A Memorial Offered to John Williams, Part of biography 1 · Letter 21 – Letter 23
May it pleaſe your Grace,
IF ever I had (as God knoweth I never had) any extraordinary Contentment in the Fortunes of this World, I have now good Cauſe offered me to redouble the ſame, by that exceeding Love and Affection, which every Man (in his private Letter to others) doth take Notice that your Grace doth bear, and continually expreſs to your poor Servant. Nor is your Love incentred to me only in your own Breaſt, but full of Operation, having procured to me a good Opinion with his Highneſs, and now a very fair and favourable Aſpect from my Royal Maſter. May I never enjoy the one, or the other any longer, than I ſhall return them both to their firſt Orignal, and employ them to the laſt Drap in your Grace's Service. Having not yet ſpoken with Sir Francis Cottington, I ſhall not deliver my Opinion of the State of your Negotiation, but go on with my Baeds, and pray ſtill unto God to bleſs and proſper it. Only we have here many odd Relations of the ſame, agreeing in this, That the grand Buſineſs is much ſhort of the Forwardneſs we expected, and at this time in part diſ-joynted. Firſt, Some Diſtaſts between your Lordſhip and Count d'Olivarez, are reported to be of late in ſome ſort skinned over, rather than healed. 2. Your caſting of the Earl of Briſtol from all Employment, before ſuſpected only, is now freely diſcourſed. 3. That Porter drew on your Grace, and that your Grace drew on the Prince, and preſſed the King's Aſſent unto this ſecret Voyage; and all upon a Foundation, either imagined, or miſ-apprehended by Porter the firſt Mover. Upon theſe Suſpitions, and five Weeks Silence, taking a little Advice with my Lord Hamilton, whom I obſerved moſt faithfully conſtant unto your Grace: I touched upon his Majeſty this Day Seven-night, to feel how his Majeſty ſtood affected, in caſe you ſhould return without your Errand. And taking occaſion to recommend that vigorous and active Courſe your Lordſhip was reported to run, in preſſing and forcing ſome ſpeedy Reſolution; and averring, that however it ſped, it was the only true Service an Agent could now do unto his Majeſty. His Majeſty replied inſtantly, That he did ſo interpret it, and that none bat Fools or Knaves could otherwiſe cenſure it. Which, I profeſs before God, I was glad at the Heart to hear fall from his Majeſty: And your Grace may do well to keep this Intelligence by you. If I have offended in being thus bold, I crave your Pardon, it was the fervency of my Love and Affection: And if I offend in the other Extream, which is in omitting to ſay or do what I ought to do in your Service, impute it to your own Silence and Reſervedneſs; your Grace being defective to your ſelf, and injurious to my Lord Hamilton and me, if you ſhall not impart unto us freely and timely any ill Succeſs (which Good keep off) that ſhall befall in this Negotiation. For the good News, I am content to take it upon Retail from Pauls; but the worſt I ſhall expect to hear at the firſt from your Grace, I beſeech your Lordſhip to take ſome Occaſion to ſalute, in a Letter to my Lord Preſident, the Lords of the Council, who have ever been very obſervant in publick of you and yours; and are much dejected with notice of ſome Letters, wherein your Grace ſhould intimate the contrary. In good Faith, your Grace hath found all Reſpect with the Body of the Council, in all this time of your Abſence. And I hambly beſeech you to take heed what Words you let fall concerning the Lord Treaſurer. All that are about you ſtand in need of his Favour, as the World now goeth. And in good Faith, I never obſerv'd him, ſince his coming to this Office, more reſpectful to your Lordſhip, and your Friends, than he is at this Inſtant, &c.
Truly no Proceeding could be more genteel, to win the Hearts of all the Great Ones to his Grace, and to keep them ſure unto him, than to perſwade him that he had no Enemy.
146. The Latter of the two Letters is come abroad in Cab. P. 78. whoſe Date ſhould be June 28, whereof, becauſe it is in many Hands, ſome Jaggs will ſuffice to be recited.
MY Love makes me ſometimes write, and many times fear fondly and fooliſhly, for the which, I hope your Grace will pardon me. I have been ſrighted more three Weeks ſince, about Quarrels and Jars (which now Dick Greyham hath related in part to the King) than at this preſent I am. For God's-ſake be not offended with me, if I exhort you to do that, which I know you do; to obſerve his Highneſs with all Lowlineſs, Humility, and dutiful Obedience, and to piece up the leaſt Seam rent; which Heat and Earneſtneſs may peradventure ſeem to produce—If the great Negotiation be well concluded, let all private Diſagreements be wrapped up in the ſame, and never accompany your Lordſhip into England— I beſeech you, in your Letter to the Marqueſs Hamilton, intimate unto him your Conſidence and Reliance upon his Watchfulneſs and Fidelity in all Turns, which may concern your Grace. I have often ſaid unto his Lordſhip, that your Grace hath in many of my Letters expreſſed as much, and ſo have pacified him for the time—I have had an hours Diſcourſe with his Majeſty yeſterday Morning, and do find ſo diſpoſed to yourdſhip, as my Heart deſireth, yet hath been informed of the Diſcontentments, both with the Conde d'Olivarez, and the Earl of Briſtol, &c.
'Tis confeſt that theſe Advertiſements, ſo dutifully preſented, were ſullenly taken. It offended, that the Lord Keeper look'd through his Grace's Infirmities with a quick Eye, though with a noble Sadneſs. He might have wrote ſomewhat elſe, if he had been leſs Wiſe, or leſs Honeſt. Yet ſtill he wrote, for the Valuation of the Duke's Goodneſs to him was ſo great, that the Sowerneſs of preſent Unkindneſs muſt be dipt in the ſweet Sawce of former Benefits. It is intoninus the Emp. Similitude, caſt Dirt into a pure Fountain, foreign, it will purge it out, and ſupply clear and wholeſome Water. Immemiately before, that is, while the former of theſe Letters was upon the Way, the Duke entruſted the Prince's greateſt Secret, and his own to the Lord Keeper, with a Charge to carry it with him to the King, being cautious that no Foot-ſtep of it ſhould remain under his own Hand, or any other. Therefore thus he ſalutes the Lord Keeper, June 17.
My Dear Lord,
THIS incloſed is a Letter from his Highneſs to His Majeſty, I pray you deliver it with your own Hands, and read it likewiſe to him; but when you are alone with him. If you ſhow him this Letter, he will, I am ſure, give you leave. When it is read, the Prince bids you either burn it, or keep it for him. I beſeech you excuſe me for not writing oftner; I ſhall now every day be ſo buſie, that I ſhall have leſs Leiſure than before. Yet I pray you let me hear ſometimes from you, and how his Majeſty uſes you in my Abſence, for I am ſure he knows you my Friend, which I ſhall ſtrive, while I live, to continue, &c.
That which was ſit to be kept in tenebris for that time, may now come to light without Injury, by his Gloſs upon it, who, the King excepted only knew it. Our Prince either was weary, or was perſwaded to be ſo, with Articles upon Articles, and Additions upon Additions in that Spaniſh Junto. Therefore he deſired Leave from his Father, that he might aſſay to depart from Madrid, as ſecretly as he came thither.
—Quando optima Dido
Neſciat, & tantos rumpi non ſperet amores.
Aeneid. 4.
The Lord Keeper indeed had emboldned the Prince in February before, to that Courſe; but the King thought the Motion was not ſo ſeaſonable at that time. For his Highneſs was attended in Spain with a great Houſhold of Followers, and God knows whither the Sheep would be ſcattered, or into what Pin-ſold they ſhould be thruſt, if the ſhepherd were gone. And his Majeſty ſtill dreamt of of winning the Game, and profeſt he ſaw no ſuch Difficulties, but that Patience. after a while, would overcome Perverſneſs. Howſoever, it would be inglorious for the Prince of Wales to run away from the Frown of the Spaniards. But leaſt the Safety of ſo dear a Perſon ſhould ſeem to be ſlighted, or his Welcome Home retarded, the Lord Keeper beſought the King upon his Knees, that his Majeſty would write his Fatherly and Affectionate Letters, to require his Son's Return, giving them no Date, but leaving that to be inſerted, when Buſineſs was crown'd with Opportunity. This Counſel hit the Pin right, and was followed; and by God's Will, who hath the Hearts of Kings and Princes in his Hand, it pleaſed on this ſide, and beyound the Seas.
147. Great was the Expectation what the Month of July would bring forth, as well in England as in Spain. My Lord Duke had thruſt himſelf into the greateſt Employment that was in Europe, when at firſt he had no Ground, now no Mind to accompliſh it. A ſorry Apprehenſion, taken from Mr. Endi. Porter, carried him forth in all haſt to make up the Match; but there were others, who deſired his Grace to gratifie them with Concealment for their Good-will, that ſent Inſtructions into Spain, to adjure him to do his utmoſt to prevent the Eſpouſals. Their Reaſons were the two principal Places of Divine and Humane Wiſdom, God's Glory, and his own Safety. For God's Sake, to keep our Orthodox Religion from the Admixture of that Superſtition, which threatned againſt the Soundneſs of it. And no Corroſive ſo good to eat out the Corruption of Romiſh Rottenneſs creeping on, as to give the Spaniard the Dodg, and to leave the Daughter of Spain behind. To his own Safety this Counſel was contributed. Theſe, who made it their Study, and were appointed to it, to maintain the Grandeur of his Lordſhip, met frequently at Wallingford-houſe, to promote the Work. Who had obſerved, that ſome Impreſſions were gotten into the King's Mind, and they knew by whom, that his Majeſty was reſolved to be a Lover of Parliaments, that he would cloſe very graciouſly with the next that was called; nor was there Likelihood that any private Man's Incolumity, though it were his Grace himſelf, ſhould cauſe an unkind Breach between him and his People. Therefore the Cabinet-men at Wallingford-Houſe, ſet upon it to conſider, what Exploit this Lord ſhould commence, to be the Darling of the Commons, and as it were to re-publicate his Lordſhip, and to be precious to thoſe, who had the Vogue to be the chief Lovers of their Country. Between the Flint and the Steel, this Spark was ſtruck out; that all other Attempts would be in vain, unleſs the Treaty for the great Marriage were quaſht, and that the Breach of it ſhould fall notoriouſly upon the Lord Buckingham's Induſtry. For it was not to the Taſt of the Engliſh (if you will number them, and not weigh them) fearing ſome Incommodation to the Proteſtant Religion Theſe Jonadabs, 2 Sam. 13.3. the Subtle Friends of beauteous Abſalom, drew the Duke out of the King's High-way into the By-path of Popularity. The Spaniards alſo ſtir'd up his Fire to ſtruggle and appear againſt them—For as the Earl of Briſtol writes, Cab. P. 20. He was very little beholding to them for their good Opinion. Withal, he was ſo head-ſtrong, that all the Miniſters of our King, that were joyned with him, could not hold him in. He had too much Superiority, to think them his Fellow Servants, that were ſo indeed. And having nothing in his Taſt but the Pickle of thoſe new Counſels, which his Governing Friends in England inſus'd into him, he pluckt down in a few Weeks, which the other Part had been raiſing up in eight Years. Centum doctúm hominum concilia ſola devincit Dea Fortuna, Plaut. Pſeud. Act. 2. This unfortunate Accident did both contravene, and overmatch the Counſels of a hundred wiſe Men. A fatal thing it hath been always to Monarchs, to be moſt deceived, where they have truſted moſt. Nay, If they had all the Eyes of Argos, their chiefeſt Confidents are able to abuſe them on the blind Side. Therefore the Obſervator is moſt injurious, that puts a low Eſteem upon King James's Wiſdom. P. 14. That he was over-witted, and made uſe of to other Mens ends, by almoſt all that undertook him. So he may put the Fool upon Solomon, who was couſen'd in Jeroboam, whom he made Ruler over all the Charge of the Houſe of Joſeph, 1 King. 11.28. A Solomon may be miſtaken in a Jeroboam, and like his ſeeming Faithfulneſs and Sufficiency to the Undoing of his Poſterity. Little did the old King expect, that the Man of his Right-hand, whom he had made ſo ſtrong for his own Service upon all Occaſions, would forget the Truſt of his Gracious Maſter, and liſten to the Voice of Hirelings. Which of the Members of my Partition will make the Duke excuſable in point of Honour and Conſcience? Did he do it for the beſt to the King? Did he think the Spaniſh Alliance would be fruitful in nothing but Miſeries, and that it would be a thankful Office to lurch the King in his Expectation of it? Evil befall ſuch double Diligence. Perhaps it may be ſhifted off with the Name of a good Intent, when it tampers with a Branch, or Circumſtance of an Injoyment; but when it raiſeth up the very Body of Inſtructions, 'tis no more competent with Obedience, than Light with Darkneſs. The Heathen would not brook it, that had a grain of Philoſophy in their Diſpoſition, that a Miniſter ſhould alter the Mandates of his Superior, upon Suppoſes to the better: Ne benè conſulta, Religione mandati ſoluta, corrumperentur, Gell. lib. 1. c. 13. They thought that thoſe Services, which wanted the Religion of Obedience, let their Aim be never ſo honeſt, would prove improſperous. Or did this great Lord do it for the beſt to himſelf? I believe it. If the Hope of the Match died away, he lookt to get the Love of the moſt in England; but if it were made up, he lookt for many Enemies, for he had loſt the Love of the beſt in Spain. Sir Wal. Aſton foreſaw wiſely, that there was no fear, but that the Princely Lovers might joyn Hands in Sacred Wedlock, if that Fear of the Duke could be removed. So he writes, Cab. P. 32. Would your Grace would commit it to my Charge, to inform the Infanta what you have merited, and to accommodate all other Miſtakes here concerning that Proceeding. If your Grace would reconcile your Heart, I would not doubt, but, with the Concluſion of the Match, to compoſe all things to your good Satisfaction, and to bring them to a true Underſtanding of you, and of their Obligation unto you. But his Lordſhip knew what he had deſerved, and that it was not poſſible to look for good Quarter from them: So he cut off the Thread of the Match with theſe Sciſſors. The Love of the Engliſh muſt not be loſt; the Love of the Spaniard could not be gain'd. But it was paſſing ill done of him to deal ſo with his dear Maſter, to whom he owed more than ever he could pay; for whom he ſhould not have been nice to hazard his Preſervation. He knew the bottom of the King's Boſom, that his Majeſty accounted this great Alliance to be the Pillar of his preſent Honour, and the Hope of his future Proſperity: That all his Counſels with foreign States turned upon that Hinge: That he looked for golden Days with it, which would fill our People with rich Traffick, and ſpread Peace over all the Borders of Europe. He knew his Lord the King deſired to live but to ſee it finiſhed, and car'd not to live after he ſaw it vaniſhed. Crediderim tunc ipſam fidem humanam negotia ſpeculantem, maeſtum vultum geſſiſſe, Valer. lib. 6. Let the Duke have his deſerved Praiſes in other things great and many; but let Fidelity, Loyalty and Thankfulneſs hide their Face, and not look upon this Action. Let his Friends that did drive him to it, and wrought upon his flexible Diſpoſition, bear much of the Obloquy. For it is not foreign, but foreign, not Man, but God that made the Law: He that kindled the Fire, let him make Reſtitution, Ex. 22.6.
148. He that hateth the Light, loves not to come to the Light, leſt his Deeds ſhould be reproved, Joh. 3.20. The Politici, that carried the Duke athwart with their excentrick Motion, were very impatient to be diſcovered. They thought they had beat their Plot upon a quilted Anvil, and that their Hammer could not be heard. But time is a Blab, which will tell all Secrets, and ſpared not this. The Lord Keeper was much maligned, as the Author of the Detection: Yet he deſerved not the Glory, for it was the King himſelf by this Occaſion. The Embaſſadors of the Catholick King, preſſed that the Articles, aſſented to by the Prince, and thoſe about him, ſhould be ratified. And Preparation was made to give them Satisfaction. So the Lord Keeper aſſures the Duke, Cab. P. 78. The King is reſolved to take certain Oaths you have ſent hither, and I pray God afterwards no further Difficulty be objected. Theſe Oaths being brought to diſcuſſion at the Council-Table, there were among the Lords, that ſuppreſt their Conſent, till better knowledge did warrant them, and ſome Aſpect of Neceſſity did make them reſolute to Agreement. While theſe few of the Lords were ſuſpenſive in their Judgment, it was brought to the King, that ſome, profeſt Servants and Creatures of the Duke's, cavilled at certain Articles in the matter of the Oath, and were very buſie to puzzle thoſe, who had not yet compleatly deliberated upon them. The King laid this to other things he had heard (and he was able to put much together in a Glance of Imagination) and called one of them, that was employed in this unacceptable Office, to a private Conference, whom his Majeſty handled with ſuch ſearching Queſtions, conjured with ſuch Wiſdom, wound into him with that Sweetneſs, that he fetcht out the Myſtery; yet giving him his Royal Word to conceal his Perſon. Sic ſuo indicio periit ſorex. So the Rat was catcht by his own Squeaking. This his Majeſty imparted to the Lord Keeper and Marquiſs Hamilton, and was not a little diſcomforted upon it; for here was a Danger found out, but not a Remedy. Yet he went on (chearfully to all ſeeming) to that which was come to a ripe Head, and gave Command to the Lord Keeper to prepare all things for the ſolemn Confirmation of the Covenants, that were brought from Spain. He went went about it, and had about him thoſe three Qualities which run together in St. Paul, Rom. 12.11. Not ſlothful in Buſineſs, fervent in Spirit, ſerving the Lord: That is, Diligence, Courage, Conſcience. Zealots, who are favourable to themſelves, that they think they have among them the Monopoly of Conſcience, had been able to diſcourage another, who in common Diſcourſe, laid no leſs Crime than Atheiſm, no Religion upon him that ſhould give Furtherance to a Popiſh Marriage; much more, if for Reaſons of State-Compliance, he ſhould refreſh the Party adherent to Rome with any Mercy or Favour. But this man regarded not Rumors before Reaſon; God had given him a Spirit above Fear, which, he would often ſay, had the greateſt Influence in the Corruption of two brave things, Juſtice, and good Counſel. So he was reſolved, as Illuſtrius ſays of Theod … the Philoſopher, foreign, to ſpend, or caſt away ſome Wiſdom, not only for the Intelligent, but for their Sakes that were ignorant, and knew not how to uſe it. The Precedent for this Work, he conceived would be to turn over the Paper Stories of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, when the firſt and ſecond Dukes of Anjou were propounded for Husbands to that glorious Lady, of whom the latter came ſo near to ſpeed, that wiſe Burleigh, with others that had gray Hairs, and grave Heads, drew up a Book for the Conſummation of the Marriage. Lay that Treaty with the French Monſieur, and this of Spain together, and there needs no ſtriving to bring them to great Reſemblance in the Compariſon. There was as much Diſparity in Religion between the one Pair, as the other. The Duke of Anjou came as unexpectedly to the Queen at Greenwich, as the Prince came unlooked for to Madrid. The Duke brought but two or three in Train, Camb. Eliz. Fol. P. Ann. 1579. no more did the Prince. The French Treaties continued eight years to obtain the Queen; the ſame Term of time had been ſpent in the Prince's Behalf, to enjoy the Infanta. Eight years paſt, and nothing paſt beſide, for both the Lovers were non-ſuited in the end. The Duke of Anjou courted the Queen, when her People regretted, that he beſieged the Proteſtants in Rochel at the ſame time, Gladio ejus eorum cruore intincto, qui eandem quam Angli profitentur Religionem, Camb. An. 1573. Our Prince ſolicited for his Miſtreſs in Spain, when the Palatinate was waſted with Fire and Sword by Spinola, which was dearer to us by far than Rochel. Finally, Take three things more in a Twiſt together. Did ſome of our good People fear a Prejudice to Religion, by the Prince's intended Match? even ſo, Religionis mutationem ab Andino Angli nonnulli timuerunt. Did a Bride from Spain go againſt the vulgar Content? So did a Bridegroom from France: In Anglià optimi cujuſque animum ab Andini nuptiis eſſe averſum. In the behalf of the Spaniſh Conſulto, did ſome of our Counſellors become odious, as if they betray'd both Church and Kingdom; ſo all that wiſhed the Queen to the French Gallant, Quaſi ingrati in patriam & principem ſugillantur, Camb. An. 1581. All as like as may be. Mercury is as like Soſia, as Soſia is like himſelf. And the People are like themſelves in all Ages, who commonly ſuſpect ſome Evil from their Governours, when they will be wiſer than they: So that it is very rare to look to the Publick, as it ought, and to be in Poſſeſſion of moſt Hearts; but as Tul. Orat. pro Flacco, ſaid of a mutinous Concourſe of the Trallians, Patiamini me delicta vulgi à publicâ cauſà ſeparare: So I think not the worſe of any Place, if the Herd of the People break further than good Manners and Obedience. They know not how to Rule, nor is it fit they ſhould know how they are Rul'd. For they have Noſes and ſmell not. The Wiſdom of a Kingdom is to be valued, after it is calcinated from the Opinion of the multitude.
149. Which preſently is to be Tried, For the Articles gain-ſaid by a great Out-cry came to the Touch-Stone, July 20. being Sunday, and were preſented before to His Majeſty to Swear unto, and to the Lords of the Council to ſubſcribe their Approbation; which were of two ſorts. Some belong'd to the Infanta, and her Train of Houſhold, and no further: Some belong'd to all the Engliſh, that had taken the Mark of the Church of Rome in their Hand. Of the former, three, and no more, did ſeem to be Litigious.
Firſt, That the Princeſſa and her Servants ſhould enjoy the Uſe of their own Religion, without Trouble or Moleſtation, and a Chappel to be built, adjoyning to her Court, for the more full and decent Exerciſe of it; which held little diſpute, for the provident Councel of Q. Eliz. made no ſcruple to conſent to the like in expreſs Words. Dux, & ſui, modo non ſint Nativi Angliae Subjecti, ſuam liberi Religionem exerceant in conſtituto aliquo loco in ſuis aedibus, ſine impedimento; ſo the Foundation was laid of the Chappel, adjoyning to St. James's place.
Secondly, That the Princeſſa ſhould be truſted with the Education of the Children lawfully begotten between them, till they came to Ten Years of Age. A ſtring that grated harſhly; yet heard by Wiſe-men with more Laughter, then Fear. For Childhood is not apt to take any perilous impreſſion in intellectual Points; and they would be often with the Father, and thoſe about him, and unlearn corrupt Principles. Chiefly it was foreſeen, that it was a Gratification, that would die out of it ſelf, and expire in proceſs of ſo long a time. And in all Councils much muſt be aſcrib'd to the Foreſight of Prudence; as Nepos ſays in the Life of Atticus, Facile intelligi poteſt prudentiam eſſe quandam Divinationom. Prudence ſees ſo far before it, that it comes not ſhort of a kind of Divination. Much more was allow'd to the Duke of Anjoy in the page Appealed to before Camb. anno 1558. p. 320. Si Dux ſupervixeru Roginae, habebit tutelam liberorum, ſi maſculi non exceſſerint decimum Octavum Annum, & feminae decimum quintum. I think thoſe Counſellors ran too far into Temptation. I am ſure we were far more Cautelous and Reſtrictive.
Thirdly, That the Clergy waiting upon the Princeſſa ſhould be ſubject to no Laws, or Statutes of England already made, or that ſhould be made hereafter.
Methinks no Honeſt man, that lives in Humane Society, ſhould ask ſuch an Immunity, though it were poſſible to be Granted. Yet their Clerks do not ask it, but Arrogate it. So Bellar. lib. 1. de Cler. c. 18. Clericks are not under the Laws of ſecular Princes by Obligation compulſory, but directory. That is, they do well to conform to the Eſtabliſh'd Laws of any Nation, where they live, for the maintenance of Peace, and uſual Commerce: But if it ſeems better to them to avoid thoſe Laws, and not obſerve them, they cannot be puniſh'd by, no nor cited to the Courts of Secular Magiſtrates. This Article K. James eraced out, not only by his own, but by St. Paul's Authority, Rom. 13. Let every Soul be Subject to the Higher Powers; to thoſe Higher Powers that Receive Tribute, and bear not the Sword in vain, if any do Evil. Herein I commend the States of the Netherlands, for that which I find in a Book, call'd, The Revolutions of the United Provinces p. 175. A Peace but few years ſince being brought to Concluſion between them and the King of Spain, they agree that the Subjects of the King of Spain may Converſe and Negotiate in all their Territories, but with an expreſs Prohibition of all Eccleſiaſtical Perſons; for the Plenipotentiary of the King of Spain maintain'd in a great Diet held at Munſter, that they were none of the K. of Spains Subjects, or Subject to any Secular Power, but only to the Pope of Rome. A good work to thruſt them out for Wranglers, as our King thruſt out this Article. All Conceſſions that were thought Honourable and needful for the Infanta being paſs'd over, a contract ſteps forth in the behalf of all thoſe in theſe Dominions, that were of her Highneſs's Religion, meaning ſo much and no more, as was to be preſently put in uſe. It is almoſt not credible what ſtrange Rumors ignorant Fear, or perhaps malicious, had buzz'd abroad. That ſome of our faireſt Churches Parochical, nay Cathedral, muſt be devoted to Aſſemblies of Papiſts for their Publick Uſe. That Cloyſters for Votaries, Male and Female, ſhould be Erected, &c.
—Menſura que Ficti,
Creſcit, & audit is aliquid novus adjicit autor.
Ovid.
The Demands were bad enough, yet much under that preſumption. As they came from the Embaſſadors they were comprized under two Heads. The Firſt, That a general Pardon ſhould paſs under the Great-Seal for the benefit of all Papiſts in this Land, to acquit them from the Penalties of ſuch Statutes, as might take hold of them for the time paſt, in caſe of Religion. To which good words were given, and after many Rubs and Reſervations (as ſhall be ſhewn) the Seal was put to an Inſtrument for that purpoſe, but kept in Lavender. The other was the Gorgon's Head, which Frighted the Lookers on, that a Patent ſhould be drawn up copiouſly with the ſame Seal to it, to ſave the Recuſants Eccleſiaſtical and Lay, from the Penalties of all Statutes made againſt them, for the time to come. This is the Star call'd Wormwood that fell into the Waters of Debate, Revel. 8.11. Wherein the Spaniſh Agents were put off with many Delays and Wiſe Repreſentations; till in the End the Lord Keeper reduced it to this Iſſue. That all Magiſtrates ſhould be warned by Letters ſent to them ſeverally, not to moleſt the Roman Catholicks upon any Statute, till His Majeſty had ſignified his further pleaſure, and that when the Princeſſa had been Six Months in England, this Favour ſhould be confirmed to her further Content. The like was not yielded in the buſineſs Agitated with the Duke of Anjoy, but a ſtrict Exception was put in, Ut nulla Occaſio Anglis ad leges conſtitut as violandas praeberetur. It was an ill time for the Embaſſadors to ask ſuch things; when not only ſeditious Spirits, but the beſt of Proteſtants, who had nothing in them of the peeviſh and refractory, were ſick of an ill Digeſtion of Jealouſies. It was a hard ſeeming work to overcome, for the Ravens Croak'd, and the Doves mourned at it. Yet it was a worſe time to deny them, when the Pledge of our Future Happineſs ſtuck faſt in a Foreign Kingdom, and nothing could Conduct him home with ſuch Celerity and Safety, as ſome drops of Grace Diſtilling from the Prerogative Royal, to ſtay the longing of the Pontifician Faction. They are beguiled that think Marqueſs Inoihoſa, or … Carlos de Colonna pluck'd us over our Line, to get a Wife for the Prince; it was to get him home.
Jam non de Gloriâ, ſed de Salate pugnandum eſt. Curt. lib. 4.
Let his Highneſs look to it in Spain to come home with a Glorious Bride; but all Loyal Hearts look earneſtly for him, whether ſingle or double was not the Chief Point. And the Anxiety of his Majeſty was, What ſhall I do for my Son! 1 Sam. 10.2. This was the Compaſs that guided the Lords of the Councel in their condeſcenſion, to bring their young Maſter out of Peril, though it were with the Ranſom of too much Mercy to them, who were not the beſt that deſerv'd it. But who it was that ſet the Edge of the Razor upon the Hoane; who it was that ſurpaſs'd himſelf in this Negotiation; that cut off difficulties ſmoothly, leaving no Raggedneſs to be ſeen in the Cleſt of his diſtinctions, will appear in the enſuing diſpatch of the Lord Keepers to the Prince; whoſe goodneſs will ſatisfie for the Prolixity.