and those transcendent Honnors yea though for no other former merit else then the resolute and wise carriage of himselfe in the businesse of this Treaty amongst vs whereby he hath not onely assured himselfe of the affection and heart of the King and Prince but infinitely for his faithfull seruice another Fidus Achates vnto him gained the generall loue of the Common people as it not long since appeared when he was ill after his tedious Voyage by Sea the Prince himselfe all the time healthy and sound for whose returne the people had beene excessiue and beyond measure had it not beene somewhat allayed and tempored with the report of Buckinghams sicknesse The Duke of Buckingham for his true seruice to the King and Prince and State heartily beloued of the people they praying as heartily for his recouery as if he had beene some good land-Lord or great House-keeper amongst them whose losse had beene halfe their vndoing It were to be wished quoth Don Mendosa that the Prince of Wales and himselfe with the rest of the Parliament were not vpon iust cause I confesse so bent against vs. I remember quoth the Arch-bishop when I was a young Student a saying of Seneca Ingenuitas non recipit contemptum Ingenuitie or a generous spirit can in no wise brooke contempt shall we imagine then a Prince yea such a Prince as CHARLES of Wales and onely Sonne to the King of Great Brittaine vpon whom and whose action 's as a bright blazing Comet Europe begins to fixe her eye affraid and doubtfull where the fatall effect of his discontent will light will carry coales and not cry quittance with his enemies yet doubtlesse his mettle is of another temper and not so flexible as some take it for mine owne part I would not haue him our enemy if his friendship could be had though with the expence of many millions of Ducates Cuius contrariâ—â—◠〈◊〉 est As if Spaine quoth Rodrigo needed to feare that angle of the world England haue not we euermore giuen them their hands full haue they not more feared our Fleets and Armies then we theirs do we not equal them in men and expert Commanders aswell by land as by sea do we not exceede them in Treasure and money from our Indian mines that like euer-running Fountaines are neuer drawne dry that I may say nothing of the courage of our people our wisedome and policy whereby wee haue made our selues maisters of so many goodly Territories and gained so many braue victories both at Sea and Land Had we an enemy quoth the D. of Cea of farre lesse abillity and power then England is we ought not so sleightly to contemne him A quarrell about a load of Calues-skins cost the D. of Burgundy the losse of his life whole estate the wofull experience whereof our Nation naturaly haughty and opinionate of their valour as well as others haue proued the Duke of Burgundy out of an insolent pride so comtemned the Swisses the quarrell arising betwixt them but for the tole of a load of Calues skinnes that at the last by them he was depriued both of his estate and life at that vnfortunate encounter at Nancy Who could with-hold the Arch-duke Albertus The Spaniards pride contempt of vs how deare it cost them at Neuport and our grand Captaines from bidding Prince Maurice battle at Neuport But scorning the enemy in regard of his small number in respect of theirs together being puffed vp with that petty victorie against the Scots the same morning they had the reward of pride and contempt of a weake aduersary for the Arch-duke was forced to flye sauing himselfe very hardly leauing dead behind him the oldest and best Souldiers Spaine had Let vs beleeue the weakest may doe vs a mischeife as is wittily showne by Aesop in that fable or apoligy of his between the Eagle and the Conies But by your fauour my Lord you are much mistaken in the estate and strength of England and quallitie of the people and so you will tell me if we shall haue to doe with them as we haue found and had in former times let vs thinke two of the accession of Scotland vnto that Kingdome The strength of Ireland at this present and how Ireland standeth in good termes and is at this time so well peopled with English and Scottish that there is not so much as a starting hole left for Rebellion or so much ground to spare in that Countrey that might affoord any freinds horse of ours a bottle of Hay much lesse suffice for an Armie to martch ouer and to be maintained vpon I might hereto adde the valour and sufficient fidellity of that Noble Gentleman Sir Henry Carie Lotd Viscount Falkland the now present Lord Debuty thereof with many other braue Spirits that are imployed in his Maiesties seruice in that good Countrey But to returne to the Parliament of England what effects heare you is it likely to produce or wherein is it thought to prooue praeiudicious to the King our Maister or to the Catholique Religion First replied Gondomar it is likely to goe worse with the Catholiques then euer as who must expect no fauor but must prepare themselues to vndergoe the sharpest censure and animaduersion of the Law against them yea whosoeuer shall be found abettors maintainors concealors of their plots or harberours of their persons shall suffer for the same in like manner and I heare say that there is a Proclamation either comming forth or published already to that effect and now they are to depart the Realme by a prefixed day But what quoth Count de Monterey will then become of them or by whome shall they be entertained will they returne to their Coledges againe at Doway Rhemes Roome Villadolid The Seminary Colledges beyond the Seas almost empty at this time and other places some whereof I haue lately seene and obserue to stand emty Nothing lesse quoth Gondomar for I am perswaded though many wil colourably depart though returne againe shortly by new ports and new names moe will remaine behinde and since neuer likely againe to haue such an opportunitie of professing themselues openly and execising their functions which they could doe in a freinds Chamber and many times in the common Innes for the better avoyding suspition and concealing themselues some will turne School-maisters in priuate mens houses as there are many in England some Gentlemen Vshers vnto Collapsed Ladies are some such there are in Drury lane the L. T. in Yorkeshire hath one followes her in that Nature the L. S. not farre from my old house in Holborne in London the L. M. neere vnto Stratford-bow Some Falconers whereof I know two the one in Sussex the other in high Suffolke only one I was acquainted withall who was the keeper of a Parke and a good Huntsman and of whom I haue had many a good peece of Venison if he be liuing I know another Priest who hauing liued with an antient
in the world should bring forth such a monster as a traytor to his Country or allow bread to any owne so vnnaturally base as to draw his sword and side with an enemy against her I will say that for our Spaine I do not remember or euer had read that shee afforded a Traytor or so much as one that serued a sworne enemy against her Prince By your fauour quoth Lewes de Velasco what Country-man was he of Count Iohn of Nassau's regiment that tooke the Admirant of Arragon prisoner at the battaile of Neuport It is true quoth Gonzales de Cordua he was a Spaniard but examples hereof are very rare Quoth Gondomar so they are and though England be the colder Country yet it hath bred more venemous Creatures of this Nature then euer Spaine yea euen vnder the Sunne-shine of their mildest and most moderate gouerments Whence quoth the Duke of Escalona should this proceede I will tell you quoth Gondomar my opinion the English naturally are desirous of nouelties and innouations and as it were sicke in the soft beds of their long liberty peace and plenty which they enioy vnder as wise and as good a King as euer liued they suppose nothing wanteth to their full happinesse but change and variety I must liken them to Giotto of Florence his Asse who when he went along with a rich saddle of beaten gold on his backe with a Crowne and Scepter lying thereon yet he could not choose but smell vpon a Carriers packe-saddle as it lay at an Inne doore Hence are strangers the most admired and entertayned amongst them and if of quality preferred many times to place and preferment before the English though perhaps their are many who deserue better I haue seene their a torne and tatter'd French Lacquay but as this day arriued out of France and the next he hath ietted in the Court in his Tissue or Scarlet at the least what preferment came that arch-hypocrite Spalato vnto Ascanio the Frier who left his wife in St. Martins lane and ranne againe to his Order And a poore and ignorant Italian Mountebanke sought after for his skill as if Aesculapius or Machaon were againe raised from the dead yea when but a Spanish gowne happily of the Embassadors Lady or of her gentlewoman how was it sought after by Ladies and Taylors for the fashion happy was she that could first get her into the Spanish fashion to their no small charge the Spanish garments exceeding all other in fulnesse compasse and length which by this time it may be they haue conuerted into Cushions My Lords you would hardly haue forborne laughter to haue heard how I haue beene enquired after for Maisters for the Spanish tongue that I may say nothing of so many bills set vp in euery corner of the City by Professors nay I could haue no seruice almost done me of my Mullettors and Groomes for being employed in teaching the Spanish among Ladyes and their maydes though I knew I tell you English must be that they were to trust too when all was done Touching my selfe being Embassadour there from his Catholique Maiesty and the sole instrument in the Treaty for the match which the Catholiques there so long thirsted after if I should relate vnto you the particulars of mine owne entertainment you would I suppose imagine I told you wonders beyond beleefe for beside the great and gracious respect I found and fauors I receiued from his Maiesty of Great Brittaine and sundry of the Nobility who seemed wholy to be compounded of curtesie and Noblenesse there passed not a day wherein I was not visited by some of the best ranke or receiued some present or other from Catholique Gentlemen or their Ladyes so welcome was the very thought of the Spanish match vnto them I returning them againe with thankes large promises and apparant hopes of preferment when the time should come And be it spoken among our selues since wee are falling off from England I made better vse of their kindnesse then so for there were few Catholiques in England of note from whom in this regard I wrested not out a good round summe of money Sir Robert Cotton a great Antiquary I heare much complaineth of me that from his friends and aquaintance onely I got into my purse the summe at the least of ten thousand pounds I deny it not and true it is I borrowed of the good old Lady W. of the Parish in St. Martins in the Feilds 300 pounds or thereabouts promising her repayment whereof I will not faile so soone as Donna Maria the Infanta should arriue in England and for the vse hereof I promised to make her mother of her maydes perswading her it was not fit that so graue and good a Lady as her selfe should lye obscured in priuate but rather attend vpon my young Mistresse the brauest and most hopefull Princesse of the World vpon these hopes she turned Catholique and since I neuer saw her I sold moreouer the place of Groomesse of her highnesse Stoole to six seuerall English Ladyes who were eager of it only cause be they might take place before their fellowes I lost nothing neither by a Noble Gentleman whom I caused to be knowne for a kinsman of the King my Mr. for that he was descended from the noble and ancient family of Aiala in Spaine these are but mites and crums in regard of those great presents and many pentions I had sent me vnder-hand from the Catholiques from all parts of England during my aboade there had my finger but aked or beene ill disposed as I often was in body I had sent me iewels sweet-meates perfumes linnen Rosewater and a thousand of such trifles only I returned them thenkes and promised them or their friends preferment when time serued If you were my Lord so nobly entertained in England quoth Braganza whence is it or vpon what occasion haue wee gotten to our selues the ill will and distast of that Nation I must confesse quoth Gondamer the common people of England beare generally an inbred spleene toward vs as it seemeth by many rude affronts we were offered there by the baser sort contrary to the will and pleasure of his Maiesty of great Brittany who published many Edicts and Proclamations in our behalfes punishing many times the offenders seuerely as they could be taken but why the name of a Spaniard should be so become odious vnto them is a question I cannot easily resolue Some thinke that there is a naturall antipathy or contrariety of affection betweene our disposition and theirs they liuing in the North and we in the South which being as Charron a French Author obserueth neerer to the Sunne the inhabitants are more crafty politique and religious though he his in that euen to superstition and Idolatry where as on the contrary those of the North howsoeuer goodlier in person better faced and more beautifull then our selues by reason of the coldnesse of the climate preseruing inwardly the naturall heate and radicall
all our Dominions and to enhaunse our Customes 13 That we make our selues able to encounter whosoeuer shall oppose or stop our passage on the narrowe Seas and that we giue it out what ever our intent is that our Fleets passe that way onely but for the chastising of the Hollander 14 That hereafter wee entertaine no English nor Scots into our pay but the Irish onely to the intent after they haue gotten experience and are able to commaund they may stand vs in stead in case we should hereafter make any attempt vpon Ireland 15 That we call in as much of our gold and siluer as is possible 16 That you speedily write to our Ambassadour in England to giue notice to all our trustie well beloued the Iesuites and secular Priests with some of the best minded Catholikes towards vs that they labour as much as in them lyeth to take away all aspersion whatsoeuer may tend to our dishonuor for this cause to giue vs notice of all scandolous Bookes Pictures Inuectiues Pasquills c. that shall be printed against vs in Holland England and other places That they curiously search into the proceedings of the Parliament and send vs an abbreviate of all the passages thereof with what forces and how soone they resolue to succour the Low-Countries Lastly that in the Name of their obedience to his Holinesse and obseruation to his Catholique Majestie they labour where euer they liue to educate and instruct their freinds Children in the Catholike Religion and timely to enable either their sonnes for our Seminaries or their Daughters for our Nunneries so the houses shall bee supplied still with novices our Treasuries with money and wee with freinds and instruments at all occations Concerning these two last propositions for a conclusion I will produce a Letter vnto me subscribed with the handes of many of the chiefe among them whose pourtraitures with their names yee haue here inserted of the manner of their proceedings and that you may know they spend not their time in vaine in England For I must my LL. tell you I hold intelligence with the wisest and best learned among them and where euer they are transeo per medium illorum Therefore I thought it not amisse by a draught to let you see them in their Consultation as they were wont to sit at the house of one L. a Goldsmith in Fetter lane by Holborne in London this L. L. a Goldsmith and one that furthereth the-Printing of Popish Bookâ— hath for many yeares closely kept a Printing house to the great furtherance and increase of the Catholique Religion in that Land for by his meanes thousands thousands of good Bookes hath beene dispersed over the Land which albeit they are sold at an excessiue rate and he hath beene a great gainer by them yet are they printed and reprinted againe and much money gotten by them though vttered at a third hand but I will reade the Letter it is not long your Honors therefore daigne it the hearing Illustrious and excellent Lords it is now wee all thinke a long time since wee heard from your Honor or recieued any instruction from you concerning the businesse you wot of we in England here are like shortly to groane vnder the heauie and vnsupportable burthen of persecution but wee shall I hope the better indure it so long as our cause is warranted and our constancy assisted and increased by the prayers and suplications of the Church we labour dayly in the Catholique Haruest and recover with wonderfull successe thousands of soules from the Abysse of Perdition into the bosome of the Church the onely difficulty is in con cealing our selues and intendments from that many headed Monster Herisie Wee walke openly and haue our time alotted vs till the 14 day of Iune next which is the vtmost period of our stay in the meane time wee desire to be advised by your Lordship what afterward were fittest to be done of vs for your Honours depth of Iudgement and all admired pollicy is the compasse by which we all Steere to escape present danger Our Lord protect your Honour to all our Comforts and our blessing be vpon you From London this 3. of May. 〈◊〉 haue here seâ—â— the true portrature of the Iesuits and pristâ— as they vse to sitt at Counsell in England to further y e Catholicke Cause D. Wright D. Bristow F. Barlow D. Bishop F. Fisher F. Pattison F. Porter D. Smith F. Sweete F. Ployden F. Louett F. Wothington F. Heyham F. Palmer F. Townsend c. To this Letter I gaue them this answer as followeth Holy Fathers I receiued your Letters to my great comfort but I confesse I am neerely touched with the so suddaine approach of your common calamitie but as the greatest sore findeth his salue so the greatest affliction some consolation or other in the middest of extremitie For mine owne part know that I will not be wanting to your comforts in any thing that lyeth in me or that I can procure in your behalfes either from his Holinesse at Rome or my Master his Catholique Maiestie here The times are dangerous carrie your selues therefore wisely with that peruerse Nation which scornes you and hourely consulteth how to sweepe you from the face of the earth and even now haue they the broome in their hands I meane the present Parliament who will leaue no dust or Sluts corners behind them favour you are to expect none therefore with the Foxe when hunted out of breath you must relie vpon your Arts and subtle sleights Of which nature may be these following If your credits be so good with any great or eminent personage make him your Instrument to sow dissention betwixt the Prince people imitating herein Souldiers when they would get an aduantage of flying or running away they vse to set fire on villages and their baggage that they might escape vnseene by the benifit of the smoake Learne or devise new and the most difficult Characters for writing Letters with all the sleights and devises of privy conveyance you may practice Physicke as Doctors of Padua or set vp bills as Mountebankes venting collor'd Oyles Balsames counterfeit Bezar perfumed Lozenges Receipts for the tooth-ach with a thousand the like get the perfect and true receipt for any one disease or ach it is enough to gaine credit to your practice and make you passe for currant If you send any youths over to our Seminaries let them be the Sonnes of the richest and ablest men so shall you not want a place for retraict and meanes to relieue you at an extremitie Young Gentlewomen you may convey over to Bruxells or whether you please by putting them in boyes apparell theyr hayre being handsomely tyed vp with a Fillet and a wrought cap worne over it with a great broad-brimmd Hat If you would at any time convey over any Silver or Gold the Searcher commonly may be couzened if you send it over in Pasties baked provided that you haue some of