to worry him who had as much relation to the place as himself where these good Deeds were done But there is a Writer and not one year scapes him but that he publisheth somewhat to bespatter the Bishop of Lincoln's good Name Odimus accipitrem quia semper vivit in armis Ovid. Art Amand. he it is that would cover all the Monuments of his Bounty with one Blot if he could find Readers such as he wish't that would take all that he vents without examination Mr. Fuller in his Church History of Britain after he had given some unhandsome Scratches to this Bishop parts with him thus Envy it self could not deny but that whit hersoever he went he might be traced by the foot-steps of his Benefaction That he expended much in the repair of the Abby-Church of Westminster and that the Library was the effect of his Bounty This is truth and praise-worthy in the Historian and yet I say not the Bishop is beholding to him for it because it is truth That 's Politian's judgment in an Epistle to Baptista p. 197. Pro vâ—ris laudibus hoc est pro suis nemo cuiquam debet Quis enim pro suo debeat But what says one of the Swallows to it that built under the roof of the Abby Just like a Swallow carried all the filth he could pick up to his Nest But worse then a miry Swallow he resembles those obscene Birds that use to flutter about the Sepulchres of the Dead and insults extreamly over the Grave of the Deceased in his Animadversions upon the Church History p. 273. That Lincoln received so much out of the Rents of the Colledge in the time when he was Lord Keeper four years and more that the Surplusage of all that he paid out in several sums respectively amounted to more then he laid out upon the Church and Library 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says Demost orat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about the end The very Enemies of the dead cease to hate them when they are dead But as Anabaptists and Quakers say they are above Ordinances so it seems the Conscience of some Divines is above moral Niceties As to the Calumny squeeze it and in round Russian Language you shall wring out a great lye First before the Dean was Lord Keeper or dreamt of that honour that is before the Chapter had committed the Rents to his management he had repaired the great Ruins of the south side of the Church abutting upon the stately Chappel of Henry the Seventh If the Animadverter knew this why did he not separate it from that which was expended in those four years wherein he lays his Challengeâ— If he did not know it for it was done ten years before he was hatcht into a Prebend then when blind men throw stones whose head is not like to be broken For that which was laid out by the Lord Keeper to strengthen and beautifie the north side of the Abby to the end that the right Pay-master may be known and the mouth of all Detraction stopt the Chapter shall testifie in their Act as followeth Whereas there hath lately been divulged as we have heard an unjust report that the Right Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God the Lord-Bishop of Lincoln our Dean should have repair'd and new-built our Church on the north side of the same and south side of the Chappels belonging to it out of the Diet and Bellies of the Prebendaries and Revenues of our said Church and not out of his own Revenues We therefore the Prebendaries of the same with one consent do affirm That we verily believe the same to be a false and injurious Report And for our selves we do testifie every man under his own Protestation that we are neither the Authors nor Abettors of any such injurious Report untruly uttered by any mean man with intention to reflect upon his Lordship And this we do voluntarily record and witness by our Chapter Act dated this present Chapter Decemb. 8. 1628. Theo. Price Sub-Deacon Christopher Sutton George Darrel Gabriel Grant Jo. King Rob. Newell John Hâ—lt Gr. Williams Whether will we believe eight men in their right minds or one in his rage To slight the Bishops erecting such a beautiful Pile the Library of St. John's Colledge and put that of Westminster with it he is as froward as a Child that hath worms in his Stomach and tells us that it possibly cost him more Wit than Money many Books being daily sent unto him Vis dicam tibi veriora veris Martial It was not only possible but very true For what Library no not the Bodleian the choicest of England but grew up and doth grow by contributory Oblations as Athenaeus says Lib. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Symbols or Portions that many Friends bring in to furnish a publick work have good influence into it but the Founder is the Lord of the Ascendant A great deal of the like the Author hath crowded into a few Leaves I do not accuse it for want of Salt it is a whole Hogshead of Brine Wisely and mildly Melanchthou was wont to say Answer not Slanders but let them vanish Et si quid adhuc in hujus saeculi levitate quasi innat at brevi interiturum est cum autorum nominibus Camer p. 79. The worthy Works of the Bishop's excessive cost at Westminster and in both Universities will stand when Pamphlets shall be consum'd with moths The liberal deviseth liberal things and by liberal things he shall stand Isai 32.8 A fair Walnut-tree the more it bears the more it is beaten as it complains in the Greek Epigram 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But such as yield the fruits of good works in this world shall become Trees of Life hereafter as I have read it from some good Pen He is well that is the better for others but he shall be happy for whom others are the better 91. Method hath digested the troubles about the Deanry altogether which is the reason why this Paragraph recoils five years back that is to 1630 to make a transition into the next disturbance A Commission was directed this year to very honourable and knowing persons the Lord Privy Seal Earl of Arundel Vicount Wimbleton Lord Wentworth Sir Hugh Middleton Sir W. Slingsby Sir Hen. Spelman Ed. Ascough Th. Brett Th. Bridgman to question the oppression of exacted Fees in all Courts and Offices Civil and Ecclesiastical throughout all England A noble Examination and full of Justice if due and convenient Fees thereupon had been straitned and appointed which was frustrated two ways First by indigent and craving Courtiers who enquired after such as were suspected for Delinquency and of great Wealth with whom they compounded to get them Indempnity though not a Doit of a Fee were abated Secondly By vexatious Prosecutions of abundance that were Innocent before Sub-committees where Promoters got a great livelyhood to themselves to redeem them from chargeable Attendance which deserves such a Complaint as Budaeus
World your incapability of that Passion But to give Your Highness to understand that I hope if you discover any â—ndment to detein your Princely Person under any fair Colour or Pretence whatsoever You will endeavour by all means possible to make your departure as secret as your Arrival was I pray God this may prove but my Folly and Jealousie And I thank God heartily that you have in Your Company the Earl of Bristow who for Advice and Counsel upon the Place is in my poor Opinion inferior to none in His Majesties Dominions Here is no Course omitted to still the Noise and to take away the Affrightments caused by your sudden departure I am a little afraid that the person of the Earl of Carâ— whom His Majesty hath posted after you will not prove so acceptable in the Spanish Court which I wish might have no Provocation at all while your person is there If it prove so he is a most willing Lord to please Your Highness and you may 〈◊〉 so of â—im the sooner back again I have endeavour'd to smooth and sweeten all things at home in the best accommodation that lay in me I have stayed a Collection which went on for the Grisons though I bear them good will least the King of Spain might take Offence thereat I have restored the Priests and Jesuits that were restrained in the New Prison to their former Liberty I have given special Order to the Judges for Sweetness and Doulcure to the English Catholicks I have twice Visited the the Spanish Ambassador and do now deny him no Suit he makes And all this with a Reflection upon that inestimable Pearl of curs which God hath now put into their Hands On the other side if things prosper according to your Highness's desire you will not fail to write to some person that will Publish it that nothing hath been represented to you there adverse or contrary to your Profession and Religion And that you were much Offended when you heard of those Surmises of this people that you took this Journey out of an Yielding and Recklesness in the Constancy and Sincerity of the same This Course will quiet the sond Jealousies at home Your Highness will now give me leave to Remember mine own Calling and to call upon you to do that which you have never failed to do to call upon God Morning and Evening for his Gracious Assistance and continual Protection to whose preventing accompanying and pursuing Grace I do most humbly and Devoutly now upon my bended Knees recommend your Highness Dominus Custodiat introitum tuum exitum tuum ex Lòc nunc usque in seculum Ps 121.8 A Letter to the L. Buckingham My most Noble Lord 129 ALthough the Service I can now only perform to your Lordship is praying and not writing yet my Affection will not suffer me to conceal my Folly in this kind I have no time to recollect my Thoughts this Gentleman who steals away after you is in such haste I have utter'd most of my Dreams unto his Highness who I know will impart them to your Lordship unless they shall prove so wide as out of respect to my Credit he shall be pleas'd to burn them If things prove so ill which God forbid as that his Princely Person should under Colour of Friendship larger Treaty or any Device be then detained longer then his liking be you my sweet Lord drawn by no Means Counsel or Importunity to leave his Person and to return without him If you should do so as I know you will not beside the disgrace thereof it would prove your certain Ruin If things prove well you need no Counsel your Adventure will be Applauded and great Note cast upon your Wisdom and Resolution But if the Health Entertainment and the principal business of His Highness nay if any one of the Three should miscarry You cannot in your Wisdom and great Experience in this Court but certainly knew that the blame will be laid upon you And therefore for Gods sake prepare your self accordingly by Mature Deliberation to Encounter it My Lord for fear others will not I will tell you the Truth If I Offend you with my Trusty Care I am sure your good Nature will blow it over before we meet again But in sooth all the Court and the Rabble of people lay this Voyage upon your Lordship The King would seem sometimes as I hear to take it to himself and we have Advis'd him so to do by Proclamation yet he sticks at it and many times casts it upon you both Thus Sir J. Epsley told me within this hour whom I sent to the Court of purpose to learn it Nay Faces are more sowred and Rumors of Dangers more Encreased because you have defeated some great Lords who expected to be imployed for the Conduct of the Infant a hither And though things speed never so well this Quarrel will remain But I would that might prove the greatest Danger If Your Lordship will Command me what to do in Your Absence I hope you believe you have a faithful Servant and wise enough to follow Directions I will be as Vigilant in your Affairs as my distance from the Court will give me Leave Your Lady is well but unapproachable and invisible Your little Daughter is very Pleasant and as it seems bids us hope the best in her Infantile Presagements My Lady Your Mother is well and chides me that I could not Divine and Prophesie of your Journey I will make bold to remember me to your Host as we conceive it the Earl of Bristow and his good Lady my loving Country-woman My Noble Lord my Humble Suit unto you and my best Advice is that as all the Lords in England sought your Lordship with all Observance in this Court so you will seek and gain the great Lords of Spain with as much Observance in the Court of Spain I ended His Highness Letter with a Text of Scripture and I have another for your Lordship Genes 24. ver 48 49. And I bowed my Head and Worshipped the Lord and Blessed the Lord God of my Master Abraham who hath led me in the Right-way to take my Masters Brothers Daughter to his Son And now if you will deal kindly and truly with my Master tell me that I may turn to the Right Hand or to the Left I Leave your Lordship in this Meditation and in Gods Gracious Protection for ever 130. These in the Levitical Phrase were but the Green Ears of the First Fruits The Sheaves of his Wisdom will follow after For more is to be look'd for how he proceeded then how he began All things went well and unanimously on the part of our English Counsellors in those Foreign Juntoes from hence and so forth at least to the beginning of May. Thus far 't was easie to please them all But there is one skill requir'd in a Calm at Sea another in a Tempest Though the Pilots good Will and Fidelity be constantly the
Madrid Novemb. 12. says Sir Wal. Aston whom I believe though others say later The tenth day after the Dispensation made known in the Church let the Betrothing be Solemnized and the tenth day after it the Marriage Then the Prince may take his own Time to return when he will but the Lady could not make ready for the Seas considering her Train that must attend her till March. The Prince did not like the Arithmetick of this Counting-Table More time than the first Week of September he was resolved not to spend in that Land The Coming of the Dispensation he would not await which might be failing thither upon the idle Lake in the Fary Queen â—oth slow and swift alike did serve their turn To stay and Consummate the Marriage in his own Person he knew was unfit in two Respects He must take a Blessing from one of their Bishops in the Face of their Church and submit to their Trinckets and Ceremonies which he had rather hear than see Then if the Infanta had Conceived they would keep her it is likely till she was delivered The Child must stay till it was strong to endure the Seas so it might come to pass to be bred up and Naturalized a Spaniard in Religion and Affection When the Clock would not go right with those Plummets the Junto cast the i me out ino another Figure that his Highness would out of Courtship wherein he excelled and out of great Love to his Mistress which he professed perfect the Desponsation in his own Person and trust no other with it the Marriage and the Lady should follow after that is upon the Certificate of their Embassador out of England that Conditions were performed there to which the King of Great Briâ— ain had engaged To this his Highness was short That he would linger no longer and play at Cards in King Philip's Palace till the Messenger with the Port-mantick came from Rome Neither would he depend upon Embassadors and their Reports when the Illustrious Damosel should begin her Journey towards England Embassadors might certifie what they pleased and inform no more than their great Master's Counsel inspired them At last his Highness took upon him to deside the Wrangling and cast out the sacred Anchor from the Stern to keep their Counsels from further Floating that he would be burdensom to the K. of Spain no longer the magnetick Vertue of his own Country drew him to it Yet to confirm that he lest his Heart behind with his Beauteous and high born Mistress he would Sign a Proxy and Assign it to K. Philip or his Brother Don Carlo or either of them which should remain in the Custody of the Earl of Bristol that the Espousals between him and the Infanta might be ratified within ten days after the dispensation unstopt the way unto them and he would leave it to the Princessa to shew her Cordial and Amorcuolous Affections how soon she would prepare to follow after him 168. Which stood for a Decree agreed and obey'd The King of Spain would have been glad if the Prince might be perswaded to stay longer in his Court But since after Six Months continuance there his Highness defir'd to breath again in his Native Air King Philip caused preparation to be made for it for freedom is the Noblest part of Hospitality and was dismiss'd with as much Honour and Magnificence as he was Receiv'd The Earl of Briâ—ol who certainly knew the day when he took his Leave writes to the Lord Keeper Cab. p. 21. That he would begin his Journey for England the 9th of Sept. others set it three days back and adds the day before I Conceive the contract will be which is false Printed it should be That the Day before he would Sign and Seal his Procuration for the Contract which Intelligence is Authentick being so Corrected Now looking upon those that were the Magnificoes of Spain when the Prince took his farewel of them and how dear they held him how they Voiced him beyond the Skies for the most express Image they had seen of Vertue and Generosity methinks his Highness should have behold it with his Eyes open and have inferred out of it that he could not be more happy then to marry with that Blood and to keep Friendship with that Nation He was most Gracious in the Eyes of all Great and under Great Never Prince parted with such Universal Love of all Cab. p. 16. and Bristol to the Lord Keeper p. 21. The Love which is here born generally to the Prince is such as cannot be believ'd by those that daily hear not what passeth from the King and his chief Ministers The most concern'd was the rare Infanta of whom says one out of the Spanish Reports Sander p 552. That she seem'd to deliver up her own Heart at parting in as high Expressions as that Language and her Learning could with her Honour set out Let not this Essay of her sweetness be forgotten that when the Prince told her His Heart would never be out of Anxiety till she had pass'd the intended Voyage and were safe on British Land She Answered with a modest Blush That if she were in danger upon the Ocean or discompos'd in Health with the rowling brackish Waves she would chear up herself and remember all the way to whom she was going For which she deserves to be Honour'd with Theogena the Wife of Agathocles for that saying Se nubendo ci non prosperae tantùm sed omnis fortunae iniisse Societatem Just lib. 20. When it came to the King her Brothers turn to Act his part of Royal Civility he carried the Prince with him to his most gorgeous and spacious Structure of the Escurial There he began That his Highness had done him favour beyond all compass of requital that he had Trusted the safe-guard of his Person with him and given him such an occasion in it to shew his Honour and Justice to part with him with as much Fidelity as his Highness desir'd or expected that there he was ready to perfect the Alliance so long in Treaty that he might call him Brother whom above all in the World he loved as a Friend The Prince Answered He had a better Heart to conceive then a Tongue to signifie how much he owed to his Majesty He hop'd the incomparable Infanta would thank him for the unparallel'd Courtesie shewn to him And because a drop of true meaning was better then a River of Words his Highness being encircled with the Noblest Witnesses of that Kingdom produced and Read his Proxy interpreted by the Earl of Bristol and committed to his Charge but first Attested to by the Hand of Secretary Cirica as a Notary of the greatest Place That this much pass'd it is certain Much more is Reported but it is contentious This Obligation intending to the Contract was thus dispatch'd in the Escurial of which let me say hereupon as Valerius of the Senate House of Rome lib. 6. Illam Curiam
5. to be wasted over into Italy in his Bark Thus he went on with other flatuous Disparagements One Copy of this and no more came to the Leiger Embassador of the Catholick King of which the Lord Keeper had the Use and would never deliver it again but wrote to my Lord Marquess April 20th to bid the Earl of Bristow to take care either to stifle it if it were not divulg'd or to cause it to be called in if it were published Such Scriblers should be informed against in the Ragguaglia's of Pernassus and amerced to pay for the the Loss of our Time 133. Aste the gaudy Days of the Royal Welcome were past over my Lord of Buckingham obliged the Lord Keeper greatly unto him with a Letter Dated March 26 and came about the Declining of April for the Comfort of the Contents which were these My good Lord HOwsoever I wrote so lately unto you that I have not since received any Letter from your Lordship yet because you shall see that I let slip no Opportunity I do it again by this Conveyance and must again tell you the good News of his Highness's being in perfect Health I cannot doubt but many idle and false Rumors will daily be there spread during the Absence of his Highness which I know your Lordship and the wiser sort will easily contemn and believe only that which you shall find avowedly advertised from hence And here let me thus far prevent with your Lordship any sinister Report that shall be made in the main Point which is the Prince's Religion assuring you that he is no way pressed nor shall be perswaded to change it for so is it clearly and freely professed unto him I hope I shall shortly be able to advertise your Lordship of the Arrival of the Dispensation which will be the Conclusion of our Business And thus wishing your Lordship all Honour and Happiness c. The Pearl which came in this Letter is that Satisfaction purchased of God with the Prayers of all devout Men that the Prince should not be inveigled in Conferences or unquieted with Disputes to strip himself of the Wedding-Garment of that incorrupt Faith in Christ which he had professed from a Child for that Wedding sake which he came to conclude How impudently have some Trash-Writers out-faced this Truth as if the Prince had been beset on all sides to make Shipwrack of his Religion in the Gulph of Rome Ar. Wilson of all others is the most forward Accuser and therefore the Falfest Tast him in these Parcels P. 230 that the Earl of Bristow insinuated it with this crafty Essay to his Highness That none of the King 's of England could do great things that were not of that Religion Yet he interfears in that same Page That Gondamar prest the Earl of Bristow not to hinder so pious a Work assuring him that they had Buckingham's Assistance in it Then belike Gondamar was jealous of Bristow that he was contrary to that which he called a pious Work the Prince's Perversion Certainly he knew Bristow as far as a Friend could know a Friend And as many Bow-shots wide is he from my Lord of Buckingham's Sincority in that Action as a Lyar is from Heaven Is not his Lordship's Hand-writing so solemn'y mention'd an uncontroulable Testimony The same Author slanders Conde d'Olivares and makes him utter that which never came from him That if the Prince would devote himself to their Church it would make him â—th way to the Infanta's Afflictions and if he seared the English would rebel he should be assisted with an Army to reduce them The Conâ—e Duke carried no such threatning Fire in one Hand nor at that time any of his Holy Water in the other For he committed nothing to offend his Highness's Ears in that â—ind till his Passions made him forget himself about three Months after Not contented with this he makes the Prince say that which he never thought as that when the Conde Duke propounded That if his Highness would not admit of a sudden Alteration and that publickly yet he would be so indulgent to litten to the Infanta in Matters of Religion when they both came into England Which the Prince promised to do But what says true hearted Spotswood P. 544. That the Prince was stedfast and would not change his Religion for any worldly Respect nor enter into Conference with any Divines for that purpose Utri credetis Is there any Choice which of these two should rather be believed I am careful to praemonish conscientious Readers against Serpentine Pens least their nibling should ranckle A Serpent you know from the beginning was a Lodging for the Devil Gen. 3. and so is a Slanderer The Manual of Romish Exorcisms says Instruct 2. that it is presumed for a sign that he is possest with a Devil Qui linguam extorquet miris modis eandem exerit ingenti oris hiatu I translate that to the Manners of the Mind which is meant there of the Body And let the Living learn the dead Man whom I speak of can take no Warning it is a divelish thing to loll out the Tongue of Contumely These being fore Times to out-face the Truth and willing to listen to Defamations no marvel if some take the Liberty to Lye and have the Confidence to be believed But that Sectaries that have quite overthrown the Church of England a right and pleasant Vineyard of Jesus Christ that these should be the Men who for the most part have challenged the Prince and the chief Ministers that laboured to effect the Spanish Match for being luke-warm at the best and unfastned from the Religion then profest is very audacious The Accused were Innocent and never gave ground to any pernicious Alteration but themselves the Accusers have trodden down that Religion of which in their deep Hypocrisy they would seem to be Champions The Prince and Buckingham were ever Protestants those their Opposites you know not what to term them unless Detestants of the Romish Idolatry As if all were well so they be not Popified though they have departed from the Church in which they were Baptized and a Church I will not say as sound as it was in its Cradle in the Apostles Times but as pure and Orthodox in Doctrine and Government as far as they were maintained to be of Divine Right and Constitution as it was in its Childhood in the time of their Disciples even that next succeeded them And are these the Declamers for Religion and the Temple of the Lord Ex isto ore Religionis verbum excidere an t clabi potest as Tully said of Clodius Orat. pro domo suâ ad Pontif. and so I give them no better Respect at parting 134. But what will be said when one that is greatly affected to our poor demolish'd Church doth concur with those Snarling Sectaries of his own accord That in the flagrant expectation of that Match some for hope of Favour began to Favour the Catholick
any prudent Man oblige himself to all those Errours which may be committed And if the Count Palatine had followed the Counsel of the most Excellent King of Great Britain many of those things which have succeeded had been prevented and the Grace of the Emperor had been better disposed than now it is Beside that much hath been spent and that they have seen him so obstinate stirring up against the Emperor both the Turk and Bethlem Gabor and as many others as he hath been able I say not this to the end that we should forbear to do whatsoever in this World we should be able to accommodate the Palatine and to do in this behalf that which the King of Great Britain doth shew that he desireth But to say that which is certain his Majesty of Great Britain doth by no means find himself in this Business any other ways engaged than he shall find that Engagement to be justifiable God keep you as I desire From Madrid 31 Octob. 1623. Postscript If my Lord the King did not mean to bring this Business to a final Conclusion with much Gust to the King of Great Britain we might sufficiently with that which my Lords the Ambassadors desire by offering and really interposing our Intercession with his Cesareal Majesty And we might also have excused the Writing of this long Letter which is full of Good will and of this I can assure you 163. This long riddling non-concluding Letter such another as Tiberius the Emperor wrote from Capree to the Senate for the Tryal of Sejanus is not endorsed I conceive it was sent to Mr. Edward Clerke who was sent from the Prince on Shipboard to the Earl of Bristol to stop the Powers he had for the dispatch of the expected Desposories this was put into his Hand against he return'd for England But what is it worth if it were to be sold Scarce two of their Maravedies and we requited them with that which came to as little as one of our Farthings We had look'd after the Re-possession of the Palatinate till our Eyes aked and to feed them with a taste of their own Provender a long-breath'd Delay we made their Ambassadors in London tarry for the Indulgences which their Clients in Religion hoped for till their Hearts aked It is opened sufficiently before that his Majesties End in subscribing to the Articles in favour of the Papists his Subjects was to second his Son in that which he had begun in Spain to bring him out of the Briars from thence The Ambassadors plied the Concession of the Articles very diligently that their Party might enjoy the sweetness of the Benefit For better is the sight of the Eyes than the wandring of the Desire Eccles 6.9 It fell out well that the King never intermitting a Summers Progress was out of the way So the Management of the Business fell upon the Lord Keeper not by Usurpation but by Merit and by Necessity too For whatsoever his Majesty pretended he gave the Keeper a secret Rule to go no faster than needs and to do no more prejudice than was unavoidable A Regiment of Plots would hardly be enough to be drawn up together to win that Enterprise though a good Sconce overcame all Propertius Mens bona si qua Dea es tua me in sacraria dona says a Heathen As all costly Oyntments have Oyl mixed with them so Wisdom persumes all Undertakings as this under the File will demonstrate The Ambassador used their Counsel Learned in our Laws to draw up the effect of that they had obtained as near as could be to his Majesties Mind Which was brought to the Lord Keeper who told them The Papers were unsatisfactory they had proceeded indeed by the Articles signed in the private Lodgings at Whitehal but the private Articles shew only the extent of his Majesties Grace and Favour in the substance not at all the Manner and Form how they shall be conveyed which must be chalked out by a new and immediate Warrant from his Majesty This held dispute till the 10th of August his Majesty being at Salisbury where Directions past to liquidate the Doubts how the Kings Grants should be applied call'd from that place the Articles of Salisbury For which the Agents of the Ambassadors were to resort to the Earl of Carlile and Mr. Secretary Conway attending in the Progress and the Patents to be filled up with them by the Discretion of the Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Mr. Secretary Calvert Sir Richard Weston Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. Atturney-General Sir Th. Coventry attending who were to sit at Whitehal for the more easie Expedition Time is given to draw up Copies of new Draughts Interea aliquid fiet spero says the Comick In these Intervals who could tell but somewhat might fall out to cross all On the 18th of August the Lord Keeper sends the Form of the Pardon drawn up to the King at Beawlie to save the Recusants from all Advantages the Laws might take for the time past and a Dispensation to keep them indemnified from the same for the time to come But an Item was given to bring the Dispensation lame back that his Majesty should signifie his Royal Will That the Pardon should go under the Great Seal the Dispensation under the Privy Seal This from Beawlie Aug. 21. And there was a Colour for it out of the Agreements of Salisbury subtilly drawn up For the second Article says That a Legal Authentical Pardon shall be past under the Great Seal And in the seventh Article There shall be a present Suspension of his Majesties Laws under his Seal The word Great was wilfully omitted to puzzle the Transaction But after the Spanish part had debated with the Lord Keeper in Reason he writes to Secretary Conway at Tichburn Aug. 25. That he confest a Dispensation from the Poenal Statutes could not be pleaded but under the Great Seal The Business got off in that Point but it hung upon another Tentar He writes again to Mr. Secretary then at Broad-lands Aug. 27. That it troubled him much he was enforced to such often Replies but the Weight of the Business would excuse it He says He was not instructed from the Articles of Salisbury from what Day the Dispensation was to begin and how far it was to be limited in time to come from what time those are to be excluded that do not lay hold of it To which answer was given but always the Dial stood Once again he demurr'd upon the Dispensation which says That the Papists Convict shall not pay their Forfeiture for not coming to Church nor be Indicted for not taking the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance whether it was not fit to divide these in several Styles and Expressions It was return'd and dictated from the Kings Lips The first Breach of the Laws should be signified to be absolutely pardoned The latter should go in another Form that it should not be questioned and Mr. Atturney to provide accordingly
his Majesty Not take off his Hand id est He will employ without intermission his best Offices to procure Satisfaction to his Majesty And concerning Offices and Treatises we have had too many of them already Non tali auxilio c. But together with this written Letter I must acquaint your Lordships with an unwritten Tradition Which was delivered to the Earl of Bristol together with the Project of the Letter by Secretary Cirica but ill conceal'd by his Lordship in that Dispatch and sent afterward probably by Mr. Clâ—rke to my Lord Duke's Grace That whereas the King of Spain did find his Errour in going on with the Treaty of the Marriage before he had cleared the Treaty of the Palatinate he is now resolv'd to change his Method and to perfect this Treaty of the Restitution of the Palatinate before he will proceed any further in the accomplishing of the Marriage So that these Treatises as they are carried in Spain shall be quit one with another As formerly the Treaty of the Marriage did justle out the Treaty of the Palatinate so now the Treaty of the Palatinate hath quite excluded the Treaty of the Marriage And indeed in stead of Wedding Garments that King as you heard hath made a hasty Winter Journey to Andaluzia to provide his Navy But how they are to be employ'd we shall hear shortly if we will still be credulous by Padre Maestro who is on his way for this Kingdom My Lords to conclude As the Heathen say that the Golden Chain of Laws is tyed to the Chair of Jupiter so the future Proceedings upon all this long Narration is tyed to your Consultation Things past are exactly made known to you that things to come may be more wisely considered An Historian says Curtius Male humanis ingeniis Natura consuluit quod plaerumquè non futura sed transacta perpendimus Nature hath not well provided for Humane Wisdom that commonly we discuss upon things already done rather than what may be done for the future But my Lords you are not put to that streit But your Lordships speedy Advice is requir'd for that which is to follow specially concerning this last Dispatch that implieth the Education of the Prince Palatine's Son in the Emperor's Court and that the King of Spain will promise no Assistance to draw off the Emperor's Army from his Country much less Assistance by Arms to recover it This is it which his Majesty expects from your Lordships mature Advice Whether this being the Product of all the Trouble which I have opened to your Lordships it be sufficient for his Majesty to rest upon both for the Marriage of his only Son and the relieving of his only Daughter This Report it was so grateful for the Theme so gracefully handled for the manner so Clear so Elaborate so Judiciously manag'd that the Author had never more Praise in his Life for one days Work of that kind So acceptable it was even to the Duke though turn'd a Cold Friend That he said He knew not how to Thank him enough for it Yet this was but as the White of an Egg which gets some Tast with a little Salt of Eloquence but nothing in Comparison of the Yolk of his Worth But as Nazianzen said of St. Basil Quae ab illo velm obiter siâ—bant praestantiora crant quà m ea in quibus alii Elaborant Such an Orator was sure to have the Custom of the Parliament upon all the like Occasions Therefore when he had scarce taken Breath after the former Service he was Commanded to add the Supplement as it follows in another Conference Gentlemen THat are the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons I am directed by my Lords to open this Conference with acquainting the House of Commons with whom their Lordships desire to hold all fair and sincere Correspondence with a double Preface First with a Supplement to that Narration made by his Highness and my Lord the Duke of Buckingham his Grace to both the Houses and then with an Opinion of their Lordships super totam Materiam upon the whole Proceed of the great business Now because in this Consultation the Supplement did co-operate with the Narration for the producing of their Lordships Opinion I hold it the best Method to begin with that The Supplement is of a Threefold Nature The First Concerns the Treaty of the Marriage The Second the Restitution of the Palatinate The Third a most Heroical Act and Resolution of the Princes Highness which their Lordships held necessary to be imparted first to you the Universality and Body Representative and then by you to all the Kingdom That Supplement which concerns the Treaty of the Marriage is no more but this That by a Letter of the Earl of Bristols writen Nine Years ago 3 Novem. 1614. it appeared plainly unto their Lordships that this Treaty of the Marriage had the first beginning by a Motion from Spain and not from England even from the Duke of Lerma who promised all sincerity in the Match and as little pressing as might be in matters of Religion Yet though the Proposal began so soon and was follow'd so earnestly it is now like an untimely Birth for which the Mother endureth a painful Travail and it enjoyeth not the Fruit of Life That Supplement which Concerns the Restitution of the Palatinate is this That whereas in that Treaty a demand is pressed by his Majesty upon the King of Spain to promise us assistance by Arms in case Mediation should not prevail it hath appeared to their Lordships by the Papers of the Earl of Bristol preserved in the Councel-Chamber that the King of Spain hath formerly promised Assistance by Arms upon such a supposition which notwithstanding he now utterly refuseth and offers but bare Mediation But as Symmachus says in an Ep. to Ausonius Pa. vis nutriment is quanquam à morte defendimur nihil tamen ad Robustam valetudinem promovemur We may keep Life and scarce that with a poor Diet but we shall never grow strong with such a pittance If the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of that Honourable House desire a Sight of these Dispatches they shall be Read unto them Thirdly That Supplement which tends so much to the Honour of his Highness is this Sometime in July last when his Highness was in Spain a Rumor was scatter'd that his Highness had provided to steal away secretly insomuch that some of the King of Spain's Ministers were appointed as a Watch to detein him openly and avowedly as a Prisoner Hereupon my Lord's Grace was sent to the whole Committee with this Heroical Remonstrance that though he stole thither out of Love he scorn'd to steal away out of Fear neither was his Heart guilty of taking so poor and unworthy a Course A brave and magnanimous Resolution yet short of that which followeth For the Prince made a dispatch to his Father at that instant and sent this Message unto him by Mr. Grimes
in that kind to press an Injury against any Man but might come about to be Scann'd Little did a greater Man than the Duke the Emperor Ludovicus called the Holy Dream That he should be Persecuted so far by his Son Lotharius and Edo Bishop of Rhemes to set under his Hand an Acknowledgment of his Errors in forcing Judges to do unjustly Yet it was so as it is in Baron An. 833. Com. 17. Inter Ludovici crimina quae publicè agnouit Quod Judicantes ad falsum Judicium induxit Of two Evils the less was to be chosen by the Keeper rather to provoke one Man then all Men nay rather to provoke Man than GOD That some will be provok'd it cannot be avoided It is best to instance in a whole Nation to give no Offence Aristides in one of his Orations Censures the Old Romans and the Modern are no better They held all that were under them for Slaves and all that would be Freemen and not Slaves for Enemies The King heard the noise of these Crashes and was so pleas'd that he Thank'd God before many Witnesses that he had put the Keeper into that Place For says he He that will not wrest Justice for Buckingham 's Sake whom I know he Loves will never be corrupted with Money which he never Lov'd His Majesty would have a Judge to be such a one as Justinian aimed at Novel 17. Vir optimus purus his contentus quae à fisco dantur A good Man that took nothing of the People but was contented with such Wages as the King gave him He had found the Man And because the Lord Keeper had Husbanded that Stock Three years and half and lived fairly upon it and was not the Richer by the Sale of one Cursitors Place in all that time His Majesty Granted him a Suit by the Name of a New-Years-Gift after the size of the Liberality of that good Master which was enough to keep a Bountiful Christmas twice over The Giver did not repent him but thought himself repaid with a Conceit that this most useful Counsellor produc'd at that Season about the Children of the Prince Elector The Spanish Treaties were laid aside and new Ones from France rose up in their Room which being Examin'd it could not appear that they did portend any Comfort to the Recuperation of the Palatinate His Majesty bewailed that his Grand-Children then Young and Tender would be very Chargeable to England when they grew to be Men. It was their Sole Refuge They might Seek their Fortune in another place and come home by Spills-Bury Sir says the Lord Keeper Will you be pleased to listen to me taking in the Prince his Consent of which I make no doubt and I will shew how you shall furnish the Second and Third Brothers with Preferments sufficient to maintain them that shall cost you nothing Breed them up for Scholars in Academial Discipline keep them strictly to their Books with such Tutors as will Teach them not to abuse themselves with vain Hopes upon the Greatness of their Birth For it is a Folly to gape after the Fruit hanging upon a high Tree and not to know how to Climb it If they fall to their Studies design them to the Bishopricks of Durham and Winchester when they become void If that happen in their Nonnage which is probable appoint Commendatories to discharge the Duty for them for a laudable Allowance but gathering the Fruits for the support of your Grand-Children till they come to Virility to be Consecrated George Duke of Anhault having Ministerial Gifts was Ordain'd into that Holy Calling at Magdeburg and yet put to no Shifts as Melancthon is my Author and many more The Priestly Office was esteem'd from the beginning fittest for the best Gentlemen for the First-Born among them that serv'd the Truo God And the Romans who serv'd them that were no Gods learn'd it at Athens from Theseus Plut. in vità 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Citizens of the Noblest Blood should be train'd up in knowledge of Sacred Things and be made the Administrators of Divine Mysteries And I am at another Benefit wherein I praise God that I am assured Your Majesty will concur with me That the Office of a Bishop imprudently by many Mâ—lign'd I might charge them with a worse Crime will be the more Inviâ—lable when the Branches of Your Royal Stock have so great an Interest in it And such Provision is Needful against Schismatical Attempts both for Religious Sake and the Publick Weal For if such great Superstructions should fall all would come to Ruin that is round about them I will yet go further If Your Majesty think a Bishoprick though of the best kind too little for either of them you may please to annex to each of them one of your principal Offices of State as You find them Trusty and Discreet When he had ended As I Live says the King I will fellow this Direction I thank you heartily for it and I attend it that it will save me more then the worth of a Subsidy Thus far these Matters were well Chewed But because they were not followed when others bore the sway they never came to a second Concâ—ction 215. The Peaceable Period of King James's Reign drew on when the times were active about a Marriage between our Prince and a Daughter of France the youngest of Henry the Great 's Posterity for she was a Posthuma a Princess eminently adorn'd with many Rays of Honour celebrated far and wide for Beauty Wit and sweet Disclosures of Behaviour The Lord Keeper was not us'd in Counsel about it till after many sendings to and fro Yet what fell out at last for his part to the better Understanding of Conditions of Agreement is worthy to hang upon the File of Honourable Registry Viscount Kersâ—ngâ—â—â— Created of Holland in the pursuance of that Service was sent into France almost a Twelve-Month before to discover what Approbation was like to follow if this Match were offer'd The Earl had an Amorous Tongue and a Wise Head could Court it Smoothly as any Man with the French Ladies and made so Fortunate an account into England after Three Months of his Introductions that he saw no fear of denial in the Suit nor of Spinosity in the Articles But because he was 〈◊〉 put in Trust by the Lord Duke and our King would scarce acknowledge that he had given him Authority for all that he had done He sent the Earl of Carlile after him His Majesty much affying in that Lords Fidelity and put them both into the same Commission They were Peers of the best Lustre in our Court Elegant in their Persons Habit and Language and by their nearness to King 〈◊〉 apt Scholars to learn the Principles of Wisdom and the sitter to improve their Instructions to Honour and Safety While these Things went on the 〈◊〉 made it is Thought and Study what to do befitting a Counsellor and 〈…〉 upon the prospect of the
and give ear to nothing So you have the first and the last part of the Presbyterians Actings with the other Divines whom the Lords appointed for a Sub-committee There may well be a Suspicion when their Deeds do make a Confession that they would prevail by Force when they could not by Argument And thus began the downfal of Episcopacy which was never heard never suffer'd to plead at the Bar of the Parliament in its own Cause but as one says pertinently It was smother'd in a Crowd 141. Anatomists observe that the thinnest Membrane is that which covers the Brain that no weight might stop it from production of Notions and Phancies Certainly it was so in our Bishop's Head-piece who was consulted every day in weighty Affairs and had a Task at this time concurrent with all that went before to look to the Case of the noble but unfortunate Earl of Strafford A Charge of great Crimes was hastily drawn up against him that he had been a Tyrant in Ireland and stirred up His Majesty to raise an Army to oppress his Subjects in England and Scotland Haec passim Dea soeda virum diffudit in ora AEn 4. These were the Fictions of Fame and no more but made the People cast about distrustful and disloyal Doubts The Earl a man of great Wit and Courage knew not whether the King and all his Friends could save him In a rebellious nation wrath is set on fire Ecclus 16.6 And to the shame of Subjects bewitch'd with the new Spirit of that Bedlam rage neither the King nor his Justice could protect any man Too well do I remember that of Justin lib. 30. Nec quisquam in regno suo minùs quà m rex ipse poterat Some say of the French luke-warm in Religion that they kneel but with one Knee at Mass a great number in our rigid Parliament would not do so much the locking Joynt of their Knee was too stiff to bend at all Rebellion is a foul word yet they blush'd not at the deed who were ashamed of the Title Then the Scots were resolved not to disband till this brave Lord was headless Who hath seen a Hedge hog rouled up into a Ball The whole lump is Prickles do but touch it and you hurt your Hand Convolvuntur in modum pilae ne quid possit comprehendt praeter aculeos Plin l. 8. c. 37. So Lessly and his Tykes were bloody and imperious fastned with much confidence in one body Who could remove them Nay who could touch them or go about to mollitie them and get no harm Then the Tumults of Sectaries Corner-creepers and debauch'd Hang-by's that beset the dutiful Lord and Commons with Poniards and Clubbs were worse than an Army far off These call'd for Justice that is for the Life of the Earl What had they to do with Justice which if it might have fate upon the Bench and tryed them every Mothers Son of them had been condemned to the Gallows But it was safer to sit still with Prudence than to rush on with Courage Plus animi est inferenti periculum quà m propulsanti Liv. lib. 38. The Affailant that comes to do a Mischief puts on desperately and is fiercer than the Defendant And there is no equal temperature or counterpoise of Power against the strong Ingredient of a Multitude I will not say but many of this Scum invited themselves unbidden to do a Mischief but there was a Leader a Presbyter Pulpiteer that bespoke them into the Uproar from Shop to Shop Lucius Sergius signifer seditionis concitator tabernariorum Cic. pro dom ad Pont. I need not a Lime-hound to draw after him that was the chief Burgess of the Burrough who gathered this vain People to a head that had no Head Silly Mechanicks Horum simplicitas miserabilis his furor ipse Dat veniam Juven Sat. 2. But what will he answer that knew his Master's Will and ran headlong against it Now here 's the Streight of the Earl of Strafford expos'd to the greatest popular Rage that ever was known All that his good Angel could whisper into him in Prison was to trust to God and a righteous Defence But whereon should he bottom his Defence He could not upon the known Law which is the Merastone to limit and define all Causes for Life Limb Liberty or Living He must stand to a Tryal whether parcels of petty Offences will make an accumulative Felony and be arraigned upon a notion of Treason which could be wrested out of no Statute nor be parallel'd with any President The Treason was rather in them that call'd such things Treason to which no English Subject was liable by his Birth-right In populo scelus est abundant cuncta furore Man lib. 2. The Law was too much his Friend to bring him before the face of it Anocent man fears the Law an innocent man fears Malice and Envy O vitae tuta facultas Pauperis angustique laris O munera nondum Intellecla Luc. lib. 5. O the security and sound sleeps of a private Life If this Earl had not climb'd as high as the Weather-cock of Honours Spire he had not known the Horror of a Precipice Isocrates would never meddle with a publick Office says the Author of his Life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Athenians were so spightful at their Magistrates that he would not trust them Demasthenes was employed in great Places and died untimely by a Poyson which he had confected for an evil time Says Pausan upon it in Atti. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that is entrusted to govern the people when he hath serv'd their turn seldom dyes fortunately But this is the man whose Troubles gave the Bishop occasion to shew his Abilities in two points First About the circumstance of the examination of the Cause Secondly About the Judges of the Cause that is Whether Bishops might be such in causâ sanguinis There is much of it I confess but the Learning will recompence the length And I shall not blemish his Reputation to say of him what the Orator said of L. Aquilius Orat. pro Caecinnâ Cujus tantum est ingenium ita prompta fides ut quicquid haurias purum liquidúmque haurire censeas 142. Before I draw up to the Bishop's Reports there is more to be premised as That there was much ado to score out the Hearing of Strafford with a straight Line and a Form to give some satisfaction as a Child is often set upon its Legs before it can go His Adversaries toss'd it about many ways and manag'd it chiefly by two persons Mr. St. John the King's Sollicitor one that did very bad Service to the King his Master and the Church his Mother yet of able parts therefore I will write the Inscription of his Tomb-stone on the wrong side and turn it downward to the Earth The other was John Pym Homo ex argillâ luto factus Epicuraeo as Tully said of Piso that is in Christian English a painted Sepulchre