the siege of Our Garrisons during the Treaty upon a pretext of want of authority So as for avoyding of further dishonour We have been forced to recall both Our Ambassadours as well the Chancelour of our Exchequer who is already returned to Our presence as also the Lord Chichester whom We intended to have sent unto the Emperour to the Diet at Ratisbone Seeing therefore that meerly out of Our extraordinary respect to the King of Spaine and the firme confidence We ever put in the hopes and promises which he did give Vs desiring nothing more then for his cause principally to avoyd all occasions that might put Vs into ill understanding with any of the house of Austria We have hitherto proceeded with a stedfast patience trusting to the Treaties and neglecting all other Meanes which probably might have secured the remainder of Our Childrens Inheritance those Garrisons which We maintained in the Palatinate being rather for honours sake to keepe a footing untill the generall accommodation then that We did rely so much upon their strength as upon his friendship and by this confidence and security of Ourâ— are thus exposed to dishonour and reproach You shall tell that King that seeing all those endeavours and good Offices which He hath used towards the Emperour in this businesse on the behalfe of Our Sonne-in-law upon confidence whereof that security of Ours depended which he continually by his Letters and Ministers here laboured to beget and confirme in Vs have not sorted to any other issue then to a plaine abuse both of His trust and Ours whereby VVe are both of Vs highly injured in Our Honour though in a different degree VVe hope and desire that out of a true sense of this wrong offered unto Vs he will as Our deere and loving Brother faithfully promise and undertake upon his Honour confirming the same also under his hand and seale either that the Towne and Castle of Heidelberg shall within threescore and ten dayes after your audience and demand made be rendred into Our hands with all things therein belonging to Our Sonne-in-law or Our Daughter as neere as may be in the state they were when they were taken â—nd the like for Manheim and Frankendale if both or either of them shall be taken by the enemy whilest these things are in treating As also that there shall be within the said terme of 70. dayes a Cessation and Suspension of Armes in the Palatinate for the future upon the severall Articles and Conditions last propounded by Our Ambassadour Sir Richard Weston and that the generall Treaty shall be set on foot againe upon such honourable termes and conditions as We propounded unto the Emperour in a Letter written unto him in November last and with which the King of Spaine then as VVe understood seemed satisfied Or else in case all these particulars be not yeelded unto and performed by the Emperour as is here propounded but be refused or delayed beyond the time aforementioned that then the King of Spaine doe joyne his Forces with Ours for the recovery of Our Childrens honours and Patrimony which upon this trust hath been thus lost Or if so be his Forces at this present be otherwise so imployed as that they cannot give Vs that assistance which VVe here desire and as VVe thinke have deserved yet that at the least he will permit Vs a free and friendly passage thorow his Territories and Dominions for such Forces as VVe shall send and imploy into Germany for this service Of all which distinctively if you receive not from the King of Spaine within ten dayes at the furthest after your audience and proposition made a direct assurance under his hand and seale without delay or putting Vs off to further Treaties and Conferences that is to say of such restitution Cessation of Armes and proceeding to a generall Treaty as is before mentioned or else of assistance and joyning His Forces with Ours against the Emperours or at least permission of passage for Our Forces thorow His the said Kings Dominions that then you take your leave and returne to Our presence without further stay otherwise to proceed in the Negotiation for the Marriage of Our Sonne according to the Instructions VVe have given you Given c. Hampton-Court Octob. 3. 1622. RIght Trusty c. We have given you certaine Insturctions signed with Our hand to direct you how to expresse unto the King of Spaine the feeling We have of the dishonour put upon Vs by the Emperour through Our trust and confidence in that Kings promises wherein you have order to come away without further delay in case you receive not satisfaction to your demands in such sort as We have commanded you to propound them Neverthelesse We are to put you in remembrance of that which We have heretofore told you in case a Rupture happen between the King of Spaine and Vs that We would be glad to manage it at Our best advantage And therefore howsoever you doe not find the satisfaction which We in those Instructions crave from the King of Spaine and have reason to expect yet would We not have you instantly come away upon it but advertise Vs first letting Vs know privatly if you find such cause that there is no good to be done nor no satisfaction as you judge intended Vs Note this though publiquely and outwardly you give out the contrary that VVe may make use thereof with Our People in Parliament as VVe shall hold best for Our service And this see you doe notwithstanding any thing in your other Instructioâ—â— to the contrary Octob. 4 1622. The Pope and Spaniard upon these Letters and new Instructions seemde very desirous to proceed to the accomplishment of this Match but their chiefe designe being to advance the Romish Catholique Religion and reduce England by degrees thereto the Pope to make sure worke NOTE insisted stiffely on this Article that the Children of this Marriage SHOVLD BE BROVGHT VP CATHOLIQVES VNDER THE MOTHER VNTILL THEY VVERE 12. OR 14. YEERES OLD He well knew the verity of the ancient Proverb Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorâ—m Testa diu Horace That if they were bred up Papists in their infancy they would questionlesse continue such and not turne zealous Protestants in their riper yeeres No wonder then he stood so much upon this point King Iames to shew his willingnesse to consummate the March though he refused totally to condescend to this Article in open shew to preserve his Honour yet he was contented privately to oblige himselfe that the Mother should have their education till they were nine yeeres old as is evident by this ensuing Letter of Master Secretary Calvert to the Earle of Bristoll sent by Vaccanâ—aâ—y My very good Lord BEcause I would not omit any thing that should conduce to the accomplishment of that worke which your Lordship hath in hand and which His Majesty desires so much to bring to an issue Although I conceive Master Porter had
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
the time of the Princes being in Spaine as aforesaid the Prince consulting and advising with the said Earle and others about a new offer made by the King of Spaine touching the Palatinate which was that the eldest Son of the Prince Palatine should marry with the Emperours Daughter but must be bread up in the Emperors Court The said Earle delivered his opinion that the Proposition was reasonable whereat when Sir Walter Ashton then present falling into some passion said that he durst not for his head consent unto it The Earle of Bristoll replyed that hee saw no such great inconvenience in it for that he might be there bred up in the Emperors Court in our Religion But when the extreame danger and in a manner the impossibility thereof was pressed unto the said Earle he said againe That without some such great action the peace of Christendome would never be had Which was so dangerous and desperate a councell that one so neare to the Crowne of England should be poysoned in his Religion and put into the power of a Foraigne Prince Enemy to our Religion and an unfreind to our state that the consequence thereof both for the present and future times were infinitly dangerous and yet hereunto did his disaffection to our Religion the blindnesse in his judgment caused by sinister respects and the too much regard he had to the House of Austria lead him c. Ro. Heath These Articles were exhibited against the Earle by the Kings owne speciall direction and perused corrected by him before they were put in as appeares by the Lords Iournall the Kings Atturny averring it openly in the House of Peers It seems therefore a great Wonder to many observing men that he who was thus impeached by his Majesties speciall command as the worst of Councellors and a strong perswader of him to become a professed Roman Catholik an advancer of Popery and Papists then should become his principle Cabinet Councellor to advise him to side with the Popish party in England Ireland Scotland against his Parliament and Protestant subjects now But to pretermit his present Councells which seeme to justifie the former Articles the Earle of Bristoll himselfe in his answere * In the Lords Parchment Iournall P. 249. c. to the 7th Article confesseth that there was a generall received opinion in the Spanish Court that his Majesties comming thither was with intention to become a Roman Catholike and that the Conde Gundimar that very morning pressed the Earle not to hinder so pious a worke for so he tearmed it of his Majesties conversion seemed to be assured of the Duke of Buckinghams assistance therein whereupon he told his Majesty That the Generall opinion in that Court was that his Majestyes comming thither was WITH INTENTION TO BE A ROMAN CATHOLIKE AND THERE TO DECLARE IT c. Whereupon he intreated him not to suffer his businesse to be overthrowne by permitting that conceit of his conversion any longer to remaine with the Spaniards not to do any thing that might give them hope therein alleaging that it was impossible the Mariage could be without a dispensation And so long as the Spaniard who were to procure the dispensation should have hope of his Majesties conversion they would rather clogge the Dispensation then hasten it for whiles they should have hope of all by his convertion they would never content themselves with a part to which they were tyed by the Articles agreed upon At which time his Majesty was pleased to aprove of his opinion and said he would expect the dispensatory and did thereupon afterward send Master Andrews to Rome to hasten it By all these Articles and passages it is most perspicuous that there was a professed designe in the Duke of Buckingham the Earle of Bristoll Secretary Calvert Cottington Porter Gage and other instruments who contrived the Princes dangerous Journey into Spaine to pervert the Prince in his Religion to make him and all his Children professed Roman Catholikes and the Prince Palatine too and by this meanes to set up Popery in their Dominions to suppresse the Protestant Religion and Professors of it in all places that so the Pope might become Lord Paramount over them and all their Subjects and they his sworne Vassalls How far the Archbishop was privy and assistant to this designe you may partly read in the Breviat of his life P. 3. 14. and shall heare more heareafter in its proper place What the aymes of the Pope and Spaniard were in contriving the Princes progresse into Spaine appeares First by the forementioned common report in the Spanish Court that it was to become a professed Roman Catholike c. Secondly by this notable Letter of the Pope to the Bishop of Conchen one Coppy whereof I found in the Archbishop of Canterburies Study indorsed with his owne hand and another among Secretary Windebankes and the Lord Cottingtons sequestred Papers exhorting him to take this happy opportunity to convert subject and reconcile the Prince and his Dominious to the Sea of Rome Greg. P p 15 us Venerabili Fratri Episcopo Conchen in Hispaniarum Regnis Inquisitori generali VEnerabile Frater salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Orthodoxae Religionis tutelam faeâ—citer existimamus in amplissimis Hispaniae Regâ—â—s commendatam esse Fraternitati tuae scimus enim quà m vigilanter excubant in illustri ista statione Caveas ne ulla impiorum Dâ—gmatum monstra in ecclesiasticae vineae sepes irrepant Verum occasio tibi hoc tempore divinitus oblata est per quam pictatis tuae beneficia è regnorum istorum sinibus educere et ad exteras Nationes proferre possiâ— Accepimus istuc nuper appulisse Walliae principem Brittaniae Râ—gis silium spe ductum Catholici Matrimonij Cupimus eum non frustra commorari in illorum Regum aedibus quibus illustre Catholici Cognomentum Pontiâ—icae Authoritatis defensio et Religionis proferendae studium peperit Quare NOTE Apostolicis litteris horramur Catholicam Majstâ—tem ut eum Principem redigere suaviter coneâ—ur sub Romanae Ecclesiae ditionem cui veteres magnae Brittaniae Domini Coronatum Caput et Imperij fasces Caelo plaudente submiâ—erunt Ad hanc autem victoriam comparandam quae victis aeternos caelestis beatitudinis pollicetur triumphos atque principatus non Regalis Aeâ—arij visâ—era exhauriendâ— non saevientium militum legiones conscribendae sunt sed Arma lucis è Caelo petenda quae divini luminis splendore ejus Principis oculos alliciant atque ex illius animo errores omnes mansuetudine prostigent In ijs vero tractandis quae sit vis et ars Fraternitatis tuae jampridem accepimus NOTE Quareâ—e monemus ut ad Catholicum Regem Religiosus consiliarius accedas easque rationes dispicias quibus insigne aliquod beneficium Brittaniae Regnis et Romanae Ecclesiae in presenti rerum opportunitate comparetur Reâ— ipsa magna atque gravissima est quare eam
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
the principall contrivers and abbetters of this conspiracy in which all the Irish Popish Bishops Priests Friars Iesuits and scattered like Frogs in severall Popish Kingdoms and Seminaries were very active I shall onely adde to this That William O Conner an Irish Priest servant to the Queen-Mother who lodged at one Mistris Scarlets house in Coven-Garden and shifted his habit very often to disguise himself coming to one Anne Hussey an Irish Gentlewoman a little after Easter 1640. with another Irish man in his company having a long gray coat a sword girt close to his side to her lodging and going with her thence to Mistris Prinocks house in the Strand she demanded of O Conner who his companion was who answered he was one of the number of 7000. that were in privat pay AND IN READINES TO AYD THE CATHOLICKS Note AND TO OUT THE PROTESTANTS THROATS THAT SHOULD RESIST THEM and that he was one who played on the Flute to the Drum After which about the end of July 1640. he came to her foresaid lodging and said He came upon great occasion and in great haste and he must immediatly return back for he had three Letters from the Queen-Mother to deliver to three Ambassadors the Spanish the Venetian the French Note TO SEND TO THE POPE FROM WHOM OR FROM HIS LEGATE WE MUST KNOW WHEN TO BEGIN THE SUBDUING OF THE PROTESTANTS That they must first BEGIN TO CONQUER ENGLAND BEFORE IRELAND Being demanded by him How or in what manner will they begin with England And when will it be He replyed When the King goes to Scotland To which she answering There was no hopes of the Kings going to Scotland He replyed He warrant you he doth He further added That he had long been imployed by the Queen-Mother in her businesse with all the Princes of Christendom That they had some designe to cut off and kill the King adding That they would kill an Heretick at any time for the advancement of the Mother-Church of Rome and swore by Saint Francis and Saint Dominick that he would do it He further said He was bound to keep the Queen-Mothers secrets and that he would be burnt in fire before he would reveal them All this she discovered soon after to the Lords of the Councell by whom and by severall Iustices of Peace she was examined upon Oath and produced Letters of this Priest written to her with his own hand whereupon he was Committed close Prisoner to the Gate-house where he yet remaines unprocâ—eded against After this she attested it in the Parliament House upon Oath before the Rebellion brake forth and witnessed it since upon Oath at the Archbishops Tryall who said she was mad when she attested it at the Councell Table demanding of her how she durst speak any thing of this Nature of the Queen-Mother and telling her she was set on and hired by the City of London to do this Note and Commanded her to be Committed But she producing the Priests own Letter and he confessing it to be his own hand before the Lords she was sent only to one of the Sheriffs of Londons house and there secured till released by the Parliament About the time of this discourse the Earl of Worcester a great Papist and very powerfull in Southwales bordering next to Ireland procured a Commission from His Majesty for to be Lord Lieutenant and Commander in chief of all Southwales as the Lord Herbert his Son an Arch-Papist hath been since the Rebellion brake forth as appears by this Minute an Originall draught of a Letter under Secretary Windebanks own hand to the then Lord Chamberlain signifying as much HIS Majesty being well inclined to employ the Earl of Worcester in some particular service best known to himself in South-Wales Note being most confident of his Loyalty Duty and good affection to His Person and Service hath thought fit to acquaint Your Lordship therewith considering the great Power and Interest Your Lordship hath in those parts and hath commanded me in his Name to signifie his pleasure to Your Lordship that you give speedy and effectuall order to all Your Principall Officers Note Tenants and Dependents and such others as have relation to you that as soon as the said Earl shall produce any Commission or Authority from His Majesty for the performance of any service in those parts they fail not to obey His Lordship in all such thinges as by vertue of such Power given by him and His Majesty he shall require and Command This His Majesty expects Your Lordship shall do with expedition to the end Your Officers there may be the better prepared whensoever the said Earl shall exercise any such Commission from His Majesty that so His Majesties service may not suffer His Majesty hath already signified His pleasure to the Lord President of the Marches to this effect who hath yielded all obedience and conformity thereunto and His Majesty is confident that in that Your Lordship and those who have Relation to you will give place to none This coÌ„mission was ordred to be brought into the Commons house as dangerous But the happy unexpected Treaty and assembling of this Parliament frustrating the intended Massacre and Designe of subduing the Protestants in England for the present the Plot in Ireland still proceeding and was to be put in execution on the 23. of October 1641. on which day all the Forts and Towns in Ireland should have been surprised at an instant by the Popish Rebells and most of the Protestants destroyed and accordingly that very night Charlemont Fort was on the 23. of October at night surprised by Sir Phelim O Neale a principall actor and conspirator in the Rebellion who there took the Lady Calfield prisoner and murthered the young Lord Calfield her Son And at that time Sir Phelim ô Neale himself and other of his companions told her That Dublin castle and city Note and most other Forts of Ireland were surprised by their confederates the Papists that the Tower of London was taken by their party and the Archbishop of Canterbury released thence a good signe he was their friend that ENGLAND and the Protestants there were then or would be very shortly in the same or as bad a condition as Ireland and Protestants there were and some of them said that their party had taken Edenbrough castle All which was attested upon Oath by the Lady Calfield and her Gentlewoman Mistris Mary Woodrose at the Triall of Mac Mohon in the Kings * Attested on Oath at Mac â—Mohones triall by Sir William Steuart Sir William Colc Sir Williâ—m Hamilton Sir Charles Coot Sir Arthur Lofiâ—s and others Bench in Michaelmas Term last where this was likewise attested upon Oath That ALL THE PAPISTS IN ENGLAND WERE PRIVY TO THE PLOT IN IRELAND and intended the like in England which we have since experimentally found to be true Divers other Forts were the same day and soon after surprised by the Irish Rebels and
the 24 we met again in Councell and sent to all parts of the Kingdome the inclosed Proclamation and issued Pattents to draw hither seven horse Troopes as a further strength to this place and to be with us in case the Rebels shall make head and march hitherward so as we may be necessitated to give them Battell we also then sent away our Letters to the Presidents of both the Provinces of Munster and Conaught and we likewise then sent Letters to the Sheriffes of the five Counties of the Pale to consult of the best way and meanes of their own preservation That day the Lord Viscount Fitzwilliam and the Lord of Houth and since the Earle of Kildare Trigall and the Lords of Dunsany and Slane all Noble men of the English Pale came unto uâ— declaring that they then and not before heard of the matter and professed all Loyalty to his Majesty and concurrence with the State but said they wanted Armes whereof they desired to bee supplyed by us which wee told them we would willingly doe as relying much on their faithfulnesse to the Crown but wee were not yet certaine whether or no we had enough to Arme our strength for the Guard of the City and Castle yet we supplyed such of them as lay in most danger with a small proportion of Arms and Ammunition for their Houses lest they should conceive we apprehended any jealousie of them And wee commanded them to be very diligent in sending out Watches and making all the discoveries they could and thereof to advertise us which they readily promised to doe And if it fall out that the Irish generally rise which we have cause to suspect then we must of necessity put Armes into the hands of the English Pale in present and to others as fast as wee can to fight for defence of the State and themselves Your Lordship now sees the condition wherein we stand and how necessary it is first that we enjoy your presence speedily for the better guiding of these and other the publike affaires of the King and Kingdome and secondly that the Parliament there be moved immediately to advance to us a good sum of money which being now speedily sent hither may prevent the expence of very much Treasure and blood in a long continued warre and if your Lordship shall happen to stay on that side any long time we must then desire your Lordship to appoint a Lievtenant Generall to discharge the great and weighty burthen of commanding the Forces here Amidst these confusions and disorders fallen upon us we bethought us of the Parliament which was formerly adjourned to November next and the Terme now also at hand which will draw such a concourse of people hither and give opportunity under the pretence of assembling and taking new councells seeing the former seemes to bee in some part disappointed and of contriving further danger to this State and people wee have therefore found it of unavoydable necessity to prorogue the Parliament to the 24 day of February next and therefore we doe by Proclamation prorogue it accordingly and to direct the Term to be adjourned to the first of Hillary Terme excepting only the Court of Exchequer for hasting in the Kings money if it be possible We desire that upon this occasion your Lordship will be pleased to view our letters concerning the Plantation of Conaught dated the 24 of April last directed to Mr Secretary Vane in that part thereof which concernes the County of Monaghan where now these fires do first break out In the last place we must make known to your Lordship that the Army we have consisting but of 2000 foot and a 1000 horse are so dispersed in Garrisons in severall parts of the foure Provinces for the security of those parts as they continually have been since they were so reduced as if they be all sent for to be drawn together not only the places whence they are to bee drawne and for whose safety they lie there must be by their absence distressed but also the Companies themselves comming in so small numbers may bee in danger to be cut off in their March nor indeed have we any money to pay the Souldiers to enable them to March. And so we take leave anâ— remaine Your Lordships to be commanded From his Majesties Castle of Dublin 25. Octob. 1641. Poscript THe said Owen Connelly who revealed this Conspiracy is worthy of very great consideration to recompence that faith and loyalty which hee hath so extreamly to his own danger expressed in this businesse whereby under God there is yet hope left us of deliverance of this State and Kingdom from the wicked purposes of those Conspirators And therefore we beseâ—â—â— your Lordship that it be taken into consideration there so as hee may have a marke of his Majesties most Royall bounty which may largely extend to him and his Posterity we not now being able to doe it for him As wee were making up these our Letters the Sheriffe of the County of Monoghan and Dr Teats having fled came unto us and informe us of much more spoyle committed by the Rebels in the Counties of Monoghan and Caven And that the Sheriffe of the County of Caven joynes with the Rebels being a Papist and prime man of the Irish. What encouragment these Conspiratours had from Rome to proceed on in this design after it was in part prevented will evidently appeare by these three Letters written from thence to the Lord Mac Guire and Sir Phelym Oneale in Irish intercepted by the Lords Iustices in Ireland and sent over thus truly translated into England together with a Letter May 11. 1642. In which we may clearely discover that Cardinall Barbarino who was so intimate with Windebanke and held correspondency with him and the English Papists had a great hand in plotting this long intended Rebellion and was privy to it ere it brake forth A Copy of a Letter from Francis Mac Guire from Rome to the Lord Mac Guire The superscription Deliver me to Connor Mac Guire Lord of Eniskilin or in his absence to his brother Rowry Mac Guire in Ireland My honoured Lord THousand commendations unto you to Bryan Rowry and the rest I have heard of yours and Hugh Oge his imprisonment truly I never heard worse newes in all my life who esteeme that it is rather much good then any hurt which will redownd to you and the whole Nation from these your troubles Truly my Lord if you bee dead through that attempt the â—which God forbid it is a most glorious and everlasting name Note which you have added to your selfe The Pope and the two Cardinals his two Nephewes are acquainted with your case and heard likewise how valorously Phelym and Rowry and the rest of the Gentlemen their assistants have behaved themselves and rejoyced greatly thereat so that I make no question he will help you if you demand his side as becomes you therefore Bonaventura O Câ—nny brother to Eneas O Conâ—y who
directions to tell your Lordship which he will transmit unto you by Letter now he cannot goe himâ— selfe that whereas it is insisted upon by the Pope that the Children of this Marriage should be brought up Catholiques under the Mother untill they be twelve or fourteen yeeres of age His Majesty having limitted their education under the Mother onely to seven yeeres NOTE His Majesty is contented to yeeld thus much farther that howbeit in the publique Articles which in that point he desires not to be altered he mention but seven yeeres he will oblige himselfe privately by a Letter to the King of Spaine that they shall be brought up sub Regimine Mairis for two yeeres longer that is untill the age of nine yeeres if that will give any satisfaction which your Lordship may manage as you see best for His Majesties service And so I rest Saint Martens-lane Octob. 14. 1622. After this about the 25. of October King Iames writ a private Letter with his own hand to the Earl of Bristoll which Secretary Calvert sent away with all speed and secrecy by Master Gage to limit the Spaniard unto two moneths to gaine the Popes Resolution and Dispensation from Rome as is evident by the Copy of this Secretaries Letter to the Earle from St. Martens-lane Octob. 26. 1622. The King of Spaine hereupon deludes King Iames with faire dilatory promises as if he intended the hastening of the Marriage but how farre he was from any such reall intention is evident by this Letter of his to his grand favourite Conde of Olivares dated the fifth of Novemb. 1622. found among the Lord Cottingtons papers THe King my Father declared at his death that his intent never was to marry my Sister the Infanta Donna Maria with the Prince of Wales NOTE which your Uncle Don Baltazar understood and so treated this March ever with intention to delay it notwithstanding it is now so farre advanced that considering all the aversnesse unto it of the Infanta it is time to seeke some meanes to divert the Treaty which I would have you find out and I will make it good whatsoever it be but in all other things procure the satisfaction of the King of Great Brittaine who hath deserved much and it shall content me so that it be not in the Maâ—ch To colour the matter the better he pretended no Dispensation would be granted at Rome unlesse the Pope received further satisfaction in the time of the Childrens education by the Mother and point of Ecclesiasticall persons exemption from all secular jurisdiction to remove with obstructions King Iames was content to comply in these particulars further then he had done before as His ensuing Letter to the Earl of Bristoll clearly demonstrates which Letter was drawne and written for his Majesties signature by Master now Lord Cottington theu Secretary to the Prince To the Earle of Bristoll RIght Trusty c. We have seene your Letters of the 21. Octob. both those directed unto Our Selfe as also to Our Secretary Sir George Calvert and in them doe observe your discreet proceeding both in the businesse concerning the restauration which We expect to be made to the Prince Palatine Our Sonne-in-law as also in the Treaty of the Marriage of Our deare Sonne the Prince of Wales Touching the first We perceive what professions the King and his Ministers have againe made unto you of a resolution to assist Us with his Armes in case by a faire Mediation and Treaty the restitution may not be obtained and how much in that kind he hath ingaged his Honour and his word unto you And howsoever the order given to the Infanta for the reliefe of Manheim arrived so late and after the Towne was yeelded into the hands of Tilly yet must We acknowledge it to be a good effect of your Negotiation and an Argument of that Kings sincere and sound intention By what We have now given in charge unto Our Secretary to advertise you in his Letters you will understand the present estate of this businesse and how constantly VVe doe still expect the performance of that ingagement from the King of Spaine without giving way to any thing that on Our behalfe may any way disturbe it And therefore you shall now doe well in Our name to presse him to a finall and effective resolution representing to him and to hiâ— Ministers how much it concernes Us in honour and in reputation besides the interest of Our Sonne-in-law not to admit any further delay And as touching the two points in the Treaty of the Marriage wherein you desire Our further direction and resolution you have by this time understood by the dispatch which George Gagâ— carried you NOTE how We were contented to permit the breeding and education of the Children under the government of their Mother untill the age of nine yeeres which We doubt not will give good satisfaction seeing their demand is but vntill ten yet seeing it is but one yeere more in case you shall not be able to draw them to be contented with nine We will not sticks at it And for the other point which concernes the exemption of the Ecclesiasticke from secular jurisdiction We shall be contented that the Ecclesiasticall Superior doe first take notice of the offence that shall be coâ—mitted and â—â—â—cording to the merit therenf either deliver him by degradation to the secular Iustice or banish him the Kingdome according to the quality of the delict which VVe conceive to be the same that is practised in Spaine and other parts Your dispatches are in all points so full and in them VVe receive so good satisfaction as in this VVe shall need nor to enlarge any further but onely to tell you that VVe are well pleased with the diligence and discreet imploying of your endeavours in all that concernâ—s Our service and so are VVe likewise with the whole proceedings of Our Ambassadour Sir Walter Aston Thus VVe bid you heartily farewell From New-market 24. Novemb. 1622. The King of Spaine after many delatories and much pressing by King Iames and his Ambassadour for a finall answer to his demands touching the Palaâ—mate and Match on the 12. of Decemb. 1622. returned this Answer in writing The Answer appointed by his Majesty to be given unto the Earle of Bristoll Extraordinary Ambassadour from the King of Great Brittaine touching those things which he hath represented from the said King unto his Majesty concerning the Marriage now in Treaty and the businesse of the Palatinâ—te is this which followeth Touching the Marriage THat his Majesty hath given order that his resolution be delivered unto him in writing and therein as the Earle of Bristoll himselfe hath seene hath endeavoured what he may to conforme himselfe with that which the King of Great Brittaine hath answered unto the Popes propositions so desirous hath his Majesty been from the beginning to overcome all difficulties that might hinder this Vnion that both here and at Rome he hath not slacked
to use all possible care to facilitate it and will so continue untill the conclusion and at this present according to what is agreed with the foresaid Earle a Post to goe and returne with speed is dispatched unto Rome to the end that his Holinesse judgeing what is agreed upon sufficient as here it is held to be doe grant the Dispensation and in the interim whilest the Pope sendeth it the which his Majesty will procure shall be done before the end of March or of Aprill at the furthest the remaining temporall Articles shall be treated and concluded to the end that no time be lost but the Infanta may immediatly after the granting of the Dispensation be delivered the next spring as is the intention of his Majesty Touching the Palatinate THe forenamed Ambassadour well knoweth what his Majesty hath done therein already to the end it may appeare to the world how much he esteemes the friendship of his deare Brother the King of Great Brittaine and how just he acknowledgeth it to be to give him content in all things and particularly in those which concerne the conveniency of both Crownes his Majesty hopeth that by his late dispatches into Flanders there hath been taken such course to settle all things as can be desired and those orders are now againe renewed and re-inforced to the end that all may be accommodated to the satisfaction of his Majesty of Great Brittaine the which orders shall be shewed to the foresaid Conde that he may rest satisfied of the reallity and sincerity wherewith his Catholique Majesty doth proceed in this businesse but untill it be knowne what effect these dispatches have taken and what the Emperour will reply no answer can be well given in writing to the particulars contained in the memoriall of the foresaid Conde for the reasons which have been delivered unto him by word of mouth and shall be represented unto his Majesty of Great Brittaine by Don Carlâ—s Coloma his Catholique Majesties Ambassadour Madrid Decemb. 12. 1622. Soone after this the King of Spaine sent a draught of such Articles touching Religion as he insisted on to King Iames who together with the Prince to hasten the Dispensation accommodated them in the ensuing maner and then readily signed them The Accommodation of the differences in Religion All those Articles which came from Rome to which his Majesty tooke no exception in his directions to the Earle of Bristoll under his hand of the ninth of September passed as not disallowed by his Majesty those wherein there remained any difference are accommodated in the forme following THe forme of the Celebration is allowed in such sort as it was agreed of in England so likewise the oath to be taken by the Infanta's Servants The Article for the Church is thus to be understood that at one standing house Saint Iames or where the houshould is to remaine there must be a Church for buâ—ying and marrying and christening c. it being altogether unfit that all meane people belonging to her service should be married or christened in her Chappell within lier Pallace but this is not understood of any Church in London but one to be built adjoyning to the Pallace Whereas it is said that her Servants are precisely to be Catholiques for that it seemed not sitting to capitulate any thing that might be exclusive to the Protestants it is leâ—t indifferent that her Servants may be Catholiques Where it is required by the Pope quod Ecclesiastici nullis legibus subjaceant nisi suorum superiorum Ecclesiasticorum The Divines unanimously delivered their opinion that this King cannot by capitulation subject the Clergy to the Civill Magistrate neither hath he that power himselfe in Spaine and they presuppose that those of the Infanta's Family are to have the same immunity as in Spaine but they have qualified the Article what is possible and they say some such course may be setled therein as may give his Majesty satisfaction either by banishing them or sending them with their processe into Spaine or some other course which may be agreed upon and it will be in his Majesties power in any foule case to doe that by way of fact which they cannot capitulate howsoever it was not held fit to break so great a businesse upon the dispute of a case which is like never to happen Concerning the Nurses it is left indifferently without any exclusion of the Protestants as in the sixth Article Touching the Articles brought out of Spaine COncerning the security against the Divorce they are to relye on the Kings and Princes word of honour Touching the education of the Children quod educentur in Religione Catholica is absolutely omitted and whereas the Pope requires they should be in the government of the Mother the Sonnes untill fourteene the Daughters untill twelve the Article is onely till seven with a private Promise untill nine and this King pressing it may be untill ten As for the bonum publicum required by the Pope all particulars which were propounded as the suspending the poenall Lawes c. are now omitted onely that the Catholiques may live without persecution not giving scandall and this to be done by his Majesties owne Grace and Clemency without any publique Capitulation onely the King and Prince to promise it unto the King of Spaine by their private Letters The Articles of Religion being thus accommodated betweene the two Kings King Iames who had formerly by his Agent Gage sent Letters to Rome to the Pope wherein he stiled him most holy Father and likewise to some great Cardinals to speed the Dispensation with private instructions not to deliver them unlesse he saw a present likelihood of granting the Dispensation sends now two expresse Letters to Gage unto Rome the one from himselfe the other from Calvert his principall Secretary dated the 5. of Ian. 1622. to present tâ—ose Letters to the Pope and Cardinals assuring himselfe that since he had ratified all the Articles concerning Religion without any alteration the Pope could not in justice but speedily grant the long-â—ought-for Dispensation The Copy of these two Letters sent by Master Lawson here follow in order TRusty c. By Letters which We have lately received from Our right Trusty and right worthy Cousen and Councellour the Earle of Bristoll VVe understand how dutifully and discreetly you have carried your selfe in the furthering Our service whilest you remained in the Court of Spaine for which VVe returne you Our gracious thanks He hath also acquainted Us with the directions which he gave you touching the delivery of the Letters you carried from hence that if you saw a likelihood of present granting the Dispensation upon the Articles now agreed on you should deliver them unlesse you received order from Us to the contrary We would therefore now have you understand that there is no cause why you should forbeare the delivery of any of them if you find the Dispensation will certainly be granted And thereof We hope there shall be now
no doubt considering that We have condescended unto approved and ratified all and every the Articles concerning Religion without changeing or altering any one word as they are agreed upon and concluded betweene the King of Spaines Commissioners and Our Ambassadour at Madrid in December last which being transmitted unto Vs both Our Selfe and Our Sonne the Prince have subscribed the same and so have sent them backe againe unto Our said Abassadour for a finall conclusion of all things concerning matter of Religion or conscience although the formality needed not Our Ambassadours having obliged Vs before sufficiently according to the large power given them by their Commission And thus much We have thought sit to let you know that if any further scruple should remaine there touching Our absolute consent you may be able to remove it Dated 5. Ian. 1622. SIR MAster Porter is safely here arrived the second of this Moneth with the conclusion of all those difficult Articles that hitherto have retarded the proceeding of the Match He was long looked for and a welcome man when he came both to his Majesty and the Prince insomuch as I must tell you I have no rest since with our yong Master for being called upon early and late to hasten away the dispatch of all to your selfe and my Lord of Bristoll which I have done with as much diligence as possibly I could His Majesty and the Prince have both of them subscribed all the Articles as they were sent hither from my Lord of Bristoll in this manner Hos supra memoratâ—s Articulos omnes ac singulos approbamus quicquam in its ex nostra parte seu nostrâ— nomine conventum est ratum atque gratum Habeâ—â— Iacobus Rex Carolus Pr. And in the full performance of whatsoever was agreed upon concerning the Bonuâ— Publicum his Majesty and the Prince likewise have written their severall letters unto the King of Spaine faithfully promising in the words of a King and of a Prince to cause the same to be observed inviolably in the very same Termes verbatim as it is set downe in the last Article of all sent hither from my Lord of Bristoll which I am 〈◊〉 you have seene and remembred viz. Quodea omnia prestituri sint quae ministris Regis Hispaniae ante hac verbotenus R. M. Britt pollicitus est NOTE Hoc est quod regnorum suorum Romano-Catholics persecutionem nullam patientur molestiave afficientur Religionis suae causa vel ob exercitium ullorum ejusdem Sacramentorum mode us utantur absque scandale quod intelligi debet intra privatos parietes nec juramentis aâ—t sub alio pretextu qualicunque ordinem religionis spect ante vexabuntur With these dispatches M. S. Digby who is within these foure or five dayes returned out of Germany is to be sent away to morrow for Spaine with all possible speed Don Carlos hath advertized to the Duke of Alberquerque the Padre Maestro and your selfe as much as I doe Now you know all that is done both in Spaine and here concerning this point I must leave you to such directions as you have received from the Earle of Bristoll how much of this to silence and how long to silence and what to discover as his letter and you have there thought fittest for the good of his Majesties service For the token which I send to Aristides I pary you be sure that he deserve it well for I doe not meane to be at that cost with him unlesse you be sure he doe me that curtisie which I expect and as he hath often made me beleeve It is an hundred to one but you shall find him at Alexandria if you misse him elswhere NOTE Aeneas recommends unto you againe secrecy in this businesse above all things and that you be certaine of speeding before you deliver the letter to Padre Maestro POSTSCRIPT From VVhite-hall 5. Ian. 1622 I Need not tell you how graciously his Majesty accepts of the good service you have done since it hath pleased him to acknowledge it under his own hand and I must not forget one charge more that I have received from him which is that I should will you in his name to salute the Padre Maestro affectionately from him and to let him know also how sensible and thankfull his Majesty is for those singular good offices and diligent endeavours which he hath used from the beginning of this businesse untill now and still continues them as his Majesty understands particularly from Don Carlos 〈◊〉 I pray you also commend my service unto him I have order for a Privy Seale of 300. li. more which the Earle of Bristoll delivered you in Madrid to be paid to Master Wake at Antwerpe What Gage did at Rome in pursuance of these two Letters and what opinion the Pope and Cardinals held of King Iames will appeare by this ensuing Lâ—tter of Maâ—teâ— Gage sent to his Majesty from Rome and thence dated the 24. of Aprill 1623. SIR IT may please your Majesty to understand that in a Congregation held the 22. of March stilo novo the Dispensation was finally resolved and order taken that the Cardinall Bandino should draw the Articles in forme the Cardinall la Susanna make the Breve and Monsignor Aquas the Popes Secretary who was present at the two last Sessions draw some Instructions for Monsignor de Massini the Nunâ—io now resident in the Court of Spaine And in the following Congregation held the 29. these things were seene and allowed and the next day presented to the Pope and allowed by him Concerning the particulars of the proceeding here of diffiâ—ulties overcome and of whâ—â— yet remaineth to be done I have given a large account to Master Secretary Calvert by which if your Majesty receive not that entire satisfaction which we who have laboured therein have most earnestly desired I shall most humbly beseech your Majesty to beleeve first that we have left no diligence undone by which we could hope to remove impediments and secondly that such difficulties as are either spent or yet to be admitted have been laid hold by the Cardinals neither to frustrate or prolong this Treaty but out of an opinion that they could not otherwise secure their Conscience proceed upon a just and valuable ground and satisfie the judgement of such discreet persons as may in times ensuing understand the passages of this great businesse And this point I am the â—older to represent to your Majesties gratious consideration because jointly with all their protestations to this effect their actions have concurred also to give good testimony thereof They hold most honourable language of your Majesty NOTE they professe a great desire to have occasions of doing you all humble service they have a â—ume opinion that the former rigours used towards your Catholique Subjects have risen from others but the graces then given from your Selfe and they are confident that your Majesty now that so potent intercessions have been used with you and
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
better effecting of this I must and doe further require that the Register doe write out severall Copies of these Letters and issue them into the severall Arch-deaconries that none may plead ignorance of their duty in this behalfe as you must look to answer it further if fault be found to rest upon you Thus not doubting of your religious care and duty to the Church and State I leave you all to the grace of God and rest Your loving Friend and Diocesian Gul. Menevensis Westmin Ian. 14. 1625. To the right Worshipfull my very loving Friends Doctor Aubrey Chancellour of the Diocesses of Saint Davids and all his Surrogates and Deputies within the severall Arch-deaconries these be delivered Upon this the names of some few Recusants were certified to the Bishop out of Carmarthen and Pembrokeshire in Iune following but what other proceedings were used against them I am yet to seeke After this a new Parliament being assembled at Westminster in February 1625 they appointed a speciall Committee for Religion to examine the forementioned abuse of stopping proceedings against popish Recusants Priests and Jesuits by Letters under the privy Signet who issued out this ensuing Warrant to the Signet-Office found among Secretary Windebanks papers Lunae 6. of March 1625. at the Committee for Religion M. Moore M. Wil. Whitaker M. Lâ—u Whitaker M. Nubery THese Sub-committees are appointed to search at the Signet-Office what warrants have passed for the stay of the execution of Priests and Jesuits or of any other legall proceedings against popish Recusants since his Majesties gracious Answer to both Houses of Parliament delivered at Oxford in August and they are to bring Copies of all such Warrants or of the Dockets to that Commitee at their sitting upon Thursday next Iohn Pym. This is a true Copy of the Order delivered at the Signet-Office by Master Moâ—re Master Lau. Whitaker and Master Newbery examined with the Order it selfe the tenth of this instant March 1625. John Grymesdyche What the ground of this warrant was appeares by the report of Master Pym in the Commons Iournall of that Parliament Iovis 23. Martâ— 3. Car. Regiâ— MAster Pym reporteth from the Committee for religion a Letter written to the Major of Yorks for repriving of some Iesuitâ— Priesis and other Recusants there being doubt made of the Letter being under the Signeâ— a Sub-committee was appointed by the Committee of religion to examine this Letter with the Originall at the Signet-Office they going thither an Answer was returned by b b 〈…〉 Mr. Windebanke the then Clarke there that he cannot shew them that they desire without order from the King After which this Order was made in the Commons House Sab. 29. Apr. 2. Car. Regis THe Committee for Religion is to have power to make Sub-committees to goe and examine any that be sicke or in prison or have other lawfull impediment concerning saying of Masse or printing of popish bookes or other things in that nature In the moneth of May following the House tooke divers Examinations concerning popish School-masters and reâ—â—sants that were in office and particularly of a Iesuit that had a lodging and was in Commons in Graye-Inne and at last they agreed upon a Petition against recusants in office and to present their nature therewith to the King to the end they might be removed Martis 6. Iunij 3. Car. Regis THe Petition against Recusants in authority was â—grossed read and allowed to'be presented to his Majesty and this to be done by the Privy Counsell of the House and Sir Iohn Fulleston which was done accordingly but with what reall successe I can give no exact account In this Parliement these ensuing articles against Popish Recusants were consulted of in the Common House with an intent to draw them into an act Articles consulted upon in Parliament for a Law against Recusants 1. THat where by former Statutes the King was to have 20. li. a moneth from Recusants hereafter his Majesty shall take two parts of the lands of every Recusant 2. Church-wardens monethly to present the names quality and ability of every person in their parish absenting from Church to Justices of peace 3. A new Oath with more additions to be taken concerning the Supremacy 4. His former Law to be explained and confirmed that the Husband shall pay for the recusancy of his Wife 5. That Recusants shall not keep any weapons in their houses but what shall be allowed by Justices of the peace and shall neverthelesse be assessed for provision of Armes 6. All papisticall books to be prohibited from comming over from beyond the fear oâ— here received upon a great paine 7. If any shall discover a Papist or any other at Masse whereby they may be apprehended he shall have the third part of their Lands and Goods for his paines and inteligence 8. Every Recusant shall cause his child to be baptized in his parish Church within a moneth after birth upon great paine 9. No Recusant to beare office of Iustice of peace or otherwise or any man whose wife shall be a Recusant or practise law common or civill or phisicke nor have command in warre and no Recusant being Patron of any Benefice shall have power to present unto it but both Vniversityes shall present unto it alternis vicibus 10. All persons convicted of recusancy shall stand excommunicated ipso facto No Recusants shall hold any lands or Tenements by curtine no woman recusant shall have dower or thirds of her Husbands lands or goods by any custome or usage of place 11. That the children of Recusants above the age of five yeers shall be taken from their Parents and placed for education by Iustices or peace in every parish and to be maintained at their Parents charge and they not to have power to dis-inherit them 12. No Recusant shall be Guardian in Socage Chivalry or pour-nature to any person c. 13. That no person shall goe beyond the seas without taking the new Oath unlesse by warrant from the King or â—ix of the privy Counsell 14. If any of the Kings Subjects shall be reconciled to the Pope in any part beyond the â—eas and return to any of the Kings Dominions it shall be treason as if it had been done in England Pope Vrban the eighth having intelligence of this Parliamentâ— strict proceedings against popish Priests and Recusants in England sent this enming consolatory Bull unto them found among Secretary Windebankes papers at the end whereof I find the torme of an Oath which the English Priests take before they be admitted into any Ecclesiasticall Office in the Church of Rome both which I shall here subjoyne Urbanus P P. Octavns DILECTI FILII Salutem Apostolicam Reâ—edictionem Non semper terrena faelicitas est beneficium coeli patrimonium pâ—â—tatis pacemenim cum pâ—etate vâ—olens ecclesia non rare experta est potentiam mortalium esse stipendium sceleris quare Catenas martyrum anteferimus Coronis triumphantium Deus sempiterâ—â—â—
themselves in the charge and trust reposed in them by your Majesty which is scarce possible to be made knowne to you but in Parliament as was declared by your blessed Father when he was pleased to put the Commons in mind that it would be the greatest unfaithfulnesse and breach of duty to his Majesty and of the trust committed to them by their Country that could be if in setting forth the grievances of the people and the condition of all the parts of this Kingdome from whence they came they did not dealt cleerly with him without sparing any how deare or neere soever they were unto him if they were hurtfull unto all the Common-wealth In confidence therefore of your Majesties most ready and gracious acceptation in a matter of so high importance in faithfull discharge of our duties we doe first of all most humbly beseech your Majesty to take notice that howsoever we know your Majesty doth from your soul abhor that any such should be imagined or attempted yet there is a generall feare conceived in your people of some secret working and combination to introduce into this Kingdome Innovation and change of holy Religion more precious to us then our lives and whatever the world can afford Our feares and jealousies herein are not merely conjecturall but arising out of such certaine and visible effects as may demonstrate a true and reall cause for notwithstanding the many good wholsome lawes made to prevent the encrease of Popery within this Kingdome and notwithstanding your Majesties most gracious and satisfactory answer to the Petition of both Houses on that behalfe NOTE presented to your Majesty at Oxford we find there hath followed no good execution or effect but on the contrary at which your Majesty out of the quick sense of your owne Religious heart cannot but be in the highest measure displeased those of that Religion doe find extraordinary favours and respects in Court from persons of great quality and power there unto whom they continually tesort and in particular to the Countesse of Buckingham's who her selfe openly professing that Religion is a knowne favourer and supporter of them that doe the same which we well hoped upon your Majesties Answer to the aforesaid Petitition of Oxford should not have been permitted NOTE nor that any of your Majesties Subjects of that Religion or justly to be suspected should be entertained in the service of your Majesty or of your Royall Consort the Queen Some likewise of that Religion have had Honours Offices and places of command and authority lately conferred upon them But that which striketh the greatest terrour into the hearts of your loyall Subjects concerning this point is NOTE that letters for stay of legall proceedings against them have been procured from your Majesty by what indirect meanes we know not and Commission under the great Seale granted and executed for composition to be made with popish Reculants inhibitions also and restraints both to the Ecclesiasticall and Temporall Courts and Officers to intermeddle with them which is conceived to amount to no lesse then a Toleration odions to God full of dishonour and extreame disprofit to your Majesty of great scandall and griefe to your good people and of apparant dangers of the present estate of your Majesty and this Kingdome and in speciall about London and the Suburbs thereof where exceeding many Families of them doe make their abode frequent Masse at Denmark-house and other places and by their often meetings and conferences have unhappy opportunities of combining their councels and strengths together to the hazard of your Majesties safety and the State and most especially in these doubtfull and calamitous times As our feare concerning change or subversion of Religion is grounded upon the daily encrease of Papists the onely and professed enemies thereof for the reasons formerly mentioned so are thâ— hearts of your Subjects no lesse perplexed when with sorrow they behold a daily growth and spreading of the Faction of the Arminians that being as your Majesty well knowes but a cunning way to bring in Popery and the professors of those opinions the common disturbers of the Protestant Churches and incendiaries of those States wherein they have gotten any head being Protestants in shew but Jâ—sutes in opinion and practice which caused your royall Father with so much piâ—us wisdome and ardent zeale to endeavour the suppressing of them as well at 〈◊〉 as in the neighbour Countries and your gracious Majesty imitating his most worthy example have openly and by your Proclamations declared your mislike of those persons and of their opinions who notwithstanding are much favoured and advanced not wanting friends even of the Clergy neere to your Majesty namely Doctor Neale Bishop of Winchester NOTE and Doctor Land Bishop of Bath and Wels who are justly suspected to be unsound in their opinions that way And it being now generally the way to preferment and promotion in the Church many Schollers doe bend their Sâ—ndias to maintaine those Errours their Books and opinions are suffered to be printed and published and on the other side the impressions of such as are written against theâ— and in defence of the Orthodox Religion are hindered and prohibited and which is a boldnesse most incredible this restraint of Orthodox Books is made under colour of your Majesties formerly mentioned Proclamation The intent and meaning whereof we know was quite contrary And further to encrease our feares concerning innovation in Religion we find that there hath been no small labouring to remove that which is the most powerfull meanes to strengthen and increase our own Religion and to oppose the contrary which is the diligent teaching and instructing the people in the true knowledge and worship of Almighty God and therefore meanes hath been sought out to disparage and discountenance pious painfull and Orthodox Preachers and how conformable soever and peaceable in their dispositions and carriage they be yet the preferment of such is opposed and instead of being encouraged they are molested by vexatious courses and pursuits and hardly permitted to Lecture even in those places where are no constant preaching Ministers whereby many of your good people whose soules in this case we desire your Majesty to commiserate are kept in ignorance and are apt to be easily seduced into errours and superstition It doth not a little also encrease our dangers and feares this way to understand the miserable condition of your Kingdome of Ireland where without controle the popish Religion is openly professed and practised in every part thereof NOTE Popish jurisdiction being generally exercised and avowed Monasteries Nunneries and other superstitions houses newly erected re-edified replenished with men and women of severall orders and in a plentifull manner maintained in Dublin and most of the great Townes and divers other places of that Kingdome which of a a Note this what ill consequence it may prove if not seasonably repressed we leave to your Majesties wisdome to judge But most
up with pride following the Archbishops footsteps began to erect a High-Commission Court in their Diocesses and called to it the Gentry and Nobles punishing them for trifling things and sining and confining them to the farthest part of the Kingdom from Galloway to Cathnes neare three hundred myles A cruelty never practised in Scotland before in any Age. Nay the became so insolent being made Privy Councellours by the Archbishops sollicitation of His Majesty Note And the Archbishop of Saint Andrews being made great Chancellor of that Kingdom never practised this three hundred years that in open Councell Table they gave the lye to the Peers of the Land Namely to the Earle of Argile which affront was done by one Sedeserfe now Bishop of Galloway and resident at this present in London where began the fire to appeare which before this was but smoake The Nobles Gentry and Commons made a league which they called a Covenant and combined together for the rooting out of Bishops and Conservation of their ancient Liberties upon which is ensued a million of miseries putting both the Kingdomes to excessive charges exhausting the Kings Coffers and oppressing the people I believe If my Lord Archbishop were meerly questioned it would be found he stirred up His Majesty to make up his Army two severall times Note which hath bin the occasion of the utter ruine of two Shires Northumberland and the Bishopricke of Duresme which losse will not be repaired in an hundred years These firebrands Bishops of Galloway and Rosse who are Clyents to Canterbury and altogether guided by him it is more than expedient that they and other Incendiaties were given to the Scotts Commissioners to betryed by their Parliament But I believe Rosse will flye to Ireland where His Majesty hath given him a Bishopricke And Galloway will be forced to hide himself in some Island and shake off his Robes or become a Pedler in Poland as his Father was before him One Sandall a Clerke of the Rolls told me he saw my Lord Sterling Secretary of Scotland Agent at Court for the Bishops viewing very narrowly the Rolls to see the originall Institutions of the High Commission which he would not have done had he not bin informed by my Lords Grace I may not omit to let you know how of his large liberality he hath given to those fire-brand ministers refuges in this Kingdome at sundry times large and prosuse charity which he would never have bestowed on the poore Clergy of his Diocesse I come to his Government wherein he hath bin like to a Camâ—lion of divers colours now punishing of Roman Priests but poore ones for the fattest he protected and cherished without all measure As Father * His ancient chamberfellow in St. Iohns in Oxford Leander Superior of the Benedictines Master Flanders and Master Price after Leanders death and Master Gascoyne and the whole Order of the Iesuits as hereafter shall be related The poore Recusants for going to heate Masse or only upon suspition were cruelly used by him but the chiefe he tenderly loved and feasted as Sir Kâ—nelme Digbie and others to what end you may conjecture Afterwards he tooke a fit to punish severely Anabaptists Familists and Brownists sometimes one sometimes another He followed the steps of Cardinall Wolsey and intended because he could not be Poâ—e at Rome to be a Patriarcke in these Kingdoms To which end 't is well known he did so credit and grace Father Leander aforesaid cherishing him above the rest giving him his eare at all times remaining here at London publikely till his death and after him Price NOTE and Gascoyne aforementioned At the comming of Father * His old Chamber-fellow in Oxford Leander he began to looke chearfully upon Recusantâ— then began he to erect Altars to take away the Communion Table to make all kneel when they tooke the Sacrament to be all uncovered at Divine service to stand up at the reading of the Gospell bow at the name of Iesus and to consecrate an ould Church a new as that of Saint Gylses with many other Arch-trikeâ— that he might be in the Popes and the Queenes favour and so continue in his Majesties good liking Then began he to use rigout against Puritan Ministers calling them into his high Commission some for Symony as Mr. Iohn Ward and others of Suffolk some for contradicting the Bishop of Norwich others for Heresy as one Doctor Everd Chaplin to the Earle of Holland Then began he to practise his Excommunications and aggravations against Sir Robert Willoughby Sonne in Law to the Bishop of Worcester and Mr. Hope a Scottish man Cup-bearer to his Majesty for contemning his Citations In the end such were his Actions that he is an Admiration to the whole world for Inconstancy At the last he became soe outragious as were never any of his Predecessors conventing before him the Bishop of Lincolne whose heavy hand and Dragon-like wrath hee felt many yeeres being in Prison in the Tower of London Soe was Bishop Goodman soundly whipt for refusing to subscribe to his Canons being laid in the Gate-house so that he became the wonder of this Age. Noe lesse wonderfull hath he beene in his Vatican at Lambith sitting in his Gracefull Throne compassed with Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Doctors Proctors Notaries and Registers guarded with a multitude of Tipstaves from all Prisons in and about London besides a hellish Guard of Promoters In his Tribunall sitting in his Corner-Cap Lawnè sleeves and Râ—tchet No Pope is so glorious on most festivall dayes as his Grace is on Thursdayes in tearme time T is a petious thing worthy of consideration to see what Injustice is don in that Court by his owne knowledge and what extortion and exaction is used by his Officers There is not a more corrupt Court in the world wherein Innocency is punished publique sinnes countenanced the greatnes of the extortions of that Court cannot be expressed some are a whole yeare before they can be heard at the last for a fatherly Benediction are remitted to Sir Iohn Lambe and Doctor Ducke I will instance in two parties The Lady Willoughby spent in suit in lesse then two yeares as shee related to me five hundred poundâ— and above and all tended that her Husband should weare a white sheete at the Church doore When God knowes her selfe deserved no lesse For Doctor Ryves assured me she was declared innocent by Bribery The other was Mr. Stapleton Nephew to the Earle of King stone who claimed a certaine Lady to be his Wife having married her before two witnesses and used the formall words of Matrimony And seene by the said witnesses lye together in naked bed yet by force of money he was divorced from her having spent in the suit in Charges only three hundred pounds In like sort Francis Conne brother to Signiour Georgio Conne now Cup-bearer extraordinary to her Majesty was convented at the high Commission for having maried one Mistresse Steward his Country
of Philosophy Theology and Law and is well spoken in the Latine Spanish and Dutch he is as I know wise sober discreet learned and bred according to the manner of severall Nations to treate with any Prince of what matter soever Furthermore hee is as you know faithfull and naturall to the other Lords your Confederates which qualities are most requisite in any man to be sent hither or to any other place upon the like Embassage I protest unto you before God that I commend him not in that he is my Brother but that I am not acquainted with any man of better ability to bee employed here in your service then he since Hugh Roe my Brother died through the great misery and paines he hath taken in his last travell I am Teacher here in the Colledge of the Irish these six yeares employed all that time about the affaires of the late * * 〈◊〉 slaine Lord I might doe you some service if I had some intelligence from you and some help of him whom you intend to send hither There is nothing I desire more then to returne to my Countrey though I be setled here to my owne contentation I pray use me and the rest of my functions after such manner as shall seeme best unto you for your owne service Father Arthur Mac Gennis is in Madrid and so are many others who would performe any service wherein you would be pleased to employ them Father Francis Mac Gennis is in Germany so likewise is Father Francis O Farrell who loves and honours you and is very intimate with thâ— Emperour who might well help you now since you have eased him of the troubles of the Palatinate whom only he feared There is also in Germany a Priest from the County of Tyrone Edmond Mac Grava a learned man having late commenced Doctor In France there is a Divinity Professour Patrick O Connor descended from the Connoy of Leinster who did much service unto the late deceased Lord he is of nature loving constant of audacity guided with discretion as is his Cousin Leander O Connor who I doubt not will doe any service for you Michard O Gormeley is in the Low Countreys Guardian of Lovaine and many more of the like sort see your selfe what is best to be done with Owen O Neale who is in Flanders and with Conn Mac Carmack who is Serjeant Major in Spaine but more is the pity a man of no great poliâ—y or wisdome I would all the old Trained Souldiers were there I will write to my Brother Murtagh O Conny who was ancient to the deceased Lord and is now Captaine and to the rest of the Nobility of Vlster that they repaire unto you without delay you may write to the King of Spaine Note among other things to give them leave to come unto you I know not what the Earle of Tireconnell does upon this occasion his Regiment is disbanded and he himselfe is gone to the Court to Madrit I feare much that if he should goe into Ireland he would doe more hurt then good Noble Sir feare God above all things in prosecuting wisely the Fortune which God offers unto you let love and unanimity be among your selves shew all possible kindnesse to the old Irish of Leinster and oblige unto your selfe all men as neare as you may Beware of the tricks of the Munster men who at this â—oure show no candid dealing towards you in Rome as you shall soon understand except you send your Agent to prevent it with all speed for they ascribe unto themselves without any ground the praise and glory of all your Heroicall deeds as you may learne of Levit that lives with your selfe Be sure to have a great heart and make some chiefe head among you but reserve the Crowne for Con his side the Neales Note Remember the old slavery wherein you have lived a long time and the destruction which will generally come upon you except you get the upper hand You will prevaile if you joyne together as you ought God send it I would advise every chiefe Officer among you to have a Secretary along with him to write a Diurnall of your passages and overthrows which your enemies receive which will redound much to your glory spoyle not the Countrey for feare of famine I will not faile to write according as I shall heare from you Note we would send unto you a Bull after the forme of the Bull which Hugh Mac Baron got if we had received your Letters and if the Church doo well they will turne over the election of Prelates there to the Nobility and give them Authority in that point Your faithfull Servant Bonaventura O Conny Rome from Isiodors Colledge 4 Jan. after the Roman Account With what bloody cruelty industry animosity on the Popish Rebels part and what encouragements a See Doctor Iones his book of Examinations and the Mystery of Iniquity pretended if not Reall Commissions countenance assistance from the Court and Popish party here this warre against the Protestants in Ireland to the destruction of neare two hundred thousand of them or more hath been carried on how the ayd moneys armes assistance then sent them by the Parliament from hence hath been retarded and intercepted by their Court friends here how the Estates and Goods of the Protestants there have been seised on by the Rebels and their persons murthered b The Preface of the Acts of the General Assembly of the Rebels at Kilâ—kenny 1642. For the Exaltation of the Holy Roman Catholique Church the Advancement of His Maiesties Service and his defence against the Parliament how his Majesty since their effusion of so much Protestant blood hath admitted them all to his Royall favour without exception of any particular person by c See the Articles printed at Shrewsbury Articles of Pacification wherein the stiles them his GOOD SVBIECTS how he hath by speciall Commissions as d The 48 week Dec. 2. 1643. p. 681. 685 Aulicus himselfe informes us drawne over the English Forces sent from hence into Ireland against the Rebels to fight against the very Parliament Forces administring an Oath to every Officer and Souldier before they were transported from Ireland hither To the utmost of his power and hazard of his life to fight against the Forces now under the conduct of the Earle of Essex and against all other Forces whatsoever that shall bee raised under what pretence soever contrary to his Majesties Command or Authority how Captaine Iohn Read one of the chiefe Actors in this Conspiracy there taken Prisoner in the field and sent thence to the Tower hath since his escape from thence been knighted by his Majesty who granted him a e See Romes Master-â—iecâ— p. 20 21 22 26. The Popish Royall Favourite p. 25. Patent for Butter and a speciall Protection heretofore though a most desperate Papist and Agent for the Iesuites who had a Chappell and kept weekly Conventicles in his house for
and to be sent by him to begin the correspondency betwixt his Holines and the Queene for in all this businesse the King must not bee mentioned from whom with many Letters this Gentleman goes to the Court of France where after few dayes hee is dispatcht by the said Cardinall with money to make his journey and beare his charges at Rome where gratiously hee is accepted of the Pope his Nephew and others of the Popes Cabinet Councell There hee remained above one yeare and after a good viaticke was dismist and returned to London with a few gifts but small ones to her Majestie Father Philips and others of that Function As some Meddulls Roscerâ—es Agnus Deus and Pictures After this Gentlemans departure from Rome was presently sent hither an Oratorian Priest called Signior Georgio * See the Popes Nuncio Panzano under pretence with a Breve from his Holinesse addrest to the Clergie secular and regular and Lay-Catholikes of the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland The substance of that Breve was That his holinesse was verry sorry for such jarres and divisions * See here p. 100. 106. to 110. between the secular and the Clergy to the great prejudice of the Catholike Church and for that respect having a â—atherly care of Soules in these Kingdomes of England and Scotland he had sent expressely that Reverend Father Georgio Pansano one of his Family to compose and reconcile them if he could This man at Paris quits his Priests Robes and drest himselfe in secular Apparell his shaven Crowne is covered with a monstrous Periewig he writes to Father Philips who is to bee the primum mobile and director of all who sends to him at Paris as to an Italian Gentleman desirous to see the Kingdome A passe was delivered him to Gallie where he hires a baryne and brings with him two Raggamuffian young boys and one Interpreter who was presently sent backe to save charges At his first comming to London he lodged at the Italian Ordinary in the Strand but shortly being disturbed by much resort of peâ—â—ons of great qualitie which repaired to him he tooke Chambers in one Signior Germynes House a Lombard by Nation living then neere to the New exchange as you passe to the Covent Garden this Agent had sundry meetings with the superiours of the Regular Order but to those meetings the Iesuites would not come though called and oft desired by the Popes Agent At last it was concluded they should not meddle with any Court businesse they should speake honourably of the King and Queene and be sparing to discorse of the Oath of Allegiance yet never to undertake that it was altogether unlawfull This Agent returned having negotiated his principall businesse which was to have * See the Popes Nuâ—cio Signior Georgio the Popes best friend to bee sent hither which her Majestie obteyned of the King with great importunitie Pansano having remained here about two yeares and having had his Viaticum and good presents from her Majestie and Catholikes of the better sort went away In whose place succeeded Signior Georgio bringing with him a great Breve declaring him to be Apostolicall Nuntio and in his company the Lord Don Luces brother and his Pedagogue one Connigham Nephew to Sir David Connigham his Majesties receivor in Wales This Nuntio but styled after inter-Nuntio for not incensing the States comes hither in May See the Pops Nuncio and Romes Master-peece and finding her Majestie at Homeby in Northamptonshire repayring thither he was presently admitted and then likewise gained audience of the King To the Queene hee presents rare gifts some reliques of Saints meddalles a few of Gold and Silver with the Popes picture stampt on them and other trifles of small valew In 〈◊〉 whereof shee sends to the Pope a great quantity of scarlett to vest his Holinesse his Nephew and the other Cardinalls of the English Faction Hee receives an hundred for one Here he visits the great Ladyes and Gentlewomen of the Court Hee stayes all the Progresse at Northampton returning to London t is worthy of consideration to observe his carriage day and night courting of Ladyes and Gentlewomen In Terme time all the Gentry of both Sexes yea and poore women of any fashion that had scarse means to bring them to London and were come thither to bee cured of the Kings evill must likewise visit him Such were his compoâ—â—ments here that I am ashamed to relate them His nightlie See Romes Master pecce Conversation abroad and Conventicles with Ladyes Sir John Winter Her Majesties Secretarie Sir Toby Matthew Sir Kenelme Digby and Master Walter Mountague were his Cabinet Councell This last aspyring to bee Cardinall after Signior Georgio's death Yea hee was so impudent and shamelesse as to visit one of the greatest Ladyes of the Kingdome alone who being found by her Husbond and demanded by him what made him so bold he was in feare to have beene precipitated out of the Window This his own Secretary told me Two houres before day In Winter his manner was to visit Ladyes and Gentlewomen and to enquire of them how they slept that night After three yeares and two months impatient to stay any longer aspyring to a Cardinalls Hatt loaden with great store of Iewells and Gold which he got partly of the monyes which Recusants lent to the King Note to assist him in his Northern expedition and partly given him by Ladies and Gentlewomen amounting to above ten thousand pounds he returned to Rome spitting his lungs But the truth is he was soundly payd with the French disease A brave instrument to reduce this Realme to the Roman Religion Hee was very lavish and prodigall in his gifts spending many thousand pounds fitter to have beene bestowed on his poore kindred and beggerly Parents in Scotland who had scarsely to nourish them The Iesuites likewise collected from their Penitents Note and got at least two parts of that money to themselves To returne to the Pope so soone as he had Intelligence that his Ganymede and Creature was received with such honour he thought he had got already the temporall Monarchy of great Britâ—aine making his Eldest * See Romes Master-peece Nephew Francisco protector of England Scotland and Ireland and erecting a particuler Congregation for the matters of these Kingdomes whereof his said Nephew was President and two other Cardinalls joyned with him See Romes Master peece and a new Secretary and other Prelates of that Court his Councellours Hee gratiously entertained Master Walter Mountague keeping him in his Pallace and sending him abroad in his Nephewes Coach And others of any note as my Lord of West-Meath an Irish Baron and others Hee made Signior Georgio Patâ—iarch of Jerusalem an Honour without any Revenew No lesse was his pride puft up when Sir William Hamilton brother to the Earle of Abercorue and Cozen to the Marquesse Hamilton was sent Ambassadour from our Queen to that Court whose carriage was like to
Signior Georgio's here carrying clothed in mans apparell thorough England Scotland France and Italy his sweet heart Engenius Bonny a daughter of the Yeoman of His Majesties Wine Celler After Signior Georgio he sent hither a new Nuntio Count Rossetti Note a Noble man of Ferrara but of better carriage then his other deceased whom hee intended to make Cardinall in leiu of the other defunct As soone as Walter Mountague heard of Signior Georgio's death he sent his Chaplaine Post to Rome Note with Letters from Her Majesty intreating his Holynesse to make him Cardinall The Popes answer was he would gladly condiscend to that motion If she would oblige her selfe to make an estate to him for his maintenance conformable to a Cardinall So was it dasht And so will all correspondency bee hereafter with that Court by the wise and grave Councell of the Parliament So that Master Penricke Agent in that Court for the Queene be called backe And a certaine Knight of the Order of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem whom Count Rosetti intends to send hither to keepe correspondency be likewise dismist from hence which done all that Project will end in smoake Alwayes provided that Master Mountague Sir Toby Matthew Sir Kenelme Digby Sir Iohn Winter be removed and barr'd from going to Rome or to any of his Holinesse Territories Not yet to Italy for feare of sedition and keeping correspondency with their associates I heard a French Gentleman of good worth say that hee had seene a Breve from Rome with this Inscription Tobiae Mattheo Sacerdoti sociâ—tatis Iesu which is To Toby Matthew Priest of the Order of Iesus wherein inter alia was Confirma Amazonas illas quae strenue laborant in vinea pro Christo. Note First Confirme those Amazonian Court Ladyes that is those brave Catholike Catamountaines of the Popish faction that labour â—ustily for the advancement of Popery Touching the fifth point in my Iudgement Roman Catholikes especially those that have lands and goods should bee stopt from going over Sea In respect by the selling and Mortgazing of their Lands the money is transported to forreigne parts and there spent whereby the Kingdome is depauperated His Majestie looses his yearely pay for their Recusancy the Shites where they remained are disabled to pay so much subsedies as formerly in time of their Residence And finally the poore looseth much by their absence This voluntary Relation of this ancient Intelligent Popish-Priest which I finde to bee generally true and reall by orher Letters and Intelligence and concurring with the Plot discovered to the Archbishop and King Himselfe in my Romes Master-peece in most particulars touching the Jesuites Scottish troubles Popes Nuncioes and other Instruments of his here nominated gives much luster and confirmation to many of the premises and some ensuing passages therefore I could not well omit it though it be somewhat tedious But to proceed the 2d intended Civill War against the Scots ceasing contrary to the Prelates expectations through the overruling providence of God both in the rude Common Souldiers who refused to serve under their Popish Commanders some of whom they murthered declayming against the Bishops breakiwg down their New-Rayles Altars Crucifixes in diverse places and in sundry of our Nobles who Petitioned His Majestie for a Parliament and New Treaty with the Scotts together with the Generall opposition of Ministers and people against the new Canons and c. Oath which put a period to this Warre without bloud-shed hereupon there were sundry New desperate Plots Conspiracies Councells entred into by the Popish and Prelaticall party to undermine this Parliament soone after it was first Assembled and imbroyle all our Kingdomes in New Civill Warres and distractions more dangerous then the former of which I shall give you a short hiâ— out of the Commons Journall and some other papers letters examinations which have come unto my hands February 10. 1640. There were foure Genâ—lemen of the House of Commons went up to the Lords * Diurnall Occurrences p. 36. to discover a great designe on foote among the Papists in England Ireland and Wales That there were in Lancashire one thousand five hundred NOTE in Ireland eight thousand Papists in Armes and many thousands in South-Wales and North-Wales well payd and provided for by the Earle of Strafford Earle of Worcester and others and did use frequently to goe to Masse at the sound of the drum There was also a great Nobleman in Wales that bought up all the Provisions hee could kept Corne enough for three yeares and got all the Arms he could and had a strong Commission to furnish whom hee would And there was also a Letter brought to the house as from Secretary Windebanke in the Queenes name to have all the Papists fast every Saturday for the good successe of that designe Whereupon there was also this day an order made that all Iudges in the next Circuits at the Assizes should put the Law in execution against Iesuites and Priests and make returne of the proceedings herein to the Parliament Upon this occasion * The Diurnall Occurrences p. 42. February 22. There was a Message from the Lords for a Conference with both Houses for the disbanding of the Irish Army and the removing of Papists from the Court and the English Papists in the Queenes house-hold * The Diurnal Occurrences pag. 93. 94. May 5. 1641. There was discovered to the House of Commons a strange conspiration in agitation against the whole body of the Kingdom for the landing and bringing in of a French Army to which our English Army should be joyned which were all to meete by the 22. of this Moneth whereupon the House sent out diverse warrants for Master Henry Perry Colonell Goring Sir Iohn Suckling Master Henry Jermyn and others as conspirators therein to appeare before the House of Commons the next day There was also intelligence given to the House of Commons of 1400. barrells of Powder that were prepared in readinesse and loaden by stealth to bee carried away by the appointment of the Conspirators upon which the Commons appointed some of the House to make further enquiry thereof Hereupon most of the parties upon this discovery fled into France and had passes to transport them without search from the King May 14. * The Diurnal Occurrences pag. 102 There was a Report in the Commons House of a Iesuite That should say it being noised the Parliament House was on fire the time was not yet come but it would bee so ere long and of another that should say there would bee many fatherlesse Children in London very shortly upon which there were more warrants sent out for the attaching of those Iesuites May 19. Ibid. pag. 106 There was one Newton a Priest an English man which belonged to the Spanish Ambassadour committed to the Gate-House also a Message was sent to the Lords desiring that the French Letters might bee stopt this weeke as they were the last and viewed