Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Floating text 5 – Letter 19
Articles of the Earle of Bristoll, wherewith he chargeth the Duke of Buckingham, May 1. 1626.
THat the Duke of Bukingham did secretly combine and conspire with Conde Gondomar, Ambassadour for the King of Spaine, before the said last Ambassadours returne into Spaine in the Summer 1622.NOTE. to carry his Majesty (the Prince) into Spaine, to the end, that he might be informed and instructed in the Roman Religion, and therely have perverted the Prince, and subverted the true Religion established in England: from which misery this Kingdome, next under God's mercy, hath by the wise, religious and constant carriage of his Majesty, been almost miraculously delrvered, considering the many bold and subtle attempts of the said Duke in that kind.
That Master Porter was made acquainted therewith, and sent into Spaine, and such Message at his returne framed, as might serve for a ground to set on foot this conspiracy; the wich was done accordingly, and thereby the King and Prince highly abused, and thereby their consents first gotten to the said journey (that is to say) after the returne of Master Porter, which was about the end of December 1622. whereas the said Duke had plotted it many moneths before.
That the Duke at his arrivall in Spaine nourished the Spanish Ministers, not onelyonly in the beliefe of his owne being popishly affected, but did both by absenting himselfe from all exercises of Religion constantly used in the Earle of Bristols house and frequented by all other Protestants English, and by conforming himselfe to please the Spaniard to divers rites of their Religion (even so farre as to kneele and adore their Sacrament from time to time) gave the Spaniard hope of the Princes conversion;NOTE. the which conversion he endeavored to procured by all meanes possible, and thereby caused the Spanish Ministers to propound farre worse conditions for Religion, then had been formerly by the Earle of Bristoll and Sir Walter Ashton setled, and signed under his Majesties hand, with a clause in the King of Spaines answer of the 12. of December 1622. that they held the Articles agreed upon sufficient, and such as ought to induce the Pope to the granting of the Dispensation.
That the Duke having severall times in the presence of the Earle of Bristoll, moved his late Majesty at the instance of the Conde Gondomar, to write a Letter to the Pope, and to that purpose having once brought a Letter ready drawne, wherewith the Earle of Bristoll being by his Majesty made acquainted, did so strongly oppose the writing of any such Letter, that during the abode of the said Earle of Bristoll in England, the said Duke could not obtaine it: Yet not long after the said Earle was gone, he procured such a Letter to be written from his late Majesty unto the Pope,NOTE. and have him stiled therein Sanctissime Pater.
That the Pope being informed of the Duke of Buckinham his inclination and intention in point of Religion,NOTE. sent unto the said Duke a particular Bull in Parchment for to perswade and encourage him in the pervertion of his Majesty then Prince, &c.NOTE.
That the Earle of Bristoll did reveale unto his Majesty, both by word and Letter, in what sort the Duke had deceived him and abused his trust, and that the King by severall wayes sent him word, that he should rest assured that he would heare him, but that he shovld leave it to him to take his owne time; and thereupon few dayes before his sicknesse the sent the Earle word, that he would heare him against the Duke, as well as he had heard the Duke against him, which the Duke himselfe heard; and not long after, his blessed Majesty sickned and dyed, having in the interim been much vexed and pressed by the said Duke.
All these Articles with six others of like nature, the Earle of Bristoll preferred to make good against the Duke by Letters and Witnesses; but the Duke by his overswaying potency and instruments (whereof Bishop Laud was chiefe) dissolved the Parliament before any answer given to them.
The Articles exhibited to the House of Peeres against the Earle through the Dukes procurement, by way of recrimination, were many, I shall onelyonly recite the most pertinent to the present businesse of Religion.
bIn the Lords Parchment Journall May 6. 1626. pag. 150, 151, 152, &c.Articles of severall High-treasons & other great and enormious Crimes Offences and Contempts, committed by Iohn Earle of Bristoll, against Our late Sovereigne Lord King Iames of blessed memory decreased, and Our Sovereigne Lord the Kings Majesty which now is, wherewith the said Earle is charged by his Majesties Attourney generall on his Majesties behalfe, in the most high and honourable Court of Parliament, before the King and his Lords.
THat the said Earle from the beginning of his Negotiation, and the whole mannaging thereof by him, during his ambassage into Spaine, he the said Earle contrary to his faith and duty to God, the true Religion professed by the Church of England and the peace of this Church and State, did intend and resolve, that if the said marriage so treated of as aforesaid, should by his ministry be effected, that thereby the Romish Religion and the professors thereof should be advanced within this Realme,NOTE. and other his Majesties Realmes and Dominions, and the true Religion and the professors thereof discouraged and discountenanced: And to that end and purpose the said Earle, during the time aforesaid by Letters unto his late Majesty and otherwise, often counselled and perswaded the said late Kings Majesty, to set at liberty the Jesuits, and Priests of the Roman Religion, which according to the good, religions and politicke Lawes of this Realme were imprisoned or restrained, and to grant and allow unto the Papists and professors of the Romish Religion a free toleration, and silencing of the lawes made and standing in force against them.
That at the Princes comming into Spain, during the time aforesaid, the said Earle of Bristoll, cunningly falsly, and traiterously moved and perswaded the Prince (being then in the power of a forreigne King of the Romish Religion) to change his Religion; NOTE.which was done in this manner: At the Princes first comming to the said Earle, he asked the Prince, for what he came thither? The Prince at first not conceiving the Earles meaning answered you know as well as I: the Earle replied, Sir, servants can never serve their Master industriously, although they may doe it faithfully, unlesse they know their meanings fully; give me leave therefore to tell you what they say in the Towne is the cause of your comming, THAT YOU MEANE TO CHANGE YOUR RELIGION, AND TO DECLARE IT HERE: and yet cunningly to disguise it, the Earle added further; Sir, I doe not speake this that I will perswade you to doe it, or that I will promise you that I will follow your example, though you will doe it, but as your faithfull servant, if you will trust me with so great a secret, I will endeavour to carry it the discreetest way I can. The Prince being moved with this unexpected motion, againe said unto him; I wonder what you have ever found in me, that you should conceive I would be so base or unworthy, as for a Wife to change my Religion? The said Earle replying, desired the Prince to pardon him, if he had offended him, it was but out of his desire to serve him: which perswasion of the said Earle was the more dangerous, because the more subtill: Whereas it had beene the duty of a faithfull servant, to God and his Master, if he had found the Prince staggering in his Religion to have prevented so great an Error, and to have perswaded against it, so to have avoyded the dangerous consequences thereof, to the true Religion and to this state, if such a thing should have happened.
8. That afterward during the Princes being in Spaine, the said Earle having conference with the said Prince about the Romish Religion, he endeavoured falsely and traiterously to perswade the Prince to change his Religion as aforesaid, AND BECOME A ROMISH CATHOLIKE, NOTE.and to Become OBEDIENT TO THE VSVRPED AVTHORITY OF THE POPE OF ROME: And to that end and purpose the said Earle traiterously used these words unto the said Prince; That the State of England did never any great thing, but when they were under the obedience of the Pope of Rome, and that it was impossible they could doe any thing of note otherwise.
9. That during the time of the Princes being in Spaine as aforesaid, the Prince consulting, and advising with the said Earle and others, about a new offer made by the King of Spaine touching the Palatinate, which was, that the eldest Son of the Prince Palatine, should marry with the Emperours Daughter, but must be bread up in the Emperors Court: The said Earle delivered his opinion, that the Proposition was reasonable; whereat when Sir Walter Ashton then present falling into some passion said; that he durst not for his head consent unto it: The Earle of Bristoll replyed, that hee saw no such great inconvenience in it, for that he might be there bred up in the Emperors Court in our Religion. But when the extreame danger, and in a manner the impossibility thereof was pressed unto the said Earle, he said againe, That without some such great action the peace of Christendome would never be had. Which was so dangerous and desperate a councell that one so neare to the Crowne of England should be poysoned in his Religion, and put into the power of a Foraigne Prince, Enemy to our Religion, and an unfreind to our state, that the consequence thereof both for the present and future times were infinitly dangerous, and yet hereunto did his disaffection to our Religion, the blindnesse in his judgment, caused by sinister respects, and the too much regard he had to the House of Austria, lead him, &c. Ro. Heath
These Articles were exhibited against the Earle by the Kings owne speciall direction, and perused, corrected by him before they were put in, as appeares by the Lords Iournall, the Kings Atturny averring it openly in the House of Peers. It seems therefore a great Wonder to many observing men, that he who was thus impeached by his Majesties speciall command, as the worst of Councellors, and a strong perswader of him to become a professed Roman Catholik, an advancer of Popery and Papists then, should become his principle Cabinet Councellor to advise him to side with the Popish party in England, Ireland, Scotland, against his Parliament, and Protestant subjects, now.
But to pretermit his present Councells, which seeme to justifie the former Articles, the Earle of Bristoll himselfe in his answere*In the Lords Parchment Iournall P. 249. &c. to the 7th. Article, confesseth, that there was a generall received opinion in the Spanish Court, that his Majesties comming thither was with intention to become a Roman Catholike, and that the Conde Gundimar, that very morning pressed the Earle, not to hinder so pious a worke (for so he tearmed it) of his Majesties conversion, & seemed to be assured of the Duke of Buckinghams assistance therein: whereupon he told his Majesty; That the Generall opinion in that Court was, that his Majestyes comming thither was, WITH INTENTION TO BE A ROMAN CATHOLIKE AND THERE TO DECLARE IT, &c. Whereupon he intreated him not to suffer his businesse to be overthrowne by permitting that conceit of his conversion any longer to remaine with the Spaniards, not to do any thing that might give them hope therein; alleaging, that it was impossible the Mariage could be without a dispensation. And so long as the Spaniard, who were to procure the dispensation, should have hope of his Majesties conversion, they would rather clogge the Dispensation then hasten it, for whiles they should have hope of all by his convertion, they would never content themselves with a part, to which they were tyed by the Articles agreed upon; At which time his Majesty was pleased to aprove of his opinion, and said, he would expect the dispensatory, and did thereupon, afterward send Master Andrews to Rome to hasten it.
By all these Articles and passages▪ it is most perspicuous that there was a professed designe in the Duke of Buckingham, the Earle of Bristoll, Secretary Calvert, Cottington, Porter, Gage, and other instruments, who contrived the Princes dangerous Journey into Spaine, to pervert the Prince in his Religion, to make him and all his Children professed Roman Catholikes, and the Prince Palatine too, and by this meanes to set up Popery in their Dominions, to suppresse the Protestant Religion, and Professors of it in all places, that so the Pope might become Lord Paramount over them and all their Subjects, and they his sworne Vassalls. How far the Archbishop was privy and assistant to this designe, you may partly read in the Breviat of his life, P. 3. 14. and shall heare more heareafter in its proper place.
What the aymes of the Pope and Spaniard were in contriving the Princes progresse into Spaine, appeares, First, by the forementioned common report in the Spanish Court, that it was to become a professed Roman Catholike, &c.
Secondly by this notable Letter of the Pope to the Bishop of Conchen (one Coppy whereof I found in the Archbishop of Canterburies Study, indorsed with his owne hand, and another among Secretary Windebankes and the Lord Cottingtons sequestred Papers) exhorting him to take this happy opportunity, to convert, subject and reconcile the Prince and his Dominious to the Sea of Rome.
Greg. P p: 15us. Venerabili Fratri Episcopo Conchen in Hispaniarum Regnis Inquisitori generali.
VEnerabile Frater, salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem, Orthodoxae Religionis, tutelam fae…citer existimamus in amplissimis Hispaniae Reg…s commendatam esse Fraternitati tuae: scimus enim quàm vigilanter excubant in illustri ista statione, Caveas ne ulla impiorum D…gmatum monstra in ecclesiasticae vineae sepes irrepant. Verum occasio tibi hoc tempore divinitus oblata est, per quam pictatis tuae beneficia è regnorum istorum sinibus educere, et ad exteras Nationes proferre possi…. Accepimus istuc nuper appulisse Walliae principem, Brittaniae R…gis silium spe ductum Catholici Matrimonij. Cupimus eum non frustra commorari in illorum Regum aedibus, quibus illustre Catholici Cognomentum, Ponti…icae Authoritatis defensio, et Religionis proferendae studium, peperit. Quare,NOTE. Apostolicis litteris horramur Catholicam Majst…tem, ut eum Principem redigere suaviter cone…ur sub Romanae Ecclesiae ditionem, cui veteres magnae Brittaniae Domini, Coronatum Caput, et Imperij fasces (Caelo plaudente) submi…erunt. Ad hanc autem victoriam comparandam, quae victis aeternos caelestis beatitudinis pollicetur triumphos atque principatus, non Regalis Ae…arij vis…era exhauriend…, non saevientium militum legiones conscribendae sunt, sed Arma lucis è Caelo petenda, quae divini luminis splendore ejus Principis oculos alliciant, atque ex illius animo errores omnes mansuetudine prostigent. In ijs vero tractandis quae sit vis, et ars Fraternitatis tuae, jampridem accepimus.NOTE. Quare…e monemus, ut ad Catholicum Regem Religiosus consiliarius accedas, easque rationes dispicias, quibus insigne aliquod beneficium Brittaniae Regnis, et Romanae Ecclesiae, in presenti rerum opportunitate comparetur. Re… ipsa magna, atque gravissima est, quare eam verbis amplificate non debemus, Regnum Caelorum Britaniae Principi patefacere, Regnum Brittaniae sedi Apostolicae restituere incipiet, qui Regijistius Adolescentis animum, Catholicae Religionis studio instamaver…t, a…que haereticae impietatis odio impleverit. In tantae Gl…riae possessionem nomen dubitamus, ut gladio Charitatis armata pervenire cupiet fraternitas tua, cum qua uberius hac de re disseret, venerabilis frater, Innocentius Episcopus Britonorirensis, Nuncius Apostolicus, cui fidem habere poteris, Nos autem accuratisimis precibut divina auxilia parere conabimur fraternitati tuae, cui Apostolicam benedictionem peramantèr impertimur. Dat. Romae apud S. Petrum sub Annulo Piscatoris. Die 19. Ap…ilis. 1633. Pontificatus Nostri Anno tertio.
Thirdly by this following Latine Oration of a Iesuite made to the Prince in Spaine to pervert him in his Religion, and reduce him and our Dominions into the bosome of the Roman Church, one coppy whereof was found among Secretary Windebankes Writings.
SIquid mortalibus unquam oculis hilarem & gratum aperuit diem; Si quid peramantibus subditorum tuorum animis gaudium attulit, peperituè laetitiam; Si quid salutem Patriae, faelicitatem civium, securitatem imperij, Christianae Reipublicae pacem & incolumitatem promisit n…bis unquam, nobis unquam spospondit (Clarissime et Serenissime Princeps) faelicem pr…cto, Tuum ad Hesperias oras accessum, faelicem in Hispaniam adventum, novum … & inauditum promisisse peperisse, attulisse fatemur. Aurea mihi optarem verb… … Ciceronis Eloquentiam, os alterum Chrysostomi, Nazianzeni animum ut cloqu…,… patefacerem tibi, quam in animis de te spem concepimus, quem in animis ergate amorem gerimus, quas ex intimis animis pro te preces ad D…um quotidie fundimus, quam libenter denique non unius alicujui…sed omnes omnium animas pro animae tuae salute, pro sospitate Septri, pro presenti et futura, pro occidua hac aeterna tuafaelicitate, gloria & honore in hostias & holocusta damus, consecramus, devovemus. Ausim dicere (florentissime Princeps) neminem non dico Religiosum, Saoerdotem, Collegam out Consodalem, sed nec Catholicum quidem existere, qui amplissimo Britaniae subjacet imperio, qui ut animae tuae servire, animam tuam beare possit, animam suam ammo cupient non perdat, vitam, inquam, ad pedes tuos non deponat, eamqne lacerato corpore, cenfosso pectore, exhansto sanguine lubens g…udensque non profundat. Sedet profecto, sedet (clarissime Princeps) laetissima facies tua, amabilis vultus, jucundissimus & humanissimus aspectus in omnium tuorum Civium et subditorum ore, oculis & animis, suavitatem tuam, humanitatem, moderationem, et benignitatem nemo est qui non miret…r, & cum mi…atur, non admiretur, et admirando, non veneretur. O faeliccm et fortunatam Britaniae magnae Insulam, quae talem & tam illustrem procreasti Principe…; Cujus splendoris immensitatem proprijs tuis metiri terminis ne cogites, major est quam ut tuis cingatur maenijs, aut quae Britannico tantum affulgeat hemisphaerio. In exteras ecce se diffundit oras, in novos irrumpio horizontes, foris lucere, gaudet & effulgere, foris suae gloriae ejaculari radios, qui quidem et si ad plenissimos fulgurantum Imperatorum accedant splendores, ea tamen luce, ea claritate coruscabunt, ut si pre modestia superare recusaverint, tamen, licet quantum velint dissimulaverint, non maximos fulgores assequi & adequare. Testesmihi, O Hispania, Caesaris, tui Majestas angustissima, testes Heroum tuorum nobilitas luoidissima, testes Magistratum gravitas, concursus cujus, Plebis universus applausus, quiquidem ijsdem te (Prelucentissimus Princeps) quibus preprium et potentissimum Monarcham suum obsequijs, Officijs, honoribus prosequuntur. Sed quid? Annon eitam muta et anima carentia gloriam et fulgorem tuum persentiseere videntur? Admove, silubet, occulos, advirte compita, platcas tircumspice, universum Madritum diligentius intuere; agnosces profecto non exiguo persundi gandio non mediocriter letari quod honoris & glorie tue effectum. sit Thratrum, quod Te praesente. Te cornscante intrat, resplendeat, fulgeat, frequentetur Et si Augustum Philippi Basilicam attentius contemper…s, gloriari quodamodo et super…ire dixeris, quod duorum incipiat Principum esse Regia, quae unumsensiper hactauni non plures pariter agnovit Dominos. Sed quo me divexet oratro? quo me (Dij boni modo me a me ipso abr uit? Perdidi me fateor, … merosa, exultantium iurba, et fascinavit me (ut ita l…quar) insolià hilaritatis solemnitas. Sed da veniam perbeingnissime Princeps) canam receptui: vertam jam tandem vela, & in proprium portum remeare conabor. Ad valles aletanum contendo Collegium, ad diui Albani, primi Britanniae Martyris Seminarium. Salutârunt Te Caefares, salutârunt Te Principes, salutârunt Te Heroes, salutânunt Te Consules, Praetores, Senatores, omnes adventum Tuum approbârunt, acclamâcunt, honorarunt, imo quasi cael…us te missum receperunt. Et quid? An demus nostra vallis… oletana seminarium nostrum, Collegium nostrum, nostrum? quid dico? Domus, inquam, Tua, seminarium T…um Tibi congratulari, manum Tuam sacram deosculari, animorum nostrorum gaudia pectorum laetitiam, jubilium cordium explicare praetermittat? Procul hinc, procul ite prof…i, ne istam nobis appi…gite, i…rite notam. Quod ser ô accessi…us quod ultimi acc…ssimus, qui prin… fuisse debuimus, non officii fecit ignorantia, non affectus ign…via, non defectus voluntatis, aut desiderii tepiditas, verecunda, fateor & m…d…stareverentia praesumere nos vetuit ad Te (Princeps potentissime) ad Te, inquam, accedere, priusquam Celsitudinis Tuae benevola & perbenigna gratia viam nobis sternere dignata fuerit, aditum que res…rare. Accipe igitur (Screnissime Princeps) accipe communem om…iu… laetitiam, commune …audium, gratulationem communem▪ acclamationem commu…m, accipe singulorum obsequium, singulorum amorem, pium & constantem singulorum affectum, omni qua possumus laetitia, gaudio, …ongratulatione, …lamat…one sospitem tuu… & faelicem congra…ulamur Tibi adventum, maximo, quo … obsequio, amore, affectu o…nia Tibi nostra & nosmetipso… tradimus. Si quid studi… … …cubrationes nostrae, si quid preces & vota, si quid ulla pietatis officia apud supremam … statem, immortalem Regeni Regum, communem omnium Patrem ac Domi… valer … & obtinere; hac omnia & singula (auspicatissme Princeps) observantissimis animis, devotissimis affectibus, venerabundis obsequiis ad laetas & Augustas Tuas fortunas, ad prosperos & faelices auspitiorum …uorum successus, ad beatas & optatas Tuorum amorum messes, ad salutem tuam immortalem, faelicitatem perpetuam, immarcessibilem honorem dirigimus. Macte gloriâ (invictissime Princeps) prospere procedas & regnes: Nescio enim profecto an gl… riosius Tuo viderit unquam, universus orbis imperium. Relege, si libet, titulos, dignitatem agnosce. Quid Anglia? Primogenita Ecclesiae, Dos Mariae, Regnum Dei, quo …erax fructu? NOTE.Qua faecunda sobole? Duodetriginta Reges, Reginae Duae-deviginti, antegenitores Tui in caelestem Sanctorum senatum relati numerantur, & conscripti. Episcoporum sanctorum turba trigesimum supra centesimum transcendat …umerum. Archimandritas & Caenobia…chas sexaginta octo in cives acceperunt caeli. Martyrum si palmas, si Confessotum numerarem coronas, nec lingua sane, nec latera suo satissacerent officio. Se… eheu? quo jam exulat avita pietas? ubi jacet pia Religio? ubi delit…scit religiosa pie…as? Per Te (serenissime Princeps) pro te & sub Te confidimus, NOTE.& spiritum aliquando▪ & sanguinem, & vitam, & patriam recipient [quae—horum temporum improbitas exiliis punivit, & relegavit. In simum Tuum consugit labefacta Resp: dilacetata Patria; carceres & rapinas, mortes & exilia, passa & perpes…a diu fides & Religio Catholica] * Tu nobis a Deo datus▪ Tu nobis natus (dulcissime Princeps) ad patriam nostram sublevandam, ad pacem & pietatem restaurandam, ad imperium Christi dilatandum, ad Regiam proginiem amplissima serie propagandam, ad mundum universum …aelicibus Tuis Hymenaeis perbeandum. Vive igitur (Augusta Caesarum Prosapia) vive, & vive ad Nestoris annos, Regia Tua gaude, & triumpha compare.
Fourthly by the Popes owne Letter to the Prince during his residence in Spaine, and the Princes answer thereunto, printed in diverse languages and Authors, which I *Me…cure Francois. Tom. 9. Anno 1623. p. 509. 510. &c.shall here once more present unto you onelyonly in English, truly translated out of the French Copie.