and those transcendent Honnors yea though for no other former merit else then the resolute and wise carriage of himselfe in the businesse of this Treaty amongst vs whereby he hath not onely assured himselfe of the affection and heart of the King and Prince but infinitely for his faithfull seruice another Fidus Achates vnto him gained the generall loue of the Common people as it not long since appeared when he was ill after his tedious Voyage by Sea the Prince himselfe all the time healthy and sound for whose returne the people had beene excessiue and beyond measure had it not beene somewhat allayed and tempored with the report of Buckinghams sicknesse The Duke of Buckingham for his true seruice to the King and Prince and State heartily beloued of the people they praying as heartily for his recouery as if he had beene some good land-Lord or great House-keeper amongst them whose losse had beene halfe their vndoing It were to be wished quoth Don Mendosa that the Prince of Wales and himselfe with the rest of the Parliament were not vpon iust cause I confesse so bent against vs. I remember quoth the Arch-bishop when I was a young Student a saying of Seneca Ingenuitas non recipit contemptum Ingenuitie or a generous spirit can in no wise brooke contempt shall we imagine then a Prince yea such a Prince as CHARLES of Wales and onely Sonne to the King of Great Brittaine vpon whom and whose action 's as a bright blazing Comet Europe begins to fixe her eye affraid and doubtfull where the fatall effect of his discontent will light will carry coales and not cry quittance with his enemies yet doubtlesse his mettle is of another temper and not so flexible as some take it for mine owne part I would not haue him our enemy if his friendship could be had though with the expence of many millions of Ducates Cuius contrariâ—â—◠〈◊〉 est As if Spaine quoth Rodrigo needed to feare that angle of the world England haue not we euermore giuen them their hands full haue they not more feared our Fleets and Armies then we theirs do we not equal them in men and expert Commanders aswell by land as by sea do we not exceede them in Treasure and money from our Indian mines that like euer-running Fountaines are neuer drawne dry that I may say nothing of the courage of our people our wisedome and policy whereby wee haue made our selues maisters of so many goodly Territories and gained so many braue victories both at Sea and Land Had we an enemy quoth the D. of Cea of farre lesse abillity and power then England is we ought not so sleightly to contemne him A quarrell about a load of Calues-skins cost the D. of Burgundy the losse of his life whole estate the wofull experience whereof our Nation naturaly haughty and opinionate of their valour as well as others haue proued the Duke of Burgundy out of an insolent pride so comtemned the Swisses the quarrell arising betwixt them but for the tole of a load of Calues skinnes that at the last by them he was depriued both of his estate and life at that vnfortunate encounter at Nancy Who could with-hold the Arch-duke Albertus The Spaniards pride contempt of vs how deare it cost them at Neuport and our grand Captaines from bidding Prince Maurice battle at Neuport But scorning the enemy in regard of his small number in respect of theirs together being puffed vp with that petty victorie against the Scots the same morning they had the reward of pride and contempt of a weake aduersary for the Arch-duke was forced to flye sauing himselfe very hardly leauing dead behind him the oldest and best Souldiers Spaine had Let vs beleeue the weakest may doe vs a mischeife as is wittily showne by Aesop in that fable or apoligy of his between the Eagle and the Conies But by your fauour my Lord you are much mistaken in the estate and strength of England and quallitie of the people and so you will tell me if we shall haue to doe with them as we haue found and had in former times let vs thinke two of the accession of Scotland vnto that Kingdome The strength of Ireland at this present and how Ireland standeth in good termes and is at this time so well peopled with English and Scottish that there is not so much as a starting hole left for Rebellion or so much ground to spare in that Countrey that might affoord any freinds horse of ours a bottle of Hay much lesse suffice for an Armie to martch ouer and to be maintained vpon I might hereto adde the valour and sufficient fidellity of that Noble Gentleman Sir Henry Carie Lotd Viscount Falkland the now present Lord Debuty thereof with many other braue Spirits that are imployed in his Maiesties seruice in that good Countrey But to returne to the Parliament of England what effects heare you is it likely to produce or wherein is it thought to prooue praeiudicious to the King our Maister or to the Catholique Religion First replied Gondomar it is likely to goe worse with the Catholiques then euer as who must expect no fauor but must prepare themselues to vndergoe the sharpest censure and animaduersion of the Law against them yea whosoeuer shall be found abettors maintainors concealors of their plots or harberours of their persons shall suffer for the same in like manner and I heare say that there is a Proclamation either comming forth or published already to that effect and now they are to depart the Realme by a prefixed day But what quoth Count de Monterey will then become of them or by whome shall they be entertained will they returne to their Coledges againe at Doway Rhemes Roome Villadolid The Seminary Colledges beyond the Seas almost empty at this time and other places some whereof I haue lately seene and obserue to stand emty Nothing lesse quoth Gondomar for I am perswaded though many wil colourably depart though returne againe shortly by new ports and new names moe will remaine behinde and since neuer likely againe to haue such an opportunitie of professing themselues openly and execising their functions which they could doe in a freinds Chamber and many times in the common Innes for the better avoyding suspition and concealing themselues some will turne School-maisters in priuate mens houses as there are many in England some Gentlemen Vshers vnto Collapsed Ladies are some such there are in Drury lane the L. T. in Yorkeshire hath one followes her in that Nature the L. S. not farre from my old house in Holborne in London the L. M. neere vnto Stratford-bow Some Falconers whereof I know two the one in Sussex the other in high Suffolke only one I was acquainted withall who was the keeper of a Parke and a good Huntsman and of whom I haue had many a good peece of Venison if he be liuing I know another Priest who hauing liued with an antient
or the Treaty of the Match a whit since he found here the greatest content he could deuise he had a sight of the Lady Maria la Infanta his Mistris whose selfe knowne and seene exceeded her fame he was entertained and attended vpon by the most compleate and generous Nobles of Europe and had that entertainment no Nation could afford the like Lastly Maiorem habemus fidem ijs quae occulis vsurpamus quam quae auribus haurimus Quoth the Duke of Escalonia the effect hath fallen out quite contrary for the English report since their comming home they neuer came into a baser Countrey in their liues where they could get meat neither for themselues nor their horses Great want of victuall prouision in Spaine nor saw so much as one handfull of grasse in two hundred miles riding and if they dined at one place they were faine to goe 30. or 40. miles ere they could get any thing to their supper He that surfers are a Spaniards Table trust me I will pay for his physicke and then perhaps a peece of leane Kid or Cabrito a Tripe Tone's or such like indeede I remember when the Prince lay at Madrid wee were faine to send seauenteene miles off for a Calfe for his Highnesse dyet as for Mutton we may kill none without especiall Licence from the King for fish our Riuers affoord none and wee being most temporate our selues how should our dyet agree with their stomackes who are accounted the greatest feeders of the World I verily beleeue indeede quoth Gondomar that those places they call in England East-cheape and Smith-field Barres kills and vtters more Beefe and Mutton in a month then all Spaine cats in seauen yeares which plenty our men meeting withall at our first comming ouer into England and since some who attended Don Iniosa as I lately heard did ouer eat themselues and died shortly after The poore and miserable surface of our Country The Princes going ouer in person was happy for England quoth Escalona the scarcitie of victuall and hardnesse of lodging was not all the Prince of Wales by comming in Person discouered our plot and found how faire soeuer wee pretended wee meant nothing lesse when he thinking as also did the King of Great Brittaine his Father nothing had beene wanting to the absolute consummation of the marriage but the Rites of the Church he found all as Raw and as backward as he had beene all this while in a dreame and no such matter euer thought of so that he found the Honnor of our glorious entertainment to be but as a delicate sawce to help digestion The Marques of Castello Rodrigo then stepping vp said I will adde one thing more and whereof if he liues he vowes not to be vnmindfull of and that is as I am inform'd Adde moreouer the digging vp of tho bodies of our buried dead casting them into the Sea some affronts done him by the Clergie as that rude and barbarous putting him out of a Church which his Highnesse came in to view the arresting and taking away of a young youth a Page who attended I think on Maister Mounteague in a manner from his heeles which young Gentleman they say cannot be heard of to this day with that insolent and affrican pride of restraining him from that liberal accesse and conuerse not denied elsewhere to a meane person with the Lady Maria Infanta his Mistris which Princes by their his owne right may Challenge he being equivalent in birth and the rarest endowments of body and minde to any Prince whatsoeuer in the world with whom in all his time of his being here he had not aboue twice talked and then before either the Queene or your selfe Signior Olivares or some other if he had any thing to say afterward it was by vs to be penned to his hand and to be spoken before witnesse we must assuredly think and expect that so great and eminent a Prince and the darling of that Nation howsoeuer he could wisely smoother his discontent among vs in Spaine we may one day perhaps finde the fruites of our double dealing and the effects of his haught and incensed courage well knowing how like a young Lion though yet in his Denne and scarce acquainted with ranging his teeth and nayles are growne to that length that he is past iesting or playing withall Indeede my L. Olivares you are much blamed for that discouery and light you gaue to Buckingham of our designe The Infanta by her Faherts will bequeathed to the Emperors Sonne and the secret and tenor of the last Kings will wherein he charged vs not to match with England But rather to hold a faire Treaty with them hauing as you all know bequeathed Maria the Infanta to the Emperours Sonne so that now the English suppose themselues manifestly deluded Quoth the Duke of Sesa they know it well enough and I beleeue wee shall finde them so sensible of it that wee had beene better to haue playd faire then to hazard the loosing of our rest by such an encounter Now I pray you let vs take into our considerations the mischeifes which are like to follow First it is thought herevpon they haue called a Parliament which consisteth of the King Prince all the Lords Spirituall and Temporall or the Gentry and Commons of the ablest iudgments and vnderstanding in the Land vnto this Parliament the King they say hath wholy referred himselfe not onely for the examination and redresse of all abuses and misdemeanors at home but for the discussing and searching into all plots and practices of others abroad The Vnity sweet consent of the King his people in this present Parliameent obserued that may seeme any way to preiudice the quiet and well gouerned estate of his Kingdomes without interposition or mediation so that the King and people goe all on and together with that alacrity and constancy in prouiding for the good estate of the Kingdome as the like hath no beene seene these nany yeeares Prince CHARLES himselfe being there early and late assiduus accubuus amongst them whom I am informed with the Duke of Buckingham wee haue our prime and principall opposers A diffiernce betweene the Duke of Buckingham and Count Olivars which the Papist giue out though falsly to be the first occasion of the breach of the match I must confesse quoth Count Olivares there fell a difference betweene the Duke of Buckingham and my selfe which some haue rashly and inconsiderately giuen out to be the onely cause of this breach for they say before that time all things went forward in as faire a way as might be Indeede quoth Toledo the Catholikes of England haue so giuen it out laying all the fault vpon the Duke of Buckingham who is not guiltie of any such thing I will excuse him that peece was hammered vpon our owne Anuile Buckingham is a Noble Wise and Generous Prince vpon whom the King his Maister hath deseruedly conferred his grace
the Kings Maiesty which is heynously taken of all the land whereupon I hoped that the Parliament would haue soone beene dissolued but my art failed me and I haue gained nothing but disgrace the enmity of the Prince and Duke together with the hate of the whole Land insomuch that your selfe S. Gondomar were wont to passe free and vnmolested The better sort neuer gaue you ill vse except at once or the second time when the Offendors were imprisoned and punished we cannot passe though no violence I confesse is offered but wee haue the bans and reuilings of the multitude I meane the baser sort wishing we had neuer come here The Diuell driue vs home againe withall I had three or foure of the Proclamations for the banishing of the Preists and Iesuits pasted on my wall hard by my doore a Coachfull of my Gentlemen were by chance hard by the Savoy ouerthrowne but Lord what a shout was there among the multitude for ioy some interpreting the same to be malâ—mâ—men to our Nation but Deo gratias there was no harme done But are not these affrontes and vnseemely dealing of the Common people with Embassadours soundly punished Yes indeed quoth Gondomar it is much against his Majesty and the will of the State who by publique proclamation haue vpon a seuere penalty forbidden any whatsoeuer eyther by word or deede to doe them any affront or iniury but it seems our dealing hath deserued it how happeneth it then that these are not restrayned replyed the M. of Mandesario Is it impossible quoth Gondomar to charme the tongues of a multitude beside they are people of the worser condition No Nation more benigne and curteous to strangers then English for of the better sort we are respected with all obseruance but let vs proceede with the contents of my Lords Letter Heere came foorth about February likewise a Proclamation for the banishment of all Preists c. out of the Kingdome of Ireland but it is to be hoped that there be so many of the cheife Magistrates and Gentlemen in Ireland so well affected to the Catholique cause that it will doe vs no great hurt in those parts though the cracke be terrible Count Mans field arriued not long since in England and had great intertainment but what his errand or bussnesse was I could neuer learne A notorious practice of the Spaniards to discouer the businesse of a Turkish Embassador with the estates at the Hage in Holland though I tryed all the meanes I could to know I am wanting in nothing insomuch as in some ingenious and good intelligencer That quoth Gondomar is a fault which must be remedied I remember of late yeares there came a great personage a messenger call him Embassadour I may not from a Visâ—er in Constantinople to the Estates of Holland to the Hage and there was sent from Antwerpe to insinuat into his acquaintance afterward into his seruice a naturall borne Spaniard who had beene formerly a slaue in CONSTANTINOPLE and spake the Turkish tongue as naturally as if he had beene borne there withall he knew the freinds and kindred of the said Turkish Gentleman and could call them by their names and told him he was such a mans sonne of the Citty who being taken Prisoner when he was young by the Spaniards Of the truth hereof enquire of Cap. I. B. he was detayned as a Galley-slaue amongst them many yeares and hauing now made an escape fled to him for succour and desired to serue him as an Interpreter he beleeuing all true that he sayd entertayned him to attend on him in his Chamber it fortuned that on a time when the Estates of North-Holland were inuited by the Prince of Orange to a Supper or Banquet at his Court in the Hage and with them this Turkish Embassador one of the Company a Dutch man of North-Holland obseruing his carriage and countenance and remembring that his garbe and condition was Spanish and moreouer avowing he had seene him in Spaine caused him in despight of his new maister to be searched and at the instant found about him directions how to carry himselfe and which was the maine plot to discouer what was the Turkes errand to the Estates hereupon it being the time of Peace he was banished and at Delft put into a Boate and sent away vpon paine of his head neuer to returne into Holland againe but these diuises are like Stratagems in warre once eluded neuer to be put in practise againe Well to proceede Prouision for making â—kady the Nauy he writes vnto vs moreouer how and with what alacrity the ParliaÌ„ment with one consent haue granted Subsidies for furnishing and rigging vp the Nauy and preparation for war But writes he nothing quoth Velasco where it is thought they will appoint Sedem Belli the home of that warre That quoth Gondomar is a secret among them but I thinke his Maiesty will reserue that to himselfe Why quoth Lewes de Velasco there should be nothing so secretly carried amongst them but we should know it The times replyed Gondomar are not now as heretofore and when I was in England our best intelligencers and the Catholiques are not in that grace as they haue beene we haue had in times past many friends euen in the Parliament House but they haue now so sifted and cull'd them out yea if but suspected that we haue little hope of diuing into their Actions The Prince of Orange with the Estates of the Low-Countries haue taken the same course for whereas their intendments and resolutions where and when to make a warre was knowne in common to them all of the Councell so that what they determined or concluded of wee knew it the same night or the next morning witnesse the surprise of Breda with a turfe Boate and their enterprise vpon Antwerpe the Prince of Orange reserues that within his owne brest whereby things are now carried with farre more secrecy The enterprise vpon Bredâ— in Brabant and good successe then before But how happened it quoth C. Monterey that Breda as I haue heard was surprized notwithstanding By meere accidents quoth Gonzales de Cordua for Antonio Lancavechia the Gouernour which happened not in seauen yeares before lay that night from home I meane the Castle at Geertrudenberge sixe miles off when the same night came letters vnto him from a friend on the other side The friend was suspected to be Mounsier Barneuelt which reuealed the plot but leauing his sonne Deputie Gouernour he durst not open them for vpon the opening once of a loue letter that came to his Father from a Lady his Father charged him neuer to meddle with looking into any letter that was directed to him againe but laying them vp till his father came home the Castle and Towne wherein were 5000. men horse and foot with threescore and ten hidden close vnder curses miraculously taken the griefe whereof as some thinke cost the Prince of Parma his life But quoth
THE SECOND PART OF VOX POPVLI or Gondomar appearing in the likenes of Matchiauell in a Spanish Parliament wherein are discouered his treacherous subtile Practises To the ruine as well of England as the Netherlandes Faithfully Transtated out of the Spanish Coppie by a well-willer to England and Holland The second Edition Simul Complectar omni◠Gentis Hispanae decus Printed at Goricom by Ashuerus Janss 1624. Stilo nouo TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCES FREDERICK and ELIZABETH by the Grace of God King and Queene of Bohemia Princes Palatines of the Rhine c. AS ALSO To the most Illustrious and victorious Maurice Prince of Orenge Count of Nassau c. Most High Most Illustrious Princes THAT I haue adventured in these vnfaithfull times so full of suspition and danger to passe without leaue your guardes and to presse into your Presence I most humbly craue pardon having I confesse no other excuse then that common one of the Countrie it was out of my loue out of my loyalty for such most gracious Q Elizabeth hath heeretofore your respect beene towards mee farre vnworthy God knowes of any of the least favours from so Magnificent a Princesse that ever since I haue contended with my selfe to adventure and Act something that might haue power still to preserue me in your Royall Memorie but albeit I had the will I find my selfe wanting in my Abilitie And most Illustrious Prince Maurice since I haue had sometime dependance on your Excellence I hold it my Dutie gratefully to repay some part of what I cannot say iniustly I haue gained vnder you that is Observation especially of the double dealing and cunning Iuggling of the Spaniard with all Nations And since a little Treatise of a Spanish Consultation whether really acted or poetically faigned I know not came to my hands first written in Spanish now by my selfe translated into English onely for the behoofe and loue I beare aswell to England my natiue Countrie as to the Netherlands I haue sent it abroad good it may doe hurt it cannot Abundans cautela non nocet heerein you shall perceiue the Curtaine though not fully drawne from before the Spaniard that the world may for certaine see that hee is not so beautifull as many of our English who so long haue doated on him would make him to be nor on the other side so terrible that your Dutch neede to feare him how grimme terrible soeuer he lookes vpō them But your Excellence knoweth him as we say Intus in cute can limne to the life better then any penne in the world can decipher him wherefore I vrge him no farther I onely leaue it to the world to thinke of since hee aymeth at the Monarchy of the West euery thing els being to little for his Ambitiō whose great Grand-sire the Earle of Halspurge was within these ninescore yeares of as mean estate and revenue as an ordinary knight of England how much I say concernes it England and your vnited Provinces to hold fast each by either which now by all meanes he laboureth to part and divide not vnmindfull of a Matchivillian and old Maxime Divide et Impera But I trust Almighty God as hee hath already begun will open the eyes of all Christian Kinges and Princes in time not onely to prie into but effectually to oppose these his immense and ambitious designes which else in time may fall heauie vpon our children and posteritie I end humbly beseeching the King of Kings and Kingdomes the Almighty Lord of Hoastes Most High Most Illustrious Princes to protect the persons of your selues and children with his grace to multiplie your Honors and Dignities foure-fold to restore your estates and after many yeares to crowne you in Heaven with the Diademes of Glorie and endles happines Who is most devoted vnto your Highnesses in all Loyall affection T. S. of V. THE SPANISHE PARLAMENT Ingentibus exidit ausis AFter the shouts and acclamations of all true hearted English for the safe and single returne of the Prince of Great Brittaine had made the roofe of Heauen to resound and with the noyse hād shooke such a terror into the ill affected body of Spaine that a cold and benumming feare ran through her ioynts her friends began to bethinke themselues of a timely recomfort to finde the meanes a fresh to rouse vp her spirits by this time halfe repenting her selfe of parting with so pretious a pawne the possession whereof she imagined might haue tied vs to haue precisely kept day though it were likely to haue had prooued more fatall vnto her then euer was the gold of Thousouse to Cepio's Souldiers and as it falleth out among sicke persons some of sounder iudgement then the rest about her inparticular and euery one in generall giuing their best opinions vndertooke so she would be ruled to rid her off that sit and distempered perplexity And for this purpose appointing for a further consultation to be at Seuill in Audaluzia whether already the King with most of the Nobility had retired themselues in regard they sayd the English who were in number about seauen-score had not long before eaten vp all the prouision in Madrid and within thirty miles about there came as truest and old-friends to her estate the Arch-bishop of Toledo the Dukes of Medina Coeli of Braganza of Ville Hermosa of Hijaz D. of Infantado D. of Cea D. of Sesa D. of Veragua Marques of Malagon Count de Penna-fiore Count de Monterry Count de Sanstephano c. Escalona the Marques of Castello Rodrigo the Admirant and Constable of Castile Count Olivares Count Gondomar Pedro de Toledo Gonzales de Cordua Lewes de Velasco with sundry others of remarke and note of the chiefest Nobility whither being come and hauing made choyse of a goodly and faire Pallace anciently belonging vnto to the D. of Beiar principall of the family of the Zanigas in a faire great Chamber hung with rich Arras ouer the leather guilded Guara Mazilla's after many an enterchange of complement each as his precedence required tooke his place like a colledge of wise Phisitians to consult of the state of that body and Kingdome how with medicines as Physitians call them to preuent her future danger withall for the present to repayre the ruine of her reputation and credit with the world since now her plots and practises are smoaked their gordian knots vntwisted euen by children Lastly how to gaine by strong hand what all this while shee could not compasse by artes and policie Being all set and silent the Duke of Medina Coeli stoode vp and spake as followeth My Lords it hath pleased his Catholique Maiesty the King our Mr. to giue way to this our meeting and Parlamentary assembly to consult and aduise among our selues what course is most fittest to be holden of vs in in these tempestuous times for the weather being changed and the bright beames of our hopes ouer-cast we are from euery side to expect rage and
stormes You are not ignorant how there is now a Parliament holden in England that bode vs no good in Holland a dayly consultation with present preparation In France a Councell together with an vnaminity of Kings and Peeres for some great vndertaking How nerely then concernes it vs of Spaine to be vigilant and to looke about vs first for the maintenance and aduancement of the Catholique Religion and holy Church Secondly for the defence of his Maiesties Kingdomes and Territories Thirdly to heare the grieuances of the people groaning vnder the heauy burthen of exaction and oppression though the couetuousnesse of publique offices Fourthly for the supply of the Treasury which a late hath beene much exhausted partly by preparation by Sea against our Common enemies Turkes and Hollanders and partly by the extraordinary entertainment of Charles Prince of Wales the charge wherof amounted to 49. thousand Ducates Fift and lastly for giuing the world satisfaction and the taking away of those vile scandales and imputations which euen within these few dayes haue beene and are hourely cast vpon vs especially as they giue it out in dealing doubly and dishonorably with England concerning the Treaty of the Match He hauing ended the D. of Braganza the next began thus I am sorry that I liue to see the day that the Honor of Spaine which was wont to dazle the eye of Europe with the vnsufferable splendor of its brightnesse should now be ouer cast with the blacke cloud of disgrace and the name of a Spaniarde so redoubted ouer the world become branded with the infamous attributes and epithites of false ambitious proud and cruell and those Nations who were wont to adore vs for our faith contemne and scorne vs now for treachery and falshood Certes loyalty and the Religious obseruance of our promises and faith was anciently held our prime vertue insomuch that Fey de Spagna grew into a Prouerbe like the gold of Ophir out valewing any other that I speake no new thing or vntruth you may plainely perceiue it by the multitude of discourses pamphlets and pasquills that are dayly vented against vs from all parts of the World wherein wee art iested at derided disgraced by verses and vnseemely Pictures especially of late dayes from Holland France and England yea as I vnderstand in songs and Ballades sung vp and downe the Streetes in many places whence this imputation vpon so iust and braue a Nation so potent a Monarch at the brandishing of whose sword Europe trembles should proceede I cannot ghesse yet desire to be satisfied herein in the King my Mr. and kinsmans behalfe my kinsman for you all know my neere alliance vnto his Maiesty and my Poesie may intimate no lesse vnto the world which is Pues vos nos after you we being next in blood if the issue Royall should faile But I am a fraide the ill carriage of some priuate men at home perhaps our Embassadors in For. raine parts haue throwne this aspersion vpon vs hauing eyther giuen abroad to many ouertures of our designes or attempted their ends with ouermuch hast and violence which in time and by gentle hand might haue beene easier won as a bough whose fruite we meane to gather is brought downe by degrees which else might breake and we loose our longing Surely in the first me thinke our Nation should not easily offend we being esteemed the most close and reserued to our selues in the world as the euent of our greatest and most important actions haue sufficiently shewne Did we not in 88. carry our businesse for England so cunningly and secretly as well in that well dissembled treaty with the English neere Ostend whereto for vs were deputed Aremberge Champigny Richardot and other as in bringing our Nauy to their shores while their Commanders and Captaines were at bowles vpon the hoe of Plimouth and had my Lord Alonso Guzman the Duke of Medina Sidonia had but the resolution but in truth his Commission was otherwise he might haue suprized them as they lay at Anker and the like In Ireland when Don Ivan d' Aquila had gotten footing in the Irish ground ere any of the mist How were our plots and correspondence with Biron carryed with infinite the like examples Touching the latter the Spanish Nation hath of all other in the world beene held for the most sober stayd and wise and were wont neuer to attempt any thing but vpon great and long aduice accounting it with Quintus Fabius more honorable to bee accounted droanes or cowards then to hazard our affaires or Armies French like onely in a vaine-glorious hastinesse to gaine the Honor of charging the first So that it seemeth strange to me that we haue I know not vpon what grounds incurred the hate and scorne of other Nations and that we especially of the Nobility should be thought ill of since of Nobility ours of Spaine hath beene euer held the most illustrious and eminent of the world The Duke hauing made an end Gondomar easily raysing himselfe from his chayre wherein he sat vpon two downe pillowes and resting himselfe vpon a little Brasill staffe spake as followeth My Lords I can deriue this slaunder of our Country and hate of our selues from no other fountaine then the Fanaticall humors and distracted spirits of some of the English who find themselues not a little gall'd and vexed with our politique delayes heretofore and now our finall reiection and I hope shaking hands with that Hereticall Nation for euer for if your Alteses and Honors will but consider what aduenture and boote we haue made by them I thinke you will say we might well endure these British Northen and cold blasts meane time in so suffering for our Catholique King and in the Catholique cause we ought to take such approbry rather as an Honor vnto vs then otherwise Moreouer if we shall consider who are the Authors of these lying Plamphlets wee shall finde to proceede from the pennes of light and vnstayed wits with intent eyther to winne the opinion of good intelligencers and statistes together with the aiery applause of the Vulgar or to rayse to their desperate Fortunes when the tempest is ouer as it oft hath happened and now likely we being fallen off from England and the Treaty at an end Yea but quoth the Duke of Medina Caeli what should be the reason of that inbred and Naturall hate the common people of England should beare to vs and our Country aboue any Nation in the world the Hollanders Turkes and Indians excepted Arch. B. Toledo Quoth the Arch-bishop of Toledo herein we are much deceiued for his Catholique Maiesty and our selues all haue very many faithfull and fast friends in England who would not sticke to hazard their liues and fortunes in the Seruice of his Maiesty might time and occasion be offered yea and some none of the meanest The Marquesse of Castello Rodrig then arising vp with a graue countenance and a deliberate vtterance said is it possible that any place
Castello Rodrigo Signior Gondomar if there remaine any more newes from England impart it freely we are I hope of one minde Quoth the Arch-bishop of Toledo I haue heard that since this little time of respite and freedome wherein the Catholique Religion hath taken breath a little there haue beene many miracles done in England Yes assuredly very many quoth Gondomar I heard it credibly reported for a truth that St. Patricke visibly appeared to many Religious Priests and Friers at his Purgatory This is as true as St. Francis cate a Spider and scratched her againe out of his thigh confirming and preaching vnto them dayly prophesing moreouer a great time of percution ere long to befall vpon them Moreouer our Blessed Lady appeared to an English mayd arraied as bright as the Sunne with the Moone vnder her feete whereupon she became wholy to be conuerted Catholique No doubt quoth the Duke of Medina Coeli many of this Nature are meere impostures what thinke you my L. Arch-bishop No question quoth Gonzales de Cordua I cannot be perswaded that that which they call the holy Blood of Boxall which the Bradanders and all the Netherlands visit in Pilgrimage and euery yeare lookes as red and fresh as if it had beene taken from the body but yesterday can be the very blood of Christ Nor that a young married wife shall haue a child the same yeare if she can stride ouer at once Saint Rombauts breeches at Mechlin Nor that as many of the Hollanders hold that Mary was buried at Hueclom for which cause it hath beene in times past a place by Pilgrimes much frequented since we hold her Assumption into heauen for quoth the Arch-bishop Signior Gonzales these are Contraria in eodem obiecto you are a Souldier and you know for the most part they are none of the deuoutest men I wish you rather modestly and piously with the Church that all these things are true Abuses may creepe in by accident but neuer to be publickly allowed by the Sacred Authority of the Church No how chanced it replied Gonzales that a Painter of Shertogenbosch my Lord of Gorbhendonck gouernour of the Towne I my selfe haue often seen the picture though neuer worshipped it told me the tale beeing deadly in loue with a faire and beautifull Lady neere to Pirroy Huesden and being to drawe our Ladies Image for a Chappell either in St. Iohns or some other Church in the Bosch The Church of Rome like one of her Images take off the golden coate of ceremony vnderneath it is rubbish or a rotten block to insinuate himselfe the farther into this Ladies fauour drewe her picture with her young sonne in her armes which he hung vp for our blessed Ladies picture and is at this day worshipped with great deuotion as if her selfe were discended from heauen and were there in person I cannot beleeue quoth the Arch-bishop there was any such thing if there were so long as it brings in good store of mony to the poore Priests of the Church it may easily be endured besides if these things should be ouer narrowly looked into it would hazard the credit of the Catholicke Church betraying to the vulgar and ignorant her greatest mysteries and as it were pulling off her fairest plumes expose her naked to vulgar scorne and contempt But the D. of Escalono who had sitten silent this good while now stepping vp sayd the end of our present assembly is not to trouble our selues about these by discourses and triuiall matters now it stands vs in hand to looke to our selues to prouide money men and all necessaries for the warre with all speed holding it fit to call home our Embassadour who I beleeue hereafter is like to get no better answere concerning our affaires with England then Mendoza did of Henry Cary Baron of Hunsdon and Lord Chamberlaine in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth who beeing commanded by the Q. to giue him his answere she denying him accesse by reason say the English his demaunds were insolent and vnreasonable told him the Queene hath commanded me to answere you my answere is Setting your Oranges and Limmons aside a figge for your Embassage his meaning was sauing for sause for their Hennes and Capons they could liue neither caring for vs nor our Country A Banquet sent out of Spaine to Prince Charles not long since It seemeth quoth Villa Hermosa they care not much for that neither for when as a various and a delicate Banquet such as Spaine afforded was sent ouer whether by your selfe my L. Olivares your Lady or some other to the Prince of Wales I heard that the Prince touched not any whit of it but the figges and other iunkettings were giuen some to one some to another and at last refused euen of Boyes and Pages for feare there should be dropped in a figge or two worse rellished then their fellowes Then Castello Rodrigo stood vp and sayd Spice the English are so bufie at home to prouide for themselues and happily to offend some body else whom yet we know not let vs also timely prouide least we be to seeke paries cum proximus ardet and like true hearted Patriots and loyall Subiects to our Catholique King and Country euery one sincerely and freely deliuer his opinion and reasons how our Religion our selues friends and allyes might be best secured in case the storme should fall on our heads for this was the maine end of our meeting Then quoth the Duke of Medina Signior Gondomar since you are best acquainted with the state and affaires of England giue your aduise what is best to be done whither to haue open warre with them to wind them vp still with new pretences and ouertures of the Match or to entertaine a seeming league of amity and vnity and the Infanta to take her Fortune else where For the first quoth Gondomar I vtterly disallow it that we vpon no apparant ground Spaine vnwilling to be at oddes with England and probable reason should prouoake so potent and irreconcilable a Nation who are content to let vs alone so that they may enioy their peace and quiet you know the danger of awaking a sleepie Lyon but hereof by the way I will tell you a pretty and a pleasant accident of a sleepie dogge that happened at my beeing in England one D. W. well knowne about Paules and Feete-streete in London a place whereto I many times resorted for some priuate occasion finding his Dogge a great huge Mastiue lying fast a sleepe by his Kitchin fire A tale of D. W. Dogge sayd to a friend that stood by my Dogge is fast a sleepe I will to wake him go hallow in his eare hee no sooner began to hallow but the Dogge vsed to no such alarmes leaped vp and laying his forefeete on his Maisters shoulders tare him downe on eyther cheeke from the eyes almost to the mouth Let vs by no meanes hallow in the eares of the English For first we are not so
flesh onely to eate or giue away as a cullor for the rest For the venting of hallowed Oyle Beades Agnus-Deies Maddalles Pardons Crucifixes c. You may doe it by some one poore yet trustie Catholique or two to goe vp and downe the Countrie in the habit and nature of Pedlers this also is a good way to hold intelligence with friends in many places I haue knowne some vnder the cullour of selling Tobacco haue carried Letters handsomely preuily in the balles or roules Also wee advise you if persecutions come vpon you to flye into Scotland for a season and when you see your best time returne againe for it seemeth by this Proclamation you sent that you are not bannished Scotland therefore that may be a good shelter vnto you Be sure to haue going in the North or west part of England two Printers presses at worke which let be well stocked also a small rouling presse for litle pictures of Saints Veronica's heads Crucifixes and the like much money may be gained hereby Haue a care whensoeuer any Booke or Picture comes out to our preiudice set some freinds to buy them all vp though you burne them forthwith except some few which faile not still but to send vs of every sort three at the least for they will bee vnto vs of great vse Many moe directions Holy Fathers there are which are alike necessary to be thought vpon but I referre them to your owne graue and pious considerations So committing you to the tuition of our blessed Lady and my selfe to your holy and deuout prayers I rest From Siuill this 6. of May. Count Gondomar hauing made an end they all with one voyce applauded and highly commended his directions and Counsell not onely for his particular Letter but for the wise carriage of himselfe heretofore in many and weightie affayres that concerned the Catholique Religion the honour of his Maiestie and the generall good of the Estate Esteeming him worthily honored with the Title of a Grande at home in Spaine and of his Maisters Ambassadour abroad hauing effected more by his wit and pollicy then could haue beene wrought by the strength of many Armies And now when they were almost come to a period and full conclusion of their Consultation for that time there came a Messenger in post who brought Letters from the King to Count Olivares his favorite to call him to the Court vpon some speciall imployment what it was could not bee certainly knowne but as I heard some complaint was lately come out of England against the Ambassadours resident there moreouer that a great fight had beene lately betweene nine great Spanish ships 5. men or ships of warre of Horne and Enchuisen in Holland wherein the report went the Hollanders had taken two and sunke one whereupon they all arose vp together in a great confusion euery one hasting to his horse which stood ready in a faire base Court without they tooke their way some with Olivares to the Court others to their owne houses where I leaue them till wee heare further of their proceedings TO THE ILLVSTRIOVS MAGNIFIQVE AND GRAVE Assembly of the High Court of Parliament in England HEre as in a little glasse may you Most Honorable Great and Graue Senate viewe the epitome or rather the effect of a seauen yeares Treaty with Spaine yee may plainly see the holde and assurance wee were euer like to haue had of that Nation yea euen when wee thought our selues surest of them Here wee may to our warning of taking heede whom wee trust behold to the life the Haughty-Pride Thirsty-Couetousnes and kind dissimulation of the same Fox populi Count Gondomar the * For they say he is a Grande in Spaine GREAT Here may the Netherlands perceiue the imminent danger that hung-ouer their heades shortly without doubt to haue fallen vpon them had not the Spanish ambushes beene timously discouered Heere may that Illustrious King and the most renowned and second Queene Elizabeth for her constancy and spirit of Bohemia and princes Pallatines of the Rhine consider how assuredly faithfully the surrendring of their Pallatinate should haue beene performed In a word heere may wee all see the great Mercies of God towards vs whose providence it hath beene that we should cleare our selues from these Spanish Rockes that all this while lay vnder water and vnseene doubtlesse to our ruine had wee not I say by immediate helpe from heauen beene relieued Let vs then as wee are one people of the same Language Religion Lawes Gouerned by the same Gracious and good King embrace with that wise Lord and graue Councellor as in his Poesie Vuam cor vnam viam then neede not our Brittaine so famous of ould for her triumphes and many victories over other Nations nor care a strawe for the vaine and windy threats of proude Spaine nor the menaces of the most daring Aduersarie whosoeuer Your Humblest servant who is and euer shall be T. S. FINIS