A Memorial Offered to John Williams, Part of biography 1 · Letter 30 – Letter 40

A Memorial Offered to John Williams · Part of biography 1 · Letter 30 – Letter 40

p. 153161. HIS Majeſty being in the Eſcurial, I deſired theſe, my Lords the Embaſſadors, that they wou'd repair hither, to the end that we might treat of perfecting thoſe things which concern the Palatine; foraſmuch as might be done from hence, wherein we procure, as you know, to give Satisfaction to the King of Great Britain, through whoſe Interceſſion, together with that of the moſt Excellent Prince his Highneſs, we have procured to diſpoſe things in Germany, and have uſed thoſe Diligences which you know. The Means which hath ever ſeemed moſt eaſie, and apt for the well addreſſing of this Buſineſs, is to Marry the Eldeſt Son of the Palatine to the ſecond Daughter of the Emperor, bringing him up in the Court of his Caeſareal Majeſty, whereby the Reſtitution, both of the States and Electorate to the ſaid Son might be the better, and more ſatisfactorily diſpoſed. And in this Conformity, we have ever underſtood and treated, and propounded it here. But now coming cloſe to perfect the Buſineſs, as I ſaid before, thoſe my Lords the Embaſſadors ſay, that the thing which on their Part hath been deſired and that which the moſt Excellent Prince, and the Lord Duke of Buckingham did carry away in their Underſtanding; and that which the Embaſſadors themſelves have written to the King of Great Britain, was, That we muſt procure that the Reſtitution of theſe States may be to the Palatine himſelf. This Point carrieth ſo great Difficulty with it to be conveyed to the Emperor's Ears, that it may be feared, yea, and held for certain, that the Perſons who are intereſted in this Buſineſs, wou'd procure to over-turn the World, to make Complaints to the Pope, and to have recourſe alſo to others exaggerating that which they have done, for the Reſtitution of that to the Houſe of Auſtria, which had been taken from it. And they wou'd alſo ponder that which concerneth Religion, whereby they might diſquiet the Mind of Man, and ſay, that they having acquired it by their Arms, or given Aſſiſtance towards it, it is now taken from them, and given to one, who hath been a Rebel (for this is the Language they will hold) and is ſtill an Enemy of the Catholick Religion. And this being exaggerated (as they well know how to do) it may perhaps breed ſuch Difficulty in the Buſineſs, as that the Reſtitution even of the Son will not be obtain'd; a thing which would be ill for us all, and worſe perhaps for the Palatine himſelf, and his Children. But this other may be diſpoſed with more Sweetneſs, and good Liking of all Parties: Since the Marriage being once made, they who might now contradict, wou'd be wholly in Diſpair to have any Pa…t in this Buſineſs, when they ſhould ſee the Emperor intereſſed in the Affairs of the Palatine, whereby they would grow not to oppoſe any of thoſe things, which his Imperial Majeſty would think …t to do concerning him. And thus we ſhou'd come to facilitate the Addreſſing o… that which is now deſired concerning the Palatine in his Perſon, wherein my Lord the King will uſe all the poſſible Endeavor by doing Offices to the Emperor to obtain it p. 154and ſo to ſettle things with ſatisfaction, which the Pope, and other Princes and Potentates may receive by this way, and which cannot be by that other to which my Lords the Ambaſſadors do point. For as long as Men will ſpeak of the Individual Perſon of the Palatine, they have room to reprove his Actions, and to hide their own Intereſts by the pretext of the Juſtifiableneſs of his Puniſhment. And I conceive that although his Majeſty will uſe all poſſible Endeavour, yet the Buſineſs will be as it were impoſſible, if we uſe not the Medium of depriving them of their Hopes, by placing all upon the Son. And I reſolved to ſay all this to you, to the end you may repreſent it to his Majeſty of Great Britain, aſſuring him that here is great deſire to give him Satisfaction in all that is poſſible; and that we muſt help our ſelves to obtein this by not demanding things that are impoſſible; and whereby (beſides the difficulty which they would have) very great Inconveniencies, and greater Diſquiet might reſult. And I hope that his Majeſty, according to his great Prudence, will conſider and underſtand it after the ſame manner; and you who underſtand the Buſineſs ſo, will give it ſo to be underſtood. Yet uſe it with that Prudence, which you think convenient.

162. For by theſe means I hold the Emperor to be in a manner already reduct; and by that other, although the thing be attempted, and though we for our parts do all that poſſibly we can, as we will do, and this ſhall be given in Writing to the Ambaſſador, if they preſs it: Yet I fear much, and I have much Ground to do ſo, that we ſhall not be able to obtein it, and that we ſhall ſcandalize and loſe Reputation. And it will prove as ill-favour'd a piece of Work, as that which hapned in the Electorate of Bavaria, which we contradicted and France favoured. And if I may tell you freely what I think, that which is preſſed is much leſs, than that which I offer. Since by that which I ſay, the Reſtitution of all the States is preſently fix'd upon the Grand-Child of the King of Great Britain, and the Electorate after the Life of Bavaria; yea, and during that Life, all that may be done without affronting the ſaid Duke. And in that other way which is offer'd, we are to walk all the Days of our Lives in the Queſtion, Whether the Submiſſion which the Palatine maketh be ſufficient or no? And they who have Intereſts herein will be ſure to except after a critical manner to any defect which may be ſuſpected. And as long as the State ſhall be undeliver'd, the Buſineſs certainly will grow to nothing, and become ſubject to the Power, which ſome intereſted Perſons have with the Emperor. All which would ceaſe, if the Submiſſion which the Palatine is to make were to be after the Eſtates, were to be order'd to the eldeſt Son by this Match, ſo that the Palatine would in fine make due Submiſſion, and give convenient Satisfaction and Security for true Friendſhip and Alliance with the Emperor, my Lord the King, and the Noble Houſe of Auſtria. I confeſs that I am a young Miniſter of State, and I ſhew it by deſiring to redreſs Buſineſſes by way of Effecting, and not of Delays, which are ever uſed by old and prudent Miniſters. And I know that without doubt, that the Propoſition, which is made by me, is the better way. And ſo you may underſtand thus much for your ſelf: And according to the diſpatch which you ſhall receive of the Ambaſſador, you may go walking on. The thing which I conceive is the thing I relate unto you here, and that which I told you by Word of Mouth in Madrid, although the Ambaſſador, as I ſaid before, affirm, that you, and they, yea and the Prince had miſtaken this, by underſtanding that the delivery of the States ſhould inſtantly be made to the Perſon of the Count Palatine, and not to his Son. And I would to God I might ſee this obteined of the Emperor, who doth ſo greatly deſire the Peace of Germany, and the repoſe of the Houſe of Auſtria. For I for my part would be ſure to do all that poſſibly I could for the effecting thereof. Beſides this, I have ſeen by a Reply of the Earl of Briſtol's, that he maketh inſtance for us to ponder the Engagement wherein the moſt Excellent King of Great Britain doth find himſelf, by his having obliged himſelf by publick Writings to reſtore all entirely, or elſe to put all that he hath in adventure. It is here to be underſtood, that when it is ſaid that that King made this Writing, yet (in caſe he made it) the Palatine had not then committed thoſe things, which he executed afterward againſt the Will and Counſel of the moſt Excellent King of Great Britain. Nor can any prudent Man oblige himſelf to all thoſe Errours, which may be committed. And if the Count Palatine had followed the Counſel of the moſt Excellent King of Great Britain, many of thoſe things which have ſucceeded had been prevented, and the Grace of the Emperor had been better diſpoſed than now it is. Beſide that much hath been ſpent, and that they have ſeen him ſo obſtinate ſtirring up againſt the Emperor both the Turk, and Bethlem Gabor, p. 155and as many others as he hath been able. I ſay not this to the end that we ſhould forbear to do whatſoever in this World we ſhould be able to accommodate the Palatine, and to do in this behalf that which the King of Great Britain doth ſhew that he deſireth. But to ſay that which is certain, his Majeſty of Great Britain doth by no means find himſelf in this Buſineſs any other ways engaged, than he ſhall find that Engagement to be juſtifiable. God keep you as I deſire.

From Madrid, 31 Octob. 1623.

Poſtſcript. If my Lord the King did not mean to bring this Buſineſs to a final Concluſion with much Guſt to the King of Great Britain, we might ſufficiently, with that which my Lords the Ambaſſadors deſire, by offering, and really interpoſing our Interceſſion with his Ceſareal Majeſty. And we might alſo have excuſed the Writing of this long Letter, which is full of Good will, and of this I can aſſure you.

163. This long, riddling, non-concluding Letter, (ſuch another as Tiberius the Emperor wrote from Capree to the Senate for the Tryal of Sejanus) is not endorſed. I conceive it was ſent to Mr. Edward Clerke, who was ſent from the Prince on Shipboard to the Earl of Briſtol, to ſtop the Powers he had for the diſpatch of the expected Deſpoſories, this was put into his Hand againſt he return'd for England. But what is it worth if it were to be ſold? Scarce two of their Maravedies; and we requited them with that which came to as little as one of our Farthings. We had look'd after the Re-poſſeſſion of the Palatinate till our Eyes aked; and to feed them with a taſte of their own Provender, a long-breath'd Delay, we made their Ambaſſadors in London tarry for the Indulgences, which their Clients in Religion hoped for, till their Hearts aked. It is opened ſufficiently before, that his Majeſties End in ſubſcribing to the Articles in favour of the Papiſts his Subjects was, to ſecond his Son in that which he had begun in Spain, to bring him out of the Briars from thence. The Ambaſſadors plied the Conceſſion of the Articles very diligently, that their Party might enjoy the ſweetneſs of the Benefit. For better is the ſight of the Eyes, than the wandring of the Deſire, Eccleſ. 6.9. It fell out well that the King, never intermitting a Summers Progreſs, was out of the way. So the Management of the Buſineſs fell upon the Lord Keeper, not by Uſurpation, but by Merit, and by Neceſſity too. For, whatſoever his Majeſty pretended, he gave the Keeper a ſecret Rule, to go no faſter than needs, and to do no more prejudice than was unavoidable. A Regiment of Plots would hardly be enough to be drawn up together to win that Enterpriſe; though a good Sconce overcame all. Propertius.Mens bona, ſi qua Dea es, tua me in ſacraria dona, ſays a Heathen. As all coſtly Oyntments have Oyl mixed with them, ſo Wiſdom perſumes all Undertakings, as this under the File will demonſtrate. The Ambaſſador uſed their Counſel Learned in our Laws to draw up the effect, of that they had obtained, as near as could be to his Majeſties Mind. Which was brought to the Lord Keeper; who told them, The Papers were unſatisfactory; they had proceeded indeed by the Articles ſigned in the private Lodgings at Whitehal; but the private Articles ſhew only the extent of his Majeſties Grace and Favour in the ſubſtance; not at all the Manner and Form how they ſhall be conveyed; which muſt be chalked out by a new and immediate Warrant from his Majeſty. This held diſpute till the 10th of Auguſt, his Majeſty being at Salisbury; where Directions paſt to liquidate the Doubts, how the Kings Grants ſhould be applied, call'd from that place the Articles of Salisbury. For which the Agents of the Ambaſſadors were to reſort to the Earl of Carlile, and Mr. Secretary Conway, attending in the Progreſs, and the Patents to be filled up with them by the Diſcretion of the Lord Keeper, Lord Treaſurer, Mr. Secretary Calvert, Sir Richard Weſton Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Atturney-General, Sir Th. Coventry attending, who were to ſit at Whitehal for the more eaſie Expedition. Time is given to draw up Copies of new Draughts. Interea aliquid fiet ſpero, ſays the Comick. In theſe Intervals who could tell, but ſomewhat might fall out to croſs all? On the 18th of Auguſt the Lord Keeper ſends the Form of the Pardon drawn up to the King at Beawlie, to ſave the Recuſants from all Advantages the Laws might take for the time paſt; and a Diſpenſation to keep them indemnified from the ſame for the time to come. But an Item was given, to bring the Diſpenſation lame back, that his Majeſty ſhould ſignifie his Royal Will, That the Pardon ſhould go under the Great Seal, the Diſpenſation under the Privy Seal: This from Beawlie, Aug. 21. And there was a Colour for it out of the Agreements of Salisbury ſubtilly drawn up. For the ſecond p. 156Article ſays, That a Legal Authentical Pardon ſhall be paſt under the Great Seal: And in the ſeventh Article, There ſhall be a preſent Suſpenſion of his Majeſties Laws under his Seal. The word Great was wilfully omitted to puzzle the Tranſaction. But after the Spaniſh part had debated with the Lord Keeper in Reaſon, he writes to Secretary Conway at Tichburn, Aug. 25. That he confeſt a Diſpenſation from the Poenal Statutes could not be pleaded, but under the Great Seal. The Buſineſs got off in that Point, but it hung upon another Tentar. He writes again to Mr. Secretary then at Broad-lands, Aug. 27. That it troubled him much he was enforced to ſuch often Replies, but the Weight of the Buſineſs would excuſe it. He ſays, He was not inſtructed from the Articles of Salisbury, from what Day the Diſpenſation was to begin, and how far it was to be limited in time to come; from what time thoſe are to be excluded that do not lay hold of it. To which anſwer was given; but always the Dial ſtood. Once again he demurr'd upon the Diſpenſation, which ſays, That the Papiſts Convict ſhall not pay their Forfeiture for not coming to Church, nor be Indicted for not taking the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance; whether it was not fit to divide theſe in ſeveral Styles and Expreſſions. It was return'd, and dictated from the Kings Lips; The firſt Breach of the Laws ſhould be ſignified to be abſolutely pardoned; The latter ſhould go in another Form, that it ſhould not be queſtioned, and Mr. Atturney to provide accordingly for Legal Notions. When the Lord Keeper had done with the Living, he began with the Dead; and ſcrupled how their Dead ſhould be Interr'd, ſo as to give no offence, nor be obnoxious to be offended. The Reſolution was brought to him that ſent it, That their Burials ſhould be in their private Houſes, as ſecret as might be, and without any ſign of Manifeſtation; but Notice to be given to the Pariſh-Clerk of their departure.

164. Never was Man ſo entangled in an Elſ-lock all this while, that could not be unravell'd, as Marquiſs Inoioſa, till he publiſh'd his Choler in all ſorts of Impatiency. The Reader may take in ſo ſmall a matter by the way, that the Writer of theſe Paſſages ſaid to the Lord Keeper, That the Marquiſs was the moſt ſurly, unpleaſing Man that ever came to his Houſe. His Lordſhip anſwer'd, They were his Manners by Nature: But he had been ſo vain to profeſs, That he came an Enemy to us into England; and for this Dowty Cauſe: His Father was a Page to King Philip the Second, while he lived here with Queen Mary, and was diſcourteouſly uſed in our Court, perhaps by the Pages. Which was a Quarrel of Seventy Years old, and bearing date before the Marquiſs was born. Which will cauſe a Paſſage of Dionyſius the Tyrant of Sicily to be remembred, who had robb'd and ſpoil'd ſome of the Iſlands under the Protection of Athens; and when the Injury was expoſtulated, he told them, Their Countryman Ulyſſes had uſed the Sicilians worſe 700 Years before, as he believ'd it to be very true in Homer. This Ambaſſador was a reſtleſs Man, and held the Lord Keeper ſo cloſe to turn and plow up the fallow of this Buſineſs, that he would not give him the Jubilee of a Day to reſt. Yet the time, do what he could, had run at waſte from the 20th of July, to the end of Auguſt. Then, and no ſooner, the Frames of the Pardon and Diſpenſation were contriv'd and diſpatch'd. Yet the Mill would not go with this Water. The Ambaſſadors call'd for more: That two general Commands ſhould be iſſued forth under the Great Seal, the firſt to all the Judges and Juſtices of Peace; the other to all Biſhops, Chancellors, and Commiſſaries not to execute any Statute made againſt the Papiſts. Hereupon the Spaniſh Faction was ſuſpected, that they had no hopes to bring ſome ſecret Drifts to paſs, but by raiſing a general hatred againſt our Government. The Lord Keeper repulſed the Motion, and wrote to the King being at Alderſhot, That whatſoever Inſtance the Ambaſſador makes to the contrary, there was no reaſon why his Majeſties Wiſdom ſhould give place to them. He propounded, That a private Warrant might be directed to himſelf, to will him to write to the reſpective Magiſtrates fore-nam'd, to acquaint them with the Graces which his Majeſty had paſt for Recuſants in that Exigence, and to ſuſpend their Proceeding till they heard further. For as the Civilians ſay, Ceſſant extraordinaria, ubi ordinariis eſt locus. Thus he contriv'd it, that the King, as much as might be, ſhould eſcape the Offence, and let the Rumour light upon his private Letters. For which he never put the King to ſtand between the People, and his Errour; nor beſought him to excuſe it to the next Parliament: But as Mamertinus in Paneg. ſaid of his own Conſulſhip, Non modò nullum popularium deprecatus ſum, ſed ne te quidem Imperator, quem orare praeclarum, cui preces adhibere pleniſſimum dignitatis eſt. Yet leſt the Ambaſſador ſhould complain of him to the Prince in Spain, he writes to the Duke, Cab. P. 8. Aug. 30.

p. 157THat he had prevailed with the Lords to ſtop that vaſt, and general Prohibition, and gave in three Days Conference ſuch Reaſons to the two Ambaſſadors, (although it is no eaſie matter to ſatisfie the Capriciouſneſs of the latter of them) that they were both content it ſhould reſt, till the Infanta had been ſix Months in England. For to forbid Judges againſt their Oath, and Juſtices of Peace (ſworn likewiſe) not to execute the Law of the Land, is a thing unprecedented in this Kingdom. Durus ſermo, a harſh and bitter Pill to be digeſted upon a ſuddain, and without ſome Preparation. But to grant a Pardon even for a thing that is malum in ſe; and a Diſpenſation with Poenal Statutes, (in the profit whereof the King only is intereſted) is uſual, full of Precedents, and Examples. And yet this latter only ſerves to the Safety, the former but to the Glory and Inſolency of the Papiſts, and the magnifying the ſervice of the Ambaſſadors, too dearly purchas'd with the endangering of a Tumult in three Kingdoms. His Majeſty uſeth to ſpeak to his Judges and Juſtices of Peace by his Chancellor, or Keeper, as your Grace well knoweth. And I can ſignifie his Majeſties Pleaſure unto them with leſs Noiſe and Danger, which I mean to do hereafter, if the Ambaſſador ſhall preſs it to that effect, unleſs your Grace ſhall from his Highneſs, or your own Judgment direct otherwiſe. That whereas his Majeſty being at this time to Mediate for Favour to many Proteſtants in Foreign Parts, with the Princes of another Religion, and to ſweeten the Entertainment of the Princeſs into this Kingdom, who is yet a Roman Catholick, doth hold the Mitigation of the Rigour of thoſe Laws made againſt Recuſants, to be a neceſſary Inducement to both thoſe Purpoſes, and hath therefore iſſued forth ſome Pardons of Grace and Favour to ſuch Roman Catholicks, of whoſe Fidelity to the State he reſts aſſur'd. That therefore you the Lord Biſhops, Judges and Juſtices, (each of thoſe to be written to by themſelves) do take Notice of his Majeſties Pardon, and Diſpenſation, with all ſuch Poenal Laws, and demean your ſelves accordingly.

This is the lively Character of him that wrote it, Policy mixt with Innocency. foreign, ſays Nazianzen, Cunning enough, yet not divided from Conſcience: For Wit, when it is not ſheathed, as it were, in the fear of God, will cut like a ſharp Razor.

165. All his Art would be requir'd to reconcile two things: That the Ambaſſador ſhould be put off no longer, (for ſo the King had now commanded by Diſpatches from both the Secretaries;) And that he would finiſh nothing, till he had heard either his Highneſs, or the Duke's Opinion upon the Proceeding. The general Pardon, and the Diſpenſation were both ſealed: So he began. But kept them by him, and would not open the leaſt Window to let either Dove or Raven fly abroad. The King being return'd to Windſor, ſignification was given, that none of the Lords ſhould come to him, till he ſent for them, and was ready for Matters of moment. No Superſtructure could go on very faſt, when that Stone was laid. From Windſor, Sept. 5. Sir G. Calvert writes to him, My very good Lord, His Majeſty being reſolv'd to extend his Gracious Favour to the Roman Catholicks, ſignifies his Pleaſure, That your Lordſhip ſhould direct your Letter to the Biſhops, Judges, &c. to forbear any Moleſlation of his ſaid Subjects in reſpect of their Religion. To ſend them forth with as much ſpeed, as conveniently may be, that his Majeſty may be freed from the Complaints of the Ambaſſadors. Thrice again he was charg'd with the ſame Command. To all which he anſwer'd, He could do nothing without a private Warrant for it, and that it was not poſſible to be agreed upon, till he ſpake with his Majesty. On the 6th of September, the ſame Secretary writes again, That an Exemplification of the Pardon ſhould be deliver'd to the Ambaſſadors under the Great Seal. That's not hard to be done: But upon what Limits and Conditions? So the Lord Keeper rejoyns. Sir G. Calvert is troubled again to ſatisfie that Scruple, That no Copy of it ſhould go out to any of the Roman Catholicks, nor any of them be permitted to ſue out their Pardons, until his Majeſties Pleaſure be further known. This came Sept. 8. The Lord Keeper held back yet, till he knew what Aſſurance he ſhould have from the Ambaſſadors to keep thoſe Conditions: Which held a Conteſt till Sept. 19. When Mr. Secretary Conway writes from Theobalds, His Majesties Pleaſure is, That you deliver unto the Marquiſs Inoioſa an Exemplification of the Pardon, and Diſpenſation. And his Majeſty would not that you ſhould preſs him for a Note of his Hand for Secreſie and Stanchneſs, for giving of Copies of the Pardon, or Diſpenſation, but only by Word to refreſh his Memory of the faithful Promiſes he hath made in that Point to the King, upon which his Majesty will relie. Indeed it was order'd at Windſor, Sept. 7. as appears in a Letter of Secretary Conways, that when Marquiſs Inioſa had the Exemplication, (all the Craſt was in Catching) that he ſhould communicate them to none, nor p. 158give Copies of them, till we had knowledge from Spain of the Marriage, or Deſponſories. There was nothing about theſe days that mitigated the Embaſſador more, than a Trick, that, in ſine, did him leaſt good. Properly, and without Levity, it may be called a Flop with a Fox-Tail. The Lord Keeper cloſed in with him not to be ſo haſty for Exemplifications, which the Clerks of the Crown muſt write over ſoft and fairly. A Matter of more weight ſhould preſently be ſet on foot, not of Words, but of real Benefit and Performance to his Party, and to the Choice of them, a Pardon for the Romiſh Prieſts that were impriſoned; about which there had been ſtruggling, and yet nothing effected. As the Lord Keeper ſeemed forward, ſo (to ſee the ill Luck) it was cramp'd by a Letter from Sir Edward Conway, Sept. 6. Dat. Windſor.

Right Honorable,

HIS Majeſty hath ſigned the Warrant that was ſent for the enlarging of the Prieſts out of Priſon, that he may ſhew the Reality of Performance on his Part, in all that is to be done. Yet his Majeſty commits the Warrant to your Keeping, without further Uſe to be made, ſave only to paſs the Great Seal (which you may be pleaſed to expedite) till important Conſiderations be provided for, and ſatisfied. As Firſt, That his Majeſty receive Advertiſement of the Marriage, or Deſpoſories.Secondly, That Proviſion be taken for theſe Prieſts that have expreſſed their Duties to the King, either in Writing in his Defence, or in taking the Oaths; whoſe Protection his Majeſty holds himſelf bound to continue, and not to ſuffer them to incur any Danger for that their Conformity. Thirdly, That Order be taken, that ſuch Prieſts enlarged, be not left at Liberty to execute their Functions publickly, or at their Pleaſure; but only under ſuch Limitations and Reſtraints, as by the Pardon and Diſpenſations are provided.

166. Of theſe three Caveats, entred to modifie the Liberty which was Petitioned for, and promiſed to the Prieſts, the middlemoſt was a brave one, wherein the Lord Keeper revenged himſelf on Inoioſa, for all his Forwardneſs. It aimed at one man, Mr. — Preſton, a Secular Prieſt, Honeſt, and rarely Learned: The Author of the Works under the Name of Roger Widrington, for the Oath of Allegiance. The Author of that ſolid Piece, called The laſt Rejoynder to T. Fitzherbert, Bellarmine's Sculckenius, and Leſſius his Singleton upon that Subject, Printed An. 1619. This Man, for his own Preſervation, lay quiet in the Marſhalſea, his Death being threatned by the rigid Papalins. This was he that was ſet forth as the only Evidence of his Majeſty's Royal Mercy toward thoſe that were in Holy Orders of that Religion, the preſent Pattern of his keeping Promiſe according to the Articles. But ſuch a Prieſt as that, if Marq. Inoioſa had been conſulted for his Releaſe, perhaps he would have cried out, Not him, but Barabbas. Preſton had Leave that Summer twice or thrice to come to the Lord Keeper at Nonſuch, where I ſaw them together diſcourſing as long as Leiſure and Buſineſs would permit. That Interview procured the Warrant for his Pardon from the King, as followeth.

James Rex. TO the Reverend Father in God, Our Right Truſty, and Right Well-beloved Counſellor, Jo. Lord Biſhop of Lincoln, Lord Keeper of Our Great Seal of England. Right Truſty, and Right Well-beloved Counſellor, We Greet you well.

Theſe are to will and require, to paſs one Pardon and Diſpenſation, according unto the Warrant directed unto you concerning the Roman Catholicks of this Kingdom in general, for the Uſe and Benefit of — Preſton, a Secular Prieſt, now a Priſoner in our Priſon of the Marſhalſea. And delivering unto the Spaniſh Embaſſador an Exemplification of the ſame Pardon under the Great Seal, to keep the Original ſo Sealed, under your own Cuſtody, untill you ſhall receive from Us ſome further Order.

Given at Our Court at Windſor, Sept. 8. &c.

The Releaſment of Preſton was accordingly diſpatched, the firſt Fruits of the Common Grace expected by others, ſent as a Preſent to Don Inoioſa; nay, a Precedent for conſequent Releaſments. So Secretary Conway to the Lord Keeper, Sep. 17. His Majeſty's Order to your Lordſhip was, That the Pardon for this one Man ſhould be exemplified, as the Limitation and Rule to the Form of all the reſt. So as without Diſpute or Controverſie, that was a preſent Poſſ…ſſion, an Act performed by the King, to be executed alike to each one, to whom it appertains, at the Time, and upon the Conditions before ſpecified; the Sight whereof might give the Embaſſador Contentment. But it was far from that, Don John the Marquiſs durſt not ſay he was mocked, but he p. 159fum'd like Lime that is ſlack'd with Water, to ſee, of all the Prieſthood, that man only enlarged, whom, above all, he moſt hated. Therefore his Violence augmented, preſs'd the King ſo far, that his Majeſty cauſed the ſame Secretary to write again very roundly the next day to the Lord Keeper.

Right Honorable,

HIS Majeſt hath received from the Spaniſh Embaſſador, a large Declaration of his Grievance, by the great Delays he finds from your Lordſhip, in point of the Pardon and Diſpenſation; an Exemplification of which, your Lordſhip hath Order to deliver unto him. He complains further of want of Expedition in the Letters to be written by your Lordſhip to thoſe principal Officers, to whom it pertains, for the Suſpenſion of all Trouble and Moleſtation to the Roman Catholicks, his Majeſty's Subjects, in matter of their Conſcience. His Majeſty marvails not a little, that the Pardon and Diſpenſation are ſo long delayed before they be delivered, and the Letters ſo long before they are written. His Majeſty being troubled and offended, that Cauſe ſhould be taken upon theſe Delays, by the Embaſſador, to call into Jealouſie his Majeſty's Roundneſs and Integrity in Proceeding. In all which Points, his Majeſty now prays you to give all poſſible Expedition, that his Majeſty may be no more ſoiled with the Jealouſies and Suſpitions of the Embaſſador, nor importuned with their Requeſts, for thoſe things ſo entirely reſolved on.

Albeit this Letter is ſo ſtrict and mandatory, the Lord Keeper preſumed on the King's Goodneſs to write a Remonſtrance to Mr. Secretary Conway, flat againſt the Mandate; with ſundry Reaſons to ſhew the high Expedience, that the Inſtruments demanded ſhould not yet be delivered. To the which, on the 9th of September, Mr. Secretary ſends back word.

Right Honorable,

I Have repreſented yours of the 18th to his Majeſty, who interprets your Intentions very well, and cannot but think it good Counſel, and a diſcreet Courſe, had the State of the Buſineſs been now entire. But as Promiſes have been paſt, the Truth of a King muſt be preferred before all other Circumſtances, and within three Days you muſt not fail to deliver the Exemplification of the Pardon and Diſpenſation, with the Coppy of the Letters, &c.

Two Days after (ſee the Hand of God) September 21, a Poſt brought Intelligence, that the Prince was departed with fair Correſpondencies from the Court of Spain, was certainly long before that time on Shipboard, and would weigh Anchor as ſoon as Wind and Weather ſerved him. So in good Manners all Solicitations were huſh'd, and attended his Highneſs's Pleaſure, againſt he came into England. Theſe are the Performances of the Lord Keeper upon the Immunities, which the Papiſts contended for to be derived to them, by the Prince's Marriage with the Daughter of Spain. Whither any States-man could have contrived them better, I leave it to be conſidered by the Senators of the Colledge of Wiſdom, in my Lord Bacon's new Atlantis. If it be poſſible for any to diſprove theſe excellent Excogitations of Prudence with his Cenſure, he will force me to ſay in this Lord's Behalf, what Tully did for the Pontiſs of old Rome: Orat. pro reſp. Aurus. Satis ſuperque prudentes ſunt, qui illorum prudentiam, non dicam aſſ…qui, ſed quanta fuerit perſpicere poſſint. The Collection of all the precedent Paſſages were gathered by that Lord himſelf, and ſtitched up into one Book, every Leaf being ſigned with the Hands of Sir George Calvert, and Sir Edward Conway, principal Secretaries to his Majeſty. If it be asked to what end was that provided, it was to ſhew he had a Breſt-Plate, as well as an Head-Piece. It was to defend his Integrity againſt any Storm, that dark Days might raiſe about the Spaniſh Matters. It was a gathering thick, when my Lord of Buckingham cauſed Mr. Packer his Secretary to write a Letter of Defiance to him, Cab. P. 87. wherein every Penful of Ink is ſtronger than a Drop of Vicriol: Take a Line of it, That in the Spaniſh Negotiation, he had been dangerous to his Country, prejudicious to the Cauſe of Religion, which he above all others, ſhould have laboured to uphold. But rip up all his Actions, turn the Linings outward, ſhew any Stain-Spot in his Fidelity, in his Innocency, chiefly, in his Maintainance of the Reformed Religion. Therefore he met the Lord Duke couragiouſly, Pag. 89. I do not in the leaſt beg or deſire from your Grace, any Defence of me, if it ſhall appear I betray'd my King, or my Religion, in Favour of the Papiſt, or did them any real Reſpect at all, beſide ordinary Complement. Therefore I appeal to all Poſterity, who ſhall read this Memorial, how a Miniſter in his Office, and intruſted p. 160with the whole weight of ſuch a tickliſh Negotiation, could come off better, with more Honour, with l…ſs Prejudice? Photius, in his Biblioth. ſays of Saluſlius the Cynick, that he was a worthy Man; but foreign. He had liſted himſelf into that Sect of Philoſophy, which was carved out, or expoſed to Reproach and Contumi…y. So this noble Councellor was as Harmleſs as he was Wiſe, as Honeſt as he was Active. But the Buſineſs which he underwent for his great Maſter and the Prince, was Planetſtruck with an ill Opinion of many, and could look for no Thanks, but from a few that were the Wiſeſt.

167. Eſpecially moſt circumſpect and diligent Endeavours, if ſuperior Providence hath decreed to make them barren, ſhall not be pitied (as they deſerve) but be inſulted upon, becauſe they cannot reach their End. The beſt Angler that is, we commonly think he fiſh'd ill, if he catch'd nothing. Inde plaerumque ead…m ſacta modò diligentiae, modò vanitatis: modò libertatis, modò furor is nomen accipiunt, Plin. lib. 6. Ep. Lucky Succeſs makes a Fool ſeem wiſe; and a wiſe man that is unfortunate, ſhall be called a Fool. It is a hard Task to dig into the Mines of Po…icy, when Event ſhall be the Meaſure both of Reward and Praiſe. Yet all this muſt be endured, after his Highneſs took his Leave of Spain, the Donna H…rmeſa left behind, the Stock of Love ſpent, and in a while the Credit of it proteſted. Our King was not ill diſpoſed to the News, that is Son made preparation to come Home. The People began to be churliſh that he ſtaid ſo long: And his Majeſty look'd for no Good from that Part of the World, while our Duke was in it. He found, that ſo long as he was ſo remote from his Tutorſhip, he was heady, a Novice in carrying Buſineſs, and very offenſive to the Crown of Spain. The Prince was deſirous to make haſte from them, that would make no better haſte; and could no longer endure the Pace of a dull Spaniſh Mule. As a weary Traveiler's Inn ſeems ſtill to go further from him, ſo his Highneſs had attended long for a ſweet Repoſe in Wedlock, till it made him impatient, and think that every Conſuito caſt him further back from the Fruition of his Joys. The Junto of the Spaniſh Stateſ-men were very magiſterial, and would not bate an Inch, but that every thing ſhould be timed to a day, as they deſigned it. Theſe were the Links of the Chain, by which they pluck all Power to themſelves. Firſt, A Diſpoſorios, or Contract muſt go before the Marriage: For that's a Rule from which their Church doth never vary, unleſs good Order be broken by clandeſtine Marriages. To the Contract they could not go on, in this Caſe, till the Diſpenſation from the new Pope gave Authority for it. That came to Madrid, Novemb. 12. ſays Sir Wal. Aſton, whom I believe, though others ſay later. The tenth day, after the Diſpenſation made known in the Church, let the Betrothing be Solemnized, and the tenth day after it the Marriage. Then the Prince may take his own Time to return when he will,; but the Lady could not make ready for the Seas, conſidering her Train that muſt attend her, till March. The Prince did not like the Arithmetick of this Counting-Table. More time than the firſt Week of September he was reſolved not to ſpend in that Land. The Coming of the Diſpenſation he would not await, which might be failing thither upon the idle Lake in the Fary Queen: …oth ſlow and ſwift alike did ſerve their turn. To ſtay and Conſummate the Marriage in his own Perſon, he knew was unfit in two Reſpects. He muſt take a Bleſſing from one of their Biſhops in the Face of their Church, and ſubmit to their Trinckets and Ceremonies, which he had rather hear than ſee. Then if the Infanta had Conceived, they would keep her, it is likely, till ſhe was delivered: The Child muſt ſtay till it was ſtrong to endure the Seas, ſo it might come to paſs to be bred up and Naturalized a Spaniard in Religion and Affection. When the Clock would not go right with thoſe Plummets, the Junto caſt the ime out ino another Figure, that his Highneſs would, out of Courtſhip, wherein he excelled, and out of great Love to his Miſtreſs, which he profeſſed, perfect the Deſponſation in his own Perſon, and truſt no other with it; the Marriage and the Lady ſhould follow after, that is, upon the Certificate of their Embaſſador out of England, that Conditions were performed there, to which the King of Great Bri… ain had engaged. To this his Highneſs was ſhort, That he would linger no longer, and play at Cards in King Philip's Palace till the Meſſenger with the Port-mantick came from Rome. Neither would he depend upon Embaſſadors and their Reports, when the Illuſtrious Damoſel ſhould begin her Journey towards England. Embaſſadors might certifie what they pleaſed, and inform no more than their great Maſter's Counſel inſpired them. At laſt his Highneſs took upon him to deſide the Wrangling, and caſt out the ſacred Anchor p. 161from the Stern, to keep their Counſels from further Floating, that he would be burdenſom to the K. of Spain no longer; the magnetick Vertue of his own Country drew him to it. Yet to confirm that he leſt his Heart behind with his Beauteous and high born Miſtreſs, he would Sign a Proxy, and Aſſign it to K. Philip, or his Brother Don Carlo, or either of them, which ſhould remain in the Cuſtody of the Earl of Briſtol, that the Eſpouſals between him and the Infanta might be ratified, within ten days after the diſpenſation unſtopt the way unto them; and he would leave it to the Princeſſa to ſhew her Cordial and Amorcuolous Affections how ſoon ſhe would prepare to follow after him.

168. Which ſtood for a Decree; agreed, and obey'd. The King of Spain would have been glad, if the Prince might be perſwaded to ſtay longer in his Court: But ſince after Six Months continuance there, his Highneſs defir'd to breath again in his Native Air, King Philip cauſed preparation to be made for it (for freedom is the Nobleſt part of Hoſpitality) and was diſmiſs'd with as much Honour, and Magnificence as he was Receiv'd. The Earl of Bri…ol, who certainly knew the day when he took his Leave, writes to the Lord Keeper Cab. p. 21. That he would begin his Journey for England the 9th of Sept. (others ſet it three days back) and adds, the day before, I Conceive the contract will be; which is falſe Printed; it ſhould be, That the Day before, he would Sign and Seal his Procuration for the Contract; which Intelligence is Authentick being ſo Corrected. Now looking upon thoſe that were the Magnificoes of Spain, when the Prince took his farewel of them, and how dear they held him, how they Voiced him beyond the Skies for the moſt expreſs Image they had ſeen of Vertue and Generoſity, methinks his Highneſs ſhould have behold it with his Eyes open, and have inferred out of it, that he could not be more happy then to marry with that Blood, and to keep Friendſhip with that Nation. He was moſt Gracious in the Eyes of all, Great and under Great. Never Prince parted with ſuch Univerſal Love of all, Cab. p. 16. and Bristol to the Lord Keeper, p. 21. The Love which is here born generally to the Prince is ſuch, as cannot be believ'd by thoſe, that daily hear not what paſſeth from the King and his chief Miniſters. The moſt concern'd was the rare Infanta, of whom ſays one out of the Spaniſh Reports Sander p 552. That ſhe ſeem'd to deliver up her own Heart at parting, in as high Expreſſions as that Language, and her Learning could, with her Honour, ſet out. Let not this Eſſay of her ſweetneſs be forgotten, that when the Prince told her, His Heart would never be out of Anxiety, till ſhe had paſs'd the intended Voyage, and were ſafe on Britiſh Land, She Anſwered with a modeſt Bluſh, That if ſhe were in danger upon the Ocean, or diſcompos'd in Health with the rowling brackiſh Waves, ſhe would chear up herſelf, and remember all the way to whom ſhe was going. For which, ſhe deſerves to be Honour'd with Theogena the Wife of Agathocles for that ſaying, Se nubendo ci non proſperae tantùm, ſed omnis fortunae iniiſſe Societatem. Juſt. lib. 20. When it came to the King her Brothers turn to Act his part of Royal Civility, he carried the Prince with him to his moſt gorgeous and ſpacious Structure of the Eſcurial. There he began, That his Highneſs had done him favour beyond all compaſs of requital, that he had Truſted the ſafe-guard of his Perſon with him, and given him ſuch an occaſion in it, to ſhew his Honour and Juſtice, to part with him with as much Fidelity, as his Highneſs deſir'd or expected; that there he was ready to perfect the Alliance ſo long in Treaty, that he might call him Brother, whom, above all in the World, he loved as a Friend. The Prince Anſwered, He had a better Heart to conceive, then a Tongue to ſignifie how much he owed to his Majeſty. He hop'd the incomparable Infanta would thank him for the unparallel'd Courteſie ſhewn to him. And becauſe a drop of true meaning was better then a River of Words, his Highneſs, being encircled with the Nobleſt Witneſſes of that Kingdom, produced and Read his Proxy, interpreted by the Earl of Briſtol, and committed to his Charge, but firſt Atteſted to by the Hand of Secretary Cirica, as a Notary of the greateſt Place. That this much paſs'd it is certain. Much more is Reported; but it is contentious. This Obligation, intending to the Contract, was thus diſpatch'd in the Eſcurial, of which let me ſay hereupon, as Valerius of the Senate Houſe of Rome, lib. 6. Illam Curiam quis mortalium concilium, ac non fidei Templum dixerit? It was become, from the King's beſt Palace, the Temple of Faith. After this the Chaſe of a Stag, that was breath'd well, and fell luckily, brought his Highneſs on his way to the Sea-ſide. But he ſtopt a little while at a Magnificent Repaſt, provided in a Wood, where the Table was Canopied with green Boughs; when King Philip and the Prince had roſe up from this Collation, and had walk'd a little further, p. 162a Marble Pillar was Erected, a Monument of Alliance and Friendſhip between the two Kingdoms. As when Laban ſaid to Jacob, Come thou, let us make a Covenant I and Thou, and let it be for a Witneſs between me and thee. And Jacob took a Stone, and ſet it up for a Pillar, Gen. 31.45. There the two Potentates laying their Hands firſt upon this Pillar, and then enfolding each other in Embraces, took Congee and Divided. Yet the Ceremony continued with the principal of the Nobles, and others of the Spaniſh Cavalry, who waited on his Highneſs to his Ship; and Don Mendoza de Alcarneſs was appointed to go aboard with him for England, to Congratulate before King James his Adventure to Spain, and his Happy Return to his Majeſty. Upon the whole Carriage King Philip might ſay with his Honour, as Abimelech did to Iſaac, We have done unto thee nothing but good, and have ſent thee away in Peace: Thou art now the bleſſed of the Lord, Gen. 26.29.

169. Thus far the view of the Deſign was marvellouſly ſerene; not a Cloud to be ſeen about the Horizon. It ſmiled a little longer; for the Earl of Briſtol Writes to the Lord Keeper, Cab. p. 21. Since the departure of his Highneſs, there have every day paſſed Letters of extraordinary Affection between the King and the Prince, this is Sept. 24. The Grandees alſo, and others of the Caſtilian Bravery that conducted the Prince to the Seas, were Feaſted in our Admiral, at a true Engliſh Table, Free, Pleaſant, Luxuriouſly bountiful, with that Store which few Countries but this Fortunate Iſland could afford. A Health was Superſtitiouſly began to the Glorious Princeſſa, and Proclaim'd to the Shore by the Thunder of the Great Ordnance; ſucceſs fell ſhort of the Premiſes. The fault may be laid upon the Spaniards, with ſome partiality, who ſuffered the Duke of Buckingham, to part with a ſore grudge againſt the Conde Duke, and did not take the beſt Courſe to heal it. They doubted that Buckingham would do all he could to croſs the Match, ſays Briſtol in the ſame Letter; yet they were ſo Stately, that they would not ſeek to a ſuſpected Enemy. Belike they thought they had made all faſt, and that one man's Raſh Defiance was inconſiderable. But it behoves Wiſe Men ſays Iſocrat. Orat. de Pace. foreign; to Repoſe the hopes of well doing upon their own Strength and Judgment, not upon the Adverſaries Weakneſs. The Duke Olivares was never the nearer, that Buckingham told him at their farewel, That for his part, he had ſo diſoblig'd him, that he would make no profeſſion of Friendſhip to him at all; but he would be an everlaſting Servant to the King of Spain, the Queen, and the Infanta, and would do the beſt Offices he could, for the concluding the buſineſs, and ſtrengthning Amity between the two Kingdoms. Olivares was not certain of him upon theſe Words, ſince he was not certain at that time what himſelf would have. For when our Paſſions are out of Order, it is a hard thing for a Man to ſpeak Truth to himſelf. As ſoon as the Duke had the Prince at ſhrift, as it were, in his Cabinet, Mr. Edward Clerk under Colour to Attend the Spaniſh Nobles to Madrid, was ſent with Letters to the Earl of Briſtol to ſuſpend the Procuration for the Contract, till further Order was given. One Scruple which muſt firſt be cleared was, That a Monaſtery might not Rob the Prince of his Wife. For a Headleſs Fable (unleſs Olivares his Salt Tongue had given occaſion to it) was in many Mouths, that after the Deſponſories, the Lady would enter into the ſtrict Order of the Deſcalcas, or bare Foot Nuns. A Rumour that was Laugh'd out of countenance; for ſhe was a ſpriteful Virgin, and had nothing of Monaſtical Auſterity in her Complexion. Neither did ſhe diſſemble, but carried her Affections undiſguiſed, that ſhe was ſtricken in Love with the Prince. Yet, to prevent the worſt, the Earl of Briſtol was ſerious in Refuting that Folly, as it is extant in his to the Prince, Cab. p. 24. I have ſet down to your Highneſs all ſorts of ſecurity, that may be taken before the betrothing, for preventing a Woman Poſt vatum Matrimonium, non conſummatum, to betake her ſelf into a Religious Life. The King of Spain, the Infanta, all the Miniſters, would refuſe no kind of ſecurity that in Reaſon could be demanded in that behalf. This was a ſlight pretence, and ſoon over. There was another thing of greater Conſequence Weaved into the miſtruſt I find it upon the Point wherein the Duke Expoſtulated with Sir W. Aſton Cab. p. 35. You might have obſerved the Explanation the Prince made of himſelf to you by his Letters from St. Andreas, and have ſeen his Care and Reſolution, not to engage himſelf into the Marriage, without good Conditions for the Palatinate, and Conſervation of his Honour every way. More light is opened to this in a Letter that an Ignote Wrote to K. James, Cab. p. 219. The ſame day that Buckingham Received p. 163Letters from the Illuſtrious P. Palatine, he cauſed the Procuration to be Revoked. There needs no ſtudy upon it, how the Structure of the Marriage, ſo far advanc'd, was overthrown in an hour.

An quae per totam res eſt notiſſima Lesbon,

Nunc ignota tibi eſt?

Metamor. 1.2.

The Rude people of Madrid cried it about the Streets, ſays Mr. Clerk, Piden el Palatinato, Cab. p. 307. All the hope of that Alliance, and the comfort from it, was drowned in the Rhine.

170. God is Love, and delights in all the Bonds of Love. Marriage is the firſt of Humane, and the ſtricteſt. It is common with the Great ones that Rule the Earth, to Treat together to make ſuch Links with their Children, Nay, with their Infants. They confirm them with Embaſſies, with Articles, it may be with their Oaths, and Holy Ceremonies. Yet when all this is done, if a greater Beneſit to the State ſpring up by a New Offer, a Curtain is drawn before Conſcience: The former Intereſt muſt give place to the later; and that ſhall be excluded upon the like occaſion for a freſh Emolument. One Reaſon, I believe, tho' I write it fearfully, That often times they are but little bleſt in their Progenies. For can the moſt High forget it, Cui vincla jugalia curae. Virg. They that uncover Stories of Realms and Common Wealths, let them apply it. I go on to mine. At the Eſcurial of St. Lorenzo this was the laſt Speech and accord about the Palatinate. The Prince making earneſt obteſtation for it, K. Philip Engaged the Honour of a King upon it, That he would intermit neither fair means, nor ſoul means with the Emperor, that it might be reſigned into his Hand, and then ſhould be beſtowed as a Gift upon the Marriage. Hereupon his Highneſs ſeemed to depart well ſatisfied. Yet, having removed no further then from St. Lorenzo, to St. Andreas, Expoſtulates to have the Palatinate ſurendred to the Right owner, and the Eſpouſals to be procraſtinated till it was done; the King of Spain tells our Meſſenger, He would do all he had promiſed upon the laſt Agreement, and for his Life he could do no more. So the Earl of Briſtol remembers it to the Prince, Cab. p. 25. They go on chearfully and confidently, and I conceive, will punctually perform all that they have Capitulated with you. The Prince knew well where he was now; when all their Capitulations were held to be Star-ſhootings, Flaſhes, and Meteors, without the Bird in the Hand. Plato hath a Crotchet lib. 8. de leg. to ſhew the Citizens of his imagin'd Common-Wealth, what they ſhould do to eſcape all, or the moſt Suits in Law, that trouble men with Charge and Delays; Marry, ſays he, Truſt no Man without ready Mony in Buying, and Bargaining, wherein, if you fail, you ſhall have no Action to recover your Debt. This Platonick dealing, with which the Spaniards Challeng'd us, was a New Erection of Juſtice, by which, the Marriage was conſum'd into no Marriage, but into a Platonick Love. Whether the Prince were at Freedom, having ſaid and done ſo much at the Eſcurial, to break off upon his own Conditions, is ſuch a Knot, as I cannot find the Ends of it. Therefore whether we came off clear, or were ſullied with ſome Diſhonour, is too intricate to be decided. In a Report made to the Parliament hereafter, the Lord Keeper, being called unto it, ſtretch'd his Learning to prove, That any Man might lawfully Revoke his Procuration; but he came not up to the Top of the Queſtion, whether it be Juſtifiable to Revoke the Obligation of Faith and Honour. Aliud eſt jura ſpectare, aliud juſtitiam. Cicer. pro Balbo. Conſcience is a plain dealing Piece of Honeſty, though the Laws have many quirks. Mr. Sander hath look'd commendably into this Treaty; in this matter he is brief, ſaying no more p. 552. But e're our Prince departed from that King, Promiſes were made each to other, to make Eſpouſals ten days after the next Diſpenſation was brought. Promiſes traſht in with Reſtrictions, are abſolute Debts. Let your yea be yea, ſays our Saviour to his Diſciples. And Learned Grotius ſays, That the moſt of the Diſciples Converted to him were of the Sect of the Eſſens, of whom Joſephus Writes, foreign, Negligent Men kept not their Oath ſo ſtrictly, as they kept their Word. Ar. Wilſon moſt ſpiteful againſt the Match, and as ſpiteful againſt the breaking it, flies high, p. 253. That the Prince had not Power to re-call his Proxy, having tied up his Hands.—That he Sealed the Proxy at the Eſcurial, and Swore to perform the Marriage. The Earl of Briſtol, who knew the moſt of any Engliſh man, goes far, Cab. P. 23. That his Majeſty and the Prince ſtand engaged for it, as far as Princes can be: But much p. 164more in his Letter dated Novem. 1. firſt Read by the Clerk of the Parliament at the Report which the Lord Keeper made to the Houſe of Peers, That the Prince had engaged his Faith and Power not to retract the Procuration. Yet after all theſe, hear one that was ever Honeſt, and underſtood himſelf. The Prince when he came to take his Fathers Bleſſing at Royſton Octob. 6. proteſted (ſays the Lord Keeper in his Report) That he came from Spain an abſolute Free man; but with one Limitation, the Reſtitution of the Palatinate; then he was bound in Honour to go on with the Depoſories. All which I believe to be moſt true: Yet the Scales ſtill hanging upon the Beam of the Palatinate, this Queſtion Reſolv'd will turn them, whether the Agreement between the other King and our Prince was, that K. Philip ſhould preciſe reſtore the Palatinate, or to conditionate do his utmoſt to endeavour it?

171. Perhaps I am too Curious to hunt this Scent too far. Yet I find no remorſe in my ſelf to have preſt Conſcience and Honour, the Urim and Thummim, with which the Nobleſt whom God hath made, ſhould conſult in all things. It was commonly ſaid, That miſ-underſtandings fomented by the Duke of Buckingham, which had a ſmall Relation to the principal buſineſs, diſturb'd all. Who was not skill'd in the Duty of a publick Miniſter; that is, to contemn all conſiderations concerning himſelf, that might hinder his Majeſties Ends, as Sir W. Aſton wrote to him. As Illuſtrius the Pythag. ſaid of Stilpo, that he was foreign made up well for a private man, and no further. so the duke was a gallant lord to have the king's ear in private suits, but not to have the king's truſt in foreign diſpatches, being ever in cuſtom to carry all with violence before him. some may be great by chance, but never wiſe. it is admired to this day, that his lordſhip ſhould have ſuch a command over the princes affections, that he could ſo quickly make his highneſs forget ſuch an incomparable beauty, with whom he was ſo paſſionately enamour'd, and ſhe with him. so Briſtol Cab. p. 26. The World ſuppoſoth you infinitely Eſteem her for her perſon; and queſtionleſs for her Vertue, and ſetled Affections to your Highneſs, deſerves you better then all the Women in the World. Mr. Clarke likewiſe (a man whom the Duke had Raiſed up for his own Uſe) Writes to his Grace, cab. p. 307. The Infanta's Preparation for the Diſpoſoria was great, but greater her ſorrow, good Lady, to ſee it deferr'd. She had Studied our Language, our Habit, our Behaviour, every thing but our Religion, to make her ſelf Engliſh. She talk'd continually to her Attendants of the Prince, and of her Voyage in the Spring. What could the Duke ſay to blot the Image of ſuch a perſon out of his Highneſs Heart? This is ſtrange to thoſe that knew not his Highneſs, who had a Quality to his Lives End (I will call it Humility, it is ſomewhat like it, but it is not it) to be eaſily perſwaded out of his own Knowledg and Judgment, by ſome whom he permitted to have Power upon him, who had not the half of his intellectuals. But for this Trick the Wag was Merry with the Duke, who writes to K. James, Cab. p. 223. In this his Highneſs coming off from Spain, the Duke hath Advis'd him to no worſe then he did himſelf. For how many hath he abus'd and cozen'd with Promiſe of Marriage, by his Grace in Court, and Power with your Majeſty? If afterward things had been carried in a full Stream of Luck, perhaps this Breach would not have been call'd a Fault. Principally, becauſe the Wedlock that came in place of it, was moſt Happy in a thrice Noble Progeny. All beſide was Flat, and Unfortunate. Not an Inch of the Palatinate the better for us; and we the worſe for our Wars in all Countries. I ſay no more, but as Q. Curtius doth, Optime Miſerias forunt qui abſcondunt. They that hide their Miſeries bear them beſt. The Obſervator upon H. L. I will abet him, writes no more, then many have Whiſper'd, That the Ruin of P. Charles by the Spaniſh Match might have been prevented; the Spaniard being for the moſt part a more ſteady Friend, then the wavering French. I am not skilful in them to make Compariſons; thus far I will adventure poſitively. The French are as brave a people as be under the Sun: Yet, for my part I think we might better want them, then the Spaniard. The Spaniſh Ladies Married to the Royal Seed among us, have been Vertuous, Mild, Thrifty, beloved of all. Not ſuch a one as Harry the Sixth had from the other Nation, of whom Mr. Fuller ſays well in his Eccleſ. Hiſtory, That the King's parts ſeemed the lower, being overtop'd by ſuch a High Spirited Queen. The Spaniards are for the moſt generouſly bountiful, where Service hath deſerv'd it; the beſt Neighbours in the World for Trades Increaſe: A Friend to his Friend with his Treaſure, and with his Sword. But withal, Refractory in his own Religion, and a Hater of ours; and very Falſe where he can take occaſion to enlarge his Dominions, p. 165wherein we had no Cauſe to fear him. But if the Daughter of Spain had landed upon our Shore, I believe we ſhould have had more Cauſe to love him.

172. Which was not to be look'd for, after the Prince put off from the Coaſt of Biſcay: From whence he made ſuch haſte home as the Wind would ſuffer; and he had it in Poop till he came to the Iſlands of Silly, the remoteſt Ground of the Britiſh Dominion in the Weſt: whether ſome Delinquents were deported of old by the Roman Emperors. Here the Navy was compelled to reſt, becauſe the Winds were contrary. From thence the Courtiers brought home a Diſcourſe about an old Miller, who was, with long Experience, Weather-Wiſe to Admiration. For he told them exactly how long they ſhould continue there, and named the Hour when, after one day and a half, the North-Weſt would blow, and ſerve their turn. The Seamen, who had reſorted thither before, knew him ſo well, and how his Prognoſticks came to paſs, that they prepared to Launch againſt that opportunity, which fail'd not, and attain'd Portſmouth on the Fifth of October.

—foreign.

foreign

Odduſſ. foreign.

Though our Noble Traveller left the Lady behind that ſhould have been his Penelope, yet he came well home to his own Ithaca, and to the Wiſe Laertes his Father. His Highneſs left Portſmouth, and came to York-Houſe at Charing-Croſs, an Hour after Midnight early in the Morning, Octob. 6. Praiſes were given to God for him in divers Churches at Morning Prayer. The Lord Keeper compoſed an excellent Prayer for that Occaſion, which was uſed in the Chappel of Henry the VII. and in the Collegiate Church at the accuſtomed Hours in that Place: Bells and Bonfires began early, and continued till Night: Alms, and all kind of Comfort were diſpenſed bountifully to the Poor; and many poor Priſoners, their Debts being diſcharg'd, were Releaſed. But too often, as St. Auſtin complain'd, Publicum gaudium celebratur per publicum dedecus: So Bacchanals of Drunken Riot were kept too much in London and Weſtminſter, which offended many, that the Thanks due only to God, ſhould be paid to the Devil. The Prince, after a little reſt, took Coach with the Duke for Royſton, to attend the King his Father, where the Joy at the enterview was ſuch, as ſurpaſſeth the Relation. His Majeſty in a ſhort while retir'd, and ſhut all out but his Son and the Duke; with whom he held Conference till it was four Hours in the Night: They that attended at the Door ſometime heard a ſtill Voice, and then a loud; ſometime they Laught, and ſometime they Chaſed, and noted ſuch variety, as they could not gueſs what the cloſe might prove: But it broke out at Supper, that the King appear'd to take all well, that no more was effected in the Voyage, becauſe the Profters for the Reſtitution of his Son-in-Law were no better ſtated by the Spaniſh; And then that Sentence fell from him, which is in Memory to this Hour, That He lik'd not to Marry His Son with a Portion of His Daughters Tears. His Majeſty ſaw there was no Remedy in this Caſe but to go Hand in Hand with the Prince, and his now prepotent Favorite.

Ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trabuns.

Sen. Trag.

It is eaſier to be led then drawn.

Preſently it was obtain'd, that is Octob. 8. That his Majeſty ſhould ſend an Expreſs to the Earl of Briſtol, with his High Command, to defer the Procuration entruſted with him, and to make no uſe of it till Chriſtmas; whereas indeed the Power of it expired at Chriſtmas; for ſo it was limited in the Inſtrument which his Highneſs Signed at St. Lorenzo. And by the next Poſt the Duke acquaints Sir W. Aſton, That the King himſelf had dictated the Letter then wrote unto him, Cab. p. 36. which contain'd, That His Majeſty deſir'd to be aſſur'd of the Reſtitution of the Palatinate, before the Depoſorium was made, ſeeing he would be ſorry to welcome home one Daughter with a Smiling Cheer, and have his own only Daughter at the ſame time Weeping and Diſconſolate. My Lord of Buckingham had his Adviſers about him (yet he need not now be ſet on) to prevent with all his Wit, that the Prince might never have a Wife out of Spain. foreign; As ſoon ſhould a Wolf Wed a Lamb. Ariſtoph. Com. de pace. But the King had ſuch Eſteem of the Spaniſh Wiſdom, that he did verily look that his Letters, I mean theſe laſt ſent to his Ambaſſador Reſident there, would quicken them to a ſhort and real Satisfaction for the Prince Palatine's Diſtreſs, p. 166and that the Treaty would ſprout again, which was wither'd with that obſtacle.

173. Our Diſpatches at Court went all together that way; ſo he that is diligent may Trace them to the end of January. Some of the Letters of Mr. Secretary Conway, at leaſt ſomewhat out of them, are uſeful to be produced, which will alſo confirm the good courſe that the Lord Keeper took with the Spaniſh Ambaſſadors, that he reſerv d the Pardon and Diſpenſation from them to the end, againſt all Conteſts of Importunity: Nor ſuffered the Letters to the Lord Biſhops and Judges to go abroad for the Suſpenſion of ſome Penal Statutes; whereupon the Fat of the Project of the Papiſts dript inſenſibly away at a ſlow Fire. After the Prince had reſted at Roiſton but one Night, his Majeſty cauſed Directions to be ſent to the Lord Keeper for the Enlargement of the Roman Prieſts, being Eleven of them in the Tower, Wisheech, Newgate, and no more. This Favour had many Reaſons to ſpeak for it: Firſt, To let all thoſe, who were inquiſitive about the Event of his Highneſs Journey take notice, that there was yet life in the Treaty by the motion of this Pulſe. Secondly, To gratifie the moſt obnoxious of that Religion, for requital of the Entertainment his Highneſs had among them. Thirdly, In Retaliation for the Priſoners that were ſet at Liberty in Spain to Congratulate the Princes welcom. Fourthly, That his Highneſs might keep his Word with thoſe of that way, who had done him good Offices abroad, to whom he had ſaid, Cab. p. 251. That though the Marriage were broken, his Catholick Subjects ſhould not fare the worſe for it. Therefore hear what Mr. Secretary Conway Writes to the Lord Keeper, October 7.

Right Honorable,

HIs Majeſty calling to Mind His promiſe to the Spaniſh Ambaſſadors for giving Liberty to the Prieſts, requires your Lordſhip to prepare the Ordinance for their Liberty, and to put it in Execution; the reſt of the Pardons being ſuſpended till the Solemnizing the Marriage. And His Majeſty would, that you ſhould ſignifie ſo much to the Ambaſſadors in your own Perſon, to acquaint them with His Mindfulneſs. And then that your Lordſhip will be pleaſed to move the Ambaſſadors, as giving them a good opportunity to do an acceptable Work, that they would move for the Releaſement of Dr. Whiting from Impriſonment, who for his Sermon Preach'd at Hampton-Court ſtands committed; but His Majeſty will have him remain ſuſpended from Preaching untill His further Pleaſure be known.

Now for the Letters which his Majeſty was made to believe were diſperſed to the Magiſtrates Spiritual and Temporal, about the Suſpenſion of the Laws, becauſe his Majeſty was disobeyed in it, the Lord Keeper, after he had ſeen the Inclination of the Court in three or four days, wrote to the Secretary, who knew all the Paſſages, to put the Duke upon it to acquaint the King with the Naked Truth, and fore-ſpeak Diſpleaſure. Upon which Mr. Secretary Conway returns this, Octob. 11. from Royſton.

Right Honorable,

SO ſoon as I received your Letter, with the like Obſervation that I will uſe in all your Command: I took the Duke of Buckingham juſt as he was going to the King, and had no more time with him, but to tell him that Point, touching your Wiſe and Moderate Retention of the Letters to the Biſhops and Juſtices. The Duke prepared the King ſo well, as His Majeſty gave me order to ſignifie to you, that thoſe Letters ſhould ſtill be retained, unleſs ſome Complaints ſhould make change of Counſels; or the Accompliſhment on the other ſide equal that of ours, and occaſion another ſtep forward. That Wiſe and Moderate way of your Lordſhips will ever get you Eſtimation and Eaſe. I am glad to ſee how brave a Friend you have of the Duke. And I know your Lordſhip will give me leave to make you as glad as my ſelf, that abſence hath made no change towards my Lord Duke in the Kings Favour; but his return, if it be poſſible, hath multiplied it. And the Prince and He are for Communications of Counſels, Deliberations, and Reſolutions, as if they were but One.

The King requir'd but one Thing more of the Lord Keeper, that as he had addulced all Things very well to his Mind, ſo the Miniſters of the King of Spain might not Grudge, that their Teeth were ſet on Edge with ſower Grapes; which he did effect moſt Artificially, albeit the Ambaſſadors by his means had loſt many Suits, and more Labour; as the Secretary was willed to acknowledge from Hinchingbrooke, Octob. 25.

p. 167Right Honorable,

I Delivered to his Majeſty the good Temper you left the Embaſſadors in, which gave his Majeſty Contentment, and moved his Thanks to you. Your Humane and Noble Uſage, you may be ſure, will beſt beſeem your Lordſhip, and pleaſe others. And when there is any Cauſe for you to take another Form on you, be confident you ſhall have ſeaſonable Knowledge: For my Lord Duke hath as well a Noble Care of you, as Confidence in you, and Affection to you, of which I am aſſured, though a mean Witneſs. So much was contrived; and a great deal more, to keep the Treaty from an utter diſſociation, till the next Parliament ſate. For the Coppy of the Memorials given January 19, by Sir Wal. Aſton, to the King of Spain, profeſſeth, That becauſe the Faculty for the Uſe of the Procuration expired at Chriſtmas, the King my Maſter, that you may know the ſound Intentions of his Proceedings, with the good End to which it aims, hath renewed the Powers, and deferred the delivery of them, only to give time for the Accompliſhment and ſetling that which hath been promiſed for the ſatisfying his Expectations, Cab. P. 39.

Neither did the Spaniards return the Jewels which the Prince had preſented at the Shrine of Love, till the end of February; at which Surrendry, and not before, the golden Cord was broken. Nothing is more ſure, than that the Prince's Heart was removed from the Deſire of that Marriage, after the Duke had brought him away from the Object of that Delightful and Raviſhing Beauty. But all the while the King had his Head full of Thoughts, brooding upon two things (like the Twins that ſtruggled in the Womb of Rebeckah) the Conſummation of the Marriage, and the Patrimony of his Son-in-Law to be regained, with the Dignity Electoral. His Wiſdom hovered between them both, like the Sun at his Noonday Height. Metâ diſtans aequalis utraque: He knew he ſhould be diſvalued, to the wounding of all Good Opinion, if he did not engraſt that Alliance into his Stem, which he had ſought with ſo much Expence of Time and Coſt, to ſtrengthen and aggrandize his Poſterity. And he knew he ſhould looſe Honour with all the Potentates of Europe, beſide other Miſchiefs, if nothing were done for re-poſſeſſing the Palatinate. Yet in ſine, he ſate down, and it cleaſt his Heart, that he affected neither. As a Canker eats quickly into ſoft and ſappy Wood, ſo an Error was gotten into his gentle Nature, the ſame that Spartianus ſays had crept into Didius Julianus: Reprehenſus in eo praecipue, quos regere authoritate ſud debuit, regendae reipub. praeſules ſibi ipſe fecit. He ſubmitted himſelf to be ruled by ſome, whom he ſhould have awed with Authority; but he wanted Courage to bow them to his own Bent. A Prince that preſerves not the Rights of his Dignity, and the Majeſty of his Throne, is a Servant to ſome, but therein a Friend to none, leaſt of all to himſelf.

174. But he did ſo little bear up with an Imperatorian Reſolution, againſt the Method of their Ways, who thruſt his Counſels out of Doors, that the Flies ſuck'd him where he was gall'd, and he never rub'd them off. He continued at Newmarket as in an Infirmary, for he forgot his Recreations of Hunting and Hawking; yet could not be drawn to keep the Feaſts of All-Saints, and the Fifth of November at White-Hall, being wont to ſhew his Preſence at thoſe Solemnities. Againſt Chriſtmas he drew towards the City, and no ſooner. Some better Offers were expected from Spain by that time, or more certain Diſcoveries be found out of Carriage on both ſides, for hitherto all was received upon ſecond hand Faith Therefore his Majeſty was no ſooner at White-Hall, but he commiſſioned a Select Council to conſider two things: Whither the King of Spain had not been real to the laſt, to ſatisfie the Deſire of the Prince about the Marriage; and whither in the Treaty for the Reſtitution of the Palatinate, he had violated the League between the two Kingdoms, as to deſerve an open War to be proclaimed againſt him. The Lord Keeper was one of the Junto; but ſo far againſt his Mind, that he wiſhed before a Friend or two in private, that a Fever in his Sick Bed might excuſe him. The Duke of Buckingham was mortally Anti-Spaniſh, and his Anger was headed with Steel. He aſſayed the Lord Keeper to hale him to his Judgment, as an Eddy doth a ſmall Boat; and would have uſed him to the King, to incline his Majeſty to renounce Amity with that Nation; but he found him as inflexible as a dried Bough. He vowed to his Grace, as he ſhould have God to be his Protector, that he would ſuffer all the Obliquy of the World, before he would be drawn to the leaſt Ingratitude againſt his Lordſhip, Cab. P. 89. But when the King asked his Judgment, he muſt be true and faithful. Which was to ſay, to do p. 168the Duke a Pleaſure, he cared not to deſerve ill of himſelf, but he would not deſerve ill of the King: which gave no Satisfaction. Oh! How better is a poor Man's Liberty, than the golden Servitude of a great Officer? Muſt I loſe my Patron, unleſs I loſe my Judgment? Can there not be a true Heart, where there is not Sameneſs of Opinion? What a Structure is Advancement, which hangs in the Air, and conſiſts upon no ſolid Foundation? That great Lord deſied the Keeper to his Face, and in the hearing of many, threatned to ſink him, becauſe he could not board him. And as Fulbertus ſaid of Queen Conſtantia, Cui ſatis creditur, dum mala promittit; Baron. Annal. 12 28. com. 12. If he promiſed an ill turn, he would be ſure to pay it, if he could. Once upon a time he could have done as much as that came to, with half a Word to the King. Now, as his Lordſhip conceived, his Strength lay among the Anakims, and the ſelf-will'd man plotted to ſacrifice his old Friend to the Parliament (the Intelligence came from the Venetian Embaſſador) to appeaſe the Diſlike of Immunities (which were none at all) exerciſed towards the Roman Catholicks. Yet there his Lordſhip faired, and found it as hard to ſuppreſs him, as to drown a Swan. There is an Electuary which Phyſicians give to comfort the Heart, called Paſta rogia; the Lord Keeper was fed Luſty with this Royal Paſte. The King had wrought him ſo apt to his own Plight, that the Power of a mighty Favorite could not wreſt him from the Sanctuary of his Love. Ye ſtill his Danger was, that the Duke thought (out of Diſdain more than Envy) that he wore too many Copies of his Majeſty's Favour. He took nothing more Scornſully, than what the King ſpake to the Earl of Carliſle in a Fit of Melancholly, That if he had ſent Williams into Spain with his Son, he had kept Hearts-eaſe and Honour, both which he lack'd at that time. So it was thought to be next to an Affront, that the firſt time the Lord Keeper came into the King's Preſence, after his Highneſs's Return into England (which was a little before Chriſtmas) his Majeſty looking intently upon him, ſaid thus to the Prince: Charles, There's the Man that makes us keep a merry Chriſtmas. His Highneſs looking as if he underſtood not his Father; Why, 'tis he, ſays the King, that laboured more dextrouſly than all my Servants beſide, to bring you ſafe hither to keep Chriſtmas with me, and I hope you are ſenſible of it. Another Act of the King's Goodneſs drew a greater Frown upon him: That in thoſe Holy-days, his Majeſty, of his own Accord, no Solicitation preceding, cauſed an Act of Council to be entred into the Book of that Honorable Table, that an Arch-Biſhoprick, and he named York, ſhould be conſerred upon him in the next Vacancy. For which, the Lord Keeper moſt humbly thanked his Majeſty, that he was pleaſed to think of him, when his Majeſty knew beſt, that he thought not of himſelf. Yet my Lord Duke reſented it ill, as if he climbed without his Hand to lift him up. Arch-Biſhop Mathew underſtanding how his Place was deſigned, took occaſion to be pleaſant upon it. It was a Felicity which Nature had given him, to make old Age comfortable with a light Heart.

—Non ille rigoris

Ingratas laudes, nec nubem ſrontis amabat,

Sil. lib. 8.

But that much beloved Prelate ſending his Proxy to the Lord Keeper, againſt the following Parliament, wrote to this Purpoſe, That he was not a little troubled in former times, to hear that the Biſhop of London, Doctor Mountain, a decay'd Man, and certainly near to the Grave, ſhould look to be his Succeſſor. For either himſelf muſt die before three years expired, or that Biſhop's Hopes would be all amort, who muſt come ſuddenly to the See, or not at all. But it pleaſed and revived him, that his Lordſhip was moſt likely to take his Place after him: for he was young and healthful, and might ſtay the Term of twenty Years, and take his Turn time enough at the end of that Stage. Then he ſhuts up his Letter—As the Pſalmiſt begins, ſo I end, Dixi Cuſtodiam—I love you Lordſhip well, but I will keep you out of this Seat as long as I can.

175. Now let the Collections of the laſt Antecedency be obſerved, and there is not to be found in them, why the Lord Keeper ſhould forfeit a Dram in the Benevolence of his great Friend. They are the Party-coloured Coat, with which Jacob appare…ed him, and which himſelf put not out to making. But in the Select Council, which met to reſolve the two foregoing Queſtions, he was active as any man. If he come not off well in that, let him be condemned. To the firſt matter in propoſal the Lords agreed, that the Prince came Home with great and happy Renown, becauſe he had reſiſted ſo many, and ſo ſtrong Temptations p. 169to pervert him in Religion, and that the Lord of Buckingham's Aſſiſtance was praiſe worthy in exceſs, who held him ſteady, and counter-work'd all Underminers. They conceived that the Proceeding of the Spaniards to the moſt were generous; in ſome things rather ſubtle than ingenuous; as there is no Pomegranate but hath ſome rotten Kernels, and that in all they were ſo tedious, that it was able to provoke the Meekneſs of Moſes, though he had not a Drachm of Choler in his Complexion. Yet that it could not appear, but that the Marriage on King Philip's part was very ſincerely meant in all the Treaty; moſt clearly when his Highneſs took his Farewell, moſt openly ſince his Departure. Wherein the Earl of Briſtol had much wronged that great Monarch, giving him a Baſtle inſupportable. For when the Power of Revocation, or rather Repreſſion of the Proxy, was peremptorily in his Lordſhip's hand, he did not acquaint the King of Spain, to ſtop him from erecting a Gallery (turned by the Earl's Negligence into a Gullery) in the open Streets, covered with the richeſt Tapeſtry, and ſet forth with all other Circumſtances of Wealth and State, to conduct the Infanta in open View, and with moſt magnificent Solemnity, to the Depoſorios; when by the Inſtruments and Commiſſions the Earl had lately received, he knew theſe auguſtious Preparations would be ridiculouſly diſappointed; which was a Deſpight that a Gentleman, not to ſay an Embaſſador, ſhould have prevented. For the Diſgrace was ſo far blown abroad with Deriſion, that it was the News of Gazette's over all Europe. The Intention of that Nation to give the Infanta in Marriage to the Prince being not controverted: Yet his Highneſs proteſting on his part that he was free, unleſs the Palatinate were ſurrendred, they were all ſatisfy'd with it, his Word was Juſtice to them, and that which was in his own Breaſt, muſt alone direct him how to uſe his Freedom. This Queſtion diſpatched, was upon a blown Roſe, the next was upon a Bramble. The Lord Duke was ſo zealous (ſay it was for the Palſgrave's Sake) that he voted the King of Spain to be deſied with open War, till amends were made to the illuſtrious Prince Elector, for the Wrongs he ſuſtained. The Lords appointed for the Conference, that apprehended it otherwiſe, were the Keeper, Treaſurer, Duke of Richmond, Marqueſs Hamilton, Earl of Arund…l, Lord Carow, Lord Belfaſt, who could not ſay that the King of Spain had done the part of a Friend, for the Recovery of the Palatinate, as he had profeſs'd; nor yet could they find, that he had acted the Part of an Enemy declaredly, as was objected. Their Judgment was, the Girts of Peace were ſlack, but not broken. This is couched in the Admonitions of an Ignote unto King James, Cab. p. 278. The Conference or Treaty about the Palatinate was taken from the Council of State, a Society of moſt prudent Men, only for this Cauſe, that almoſt every one of them, had with one Conſent approved the Propoſitions of the moſt Catholick King, and did not find in it any Cauſe of diſſolving the Treaty—And a little beneath, The Duke fled from the Council of State, and diſclaimed it for a Parliament, by way of an Appeal. Moſt true, that ſcarce any in all the Conſulto did vote to my Lord Duke's Satisſaction; which made him riſe up, and chaſe againſt them from Room to Room, as a Hen that hath loſt her Brood, and clucks up and down, when ſhe hath none to follow her. The next time he ſaw the Lord Belfaſt, he asked him, with Diſdain, Are you turned too? and ſo flung from him, Cab. p. 243. To which the Lord Belfaſt anſwered honeſtly, in a ſhort Letter, That he would conform himſelf in all things to the Will and good Pleaſure of the King his Maſter. The greateſt Grudge was againſt the Lord Keeper, who ſeldom ſpake, but all Opinions ran into his one, as they did at this time; and the Duke preſumed that his Sentence ſhould never vary from his own Mind. An hard Injunction, and all the Favour on Earth is too dear to be bought at ſuch a Price. But he declared, that he ſaw no Expediency for War upon the Grounds communicated. For upon whom ſhould we fall? ſays he, either upon the Emperor, or the King of Spain. The Emperor had in a fort offered our King his Son-in-Law's Country again for a great Sum, in Recompence of Diſburſments; but where was the Money to be had? Yet it might be cheaper bought than conquered, before a War were ended. For the King of Spain, he ſaw no Cauſe to aſſault him with Arms: He had held us indeed in a long Treaty to our Loſs; but he held nothing from us; and was more likely to continue the State of things in a poſſibility of Accommodation, becauſe he diſliked the Duke of Bavaria's Ambition, and had rather ſtop the Enlargement of his Territories. The King was glad that ſome maintained his Judgment, and would not conſent wantonly to raiſe him from the Down Bed of his long admired Peace. Neither did he refrain to ſpeak very hardly of that Servant whom he loved beſt, p. 170that agitated to compel him to draw the Sword, one of the great Plagues of God. His Cenſure upon him was bitter, Cab. P. 92. but fit to be caſt over-board in ſilence.

176. A King of Peace is not only ſitteſt to build Temples, but is the Temple of God. Such a one doth foreſee how long, how far, how dangerouſly the Fire of War will burn, before he put a Torch to kindle it. And as every Biſhop ought to have a care of the Univerſal Church; ſo every King ought to have a care of all Humane Society. It is not ſuch a thing to raiſe War in theſe Days, as it was in Abraham's; Muſter his Servants in one Day, and reſcue Lot from his Enemies the next. Nor ſuch as it was with the old Romans, make a Summers (La…rt. in Vit.) before he laid down his Office. The Charge in our Age, which uſually for many Years doth oppreſs the People, will hardly countervail, if GOD ſhould ſend it the Gladneſs of a Victory. Nor is all fear over, when a War is ended: But, as Solon ſays, (Lacrt. in Vit.) Great Commanders when they have done their Work abroad, and are return'd with Honour, foreign, do more Miſchief by their Factions to their Country, than they did againſt their Enemies. And whoſever ſcape well, the poor Church is like to ſuffer two ways. Firſt, as Camden ſays, Eliz. Ann. 1583. Schiſmatica pravitas ſemper bello ardente maxime luxuriat: Schiſmatical Pravity will grow up under the Licentiouſneſs of War: Some profane Buff-Coats will Authorize ſuch Incendiaries. Secondly, For ſome Hundreds of Years by-paſt in Chriſtendom, I cannot find, but where Wars have been protracted, the Churchman's Revenue hath been in danger to pay the Soldiers. If this affect not thoſe, that will not think that there is ſuch a Sin as Sacrilege, yet all acknowledge that there is ſuch a Virtue as Humane Compaſſion: Then they that would awake drouzy Peace, as they call it, with the Noiſe of the Drum, and the prancing of Horſes in the Street, let them, before they deſign their War, deſcribe before their Conſciences the heaps of ſlaughter'd Carkaſſes, which will come after: That the Land which is before t…en ſha…I look like the Garden of the Lord, and that which is behind them like Burning and Brimſtone. For all this will they tempt God, and be the Foes of Humanity? Grotius, who beſt could do it, hath ſweetly tranſlated ſuch a Contemplation out of Euripides, Lib. 2. de Bel. & Pa. Cap. 24. Co. 4. Quod ſi in Comitiis funera ante oculos forent, Furiata bello non p…riſſet Graecia. Some will adventure to ſay more; that every Sheba that ſounded the firſt Trumpet to Battail, hath been unlucky in his own Perſon. So Sir W. Aston to the Duke, Cab. P. 37. The moſt proſperous War hath misfortune enough in it, to make the Author of it unhappy. Elſe Iſocrates was miſtaken, who lived to be an old, and a Prophetical Orator among the Athenians, Orat. de Pace; ſays he, Your Humour, Athenians, is well known, foreign, you like them best that incite you to War. Yet I wonder if old Men do not remember, and young Men have not heard, foreign, that we never receiv'd hurt by liſtning to them that exhorted us to preſerve our Peace; but the Counſels of others have brought Diſhonour, and put us to Shifts and Calamities.

177. I would theſe Notions might be read conſiderately, when any raſh Spirit ſhall attempt to open Janus's Temple, after it hath been long ſhut Yet wo be to the Vicar that ſhould have read this Homily to my Lord Duke. The Lord Keeper's Name was in his black Book of Remembrance for it, till his Lordſhip did not only croſs him, but blot him out. Revenge is the effect of ſmother'd Anger, as Flame is but lighted Smoak. The Scene wherein an Argument of a kind of Tragedy is couch'd upon it, is in the Lord Duke's Secretaries Letter, Cab. Pag. 86. challenging the Lord Keeper, That at the ſelect Council he had run a courſe oppoſite to his Lordſhip, and (by conſequent to ſill up the Crime) dangerous to the Kingdom, prejudicious to the cauſe of Religion. That the two laſt times they met in Council, the Duke found that he took his Kue (from the Kings Mind) juſt as other Men did, and joyn'd with them in their Opinions, whoſe aim was to tax his Proceedings in the managing of the Prince's Buſineſs. How imperious is this? And how all that follows it like the roaring of a Lyon? And for no more offence, but becauſe he would not condemn the King of Spain out of the proof of his Grace's Mouth, and ammerce him with an implacable War, wherein an Hundred Thouſand Lives might be ſpilt, for a Quarrel begun between himſelf and Olivarez, which was not worth a bloody Noſe. Certainly the Lord Keeper could not be afraid of the Duke being ſo much alienated, for any hurt that could come of it at the preſent. I was not in his Heart to eſpy, whether he look'd forward upon another Age in the next Reign. One thing I am conſcious of, that he courted p. 171no Man but him with ſupple Submiſſion, being unwilling to nothing more, than that the World ſhould obſerve him diſſever'd from his Promoter, though he were innocent as to making a breach, or the leaſt thought of Oppoſition. The beſt part he could act, was to proteſt how much, and how unſeignedly he was that Lords in a moſt Pathetical Vow, as it is to be found Cab. P. 89. Let this Paper bear Record againſt me at the great Parliament of all, if I be not in my Heart and Soul your Graces moſt faithful and moſt conſtant poor Friend and Servant. Somewhat alſo may be pick'd out of that Letter by a ſharp Cenſure, as if he had ſought the Duke with Phraſes too low, and too Petitionary. And I am my ſelf within a little of that Opinion. But this was ever a venial Fault at Court; where it was uſual for Men in Place to drink down ſuch hot Affronts, as would ſcald their Throats, that could not endure the Vaſſallage which was tied to Ambition. The beſt Apology is, That a Thankful Man looks for leave, (chuſe you whether you will grant it, for he will take it) to lay himſelf under the Feet of his Benefactor, to be reconciled to him. I learn it from Tully, pleading for himſelf againſt Lateranenſis, Orat, pro Plancio. Nimis magnum beneficium Plancii exaggero. Quare verò me tuo arbitratu, & non meo, gratum eſſe oportet. Lateranenſis ſays, I do too much extol the Favours which I have received from Plancius. As if it were not Reaſon that I ſhould be Grateful by my own Acknowledgment, and not by his Opinion. In ſhort, that the Duke might be the better aſlur'd of the reading of ſo able a Miniſter in the Parliament at Hand, the Prince, with his never-failing Sweetneſs, made up this Gap between them; but with a looſe Pale. Yet leave ſhould have been given, where leave was look'd for. The Lord Keeper did not give the Duke content in this ſelect Junto; no more did the Duke give content to the King. In the ſame Meaſure that he did mete, it was meaſured unto him.

178. Look back about a Twelve-month, and a ſtory will drop in, where the Duke did hearken to the Party with more content. That which was acted a Year ago is in ſeaſon to be produced now, becauſe it was publiſh'd upon Conſideration againſt the Parliament that ſate now. Thoſe dangerous and buſie Flies, which the Roman Seminaries ſend abroad, had buzzed about the Counteſs of Buckingham, had blown upon, and infected her. She was Mother to the great Favourite; but in Religion become a Stepmother. She doated upon him extreamly, as the Glory of her Womb: Yet by turning her Coat ſo wantonly, when the Eyes of all the Kingdom were upon her Family, ſhe could not have wrought him a worſe turn, if ſhe had ſtudied a miſchief againſt him. Many marvelled what rumbled in her Conſcience at that time: For from a Maid to an Old Madam ſhe had not every ones good Word for practice of Piety. And ſhe ſuffered Cenſure to the laſt, that ſhe leſt the Company of Sir Tho. Compton her Husband. It hath been ſo with many others. But why ſhould a Libertine, that cares not to live after the way of the Goſpel, pretend to ſeek Satisfaction more than ordinary about the true Doctrine of The Goſpel? They that have Beams in their own Eyes, unſanctified Manners beyond the moſt, why ſhould they cavil at Moats in the Eye of the Reformed Religion? Let them anſwer it to Him alone, who hath Power to judge them. But divers that had ſenſe of a Godly Fear, as they pitied the Revolt of this Lady, ſo they dreaded the Conſequents, that did hang upon her Power and Opportunity. Ar. Wilſon complains, P. 275. That the Counteſs of Buckingham was the Cynoſura that all the Papiſts ſteered by. I believe it was above her Ability to bear the weight of that Metaphor. The common Jealouſie was, that the Duke would be ringſtreaked with ſpots of Popery, by reſorting to his Mothers Trough. Nay, there was a trivial Gradation in Vulgar Mouths, which reach'd higher, That the Mother had a great Influence upon her Son, the Son upon the King, and the King upon the People. The Lord Keeper did not unforeſee how far this Cord might be drawn: And that thoſe Diſcontents which were but Vapours in common talk, might thicken into a Thunder-Clap in an enſuing Parliament. Which though it aſſembled not in 14 Months after, yet this Prometheus had learn'd his Leſſon, That Safety is eaſieſt purchas'd by Prevention. An Inſtrument that is ſtrung, may be us'd upon a little warning. Having thus ſtudied the Welfare of the Duke, he ſpake to him to this effect:

My Lord,

YOur Mother is departed out of the Boſom of the Church of England, into whoſe Confeſſion of Faith ſhe was Baptiz'd; a ſtrong Schiſm in any to go away from that Society of Chriſtians, among whom they cannot demonſtrate but Salvation may be had. I would we could bring her Home ſo ſoon, that it might not be ſeen ſhe had ever wandered. p. 172For it is a favourable Judgment among Divines, Hormiſda in Epiſt. ad Anaſtaſium Imperatorem.Propè ab Innocentiâ non recedit, qui ad eam ſine tarditate revertit: He ſeems almoſt not to have faln from Innocency, that returns into it without delay. But my Care (I cannot diſſemble it) is more for your ſelf. Your Integrity, My Lord, is wounded through your Mothers Apostaſie. Perhaps you hear not of it: For I believe it is late before any Truth meets you, that is offenſive. It is one of the greateſt Miſeries of Greatneſs, which Pollio imputes to Gallienus, Nemo ei vera nec in bonis, nec in malis nuntiat. But it is time to let your Lordſhip know, That the Mouth of Clamour is opened, that now the Recuſants have a Potent Advocate to plead for their Immunity, which will increaſe their Number. When this is banded in the High and Popular Court by Tribunitial Orators, what a Duſt it will raiſe? I have touch'd a Sore with my Finger: I am furniſh'd with an Emplaſter to lay upon it; which I preſume will Lenifie: Only meaſure not the Size of Good Counſel by the Laſt of Succeſs. My Lord, Your Mother muſt be invited, or provoked, to hear Debates between Learned Men, ſpeaking to thoſe Points of Controverſie that have ſtaggered her. Let her Ladiſhip bring her Champions with her. Entertain her with many of theſe Conferences. Let them be ſolemn as can be deviſed; the King himſelf being ever preſent at the Diſputes; and the Conſlux of great Perſons as thick as the Place will permit. Let your Lordſhips Induſtry and Earneſtneſs be Conſpicuous, to catch at every Twig of Advantage, much more to give Applauſe to every ſolid Reaſon, which may bring your Mother home to a ſound Mind again. If her Ladiſhip recover of her Unſtableneſs by theſe Applications, you have won a Soul very precious to you, and will raiſe your ſelf up into the Fame of a Sincere Proteſtant. But if the Light within her be Darkneſs, and that ſhe frustrate all hopes of her Reparation, the Notice of your Lordſhips Pious Endeavours will fill the Kingdom with a good Report, and will ſmell to every good Noſtril like a ſweet Savour. My Lord, Courage. I ſet my reſt upon't, that this Counſel will not deceive, becauſe you will labour your Mothers Converſion, not as a Stratagem of Counterfeacance, but, upon my Knowledge, from the very Mind of your Heart.

The Conferences went preſently to work. His Majeſty ſingularly verſed in Polemical Theology, was Superintendent. The Champion, in whoſe Sufficiency the Lady moſt affied, was Fiſher the Jeſuit: With whom Dr. Francis White, then Dean of Carlile, firſt encountred, and gave him Foil after Foil; as the Colloquy did let the World know, moſt impartially publiſh'd. But Female Weakneſs was not evinced by Manly Performance. The Logick of the Serpent had ſtrong force upon Eve; and that Infirmity is deſcended upon her Daughters. Another Meeting was prepared, wherein the Lord Keeper entred the Liſts with Fiſher; becauſe he had adviſed to thoſe Diſputes, he was willing to be Active, as well as Conſultative. As the old Rule would have Precept and Example to go Hand in Hand: Cum dixit quid faciendum ſit, probat faciendo. He had obſerv'd when he was an Auditor at the former Conflict, that if divers of the Jeſuits Poſtulata were yielded to him, (datis, non conceſſis) that the Church of England, repurging it ſelf from the ſuper-injected Errors of the Church of Rome, would ſtand inculpable: So he labour'd to evidence, if unneceſſary Strifes were diſcreetly waved, what little was wanting to a Concluſive Unity. Ut, quae non licuit per omnia, ex neceſſariis partibus allegentur, as the Emperor Juſtin wrote to Pope Hormiſda. The King did greatly commend his Charitable and Pacificatory handling of Controverſies; which gentle uſage, though it put the Jeſuit out of his ordinary trot, yet he fell into a ſhuffling pace, and carried away the Lady behind him. The Lord Keeper expoſed not his part in Print; as Fulgentius ſays of Frier Paul, That he writ nothing with Intention to publiſh it, unleſs Neceſſity conſtrein'd him. The third, foreign, that contended with the Jeſuit both for the Palm of Victory, and to bring Eye-Salve to the dim-ſighted Lady, was Dr. Laud, then Biſhop of St. David's, who galled Fiſher with great Acuteneſs. Which the falſe Loiolite traduced, and made ſlight in his Reports Whereupon the Biſhop, for his juſt Vindication, Corroborated all that he had delivered with very ſtrong Enlargement, paying his Adverſary both with the Principal and Intereſt; and divers Years after finiſh'd it with an Auctarium, which hath rendred it a Maſter-Piece in Divinity. But all this labour was ſpent in vain as to the Counteſs's part, and ſhe left to be numbred among thoſe, of whom Chriſt foretold, that they loved Darkneſs more than Light.

Qui ſcis an prudens huc ſe dejecerit,

Atque Servari nelit!

Horat. Art. Poet.

p. 173Yet on my Lord her Sons part, that which was deſir'd was Atchieved. He had appeared in the Field an Antagoniſt to her Revolt, whom he Honour'd, and Obſerv'd with the moſt of Filial Duty. So ſhe was leſs Valued ever after, and ſent from the Court, for her Obſtinacy. But he was Blazed abroad for the Red-Croſs-Knight that was Unàs Champion againſt Archimago. Yet it was not Printed to be Read, and Judg'd of, till the Parliament Sate, which was now call'd.

179. And leſt the precedents of the King's Writs ſhould be loſt, as his Houſes and Revenues are embezel'd, here follows the Copy of the Summons directed to the Lord Keeper under the Signet.

James Rex. TRuſty, and well beloved Counſellor we Greet you well.

Whereas we are Reſolv'd to hold a Parliament at our Palace of Weſtminſter the Twelfth day of February next enſuing. Theſe are to Will and require you forthwith, upon the Receipt hereof, to Iſſue forth Our Writs of Summons, to all the Peers of our Kingdom: And alſo all other uſual Writs for the Electing of ſuch Knights, Citizens, and Burgeſſes, as are to ſerve therein. And withal to iſſue out all uſual Writs for the Summoning of the Clergy of both Provinces in their Houſes of Convocation And this ſhall be your Warrant ſo to do.

Dated at our Palace of Whitehal in Weſtminſter, this 28 Decem. 1623.

The Tenth of February was firſt appointed, being Tueſday; the day of the Week which K. James obſerv'd to auſpicate his great Affairs; but proving to be Shrove-Tueſday, wherein the Younkers of the City us'd to exceed in horrid Liberty, that day was ſcratcht out of the Writ, and Thurſday the Twelfth was choſen in the Room. But God ſcratcht out the Twelfth day, when the day was come, Nay, when the King and his Train were putting on their Robes, ſo far in readineſs to begin their Solemnity. For the King look'd about him, and miſs'd the L. Steward, Duke of Richmond and Lenox. He was abſent indeed, abſent from the Body, and preſent with God, 2 Cor. 5.8. He had Supp'd chearfully the Night before, complain'd of nothing when he went to Bed, ſlept ſoundly, Et iter confecit dormiendo, he finiſh'd this laſt Journey in his ſleep. His Servant was commanded to waken him, and haſten him to attend the King, but found that he had breathed out his Spirit; about an Hour before, ſaid the Sons of Art, becauſe his Corps was but inclining to be Cold. What a do was made to no purpoſe to ſuſpect ſome foul means to rock him into this Everlaſting Sleep? which would never have been queſtion'd in a meaner Man. And cannot God prepare a Worm to ſmite the Gourd of our Body, that it ſhall wither in a moment? He was deplor'd generally. I am in with them; for he deſerv'd it. French he was born and bred. You might have ſeen the Gallican Decency in his manners; of good Aſpect, and well ſhap'd; Affable, Humble, Inoffenſive, contented with ſo much Favour as was never Repin'd: One that never Wreſtled with the King's Privado's, and was never near a fall: One whoſe Wit and Honeſty kept him great, and much belov'd of all; which rarely meet: One that deſerves the Elogy which Lampridias gives to Quintilius Marcellus Counſellor to Alexander Severus, Qs. Meliorem ne Hiſtoriae quidem continent. More was ſpoken to his never-dying Honour, by the Graceful Eloquence of the Lord Keeper upon a fit Text, taken out of the 1 King cap. 4. verſe 5. Zabud the Son of Nathan was principal Officer, and the King's Friend, This was perform'd at his Funerals in Weſtminſter Abby April 27. Which were the moſt coſtly, and ſet out with the moſt Princely Pomp for a Subject, that ever I ſaw: His Dutcheſs thinking nothing too ſumptuous in his Obſequies to do him the greateſt Renown that could be. Which Love in her ſurvived towards him to her laſt hour. But good Lady, what a penurious Houſe-Wife, and ſcorn to the World, hath Ar. Wilſon made her p. 259. That her Tables in her Hall were ſpread, as if there had been Meat, and Men to furniſh them; but before Eating time, the Houſe being voided, the Linnen Return'd into their Folds again, and all her people Graſed on ſome few Diſhes. Out of what Raſcal Fame he ſcrapt up this I know not. The Author liv'd not one day after he had Publiſh'd his Work to Anſwer it. But there are yet as many Living, that know this to be maliciouſly falſe, as there are Pages in his Book. For my own part I knew the Order, the Comlineſs, the Bounty of her Houſe-keeping in Holborn, and at Exeter-Houſe; whether I came often on Meſſage from a Lady of a great underſtanding, and a great will, p. 174the Lady Elizabeth Hatton, to ſtreiten an Account of 8000 l. between them. I have been kept upon my buſineſs until Meal-times very often, Noon and Night, and have ſtaid with her Worthy Steward Mr. William Bolton at his Table, which I could not Civilly Refuſe. I never ſaw but that every Board in the Hall was bountifully ſerv'd, the Stewards Table chiefly ſo coſtly in well Cook'd-Meats, ſo Rich in the Plate wherein it was ſerv'd, ſo well obſerv'd by the Attendants, as I preferr'd it before the like in any Noble Family that ever I was preſent at in the Kingdom. I am bound. I take it, to defend the Hoſpitality in Truth, where I have been a Gueſt. Neither doth it belong only to Knight Errands in Wildwitted, that is no Witted, Romances, to defend a Ladies Honour, but it is due from every man that profeſſeth Juſtice, and Ingenuity. Principally, as Ariſtotle Writes Prob. 9. Sect. 30, Defunctis opitulari magis Juſtum eſt, quam vivis hominibus. The Exequies of the Dead are call'd Juſta; and it is more Juſt to defend the Dead, then the Living. Let me Weave into the Fringe of this Paragraph a touch at as Wiſe, and Faithful a Letter, as ever the Lord Keeper wrote to the Duke of Buckingham. He that Reads it all, as it is Cab. p. 101. Shall find it no loſs of time; mending the Fault of the Date (a miſtake very common in that Rhapſody of Letters) it ſhould bear the Style of Feb 13. 1623. inſtead of Mart. 2. 1624. The Office of the Lord Steward of the King's Houſe was become void by the Death of the Duke of Richmond. The next Morning he writes to my Lord of Buckingham, That it was a place ſit to be accepted of by his Lordſhip. What, more Places? but peruſe the Letter, and the Scope of it all along will appear, to inſtruct him upon the Aſſumption of this, to part with another place, the Admiralty, more beneficial to his Followers, then to himſelf, who therefore kept him from diſcarding. But how far had his Lordſhip been more Fortunate, if he had follow'd better Counſel? Firſt he had made himſelf a leſs Object of their Malice, who look'd with Meager Countenance upon him, for holding ſo many Places of Publick Truſt, Maſterſhip of the Horſe, Admiralty, Wardenſhip of the Cinque Ports: Juſtice in Eyer over all Chaces and Forreſts on this ſide Trent. Whereas the Lord Steward ſerves the King only in his Houſhold. Therefore the Lord Keeper omits not to remember him there, Your Grace may leave any Office you pleaſe to avoid Envy. The plurality of the Dukes Offices were one and the firſt of the Grievances heard and Proſecuted in the Houſes of the Lords and Commons throughout all his troubles, while his Life laſted. Secondly, but for the Name of Lord Admiral he had never withdrawn himſelf from Court, to head a Navy at the Sea, where never any Commander of the Engliſh Fleet made ſo improſperous a Voyage. As Renowned Camden, anno 1601. Eliz. ſays of Robert Earl of Eſſex, That he was a Brave Warrier, but Fortune did much forſake him, and he would not ſay with Aſtrologers, That Mars being Lord of his Nativity 'in the Eleventh Station, Afflictiſſimus naſcenti affulſerat: So this Lord Admiral was Valiant and feared not his Foes, but Mars was not a propitious Aſcendant at his Nativity. He that feared it, and knew him to be both wilful and unskilful, advis'd him to take a White Staff inſtead of an Anchor; but the Duke return'd him no Gra-mercy, being Reſolute to out Face envy, and as ſecure as a former proſperous Life could make him, to ſuſpect no Ignominy, or Infelicity.

180. The week that ſtayed the Parliament being over, it met as it were in the Temple of Concord. Common preſagements ſeldom fail. It came ſo welcom to all Men, that they rejoyced for it according to the Joy of Harveſt. The Solemnity began with a Sermon in the Abby of Weſtminſter, made by Dr. Carew Biſhop of Exon. Even Idolaters did not omit to enter upon any great Work, without ſome Ceremony of Religion, Omnia levius caſura rebus Divinis procuratis. Tull. l. 2. de divin. The Biſhops Theme, upon which he raiſed his Exhortations very prudently, was out of the Words of dying Jacob to the Head of one of the Tribes, Gen. 49.13. Zabulon ſhall dwell at the Haven of the Sea, &c. From which he Preach'd and Pray'd earneſtly it might be conſidered; Zabulon juxta mare poſitus aliorum videt. naufragia, ſed ipſe ſalvus eſt. How Zabulon might thank God that he ſaw Wars abroad, and none at home; and that he ſaw many Shipwrack'd at Sea, while he was ſafe in his Haven. But the Stream of Opinion was then againſt his Doctrine. For we think every thing good, whoſe Evil we have not felt. Immediately from thence the Train removed to the Higher Houſe, where the King being ſet under his State, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and other Aſſiſtants of the Court p. 175Attending his Royal perſon, and the Lower Houſe being admitted to the Audience of that which was to be ſaid, his Majeſty Feaſted them with a Speech, then which nothing could be apter for the Subject, or more Eloquent for the matter. All the helps of that Faculty were extreamly perfect in him, abounding in Wit by Nature, in Art by Education, in Wiſdom by Experience. Mr. George Herbert being Praelector in the Rhetorique School in Cambridg anno 1618. Paſs'd by thoſe fluent Orators, that Domineered in the Pulpits of Athens and Rome, and inſiſted to Read upon an Oration of King James, which he Analyſed, ſhew'd the concinnity of the Parts, the propriety of the Phraſe, the height and Power of it to move Affections, the Style utterly unknown to the Ancients, who could not conceive what Kingly Eloquence was, in reſpect of which, thoſe noted Demagogi were but Hirelings, and Triobulary Rhetoricians. The Speech which was had at the opening of this Parliament; doth commend Mr. Herbet for his Cenſure: Which yet I Engroſs not here; for the Reader that is Converſant in Books will find it often Printed. The Sum of it was to ask Advice of the Lords and Commons, what was fitteſt to be done for Advancement of Religion, and the good of the Common Wealth, how the Treaty of the Princes Match would agree with theſe, and the good of the Children of the Palatine, for reſtoring them to that which they had loſt. As the whole Contexture was a right Purple Robe that became Majeſty, ſo there were three Golden Nails or Studs in it, which even dazled the Eye with their Splendor. In the Firſt he touchld modeſtly, that his Reign had not been unhappy to us, But, ſays he, You have found the Fruits of my Government, if you conſider the Peace which my Kingdoms Enjoy, in the midſt of the Miſeries our Neighbours are afflicted with. And though I cannot ſay my Government hath been without Error, yet I can avouch before God and his Angels, never King Govern'd with a more pure ſincerity, and Incorrupt Heart. In the Second, he Purgeth himſelf from the Detraction of a falſe Rumor. Jealouſies, ſays He, Are of a ſtrange Depth; but let them be far from you. It hath been Talked of my Remiſsneſs in maintenance of Religion, and Suſpicion of a Toleration. But, as God ſhall Judg me, I never thought or meant it, nor ever in Word Expreſt any thing that Savour'd of it. It is true, That at times beſt known to my ſelf, I did not ſo fully put thoſe Laws in Execution, but did Wink and Connive at ſome things, which muſt have hindred more weighty Affairs. Yet I never in all my Treaties agreed to any thing, to the overthrow and diſagreeing of theſe Laws—For as it is a good Horſman's Part, not always to uſe the Spur, ot keep ſtrict the Reins, but ſometimes to ſpare the Spur, and to hold the Reins more ſlackly, ſo it is the part of a wiſe King (and my Age and Experience have inform'd me) ſometimes to quicken the Laws with ſtrict Execution, and at other times upon juſt occaſion to be more Remiſs. Thirdly, The Shells of a Cockle could not lye cloſer and evener to one another, then theſe laſt laſt words claſp'd with the Parliament: God is my Judg, and I ſpeak it as a Chriſtian King, never any wayfaring men in the Burning, Dry, and Sandy Deſerts more Thirſted for water to quench his Thirſt, then I Thirſt and Long for the Happy Succeſs of this Parliament, that the good Iſſue of this may expiate and acquit the Fruitleſs Iſſue of the former. The King having ſpread this Banquet to the Taſt of their Judgments, the Lord Keeper pro formâ ſet on the Grace Cup as followeth.

My Lords, and Gentlemen all,

YOU have heard his Majeſties Speech, and find the extraordinary Confidence his Majeſty repoſeth in the Wiſdom, and loving Affections of this preſent Parliament. You do hot expect, I am ſure, any Repetition, or reiteration of the ſame. A Lacedemonian being invited to hear a Man that could counterfeit very well the Notes of a Nightingale, put him off with theſe words, foreign, I have heard the Nightingale her ſelf. And why ſhould you now be troubled with the Croaking of a Chancellor, that have heard the loving Expreſſions of a moſt Eloquent King: And indeed for me to gloſs upon his Majeſties Speech, were nothing elſe, then as it is in the Satyr, Annulum aureum ferreis Stellis ferruminare, to Enamel a Ring of pure Gold with Stars of Iren. I know his Majeſties Grave and weighty Sentences have left, asA…ſchines Orations were wont to do, foreign, a kind of Prick or Sting in the Hearts and Minds of all the Hearers. It is not fit that with my Rude Fumbling I ſhould unſettle, or diſcompoſe his Elegancies. For as Pliny Obſerves of Nerva, That when he had Adopted the Emperor Trajan, he was taken away forthwith, and never did any Publick Act after it, Ne poſt illud Divinum, & immortale factum, aliquid mortale faceret, Leaſt after ſo Tranſcendent and Divine an Act, he ſhould commit any thing might reliſh of Mortality: So is it fit that the Judicious Ears of theſe Noble Hearers be no further troubled this day, Ne quid poſt illud Divinum & immortale dictum m…rtale audirent. I will only put you in mind p. 176of your Ancient and laudable Cuſtom, to Elect one to be your Common Mouth or Speaker. And whom his Majeſty Aſſigns unto you for his Liking and Preſentation Mr. Secretary will declare.

181. So the firſt Day ſhut up. And Saturday following, the 21ſt of that Month, was but a day of Formality to the Parliament; yet material to this Hiſtory, becauſe the Lord Keeper had the greateſt ſhare about the Work of it, who is my Scope; and this Parliament; no further, then as he is concern'd in the Actions and Occurrencies of it. On that day the King Sitting under his State in the Lords Houſe, incircled with the Senatorian Worthies of the higher and lower Order, the Commons Preſented Sir Tho. Crew, Serjeant at Law, for their Speaker. As the Knights and Burgeſſes were Choſen for the publick Service out of the beſt of the Kingdom; ſo this Gentleman was Choſen for this Place out of the beſt of them: He was warm in the Care of Religion, and a Chief among them that were popular in the Defence of it; A great lover of the Laws of the Land, and the Liberties of the People; Of a ſtay'd Temper, ſound in Judgment, ready in Language; And though every Man, it is ſuppos'd, hath ſome equals in his good Parts, he had few or no Superiors. This was the Character which the Lord Keeper gave of him to the King, whereupon he was pointed out to this Honorable Task. Yet with all this Furniſhment, out of a Cuſtom which Modeſty had obſerv'd, Sir Thomas Deprecated the Burthen, as Moſes did when the was to be ſent to Pharoah, O my Lord, I am not Eloquent, ſend I pray thee by the hand of him whom thou wilt ſend, Exod. 4.13. And he humbly beſought the Royal Favour to Command a new, and a better Choice for ſo weighty a Charge. Whereupon the Lord Keeper going from his Seat to His Majeſty, and Conferring with Him upon his Knee, after a ſhort time returned to his Place, and ſpake as followeth.

Mr. Speaker,

I Am Charg'd to deliver unto you, that no Man is to be excus'd from this Service, that can make ſo good an Excuſe as you have done. His Majeſty doth obſerve that in you, which Gorgias the Philoſopher did in Plato, Quod in Oratoribus irridendis ipſe eſſe Orator ſummus videbatur, That in Diſcourſing againſt Orators, he ſhewed himſelf the greateſt Orator of them all: So fares it in this Appeal of yours unto the Throne of His Sacred Majeſty, Deſcendis ut Aſcendas, te ad ſidera tollit humus: By falling down in your own Conceipt, you are mounted higher in the Opinion of all others: By your own excuſing to be a Speaker, you ſhew what a Worthy Speaker you are like to be. The Truth is, His Majeſty doth not only approve, but highly Commend the Judgment of the Houſe of Commons in your Election. And, Quod felix fauſtumque ſit, for an Omen and good luck to all the enſuing Proceedings of that Honorable Aſſembly, he doth Crown this firſt Action of theirs with that, Exivit verbum ex ore Regis, that old Parliamentary Approbation, Le Roy le Veult.

Then Sir Thomas Crew Bowing down to the Supream Pleaſure, which could not be declin'd, offred up his firſt Fruits for about the time of half an Hour, in a way between Remonſtrance and Petition, ſmoothly and ſubmiſſively, yet with that Freedom and Fair-Dealing as became the Truſt committed to him. He could not wiſh more Attention than he had from the King, who heard him favorably to the end. For the Diſpatch of that Work, preſently the Lord Keeper went to His Majeſty, who Conferr'd together ſecretly that none elſe heard, and after a quarter of an hour or better, the L. Keeper return'd to his Place, and anſwer'd the Speakers Peroration in His Majeſties Name: Which Anſwer will enough ſupply what was ſaid by them both; for it contains all the ſolid parts of Mr. Speakers Harangues.