A Memorial Offered to John Williams, Part of biography 1 · Letter 41

A Memorial Offered to John Williams · Part of biography 1 · Letter 41

p. 176Mr. Speaker,

182. HIs Majeſty hath heard your Speech with no more Patience then Approbation. You have not caſt up the ſame to any General Heads, no more will I. And it were pity to pull down a Frame, that peradventure cannot be ſet up again in ſo fair a Symmetry and Proportion: Yet, as the Mathematicians teach, that in the moſt flowing and continued Line a Man may imagine continual Stops and Points; ſo in this round and voluble Body of your Speech, I may obſerve for Methods ſake ſome diſtinct and articulated Members. Somewhat you have ſaid concerning your ſelf, ſomewhat concerning the King; ſomewhat concerning Acts of Parliament, whereof ſome are yet to be framed in the Womb, and others ready to drop into their Graves; ſomewhat of the Aberrations of former Aſſemblies; ſomewhat p. 177of the Common Laws in general; ſomewhat of the ordinary ſupply of Princes; ſomewhat (and very worthily) for the increaſe of True Religion: ſomewhat of the regaining of that of our Allies; ſomewhat of preſerving our own Eſtate; and ſomewhat of the never ſufficiently commended Reformation of Ireland.Theſe I obſerved for your material Heads. The formal were thoſe Four uſual Petitions; For Privileges to come unto the Houſe; For liberty of Speech when you are in the Houſe; For Acceſs to His Majeſty for the informing of the Houſe; And for a fair Interpretation of your Proceedings when you ſhall leave the Houſe. I ſhall from His Majeſty make Anſwer to theſe Things, foreign, ſtep by ſtep, as they lie in order.

Firſt, For your ſelf, the King hath not only ſtretched out His Scepter, but lifted up his Voice with Ahaſuerus, Quae eſt Petitiae tua dabitur tibi, He hath granted all that you have deſired, and aſſureth you by me of His Special Grace and Favour from the beginning to the end of your preſent Employment.

Secondly, Concerning the King, it may not be doubted but Gods Bleſſing of us, and our Bleſſing of God for his Royal Generation, his quiet Coronation, his peaceable Adminiſtration, his Miraculous Preſervation in this very Place, and this our moſt comfortable Pledge of his future Succeſſion, ibunt in ſaecula, ſhall flow unto Poſterity, and be the Hymns and Anthems of Ages to come.

Thirdly, For thoſe Statutes of Learning which were here framed, 32 Henr. 8. which you call, Parliamentum Doctum; And thoſe Statutes of Charity, 39 of the late Queen, which you Term, Parliamentum Pium, The Devout Parliament; And thoſe Statutes of Grace digeſted and prepared in the laſt Convention, which His Majeſty would have had been, Gratioſum Parliamentum, The Gracious Parliament; And …, That large Pardon you expect this time, which may make this Aſſembly,Munificum Parliamentum, The Bountiful Parliament; The King gives you full Aſſurance of His Princely Reſolution to do what ſhall be fitting and convenient to keep Life in the one, and to bring Life to the other, ſo as you do, ſcitè obſtetricari, play the Midwives in them both, as you ought to do.

Fourthly, For the Abortion of ſome late Parliaments, (from the which His Majeſty is moſt free) a Parliament Nullity, as you T…rm it, is a ſtrange Chimaera, a word of a Monſtrous Compeſition. I never heard of the like in all my Life, unleſs it be once in the new Creed, Credo Eccleſiam Romano-Catholicam. Parliaments naturally begat Entities, and the want of Parliaments produceth Nullities. Surely God and the King are muſt averſe to ſuch Parliaments. Mark Gods Parliament, the firſt Parliament in the World, wherein the Three Perſons in Trinity are conſulting together, Faciamus Hominem, and you ſhall find it was to beget Entities: Therefore God is ſcarce preſent in that Conſultation that brings forth Nullities. foreign, as the Philoſopher begins his Ethicks, Every Conſultation is for ſome Good, ſome End, ſome Entitie, and moſt oppoſite to an Abortion, or Nullity. And therefore you may applaud thoſe former Laws of Learning, Piety, Grace, and Bounty, which you handled before: In my Opinion, Mr. Speaker, you have kept the good Wine, and the beſt Law of them all till now, which is Solon's Law,Lex Oblivionis, A Law of Forgetfulneſs, That by His Majeſties Grace and Favour freely offer'd unto us the laſt day, all the Memory of theſe Unfortunate Abortions may be Buried in the River Lethe, and never be had in any further Remembrance. I will put you in Mind of a Story, which Tully relates out of Thucydides, and leave the Application to this Honourable Auditory. When the Thebans,having g…t the better of the Lacedaemonians, Erected a Brazen Trophy for that Victory, they were complain'd of apud Amphictyonas, that is, before the common Council of Greece, Eo quod aeternum inimicitiarum Monumentum Graecos de Graecis Statuere non oportuit; Becauſe it was moſt unfit that between Greek and Greek there ſhould remain any Record of perpetual Enmity.

Fifthly, For the Common Law of England, if we regard the Meridian for which it is Erected, it is a Law, as was ſaid of thoſe of Lycurgus, Diſciplinae Convenientiſſimae, of a moſt apt and convenient Frame, and His Majeſty hath ever ſo approved of it. Nay, He is ſo preciſely affected, and diſpoſed in this kind, that as Paterculus writes of Cato, Id ſolum ei viſum eſt rationem habere, quod haberet Juſtitiam. He could never allow of any Deviſe or Project, how plauſible ſoever, that was not juſtifiable at the Common Law.

183. Sixthly, For the Supply of Princes in this Kingdom, His Majeſty makes no Queſtion, but that by Parliament and Subſidy, is the moſt Comfortable to the King, and moſt Favorable to the Subject. It Comforts the King, as iſſuing from the Heart; and it Eaſeth the Subject, as brought by the Hands, not of one, or two, but of all the People. That which you call Benevolence, or Good Will, brings unto His Majeſty, neither ſo much Good, nor ſo much Will as the other ſupport. And therefore the Kings of this Land (though it hath p. 178been accepted by moſt of them) have made of Benevolence butAnchoram Sacram, a help at a dead lift, when Parliaments being great Bodies, and of ſlow Motions, could not ſoon be Aſſembled, nor Subſidies iſſuing from the Purſes of Particulars, be ſo ſuddenly Collected. And it is very well known with what Reluctancy His Majeſty was drawn to ſhoot out this Anchor, never Aſſenting thereunto, until he was in a manner forced by thoſe intolerable Provocations from without, and thoſe general Invitations from whithin the Kingdom. Remember therefore that good Lady, in whoſe Defence the Money was ſpent, that inimitable Pattern once of Majeſty, but now of Patience to the Chriſtian World, and you will ſay, no Man can be found of that Malevolence, as to find fault with this one Benevolence.

Seventhly, His Majeſty Returns you moſt hearty Thanks for your Care and Zeal of the True Religion. And is much Rejoyced to hear, That this Lower Houſe, as it is now Compos'd, is ſuch another Place as Tully deſcribes the Town of Enna, Non Domus ſed fanum, ubi quot Cives, tot Sacerdotes. It is no vulgar Houſe, but, as Originally, a Sacred Chappel, wherein are Aſſembled in regard of their Zeal and Devotion, look how many Men, ſo many Church-Men. And his Majeſty gives you full aſſurance, that he nothing ſo much Regards the Airy State or Glory of this Life, as he doth that ineſtimable Jewel of our Religion, which is to remain his only Ornament after this Life. If there be any Scandals to the contrary, not given but taken for want of due Information, his Majeſty wiſheth (as Aphonſo the Wiſe King of Aragon did) Omnes populares ſuos reges fuiſſe, That every one of his People had been a King, for then they might ſoon underſtand, and be as ſoon ſatisfied with the Reaſons of Eſtate. His Majeſty hath never ſpared the Execution of any Law, but for the Execution of a greater Law, to wit Salus Reip. the Good, the Peace, and Safety of the Church and Common Wealth. And you know that is the ultimus finis, all the reſt are but fines ſub fine. For as the Orator well Obſerves, Nemo Leges legum cauſâ ſalvas eſſe vult, ſed Reipublicae, We do not deſire the Obſerving of our Laws for the written Laws, but for the Common-Wealths ſake. And for thoſe Statutes made for the preſervation of Religion, they are all (as you heard laſt day from that Oracle of Truth and Knowledg) in full force, and in Free Execution. Nor were ever intended to be connived with in the leaſt Syllable, but for the further propagation of the ſame Religion. What knoweſt thou O Man, if thou ſhalt ſave thy Wife, was a Text that gave no Offence in St. Paul'stime. Remember the King's Simile, which indeed is God's Simile, Zach. 6. Kingdoms are like to Horſes, Kings reſemble the Riders, the Laws the Spurs and the Reins by which Horſemanſhip is managed: A good Rider carries always a ſure, but not always a Stiff Hand. But if Agar grow inſolent by thoſe Favours, then in Gods Name, out with the Bond-woman, and her Sons. For his Majeſty is fully Reſolv'd, That as long as Life remains in his Body, and the Crown upon his Head, the Sons of the Bond-woman ſhall never be Heirs in this Iſland, with the Sons of the Free-woman. And our Royal Maſter gives us his Chaplains free leave to put him in mind of that of Syneſius, foreign, God is ſtill careful of the Good of Kings, and Kings cannot be too careful of the Good and Service of God.

In the Eighth place his Majeſty exceedingly comforted with the juſt Feeling, and Reſentment you expreſs againſt the Uſurpation of that invading Enemy, who hath expell'd our moſt ſweet Princeſs from her Jointure, and her Olive Branches from their Rightful Inheritance. Exoriare aliquis noſtris ex oſſibus ultor. Surely if the Rule be true, Attollit vires in milite cauſa,That a good Cauſe makes good Souldiers, it is no ſuch impoſſibility to regain the Palatinate. You ſay, Sir, Cato was poſitively of Opinion, Carthaginem evertendam, That, whatever became of other deſigns, Carthage muſt be overthrown: And you are of Opinion, and ſo are all good Men beſides, Palatinatum reglutinandum, That the Palatinate muſt be Glued again to the Right Owner, and pluck'd out of their Clutches, that by Arms, or cunning Treaties do Uſurp it. But the way and Manner in Diſcovering the Couchant Enemy, in preſerving that handful of our Friends, in laying down ſome Courſe of Diverſion, and the like, you do moſt wiſely and modeſtly refer to the proper Oracle, His Majeſties Wiſdom, and Deep Counſel. Yea, but I muſt tell you Mr. Speaker, Vinci in amore turpiſſimum, the King cannot endure to be outvyed by his People in Love and Courteſies. What you in Duty do refer to him, his Majeſty in Confidence of your Wiſdom and Loving Aſſections returns upon You. You ſay you would have the King betake him to ſound Counſel. You are his Counſel, Conſilium magnum his Main and Principal Counſel. It is very true, That ſince the begining of Harry the 8th, the Kings of England have reſerved thoſe Matters to their own Coniſance, and Reſolution. But it is as true, that from Harry the Firſt, until thatHarry the Laſt, our Kings have in every one of thoſe Queſtions Repaired to, and received Advice of their Parliaments, Id verum quod primum. Our Maſter means to follow the former Precedents. His Majeſty Commands me to yield unto you Hearty p. 179Thanks for your juſt Reſentments of his Sufferings in this Cauſe; and to tell you withall, that becauſe the main of the Expedition is to be born by the Perſons, and Purſes of the People, whom you do repreſent: He is pleaſed to accept of the Advice of the Houſe of Commons concerning the finding out of this ſecret Enemy, the re-inforcing of our remaining Friends, and by what kind of Diverſion we ſhall begin the Enterprize. And God the Holy Ghoſt be preſent with you in all your Conſultations.

184. In the Ninth Place, That Well of Wood, our Navy Royal, wherewith you well obſerved this whole Iſland to be moſt ſtrongly fortified, we muſt all attribute the well Rigging, and good Condition of it to the great Coſt, Care, and Providence of his Sacred Majeſty. Hic tot ſuſtinuit, hic tanta negotia ſolus. And yet as that Carver that beautified the Temple of Diana, although he wrought upon other Mens Charges, was ſuffered notwithſtanding to engrave his own Name in ſome eminent Places of the Building: So ſurely can it be denied by Envy it ſelf, but that moſt Noble Lord, who is now a compleat Maſter in his Art, and hath ſpent his ſeven years Studies in the Beautifying of the Navy, ſhould have a glorious Name enſtamped thereupon, though in a ſitting Diſtance from his Lord and Maſter, whoſe Princely Majeſty., A longe ſequitur, veſtigia ſemper adorans.

Laſtly, For the Reformation of Ireland, this I am bidden to deliver. Pliny commending the Emperor Trajan to the utmoſt reach of Eloquence, ſays, That the moſt laudable, and moſt remarkable Point in all his happy Government, was, That his Care was not conſined to Italy alone, but Inſtar ſolis, like the Beams and Influence of the Sun, it ſhed it ſelf to many other Countries. Surely his Majeſty's Providence is of a large Extent; for where the Sun ſcarce darteth his Beams, his Majeſty hath ſhined moſt gloriouſly by the Execution of wholſome Laws, engrafting Civility, and Planting true Religion. And let this be our Soveraign's Comfort, that though this poor Kingdom, though never ſo reformed, ſhall add very little to his Crown of Temporal Majeſty here on Earth, it will be an Occaſion of an immenſe Acceſs to his Crown of Glory hereafter in Heaven. And now for your four Petitions, Mr. Speaker, his Majeſty grants them all in one Word. What Priviledge, Liberty, Acceſs, or fair Interpretation was ever yielded to the Members of that Houſe, his Majeſty grants them to the Knights and Burgeſſes now aſſembled, fully and freely, without the leaſt Jealouſie, Qualification, or Suſpicion. I will only add a Memorandum out of Valerius Maximus, to cut an even Thred between King and People, Quid Cato ſine Libertate? Quid libertas ſine Catone? What is Wiſdom without Liberty to ſhew it? And what is Liberty, without Wiſdom to uſe it?

185. Hitherto the King ſpake to the People by the Lord Keeper's Mouth, and then the Houſe roſe: All rejoyced that ſuch gracious Conceſſions were returned to Mr. Speaker's Motions, which were the Beam that held up the inſequent Counſels, till the Roof was covered with Agreement. And it took the more, that it was inlaid with ſuch Moſaick Work, not to the Eye, but to the Ear, by a perfect Orator. It was the greateſt, and the knowingeſt Auditory that this Kingdom, or perhaps the World afforded; whoſe general Applauſe he carried away, to as much as Modeſty could deſire. Iſocrates extolling the famous Acts of Evagoras before the full Celebrity of the Athenians, exulted, that Evagoras was approved by them, foreign: whoſe good Opinion was more honorable to him, than all the Earths beſide. It was a happy ſight at that time, to ſee the Patriots of both Houſes depart, with Hands held up to God, and with Smiles in their Looks, that you might think they ſaid one to another, as the Princes of the Congregation, and the Heads of the Thouſands of Iſrael ſaid to the Children of Reuben and Gad, &c. This day we perceive that the Lord is among us, Joſ. 22.31. The Lord Keeper was ſummoned in three days after to a freſh Buſineſs, and a larger Task than the former. So fine a Tongue was ſure not to want Work. The Lords and Commons were brought into the Banqueting-Houſe at White-Hall, Feb. 24. where the Duke of Buckingham ſpake unto them, leading them into the Maeanders of the Spaniſh Treatiſe, and lead them out of them by the Clew of his own Diligence, as he ſpared not to give himſelf the Honour of it. For this time he was the Alcibiades that pleaſed the Commonwealth. His Zeal and unremovable Pertinacy, not to cope with the Spaniard in any Propoſition, unleſs the Prince Elector might be brought into his own Land again p. 180with an honorable Poſt liminium, did enter inwardly, and into the Marrow of all pitiful Affections. But when he unfolded how ſtrong the Prince was to the Principles of the right Faith, and how attendant and dutious himſelf was to ſee that no Emiſſaries ſhould poyſon his Highneſs's Heart, the general Suffrage was, that the Prince had march'd valiantly like a Captain of Holy Truth, and that the Duke deſerved a great Name as a Lieutenant, that maintained the Cauſe of God under him. For it was ever eaſie to ſtrike the good People of England half blind with the Dazling of Religion. So much did the Parliament thirſt for the Report of this Narration, that it was impoſed on the Lord Keeper to make it the next day. All that might be done, was, that he took him to his Memory, and to his Pen, and drew up three Sheets of Paper upon it in a faſt, and ſcarce legible Hand. He muſt proceed by the Pattern. My Lord Duke's Oration was the only part of Speech he muſt follow; and like a wiſe Man, whatſoever he thought, he muſt make good the time. So he ſpent four hours in Repetition without Halt, with ſuch Aſſurance, ſuch Geſture, ſuch Carving and Gilding, that he might wonder at himſelf what Spirit was in him that day. All that took the height of his Report by a skilful Parallax concluded, that he had ſtriven with his former Peices, and had outgone himſelf. Yet the fourth Part will ſuffice to be remembred, becauſe the Flower of it is anticipated in the Spaniſh Tranſactions after a monthly Method. Beſide, I cannot help the Reader to that which I never ſaw; the ſeveral Letters which were read to the ſtronger Confirmation of every Particular Buſineſs; the Contents of them muſt be ſupplied by him that is Wiſe to make Conjecture, and not by my Pen. For though it be not according to Nature, yet it is agreeing to Honeſty, Vacuum potius relinquere quàm verum; to leave a void Space, rather than to fill it up with a Fable: as Barrenneſs is incomparably to be leſs blamed than Adultery. So I go on to make ſuch Room as is fit for the Heads of that long Report, which ſhould not ſeem to be unſavory Coleworts, ſod too often for their Taſt, to whom they are well known already. Debet enim talibus in rebus excitare animos, non cognitio ſolum rerum, ſed recordatio, as Tully ſpeaks Philip 2.

186. The Lord Keeper plotted his Conceptions into that Order, wherein the Duke of Buckingham, the Diſcoverer, had gone before him, beginning from Michaelmas 1622; when the King ſitting cloſe with his Council at Hampton-Court, the Diſpatches of Sir Richard Weſton, his Majeſty's Ambaſſador at Bruſſels, were ſcanned before them. Sir Richard being a Man, in whoſe Election to that Place, the Spaniſh Miniſters were greatly pleaſed, and commended the King's Wiſdom, that he did light upon him. Yet Sir Richard ſent Packet upon Packet, that he found nothing from the Arch-Dutcheſs, but inconſtant and falſe Dealing. For though ſhe acknowledged ſhe had Power from the Emperor to cauſe Ceſſation of Arms in the Palatinate, and undertook to put that Power forth, yet with the ſame Breath ſhe blew hot and cold. For at that Inſtant, when no Excuſe could be made for the Cheat, Tilly fell to it ſpightfully, to beſiege Heidelburg, when the War was now between the Emperor and our King, for they had no body to invade, but his Majeſty's Subjects and Servants that kept it. And what ſpark of Patience could be left us, when by every Poſt we received comfortable Words from Spain, and contrary Effects from Bruſſels? Hereupon Mr. Porter was ſent to Madrid, and commanded to ſtay in that Court but ten Days for an Anſwer. The Letters that he carried with him, were to ſignifie, that this ſhould be the laſt Sending, if no leſs would ſerve the Emperor's Revenge, but the utter Extermination of his Majeſty's Children, both in Honour and Inheritance. That the Neighbour Kings and States of Chriſtendom did malign the Match between the Prince and the Inſanta, and laboured to ſtop that Conjunction, which would make England and Spain formidable to them. But they ſhould not need to contrive a way to prevent it: This unſufferable Unkindneſs would bring it to paſs to their hand. For what Comfort could the Prince have in ſuch a Wife, the neareſt of whoſe Blood had utterly ruined his Siſter, and her Progeny? The Meſſenger carried this Arrand with him to the Preſident of all Affairs in that Kingdom, Conde Olivarez, one that may juſtly be cenſured to have more of Will, than of Wit; one that play'd foul with us, and could not hide it. Sometimes he would run back from our Propoſitions, as if he would never come near us: ſometimes he would run into our Arms, as if his Heart and all his Powers did grow unto us. Nec conſtans in ſide, nec conſtans in perſidiâ. Mr. Porter came back from him with a half-ſac'd Satisfaction; but withal, the King of Spain's Letters (which were there read) contained a Talent of Hope; but we found not a Grain of Reality. Upon p. 181this Journey Porter did ſo well remember ſomewhat, that ſell careleſtly from the Conde Duke, wiſhing the Prince himſelf were there, to ſee how ready the King his Maſter was to faſten an indiſſoluble Knot of Amity, and embrace Alliance with him; that his Excellent Highneſs (I ſpeak in his Preſence what he knows) hearing it with more Attention than was imagined, put on that heroick and undauntable Boldneſs, craved Leave of his Father, that he might viſit the great Ingeneers at their own Forge, to ſee what they were working, and how they would receive him, and as we uſe to ſay, Either win the Horſe or looſe the Saddle. Here again, ſays the Reporter, my Lord Duke acquainted us how acceptable, at the firſt, the Arrival of the Prince did ſeem to Olivarez, who in the Enterview in the Garden, aſſured with great Oaths, that all ſhould be diſpatched with ſudden Reſolution, and that his Highneſs ſhould be preſſed to nothing that was not agreeable to Conſcience and Honour, and ſtood not with the Love of the People of England. Then it was related, That King Philip ſeemed moſt ſenſible of the Courteſie, that ſuch a Gueſt had viſited him, and that he would permit all to his own Asking, as he did expreſs it at their Meeting in the Prado. The Lord Duke was very copious upon all the Negotiations in Spain, from his Highneſs's Arrival, to his Parting, and the Lord Keeper miſt not one Particular, but beautified all, and gave it Luſtre; which may here be ſpared in Repetition, becauſe nothing was added in Subſtance, to that which is methodized upon it in the Months of the former Summer. Much of the Day was ſpent to ſhew how deceitful Conde Olivarez was, who, like a crafty Marchant, he gave a Taſt of one Wine, and upon the Bargain would ſell of another. Swear us often into the Poſſeſſion of the Palatinate, and yet embroiled us at the ſame Inſtant more and more with an Army: Waved all Differences of Religion between us and them at the firſt, and preſently turned the Wheel from the Top to the Bottom, and fell into inſolent Propoſitions, that the Prince could not make a fit Husband for their Lady, unleſs he would become a Papiſt. Sometimes he would aggravate, how far we differed from the Catholick Confeſſion of Faith, as if the Gulph reach'd from Heaven to Hell. Sometimes he colleagued as if we were near upon a Point, and but a little Stride between us.

Et Stoica dogmata, tantùm

A cynicis tunicâ diſtantia.

Juvenal.

Then the Articles for the Marriage were brought in play, and with what a number of new ones his Highneſs's Commiſſioners were ſurcharged, and how irreſpectively they ſtuffed the Book with ſtrange and undiſputed Additions, and commonly the laſt which they preſented were the worſt; Verres ſecum ipſe certat, & id agit, ut ſemper ſuperius ſuum facinus novo ſcelere vincat, Tul. Act. 7. in Verrem. But our Miniſters rejected thoſe baſtard Slips, and all that Conſcience, Engliſh Honour, and Safety could not approve.

187. After this, ſays the Reporter, my Lord Duke hath informed you of the Diſpenſation, the Whirly-Gig of the Diſpenſation, which run round from Pope to Pope, and never could be ſaid to ſettle. And though an orbicular Motion is fitteſt for the Spheres of Heaven, yet a circular Motion, which is ever beginning, and never ending, is ſtark naught for diſpatch of Affairs on Earth. Both the Diſpenſation, and the Labour of the Junto of Divines upon it, and their Fumbling Fingers were never fit to tye a Love-Knot. Nay, the Conde Duke brake out into ſuch a Chaſe againſt their Theologues, that he ſaid the Devil put it into his Head to commit the Matter to their Learning. So that it ſeems the Reſolution of the Divines came quite contrary to the Inſpiration of the Holy Ghoſt. The next thing (ſays he) reported out of his Grace's Digeſtions, was the Loathing that the Prince did take at the Length of the Treaty, as well as the Matter; but chiefly at that. In the Matter that he was offered the preſent Conducting of the Lady into England, ſo he would ſell his Soul for the Favour, and be a Client to Saints and Images to beg a Bleſſing of them upon his Marriage. And whereas his Highneſs had travelled into ſo far a Country, as well to relieve a Siſter and her Poſterity, as to fetch a Wife, he was at ſuch a loſs about the Loſs of his Siſter's Inheritance, that the Spaniſh Council would faſten upon nothing to content him. Hereupon his Highneſs declared himſelf plainly to the Conde in theſe Words, Look to it, Sir, for without this, you muſt not conclude of either Marriage or Friendſhip. For I muſt go to my Father, and acquaint him with your Reſolution. Here the Lord Keeper grew warm, and beſought their Lordſhips to obſerve, how conſtant his Highneſs remained to the principal Ground of all, the Reſtitution of the Palatinate, which p. 182was the Hinge upon which all his ſubſequent Actions did move: Look to it, for neither Marriage nor Friendſhip can be made without the Reſtitution of that Dominion. Which Proteſtation effecting little good, his Highneſs look'd homeward. But his Purpoſes and Preparations for his Return were often ſlackned. But becauſe the King of Spain expected a Betrothing with his Siſter before his going away, the Conde Duke revived the Treaty for the Reſtitution of the Paltz. And after Conference with the Emperors Ambaſſadors, there was projected a Reſtitution of the Country to the Son, upon a Condition of a Marriage with the Emperors ſecond Daughter, which the Prince entertained: But then the ſtabbing Condition comes after, That for his Religion he muſt firſt be bred in the Emperors Court, at which his Highneſs ſtopt his Ears. But for the Electorate, it was a thing in Nubibus, out of their Power, and it ſeems out of their Affections, for they would not be drawn to meddle in it. And whereas they had once made a chearful Proffer, To aſſiſt us with the Arms, if the Emperor did not keep his Word to put the Prince Palatine into his own again: Now they ſlew back, and confeſt the Emperor had been inconſtant, and did not deal well with them; but if he would beat and buffet them, they would not promiſe to employ a Leavy of Forces againſt the Houſe of Auſtria.

188. Now, ſays the Voice of the Reporter, ſince his Highneſs could prevail for nothing to come on well, his wiſeſt Project was to take care that himſelf might come off well. For which there is not one of your Lordſhips, I preſume, but would have given much, and done much: And it coſt you nothing, but the Perturbation of ſome Suſpicions and Fears. I ſay, Fear was the worſt you ſuſſer'd. For Religion, God be thanked, ſuffer'd not at all, though it was greatly miſtruſted. There the Lord Keeper delighted their Expectations in that which they liſtned after, how the Kings Miniſters, and himſelf principally (for he ſhrunk not in his Head) did proceed from time to time in the laſt Summer, about the Pardon and Diſpenſation, about which the Spaniſh Ambaſſadors ſtruggled for the Recuſants ſake: In Contemplation whereof the Prince had a free and friendly Diſmiſſion, yet not a Joint of Religion ſprained, nor a Law actually diſlocated. But as a Wound that is cured by a Weapon Salve ſine contactu, ſo the Law was never touch'd, only the Point and Edge of the Weapon a little anointed, and by the Operation of it our Noble Prince paſt the Pikes of Danger, and is come Home to his Fathers Houſe from a far Land, without a Pater peccavi: GOD be thanked he neither ſinned againſt Heaven, nor againſt his Father, nor againſt you, nor againſt the Laws or Religion, for which we have cauſe to offer up a great Thankſgiving to GOD, becauſe there is not a ſpot in the Sacrifice. He goes on then, as the Tract of my Lord the Duke did lead him, and enters into a large Field to rip up that which had been told them before, how near the Prince and the Infanta were drawn together, where the Marriage ſtaid, and upon what Conditions they parted. Which though it had been many Years in Deſtination, (as we were credulous, and do not yet lay down our Faith) yet if Conde Olivarez may be truſted, until they had ſeen the Gallantry of the Prince and his Deſervings, being daily now in their Eyes, they held us with fair Words before, but Performance till then was never meant. Which he made good, at leaſt to his own Opinion, by two Letters; the firſt bears date, Nov. 5. 1622. it was the late King of Spain's, as the Conde ſaid, read over ſix times by his Highneſs, and Sir Walter Aſton, and preſently out of their Memories, (for they were not permitted to excribe it) ſet down in Writing, and I hope, ſays the Lord Keeper, when you conſider the Notary, you will hold it authentical. The ſecond Letter is written with Olivarez his own Hand, Novemb. 8. 1623. Tranſlated by the Prince himſelf very neatly and exactly. Let the Clerk read them both. Theſe declare the Reſolution of the Spaniſh Court, at leaſt, in my Opinion, that the great Conde's Heart was not with us, till the Prince lodg'd in their Palace, and ſate in Council with them himſelf the laſt Summer. But by that opportunity their Eyes were opened, and they perceiv'd that their Lady, whom they magnifie ſo much, could never make a more happy Wife, than with ſo brave a Husband. So that no doubt the Deſpoſorios, and perhaps the Nuptials, had been paſt by this time with mutual liking, if the ſcandal of invading the Palatinate had been removed out of the way. This the Duke's Grace, ſays the Lord Reporter, hath impartially ſpread out, holding a juſt Balance in his Hand: And moſt prudently, knowing that he ſpake in the hearing of the wiſeſt in the Kingdom; and moſt faithfully; for as Valerian ſaid of Poſthumius in the Hiſtory of Pollio, if Poſthumius deceive us, Sciatis nuſquam gentium reperiri, qui poſſit penitus approbari.

p. 183189. But the Unkindneſs of the Palatinate intervening, the Prince reſerv'd himſelf, till he were ſatisfied therein. And at his laſt Farewel engaged himſelf to leave a Proxy, and did depoſite the ſame in my Lord of Bristol's Hand, who ſhould keep it and uſe it as his Proctor, and by his Direction. His preſent Direction was, That if the Confirmation came from Rome clear and entire, (which it did not) then within ſo many Days he ſhould deliver it to the King of Spain. A ſecond Direction was ſent unto him the 8th of October 1623. That for fear a Monaſtery ſhould rob his Highneſs of his Wife, he ſhould ſtay the delivery till that were clear'd, and that his Highneſs ſhould ſend him further Direction. Your Lordſhips may hear the Letter if you pleaſe. Read it. Now becauſe my Lord of Briſtol in his Letter November 1. 1623. doth preſs ſo vehemently, that the Prince had engaged his Faith and Power not to retract the ſame: And that Cirica the Secretary had put it into an Inſtrument, ſign'd and ſeal'd Authentically, I hold it moſt proper in this place to clear that Aſperſion. Firſt, His Highneſs told your Lordſhips plainly and directly, that he had never by Oath or Honour engaged himſelf, not to revoke the Powers, more than by that Clauſe, De non revocandá procuratione, included in the Inſtrument it ſelf. Secondly, I muſt let your Lordſhips know, that it is lawful by the Civil and Canon Law, (and I Appeal herein to thoſe Learned of that Profeſſion now Aſſiſtants to this Noble Houſe) for any Man to revoke his Proxy, (and ſo likewiſe his Reſignation) notwithſtanding that it hath the Clauſe, De non revocandà Procuratione inſerted within it. Further and thirdly, I affirm unto you, That though the Prince had ſworn not to ſtay or revoke his Proxy, yet notwithſtanding that Oath, the Revocation is good in Law. Jurans non rev…are procuratorem, ſi revocet, non obſtante juramento valebit revocatio, Johan. de Seluá Tract. Doctri. Vol. 5. I have digreſſed thus far to let your Lordſhips ſee plainly, that my Lord of Briſtol in this Charge upon the Prince hath forgotten himſelf very much; and that his Highneſs might juſtly, honourably, and legally, not only ſtay, as he did; but withal, if he had ſo pleas'd, abſolutely revoke his own Proxy. And now by the Mercy of God, and his own wiſe and judicious Demeanor, his Highneſs is arrived at Royſton, and hath made his Narration to the King how that he is return'd an abſolute Freeman, excepting only this one Condition and Limitation, That if his Majeſty may receive ſufficient aſſurance from the King of Spain, concerning the Reſtitution of the Palatinate, then indeed he is obliged in Honour to go on to the Eſpoſorios. Otherwiſe free every way. Free, becauſe of that which Olivarez had promiſed to his Highneſs before the return of Sir Francis Cottington. Free, becauſe of what his Highneſs had ſaid to Olivarez after the return of Sir Francis, being conſtant to the ſame Principle in his dear Siſters behalf. And free, becauſe his Power was ſtaid juſtly, legally, and honourably. His Majeſty was glad (as he had juſt cauſe to be) of this wiſe and very circumſpect Carriage in ſo great a Negotiation; and told his Highneſs that he had played his part very well. And now his Majeſties part came upon the Stage: Which was to provide with all Fatherly Love, that his only Son ſhould not be Married with a Portion of his only Daughters Tears. And therefore his Majeſty likewiſe preſently requires the ſtay of the delivery of the Proxy, until he had ſufficient aſſurance for the Reſtitution of the Palatinate. Which your Lordſhips will remember to be no new or ſpringing Condition, but the very ſame that is urged before, and offer'd once by Olivarez in a blank Paper to his Highneſs; which Paper was nobly returned by his Highneſs in his laſt anſwer to Olivarez. The Proviſion his Majeſty took herein, your Lordſhips ſhall hear out of the Diſpatch from Royſton, Octob. 8. 1623.

190. Your Lordſhips would conceive that upon this Diſpatch the Earl of Briſtol would take all Hints and Occaſions to put off the Eſpoſorios, unleſs the required Aſſurance were firſt obteined. But the Truth is, (and I am heartily ſorry to find it) he did not ſo.

Firſt, The Confirmation came from Rome alter'd and mangled. And indeed of ſtopping the Power thereupon, he labours with all his ſtrength of Wit to hide, and palliate the ſame.

Secondly, When they had alter'd the Portion from 600000 in ready Caſh, to an Yearly Penſion of 200000, and a few Jewels, in ſtead of ſtaying for all upon this Impediment, he ſeems to approve, and applaud the ſame.

Thirdly, For the Aſſurance of the Reſtitution of the Palatinate, which is the Foundation of the Marriage and Friendſhip, he is ſo far from providing for it beforehand, that he leaves it to be mediated by the Infanta after the Marriage.

p. 184Laſtly, In ſtead of putting off the Contract; as any Man in the World would have done, he is come to prefix a preciſe Day for the Eſpoſorios. Theſe things your Lordſhips will ſoon obſerve out of the Letters that ſhall be read in the method that I will direct. E. of Briſtol's Letters, Octob. 24. 1623. and Novemb. 1. 1623.

Out of this raſh fixing of the Day in Spain, which was controuled again by an Expreſs from hence, iſſued an unneceſſary Diſcourteſie put upon that King by the Earl of Briſtol, and in a manner wantonly. From that Diſcourteſie thrown upon them, followed others caſt upon us, which being omitted the laſt Day, his Highneſs commands me to mention them in this place. As the taking away of the Title of La Princeſſa from the Lady; and the debarring of our Ambaſſadors from any further Acceſs unto her Perſon. And with theſe the greateſt Diſcourteſie of all, that when they return'd unto us a poor, meager, and carion Diſpatch concerning the Palatinate, (not worthy the reading, and therefore wiſely omitted the laſt Day) yet the Earl of Briſtol ſent it with this Item, That they were fain to antedate it for their Honour, or elſe it would have been ten times worſe. Your Lordſhip may hear it, if you pleaſe. Madrid, Decemb. 6. 1623. Well, for all this bigblown nothing, they have taken their Pen in Hand again, and have ſent unto his Majeſty a Project of a Letter, that if his Majeſty ſhall ſo deſire it, ſhall be written unto him from the King of Spain; and this Letter is the Hercules Pillars, and the Nihil Ultra in the whole Negotiation of the Palatinate. Read it, Jan. 5. 1623. This Letter his Majeſty hath ſcanned to a Syllable; and imagining there might be ſome hidden Virtue to be extracted out of that Phraſe, Alzar la meno, that King Philip will not take his Hand off the Buſineſs, until our Maſter ſhall receive Satiſfaction, his Majeſty ſent unto the Spaniſh Ambaſſador for a Comment on the ſame; and behold this all that they return to his Majeſty. Not take off his Hand, id eſt, He will employ without intermiſſion his beſt Offices to procure Satisfaction to his Majeſty. And concerning Offices and Treatiſes, we have had too many of them already. Non tali auxilio, &c. But, together with this written Letter, I muſt acquaint your Lordſhips with an unwritten Tradition. Which was delivered to the Earl of Briſtol, together with the Project of the Letter by Secretary Cirica, but ill conceal'd by his Lordſhip in that Diſpatch, and ſent afterward, probably by Mr. Cl…rke, to my Lord Duke's Grace. That whereas the King of Spain did find his Errour in going on with the Treaty of the Marriage, before he had cleared the Treaty of the Palatinate, he is now reſolv'd to change his Method, and to perfect this Treaty of the Reſtitution of the Palatinate, before he will proceed any further in the accompliſhing of the Marriage. So that theſe Treatiſes, as they are carried in Spain, ſhall be quit one with another. As formerly the Treaty of the Marriage did juſtle out the Treaty of the Palatinate; ſo now the Treaty of the Palatinate hath quite excluded the Treaty of the Marriage. And indeed in ſtead of Wedding Garments, that King, as you heard, hath made a haſty Winter Journey to Andaluzia to provide his Navy. But how they are to be employ'd, we ſhall hear ſhortly, (if we will ſtill be credulous) by Padre Maeſtro, who is on his way for this Kingdom. My Lords, to conclude, As the Heathen ſay that the Golden Chain of Laws is tyed to the Chair of Jupiter; ſo the future Proceedings upon all this long Narration is tyed to your Conſultation. Things paſt are exactly made known to you, that things to come may be more wiſely conſidered. An Hiſtorian ſays, Curtius.Male humanis ingeniis Natura conſuluit, quod plaerumquè non futura, ſed tranſacta perpendimus. Nature hath not well provided for Humane Wiſdom, that commonly we diſcuſs upon things already done, rather than what may be done for the future. But my Lords, you are not put to that ſtreit. But your Lordſhips ſpeedy Advice is requir'd for that which is to follow, ſpecially concerning this laſt Diſpatch, that implieth the Education of the Prince Palatine's Son in the Emperor's Court, and that the King of Spain will promiſe no Aſſiſtance to draw off the Emperor's Army from his Country, much leſs Aſſiſtance by Arms to recover it. This is it which his Majeſty expects from your Lordſhips mature Advice, Whether this being the Product of all the Trouble, which I have opened to your Lordſhips, it be ſufficient for his Majeſty to reſt upon, both for the Marriage of his only Son, and the relieving of his only Daughter.

p. 185This Report it was ſo grateful for the Theme, ſo gracefully handled for the manner, ſo Clear, ſo Elaborate, ſo Judiciouſly manag'd, that the Author had never more Praiſe in his Life for one days Work of that kind. So acceptable it was even to the Duke, though turn'd a Cold Friend, That he ſaid, He knew not how to Thank him enough for it. Yet this was but as the White of an Egg, which gets ſome Taſt with a little Salt of Eloquence, but nothing in Compariſon of the Yolk of his Worth. But as Nazianzen ſaid of St. Baſil, Quae ab illo velm obiter ſi… bant, praeſtantiora crant quàm ea in quibus alii Elaborant. Such an Orator was ſure to have the Cuſtom of the Parliament upon all the like Occaſions. Therefore when he had ſcarce taken Breath after the former Service, he was Commanded to add the Supplement as it follows in another Conference.