England being clamorous upon me for some satisfaction I leave all to your Graces care and favour Ever resting Your Graces humblest and most bound servant Wa Aston Postscript THe Condessa of Olivarez bids me tell you that she kisses your Graces hands and doth every day recommend you particularly by name in her prayers to God May it please your Grace MY Lord of Bristol intended to have dispatched away a Post unto his Majestie this night with the advice of the arrival of the dispensation which came to this Town the 12th of this moneth hoping that he should have been likewise able to have given to his Majestie and his Highnesse a clear account of all things concerning it But the deliverie of the Queen this morning who is brought to bed of a daughter hath stopped all negotiation and I believe it will be these two daies before he can be ready to send him away There is no noveltie as I yet understand that is come with the dispensation there will be something desired for better explanation of his Majesties and his Highnesse intentions and some omissions there are which as they understand was his Highnesse intention should have been in the Capitulation they being promised by his Highnesse But I do not find that these will be any stop to the businesse For they do presse my Lord of Bristol very much to proceed presently to the Deposoriâ—s Your Grace shall understand all things more particularly by the next Post I do now make the more haste forbearing to trouble you with other occurrences lest my Letters come short of the departure of the Post as they did of his who was last dispatched from hence I do most humbly desire your Grace to continue the doing me those offices that may continue me in his Majesties and his Highnesse good opinion and I doubt not but I shall be ever able to let your Grace see that you have not a more faithful servant then he which your Grace hath most bound to be so and that shall ever remain Yours c. W.A. The Lord Duke of Buckingham to Sir Walter Aston IN your Letter of the 5th of December you desire me to give you my opinion my ancient acquaintance long custome of loving you with constancie of friendship invites me to do you this office of good will and to serve you according to your request And for your more intire satisfaction I will deliver the things in the past and present You in all the beginning of the treaty won to your self a good estimation while you were onely at large in the treaty and had communication of the passages from the Lord of Bristol as by courtesy and in his absence handled no farther in the treaty of marriage then by direction from him When the Prince was there your carriage gave his Highnesse and my self all satisfaction Now you must give me leave to put you in mind of the freedom used with you whilest we were at Madrid and of the explanation the Prince made of himself to you by his Letters from St. Anderas From which you might observe the resentment the Prince had of their proceedings with him And by his Highnesse declaration to you from thence you might see both his care and resolution not to ingage himself into the marriage without good conditions for the Pallatinate and Conservation of his honour every way My care and my intentions were to move increase of honour to you and to recompence by a good understanding to be layed in his Majestie towards you which I pursued so soon as I came to the Kings presence And the Princes confidence was so great in you as he joyned you in the Commission besides he declared himself to you by his Letters not leaving you thereby to guesse at his Majesties directions to the E. of Bristol which he was to communicate to you Now you may think how strange it was to the Prince and how much I was troubled not being able to make your excuse when your joynt Letters made known how you had concurred with the Earle of Bristol to ingage his Highnesse by prefixing a day for the Deposorios without making certain the restitution of the Palatinate and Electoral dignity the portion and temporal articles Which proceeding of yours with the Earl of Bristol was so understood by the Lords of the Committee as they took resolution once to advise his Majestie to revoke both the Lord of Bristol and you upon those grounds which you will understand by his Majesties own Letters and Secretarie Conwayes Letters written to you with this dispatch I was not able at first by any endeavour to oppose the resolution of your revocation so far had you cast your self into misconstruction and given stop to the progresse of your own advancement But with constant industry and time I have won this point of qualifying all ill opinion of you and sufferance of your continuing there So as it will be now in your power by your Carriage to come off without reproof And I shall hope to overcome the rest with time to to bring you again to the condition of honour and recompence Being confident that since you see your own errour and acknowledge it you will be careful by a stiff and judicious carriage to warrant all your present and succeding actions If you think at first sight I presse you a little hard upon this point you may be pleased to interpret it to be a faithful way of satisfying your request and expression of my affection to have you to do all things suitable to your wisdome virtue and honour and according to the wishes of Yours c. G. Buckingham The Duke of Buckingham to Sir Wa. Aston I Had not leisure in my former dispatch being hastie to write the reason why I wondered at the errour you commited in the last dispatch of my Lord of Bristols and yours for the matter is that his Majestie having plainely written unto you both in his former dispatch that he desired to be assured of the restitution of the Palatinate before the Deposorium was made seeing he would be sorrie to welcome home one Daughter with a smiling cheer and leave his own onely Daughter at the same time weeping and disconsolate And the Prince having also written unto you that he never meant to match there and be frustrated of the restitution of the Palatinate so often promised that notwithstanding this clear Language you should have joyned with my Lord of Bristol in a resolution of so hastie a delivery of the Prince's Proxie before you had received his Majesties answer to your former dispatch wherein my Lord of Bristol urged of his Majestie a harsh answer and direction and his Majestie cannot but take it for a kind of Scorn that within 4. dayes after ye had urged his Majesties answer ye should in the mean time take resolutions of your own heads You may do well because there is no leisure in this hastie dispatch for his Majestie to answer my
his Majesties bent and inclination He having understood that there was though a close yet an indissoluble friendship betwixt the Duke and my self desired me to shew some way how the Duke might be won unto them and to continue the peace I answered I would pursue any fair course that should be proposed that way but for my self that I never meddled with matters of State or of this nature but was onely imployed before this journey of the Prince's in matters of mine own Court and in the Pulpit He desired to know if they might rely upon the King whom onely they found peaceably addicted otherwise they would cease all mediation and prepare for War I answered That he was a King that never broke his word and he knew what he had said unto them He commended much the courage and resolution of the Lord Treasurer which I told him we all did as a probable sign of his innocency He said that the Marquesse had dispatched three Curreos and expected large Propositions from Spain to be made unto his Majestie concerning the present restitution of the Palatinate And that if this failed they were at an end of Treaty and the Embassadours would forthwith return home 11th April 1622. The Lord Keeper to the Duke May it please your Grace I Received your Graces Letter by Mr. Killegrew so full of that sweetnesse as could never issue from any other Fountain then that one breast so fraught with all goodnesse and virtue Dick Winne may write freely as he talks but alas what can my wretched self perform that should deserve the least acknowledgment from him to whom I owe so infinitely much more then the sacrificing of my life amounts to onely my love makes me sometimes write and many times fear fondly and foolishly for the which I hope your Grace will pardon me I have been frighted more about three weeks since about quarrels and jarres which now Dick Greyhams hath related in part unto the King then at this present I am For Gods sake be not offended with me if I exhort you to do that which I know you do to observe his Highnesse with all lowlinesse humility and dutiful obedience and to piece up any the least seam-rent that heat and earnestnesse might peradventure seem to produce I know by looking into my self these are the symptomes of good natures And for Gods sake I beg it as you regard the prayers of a poor friend if the great negotiation be well concluded let all private disagreements be wrapped up in the same and never accompany your Lordships into England to the joy and exultation of your enemies if any such ingrateful Divels are here to be found I am in good earnest and your Lordship would believe it if your Grace saw but the tears that accompany these lines I beseech you in your Letter to the Marquesse Hamilton intimate unto him your confidence and reliance upon his watchfulnesse and fidelity in all turns which may concern your Grace I have often lied unto his Lordship that your Grace hath in many of my Letters expressed as much and so have pacified him for the time If we did know but upon whom to keep a watchful eye for disaffected reports concerning your service it is all the intelligence he and I do expect His Majestie as we conceive is resolved to take certain oaths which you have sent hither and I pray God afterward no farther difficulties be objected I have had an hours discourse with his Majestie yesterday morning and do find him so disposed towards your Lordship as my heart desireth yet hath been informed of the discontentments both with the Conde de Olivarez and the Earl of Bristol Here is a strange Creation passed of late of a Vice-Counteship of Maidenhead passed to the Heires Males who must be called hereafter Vice-Countesse Fynch But my Lady Dutchesse hath the Land and as they say hath already sold it to my Lord Treasurer or shared it with him I stayed the Patent until I was assured your Lordship gave way thereunto My good Lord because I have heard that they have in those parts a conceipt of our church as that they will not believe we have any Liturgie or Book of common prayer at all I have at mine own cost caused the Liturgy to be translated into Spanish and fairely Printed and do send you by this bearer a Couple of the Books one for his Highnesse the other for your Grace Not sending any more unlesse your Grace will give directions His Majestie was acquainted therewith and alloweth of the businesse exceedingly The Translator is a Dominican a zealous Protestant and a good Scholer and I have secured him to our Church with a Benefice and a good Prebend Because we expect every day the dispatching of Sr. Francis Cottington thitherward I will not trouble your Grace farther at this time but do earnestly pray unto God to blesse your Grace both now and ever hereafter with all his favours and blessings spiritual and temporal And rest c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 30. Aug. 1623. My it please your Grace I Have no businesse of the least Consideration to trouble your Grace withal at this time but that I would not suffer Mr. Greyham to return without an expression of my respect and obligation I would advertize your Grace at large of the course held with our Recusants but that I know Mr. Secretary is injoyned to do so who best can His Majestie at Salisbury having referred the suit of these Embassadors to the Earl of Carlile and Mr. Secretary Conway sent by their resolutions some articles unto us the Lord Treasurer Secretary Calvert Sir Richard VVeston and my self to this effect 1. To grant a pardon of all offences past with a dispensation for those to come to all the Roman Catholiques obnoxious to any laws made against the Recusants 2. And then to issue forth two general Commands under the Great Seal the first to all the Judges and Justices of the Peace anp the other to all Bishops Chancellours and Commissaries not to execute any Statute made against them Their general pardon we have passed and sent unto his Majestie from whence it is not returned in as full and ample manner as they could desire and pen it The other general and vast prohibition I prevailed with the rest of the Lords to stop as yet and gave in three dayes conference such reasons to the 2. Embassadors that although it is no easie matter to satifie the Caprichiousnesse of the Latter of them yet they were both content it should rest until the Infanta had been six Months in England My reason if it may please your Grace was this Although this general favour and connivence whereof there are 20. of the Prime Councel know nothing as yet must at last be known to all the Land yet is there a great difference between the publishing thereof A Golpe at one push as it were and that instilling of it into their knowledg by
Lord IN the cause of Sir John Michel which hath so often wearied this Court vexed my Lady your Mother and now flieth as it seemeth unto your Lordship I have made an order the last day of the Tearm assisted by the Master of the Rolls and Mr. Baron Bromley in the presence and with the full consent of Sir John Michel who then objected nothing against the same but now in a dead vacation when both the adverse party and his Councel are out of Town and that I cannot possible hear otherwise then with one ear he clamours against me most uncivilly and would have me contrary to all conscience and honesty reverse the same The substance of the order is not so difficult and intricate but your Lordship will easily find out the equity or harshnesse thereof Sir Lawrence Hide makes a motion in behalf of one Strelley a party whose face I never saw that whereas Sir John Michel had put a bill into this Court against him and one Sayers five years ago for certain Lands and Woods determinable properly at the Common Law and having upon a certificate betwixt himself and Sayers without the knowledge of the said Strelley procured an injunction from the last Lord Chancellour for the possession of the same locks up the said Strelley with the said injunction and never proceeds to bring his cause to hearing within five years It was moved therefore that either Sir Johns bill might be dismissed to a tryal at the Common Law or else that he might be ordered to bring it to hearing in this Court with a direction to save all wastes of Timber trees in favour of either party that should prove the true owner until the cause should receive hearing Sir John being present in Court made choice of this last offer and so it was ordered accordingly And this is that order that this strange man hath so often of late complained of to your Mother and now as it seemeth to your Lordship God is my witnesse I have never denyed either justice or favour which was to be justified to this man or any other that had the least relation to your good and most noble Mother And I hope your Lordship is perswaded thereof If your Lordship will give me leave without your Lordships trouble to wait upon you at any time this day your Lordship shall appoint I would impart two or three words unto your Lordship concerning your Lordships own businesse Remaining ever c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke May it please your Grace NOw that I understand by Sir John Hipsley how things stand between your Grace and the Earl of Bristol I have done with that Lord and will never think of him otherwise then as your Grace shall direct Nor did I ever write one syllable to that effect but in contemplation of performing true service to your Grace I was much abused in the Lady Hennage her Vice-Counteship being made to believe it was your Grace's act or else I had stayed it finally until the Princes return as I did for a time If your Grace will give any directions in matters of that nature I can pursue them My Lord Treasurers sons Wardship is a thing of no moment at all and not worthy your Graces thinking of And in good faith as far as getting and Covetousnesse will give him leave I do not see but that Lord is since your absence very respective of your Grace especially in your own person and affairs I never received any answer from your Grace concerning the Provostship of Aeton nor was it good manners for me to presse for the same because in my Letters I did presume to name my self The place is mine to bestow for this time and not his Majesties nor the Colledges But I do very willingly reserve the Collation of the same to be disposed as your Grace shall please Yet this will be a sufficient answer to any former promise or any reasonable Competitor His Majestie as your Grace best knoweth promised me at the delivery of the Seal a better Bishoprick and intended it certainly if any such had fallen My Charge is exceeding great my Bribes are very little my Bishoprick Deanery and other Commendams do not clear unto me above one thousand pounds a year at the uppermost It hath pleased God that the casualties of my office which is all the benefit of the same and enriched my Lord Elsmor hath not been worth to me these two years past one shilling It may mend when it pleaseth God I leave all these and my self who am your Vassal at your Lordships feet and do rest c. Your Graces c. J. L. C. S. Postscript MAy it please your Grace I troubled his Highnesse with a long relation of the Consulto we had about his Majesties taking of the Oath Which I had written to your Grace and not to his Highnesse but that I was frighted by great men that I had done his Highnesse a displeasure in pressing his Majesties assent unto the same And I protest I was so poorly accompanied in my opinion that I was truly afraid I had not done well And therefore I took occasion to write my reasons at large unto the Prince Which I heard by Sir John Hipsley from your Grace was well taken I humbly thank your Grace who I know forwarded the same And so I perceive by a Letter from his Highnesse so full of sweetnesse as I am overwhelmed J. L. C. S. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 6. January 1623. May it please your Grace DOn Francisco being with me this night about a pardon for a poor Irish man whom I reprieved from execution at the suit of those Gentlemen of Navarra which are here with the Marquesse let fall by a kind of supposition affirming the matter to be as yet in the womb and not fully shaped and digested words to this effect That if the King of Spain should make a double marriage with the second Brother of France and his Sister and bestow the Palatinate as a Dower upon his sister in what case were we then I answered That we should be then in no worse case for ought I knew then we are now but that Germany might be in a far better case Peradventure it was but a word let fall to terrifie me withal But your Grace may make that use of it as to understand the language if your Grace shall hear any mention thereof hereafter I am very glad and do give God thanks par le mejora de su hijucla hermosissima And do rest c. Surely the French Embassadour is secret and more suspected then formerly by the People Mr. John Packer to the Lord Keeper 21. January 1623. May it please your Lordship SInce my coming hither finding my Lord at good opportunity I have acquainted him in what perplexity I found your Lordship at my coming from Westminster and upon what reason And though I am sorrie I can make no comfortable relation of his answer yet because
and Kinsman Middlesex The Earl of Middlesex to his Majestie 26. April 1624. Sacred Majestie and my most gracious Master YOur goodnesse is such to me your oppressed servant in this my time of persecution as I know not how to expresse my thankfulnesse otherwise then by pouring forth my humble and heartie prayers to the great God of heaven and earth to grant your Majestie all happinesse here and everlasting happinesse hereafter Between 5. and 6. of the clock upon Saturday in the evening I received my Charge from the Lords assembled in Parliament with an Order by which I am commanded to make my appearance at the Bar upon Thursday next by 9. of the clock in the morning with my answer And in the mean time to examine my witnesses This Charge of mine hath been in preparing by examining of witnesses upon oath and otherwise 23. daies And hath been weighed by the Wisdom of both Houses and doth concern me so neerly in point of honour and faith to your Majestie to answer well as I value my life at nothing in comparison of it I may grieve though I will not complain of any thing my Lords shall be pleased to Command but do hope that upon a second consideration they will not think three daies a fitting time for me to make my Answer and to examine witnesses in a cause of such importance and so neerly concerning me when twenty three daies hath been spent almost from morning until night in preparing my Charge I know the House whose Judgment I shall never desire to wave is the proper place for me to move to be resolved herein and therefore shall upon Wednesday morning make my humble motion there to have 7. daies longer time as well to make my answer and apparance as to examine my witnesses which are many and upon several heads But because the Prince his Highnesse and many of the Principal Lords are now with your Majestie at VVindsor my most humble suit to your Majestie is That you would be pleased to move them on my behalf to yield me so much further time that my Cause may not suffer prejudice for want of time to make my just defence that which I have propounded being as moderate as is possible With my most humble and heartie prayer to Almightie God for continuance of your health with all happinesse I humbly kisse your Royal hands and will ever rest Your Majesties most humble c. Middelsex The Earl of Carlile to his Majestie 14. February 1623. My it please your most Excellent Majestie THough my present indisposition deprives me of the Honour to attend your Majestie with the rest of the Commissioners with whom your Majesty was pleased to associate me yet I most humbly beseech your Majestie to give me leave in all humility to represent unto your Majestie what my heart conceiveth to be most for your Majesties service in the present conjuncture of your affaires During this time of my distemper I have been visited by divers Gentlemen of quality who are Parliament-men none of those popular and plausible Oratours but solid and judicious good patriots who fear God and honour the King Out of their discourses I collect That there are three things which do chiefly trouble your people The first that for the subsidies granted the two last Parliaments they have received no retribution by any bills of Grace The second that some of their Burgesses were proceeded against after the Parliament were dissolved And the third that they misdoubt that when they shall have satisfied your Majesties demands and desires you will neverthelesse proceed to the conclusion of the Spanish match It would be too much importunity to trouble your Majestie with the several answers which I made to their objections and would be too great presumption in mee to advise your Majesties incomparable wisdome what should be fittest to be done for your Majesties honour and the contentment of the people yet if it would please my Lord the King to give his humblest Creature leave to give vent to the loyal fervour of his heart restlesse and indefatigable in continual meditation of his Gracious Masters honour and service I would thus with all humble submission explain my self That there is nothing which either the enemies of this State or the perverse industry of false-hearted servants could invent more mischievous then the misunderstandings which have grown between your Majestie and your people nothing that will more dishearten the envious Maligners of your Majesties felicity and incourage your true hearted friends and Servants then the removing of those false feares and jealousies which are meer imaginarie Phantasmes and bodies of ayr easily dissipated whensoever it shall please the sun of your Majestie to shew it self clearly in its native brightnesse lustre and goodnesse God and the World do know the scope and the end of all your Majesties pious affections and endeavours to have been no other then the setling of an universal peace in Christendom a felicity only proper for your Majesties time and only possible to be procured by your incomparable goodnesse and wisdom but since the malice of the Divel and deceitful men have crossed those fair wayes wherein your Majestie was proceeding abusing your trust and goodnesse as Innocencie and goodnesse are alwayes more easily betrayed then wilinesse and malice you must now cast about again and sail by another point of the compasse and I am confident your Majestie will more securely and easily attain your Noble and pious end though the way be different The meanes are briefly these three First let your Majesties enemies see that the Lion hath teeth and clawes 2. Next imbrace and invite a strict and sincere friendship and association with those whom neighbourhood and alliance and common interest of state and religion have joyned unto you 3. And last of all cast off and remove jealousies which are between your Majestie and your people Your Majestie must begin with the last for upon that foundation you may afterwards set what frame of building you please And when should you begin Sir but at this overture of your Parliament by a gracious clear and confident discovery of your intentions to your People Fear them not Sir never was there a better King that had better subjects if your Majestie would trust them Let them but see that you love them and constantly rely upon their humble advice and readie assistance and your Majestie will see how they will tear open their breasts to give you their hearts and having them your Majestie is sure of their hands and purses Cast but away some crums of your Crown amongst them and your Majestie will see those crums will make a miracle they will satisfie many thousands Give them assurance that your heart was alwayes at home though your eyes were abroad invite them to looke forward and not backward and constantly maintain that with confidence you undertake and your majestie will find admirable effects of this harmonious concord Your Majestie as
fear the Protestants may imagine we have had a hand in it For our Confederation made by you at the Hague they speak so of it as they will do something in it but not so really or friendly as we could wish But for these things you allow me I trust to refer you to the general Dispatch I come now to other particulars I have been a careful Spie how to observe intentions and affections towards you I find many things to be feared and none to be assured of a safe and real welcome For the continues in his suspects making as they say very often discourses of it and is willing to hear Villanes say That hath infinite affections you imagine which way They say there is whispered amongst the foolish young Bravado's of the Court That he is not a good Frenchman that suffers to return out of France considering the reports that are raised many such bruits flie up and down I have since my coming given Queen Mother by way of discourse occasion to say somewhat concerning your coming as the other night when she complained to me That things were carried harshly in England towards France I then said That the greatest unkindnesse and harshnesse came from hence even to forbid your coming hither a thing so strange and so unjust as our Master had cause and was infinitely sensible of it She fell into discourse of you desiring you would respect and love her daughter and likewise that she had and would ever command her to respect you above all men and follow all your Councels the matter of her Religion excepted with many professions of value and respect unto your Person but would never either excuse what I complained of or invite you to come upon that occasion But though neither the businesse gives me cause to perswade your coming nor my reason for the matter of your safetie yet know you are the most happie unhappie man alive for is beyond imagination right and would do things to destroy her fortune rather then want satisfaction in her mind I dare not speak as I would I have ventured I fear too much considering what practises accompany the malice of the people here I tremble to think whether this will find a safe conveyance unto you Do what you will I dare not advise you to come is dangerous not to come is unfortunate As I have lived with you and only in that enjoy my happinesse so I will die with you and I protest to God for you to do you the least service c. Postscript HAve no doubt of the partie that accompanied me for he is yours with his soul and dares not now as things go advise your coming Mr. Lorkin to the Duke the 30. of August 1625. May it please your Grace FRom an honest and truly devoted heart to receive the sacrifice of most humble thanks which come here offered for that excesse of favour which I behold in those gracious lines that you are so nobly pleased to honour me withal and which derive unto me farther the height of all contentment his Majesties gracious acceptance of my poor endeavours which howsoever they cannot shoot up to any high matter from so low an earth yet in their greatest force are eternally vowed with the price of my dearest blood as to his Masters faithful service in the first place so to your Graces in the next who have received I doubt not ere this what my former promised in the Savoyard Embassadours behalf and that as well from his own pen as mine But this State is very Euripus that flowes and reflowes 7. times a day and in whose waies is neither constancie nor truth The changes your Grace will find in my Letters to my Lord Conway whereunto I therefore make reference because I suppose there will be but one Lecture thereof to his Majestie and your self Therein likewise your Grace will see a suddain comandement laid upon Mounsieur de Blanvile premire Gentilhome de la chambre du Roy speedily to provide himself to go extraordinary Embassadour into England The cause thereof I rove at in my dispatch taking my aime from two darke speeches to Queen Mother and the Cardinal I have since learned the interpretation of the riddle not from the Cardinals lips who yet being sounded by me pretended a further end then Ville-aux-cleres had done viz to entertain good intelligence betwixt the Queen of England and your Grace and to do you all the best offices and services that are possible but from the Duke de Chevereux who whatsoever pretexts may be taken makes the true ends of that Voyage to be first to try whether this man can mend what they conceive here the Duke hath marred in shewing himself more a servant to the King of England then to his own King and Master Secondly to spie and discover what he can and according as he shall find cause to frame Cabals and factions whereunto he is esteemed very proper being charactarized with the marks of a most subtile prying penetrating and dangerous man And therefore as an Antidote against the poison he brings the Duke gives this Caveat aforehand That every one keep close and covert towards him and avoid familiaritie with him though otherwise he wishes a kind and honourable entertainment Thus much I received from the Dukes own lips yesternight Bonocil being witnesse perhaps Counsellour of all that passed he promised a memorial in writing this day which I have attended till this evening and even now receive it I have not touched the least syllable hereof to my Lord Conway because I think both your Graces and the Duke de Chevereux's will may concur in this that these things be not subject to many eyes Even now the Savoyard Embassadour sends an expresse Messenger unto me to hasten to Fountain-Bleau Perhaps it may be to facilitate the Treatie with Rochel by either some Letter or Journey of mine thither But upon the conference I have had with the Duke de Chevereux I shall temporise till I hear his Majesties pleasure or see good evidences of generous effects like to ensue Being desirous to shape my course so as may be most acceptable to his Majestie and pleasing to your Grace whose virtues I adore in qualitie of Your Graces Most humble most faithful and most obedient servant Tho. Lorkin Postscript THe Duke de Chevereux expects the Cypher from your Grace if I be not deceived Mr. Lorkin to the Duke 17. September 1625. May it please your Grace TO read and consider two contrary advertisements the one given me on Munday evening by des Porches who repeating what he had told me before D'avoir destrompé la Royne mere en mil et mil choses assured me that her thoughts were now so far changed from what they were as she remitted every thing to his Majesties pleasure to do what he list provided that he attempted not upon the conscience of the Queen her Daughter which was the only point she was tender in and
can my return since I know no other then to be Your Graces faithful servant Edw. Clark Madrid 6. Sept. 1623. Sir Anthony Ashley to the Duke May it please your good Lordship IF any thing had happened worth your knowledge I had either come or sent to Theobalds in your absence being ascertained that your Lordship had been already particularly informed of what passed in the Higher House betwixt the Earl of A. and the L. S. which is the onely thing of note and is thought will beget some noveltie Your Lordship may be most assured that your Adversaries continue their meetings and conferences here in Holborn how to give his Majestie some foul distaste of you as making you the onely authour of all grievances and oppressions whatsoever for your private ends And I hope to be able within few daies if promise be kept to give you good overture of a mutual oath taken to this purpose amongst them The rumour lately spread touching his Majesties untimely pardon of the late Lord Chancellours Fine and Imprisonment with some other favours intended towards him said to be procured by your Lordships only intimation hath exceedingly exasperated the rancor of the ill affected which albeit it be false and unlikely because very unseasonably It doth yet serve the present turn for the increase of malice against you I can but inform your Lordship of what I understand you may please to make use thereof as your self thinketh best I most humbly intreat your good Lordship to keep Letters of this nature either in your own Cabinet or to make Hereticks of them for I am well acquainted with the disposition of some Pen-men in Court. Upon Message even now received of my poor Daughters suddain dangerous sicknesse I am constrained unmannerly to post unto her being the onely comfort I have in this world and do purpose God willing a speedie return In the mean time and even with my heartie prayer I commend your good Lordship to Gods merciful and safe keeping This 12th of May 1621. Your honourable good Lordships faithfully devoted A. A. Sir Wa. Rawleigh to the Duke 12. Aug. IF I presume too much I humbly beseech your Lordship to pardon me especially in presuming to write to so great and worthie a person who hath been told that I have done him wrong I heard it but of late but most happie had I been if I might have disproved that villanie against me when there had been no suspition that the desire to save my life had presented my excuse But my worthie Lord it is not to excuse my self that I now write I cannot for I have now offended my Soveraign Lord for all past even all the world and my very enemies have lamented my losse whom now if his Majesties mercie alone do not lament I am lost Howsoever that which doth comfort my soul in this offence is that even in the offence it self I had no other intent then his Majesties service and to make his Majestie know That my late enterprise was grounded upon a truth and which with one Ship speedily set out I meant to have assured or to have died being resolved as it is well known to have done it from Plymouth had I not been restrained Hereby I hoped not onely to recover his Majesties gracious opinion but to have destroyed all those malignant reports which had been spread of me That this is true that Gentleman whom I so much trusted my Keeper and to whom I opened my heart cannot but testifie and wherein if I cannot be believed living my death shall witnesse Yea that Gentleman cannot but avow it that when we came back towards London I desired to save no other Treasure then the exact description of those places in the Indies That I meant to go hence as a discontented man God I trust and mine own Actions will disswade his Majestie Whom neither the losse of my estate thirteen years imprisonment and the denial of my pardon could beat from his service nor the opinion of being accounted a fool or rather distract by returning as I did ballanced with my love to his Majesties person and estate had no place at all in my heart It was that last severe Letter from my Lords for the speedie bringing of me up and the impatience of dishonour that first put me in fear of my life or enjoying it in a perpetual imprisonment never to recover my reputation lost which strengthened me in my late and too late lamented resolution if his Majesties mercie do not abound if his Majestie do not pitie my age and scorn to take the extreamest and utmost advantage of my errours if his Majestie in his great charitie do not make a difference between offences proceeding from a life-saving-natural impulsion without all ill intent and those of an ill heart and that your Lordship remarkable in the world for the Noblenesse of your disposition do not vouchsafe to become my Intercessour whereby your Lordship shall bind an hundred Gentlemen of my kindred to honour your memorie and bind me for all the time of that life which your Lordship shall beg for me to pray to God that you may ever prosper and over-bind me to remain Your most humble servant W. Rawleigh Sir Henry Yelverton to the Duke 15. March 1623. May it please your Grace MY humble heart and affection hath wrote many lines and presented many Petitions to your Grace before this time though none legible but one sent by my Lord Rochford within five daies after your most welcomed arrival from Spain I have learned the plain phrase of honest speech My Lord I have honoured your name long and your own virtue much I never found misfortune greater then this that still sailing after you in all humble desires of dutie I was still cast behind you I excuse nothing wherein your Grace may judge me faultie but will be glad to expiate my errours at any price Your noble heart I hope harbours no memorie of what did then distaste you Your own merits which have so much ennobled you will be the more compleat if I may but merit your forgetfulnesse of wrongs past If I seek your Grace before I deserve it enable me I beseech you to Deserve that I may seek If any on whom you have cast your eye most endear himself more to your service then I shall let me not follow the vintage at all Till this day I feared the rellish of sowr Grapes though I have sought you with many broken sleeps But this Noble Earl whose honour for this work shall ever with me be second to yours hath revived me with the assurance of your gracious pardon and libertie to hope I may be deemed your servant I protest to God it is not the affluence of your honour makes me joy in it nor the power of your Grace that trains me on to seek it but let the trial of all your fortunes speak thus much for me that I will follow you not as Cyrus his Captains and
Zealand When I call to mind what Patents I procured of the King of Bohemia and sent your Grace by Sir William Saint Lieger amongst which was one of submission to any accommodation his Majestie shall at any time like well of for the King of Bohemia I think it necessary to advertize your Grace that knowledge being come hither of the Infanta's sending the Count Shomburgh to the King of Denmark with a fair Message and the Count Gondomar's overtures to Mr. Trumbal tending to reconcilement and restitution of the Palatinate it is so willingly hearkned unto by the King of Bohemia that there is no doubt of his Consent but withal he well considers that if Treatie alone be trusted unto and thereupon Armes now leavied by his Majestie and his Friends be laid aside all will prove as fruitlesse as formerly For howsoever the King of Spain for more free prosecution of other quarrels or designs may be induced to quit what he possesseth in the Palatinate the shares the Emperour the Duke of Bavier and the two Electours Majenct and Trevers with a great rabble of Popish Priests and Jesuites have therein will require more then bare negotiation to wring it out of their hands and nothing but Victorie or at least a well armed Treatie can serve that turn The time seems long both to the King and Queen and growes very irksome every day more then other of their abode here in this place which indeed doth prove in all respects very uncomfortable and that your Grace will gather out of Mr. Secretarie Morton's report and my Letters to my Lord Conway In this very Consideration I beseech your Grace be the more mindful of Your Graces Most humble and most devoted servant Dudley Carleton Hague 20th of August 1625. FINIS The Table of things most remarkable A. ADmiral of England his Office p. 102 of Castile takes place of the Imperial Embassadour 165 Aerscus 342 Algier Voyage 143 144 Allegiance Puritanes will not swear it 121 Alpes when passable 186 Anchre Marshal of France 320 Archbishop of Canterbury shoots a Keeper by mischance 12. see tit James King c. for the Palsgraves accepting the Bohemian Crown 169 170 Archbishop of York against Toleration of Popery blames the Voyage into Spain 13 Argile Earl 291 Arminians chief in the Dutch State 322 Arundel Earl Marshal no friend to the Bishop of Lincoln 62 63 74 302 307 316. Ashley Sir Anthony gives the Duke of Buckingham intelligence of Plots against him 308 Aston Sir Walter will not consent that the Prince Palsgrave should be brought up in the Emperours Court 17 see Bristol Earl Concurs with the Earl of Bristol in prefixing a day for the Deposorio's without making certain the restitution of the Palatinate which is heynously taken by the Prince 35. in danger for it to be called off there 36 37. His Care to discover Plots against his Masters Crownes 49 51 53. of the Merchants 168. see Merchants Prosecutes the Marquesse of Ynoiosa in defence of the honour of England 52. sues to return home 52 54. will not see the Arch-Duke in Spain and why 166 AustrianVsurpation 191. See tit Spain B. BAcon Viscount St. Albans Lord Chancellour declines all Justification of himself 5 6. Casts himself upon the Lords 6 Discontents the Marquesse of Buckingham 8. his wayes to make the Kingdom happy 9 advises King James concerning his revenues devises a book of his estate there-how he carried himself when a Councellour and otherwise how esteemed 10. Never took bribe to pervert Justice 11. his pardon 60 82 Barnevelt 318 factious no friend to the English an Arminian 331 Bavaria Duke offers to depend wholly on Spain 167. see Palatinate Beamont Lord fined in the Star-Chamber 16. E. 2. 58 Bergen besieged 328 Bergstrate given the Archbishop of Mentz 335 Blanvile the French Embassadour an enemy to the Duke of Buckingham holds intelligence with the Dukes English enemies 295. his Character by the French 300. See 274 296 197 302. Blundel Sir George 129 Book of Common Prayer translated into Spanish and why 73. See Spaniards Borgia Cardinal 178 Bovillon Duke 165. seeks the protection from the States united 320. weary of the Palsgrave 327 Brandenburgh Elector 317 336 Bret a Peusioner in disgrace 204 Bristol Earl first mover in the Spanish Match negotiates in it 16. Earnest to conclude it 24 25 26 306 ohidden by the King Charles for giving the Spaniards hopes of his inclination to a change in Religion for his manage of things concerning the Match and undervaluing the Kingdome of England 16 17. Consents that the Prince Palsgrave shall be bred in the Emperors Court which the King Charles takes ill 17. Proffered by the King the favour of the general pardon or to put himself upon his tryal 18. under restraint for his errours in Spain 19. removed from his offices forbidden the Court denyed his Parliament Writ there Justifies himself 19 20. to King James 30. Differs in opinion from the Duke of Buckingham concerning the Match 21. Seeks the Duke of Buckingham his savour 28. charged to be his enemy his wisdome and power at Court 161 162. Conde of Olivarez offers him a blank paper signed by the King bids him choose what was in his Masters power he refuses 42 Brule Peter his practises 302 Buckingham Duke his carriage and esteem in Spain 16 22. See Olivarez contemns the Earl of Bristol 22. See Bristol an enemy to him 231 The Spaniards will not put the Infanta into his hands 22 thought an enemy to the Match with Spain 32 92 159 218 219 222 237 243 248 Censured 159 160 218 219 221 222 263 210. Forgives wrongs 58 Steward of VVestminster 69 Haughty to the Prince of VVales 78 Used to sit when the Prince stood c. 221 falls from his affection to VVilliams Lord Keeper 87. See Don Francisco his power 91 King James his words of him on Don Francisco's relation 92 Mediates for the Earl of Suffolk 125 No audience of Embassadours without him 216. taxed to King James freely 218 219 220 221 223. defended 224 225 226 227. a faithful servant 229 Charge against him in Parliament 228 229 230 Procures graces for the Nobility and Gentry 231 Breaks the Spanish Designes and Party 265 for the Match with France 291 A Consederacy by Oath against him 307 308 The Queen of England had need of his friendship 303 Dares submit the judgment of his Actions to any tryal 87 Buckingham Countesse 254 302 Buckleugh Lord 327 329 Button Sir Thomas in the Voyage of Algier 143 144. C. CAlcedon a titulary Roman Bishop in England 81 Calvert Sir George 202. See 304. Carlile Earl Viscount Doncaster loves not the Bishop of Lincoln 74 89. See 180 182. perswades King James to feed his Parliament so he with some crums of the Crown 270. refuses See 288. Count Mansfelts Commission for Colonel to his son 273 Carlos Arch-Duke in Spain 165 Calderon Don Rodrigo Marquesse de las Siete Iglesias his Riches confined 208
my Lord Duke can be truly instanced in by any man I will be contented to incur his Majesties high displeasure and your Lordships Censure For the present Newes here it is that the ninth of this Moneth the Prince intendeth God willing to begin his journey for England And the day before I conceive the Contract will be The Infanta is to follow in the Spring and the Prince hath commanded my stay here I know not how things may be reconciled here before my Lord Dukes departure but at present they are in all extremity ill betwixt this King and his Ministers and the Duke and they stick not to professe that they will rather put the Infanta headlong into a Well then into his hands I write unto your Lordship you see with much freenesse and I intreat you let it remain with you And so in much haste I onely intreat your Lordship to believe that you have not living an honester nor a true hearteder a friend and servant then Your Lordships ever to be commanded Bristol The E of Bristol to the Lord Bishop of Lincoln 24. of Septemb. 1623. My singular Lord I Have dispatched this Bearer my servant Greislie with the draught of the temporal Articles which I hope will be to the King and Prince his satisfaction and he will let your Lordship have a sight of them Since the departure of the Prince there have every day passed Letters of extraordinary affection between the King and the Prince and the love that is here generally born unto the Prince is such as cannot be well believed by those that daily hear not what passeth both from the King and his chief Ministers And to say the truth his Highnesse hath well deserved it for in the whole time of his being here he hath carried himself with the greatest affability patience and constancie and at his departure with the greatest bountie and liberality that I think hath been known in any Prince in our times And I protest unto your Lordship as a Christian that I never heard in all the time of his being here nor since any one exception taken against him unlesse it were for being supposed to be too much guided by my Lord Duke of Buckingham who is indeed very little beholding to the Spaniards for their good opinion of him and departed from hence with so little satisfaction that the Spaniards are in doubt that he will endeavour all that shall be possible to crosse the Marriage Wherein certainly they are very much mistaken For my Lord cannot but be obliged a servant for any particular distastes of his own to crosse the advancement of his Majestie and the Prince's service especially in a businesse of so high Consequence as this It may be your Lordship will hear many Complaints and that the Match never was nor yet is intended I beseech your Lordship to give little belief in that kind and the effects will now speedily declare the truth if the fault be not on our side It is true that the Spaniards have committed many errours in their proceedings with the Prince but the businesse is now by the Prince overcome if we our selves draw not back For which I confesse I should be heartily sorry and so I conceive would most honest men for if this match and the alliance with Spain hath been so long desired by his Majestie and that for it he hath heen pleased to do so much and the Prince to take so hazardous a voyage if all the same reasons are yet on foot which have ever moved the King and Prince to wish the match if to this may be added that his Majestie hath overcome all the difficulties on his part and that both he and the Prince do stand ingaged for the performance of it as far as Princes can be God forbid that any particular distastes or misunderstandings which God knoweth have little relation to the businesse should be of power to disturb it especially now when the Match is past all danger of miscarrying the portion and all temporal Articles settled and I hope to the Kings Content and all other good effects that could be expected by this allyance in a very fair way I hope there will be no cause of doubt in this kind if there should be I am sure that your Lordship would put to a helping hand to keep the businesse from being overthrown since you have done so much for the overcoming of former difficulties and the bringing it to the passe 't is now in If there be no cause of writing this I beseech your Lordship to impute it to my zeal to the businesse and my freenesse with your Lordship upon whose true love and friendship I so much rely as I shall not forbear to tell you any of my fears I hope within 3. daies Sir Francis Cottington will be able to begin his journey towards your Lordship He will tell you many truths being on my knowledge as hearty a servant and friend as 't is possible for your Lordship to have He hath told me how much I am bound to your Lordship for your love and favour and truly I will deserve it the best I can and that I think will be onely by loving you for otherwise I conceive I am like to have little means of meriting at any bodies hands yet at your Lordships it may be I may by being a man of honesty and honour And such an one I will labour to be and your affectionate friend and servant And so I kisse your Lordships hands Madrid c. The E. of Bristols Letter to the Prince touching the delivery of his Proxie to the King of Spain May it please your Highnesse IN this Letter I shall onely speak unto your Highnesse concerning that particular whereof you were pleased to write unto me after your departure from St. Lorenzo and have presumed to set down exactly the case as it stands In what sort a woman betrothed and post Matrimonium ratum may before the Consummation of marriage betake her self unto a religious life I have likewise set down unto your Highnesse all sorts of security that may be taken before the betrothing for the preventing of any such course in the parties that are to be betrothed To this your Highnesse may adde any other you can think of for that the King and his Sister and all the Ministers professe so really the punctual and present performance of all that is capitulated with your Highnesse That they will refuse no kind of security that in reason can be demanded in this behalf so that your Highnesse may set down whatsoever you think this King and his Sister may do with decencie and honour and they will be ready to perform it I must now crave leave to speak unto your Highnesse like a faithful plain servant which is if your Highnesse pleasure be to have use made of the Powers you have left in my hands I no way doubt but in this particular such satisfaction will be given as will appear
cold find in any other servant What an honest thankfulnesse can be I am and what an honest servant can yield you shall be ever vigilant in me to serve you Since the departure of the last post by whom I wrote lately unto your Grace my Lord of Bristol hath had audience with this King taking me along with him to whom his Lordship represented the King our Masters desire concerning the Palatinate in conformity to what his Majesty hath commanded by his late letters we are now soliciting to hasten this kings answer which we hope we shall shortly send unto his Majesty and there is no diligence omitted by my Lord of Bristol nor my self that we can think on to negotiate such an answer as may be to his majesties good liking The Dispatches from Rome are not yet come but by letters which they have lately received from the Duke of Pastrana it is advertized that all things are concluded and that he would send them away within a few dayes By my Lord of Bristols Letter to his Majesty your grace will understand the resolution which his Lordship hath taken concerning his proceedings upon the arival of of the dispaches from Rome his Lordships hath communicated with me his Majesties Letter and desired my opinion concerning the resolution which he had taken wherein I have concurred with his Lordship not understanding it any way to be differing in substance from his Majesties directions the altering of the day mentioned in his Majesties letters being onely the changing it from a time when the powers are of no force to a time when they may be of use the putting of any thing in execution in the one time or in the other depending upon his Majesties and his Highnesses further directions I have hitherto understood that his Majesty and his highnesse have really affected this match and have laboured faithfully to second their desires with my utmost endeavours There is none I am sure a better witnesse then my self of the affection which your Grace hath born unto it which I have seen remain constant through many tryals And therefore until I understand the contrary from your self I must believe that your desires are the same which I have seen them I must ever speak my heart freely unto your Grace and confess that upon the letter which I received from his Highnesse and upon the sight of his Majesties to my Lord of Bristol I have been jealous of his Majesties heart and his Highnesse that they are not that to the match which they have been but these are but distrusts of my own and not foundation sufficient to slacken or cool those diligences which I daily perform in conformity to his Majesties and his Highnesse Commands and to what remains apparent of their desires I shall therefore humbly desire your Lordship to open mine eyesa nd if I am out of the way to set me straight for I have no affections of mine own but what agrees with my Masters and will ever submit with all humility my self and my judgment unto his Majesties wisedome and faithfully labour to serve him accordingly to what I shall understand to be his will and pleasure But untill I know by your Graces favour by what Compasse to guide my Course I can onely follow his Majesties revealed will and will once take the boldnesse to represent unto your Grace in discharge of what I owe you these Considerations which my desire to serve you forceth from me I do look upon your Grace as a person infinitely provoked to be an enemy to this match and believe that you have had represented unto you many reasons shewing how much it concerns you to seek to break it with all the force you have But I can neither believe that the errour of one man can make you an enemy to that which brings along with it so much happinesse and content unto his Majestie and his Highnesse nor that your Graces judgment can be led by those arguments that under the colour of safety would bring you into a dangerous labyrinth Your Grace hath given noble testimonie how little you have valued your own safety in respect of his Majesties service and therefore I assure my self you would contemn all Considerations concerning your self that might hinder the advancement of his Majesties ends In the proceeding to this Match there is the same conveniency to his Majestie that ever hath been there is the same Lady the same portion the same friendship desired they professing here an exact complying with what is capitulated and a resolution to give his Majestie satisfaction in whatsoever is in their power From your Grace none can take away the honour of having been the principal means by which this great businesse hath been brought to a Conclusion And whatsoever others may suggest against your Grace the Infanta truly informed cannot but understand you the person to whom she owes most in this businesse Your Grace and the Conde Olivarez have fallen upon different waies that which concerns the honour of the King our Master being different to that which he understood concerned most his Master your ends were both one for the effecting of the Match and with the Conclusion of it he cannot but better understand you Would your Grace would commit it to my charge to inform the Infanta what you have merited and to accommodate all other mistakes here concerning the proceeding If your Grace would reconcile your heart I would not doubt but with the Conclusion of the Match to compose all things to your good satisfaction and to bring them to a truer understanding of you and of their obligation unto you In what a Sea of Confusions the breaking of this alliance would ingage his Majestie I will leave to your Lordships wisdom to consider of it being too large a discourse for a Letter I will therefore onely desire your Lordship to consider that even the most prosperous War hath misfortune enough in it to make the Authour of it unhappie of which how innocent soever your Lordship is the occasions that have been given you will ever make you liable to the aspersion of it This I write not unto your Grace as thinking to divert you from what you are falling into for I am confident your heart runs a more peaceable way but I am willing that you should see that howsoever others should be inclined to carrie you into this tempest it concerns you in your care of their happinesse and your own to divert them from it I humbly desire your Grace to pardon this errour of mine if it be one which I can excuse with the affection and infinite desire which I have to see you ever happie and flourish Concerning my self your Grace knowes my wants and I doubt not but your Care is what I could wish I should be glad when you have done with Peter Wych to see him dispatched away with some supplies unto me which I shall be in extream want of by Christmasse my debts besides in
Lord of Bristols last Letter which wil be done by the next duplicate of this same dispatch to acquaint him in the mean time with this Letter which his Majestie himself hath dictated unto me And so in haste I bid you farewell Yours c. G. B. Sir Walter Aston to the Duke of Buckingham Decemb. 22. 1623. May it please your Grace I Have comitted to the trust and secresie of this bearer Mr. Clark whom I find your Graces faithful servant certain advertisements to be delivered by him unto you which as one that shall God willing in all things shew himself your passionate servant I could no way conceale from you And howsoever your Grace may have many advertisements from hence the relations that come from England giving occasion to many discourses censuring the Prince and your Grace yet I hope to be so vigilant that there shall hardly be any resolution taken by these Ministers which may have any reflexion on your Person that I shall not one way or other get notice of and advertize unto you I have in all things with so much affection desired to serve your Grace every way to your satisfaction that it hath infinitely afflicted me that I should have done any thing whereby I might lessen your favourable opinions towards me but I hope your Grace hath by this time set me straight both with his Majestie and his Highnesse and restored me to the same place in your affection which I have formerly had Which I am the rather confident of since I cannot accuse any action or thought of mine that hath not born towards your Grace all possible respect and love I found by experience here that the favour which by your Graces meanes I received from his Highnesse and that which you were pleased likewise to honour me withal had raised me many enemies And I have reason to feare upon this occasion there may be some that well be busie to do me ill offices with you but I trust so much upon my own sinceritie that as I never made any second meanes unto your Grace but have ever singly depended upon the constancie of your goodnesse to me finding my self the same that I have ever been I make no meanes to resist such injuries as others may offer to do me but continue depending wholly upon that goodnesse and justnesse which I know in your Grace and which I assure my self will never fail me I have not been so carelesse a Servant of your Graces as not to have debated over and over with my self how far the proceedings or breaking of the present treaty here might concern your Grace which I have discoursed largely to Mr. Clark thinking them of too large a body to be contained in a Letter but I shall in all things submit my self to your better wisedome And when you shall please to impart unto me wherein his Majestie and his Highnesse shall be best served your Grace shall find in all my actions that my affections with all obedience shal run the same way and that my proceedings shall have those respects in them towards your Grace as you may expect from your faithful Servant And so c. Your G. c. W. A. The Copy of a Memorial given to the King of Spain 19. Jan. 1623. Stil Vet. Translated SIR SIR Walter Aston Embassadour of the King of great Brittain saith That the King his Master hath commanded him to represent unto your Majestie that having received so many promises from hence to procure the intire restitution of the Palatinate and Electoral dignitie to the Prince his Son in Law He commanded his Embassadour to presse your Majestie with all diligence that the said promises might take effect not as a condition of the marriage but desiring infinitely to see settled together with the marriage the peace and quiet of his Son in Law his Daughter and Grandchildren and having understood that this his desire hath received an interpretation far differing from his intention hath commanded him anew for the greater demonstration of the desire which he hath to preserve the good Correspondence with your Majestie to declare unto you that he hath not propounded the said restitutions as a condition of the marriage but according to that which he understood was most Conformable with the intention of your Majestie declared by the Conde de Olivarez for the surest and most effectual means to make the amitie which is betwixt your Majesties firm and indissoluble and that there might not remain any doubt or matter hereafter that should cause dispute he hath required that every thing might be settled under your Majesties hand desiring it likewise for the greater comfort of his onely Daughter and for to make the coming of that most excellent Princesse of more esteem unto his Subjects bringing with her besides the glory of her own vertue and worth the securitie of a perpetual peace and amitie and an everlasting pawn to his Kingdomes of the constancie and real performance of your Majesties promises with such satisfaction to his hopes grounded the said promises not as a Condition but as the fruit and blessing of the alliance Moreover he saith That the King his Master hath commanded him to make this Declaration unto your Majestie that you may know the truth and the sound intentions of his proceedings with the good end to which it aimes having renewed the powers and deferred the delivery of them onely to give time for the accomplishing and settling that which hath been promised for the satisfying his expectations and assuring the amitie betwixt your Majesties Persons and Crowns the King his Master hoping that your Majestie will likewise lay hold of this occasion which you now have in your hand to give him full satisfaction in that which with so much reason he desires and therewithal a reciprocal and everlasting blessing to both your Majesties Crownes Sir Walter Aston to the Duke 22. of Jan. 1623. Stil Vet. May it please your Grace HOwsoever upon the arrival of Mr. Greisley I took the occasion of the ordinary the day following to acknowledge unto your Grace the Comfort which I had received by your Letters understanding by them the favour which you had done me in diverting from me his Majesties and his Highnesse displeasure I shall notwithstanding intreat here leave by the same means by which I received so much happinesse to renue my humble and most thankful acknowledgment unto your Grâ—ce I most earnestly intreat your Grace to look upon me here as a servant that loves you in his heart and that shall faithfully in all things Comply with what you can expect from such an one and that therefore you will be pleased to preserve me still in the way how I may serve his Majestie and his Highnesse to their Content and perform towards your Grace those offices of a servant which may be most to your satisfaction For I am now here in a dangerous time in the greatest businesses that have been treated of many years and
reason to fear the power of his enemies yet he trusted much upon the innocency of his own Cause and the Justice of the King and that he could not understand himself in any danger but were he sure to lose his head at his arrival there he would go to throw down himself at his Majesties feet and mercy and rather there die upon a Scaffold then be Duke of Infantada in Spain On the 16th of this moneth there was declared here in Councel a resolution of this King to make a journey to his frontier Towns in Andaluzia with an intention to begin his journey upon the 29. of this moneth Stil Vet. And as I am informed his Majestie will there entertain himself the greatest part of these three moneths following so that his return hither will not be until the beginning of May. My Lord of Bristol hath sent divers to the Conde for leave to dispeed himself of the King but in respect of his Majesties being at the Pardo he hath been hitherto delayed and hath yet no certain day appointed for it But I conceive it will be sometime this week The Cause of the delaying of his Lordships admittance to the King as I understand is that the same day that his Lordship shall declare his revocation to the King they will here in Councel declare the revocation of the Marquesse of Ynoisa Howsoever in respect of the Kings departure at which time they use here to embarge all the mules and means of carriage in this Town I believe his Lordship will not begin his journey so soon as he intended All the relations which are lately come out of England do wish them to entertain themselves herewith no farther hopes that there is any intention to proceed to the Match and this advice comes accompanied with such a report of the state of all things there that hath much irritated all these Ministers and let loose the tongues of the people against the proceedings of his Majestie and Highnesse I labour as much as I can and as far as my directions will give me latitude to give them better understandings of the real intentions of his Majestie and Highnesse but divers of them cleerly tell me That I professe one thing and the actions of his Majestie and Highnesse upon the which they must ground their belief are differing from it I shall therefore here in discharge of my duty advertize your Honour that they do here expect nothing but a War about which they have already held divers Councels and go seriously to work preparing themselves for what may happen Which I desire your Honour to advertize his Majestie being high time as far as I am able to judge that am here upon the place that his Majestie do either resolve upon some course for the allaying of these storms or that he go in hand with equal preparations Having observed in former times the strange rumours that have run in England upon small foundations I have thought it fit to prevent the credit which may be given to idle relations by advertizing your Honour that I cannot conceive how any great attempt can be made from hence this year howsoever businesses should go The Squadron of the Kings Fleet under the Command of Don Fadrique de Toledo is come into Cadiz and joyned with that which Don Juan Taxardo is Captain of And as I am credibly informed this King will have by the end of April between 50. and 60. Gallions at Sea It is true that other years the number commonly falls short of what is expected and their setting forth to Sea some moneths later then the time appointed but there is extraordinary care taken this year that there be no default in neither The chief end that I can understand of this Kings journey being to see the Fleet of Plate come in to take view of his Armado and see them put to Sea That which I understand is onely left alive of the Marriage here is that the Jewels which the Prince left with this King for the Infanta and her Ladies are not yet returned but it is intimated unto me that if the Letters which they shall receive out of England upon the answer they have given to his Majestie about the businesse of the Palatinate be no better then such as they have lately received they will return the Jewels and declare the businesse of the Match for broken I shall therefore intreat your Honour to know his Majesties pleasure how I shall carry my self if they be offered unto me being resolved in the mean time untill I shall know his Majesties pleasure if any such thing happen absolutely to refuse them The Princesse some few daies since fell sick of a Calenturae of which she remaineth still in her bed though it be said she is now somewhat better I will conclude with many thanks for your friendly advertizements concerning my own particular which God willing as far as I can I will observe and do earnestly intreat you that you will please to continue the like favours unto me which I shall highly esteem of And so with a grateful acknowledgment of my obligations I rest Your Honours c. Wa. Aston Sir Walter Aston to the Lord Conway Right Honourable I Have advertized by former dispatches that the Parliament here had granted unto this King 60 millions of Duckats to be paid in 12 years which with 12 millions which remain yet unpaid of what was given the King at the last Session this King was to receive 72 millions in the 12 years next following I shall now acquaint your Honour that there are only 19. Cities that have voice in this Parliament and that each of them do send hither two Provadores as they call them here but these have no power finally to conclude any thing but what is agreed on by them is to be approved of by the said Cities or the greatest number of them before it have the force of an Act of Parliament and that therefore there hath been all possible art used to procure the Cities to confirm what hath been granted by their Procuradores touching the 60. millions and it is here thought that one of the motives of this Kings journey was hoping by the authority of his presence to procure the consent unto the said gift of the 4. Cities which he is to passe by in this journey namely Cordova Sivel Joen and Granado it being here doubted that the said Cities might make great opposition to the said grant notwithstanding his Majestie hath not had such successe as was expected But Cordova which was the first City with which his Majestie began hath absolutely refused to give their Consent letting his Majestie understand though in as fair and respectful terms as they could expresse themselves That it was a demand impossible for them to Comply withal What the success of this may be is doubtful Cordova having given but an ill example to the other Cities and yet it is rather believed here that the greatest number
House of Commons some poyson and ill constructions to feed upon and to induce a new diversion or plain Cessation of weightier businesses His Majestie infers and that most truly for where were the Commons before Henry the first gave them authority to meet in Parliaments that their priviledges are but Graces and favours of former Kings which they claim to be their inheritance and natural birthrights Both these assertions if men were peaceably disposed and affected the dispatch of the common businesses might be easily reconciled These priviledges were originally the favours of Princes and are now inherent in their persons Nor doth his Majestie go about to impair or diminish them If his Majestie will be pleased to qualifie that passage with some mild and noble exposition and require them strictly to prepare things for a Session and to leave this needlesse dispute his Majestie shall thereby make it appear to all wise and just men that these persons are opposite to those common ends whereof they vaunt themselves the onely Patrons But do his Maiestie what he please I am afraid although herein the Lord Treasurer and others do differ from me they do not affect a Sessions nor intend to give at this time any Subsidie at all Will the King be pleased therefore to add in this Letter which must be here necessarily upon Munday morning that if they will not prepare bills for a Session his Majesty will break up this Parliament without any longer Prorogation and acquainting the Kingdom with their undutifulnesse and obstinacy supply the present wants by some other meanes Or will his Majesty upon their refusal presently rejourn the the Assembly until the appointed 8th of Feburary This course is fittest for further advice but the other to expresse a just indignation I dare advise nothing in so high a point but humbly beseech almighty God to illuminate his Majesties understanding to insist upon that course which shall be most behoveful for the advancement of his service In our house his Majesties servants are very strong and increase every day nor is there the least fear of any Malignant opposition God reward all your Lordships goodnesse and affection towards c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke about Mr. Thomas Murrayes Dispensation c. 23. Febr. 1621. My most Noble Lord I Should fail very much of my duty to his Majestie if before the sealing of Mr. Thomas Murrayes Dispensation I should not acquaint his Majestie explicitely and freely with the nature of this act far differing from any dispensation in this kind ever granted by his Majestie since his happie coming to the Crown of England For to say nothing of the right of the election of this Provost which being originally not in the King but in the fellowes and now by their neglect devolved unto me shall be fully and absolutely at his Majesties command the place is a living with cure of souls and I am to institute and admit him to the cure of souls of the Parish of Eaton by the expresse Letter of the Statute without admission it is impossible he should receive any real or rightful possession of the same Now that his Majestie or any of his Predecessors did ever dispence with a Lay-man to hold cure of souls I think will be hard for any man to shew by any warrantable president or record whatsoever And I know his Majestie to be as much averse from giving any such president as any Prince in Christendome living this day This is altogether differing a Deanery or an Hospital which being livings without cure have been and may be justly conferred by his Majestie upon Lay-men with dispensations de non promovendo If Sir Henry Savil's example be objected I answer besides that the Queen made Clayme to the guift of the place by lapse occasioned through the promotion of the Provost to the Bishoprick of Chichester whereas his Majestie hath no such Clayme thereunto at this time That Savil never durst take true possession of the place but was onely slipt in by the Bishop who for fear of the Earl of Essex made bold with the conscience Ad Curam et regimen Collegii that is to the care and government of the Colledge Whereas by the expresse words of the foundation he is to be admitted Ad Curam annimarum Parochianorū Ecclesia Aetonianae to the Cure of the souls of all the people of the Parish of Eaton Secondly I hold it no Disparagement to Mr. Murray nor do find him all together averse from the same to enter into orders in the raign of a King so favourable to our Coat as Gods name be praised for it raigns now over us This will give satisfaction to all the Church bring him into this place according to statute and the foundation of that dead King prevent such a dangerous president for a Lay-man to possesse cure of souls in the Eye and Center of all the Realm and by an everlasting testimony of his Majesties Piety to the Church of England Thirdly what opinion this Gentleman hath of our Church government is better known to his Majestie then to me If he should be averse thereunto it were such a blow unto the Church the number of the Fellowes and Students there considered as the like were never given by publique authority these 50. Years Fourthly howsoever his Majestie and the Prince his Highnesse shall resolve thereof at whose feet I lie to be wholly disposed I hope it is neither of their royal intendments to transfer the Bishopprick of Lincolne upon the Fellowes of that house who have rashly usurped a Power of admitting their Provost by any example seen before Whereas all Provosts as well the Churchmen who come in by Election as the Lay-men recommended by the late Queen were as the foundation exactly requires it admitted by the Bishop of Lincolne their Diocaesand and Visitor I hope it was Mr. Murraies inexperience rather then neglect never deserved by me that directed them to this strange course subscription and other conformities to be acted in the presence of the Visitor are essentially to be required before he can be admitted Provost of Eaton Lastly Mr. Murraie hath hitherto mistaken all his course He must be first dispensed withal If his Majestie in his wisedom shall hold it fit and then Elected first Fellow and then Provost of the Colledg if he will come in regularly and safely whereas now contrary to Savils president he is first Elected and then goes on with his dispensation All this I most humbly intreat your Lordship to make known to the Prince his Highnesse and as much as your Lordship thinks fit thereof to his Majestie I will only adde one note and so end It will be no more disparagement for Mr. Murray his Highnesse Schoolmaster to enter into orders then it was for Coxe King Edwards Schoolmaster a Master of Requests and Privie Counsellour to do the like who afterwards became a worthy Prelate of this Church I have discharged my duty to the King
Prince and the Church of England It remains now that I should as I will religiously obey whatsoever I shall be directed in the sequel of this businesse And so I rest c. Postscript MY Lord Mr. Murray since came unto me to whom I shewed this Letter and told him I would send it unto you to be shewed unto the King and the Prince I find him willing to run all courses Priesthood onely excepted If the King will dispence with him my Letter notwithstanding I humbly beseech his Majestie to write a Letter unto me as a warrant to admit him only Ad Curam et Regimen Collegii instead of the other words Ad Curam animarum I schooled him soundly against Puritanisme which he disavowes though somewhat faintly I hope his Highnesse and the King will second it The Lord Keeper to the Duke about the Liberties of Westminster 6. May. 1621. My most Noble Lord I Humbly beseech your Lordship to be a little sensible of those injurious affronts offered without any shew of equity unto this poor Liberty of VVestminster And for Gods sake let me not want that protection which not your Lordship only but the two Cicils and the Earl of Sommerset who neither regarded the Church Learning nor Honour in any measure as you do have ever afforded every Dean of this Church When I had to my thinking given the Knight Marshal full and too much satisfaction this day a Letter was offered to the Table in my presence violently pursued by the Lord Steward and the Earl Marshal to command this liberty which had stood unquestioned these 700 years to shew reason to Mr. Attourney and Mr. Solliciter why they prescribe against the Knight Marshal A Course as my Lord President said openly not to be offered to any subject of England It is our Charter and freehold of inheritance to be shewed only in a Court of Justice and at the Kings Bench which we are very ready to do And we may as well be questioned by a Letter from the Councel for all the Land we have as for this My Lord the jurisdiction of this place brings not a penny to my purse but it hath brought much sorrow to my heart and now teares to my eyes that I should be that unfortunate Contemptible man who for all the King and your Lordships favour and the true pains I take in answer thereunto must be trampled down above all the Deans that lived in this place Nor would it ever grieve me if I had deserved it from these Lords by the least disrespect in all the world I beseech you for the Churches sake and your Honours sake to be sensible hereof and to know of the Bishop of Winchester London Duresme Mr. Packer or Sir Robert Pye whether ever any question hath been made to this liberty in this kind If a Letter had been recorded to question the same when the Lord Admiral was Steward and the Lord Keeper Dean thereof judge you in your Wisdom what would become thereof in future posterity c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke Aug. 23. 1622. My most noble Lord YEsterday upon the receipt of your Lordships Letters of the 19th of this instant concerning the hastning of the businesse of the original Writs I sent presently for Mr. Attourney and Mr. Solliciter who were altogether unprovided for their parts of the dispatch and are casually forced so to be because three several Officers in whose records they are to search are now out of Town and do not return yet these 7. daies But your Lordship shall not fail to have all things concluded 3. weeks before the Term and I will of purpose put off all general sealing until it be effected In the mean time your Lordships Letter notwithstanding it will be nothing for your Lordships case to have Sir George Chaworth any way interested in this office of the originals but I hold it fitter to leave it as it is in Law and Equity forfeited for non-payment of rent in his Majesties hands for upon that issue I do not doubt but my Lord of St. Albons and Sir George will be content to hear reason I have received extraordinary respects and expressions from my Noble Lord the Lord Marquesse Hamilton which doth exceedingly comfort and encourage me to go on with some more alacrity through the difficulties of this restlesse place I beseech your Lordship who is Causa Causarum the first Cause that sets all these other Causes of my Comforts in Going to take notice of the same and to undertake this favour to be placed upon a poor honest hearted man who would if he were any way able requite it Gods blessings and the prayers of a poor Bishop ever attend your Lordship c. Postscript THe Spanish Embassadour took the alarum very speedily of the titulary Romish Bishop and before my departure from his house at Islington whither I went privately to him did write both to Rome and Spain to prevent it Sir Tobie Mathewes But I am afraid that Tobie will prove but an Apocryphal and no Canonical intelligencer acquainting the State with this project for the Jesuites rather then for Jesus sake The Lord Keeper to the Duke about the Lord Treasurer Septemb. 9th 1622. My most Noble Lord THat I neither wrote unto your Lordship nor waited upon your Lordship sithence my intolerable scandalizing by the Lord Treasurer this is the true and only cause I was so moved to have all my diligent service pains and unspotted justice thus rewarded by a Lord who is reputed wise that I have neither slept read written or eaten any thing since that time until the last night that the Ladies sent for me I believe of purpose to VVallingford house and put me out of my humour I have lost the love and affection of my men by seizing upon their Papers perusing all their answers to Petitions casting up their moneys received by way of fees even to half Crowns and two shillings and finding them all to be poor honest Gentlemen that have maintained themselves in my service by the greatnesse of my pains and not the greatnesse of their fees They are most of them landed men that do not serve me for gain but for experience and reputation And desire to be brought to the Test to shew their several books and to be confronted by any one man with whom they contracted or from whom they demanded any Fee at all The greatest summe in their books is five pounds and those very few and sent unto them from Earls and Barons All the rest are some 20 s. 10 s. 5 s. 2 s. 6 d. and 2 s. And this is the oppression in my house that the Kingdom of the Common Lawyers peradventure who have lost I confesse hereby 20000 l. at the least saved in the purses of the Subjects doth now groan under Now I humbly beseech your Lordship to peruse this paper here inclosed and the issue I do joyn with the Lord Treasurer and to acquaint at
the least the King and the Prince how unworthily I am used by this Lord who in my soul and conscience I believe it either invents these things out of his own head and ignorance of this Court or hath taken them up from base unworthy and most unexperienced people Lastly because no act of mine who am so much indebted for all my frugality could in the thoughts of a devil incarnate breed any suspition that I gained by this office excepting the purchase of my Grandfathers Lands whereunto my Lord Chamberlains noblenesse and your Lordships encouragement gave the invitation I do make your Lordship as your Lordship hath been often pleased to honour me my faithful Confessor in that businesse and do send your Lordship a note enclosed what money I paid what I borrowed and what is still owing for the purchase I beseech your Lordship to cast your eye upon the paper and lay it aside that it be not lost And having now poured out my soul and sorrow unto your Lordships breast I find my heart much eased and humbly beseech your Lordship to compassionate the wrongs of Your most humble and honest servant J. L. C. S. The Fair and Familiar Conference which the Lord Treasurer had with the Lord Keeper after some Expostulations of his own and the issue joyned thereupon at White-Hall Septemb. 7. 1622. Object 1 THere is taken 40000 l. for Petitions in your house this year Sol. Not much above the fortieth part of the money for all the dispatches of the Chancery Star-Chamber Councel-Table Parliament the great Diocesse of Lincoln the jurisdiction of VVestminster and St. Martins le Graund All which have resort to my house by Petitions Object 2 You have your self a share in the money Sol. Then let me have no share in Gods Kingdom it is such a basenesse as never came within the compasse of my thoughts Object 3 It is commonly reported you pay to my Lord Admiral 1000 l. per mensem Sol. As true as the other The means of my place will reach to no more then two moneths Object 4 You never receive any Petitions with your own hands but turn them to your Secretaries who take double Fees one for receiving and the other for delivering Sol. Let the Cloysters at Westminster answer for me I never to this day received any Petition from my Secretaries which I had formerly delivered unto them with my own hands This is a new fashion which my Lord hath found in some other Courts Object 5 You sell dayes of hearing at higher rates then ever they were at Sol. I never disposed of any since I came to this place but leave them wholly to the Six Clarks and Registers to be set down in their Antiquity Unlesse his Lordship means hearing of motions in the paper of Peremptories which I seldom deny upon any Petition and which are worth no money at all Object 6 You usually reverse Decrees upon Petitions Sol. I have never reversed altered explained or endured a motion or Petition that touched upon a decree once pronounced but have sometimes made orders in pursuance of the same Object 7 You have 3. Door-keepers and are so locked up that no man can have accesse unto you Sol. I have no such officer in all my house unlesse his Lordship meanes the Colledge Porters nor no locks at all but his Majesties businesse which I must respect above Ceremonies and Complements You are cryed out against over all the Kingdom for an unsufferable Object 8 oppression and grievance His Lordship if he have any friends may hear of such a Cry Sol. and yet be pleased to mistake the person cryed out against All the Lords of the Councel cry out upon you and you are a Object 9 wretched and a friendlesse man if no man acquaints you with it I am a wretched man indeed if it be so Sol. And your Lordship at the least a very bold man if it be otherwise I will produce particular witnesses and make all these Charges Object 10 good I know your Lordship cannot and I do call upon you to do it Sol. as suspecting all to be but your Lordships envie and malice to that service of the Kings and ease of his Subjects which God hath enabled me to accomplish and perform in this troublesome Office J. L. C. S. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 21. of September 1622. My most noble Lord MY Lord Brook diswarning me from his Majestie from coming to Theobalds this day I was enforced to trouble your Lordship with these few lines My most humble thanks for your Lordships most free and most loving Letter I do willingly confesse my errour yet still of the mind that your Lordship only who justly taxed it hath made it to be an errour If your love to me had not exceeded all reason and desert of mine my complaints were not effects of melancholy but of a real suffering and misery I do confesse and rest satisfied withal that his Majesties Justice and your Lordships love are anchors strong enough for a mind more tossed then mine is to ride at Yet pardon me my Noble Lord upon this Consideration if I exceeded a little in passion the natural effect of honesty and innocency A Church-man and a woman have no greater Idol under heaven then their good name And yet they cannot fight at all Nor with credit scold and least of all recriminate to protect and defend the same Their onely revenge left them is to grieve and complain My misery I took to be this I am one of those that labour in his Majesties Cole-mines under the earth and out of sight My pains from five a clock in the morning to 10. or 12. at night are restlesse and endlesse but under earth and out of his Majesties sight What other men do or but seem to do it is ever before the Kings face and if his Majestie will not look on it if he hath eares about him he shall be told of it so often by the parties themselves that he must hear of it whether he will or no. And as my service by this remotenesse is hidden from the King so is it liable to be traduced to the King and my relief as in dispatching the motions of poor men by Petitions allowable to my orders made to be a Grievance to the Common Wealth But in all these fourteen dayes wherein by the voice of the City I have remained a prisoner in my house where is that one party grieved that hath troubled his Majestie with Complaints against me Onely my Lord Marshal hath dealt with my noble Lord Marquesse Hamilton my Lord of Carlile my Lord Treasurer as your Lordship may soon know by asking the question to make a faction to disgrace the poor Lord Keeper who never dreamt thereof Sir Gilbert Haughton hath complained to my Lord Treasurer of my men for taking Hugh Holland was by and heard him If your Lordship do but ask him his
reason I think it will appear how well grounded their complaints be Upon those two former Anchors I will therefore rest and that so far from Cowardlinesse that I will either challenge them before his Majestie to make good their suggestions or else which I hold the greater valour of all and which I confesse I wanted before this check of your Lordships go on in my Course and scorn all these base and unworthy scandals as your Lordship shall direct me I have sent a Copy of a Letter of mine to my Lord Anan which his Majestie hath seen and given his assent it should not be kept private yet I would humbly crave your Lordships opinion thereof by Mr. Packer before any Copy goeth from me I am ever c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 12th Octob. 1622. My most Noble Lord I Will speak with the Jesuit to morrow and deliver him his admonition from the King but do send your Lordship here inclosed a Copie of the Conference which I procured from him without his privity onely to make his Majestie and your Lordship merrie I have also received a Letter concerning the French Embassador which I will be ready to put in execution as your Lordships servant and Deputy but not otherwise Yet your Lordship will give me out of that freedom which was wont to be well interpreted by your Lordship to let your Lordship understand that I find all businesses of restitution of ships and goods thus taken to have been handled before the Councel in Star-chamber all the reigns of Henry 7th and H. 8th without any contradiction of the Lord Admiral for the time being But this to your Lordship in secret I will be very careful of the Earl of Desmond that neither his cause nor your Lordships reputation shall suffer thereby And this is the account I can yet give of your Lordships Letter save that I humbly expect that answer which your Lordships own Luckie hand hath promised in the postscript of one of them I would ease your Lordship in this place but to prevent complaint that peradventure may be first invented and then presented Your Lordship shall heare of a long narrative of our Councel Table dispatches That passage of our letter which as it now goeth doth hope that his Majestie will spare to confer any suites of moment in Ireland until the return of the Irish Committee was a blunt request to the King to grant no suites there without our advice Against this concluded in my absence the first day of the Tearm I spake first to the Prince privately who allowed of my reasons then when the President would not mend it at the Table openly that I did utterly dislike we should tutour his Majesty how to grant suits especially in Letters that are to remain upon record My Lord of Cantuar and the Earle Marshal said they had many Presidents in that kind I answered I knew they had none but in the Kings time and that I wished them as I do all torn out of the book and cast into the fire I concealed my reasons which now I will reveal unto your Lordship because this is the third time I have expressed unto your Lordship under my hand my dislike of this kind of Limiting his Majestie otherwise then by word of mouth First if his Majestie which we see so often done shall dispose of these suites otherwise here are so many records remaining to malitious men to observe his Majesties aversenesse from following the advice of the Councel board Secondly if your Lordship shall procure any suit in this kind here are records also in time to come that you crosse and thwart the government of the Kingdom And I pray God this be but mine own jealousie The passage in the Letter with my Prating and his Highnesse help was altered and for fear of misreporting I make bold to relate the truth hereof to your Lordship My Lords proceeded very resolutely in those reformations which concerned other men The Commission of fees enables the Committees to call before them all the Judges as well as their under Officers which was more then the King exprest at Hampton Court amongst whom the Lord Keeper is one who from the Conquest to this day was never subjected to the call of any power in the Kingdom but the King and the Parliament And although I have not one Pennie of Fee which hath not continued above one hundred years yet for the honour of the Prime place in the state though now disgraced by the contemptiblenesse of the Officer I am an humble suiter unto your Lordship that my Person may be exempted from the command of Sr. Edwin Sandys or indeed any man els besides the King my Master Otherwise I shall very patiently endure it but the King hereafter may dislike it The Justices of the Peace are also appointed but if the Judges and my self be not utterly deceived to no purpose in the world nor service to his Majestie But when their Lordships came to surrender the under Leivtenantships to his Majesties hands whom the Lord President and I held fit to be created henceforward by several Commissions under the Great Seal it was stiffly opposed and stood upon that the King should name them in their Lordships Commissions onely according to a President in the late Queens time that is the King shall have the naming but they still the appointing of them And now it was pressed that his Majestie intended not to disgrace his Lords c and your Lordship is to have a Letter from Mr. Secretarie to know his Majesties mind herein If his Majestie shall not ordain them to be created by several Pattents it were better a great deal they should continue as they do I am very tedious in the manner and peradventure in the matter of this Letter I humbly crave pardon c. Passages between the Lord Keeper and Don Francisco HE was very inquisitive if I had already or intended to impart what he had told me the night before in secret to any man to the which he did adde a desire of secresie Because 1. The King had charged him and the Frier to be very secret 2. The Embassadours did not know that he had imparted these things unto me 3. The Popes were secret instructions which they gave to the Fryer to urge and presse the same points which himself had done to the King He confessed that the greatest part of the Friers instructions were to do all the worst offices he could against the Duke and to lay the breach of the marriage and disturbance of the peace upon him He excused the bringing the Copy of that paper unto me because the Marquesse had it yet in his custody but said he would procure it with all speed I desired him to do it the rather because besides my approbation of the form and manner of the writing I might be by it instructed how to apply my self to do his Majestie service therein as I found by that Conference
my sorrow and affliction that I have no matter or occasion at all wherein to shew actuallie my affections and earnest desires to comply with my bounden duty in serving your Grace and humbly to desire your Grace to believe that there is no soul living shall do it more sincere-ly and faithfully to the utmost of my understanding then my self will do I add this Caution the rather because if ever I have offended your Grace I take Almighty God to witnesse it was onely forwant of a perfect understanding of those high matters and the persons bent whom they concerned not out of any corruption of affections towards your Grace or the least staggering in a conti nued resolution to live and die your Graces most constant and most faithful servant This God in heaven who seeth what I now write and the King and Prince upon earth do perfectly know and I nothing doubt it will acknowledg unto your Grace And thus with my most humble thanks unto your Grace for that assurance I received that I remain though unimployed and unprofitablely yet in your Graces good affection I beseech Almighty God to preserve your health and to increase your favour day by day with God with the King with the Prince and with all good men The daily vowes of c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning the Countesse of South hampton 17. Novemb. 1624. May it please your Grace I Know how few arguments I need to use to perswade your Grace to works of Noblenesse and charity Your fashion hath been ever since my happinesse of dependance upon you to outrun and prevent all petitions in this kind Yet pardon my boldnesse to be an humble suitor unto your Grace to go on as I know you have already begun in extending your Grace and goodnesse towards the most distressed widdow and children of my Lord of South-hampton Your Grace cannot do any work of charity more approved of by God more acceptable unto men and that shall more recommend the memory of your Noblenesse to future posterity Sir VVilliam Spencer the onely Sollicitor this sorrowful Lady hath now to imploy will present some particulars unto your Grace whom God ever preserve in all health and happinesse And so c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 11. Octob. 1624. May it please your Grace VVIth my most humble and hearty thanks for all your favours extended and multiplyed daily towards me in sicknesse and health which are such and so many that although I trust in God I shall never prove so inhumane as to fail in any service or faithfulnesse to your Grace I must for all that ever live and die ungrateful I thought fit to return unto your Grace this account of the message received by your Grace's Steward I spake with that Lord and although he seemed to be quite off from the businesse and had to my knowledg disposed of his money for a great and a fair purchase here in London and was resolved never to touch any more upon VVatt Steward who had touched somewhat of his and with whom he had agreed for 4000 l. yet hearing the proposition to come so intirely from me as proceeding immediately from your Grace whose good favours this Lord I protest unto your Grace hath earnestly desired and if at any time he hath straggled aside from the Prince's desires and yours it was merely and solely because he thought he was not so much relied upon as others of his rank He promiseth me sometime to morrow a reasonable answer His material Objections were these 1. Quantity of the money so as first and last he is out 16000 l. whereas Cavendish his Countryman and neighbour got up from a Gentleman for 14000 l. I answered That I observed your Grace never got by any of these bargains but that in this compasse of a year or two your favours exceed any gratuity presented 2. Precedencie before VVallingford and especially Vane I did promise for your service to dispute the latter but could say nothing to the former because he was a Viscount and his far ancienter Baron 3. Your Grace's favour and reflection upon himself bred up in the experience of war and peace and upon his sons all of them well bred but most towards the War I did answer generally that upon his application of himself towards your Grace I made little doubt but he should receive good satisfaction in those expectances 4. Times of payment I told him I knew he would demand but a convenient time therein and that I knew your Grace would never stand upon If I have erred in any of these addresses I pray let your Steward come and reform me therein as also to tell me whether if I find him coming forward I may not say unto him That your Lordship upon a former motion of mine was willing upon the next change of the Commission for the Councel of the War to adde him unto the number I propose this 1. Because 't is a new thing 2. Because he desires some excuse unto the World by reason of some future services why his Majestie should receive him unto this honour I have wearied my self and by this time which doth lesse become me your Grace too I beseech your Grace to pardon the blottings and extravagancies my head being yet but meanly settled I beseech God to blesse your Grace And so c. Postscript MAy it please your Grace this Lord hath returned his answer which in good faith seemeth to be with due respect unto your Grace 1. That although the place was offered him for 4000 l. yet because the Offer proceeds from your Grace which he voweth to esteem as an especial favour as long as he liveth he will pay to whom you shall assign 5000 l. and account it a real obligation of service to your Grace for ever if you shall remit him the other thousand pound 2. That for the time with humble thanks for your noble favour which becometh not him to take in appointing the time he returns it to your Grace to nominate two daies of payment as your Steward or the person assigned shall think meet and fit for your Graces occasions desiring some small respite for the former but as little as the party please afterwards for the second payment for his Lordship will send in for his moneys forthwith And he will give his bonds or which I hold superfluous from so sure a Card his Morgage in present for both payments 3. If your Grace shall make him your servant with this favour so nobly condition'd he hopes your Grace may proceed on with his Patent thus forward without any stay for any other Corrival which notwithstanding he humbly refers 4. But desires if his presentment be accepted he may have leave by me to render his thanks unto your Grace personally sometime to morrow And so I leave your Grace for this time in Gods protection And rest Yours c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 24. December 1624. My most
pocket until I shall have the honour to wait upon your Grace when you have made use of the same 2. If your Grace shall hear him complain of the Judges in their charges and of their receiving of Indictments your Grace may answer That those charges are but orations of Course opening all the penal Lawes and the Indictments being presented by the Country cannot be refused by the Judges But the Judges are ordered to execute nothing actually against the Recusants nor will they do it during the negotiation 3. Your Grace may put him in mind that my Lord Keeper doth every day when his the Lord Embassadours Secretary calls upon him grant forth Writs to remove all the persons indicted in the Country into the Kings Bench out of the power and reaches of the Justices of the Peace And that being there the King may and doth release them at his pleasure 4. That the Spanish Embassadour never had nor desired more then these favours 5. That you are informed that Copies of Letters written from the King to both the Archbishops are spread abroad in Staffordshire to his Majesties disadvantage for so it is and that thereby my Lord Embassadour may perceive the bent of the English Catholiques which is not to procure ease and quietnesse to themselves but Scandals to their neighbouring Protestants and discontentments against the King and State I humbly crave your Graces pardon for this boldnesse and tediousnesse and with my hearty prayers for your health do rest yours c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 22. March 1624. May it please your Grace I Send your Grace here inclosed the Kings Commission and the Prince's Proxie not fairly written which the Embassadours upon the place may procure in a frech hand but yet legibly and passably The Prince's Proxie refers the manner unto the articles and particularly to the second third and fourth Section of those Articles which gives me occasion to begg of your Grace pardon to desire your Grace to think seriously upon the third Section to advise with the Prince and to give Mr. Packer charge to inform your Grace punctually what he knoweth and may inform himself concerning those particulars That is How the Queen Margaret of France was married to Henry the fourth and how Madam his sister was married to the Prince of Lorrain For although they are both made alike in the article yet surely they were not married after the same fashion For the Dutchesse of Barr was married in a closet without a Masse by words onely of the Present tense as I believe I have read in the Historie of Thuanus A favour which will hardly be granted to your Grace And how Queen Margaret was married my Lords the Embassadours will soon learn if your Grace will be pleased to write unto them I hold it in a manner necessary that your Grace do carrie over with you in your company one Civilian to put your Grace in mind of the formalities required and if your Grace be of that mind your own Doctor Dr. Reeves is as fit as any man else who is a good Scholar and speaks that language Your Grace hath revived my Lord of Clare sithence I spake with your Grace And I beseech your Grace to follow that resolution and to let Mr. Packer draw up a warrant of 3. or 4. lines signed by the King to me to place him with the rest of the Councel of War It will be an occasion to take up more of that time which he now spends with the Lady Hatton For now I am resolved that I was of the right in my conjecture to your Grace that his Lordship had utterly refused my Lady Purbecks cause of the which the very common peopple begin to be ashamed but is deeply ingaged against my Lady of Richmond Dutchesse of Richmond in the businesse of that famous or rather notorious foeminine Contract and bargain of sixteen hundred pounds by the year for a house to sleep in When your Grace shall draw up your Instructions you will be pleased to use the words To Contract Espouse and marrie Our Welbeloved Son c. because they do in those parts contract alwaies before marriage And your Grace will be pleased to expresse his Majesties pleasure that this is to be done by your self and no other Because although the two Earls upon the place have some such general words in their Commission yet your Grace only is named in the Prince's Proxie and now solely imployed by the King to that purpose Although I conceived this restraint to be fitter a great deal for the instructions then the Commission I am extream sorry to hear what a grievous fit his Majestie had this last night But I hope it is a farewel of the Agues and I pray God it be the last fit And now am an humble suitor again that I may come and look upon his Majestie resolved to say nothing but that which I will never cease to say God blesse him If your Grace holds it inconvenient I beseech your Grace to excuse me and to account me as I will ever be found Yours c. The Bishop of Lincoln to the Duke 7th of January 1625. Most Gratious Lord BEing come hither according unto the dutie of my place to do my best service for the preparation to the Coronation and to wait upon his Majestie for his Royal pleasure and direction therein I do most humbly beseech your Grace to crown so many of your Grace's former favours and to revive a Creature of your own struck dead onely with your displeasure but no other discontentment in the universal world by bringing of me to kisse his Majesties hand with whom I took leave in no disfavour at all I was never hitherto brought into the presence of a King by any Saint besides your self Turn me not over most noble Lord to offer my prayers at new Altars If I were guiltie of any unworthy unfaithfulnesse for the time past or not guiltie of a resolution to do your Grace all service for the time to come all considerations under Heaven could not force me to beg it so earnestly or to professe my self as I do before God and you Your Grace's most humble affectionate and devoted servant Jo. Lincoln The Bishop of Lincoln to his Majestie Most Mighty and dread Soveraign I Have now these four moneths by the strength of those gracious speeches your Majestie used when I took my leave of your Majestie at Salisbury and the conscience of mine own innocencie from having ever wilfully or malitiously offended your Majestie comforted my self in these great afflictions to be thus injoyned from your Majesties presence the onely heaven wherein my soul delighted having submitted my self I hope dutifully and patiently to the discharge from that great Office for the execution whereof I was altogether unworthy My required absence from the Councel Table my sequestration from attending your Majesties Coronation And your Majesties favourable pleasure for so I do esteem that to spare my
who saw and approved all the opinions in this Book and he in his rare wisdom and judgment would never have allowed them if they had Crossed with truth and the Church of England 4. Fourthly we must be bold to say that we cannot conceive what use there can be of Civil Government in the common Wealth or of preaching and external ministrie in the Church if such fatall opinions as some which are opposite and contrarie to these delivered by Mr. Mountague are shall be Publiquely taught and maintained 5. Fiftly we are certain that all or most of the contrarie opinions were treated of at Lambeth and ready to be published but then Queen Elizabeth of famous memorie upon notice given how little they agreed with the Practice of pietie and obedience to all Government caused them to be suppressed and so they have continued ever since till of late some of them have received countenance at the Synod of Dort Now this was a Synod of that nation and can be of no authority in any other National Church till it be received there by Publique authority And our hope is that the Church of England will be well advised and more then once over before Shee admit a forraign Synod especiallie of such a Church as condemneth her discipline and manner of Government to say no more And further we are bold to commend to your Graces wisdom this one particular His Majestie as we have been informed hath already taken this businesse into his own care and most worthily referred it in a right course to Church-consideration And we well hoped that without further trouble to the state or breach of unity in the Church it might so have been well and orderly composed as we still pray it may These things considered we have little to say for Mr. Mountagues person onely thus much we know He is a very good Scholler and a right honest man A man every way able to do God his Majestie and the Church of England great service We fear he may receive great discouragement and which is far worse we have some cause to doubt this may bred a great backwardnesse in able men to write in the defence of the Church of England against either home or forraign adversaries if they shall see him sink in fortunes reputation or health upon his book occasion And this we most humbly submit to your Graces judgment and care of the Churches peace and welfare So recommending your Grace to the protection of Almighty God We shall ever rest At your Graces service Jo. Roffens Jo. Oxon. Guil Meneven 2. August 1625. Doctor Field Bishop of Landaffe to the Duke My Gracious Good Lord IN the great Library of men that I have studied these many yeares your Grace is the best Book and most Classick authour that I have read in whom I find so much goodnesse sweetnesse and noblenesse of nature such an Heroick spirit for boundlesse bounty as I never did in any I could instance in many some of whom you have made Deanes some Bishops some Lords and Privy Councellours None that ever looked toward your Grace did ever go empty away I need go no farther then my self a gum of the Earth whom some 8. years ago you raised out of the dust for raysing but a thought so high as to serve your Highnesse Since that I have not played the Truant but more diligently studied you then ever before And yet Dunce that I am I stand at a stay and am a Non-proficient the book being the same that ever it was as may appear by the great proficiencie of others This wonderfully poseth me and sure there is some guile some wile in some of my fellow Students who hide my book from me or some part of it All the fault is not in mine own blockishnesse that I thrive no better I once feared this before that some did me ill offices Your Grace was pleased to protest no man had and to assure me no man could My heart tels me it hath been alwaies upright and is still most faithful unto you I have examined my actions my words and my very thoughts and found all of them ever since most sound unto your Grace Give me leave after so long Patience for which vertue you were once pleased to commend me to my old Master King James and I have not yet lost it now that for these 12 Months almost I have been not onely upon the Stage but upon the rack of expectations even distracted between hope and fear to comfort my self with recordation of your Loving kindnesses of old when on that great feast day of your being inaugured our Chancellour my look was your booke wherein you read sadnesse to which I was bold to answer I trusted your Grace would give me no cause You replyed with losse of blood rather that was your noble expression But God forbid so precious an effusion I would emptie all my veins rather then you should bleed one drop when as one blast of your breath is able to bring me to the haven where I would be My Lord I am grown an old man and am like old Househouldstuffe apt to be broke upon often removing I desire it therefore but once for all be it Eli or Bathe and Wells and I will spend the remainder of my dayes in writing an History of your good deeds to me and others whereby I may vindicate you from the envie and obloquy of this present wicked age wherein we live and whilest I live in praying for your Grace Whose I am totallie and finallie Theophilus Landaven The Bishop of Landaffe to the Duke My most honourable good Lord IT is meet before I beg a new that I should first acknowledge those benefits and more specially give thanks for the last noble favour your Lordship did me in standing up the last day of Parliament and pleading my cause Never was poor man more bound to a gracious Lord for protecting his innocencie and it came seasonable like a showr of rain in the time of drouth My very heart was parched with grief till it came and it had ere this been broken had not your Lordships speech then dropt comfort in strength whereof it yet lives For an abortive thought which never came into act some 2. or 3. years ago conceived and that tending to a work of mercy and charitie a deed of justice and due thankfulnesse how far how foulie have I been traduced your Honour cannot imagine how deeply I have been wounded in my good name as if I had deserved deprivation degradation yea to be hanged drawn and quartered This can none cure but God or the King Deus in monte God hath done his part in providing an occasion Besides London which is too high for me to look after and the removes which may be thereby Hertford the next Seat to mine whither my Predecessors have oft been removed is said to be now void Now good my Lord speak once more seasonably It is a doubled and
redoubled an infinitely multiplied benefit which is so given Never had I more need of the Cordial his Majestie gave me at my going into Wales which was that I should not stay long there It would be a restorative too not onely of my Credit so cruelly crackt with the sharp teeth of the wide mouth of vulgar lying fame but of my estate also alwaies poor but lately much more impoverished and made crazie by occasions of the Church which drew me to London a place of great expences as the busie times were to little purpose And the Parliament overtaking me which have held me long and longer yet are like to hold me here even to the undoing of my self my wife and six children from whom I have now lived 6. or 7. moneths And what shall I carry home with me but disgrace and infamie Yet my good Lord at least procure me of my Lord the King a Nunc dimittis leave to depart I shall be further out of the reach of pursuing malice there in the Countrie do his Majestie better service in gathering up his Subsidies praying and teaching my children whilest I read a Lecture to them my self was never yet able to get by heart of parcimony which must be to them instead of a patrimonie to pray for his Majesties long life health and happinesse In which prayer shall your Lordship ever be duly remembred by Your Lordships daily devote Beadsman Theophilus Landavensis Dr. Corbet to the Duke May it please your Grace TO consider my two great losses this week one in respect of his Majestie to whom I was to preach the other in respect of my Patron whom I was to visit If this be not the way to repair the latter of my losses I fear I am in danger to be utterly undone To presse too near a great man is a means to be put by and to stand too far off is the way to be forgotten so Ecclesiasticus In which mediocrity could I hit it would I live and die My Lord I would neither presse near nor stand far off choosing rather the name of an ill Courtier then a saucie Scholar From your Graces most humble servant Rich. Corbet Postscript HEre is news my noble Lord about us that in the point of Allegiance now in hand all the Papists are exceeding Orthodox the onely Recusants are the Puritanes The E. of Worcester Arundel and Surrey Montgomery to the King May it please your most excellent Majestie ACcording to the Orders and Constitutions made and established by your Majestie and all the Companions of the Order at the last general Chapter held at White-Hall the 21. of May last past we are bold to inform your Majestie that we having diligently viewed divers of the Records of the said Order do in the black book find that the keeping of the little Park at VVindsor next adjoyning unto the Castle is in direct words annexed for ever to the Office of the Usher for the said Order So humbly kissing your Royal hands We rest Your Majesties most humble and faithful Subjects and servants E. Worcester Arundel and Surrey Montgomery White-Hall 1. July 1622. The Lord Chancellour Bacon to the Duke My very good Lord MY Lord of Suffolk's cause is this day sentenced My Lord and his Lady fined at 30000 l. with imprisonment in the Tower at their own charges Bingley at 2000 l. and committed to the Fleet. Sir Edward Cook did his part I have not heard him do better and began with a sine of an 100000 l. But the Judges first and most of the rest reduced it as before I do not dislike that things passe moderately and all things considered it is not amisse and might easily have been worse There was much speaking of interceding for the Kings mercie which in my opinion was not so proper for a sentence I said in conclusion that mercy was to come ex mero motu and so left it I took some other occasion pertinent to do the King honour by shewing how happy he was in all other parts of his Government save only in the manage of his treasure by these Officers I have sent the King a new Bill for Sussex for my Lord of Nottingham's Certificate was true and I told the Judges of it before but they neglected it I conceive the first man which is newly set down is the fittest God ever preserve and keep you c. The Earl of Suffolk to his Majestie Gratious Soveraign IN this grievous time of my being barred from your presence which to me is the greatest affliction that can lie upon me and knowing by my former service to you the sweet and Princely disposition that is in you naturally together with that unmatchable judgement which the world knoweth you have is the occasion that I presume at this time to lay before your Majestie my most humble suit which is that you would be pleased to look upon the Case of your poor servant who after so many faithful desires of mine to do you service I do not say that successe hath fallen out as I wished should now not only have suffered for my weaknesse and errours but must be further questioned to my disgrace I would to God your Majestie did truly understand the thoughts of my heart and if there you could find one the least of ill affections to you I wish it pulled out of my body Now to adde to my miseries give me leave to let your Majestie know the hard estate I am in for I do owe at this present I dare avow upon my fidelitie to you little lesse then 40000 l. which I well know will make me and mine poor and miserable for ever All this I do not lay down to your Majesties best judging eyes that I mean this by way of complaint For I do acknowledge the reason that your Majestie had to do what you did neither do I go about to excuse errours to have escaped me but will now and ever acknowledge your Gracious favourable dealing with me if you will be pleased now to receive me again to your favour after this just correction without which I desire not to enjoy fortune of Goods or life in this world which in the humblest manner that I can I beg at your Princely feet as Your c. T. Suffolk The E. of Suffolk to the Duke My Honourable good Lord AT the first minute of mine and my wives delivery out of the Tower I had returned such acknowledgment due for so great a favour but that Sir George Coring only desired to be the Messenger as well as he was of the other Let not my Lord my late misfortunes make me or mine more unable to serve and thank you then any hee that thus takes advantage thereby to wrong me in your belief for what I have both received in abatement of my fine and speedy libertie I must confesse to come from your Noble mediation to his Majestie whose displeasure hath been more grievous to my soul then all the
come that opinion doth so govern as strangers get the Command and new Souldiers imployed which was never heard of before amongst men of our occupation It is high time for me to retire and wish I had been of any other profession then this For if long service can get no honour nor reward not imployment but the contrary it would touch a mans discretion to be more and more unfortunate All my comfort is that I shall have the honour and good fortune in my retreat to draw neerer to your Excellencies service if not in my profession which I desire above all yet in something whereof your Excellencie may make use of me For I am ambitious of nothing more then to prove my self by action and not by recommendation Your Excellencies most faithful devoted and humble servant Ed. Cecyl From our Army at Wallike the 4th of Decemb. Sir Edward Cecil to Mr. Secretary Conway My very good Lord IT hath pleased your Lordship to write me three Letters lately the one a particular list of officers that should be sent from hence the second for Mr. Hapton the third an acknowledgement onely of the receipt of my Letter to your Lordship The first I have put in execution and have written to your son Sir Edward Conway to give them all notice of your Lordships Care of them And to let them know how welcome any one shall be to me that you think fit to be imployed For one of them called Ensign Rainesford I had set him down because I received your Lordships direction from himself For Mr. Hopton I have written unto him according to your desire with your Letter inclosed concerning the last I give your Lordship many humble thanks for having expressed the acceptance by your answer Touching your businesse here the State hath ben as contrary to us as the wind For though they see a great action likely to be performed to their own good with little cost to themselves yet they desire to be so wise as to make benefit both wayes and not to balk any advantage which makes them stand so stiff upon the denying of us Officers and Soulders by election and will yield to send none but whole companies onely to abate so much upon the repartitions But Sir William St. Leiger and I have utterly refused their offer as a proposition against his Majesties service for by this ignorant winter war our Companies are grown half new men having lost most of our old and of those new men the half are sick besides So that his Majestie should be beholden to them rather for names then men And again for the Officers and Soulders it is like they should be most of them the worst in the regiment from whence they are to come Whereas if we might have had those Officers we made choice of which were but ten Captaines and other inferiour Officers to the number of thirty they might have been fit for imployment upon a double enemy And I could wish that whensoever his Majestie shall be once furnished with Good Officers it would please him to make account of them as these men do who have had long experience and known their Value It pleased my Lord the Duke to write to me a Letter and to let me know he had chosen me his Officer to attend and obey him this journy an honour too great for me because I did never expect it but nothing shall excuse my faults saving my life And among many other directions he commanded me to provide for the Army such necessary things as cannot be had in England Whereof I have thought of many which I fear I shall not have the time to get In my care belonging to these provisions I have considered the use of our small pieces of Ordinance here which they call Drakes that shoot 70. Musket bullets They will be of great use in this service both in regard of the quick landing and of the passing of such mountainous places as perhaps we may meet withal and likewise in respect of the little hope we have to get any good musquetiers or at least any great store of them But they are in such favour here as we can obtain none from hence and so are forced by a general consent to buy ten of them here that were provided for the King of France And the reputation they carrie is such as they are readie mony every where They cost not much more then 400. sterling and I hope they will prove the profitablest pieces that were ever used in the quarrel of his Maiesties Friends We have likewise considered of what service a company of Firelocks would be to the action but the time is so short we cannot raise them Howsoever we are promised of the States to have leave for a companie of Harquebussiers which are of such use upon all occasions that we cannot misse them And we have chose a brave and worthie Gentleman his Majesties Servant and Subject who is willing to leave any service for this being the service of the King If they should have been raised in England his Majestie must have payed for the horses armes saddles and pistols and yet not find any able to have served in that kind The wind as yet holds contrary which hath made me send this by Sir Henry Vane who goes a way that I dare not passe But I hope if the wind serve not to be many dayes behind him to receive your Lordships command more particularly which I will obey as Your Lordships most humble Servant Ed Cecyl Hagh 2. June 1625. Postscript MY Lord now in this time of necessity for the getting of good Musquetiers there are many hundred to be found in England that have served in this Land which by proclamation and promise of mony in hand or more pay will easily discover themselves whom some of the new men to be released will be glad to satisfy without charge to his Majestie Sir Edward Cecyl to the Duke My most excellent Lord THere are some Letters of mine that had come to your Lorships hands a good many dayes since had not the wind been contrary and withstood their passage The substance whereof was onely to shew you how thankful I hold my self to your excellencie for so great and infinite a favour as it hath pleased your excellencie to think me worthie of But as is it a favour that will set me on work all the dayes of my life so is it greater then I can ever deserve Howsoever my resolution is to do my best And I humbly beseech your Excellencie to believe that with my diligence and the best understanding I have I will seek nothing but to please you and to honour you and if God say Amen to make the world speak of your design as much I hope as ever our Nation hath given cause And for the faults of my self and those I shall bring with me they shall not be excused but with our lives and bloods for I hope I shall bring none
pray against the worst But I found my self then to be more strictly obliged to the performance of this dutie when I received from your Grace so clear and abundant a testimonie as well of your good opinion as of the trust you reposed in me Obligations certainly of that nature and of so large an extent as do with reason deprive me of all degree of libertie and justly subject me to a perpetual state of servitude and obedience to all your Graces Commandements I have diligently perused my Lord of Bristols answer which it pleased your Grace to communicate unto me And although it become me not neither will I presume to give my opinion of the strength or weaknesse thereof yet will I take the liberty to say thus much That I find in his case that to be verified which I have observed at other times to wit That when able and prudent men come to act their own Parts they are then for the most part not of the clearest sight and do commonly commit such errours as are both discernable and avoidable even by men of mean abilities Being now fallen to speak of this Lord I humbly beseech your Lordship to give me leave plainly and briefly to set before you some Cogitations of mine own touching his present occasion First that it may be maturely considered Whether the tendring him any further charge unto which he may be able to frame a probable satisfactorie answer will not rather serve to declare his innocencie then to prepare his Condemnation and so instead of pressing him reflect back with disadvantage upon the proceeding against him Secondly That your Grace would be pleased to consult with your self whether you may not desist from having him further questioned without either blemish to your Honour or manifest prejudice to the service Considering that you have to your perpetual glory already dissolved and broken the Spanish partie and rendred them without either the means or the hope of ever conjoyning in such sort together again as may probably give the least disturbance or impediment to your Graces waies and designs And lastly Although his Lordship in sundry places of his answer especially in the latter part doth seem directly to violate the rule of the * Provident prudent Marriner who in foul weather and in a storm is accustomed to prevent shipwrack rather to pull down then to set up his sailes Neverthelesse as this case stands it deserves to be thorowly pondered which of the two waies will most conduce to your Graces purpose and is likely to receive the best interpretation and success either to have him dealt with after a quick and round manner or otherwise to proceed slowly and moderately with him permiting him for a time to remain where he is as a man laid aside and in the way to be forgotten A state of being if I mistake not his complexion which will be by him apprehended equivalent to the severest and sharpest censure that possibly can be inflicted on him Thus have I over-boldly adventured to present unto your Grace these few Queries and Proposals which they might be both inlarged and more forcibly urged yet to avoid the being too tedious I have chosen to omit the further insisting upon them till such time as I may have the honour and felicitie of being neer your person At this present it shall suffice humbly to beseech your Grace to be assuredly perswaded that what I have now delivered in this subject doth not proceed from any over indulgent respect I bear either to the person or fortune of my Lord of Bristol though I should not be sorry that like a prudent man he might by his discreet application to your Grace render himself capable to be again readmitted to your love and favour But the motive which hath induced me principally to use this plainnesse and libertie is the Consideration how importantly as I conceive the well ordering and disposing this particular doth concern your Graces service Unto the advancement and furtherance whereof if I may be able now or at any time to contribute the least proportion I shall esteem my self most happie and more then abundantly rewarded in case that my right humble endeavours in that kind may receive from your Grace a favourable and acceptable construction I will conclude this Letter with a twofold prayer first to you for my self that your Grace will be pleased to pardon this boldnesse Next to God for you that he will give you health and length of daies for his Majesties service and the good and honour of this Common-wealth I humbly crave leave to remain Your Graces Most obedient and devoted servant Rob. Philips The Earl of Middlesex to the Duke Right Noble and my most honoured Lord I Have received divers Letters from your Lordship since your going from Theobalds which though they concern several men and in sundry kinds yet they all conclude upon diminution of his Majesties estate contrary to your general ground when his Majestie delivered me the Staffe and contrary to your Lordships private directions given me at Theobalds with which I did your Lordship the right to acquaint the King I have of late had cause to take into consideration the miserable condition of my present estate who since I received the staffe have led such a life as my very enemies pity me which I foresaw the distraction of the Kings estate and burthen of that place would of necessitie throw upon me Yet my dutie love and thankfulnesse to his Majestie and my love and thankfulnesse to you contrary to my own judgment and advice of my friends made me undertake it little expecting these Crosse accidents which have lyen heavy upon me and more troubled me then the continual cares and vexations of my place I do most freely and willingly acknowledge one man cannot be more bound unto another then I am to your Lordship and if I do not make a thankful return let me be held an ungrateful Monster which is the worst of Villains I have been so ambitious as to desire to extend my gratitude so far as that the King may have cause to thank you for preferring me and that your Lordship may blesse the time you did it To effect that I shall delight to live a miserable life for a time The course which must of necessitie be held to do it I will acquaint your Lordship with very shortly which I hope you will be pleased to approve and assist me in And then I will expresse my thankfulnesse to you that way If that course shall not like you I will not onely deliver you up my places but whatsoever I hold from the King and live privately upon mine own estate For I will never sell so good and gracious a Master nor so noble and constant a friend ruined and undone God blesse you and send you your hearts desire As for my self I never desired to quit the World and all the fooleries in it till now Your Lordships Faithfullest servant
honour to entertain the Queen Mother She was willing to know upon what terms stood our Spanish alliance I told her that their delayes had been so tedious that they had somewhat discouraged the King and had so wearied the Prince and State which the dilatorie proceedings in it as that Treatie I thought would soon have an end She streight said of marriage taking it that way I told her I believed the contrarie and I did so the rather because the Spanish Embassadour hath given it out since my comming that the Alliance is fully concluded and that my journey had no other end then to hasten his Master unto it only to give them Jealousies of me because he at this time feares their dispositions stand too well prepared to desire and affect a conjunction with us And truly his report and instruments have given some jealousies to the persons of power in this State especially since they find I can say nothing directly unto them yet thus much I have directly from them Mounsieur de Vievielle and others but he is the chief guider of all affaires here That never was the affection of any State so prepared to accept all offers of amitie and alliance so we will cleerly and as disingaged persons seek it as is this but as a wise minister he saies that until we have whollie and truly abandoned the treatie with Spain they may lose the friendship of a brother in law that is alreadie so in hope of gaining another that they may fail of But when we shall see it reallie by a publique Commission that may declare all dissolved that touches upon the way of Spain we shall then understand their hearts not to be capable of more joy then that will bring them And the Queen Mother told me she had not lost those inclinations that she hath heretofore expressed to desire her Daughter may be given to the Prince with many words of value unto the King and person of the Prince and more then this she could not she thought well say it being most natural for the woman to be demanded and sought It is most certain that under-hand Spain hath done all that is possible to procure this State to listen to a crosse-marriage but here they are now so well understood as this baite will not be swallowed by them This I have from a grave and honest man that would not be brought to justifie it therefore he must not hear of it It is the Savoy Embassadour that is resident here a wise and a Gallant Gentleman who vowes this to be most true So general a desire was never expressed as is here for alliance with us and if the King and Prince have as many reasons of State at this time besides their infinite affection here to have it so continued let it be roundly and clearly pursued and then I dare promise as respective and satisfactorie a reception as can be imagined or desired And if it were not too much saucinesse for me to advise I could wish that the propositions of a league and marriage may not come together but may be treated a part For I doubt whether it may not be thought a little dishonourable for this King to give his sister conditionallie that if he will make war upon the King of Spain his brother we will make the alliance with him on the other part if the league should be propounded here with all those reasons of State that are now pressing for them to make it they have causes to doubt and so have we too that we may both be interrupted in that for certainly the King of Spain will if he can possibly please one side the which they think here may be us with the restitution of the Palatinate and we may likewise fear may be them with the rendring of the Valtoline these being the only open quarrels we must ground upon Now as long as these doubts may possesse us both this will prove a tedious and jealous work of both sides But if we fall speedily upon a treatie and conclusion of a marriage the which will find I am perswaded no long delayes here neither will they strain us to any unreasonablenesse in conditions for our Catholiques as far as I can find then will it be a fit time for to couclude a league the which they will then for certain do when all doubts and feares of fallings off are by this conjunction taken away and the necessity of their own affaires and safety will then make them more desire it then we and so would they now if they could think it so sure and so honourable for them For the King of Spain hath so imbraced them of all sides as they fear and justly that he will one day crush them to their destruction My Lord I do not presume to say any thing immediately to the King thorough your hands this I know will passe unto him and if he should find any weaknesse in this that I have presumed to say let the strength of your favour exercise those accustomed Noblenesses that you have alwayes expressed unto Your Graces most humble and obliged Servant Kensington Postscript VVIthin these few dayes your Grace shall hear again from me for as yet I have not seen the King no otherwise then the first night I arrived here This night he is come unto the Town again The Lord Kensington to the Prince 26. February 1624. May it please your Highnesse I Find here so infinite a value of your Person and virtue as what Instrument so ever my self the very weakest having some commands as they imagine from you shall receive excesse of honours from them They will not conceive me scarce receive me but as a publique Instrument for the service of an Alliance that above all the things in this world they do so earnestly desire The Queen Mother hath expressed as far as she thinks is fit for the honour of her Daughter great favour and good will in it I took the boldnesse to tell her the which she took extreamly well that if such a proposition should be made your Highnesse could not believe that she had lost her former inclinations and desires in it She said your trust of her should find great respect there is no preparation I find towards this businesse but by her and all perswasions of amitie made light that look not towards this end And Sir if your intentions proceed this way as by many reasons of State and wisdom there is cause now rather to presse it then slacken it you will find a Ladie of as much Lovelinesse and Sweetnesse to deserve your affection as any creature under Heaven can do And Sir by all her fashions since my being here and by what I hear from the Ladies it is most visible to me her infinite value and respect unto you Sir I say not this to betray your belief but from a true observation and knowledge of this to be so I tell you this and must somewhat more in
friendship and alliance He is very free to me telling me That to prevent this the King of Spain offers now the largest conditions of satisfaction and friendship that can be imagined but their thoughts here are wholly bent towards us And although as yet the King cannot with honour or wisdom say more then he hath done yet we may be assured when we are free to be satisfied in all we can desire This day I understand the Earl of Argile is like lightning passed by for Spain and by a special Command from the King it is to put us in more terrour That he will use his service in Scotland where I believe he hath little credit and power to offend us But howsoever they omit nothing that may dishearten us but we are of too noble and constant a temper either to fear their cunning or power My Lord give me leave to beseech you not to defer our businesse for never can this State be found so rightly and truly inclined in love and affection towards us And the rather hasten it because all the art that may be is daily used from Spain to prevent us and if we go not roundly and clearly with them here they may have jealousies and discouragements that may change them Take them therefore now when I dare promise they are free very free from those thoughts My Lord pardon the haste of this Letter that hath no more time given me but to tell you that you never can have any servant more devotedly yours then is Your Graces Most obliged and most humble servant Kensington The Earl of Holland to the Duke My dearest Lord VVEE have made a final conclusion of this great Treatie Upon what terms the dispatch at large will shew your Grace We have concluded honourably that which we could not do safely for to receive words that obliged not would have appeared an unwise and unperfect Treatie of our part and no way worthy of the greatnesse of our Master nor the passion of his Highnesse the which now hath a brave expression since his Mistresse is only considered and desired and the only object of our Treatie But I must tell you that since we have proceeded thus they say they will out-go us in the like braverie doing ten times more then we expect or they durst promise fearing the World would conceive all their doings conditionally the which would be dishonourable for Madam But that being safe they now say their interest is greater then ours for the recovering of the Palatinate and they will never abandon us in that action I hope we shall shortly have the honour and happinesse to see your Grace here where you will be as justly you deserve adored You must make haste for we are promised our sweet Princesse within six weeks I beseech you let me know your resolution that I may contrive which way I may best serve you against your coming I have carefully laboured according unto your Commands in that which the Marquesse de Fiat You may assure him of a speedie and good successe in it the which he will more fully understand when Mounsieur de la Ville-aux-Cleres shall be in England He begins his journey from hence within 3. daies He is worthy of the best reception that can be given him having throughout all this Treatie carried himself discreetly and affectionately I beseech you put the Prince in mind to send his Mistris a Letter And though I might as the first Instrument imployed in his amours expect the honour to deliver it yet will I not give my Colleague that cause of envie But if his Highnesse will write a private Letter unto Madam and in it expresse some particular trust of me And that my relations of her have increased his passion and affection unto her service I shall receive much honour and some right since I onely have expressed what concerned his passion and affection towards her If you think me worthy of this honour procure a Letter to this purpose and send it me to deliver unto her and likewise your Commands the which I will receive for my greatest comforts living in unhappinesse untill I may by my services expresse how infinitely and eternally I am Your Graces Most humble and most obliged and devoted servant Holland Postscript THe Presents that the Prince will send unto Madam I beseech you hasten The Earl of Holland to his Majestie May it please your most excellent Majestie VVE are in all the pain that may be to know what to answer to the malicious and continual complaints made by Blanvile of wrongs and violences done him even to the assaulting of him in his own lodging the which he hath represented with so much bitternesse as it took great impression here in the hearts of all especially of the Queen Mother whom yesterday I saw in the accustomed priviledge hath ever been given me to have at all times my entrance free into the Louure And I the rather went because I would not shrink at all their furies and clamours and it came to such a height as Petitions were given by Madam de Blanvile that she might for the injuries done to her husband his Embassadour have satisfaction upon our persons But she was as she deserved despised for so passionate a follie yet was it in consideration as I suspect by a word that the Queen Mother uttered in her passion to me who with tears before all the World being accompanied by all the Princesses and Ladies told me but softlie That if your Majestie continued to affront and suffer such indignities to be done to the Embassadour of the King her Son your Majestie must look that your Embassadours shall be used a la pareylie I confesse this stirred me so much as I told her That if the intentions of your Majestie were no better considered by the King here your Majestie commanding us for the good and happinesse of his Kingdom to endeavour to bring and give him the which we have done the greatest blessing in this World Peace in his Countrie then to be ballanced with a person that in requital hath stirred up and dailie desires to do it disputes and jarres even between your Majestie and the Queen we had reason to believe your Majestie most unjustly and most unworthily requited And it might take away upon any such occasion the care that otherwise you would have had to do the like And for my part it took from me all desire ever to be imployed upon any occasion hither where our Actions that their acknowledgments have been acceptable but a few daies past are now of so little consideration as we are of no more weight then the unworthiest Minister that ever was imployed Upon that I found she was sorrie for having expressed so much But this day we had from her a more favourable audience and from the King the effects and circumstances of that which we have in our Dispatch presented unto my Lord Conway Sir the malice of this Blanvile is so great
scrupulous that she had written a very sharp Letter full of good lessons and instructions to her that she had as clear a heart to your Grace as was possible had sent for Blanvil expressely to alter his instructions and that howsoever he like a hollow-hearted man had uttered in confidence to a friend of his That he would perswade the Queen of England to put on a reconciled countenance for a time till the way should be better prepared to give your Grace a dead lift yet the Queen Mothers intentions were assuredly sincere and good The Savoyards Embassadours voyage was not then resolved but his Secretarie prepared to make it in his room Of whom Pocheres by the way gave this touch That there was a great correspondence between Madamoiselle de Truges and him contracted upon occasions of frequent visits that had passed betwixt her Mother and the Embassadour and that therefore a careful eye was to be had of him Another who must be namelesse sent for me yesterday in the forenoone to tell me that Pore Berule's errand hither was only to make out-cries against the decree or proclamation against the Catholiques and to accuse your Grace as the Principal if not the only author who was now of a seeming friend become a deadly foe That the Earl of Arundel had out of his respect unto this State purposely absented himself that he might not be guilty of so pernicious a Councel That your Grace and my Lord of Holland had both but very slippery hold in his Majesties affections that if this King would imploy his credit as he might it would be no hard matter to root you both out thence that there were good preparatives for it alreadie and that my Lords Arundel and Pembroke would joyn hands and heads together to accomplish the effect Whereupon Blainville was sent for back to be more particularly instructed in the waies how to compasse it and would speedily post away in diligence The same party added that the propositions which the Marquesse de Fiatt had made bout the League and Fleet were before Brule's arrival somewhat well tasted but since slighted as those that became cheap by their offer to divers others as well as them that the said Marquesse should have visited Blainville at Paris and sounded him about his errand after this manner First whether he had order to disnestle Madam de St. George Whereto the answer was No and that it was against all reason of State so to do and when the other replyed that the world was come to a bad passe if reason of State descended as low as her Blainville remained silent Secondly whether he had commission to introduce the Dutchesse of Buckingham and the Countesse of Denbigh into the Queenes bed-chamber Answer was made that it was a nice and tender point and if that were once condescended to they would be continually whispering in the Queenes ear how dear she would be to the King her Husband how plausible and powerful among the people how beloved of all if she would change her religion against which they were in conscience here bound to provide and therefore conclude with a refusal of that likewise Thirdly whether he carried any good instructions about an offensive or defensive league whereunto the negative was still repeated but that he carried brave offers for the entertainment of Mansfelt And when the Marquesse replied that if that were all the contentment he carried he feared she would find but a very cold welcome the other added that perhaps he might be an Instrument to make the Queen and Duke friends This were good quoth the Marquesse if the Queen had not as much need of the Dukes friendship as the Duke of hers and upon these terms they parted The same lips that utterred all this gave caution likewise against the Savoyard Embassadour as a cunning deep hollow-hearted man And being felt by me how his pulse beat towards Porcheres told me he was a mercenarie man and no wayes to be trusted In the issue of all this his Councel was That your Grace would consider well your own strength and what ground you have in his Majesties favour If it be solid and good then a Bravado will not do amisse may be powerful here to make them to see their own errour and to walk upright so it end with a good close but if your station be not sure then he Counsels to prevent the storm for to break with all Spain France Puritanes Papists were not wisdom And desires that by any meanes you instantly dispatch a Currier to me to represent the true state of things at home and how you desire matters should be ordered for your service here abroad so that there may be fabriqued a more solid contentment to your Grace whose hands I most humbly kisse in quality of Your Graces Most humble most faithful most obeent and most obliged Servant Tho. Lorkin Postscript IF my stay be intended long it will be necessary that I use a Cypher which I humbly beseech your Grace to send me or to give me leave to frame one as I can As I was closing up my Letter Mr. Gerbier arrived who hath been somewhat indisposed in his health by the way but now is reasonably well God be thanked His coming is very seasonable and I assure my self will be useful By the discourse I have had with Mr. Gerbier I see a little clearer into the state of things here and think Porcheres his advertisement may be truer as being perhaps grounded upon knowledge the other springing only upon conjecture built upon Berule's clamours and overtures and the suddain sending for Mounsieur Blanville back Your Grace will see day in all shortly But assuredly the latter advice comes from a heart that is affectionately devoted to your Graces service This Bearer will kisse your Graces hands from the Authour and thereby you will know his name which he stipulated might not come in writing The Lord Herbert to his Majestie My most Gracious Soveraign NOw that I thank God for it his Highnesse according to my continual prayers hath made a safe and happie return unto your Sacred Majesties presence I think my self bound by way of Compleat obedience to these Commandements I received from your Majestie both by Mr. Secretary Calvert and my Brother Henry to give your Majestie an account of that sense which the general sort of people doth entertain here concerning the whole frame and Context of his Highnesse voyage It is agreed on all parts that his Highnesse must have received much contentment in seeing two great Kingdomes and consequently in enjoyning that satisfaction which Princes but rarely and not without great peril obtain His Highnesse discretion diligence and Princely behaviour every where likewise is much praised Lastly since his Highnesse journey hath fallen out so well that his Highnesse is come back without any prejudice to his person or dignity they say the successe hath sufficiently commended the Councel This is the most common censure
even of the biggest party as I am informed which I approve in all but in the last point in the delivery whereof I find something to dislike and therefore tell them that things are not to be judged alone by the successe and that when they would not look so high as Gods providence without which no place is secure they might find even in reason of State so much as might sufficiently warrant his Highnesse person and liberty to return I will come from the ordinary voice to the selecter judgement of the Ministers of State and more intelligent people in this Kingdom who though they nothing vary from the above recited opinion yet as more profoundly looking into the state of this long treated of Alliance betwixt your Sacred Majestie and Spain in the persons of his Highnesse and the Infanta they comprehended their sentence thereof as I am informed in three Propositions First that the protestation which the King of Spain made to his Highnesse upon his departure whereby he promised to chase away and disfavour all those who should oppose this marriage doth extend no further then to the said Kings Servants or at furthest not beyond the temporal Princes his Neighbours so that the Pope being not included herein it is though his consent must be yet obtained and consequently that the businesse is in little more forwardnesse then when it first began Secondly that the Pope will never yield his consent unlesse your Sacred Majestie grant some notable priviledges and advantage to to the Roman Catholique religion in your Sacred Majesties Kingdomes Thirdly that the said King of Spain would never insist upon obtaining those priviledges but that he more desires to form a party in your Sacred Majesties Kingdomes which he may keep alwaies obsequious to his will then to maintain a friendly correspondence between your Sacred Majestie and himself I must not in the last place omit to acquaint your Sacred Majestie very particularly with the sense which was expressed by the bons Francois and bodie of those of the Religion who heartily wish that the same Greatnesse which the King of Spain doth so affect over all the world and still maintaines even in this country which is to be Protector of the Jesuited and Bigott partie your Sacred Majestie would imbrace in being defender of our faith The direct answer to which though I evade and therefore reply little more then that this Counsel was much fitter when the union in Germany did subsist then at this time Yet do I think my self obliged to represent the affection they bear unto your Sacred Majestie This is as much as is come to my notice concerning that point your Sacred Majestie gave me in charge which therefore I have plainely layd open before your Sacred Majesties eyes as understanding well that Princes never receive greater wrong then when the Ministers they put in trust do palliate and disguise those things which it concerns them to know For the avoiding whereof let me take the boldnesse to assure your Sacred Majestie that those of this Kings Councel here will use all meanes they can both to the King of Spain and to the Pope In whom they pretend to have very particular interest not only to interupt but if it be possible to break off you Sacred Majesties Alliance with Spain For which purpose the Count de Tilliers hath strict command to give al punctual advice that accordingly they may proceed It rests that I most humbly beseech your Sacred Majestie to take my free relation of these particulars in good part since I am of no faction nor have any passion or interest but faithfullie to perform that service and dutie which I owe to your Sacred Majestie for whose perfect health and happinesse I pray with the devotion of Your Sacred Majesties most obedient most Loyal and most affectionate Subject and Servant Herbert From Merton Castle the 31. of October 1623. Stil No. Mr. Edward Clark to the Duke May it please your Grace I Have been hitherto very unfit by reason of my sicknesse to give your Lordship any account of my time at Madrid So that without your Lordships favourable construction I may be thought forgetful of the trust committed to my charge and the rather in that as yet your Lordship hath only heard what I have done but not why I presume I have faithfullie followed the Princes direction and on such probable inducements as will I hope both in your Highnesses and your Lordships opinion plead my excuse at least The verie day the Prince arrived at St. Anderaet my Lord of Bristol seeing me verie weak told me he was verie sorrie I was not able to perform the journie for England for that now there was an extraordinary occasion of a dispatch not only in respect of the ratification come the night before but because also they were almost come to a final conclusion of all articles which were to be engrossed and signed the next day Hereupon I was inquisitive to know what assurance he had the Ratification was come He answered that that verie day he had been summoned to attend the Junto and that there they had earnestlie pressed him that the Articles might be speedilie drawn up and signed since they had now received full warrant to authorize them to proceed And that the next day was appointed accordingly Thereupon unwilling to omit the present opportunitie conceiving withal the purpose of the Princes Letter to be either to expresse his Highnesse further pleasure before the meeting of the Junto or to prevent the concluding of some other particular Article they might otherwise fall upon I delivered his Letter to his Lordship pretending it came to my hands amongst other Letters that same day I found him exceedinglie troubled in reading it nor did he forbear to tell me it must for a time be concealed for he feared if they should come to the knowledge of it they would give order to stay the Prince Upon these motives and in this manner I parted with it wherein I humbly submitting my self to his Highnesse Construction I remain Your Graces humblest servant to command Ed. Clark Madrid 1. Octob. 1623. Mr. Edward Clark to the Duke My Lord THe Infanta's preparation for the Disposorio was great but greater sorrow good Ladie to see it deferred It hath bred in them all some distraction The multitude know not what to conjecture what to say but cry Piden el Palatinato They confesse the demand just but unseasonable and do publish that the Disposorio past the Infanta on her knees should have been a suitor to the King to restore it making it thereby her act and drawing the obligation wholly to her I must confesse I want faith to believe it and the rather because I see it reflect secretly and malitiously upon your Lordship who are made the authour of all the impediments that happen not by your enemies onely but by those that should suppresse it Which troubles me so much that I hasten all I
John hath changed his purpose of going and his excuse will be made at his intreatie by his Excellencie who hath since let me know Though he would not deny me his leave yet he is better content in regard he is so slenderly accompanied with Colonels in a time when the State hath need of their service with his stay So as Sir John hath the obligation to your Lordship of a favourable recommendation and for his not prevailing himself of his leave when it was granted I must leave to himself to render a reason For my part having accomplished what I find by your Lordships Letter to be agreeable both to his Majesties pleasure your Lordships I thought it my dutie to advertize That there is an ancient difference between Sir Horacio Vere and Sir Edward Cecyl about the extent of their Commands whereupon followeth a great inconveniencie to the dishonor of our Nation which as it appears when they were last in the field before Reez are divided hereby and march and lodge in several bodies and quarters Much endeavour hath been formerly used in these parts to reconcile them but all in vain by reason of some ill Instruments who wrought upon both their discontents to set them farther asunder Now they are both in England and are both written for to come over It were a work worthy of your Lordship to make them understand one another better and what they will not yeeld to of themselves to over-rule by his Majesties authoritie I may not conceal from your Lordship that I am intreated by the Prince of Orange himself to do this office both with his Majestie and your Lordship wherein he would not be seen himself because having dealt between them fruitlesly heretofore he doubteth of the like successe now But when their agreement shall be made he will acknowledge his obligation to your Lordship and for the better proceeding therein I sent your Lordship a Copie of an order formerly set down betwixt them with the translate of Sir Horacio Vere's Commission both which I had of his Excellencie and likewise the beginning and proceeding of their difference as I have collected the same in brief out of other mens reports The projects I sent your Lordship with my last of a West-Indian Companie having been proposed to the States of Guelderland for their ratification who have the leading voice in the Assemblie of the States general end were ever least forward in that businesse hath thus far their allowance that they will concur therein with the rest of the Provinces But withal I do understand they have given their Deputies secret charge not to give way thereunto in case they find it prejudicial to the Truce Which makes the matter evident that the project of the Company though it be never so advanced will stand or fall according to the proceeding of the Truce The expiration whereof approaching so neer and here being advertisements from Paris that a French Gentleman one Belleavium who was lately imployed hither to the Prince of Orange about the difference betwixt him and the Prince of Conde had secret instructions to sound the States how they stood affected to the renewing thereof I have used all diligence to know how far he went and am well informed he hath done nothing therein of Consideration onely this past between him and his Excellencie He telling his Excellencie from Mounsieur Desdiguieres and some of the French Kings Councel how acceptable the extraordinarie Embassage intended from hence will be in that Court and thereupon perswading a speedie imbracing the opportunitie From whence said his Excellencie after his round manner cometh this alteration To speak plainly said he they fear in France you will renew the Truce without them and therefore by your Embassadours they would interpose themselves Here are good advertisements both from Bruxels and Paris that the Spaniards intent is not to renew the Truce but to have a Peace proposed with these plausible conditions That the King of Spain will pretend nothing in the Regiment of these United Provinces nor require any thing of them in the point of Religion but leave all in terms as it now stands with recognition onely of some titular Soveraigntie which he cannot in honour relinquish This is already proposed to France as a glorious work to establish a settled Peace in these parts of the world but with this condition That if it be not imbraced here then France shall refuse to give this State any further support or countenance of which it is here believed that Spain hath already obtained a firm promise in that Court. And that either the like overture is already made or will be within few daies to his Majestie Under which doth lie hidden many mysteries much to the advantage of the Spaniard and prejudice of this State for the very proposition of a new Treatie will distract them here very much in regard of their unsettlednesse and aptnesse upon any dispute to relapse into faction besides many Considerations of importance belonging properly to the Constitution of their Government but the acceptation of the old by renewing of the Truce upon the former terms for so many years more or lesse as shall be thought sitting will in my poor opinion which notwithstanding is not slenderly grounded take place without much difficultie The importance of this businesse hath made me give your Lordship this trouble and your Lordship may be pleased to let his Majestie understand as well that little as is done by Mounsieur Belleavium as what they here conceive to be further intended by the Spaniard So I most humbly take leave ever resting Your Lordships Most faithful servant Dudley Carleton Hague this 10th of June 1620. Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke Most Honourable NOt to give your Lordship the trouble of often Letters I render an account of his Majesties Commandments by the same hand I usually receive them One I had lately by an expresse Letter from his Majestie accompanied with another from your Lordship touching my Lord of Buckleugh to demand full satisfaction of the States for all his Lordships pretentions and to that effect to procure Instructions and Commission to be sent to Sir Noel Carone to end this businesse To which effect I have moved both his Excellencie and the States and whilest they were treating thereof Colonel Brogue arrived here out of Scotland with whom they are now handling to put him to Pension and to give my Lord the Command of his Regiment in lieu of his Pretensions Which when they come to calculate my Lord will find a short reckoning of them and to send accounts out of their accountants hands and refer them to others they will never be moved Wherefore if the course they now take can be gone thorough with which Colonel Brogue doth most unwillingly hear of it will be then in my Lords choice whether he will remain satisfied or not And within few daies I hope to return my Lords Secretarie with advertisement of what is
the honour to be his Majesties servant I imploy him the more willingly as able to give Account of such particularities either of this Negotiation or otherwise of which his Majestie and your Grace may require knowledge And I humbly beseech your Grace to give him encouragement by your accustomed noble favour So rests Your Graces Most humble and most devoted servant Dudley Carleton Hague 16. February 1625. Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke May it please your Grace IT were a sin against the publique service in which your Grace doth imploy your self so much to the common good and your own honour to molest you with Letters in this busie time which must serve me for excuse of silence since the beginning of the Parliament What I write now is by Commandment of the Queen of Bohemia concerning this Bearer Captain Gifford an old Seaman of our Nation who having a private suite to the States hath made a journey over hither with recommendation to me from our two Secretaries for advancement thereof but with a further purpose to be imployed by the Queen against the Spaniard in a matter of no lesse moment then taking of a Gallion which usually bringeth the treasure over the Gulph of Mexico from Nova Spagna to the Havana Which he designs after this manner To go out with two Ships and a Pinnace onely fitted for fight without more in number because of the Alarum would be taken at a greater Fleet and to lie under Covert of a small Island in the entrie of the Gulph of Mexico where the Gallion coming usually alone unlesse it be accompanied with some Merchants ships which he sets light by and which incumbred with goods and Passengers he thinks may be mastered and taken building upon the securitie in which that Gallion with the rest of that Nova Spagna Fleet do sayl scattering in the Gulph till they meet with the Fleet of Terra Firma at the Havana where he having been heretofore a prisoner made this observation and doth now offer himself to put the design in execution with a demand of betwixt 10000 and a 11000 l. for the whole equipage The Queen in recompence of his good will returns him with this addresse to your Grace as a man fit for imployment for so he is generally reputed but for the particularitie of the Exploit she doth not entertain any thought thereof but refers it wholly to your Graces Consideration and to the opportunitie according as affaires shall succeed betwixt his Majestie and Spain Here are come Letters from some of the King and Queens servants on that side and one to my self from a private friend advertizing That there is a readinesse in divers of his Majesties Subjects of good abilities to put to Sea with Letters of Mart in the name of this King and Queen against the Spaniard and of a likelihood that if such Commissions were given by these Princes they would not be ill understood by his Majestie Mounsieur Aertsens hath likewise written hither in a private Letter to the Prince of Orange that he hath been spoken with to move the States to increase the number he and his Colleague have mentioned of 10 or 12 Ships to joyn in any good occasion with his Majesties Fleet to 20 And that the purpose is to set out 50 sayl on that side and that both shall go under the name of the King and Queen of Bohemia Wherein though the motion be not directly made yet the Prince of Orange hath discoursed enough that when it shall come to issue they will stretch themselves to furnish to the full what is required on this side In both these businesses as well the granting Letters of Mart by these Princes as their lending their names to any greater Action they intend to govern themselves onely as they shall understand to concur with his Majesties pleasure and therefore hope they shall receive advice from his Highnesse and your Grace what is fit for them to contribute to such occasions as they see much to their Comforts you advance with so great care and vigilance Thus I most humbly take leave Hague 16. April 1624. Your Graces most humble and most devoted Servant Dudley Carleton Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke May it please your Grace SUch Commandments as I received from your Grace by double Dispatches of the 4th of the last by way of provision whilest Sir William Saintleiger lay sick were prevented by his own presence He bringing the first of those Packets with him and thereby had Commoditie to assist at the breaking of the businesse to the States by virtue of his Majesties Credence given him and my Lord General Cecil which since he hath sollicited both at the Camp and in this place with all possible care and industrie and I have not failed of my utmost endeavours But the unsettlednesse of this Government which still continueth since the late change of Governours hath bred delay to some and direct impediments to other points we had in charge which we have endeavoured to supply by other means And now in what state he leaves the whole businesse he will relate to your Grace Such Patents as your Grace required from the King and Queen of Bohemia I have committed to his delivery in divers forms with a Blank signed and sealed wherein to frame such an one as may be better to your minds But if your Grace make no use of it you may please to return it to me again to the end I may restore it What concerns my self I absolutely remit and submit to your Grace onely I will renew the request I made to your Grace by my Nephew That your Grace will not prefer any before me in your formerly intended favour out of belief that any can be more then I resolve to rest whilest I live a touttes Espreves Humbly and faithfully devoted to your Graces person and service Dudley Carleton Hague 20. June 1625. Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke May it please your Grace AFter long attendance the wind is come good for Plymouth which I hope will carry thither speedily and safely the States whole Fleet though in 3. parts 12 Ships with the Admiral de Nassau who hath long waited in the Tessel 4 but newly ready provided by those of Zealand at Amsterdam and 4 which have layen sometimes before the Brill whereof one is to land the Marshal Chatillion in passing by Calice the other three to Convoy the English men And Armes I send in 10. other Ships I have hired at Rotterdam before which place they have layen 20 daies a Shipboard by reason of contrary winds with some impatiencie but no disorder which what course I took to prevent as likewise what may happen in their Voyage my Lord Conway to whom I give a particular account of all will inform your Grace I have obtained leave for Sir John Proud to go the Voyage according to his Majesties Letter though it was somewhat stood upon by the States and he hath taken his passage by
containing prayers and meditations for every day of the week and for all other times and occasions by 〈◊〉 Edward Gee Dr. of Divinity in quarto The Divels an Asso a Comedy acted in the year 1616 by his Majesty's Servants the Author Ben. Johnson in folio The Marriage of the Arts by Barten Holliday in Quarto Michaelmas Term in Quâ—â—to Fine Companion in Quarto The Phaenix in Quarto The Just General by Cosmo Manuche in Quarto The Couragious Turk in Quarto by T. Goffe Christ Church in Oxford The Tragedy of Orestes in Quarto by T. Goffe Christ Church in Oxford The Bastard a Tragedy in Quarto by T. Goffe Christ Church in Oxford Edward the fourth first and second Part a Play in Quarto Platonick Lovers in quarto per Sir William Davenant Knight The Wits a Comedy in quarto per Sir William Davenant Knight The Triumphs of Prince D' Amour in quarto per Sir William Davenant Knight The Faithful Shepardesse Acted before the King and Queen divers times with great applause at Black-Fryers by his Majesties Servants written by John Fletcher Gent. in quarto A Recantation of an ill led life or a discovery of the high-way Law as also many Cautelous Admonitions and full Instructions how to know shun and apprehend a thief most necessary for all honest Travellers to peruse observe and practice written by John Clavel Gent. The eleventh Report of the Lord Cook in French in folio Statutes in the xxi K. James and the first and third Caroli in folio Lamberts Archeion or Comments on the High Courts of Justice in Octavo Powels search of Records in Quarto The Lawes and Resolutions of womens Rights in quarto Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarum in quarto The Parsons Law Collected out of the whole body of the Common Law and some late Reports in Octavo The Court keepers Guide A plain and familiar Treatise useful for the help of those that are imployed in keeping Law daies or Courts Baron wherein is largely and plainly opened the Jurisdiction of those Courts with the learning of Mannors Coppy-holds Rents Herriots and other services and advantages belonging to Mannors to the great profit of Lords of Mannors and owners of these Courts The third Edition enlarged the Author William Shepard Esquire in Octavo Reliquiae Wottonianae or a Collection of Lives Letters and Poems with characters of sundry personages and other Incomparable pieces of Language and Art by the Curious pensil of the ever Memorable Sir Henry Wotton Knight late Provost of Eaton in Duodecimo The Ladies Cabinet enlarged and opened Containing many rare Secrets and rich Ornaments of several kinds and different uses comprized under three general Heads viz. 1. Preserving Conserving Candying c. 2. Physick and Chirurgery 3. Cookery and Houswifery With sundry Experiments and Extractions of Waters Oyles c. Collected and practised by the late Right Honourable and learned Chymist the Lord RUTHUEN in Duodecimo Calendarium Pastorale sive Eglogae Duodecim totidem Anni mensibus Accomodatae Anglicè olim scriptae ab Edmundo Spencero Anglorum Poetarum Principe nunc autem Eleganti Latino Carmine donatae à Theodoro Bathurst Aulae Pembrokianae apud Cantabrigiensis aliquando socio And the same in English against the Latine in Octavo The Combat of Love and Friendship A Comedy as it was formerly presented by the Gentlemen of Christ-Church in Oxford by Robert Mead sometime of the same Colledge in Quarto Miscellanea spiritualia or devout Essayes by the Honourable Walter Mountague Esquire the second Part in Quarto The End SCRINIA SACRA Secrets of Empire IN LETTERS Of illustrious Persons A SVPPLEMENT OF THE CABALA IN WHICH Business of the same Quality and Grandeur is contained With many famous Passages of the late Reigns of K. HENRY 8. Q. ELIZABETH K. JAMES and K. CHARLS LONDON Printed for G. Bedel and T. Collins and are to be sold at their Shop at the Middle-Temple-gate in Fleet-street 1654. THE STATIONERS To the READER WE cannot suppose here that words will be needed to raise opinion yet it may be expected we should give some account of what we have done and we will do it Not long agone we printed that excellent collection of Letters known by the name of Cabala which the world has seen and approved Since another volume of Letters hath come to our hands a volume which may justly be called a second Cabala not unworthy to keep that company a part which must add much to the other as illustrious in its titles as considerable and as weighty for the matter In which besides not a few noble monuments of the former years from the deserting of the Roman Church by our great Henry downward of his daughter the most glorious virgin Queens life and government recorded some of the same great actions are begun many continued much of the policie contrivances and workings of the same succeeding Princes and their Ministers of the carriage of the same things farther prosecuted and more fully discovered Like sister-twins of lovely faces they have both apart their native sweetness their several worths and graces yet they are not so fully taking so perfectly beautiful as where they are drawn together in one frame In the new more is discovered not only of the foreign affairs in Germany Italy France Spain and other Countries whither the interest of the late Reignes engaged the Soveraign actors but of our home-Councels Orders and provisions both for the Church and Common-wealth enough to shew the prudence judgment and foresight of those who swayed in chief then and to let us know now the Ages past have had the honour to be governed by men who did not permit all things to fortune who if they could not assure themselvs of the events yet they could command design and understand Their designs and counsels which will be admirable to some but ridiculous to others being ever directed and ruled by equity and justice ever aiming at honest ends such as may venture abroad such as will appear fair and handsom in the light whereas if we cast our eys upon the Popes in the same leafs we shall find nothing but combustions nothing but fire brimstone and alarums to war and blood If upon the French nothing but inhumane cruelty and violence upon the conscience too If upon the Imperialists and Spaniards nothing but artifice nothing but cunning perfidiousness all their plots and consultations their cheating Treaties tending meerly to the advancement of the Austrian house without any respect to piety and justice faith or honour A taste of which unworthiness we find in this second Part where the Spanish Match is first moved by the Duke of Lerma the grand Minion in Philip the 3. his reign this Duke damns himself in oaths for his sincerity and reality toward the Match which Olivarez the present Kings Favourite tels his Master here was never intended It would be too tedious but to touch in passing by upon the generals in these Letters upon the calamities and miseries of
and submit I can neither yeild my self to be guilty nor this my imprisonment lately laid upon me to be just I ow so much to the Author of Truth as I can never yeild Truth to be Falshood nor Falshood to be Truth Have I given cause you ask and yet take a scandall No I gave no cause to take up so much as Fimbria his complaint for I did totum telum corpore accipere I patiently bear and sensibly feel all that I then received when this scandall was given me Nay when the vilest of all indignities are done unto me doth religion enforce me to sue Doth God require it Is it impiety not to do it Why cannot Princes erre Cannot subjects receive wrong Is an earthly power infinite Pardon me pardon me my Lord I can never subscribe to these principles Let Solomons fool laugh when he is stricken let those that mean to make their profit of Princes shew to have no sense of Princes injuries let them acknowledge an infinite absoluteness on earth that do not believe an absolute infiniteness in heaven As for me I have received wrong I feel it my cause is good I know it and whatsoever comes all the powers on earth can never shew more strength or constancy in oppressing then I can shew in suffering whatsoever can or shall be imposed upon me Your Lordship in the beginning of your Letter makes me a Player and your self a looker on and me a player of my own game so you may see more then I but give me leave to tell you that since you do but see and I do suffer I must of necessity feel more then you I must crave your Lordships patience to give him that hath a crabbed fortune leave to use a crooked stile But whatsoever my stile is there is no heart more humble nor more affected towards your Lordship then that of Your Lordships poor friend ESSEX Two Letters framed one as from Mr. Anthony Bacon to the Earl of Essex the other as the Earls answer My singular good Lord THis standing at a stay doth make me in my love towards your Lordship jealous lest you do somwhat or omit somwhat that amounteth to a new error For I suppose that of all former matters there is a full expiation wherein for any thing which your Lordship doth I for my part who am remote cannot cast or devise wherein my error should be except in one point which I dare not censure nor disswade which is that as the Prophet saith in this affliction you look up ad manum pertutientem and so make your peace with God And yet I have heard it noted that my Lord of Leicester who could never get to be taken for a Saint yet in the Queens disfavour waxed seeming religious Which may be thought by some and used by others as a case resembling yours if men do not see or will not see the difference between your two dispositions But to be plain with your Lordship my fear rather is because I hear how some of your good and wise friends not unpractised in the Court and supposing themselves not to be unseen in that deep and unscrutable Center of the Court which is her Majesties mind do not only toll the bell but even ring out peals as if your fortune were dead and buried and as if there were no possibility of recovering her Majesties favour and as if the best of your condition were to live a private and retired life out of want out of peril and out of manifest disgrace And so in this perswasion to your Lordship-wards to frame and accommodate your actions and mind to that end I fear I say that this untimely despair may in time bring forth a just despair by causing your Lordship to slacken and break off your wise loyal and seasonable endeavour and industry for reintegration to her Majesties favour in comparison whereof all other circumstances are but as Atomi or rather as a Vacuum without any substance at all Against this opinion it may please your Lordship to consider of these reasons which I have collected and to make judgment of them neither out of the melancholy of your present fortune nor out of the infusion of that which cometh to you by others relation which is subject to much tincture but ex rebus ipsis out of the nature of the persons and actions themselves as the truest and less deceiving ground of opinion For though I am so unfortunate as to be a stranger to her Majesties eye much more to her nature and manners yet by that which is extant I do manifestly discern that she hath that character of the Divine nature and goodness as quos amavit amavit usque ad finem and where she hath a creature she doth not deface nor defeat it insomuch as if I observe rightly in those persons whom heretofore she hath honoured with her special favour she hath covered and remitted not only defections and ingratitudes in affection but errors in state and service 2. if I can Scholar-like spell put together the parts of her Majesties proceedings now towards your Lordship I cannot but make this construction That her Majesty in her Royal intention never purposed to call your doings into publique question but only to have used a cloud without a shower and censuring them by some restraint of liberty and debarring from her presence For both the handling the cause in the Star-chamber was inforced by the violence of libelling and rumours wherein the Queen thought to have satisfied the world and yet spared your appearance And then after when that means which was intended for the quenching of malicious bruits turned to kindle them because it was said your Lordship was condemned unheard and your Lordships Sister wrote that private Letter then her Majesty saw plainly that these winds of rumours could not be commanded down without a handling of the Cause by making you party and admitting your defence And to this purpose I do assure your Lordship that my Brother Francis Bacon who is too wise to be abused though he be both reserved in all particulars more then is needfull yet in generality he hath ever constantly and with asseveration affirmed to me That both those dayes that of the Star-chamber and that at my Lord Keepers were won of the Queen meerly upon necessity and point of honour against her own inclination 3. In the last proceeding I note three points which are directly significant that her Majesty did expresly forbear any point which was irrecuperable or might make your Lordship in any degree uncapable of the return of her favour or might fix any character indeleble of disgrace upon you For she spared the publick places which spared ignominie she limited the Charge precisely not to touch disloyalty and no Record remaineth to memory of the Charge or Sentence 4. The very distinction which was made in the sentence of Sequestration from the places of service in State and leaving to your Lordship the place
some gracious answer to my Petition For though your Majesties thoughts cannot discern so low as to conceive how much it importeth a poor distressed Suppliant to be reviled neglected yet you may be pleased to believe that we are as highly affected and as much anguished with the extremities that press our little fortunes as Princes are with theirs Which I speak not out of any pride I take in comparing small things with great but only to dispose your Maiesty to a favourable construction of my words if they seem to be overcharged with zeal and affection or to express more earnestness then perhaps your Majesty may think the business merits as my self values it The suit I am to make to your Majesty is no sleight one it may be easily granted without references For I dare assure your Majesty upon my life it is neither against the Laws of the Kingdom nor will diminish any of your treasure either that of your coffers or that of your peoples hearts it being an act of clemencie or rather a word for even that will satisfie to create in your poor dejected Suppliant a new heart and send him away as full of content as he is now of grief and despair Nor is it for my self I thus implore your Majesties grace but for one that is far more worthy and in whom all that I am consists my dear Brother who I know not by what misfortune hath fallen or rather been pushed into your Majesties displeasure not in dark and crooked ways as corrupt and ill-affected subjects use to walk and near to break their necks in but even in the great road which both himself all good Englishmen that know not the paths of the Court would have sworn would have led most safely and most directly to your Majesties service from your Majesties displeasure there needs no other invention to crucifie a generous and honest-minded suppliant upon whom hath issued and been derived a whole torrent of exemplary punishment wherin his reputation his person and his estate grievously suffered For having upon the last process of Parliament retired himself to his poor house in the Countrey with hope a while to breathe after these troublesome affairs and still breathing nothing but your Majesties service he was sent for ere he had finished his Christmas by a Sergeant at Arms who arrested him in his own house with as much terror as belongs to the apprehending of treason it self But thanks be to God his conscience never started and for his obedience herein shewed it was not in the power of any authority to surprize it For at the instant without asking one minutes time of resolution he rendered himself to the officers discretion who according to his directions brought him up captive and presented him at the Councell Table as a Delinquent from whence he was as soon committed to the Tower where he ever since hath been kept close prisoner and that with so strict a hand as his own beloved wife and my self having sometime since urgent and unfaigned occasion to speak with him about some private business of his Family and hereupon making humble petition to the Lords of your Majesties most honorable Privy Councell for the favour of accesse we were to our great discomforts denied it by reason as their Lordships were pleased to declare unto us that he had not satisfied your Majesty fully in some points which being so far from being his fault as I dare say it is the greatest part of his affliction that he sees himself debarred from means of doing it The Lords Commissioners that were appointed by your Majesty to examine his offence since the first week of his imprisonment have not done him the honor to be with him by which means not onely his body but the most part of his mind his humble intentions to your Majesty are kept in restraint May it please therefore your most excellent Majesty now at length after five moneths imprisonment and extream durance to ordain such expedition in this cause as may stand with your justice and yet not avert your mercy either of them will serve our turns but that which is most agreeable to your Royall and gracious inclination will best accomplish our desire To live still in close prison is all one to be buried alive and for a man that hath any hope of salvation it were better to pray for the day of judgment then to lie languishing in such waking misery yet not ours but your Majesties wil be done For if in your princely wisdom you shall not think it a fit season to restore him to his former condition or to accept the fruit of his correction an humble and penitent submission for his unhappiness in offending your Majesty which I assure my self is long since ripe and grown to full perfection in so forward affection and so proper for all duties as his hath ever been If I say it be not yet time to have mercy but that he must still remain within the walls of bondage to expiate that which he did in these priviledged ones my hope is that he will die at any time for your Majesties service and will find patience to live any where for your Majesties pleasure only thus much let me beseech your Majesties grace again and again not to deny your humble and most obedient suppliant that you will at least be pleased to mitigate the rigor of his sufferings so far as to grant him the liberty of the Tower that he may no longer groan under the burthen of those incomodities which daily prejudice his health fortune in a higher degree I believe then either your Majesty knows or intends I am the more bold to importune your Majesty in the point of favour because it concerns my own good preservation For your Maj. shall deign to understand that I your suppliant have no means to live but what proceeds from his brotherly love and bounty so as if I may not be suffered to go to him and receive order for my maintenance I know none but Our Father which art in heaven to beg my daily bread on he that was my father on earth is long since departed if I have not been misinformed who was then beyond sea your Majesties anger was to him little better then the messenger of death though I perswade my self it was rather sent in your Majesties Name then in your Warrant For what use could your Majesty have of his not being who neither was nor could be ever but your faithful and affectionate servant who in his soul adored your Royal Majesty as much as ever mortal man did any mortal God lastly whose heart was so bent to please your Majesty as the very sound of your displeasure was enough to break it And more perfect obedience then this can no subject shew to make his Soveraigns savour equal to life and death Pardon me dread Soveraign if in this occasion I cannot hinder my Fathers ghost from appearing For how can it
persons of what estate soever they be that they and every of them as much as in them is shal uphold and maintain those Articles granted by our Soveraign Lord the King in all points and all those that in any point do resist or break those Ordinances or in any manner hereafter procure counsel or in any ways assent to resist or break those Ordinances or go about it by word or deed openly or privatly by any maner of pretence or colour We therefore the said Archbishop by our authority in this Writing expressed do excommunicate and accurse and from the body of our Lord Jesus Christ and from all the company of Heaven and from all the Sacraments of the holy Church do sequester and exclude Sir hearing that to morrow the Justices will be here about this busie work of Benevolence wherein you have both sent unto and talked with me and thinking that it may be you would deliver up the names of the not-givers Forasmuch as I think I shal scarcely be at home to make my further answer if I should be called for I pray you both hereby to understand my mind your self and if cause so require to let the Justices perceive as much So leaving others to their own consciences whereby in that last and dreadfull day they shal stand or fall before him who will reward every man according to his deeds I commend you to the grace of the Almighty and rest Your loving Neighbour and Friend OLIVER St. JOHN The Justices of Peace in the County of Devon to the Lords of the Councell THe Letters from his sacred Majesty unto the Justices of Peace in this County together with your Lordships have been opened and read according to the directions in your Locdships Letter to our high Sheriff expressed and the weighty business therein contained hath been maturely and speedily debated according to our most bounden duties to his excellent Majesty and the many concurring necessities which press the expedition of such a service and in those respects we can do no less then give your Lordships a timely knowledge of the vote and opinion of us all which was this day almost in the same words delivered by every of us That the sum enjoyned to be levied by the first of March is not to be so suddenly raised out of this County by any means much less by way of perswasion and hereof we had lately a certain experience in the business of the loans which notwithstanding the fear apprehended by the presence of the Pursivant hath come at least 6000. l. short of the expected sum and without him we suppose would have been much less and we are confident that nothing but extremities which had need also be back't by Law will raise his Majesty a sufficient quantity of treasure for his occasions For our selves at the time of the proposition of the forementioned Loans we did according to his Majesties proclamation and instruction then sent us engage our faithfull promise to our Countreymen that if they willingly yeilded to his Majesties necessities at this time we would never more be Instruments in the levy of aids of that kind his Majesties intentions so clearly manifested not to make that a president was the cause of that engagement and we conceive it cannot be for his honor or service for us to be the means of such a breach That his Majesties affairs and of his Allies do all want an instant supply of Royall provisions his provident and Princely Letter hath fully taught us but we have much more cauâ—â— to wish then hope that these parts so lately and so many ways impoverished can yeild it Your Lordships may vouchsafe to remember how much this County hath been charged since the beginning of the war though sometimes refreshed with payment which we acknowledge with humble thanks By our own late loan of 35000. l. and 6000. l. more sent by Sir Thomas Wise and Mr. Stroad and yet there remains due to it for the Coat and Conduct of their own imprest Soldiers for divers voyages for the Recruits intended for the Isle of Ree for the conduct of the whole Army hence besides three Companies stand yet here for Silly and no small number of scattered sick whose mortall infection hath more discouraged the people then the charge That many and almost unaccountable are our ways of expence few or none have we of in-come for the want of Trade how then can there be any quantity of money to disburse their bodies and goods are left which we are assured will be ever ready for his Majesties defence and to be imployed in his Majesties service as far forth as ever our forefathers have yeilded them to his Majesties Royall Progenitors Particular proofs we would have made of the peoples disability to have satisfied his Majesties demands but we had rather adventure our selves and this humble advertisement upon your Lordships private and favourable instructions then to expose his Majesties honor to publique deniall and misspend his pretious time which applied to more certain courses may attain his Princely and religious ends wherein to be his Majesties Instruments will be our earthly happiness and singular comfort to be your Lordships obedient servants The Archbishop of Canterbury to the Bishops concerning King James his Directions for Preachers with the Directions Aug. 14. 1622. RIght Reverend Father in God and my very good Lord and Brother I have received from the Kings most excellent Majesty a Letter the tenor whereof here ensueth Most reverend Father in God right trusty and right entirely beloved Councellor we greet you well Forasmuch as the abuses and extravagancies of Preachers in the Pulpit have been in all times repressed in this Realm by some Act of Councell or State with the advice or resolution of grave and learned Prelates insomuch as the very licencing of Preachers had beginning by an Order of Star-Chamber the 8. day of July in the 19. year of King Henry 8. our Noble Predecessor and whereas at this present divers young Students by reading of late Writers and ungrounded Divines do broach many times unprofitable unsound seditious and dangerous Doctrine to the scandall of the Church and disquieting of the State and present Government We upon humble representation to us of these inconveniences by your self and sundry other grave and reverend Prelats of this Church as also of our Princely care and zeal for the extirpation of schisme and dissention growing from these seeds and for the setling of a religious and peaceable government both of the Church and State do by these our speciall Letters straitly charge and command you to use all possible care and diligence that these limitations and cautions herewith sent unto you concerning Preachers be duly and straitly henceforth observed and put in practice by the severall Bishops in their severall Diocesses within your jurisdictions And to this end our pleasure is that you send them forthwith severall Copies of these Directions to be by them speedily sent
detrudatur et certe usque adeo praeclusus est industriae nostrae ad eadem honoris et emolumenti aditus ut multi repudia literis in aeternum renunciare mallent quam post tot laboribus consumptam juventutem et senectam studiis immature acceleratam vanae spei cassa nuce ludificari cum non solum sua nobis negare beneficia sed et nostra abripere terrarum Domini flagitiosè contendant Quid ad te haec verba spectant facile conjicias Nos te Patronum appellamus quem adversarii nostri Judicem et per omnia patrocinia tua nobis ante hac gnaviter concessa per omnia sacra clementiae tuae et amoris in Academiam te obtestamur ut huic Alumno nostro jus suum et Academiae dignitatem sarctam tectam authoritate tuâ conservare velis et cum tua merita non aliâ re consequi valeamus quam debiti agnitione cui sumus impares memorisque animi gratâ testificatione utramque tibi sempiternam religiosè pollicemur Dat' è frequenti Senatu nostro ê‘ridie Calend. Maii 1630. Honoris tui Clientes assidui Procancel ' et Senatus integer Academ ' Cantabrig Bishop of Excester to the lower House of Parliament Gentlemen FOR Gods sake be wise in your well meant zeale why doe we argue away precious time that can never be revoked or repaired Wo is me whilst we dispute our friends perish and we must follow them Where are we if we break and I tremble to thinke it we cannot but break if we hold too stiffe Our Liberties and properties are sufficiently declared to be sure and legal our remedies are cleare and irrefragable what do we fear Every subject now sees the way chalked out before him for future Justice and who dares henceforth tread besides it certainly whilst Parliaments live we need not misdoubt the like violation of our freedomes and rights may we bee but where the loanes found us we shall sufficiently enjoy our selves and ours It is now no season to reach for more O let us not whilst we over rigidly plead for a higher straine of safety put our selves into a necessity of ruine and utter despair of redresse let us not in a suspicion of evil that may be cast our selves into a present confusion if you love your selves and your Country remit something of your owne Terms and since the substance is yeilded by your noble compatriots stand not too curiously upon points of circumstance fear not to trust a good King who after the strictest Law made must be trusted with the execution think that your Country yea Christendom lyeth in the mercy of your present resolution relent or farewell Farewell from him whose faithful heart bleeds in a vowed sacrifice for his King and Country King Charles to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal WEE being desirous of nothing more then the advancing of the good peace and prosperity of our people have given leave to free debates of higest point of our prerogative Royal which in the times of our Predecessors Kings and Queens of this Realm were ever restrained as matter they would not have disputed and in other things we have been willing so farre to descend to the desires of our good subjects as might fully satisfie all moderate minds and free them from all just feares and jealousies which those messages we have sent unto the Commons House wil well demonstrate to the world and yet we find it stil insisted on That in no case whatsoever should it never so neerly concerne matters of State and Government we or our privy Counsel have power to commit any man without the cause be shewed The service it selfe would be thereby destroyed and defeated and the cause it selfe must be such as may be determined by our Judges of our causes at Westminster in a legal and ordinary way of Justice whereas the cause may be such as these Judges have not capacity of Judicature nor rules of Law to direct and guide their Judgments in cases of transcedent nature which happening so often the very intermitting of the constant rules of Government for so many ages within this Kingdome practised would soone dissolve the very frame and foundation of our Monarchy wherefore as to our Commons we made faire propositions which might equally preserve the just liberties of the subject So my Lords we have thought good to let you know that without the overthrow of our soveraignty we cannot suffer this power to be impeached yet notwithstanding to clear our conscience and intentions this we publish that it is not in our heart or will ever to extend our Royal power lent unto us from God beyond the just rule of moderationin any thing which shall be contrary to our Lawes and Customes wherein the safety of our people shal be our only aime And we do hereby declare our Royal pleasure and resolution to be which God willing we wil ever constantly continue and mantaine that neither we nor our Privy Counsel shall or will at any time hereafter commit or command to prison or otherwise restraine the person of any for not lending mony unto us or for any other cause which in our conscience doth concern the publick good and safety of us and our people we wil not be drawn to pretend any cause which in our conscience is not or is not expressed which base thought we hope no man can imagine can fall into our Royal brest and that in all causes of this nature which shall hereafter happen we shall upon the humble Petition of the party or addresse of our Judges unto us readily and really expresse the true cause of their Commitment or restraint so soone as with conveniency or safety the same is fit to be disclosed and expressed and that in all causes Criminal of ordinary Jurisdiction our Judges shall proceede to the deliverance and bailment of the Prisoner according to the known and ordinary rules of the Lawes of this Land and according to the Statute of Magna charta and those other six statutes insisted on which we do take knowledge stand in full force and which we intend not to weaken or abrogate against the true intent thereof This we have thought fit to signifie unto you the rather for the shortning of any long debate upon this question the season of the year being so far advanced and our great occasions of State not lending us many daies of long continuance of this Session of Parliament Given under our signet at our Pallace at Westminster the twelfth day of May in the Fourth Year of our Reigne CAROLUS REX A Counsel Table Order against hearing Mass at Embassadors houses March 10. 1629 At White-hall the tenth of March 1629. PRESENT Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Lord President Lord Privy Seale Lord Steward Lord Chamberlaine Earl of Suffolk Earl of Dorset Earl of Salisbury Lord Wimbleton Lord Viscount Dorchester Lord Viscount Wentworth Lord Viscount Grandison Lord Viscount Faulkland Lord Savile Lord Newbergh Mr.
worthyest inhabitant Reason her I feele to speak within me and to chide me for my bold attempt warning me to stray no further for what I have said considering how weakly it is said your Commandment is all that I can pretend in excuse but since my desire to obey may as wel be seene in a few lines as in a large discourse it were indiscretion in me to trouble you with more words and to discover unto you more of my ignorance I wil only beg pardon of you for this blotted and interlyned paper whose contents are so meane that it cannot deserve the pains of a transcription which if you make difficultie to grant unto it for my sake let it obtaine it for having beene yours and now returning againe to you as also doth the booke that containeth my text which yesterday you sent me to fit this part of it with a Comment which peradventure I might have performed better if either I had afforded my selfe more time or had had the convenience of some other books apt to quicken my invention to whom I might have been beholding for enlarging my understanding in some things that are treated here although the application should stil have been my own with these two helps peradventure I might have dived farther into the Authors intention the depth of which cannot be sounded by any that is lesse learned then he was But I perswade my selfe very strongly that in what I have said there is nothing contradictorie to it and that an intelligent and well read man proceeding upon my grounds might compose a worthy and true Commentary upon this Theame upon which I wonder how I stumbled considering how many learned men have failed in the interpreting of it and have all approved my opinion at the first hearing it but it was fortune that made me to light upon it when first this Stanza was read unto me for an undissoluble riddle and the same discourse that I made upon it the first halfe quarter of an houre that I saw it I send it you here without having reduced it to any better forme or added any thing at all unto it which I beseech you receive benignely as coming from Your Most affectionate Friend and humble Servant Kenhelm Digby Master Gargrave to the Lord Davers MY very good Lord I have heretofore many times both sent and written to you touching the insupportable burden of wrong which hath many years laine upon my shoulders but you were not pleased to returne me any answer for my satisfaction therein my opinion at the first was that it was meerly the respect of some whom you would not or might not offend that you suffered your name to be used by others to wound and afflict me in my estate to which so fair an opinion I was induced partly by ancient Judgment of your honourable disposition partly and much rather by the privity of my heart which ever constantly affected a good correspondency with you every way But since now this oppression which I suffer hath had its continuance so many years without relaxation in which I smart beyond all example and the admiration of the world hath concurred with my sense of so great a bitternesse from so neere Allies I cannot but to my griefe and wonder observe your too much either consent or connivency to these my harms which before I have not easily suffered my thoughts to admit wherein if I have not mistaken your Lordships interest I have yet conceived hope that although you had in the beginning a just ground to make me feele the weight of your displeasure and alienation from me yet that the sufferance of so many years and such a sufferance under pretence of Justice as can hardly be parallell'd might yet at the last have satiated a very deeply intended revenge much more satisfied a moderate mind possessed with Honour or Religion as I conceive your Lordships to be Herein after a various agitation in my selfe I am enforced to honour the wonderful providence of God who hath pleased to convert the affinity which I affected with your Noble house for my comfort and assistance to my ruine and that in the bosome of our neerest and dearest friendship should breed so intestine a hatred as should tend to the overthrow of my credit wealth lands liberty house wife and children and all those comforts which should either support or sweeten the life of man Wherefore I have adventured after so long silence to minde your Lordship of this my unfortunate estate wherein I rather die then live whereunto I have been so long since precipitated by your Lordships countenance as I hope pretended only by the instruments of my mischiefe to proceede from you that if now your Lordship shall think it enough that I have so many years so many waies endured the crosses of so high a nature and can be induced to affect a reparation or at least a determination of those injuries which undeservedly have been heaped upon me I may yet at length conclude this Tragedy of my life past with some comfortable fruit of that love and kindnesse which at the first I aimed at in seeking your Lordships Alliance and which I endeavoured to deserve for the continuance and which after so long intermission I shall think my self happy to enjoy if so be your Lordship shall out of your charitable consideration think my motion to concur with my desire that I may not be inforced to advance my complaint further which I wish may be prevented by this my Expostulation springing from the sense of so great and intolerable a misery wherein I languish every day A Declaration of Ferdinand Infanta of Spain 5 July 1636. Vnto all those to whom this present Writing shall come greeting FRance having contrary to reason and justice moved and maintained War in the States of the Emperor and of my Lord the King given extraordinary Succours both of men and money to their rebellious subjects procured the Swedes to invade the Empire received and bought of them the Towns of Alsatia and other hereditary Countries of our most Royall House not sparing the Catholick League it self which had taken Arms for no other end but for the good of Religion And it being notorious that the same France after all these publick and manifest contraventions to the Treaties of Peace hath finally proceeded to a breach thereof whereas we rather had cause to denounce the War in that she hath sent her Armies to over-run the Low Countries the Dutchie of Millain and other Feoffs of the Empire in Italy and now lately the Country of Burgundy contrary to the Lawes of Neutrality contrary to the Publick Faith and contrary to the expresse promises of the Prince of Conde Disguising in the mean time these attempts and breaches of Faith before all Christendome with certain weak pretexts and false surmises contained in divers Declarations approved in the Parliament of France and accompanying all these unjust proceedings with sundry Insolencies Calumnies and