucy hereupon quitted France in discontent and went to the wars in Hungary against the Turk where he received a mortall wound not far from Buda Being carried to his lodging hee languished som days but a little before his death he spoke to an ancient Servant of his that he had many profs of his fidelity and truth but now he had a great busines to intrust him with which hee conjur'd him by all means to do which was That after his death he should get his body to be opened and then to take his heart out of his brest and put it in an earthen Pot to be bak'd to powder then to put the powder into a hansome Box with that Bracelet of hair he had worn long about his left wrist which was a lock of Madamoisâ—…lle Faiels hair and put it amongst the powder together with a little Note he had written with his own bloud to her and after hee had given him the Rites of Buriall to make all the speed he could to France and deliver the said box to Madamoiselle Faiel The old Servant did as his Master had commanded him and so went to France and comming one day to Monsieur Faiels house he suddenly met him with one of his servants and examin'd him because he knew he was Captain Coucy's servant and finding him timerous and faltering in his speech hee search'd him and sound the â—…aid Box in his pocket with the Note which expressed what was therin He dismiss'd the Bearer with menaces that he should com no more neer his house Monsieur Faiel going in sent for his Cook and deliver'd him the Powder charging him to make a little well-relish'd dish of it without losing a jot of it for it was a very costly thing and commanded him to bring it in himself after the last cours at Supper The Cook bringing in the Dish accordingly Monsieur Faiel commanded all to void the room and began a serious discours with his wife how ever since he had married her he observ'd she was always melancholly and he feared she was inclining to a Consumption therfore he had provided for her a very precious Cordiall which he was well assured would cure her Therupon he made her eat up the whole dish and afterwards much importuning him to know what it was he told her at last she had eaten Coucy's heart and so drew the Box out of his pocket and shewed her the Note and the Bracelet in a sudden exultation of joy she with a far-fetch'd sigh said This is a precious Cordiall indeed and so lick'd the Dish saying It is so pretious that t is pity to put ever any meat upon 't So she went to bed and in the morning she was found stone-dead This Gentleman told me that this sad story is painted in Coucy-Castle and remains fresh to this day In my opinion which vails to yours this is choice and rich stuff for you to put upon your Loom and make a curious Web of I thank you for the last regalo you gave me at your Musaeum and for the good company I heard you censur'd lately at Court that you have lighted too foul upon Sir Inigo and that you write with a Porcupins quill dipped in too much Gall. Excuse me that I am so free with you it is because I am in no common way of frendship Westmin 3 of May. 1635. Yours I. H. XXI To Captain Thomas Porter Noble Captain YOu are well returned from Brussels from attending your Brother in that noble employment of congratulating the Infante Cardinalls comming thither It was well that Monsieur went a Hawking away before to France for I think those two young spirits would not have agreed A French-man told me lately that was at your Audience that he never saw so many compleat Gentlemen in his life for the number and in a neater equipage Before you go to Sea I intend to wait on you and give you a frolick So I am De todas mis entranas Yours to dispose of I. H. Westmin 1 Novemb. 163â—… To this I le add the Duke of Ossuna's Complement Quisiere aunque soy chico Ser enserville Gigante Though of the tallest I am none you see Yet to serve you I would a Giant be To my Cousin Captain Saintgeon Noble Cousin THe greatest news about the Town is of a mighty Prize that was taken lately by Peter van Heyn of Holland who had met som stragling Ships of the Plate-fleet and brought them to the â—…exel they speak of a Million of Crowns I could wish you had been there to have shared of the Booty which was the greatest â—…n money that ever was taken One sent me lately from Holland this Distic of Peter van Heyn â—…hich savors of a little profaness Roma sui sileat posthà c miracula Petri Petrus apud Batavos plura stupenda facit Let Rome no more her Peters Wonders tell For Wonders Hollands Peter bears the bell To this Distic was added this Anagram which is a good one PETRUS HAINU'S HISPANUS RUET So I rest Totus tuus Yours whole I. Howell Westmin 10 Iuly XXIII To my Lord Viscount S. My Lord HIs Majesty is lately return'd from Scotland having given that Nation satisfaction to their long desires to have him com thither to be Crownd I hear som mutter at Bishop Lauds carriage there that it was too haughty and Pontificall Since the death of the King of Sweden a great many Scotch Commanders are com over and make a shining shew at Court what trade they will take hereafter I know not having been so inur'd to the Wars I pray God keep us from commotions at home 'twixt the two Kingdoms to find them work I hear one Colonell Lesley is gon away discontented because the King would not 〈◊〉 him The old rotten Duke of Bavaria for he hath divers Issues aboâ—… his body hath married one of the Emperors Sisters a young Lady little above twenty and he neer upon fourscore ther 's another remaining who they say is intended for the King of Poland notwithstanding his pretences to the young Lady Elizabeth about which Prince Razevill and other Ambassadors have been here lately but that King being Electif must mary
an epistle could make it an account of that extension of ground which Christians possess upon earth my next shall be of the Mahometan wherin I could wish I had not occasion to be so large as I fear I must be So I am Sir Westmin 9 Aug. 1635. Your respectfull and humble Servant J. H. X. To Doctor B. SIR MY two former were of Iudaisme and Christianity I com now to the Mahometane the modernst of all Religions and the most mischievous and destructive to the Church of Christ for this fatall sect hath justled her out of divers large Regions in Afric in Tartarie and other places and attenuated their number in Asia which they do whersoever they com having a more politic and perâ—…icious way to do it then by fire and fagot for they having understood well that the dust of Martyrs were the thrivingst seeds of Christianity and observ'd that ther râ—…ignes naturally in mankind being compos'd all of one lump and carrying the same stamp a generall kind of compassion and sympathy which appeares most towards them who lay down their lives and postpose all worldly things for the preservation of their consciences and never any diedso but he drew followers after him therfore the Turk goes a more cunning way to work he meddles not with life â—…nd limbe to prevent the sense of compassion which may arise that â—…ay but he grinds their faces with Taxes and makes them incaâ—…able of any offices either of authority profit or honor by which meanes he renders them despicable to others and makes their â—…yes irksom to themselves yet the Turks have a high opinion of Christ that he was a greater Prophet then Moses that he was the Sâ—… of a Virgin who conceiv'd by the smell of a Rose presented to her by Gabriel the Angell they beleeve he never sinn'd nay in their Alcoran they term him the breath and word of God they punish all that blasphemâ—… him and no Iew is capable to be a Turk but he must be first an ABDULA a Christian he must eat hogs flesh and do other things for three daies then he is made a Mahometan but by abjuring of Christ to be a greater Prophet then Mahomet It is the Alfange that ushers in the faith of Mahomet every where nor can it grow in any place unles it be planted and sown with Gunpowder intermixt when planted ther are divers waies of policy to preserve it they have their Alcoran in one only language which is the Arabic the mother toung of their Prophet 't is as bad as death for any to raise scruples of the Alcoran Therupon ther is a restraint of the study of Philosophy and other learning because the impostors of it may not be diâ—…cernd the Musâ—… is in as great reverence among them as the Pope is among the Romanists For they hold it to be a true principle in divinity that no one thing preserves and improves Religion more then a venerable bigâ—… pious esteem of the chiefest ministers They have no other guide oâ—…â—…aw both for temporall and Church-affairs then the Alcoran which they hold to be the rule of civill justice as well as the divine chaâ—… of their salvation so that their Judges are but expositors of thaâ—… only nor do they trouble themselves or puzle the plaintiffe with any moth-eaten records or precedents to entangle the busines but they immediately determine it according to the fresh circumstances of the action secundum allegata probata by witnesses They have one extraordinary piece of humanity to be 〈◊〉 tender of the rationall soul as not to put Christian Jew Greeâ—… or any other to his Oath in regard that if for som advantage 〈◊〉 gain or occasion of inconvenience and punishment any should 〈◊〉 sweare himself they hold the imposers of the Oath to be accessary to the damnation of the perjurd man By these and divers othâ—… reaches of policy besides their arms not practis'd elsewhere they conserve that huge bulk of the Ottoman Empire which extenâ—… without interruption the Hellâ—…spont only between in one contâ—…-nued peece of earth two and thirty hundred miles from Buda 〈◊〉 Hungary to a good way into Persia by these means they keep alâ—… their Religion from distracting opinions from every vulgar faâ—…cy and Scismes in their Church for ther 's no where fewer thâ—… heer the difference that is is only with the Persian and that 〈◊〉 in fundamentalls of faith but for priority of Government in 〈◊〉 of Religion This so universall conformity in their Religion is ascrib'd as to other politic institutions so specially to the rigorous inhibition they have of raising Scruples and disputes of the Alcoran under pain of death specially among the laity and common peeple whose zeal commonly is stronger then their judgment That part of the world wher Mahomet hath furthest expanded himself is Asia which as I said before exceeds Afric in greatnes and much more in peeple he hath firm footing in Persia Tartary upon the latter of which the Musulman empire is entayld in Turcomania it self and Arabia four mighty Kingdomes the last of these was the nest wher that Cocatrice egge was hatched which hath diffus'd its poyson so far and near through the veines of so many Regions All the Southerly coasts of Asia from the Arabian Bay to the river Indus is infected therwith the vast Kingdom of Cambaia and Bengula and about the Southpart of the inhabitants of Malabar have drank of this poyson insomuch that by no wrong computation it may well be said that Mahometisme hath dispersed it self over almost one half of the huge continent of Asia besides those multitudes of Isles specially seven Moldivia and Ceylan the sea coasts of Sumatra Iava Sunda the ports of Banda Borneo with divers other wherof ther are many thousands about Asia who have entertaind the Alcoran In Europe the Mahometanes possess all the Region twixt Don and Meper call'd of old Tanais and 〈◊〉 being about the twentieth part of Europe the King of Poland dispenceth with som of them in Lituania Touching Greece Macedon Thracia Bulgaria Servia Bosnia Epire the greatest part of Hungary and Dalmatia although they be wholy under Turks obedience yet Mahometans scarce make the third part of the Inhabitants In Afric this contagion is further spread It hath intoxicated all the shore of Ethiopia as far as Mosumbic which lyeth opposite to the midst of Madagascar 'T is worse with the firm Land of Afric on the North and West parts For from the Mediterranean Sea to the great River Niper and along the banks of Nile all Egypt and Barbary with Lybia and the Negro's Country are tainted and tand with this black Religion The vast propagation of this unhappy Sect may be ascribed first to the Sword for the conscience commonly is apt to follow the Conquerer Then to the loose reines it gives to all sensuall liberty as to have eight wives and as many concubines as one can maintain with the assurance of Venerean
that the Egyptian had a Religion and Kings eighteen thousand yeers since yet for matter of Philosophy and Science he had it from the Chaldean He from the Gymnotophists and Brachmans of India which Countrey as she is the next neighbor to the rising Sun in reference to this side of the Hemisphear so the beams of learning did first enlighten her Egypt was the Nurse of that famous Hermes Trismagistus who having no other scale but that of naturall reason mounted very high towards heaven for he hath many very divine sayings wherof I think it not impertinent to insert here a few first he saith that all humane sins are veniall with the Gods impiety excepted 2. That gâ—…odnes belongs to the Gods piety to men revenge and wickednes to the devills 3. That the Word is lucens Dei silius the bright Son of God c. From Egypt Theoricall knowledg came down the Nile and landed at som of the Greek Islands wher 'twixt the 33 34 and the 35 Century of yeers after the Creation there flourished all those renowned Philosophers that sway now in our Schools Plato flew highest in divine notions for som call him another Moses speaking athenian In one of his Letters to a friend of his he writes thus When I seriously salute thee I begin my Letter with one God when otherwise with many his Schollar Aristotle commended himself at his death to the Being of Beings and Socrates may be said to be a Martyr for the first Person of the Trinity these great Secretaries of Nature by studying the vast Volume of the World came by main strength of reason to the knowledg of one Deity or primus motor and of his attributes they found by undenyable consequences that he was infinite eternall ubiquitary omnipotent and not capable of a definition which made the Philosopher being commanded by his King to define God to ask the respite of a day to meditat theron then two then four at last he ingeniously confessed that the more he thought to dive into this mystery the more he was ingulph'd in the speculation of it for the quiddity and essence of the incomprehensible Creator cannot imprint any formall conception upon the finite intellect of the Creature to this I might refer the Altar which Saint Paul found among the Greeks with this Inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the unknown God From the Greek Isles Philosophy came to Italy thence to this Western world among the Druydes whereof those of this Isle were most celebrous for wee read that the Gauls now the French came to Britanny in great numbers to be instructed by them The Romans wer mighty great Zelots in their Idolatry and their best Authors affirm that they extended their Monarchy so far and neer by a particular reverence they had of their Gods which the Spaniard seems now to imitate though those Gods of theirs wer made of men and of good fellows at first besides in the course of their conquest they adopted any strange Gods to the society of theirs and brought them solemnly to Rome and the reason as one saith was that they believed the more Gods they had the safer they were a few being not sufficient to conserve and protect so great an Empire The Roman Gentiles had their Altars and Sacrifices their Archflamins and vestall Nuns And it seems the same genius reigns still in them for in the Primitive Church that which the Pagans misliked most in Christianity was that it had not the face and form of a religion in regard it had no Oblations Altars Images which may be a good reason why the Sacrifices of the Mass and other Ceremonies wer first instituted to allure the Gentiles to Christianity But to return a little further to our former subject in the condition that man-kind stands now if the Globe of the earth wer divided to thirty parts t is thought that Idolaters with horror I speak it having as I said before the one half of Asia and Afric both for the inland Country and Maritim Coasts with four parts of five in America inhabit twenty parts of those Regions that are already found out upon earth besides in the opinion of the knowingst and most inquisitive Mathematitions ther is towards the southern clime as much land yet undiscovered as may equal in dimension the late new world in regard as they hold ther must be of necessity such a portion of earth to balance the Centre on all sides and t is more than probable that the Inhabitants there must be Pagans Of all kind of Idolaters those are the horridest who adore the Devill whom they call Tantara who appears often unto them specially in a Haraucane though he be not visible to others In som places they worship both God and the Devill the one that he may do them good the other that they may do them no hurt the first they call tantum the other squantum 'T were presumption beyond that of Lucifers or Adam's for man to censure the justice of the Creator in this particular why hee makes daily such innumerable vessells of dishonor It is a wiser and safer course far to sit down in an humble admiration and cry out on the profound inscrutable judgments of God! his ways are past finding out and so to acknowlege with the divine Philosopher Quod oculus vespertilionis ad solem idem est omnis intellectus humanus ad Deum what the Eye of a Bat is to the Sun the same is all human understanding to God-wards Now to draw to a Conclusion touching the respective largnes of Christianity and Mahometisme upon the earth I find the first to exceed taking the new world with the old considering the spacious Plantations of the Spaniard in America the Colonies the English have there in Virginia New-England and Charibbi Islands with those of the French in Canada and of the Hollander in East India nor do I find that ther is any region purely Mahometan without intermixtures as Christianity hath many which makes me to be of a differing opinion to that Gentleman who held that Christianity added little to the generall religion of man-kind Now touching the latitude of Christian faith in reference to the differing Professors therof as in my former I shewd that the Eastern Churches were more spacious than the Latin or Roman excepting the two Indies so they who have fallen off from her in the Western parts are not so far inferior to her in Europe as som would make one beleeve which will appear if we cast them in counterbalance Among Roman Catholicks ther is the Emperor and in him the King of Hungary the three Kings of Spain France and Poland all Italy the Dukes of Savoy Bavaria and Lorain the three spirituall Electors with som few more Touching them who have renounc'd all obedience to Rome ther are the three Kings of great Britain Denmark and Swethland the Duke of Saxon Holstein and Wittemberg the Marquis of Brandenburg and Baden the Landgrave of
to pass all the degrees and effects of fire as distillation sublimation mortification calcination solution descension dealbation rubification and fixation for I have bin fastned to the walls of this prison any time these fifty five moneths I have bin heer long enough if I wer matter capable therof to be made the Philosophers stone to be converted from water to powder which is the whole Magistery I have been besides so long upon the anvill that me thinks I am grown malleable and hammer proof I am so habituated to hardship But indeed you that are made of a choicer mold are fitter to be turned into the Elixer than I who have so much dross and corruption in me that it will require more paines and much more expence to be purg'd and defecated God send us both patience to bear the brunt of this fiery tryall and grace to turn these decoctions into aquam vitae to make soveraign treacle of this viper The Trojan Prince was forced to pass over Phlegeton and pay Charon his freight before he could get into the Elyzian fields you know the morall that we must pass through hell to heaven and why not as well through a prison to Paradise such may the Towre prove to you and the Fleet to me who am From the prison of the Fleet 23 Feb. 1645. Your humble and hearty Servitor J. H. XLIV To the right honble the Lord R. My Lord SUre ther is som angry planet hath lowred long upon the Catholic King and though one of his titles to Pagan Princes be that he wears the sun for his helmet because it never sets upon all his dominions in regard som part of them he on the to'ther side of the Hemisphere among the Antipodes yet me thinks that neither that great star or any of the rest are now propitious unto him they cast it seems more benign influxes upon the flower de luâ—… which thrives wonderfully but how long these favourable aspects will last I will not presume to judge This among divers others of late hath bin a fatall yeer to the said King for Westward he hath lost Dunkirk Dunkirk which was the terror of this part of the world the scourge of the occidentall seas whose name was grown to be a bugbear for so many yeers hath now changed her master and thrown away the ragged staffe doubtles a great exploit it was to take this town But whether this be advantagious to Holland as I am sure it is not to England time will shew It is more than probable that it may make him careless at sea and in the building and arming of his ships having no enemy now near him besides I believe it cannot much benefit Hans to have the French 〈◊〉 contiguous to him the old saying was Ayezle Francois pour ton 〈◊〉 non pas pour ton Voison Have the Frenchman for thy frend not 〈◊〉 â—…hy neighbour Touching England I believe these distractions of ours have biâ—… one of the greatest advantages that could befall France and they happened in the most favourable conjuncture of time that mighâ—… be els I beleeve he would never have as much as attempted Dunkirk for England in true reason of State had reason to prevent nothing more in regard no one place could have added more to the navall power of France this will make his sâ—…iles swell bigger and I â—…car make him claim in time as much regality in these narrow seaâ—… as England her self In Italy the Spaniard hath also had ill successes at Piombino and Porto longone Besides they write that he hath lost I l prete il medico the Priest and the Physician to wit the Pope and the Duke of Florence the House of Medici who appear rather for the French than for him Ad to all these disasters that he hath lost within the revolution of the same yeer the Prince of Spain his unic Son in the very flower of his age being but seventeen yeers old These with the falling off of Catalonia and Portugall with the death of his Queen not above forty are heavy losses to the Catholick King and must needs much enfeeble the great bulk of his Monarchy falling out in so short a compas of time one upon the neck of another and we are not to enter into the secret Counsells of God Almighty for a reason I have read 't was the sensuality of the flesh that drave the Kings out of Rome the French out of Sicily and brought the Moores into Spain where they kept firm footing above seven hundred yeers I could tell you how not long before her death the late Queen of Spain took off one of her chapines and clowted Olivares about the noddle with it because he had accompanied the King to a Lady of pleasure telling him that he should know she was Sister to a King of France as well as wife to a King of Spain For my part France and Spain is all one to me in point of affection I am one of those indifferent men that would have the scales of power in Europe kept even I am also a Philerenus a lover of peace and I could wish the French were more inclinable to it now that the common enemy hath invaded the territories of Saint Marâ—… Nor can I but admire that at the same time the French should assaile Italy at one side when the Turke was doing it on the other But had that great navall power of Christians which wer this summer upon the coasts of Toscany gon against the Mahometan Fleet which was the same time setting upon Candie they might in all likelihood have achieved a glorious exploit and driven the Turke into the Hellespont Nor is poor Christendom torn thus in peeces by the German Spaniard French and Sweds but our three Kingdoms have also most pittifully scratch'd her face wasted her spirits and let out som of her illustrious bloud by our late horrid distractions Wherby it may be infer'd that the Musti and the Pope seem to thrive in their devotion one way a chief part of the prayers of the one being that discord should still continue 'twixt Christian Princes of the other that division should still increase between the Protestants This poor Island is a wofull example thâ—…of I hear the peace 'twixt Spain and Holland is absolutely concluded by the plenipotentiary Ministers at Munster who have beat their heads so many yeers about it but they write that the French and Swed do mainly endeavour and set all the wheels of policy a going to puzzle and prevent it If it take effect as I do not see how the Hollander in common honesty can evade it I hope it will conduce much to an universall peace which God grant for Waâ—… is a fire struck in the Devills tinder box No more now but that I am My Lord Your most humble Servitor J. H. Fleet 1 Decem. 1643. XLV To Mr. E. O. Counsellour at Grayes Inne SIR THe sad tidings of my dear frend Doctor Prichards death sunk
sorry I did not for it had let in more light upon me of the cariage of that great action and then you might have bin well assur'd that I would have don that noble Knight all the right that could be But sir the severall arguments that you urge in your Letters are of that strength I confess that they are able to rectifie any indifferent man in this point and induce him to believe that it was no Chymera but a reall Mine for you write of divers pieces of gold brought thence by Sir Walter himself and Captain Kemys and of som Ingotts that wer found in the Governours Closet at St. Thoma with divers crusibles and other refining instruments yet under favour that might be and the benefit not countervail the charge for the richest Mines that the King of Spain hath upon the whole Continent of America which are the Mines of Potosâ—… yeeld him but six in the hundred all expences defrayed You write how King Iames sent privately to sir VValter being yet in the Tower to intreat and command him that he would impart his whole designe unto him under his hand promising upon the word of a King to keep it secret which being don accordingly by Sir VValter Rawleigh that very originall paper was found in the said Spanish Governours closet at St. Thoma wherat as you have just cause to wonder and admire the activeness of the Spanish Agents about our Court at that time so I wonder no less at the miscariage of som of His late Majesties Ministers who notwithstanding that he had pass'd his royall word to the contrary yet they did help Count Gondamar to that paper so that the reproach lieth more upon the English than the Spanish Ministers in this particular Wheras you allege that the dangerous sicknes of Sir VVatler being arrived neer the place and the death of that rare sparke of courage your brother upon the first landing with other circumstances discourag'd Captain Kemys from discovering the Mine but to reserve it for another time I am content to give as much credit to this as any man can as also that Sir VValter if the rest of the Fleet according to his earnest motion had gon with him to revictuall in Virginia a Country wher he had reason to be welcom unto being of his own discovery he had a purpose to return to Guyana the Spring following to pursue his first designe I am also very willing to believe that it cost Sir VValter Rawleigh much more to put himself in equipage for that long intended voyage than would have payed for his liberty if he had gon about to purchase it for reward of money at home though I am not ignorant that many of the co-adventurers made large contributions and the fortunes of som of them suffer for it at this very day But although Gondamar as my Letter mentions calls Sir Walter Pyrat I for my part am far from thinking so because as you give an unanswerable reason the plundering of St. Thoma was an act done beyond the Equator wher the Articles of Peace 'twixt the two Kings do not extend yet under favor though he broke not the Peace he was said to break his Patent by exceeding the bounds of his Commission as the foresaid Declaration relates for King Iames had made strong promises to Count Gondamar that this Fleet should commit no outrages upon the King of Spain's Subjects by Land unless they began first and I beleeve that was the main cause of his death though I think if they had proceeded that way against him in a legall course of triall he might have defended himself well enough Wheras you alledg that if that action had succeeded and afterwards been well prosecuted it might have brought Gondamar's great Catholic Master to have been begg'd for at the Church dores by Fryars as he was once brought in the latter end of Queen Elizabeths days I believe it had much damnified him and interrupted him in the possession of his West Indies but not brought him under favor to so low an ebb I have observed that it is an ordinary thing in your Popish Countreys for Princes to borrow from the Altar when they are reduc'd to any straights for they say the â—…iches of the Church are to serve as anchors in time of a storm divers of our Kings have don worse by pawning their Plate and Jewels Wheras my Letter makes mention that Sir Walter Rawleigh mainly laboured for his Pardon before he went but could not compas it this is also a passage in the foresaid printed Relation but I could have wish'd with all my heart he had obtaind it for I beleeve that neither the transgression of his Commission nor any thing that he did beyond the Line could have shortned the line of his life otherwise but in all probability wee might have been happy in him to this very day having such an Heroic heart as he had and other rare helps by his great knowledg for the preservation of health I beleeve without any scruple what you write that Sir William St. geon made an overture unto him of procuring his pardon for 1500 l. but whether he could have effected it I doubt a little when he had com to negotiat it really But I extremely wonder how that old sentence which had lain dormant above sixteen yeers against Sir Walter Rawleigh could have been made use of to take off his head afterwards considering that the Lord Chancellor Verulam as you write told him positively as Sir Walter was acquainting him with that proffer of Sir William St. geons for a pecuniaâ—…y pardon in these words Sir the knee timber of your voiage is money spare 〈◊〉 purse in this particular for upon my life you have a sufficient parâ—… for all that is passed already the King having under his broad Seal made you Admirall of your Fleet and given you power of the Martiall Law over your Officers and Soldiers One would think that by this Royall Patent which gave him power of life and death over the Kings liege peeple Sir Walter Rawleigh should becom Rectus in â—…ia and free from all old convictions but Sir to tell you the plain truth Count Gondamar at that time had a great stroak in our Court because ther was more than a meer â—…verture of a match with Spain which makes me apt to believe that that great wise Knight being such an Anti-Spaniard was made a Sacrifice to advance the Matrimoniall Treaty But I must needs wonder as you justly do that one and the same man should be condemned for being a frend to the Spaniard which was the ground of his first condemnation should afterwards lose his head for being their enemy by the same sentence Touching his return I must consess I was utterly ignorant that those two noble Earls Thomas of Arundell and William of Pembâ—…oke wer ingaged for him in this particular nor doth the prinâ—…ed Relation make any mention of them at all therfore I must say