then by informing his Majestie that our Prince whom he had ever so much valued would be as I conceived free and dis-ingaged from our Spanish Treatie by reason that the King could not find them answer his expectation in those things that made him principally desire their Conjunction the which your Lordship seeing you have exercised your interest and credit with the King your Master and the Prince to convert those thoughts towards his Majestie from whom you were perswaded nothing but truth and honour would be returned the which at this time more then ever would be an infinite advantage to both these Kingdoms and that I believed if his Majestie would shew a disposition as affectionate to receive Propositions to this purpose as the King my Master had to make them a long time would not passe before the effects of this might appear the which would shew the report raised here of the ends of my coming to be false and me to be free of all other designs then those which I had expressed unto him He told me that he had not heard that the Spanish Match was yet broken the which justly might give him cause to be reserved yet thus far be would assure me in the general That whatsoever should be propounded unto him from the King of Great Brittain he would most heartily and affectionately receive it but this was with such a fashion of Courtesie as shewed that he desired cause to have said more and I am fully satisfied not onely from him but the Queens and most of all of Madam her self who shewes all the sweetnesse and contentment that may be and likewise from all the Officers of the Crown and State that they can desire nothing equal with this alliance A better and more large preparation then this my instructions cannot make and I wonder to see it thus fair considering the hinderances and defacings the Spanish Embassadour desires to cast upon it who besides the Rodomontado's and threatenings of the preparations of his Master doth here take a contrary but cunning way letting them know that the Prince cannot have two Wives for their Infanta is surely his onely to create a jealousie and shienesse in them towards me that he suspects labours to do offices that are not to his liking You will therefore I hope speedily put this State out of these doubts and clearly and freely proceed with them Upon my credit and reputation they are all of that disposition that we can wish them to be and it appears by their tender care of the States and their resolution to ayd them And likewise in sending Captain Coborn that came from the Duke of Brunswick to demand a supplie of men who is returned with answer unto him that he shall have double what he required and great satisfaction to the Count Mansfelt that sent a Gentleman hither to let the King know he was not yet in such disorder but that he could assemble his Troops to such a number as might do his Majestie good service if he would be pleased to take him into his protection and favour And the King hath sent a Gentleman of the Religion a Sedanois to Leige to give information to this State of the proceedings of the Spaniards there and to be ready to receive if the Town shall seek it the protection of them But these passages I am sure you continually understand from our Embassadour the which makes me omit many particularities in this kind that I could inform you of I have sent this Bearer of purpose the which I beseech your Grace return with some speed and with him the resolutions of our dear and Sacred Master whom God ever blesse and keep to our glorie and comfort My Lord I am The humblest and most obliged of all your Graces servants Kensington The Lord Kensington to the Secretary the Lord Conway Right Honourable ACcording to his Majesties order which your last of April the 14. derived unto me I have represented such reasons to the King and his ministers of State here against the sending of any person in what quality soever to the Duke of Baviers as they acquiesce in them speciallie for that they come commanded under his Majesties desire which they professe to be very willing to comply with not only in this but in any other occasion wherein his Majestie may directly or indirectly be any way interessed I took the same opportunity of preparing the way a little farther to a formal treaty of alliance by feeling once again their pulse in matters of religion and find that it beats so temperately as promises a very good Crisis of any thing that may concern that particular I dealt plainely with the Marquesse de la Veiville touching the course that his Majestie may be driven to hold against Jesuites and Priests of banishing them the Kingdom and of quickning the lawes against the other Catholiques as well out of necessity of reducing them within the bounds of sobriety and obedience as of keeping good intelligence with his Parliament without which he could not possibly go thorough with such a weighty work as he is now to undertake He approved of the course for the ends sake under hope notwithstanding that his Majestie would not tie his own hands from some moderate favour hereafter which is all they pretend unto and desire it may flow from the mediation of this State upon an alliance here for the saving of their honour who otherwise will be hardly reputed Catholiques In representing a facility in these things I leave no other difficulties to be imagined Their good inclination to the match in general they are willing to demonstrate as by many other evidences so by the care they are now under of lodging and defraying my Lord of Carlile and my self in a more splendid and Magnifique manner then ever yet they did any Embassadour whatsoever for such is the language that Ville-aux Cleres holds to me upon that subject The Count of Soissons sees it and stormes and manifests his discontent towards me who am the instrument more fellie then discreetly I encountred him the other day and gave him the due that belonged to his rank but instead of returning me my salute he disdainfullie turned back his head I was somewhat sensible thereof and I told Mounsieur de Grandmont of it and as he and I were discoursing of it the day following Soissons offered himself full butt upon us a second time I again repeated my courtesie and he is childish in civility Grandmont found it strange and intimated to the Marquesse de la Valette a familiar and confident of the Counts both my observation and his own distaste of such an uncivil kind of proceeding Valette conveyes the same to Soissons himself who answered that he could not afford me a better countenance not for any ill will he bore unto my person but to my errand and negotiation which were it not in the behalf of so great a Prince went so near his heart as he
resolved to keep straight against all men whatsoever I shall infame my self in the very beginning If his Majestie will have any special indulgence in this kind I expect intimation immediately from the King or your Lordship and no third Person Your Lordship will not expect from me any account of Councel businesse nor the setting at liberty of the late prisoners Mr. Secretary is secret enough for imparting any thing unto me so as I must remain in a necessary ignorance There is a Country man of mine one Griffith a suiter unto the Court for the reversion of an Auditors place recommended thereunto by his Master the Lord Treasurer The place is of great Consequence for the disposing of his Majesties revenewes The man is unfit for this as presumptuous and daring for any place Sir Robert Pye saith he hath already written to your Lordship and I doubt not of your care thereof Doctour Lamb the bearer is a very sufficient and for ought I ever heard of him an honest man The King hath imployed him in discovery of counterfeit Witchcrafts in reforming of no ounterfeit but hearty Puritanes and he hath done good service therein If his Majestie now in our pure ayr of Northhamptoushire do not shew him some favor or grace either by Knighting or by using him courteously The Brethren having gotten out their Yelverton again will neglect and molest him too unsufferably God from Heaven blesse you Remember your Deanerie and Dean of Westminster c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning the Earl Marshals place 1. Septemb. 1621. My most Noble Lord I Beseech your Lordship to interpret this Letter well and fairly which no malice though never so provoked but my duty to his Majestie and love to your Lordship hath drawn from me both which respects as long as I keep inviolably I will not omit for the fear of any man or the losse of any thing in this world to do any act which my Conscience shall inform me to belong unto that place wherein the King by your favour hath intrusted me I received this morning two Commands from his Majestie the one about a Pension of 2000 l. yearly and the other concerning the office of the Earle Marshal both conferred on the Right Honourable the Earle of Arundel For the former although this is a very unseasonable time to receive such large Pensions from so bountiful a King and that the Parliament so soon approaching is very like to take notice thereof and that this pension might under the correction of your better judgment have been conveniently deferred until that Assembly had been over Yet who am I that should question the wisedom and bounty of my Master I have therefore sealed the same praying secretly unto God to make his Majestie as abounding in wealth as he is in goodnesse But the latter I dare not seale my good Lord until I heare your Lordships resolution to these few Questions Whether his Majestie by expressing himself in the delivery of the staffe to my Lord of Arundel that he was moved thereunto for the easing of the rest of the Comissioners who had before the execution of that office did not imply that his Majestie intended to impart unto my Lord no greater power then was formerly granted to the Lords Comissioners If it were so this Pattent should not have exceeded their Pattent whereas it doth inlarge it self beyond that by many dimensions Whether it is his Majesties meaning that the Pattent leaping over the powers of the three last Earles Essex Shrewsbery and Sommerset should refer onely to my Lords own Ancestors Howards and Mowbrayes Dukes of Norfolk who clamed this place by a way of inheritance The usual reference of Pattents being unto the last and immediate predecessour and not unto the remote whose powers in those unsettled and troublesome times are vage uncertain and unpossible to be limited Whether it is his Majesties meaning that this great Lord should bestow those offices settled of a long time in the Crown Sir Edward Zouch his in the Court Sir George Reinel's in the Kings Bench and divers others All which this new Pattent doth sweep away being places of great worth and dignity Whether that his Majesties meaning and your Lordships that my Lord Stewards place shall be for all his power of Judicature in the Verge either altogether extinguished or at leastwise subordinated unto this new Office A point considerable because of the greatnesse of that person and his neernesse in bloud to his Majestie and the Prince his Highnesse Lastly Whether it be intended that the offices of the Earl Marshal of England and the Marshal of the Kings house which seem in former times to have been distinct offices shall be now united in this great Lord A power limited by no Law or Record but to be searcht out from Chronicles Antiquaries Heralds and such obsolete Monuments and thereupon held these 60 years for my Lord of Essex his power was clearly bounded and limited unfit to be revived by the policy of this State These Questions if his Majestie intended onely the renewing of this Commission of the Earl Marshals in my Lord of Arundel are material and to the purpose But if his Majestie aymed withal at the reviving of this old office A la ventura whose face is unknown to the people of this age upon the least intimation from your Lordship I will seal the Patent And I beseech your Lordship to pardon my discretion in this doubt and irresolution It is my place to be wary what innovation passeth the Seal I may offend that great Lord in this small stay but your Lordship cannot but know how little I lose when I lose but him whom without the least cause in the world I have irreconcileably lost already All that I desire is that you may know what is done and I will ever do what your Lordship being once informed shall direct as becometh c. That there is a difference betwixt the Earl Marshal and the Marshall of the Kings house See Lamberts Archiron or of the High Courts of Justice in England Circa Medium The Marshal of England and the Constable are united in a Court which handleth onely Duels out of the Realm matters within the Realm as Combats Blazon Armorie c. but it may meddle with nothing tryable by the Lawes of the Land The Marshal of the Kings Houshold is united in a Court with the Seneschal or Steward which holds plea of Trespasses Contracts and Covenants made within the Verge and that according to the Lawes of the Land Vid. Artic. Super Cart. C. 3.4.5 We do all of us conceive the King intended the first place only for this great Lord and the second to remain in the Lord Stewards managing But this new Patent hath comprehended them both This was fit to be presented to your Lordship The Lord Keeper to the Duke 16. Decemb. 1621. Most Noble Lord I Have seen many expressions of your love in other mens Letters where
answer He is extreamly commended for his closenesse and secresie by the major part of our auditors the Hee and Shee good fellowes of the town and though he refuseth to be a Confessor yet is sure to die a Martyr and most of the Ladies in town will offer at his shryne The Lady Hatton some nine dayes since was at Stoke with the good Knight her Husband for some counsel in this particular But he refused to meddle therewithal and dismist her Ladiship when she had stayed with him very lovingly half a quarter of an hour The cause of my troubling your Grace is this The French Embassador is fired with some complaints of our Recusants who I verily believe work upon him purposely finding him to be of a combustible disposition To morrow he is resolved to come upon you and our Master with Complaints for lack of performances to the Papists And because I would furnish your Grace with as much answer as I am acquainted with nothing doubting but your Grace is otherwaies better provided I make bold to present your Grace with these particulars 1. With a Letter from my Lord Archbishop of York in answer to another of mine which shews how really his Majesties promise hath been in that kind performed I beseech your Grace to keep it safe in your pocket until I shall have the honour to wait upon your Grace when you have made use of the same 2. If your Grace shall hear him complain of the Judges in their charges and of their receiving of Indictments your Grace may answer That those charges are but orations of Course opening all the penal Lawes and the Indictments being presented by the Country cannot be refused by the Judges But the Judges are ordered to execute nothing actually against the Recusants nor will they do it during the negotiation 3. Your Grace may put him in mind that my Lord Keeper doth every day when his the Lord Embassadours Secretary calls upon him grant forth Writs to remove all the persons indicted in the Country into the Kings Bench out of the power and reaches of the Justices of the Peace And that being there the King may and doth release them at his pleasure 4. That the Spanish Embassadour never had nor desired more then these favours 5. That you are informed that Copies of Letters written from the King to both the Archbishops are spread abroad in Staffordshire to his Majesties disadvantage for so it is and that thereby my Lord Embassadour may perceive the bent of the English Catholiques which is not to procure ease and quietnesse to themselves but Scandals to their neighbouring Protestants and discontentments against the King and State I humbly crave your Graces pardon for this boldnesse and tediousnesse and with my hearty prayers for your health do rest yours c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 22. March 1624. May it please your Grace I Send your Grace here inclosed the Kings Commission and the Prince's Proxie not fairly written which the Embassadours upon the place may procure in a frech hand but yet legibly and passably The Prince's Proxie refers the manner unto the articles and particularly to the second third and fourth Section of those Articles which gives me occasion to begg of your Grace pardon to desire your Grace to think seriously upon the third Section to advise with the Prince and to give Mr. Packer charge to inform your Grace punctually what he knoweth and may inform himself concerning those particulars That is How the Queen Margaret of France was married to Henry the fourth and how Madam his sister was married to the Prince of Lorrain For although they are both made alike in the article yet surely they were not married after the same fashion For the Dutchesse of Barr was married in a closet without a Masse by words onely of the Present tense as I believe I have read in the Historie of Thuanus A favour which will hardly be granted to your Grace And how Queen Margaret was married my Lords the Embassadours will soon learn if your Grace will be pleased to write unto them I hold it in a manner necessary that your Grace do carrie over with you in your company one Civilian to put your Grace in mind of the formalities required and if your Grace be of that mind your own Doctor Dr. Reeves is as fit as any man else who is a good Scholar and speaks that language Your Grace hath revived my Lord of Clare sithence I spake with your Grace And I beseech your Grace to follow that resolution and to let Mr. Packer draw up a warrant of 3. or 4. lines signed by the King to me to place him with the rest of the Councel of War It will be an occasion to take up more of that time which he now spends with the Lady Hatton For now I am resolved that I was of the right in my conjecture to your Grace that his Lordship had utterly refused my Lady Purbecks cause of the which the very common people begin to be ashamed but is deeply ingaged against my Lady of Richmond Dutchesse of Richmond in the businesse of that famous or rather notorious foeminine Contract and bargain of sixteen hundred pounds by the year for a house to sleep in When your Grace shall draw up your Instructions you will be pleased to use the words To Contract Espouse and marrie Our Welbeloved Son c. because they do in those parts contract alwaies before marriage And your Grace will be pleased to expresse his Majesties pleasure that this is to be done by your self and no other Because although the two Earls upon the place have some such general words in their Commission yet your Grace only is named in the Prince's Proxie and now solely imployed by the King to that purpose Although I conceived this restraint to be fitter a great deal for the instructions then the Commission I am extream sorry to hear what a grievous fit his Majestie had this last night But I hope it is a farewel of the Agues and I pray God it be the last fit And now am an humble suitor again that I may come and look upon his Majestie resolved to say nothing but that which I will never cease to say God blesse him If your Grace holds it inconvenient I beseech your Grace to excuse me and to account me as I will ever be found Yours c. The Bishop of Lincoln to the Duke 7th of January 1625. Most Gratious Lord BEing come hither according unto the dutie of my place to do my best service for the preparation to the Coronation and to wait upon his Majestie for his Royal pleasure and direction therein I do most humbly beseech your Grace to crown so many of your Grace's former favours and to revive a Creature of your own struck dead onely with your displeasure but no other discontentment in the universal world by bringing of me to kisse his Majesties hand with whom I took leave
Accompts of his Revenue chiefly if they can as they mainly desire they will now dazle him in the beginning of his reign 10. King James and King Charles lastly are the Dukes Accusers my meaning is with all humble reverence to their Honours and Memories and to speak in the sence of the House of Commons both their Majesties are Conjuncta Persona in all the aspersions that are laid upon the Duke For instance The Parliaments money destined for the Wars spent in the Treaties Messages Embassadours and Entertainments of the Kings marriage and the burial of his Father and the War in the name of the Count Palatine the Breach of both the Treaties which then Canonized the Duke but now is made evidence against him the Honours and Offices conferred upon him by King James That his Majestie might with his own Councels direct their managing the setting forth of the Navy though to the Duke 's great charge by both their Commandments the Match with France and generally whatsoever hath not been successeful to mens expectations All these though the Acts of the Kings are imputed to the Duke who if he suffer for obeying his Soveraigns the next attempt will be to call the King to accompt for any thing he undertakes which doth not prosperously succeed as all men would desire it If it please his Majestie to remove and set aside all these disadvantages He shall find the Charge laid against the Duke will prove very empty and of small moment And for them if his Majestie and the Duke's Grace think it no impeachment to their Honors all that the Parliament hath objected against the Duke is pardoned at the Kings Coronation which benefit every poor Subject enjoyeth Three things onely excepted which may most easily be answered Mr. Ch. Th. to the Duke of Buckingham My Lord IT is intimated to your Lordship first that you would procure his Majestie to desire the Lords to choose six or so many as you shall think fit of whom they have most confidence to attend him to morrow morning to whom his Majestie may be pleased to declare That he hath endeavoured to divert the charges against your Lordship because his Majestie hath had sound knowledge and experience of the service and fidelity though in outward shew the contrarie might justly appear and because also he saw it was urged with a great deal of private spleen and perhaps not without some Papisticall device of troubling his Majesties businesse in Parliament but seeing no suite or perswasion could prevail to appease the distempered course his Majestie is now forced and so pleased to reveal some secrets and Arcana of State which otherwise in the wisedom of Kings were unfit to be opened Here his Majestie may let them know that the King his Father finding the Palatinate more then in danger to be lost and after his Majestie being in Spain and there deluded and his abode and return both unsafe It was a necessity of State to sweeten and content the Spaniards with a hope of any thing that might satisife and redeem those ingagements and therefore willed your Lordship to yield discreetlie to what you should find they most desired and this was chiefly the point of religion so as in this and all of the like kind your Lordship upon his Majesties knowledge was commanded and but the instrument trusted by your Master in this exigent or if you will extremitie And this with other more Potent overtures such as your Lordship best understands may Cancel all those objections of that nature Upon this same ground though not in so high a degree the sending of the ships to Rochel may be excused and this is not the least fault objected in the opinion of the wisest Touching the vast creation of Nobility his Majestie may ask those six Lords whereof perchance some of them may be concerned in this article whether they conceive any reason of King James his doing herein to which I suppose they will stand mute Then his Majestie may say I will tell you and therein discover a truth and a secret of State My Father who was born a King and had long experience of that Regiment especiallie more traversed in this point then perhaps ever any King found that this State inclined much to Popularitie a thing apparent universallie in all the Courts viz. in that of Star-chamber which was at first erected to restrain the insolence of Great men in great outrages but now for every pettie offence the meanest Tennant may be bold to call thither his Lord. A thing also appearing in the sawcie approaches of the Puritans upon the Bishops and plainely in the boldnesse of the house of Commons against the Kings pattents and edicts which in all good times out of their necessity have been powerful And especiallie this humour hath been comforted by the sturdie example of the Neighbour States of the Low-countries as in their insolencies in the East-Indies c. From this place an inticing voice hath sounded in our eares of libertie and freedom though indeed a feigned voyce and but in sound unsound I say when the king my Father had well beheld these things he could not foresee a remedie more proper or easier as being unserviceable and in his own gripe then to inlarge the number of his Nobles that these being dispersed into several Counties might as lambs of Soveraigntie in protection of their own degrees and at their own charge inure the people with respect and obedience to greatnesse and yet not to amate and discourage them he thought good to raise some neer or of their own rank whereby they might see themselves in possibility of the like honour if either by virtue wealth or honestie they make themselves worthie This I protest was a child of my Fathers best judgment in this poynt and the Duke but the instrument thereof And if you say that there was mony many times given for these Honours nay if you say that mony hath been given for places of Clergie and Judicature I pray take this of me that this is so in all other Countries as in France and Spain And those Councels seem a little to smile at our dulnesse that we have so lately apprehended their soundnesse herein for say they when men pay well for such places it is the best kind of security for their honesties especially when sayling in their dutie they shall be sure to be as much punished as they were advanced Howbeit I am not satisfied in this opinion And if it be said that the King should have had the mony which the Duke took to his own use I believe this last is more then any can prove neither will I deliver what I know therein Howsoever it matters not much being no popular disbursment Only this I will say that I know the Dukes particular service and affection to me and that he and his will lay down themselves and all they have at my Feet Neither is this bare opinion since the Duke alone
and vexations of my place I do most freely and willingly acknowledge one man cannot be more bound unto another then I am to your Lordship and if I do not make a thankful return let me be held an ungrateful Monster which is the worst of Villains I have been so ambitious as to desire to extend my gratitude so far as that the King may have cause to thank you for preferring me and that your Lordship may blesse the time you did it To effect that I shall delight to live a miserable life for a time The course which must of necessitie be held to do it I will acquaint your Lordship with very shortly which I hope you will be pleased to approve and assist me in And then I will expresse my thankfulnesse to you that way If that course shall not like you I will not onely deliver you up my places but whatsoever I hold from the King and live privately upon mine own estate For I will never fell so good and gracious a Master nor so noble and constant a friend ruined and undone God blesse you and send you your hearts desire As for my self I never desired to quit the World and all the fooleries in it till now Your Lordships Faithfullest servant and Kinsman Middlesex The Earl of Middlesex to his Majestie 26. April 1624. Sacred Majestie and my most gracious Master YOur goodnesse is such to me your oppressed servant in this my time of persecution as I know not how to expresse my thankfulnesse otherwise then by pouring forth my humble and heartie prayers to the great God of heaven and earth to grant your Majestie all happinesse here and everlasting happinesse hereafter Between 5. and 6. of the clock upon Saturday in the evening I received my Charge from the Lords assembled in Parliament with an Order by which I am commanded to make my appearance at the Bar upon Thursday next by 9. of the clock in the morning with my answer And in the mean time to examine my witnesses This Charge of mine hath been in preparing by examining of witnesses upon oath and otherwise 23. daies And hath been weighed by the Wisdom of both Houses and doth concern me so neerly in point of honour and faith to your Majestie to answer well as I value my life at nothing in comparison of it I may grieve though I will not complain of any thing my Lords shall be pleased to Command but do hope that upon a second consideration they will not think three daies a fitting time for me to make my Answer and to examine witnesses in a cause of such importance and so neerly concerning me when twenty three daies hath been spent almost from morning until night in preparing my Charge I know the House whose Judgment I shall never desire to wave is the proper place for me to move to be resolved herein and therefore shall upon Wednesday morning make my humble motion there to have 7. daies longer time as well to make my answer and appearance as to examine my witnesses which are many and upon several heads But because the Prince his Highnesse and many of the Principal Lords are now with your Majestie at VVindsor my most humble suit to your Majestie is That you would be pleased to move them on my behalf to yield me so much further time that my Cause may not suffer prejudice for want of time to make my just defence that which I have propounded being as moderate as is possible With my most humble and heartie prayer to Almightie God for continuance of your health with all happinesse I humbly kisse your Royal hands and will ever rest Your Majesties most humble c. Middelsex The Earl of Carlile to his Majestie 14. February 1623. May it please your most Excellent Majestie THough my present indisposition deprives me of the Honour to attend your Majestie with the rest of the Commissioners with whom your Majesty was pleased to associate me yet I most humbly beseech your Majestie to give me leave in all humility to represent unto your Majestie what my heart conceiveth to be most for your Majesties service in the present conjuncture of your affaires During this time of my distemper I have been visited by divers Gentlemen of quality who are Parliament-men none of those popular and plausible Oratours but solid and judicious good patriots who fear God and honour the King Out of their discourses I collect That there are three things which do chiefly trouble your people The first that for the subsidies granted the two last Parliaments they have received no retribution by any bills of Grace The second that some of their Burgesses were proceeded against after the Parliament were dissolved And the third that they misdoubt that when they shall have satisfied your Majesties demands and desires you will neverthelesse proceed to the conclusion of the Spanish match It would be too much importunity to trouble your Majestie with the several answers which I made to their objections and would be too great presumption in mee to advise your Majesties incomparable wisdome what should be fittest to be done for your Majesties honour and the contentment of the people yet if it would please my Lord the King to give his humblest Creature leave to give vent to the loyal fervour of his heart restlesse and indefatigable in continual meditation of his Gracious Masters honour and service I would thus with all humble submission explain my self That there is nothing which either the enemies of this State or the perverse industry of false-hearted servants could invent more mischievous then the misunderstanding which have grown between your Majestie and your people nothing that will more dishearten the envious Maligners of your Majesties felicity and incourage your true hearted friends and Servants then the removing of those false feares and jealousies which are meer imaginarie Phantasmes and bodies of ayr easily dissipated whensoever it shall please the sun of your Majestie to shew it self clearly in its native brightnesse lustre and goodnesse God and the World do know the scope and the end of all your Majesties pious affections and endeavours to have been no other then the setling of an universal peace in Christendom a felicity only proper for your Majesties time and only possible to be procured by your incomparable goodnesse and wisdom but since the malice of the Divel and deceitful men have crossed those fair wayes wherein your Majestie was proceeding abusing your trust and goodnesse as Innocencie and goodnesse are alwayes more easily betrayed then wilinesse and malice you must now cast about again and sail by another point of the compasse and I am confident your Majestie will more securely and easily attain your Noble and pious end though the way be different The meanes are briefly these three First let your Majesties enemies see that the Lion hath teeth and clawes 2. Next imbrace and invite a strict and sincere friendship and association with those whom neighbourhood and
swear it 121 Alpes when passable 186 Anchre Marshal of France 320 Archbishop of Canterbury shoots a Keeper by mischance 12. see tit James King c. for the Palsgraves accepting the Bohemian Crown 169 170 Archbishop of York against Toleration of Popery blames the Voyage into Spain 13 Argile Earl 291 Arminians chief in the Dutch State 322 Arundel Earl Marshal no friend to the Bishop of Lincoln 62 63 74 302 307 316. Ashley Sir Anthony gives the Duke of Buckingham intelligence of Plots against him 308 Aston Sir Walter will not consent that the Prince Palsgrave should be brought up in the Emperours Court 17 see Bristol Earl Concurs with the Earl of Bristol in prefixing a day for the Deposorio's without making certain the restitution of the Palatinate which is beynously taken by the Prince 35. in danger for it to be called off there 36 37. His Care to discover Plots against his Masters Crownes 49 51 53. of the Merchants 168. see Merchants Prosecutes the Marquesse of Ynoiosa in desence of the honour of England 52. sues to return home 52 54. will not see the Arch-Duke in Spain and why 166 Austrian Vsurpation 191. See tit Spain B. BAcon Viscount St. Albans Lord Chancellour declines all Justification of himself 5 6. Casts himself upon the Lords 6 Discontents the Marquesse of Buckingham 8. his wayes to make the Kingdom happy 9 advises King James concerning his revenues devises a book of his estate there-how he carried himself when a Councellour and otherwise how esteemed 10. Never took bribe to pervert Justice 11. his pardon 60 82 Barnevelt 318. factious no friend to the English an Arminian 331 Bavaria Duke offers to depend wholly on Spain 167. see Palatinate Beamont Lord fined in the Star-Chamber 16. E. 2. 58 Bergen besieged 328 Bergstrate given the Archbishop of Mentz 335 Blanvile the French Embassadour an enemy to the Duke of Buckingham holds intelligence with the Dukes English enemies 295. his Character by the French 300. See 274 296 297 302. Blundel Sir George 129 Book of Common Prayer translated into Spanish and why 73. See Spaniards Borgia Cardinal 178 Bovillon Duke 165. seeks the protection from the States united 320. weary of the Palsgrave 327 Brandenburgh Elector 317 336 Bret a Peusioner in disgrace 204 Bristol Earl first mover in the Spanish Match negotiates in it 16. Earnest to conclude it 24 25 26 306 â—hidden by the King Charles for giving the Spaniards hopes of his inclination to a change in Religion for his manage of things concerning the Match and undervaluing the Kingdome of England 16 17. Consents that the Prince Palsgrave shall be bred in the Emperors Court which the King Charles takes ill 17. Proffered by the King the favour of the general pardon or to put himself upon his tryal 18. Under restraint for his errours in Spain 19. removed from his offices forbidden the Court denyed his Parliament Writ there Justifies himself 19 20. to King James 30. Differs in opinion from the Duke of Buckingham concerning the Match 21. Seeks the Duke of Buckingham his favour 28. charged to be his enemy his wisdome and power at Court 161 162. Conde of Olivarez offers him a blank paper signed by the King bids him choose what was in his Masters power he refuses 42 Brule Peter his practises 302 Buckingham Duke his carriage and esteem in Spain 16 22. See Olivarez contemns the Earl of Bristol 21. See Bristol an enemy to him 231 The Spaniards will not put the Infanta into his hands 22 thought an enemy to the Match with Spain 32 92 159 218 219 222 237 243 248 Censured 159 160 218 219 221 222 263 210. Forgives wrongs 58 Steward of VVestminster 69 Haughty to the Prince of VVales 78 Used to sit when the Prince stood c. 221 falls from his affection to VVilliams Lord Keeper 87. See Don Francisco his power 91 King James his words of him on Don Francisco's relation 92 Mediates for the Earl of Suffolk 125 No audience of Embassadours without him 216. taxed to King James freely 218 219 220 221 223. defended 224 225 226 227. a faithful servant 229 Charge against him in Parliament 228 229 230 Procures graces for the Nobility and Gentry 231 Breaks the Spanish Designes and Party 265 for the Match with France 291 A Confederacy by Oath against him 307 308 The Queen of England had need of his friendship 303 Dares submit the judgment of his Actions to any tryal 87 Buckingham Countesse 254 302 Buckleugh Lord 327 329 Button Sir Thomas in the Voyage of Algier 143 144. C. CAlcedon a titulary Roman Bishop in England 81 Calvert Sir George 202. See 304. Carlile Earl Viscount Doncaster loves not the Bishop of Lincoln 74 89. See 180 182. perswades King James to feed his Parliament so he with some crums of the Crown 270. refuses See 288. Count Mansfelts Commission for Colonel to his son 273 Carlos Arch-Duke in Spain 165 Calderon Don Rodrigo Marquesse de las Siete Iglesias his Riches confined 208 Carleton Sir Dudley Embassadour in the Low-Countries 317. writes to reconcile Sir Horatio Vere and Sir Edward Cecyl 323. his prudence to reunite England and the States 331 332 Carone Sir Noel Embassador in England from the Low-Dutch 321-325 Cavendish 97 Cecyl Sir Edward General 128 345. sues for Command will save the King in Expences 128. a loser by his service 129. see 345. See Vere Sir Horatio Viscount Wimbledon commands in chief at Sea neglected malitiously accused examined 135 137 138 Charles Prince of Wales King of England after how entertained and honoured in Spain 14 15 16. Not to be shaken in Religion contrary to Conde Gondomar's Information to his Master 15. got the love of all men in Spain 16 22 159 Will not proceed in the Match without restitution of the Palatinate and Electoral dignity 17 35 36 Displeased with the Earl of Bristol for raising an opinion among the Spaniards of his willingnesse to become Roman Catholique and his offers of seducing that way 17 will not be bargained with for future favours 18. will not be drawn to things but freely 18 His affability patience constancy 22 his civil and wise Reply to the Popes Letter 215 No lover of women 237 Defends the Duke of Buckinghams actions as done out of politick Compliance for the Palatinate cause 228 229 230 will favour as he pleases will grant the Lords and Commons all things sair and honest 230 Ill used by delayes in Spain his Voyage thither censured 288 289 304 Chevereux Duke a servant of the Prince of Wales 277 278 230. See 300 301. Chichester Sir Arthur distrusted by the Duke 243 his conserence with the Embassadours of Spain 244 245 Chidley a Sea Captain 141 Churchman an homicide 12 55 56 Church of England Reformed 116 Church differences Judges of them 117 Clerk Edward 306 307 Cleves and Juliers the succession of them pretended to 317 Coborn a Captain of the Duke of Brunswick 283 Contracts ever before
Marriage where 106 107 Coke Sir Edward 104 122 Conde imprisoned 176 Conference betwixt Don Francisco and the Lord Keeper 86 87. betwixt Sir Arthur Chichester and the Spanish Embassadours 244. the Earl of Nithisdail and them 247 Confession of Don Pedro concerning the Armada of 88. 259 Conway Lord Secretary advises the Earl of Bristol 19 estranged from the Lord Keeper Lincoln 89 a Martial Secretary 198 enough the Dukes servant 316 Cordova Don Gonzales 328 329 Corona Regia See Libel Cottington Sir Francis 23 81 Councel Table of King James somewhat too much pressing upon the King 75 Courtenvant Marquesse 286 Coxe King Edward the sixt his Schoolmaster Master if Requests and Privie Councellour enters Orders 68 Cromwel Lord Counsels the Duke 263. D. DEnbigh Countesse 302 Denmark King his offers 190 191. Dispensation with a Lay man to hold care of soules cannot be 66 67 Dominican Fryer turns to the English Church 79 Don Francisco's Discourse to the Lord Keeper 86 87 90 91 92 93. His cunning to speak with King James 90. Accuses the Duke of Buckingham 90 91 Donato a Venetian Embassadour gives the lye to the Duke of Savoy an enemy to Paul the Father of Venice 187 banished once at Venice twice in England 192 Don Doctour 314. Presents the Duke with a book of devotions ibid. E. ELiot Sir John imprisoned 311 Elvis Sir Gervas his posterity restored in blood and estate 3 Most guilty of the death of Sir Thomas Overbury 3 Emperour Ferdinand the third deales unworthily with King James 166. and against his own Letter 234 changes the German Customes 171 his proceeding against the Palsgrave protested against 336 Elizabeth Queen of England her Speech to her Army at Tilbuty 260 Restrains the Papists and why 258 protects the Low-Countries and upon what termes 333 338 England alone happy in its Religion 112 inclined to popularity 228 229 not what it hath been 261 Episcopacy gone what will follow 117 Essex Earl commanded to fight the Spanish Ships le ts them escape 135 F. FEria Duke 168 Fiat Marquesse 293 302 288 Finch Lady created Viscountesse of Maidstone 79 Fleet of Spain 43 53 Plate-Fleet 48 49. part cast away 208 of Portugal 53. for Brasil 167 Of the Spaniards Venetians and Turks 186 207. of the Low-Countries for the West-Indies 341 346 Frenchman burnt in Spain for contempt to the host 51 Frenchmen use the English basely 149 their Contract for the English Ships 150 French King falls upon those of the Religion 164 177 France governed by the Queen Mother at the proposals of the Match with Madem which she is earnest for but will do nothing till the Treaty with Spain be broke 274 to 277. The French not much sollicitous for the English Recusants 275 284 285 Richnesse of their habits at a Masque in honour of the English 278 279 fear the Spanish greatnesse 281 desirous of the English alliance 282 283 287 articles of the Match disliked by the English 289 endeavour to break the Spanish Treaty 305 Give precedency to the English 254 G. GAbor Bethlem 335 Gage imployed about the Dispensation 233 238 Geere Sir Michael 135 Gerard Sir Thomas seized upon suspition of designes against the King 272 Gifford a Sea Captain his design upon a Gallion in the Gulph of Mexico 343 Gondomar his false relations of the Prince of Wales 15 Commanded again for England 54 Goodnesse ever most easily betrayed 270 Goring Sir George 96 200 330 316 339 Grandees of Spain severally present their King with summes of monies to relieve his wants 168 Grandmont French Mounsieur 285 Gregorie the 15. tempts the Prince of Wales to change Religion 212 213 tries to make the Duke of Buckingham 216 Greiham 316 Gresley ibid. Gelderland States have the leading voyce in the united Netherlands 323 Goring Sir George 200 Guicciardines Judgment of Venice 8 H. HAlberstat Christian Duke of Brunswick 240 Hamilton Marquesse 316 Hartford Earl's Petition 89 Harton Sir Christopher 226 Haughton Sir Gilbert complains of the Lord Keeper Williams his servants 74 Henderson Colonel slain at Bergen 328 Henderson Sir Francis 329 Henrietta Maria of France after Queen of England 253. beautiful discreet and full of respect to the Prince of Wales 270 277. See 278 290 sends privately for his picture 280 Herbert Lord of no faction his Informations to King James from France 304 305 Holland Earl Lord Kensington in France when the Treaty for the Match there was beginning for it 274 275 276 277 278 279. received by the French King 278. speaks to him concerning the Match 282. with the Queen Mother 289. with Madam 290. allowed at all times free entrance into the Louure 294 Howard Sir Robert 103 104. I. JAniville Prince for the Queen Mother 176. forwards the alliance with France 279 James King of England famous for wisedome mercy c. 7 Appoints Commissionere to inquire of the Archbishop of Canterburies Case 12. See Archbishop of Canterbury his promises to Williams Lord Keeper 56. Never breaks his word 77 Protectour of the Protestants 110 111 sought to to be declared Head and Protectour of that faith as the Spaniard would be taken to be of the Roman 305 Protectour of the Venetians owned so by them conservation of the publique tranquillity relyes upon him 179 180 Ayds the Savoyard joyns in the cause of Cleve 170 Promises not to draw his severity to Donato the Venetian Embassadour into example 192 sought to by the Spaniards to joyn against the Pyrates 207 writes to the Pope 211 aymes at the universal peace of Christendome 270 what a friend to the Low-Countries sleighted and ingratefully dealt with by them 331 The Germane Princes relye upon him 336 Infanta of Spain 15.16 21 22. her vertues and beauty she loved the Prince of Wales 26 her portion 27 Ingram 226 Inquisitor General presents a consulta to the Spanish King to procure a Jubile 51. See Jubile is the first who offere toward the Kings necessities 168 Joachim of Zealand 342 Irish raise aspersions in Spain of persecutions in England 15 practises of their Priests there 49 Isabella Clara Eugenia her Complement to the Bavarian 240. See 167 335 Jubilee from Rome to expiate for the Contempt done to the Host 51 Junto of Divines to consider of the Spanish Kings Oath by which he would undertake for the King of Englands performance of Articles 15 Jurisdiction Episcopal used in England without the Kings consent against Common Law 81 K. KEeper of the Seal where questionable 76 Killegrew 316 Kings Gods shadowes 12 yeelding to demands must deny nothing 227 L. LAken Nicholas his discoveries concerning Corona Regia 151 152 Lamb Dr. of Law favoured by the Bishop of Lincoln 56 62 Langrack Dutch Embassadour at Paris his advertisements of affaires 318 319 Landaffe Bishop sues for preferment troubled 119 120 Laud Bishop of St. Davids sues to be a Commissioner and why 113 Lawyers mischievous in Parliaments 226 Le grand professes service to the Prince of Wales 277 Laicester the Favourite
226. refuses to be Admiral for the Lord Stewards place 102. no man in Parliaments durst touch him 226 Letters of Mart against the Spaniard 344 Libel against King James by the Papists called Corona Regin 151 152 Liberty of a free Subject 19 a pretence 229 Of Kings invaded by the Spaniard 191 Of Westminster impeached by the Lord Steward and Earl Marshal 68 69 where Liherties are to be impleaded 69 Liege King of Spain raises a Fort there 279 Offered protection by the French King 283 Lievtenants of Counties chosen 76 Londoners deceive the King in his Customes undo all other Townes transport silver enemies to the Duke 226 Low-Countries offers of those States to Sir Edward Cecyl 130 their proceedings in affairs 317 to 320 how much bound to England 339 Jealous of the English their courses for Religion 321. carry themselves strangely to the English 331 apt to fall into faction 324 desire the King of England's protection 337 why they haste not to conclude 339 Send Embassadours into England to treat 342 Lude Count 285 Luines the great French Favourite 176 177. M. MAconel Sir James a fugitive Scot seeks to be entertained in Spain 209 Magnus of Zealand 317 Malecontents of King James and King Charles their Reigns 225 Mansel Sir Robert before Argier Commands against the Turks 140 141 142. Mansfelt Earl hates the house of Austria entertained by the Venetians how obedient to the Palsgrave 189. In the Low Countries 328 329 Maqued a Duke a Pyrate 166 Marriages of Princes of different Faiths in what manner 106 Marshal of England his office power c. once hereditary Marshal of the Kings house 63 64 Masques in France 278 279 Master of the Horse to the King 102 Mathewes Sir Tobie 251 252 253. Match with the Infanta of Spain the proceedings 15. See Infanta Many things yeelded to for it 236 The Portion and all the temporal Articles were settled 23 25 Difficulties in it from Rome and Spain 233 234 236 238 239. The Prexie 106 107 Betwixt the Priree of Wales and Madam of France 275-279 Concluded 292 53 agitated betwixt the Emperours Son and the Infanta Donna Maria 167 Isabella Clara Engenia moves for the Prince of Poland 167 Betwixt the Emperours Daughter and Palsgraves Son 170 171 Maurice of Nassaw Prince of Orange a blunt Prince 324 331 against the Novellists 321 322 would reconcile Sir Horatio Vere and Sir Edward Cecyl 323 he and the Prince Conde differ ibid. gives away Colonel Hyndersons Regiment contrary to an act of the States 329 desires the protection and friendship of King James 331 332 337 338 Melon seeds sent out of Italie to King James by Sir Henry Wotton 195 Merchants of England denyed the free entrance of their Commodities in Spain 46 47. the order of prohibition staid 52 168 ill used there 48 Michel Sir John sues injustly in Chancery 83 84 Middlesex Earl sues to the King for grace 203 fined 204 will not consent to any diminution of the Crown revenues 266 begs time for his defence 268 Modena Dutchesse 188 Mole an Englishman in the Inquisition concerning King James his Book for Allegiance 194 Montague after Bishop of Chichester imprisoned by the House of Commons who so he had nothing to do with him 115 Requires the Papists to prove certain questions 115 116 Three Bishops defend him 116 117 118. and his Pook Appello Caesarem so much desliked by the Puritanes 116. 118 Montgomery Earl taxed 27. See 302. Murray Schoolmaster to the Prince of Wales a Puritane preferred to be Provost of Eaton 66 67 68. N. NEcessity onely drives men to Sea 102 Newburgh Duke in Spain 165 166 shares in the Palatinate 335 Nithisdail Earl his Conference with the Spanish Embassadours 247 Nove Mounsieur 319 O. OFfice of the Originals 70 Ogle Sir John gives Extracts of the Duke and Embassadours Letters 137. See 322. Olivarez Conde the Favourite of Spain his and the Duke of Bucking hams farewell 16 his protestation to the Earl of Bristol 40 saves the Marquesse of Ynoiosa from the prosecution of Sir Walter Aston 52 his Rodomontade 289 The Condessa of Olivarez prayes for the Duke of Buckingham 33 Opinions of some in the Church dangerous 117 Ornano Colonel Monsteur of Orleans his Governour 286 Ossuna Duke Vice Roy of Naples counterfeits madnesse to cover his disloyalty 182 Threatens the Venetians because they would not be robbed by him 183 Confirmed in his Government avoids the Spanish trap 184 Oxford Earl 22 imprisoned 209 secks to the Duke of Buckingam but gallantly 312 P. PAlatinate of the Rhine cause of breach in the Spanish Match 17 35 38 234 235 307. mangled by the Emperour by guists 335 difficulties in the restitution of it 171 172 346 Ever beaten upon 245. 248 the upper settled on the Bavarian 335 Pardon of the Lord of St. Albans 60 Parma Duke 186. imprisons his bastard son 188 Parliament of England House of Commons no where before Henry the 1. thwart the King their priviledges graces of Kings 65 grown in the late Reigns tumultuous and licentious 224 private grudges made publick businesse 230 what men dangerous in Parliaments 215 See 226. Of Spain grant their King 60. Millions of Duckets which the Cities will not ratifie 45 Palsgrave a disperate enemy to the Emperour 172. promised restitution conditionally 241. content to submit 337 Passages betwixt the Keeper Lincoln and Don Francisco a Spaniard concerning Peace or war betwixt England and Spain upon breach of the Match 77 Paul the Father of Venice 187 Peckius 333 Peeres Judges in Parliament 6 Pennington Sir John 141. will not deliver up the Kings Ship for the French service 147 148 his advice concerning the Contract of the French for the use of some English Vessels 150 Persian Embassadour his suit to King James 12 Philibert of Savoy Viceroy of Sicily his good affection to King James 158 at Messina 182 dares not fight the Turkish Fleet which he finds too strong for him 186 Philipa Sir Robert 264 mediates with the Duke for the Earl of Bristol 265 Pirates of Algier 142 Of the Levant seek for pardon 156 formidable â—58 infest the Coasts of Spain 206 207 Popes their arts 172 Porcheres 301 303 Portland Earl See Weston Sir Richard Presents given on both sides in Spain 16 Prisoners in the Fleet and the damned in Hell compared by the Keeper Lincoln 65 Priviledges of Parliament 65 made a colour 227 Procession upon the Jubile in Spain by the King Queen c. 51 Proclamation concerning the signature of Bills 82 Protestants of all parts beholding to King James 110 111 Provost of Eaton hath cure of soules must be in Orders 66 67 Purbeck Lady so she much affects her husband 313 Complains highly of the Duke and his Family 313 314. Puritanes see Allegiance haters of the Gavernment begun in Parliaments fall upon the Councellours of State willing to clip the King 225 Putean had a hand in Corona Regia the Libel 152 Q. Queen of Bohemia her virtues
and acquaint the Kingdom with the undutifulnesse and obstinacy of the Commons 66 accused by the Lord Treasurer of making injust advantages of his place vindicates himself 71 72 74. forbidden the Court 78 Will not seal the Kings Patent of honour without knowledge of the Dukes good pleasure 79 against the Councel Table 75 Dislikes prohibiting execution of Statutes against the Papists 80 His advice to hang the titulary Bishop of Calcedon 81 Would have all honours and offices derived from the Duke 83 84 Is his vassal 85 100 101 103 Lives not but in the Dukes favour 107 Loves and hates as the Duke does 84 88 94 does equal Justice 83 Wants 85 Would not be over-topped 94 charged by the Duke to run Courses dangerous to his Countrey and to the cause of Religion betrayes the Duke esteemed by him a fire brand and not worthy of trust 87 88 his Reply 89 96. Writes unworthily of King James to the Duke 94 sues to the Duke for the Countesse of Southampton 96 Would have the Duke to be Lord Steward 101 102 Mercy with Sir Edward Coke 104 advises concerning the Proxies and Marriage with France 106 107 In disgrace the Seal taken away excuses himself to King Charles 108 suspected as a Malecontent and willing to imbroil 225 Wimbledon Viscount See Cecyl Sir Edward c. Wotton Sir Henry 193 194. sends rare Pictures to the Duke 195 Complains that after his long service his Embassage should be given another and himself left naked without any rewards or provision for his subsistance 196 197 too bashful 199 Wynwood Sir Ralph Embassadour in the Netherlands how contemned there 331. Y. YElverton Sir Henry 310 Ynoiosa Marquesse Embassadour in England his ill Offices here and false informations 40 41 50. endeavours to stain the Prince of Wales his honour 52. See Olivarez for the Duke of Bavaria 's pretences 167 Young Patrickl 94 Z. ZAnten Treatie 318 Zapara Cardinal Viceroy of Naples 188 Zutenstein of Utrecht 317 Books Printed for or to be sold by M. M. G. Bedell and T. Collins at their shop at the Middle Temple Gate in Fleetstreet EAdmeri Monachi Cantuariensis Historia Novorum Joannes Seldenis Notis in Folio Mare Clausum seu Dominio Mare Joannes Seldeni in solio The History of great Brittain from the first peopling of this Island to the Reign of King James by William Slayter with the Illustrations of John Selden Esq in Folio The History of Tythes in the payment of them the Lawes made for them and touching the Right of them by John Selden Esquire in Quarto Annales or a general Chronicle of England with an Appendix or Corrollary of the foundations of the Universities of England begun by John Stowe and continued to the year 1631. by Edm. Howe 's Gent. in folio A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Romans Government unto the Raign of King Charles Containing all passages of Church and State with all other observations proper for a Historie The second Edition enlarged with Marginal notes and large Tables by Sir Richard Baker Knight in Folio The History and Lives of the Kings of England from Wil. the Conqueror to the end of the Reign of K. Henry the eighth by Wil. Martyn Esq to which is added the Historie of K. Edward the sixt Q. Mary and Queen Elizabeth in Folio The History of the Reign of K. Henry the seventh written by the right Honourable Francis Lord Verulam Viscount St. Alban with a very useful and necessary Table annexed to it in folio The Life and Reign of K. Henry the Eight written by the Right Honourable Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury in folio Orlando Furioso in English Heroical verse by Sir John Harrington Knight now the third time revised and amended with the Addition of the Authors Epigrams in folio The Marrow of the French tongue containing rules for pronunciation an exact Grammer of the nine parts of speech and dialogues for Courtiers Citizens and Countrymen with varieties of Phrases Letters missive Proverbs c. So compiled that a mean capacity may in short time without help attain to the perfection of the Language by Mr. John Woodroephe in folio Pyrotechina or a discourse of artificial fire-works laying down the true grounds of that Art to which is annexed a treatise of Geometrie by John Babington student in the Mathematicks in folio A French-English Dictionary with another in English and French Compiled by Mr. Randal Cotgrave Whereunto are added the Animadversions and supplement of James Howel Esquire in Folio Annales veteris Testimenti à prima Mundi Origine deductis una cum Rerum Asiaticarium et Aegyptiacarum Chronico Jacobo Vsserio Armachana digestore in folio With the second Part now in presse in Latine in folio Devotionis Augustinianae Flammae or certain devout and learned Meditations upon several Festivals in the year written by the excellently accomplisht Gentleman VVilliam Austin of Lincolnes Inne Esquire in folio The Christian man or the Reparation of nature by grace written in French by John Francis Sennault and now Englished by H. Gresly Master of Arts and student of Christ Church in Oxford in quarto An Interpretation of the number 666 wherein not onely the manner how this number ought to be interpreted but it is also shewed that this number doth exactly describe that state of government to which all other Notes of Antichrist do agree by Francis Potter B.D. with Mr. Medes Judgment of this Treatise in quarto John Barclay his Argenis translated out of Latine into English the prose upon his Majesties command by Sir Robert le Gry's Knight and the verses by Thomas May Esquire with a Clavis annexed to it for the satisfaction of the Reader in Quarto The History of the Imperial state of the Grand Seigneurs their Habitations Lives Favourites Power Government and Tyranny to which is annexed the History of the Court of the King of China written in French and translated by Edward Grimston in quarto The state of France as it stood in the ninth year of this present Monarch Lewis the 14th written to a friend by J.E. in Duodecimo The Pourtract of the Politick Christian Favourite drawn from some of the Actions of the Lord Duke of St. Lucar by the Marquesse Virgillio Malvezzi to which is annexed Maximes of State and political observations on the same story of Count Olivarez D. of St. Lucar in Duodecimo The Prince written in French by Mounsiour Du Balzac now translated into English by Henry Gresly Master of Arts and Student of Christ Church in Oxford in Duodecimo The Life and Reign of King Edward the sixth with the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth both written by Sir John Hayward Knight Doctor of Law in Duodecimo Of Liberty and Servitude translated out of the French into the English tongue and dedicated to George Evelyn Esquire in duodecimo The new Planet no Planet or the earth no wandring Star Here out out of the principles of Divinity Philosophy c. the earths
to the Lord Keeper the Bishops of London Wynton Rochester St. Davids and Excester Sir Henry Hubbert Mr. Justice Dodderidge Sir Henry Martin and Dr. Steward or any six of them whereof the Lord Keeper the Bishops of London Wynton and St. Davids to be four IT is not unknown unto you what happened the last Summer to our trusty and welbeloved Councellour the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury who shooting at a Deer with a Crossebowe in Bramzil Park did with that shoot casually give the Keeper a wound whereof he dyed Which accident though it might have happened to any other man yet because his eminent rank and function in the Church hath as we are informed ministred occasion of some doubt as making the Cause different in his person in respect of the scandal as is supposed we being desirous as it is fit we should to be satisfied therein and reposing especial trust in your learnings and judgments have made choice of you to inform Us concerning the nature of this Cause and do therefore require you to take presently into your Considerations the Scandal that may arise thereupon and to certifie Us what in your Judgements the same may amount unto either to an irregularity or otherwise And lastly what means may be found for the redresse thereof if need be of all which points we shall expect to have your Reports with what diligence and expedition you may Dated at Theobalds Octob. 3d. 1621. The Archbishop of York to King James May it please your Majestie I Have been too long silent and am afraid that by silence I have neglected the duty of the place it hath pleased God to call me unto and your Majestie to place me in But now I humbly beseech that I may discharge my Conscience towards God and my dutie towards your Majestie And therefore I beseech you Sir to give me leave freely to deliver my self and then let it please your Majestie to do with me as you please Your Majestie hath propounded a Toleration of Religion I beseech you to take into your Consideration what your Act is and what the Consequence may be By your act you labour to set up that most damnable and heretical doctrine of the Church of Rome the Whore of Babylon How hateful will it be to God and grievous to your Subjects the true professours of the Gospel that your Majestie who hath often defended and learnedly written against those wicked heresies should now shew your self a Patron of those doctrines which your Pen hath told the world and your Conscience tells your self are superstitious idolatrous and detestable Also what you have done in sending the Prince without Consent of your Councel and the privitie and approbation of your People For although Sir you have a large interest in the Prince as the Son of your flesh yet have your People a greater as the Son of the Kingdom upon whom next after your Majestie are their eyes fixed and their Welfare defends And so slenderly is his going apprehended that believe Sir how ever his return may be safe yet the drawers of him unto that action so dangerous to himself so desperate to the Kingdome will not passe away unquestioned and unpunished Besides this Tolleration you endeavour to set up by your Proclamation it cannot be done without a Parliament unlesse your Majestie will let your Subjects see that you now take unto your self a libertie to throw down the Lawes of the Land at your pleasure What dreadful Consequence these things may draw after I beseech your Majestie to Consider And above all lest by this Tolleration and discountenance of the true profession of the Gospel wherewith God hath blessed us and under which this Kingdome hath flourished these many years your Majestie doth draw upon the Kingdom in general and your self in particular Gods heavy wrath and indignation Thus in discharge of my dutie to your Majestie and the place of my Calling I have taken the humble boldnesse to deliver my Conscience And now Sir Do with me what you please Next of all in order follow the Letters that passed between the King and his Agents about the Spanish Transactions The first Letter written per anonymum brings newes of the Princes arrival The Copy of a Letter sent from Spain concerning the Princes arrival there c. I Presume his Highnesse being now returned you may by Conference have such choice and free relations of his proceedings in Spain that I may well hold my Pen it being not priviledged with that freedom that the tongue is yet to comply with that constant obligation I purpose still to owe you I will write something and point at some passages where others perhaps may not so punctually inform you The Prince's coming hither seemed not so strange as acceptable and pleasing unto all The Common sort expressed it by extraordinary shouts and acclamations of joy offering and marrying the Infanta as it were presently by publique voice as having wonne and truly deserved her by so brave an adventure The King and State studied how to do him all the honour that might be The first decree that the Councel of State made was that at all occasions of meetings he should have the precedencie of the King That he should make entrie into the Palace in the form of State as the Kings of Spain do in the first day of their Coronation That he should have one of the chief Quarters of the Kings House for his lodgings one hundred of the Guard to attend him all the Councel to obey him as the Kings own person All prisoners were released the new Proclamation against excesse in apparel revoked and sundry other arguments of joy But a wonder lasteth not but for nine daies This universal joy was grounded upon hopes that the Prince came not onely to fetch a wife but also to make himself a Catholique Say you so The Pope incited him hereunto by Letters which his Nuntio delivered He sent a charge to the inquisitor general to use all possible diligence herein Many processions and shewes were made to stirre him But they soon saw how improbable it was to win him For which God be thanked how amongst all his servants there was not one Catholique about him what slight esteem they made of the Churches and Religion here some committing irreverent and scandalous actions in the Kings own Chappel so that they began to behold the English with an ill aspect to inveigh against the Conde de Gundomar that he should inform the King and State that the Prince had a disposition easie to be wrought upon to be made a Catholique Adde hereunto the ill offices that the Irish do who to preserve themselves in the Spanish pension did prejudice the businesse by casting aspersions upon the English the mis-information of the persecution in their Country and in England notwithstanding being here and the abuse of the Ambassadours servants in London When the Prince came there wanted nothing for the final consummation of
all things but the dispensation which came two moneths after And whereas it was expected to come absolute and full it came infringed with Cautions and limitations viz. That the Infanta should not be married till matters in England were in perfect execution that in case the King of England could not give sufficient security the King of Spain himself should swear and undertake the oath for him Hereupon a Junto of Divines was appointed to determine hereof Whether the King might do this with a safe Conscience or no. These Divines went gravely and tediously to work which put the Prince upon that impatiency that he was upon point of departure When at last the businesse came to a resolution and so the Match was publiquely declared The Prince had then often though publiquely accesse to the Infanta the King being still himself present and in hearing After this a Ratification was sent for from Rome but the Pope dying in the interim and the new Pope falling suddenly sick it could not be speedily procured For want of this Ratification there was no Contract made and the Prince himself seemed not to desire it A little before his departure the King and the Councel of State with the Patriarch of the Indies the Prince-Prelate after the Bishop of Toledo who is under age swore to all the Capitulations so that the Prince seemed to depart well satisfied The King brought him to the Escurial and a little before his departure the King and he went into a close Coach and had a large discourse together my Lord of Bristol being in another Coach hard by to interpret some hard words when he was called And so they parted with many tender demonstrations of love A Trophy of Marble is erected in the place where they parted Many rich Presents were given on both sides The Prince bestowed upon the Queen the biggest Crown Pearl in the world between two Diamonds He gave the Infanta a rope of Pearl and an anchor of great Diamonds with many other Jewels He hath been very bountiful to every one of the Kings house and all the Guard Never Prince parted with such an universal love of all He left every mouth filled with his Commendations every one reporting him to be a truly Noble discreet and well deserving Prince I write what I hear and know and that without passion for all he is the Prince of my Countrey My Lord of Buckingham at first was much esteemed but it lasted little his French garb with his stout hastinesse in negotiating and over-familiarity with the Prince was not liked Moreover the Councel of Spain took it ill that a green head should come with such a superintendent power to treat of an affair of such Consequence among so many grave Ministers of State to the prejudice of so able and well-deserving a Minister as my Lord of Bristol who laid the first stone of this building Hereupon his power was called in question and found imperfect in regard it was not confirmed by the Councel Thus the businesse began to gather ill bloud between Olivarez and him and grew so far out of square that unlesse there had been good heads to peece them together again all might have fallen quite off the hinges He did not take his leave of the Countesse of Olivarez and the farewel he took of the Conde himself was harsh for he told him he would be an everlasting servant to the King of Spain the Queen and the Infants and would endeavour to do the best offices he could for the concluding of this businesse and strengthening the amity between the two Kingdomes but for himself he had so far disobliged him that he could make no profession of friendship to him at all The Conde turned about and said he accepted of what he had spoken and so parted Since his Highnesse departure my Lord of Bristol negotiates closely he is daily at the Palace to attend the Infanta and he treats by means of the Countesse of Olivarez There is a new Junto appointed for the disposing of the Infanta's affairs and we hope here that all things will be ripe against the next Spring to bring her over And so I rest c. From Madrid 30. Septemb. 1623. His Majesties to the Earl of Bristol Jan. 21. 1625. VVEE have read your Letter addressed to us by Buckingham and We cannot but wonder that you should through forgetfulnesse make such a request to us of favour as if you stood eavenly capable of it when you know what your behaviour in Spain deserved of Us which you are to examine by the observations We made and know you will remember how at our first coming into Spain taking upon you to be so wise as to foresee our intentions to change our Religion you were so far from disswading us that you offered your service and secresie to concur in it and in many other open Conferences pressing to shew how convenient it was for us to be a Roman Catholique it being impossible in your opinion to do any great action otherwise how much wrong disadvantage and disservice you did to the Treaty and to the right and interest of our dear Brother and Sister and their Children what disadvantage inconvenience and hazard you intangled us in by your artifices putting off and delaying our return home The great estimation you made of that State and the vile price you set this Kingdome at still maintaining that we under colour of friendship to Spain did what was in our power against them which you said they knew very well And last of all your approving of those Conditions that our Nephew should be brought up in the Emperours Court to which Sir Walter Aston then said he durst not give his Consent for fear of his head you replying to him that without some such great action neither marriage nor peace could be had c. Lord Conway to the Earl of Bristol March 21. 1625. My Lord I Received a Letter from your Lordship dated the 4th of this month written in answer to a former which I directed to your Lordship by his Majesties Commandment This last Letter according to my duty I have shewed unto his Majestie who hath perused it and hath commanded me to write back this unto you again That he finds himself nothing satisfied therewith the question propounded to your Lordship from his Majestie was plain and clear Whether you did rather choose to sit still without being question'd for any errours past in your negotiation in Spain and enjoy the benefit of the late gratious pardon granted in Parliament whereof you may have the benefit or whether for the clearing of your innocency whereof your self your friends and your followers are so confident you will be contented to wave the advantage of that pardon and put your self into a legal way of examination for the tryal thereof His Majesties purpose hereby is not to prevent you of any favours the Law hath given but if your assurance be such as your words and letter
import he conceiveth it stands not with that publique and resolute profession of your integrity to decline your tryal His Majestie leaves the choyce to your self and requires from you a direct answer without Circumlocution or bargaining with him for future favours before hand But if you have a desire to make use of that pardon which cannot be denyed to you nor is it any way desired to be taken from you His Majestie expects that you should at least forbear to magnifie your service and out of the opinion of your own innocency cast an aspersion upon his Majesties Justice in not affording you that present fulnesse of liberty and favour which cannot be drawn from him but in his own good time and according to his own good pleasure Thus much I have in command to write unto your Lordship and to require your answer cleerly and plainly by this Messenger sent on purpose for it And so c. The E. of Bristol to the Lord Conway 4. March 1625. My Lord I Received your Letter of the 25. of February and therein a Commandment from his Majestie and in his Majesties name to make a cleer and plain answer Whether I desire or rest in the security I am now in and to acknowledge the gratious favour of his late Majestie and of his which now is who have been pleased not to question my actions c. Hereunto I have laboured exactly to obey but find that a plain and clear answer cannot possibly be made untill there be a cleer understanding of the thing propounded so that I may crave pardon if my answer be not so cleer as I could wish it for I must freely acknowledge that I no way understand what is meant by the security I am now in whether it be by the present estate I am now in or not If it be so I conceive a man cannot be under a harder Condition for your Lordship knoweth that by order my person is restrained and you were pleased lately to send me word that you would not advise me to make use of the liberty which his late Majestie had given me of coming to London although that were onely to follow my private affairs and for the recovery of my decayed health I stand likewise problbited to come to the Court or to the Kings presence I passe by my being removed from all my places and offices and wholly depending upon his Majesties royal pleasure But being a Peer of this Realm I have not onely by Commandment been formerly stayed from the Parliament but of late my writ hath been detained as though my honour were forfeited And this is truly the Condition I am now in but I cannot imagine that this is the security intended I should rest in but am in hope that the security intended is that I may for the future enjoy the liberty of a free Subject and the priviledges of a Peer of the Kingdom Which being so I shall with all humility acknowledge his Majesties grace and favour and be ready to serve him with all fidelity even to the laying down of my life not thinking it to stand with the duty of a Subject to presse his being questioned since such being the pleasure of his Soveraign it were not in the power of any subject to avoid it But in case his Majestie shall be pleased to bring me to any legal tryal I shall most willingly and dutifully submit my self thereunto and doubt not but my innocency in the end will be my best Mediatour for his Majesties future favour And in that Case I am a suitor that my Writ of Parliament as a Peer of this Realm may be sent unto me and that my present repair to London may not displease his Majestie As for the pardon of the 21. Reg. Jacobi which you mention I should renounce but that I know that the justest and most cautious man living may through ignorance or omission offend the Lawes so that as a Subject I shall not disclaim any benefit which cometh in the general as it doth usually to all other Subjects in the Kingdom But as for any Crime in particular that may trench upon my imployments in point of Loyalty fidelity or want of affection to the King or State I know my innocency to be such that I am confident I shall not need that pardon I shall conclude with a most humble suit unto your Lordship that out of your noblenesse and that friendship that hath been betwixt us you will use your best endeavours both with his Majestie and the Duke that this unfortunate businesse may be past over by the renewing whereof I can see little use that can be made but the adding to a mans misfortunes already sufficiently humbled For I am ready to do all that a man of honour and honestie may do but rather then to do any thing that may be prejudicial to me in that kind to suffer whatsoever it shall please God to send And so with the remembrance of my humble service unto your Lordship I recommend you unto Gods holy protection And rest Your Lordships humble servant Bristol Sherborn Lodge c. Here next follow the Letters of my Lord of Bristol concerning the businesse of the Match The E. of Bristol to the Lord Bishop of Lincoln Aug. 20. 1623. My very worthy Lord I Give you many thanks for your Letter of the 23d. of July by which I understand your great care of me by seconding a former motion it pleased your Lordship to make of having me reconciled to my Lord Dukes favour A thing which I have infinitely desired and have esteemed the good offices you have been pleased to do therein as a very high obligation your Lordship puts upon me But I conceive your Lordship will find that any motion you have made in that kind unto his Grace hath been despised rather then received with any thankfulnesse or that he hath returned you any answer of his inclination thereunto For the truth is my Lord doth look down upon my poor Condition with that scorn and contempt that I conjecture the very moving of any such thing especially under the term of reconciliation hath not been pleasing unto his Lordship But thereof your Lordship can make the best judgment by the answer you received from him I do but guesse thereat by what I have heard he hath been pleased to say and the manner wherewith he hath used me Which hath been such that the Spaniards themselves which most afflicted me have out of compassion pitied me Yet I may with much truth assure your Lordship that I have not omitted towards him either any respect or service that was fit for me to perform either towards his person or the high place he holdeth in my Masters favour or unto his present imployment well knowing how undecent and scandalous a thing it is for the Ministers of a Prince to run different wayes in a strange Court but have attended him in all his publique audience and used in all kinds
from five a clock in the morning to 10. or 12. at night are restlesse and endlesse but under earth and out of his Majesties sight What other men do or but seem to do it is ever before the Kings face and if his Majestie will not look on it if he hath eares about him he shall be told of it so often by the parties themselves that he must hear of it whether he will or no. And as my service by this remotenesse is hidden from the King so is it liable to be traduced to the King and my relief as in dispatching the motions of poor men by Petitions allowable to my orders made to be a Grievance to the Common Wealth But in all these fourteen dayes wherein by the voice of the City I have remained a prisoner in my house where is that one party grieved that hath troubled his Majestie with Complaints against me Onely my Lord Marshal hath dealt with my noble Lord Marquesse Hamilton my Lord of Carlile my Lord Treasurer as your Lordship may soon know by asking the question to make a faction to disgrace the poor Lord Keeper who never dreamt thereof Sir Gilbert Haughton hath complained to my Lord Treasurer of my men for taking Hugh Holland was by and heard him If your Lordship do but ask him his reason I think it will appear how well grounded their complaints be Upon those two former Anchors I will therefore rest and that so far from Cowardlinesse that I will either challenge them before his Majestie to make good their suggestions or else which I hold the greater valour of all and which I confesse I wanted before this check of your Lordships go on in my Course and scorn all these base and unworthy scandals as your Lordship shall direct me I have sent a Copy of a Letter of mine to my Lord Anan which his Majestie hath seen and given his assent it should not be kept private yet I would humbly crave your Lordships opinion thereof by Mr. Packer before any Copy goeth from me I am ever c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 12th Octob. 1622. My most Noble Lord I Will speak with the Jesuit to morrow and deliver him his admonition from the King but do send your Lordship here inclosed a Copie of the Conference which I procured from him without his privity onely to make his Majestie and your Lordship merrie I have also received a Letter concerning the French Embassador which I will be ready to put in execution as your Lordships servant and Deputy but not otherwise Yet your Lordship will give me out of that freedom which was wont to be well interpreted by your Lordship to let your Lordship understand that I find all businesses of restitution of ships and goods thus taken to have been handled before the Councel in Star-chamâ—â—â— all the reigns of Henry 7th and H. 8th without any contradiction of the Lord Admiral for the time being But this to your Lordship in secret I will be very careful of the Earl of Desmond that neither his cause nor your Lordships reputation shall suffer thereby And this is the account I can yet give of your Lordships Letter save that I humbly expect that answer which your Lordships own Luckie hand hath promised in the postscript of one of them I would ease your Lordship in this place but to prevent complaint that peradventure may be first invented and then presented Your Lordship shall heare of a long narrative of our Councel Table dispatches That passage of our letter which as it now goeth doth hope that his Majestie will spare to confer any suites of moment in Ireland until the return of the Irish Committee was a blunt request to the King to grant no suites there without our advice Against this concluded in my absence the first day of the Tearm I spake first to the Prince privately who allowed of my reasons then when the President would not mend it at the Table openly that I did utterly dislike we should tutour his Majesty how to grant suits especially in Letters that are to remain upon record My Lord of Cantuar and the Earle Marshal said they had many Presidents in that kind I answered I knew they had none but in the Kings time and that I wished them as I do all torn out of the book and cast into the fire I concealed my reasons which now I will reveal unto your Lordship because this is the third time I have expressed unto your Lordship under my hand my dislike of this kind of Limiting his Majestie otherwise then by word of mouth First if his Majestie which we see so often done shall dispose of these suites otherwise here are so many records remaining to malitious litious men to observe his Majesties aversenesse from following the advice of the Councel board Secondly if your Lordship shall procure any suit in this kind here are records also in time to come that you crosse and thwart the government of the Kingdom And I pray God this be but mine own jealousie The passage in the Letter with my Prating and his Highnesse help was altered and for fear of misreporting I make bold to relate the truth hereof to your Lordship My Lords proceeded very resolutely in those reformations which concerned other men The Commission of fees enables the Committees to call before them all the Judges as well as their under Officers which was more then the King exprest at Hampton Court amongst whom the Lord Keeper is one who from the Conquest to this day was never subjected to 〈◊〉 call of any power in the Kingdom but the King and the Parliament And although I have not one Pennie of Fee which hath not continued above one hundred years yet for the honour of the Prime place in the state though now disgraced by the contemptiblenesse of the Officer I am an humble suiter unto your Lordship that my Person may be exempted from the command of Sr. Edwin Sandys or indeed any man els besides the King my Master Otherwise I shall very patiently endure it but the King hereafter may dislike it The Justices of the Peace are also appointed but if the Judges and my-self be not utterly deceived to no purpose in the world nor service to his Majestie But when their Lordships came to surrender the under Leivtenantships to his Majesties hands whom the Lord President and I held fit to be created henceforward by several Commissions under the Great Seal it was stiffly opposed and stood upon that the King should name them in their Lordships Commissions onely according to a President in the late Queens time that is the King shall have the naming but they still the appointing of them And now it was pressed that his Majestie intended not to disgrace his Lords c and your Lordship is to have a Letter from Mr. Secretarie to know his Majesties mind herein If his Majestie shall not ordain them to be created by several Pattents it were
and my self to this effect 1. To grant a pardon of all offences past with a dispensation for those to come to all the Roman Catholiques obnoxious to any laws made against the Recusants 2. And then to issue forth two general Commands under the Great Seal the first to all the Judges and Justices of the Peace and the other to all Bishops Chancellours and Commissaries not to execute any Statute made against them Their general pardon we have passed and sent unto his Majestie from whence it is not returned in as full and ample manner as they could desire and pen it The other general and vast prohibition I prevailed with the rest of the Lords to stop as yet and gave in three dayes conference such reasons to the 2. Embassadors that although it is no easie matter to satifie the Caprichiousnesse of the Latter of them yet they were both content it should rest until the Infanta had been six Months in England My reason if it may please your Grace was this Although this general favour and connivence whereof there are 20. of the Prime Councel know nothing as yet must at last be known to all the Land yet is there a great difference between the publishing thereof A Golpe at one push as it were and that instilling of it into their knowledg by little and little by reason of favours done to particular Catholiques The former course might breed a general impression if not a mutinie This Letter will but loosen the tongues but of some few particulars who understand of their neighbours pardon and having vented their dislikes when they have not many to Sympathise with them they grow coole again so as his majestie afterwards may enlarge these favours without any danger at all Secondly to forbid Iudges against their oaths and Justices of the Peace sworn likewise to execute the law of the Land is a thing unpresidented in this Kingdom et Durus Sermo a very harsh and bitter pill to be digested upon a suddain and without some preparation But to grant a pardon even for a thing that is Malum in se and a dispensation with Penal Lawes in the profit whereof the King onely is interested is usual and full of presidents and examples And yet is this Letter onely tending to the safety the former but to the glory and insolencie of the Papists and the magnifying the service of the Embassadors ends too dearly purchased with the indangering of a tumult in three Kingdomes Thirdly and Lastly his Maiestie useth to speak to his Bishops Judges and Justices of the peace by his Chancelour or Keeper as your Grace well knoweth and by his Great Seal and I can signify his Majesties pleasure unto them with lesse noise and danger which I mean to do hereafter if the Embassadors shall presse it to this effect unlesse your Grace shall from his Highnesse or your own judgment direct otherwise That whereas his Majestie being at this time to mediate for favour to many Protestants in forraign parts with Princes of another religion and to sweeten the entertainment of the Princess into this Kingdom who is as yet a Roman Catholique doth hold a mitigation of the rigour of those lawes made against Râ—…nts to be a necessary inducement to both those purposes and hath therefore issued forth some pardons of Grace and favour to such Roman Catholiques of whose faithfulnesse and fidelity to the state he rests assured That therefore you the Lords Bishops Judges and Justices each of those to be written unto by themselves do take notice of this his Majesties pardon and dispensation with all such penal Lawes and demean your selves accordingly c. Thus have I been too tedious and troublesome unto your Grace and Crave your pardon therefore and some directions which you may cause Sir Francis Cottington or some other to write without your Graces trouble if there shall apeare any cause of alteration Doctor Bishop the new Bishop of Calcedon is come to London privately and I am much troubled thereabouts not knowing what to advise his Majestie in this posture as things stand at this present If you were shipped with the Infanta the onely Councel were to let the Judges proceed with them presently hang him out of the way and the King to Blame my Lord of Cantuar or my self for it But before you be shipped in such form and manner I dare not assent or Connive at such a course It is my gracious Lord a most insolent Part and an offence as I take it Against our common Law and not the statutes onely which are dispensed withall for an English man to take such a consecration without the Kings consent and especially to use any Episcopal Jurisdiction in this Kingdom without the royal assent and Bishops have been in this State put to their fine and ransom for doing so three hundred years ago I will cease to to be further troublesome and pray to Almighty God to blesse your Grace and in all humblenesse take my leave and rest c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke 14th of October 1621. My most Noble Lord I Humbly thank your Lordship for your most sweet and loving Letter which as Sir George Goring could not but observe hath much revived me drooâ—ing under the unusual weight of so many businesses Let God suffer me no longer to be then I shall be true plain faithful and affectionately respectful of your Lordship as being most bound unto your Lordship for these so many fruits but far more for the tree that bore them your love and affection If your Lordship shall not think it inconvenient I do beseech your Lordship to present this Petition inclosed either by word or writing unto his Majestie and to procure a speedy dispatch thereof because we are to meet on Thursday next Also to acquaint his Majestie that I stumble at the Proclamation now coming to the Seal against any that shall draw or present any bill for his Majesties signature besides those Clarks which usually draw them up by virtue of their places It is most prejudicial to my place the Lord Treasurer and the Judges itinerant who are often occasioned to draw up and present to his Majestie divers matters and especially pardons of Course It is also too strong a tie upon your Lordships hands being intended by his Majestie against Projectors and Scriveners only If it shall please his Majestie therefore to make an exception of the Lords of his Councel and Judges of Assize it may passe to the contentment of all men Mr. Attourney saith he meant this exception but I find it not sufficiently expressed in the Proclamation Also I humbly beseech your Lordship to meddle with no pardon for the Lord of St. Albons until I shall have the happinesse to confer with your Lordship the pardoning of his fine is much spoken against not for the matter for no man objects to that but for the manner which is full of knavery and a wicked president For by this assignation of
had been asked my opinion I should have advised it without the least haesitation His Majestie was so Popishly addicted at this time that to the incredible exhaustments of this Treasurie he was a most zealous interceder for some ease and refreshment to all the Protestants in Europe his own Dominions and Denmarks onely excepted Those of Swithland having lately provoked the Pole had no other hope of peace those of France of the exercise of their Religion those of the Palatinate and adjoyning Countries of the least connivencie to say their prayers then by the earnest mediation of our gracious Master And advised by the late Assembly of Parliament to insist a while longer in this milkie way of intercession and Treatie What a preposterous argument would this have been to desire those mighty Princes armed and victorious to grant some liberty and clemencie to the Protestants because himself did now imprison and execute the rigour of his lawes against the Roman Catholiques I must deal plainely with your Lordship Our viperous countrymen the English Jesuits in France to frustrate these Pious endeavours of his Majesties had many months before this favour granted retorted that argument upon us by writing a most malitious book which I have seen and read over to the French King inciting him and the three Estates to put all those statutes in execution against the Protestants in those parts which are here enacted and as they falsely informed severally executed upon the Papists I would therefore see the most subtile State-monger in the world chalk out a way for his Majestie to mediate for Grace and favour for the Protestants by executing at this time the severity of the Lawes upon the Papists And that this favour should mount to a Toleration is a most dull and yet a most divelish misconstruction A Toleration looks forward to the time to come This favour backward onely to the offences past If any Papist now set at liberty shall offend the lawes again the Justices may nay must recommit him and leave favour and mercy to the King to whom onely it properly belongeth Nay let those 2. writs directed to the Judges be as diligently perused by those rash Censures as they were by those grave and learned to whom his Majestie referred the penning of the same and they shall find that these Papists are no other-otherwise out of prison then with their shackles about their heels sufficient sureties and good recognisances to present themselves again at the next assises As therefore that Lacedemonian posed the Oracle of Apollo by asking his opinion of the bird which he grasped in his hand whether he were alive or dead so it is a matter yet controversed and undecided whether those Papists closed up and grasped in the hands of the law be still in prison or at libertie Their own demeanours and the successe of his Majesties negotiations are Oracles that must deside the same If the Lay-papists do wax insolent with this mercy insulting upon the Protestants and translating this favour from the person to the cause I am verily of opinion his Majestie will remand them to their former state and condition and renew his writ no more But if they shall use these graces modestly by admitting Conference with learned Preachers demeaning themselves neighbourly and peaceably praying for his Majestie and the prosperous successe of his pious endeavours and relieving him bountifully which they are as well able to do as any of his Subjects if he shall be forced and constrained to take his sword in hand then it cannot be denied but our Master is a Prince that hath as one said plus humanitatis penè quam hominis and will at that time leave to be merciful when he leaves to be himself In the mean while this argument fetcht from the Devils topicks which concludes a Concreto ad abstractum from a favour done to the English Papists that the King favoureth the Romish Religion is such a composition of follie and malice as is little deserved by that gracious Prince who by word writing exercise of Religion acts of Parliament late directions for catechizing and preaching and all professions and endeavours in the world hath demonstrated himself so resolved a Protestant God by his holy Spirit open the eyes of the people that these aierie representations of ungrounded fancies set aside they may clearly discern and see how by the goodnesse of God and the wisdom of their King this Island of all the Countries in Europe is the sole nest of peace and true Religion and the inhabitants thereof unhappie onely in this one thing that they never look up to heaven to give God thanks for so great a happinesse Lastly for mine own Letter to the Judges which did onely declare not operate the favour it was either much mis-penned or much misconstrued It recited four kinds of recusancies onely capable of his Majesties clemencie not so much to include these as to exclude many other crimes bearing amongst the Papists the name of Recusancies as using the function of a Romish Priest seducing the Kings liege people from the Religion established scandalizing and aspersing our King Church State or present Government All which offences being outward practises and no secret motions of the conscience are adjudged by the Lawes of England to be merely civil and political and excluded by my Letter from the benefit of those Writs which the bearer was imployed to deliver unto the Judges And thus I have given your Lordship a plain account of the carriage of this businesse and that the more suddenly that your Lordship might perceive it is not Aurea Fabula or prepared tale but a bare Narration which I have sent unto your Lordship I beseech your Lordship to let his Majestie know that the Letters to the Justices of Peace concerning those four heads recommended by his Majestie shall be sent away as fast as they can be exscribed I will trouble your Lordship no more at this time but shall rest ever Your Lordships servant and true friend Jo. Lincoln C. S. The Bishop of Menevensis to the Duke Dr. Laud. My most Gratious Lord I May not be absent and not write And since your Grace is pleased with the trouble I must professe my self much content with the performance of the dutie I am not unmindful of the last businesse your Grace committed to me but I have as yet done the lesse in it because I fell into a relaps of my infirmitie but I thank God I am once more free if I can look better to my self as I hope I shall My Lord I must become an humble suitor to your Grace I hear by good hand that my Lord of Canterbury intends shortly to renew the High Commission Now I am to acquaint your Grace that there is never a Bishop that lives about London left out of the Commission but my self and many that live quite absent are in and many inferiours to Bishops The Commission is a place of great experience for
order to proceed in their journey Twenty ships of war and 4000. land Souldiers which is the force of that Fleet being here held sufficient for that enterprize The Armado in Cadiz is not yet departed but hath her men aboard and there is daily expectation of newes that it is gone to Sea The Duke of Saxonie having received letters from the King our Master and the King of Denmark sent presently coppies of them unto the Emperour with his answers unto their Majesties and accompanied them with a letter of his own unto the Emperour All which the Emperour sent unto the King The carriage of the Duke is much esteemed here for having given as I am informed by his Letters unto the King our Master and the King of Denmark such an answer as they are here much satisfied withal Nothwithstanding in this Letter to the Emperour with many reasons and much instance he advises him to apply himself to the setling of the peace in Germany and expressing much affection to the composing of the affaires of the Prince Palatine doth earnestly intreat his Majestie not to destroy that ancient house In the mean time the Duke of Bavaria uses all diligence to combine himself with this Crown and now doth offer to cast off all other thoughts of leagues and to depend wholly upon Spain so that this King will protect him in his Electoral dignity and what he hath lately possessed himself of in those parts This offer of the Dukes hath been several dayes debated in Councel where the Marquesse Ynoiosa hath been busie in the behalf of the Duke but the wiser part of this Councel seeing how prejudicial the increase of the Dukes greatnesse may prove to the Empire do no way favour his pretentions They likewise hold fit to continue the state of things in a possibility of an accommodation without our Master The Arch-Duke Don Carlos hath brought power from the Emperour to proceed to the consummation of a marriage betwixt the Emperours son and the Infanta Donna Maria wherein he sayes he hath nothing to Capitulate but brings them a blanck paper and hath power and order to confirm what conditions they shall here set down The Emperour's Embassadour doth much presse to proceed to the Capitulations but there is yet nothing done The Infanta of Brussels hath lately written hither importing this King to admit of a treaty of marriage betwixt the Prince of Polonia and the Infanta his Sister extolling with many expressions the worth and parts of that Prince There hath been some moneths a general stop of their proceedings here in all suites of English Merchants depending in this Court but I have at last procured a Junto to be assigned for the hearing of all English Causes wherein I am promised there shall be a speedy Resolution taken of whatsoever is at present in Question The Duke of Feria hath lately advertised hither from Millain that the French King and the Duke of Savoy do minister much occasion of jealousie that they intend to attempt some novelty in those parts and doth therefore desire that his Troops may be augmented whereupon above the ordinary charge there was instantly remitted unto him 2000. Duckets The great annual Assiento which this King makes with the Genoueses is newly concluded it is for 7. millions whereof 4. are remitted for Flanders to be paid by monethly portions In a late meeting of the Councel of State upon a discourse that passed amongst them taking into consideration this Kings wants and the present distemper of his affairs the Inquisidor General expressing how necessary a time it was for his Majesties Subjects to assist his present occasions made offer of 100 Duckets for his part which the Conde of Olivares followed with a tender of 300 the Conde of Monterrey of 100 all the rest of the Councel of State following their example gave according to their quality Notice being taken of this abroad the Condestable wrote a Letter unto this King wherein he made tender of 200 Duckets the Marquesse of Castel Rodrigo of 100 the Marquesse of Carpio of the like summe Divers others have likewise declared themselves in this donative and it is hoped that it will go over the whole Kingdome and bring in an extraordinary Treasure into the Kings purse Thus with the remembrance of my duty I rest Your Graces c. W. A. Archbishop Abbots to Secretarie Nanton 12. Septemb. 1619. Good Mr. Secretarie I Have never more desired to be present at any Consultation then that which is this day to be handled for my heart and all my heart goeth with it But my Foot is worse then it was on Friday so that by advice of my Physitian I have sweat this whole night past and am directed to keep my bed this day But for the matter my humble advice is That there is no going back but a countenancing of it against all the world yea so far as with ringing of Bells and making of Bon-fires in London so soon as it shall be certainly understood that the Coronation is past I am satisfied in my Conscience that the Cause is just wherefore they have rejected that proud and bloody man and so much the rather because he hath taken a course to make that Kingdom not elective but to take it from the donation of another man And when God hath set up the Prince that is chosen to be a mark of honor through all Christendom to propagate his Gospel and to protect the oppressed I dare not for my part give advice but to follow where God leads It is a great honour to the King our Master that he hath such a Son whose virtues have made him thought fit to be made a King And me thinks I do in this and that of Hungary foresee the work of God that by piece and piece the Kings of the earth that gave their power unto the beast all the Word of God must be fulfilled shall now tear the Whore and make her desolate as St. John in his Revelation hath foretold I pray you therefore with all the spirits you have to put life into this businesse and let a return be made into Germany with speed and with comfort and let it really be prosecuted that it may appear to the World that we are awake when God in this sort calleth us If I had time to expresse it I could be very angry at the shuffling which was used toward my Lord of Doncaster and the slighting of his Embassage so which cannot but touch upon our Great Master who did send him and therefore I would never have a Noble Sonne forsaken for respect of them who truly aym at nothing but their own purposes Our striking in will comfort the Bohemiant will honour the Palsgrave will strengthen the Union will bring on the States of the Low Countries will stirre up the King of Denmark and will move his two uncles the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Bovillon to-together with Tremoville a rich Prince in France to
prisoner to old age Hide my follie from the eyes of Critiques And pardon my freedom that hath wearied you with a mind ever to remain Your Graces loving Grandchild and humble servant Tho. Brook Dr. Balcanquel to Secretarie Nanton 26. of March Right Honourable THe reason why I have not of late written to your Honour is the discontinuance of our Sessions of the Synod this great while but since my last unto your Honour we have thus spent our time The publique reading of all the Collegial judgments upon the 5. Articles was made an end of In which God be thanked for it there was a greater harmonie and consent then could almost be hoped for in such variety of learned men who did not know one of anothers judgment The onely difference was in the second Article After that the President never asking advice from the Synod took upon him to conceive and dictate the Canons himself to us but we who were sent by his Majestie conceiving that course to be altogether against the dignity of the Synod consulted with some of the Delegates who approved our Counsel and thought it fit that there should be some deputed by the Synod and joyned to the President for conceiving of the Canons that so whatsoever was done might be done by publique authority This motion did trouble the President not a little who hath all the Provincials at his beck and some of the forraign Divines too but especially the Palatines Yet there was a publique Synode called for this purpose where the President of the Delegates did make a speech desiring the Synode to depute some who joyned with the President and the Assessours might take pains for moulding of the Canons In the delivering of the voices most testified their dislike of this course and their singular respect to the Presidents Credit but Scultetus did by many reasons approve the course which the President had begun and disprove this new course which was suggested yet he taxed no man personally But Sibrandus when he came to deliver his voice like a mad-man did inveigh against those who were the suggesters of this change and said That strangers should not take upon them to prescribe what was good for the estate of their Church and that some others who had joyned in that were worthy to be noted Censurâ Ecclesiasticâ there in he aymed at the South Holland who did likewise much dislike the President his Course Sibrandus spake so furiously that both the Praeses Politicus and the Praeses Ecclesiasticus desired him either to hold his peace or else speak that which might not disturb the peace of the Synode Yet since it was the Delegates pleasure the whole Synode added to the President and the Assessours three forraign Divines viz. my Lord of Landuff Sculteâ—us and Deodatus 3. Provincials viz. Poliander Vallaeus and Triglandius who should mould and conceive the Canons upon every Article and then send a Copie of what they have done to every Colledge that they may adde power and change what they will the Colledges observations being considered by them and the Canons according to them amended they are to be returned to the Colledges and the Colledges to return them again and so to keep the course ever till there be no exceptions against them When they are thus agreed upon by all several Colledges they shall publiquely be concluded and approved by the Synode We are now hard at polishing the Canons which these Deputies send us All our trouble is in the second Article The most part of the Synode would cry us down with voices for the restriction of the general propositions in Scripture and the Confessions of the Reformed Churches concerning Christs death ad Solos Electos We stand for leaving them unexpounded and unrestricted as we found them and rejoyce exceedingly that the Directions which my Lord Embassadour sent us from his Majestie concerning this point agreeth so fully with our judgment subscribed with our hands given in to the Synode upon the second Article By this doing we first leave a sound and sufficient ground for preaching of the Gospel to all men Next we shun a great deal of offence which otherwise we must needs have given to the Lutheran Churches Thirdly we retain the same phrases and forms of speaking which those Fathers did who wrestled with the Polagians in the same point If this Article be well looked into I hope there shall moderation enough be observed in all the rest If it were not for the moderation of the forraign Divines we should have such Canons as I think have not been beard of for there is never a Provincial Minister here who hath delivered any rigid Proposition and hath been taxed by the Remonstrants for it but he would have that Proposition thrust into one Canon or another that so he may have something to shew for that which he hath said As soon as the Canons are agreed upon I shall by Gods grace with all expedition send them unto your Honour Our next work will be Verstius whose book they would censure without citation of himself The Prosident wrote to our Colledge in the Delegates name to know whether we thought it fit to have him personally cited but especially to know what we thought would be most agreeing to his Majesties mind To the latter concerning his Majesties mind we answered That we thought my Lord Embassadour could give them the best resolution for that point For the former we thought it would be evil taken If any man should be condemned not being first heard But because they that Vorstius would keep them as long as the Remonstrants had done We told them That we desired they would not suffer him to make any defences or explications of his blasphemous propositions but simply to answer per ita velnon whether he would plainly abjure them or not And so accordingly proceed against him and so we should make no great losse of time so I think he shall be personally cited This is all for we have had no Synodical meetings these 12. daies I can see no end of the Synode before Whitsontide With my best prayers for your Honours and the remembrance of all my faithful respects I take my leave And am Your Honours In all true observance and service Walter Balcanquel Sir William Beecher to his Majestie 4th of February Most Gracious Soveraign BEsides the relation of the apparance of change in the affairs of the Court wherewith my Dispatch to Mr. Secretarie Lake will acquaint your Majestie I thought it my duty to give you particular account that being yesterday with the Prince of Jain ville after some earnest protestations made to me of his desire to do your Majestie service falling into discourse of those occurrences he grew into these terms That the complaints of the Queen Mother were founded upon good reason that if she had offended the King or the State why did they not make her processe if she had not offended why should she not see
the King and her children that when the Queen fell upon these Complaints they thought to fright her by Pretending to bring forth the Prince of Conde but that the Queen had astonished them by telling them That she was so far from opposing as she desired the liberty of the Prince That the Queens friends would be glad of his liberty for that it could not be prejudicial but rather advantagious at the least it would be honourable for them if his liberty were wrought if not by their intercession at least by their occasion further he told me That he was confident that the Queen would not be gained by their fair words but would persist in her resolution Which discourse of his with some other advertisements doth perswade me that this matter hath a farther root and is likely to bring forth some great alteration here in no long time And I doubt not but that Monsieur de Luine will find with repentance how much better it had been for him to have furthered your Majesties advice for the delivery of the Prince whereby he might have acquired to the King a reputation of Justice and to himself an obligation of a powerful friend in the Prince rather then to leave him to the adventure of the changes that time may produce But if your Counsel did prove fruitlesse to them by their misconceit of it yet it doth and will every day prove more honourable to your Majestie who by your wisdom have foreseen and by your goodnesse have premonished all your neighbours of the mischiefs that threatned them Peradventure they may overcome this effort of the Queenes by fair words to her Person and threats signified afar off and continue the state of affairs in the same condition that now it is which is in few words extreamly Romish Jesuitish and by consequence Spanish Mounsieur de Luine seemeth to me a man in himself capable of reason and by the death of the Marshal d'Anchre eternally bound to be a good Patriot but that he applyes himself wholly to the Kings person and that distrusting his own judgment relies upon the judgment of the Ministers of the State and principally * Du Agen. Du Augen the Chancellour and the Gardeseaux They utterly neglect all the Alliances of our Religion abroad and care not how inconsiderately they oppresse it at home Onely they seem desirous to entertain themselves well with the King of Spain by the intervention of the Nunce and do think that no advantage which they can give the Spaniard by this proceeding in other parts can equal that which they pretend to receive at home by suppressing the State and doctrine of those of the Religion If they proceed long in this train it will undoubtedly breed mischievous designes which there is no so ready way to prevent as to let them generally perceive that they are discovered whereby the proceedings of the Ministers of State will grow so detestable to all those here that have any sense of the love of their Countrey that it will produce either a change of their persons or of their Councels But I do humbly submit the Censure hereof to your Majesties most exquisite judgment whom I do beseech the Almighty long to preserve in health and all perfect happinesse Your Majesties Most humble Subject and Loyal Servant Will. Beechor To King James abignoto Most wise and Glorious Prince BEcause the departure of your Majestie doth not permit me to hope for the honour of seeing you and that the advertisements and orders which I have to communicate unto you do merit your speedy review and magnanimous resolution I have presumed to trust them unto this paper which I do humbly desire may rest in the hands of your Majestie alone The treaty of restoring all that had been taken by Sea which by a motion from Spain was put into the hands of some Ministers in Rome is accompanied with so little hope of obtaining the end that was pretended that by reason of their continuing at Naples to dissipate and waste such goods as they had taken in our ships and the Cardinal Borgias reservednesse to promise any thing that negotiation may be held as vain and as an insidious invention to gain time Neverthelesse my Masters marching still with a constant desire of purchasing the publique tranquillity have been content to render all such vessels as they had taken within their Gulph in hope that having gotten the advantage of the cause by this honest proceeding they might prevail in which they had made at Naples for the restitution of their Galeasses and of the ship called Rosse But the actions and operations of the Spaniards do not answer unto what is desired and hoped For in the Kingdome of Sicilie Naples and Calabria they do muster new Souldiers and they make great preparations for a war by the Sea The subjects of those Kingdomes are taxed with extraordinary Contributions of mony and in daily councels held by the duke of Ossuna the Marquesse Santa Croce and other ministers they do consult of the meanes of making war and doing hurt But that which is most important is that in the conjuncture there is likewise in divers parts of Spain a terrible concourse of great provisions For they have put in a readinesse armour for 30000. men they have ingrossed all the ammunition that could be purchased and have put in good equipage 60. tall ships which being added unto those they have already in the Streights make 80. at Naples they have 20 ships more besides all their own Gallies and an order they have obtained for the Gallies of Malta Florence and the Pope to joyn with them All the Italian Souldiers are quartered along the Coast of Apulia which is opposite to our Gulphe and they have 14000. foot of Walloons French and Spaniards lodged within the Kingdom of Naples In Flanders at this present they make a new Leavie of 6000. foot and a 1000. horse And in the state of Millan they do retain still 3000. horse supernumeraries All which forces and provisions as they do deserve for their greatnesse to be regarded and looked upon with a jealous eye of every one so those who do suffer at the present many injuries and acts of hostility at the hands of the Spaniards and in particular the State of Venice which is betrayed by their fraudulent treaties cannot chuse but fear and doubt more then any other Neither can any pretences of enterprises or designs against the Turk secure those who set the sword bended against their breasts and the fire kindled in their own houses Whereupon your Majestie is humbly desired that you will be pleased to consider seriously of what hath been remonstrated and to take such a resolution as may best befit your wisdom and Greatnesse and the safety and indemnity of a State so observant of your Majesty as ours is and of a member so important of the liberty of Italie and of Europe There is not at this day Invincible Sir any
Prince in the whole world upon whom the Conservation of the publique tranquillity doth more rely then upon your Majestie For there being none that doth equal your Majestie in wisdom and experience possessing your Kingdomes in perfect peace quietnesse and plenty to the infinite praise of your name and being free from the molestation of all stormes and tempests it seemeth that the eyes of all men are turned towards your Majestie as towards a Sun that ought to clear the Skie and that they expect deliverance onely from your hand These resolutions oh most wise King will be the strongest walls upon which your eternity can be reared These will be the Jewels and the crown which will adorn you in earth and in Heaven These will be the immortal Glorie of your powerful name The resolutions in cases of such weight and danger ought to be magnanimous quick and powerful The very noise of your putting in order your royal Navie the sending a person of quality to the place from whence the danger is feared and the declaring your self in favour of those whom you shall find to have the right on their side may perhaps prove sufficient to procure a peace If words will not prevail deeds must follow and such a resolution will prove the true Antidote to all their poysons For the better effecting whereof the world doth attend with great devotion to see a good correspondencie renewed betwixt your Majestie and the French King and for the disposing your Majesties heart thereunto the State of Venice doth joyn her humble prayers unto the earnest intreaty of many others In the mean time I am to request your Majestie that you will be pleased to forbid the exportation of Artillerie ships and Marriners out of our Kingdomes for the service of the Spaniards it being neither just nor agreeable to your Majesties Piety that your Arms should be stayned with the blood of a State and Prince that hath no equal in love to your Royal Crown and that will ever testifie to all the world by effects of their observance the pure and sincere devotion that they have to your Glorious name For my own particular I humbly crave leave to kisse your royal hands Sir Isaac Wake to the Secretarie Right Honourable I Have safely received the Letter wherewith your Honour hath been pleased to favour me dated at Theobalds the 19th of July Stil Vet. and have to my singular comfort understood that you have been pleased not onely to give favourable acceptance unto such weak dispatches as I have made bold to addresse unto you but done me the honour likewise to acquaint his Majestie with the contents of them and to direct my proceedings in in this intricate businesse which instructions dictated by his Majesties wisedom this light will be sufficient to direct my steps in the middest of an Egyptian darknesse which doth not only obscure the Horizon of this Province where I reside but almost the whole face of Europe by reason of the great mists which are cast artificially in all mens eyes to cover the designs of those who do presume that they have in all places arbitrium Belliet Pacis I most humbly crave pardon of your Honour if you do not receive my answer so soon as perhaps you might expect For yours having stayed upon the way a month and a day did not come to my hands until the 20th of August Stil Vet. At which time it was brought unto me by Mr. Rowlandson whom I had dispatched into Germany to advertize those Princes of the motion made to the Duke of Savoy for the passage of Spanish forces through his State My Lord of Doncaster under whose Cover I received that Letter did not think fit to send it to me by an expresse messenger for fear of increasing the suspition of some in those parts who are jealous that his Majesty doth favour the Duke of Savoy more then they could wish And I must confesse that the same reason induced me likewise to send that Gentleman of the Duke of Savoy's into Germany rather then any servant of mine own for fear least allees and vennes of messagers betwixt my Lord of Doucaster and me in these doubtful times might so far injealous the contrary party as might prejudice the service of his Majestie in that Negotiation The instructions that your Honour hath been pleased to give me from his Majestie 52. c. the Duke of Sav. y. 93. a. the Bohemians 95 a. the Emperour Ferdinand 51. a. the King of England 97. a. Germany 99. a. the King of the Romans 71. c. the Agent of England 51. b. the Prince Palatine 52. b. the Marquesse Brandenbergh 54. b. the Marquesse Auspach 50. b. the Princes of the Union 56 b. Count Ernest Mansfelt concerning my treating with 52. c. in favour of 93. a. having reference unto the inclination of 95. a. to peace or the probability of defence to be made by 93. a. I held it more safe for me to govern my self by such informations of the state of those affairs as I have received from the favour of the 1. 32. 7. 5. 47. 48. 2. 10. 40. 45. of 51. a. in 97. a. And for the better justification of my proceedings I send your Honour here inclosed the Copie of his Letter unto me wherein you will see that I have no reason as yet to spend the name of 51. a. in favour of 93. a. nor to imbargue 52. c. in a businesse which may draw a great charge and envie upon himself and not much advantage the 93. a. I must confesse that the 50. b. in general and particularly the 54. b. and the 41. 45. 23. 34. 9. 12. of 5. 35. 22. 4. 30. 50. have represented the state of those affairs at this present unto 52. b. in a manner not onely different from the advertisements sent me but almost contrary and they do seem not only to be confident of the prevailing of 93. c. but likewise they continue to give hope that the 10. 51. 29. 15. of 48. 3. 59. 15. will concur with 51. b. and 52. b. in the 12. 30. 13. 9. 50. 27. 40. 35. of 99. a. But because I have reason to suspect that they make relation of those affairs rather as they wish they were then as they be indeed and that their intention to draw somewhat from 52. c. towards the succours of 93. a. I will forbear to joyn with them therein until I can have some better ground then their advertisements which may be thought to savour of partiality and I have reason to be backward therein because I know that 52. c. would presently take me eu mot and put to the account of 51. a. that which he is most willing to do of himself I do not affirm this out of conjecture but upon good ground for besides that he did signifie so much unto me at my return out of England I do know that within this fortnight he hath sent unto 56. b. 3000. 41. 24. 48. 49.
his Correspondence with the Popes Ministers as long as he doth live under the protection of his Majestie but when I understood that the Duke had lodged him in a prison with an intent to send him to Venice I was glad that I had so little to do with him and the Nuntio so much The Duke of Savoy doth assure himself that when his Majestie shall have perused this Letter of Signiour Donato's he will withdraw his countenance and protection from him and account him unworthy of any favour for having wronged in so high a degree a Prince that is so much a servant of his Majestie I may not likewise conceal from his Majesties knowledge that Signiour Donato hath not been wanting to ruine as far as he could Padre Paolo and Fulgentio in Venice two persons that have done his Majestie very long and faithful service as by an inclosed Paper your Honour may see which is an abstract of a Letter written from Fulgentio The Prince of Piedmont having made a posting voyage hither to receive his Fathers blessing before he bring his Lady in the Country I did present unto him his Majesties Letters of Congratulation whereunto he hath returned an answer which I send here inclosed So with my hearty prayers unto Almighty God for the preservation of his Majesties Person in all happinesse and prosperity in all humility I take leave And rest Your Honours Most faithfully to command Isaac Wake Turin 3 15 of Octob. 1619. Sir Isaac Wake to the Duke Right Honourable and my very singular good Lord IN these parts we have nothing of moment worthy the relating the storms which do vex our neighbours round about us keeping us here in calme and quiet as it were per antiperistasin Howsoever I am of opinion that we shall enter into the Dance either actively or passively before the next summer passe over All over Italy there doth raign a great dearth which did lately cause in Naples a dangerous Cullevation of the people against the Cardinal Zappata Vice-Roy who had somewhat to do to save himself from the fury of the Popolarzo In the State of Millan likewise some insurrections were beginning to be made in Novarra Allessandria and Cremona both for want of bread and for the insolencie of the Garrison Souldiers who having had no pay for many moneths did commit many violent excesses upon the people which did drive them into despair but those Commotions were appeased betimes and no great matter of Consideration hath ensued although there are some neighbour Princes who did stand aux Escoutes and would be ready to have acted a troublesome part if the scene had been ready The Duke of Parma hath imprisoned his natural son Don Octavie the mysterie whereof is not well known but it must needs be for some great matter because he did make shew to love him passionately The Infanta Isabella of Modena hath been in danger of her life by being surprized with a violent feaver neer the time of her child-birth from hence the Duke of Savoy sent his Physitians to help her and we hear now that she hath escaped that danger and is safely delivered of a daughter Count Mansfelt is grown formidable and doth daily increase in strength and reputation Although he hath hitherto intitled his armes unto the service of the King of Bohemia yet I believe he will neither disarm nor suspend his arms when he shall be commanded so to do by that King For being now intertained by the State of Venice with an honourable provision of 12000. Crowns per annum in peace during his life and the pay of 10000 Foot and 2000 horse in the time of War he will try what he can do for the infranchising of the Grisons when the affairs of the Palatinate shall be accommodated And if the Austriaci do not bend all their forces against him very speedily and break his Armie before it grow more strong he is like to give them a greater blow then they have had these many yeares That which he hath gotten already in Alsatia is much more worth then the lower Palatinate and although he hath hitherto made those people to swear Allegiance unto the King of Bohemia yet when the said King shall make his peace with the Emperour it may be doubted whether Count Mansfelt will resign up what he hath conquered and it is thought that he will either keep it for himself or intitle some other Prince thereunto The Austriaci were never so matched as with Count Mansfelt for he is a perpetual motion and doth not stand upon the defensive as others have done hitherto and lost by the bargain but he is alwaies setting upon them and doth make War at their cost let them take heed how they proceed with him for he who hath nothing to lose is ready to hazard the Paquet upon all occasions And if he do chance to overthrow them once in battel they will run danger or lose all that they have in Germany Let me in all humility beseech your Lordship to continue me in the honor of your good opinion and to favour me with your honourable protection especially with a good word to my Lord Treasurer for the sending me some relief without which I cannot possibly subsist having for want of my pay consumed all that I had in the world God Almighty increase upon your Lordship all happinesse and prosperity as is unfainedly wished unto you by him that is Your Lordships most humble obliged Creature and Servant Isaac Wake Turin 13 23. of Febr. 1621. Sir Isaac VVakes Proposition for the King of Denmark IT seemeth that the Glorie of this State which at all times was great doth shine brighter now adayes since that besides so many Neighbouring Kings and Princes whereof some are in a made league with us and some do keep a good correspondence and all a good intelligence with us Now the friendship of your Highnesse is sought by the mighty King of Denmark a monarch of those nations that in time past have left their remembrance of their prowesse in Italie France Spain and in whole Europe behind them This Great King of the Nâ—â—th who like a Second Atlas holds up the Artick-pole rich in treasure numerous in men dreadful for his invincible generosity and Courage doth here offer himself unto your Highnesse And acquainting you of his actions doth confidently promise you to stand firm and stout in the defence of the common cause if so be that he receive that assistance as he hath reason to expect from those that are interested in the same cause His Majestie of Denmark hath had from the King my Master as much as can be given and it is no small matter that his Majestie of great Brittain doth still continue the same assistance having withall still those great expences that are required for the surety of his Realmes and for the offence of the common enemie His Majestie of France hath also contributed to this good work somewhat and there is great
hope that he will bring forth in a short time some fit remedie against this evill The Lords States do as much as they are able And the Princes of Low Saxonie do not want in their duties There remaineth now that your Highnesse put also your powerful hand to this work and with a vigorous succour worthie of your great heart do incourage all the rest to continue their Emprese The two Kings are not ignorant of the great sincerity wherewith this most Excellent State doth observe the capitulations made with Allies of the league and that rather then to be wanting in things agreed upon you have surpassed in necessarie provisions for the advancement of the designs and that you have not been partakers nor agreers of the treaty made at Moncon But that you do continue to keep some forces in your Dominions and likewise some troops in the Valtoline for the effecting as much as is in you of what was first thought fit and of the agreement of the League And as that generous resolution and constancie of this State is never enough praised so there is great hope that you will not bring this same in the reckoning of the two Kings who never will misse to praise the wisdome and generositie of this State though not obliged for their particular for any thing whatsoever done till now either by the league in general or by whomsoever of the united in particular because that the league was made two years and more before his Majestie of great Brittain broke with Spain or that the King of Denmark had declared himself Since the time that these two Kings are come to the Dance your Highnesse hath not levied one man and the Forces which you do yet keep as they were not levied so are they not maintained in Contemplation of the two Kings but onely for the first reasons of the League The onely thing here sought for is to go with a common pace that those that are now too heavily laden may be supported by their friends either by way of diversion or by way of assistance And therefore your Highnesse and other Princes are now requested to help seeing there is small appearance of diversion And set the case that the Peace between Spain and France should be firm would it not turn against the Common Cause Italiae incendium ruina Germaniae extinguere To quench a little fire in Italy by the ruine of whole Germany In Chronical diseases Physitians do not so much respect the symptomes and accidents as they do the causes of the evil The Valtoline Palatinate Hussia Marchisat of Baden Dukedome of Brunswick and so many other Countries attempted and oppressed by the Spanish and Austrian usurpation are grievous and dangerous symptomes and accidents but the Cause and fewel of the evil remains yet in the ambitious bowels of the Spaniard who now with spread sailes goeth on towards the universal Monarchie unlesse there be applied betimes some fit remedies all topick remedies will do but little good The King of Denmark doth offer himself ready to apply such an issue whereby he may be brought back to terms of modestie and with the assistance he doth expect from your Highnesse and other interessed Princes he hopeth to bring his good intent to passe And being prodigal of his great Soul there is no doubt he will ever go back unlesse he be forsaken Thus there remains the Common liberty almost in your hands and if this most excellent Senate resolves to give ayd unto that King that libertie will be preserved If you do forsake him that will also be indangered yea lost I therefore beseech your Highnesse to ponder well this matter and to grant such an assistance as is requested by the King of Denmarks Embassadour Sir Henry Wootton to the Duk. My most Noble Lord I Will be bold by this opportunity to give his Majestie through your Lordships hands an accompt of a Command which I had from him at Theobalds about sounding how the Venetian Embassadour stood satisfied with the late determination touching his predecessour Donato I did visit the said Embassadour immediatly at my return from the King and saluted him as by expresse Commandment interjecting some words of mine own gladnesse that he had received contentment in this tender point which would signalize his beginnings This I said because in truth I had found him alwaies before the more passionate in it by some reflection upon himself His answer after due thanks for his Majesties gracious remembrance of him from abroad was That for his own part he was Contentissimo and had represented things home in the best manner He hoped likewise it would be well tasted there also though with some doubt because the State out of their own devotion towards his Majestie might form a confidence of expecting more I replyed that the King upon the matter if we consider disgrace had done more then themselves for he was but once banished at Venice and twice here viz. once from the Verge of the Court and secondly from London which was as much as could be done with preservation of National immunities and more then would have been done at the suit of any other Embassadour here resident or perhaps of any of their own hereafter if the like case shall occur For as I told him it was the Kings expresse will that his particular respect to the republique and to him in this businesse should not be drawn into examples With this point he was not a little pleased for his own glory and said that indeed Mr. Secretarie Nanton had told him so This was the summe of what passed between us omitting impertinencies Let me end my dear Lord as I am bound in all the use either of my pen or of my voice with an humble and hearty acknowledgment of my great obligations towards your Lordship which will make me resolve and in good faith unhappy till I can some way shew my self Your Lordships most thankful and faithful servant Henry Wootton 25th of January 1619. Sir Henry Wotton to the Duke My most honoured Lord and Patron THese poor lines will be presented unto your Lordship by my Nephew one of your obliged servants and withal some description as I have prayed him of my long infirmities which have cast me behind in many private and often interrupted even my publique Duties with which yet I do rather seek to excuse some other defects of service then my silence towards your Lordship For to importune your Lordship seldom with my pen is a choice in me and not a disease having resolved to live at what distance soever from your sight like one who had well studied before I came hither how secure they are whom you once vouchsafe any part of your love And indeed I am well confirmed therein by your own gracious lines for thereby I see that your Lordship had me in your meditation when I scant remembred my self In answer of which Letter after some respite from mine own evils I have
hath dibursed and stands engaged more for my affaires and the States then any Number of Noblemen of England whatsoever and therefore there is reason that from a King he would receive his own and more And now my Lords since I have thus far opened a Kings Cabinet unto you at least by the measure of this foot of answer you may discover what may be said concerning that great bodie and bulk of accusations of the Highest kind made against the Duke I desire you would take it to heart remembring that it is your King that speaketh this who therefore expects your service and love herein and who will requite the same assuredly hoping you will believe me indeed and do accordingly indeed and that you will also rest assured that my spirit is not so young though a young King as that I would bring this testimony in mine own wrong were not that I say true in my own knowledge And being so you also will grant that it is not for a King to use his Servant and Instrument as he doth his Horses which being by hard riding in his service foundred and lamed to turn them off to grasse or to the Cart. I must therefore in right of the King my Fathers Honour and my own protect a man though I have said justly seeming guiltie yet in mine own knowledge innocent and free as I have delivered it will you then deny the King to favour whom he please which the King hath never denyed you that are his subjects will you controle me your Head and Governor in things wherein your selves have taken liberty uncontroled would you that I should require accompt of your liberalitie nay of all your failings which are liable to my authority well commend me to my Lords and tell them that if any thing had been formerly done amisse by others I have power and will to redresse it and to prevent the like I speak it in the word of a King neither Lords nor Commons can desire of me any thing that is honest which I am not ready to give them Let not therefore the world by these mistakings make Table-talk any longer of your King and his negotiations nay of his secrets and necessities for alas what great wrong or indignity can the Glorie of the State receive then that the private grudges of subjects accusing to the ignorant when in their consciences they could excuse should be the businesse of our Parliament and that the King himself should be forced to appear as a partie No doubt this is a Cocatrice egge that craftie heads of our enemies seek to hatch whilest the weightie affaires that in present concern the Honour and welfare of the King and State and the peace of all Christendome are by us utterly neglected I end hoping your Lordship now privy to these things will be tender of your Soveraigns honour and will so satisfie and treat with the rest that those particular janglings may be by some other course and in some other place and time discussed and determined that so our minds and time may be employed in the care of better things which earnestly invoke our ayd at this instant Thus much spoken or written or the like for I seek but to awaken your Lordships higher spirit and invention I conceive it may get this effect That these 6. Lords won by these reasons and by other the Kings invitations may deliver to the House that for their parts they have received unexpected satisfaction in those greatest points of the accusation against your Lordship and of such secret nature as are not fit to be published without further deliberation Wherefore since it pleased their Lordships to have made choyce of them to be trusted in this imployment they have faithfully served accordingly and do upon their Honours freely and without any ingagement or respect protest the fame And therefore humbly desire their Lordships that they would intreat his Majestie to be President in advice with their Lordships What further were to be done in this private Contention betwixt your Lordship and the Lord Digbie which obtained something may then follow for your Lordships good by yeelding up that Cause into the Kings hands And his Majestie hath great reason to bend it that way because it is conceived that the Lords will be loath to admit the King to be supream Judge and Accuser which point will much touch his Majestie And his Majestie were better give some ease to the Lord Digbie then permit that dispute And now for my self I beseech your Lordship to pardon my strange boldnesse I know I am a mere stranger to you and if ever you have heard of me it must be as of a friend of such you then did not love I know it shewes me a medler in businesse or an insinuator which are suspitions that may distast you and make you suspect my pretences though they were not altogether witlesse I know this disadvantage and am in my own nature offended for putting my self thus into your notions But yet I resolved to undergo all this First because you made my Brother a Captain in Ireland who had otherwise perished Next for the favour you did to my Lord of Northumberland and the retiring of disfavour from my Lord of Sommerset And lastly for your firm hand that advanced the now Lord Treasurer To all which Lords I am familiarly known and bound But neerest to you your Lordship may hear of me from the Lord Treasurer I am confident of your Lordships noble interpretation since I seek no ends no acquaintance no other thanks being one that have no Court-suits to your Lordship but being one that loves not ruines which my friends have tasted nor that the publique should wrestle with a private Inturn of Spleen And I offer it but as a simplicity yet with good will enough for what can a man that is not privy to the Elements of State demonstrate any conclusion thereof yet I hear sometimes how the world goes as other men do I conceive I have said something to your Lordship and though perhaps short yet enough to occasion and stir up your deeper thoughts I also may have deeper but also I know that little pinnes of wood do sustain the whole building More I could have said touching the other points but these greatest elided the fall of the others may be easily directed What I have said against those objections I touched doth arise from grounds of truth and they must win and prevail and my conceit is fitted to the Kings part and to the occasions now on foot I humbly cease your Lordship further trouble and wish you all good desiring your Lordship also to pardon my tedious and hasty scribled hand Your Lordships unknown servant Ch. Th. Postscript YOur Lordship shall be pleased to take off some part of my boldnesse and impute it to the obligation and service I owe this worthy Lady the Bearer To Count Gondomar My Lord I Thought my hands bound that I could no sooner have
the speech they did demand of me whether I was come of my self or by Commission for they professed to account me their friend I answered that I came meerly of my self and was sorrie that by their own deserving they had procured such alterations and I thought strange of such demands as they had made at Hampton Court which did both expresse much spleen and lack of good intelligence They did avow their demands were reasonable but from that time they would make visits to the Duke and love him better then before because they were in doubt before but now they know him to be an Enemie I did answer that I was sorrie for their proceeding and was their friend so long as they were friends to my Master After a few haughty words such as it was a wrong waie to deal with their Master by threatnings who gave pay daily to 300000. Souldiers that they had followed the wars a long time and had seen men killed by the Cannon Musket Pike and sword but never saw men killed with words they desired me to speak to his Majestie that they might either be dismissed or have freedome to go about their businesse with security They did desire me likewise to speak to his Majestie that the treatie for the Palatinate might continue I did demand of them how these two things did agree both to threaten and intreat whereupon they passed upon me with odd complaints I went once more of late to give them a farwel I said they proved themselves good Servants to their Master in pressing to raise jealousies in this State but they were now too well known to do harm The Marquesse swore that by this time the Infanta had been here the Palatinate restored if the blame had not been on our Part. I did intreat I might be excused not to believe that I did ask whether they did not condemn their own judgments in accusing the Duke of Buckingham of that whereof he was cleared both by the King and State Their answer was He was cleared by those who were his confiderates all as guiltie as himself I demanded why they should still expresse their malice against the Duke of Buckingham Did they not think but our Prince was a man sensible of what injuries he had received their answer was if the Duke were out of the way the Prince would be well disposed They said farther his Highnesse was an obedient son before the Duke guided him but since he was not So that when we speak of his Majestie they speak with much respect but for the Prince did not use them kindly they did make the lesse accompt of him So after I took my leave and parted Nithisdail MUch I have omitted for brevitie wherein they did expresse much respect to his Majestie much of their threatning to the Duke of Buckingham The Lord Nithisdail to the Duke 22 June 1624. My most Noble Lord FInding matters at great uncertainty when I came hither I resolved to make farther tryal before I should part from hence What thanks is due to the Embassadours for their paineful and discreet Carriage can hardly be expressed Matters now being drawn to such a conformity which I confesse I thought impossibilities though withall I found much respect alwayes to the Prince with a sensible desire of the Match expressed both by the King and those I spake withal our Embassadours seem still to be discontent that all things are not remitted to our Masters verbal promise which though it may be assurance sufficient to all Catholiques who have the sence to consider that it must be our Masters and the Princes gracious disposition must be our safety more then either word or writ yet the writ being desired privately as they pretend merely to draw the Popes consent without the which nothing is to be finished the difference is not so great their Princely promise being given already What cause of jealousie the refusing hereof should procure you may consider besides my judgment failes me if a more easie way shall be assented unto upon this side If the Embassadours have bestirred themselves to get this out of the publique Articles I can bear witnesse Thus much I dare avow that neither time nor place have been omitted by them to do good though I must confesse what intelligence I had in the proceeding hath rather been from the French then from them Their Reasons as I conceive was their doubts that did bring me hither having neither Letters from the King the Prince nor your Grace Whereupon to remove these conceits I shewed them that I did onely take this in my way intending to go see the Jubilees wherewith though his Majestie nor the Prince neither yet your Grace were acquainted with at my parting you will be pleased to make my excuse I am infinitely beholding to the Embassadours noble Courtesie which I know hath proceeded from that relation which they know I have to you My Lord let the happinesse which shall come to the Prince by matching with such a Lady as I protest before God hath those perfections to my thinking can hardly be equalled be a means to hasten a happy Conclusion And let not matter of Ceremonie draw delayes where the substance is agreed upon So shall all that belong to our Master be made happy in general and you in particular for that love which they expresse here to your self Once more I humbly begg you will consider particularly upon each one of the Articles and I hope you shall not find such unreconcileable difference as an affected Puritan may pretend Whereupon if I have looked more with eyes of a Papist then was fitting it is my lack of judgment and not of zeal to my Masters Honour which of all carthly things shall be preferred Beseeching God to give a happy successe hereunto with a sound recovery of your own health I humbly take my leave Your Graces Faithful servant Nithisdail Dated at Compion Sir Tobie Mathew to the King of Spain DOn Tobea Mathei Cavallero Ynglesy Catholico Romano beseecheth your Catholique Majestie with all humility and reverence to give him leave to speak these few words unto you He understandeth that the Theologos have persisted precisely upon the Voto which they gave before and he findeth clearly that the Prince conceiveth that he can by no means submit himself thereunto with his Honour And besides my Lord the King hath expresly required him to return with all possible speed in case that Voto should not be qualified And it is certain that he will depart for England within very few daies And whosoever shall inform your Majestie that the Treatie of this marriage may be really kept on foot after the departure of the Prince upon these terms doth deceive your Majestie through the ignorance wherein he is of the State of England So that the Prince departing thus the Catholique Subjects of all my Lord the Kings Dominions are to be in lamentable case For although the Prince did yesterday vouchsafe to have
protection of the Low-countries They were of two sorts the first inherent in the Person of the Prince then being which died with her as some think the Quarrel being then between the Queen and King of Spain Philip the second which are said to be buried in their graves the other inherent in their estates which live with them and remain in the heart of the State of Spain against us whosoever is their King And this appeareth by a large Disputation of State had before the King of Spain and blab'd out by their Chronicler in many words wherein pro et contra two do argue The one who proves that the Netherlands their Rebels are first to be conquered that it may serve them as a rise to the Conquest of England and the reasons for that project The other who proves that the English are first to be conquered the supporters of those their Rebels and for a rise to the Empire of Christendome and the reasons for the project and specially for that it is more easie now for the disuse of armes in England for that England is not now that England which it hath been c. And the mean how they may win themselves into us by a Treatie of Marriage as Mariana blabs it out in general that which the Prince hath tryed and your Grace hath uttered in Parliament in special that Colloquia de Contractibus are with them Mera ludibria parata tantum Regum animis Ne noceant distinendis dum ea quae ipsi intendunt perficiantur Which Guicciardine also doth in general affirm That the Spaniards bring more things to passe by Treaties and subtilties then by force of Armes And that you may truly understand the full intention of the Spaniard to the state of this Kingdom and Church I would your Grace would read a notable Discourse of the late most Noble Earl of Essex made by the Commandment of Queen Elizabeth and debated before her Majestie and her Councel concerning this point Whether Peace or War was to be treated with Spain The Lord Buckhurst speaking for a Treatie of Peace to the which the Noble Queen and her old Lord Treasurer inclined The Earl speaking for War because no safe peace could be made with that State for 3. special Reasons which are in that Treatise set down at large which is not fit for me yet to deliver by writing but there you shall find them Your Grace may have the book of divers Noblemen your friends If you have it not if I may understand your pleasure I will get it for you It was of that effect that it brought the Queen and Treasurer contrary to their purpose to his side for the very necessity of the common safetie Your Lordship having angred them and endeared your self to us you had need to look to your self you are as odious to them as ever the Earl of Essex was The Jesuite Walpool set on one of the stable Squire one well affected to my Lord to poyson the rests of his Chair And seeing they strike at the Ministers which deal effectually for his Church witnesse worthy Doctor White what will they do to such Pillars of State as you are The Lord preserve your Grace and watch over you And thus I rest Your Grace his most humble at Commandment Leonel Sharp The Lord Cromwell to the Duke 8. Septemb. 1625. May it please your Grace I Am now returned from mine own home and am here at Fulham neer Mr. Burlemachi making my self ready to attend your Command in the best manner my poor fortunes will give me leave and with what speed I may Some things I have sent to Plymouth and some Gentlemen so as when I come there I hope to find that your Lordship hath appointed me a good sailing ship and one that shall be able to play her part with the best and proudest enemy that dare look danger in the face Though your Grace hath placed a Noble Gentleman in the Regiment was intended to my Lord of Essex yet I will not despair of your favour or that you will not give me some taste of it as well as to any other I will study to be a deserving Creature and whether you will please to look on me with an affectionate eye or no I will love honour and serve you with no lesse truth and faith then those you have most obliged What concerns me I will not here speak of for fear I offend My prayers shall ever attend you and my curses those that wish you worse then their own soules Divers I do meet that say your Grace hath parted with your place of the Mastership of the Horse which makes the world suspect that some disfavour your Lordship is growing into And that this prime feather of yours being lost or parted with be it as it will it will not be long ere the rest follow They offer to lay wagers the Fleet goes not this year and that of necessitie shortly a Parliament must be which when it comes sure it will much discontent you It is wondered at that since the King did give such great gifts to the Dutchesse of Chevereux and those that then went how now a small summe in the Parliament should be called for at such an unseasonable time And let the Parliament sit when it will begin they will where they ended They say the best Lords of the Councel knew nothing of Count Mansfelts journey or this Fleet which discontents even the best sort if not all They say it is a very great burthen your Grace takes upon you since none knowes any thing but you It is conceived that not letting others bears part of the burthen you now bear it may ruine you which heaven forbid Much discourse there is of your Lordship here and there as I passed home and back and nothing is more wondered at then that one Grave man is not known to have your Ear except my good and Noble Lord Conway All men say if you go not with the Fleet you will suffer in it because if it prosper it will be thought no act of yours and if it succeed ill they say it might have been better had not you guided the King They say your undertakings in the Kingdom and your Engagements for the Kingdome will much prejudice your Grace And if God blesse you not with goodnesse as to accept kindly what in dutie and love I here offer questionlesse my freedom in letting you know the discourse of the world may much prejudice me But if I must lose your favour I had rather lose it for striving to do you good in letting you know the talk of the wicked world then for any thing else so much I heartily desire your prosperitie and to see you trample the ignorant multitude under foot All I have said is the discourse of the world and when I am able to judge of your actions I will freely tell your Lordship my mind Which when it shall not be alwaies really inclined to serve
your Lordship this further assurance that no particular interest or consideration of mine own shall have power to alter my constant course of serving my gracious Master faithfully and industriously And so humbly submitting all to his Majesties good pleasure and your Lordships wisdom I remain eternally Your Graces most faithful friend and humble servant Carlile Postscript I Most humbly beseech your Lordship that this unfortunate Complement put upon my son may be no prejudice to the deserts of Sir James Ramsey The Lord Kensington to the Duke My Noblest Lord I Find the Queen Mother hath the onely power of governing in this State and I am glad to find it so since she promises and professes to use it to do careful and good offices in the way of increasing the friendship that is between us and this State and likewise to relieve and assist the united provinces the which they are preparing to do fullie and bravely for she hath now a clear sight of the pretentions of the King of Spain unto the Monarchie of Christendom during the absence of the King who went out of this town earlie the next day after I arrived here before I was prepared to attend him I have been often at the Lonure where I had the honour to entertain the Queen Mother She was willing to know upon what terms stood our Spanish alliance I told her that their delayes had been so tedious that they had somewhat discouraged the King and had so wearied the Prince and State which the dilatorie proceedings in it as that Treatie I thought would soon have an end She streight said of marriage taking it that way I told her I believed the contrarie and I did so the rather because the Spanish Embassad our hath given it out since my comming that the Alliance is fully concluded and that my journey had no other end then to hasten his Master unto it only to give them Jealousies of me because he at this time feares their dispositions stand too well prepared to desire and affect a conjunction with us And truly his report and instruments have given some jealousies to the persons of power in this State especially since they find I can say nothing directly unto them yet thus much I have directly from them Mounsieur de Vievielle and others but he is the chief guider of all affaires here That never was the affection of any State so prepared to accept all offers of amitie and alliance so we will cleerly and as disingaged persons seek it as is this but as a wise minister he saies that until we have whollie and truly abandoned the treatie with Spaiu they may lose the friendship of a brother in law that is alreadie so in hope of gaining another that they may fail of But when we shall see it reallie by a publique Commission that may declare all dissolved that touches upon the way of Spain we shall then understand their hearts not to be capable of more joy then that will bring them And the Queen Mother told me she had not lost those inclinations that she hath heretofore expressed to desire her Daughter may be given to the Prince with many words of value unto the King and person of the Prince and more then this she could not she thought well say it being most natural for the woman to be demanded and sought It is most certain that under-hand Spain hath done all that is possible to procure this State to listen to a crosse-marriage but here they are now so well understood as this baite will not be swallowed by them This I have from a grave and honest man that would not be brought to justifie it therefore he must not hear of it It is the Savoy Embassadour that is resident here a wise and a Gallant Gentleman who vowes this to be most true So general a desire was never expressed as is here for alliance with us and if the King and Prince have as many reasons of State at this time besides their infinite affection here to have it so continued let it be roundly and clearly pursued and then I dare promise as respective and satisfactorie a reception as can be imagined or desired And if it were not too much saucinesse for me to advise I could wish that the propositions of a league and marriage may not come together but may be treated apart For I doubt whether it may not be thought a little dishonourable for this King to give his sister conditionallie that if he will make war upon the King of Spain his brother we will make the alliance with him on the other part if the league should be propounded here with all those reasons of State that are now pressing for them to make it they have causes to doubt and so have we too that we may both be interrupted in that for certainly the King of Spain will if he can possibly please one side the which they think here may be us with the restitution of the Palatinate and we may likewise fear may be them with the rendring of the Valtoline these being the only open quarrels we must ground upon Now as long as these doubts may possesse us both this will prove a tedious and jealous work of both sides But if we fall speedily upon a treatie and conclusion of a marriage the which will find I am perswaded no long delayes here neither will they strain us to any unreasonablenesse in conditions for our Catholiques as far as I can find then will it be a fit time for to conclude a league the which they will then for certain do when all doubts and feares of fallings off are by this conjunction taken away and the necessity of their own affaires and safety will then make them more desire it then we and so would they now if they could think it so sure and so honourable for them For the King of Spain hath so imbraced them of all sides as they fear and justly that he will one day crush them to their destruction My Lord I do not presume to say any thing immediately to the King thorough your hands this I know will passe unto him and if he should find any weaknesse in this that I have presumed to say let the strength of your favour exercise those accustomed Noblenesses that you have alwayes expressed unto Your Graces most humble and obliged Servant Kensington Postscript VVIthin these few dayes your Grace shall hear again from me for as yet I have not seen the King no otherwise then the first night I arrived here This night he is come unto the Town again The Lord Kensington to the Prince 26. February 1624. May it please your Highnesse I Find here so infinite a value of your Person and virtue as what Instrument so ever my self the very weakest having some commands as they imagine from you shall receive excesse of honours from them They will not conceive me scarce receive me but as a publique Instrument for the service
professed he would cut my throat if he could Nay were any Prince of Savoy Mantova or Germany here in person to sollicit for themselves in the like nature he would hazard his life in the cause Such is the language that despaire brings forth which put me into an expectation of no lesse then a challenge to decide the quarrel And I once verily believed it sent for the Count de Lude came very so berly to me and told me he had a message to deliver me from a great Personage which he intreated he might do without offence I desired him to speak freely what it was and from whom He told me he was sent by the Count of Soissons and I presently replyed that nothing should come amisse from him In conclusion the errand was to signifie an extream liking that the Count took to one of my Horses which he was desirous to buy of me upon any rate I answered that if the Count would expresse to me his desire himself and receive him of guift he should be at his service otherwise he should remain still as he was Since that I have met him been prevented with a very courteous salute from him I have been thus ample in these particular passages betwixt the Count and my self that by the trouble you find in his disconsolate breast you may judge of the constancie of Madams heart towards our Prince upon whom assuredly it is most strongly set as she continually expresses upon all occasions Yesterday I had the honour to entertain her two hours together and received so many testimonies of respect as witnessed very warm affections towards the Personage I did represent Amongst other discourse She fell to speak of Ladies riding on horseback which she said was rare here but frequent in England and then expressed her delight in that exercise There is lately arrived here a French Genleman Duport by name with commission from the King of Bohemia to sollicit this Kings favour in consequence of his Majesties generous and Gracious declaration in his behalf for the recovering of his rightful inheritance to intreat that Baviers may no wayes be countenanced in his unjust pretensions and to crave in this his extreamity a reimbursement of the remainder of that sum which his father lent to Henry the fourth in the times of his necessities which may arise to the sum of 30000 Crownes the facilitating of this negotiation is recommended unto me who contribute what I can to the good successe thereof There hath happened here this last Munday a dispute between the Marquis de Courtenvant one of the first Gentlemen of the Kings Chamber and the Colonel de Ornano Mounseiurs Governour about a lodging which this pretended unto as most convenient for him in regard that it adjoyned to that of Mounseiurs but the other claimed a right unto it by a former assignation and possession Ornano at the first prevailed till the other complained to the King who commanded the Colonel to quit the lodging to him which his people refusing out of a presumption perhaps that the commandement was rather formal then real the King sent 3. or 4. of his guard to reiterate the commandement and in case of refusal to obey to cast out all the stuff and to kill all such as should oppose Thus Courtenvant got the day perhaps by Vievilles recommendation in opposition of Toirax between whom there hath been lately a little contestation upon this occasion Vieville being desirous to strengthen himself and to stand upon the surest bottom he could endeavoured to joyn a confident of his in equal commission with the Garde des Seaux that so he might in time work it out and prevail himself of that office at his devotion The Garde des Seaux finding feeble resistance in himself addressed his course to Toirax to seek under his Covert shelter from that disgrace and injurie Toirax undertakes his defence Vieville expostulates the matter with him and alleadges many reasons to justifie his intentions which the other gainesaying with some little warmnesse hath occasioned by that heat a coldnesse of affection between them ever since and that so far forth as it hath grown to be notorious To the same original I reduce the Cardinal de Richlieus introduction into the Councel of the Cabinet by the favour of Vieville being made also an Instrument thereunto by the Queen that by making his own partie strong in Councel he may the more easily crush any adversarie that shall grapple with him Yesterday he was admitted so that now that Councel is composed of the Queen Mother the Cardinal de la Rouch-foulcant Richlieu the Constable Vieville and the Garde des Seaux Before I had finished this Letter I had occasion to visit the Constable to whom I used the same language that formerly I had done to la Vieville and with the like approbation And when I touched upon the point of dispensation how it might be passed over he assured me in general that such was the disposition of this King and State to give the Prince content as he might be in a manner his own Carver how he pleased This is the account I can give you of the publique but how shall I expresse the deep sense I have of my obligations to your favour in particular shall I multiply in thanks It is too ordinary a payment for so many Noble expressions of your love I will rather endeavour by my deeds constantly and continually to witnesse unto you that I intirely rest Your most faithful and most Humble Servant Kensington The Lord Kensington to the Duke My most dear and Noble Lord BEsides that joynt Letter to your Lordship from my Colleague and my self I think fit to add this particular account of what passed yesterday at Ruel betwixt Queen Mother and me whither going to give her double thanks as for the libertie she had given me of accesse at all times to Madam to entertain her henceforth with a more free and amorous kind of language from the Prince so for having so readily condescended to an humble suit of mine in the behalf of my Lord of Carlile for a favourable Letter for him to your Lordship she was pleased to oblige me farther in relling me she did it meerly for my sake I redoubled my thanks and added that I knew your Lordship would esteeme it one of the greatest happinesses that could befal you to have an occasion offered whereby you might witnesse how much you adored her Majesties royal virtues and how infinitely you were her Servant readie to receive law from her whensoever by the least syllable of her blessed Lips or Penn she should please to impose it And this I did as on the one side to gratifie my Colleague who would be infinitely sensible of the disgrace he apprehends in the misse of the Ribbon being thus brought upon the Stage for it as also to help to mesnage that your Gratious favour which Mounsieur de Fiatts to my Lord represents unto him by
giving you meanes withal to oblige this sweet blessed Queen who hath your Lordship in a very high account and would be glad to find occasions how she may witnesse it The mention of my Lord of Carlile upon this occasion refreshed her remembrance of the late falling out betwixt the Cardinal and him and though she were sufficiently informed of the particulars by the Cardinal himself yet she would needs have a relation from me who in a merrie kind of fashion obeyed her command and salved every thing the best I could She would needs know my opinion of the Cardinal who so magnified to her his wisdom his courage his courtesie his fidelity to her service his affection to our businesse as pleased her not a little Neither did my heart and my tongue differ for I esteem him such This discourse she left to fall upon a better subject the Prince concerning whose voyage into Spain the censure of Italie she said was that two Kings had therein committed two great errours The one in adventuring so precious a pledge to so hazardous an enterprise the other in badly using so brave a guest The first Madam answered I may be excused from the end the common good of all Christendom which then standing upon desperate tearmes had need of a desperate remedie The second had need of a better advocate then I to put any colour of defence upon it But his Highnesse had observed as great a weaknesse and follie as that in that after they had used him so ill they would suffer him to depart which was one of the first speeches he uttered after he was entred into the ship But did he say so said the Queen Yes Madam I will assure you quoth I from the witnesse of my own eares She smiled and replyed Indeed I heard he was used ill So he was answered I but not in his entertainement for that was as splendid as that countrie could afford it but in their frivolous delayes and in the unreasonable conditions which they propounded and pressed upon the advantage they had of his Princely Person And yet smilingly added I you here Madam use him far worse And how so presently demanded she In that you presse quoth I upon that most worthie and Noble Prince who hath with so much affection to your Majesties service so much passion to Madam sought this Alliance The same nay more unreasonable conditions then the other and what they traced out for the breaking of the match you follow pretending to conclude it very unseasonablely in this Conjuncture of time especiallie when the jealousies that such great changes in state are apt to beget are cunningly fomented by the Spanish Embassadour in England who vaunts it forth that there is not so great a change in La Vievilles particular person as there is in the general affections which did but follow before the stream of his Greatnesse and credit Thus casting in the Kings mind the seed of doubts whereunto the Conde de Olivares in Spain hath been willing to contribute by this braving speech to our Royal Masters Embassadour there That if the Pope ever granted a dispensation for the match with France the King of Spain would march with an armie towards Rome and sack it Vrayement nons l'en empescherous bien promptly answered She Car nous lui taglierous assez de besongne ailleurs Mais qu'est-ce qui vous presse le plus I represented unto her the unfitnesse of the seventh Article even qualified by that interpretationt hat it is and the impossibility of the last which requires and prescribes an oath And desired that the honour of the Prince with whom she pretended a will to match her Daughter might be dearer to her then to be ballanced with that which could add nothing to their assurance I also humbly besought her to imploy her Credit with the King her son her authority to the Ministers for a reformation of those two Articles especially and a friendly and speedy dispatch of all And if we must come to that extreamitie that more could not be altered then already was yet at least she would procure the allowance of this protestation by the King our Master when he should swear them that he intended no further to oblige himself by that oath then might well stand with the safety peace tranquility and conveniency of his State This shee thought reasonable and promised to speak with the King and Cardinal about it And if you speak as you can replied I I know it will be done Though when all is done I know not whether the King my Master will condescend so far yea or no. Here I intreated I might weary her Majestie no further but take the libertie she had pleased to give me in entertaining Madam with such Commandments as the Prince had charged me withall to her She would needs know what I would say Nay then smiling quoth I your Majestie will impose upon me the like Law that they in Spain did upon his Highnesse But the case is now different said she for there the Prince was in person here is but his Deputie But a Deputie answered I that represents his person Mais pour tout cela dit elle qu' est ce que vous direz Rien dis-re qui ne Soit digne des oreilles d'vne si vertueuse Princesse Mais qu' est ce redoubled she Why then Madam quoth I if you will needs know it shall be much to this effect That your Majestie having given me the libertie of some freer Language then heretofore I obey the Prince his Command in presenting to her his service not by way of Complement any longer but out of passion and affection which both her outward and her inward beauties the vertues of her mind so kindled in him as he was resolved to contribute the uttermost he could to the Alliance in question and would think it the greatest happinesse in the world if the successe thereof might minister occasion of expressing in a better and more effectual manmer his devotion to her service with some little other such like amorous Language Allez Allez Il n'y a point de danger en tout cela smilingly answered she je me fie en vous je me fie en vous Neither did I abuse her trust for I varied not much from it in delivering it to Madam save that I amplified it to her a little more who drank it down with joy and with a low Curtesie acknowledged it to the Prince adding that she was extreamly obliged to his Highnesse and would think her self happie in the occasion that should be presented of meriting the place shee had in his good Graces After that I turned my speech to the old Ladies that attended and â—old them That sith the Queen was pleased to give me this liberty it would be henceforth fit for them to speak a suitable Language I let them know that his Highnesse had her Picture which he kept in his Cabinet and fed
satisfaction to tye my tongue from crying to God and the world for vengeance for the unworthy dealing I have received And think not to send me again to my Mothers where I have stayed this quarter of a year hoping for that my Mother said you promised order should be taken for me but I never received pennie from you Her confidence of your Noblenesse made me so long silent but now believe me I will sooner begg my bread in the streets to all your dishonours then any more trouble my friends and especially my Mother who was not onely content to afford us part of the little means she hath left her but whilest I was with her was continually distempered with devised Tales which came from your Familie and withal lost your good opinion which before she either had or you made shew of it but had it been real I cannot think her words would have been so translated nor in the power of discontented servants Tales to have ended it My Lord if the great honour you are in can suffer you to have so mean a thought as of so miserable a creature as I am so made by too much Credulitie of your fair promises which I have waited for performance of almost these five years And now it were time to despair but that I hope you will one day be your self and be governed by your own noble thoughts and then I am assured to obtain what I desire since my desires be so reasonable and but for mine own Which whether you grant or no the affliction my poor husband is in if it continue will keep my mind in a continual purgatorie for him and will suffer me to sign my self no other but Your unfortunate Sister F. Purbeck Dr. Donne to the Marquesse of Buckingham 13th Septemb. 1621. My most honoured Lord I Most humbly beseech your Lordship to afford this ragg of paper a room amongst your evidences It is your evidence not for a Mannour but for a man As I am a Priest it is my sacrifice of prayer to God for your Lordship and as I am a Priest made able to subsist and appear in Gods service by your Lordship it is a sacrifice of my self to you I deliver this paper as my Image and I assist the power of any Conjurer with this imprecation upon my self that as he shall tear this paper this picture of mine so I may be torn in my fortune and in my same if ever I have any corner in my heart dispossessed of a zeal to your Lordships service His Majestie hath given me a royal Key into your Chamber leave to stand in your presence and your Lordship hath already such a fortune as that you shall not need to be afraid of a suitor when I appear there So that I protest to your Lordship I know not what I want since I cannot suspect nor fear my self for ever doing or leaving undone any thing by which I might forfeit that title of being alwaies Your Lordships c. J. D. Dr. Donne to the Duke My Honoured Lord ONce I adventured to say to the Prince his Highnesse That I was sure he would receive a book from me the more gratiously because it was dedicated to your Grace I proceed justlie upon the same confidence that your Grace will accept this because it is his by the same title If I had not overcome that reluctation which I had in my self of representing devotions and mortifications to a young and active Prince I should not have put them into your presence who have done so much and have so much to do in this world as that it might seem enough to think seriously of that No man in the bodie of storie is a full president to you nor may any future man promise himself and adaequation to his precedent if he make you his Kings have discerned the seeds of high virtues in many men and upon that Gold they have put their stamp their favours upon those persons But then those persons have laboured under the jealousie of the future Heire And some few have had the love of Prince and King but not of the Kingdom and some of that too and not of the Church God hath united your Grace so to them all that as you have received obligations from the King and Prince so you have laid obligations upon the Church and state They above love you out of their judgement because they have loved you and we below love you out of our thankfulnesse because you have loved us Gods privie Seal is the testimonie of a good conscience and his broad-Seal is the outward bessings of this life But since his Pillar of fire was seconded with a Pillar of Cloud and that all his temporal blessings have some partial Eclipses and the purest consciences some remorses so though he have made your way to Glorie Glorie and brought you in the armes and bosome of his Vicegerent into his own arms and bosome yet there must come a minute of twilight in a natural death And as the reading of the actions of great men may assist you for great actions so for this one necessarie descent of dying which I hope shall be the onely step of Lownes that ever you shall passe by and by that late you may receive some Remembrances from the Meditations and Devotions of Your Graces Devoutest Servant J. Donne Sir John Hipsley to the Duke My Noble Lord I Find that all my Lord of Bristols actions are so much extolled that what you command me to say is hardly believed I will say no more in it but leave the rest to Mr Greihams only this that you have written much to the King in some mans behalf and Mr. Gresley hath a 100. a year given him during his life all which I think is without your knowledge And Mr. Killegrew hath the like that came for your sake after the other was granted Mr. Greihams can tell you how that came My Lord of Southampton hath offered his son to marrie with my Lord Treasurers Daughter and tells him this reason that now is the time he may have need of friends but it is refused as yet the event I know not what that will be I have spoken to the King of all that you gave me in command and he doth protest that what he hath done was meerly for your sake and indeed he is very careful of all your businesse as if you were here your self but yet for Gods-sake make what haste you may home for fear of the worst For the carriage of Captain Hall I will not trouble you till you come home only this by the way that my Lord Treasurer hath it but upon what tearms I know not nor indeed desire you should be troubled with it Sir George Goring came home but this last night and is gone to the Court and desires to be excused for writing to you My Ladie Hatton and my Ladie Purbeck came home with him from the Hague My Lord of Arundel hath not been
at Court since the death of his son I fear the newes that Charles Gleman did shew you was true For I can assure you Marquesse Hamilton was much troubled till I had spoken with him There be some have done no good offices betwixt you Pray have a care of the Letter I mean the man Mr. Gleman did shew you and keep as many friends as you may I have spoken with no man but my Lord Keeper who is yours or not his own as he sweares And Mr. secretarie Conway is yours bodie and soul I never heard of the like of him for he flies at all men that be not yours Here is much admiration that they hear not from you but I thank God the King is not troubled at it for I do assure him that it is the better that he heares not from you for now he may be confident that you keep your day in comming away which doth much please him I will write nothing of my own businesse though there be nothing done in it but do hope that you will not see your Servant perish If I be too tedious I pray pardon mee it is my love that makes me so and yet I have an humble suite unto you which is to begg at your hands for patience for now is the time to shew it or never for all the eyes of the world are upon you and this is the time to win Honour and fame and for Gods-sake carrie the businesse with patience betwixt my Lord of Bristol and you for here be those that do laugh in their sleeves at you both I beseech you let me hear from you what you will command me for I will do nothing as near as I can but what will give content For you have that power in me that you need but say and it is done if it lie in my power so shall you ever command Your faithful and obedient Servant till death Jo. Hipsley London 1. Septemb. 1623. Sir Dudley Carleton to the Marquesse of Buckingham Right Honourable BY the dispatch of the fourteenth of this present which I sent by Jonson the Post I advertised your Honour at large in the two several Letters of the occurrents of these parts and therewith sent a copie of my second proposition which I made the day before in the Assemblie of the States General touching the businesse of Cleves and Juliers in conformitie to your Honours Letters of the 30th of the last The answer thereunto was deferred until yesterday and then brought me only by word of mouth from the States by Mounsieur Magnus of Zealand and Mounsieur Zulestein of Vtrecht and was to this effect That the States having sent my former proposition of the third of December to their several provinces from which this latter did differ in substance save onely in respect of the time for the restitution of the Townes which was prolonged for the space of a month all they could do according to the constitution of their government was to send this my second proposition likewise unto their provinces which they had done the day after I made the same and until they receive more expresse order from their principals they were to rest upon their former answer Wherein they declared their good intentions to accommodate this businesse so it might be with safetie to themselves and satisfaction of their neighbours And herein they were to expect the resolution of the Elector of Brandenbergh from whom the time did not yet serve to know his mind Mean while they humbly beseech his Majestie to make a gracious construction of their proceedings I was the day before with Mounsieur Barnevelt who is President this week to sollicite their answer who excused himself upon the smalnesse of their number many of the States being absent and of two Provinces all the Deputies So as to give a determinate resolution according as was required they could not And to make answer in general terms since his Majestie rested not satisfied with the former he doubted another of the same kind would not please him So as it seems this Message in place of an answer in writing proceeded of his Councel By discourse both with him and those which came unto me upon this subject I find their diffidence of the purpose of the Spaniard rather increased then otherwise upon the news of Leavies intended on the Arch-Dukes side to the number of 9000 foot and 1000 or 1200 horse and their delay in taking a determinate resolution no way disswaded but rather counselled by all other Princes who have interest in this businesse Their Embassadour at Paris having advertised them by reiterated Letters That Don Pedro di Sarmientos his offer to his Majestie touching the execution of the Treatie of Zanten is absolutely disavowed by both the Kings of France and Spain And this French Embassadour Mounsieur du Maurier having made it appear unto them that at Brussels they have the same conceit of it as a thing done without authoritie Besides the Princes of the Union have written lately expresse Letters to the States wherein they perswade them to extraordinarie vigilance upon the Spaniards and particularly in this businesse of Cleves and Juliers the translated Copies of which Letters I send your Honour herewith And the Prince of Brandenbergh being young himself and having his Councel divided in opinion doth nothing absolutely without reference to this State and he when I put them in mind how they themselves were the authors and framers of the Treatie of Zanten they stick not to say plainly Temporamutantur et nos so as I am daily more and more confirmed in my former opinion That there is no way left to accommodate this businesse but by a private agreement between the Princes Pretendents But Strickius the Agent of Brandenbergh being absent at Cleves I do not hear how this Negotiation proceeds Amongst the particularities which passed in discourse between Mounsiour Maguns and my self I insisting upon restitution of the Townes as the meanes to prevent an imminent war upon the quarrel He asked to whom they should restore them unlesse the Princes were agreed and that they might know which of the Princes should receive him and whom they should have for their neighbour Whereby it appeares this course will on this side remove all difficulties It is advertised hither by Mounsieur Langrack the States Embassadour at Paris that the apprehension they had in the Court to have this businesse ended without the French Kings intervention caused Mounsieur de Refuges to be summoned to make an other journey expressely hither in regard he had formerly the managing thereof Notwithstanding that Mounsieur de la Nove was already named for this extraordinarie Embassage But Refuges excusing himself upon his indisposition sent all his memorial of what passed when he was here in the treatie of Zanten with his private opinion upon the whole matter to serve as an instruction to la Nove. By the other Letters of the 28. of this present Stil
No. Mounsieur Langrack hath given this State many important advertisements as first that he hath obtained of the French Kng a continuance of the succours of the 3. Regiments of foot and 2. Troops of horse of that Nation for one year longer notwithstanding the opposition of the Spanish and Arch-Dukes Embassadours who advised the recalling of them upon occasion of the present troubles in France That there is order given and assignation for 120000 Crownes towards the arrearages of their pay That a resolution is taken in that Court by the advice of the new Councellours contrarie to the opinion of the old to prosecute the Princes by war and maintain the Kings authority henceforward by force That to this effect the King desires the State should perform their promises of sending towards the river of Burdeaux 5. men of war That he likewise requires of them in conformitie of the last treaties betwixt the Crown and this Stat an assistance of men to the number of the French which are here in service under some good Commander But the French themselves the King will not have for fear when they shall come into France of their revolting to the Princes That he demands free passage through these Countries down the Mause and the Rhene of 3000. Souldiers with their armes which are leaived by the Count John Giacomo Belioyosa in Luke-Land and thereabouts and shipping to transport them into France All these particulars were moved unto him as he writes by the Marshal de Anchre to which he adds That the King is so much incensed against the Duke of Bovillon for seeking to this State for protection by these Letters whereof I advertised your Honour in my last that there is a resolution taken to declare him Criminel de lese Majestate These Grauntes are so scantie the continuance of the French Troops in the service of the State being but for a year only and the payment of them arriving only to the tenth part of what is alreadie due that they here interpret them to proceed from the Marshal de Aucre Pour tenir as they say le bee en Leau and the demands are so large and extravagant that they are thought iniquum petere ut aequum ferant Whereby on the one side to keep this State in devotion to the French King and on the other to prevent the like requests of the Princes for there is small appearance they will give passage to so many men through their Countries armed and commanded by an Italian who hath born armes against them and is married into the Arch Dukes Countrie And when it comes to question of sending forces of their own thither it is like they will find as good excuses for that point as they have hitherto done for the sending of the ships now three months since promised and still solicited For howsoever the chief Persons here have been long particularly interested and ingaged as your Honour knowes by neer dependance on this Crown I find them of late very much alienated in consideration that it is so much governed by Spain which in the end they apprehended will turn to the ruine of this State In France they are jealous of this coldnesse and have of late expostulated the matter with Mounsieur Langrack as if they here did incline to the Princes there being a bruite raised in Paris that Count Maurice would go in Person to their assistance whereof the Queen Regent was very sensible but I do not find here that there was any ground for that report Here hath been lately a fame spread and nourished by such as desire to weaken the correspondence betwixt his Majestie and this State that his Majestie is in neer terms of matching our Prince with Spain Which report is now the more credited by an adviso out of Spain from a secret Minister this State entertaines under colour of solliciting Merchants causes That this match hath been there by order of the King of Spain debated in the inquisition and judged necessarie in regard it would serve for introduction of Poperie into England This I find to be the Remora of my chief affaires with this State my pressing the restitution of the Townes in Cleves and Juliers being thought by many of these jealous people to hang on this thread as a thing very acceptable and agreeable at this time to the King of Spain and much advantagious in this present conjuncture to his affaires and my insisting upon sending of Commissioners to his Majestie in the businesse of our Merchants they applie the same way as if the opinion which would be conceived of this Embassage howsoever Merchants affaires were pretended the chief intent was to play Davus in Comaedia should according to the use of Nitimur in Vetitum rather kindle then quench the desire of the Spaniard and draw the match to a more speedie conclusion At my last being with Mounsieur Barnevelt I did expostulate the States delay of sending Commissioners to his Majestie upon this occasion as neither answereth to Sir Noel Caron's word and promise to his Majestie nor to that which from his mouth I did advertise your Lordship of the States inclination in general and the resolution in particular of those of Holland To which he answered me That with much difficultie and opposition he had obtained the assent of Holland and that now the matter rested with Zealand but he doubted that his Majesties restoring the old Company of Merchants would make a stay of any farther proceeding as now lesse requisite howsoever that Sir Noel Carone had advertised that notwithstanding this change he thought the sending of Commissioners very necessary The Questions here about Religion rest in the same state as I advertised your Lordship in my last the Assembly of Holland being separated untill the end of February stil no. when they are to meet again Mean while a provisional order is taken that the Contra-Remonstrants shall continue their preaching in our English Church which they have accommodated with Scaffolds to make it more capable of their number There was much question in this Assemblie whether his Excellencie should be present or no but in the end he was called by the major part of voices contrary to Mounsieur Barnevelt's opinion and his authoritie over-swayed the matter in favour of the Contra-Remonstrants for the continuance of their preaching which it was proposed to hinder by some violent Courses By example of this place there is the like provisional order taken for preaching at the Brill and Rotterdam and certain of the Burghers are established in Tergow who were put from their Trade and Commerce for their expostulating with the Magistrate upon this quarrel I have been spoken unto by divers particular persons well affected in this cause to procure a Letter from his Majestie to his Excellencie whereby to comfort and encourage him in his Zeal for the maintenance of the true doctrine and the professours thereof against these Novellists and their opinions Which I most humbly refer to
return to the antient support of his Crownes which by the way of gratitude for her good usage since she had her refuge into these parts she could not but admonish his Excellencie of and advise him not to let it slip This he did not so suddenly lay hold of as not first to cast many misdoubts as if the alienation were too great and his Majestie too much wedded in affection if not in Alliance to new friends to be so soone reconjoyned to his old as their necessities did require Here I took occasion to play my own Part and to remember unto him how things had passed within the compasse of my experience from the beginning letting him know what friendship his Majestie had shewed this State in the making their Truce what sinceritie in rendring their Cautionarie Townes according to contract when they were demanded what affection in supporting their affaires during their late domestique disputes what care in settling our East-Indian differences finallie what Patience in conniving at all the misdemeanours and insolencies of their Sea-men without seeking revenge And hereupon concluded that I found them here in the same errour as men are which put first from Land to Sea and believe the Land passes from them not they from the Land in that the Alienation which hath long been nourished betwixt his Majestie and this State sprang originally from them First by Barnevelt and his faction of Arminians carrying the State to new Alliances with the Hans-Townes and otherwise by themselves refusing so much as the knowledge of them to my Predecessour in this place Sir Ralph Wynwood with much scorn and contempt Next by a harsh and peremptorie stile used in all we had then to do with them savouring rather of Pride and presumption then any due respect or desire of friendship Lastly by a precipitate course taken at Sea by their ships of war and Merchants against his Majesties Subjects making prize of some shouldering others out of their places of trade and entring in the East-Indies into open hostilitie avowed by a publique Act of the States General This ill course begun and pursued for some yeares continuance breeding a deserved distaste in his Majestie on this side and on the Spanish part fair overtures of friendship being continuallie made and confirmed by the tender of a Match of a potent Prince None can marvel that his Majestie did imbrace the same unlesse it should be expected of him that for love of this State how ill soever deserving he should lend a deaf eare to all other friendships that did not concurre with the interest of this State And the remembrance of these things not being so old as to be worn out they might here very well conceive that the suspition of Alienation and disaffection is as strong on our side for their giving the cause of our leaning another way as on theirs for the effect which hath since followed And now the cause is removed the effect may possibly cease in like manner if we may have good assurance that breaking with our new friends upon the occasions now presented we might fasten after the wonted manner with an old and the King be satisfied in such doubts he may upon good reason cast and know certainly what to trust to To this conclusion he answered confessing first their many obligations to his Majestie both for his favour and sufferance that nothing could be more certain then the affection of this State to a Prince embracing their cause of opposition to Spain And if his Majestie could take that resolution he might dispose of them their lives and their fortunes I told him that more in a case of this importance when there was question of alteration of the whole course of a great Princes affaires would be required then bare professions and protestations and the rather because he knew I was not ignorant how many Billets and Papers have been heretofore brought hither by * An old Popish Gentlewoman of this towne who by passeport on both sides trots so often to and fro betwixt this and Bruxells where she hath private accesse to the Infanta that she is known by the title of la Maquerelle de la Trefue Madam Serclaus and others tending to Truce or peace and how much such a matter was thirsted after by their Frontier Provinces which being free for them to take or leave after their own humours it was not likely his Majestie would discharge them of their burthen to pull it upon his own Shoulders But to enter into the common cause of defence and add a powerful hand in supporting them might be faisable in the present conjuncture upon good assurance he should never be left single in the quarrel Whereunto he answered that true it was the woman I named and divers others had been tampering heretofore about such Treaties that he had continually put their Papers into his Pocket and so suppressed them with consent of some of the States of whom he was most confident lest such propositions being brought into their publique Assemblies might have driven them into distraction and dispute one with another according to their several affections either to Peace or War and thereby slacken their Contributions wherewith they pay their Army and by consequence expose them to the mercie of the enemy And that this course of his being finally discovered by the Merquesse Spinola and Peckius their purpose now was as he is privately advertized from Bruxels to steal over some person hither by the usual meanes of Passe-ports for Merchants and Travailers to make some such like Proposition at the several Assemblies of the States of these united Provinces which it should be his studie to prevent because of the mischief may be bred thereby amongst them And this he assured me for conclusion That as their affections and affairs now stand nothing but despair can bring these Provinces to Peace or Truce with Spain To this I yielded but said That was not enough because of such changes to which the world was daily subject Neither did Queen Elizabeth undertake their protection upon such bare presumptions wherefore some further assurance must be thought on which he consented unto as a thing requisite on both sides and joyned issue with me in this point That when the King would be to this State as Queen Elizabeth was this State would be to him as it was to Queen Elizabeth This being opus unius diei not unlike the first day of the Creation of the world in distinguishing light and darknesse I will give your Grace this further light of what belongs to negotiation with this State The present opportunitie of the Prince of Orange's good affection and strength of these Provinces both by Sea and Land as it yet stands but not possible so long to continue being seasonably laid hold of his Majestie may have with this State a firm and fruitful alliance But if the Prince of Orange should die as he is much broken and the last year at
a good knowledge of their Interests and affections I can undertake for them they will really and readily pay if the matter be well managed In which the confidence and freedom I have used with this Noble Gentleman Sir George Goring may give your Grace some further light as any doubts shall arise concerning the businesse So I most humbly take leave Your Graces Most humble and most faithful servant Dudley Carleton Hague 18. Decemb. 1623. Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke May it please your Grace THe businesse of strict conjunction betwixt his Majestie and this State touching which the Queen of Bohemia hath received his Highnesse and your Graces Letters and I your Graces of the 9th of this present goeth on the right foot according as your Grace will see more particularly by my Letters to Mr. Secretarie Conway and as the matter is here imbraced with much affection so for the manner I doubt not but it will be well ordered in that sort as will be for his Majesties honour and contentment But in regard of jealousies towards us and emulations amongst these men in matters of imployment to which all men are subject especially in good and advantagious businesses some time will be required to set all in the right way yet no illimited time for I hope within a week all will be resolved of and within a a few dayes more put in execution fullie to expectation Sir Noel Caron writes a league offensive and defensive will be imbraced by his Majestie if it be proposed from hence with offer of assurance And I assure my self both the overture and offer will be made and reallie effected if it be answered on our side with good correspondence That which busieth my cogitations is that tempus agendi may be lost Consultando and therefore seeing how both his Majestie and this State stand affected I will take the libertie to give your Grace two advertisements in matters of action which will be of exceeding fruit if they be thought of in time and for which there is no time to spare One is that your Grace doth inquire after in your Letter to the Queen of Bohemia who excuseth writing either to his Highnesse or your Grace till the States have resolved of their sending that is the States preparation for the West-Indies which way the companie for those parts newlie erected in these hath set out one Fleet of 32. Sayl now alreadie at Sea with some Land men amongst them to put on ground and fortifie as they shall find occasion for which they have men for the purpose and all materials readie embarqued with them A second Fleet they are now preparing against April next about which all their Admiralties and some of the Deputies of this new West-Indian Companie are here at this present And the design is for the Admiralties to set out at the charge of the generalitie twelve good ships of war besides they have alreadie on the coast of Spain and in the narrow Seas which they will still continue To these 12. ships they require the West-Indian Companie to joyn 12. more which will make a good Fleet and this they intend shall be readie as I sayd in April next to attend the coming of the Spanish West-Indian Fleet which here they understand is put into the Havana with intention there to winter as it did the last year Now if his Majestie will give leave to his subjects to erect a Companie for the West-Indies and joyn with these men in those Parts as they do in the East and upon more equal conditions since the businesse is but now in the beginning it will be here gladlie imbraced And if he will frame a Fleet betwixt his own ships and his Merchants to joyn with the States Fleet prepared for April next to intercept the Spanish West-Indian Fleet nothing more will be desired by these men and there is nothing of which for the present they promise themselves greater fruit for either they hope to take or to stop the silver of those parts both which are good services considering the need of mony the Spaniards have in these or else they resolve with the ships which belong to the companie to pursue their voyage of the West-Indies The second is a Truce with the Pyrates of Algier such an one as this State hath made in conformitie to their peace with the Grand Seigniour which will be no more observed for unmolesting all and every one of our Merchants ships as they are straglingly lighted on then it is with these men who suffer many losses in particular but those are recompensed in the General For the Spaniards are much amazed with this correspondence And the men of War of this State or such Merchants as can make any reasonable defence are most medled withal Besides in any matter of offence they concur together And even now a proposition is made from Algier to the Prince of Orange which I have from his own mouth to acquaint your Grace therewith that in case this State against the beginning of next sommer will set out twenty Sayl of ships upon any good service against the Spaniards they will joyn unto them 60. Sayl to pursue the design whatsoever it shall be of this State The acceptation of which offer being now in deliberation it will be suspended till it be seen how this unexpected businesse with his Majestie may proceed And then they will here do nothing but that as may concur with our common Interests But because the negotiation of this matter with those of Algier that is a Truce betwixt his Majesties subjects and those men will require time your Grace may provisionallie move his Majestie if the matter be well liked to use such endeavours as may conduce thereunto Here they use to write and send through France by Marseilles to the Consul they have continuallie at Algeir by whose meanes if no better present it self any thing may be proposed his Majesty shall find fitting Other things I will within few daies remonstrate to your Grace for his Majesties service in this change of affaires which require all possible industries and diligences to be used both far and neer And those not neglected I doubt not but they who have so grossely abused his Majesties friendship will soone repent themselves and by their harmes see their own errours Thus I most humbly take leave Your Graces Most humble and most faithful Servant Dudley Carleton Hague 24. January 1625. Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke May it please your Grace ACcording as I advertised your Grace the 24. of the last of the disposition of the Prince of Orange and such of the States as he called unto him to Councel they procured the rest soone after to resolve of an Embassage to his Majestie and now they have dispatched the same with as much expedition as could possibly be used The Persons are Aersons of Holland and Joachim of Zealand both able and well affected Persons and both sufficiently known to his Majestie
by former imployments They go amply authorised for what they shall treat but that as yet is an Embrion onely which must receive form and life from his Majestie in whose hands it lyeth to preserve this State and dispose for ever of the whole strength thereof for his own service and his royal Families Which after more debates and distasts then have passed with all the world besides I am glad I can say upon good warrantize whereof this is one proof that when his Majestie is constrained by the necessity of affaires to send and seek to his other friends he is sent and sought and sued to from hence I doubt not but it will be objected as hath been formerly that it is for their own Interest and that they would gladly ingage his Majestie in their quarrel which it were a follie to deny but there is alwaies the friendship strongest when the interests are most conjoyned And if that which is principally for one mans benefit turn likewise to another mans advantage Hoc non facere saith an old School-book summae est imprudentiae The affairs of these parts for matter of Action which have been more then ordinarily succeeds in this cold season but have been more coldly pursued then was feared I refer to this Bearer my Nephew's report who having the honour to be his Majesties servant I imploy him the more willingly as able to give Account of such particularities either of this Negotiation or otherwise of which his Majestie and your Grace may require knowledge And I humbly beseech your Grace to give him encouragement by your accustomed noble favour So rests Hague 16. February 1625. Your Graces Most humble and most devoted servant Dudley Carleton Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke May it please your Grace IT were a sin against the publique service in which your Grace doth imploy your self so much to the common good and your own honour to molest you with Letters in this busie time which must serve me for excuse of silence since the beginning of the Parliament What I write now is by Commandment of the Queen of Bohemia concerning this Bearer Captain Gifford an old Seaman of our Nation who having a private suite to the States hath made a journey over hither with recommendation to me from our two Secretaries for advancement thereof but with a further purpose to be imployed by the Queen against the Spaniard in a matter of no lesse moment then taking of a Gallion which usually bringeth the treasure over the Gulph of Mexico from Nova Spagna to the Havana Which he designs after this manner To go out with two Ships and a Pinnace onely fitted for fight without more in number because of the Alarum would be taken at a greater Fleet and to lie under Covert of a small Island in the entrie of the Gulph of Mexico where the Gallion coming usually alone unlesse it be accompanied with some Merchants ships which he sets light by and which incumbred with goods and Passengers he think may be mastered and taken building upon the securitie in which that Gallion with the rest of that Nova Spagna Fleet do sayl scattering in the Gulph till they meet with the Fleet of Terra Firma at the Havana where he having been hereto fore a prisoner made this observation and doth now offer himself to put the design in execution with a demand of betwixt 10000 and a 11000 l. for the whole equipage The Queen in recompence of his good will returns him with this addresse to your Grace as a man fit for imployment for so he is generally reputed but for the particularitie of the Exploit she doth not entertain any thought thereof but refers it wholly to your Graces Consideration and to the opportunitie according as affaires shall succeed betwixt his Majestie and Spain Here are come Letters from some of the King and Queens servants on that side and one to my self from a private friend advertizing That there is a readinesse in divers of his Majesties Subjects of good abilities to put to Sea with Letters of Mart in the name of this Kind and Queen against the Spaniard and of a likelihood that if such Commissions were given by these Princes they would not be ill understood by his Majestie Mounsieur Aertsens hath likewise written hither in a private Letter to the Prince of Orange that he hath been spoken with to move the States to increase the number he and his Colleague have mentioned of 10 or 12 Ships to joyn in any good occasion with his Majesties Fleet to 20 And that the purpose is to set out 50 sayl on that side and that both shall go under the name of the King and Queen of Bohemia Wherein though the motion be not directly made yet the Prince of Orange hath discoursed enough that when it shall come to issue they will stretch themselves to furnish to the full what is required on this side In both these businesses as well the granting Letters of Mart by these Princes as their lending their names to any greater Action they intend to govern themselves onely as they shall understand to concur with his Majesties pleasure and therefore hope they shall receive advice from his Highnesse and your Grace what is fit for them to contribute to such occasions as they see much to their Comforts you advance with so great care and vigilance Thus I most humbly take leave Your Graces most humble and most devoted Servant Dudley Carleton Hague 16. April 1624. Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke May it please your Grace SUch Commandments as I received from your Grace by double Dispatches of the 4th of the last by way of provision whilest Sir William Saintleiger lay sick were prevented by his own presence He bringing the first of those Packets with him and thereby had Commoditie to assist at the breaking of the businesse to the States by virtue of his Majesties Credence given him and my Lord General Cecil which since he hath sollicited both at the Camp and in this place with all possible care and industrie and I have not failed of my utmost endeavours But the unsettlednesse of this Government which still continueth since the late change of Governours hath bred delay to some and direct impediments to other points we had in charge which we have endeavoured to supply by other means And now in what state he leaves the whole businesse he will relate to your Grace Such Patents as your Grace required from the King and Queen of Bohemia I have committed to his delivery in divers forms with a Blank signed and sealed wherein to frame such an one as may be better to your minds But if your Grace make no use of it you may please to return it to me again to the end I may restore it What concerns my self I absolutely remit and submit to your Grace onely I will renew the request I made to your Grace by my Nephew That your Grace will not prefer any before me in your formerly intended favour out of belief that any can be more then I resolve to rest whilest I live a touttes Espreves Hague 20. June 1625. Humbly and faithfully devoted to your Graces person and service Dudley Carleton Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke May it please your Grace AFter long attendance the wind is come good for Plymouth which I hope will carry thither speedily and safely the States whole Fleet though in 3. parts 12 Ships with the Admiral de Nassau who hath long waited in the Tessel 4 but newly ready provided by those of Zealand at Amsterdam and 4 which have layen sometimes before the Brill whereof one is to land the Marshal Chatillion in passing by Calice the other three to Convoy the English men And Armes I send in 10. other Ships I have hired at Rotterdam before which place they have layen 20 daies a Shipboard by reason of contrary winds with some impatiencie but no disorder which what course I took to prevent as likewise what may happen in their Voyage my Lord Conway to whom I give a particular account of all will inform your Grace I have obtained leave for Sir John Proud to go the Voyage according to his Majesties Letter though it was somewhat stood upon by the States and he hath taken his passage by Zealand When I call to mind what Patents I procured of the King of Bohemia and sent your Grace by Sir William Saint Lieger amongst which was one of submission to any accommodation his Majestie shall at any time like well of for the King of Bohemia I think it necessary to advertize your Grace that knowledge being come hither of the Infanta's sending the Count Shomburgh to the King of Denmark with a fair Message and the Count Gondomar's overtures to Mr. Trumbal tending to reconcilement and restitution of the Palatinate it is so willingly hearkned unto by the King of Bohemia that there is no doubt of his Consent but withal he well considers that if Treatie alone be trusted unto and thereupon Armes now leavied by his Majestie and his Friends be laid aside all will prove as fruitlesse as formerly For howsoever the King of Spain for more free prosecution of other quarrels or designs may be induced to quit what he possesseth in the Palatinate the shares the Emperour the Duke of Bavier and the two Electours Majenct and Trevers with a great rabble of Popish Priests and Jesuites have therein will require more then bare negotiation to wring it out of their hands and nothing but Victorie or at least a well armed Treatie can serve that turn The time seems long both to the King and Queen and growes very irksome every day more then other of their abode here in this place which indeed doth prove in all respects very uncomfortable and that your Grace will gather out of Mr. Secretarie Morton's report and my Letters to my Lord Conway In this very Consideration I beseech your Grace be the more mindful of Your Graces Most humble and most devoted servant Dudley Carleton Hague 20th of August 1625. FINIS
of Divine Grace THe authority wherein we have understood your Noblenesse to flourish in the Brittish Court is accounted not onely the reward of your merits but also the patronage of virtue certainly an excellent renown and every way so worthy that the people desire a diuturnity to be annexed unto it But it is almost ineffable what an increase of glory thoroughout the world would be annexed unto it if by Gods favour it should become the defence of Catholique Religion Certainly you have gained an opportunity by which you may insert your self into the Councels of those Princes who obtaining an immortal name have attained the Celestial Kingdom Suffer not then O Nobleman this occasion presented to you from God and commended by the Bishop of Rome to slip out of your hands You that are privie to their royal Councels cannot choose but know in what estate the affaires of Brittain at this time stand and with what voyces of the Holy Ghost speaking in them they daily sound in the ears of your Princes What Glorie would redound unto your Name if by your exhortation and perswasion the English Kings should again recover their Celestial inheritance of that Glorie left unto them by their Ancestours in those Kingdomes in abundant manner by providing for the increase of Gods Worship and by not only defending but propagating the jurisdiction of the Pontifical authority There have been many and shall be hereafter whom the bountie of Kings hath enriched with fading riches and advanced to envied titles and yet mindful posterity will not celebrate your name with eternal Prayses for having attayned these but if your Councels should reduce those most powerful Kings and people unto the bosom of the Romane Church the name of your Noblenesse would be written in the book of the living whom the torment of Death toucheth not and the Monuments of Histories shall place you amongst those wise men in whose splendor Kings walked but with what comforts in this life and what rewards in the life to come God who is rich in mercy would reward you they easily see who know the art and force by which the Kingdom of heaven is conquered It is not only our Pontifical charity to whose care the salvation of mankind pertaineth but also the piety of your Mother who as she brought you into the world so she desireth to bear you again to the Romane Church which she acknowledgeth for her mother that moved us to desire that you were made Partakers of so great felicity Therefore when our beloved son the religious man Didacus de la Fuente who hath wisely administred the affaires of your Princes in this City prepared his journie for Spain we commanded him to come unto your Noblenesse and present these our Apostolical Letters by which the Greatnesse of our Pontifical charity and the desire of your salvation may be declared Your Noblenesse may therefore heare him as the interpreter of our mind and as one indued with these virtues which have won him the love of forraign nations being a Catholique and religious priest He certainely hath reported those things of you in these parts of the world that he is worthie to be imbraced of you with singular affection and defended by your authority being a servant to the Glorie and salvation of the Brittish Kings and people This thing truly will we pray for to the father of mercies that he will open to your Noblenesse the gates of his Coelestial kingdom and afford you frequent Documents of his Clemency Given at Rome at St. Marie the Greater under the Ring of the Fisherman the 19. of May. 1623. and of our Popedom the third John Champolut To his Sacred Majestie abignoto My most Gratious King THese things which your Majestie did lately command to be spoken unto you and now to be repeated in writing are not such as they can be made bylegal and Judicial proofes both because they by whose testimony they may be confirmed do for fear of a most potent adversarie withdraw themselves And also because they think it a crime to come into the Embassadours house yea even they are afraid to do it who have commandement from your Majestie but neither was it lawful for the Embassadours themselves to speak these things especially not to such as they directed when the order of the affaires required it because they had never the freedom to speak unto your Majestie and no audience was given or granted them in the absence of tht Duke of Buckingham An example certainly unusual with other Kings and never to be taken in good part unlesse it be perhaps when the King himself wanting experience and being of weak judgment and no wisedom some one that is familiar and inward with the King a man wise and circumspect of great judgment and no lesse experience supplies the Kings place But here when all things go preposterously and the King himself being a most prudent and experienced Prince he that is familiar or favorite doth in all things shew himself a rash headie young man a Novice in managing of businesse and to the Crown of Spain most offensive Certainly by all just right this man was to be kept away from the audience of the Embassadour of the State We may also be bold to say that his presence so earnestly desired of him doth argue a great fear in him and a great distrust in him as well of his own upright conscience as also the Kings wisdom Hence therefore it is come to passe that your Majesties most faithful Vassals dare not so much as indirectly disclose their minds to the King though they take it in very ill part that a very good King should be driven into such streights And that a man pleasing himself in his own designs should use the favours of Princes so sinisterly that he doth of set purpose stir up breach of friendship and enmity between most Mighty Kings Besides who can without a discontented mind endure that the greatest affaires and of greatest moment if any in the Christian world can be so tearmed shall be ordered or concluded at the pleasure of your Parliament and from thence all things carried on with a headlong violence at his will and pleasure and a most deadly war to be preferred before a most happie Peace When as neverthelesse I am not ignorant that not so much the restitution of the Palatinate as the very claime to it will very difficultly be obtained or recovered by force of armes Let your Majestie exactly consider as it useth to do whether this be not an evident argument of that I have said that the conference or treatie about the Palatinate was taken from the Councel of State a society of most prudent men only forthis cause that almost everie one of them had with one consent approved the proposition of the most Catholique King and did not find in it any cause of dissolving that treaty Hereupon the Parliament of this Kingdom was procured by the Duke because he thought his
plots would be most acceptable to the Puritans not without great injury to your Councel of State from which he fled and disclaimed by way of an appeale and with such successe that we may be bold to say that the Parliament is now above the King Nay which is more that this daring Duke propounded many things to the Parliament in the Kings name your Majestie being neither acquainted with them nor willing to them Yea and that he propounded many things contrary to your Majesties service Who is there that doth not see and commend the royal disposition of the Prince adorned with so great endowments of his mind that he doth not in them all shew and approve himself to be a very good son of a very good King And yet neverthelesse that the Duke doth so much presume upon his favour that he contemneth all men as knowing that those who are obedient to his Highnesse will also subject themselves to his will I would to God he did direct those his actions to the good of the Prince But that is a thing so far from the opinion of good men that they rather believe that he who hath overthrown the marriage with Spain will be of no lesse power to the breaking of any other marriage and that is it which many do prophesie They knew in Spain that very same day that he had received Letters from the most illustrious Prince Palatine that he caused the procuration to be revoked and in a few dayes after when the comming of the foresaid Princes Secretarie and the confirmation of his hope of having his Daughter married to her Highnesse son all things were utterly dashed in pieces Let your Majestie have a care of your self and the Prince and foresee the hurts and damages which a man of such a turbulent humour may stir up whose headie spirit your Majestie saith you have noted and have desired to mittigate A man I say that is ambitious of popular ayr as plainly appeared in Parliament when the casting of all odious matter upon your Majestie he did arrogate the thanks of all things that were acceptable to himself being stiled the redeemer of his countrie I say again a man that hath envied so great a good to the Christian world and principally to the kingdomes of England and Spain having used some certain meanes which do argue that he aymed at such an end as many already do fear and to prophesie in it the worst event that can be if the Puritans desire a kingdome which they do against their wills they wish it not to the most illustirous Prince the best and true Heir of your Majestie but to the Prince Palatine whose spie and Scout Mansfelt is what shew soever he makes He that makes these things known to your Majestie dischargeth the part of a good man as well towards God as your Majestie and the illustirous Prince whom it now standeth in hand to foresee the vengeance of God provided by the Dukes plots and the furie of the Parliament there having been so many and so great testimonies published against Spain contrarie contrarie to truth so many and so frequent infamous Libels begotten and brought forth and many such other things so full of bitternesse and ignominie that they cannot be read even of our enemies without some taint upon the English Nation It is mostapparent and stories will testifie that here Leagues have been broken by the will and pleasure of them whom it especiallie concerneth to provide for your peace and quiet and to wish from the bottom of their hearts that after many and these most happie yeares that Motto of yours blessed be the Peace-makers might be verified in Letter of the person of your Majestie and to propound the same Counsel to the most illustrious Prince to be imitated which your Majestie hath done to the whole world to be commended and admired A happie Prince will he be if he comes and succceeds peaceably into the haereditarie possession of his kingdom and which will be of no lesse advantage to him having his peace established with those Princes whose friendship and amitie your Majestie hath procured and deserved He would certainly love and commend those that had given him those Counsels of peace Peace and tranquillitie are by haereditarie right devolved to the most illustrious Prince in as much as he is born of the Father who hath with so much industrie procured them not onely to this Island but to the continent also esteeming them at a higher value then his kingdomes themselves Which since it is thus and that the blood of his Father which is in him and the love wherewith he is carried towards your Majestie and the experience of this your most happie Government and that great example wherewith your Majestie hath drawn and won the Christian world to an admiration and love of you did all direct the most illustrious Prince with a kind of connatural motion to the same Counsel and purpose of peace as might have heretofore been likewise hoped Certainly this Machination is very strong violent and mighty which doth suddainely labour to turn him into a clean contrarie course And questionlesse if the very entrance into a war the war it self if it want justice it will want also happie successe It cannot be unknown to your Majestie that the Duke of Buckingham carrieth himself so lofty that he would have all men perswaded that he hath and doth exercise a kind of dominion over the will of your Majestie and of his Highnesse All things shall be made manifest to your Majestie if you will have them so for there are not meanes wanting whereby you may free your vassal from fear and diffidence who will otherwise dare nothing nor say nothing which certainely appeares so far to be true that when all things standing as they do it is an easie matter to find who will speak against your Majestie yet there is none that dare speak against the Duke Let your Majestie call some certain men unto you and sist out of them the opinion of the more moderate Parliament and enquire of those that come out of Spain who did first give the first cause of falling out whether the Complaints against the King of Spain be true or no whether that foresaid King were not desirous to satisfie the desire of the Prince his Highnesse Whether he did not faithfully endeavour to effect the marriage Whether the Duke of Buckingham did not many things against the authoritie and reverence due to the most illustrious Prince Whether he was not wont to be sitting whilest the Prince stood and was in presence and also having his feet resting upon another seat after an undecent manner Whether when the Prince was uncovered whilest the Queen and Infanta looked out at the Windowes he uncovered his head or no Whether sitting at the Table with the Prince he did not behave himself unreverently Whether he were not wont to come in to the Princes Chamber with his cloathes half on so