A Memorial Offered to John Williams, Part of biography 1 · Letter 12 – Letter 20

A Memorial Offered to John Williams · Part of biography 1 · Letter 12 – Letter 20

p. 116A Letter to the L. Buckingham.

My moſt Noble Lord,

129 ALthough the Service I can now only perform to your Lordſhip, is praying and not writing, yet my Affection will not ſuffer me to conceal my Folly in this kind. I have no time to recollect my Thoughts, this Gentleman, who ſteals away after you, is in ſuch haſte. I have utter'd moſt of my Dreams unto his Highneſs, who, I know, will impart them to your Lordſhip, unleſs they ſhall prove ſo wide, as, out of reſpect to my Credit, he ſhall be pleas'd to burn them. If things prove ſo ill (which God forbid) as that his Princely Perſon ſhould under Colour of Friendſhip, larger Treaty, or any Device, be then detained, longer then his liking, be you, my ſweet Lord drawn by no Means, Counſel, or Importunity, to leave his Perſon, and to return without him. If you ſhould do ſo (as I know you will not) beſide the diſgrace thereof, it would prove your certain Ruin. If things prove well, you need no Counſel, your Adventure will be Applauded, and great Note caſt upon your Wiſdom and Reſolution. But if the Health, Entertainment, and the principal buſineſs of His Highneſs, nay if any one of the Three ſhould miſcarry, You cannot in your Wiſdom and great Experience in this Court, but certainly knew, that the blame will be laid upon you. And therefore for Gods ſake prepare p. 117your ſelf accordingly by Mature Deliberation to Encounter it. My Lord; for fear others will not, I will tell you the Truth. If I Offend you with my Truſty Care; I am ſure your good Nature will blow it over before we meet again. But in ſooth all the Court, and the Rabble of people lay this Voyage upon your Lordſhip. The King would ſeem ſometimes, as I hear, to take it to himſelf (and we have Advis'd him ſo to do by Proclamation) yet he ſticks at it, and many times caſts it upon you both. Thus Sir J. Epſley told me within this hour, whom I ſent to the Court of purpoſe to learn it. Nay Faces are more ſowred, and Rumors of Dangers more Encreaſed, becauſe you have defeated ſome great Lords, who expected to be imployed, for the Conduct of the Infant a hither. And though things ſpeed never ſo well, this Quarrel will remain. But I would that might prove the greateſt Danger. If Your Lordſhip will Command me what to do in Your Abſence, I hope you believe you have a faithful Servant, and wiſe enough to follow Directions. I will be as Vigilant in your Affairs, as my diſtance from the Court will give me Leave, Your Lady is well, but unapproachable and inviſible. Your little Daughter is very Pleaſant, and as it ſeems, bids us hope the beſt in her Infantile Preſagements. My Lady Your Mother is well, and chides me that I could not Divine, and Propheſie of your Journey. I will make bold to remember me to your Hoſt, as we conceive it, the Earl of Briſtow, and his good Lady, my loving Country-woman. My Noble Lord, my Humble Suit unto you, and my beſt Advice is, that as all the Lords in England ſought your Lordſhip with all Obſervance in this Court, ſo you will ſeek and gain the great Lords of Spain, with as much Obſervance in the Court of Spain. I ended His Highneſs Letter with a Text of Scripture, and I have another for your Lordſhip, Geneſ. 24. ver. 48, 49. And I bowed my Head, and Worſhipped the Lord, and Bleſſed the Lord God of my Maſter Abraham, who hath led me in the Right-way to take my Maſters Brothers Daughter to his Son. And now if you will deal kindly and truly with my Maſter, tell me, that I may turn to the Right Hand, or to the Left. I Leave your Lordſhip in this Meditation, and in Gods Gracious Protection for ever.

130. Theſe, in the Levitical Phraſe, were but the Green Ears of the Firſt Fruits. The Sheaves of his Wiſdom will follow after. For more is to be look'd for how he proceeded, then how he began. All things went well, and unanimouſly on the part of our Engliſh Counſellors in thoſe Foreign Juntoes, from hence, and ſo forth at leaſt to the beginning of May. Thus far 'twas eaſie to pleaſe them all. But there is one skill requir'd in a Calm at Sea, another in a Tempeſt: Though the Pilots good Will and Fidelity be conſtantly the ſame. Truſt to him for this, and he ſhall not fail. After he had parted from the King, ſo deeply Charm'd to beſtir his Wits in this Negotiation, he was as Active as one could be that had little to work upon. The Prince and his Paranymphus the Marqueſs had wrote ſome Letters upon the way, how far they had proceeded in their Journey. But the Buen Meſſage, that they were come to the Cape of Good-Hope in the City of Madrid, was not yet brought to the City of London; where the conflux at this time was very populous; their Errand being to hearken after News. And the particulars they long'd to hear of were theſe; Whether His Highneſs were Arrived at the Court in Spain? When he would return again? (their Honeſt Affections ran too faſt to look for that ſo ſoon) Whether he were not Tamper'd withal to alter his Religion? And ſome were ſo reaſonable, and well pleas'd, (ſome were not) to ask, Whether he were Married, and would bring his Bride with him for hope of Future Iſſue? As much Satisfaction was given to theſe Scruples from the Lord Marqueſs, by the Firſt Poſt that Arrived here, as could be expected in ſo ſhort a time, as he had ſpent abroad. Of which more in due time. But before his Lordſhip's came, the Lord Keeper wrote again, and again unto him to Aſſiſt the main buſineſs, and to pour in ſuch Counſels into his Lordſhip's Breaſt, as keeping cloſe unto them, he might promiſe himſelf more Grace with the King, and Commendation with the Subject. Philoſophers, who wrote the Practices of a Good life, agree, That unfeigned Love doth Juſtifie it ſelf in three Probations, or in either of them; when it is Faithful to a dead Friend, who ſhall never know it; or to a Friend undone in miſery, who cannot requite it, or to an Abſent Friend, who doth not perceive it. As none that have Faith and Candor will wiſh to declare their ſincerity in the two former Experiments, ſo neither will they fail in the opportunity of the latter. foreign, ſays Antient Thales in Laertius. Remember your Friends as well far of, as near you. And in Rome, ſays Lil. Giraldus; Theſe two Adverbs were Written under the Image of Friendſhip, Longe & Prope. Be as Officious (nay more) to p. 118your Friend remote from you, as when you are hand in hand together. I have drawn out the Lord Keeper's Obſervance to his Raiſer, my Lord of Buckingham, with this Penſil of Morality. It would be tedious to fill up Leaves with thoſe copious and punctual Relations which he wrote to his Lordſhip of all Agitations in the Court, of Suits preferred to the King, and how far he went about to ſtop them all, till his Pleaſure was ſignified in the next Return. That which comes to the Inſtitute I handle, was thus Endicted, bearing Date Marth 31.

My moſt Noble Lord,

I Do humbly thank your Lordſhip for your Letter, and all other your loving Remembrances of me by the laſt Packet. It hath much revived me to hear of your Lordſhip's good Speed ſo far. I was Yeſterday with His Majeſty (the firſt time I ſaw his Face ſince your Lordſhip's Departure) to know his Opinion of this Letter to the Count Gondamar (which I ſend encloſed) to ſtir him up to conſummate the Marriage. His Majeſty lik'd it exceeding well; yet I have ſent it opened, that if your Lordſhip, and my Lord of Briſtow, who are upon the Place, ſhall not allow thereof, it may be ſuppreſſed. Truly the Reaſons are no Colours, but very real; that if new and tart Propoſitions, ſent from Rome, occaſioned by the Poſſeſſion they have of his Highneſs's Perſon, ſhould protract this Marriage, the Prince is in great danger to ſuffer exceedingly in the Hearts and Affections of the People here at Home, and your Lordſhip ſure enough to ſhare in the Obloquies. Better Service I cannot do the Prince and your Lordſhip, than to thruſt on the Miniſters of the King of Spain, with the beſt Enforcements of my Judgment; who, if they dead this Buſineſs with a Calm, it is almoſt as bad as a croſs Gale. But, my Lord, I will not fail to continue as faithful to your Lordſhip, as to mine own Soul. Which to do at this time, is not thanks-worthy, his Majeſty being ſo conſtant, or rather ſo augmented in his Affections towards you, as all your Servants are extraordinarily comforted therewith, and the reſt ſtruck dumb, and ſilenced. But if any Storm (which God will keep off) had appeared, your Lordſhip ſhould have found a Difference between a Church-man and others, who hath nothing to regard in this World, but to ſerve God, and to be conſtant to his Friend; all the reſt being but Traſh to him, who can confine his utmoſt Deſires to a Book, and a little Chamber. But God Almighty never imparted unto you a greater Share of his Majeſty's Affections, that at this Time.

131. This went by Sir J. Epſley: After whom, within three days, Sir George Goring followed, who was ſtay'd till April the 3d; the next day after, the joyful Packet came, that his Highneſs ſaw Madrid by the 7th of March in our Stile, and came thither in Health and good Plight, after ſo much Travel by Day and Night, ſo much hard Lodging, ſuch ſlender Fare in baſe Village-Oſteria's. Away went Sir George, I ſaid, with Alacrity, the next Day, and carried theſe Lines to my Lord of Buckingham, from the Lord Keeper.

My moſt Noble Lord,

IN Obedience to your Commands (which I humbly thank your Lordſhip for) I do write by this Bearer, yet no more than what I have have written lately by Sir John Epſley. All things ſtand here very firmly and well, which may concern your Lordſhip; only the Great Seal walks ſomewhat faſter than uſual, which is an Argument that it was not my Lord of Buckingham only, that ſet it a going. We hear the Affairs proceed well, where your Lordſhip is. And here is conceived generally Great Joy and Acclamation for the brave Entertainment that the Prince hath received; which the People did yeſter-night very chearfully expreſs by Bon-fires and Bells; only the Conſummation of the Matrimony is wanting to conſummate our Joys. Yet the People ſpread it abroad, upon ſight of the Bonfires, that all is perfected. As they do alſo ſpeak of your Lordſhip's Dukedom, a Title, which will well become both your Perſon and Employment. The Patent whereof, I believe, the King will ſhortly ſend to you, to teſtifie his Joy, and to gratifie your Service. But, my Lord, I am ſtill (againſt the Opinion of many wiſer Men) averſe to your Lordſhip's Return hither (as deſirous as I am to enjoy your Lordſhips Preſence) untill you either ſee the Prince ready for his Return, or that you may bring him along with you. I have ſent another Letter to my Lord Gondamar, to be delivered or ſuppreſſed as your Lordſhip ſhall pleaſe; to let him know, by my Expoſtulations falling ſo thick upon him, what is behoveful to be done. If they make us ſtay their leiſure, they will looſe much of their Thanks. If they cloy us with new Articles, upon Advantage that they have the Prince among them, they have loſt their Wits, or Honeſty, and will looſe their Purpoſe. Of which, yet I have but half a Doubt, and his Majeſty none at all. I have alſo taken liberty p. 119in that Letter, to ſpeak of your Lordſhip, I hope without Offence. I leave the reſt to Sir George Goring's Relation, and your Lordſhip to God's Protection.

Now was the time, now, when my Lord of Buckingham was in this eminent Imployment, that he did moſt need a Wife, and a truſty Counſellor: For an Error in ſo great a Euſineſs, would be worſe interpreted than the wilful Comiſſion of a Fault in a ſmaller thing. As Tully ſays, Lib. 4. de fin. If a Ship be wreckt by Negligence, Majus eſt peccatum in auro quam in palcâ. Hereof the Lord Keeper was more ſenſible than any of his Lordſhip's Creatures; and quite contrary to thoſe that had private Ends to make uſe of the Lord Marqueſs at Home, and called importunately for his Return, he alone was bold to give him his ſage Opinion, not to ſtir from his Charge; withal, enheartning him with the Comfort of the King's conſtant Favour, that it was kept for him againſt his Return, in as great, or higher meaſure, as he enjoy'd it when he took his Leave. And to Count Gondamar, he gave a Character of his Lordſhip, which he deſired the Count would make known to the greateſt Counſellors of King Philip, that none did exceed him in Generoſity and Sweetneſs of Nature; that he deſerved extraordinary Civilities for his own Worth, and according to the Favour with which his Maſter tendered him, and that he would pawn his Life upon it, that no Man ſhould go before him in Honorable Acknowledgments for Noble Uſage. Theſe good Offices were part of the Lord Keeper's Retribution to his Advancer, which he depoſited as faſt as he could lay them out: For perfect Thankfulneſs never leaves bearing, never thinks it hath paid its utmoſt Debt.

132. Now to follow the Chaſe: As Counſel and Forecaſt were very buſie at the Loom here, ſo Tidings from Spain did promiſe that there was a good Thread ſpun there. All Expreſſes related, that the Entertainment was very pompous and Kingly. foreign, ſays Alexander in Plutarch, I have ſaid all, when I ſaid it was done like a King, chiefly, like a King of Spain. But two Negatives were better than this Affirmative. Firſt, That his Highneſs ſhould not be attempted to recede from the Religion, in which he was grounded. Secondly, That he ſhould not be …ned with unwelcome Prorogations. Nay, That a ſhort time ſhould … the Nuptials. Truly. In defiance to Emulation or Detract… … be granted that the firſt Stone was well laid. His Highneſs's Welcome … full of Coſt and Honour, which was Decorum; for no Tree will bear Fruit in Autumn, unleſs it bloſſom kindly in the Spring. The Entertainment was compleat in all Points of Ceremony, and Ceremony is a great part of Majeſty. It will ſuffice to ſet down a little that is publiſhed herein, and never contradicted. Cabal. P. 14. The King of Spain and the State ſtudied to do the Prince all the Honour that might be. The firſt Decree that the Council of State made, was, That at all Occaſions of Meeting, he ſhould have the Precedency of the King. That he ſhould make Entry into the Palace with that Solemnity, which the Kings of Spain do on the firſt day of their Coronation. That he ſhould have one of the chief Quarters of the King's Houſe for his Lodgings. One hundred of the Guard to attend him. All the Council to obey him as the King's own Perſon. And upon all theſe Particulars, Mr. W. Sanderſon is exactly copious in the Reign of King James, P. 545, in laying the Relation with other high Civilities, which were very true. That a general Pardon was proclaimed of all Offences, and all priſoners within the Continent of Spain releaſed; and all Engliſh Slaves in the Gallies for Piracy, or other Crimes, ſet at Liberty; and this manifeſted to be done in Contemplation of the Prince's Welcome. The Windows of the Streets were glorified with Torches three Nights together by Proclamation Moſt coſtly Preſents, and of diverſe Garniſhing, brought to him, were Teſtimonies of Heroick Hoſpitality, ſuch as were wont to be beſtowed in Homer's Age, yet far beyond them, and whoſe like none could give, but he that was Maſter of the Weſt-Indies Abroad, and of the beſt Artificers at Home. That which weighed moſt of all, was, That infinite Debt of Love and Honour, which the King profeſt to be due unto him, with this long-wing'd Complement, which flew higheſt, That he had won his Siſter with this brave Adventure, and deſerved to have her thrown into his Arms. This was the Cork and Quill above, and I know of no Hook beneath the Water. Some imagine it; but, turning over all Diſpatches that came to my Hand, I know of none; and that which outgoes my Knowledge, ſhall never undergo my Cenſure. To ſpeak out the Truth, where could the Spaniſh Monarch have done better for his Siſter, or for himſelf; that is, for Love, or Policy? ſince it was a Buſineſs mixt of both. There was not a Deturdigniori p. 120among the Sons of Kings in Europe, to whom he could give the Golden Aple. And, in Conjunction with the Prince, the next Planet under him, the Lord Marqueſs had a Luſtre of much Grace and Obſervance darted upon him. At firſt he was much eſteemed, ſays the Intelligencer, Cabal, P. 16. and remembred with Preſents from the braveſt of both Sexes. Says another, He was a Perſon, whoſe Like was not to be ſeen among the ſwarthy and low-growth'd Caſtilians. For, as Ammianus deſcribes a well-ſhap'd Emperor, Ab ipſo capite uſque ad unguium ſummitates reétâ erat lineamentorum compage. From the Nails of his Fingers, nay, from the Sole of his Foot to the Crown of his Head, there was no Blemiſh in him. And yet his Carriage, and every Stoop of his Deportment, more than his excellent Form, were the Beauty of his Beauty. Another Siſinnius, as Socrates the Eccleſiaſtick ſhews him out, foreign. The Setting of his Looks, every Motion, every Bending of his Body was admirable. No marvel if ſuch a Gallant drew Affections to him at Home and Abroad, eſpecially at Madrid, which was a Court of Princes. But can that Nation paſs over ſuch a Triumph as this Entertainment, without Pumpian Words, and ruffling Grandiloquence? 'tis impoſſible. Therefore one Andres de Mendoza wrote a Relation of all theſe Paſſages, which he dedicated to Don Juan de Caſtilià, wherein he pities us poor Engliſh, that we had ſeen nothing but Country Wakes, or Popit-Plays, compared with theſe Rarities, which were the ſeven Wonders of Bravery. And that King Philip did vouchſafe to make King James happy with his Alliance; as C. Caeſar honoured Amiclas the Water-man (called Pauper Amyclas, Lucan. Lib. 5.) to be waſted over into Italy in his Bark. Thus he went on with other flatuous Diſparagements. One Copy of this, and no more, came to the Leiger Embaſſador of the Catholick King, of which the Lord Keeper had the Uſe, and would never deliver it again; but wrote to my Lord Marqueſs, April 20th, to bid the Earl of Briſtow to take care, either to ſtifle it, if it were not divulg'd, or to cauſe it to be called in, if it were publiſhed. Such Scriblers ſhould be informed againſt in the Ragguaglia's of Pernaſſus, and amerced to pay for the the Loſs of our Time.

133. Aſte the gaudy Days of the Royal Welcome were paſt over, my Lord of Buckingham obliged the Lord Keeper greatly unto him, with a Letter (Dated March 26, and came about the Declining of April) for the Comfort of the Contents, which were theſe.

My good Lord,

HOwſoever I wrote ſo lately unto you, that I have not ſince received any Letter from your Lordſhip; yet becauſe you ſhall ſee that I let ſlip no Opportunity, I do it again by this Conveyance, and muſt again tell you the good News of his Highneſs's being in perfect Health. I cannot doubt but many idle and falſe Rumors will daily be there ſpread, during the Abſence of his Highneſs; which I know your Lordſhip, and the wiſer ſort will eaſily contemn, and believe only that which you ſhall find avowedly advertiſed from hence. And here let me thus far prevent with your Lordſhip, any ſiniſter Report that ſhall be made in the main Point, which is the Prince's Religion; aſſuring you, that he is no way preſſed, nor ſhall be perſwaded to change it, for ſo is it clearly and freely profeſſed unto him. I hope I ſhall ſhortly be able to advertiſe your Lordſhip of the Arrival of the Diſpenſation, which will be the Concluſion of our Buſineſs. And thus wiſhing your Lordſhip all Honour and Happineſs,&c.

The Pearl, which came in this Letter, is that Satisfaction, purchaſed of God with the Prayers of all devout Men, that the Prince ſhould not be inveigled in Conferences, or unquieted with Diſputes, to ſtrip himſelf of the Wedding-Garment of that incorrupt Faith in Chriſt, which he had profeſſed from a Child, for that Wedding ſake which he came to conclude. How impudently have ſome Traſh-Writers out-faced this Truth, as if the Prince had been beſet on all ſides, to make Shipwrack of his Religion in the Gulph of Rome? Ar. Wilſon, of all others, is the moſt forward Accuſer, and therefore the Falfeſt. Taſt him in theſe Parcels, P. 230, that the Earl of Briſtow inſinuated it with this crafty Eſſay to his Highneſs, That none of the King's of England could do great things, that were not of that Religion. Yet he interfears in that ſame Page, That Gondamar preſt the Earl of Briſtow not to hinder ſo pious a Work, aſſuring him that they had Buckingham's Aſſiſtance in it. Then belike Gondamar was jealous of Briſtow, that he was contrary to that, which he called a pious Work, the Prince's Perverſion. Certainly he knew Briſtow as far as a Friend could know a Friend: And as many p. 121Bow-ſhots wide is he from my Lord of Buckingham's Sincority in that Action as a Lyar is from Heaven. Is not his Lordſhip's Hand-writing, ſo ſolemn'y mention'd, an uncontroulable Teſtimony? The ſame Author ſlanders Conde d'Olivares, and makes him utter that which never came from him. That if the Prince would devote himſelf to their Church, it would make him …th way to the Infanta's Afflictions; and if he ſeared the Engliſh would rebel, he ſhould be aſſiſted with an Army to reduce them. The Con…e Duke carried no ſuch threatning Fire in one Hand, nor at that time, any of his Holy Water in the other: For he committed nothing to offend his Highneſs's Ears in that …ind, till his Paſſions made him forget himſelf about three Months after. Not contented with this, he makes the Prince ſay that which he never thought, as that when the Conde Duke propounded, That if his Highneſs would not admit of a ſudden Alteration, and that publickly, yet he would be ſo indulgent to litten to the Infanta in Matters of Religion, when they both came into England: Which the Prince promiſed to do. But what ſays true hearted Spotſwood? P. 544. That the Prince was ſtedfaſt, and would not change his Religion for any worldly Reſpect, nor enter into Conference with any Divines for that purpoſe. Utri credetis? Is there any Choice which of theſe two ſhould rather be believed? I am careful to praemoniſh conſcientious Readers againſt Serpentine Pens, leaſt their nibling ſhould ranckle. A Serpent, you know, from the beginning was a Lodging for the Devil, Gen. 3. and ſo is a Slanderer. The Manual of Romiſh Exorciſms, ſays Inſtruct. 2. that it is preſumed for a ſign, that he is poſſeſt with a Devil, Qui linguam extorquet miris modis, & eandem exerit ingenti oris hiatu. I tranſlate that to the Manners of the Mind, which is meant there of the Body. And let the Living learn (the dead Man, whom I ſpeak of, can take no Warning) it is a diveliſh thing to loll out the Tongue of Contumely. Theſe being fore Times to out-face the Truth, and willing to liſten to Defamations, no marvel if ſome take the Liberty to Lye, and have the Confidence to be believed. But that Sectaries, that have quite overthrown the Church of England, a right and pleaſant Vineyard of Jeſus Chriſt, that theſe ſhould be the Men, who, for the moſt part, have challenged the Prince, and the chief Miniſters that laboured to effect the Spaniſh Match, for being luke-warm at the beſt, and unfaſtned from the Religion then profeſt, is very audacious. The Accuſed were Innocent, and never gave ground to any pernicious Alteration; but themſelves, the Accuſers, have trodden down that Religion, of which, in their deep Hypocriſy, they would ſeem to be Champions. The Prince and Buckingham were ever Proteſtants; thoſe their Oppoſites, you know not what to term them, unleſs Deteſtants of the Romiſh Idolatry. As if all were well, ſo they be not Popified, though they have departed from the Church in which they were Baptized, and a Church, I will not ſay as ſound as it was in its Cradle in the Apoſtles Times; but as pure and Orthodox in Doctrine and Government (as far as they were maintained to be of Divine Right and Conſtitution) as it was in its Childhood, in the time of their Diſciples, even that next ſucceeded them. And are theſe the Declamers for Religion, and the Temple of the Lord? Ex iſto ore Religionis verbum excidere, ant clabi poteſt? as Tully ſaid of Clodius, Orat. pro domo ſuâ ad Pontif. and ſo I give them no better Reſpect at parting.

134. But what will be ſaid, when one that is greatly affected to our poor demoliſh'd Church, doth concur with thoſe Snarling Sectaries of his own accord? That in the flagrant expectation of that Match, ſome for hope of Favour began to Favour the Catholick Cauſe. It is the Author of the Obſervations upon H. L. his Hiſtory of the Reign of King Charles, pag. 137. He hath not beſtowed his Name upon his Reader; but he hath a Name; foreign, ſays Homer. Odyſſ. foreign. I ought not to put him to the firſt Queſtion of our Catechiſm, Quo nomine vocaris? For good Writers, nay Sacred Pen-Men, do not always Inſcribe their Names upon their Books Scholars do invariably Father the Work (and ſome of them ſay they have it from the Printer) upon one that hath Wrote and Publiſh'd much, favoring of Induſtry and Learning. And they give Reaſons (which will come into the Sequel, though a great while deferr'd) why he blotts the good Name of King James; Why he grates ſo often upon the mild Nature and matchleſs Patience of King Charles. And if Fame have taken the right Sow by the Ear, it is one that had provok'd the then Biſhop of Lincoln in Print with great Acrimony Twenty years ago, and that Anger flames out in him now as hot as ever. Panthera, domari neſcia, non ſemper ſaeuit. p. 122Yet when that Biſhop came out of the Tower, and this Adverſary ſought him for Peace and Love, becauſe the Biſhop was then able to do him a Diſpleaſure, he found him eaſie to be Reconciled. What ſhould move this Man to forget that Pacification ſo truly obſerv'd on the Biſhops part, who was the greater, and the offended Party? Naturale eſt odiſſe quem laeſeris. And Malice is like one of the Tour Things, Prov. 30.15. That never ſay it is enough. 'Tis Degenerous for the Living to Trample upon the Dead; but very Impious, that he that was once a Chriſtian, nay a Chriſtian Prieſt, ſhould never ceaſe to be an Enemy. The Words with which he wounds the Spaniſh Match through his ſide, (though otherwiſe he is one that witheth it had ſucceeded) are theſe: That that Biſhop being in Power and Place at C… the time of King James, made himſelf the Head of the Popiſh Faction: becauſe he thought the Match with Spain, which was then in Treaty, would bring not only a Connivance to that Religion, but a Toleration of it. And who more like to be in Favour if that Match went on, than ſuch as were moſt zealous in doing Good Offices to the Catholick Cauſe? Here's a Knot of Catter-Pillars wrapt in a thin Cobweb, ſo eaſie it will be to ſweep them of. The accuſed Perſon was always free of Conference; Let any now living ſay that heard him often Diſcourſe of the adverſe Church, if he did not conſtantly open himſelf, not for a Gainſayer only, but for a Stiff Defier of their Corrupt Doctrines; (although he was ever pitiful for Relaxation of their Penalties) And would that Party cleave unto him for their greateſt Encourager? Encouragement was the leaſt their Head could give them: Beſide the Thing is a Chimaera. I never knew any Head of the Popiſh Faction in this Kingdom. Others, and Biſhops in Rank above him, have been traduced in that Name; but who durſt own that Office? eſpecially in the end of King James his Reign; when every year almoſt was begirt with a Parliament; and every Parliament procreated an inquiſitive Committee for Matters of Religion. What Miſt did he walk in, that neither Parliament. nor Committees, did detect him for Head, or Patron, or Undertaker, call it what you will of the Pſeudo-Catholick Cauſe; could nothing but the goggle Eye of Malice diſcover him?

135. Perhaps the Contemplation of the Spaniſh Match might embolden him, ſo this Author would have us think. It could not, it did not, take a little in the higheſt Topicks to both. It could not: For as the Anteceding Parliament was much taken with King James's Words, That if the Match ſhould not prove a fartherance to our Religion, he were not Worthy to be our King; ſo this his Majeſties near Counſellor knew his meaning, (of which he often diſcours'd) that when the Holy-Days of the Great Wedding were over, his Majeſty would deceive the Jealouſies of his Subjects, and be a more vigorous Defender of the Cauſe of the True Faith than ever. And Judge the Biſhop by his own Words, in his Sermon Preach'd at the Funerals of that Good King, that his Majeſty charg'd his Son, though he Married the Perſon of that Kings Siſter, never to Marry her Religion. I ſaid likewiſe he did not: Look back to the firſt Letters he diſpatch'd into Spain; but much more, let every Reader enjoy the Feature of his own Piety and Wiſdom, which he put into the Kings Hand, to have his liking, while his Majeſties Dear Son was in Spain, to Cure popular Diſcontents, and ſickly Suſpicions, which had come forth with Authority in October following, if the long Treaty had not Set in a Cloud. The Original Draught of his Contrivances yet remaining, is thus Verbation.

That when the Marriage was Conſummated, and the Royal Bride received in England, His Majeſty ſhould Publiſh his Gracious Declaration as followeth.

Firſt, To aſſure his Subjects throughout his three Kingdoms, that there is not one word in all the Treaty of the Marriage in prejudice of our own Religion.

Secondly, To Engage himſelf upon his Kingly Word, to do no more for the Roman-Catholics upon the Marriage, than already he did ſometime voluntarily Grant out of Mercy and Goodneſs, and uncontroulably may do in diſpoſing of his own Mulcts and Penalties.

Thirdly, That our Religion will be much Honoured in the Opinion of the World, that the Catholic King is content to match with us; nor can he Perſecute with Fire and Sword ſuch as profeſs no other Religion, than his Brother-in-Law doth.

Fourthly, That His Majeſty ſhall forthwith advance ſtrict Rules for the Confirmation of our Religion, both in Heart, and in the outward Profeſſion.

1. Common-Prayer to be duly performed in all Churches and Chappels Wedneſdays and Fridays, and two of every Family required to be preſent.

p. 1232. Every Saturday, after Common-Prayer, Catechiſing of Children to be conſtantly obſerved.

3. Confirmation (called Biſhopping) to be carefully executed by the Biſhop, both in the General Viſitations of his Dioceſe, and every Six months in his own Houſe, or Palace.

4. That Private Prayers ſhall no Day be omitted in the Family of him that is of the Degree of an Eſquire; elſe not to be ſo named, or reputed.

5. All Ladies; and all Women in general, to be Exhorted to beſtow two hours at the leaſt every Day in Prayer and Devotion.

6. All our Churches to be Repaired, and outwardly well Adorned, and comely Plate to be bought for the Communion-Table.

7. Diſpenſations for Pluralities of Livings to be granted to none, upon any Qualification, but Doctors, and Batchelors in Divinity at the leaſt, and of them to ſuch as are very Learned Men.

8. Biſhops to encourage Public Lectures in Market-Towns, of ſuch Neighbouring Miniſters as be Learned and Conformable.

9. A Library of Divinity-Books to be Erected in every Shire-Town, for the help of the poorer Miniſters; and Leave ſhall be Granted from His Majeſty to make public Collections from ſuch as are willing to ſet forward the ſame: Towards every one whereof, His Majeſty will beſtow Ten Pounds.

10. The Lord-Keeper to be required to provide for every Convert Prieſt, of good Parts, and honeſt Life, that ſhall Renounce the Romiſh Church, and Embrace our Religion, a Benefice of the firſt that ſhall fall in His Majeſties Gift. And every Biſhop, upon his coming to his See, ſhall lay aſide two Benefices for that uſe, to be Nominated by the Metropolitan of the Province, or whom elſe His Majeſty ſhall truſt therewith.

Now 'tis an even Lay, whether the Obſervator will call him The Head of a Popiſh, or a Puritan Faction, for providing ſuch Bride-Laces for the Marriage. He may call him what he will, (for his Tongue is his own) unleſs his Conſcience be ſubject to the Law of Charity. But theſe were the Directions provided for their honeſt Satisfaction, who perhaps would be troubled to ſee ſome Connivance granted to Recuſants, and could not ſpy into the neceſſity of State-Practice, while the Prince was in the Power of the moſt rigid Adherents to the Papacy. As for a Toleration, it will be ſhewn by me in its due Place, it never had an hour's Approbation with the King, with this Prelate, ſo much ſtruck at by the Anonymus, or by any of the grave Council. Seditious Male-contents ſpread open ſuch a Jealouſie at firſt, and this Author brings it to Light again; not that he believes it, I preſume, but to diſhonour him whom he hath Perſecuted, both Living and Dead, with a moſt unſanctified Diſaffection. Or if he believed it, bitterneſs of Mind put his Judgment out of Taſte: And as Nazianzen ſays, De Laud. Athan. foreign: He that is not ready to do Ill, will not be ready to ſuſpect Ill. Perhaps I might have ſpared the labour of this Apology; for if the Accuſer be no more believed than he is beloved, his Pen will do no hurt. Yet he hath wrote Things worthy of Praiſe; but is not the World wide enough for one man's Praiſe, unleſs he mount himſelf upon the Diſpraiſe of a man, that incomparably ſurpaſſed him? Of ſuch a ſtrange mixture was C. Gracchus, a knowing man, induſtrious, well meaning to his Country, as this is to our Church; but withal, Proud, Rough, and Turbulent. Ut dolerent boni omnes illa tanta ornamenta ad meliorem mentem voluntatemque non eſſe converſa: Says Cicero de Aruſp. Reſpon.

136. This Quarrel hath not put me out of my way; my Lord of Buckingham's Letter is ſtill in my Hand. His Lordſhip gave the Lord-Keeper further Joy in the cloſe of his News, That the Diſpenſation from Rome was ſuddenly expected at Madrid, which would be the concluſion of the Buſineſs. A Diſpenſation came indeed, yet not very faſt, but before April ended, for the Copy of it was exhibited to King James in the beginning of May. The Diſcourteſie was, That when it put forth a Hand out for the Womb, it drew it back again, like Zarah, Gen. 38.29. For the Diſpenſation would not ſuffice to conclude the Conſent of the Conclave to the Nuptials, till upon ſubmiſſion to Articles interchangeable between both Parties, a Ratification followed from the ſame Power. This Ratification, a frivolous Interloper to croſs a Lover's Suit, that went roundly on before, though it came limping to Madrid at the end of June, it was by Accident the Extermination of the Match. Delay is a fretful thing in all Courts, eſpecially in Cupid's. And two months Vacation to them, that thought two days too long, and p. 124looked homeward with many a long look, found them nothing to do, but to take Exceptions and Brabble. Morae diſpendia tantae: Aen. 1.3. This is it which our King, full of Stomach, called the Spaniards dull Diligence, firſt to depend upon Diſpenſations, then upon returns of Queries and Objections. And the more the Papalins frequented the Vatican Oracle, to ſteer by that alone, the further His Majeſty recoiled from them; profeſſing, He would hearken to his Brother the King of Spain, if he did balance his Offers with as good from thence; but He would do nothing upon dependance of the Pope's Authority, or Advice: Of whoſe Overtures and Poſtils, as he calls them, he was bid to beware by one of the Pope's Creatures. It was the Spaniards Error, of which they repented, That no impending Danger to overthrow the whole Body of the Tranſaction, would quicken their motion. It is a Policy that grows to their State, as the Bark to the Tree, That they will ever dreſs their Counſels at a ſlow Fire: For they are always gaping after thoſe Benefits, which Alterations may produce to their Advantage. Therefore the Engliſh and they were not well matched in this buſineſs. foreign; ſays Plut. lib. cont. Stoic. Adraſtus was got upon a ſpeedy Horſe, but was never the better, becauſe he muſt keep pace with a Tortoiſe. And as a hungry Stomach grumbles, that the ſhadow of the Sun creeps ſlowly to the Meridian Line of high Noon: Odi illud tardigradum animal horologium. So the Lord Marqueſs chid ſometimes with the great Dons, that he could pluck on the Treaty no faſter, and plied Opportunity while it was green, ſuſpecting wiſely that elſe it would never be ripe. Therefore the Lord-Keeper wrote on the 20th of April, both in the King's, and in his own Name, thus unto him.

My Noble Lord,

I Am much revived with this laſt night's News by Mr. Killigrew,That your Aſſurance from Rome is more quickned; although I ſhall not be ſatisfied in that Point, until I hear his Highneſs is married. His Majeſty doth upon all Occaſions magnifie your Lordſhips noble, wiſe, and vigorous Enforcement of this great Buſineſs: And bad me write to your Lordſhip, That if it be diſpatched, (which is my If, and not His Majeſties,) he will aſcribe the Activity thereof very much to your Lordſhip.

It is obſervable, that many times the comfort of Aſſurance is ſtrangely ſuppreſſed in our Heart towards a matter which we greatly deſire, when God hath ordained not to bring it to paſs. Some ſuch Inſtinct, that came from above, poſſeſſed the Lord-Keeper's mind, that in all his Employments for this match, wherein he was moſt hearty and ſerious, he never raiſed his Style higher when he wrote, than with Ifs, and ſuppoſitive Unconfidence. The Lord Marqueſs was of a more ſanguine and better coloured Hope, as in that which is related before out of his Letters, March 26. So in another to the Lord-Keeper from Madrid, Styl. Angl. April 17.

My noble Lord,

BE not angry with me that I write no oftner; I confeſs you deſerve all Truſt of a Friend. I underſtand more of your Actions, than from your ſelf. Others have let me know exceeding much. And as I owe you much, I'll pay you as much as I can: I know you will deſire no more; And you ſhall have no leſs. Our Buſineſs will end well, and ſoon. It lies not in my power to advertiſe you of all Particulars, though it would be very uſeful to me. I end, &c.

If one ſhould ſay to this, That young Heads hope for the beſt upon all Expectations, becauſe Experience hath not taught them to Diſtruſt. I take it up, and Anſwer, That there was nothing then in appearance to be diſtruſted; no, not the Remora of the Pontifical Diſpenſation, when it ſhould come, with all its Trinkets about it. The Prince had excellently prevented it: For, as it was Reported before the Lords and Commons in our enſuing Parliament, 1624. his Highneſs did utterly refuſe to Treat with the King of Spain, or his Council, until he was aſſured he might go on with the Marriage, if he ſatisfied them, to his Power and Conſcience, in all Particulars to be Debated, without reſpect to any orders that ſhould come from Rome. This was granted to his Highneſs, before he would ſit in Conſultation, which cauſed the Lord Marqueſs unto that time to bear up with chearfulneſs.

137. The month of May coming in with its Verdue, his Lordſhip had a Garland ſent him, the moſt eminent Title of a Duke; to ſhew, (ſays the Lord-Keeper, in his Diſpatch May 2. That His Majeſty is moſt conſtant, and in ſome degrees more enſlamed p. 125in his Affections to your Grace, than formerly, and (which is better than all) unaffectedly, to remunerate your Diligence in the great Negotiation; and that being the Princes right hand by the Truſt you are in, your Honour might be no leſs than the Conde Duke Olivares the Great Privado of King Philip. It may be ('tis ſo ſmall a Circumſtance, that I have not ſearched about it) that the Patent came with the Ships, that carried the Prince's Servants into Spain to attend his Highneſs, who went with the King's Order, and their own great Deſire, a moſt ſpecious Train of them, to viſit their dear Maſter, and to ſerve him in all Offices of his Family. Among theſe two were his Highneſs's Chaplains, who were ſent over to Officiate to him and his Court in the Worſhip of God. Theſe were Dr. Maw, and Dr. Wrenn, both of prime Note for Learning and Diſcretion; very Learned to defend their own Religion; and very Diſcreet to give no wilful Offence to the oppoſite part in a Foreign Dominion. The Spaniſh liked not their company; yet they took it not ſo ill, (for they could not but expect them) as that there was not one Romiſh Catholic declared for ſuch a one, among all his Highneſs's Attendants, Cabal, p. 15. Tully ſtates the Proverb in the Feminine Sex, Lib. 5. ad Att. Ep. 11. foreign: As you would ſay, Such as Diana her ſelf, ſuch are her Nymphs about her. But it is better paralell'd in King David's Perſon, He that walketh with a perfect heart, he ſhall ſerve me, Pſal. 101.6. Theſe were the Chorus of the Scene, that ſung in Tune with the chief Actor, and ſeconded his Part with their Symplaſma, (as it is called by ancient Muſicians) in their adherence to ſincere Religion: Yet ſome of theſe brought Inſtructions with them to the Duke of Buckingham from his ſecret Intelligencers, which not only diſturbed all poſteriour Treaties, but made the Prince return for England with the Willow Wreath: Becauſe the King, and they that were faithful to his meaning, knew not of it till July next after; let it ſquat till then, and it that order be ſtarted up. In this place it ſufficeth to glance at it, that the Duke was cunningly dealt with, and underhand, by ſome whom he had leſt behind, to be as it were the Life-Guard of his Safety, who were to ſend him notice of common Talk, or ſecret Whiſpers that might concern him. Theſe perſwaded him to ſet the Match back by degrees, and in the end to overturn it. That this was the deſire of moſt Voices in England. And his Grace muſt look to ſtand by the love of the People, as well as of the King. Or if he could not prevail in that, let him be ſure to joyn the Reſtitution of the Palatinate, with the Marriage in the Capitulations; or the Unſatisfaction, which all would take, that pitied the King's Daughter and her Children, would undo him. Upon theſe, and their ſubtile Arts, Sir W. Aſhton Reflects in this Paſſage, Cabal. p. 32. I believe that your Grace hath repreſented to you many Reaſons, ſhewing how much it concerns you to break the Match, with all the force you have. This was the Junto at London that had done his Grace this Office, and had guilded their Councils over with flouriſhing Reaſons, That theſe would procure him a ſtable continuance in Power and Sublimity with everlaſting Applauſe. Well, every thing that is ſweet, is not wholſom. Cael. Rhodoginus ſays, lib. 23. c. 25. That at Treviſond in Pontus, the Honey that Bees make in Box-Trees breeds Madneſs, if it be eaten. So I mean, that the Urgencies of thoſe Undertakes, who pretended ſo far to the Duke's Proſperity, were no better than Rhodoginus his Box-Tree Honey-Combs. Yet after they had given the Qu, now began the Duke to irritate the Spaniard, to ſhut out, or to ſlight the Earl of Briſtow in all Councels, to pour Vinegar into every Point of Debate; to fling away abruptly, and to threaten the Prince's Departure. Theſe boiſtrous Moods were not the way to ſuccour the Prince's Cauſe: for Favour cannot be forc'd from great Spirits by offering Indignities. And the Temper of the Buſineſs in hand was utterly miſtaken. For they were not met at a Diet to make Articles of Peace and War; but to Woo a fair Lady, whoſe Conſent is to be ſought with no Language, but that which runs ſweet upon the Tongue. As Q. Cicero wrote to his Brother de Peti. Conſul. Opus eſt magnopere Blanditiâ. Quae etiamſi vitioſa, & turpis ſit in caeterâ vitá, tam in Petitione eſt neceſſaria. All Suitors are ty'd to be fair ſpoken, but chiefly Lovers.

138. No doubt but at this time, in the Prime of May, the Duke, with ſuch ſuch others as the Prince did take into his Council, ſate cloſe, to conſider upon the Overtures that came with the Diſpenſation: For all thought that was the Furnace to make or to mar the Wedding-Ring, and it asked Skill and Diligence to caſt it well. It is a Gibe which an Heathen puts upon an Amoroſe, that waſts his whole time in Dalliance upon his Miſtreſs, foreign, that Love is an idle Man's Buſineſs. But there was Buſineſs enough, beſide Courtſhip and Viſits, which came thick, to keep this Love from being idle. The Diſpatches p. 126that were ſent from Spain to employ thoſe, that were in Commiſſion here to direct the great Negotiation, were many. Firſt, The Diſpenſation came to the King from the Prince his Son, May 2. But it came to ſcanning a good while after, as will appear by this Letter of the Lord Keepers to the Duke, dated May 9.

May it pleaſe your Grace,

IT is my Fortune, and I thank God for it, to be ever rendring, and ever owing Thanks to your Grace. The Diſpenſation is come, and with it good Tidings, that your Carriage hitherto hath been ſo diſcreet, and the Event ſo fortunate, that our Maſter is wonderfully pleas'd. But we were formerly never ſo deſirous to ſee that Box, that carries this Diſpenſation, than we are now to open it, and to know, by reading the ſame, what God hath ſent us. We all wonder at his Majeſties Reſervedneſs, for it came hither on Saturday laſt, this Day ſevennight But his Majeſty hath enjoyned Mr. Secretary Calvert ſilence therein. And I believe, for my part at the leaſt, that Mr. Secretary hath perform'd his Commandment. We all think, and the Town ſpeak and talk of the worſt, and of very difficult Conditions. My dear Lord, You have ſo lock'd up all things in your own Breaſt, and ſealed up his Majesties, that now our very Conjectures (for more they were not) are altogether prevented. If things ſucceed well, this courſe is beſt; if otherwiſe, I conceive it very dangerous. But it were a great Folly to offer any Advice unto you, who only know what you tranſact in your own Cabinet. How then ſhall I fill up this Letter? To certifie this only, that all Diſcontents are well appeaſed, and will ſo remain without doubt, as long as Buſineſſes continue ſucceſsful. But if they ſhould decline, I am afraid the former Diſguſts of your appropriating this Service will ſoon be reſumed. And then how dangerous it is to leave your Friends ignorant of your Affairs, and diſabled to ſerve you, I refer to your Graces Wiſdom and Conſideration. I do believe none of us all would keep your Counſel without a Charge to do ſo, (this keeping Counſel is a thing ſo out of faſhion) nor reveal it, if it be otherwiſe required, &c.

The Lord Keeper in this Letter miſs'd the true Cauſe, why his Majeſty did not yet impart a ſight of the Diſpenſation to any of his Counſellors. The reaſon was, becauſe it came to him in a private Packet. And he expected it to be deliver'd to him, as it ought, by Publick Miniſters, the Ambaſſadors of the King of Spain, who kept it dormant about a Fortnight in their Hands, whether it proceeded from their Native Gravida, to retein that long in their Stomach, which needed no Concoction; or to liſten what the many-headed Multitude would ſay in London; or out of ſome other State-juggling. As I have laid forth in this, what was miſtaken by the L. Keeper, out of his own Memorials preſerv'd: So in another Line he hazarded his Love to be ill taken, repreſenting to the Duke the Truth, That the King did ſomewhat diſguſt his appropriating the whole Service to himſelf, that is, repulſing the Earl of Briſtol, or reſtreining him to ſilence, where their Counſels were held I know not, whether the Duke did ſo ſoon regret at this; for it is the firſt time; and 'tis well plaiſter'd over with mild Counſel. So Statuaries, ſays Plutarch, do not only hew, and peck the Alabaſter upon which they work, but ſmooth it likewiſe, which is the neateſt part of their Cunning. By another Letter from the ſame Hand, dated near to the former, May 11. I perceive that the Duke, our Lord Admiral, demanded the Navy Royal to be made ready, and to be ſent to the Coaſt of Spain to conduct the Prince and his Followers Home. Which the King gave order to be done. But the Lord Keeper wrote to his Grace, if it were not with the ſooneſt, the main Matter not grown yet to any colour of ripeneſs: That the Charge would be very heavy to the Exchequer: Such a Fleet muſt be coſtly to be ſet forth, but far more coſtly to be kept long abroad. As for Coſt, it was the leaſt thing that was thought upon: It was no time for Frugality. The Stratagem was to have the Navy lie ready at Anchor, in ſome ſafe diſtance from the Spaniſh Havens; That if the Prince could recover no Satisfaction to reaſonable Demands from ſtiff Olivarez▪ and other Grandees: Or if they perſiſted to burden the Match with inſupportable Conditions, his Highneſs after a ſhort Complement might take his leave, and have all things prepar'd at a Days warning, if the Wind ſerv'd, for his Reduction into England. With this Fleet ſome precious Ware, never ſeen, no nor heard of in Spain before, at leaſt among the Laicks, was tranſported thither; the Liturgy of our Church, tranſlated into the Spaniſh Tongue, and fairly printed, by the Procurement and Coſt of the Lord Keeper. The Tranſlator was John Taxeda, the Author of the Treatiſe call'd Hiſpanus Converſus, a good Scholar, once a Dominican, whom his Patron that ſet him on work ſecured to our Church with a Benefice, and good Prebend. He ſtudied this Tranſlation Day p. 127and Night till it was ended. He that writes this was often at his Elbow to communicate with him, when he put Queſtions how to proceed. But the Lord Keeper himſelf, with other Overſeers, that had perfectly learn'd the Caſtilian Language, perus'd it faithfully, and, if there were not aptneſs in any phraſe, corrected it. With his Majeſties Privity, and great Approbation, two Copies of it were carried, Religious Tokens, the one to his Highneſs, the other to my Lord Duke, as the beſt and moſt undeniable Certificate that a particular Church can ſhew, to vindicate the right Profeſſion of their Faith from all Scandals, and to declare their Piety in all Chriſt's Ordinances ſquared, and practis'd by a publick Rule after the Beauty of Holineſs. A Book of Common-Prayer (which all call a Liturgie) is ſuitable to the Form of good Churches in all Ages; reduceth us to good Notions from wandring Extravagancies; preſerves Harmonious Conformity between all the Daughter-Churches, that are called from one Mother in one Realm, or State: It is our Witneſs to aſſoil us, when we are ſpitefully charg'd with Errours; ſo Chamieras, Gerardus, Camero, Spanhemius, Amyraldus, and divers more the beſt of Modern Writers in defence of the Reformed way, draw their ſecond Rank of Arguments, next to the Sacred Scriptures, out of their Liturgies to juſtifie their Tenents. Finally, with this Office of Divine Worſhip, he that celebrates Gods Service, is ready at all times to offer up to God the Sacrifice of Prayer, when ſome perhaps at ſome times are affected with Languor of Health, and then not ſo ſit to ſpeak ſuddenly to God in the behalf of the People; and when the moſt have Infirmity of Judgment, and are unſit at all times. Beſhrew the Tettar of Pride that runs over many Wits, and makes them care for nothing that's made ready to their Hand; and puts them in love with nothing but their own Conceptions. What have we loſt? Nay, What hath God loſt in the Honour due unto him? How is his Truth? How is his Name? How is his Glory diſ-reverenced over all this Land, ſince our Liturgie hath been Mortgag'd to the Directory?

139. It would be remembred, that this comes in upon the mention of the Fleet, call'd for and haſtned to weigh Anchor at Chattam, and to ride near to St. Anderos, to bring the Prince for England, if there were a rupture in the Treaty. But if they ſhould ſuddenly ſtrike Hands, and make a Bargain, my Lord Duke had his Thoughts upon a Queſtion, which if it ſhould be ask'd, he would not be ſurpriz'd as if he were ignorant what to anſwer, that is, What Dowry ſhould be granted to the Princely Bride? Therefore he conſulted the Lord Keeper, and required Satisfaction to be brought by a Courier, that muſt not ſpare Horſe-Fleſh; who was hied away as faſt as he could be with this Anſwer.

May 14. My Illuſtrious Lord,

THe Dowry about which your Grace requires the ſpeedieſt Direction, muſt conſiſt in ſome of the Kings fair Manſion Houſes, and in Revenue. For both which, the Mannor-Houſes, and the just Sum of the Joynture, I muſt refer to you, and can do no otherwiſe to my Lord of Briſtol's former Concluſions with that Council. But whether it ſhould be allotted in Land, or other Revenue, I cannot yet convince mine own Judgment fully which were better. Sometimes I conſider it were good that a great part were named out of Cuſtoms, and ſuch other Incomes, leſt our Poverty in Crown-Lands be diſcovered. Sometimes I find it for certain more advantageous to his Highneſs, to have all the Joynture in Land, and that the choiceſt of our Kingdom, becauſe being once in the Joynture it is ſure to be preſerv'd in the Crown, and no longer ſubject to be begg'd, or begger'd by Fee-Farms, and unconſcionable Leaſes. And I believe your Lordſhip will ſo adviſe it. Or, if you pleaſe, the Sum being agreed upon, you may ſuſpend the reſt till you return, that Counſel in the Law on all ſides may put their Caſes upon it. Your Grace will give me leave to obſerve, that now is the firſt time that any Daughter-in-Law of this Crown, had any other ſet Maintenante than was granted to her voluntarily by her Husband. But your Grace may reply, That this is the firſt Portion of ſo great a Bulk: And it is no way inconvenient for his Highneſs, that ſhe have a Copious Maintenance confirm'd to her in preſent, as I could tell your Grace at large, if I were preſent with you. All is right here to your Lordſhip's Good, and I will be vigilant to keep it ſo. Nor will I ſerve his Majeſty in that place, wherein I ſhall not be ſo heedful as to be able to yield an account of any Diſſervice, or Offer that way, which may concern your Grace, &c.

By the ſame Meſſenger, at the ſame time, another Diſpatch was poſted to the Prince, in anſwer to his Highneſs, who had ſignified his Pleaſure was, That the Recuſants ſhould be gratified for his ſake warily, and not by broad Day-light, to p. 128ſhew that he was ſenſible of thoſe Hoſpital Civilities, which he then received from ſome Cards of their Suit. Whereupon the Lord Keeper writes;

May it pleaſe your Highneſs,

I Would I had any Abil… to ſerve your Highneſs in this place, wherein you have ſet me, and (what far more Grace and Favour) Countenanced and Encouraged me. To obſerve your Highneſſes Commands, I am ſure the Spaniſh Ambaſſador reſiant muſt teſtifie, that ſince your Highneſſes Departure, he hath been denied no one Requeſt for Expedition of Juſtice, or eaſe of Catholicks, although I uſually hear from him twice or thrice a Week; which I obſerve the more Superſtiticuſly, that he might take knowledge how ſenſible we are of any Honour done to your Highneſs: And yet in the Relaxation of the Roman Catholicks Penalties, I keep off the King from appearing in it, as much as I can, and take all upon my ſelf, as I believe every Servant of his ought to do in ſuch Negotiations, the Events whereof be hazardous and uncertain. God Bleſs your Highneſs, as in all other, ſo eſpecially in this preſent Buſineſs of ſo main Importance,&c.

Theſe are the Negotiations which the Lord Keeper for his Share, at this Seaſon, brooded under the Wings of Fidelity and Prudence. How well let the Wiſe and Unbiaſſed be Judges: Such will not be Cajol'd into a wrong Belief by Corruptors of Hiſtory, as Heraclides ſerv'd his Scholars: Quos duplo reddidu ſluitiores quam acceperat: ubi nihil poterant diſcere niſi Ignorantiam. Cicer. Orat. pro Flacco.

140. It is enough declared how the great Matters about the Match went here. The Diſpenſation of Pope Gregory the XV. turn'd them round in Spain, till they were giddy with the Motion. It was expected it ſhould come in the common Church Style, an abſolute and Canonical Diſpenſation, and no more; only for her Sake that was in Submiſſion to his Laws: But it was Compounded with ſo many Reſervations, and ill-viſag'd Proviſoes, that it ſwell'd like a Tympany. The Pope knew with home he had to deal: For there are none in the Earth more Superſtitious to do him Honour then the King of Spain and his People. That King would make the Pope too big for a Prieſt, that the Pope might make him too great for a King. Nor is there any other intent, to make that Patriarch of the Weſt the ſole capacious Fountain, from which all Pipes of Grace and Indulgence Eccleſiaſtical ſhould be fill'd, and run abroad, but principally to Water his own Garden. What between the Nuncio Reſiant at Madrid, who was Commanded to ſtop all Proceedings, till ſafety were granted; nay, and put in Execution, both for Engliſh and Iriſh Catholicks as much as they ask'd: What with the Charge given to the Inquiſitor General, to uſe all poſſible diligence to draw the Prince to his Holineſs's Obedience; What with Olivarez's frowardneſs, of whom the Duke could not obtain to put a Poſtſcript in his Letter to the Pope, that to add theſe new and un-reliſh'd Conditions, with which the Diſpenſation was Clogg'd, would be interpreted the worſt of Unkindneſs; what with all theſe together, his Highneſs might ſay, Fat Bulls of Baſan have compaſſed me in on every ſide. A little Honey, (God wot, a little) was allowed to to the Lip of the Cup, if he would Taſte of that Potion; that was, that from thenceforth his Highneſs might have acceſs to his Dearly Affected Miſtreſs; not as formerly, a bare Viſitant, but now as a Lover; ſo ſome of their chief States were in preſence to hear all their Conference, a Rule which they ſay is never Infring'd in the grave way of the Caſtilian Wooing. The old Man Gregory the XV. gave light himſelf to his Friends and Servants in Spain, what they ſhould do by the Flame of his own Zeal. For he ſent a Letter to the Prince, Signed with the Signet-Ring of St. Peter, to exhort his Highneſs with many words, to reduce himſelf, and the Kingdoms of which he was the Heir, to the Subjection of the Roman See. Hereupon, ſome of our Hot-Heads in England made it a Quarrel and a Calumny, that the Prince ſent an Anſwer of Civility to the Popes Epiſtle. Civility, though it is a thing unknown among the Plebeians and Clowns, is a Virtue among Gentlemen; And will they make a Virtue Criminal? But where lies the Offence? Perhaps that his Highneſs ſhewed no diſreliſh in his Anſwer to the PopesMotion; Neither did he ſhew Encouragement, ſo far the Terms are even. Fair Language in that Caſe would coſt the Prince nothing, it would ſave him much: For the more Hurt the Pope could do, the leſs he was to be diſpleas'd with Provocation. To go further, He that will Cenſure an Action, muſt not Judge upon it Naked, but with all its Copartments. Many Things that were well done, if you will peel away the Bark of their Circumſtances, will ſeem Reproachfull. The Behaviours of Abraham and Iſaac, Gen. 20.26. in the p. 129Courts of the Kings of the Philiſtins, with the excuſe of Fear are fall of Prudence; without that Plea they are full of Frailty. No Deed was ever rigidly expended, into which a Man was thruſt by Neceſſity, unleſs it wanted a Wiſe Hiſtorian to ſcan it. The Phocenſians, when their Chief Men were in no better Condition in Aſia, then if they had been Hoſtages, did appear for the Perſian Monarch, when he led an Army to Invade Greece; but ſays Herodotus … foreign, they did Medize, or Temporize with the Perſians, not with a good will, but out of a Compulſion. And Tully, with me, one of the Wiſeſt of the Heathen. Orat pro Quintio. Omnes qu…rum in alterius manu vita …ſica eſt, ſaepiùs cogitant, quid poſſit is, cujus in poteſtate ac ditione ſum, quàm quid debont ſacere. He that is fallen into the Power of others, and is demanded, not a wicked thing, which muſt not be yielded, but an inconvenient, conſiders not what is abſolutely expedient, but what is expedient in that Caſe. And a ſharp witted Chriſtian, it is Grotius writes upon that Paſſage, Deut. 22.25. If a Man ſind a Betrothed Damoſel in the Field, and the Man force her, and lie with her, then the Man only that lay with her ſhall Die, but unto the Damoſel that ſhalt do nothing; Thus he ſays, Docet hoc exemplo Lex parcendam iis, qui vi ad cli aliquid peceaverint. He means, they are not to be periſht who are compelled to ſuffer a Sin, and are forc'd into it. Therefore, if the Prince, (being at Madrid, not at London) wrote things honeſt to the Pope, but as Meekly and Pleaſingly as Paul ſpake before Feſtus and Agrippa, when he was in Bonds, Who can accuſe him? For by Law of Nature, no Man muſt deliver himſelf up to a danger, which he can innocently avoid: The harmleſ… Dove is not bound to forget the Wiſdom of the Serpent. But the ſtrongeſt hold, which his Highneſs's Juſtification will maintain for ever againſt all Aſſaults, is, That the whole Contents of his Letter were unblameable, and yet very unpleaſing to the High Prieſt, to whom he wrote. Take the expreſs Words, and only Controverted. The Exploits of my Noble Predeceſſors have not been more, than the Care which I have, that the Peace of the Church might be bounded in true Concord, and as the Glory of God requires our Endeavours to unite it I do not Eſteem it greater Honour to be Deſcended from ſuch Princes, than to imitate them in true Zeal of Piety. In which it aſſures me much, to have known the Mind and Will of our thrice Honour'd Lord and Father, to give concurrence to ſo laudable a Deſign. For it doth not grieve him a little to ſee that great evil grows from Diviſion of Chriſtian Princes; whoſe peaceable Settlement, if this Marriage between the Infanta of Spain and my ſelf may procure, I ſhall the rather conclude my Happineſs therein: For, as I have been far from encouraging Novelties, or to be a Partiſan in any Factions againſt the Catholick Religion, ſo ſhall I ſeek occaſion to take away Suſpicions, that I deſire but one Religian, and one Faith, ſeeing we all believe in one Jeſus Chriſt; having reſolved in my ſelf to ſpare nothing that I have in the World, my Eſtate and Life, for a thing ſo pleaſing unto God, whom I implore to give your Holineſs Health and Happineſs. A Synod, or an Aſſembly of Divines, Togati vel Palliati, could not have handled the Pope with greater Wit and Dexterity. Who is pincht to the quick in the Letter, and yet could not juſtly complain of Uncivility, or Exaſperation. The Prince promiſeth to follow the Footſteps of his Father; as Spartianus ſaid of Geta, Son to Emperor Severus, Paternarum ſententiarum memor, he could not dreſs himſelf better than by his Fathers Glaſs. And how doth he promiſe to follow him in that which he had begun? To accord the Variances of all Chriſtian Churches, that their Peace might be bounded in true Concord: Which is as much as to bring the Pope to be Sub-Canonical; to Conform him to the Decrees of a free Council, called by Chriſtian Monarchs. This was the Helena for which King James contended; And this was the Europia, or new ſound Paradiſe, in the Phanſie of Arch-Biſhop Spalato, as is handled before, for which Revenge was taken by Fire upon his Dead Carkaſs. I believe this Letter fretted his Crazy Holineſs, and did his Hectick no good, of which he died not long after. I am ſure, after his Nuncio had gotten a Copy of it, he could never endure the Prince more. From hence the Embraces of Truth may ſee, how ſtaringly falſe, and daringly impudent that Report is, That the Prince had not come out of Spain, but that he leſt his Faith, as well as his Proxy behind him; and got thence with the very ſame Trick that Sir Francis Mitchel ſaid he got out of the Inquiſition at Rome; which is a Weldeniſm, p. 162. a familiar Trope in the Rhetorick of the blatant Beaſt.

141. Proceeding now to the Proceedings of June, There were many ſuſpitions here, how the Capitulations went ill in Spain, becauſe Letters Arrived not till after Five Weeks ſilence, as the Lord Keeper obſerves the exact time in the p. 130next he Wrote. The moſt furmiſed things were at a ſtanding Water, and did neither Ebb, nor How; whereas indeed they were come to the High-Water Mark, but the Wind and Tide went as contrary as could be imagined.—Carina, Vim geminam ſentit, paret que incerta d…obus. Nothing was diſpatch'd; for every Oar-man ſtruck unevenly to the reſt, that ſate in the Tranſomes of the Galley. All the Agents were Ruin'd together; for they complain'd both of the Reſiſting Council, and of the aſſiſting Council by their own part. How far they are to be believed in Angry Reports they made of each other, and very unfriendly Relations, I cannot decide. Therefore I pre-moniſh, Though I am not in a Labyrinth, yet it is not ſuch a …n way, that all way-faring M…n, though no F…ols, ſhall not err in it, Iſa. 35.8. The Humors which bred the Diſtemper, were the Popes Diſpenſation; Con. Olivarez Inſolent and Inconſtant ſtruggling: The Duke of Buckingham diſliking all things, and diſlik'd of all: The Earl of Briſtow favour'd too much by K. Philips Servants, and too little by the Servants of his own Maſter: Finally our Engliſh and Iriſh Papiſts, who fill'd the Courts of Rome and Spain with Narratives of their grievous Perſecutions (which they did only fear) and Petitions to conditionate the Match with their mitigation. Theſe were the main Sticklers to do a real miſchief, only to ſatisfie a Fantaſtical Jealouſie. The Tears of their Lamentation dropt upon the Popes tender heart, ſo that, to comply with them, many a bitter Kernel was in the Core of the diſpenſation. And I have Reaſon to ſuſpect they were ſome Grains the worſe, that the French, employ'd at Rome at that time, did the worſt Offices they could, as the Lord Herbert, our Kings Embaſſador in France wrote hither, Cabal. pag. 301. Thoſe of the King of France's Councel at Rome will uſe all the means they can to the Pope (in whom they pretend to have very particular Intereſt) not only to interrupt, but to break Your Majeſties Alliance with Spain. Many Rattle-Heads, as well as they, did beſtir them to gain-ſtand this Match. But as Pliny ſaid in his Age, Nat. Hiſt. l. 29. So may I in our time, Ingenicrum Italiae ſlata impellimur, the Italian Wits are they, that will take it in ſcorn, if they bear not all before them. For Example in this Diſpenſation, How acute they thought themſelves in their Policy? and how Imperious, I am ſure, they were in their Arrogancy? It came to the Nuncio Reſiding at Madrid in April, who was commanded to obſerve this Form in the Delivery; That it ſhould not be Open'd and Communicated, before the King of Spain did take an Oath to be a Surely; That the King of England ſhould really perform all things required therein; or if he fail'd in ſuch performance, or in any of them, then the King of Spain with all his might and Power to take Arms againſt him, What? Though the Italians are ſo Witty for their own part, do they ſuppoſe all people beſide are fallen into a ſtrong Delirium? Had they caſt our Water ſo ill, to think us ſo Weak, that before one Article was Publiſh'd or known, we would be beholding to Sureties to undertake for us? Or that we would ſubmit to all with indefinite and undiſcourſed Obedience? It hapned fortunately, that the Lord Keeper had dealt before with Mr. George Gage, a full Romaniſt in Religion, but a Faithful Subject to his King, to be diligent in the Court of Rome, and to ſpare no Coſt upon his Purſe, to get a Copy of the Articles, as ſoon as the Diſpenſation was Bulled, and to ſend them under hand by the greateſt ſpeed to the Prince. In which Mr. Gage did not fail. foreign A Golden Key will open the ſtrongeſt Lock in the Gates of Hell. By this Providence his Highneſs knew what it was the Nuncio held ſo cloſe in his Fiſt, as ſoon as himſelf. Yet took no Notice, as if he had ſeen particulars; but as if at adventure bad him ſuſpend the Delivery of the Powers, as long as he would, for he knew that his Father would fly from that Offer, That the King of Spain ſhould Engage for him, becauſe his Majeſties Conſcience, and his Writings (divulg'd as far as Learning reach'd) would not permit him to Subject himſelf to the Popes Propoſitions, which he had no Authority to obtrude upon Free Princes, no nor upon any Man …ut of the Verge of his Suburbicary Juriſdiction. So much G…ndamar could have told them, one that fate in the Spaniſh Junto, out of the Lord Keepers Letter (for it is his, though his Name is omitted Cab. p, 236.) in theſe Remarkable Words. His Majeſty hopes that you are not Ignorant, that the Treaty is between Him and your Maſter. He hath no Treaty with Rome, neither lies it in his way to diſpute with them upon this Queſtion. It troubled the Nuncio that the Peremptory Clauſe, which the Diſpenſation brought with it, was thus ſlighted; and it would keep ſtale no longer, buſineſs was in ſuch Haſte. Therefore they come to thoſe, who were our Princes employ'd Councellors, to require of them to give their beſt help to rowl away this Stone, which p. 131was the main Obſtruction. On our Part therefore we ask'd two Queſtions; Firſt, Whether King Philip could take ſuch an Oath for another King? Guardians may take Oaths in the behalf of Minors, whom they Govern'd; for it was in their Power, and it lay upon their Charge, to perform that which they ſwore for Minors, till they came to Age. We had heard of ſome, who were wont in ſome places, that procured the Cauſes of their Clients in Civil Courts, to take an Oath in Animam Domini ſui, vel in Animam conſtituentis; but ſuch as Weighed Religion more by Conſcience, then by Cuſtom, deteſted it. For who can Swear before God to oblige the Soul of another? Since an Oath muſt be taken in Judgment, as well as in Truth; Jerem. 4.2. The Spaniards were be-gruntled with theſe Scruples. And their Recourſe was to a Convention of their ſoundeſt Divines, to deliver their ſentence upon it; who walk'd as ſlowly and gingerly, as if they had been founder'd. They toſs'd over Books; they ſearch into the Code, the Caſuiſts, and Canoniſts; Read tedious Lectures, and caſt up a Trench of a hundred Scruples to Beſiege this little Queſtion. The Prince, whoſe Humanity and Wiſely-Govern'd Temper was admir'd of all, took the waſt of time, that theſe Divines made, in great Offence. Now was the firſt time that he ſpake that unkind Word to Olivares, That he was Wrong'd, and wiſh'd himſelf in his own Court again. Olivares Chaſed as faſt; that their Fatherhoods, with their Mountains of Learning, ſate ſo long to bring forth a Mouſe, and blamed himſelf (as it was reported in our Parl. Anno 1624.) That the Devil put it into his mind to call that Aſſembly. For all this the Divines would be known in their Place, and would not break up their meeting, till they had Reſolv'd after twenty days, what they determined to Conclude from the firſt hour, That King Philip might take the Oath; wherein yet we gained thus much on our part, that a Point, which was Reſolved by the Pope and his Conclave, ſubſcribed by them all, Committed to the Nuncio to be Advanced with St. Peters Authority; might be diſputed twenty days by a Chapter of private Divines. Let them ſit twenty days more to ſatisfie us, whether it were good Theology, or good manners, to ſerve him ſo, whoſe deciſions, they ſay, are inerrable. When the Grave Doctors of Salamanca had acquitted themſelves ſo learnedly, his Highneſs's Miniſters moved another Queſtion, Whether King Philip would take the Oath as Procurator for our King, who nor requir'd it, nor was privy to any thing that was ſtuff'd into the Procuration. To which a preſent Anſwer was given, and no bad one; it could not be Reſolved, before the Spaniſh Counſel ſaw, how far our Prince and his Counſel would yield in points of Religion. And how can we tell you that, ſaid they of our part, before you bring forth the whole Plump of your Articles? No Fence could thruſt by this Queſtion, but that it would ſtick faſt in the Cauſe. So we gained again, that King Philip was reſtreined from making Faith for King James. And although the Froathy Formality of promulging the Diſpenſation was kept back, yet the Articles came into Play, that the Commiſſioners on both ſides might fall to a Seſſion.

142. But from Strife of Tongues, from Fundamental Contradictions, from Claſhings every day, what Fruit could be look'd for? Do Men gather Grapes of Thorns? If you will believe the Parties, what this Lord objected againſt that Lord, there was none that did Good, no, not one. If you will believe their reſpective Defences to thoſe Objections, there was none that did amiſs. I cannot take up all the Blots they made with my Pen, leſt I make them bigger. None of thoſe Peers hath Juſtified himſelf ſo well in his Letters, Apologies and Reports, but that ſtrong Inferences may be drawn from ſome Parts, to diſprove the reſt. What was ſpoken at the Conference of the Junto was within the Veil, and under Covert; but what is publiſhed out of it, is moſt uncertain. For the Lord Keeper, after he had conſulted with the Prince, and ſearched all Papers to paſs his Judgment what Countenance the Buſineſs ſhould put on, when the Parliament looked upon it; but ten days before, Feb. 2. 1623, He writes thus to the Duke, Cabal, P. 90. That all the Reckoning muſt not be caſt up before the Parliament, for fear they ſhould fall to particular Diſpatches, wherein they cannot but find many Contradictions. After whom, I glean up this Handful, He that writes upon this Subject, what is reſerved in the Memorials of thoſe Days, writes after the Canon of Integrity; but when he is moniſhed that there are Contradictions in thoſe Memorials, he can never be ſecure, that he hath compiled an uncorrupt Hiſtory. Upon this Staff he may reſt, That when the Chief Counſellors fell out among themſelves, like the Midianites, every Man's Hand againſt his Brother; as worthy Actors as I count them to be, yet every one was out in his Part. Nay, He that will adjuſt p. 132the Courſe of any one in this high Tranſaction in all things, will burn Truth in the Hand, and ſpare the Guilty. He that aſpired to be Dioſcorus, the moſt preeminent in the Company, let him be firſt conſidered. That is, Conde Olivarez, the Abner in the Service of his Maſter Iſhboſheth, whoſe Humor would brook to be croſt by no Man; ingrained in Nature to be Ariſtotle's foreign, a great Opiniator, a coſtive Counſellor, that would hold the Ground where he ſtood, and move for no Perſwaſion. By the fortunate Gale of Court-Favour, he had lived in continual Cuſtom to carry all before him, without being ſtopt. As Vellei…s ſays of M. Agrippa, Parendi ſed uni, ſcientiſſimus, aliis ſanè imperandi cupidus; ſo he was very ſervile to pleaſe King Philip, and look'd that all beſide ſhould be as ſervile to pleaſe him. Such a Spirit is intolerable in Counſel, and not to be coapt with, that thinks it an indignity, unleſs he ſpeak for all, and Vote for all. Such a States-man is like to bring nothing to a good End, but himſelf to an ill one. Our Princes Reports may be held of all other to be moſt Authentical; from whom take it thus. His Highneſs repreſenting the Treatiſe of Spain to the Lords of the Privy-Councel at St. James's Octob. 30. 1623. Begins, that the firſt man that did give him great Profeſſion of welcom into Spain was this Olivares, and in the interview in the Garden aſſured him, that all buſineſs ſhould be diſpatch'd as faſt as his Highneſs wiſh'd: That the Temporal Articles ſhould ſtraightway be Concluded; and the Spiritual Articles about Religion ſhould cauſe no delays, but be remitted to the Wiſdom of the King his Father, and his Gracious Promiſes. But, ſays his Highneſs, The longer I ſtaid, the leſs I found him my Friend, and the oftner I ſpoke with him, the leſs he kept his Word. But our Duke of Buckingham, after a little acquaintance, found the Conde Duke a great deal worſe to him. They came in no place but with ſhews of diſdain at one anothers Perſons; and like two great Caraques in a foul Sea, they never met in Counſel, but they ſtemmed one another. In every Propoſal, if one ſaid ſo, the other ſaid no; if one lik'd it, the other ſlighted it. Could it be expected that the Counſels of the whole Table ſhould not be at a Fault, when the two Preſidents appear'd in Hoſtility of Opinions? When the Malady of diſaffection lay not hid in the Veins, but broke out in the Body? When they never brought their Offers within compaſs of Probability? One Obſerves for their parts that run Races, Alex. lib. 2. c. 21. Quanto minor in corpore ſplen foret, tanto perniciores homines eſſe. He that hath the leaſt Spleen will make the beſt Footman. So in all Negotiations, he that is moſt Calm will diſpatch moſt work; but put Wiſe-Heads together, yet where there is much Spleen, there will be little done. There was no likelihood but the Northern and Southern Favourites, as the Lord Keeper foretold, would look proudly one upon another, when they met in the ſame Cock-Pit. Courteſie was quite out of faſhion with them, that he that receiv'd it might not ſeem the greater; Emulation was all in Faſhion, to dim each others Light by caſting Shadows of Oppoſition. Only theſe Animoſities between two high Spirits, ſo ill Match'd were the Seed of the Quarrel; which I preſs againſt a vulgar, and a ſcandalous Error, made Table Talk in all England, that our Duke had Attempted the Chaſtity of the Condeſſa Olivares, and was Cheated with a diſeaſed Strumpet laid in his Bed, &c. This is groſly contumelious. The Lady was never ſolicited by Buckingham to defile her Honour with him, as Sir Wal. Aſton will Teſtifie in a Poſtſcript of a Letter to the Duke, Cabal. p. 33. The Condeſſa of Olivares bids me tell you, that ſhe Kiſſeth your Grace's Hands, and does every Day Recommend you particularly by Name in her Prayers to God; which Salutation ſhe durſt not have ſent to his Lordſhip, no not for her Life, if the Duke had offer'd toward that Indignity to make her a Strumpet. And for the Reſt of this Obſcene Tale, the worthieſt Gentlemen that waited upon his Perſon in that Journey have aſſur'd me, that as well in Spain, as when he came from thence into England, his Body was Untainted from that Loathſomneſs not to be Named, the juſt Recompence of Rotten Luſt. Yet perhaps more will Read theſe Reaſons, then believe them, though they cannot Anſwer them. Few have been ſo happy to be Redeemed from the Rumor of a common Slander. For as the moſt Eloquent of Men ſays, Orat. pro Plancio. Nihil eſt tam volucre quàm Maledictum; nihil facilius emittitur; nihil citius excipitur; nihil latius diſſipatur. Eſpecially a contumely cleaves the faſter, when he that is clean from the Defamation in one Perſon, hath deſerv'd it in others; for as Octa. Minutius ſays, Oftentimes there is ſome likelihood in a Lye, and not unſeldom ſome unlikelihood in a Truth.

143. Other Errors, and many were charg'd upon the Duke, and a broad back will not bear them all. Yet caſting not an Eye upon the Earl of Briſtol's Papers, p. 133which he produced in Parliament, a Lap full of them, and no leſs. Their chief purpoſe was to caſt an Odium upon him, that he heightned the Spaniards at firſt to ask worſe Conditions in Religion, then were formerly Treated on. Theſe were Recriminations, wherein no man, no not the Wiſe Earl of Briſtol is like to keep a Charitable Moderation. Becauſe his Miſcarriages had been ript up by the Duke before, what followed but that wawardneſs which St Auſtin confeſs'd to be ſometime in himſelf; Si deprehenſus Arguerer, ſaevire magis quàm caedere libebat. Cofeſs. lib. 1. c. ult. But ſuch as were no parties in Conteſtation with my Lord of Buckingham, blame him that he was very raſh in managing buſineſs, turning about Councils in all haſte upon the Wheel of Fancy, but keeping no Motion of Order or Meaſure; which none could endure worſe then that Nation, with whom he Treated, who are the moſt Superſtitious under Heaven to keep that Politick Rule, Bona Conſilia morâ valeſcere. Tacit. Hiſt. l. 4. They ſaid alſo, That he was Offenſive to the Crown of Spain in taunting Compariſons, and an open derider of their Magniloquent Phraſes, and Garb of ſtatelineſs; which muſt be an intended provocation; for he was as well ſtudied in blandiſhments, and the Art of Behaviour, as any Courtier in Europe. They repined that he thruſt himſelf into ſuch a Room at their Masks, and Interludes, as were proper to their King, our Prince, and the Train Royal; and was not contented with that Honour which was given to the Major Domo, or prime Subject of Spain; as if he were not ſatisfied to be Received as a leſs Star, but as a Parelius with his Highneſs. And whatſoever the grudge was they vented it craftily in that Quarrel, that he did many things againſt the Honour and Reverence due to the Prince, as one hath pick'd up, and offered it to King James Cab. p. 221. That he was over Familiar in Talk, and in Terms with his Highneſs. Yet David, ſo near the Crown, call'd himſelf a dead Dog, or a Flea in reſpect of Saul. Nor is it omitted that he was ſometime cover'd when the Prince was bare, ſometime ſitting when the Prince ſtood, capering a loſt in ſudden Fits, and Chirping the Ends of Sonnets; which was not Unmannerlineſs, he was better bred; but inconſiderateneſs, which will creep upon him, who was too much dandled upon the Lap of Fortune. Or as Budaeus better Expreſſeth it Sap. Pand. p. 331. Mirablandimenta genuit Aulici victus ratio, quibus praeſtantiſſima virtus ſaepè conſopita connivere viſa eſt. And truly his Breeding in Budaeus his own Country did him ſome prejudice in that kind. For the French Mode is bold, Light and Airy. That which we call rudeneſs, with them is freedom, good Metal, brave aſſurance. And that which we, and the Caſtilians call Gravity or Modeſty, with them is reputed Sneaking, want of Spirit, Sheepiſhneſs. But between frets of Spight, and Fits of Levity, the Duke put the Treaty ſo far out of Tune, that the Lovers were diſappointed of their expected Epithalamium. So that the Spaniards made it one of their Refranes or Proverbs: If the Prince had come alone (without the Duke) he had never return'd alone (without the brave Caſtilian Virgin) they might ſay ſo freely; for I heard himſelf ſay no leſs in the Banqueting Houſe at a Conference with the Lords and Commons anno 1624. When he endear'd himſelf to the Hearers, That the Stout and Reſolute way wherein he went had overturn'd the Marriage, and did Arrogate the Thanks of all things to himſelf, that were acceptable and popular: So be it; yet that which Canoniz'd him with the people then, was afterward made an Evidence againſt him, Cab. p. 227. To lay a Dram of Excuſe againſt a Pound of Error, this is to be Alledged, that Olivares and Count Montes-claros were ill Advis'd to ſpurn a young Lion, as if he had been a Puppy-Whelp. For as ſoon as they ſaw the Duke ſoare ſo high in his Opinions, and when Briſtol ſpake to mitigate him, diſaccount of him contemptibly, as if he had nothing to do, this Brace of Grandees call'd it in Queſtion, what Creature could have more Power in that Action, then an Embaſſador, that laid the firſt Stone of it, that had ample Letters of Credence under the King's Broad-Seal, with the Confirmation of the Privy-Council of England, which was more then my Lord of Buckingham brought with him. The Headſhip of the Treaty was in the Prince, and they bended to it, Extolling his Wiſdom as Capitolinus doth Gordianus the Elder, Moribus it a moderatus, ut nihil poſſis dicere quod nimiè fecit. The next place they deemed to the Earl of Briſtol, upon the Reaſon premiſed, though he declin'd it. And ſhould Buckingham be degraded to be the third in Place, who held the Higheſt Place in Honour, and the Supremacy both in the King's, and the Princes Favour: Auſonius in Paneg. ad Gratian. tells a Story, That Alexander the Great Reading thoſe Verſes in Homer, that Agamemnon was Nam'd by the Common Souldiers to Fight the Duel with Hector after Aiax and Diomedes, clapt out p. 134an Oath ſaying, Occiderem eum qui me tertium nominaſſet, I would have cut his Throat, that ſhould have Named two before me. Truly Buckingham had ſo much Bravery in him, that he would take the third Place in as great Dudgeon as Alexander.

144. The grave Earl of Briſtol was paſſive in this Quarrel, and ſunk it in Silence with his beſt Dexterity. So he did allay all other Heats, which the Duke's Paſſion raiſed againſt him, if his Letter to the Lord Keeper be of Canonical Faith, Cab. P. 21. knowing how undecent and ſcandalous a thing it is, for the Miniſters of Princes to run different ways in a ſtrange Court. But the Envy of all Miſcarriages was caſt upon his Lordſhip by that mighty Adverſary, and by a greater than he. That he was wholly Spaniolized, which could not be, unleſs he were a Penſioner to that State. That he ſided with Olivarez in all Conſults. That he profeſſed a Neutrality, and more, in all Propoſitions for the Advancement of the Popiſh Religion. That he never Pleaded for the Reſtitution of the Palatinate, but only pitied it with the Spaniſh Shrug. That he did not ſo timely unmask the Spaniſh Councils to the Kings Advantage, as he might, and ought to have done. That he entangled the Prince in Delays, to keep him from returning Home. For theſe, and other the like, which will follow in the great Report made in the next Parliament, a Noiſe was made, that his Lordſhip ſhould be offered up to Juſtice, as a publick Sacrifice. But they that conteſt for his Innocency, obſerve, that he was let looſe to depart in Quiet, when he ſhould have been brought to the Horns of the Altar. And when the Bill drawn up againſt him, was put into Sir Robert Philip's Hand, an active, and a gracious Member of the Houſe to manage it to his Ruine, Sir Robert writes to the Duke, Cab. P. 265. If Briſtol frame a probable ſatisfactory Anſwer to any Charge, will it not rather ſerve to declare his Innocency, than to prepare his Condemnation? Your Grace may conſult with your ſelf, whither you may not deſiſt with Honour, upon having him further queſtioned. Afterward, when his Maſter King James was dead, and when he was at the Stake, I may ſay, like to be worried in Parliament, by his Accuſers, he writes thus confidently to the Lord Conway: Cab. P. 20. As for the Pardon, Jacob. 21. I ſhould renounce it, but that I know the juſteſt, and moſt cautious Man living, may, through Ignorance or Omiſſion, offend the Laws. So that as a Subject, I ſhall not diſclaim any Benefit which cometh in general, as it doth uſually to all other Subjects in the Kingdom. But as for any Crime in particular, that may entrench upon my Employments in point of Loyalty and Fidelity, I know my Innocency to be ſuch, that I am confident I ſhall not need that Pardon. A. Gallius, li. 12. c. 7.Take the Earl's Caſe Pro and Con, it is very dubious; therefore I will deal with it, as the manner of the Areopagites was in ſuch Perplexities, adjourn it to be heard an hundred Years hence. I ſay, not He, but They were the Proprophets of Baal, that troubled our Iſrael. Our Corner-miching Prieſts, with the Bloomesberry-Birds their Diſciples, and other hot ſpirited Recuſants cut out the Way with the Complaints of their (no-grievous) Sufferings, which involved us in Diſtractions. Rome and Madrid were full of them, and they conjured Pope Gregory, and the Catholick King, to wind in their Safety and Immunity in the Articles of the Match, as behoved a Father and a Friend. If they had ſate ſtill, and let the Buſineſs go adriſt with the Tide, it had been better for them. They that force their Fruits to be Ripe, do but haſt them to be rotten. Qui ſpretis quae tarda cum ſecuritate, prematura vel cum exitio properant, Tacit. Annal. lib. 3. The Word of the King and Prince would not ſerve them, that they would be gracious to all of their Sect, that lived modeſtly and inoffenſively to deſerve their Clemency. But they muſt have publick Inſtruments for it (and Acts of Parliament, if they could be gotten) to debauch his Majeſty in the Love of his People. For as the Lord Keeper writes very prudently to the Duke, Cab. P. 105. The Bent of the Engliſh Catholicks is, not to procure Eaſe and Quietneſs to themſelves, but Scandals againſt their neighbouring Proteſtants, and Diſcontents againſt the King and State. Rhetorical Campian avows it in an Oration made at Doway. Note this Apoſtrophe of his to our Kingdom. As far as it concerns our Society, we, all diſperſed in great Numbers through the World, have made a League, and Holy Solemn Oath, that as long as any of us are alive, all our Care and Induſtry, all our Deliberations and Councils ſhall never ceaſe to trouble your Calm and Safety. Yet when our pragmatical Boſom-Enemies had wearied themſelves with Solicitations, the Earl of Nitſdale, a main Prop of their Cauſe, confeſt, It may be Aſſurance ſufficient to all Catholicks, who have the Senſe to conſider, that it muſt be our Maſter's, and the Prince's gracious Diſpoſition, that muſt be our Safety, more than either Word, or Writ: Thus he to the Duke, Cab. P. 250. But while the Recuſant Petitioners had cauſed all Affairs with us, and p. 135Abroad, to be obnoxious to Inflammation, the Lord Keeper, like a right Lapidary, cuts a Diamond with a Diamond, and uſeth Sir Tob… M… (is it not a Paradox?) the buſieſt Agent in that Cauſe, to Manifeſt, both in the Palace at Rome, and in the Court at Madrid, that the Petitioners graſp at more Favours than they could hold, either with the Peace of this Kingdom, or with the Laws of it, which would endanger them to forfeit all that Connivance which they had gained before. Give him his Due, he rode with great Celerity to thoſe remote Places, and did his Work to the Proof, and to his great Praiſe. S…ſtus eſt, at mihi infidelis non eſt. As Plautus in Trinummo. The Lord Keeper failed not to put Gold in his Pocket, but he paid him chiefly out of his Father's Purſe. That moſt Reverend Arch-Biſhop of York, his Father, being highly diſtaſted with Sir Toby's Revolt from the Proteſtant Religion, made a Vow to Diſ-inherit him, and to leave him nothing. The Lord Keeper plied the Arch-Biſhop with ſweet and pleaſant Letters, which he loved, and with ſome Mediators in Yorkſhire, not to infringe his Vow, for he did not ask him ſo much as to name him in his laſt Wi…l and Teſtament; but to furniſh him with Three thouſand Pounds while he lived, and the Sum was paid to his Son to a Peny. How Sir Toby be… himſelf in the wiſeſt Counſel, which, I think, was given to the King of Spain, may be read, Cab. P. 25…. importuning his Majeſty not to entangle the Prince with the Vo…o of the Theologos, to which he could not ſubmit himſelf with Honour, but to accept of thoſe large Conditions for Catholicks, which my Lord the King, and the Prince have condeſcended to, that ſo the Prince may have ſome foot of Ground, upon which he may ſtand without Breach of Honour, to comply with the incomparable Affection which he beareth to the Infanta. This is ſure, that Sir Toby's Induſtry was well taken, becauſe he did what he could. And he that employed him, held him ever after to be a Perſon of Truſt, in any thing which he promiſed to do.

145. Very conſonant to the grand Particulars of the Praemiſes, are the Contents of two Letters, both diſpatcht in June from the Lord Keeper to the Duke's Grace. That which bears the former Date, June 15, and yet unpubliſhed, lays out Errors adviſedly and mannerly, under the Heads of trivial Reports, and furniſheth the Duke with Counſel for all Exigencies of Advantage, eſpecially diſeloſeth the King's Opinion, if the Worſt ſhould come. It is long, but I could not pare it, and not mar it. Thus it is.