of the accusation and informing his Majesty thereof a legall course afterwards to be directed for the further proceeding and sentencing the fact Of this Commission amongst divers others of the Board I am one and we have met once or twice about it Yesterday my Lord Admirall representing unto his Majesty how derogatory this course of commissioning was to the Jurisdiction of his Court of Admiralty as in truth I think it be his Majesty hath given order that there shall be no further proceeding upon it but the businesse left to a legall tryall in that Court to which it appertaines and I am commanded to speake with the Spanish Ambassadour to that purpose I pray God I may give him satisfaction howsoever I shall doe my best and so kissing your Lordships hands I rest White-hall 14. Ian 1622. The Articles concerning Religion being thus concluded and signed by the King and Prince the Lawes against Jesuits popish Priests and Recusanis by promise suspended for the future all imprisoned Roman Catholiques of all sorts enlarged throughout his Majesties Dominions the free exercise of their Religion without molestation promised in expresse termes and the Marquesse of Buckingham hereupon then writing into Spaine as the a Tom. 9. An. 1624. pag. 29. French Mercury informes us That our Informers Pursevants Prisons should from thenceforth serve no more but for our owne Ministers and other persons zealous of our Religion which hath ever since experimentally proved most true King Iames made no doubt at all NOTE but that the Pope would presently grant the Dispensation and the Spaniard without more delayes consummate the marriage To hasten which King Iames as the same b Tom. 9. p. 485. c. Mercury records and I have credibly heard the same from others assembling his Privy Counsell together Febr. 25. 1622. made a long Oration to them which he recites at large the summe whereof was this That the Roman Catholiques in England had sustained great and intolerable surcharges NOTE imposed upon their goods bodies consciences during Queen Elizabeths reigne of which they hoped to be relieved in his that his Mother suffered martyrdome in this Realme for the profession of the said Catholique Religion a Religion which had been publiquely professed for many ages in this Realme confirmed by many great and excellent Emperours and famous in all Ecclesiasticalâ— Histories by an infinite number of Martyrs who had sealed it with their blood That the Catholiques well knew that there was â—n him a grand affection to the Catholique Religion insomuch that they beleeved at Rome that he did but dissemble his Religion to obtaine the Crowne of England That now he had maturely considered the penury and calamities of the Roman Catholiques who were in the number of his faithfull Subjects and was resolved to relieve them and therefore did from thenceforth take all his Roman Catholike Subjects into his protection permitting them the liberty and intire exercise of their Religion and liberty to celebrate the masse with other divine offices of their Religion without any inquisition processe or molestation from that day forwards and likewise will and ordaine that they shall be restored to all their estates lands fees cignorâ—es and re-established in them commanding all his Magistrates Instices and other Officers whatsoever in this behalfe to hold their hands and for what cause soever it be not to attempt hereafter to grieve or molest the said Catholiques neither in publique nor private in the liberty of the exercise of their Religion upon painâ— of being reputed guilty of high treason and disturbers of the Kingdoms peace and repose this being his will and definitive sentence But notwithstanding all these complianceâ— and favours to the Roman Catholiques those crafty Machiavillians had a further deeper plot both upon King Iames the Prince the old and young Prince Palatine and Protestant Religion which they must effect by delayes namely to betray the Prince into the Spaniards power by engaging him in a private journy into Spaine upon pretence to expedite the Match and there by force or slattery to pervert him in his Religion and induce him publiquely to professe himselfe a Roman Catholique and likewise to put the young Prince Palatine into the Emperours hands under pretext of a match with his Daughter and to traine him up in his Court in the popish Religion and by this hellish policy to scrue up King Iames and the old Prince Palatine to whatever conditions the Pope Spaniard or Emperour should propose unto them for the advancement of Popery or of their owne temporall greatnesse In pursuance of this infernall design the a Mercure â—â—ancius Tom 9. p. 471 472 c. Prince and the Marquesse of Buckingham accompanied with Cottington and Porter on the 17. day of Febr. 1622. departed privately from the Court disguised to Dover and posted through France into Spaine to what desperate purposes and by whose procurement The Bâ—eviate of the Arch. bishops liâ—e pag. 3. these ensuing Articles of the Earle of Bristoll exhibited to the Lords against the Duke of Buckingham whom he accused of high-treason upon them in open Parliament May 1. 1626. with the crosse Articles exhibited against the Earle of Bristoll in Parliament by Sir Robert Heath the Kings Attourney generall by his Majesties speciall command May 6. 1626. both of which you may find recorded in the Lords Parchment Journall of that Parliament will most cleerly discover to all the world to the deserved infamy of these detestable Projectors Articles of the Earle of Bristoll wherewith he chargeth the Duke of Buckingham May 1. 1626. THat the Duke of Bukingham did secretly combine and conspire with Conde Gondomar Ambassadour for the King of Spaine before the said last Ambassadours returne into Spaine in the Summer 1622. NOTE to carry his Majesty the Prince into Spaine to the end that he might be informed and instructed in the Roman Religion and therely have perverted the Prince and subverted the true Religion established in England from which misery this Kingdome next under God's mercy hath by the wise religious and constant carriage of his Majesty been almost miraculously delrvered considering the many bold and subtle attempts of the said Duke in that kind That Master Porter was made acquainted therewith and sent into Spaine and such Message at his returne framed as might serve for a ground to set on foot this conspiracy the wich was done accordingly and thereby the King and Prince highly abused and thereby their consents first gotten to the said journey that is to say after the returne of Master Porter which was about the end of December 1622. whereas the said Duke had plotted it many moneths before That the Duke at his arrivall in Spaine nourished the Spanish Ministers not onely in the beliefe of his owne being popishly affected but did both by absenting himselfe from all exercises of Religion constantly used in the Earle of Bristols house and frequented by all other Protestants English
and by conforming himselfe to please the Spaniard to divers rites of their Religion even so farre as to kneele and adore their Sacrament from time to time gave the Spaniard hope of the Princes conversion NOTE the which conversion he endeavored to procured by all meanes possible and thereby caused the Spanish Ministers to propound farre worse conditions for Religion then had been formerly by the Earle of Bristoll and Sir Walter Ashton setled and signed under his Majesties hand with a clause in the King of Spaines answer of the 12. of December 1622. that they held the Articles agreed upon sufficient and such as ought to induce the Pope to the granting of the Dispensation That the Duke having severall times in the presence of the Earle of Bristoll moved his late Majesty at the instance of the Conde Gondomar to write a Letter to the Pope and to that purpose having once brought a Letter ready drawne wherewith the Earle of Bristoll being by his Majesty made acquainted did so strongly oppose the writing of any such Letter that during the abode of the said Earle of Bristoll in England the said Duke could not obtaine it Yet not long after the said Earle was gone he procured such a Letter to be written from his late Majesty unto the Pope NOTE and have him stiled therein Sanctissime Pater That the Pope being informed of the Duke of Buckinham his inclination and intention in point of Religion NOTE sent unto the said Duke a particular Bull in Parchment for to perswade and encourage him in the pervertion of his Majesty then Prince c. NOTE That the Earle of Bristoll did reveale unto his Majesty both by word and Letter in what sort the Duke had deceived him and abused his trust and that the King by severall wayes sent him word that he should rest assured that he would heare him but that he shovld leave it to him to take his owne time and thereupon few dayes before his sicknesse the sent the Earle word that he would heare him against the Duke as well as he had heard the Duke against him which the Duke himselfe heard and not long after his blessed Majesty sickned and dyed having in the interim been much vexed and pressed by the said Duke All these Articles with six others of like nature the Earle of Bristoll preferred to make good against the Duke by Letters and Witnesses but the Duke by his overswaying potency and instruments whereof Bishop Laud was chiefe dissolved the Parliament before any answer given to them The Articles exhibited to the House of Peeres against the Earle through the Dukes procurement by way of recrimination were many I shall onely recite the most pertinent to the present businesse of Religion b In the Lords Parchment Journall May 6. 1626. pag. 150 151 152 c. Articles of severall High-treasons other great and enormious Crimes Offences and Contempts committed by Iohn Earle of Bristoll against Our late Sovereigne Lord King Iames of blessed memory decreased and Our Sovereigne Lord the Kings Majesty which now is wherewith the said Earle is charged by his Majesties Attourney generall on his Majesties behalfe in the most high and honourable Court of Parliament before the King and his Lords THat the said Earle from the beginning of his Negotiation and the whole mannaging thereof by him during his ambassage into Spaine he the said Earle contrary to his faith and duty to God the true Religion professed by the Church of England and the peace of this Church and State did intend and resolve that if the said marriage so treated of as aforesaid should by his ministry be effected that thereby the Romish Religion and the professors thereof should be advanced within this Realme NOTE and other his Majesties Realmes and Dominions and the true Religion and the professors thereof discouraged and discountenanced And to that end and purpose the said Earle during the time aforesaid by Letters unto his late Majesty and otherwise often counselled and perswaded the said late Kings Majesty to set at liberty the Jesuits and Priests of the Roman Religion which according to the good religions and politicke Lawes of this Realme were imprisoned or restrained and to grant and allow unto the Papists and professors of the Romish Religion a free toleration and silencing of the lawes made and standing in force against them That at the Princes comming into Spain during the time aforesaid the said Earle of Bristoll cunningly falsly and traiterously moved and perswaded the Prince being then in the power of a forreigne King of the Romish Religion to change his Religion NOTE which was done in this manner At the Princes first comming to the said Earle he asked the Prince for what he came thither The Prince at first not conceiving the Earles meaning answered you know as well as I the Earle replied Sir servants can never serve their Master industriously although they may doe it faithfully unlesse they know their meanings fully give me leave therefore to tell you what they say in the Towne is the cause of your comming THAT YOU MEANE TO CHANGE YOUR RELIGION AND TO DECLARE IT HERE and yet cunningly to disguise it the Earle added further Sir I doe not speake this that I will perswade you to doe it or that I will promise you that I will follow your example though you will doe it but as your faithfull servant if you will trust me with so great a secret I will endeavour to carry it the discreetest way I can The Prince being moved with this unexpected motion againe said unto him I wonder what you have ever found in me that you should conceive I would be so base or unworthy as for a Wife to change my Religion The said Earle replying desired the Prince to pardon him if he had offended him it was but out of his desire to serve him which perswasion of the said Earle was the more dangerous because the more subtill Whereas it had beene the duty of a faithfull servant to God and his Master if he had found the Prince staggering in his Religion to have prevented so great an Error and to have perswaded against it so to have avoyded the dangerous consequences thereof to the true Religion and to this state if such a thing should have happened 8. That afterward during the Princes being in Spaine the said Earle having conference with the said Prince about the Romish Religion he endeavoured falsely and traiterously to perswade the Prince to change his Religion as aforesaid AND BECOME A ROMISH CATHOLIKE NOTE and to Become OBEDIENT TO THE VSVRPED AVTHORITY OF THE POPE OF ROME And to that end and purpose the said Earle traiterously used these words unto the said Prince That the State of England did never any great thing but when they were under the obedience of the Pope of Rome and that it was impossible they could doe any thing of note otherwise 9. That during
foure large Diamonds cut in fancets and twelve small triangle Diamonds and a table Diamonds for the middle stone supplyed out of the broken Coller To the Kings Confessor the old Crosse with four Diamonds cut in faucets and three Pearles pendant To Don Farnando Giron A Crosse with seaven large table Diamonds two of them were taken out of out round Iewell and five of them were the Dukes with a Pendelock of a faucet Diamond furnisht by our Jeweller To the Bishop of Segovia the Crosse of five large Diamonds cut in saucets with a pendant Pearle newly added to it To Don Augustin Mexia a faire Brooche of Gould set full of Diamonds of severall siezes and bought of Sir Peter Van Lore in the midest whereof is a large table Diamond that was the Dukes To the Marquesse De Flores A great thin table Diamond set in a Collet heretofore belonging to the Duke To the Conde de la Puebla the chaine of Gold of eight and fortie peeces whereof foure and twenty are great and foure and twenty are small Garnished with Diamonds and a picture Case furnisht by our Jeweller garnisht with Diamonds having our picture and a Cypher of our name And these our letters shall be your sufficient Warrant for the same Signed with our owne hand and given under our Signet at Madrid the six and twentieth day of August In the one and twentieth yeare of the Raigne of our deare Lord and Father Iames by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defendor of the Faith c. And of Scotland the seaven and fiftieth 1623. To Our Right trustie and welbeloved Spencer Lord Compton Mr. of our Wardrobe and Robes Charles P. VVEE will and Command you That you deliver to our use and service unto the hands and Custody of the Right honourable Iohn Earle of Bristoll Lord Ambassador extraordinaâ—ie for his Majesty of great Brittaine our deare Father to the King of Spaine such Jewells and precious stones as are mentioned in this our Warrant That is to say A Coller of Gold containing thirteene great Ballaces and thirteene peeces of Gold with thirteene Cinque of Pearle betwixt them A long Chaine of two large Ropes of faire round Pearles weighing ten ounces and an halfe and two penny weight containing in number seaven hundred three score and five A looking Glasse set in Gold the backside richly garnisht with faire Diamonds and six peeces of Chaine to hang at garnisht with Diamonds on both sides One and twenty Buttons of gold each one having a faire Table Diamond The Remainder of a neck-lace of Queene Annes having in the midst thereof a large Triangle Diamond with a small Diamond pendant at the same also thirteene small pendent Diamonds and seaventeene great round Pearles A Coller of Gold containing thirtie peeces whereof fifteene are Roses in each was a great pointed Diamond and fifteene Crownes Ciphers of the King and Queenes names having in each a Table Diamond heretofore out of which was taken for our use foure of the pointed and six of the Table Diamonds So there are to be delivered to the said Earle of Bristall eleaven pointed and nine Table Diamonds with the Coller five great Emeraldes and five round Pearles that were taken out of a head attire And this our letters shall be your sufficient warrant for the same Signed with our hand and given under our Signet at Madrid the eight and twentieth day of August In the one and twentieth yeare of the Raigne of our Deare Lord and Father Iames by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland defender of the Faith c. And of Scotland the seaven and fiftieth 1623. To our right Trusty and welbeloved Spencer Lord Compton Mr. of our Wardrobe and Robes THe Mâ—rcure Franc. p. 560. to 571. 12. of September 1623. After dinner the Prince tooke his solemno leave of the King and Court of Spaine and departed from Madrid towards Saint Andrews where the 24. of September he feasted all the Spanish Dons who accompanied him aboard his ship and then â—et sail for England where he arrived at Portsmouth Octo. 5. and came thence into London Octo. 6. to the great rejoycing of all socts of people signified by their bonefires ringing of bels with other externall expressions of joy Vpon his return thence Doctor Andrewes made these Latin verses ANglus connubium connubia tractat Iberus Sic Mora producit quod properavit Amor. Pro nupta nebula est sponsam responsa retardant Pro taedis Caroliis taedia longa tulit Rumpe Moras Princeps nebulam dispelle serenus Sitque serena tuis te redeunte dies Vel quoniam Angligenis nupsit Caterina duobus Tu Carole Austriacas dum mora sume duas AVâ—â—riacam Carolus desict at amare puellam Vâ— qui operam terrâ luserit atque marâ— Gausa est quod tantos serus tentaverît ignes Debuit Infantem sollicitasse Puer Sunt in amore morae longum est percurrere gentis Conjugii merâ—ic religionis opus At Carole exultes peperit Regina Madriti Iam nova foelicis concipe vota proci I propera fidis defer mandata ministris Expedias naves ingere calcar equis Infante iun oâ—nis agiâ—a ut potiaris adultâ Matâ—ram sivîs poscere nubet aâ—us The Prince upon his departure commanded the Earle of Bristoll not to deliver the Procuration left in his custody untill he received further order from him And upon his arrivall in England the Duke of Buckingham and Lords of the Councell testifying their dislike of the match endeavoured to engage King Iames to breake it off by degrees to which end they perswaded him to demand restitution of the Palatinate and Electorship to the Palâ—grave from the King of Spaine to write to this purpose to the Earle of Bristoll to that end and likewise to delay the Disposorios till Christmas To which Leettters the Earl returned this answer to Mr. Secretary Calvert GOOD Mr. Secretary Calvert I have not presumed in my present letter unto his Majesty to write any thing in answer to his letters of the thirtieth of December but only in that point which toucheth my obedience to his Commandement for my present returne for the rest I intreat you to present unto his Majesty this my humble Answer Whereas his Majesty is pleased to say that having seene the Answer to our third Memoriall he doth not a little wonder that I then tooke his affaires to have been in so good a condition that I would have proceeded to the disposories of the Prince contrary to his order given It is true his Majesty hath just cause to wonder if he looke upon that Memoriall without the letter that accompanied it or if he consider the estate of the affaires as they stood when the letter bore Date which was the sixt of December for then they stood by the infringing of the capitulation as they heere do understand it all disordered and imbroyled in such sort as I had foreseene and
one of our principall Secretaries of state is to make his repaire into forraigne parts We doe hereby licence him to passe and straitly charge and command you and every of you to suffer him to goe quietly by you and to embarque himselfe at any of Our ports most convenient for his passage and to take with him his Nephew Robert Read and two other in his company together with his and their carriages without any manner of search stay or other interruption whatsoever and this shall be as well to the said Sir Francis VVindebanke Robert Read and the rest for passing as to you and every of you for suffering them to passe as aforesaid sufficient warrant and discharge Given at Our Court at White-hall the second day of December 1640. To all Admirals Vice-admirals Captaines of Our Forces Castles and Ships and to all Justices of peace Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs Constables Customers Comptrollers and Searcheâ—s and to all other Our Officers and Ministers whom it doth or may concerne and to every of them This counterseiâ—ed anti-dated passe was sent to Master Thomas VVindebanke into England out of France to procure his Majesties hand and Signet to it and if any difficulty or scruple were made by the King to signe it the Queens omnipotent mediation must he used to obtainits Signature as this letter of Mr. Reads to Mr. Thomas Windebanke wherein it was inclosed will sufficiently manifest and likewise discover to the world how grosly his Majesty hath been abused by this Secretary the Arch-bishop and others of his Ministers by procuring his hand to such forged anti-dated warrants to excuse themselves and lay all the blame of their Actions upon him which should cause his Majesty to look better to them hereafter in this kind Sir MY Uncle has acquainted me with a letter he has written to my 〈◊〉 of Arundell and with the directions he has given you about it I put him in mind of some addition fit to be made to it which he likes very well and has commanded me to write to you That if her Ladiship or any other with whom shee shall please to advise can think upon any way to prevent any proclamation against him or at least to sweeten any rigorous course that may be intended against him as probably such meanes may be found now that their M. M. Majesties and the Parliament seeme to be upon better termes her Ladiship will be pleased to advance it with all her power And really I am of opinion if the King did know how much dishonour he haâ— abroad by this question of the Secretary and had a true sense of master Secretaries condition both his Majesty and the Queen would be hearty in his businesse which could not but produce good effects Sir I have considered that when they fall upon our businesse they will goe neere to comfort in mine absence for which God will blesse you and move the Kings heart to take you into his princely consideration which I shall be as well contented with as if I had continued in my prosperity The being deprived of the light of my Soveraigne Lord and Masters countenance is the greatest and most bitter of my afflictions to which God will returne me if he finds it fit if otherwise I hope he will arme me with patience You will present my most humble service to my Lord Duke of Lenox the Lord Marquesse Hamilton the Earle of Manchester and his Lady with the Lord Chamberlaine Lord Goring and Lord Cottington the like to the LORD ARCHBISHOP and Lord TREASURER and any other that shall enquire of me God blesse you and send us a happy meeting so I rest YOURS c. FRAN. VVINDEBANKE Calis 6. December 1640. TOM I writ to you this afternoon already immediately upon my arrivall here and gave you account of my passage into these parts and this was by the Master of the boat that brought me hither since understanding that the Pacquet-boat is to part away from hence to morrow I thought fit to take that occasion to communicate some thoughts of mine concerning my unfortunate businesse in Parliament It is not unlikely but that the House of Commons will notwithstanding mine absence or the rather for it as taking my retreat for a confession of the charge proceed to present me to the Upper House for a Delinquent of so high a nature as never came so much as into my thoughts to be guilty of In this case you shall doe well to consider whether it will not be fit for you most humbly to move his Majesty in favour of me to deale with some of the Lords best inclined to me namely the Lord Duke of Lenox the Lord Marquesse Hamilton the Earle Marshall Lord Goring Lord Cottington and others not leaving out the Lord Chamberlaine that my charge may be set downe in writing and that I may be permitted to make my answer to it if this may be granted the next particular that will fall into consideration will be how farre his Majesty will please to advow me in the two great parts of the charge namely the enlarging of Priests and the procuring of bils of grace from his Majesty for stay of the conviction of Recusants and likewise for such letters as my selfe have written upon his Majesties commandement for stay of such indiâ—ements For the first of these there are 27. or 28. Bonds taken of such Priests as I have set at liberty which Bonds you shall doe well to shew his Majesty being all taken by his speciall direction and I doe not remember that any have been delivered out of prison but such as are so bound unlesse perhaps some may have been taken out of the hands of those two Hell-hounds Gray and Newton that were disabled by the Lords from prosecuting Recusants and this at the instance of the Queen to his Majesty NOTE For the second namely the stay of convictions by Bils of grace and otherwise they were all entirely moved and procured by the Queens Majesty and some of her servants and likewise of those neere his Majesty who had no small benefit by them and I had nothing at all to doe with them but in the dispatch of some of those Bils which belonged to me as Secretary and his Majesty may please to remember that before those Bils passed my hands some of them were made during life which upon my motion to his Majesty and the representation I made of that inconveniency was altered and they were granted but during pleasure so became revokable whâ—â—soever his Majesty should command His Majesty may likewise further please to remember that of late I did humbly represent to him the prejudice to his revenue by these bils of grace and besought him there might be a stop of them and I doe not remember that any have been granted these two or three yeers howsoever I doe religiously professe I never moved in them NOTE nor any other businesse of Recusants originally nor without his Majesties
with the Emperor as we doe the other parts disaffection to have him bred at the Hagh which we cannot wonder at our own care considered for his breeding in Religion which cannot well bee provided for there NOTE we shall be ready to proceed to the conclusion of that Treaty And so soone as the Infanta shall be arrived in our Court to bring our Grand-child to be bred with our Sonne and her and in her presence And for the temporall articles which are so meanely presented in those heads you sent us we forheare to tell you what we thinke of the offers And concerning the portion we absolutely reject both Jewells or yearely revenue as contrary to the first agreement and expect the totall summe in Specie according to such reasonable times as shall be agreed upon So as we likewise require you punctually to conclude the Temporall Articles before you deliver the power At Westminster 13. Novem. 1623. Edw. Conwey To this Letter the Earle of Bristoll returnes this answer May it please your most Excellent Majestie I Have received Your Majesties Letters of the 8. of October on the 21 of the same month some houres within night and have thought fit to dispath backe un-Your Majestie with all possible speed referring the answer to what Your Majestie hath by Letters commanded mee to a Post that I shall purposely dispatch when I shall have negotiated the particulers with this King and his Ministers wherein God willing all possible diligence shall be used But for as much as I finde both by Your Majesties said Letters as likewise by Letters which I have received from the Prince His Highâ—esse that you continue your desires of having the match proceeded in I held it my duty that Your Majestie should be informed that although I am set free in as much as concerneth the doubt of the Infantaes entring into Religion for the delivering of the powers left with mee by his Highnesse yet by this new direction I now receive from your Majestie that the Desposorios should be deferred untill Christmasse the said powers are made thereby altogether uselesse and invalid it being a clause in the body of the said powers that they shall onely remaine in force untill Christmas and no longer as Your Majestie will see by the Copie of them which I send here inclosed Your Majestie I conceive will be of opinion that the suspending of the execution of the powers untill the force and validity of them be expired is a direct and effectuall revoking of them which not to doe how faâ—re his Highnesse is in Honour engaged Your Majestie will be best able to judge by viewing the powers themselves Further if the Date of these Powers do expire besides the breach of the Capitulations although the Match it selfe should not by jealousies and mistrusts be hazarded yet the Princesses comming at the spring into England will be almost impossible for by that time new Commissions and Powers shall be after Christmas granted to the Prince which must be to the satisfaction of both parties I conceive so much of the year will be spent that it will be impossible for the Fleets and other preparations to be in a readinesse against the Spring for it is not to be imagined that they will here proceed effectually with their preparations untill they shall be assured of the Desposorios especially when they shall have seen them severall times deferred on the Princes part and that upon pretexts that are not new nor grown since the granting of the Powers but were before in being and often under debate and yet were never insisted upon to make stay of the businesse So that it will seem that they might better have hindred the granting of them then then the execution of them now if there were no staggering in former Resolutions which although really there is not yet cannot it but be suspected and the cleating of it between Spain and England will cost much time I most humbly crave your Majesties pardon if I write unto you with the plainesse of a true-hearted and faithfull servant who ever have co-operated honestly unto your Majesties ends if I knew them I know your Majesty hath long been of opinion that the greatest assurance you could get that the King of Spaine would effectually labour the entire restitution of the Prince Palatine was that he really proceeded to the effecting of the March and my Instructions under your Majesties hand were to insist upon the restoring of the Prince Palatine but not so to annex it to the treaty of the Match as that thereby the Match should bee hazarded for that your Majesty seemed confident they here would never grow to a perfect conclusion of the Match without a setled resolution to give your Majesty satisfaction in the businesse of the Palatinate the same course I observed in the carriage of busines by his Highnes and my L. Duke at their being here who though they insisted upon the businesse of the Palatinate yet they held it fit to treat of them distinctly and that the Marriage should preceed as a good pawne for the other Since-their departure my Lord Ambassador Sir Walter Aston and my selfe have much pressed to have this Kings resolution in writing concerning the Palatinate and the dispatches which your Majesty will receive herewith concerning that businesse were written before the receipt of these your Majesties Letters and doubtlesse it is now a great part of their care that that businesse may bee well ended before the Infantaes comming into England And his Highnesse will well remember that the Conde de Olivares often protested the necessity of having this businesse compounded and setled before the Marriage saying otherwise they might give a Daughter and have a War within three moneths after if this ground and subject of Quarrell should be still left on foot The same language he hath ever since held with Sir Walter Aston and my selfe and that it was a firm peace and amity as much as an allyance which they sought with his Majesty so that it is not to be doubted but that this King concluding the Match resolveth to employ his utmost power for the satisfaction in the restitution of the Prince Palatine The question now will be whether the Prince Palatine having Relation to many great Princes that are interessed therein living at a great distance and being indeed for the condition and nature of the businesse it selfe impossible to be ended but by a formall Treaty which of necessity will require great length whether the conclusion of the Match shall any way depend upon the issue of this businesse which I conceive to be lat from your Majesties Intention for so the Prince might be long kept unbestowed by any aversnesse of those that might have particular Interest in the Princes remaining unmarried or dislike of his Matching with Spaine But that which I understand to be your Majesties ayme is only to have the conclusion of this Match accompanied with as strong
engagements as can be procured from this King for the joyning with your Majesty not only in all good offices for the entire Restitution of the Prince Palatine but otherwise if need require of his Majesties assistance Herein I have these dayes past laboured with all earnestnesse and procured this Kings publike answer which I am told is resolved of and I shall within few dayes have it to send unto Your Majesty as likewise a private proposition which will bee put into your hand and shall not faile further to pursue Your Majesties present directions of procuring this Kings declaration in what sort your Majesty may rely upon this Kings assistance in case the Emperour or the Duke of Bavaria shall oppose the entire restitution of the Prince Palatine But I conceive it to bee Your Majesties intention that I should procure here first this Kings peremptory answer in the whole businesse and how he will be assistant unto your Majesty in case of the Emperors or Duke of Bavaria's aversenesse and that I should send it unto your Majestie and receive againe your answer before I deliver the powers for the Desposorios the match would thereby if not be hazarded yet I conceive the Infanta's going at Spring would bee rendred altogether impossible for if upon the artivall of the Popes approbation which is hourely expected the Powers be demanded of me according to the Princes publike Declaration and the agreement in the Temporall Articles by which the Desposorios are to be within 10. dayes after the comming of the said approbation I cannot refuse them but upon some groundâ— If I alleage you Majesties desire of having the Desposorios deferred untill Christmas they know as well as my selfe that his Highnesse Proxie is then out of dare besides the infringing of the Capitulations and they will judge it as a great scorne put upon this King who ever since the Princes granting of his Powers hath called himselfe the Infanta's Desposado and to that effect the Prince hath written unto him in some of his Letters besides it will be here held a point of great dishonour unto the Infanta if the powers called for by her friends they should be deteyned by the Princes part and whosoever else may have deserved ill she certainly hath deserved neither disrespect nor discomforts Further upon my refusall to deliver the powers all preparations which now goe on cheerefully and apace will be stayed and there will enter in so much distrust and so many jealousies that if the maine businesse runne not hazard by them at least much time will be to cleere them I must therefore in discharge of my dutie tell Your Majestie that all your businesses here are in a faire way The match and all that is capitulated therein they professe punctually to performe in the businesse of the Palatinate they protest that they infinitely desire and will to the utmost of their powers endevour to procure His Majesties satisfaâ—tion The Prince is like to have a most worthy and vertuous Ladie and who much â—oveth him and all things else depending on this match are in a good and a hopefull way This is now the present estate of your Majesties affaires as it appeareth unto me and to Sir Walter Aston with whom I have communicated this dispatch as I doe all things else concerning your Majesties service And I must cleerely let your Majesty understand that I conceave by reteyning of the powers when their King shall call for them and offering to deferre the Desposorios untill Christmas that your Majesties businesses will runne a great hazard what by the distasts and distrusts that will be raised here and what by the art and industry of those which are enemies to the Match whereof every Court of Christendome hath plenty That therefore which I presume with all humility to offer unto your Majesty is that you would be pleased to give mee order with all possible speed That when the businesse shall come cleered from Rome and that the powers for the Marriage shall bee demanded of mee on the behalfe of this King that I may deliver them and no wayes seeke to interrupt or suspend the Desposorios but assist and help to a perfect conclusion of the match And that for the businesse of the Palatinate I continue my earnest and faithfull endeavours to engage this King as farre as shall be possible both for the doing of all good Offices for the Prince Palatines entire restitution as likewise for this Kings Declaration of assistance in case the Emperor or Duke of Bavaria shall oppose the said restitution Herein I will not faile to use all possible means and I conceive the dispatch of the match will be a good pawn in the businesse and the help and assistance which the Princes being once betroathed would be able to give in this Court to all Your Majesties businesses would be of good consideration So fearing I have already too far presumed upon Your Majesties patience I humbly crave Your Majesties pardon and recommend you to the holy protection of God Resting Your Majesties most humble Subject and Servant BRISTOLL Madrid 24. Octo. 1623. About the beginning of December the Dispensation from the new Pope arrived at Madrid from Rome * Mercur Fran. Tom 9. An. 1624. p. 34 35 36 37. whereupon the King of Spaine to satisfie his Oath made to the Prince of Wales before his departure to make the espousalls within tenne dayes after the arrivall of the dispensation caused Bonfiers of joy to be made throughout all Spaine on the 9th of Decem. intending that on this day the assiances should be made at Madrid with the magnificence of the Court there All things seemed then disposed to a conclusion of this great businesse which had been in treaty eight or nine yeares But the Princes forementioned suspention of the procuration and the demand of those new conditions arriving in Spaine the newes of them seemed very strange and unseasonable To which the King of Spaine promising to give a resolution in due time signified to the Earle of Bristoll that he should in the meane time present no more Letters to the Infanta nor demand any more audience and that from thenceforth none should stile the Infanta Princesse of England or Wales Vpon this there was a resolution taken by our Lords of the Councell to breake both the Match and Treaty with Spaine and to gaine the Palatinate and Electorship by force of Armes to which end a Parliament was summoned at London to begin Feb. 12â— 1623. but put off till Febr. 16. On Febr. 24. The Lord Duke of Buckingham made a large Relation of the whole Negotiation with Spain about the Princes Mariage to both Houses of Parliament recorded in the Lords Iournall enrolled in the * Prima pars Pet 21. Iac n 21 Rolls wherein most of the premises are related to the full and some of them concealed which the dishdent Author of the Answer to the Royall Popish Favourite who so much
our Countries good and our owne confident perswasion that these will much advance the glory of Almighty God the everlasting honour of your Majesty the safety of your Kingdomes and the encouragement of all your good Subjects we doe most humbly beseech your Majesty to vouchsafe a gracious answer This Petition being presented to the King by a Committee of both Houses the King after some deliberation gave this Answer to it That the lawes against Iesuits and popish Recusants should be put inâ—due execution from thenceforth c. Whereupon the Commons soone after sent another Petition to the Lords desiring their concurrence with them in presenting it to his Majesty for removing popish Recusants and those whose Wives were Papists from offices of trust which by law they were disabled to execute which the Lords taking into consideration It was after reported to the Lords and entred in their Journall in this manner Die Iovis viz vicessimo die Maij 1624. The Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury reported that at the meeting this day with the Commons they presented an humble Petition to the King desiring this House to joyne with them therein as heretofore The which Petition was read in haec verba viz. WE your Majesties loyall and faithfull Subjects the Commons by your royall Authority and commandement called to and Assembled in this present Parliament out of all the parts of your Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales doe in all humility give your Majesty most humble thanks that you have so religiously and openly published that your lawes and acts of State against popish Recusants shall be put in due execution and now we hold it our bounden duty amongst other important affaires of your Realme to informe your Majesty of the growth of this dangerous sort of people in this your Kingdome and of their insolency and boldnesse in all the parts thereof insomuch as many of them unknowne to your Majesty have crept into offices and places of government and authority under you to the disheartning of you good Subjects and contrary to your Majesties lawes and acts of State whose names in discharge of our allegiance and duty without respect of persons we in all humblenesse present to your Majesty c. Now in consideration of the great countenance hereby given unto popery the greaâ— griefe and offence to all your best affected and true and loving subjects the apparant danger of the whole Kingdom by putting the power of Arms into such mens hands as by former acts of your Majesties counsell are adjudged persons justly to be suspectedâ— and fit themselves to be disarmed your sayd royall and faithfull subjects doe most humbly beseech your Majesty graciously to vouchsafe that the sayd Lords and Gentlemen hereunder named for this important reason and for the greater safety of your Majesty and of this your Realme and dominion may be removed from all your Majesties commissions of great charge and trust commissions of Lieutenancy Oyer and Terminer and of the peace and from all other offices and places of trust The names of all such persons as are certified to have places of charge or trust in their severall Counties and are themselves Popish Recusants or Non-communicants that have given over suspicion of their ill affection in Religion or that are reported or suspected so to be THe right Honourable Francis Earle of Rutland is certified to be Lord Lieutenant in the County of Lincolne and a Commissioneâ— of the peace and Custos Rotulorum in the County of Northampton and a Commissioner of the peace and of Oyer and Terminer in Yorkeshire and in other counties and that he and his wife are suspected to be popish recusants The right honourable the Earle of Castlehaven is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and of Oyer and Terminer in Wiltshire and to be suspected to be ill affected in religion and that some of his family either are or lately were recusauts Sir Thomas Compton Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and of Oyer and Terminer in Warwickeshire and he and the Countesse his wife are certified by same to be suspected to be popish recusants The right honourable Henry Lord Herbert is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Monmouthshire and to favour the popish religion and to forbeare the Church The right honourable the Lord Viscount Colchester is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace in Essex and by report that he commeth not to the Church nor receiveth the communion The right honourable the Lord Peter is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Essex and by report that he commeth not to the church nor receiveth the communion and that his wife and family are generally suspected to be popish recusants The right honourable Henry Lord Morlay is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Lancashire and to be suspected to be a popish recusant The right honourable the Lord Windsor is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Buckinghamshire and by common fame to be a popish recusant The right honourable William Lord Evre is certified to be a Justice of the peace in the county of Durham and to be a popish recusant convicted The right honourable the Lord Wooten is certified to be in place of authority in Kent and that he and his wife doe forbeare the church and are justly suspected to affect the Roman religion The right honourable the Lord Teynhani is certified to be a commissioner of the peace in Kent and by common report to be a popish recusant The right honourable the Lord Scroope is certified to be a Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of Yorke of the City of Yorke and of Kingston upon Hull and to be a Commissioner of the peace and of Oyer and Terminer in the said Counties and in sundry other Counties and that his Lordship hath not received the Communion once every yeere in the last three or foure yeeres and that his Lordship hath given overt suspicion of his ill affection in Religion by his departure from the Communion on sundry dayes when his Majesties Counsell there resident and others of the Congregation staid behind to receive the same sometimes on Easter-day and sometimes on the fifth day of November and it is testified by witnesse that the Lord Archbishops grace of Yorke and others of his Majesties Counsell there resident were present did receive the Communion once when his Lordship went away and that his Lordship doth rarely repaire to the Church on Sundayes and Holy-dayes in the forenoon and not above twice to the afternoone Sermons whereunto former Lord Presidents with his Majesties Counsell there residing have frequently repaired and whereunto the Counsell now there resident doe ordinarily repaire since he was made Lord President whereof notice is taken by all his Majesties Subjects in those parts to the great griefe of such as are truly affected in Religion Sir VVilliam Courtney Knight is certified to be a Commissioner of the peace and
of the present estate the causes and remedies of this encreasing disease of Popery humbly offering the same to your Princely care and wisedome The answer of your Majesties Father our late Soveraigne of famous memory upon the like Petition did give us great comfort of Reformation but your Majesties most gracious promises made in that kind doe give us confidence and assurance of the continuall performance thereof in which comfort and confidence reposing our selves we most humbly pray for your Majesties long continuance in all Princely felicity This Petition as I find by the Commons Iournall was ordered to be drawne up by a speciall Committee upon a complaint made in that House of the liberty of Priests and Iesuits 21. Iunâ—â— 1. Car. On the 7. of Iuly following it was voted in the House answered by the King the 7. of August and the Answer thereunto reported Aug. 8. But this Parliament being unhappily dissolved in discontent the twelfth of that August these plausible answers vanished into smoake and notwithstanding them the execution of Priests and Jesuits apprehended during and after the Parliament and the proceedings against Recusants by well affected Justices and people were stayed in some places by warrants under the privy Signet and other under-hand meanes Yet in December following the King being necessitated to summon a new Parliament to prevent clamours and complaints in not making good his Answers to the foresaid Petition caused a Commission to be awarded under the great Seale for executing the lawes against Recusants which was read in all the Courts of Iustice at Redding and withall sent this Letter to the then Arch-bishop of Canterbury Abbot to be by him conveyed to all the Bishops of his Province to present and excoâ—municate all Recusants within their Duresse as will appear by this Letter of the said Archbishop to Doctor Land then Bishop of Saint Davids and his Letters to his Officials in pursuance of it the Originall whereof is in my custody AFter my hearty commendations c. It will appeare by the severall Copies under written from his royall Majesty to the Lords Grace of Canterbury and from my Lords Grace to me what care his Majesty hath for the preservation of true Religion setled and established in this Kingdome the tenour of these Letters are as followeth Right Reverend Father in God my very good Lord I have received from the Kings Majesty a Letter the Tenour whereof here followeth MOst Reverend Father in God Right trusty and Right Well beloved Counsellour We greet you well Whereas upon sundry weighty considerations Vs especially moving We lately awarded Our Commission under Our great Seale of England for the due and effectuall putting in execution of the severall laweâ— and statuteâ— remaining in force against popish Recusants and did cause Our said Commission to be publikely read in Our severall Courts holden the last terme at Redding That all Our loving Subjects might take notice of Our princely care and speciall charge for the advancement of true Religion and suppression of Suâ—erstition and Popery We have now thought fit out of the same care to adde a further charge to you and all others having Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction under Us that no good meanes be neglected on Our part for discovering finding out and apprehending of Iesuits Seminary-priests and other Seducers of Our people to the Romish Religion or for repressing popish Recusants and Delinquents of that sort against whom you are to proceed by Excommunication and other censures of the Church not omitting any other lawfull meanes to bring them forth to publike justice And as Our pleasure is that due and strict proceeding be used against such as are open and professed Papists of whom Ouâ— temporall lawes will more easily take hold So We doe recommend to the vigilanâ— care of you and the rest of Our Clergy for the repressing of those who being ill affected to the true Religion here established doe keep more close and secret their ill and dongerous affections that way and as well by their example as by secret and underhand slights and meanes doe much encourage and encrease the growth of popery and Superstition in sundry parts of this Kingdome And therefore We doe not onely require that none of them may have any manner of cover protection countenance or connivance from you or any of the rest as you tender Our royall commandement in that behalfe but that all possible diligence be used as well to unâ—â—ske the false shadowes and pretences of those who may possibly be wonne to conformity letting all men know that We cannot think well of any that having place and authority in the Church doe permit such persons to passe with impunity much lesse if they give them any countenance to the imboldning of them or their Adherents and because We understand that the number of Recusants is much more encreased in some Dioâ—esses then in others We shall impute the same to the negligence of those Bishops who have the same meanes and power of restraint unlesse they can shew Us some particular reason by which that contagion is become greater under them then others and not by their defaults and We doe hereby require you to send transcripts of these Our Letters to all the Bishops and Ordinaries within your province for the present execution of thisâ— Our generall direction and also to transmit the same our Letters to the Lord Archbishop of Yorke that he may take the like course within his Charge and Jurisdiction Given under Our Signet at Our Castle of Windsor the fifteenth day of December in the first yeere of Our Reigne By this you see the Royall and Christian care which his Majesty hath for the advancement of true Religion within this Kingdome and the suppressing of the contrary I doubt not but your Lordship will take it into serious consideration and by your Officers and Ministers give execution thereunto so that presentments be duly made and excommunication against the obstinate be issued forth as some few yeers past was accustomed and his Majesty doth expect that to shew your diligence and zeale therein yout Lordship soone after Easter returne unto me the list and number of all Recusant Papists within your Diocesse which without faile I doe expect and so I leave you to the Almighty and remaine Your Lordships loving brother G. Cant. Croydon the 21. of Decemb. 1625. These are therefore to will and require you and every of you through the severall Arch-deaconries within my Diocesses that there be all possible care taken of such as are any way backward in points of Religion and more especially of known and professed Recusants that they may be carefully presented and proceedings had against them to excommunication according to forme and order of Law and that there be a true List and Catalogue after every Easter yeerly sent unto me that according to the order of these Letters I may be able to have it ready and deliver it up to my Lord of Canterbury and for the
drawne to such an unworthy action resolving rather to sinke then stirre therein Whereupon Captaine Pennington acquainted his Majesty and the Duke of Buckingham by Letters with this their peremptory resolution and desires their direction herein the King I know not by whose ill advice returns him this answer both by word of mouth and this ensuing Warrant the copy whereof was found among Windebankes and the Lord Cottingtons Papers CHARLES R. Pennington THese are to charge and require you immediately upon sight hereof that without all difficulty and delay you put Our former commandement in execution for the consigning of the Ship under your charge called the Vaunt-guard into the hands of the Marquesse de Effort with all her Equipage Artillery and Ammunition assuring the Officers of the said Ship whom it may concerne that we will provide for their indemnity and We further charge and command you that you also require the seven Merchants Ships in Our name to put themselves into the service of Our deare Brother the French King according to the promise made unto him and in case of backwardnesse or refusall We command you to use all forcible meanes in your power to compell them thereunto even to their sinking NOTE and in these severall charges see you faile not as you will answer the contrary at your utmost perill and this shall be your sufficient Warrant Given as Our Court at Richmond the 28. of Iuly 1625. To Our Trusty and welbeloved John Pennington Captaine of Our Ship called the Vaunt-guard Upon receit of this Warrant Captaine Pennington as I have been certainly informed from very credible persons of note privy to the transactions of this businesse threatned to shoot and sinke the Ships and hang up the Mariners that refused to yeeld obedience and serve against Rochell but they all unanimously declined the service bidding him doe his pleasure with them for goe against the Rochelers they would never but if they were commanded upon any other service not against the Protestants they would obey Whereupon those who refused to serve in this expedition were commanded to quit the Ships and returne into England which all did but two who soone after came to desperate ends the one being blowne up with Gun-powder the the other drowned or slaine Upon this the English Ships were according to this direction delivered to the French manned with French-men and other Forreigners and joyning with some more Vessels of the French King destroyed the Rochell Fleet blocked up their Haven ruined that famous Protestant City with most of the Protestants in it which after a long and sharp siege by sea and land was through famine surrendred into the Papist hands the losse whereof was generally if not justly imputed to our ill Counsellers who after they had been instruments to destroy their Ships the principall meanes of their safety support and preservation by an unfortunate voyage of the Duke of Buckingham to the Isle of Ree to what end but to ruine Rochell and the Protestant party in France or to revenge the disappointment of his lust as many muttered is yet unknowne to the world exhausted their Ammunition Victuals provisions men to supply our necessities at Ree and after our departure thence left our sick and maiâ—ed souldiers there to help devoure the residue of their emptied stores and then suffered them to be totally blocked up at sea when we had thus engaged them on our behalfe neglecting to send them timely supplies of Victuall Ammunition shipping men which was strangely delaid from time to time contrary to promise and when our ships went at last they gave over the designe of relieving is as desperate before ever they assayed whether it was feasible 〈◊〉 Master Henry now Lord Iermin and some others in that unfortunate expedition informed me and then making onely a Bravado towards the Barracado as if they meant to force it with their fireships and engines made with great stones brought to London to repaire Pauls so unlikely to do any good service for Rochell they discharged their Ordnance very valiantly above a league or two from the Workes they were to force and without adventuring neerer or attempting to force the Barre returned presently with infinite dishonour for England leaving all their fireships and Engines in them to the French in a most unwarlike manner but in their returne homewards many of these Ships were wrecked drowned in a tempest who would not adventure sinking in a fight and the whole Navy shattered Soon after which poor Rochell thus deferred and betraid was surrendred into the French Kings Cardinals possession and all the Protestant Towns in France surprized yeeded pillaged dismantled so as they have since no Town or Fort of strength to retire unto to preserve themselves from the force or massacres of their bloody Adversaries to whose mercilesse cruelties they are now wholly exposed upon all occasions by our means I pray God this 〈◊〉 against them and the blood of those many thousand Protestants then shed in France by our occasion be not one principall cause why God by way of retaliation hath permitted the Papists in Ireland and England to shed so much Protestant blood in these Realmes as they have done of late lot our refusing or neglecting to avenge their blood upon those romanized Conspirators who were the occasion of this their irreperable losse and bloodshed But to returne home againe from this deplorable action the second Parliament in King Charles his Reigne being dissolved sodainly in disgusts as you have heard there was a desperate plot laid to blow up our Religion Liberties Properties all at once by the Jesuiâ—â—call Arminian and Prelatical Faction To effect this they set on foot an enforced Loane or Benevolence to the King to which every man must be summoned and compelled to lend mony according to his ability to which end there were Commissions and Instructions together with speciall Commissioners senc into every County to summon all Free-holders and men of estate to lend what the Commissioners should asseâ—â—e them and to prepare the people the better to contribute Doctor Manwaing preached two Sermons before the King and his Court at White-hall and Doctor Sibthorpe another Sermon at the Assisâ—â—at Northampton by the now Arch-bishop of Canterbury his instigation who perused and caused these Sermons to be printed by the Kings speciall Command with some additions and purgations of his owne to preach the people out of their just rights in point of Conscience and the Judges were likewise enjoyed in their charges and circuits to declare the legallity of them and so inthrall the Subjects to this and all other arbitrary taxes in poynt of Law And that this malevolent enforced Benevolence might passe more currently and plausibly among the people the aiding of our Protestant Allies in Germany Denmarke France and particularly the reliefe of Rochell then besieged against the Papists and their potent enemies was made the principall end thereof and a Parliament was promised to be
Marshall made a Roll and entred the appearance of all such as came and tendred their service If any failed to come or to make Fine their Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels were distrayned by the Sheriffe upon summons out of the Exchequer If any pleaded that he had attended he was discharged upon certificate out of the Marshals Roll testifying that he had done his service If any being come did depart before the warre ended their Lands Tenements Goods and Chattles were seized untill they had made Fine or the King had pardoned their offence Commissions went out for levying of men in every County and bringing them to the Kings Army Like Commissions were made for mustering and arraying the Clergy throughout England Commissions were likewise issued to enquire and punish all Bayliffs and other Officers that for reward had suffered Souldiers to depart before they came to the Kings Army The King appointed certaine Captaines in such Counties as bordered upon Scotland to levie able men in those Counties and to bring them with their Horse and Armes to the Kings Army Those of the bordering shires were commanded to be ready at eight dayes warning to come unto the Kings Army well armed and Commissions were made for punishing such as refused Writs were sent into severall Counties for certifying the King what number of Horse and Foot every County could afford him in his warres of Scotland The Clergy of England furnished the King with a proportion of armed men The Ports were summoned to attend with their service of shipping The Constable of Dover Castle was commanded to guard the Ports lest any by comming in or going out there should bring danger to the Kingdome The Sheriffs of Counties were commanded by writ to make provisions of corne and victuals for the Kings Army and to cause them to be carried to the place appointed Writs also were sent to divers Townes of England and Ireland commanding all Merchants to bring provisions to the Kings Army Ships of the Subject were taken up for transporting those provisions to a place assigned Inhibitions were made that no victuals or other munition should be transported beyond the Seas during the warre Divers Subsidies and Fifteens granted to the King by the Subject towards the war Merchants strangers gave the King ayde of money towards the warres of Scotland and lent him divers summes Those of Wales furnished the King with a proportion of money toward the war The Lords and Clergy of Ireland were required to contribute toward the war The King suspended the paiment of his debts for a certaine time in regard of the great occasions he had to use money in the warres of Scotland Note that no particular Records were cited or produced to warrant the Premises In Ianuary he received another Paper from him which he thus indorseth with his owne hand Rece Ian. 29. what was fit to be done in point of danger from the Scots Sir Io. Burrowes When Warre was intended against Scotland three things were heretofore taken into speciall care First how to raise Horse and Foot Victuals Ammunition Money and other necessaries for that service Secondly how to secure the Seas and Sea coasts of the Kingdome from danger of forraigne attempts while the Kings forces were employed in those Northern parts Thirdly how to provide for the preservation of the peace of the kingdome within it selfe against riots mutinies and rebellions whereunto ill conditioned and desperate persons at such times are easily moved The first of these hath already in some speciall points been expressed For the second touching the guard of the Seas sufficient provision is made by the late course taken And for securing the Sea coasts 1. The Forts neare the Sea were fortified and furnished with men and munition 2. All persons that had possessions and estates in mariâ—ine Counties were commanded by Proclamation to reside there with their families and retinues 3. Beacons were erected in all fitting places 4. Certaine light Horse were appointed by the Country to watch along the Sea coasts to give advertisement if danger appeared 5. All able men of those Counties were commanded to be sufficiently armed and trained and put into Companies and Bands under certaine Leaders who were to be commanded by some one Generall appointed by the King Concerning the peace of the Kingdome 1. All conventicles and secret meetings were straightly forbidden by Proclamation and parties offending severely punished 2. All spreaders of Rumours and tale-bearers were by Proclamation commanded to be taken and imprisoned 3. All able men between 16 and 60 yeares of age in every shire were commanded to be sufficiently armed and trained and to obey such Generals as the King appointed 4. Such as were not able in body to beare Arms but had Estates were to maintaine at their charges such able men as were appointed in their roomes The very same day the Archbishop procures this ensuing warrant from the Councell Table to himselfe and the Archbishop of York to write letters to all the Bishops within their severall Diocesse to summon their Clergy before them to excite them to a liberall contribution against the Scots At White Hall the 29. of Ianuary 1638. IT was this day ordered by his Majesty sitting in Councell That the Lords Archbishops of Canterbury and York their Graces should be hereby required and commanded to write their letters to all the Lords Bishops in their severall Provinces respectively forthwith to convene before them all the Clergy of ability in their Diocesses and to incite them by such wayes and meanes as shall be thought best by their Lordships to ayd and assist his Majesty with their speedy and liberall contributions or otherwise for the defence of his Royall Person and of this Kingdome against the seditious attempts of some in Scotland And that the same bee sent to the Lord Treasurer of England with all diligence Tho. Coventry C. S. Guilliel London H. Manchester I. Lenox Lindâ—ey Arundel Surrey Dorset Pembroke Mongomery Holland Fra. Cottington H. Vane I. Coke Fran. Windebanke But doubting of the validity of this warrant for such a contribution he of late procured this warrant written with his owne hand antedated two dayes before the Councell Table Order to be signed by his Majesty to help him at a pinch Charles Rex CAnterbury I require you to write your Letters to your Brethren the Bishops 〈◊〉 for a contribution of the Clergie towards my affaires with my Scottish Subjects as was done in my Fathers time for the Palatinate And for your so doing this shall be your warrant Jan. 27. 1638. That this Warrant was since forged by him to which he procured the Kings hand is apparant not only by the freshnesse of the inke but by the very Letter he writ to the Bishops of his Province to set on this Contribution dated the last of Ianuary which mentions only the Lords Order but not one syllable of this Warrant of the King which if reall he would have recited in the
much affrighted and the most of his friends in the Lords House forsooke him all the Popish Lords did absent themselves the Lord of Holland and Hartford were absent so was Bristol and others Savill and the Duke onely stucke close and faithfully to him and some sew other Lords God knowes the King is much dejected the Lords much affâ—ighted which makes the Citizens and House of Commons shew their heads some have braved little lesse than to unthrone His Majesty who if hee had but an ordinary spirit might easily quash and suppresse these people Our good Queen is much afflicted NOTE and in my conscience the Puritans if they durst would teare her in pieces this cannot be for the honour of France to endure a Daughter of that Nation and her Children should be thus oppressed and affronted The Earle of Holland is made Generall of the Army whither he is gone down the E. of Newport Master of the Ordnance Belfore Lieverenant of the Tower hath proved an arrant Traytor to the King NOTE who commanded him upon his Allegiance to receive a Captain and 1000 men into the Tower which he most traiterously refused to doe One clause is omitted which should have bin placed in the middle of the Letter which was to this effect That there was a Report in London that the Parliament House was on fire whereupon there was more than 1000 people very suddenly gathered together whereby you may easily perceive the heigth and 〈◊〉 of the peoples affections May 6. Anno Dom. 1641. There was another Letter sent from one Robert Phillips one of the Queenes Priests supposed to Master Mountagueâ— to this effect You may expect some company with you ere long Crofts Suckling Piercy Iermaine are gone all things here are in great incertainties Protestation is made and taken by both Houses much like but much worse than the Scottish Covenant I sent you some money by Mr. Iermaine but now that he is gone I make some doubt whether he might be mindfull of you to take it with him I haue spoke to the Queen about your occasions and will do what I can though I am not able to undertake much Your loving friend FRAN PHILIPS HEereupon Father Philips was sent for by a Messenger to appear before a Committee Ibidem p. 〈◊〉 that afternoone to be examined about it The Messenger comming to White-hall and finding him acquainted him therewith who sayd he would go in and eate something and come presently and goe with him But by a backe door he went and acquainted the Queen with his sending for and after some stay came and told the Officer that he had bin with the Queen who had commanded him that he should not go till she had spoke with the King and that he would obey her command before the Parliament Which being related to the House of Commons they were much distasted at it and sent another Warrant to apprehend and bring him forthwith the next day as a delinquent There was also a Warrant sent by the Serjeant at Arms for the Popes Nuncio NOTE and to bring him likewise before the House but he was not to be found The next day the King sent a Message to the Commons promising that the Popes Nuncio should be presently sent away out of this Kingdome Presently hereupon the Officer was again sent with a Warrant to apprehend Father Philips and waiting for him at White-hall complaint had bin made as it seemed to the King about it and the Lord Chamberlain at the Kings Command sent for the Officer to examine him by what Authority he came within the Verge of the Court to Attach any one who shewing his Warrant desired he would trust him with it to shew the King which the Officer did And the Lord Chamberlain soon after returning gave this answer That His Majesty would satisfie the House about it if Philips did not appeare But in the afternoon the sayd Philips appeared before the Committee and was examined and commanded to attend the House of Commons the next day After which Father Philips was committed prisoner to the Tower and these Articles of Impeachment drawn up against him most of them comprised in Brownes Relation The Impeachment and Articles of complaint against Father Philips the Queens Confessor Ibidem p. 400. to 411. lately committed to the Tower by the Honourable and High Court of PARLIAMENT THat the sayd Father Philips hath bin observed to have bin a great cause both in himselfe and his Adherents of a great part of the unquietnesse of this State He with Parsons and other their Assistants were the onely cause that the Pope was stirred up to send Breves to these Kingdoms of Englaud and Scotland and to hinder the oath of Allegiance Note and lawfull obedience of the subjects to our Gracious King that so they may still fish in troubled waters The damnable Doctrine which he and other Iesuits have taught to destroy and depose Kings hath bin the cause of the civill Wars like to be the fall of these Kingdomes if God in his mercy did not prevent it â—hey have bin the cause of the Monopolies projected in this Kingdome especially concerning the Forrest of Deane and marking of butter Caske where all the parties were partners and Confederates with them as Sir Basill Brooke sir Iohn Winter and a brother in Law of the sayd Sir Iohn that lived in Worcestershire and Master Ployden whose servant named Baldwin hath bin seen to deliver to Captain Read a substitute of the Iesuits an hundred pounds at a time to one Iesuite that lived in his house Father Philips hath bin a great Actor with the superiour of the Capuchions who is a most turbulent spirit and was sent hither by Cardinall Richlieu of France to be a Spye at this Court for the French Faction and hath therefore laboured by all means to breed dissentions Note for the French Aime at nothing more than to make a Schisme betwixt the English and the Scots that this State might be so weakned and made unable to withstand them that so they might have an opportunity to Conquor these Kingdoms these unquiet spirits having accesse to her Majesty may importune things not fit for the State The sayd Philips hath bin guided by a Grey-Fryar who by degrees hath intruded himselfe to be a Clerke of her Majesties Chappell and Chaplain Extraordinary in time of Progresse who when he is out of London goeth by the name of Mastor Wilson but his true name is William Tompson Doctor of Divinity as some Iesuites have affirmed but a most furious spirit and unquiet and therefore by a Nicke-name is by some called Cacafugo that is as much as if in English you should say Shit-fire by whom Father Philips hath bin so led that he hath bin very officious to perform whatsoever he would have done These two have ruled all the busines concerning the two Kingdoms on the Popish parts and for the most part of Rome also The