Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Letter 17 – Letter 18
My very good Lord,
BEcause I know you will with much longing expect an answer to the dispatch …rought by Master Porter, and his Majesties service requires it; this Bearer Master Digby is sent to you with all speed that may be, being specially chosen by his Majesty, both out of the former experience he hath had of his diligence, and for that he is best able to informe you how all things have passed in Germany; for Frankendale your Lordship will understand by …is Majesties owne Letter in what state it now remaines, and this morning I have received a Letter from Cap…aine Burgh who is the Governour, that they have not above foure moneths Bread and VVine, beginning to reckon from the 24. of November, which was the time that T…lly departed from thence: since that time Colonell Papenheim blocks us the Towne with twelve Companies of Horse and some few of Foot, to whom are since joyned two Regiments more of the Dukes of Saxen and Holsten, which makes 2000. Horse come out of Brabant, which have girt them up so close as there is no further meanes left to relieve them. He writes to me further, that they have it from many places, how the Imperiali…s doe laugh to think, that we had any hope out of that Letter from the King of Spaine to the Infanta, saying, that they know that those of Frankendale must seeke to them before Summer, and entreat them to take the Towne. It will therefore much import his Majesties service that your Lordship doe procure some answer and resolution from the King of Spaine concerning that Towne, and that with all speed.
To leave those businesses of the Palatmate of which I have no more to say, sa…ing onelyonly this, which his Majesty commanded me the other day to write unto you, that your Lordship should use all the meanes possible to stirre up that King for diverting the Translation of the Electorate at this Diet.
Your Lordship shall understand, that there hath been no want of care here to make all things sure, which you have promised there on his Majesties behalfe; and therefore as your Lordship shall receive a confirmation of all under his Majesties and the Princes hands, subscribed to the paper it selfe, which you sent hither, so you may please also to know, that least it should be discovered, that the assent you gave there unto the Propositions was but conditionall, and to re…ard the proceedings at Rome; his Majesty hath likewise dispatched an Extraordinary▪ who is this day already gone with much diligence to find our Master Gage at Rome or elswhere,NOTE. to whom his Majesty hath been pleased to write himselfe, taking notice of the report your Lordship made of his good service at Madrid, and requiring him now, if he saw that the Dispensation would certainly be granted, to deliver his Letters, thereof to be first sure and secret. I have written unto him also, and told him all that is done here, how his Majesty and the Prince have confirmed the Articles, and to that purpose they have both written unto the King of Spaine, promising favour to the Catholiques;NOTE. and Don Carlos Coloma hath written the like unto the Duke of Alberquerque, and to Padre Maestro, so as there needs be no scruple now, nor colour of deferring the Dispensation.
For the 300. li. which your Lordship hath laid out to Master Gage, I shall take order for a privy Seale here to repay it unto Master Lyonell Wake of Antwerpe upon whom it is to be charged, as I understand from Master Secretury Cottington; I shall not need to remember your Lordship, were it not that his Majesty hath commanded me, because I perceive by your Letters you are carefull enough of it your selfe, no… to deliver those private Letters of his and the Princes, concerning the favour intended to the Catholiques untill the Dispensation …e granted and the Match fully concluded.NOTE. His Majesty hath further commanded me to put your Lordship in mind of that which must necessarily be thought on before the solemnization of the Marriage, and that is, what person of that Court is fittest to be deputed by his Highnesse for that office, and to send him word of it betimes, that he may dispatch away his Commission to him for that purpose: and if your Lordship please to cause the forme thereof to be drawne there, such a one as will give them contentme…t and is fitting for his Highnesse to signe, I should thinke it were not amisse.
Your Lordship will not forget also to send VsUs word when it is time for his Highnesse to send Love Letters and tokens to his Mistresse. I hope your next dispatch will in…orme VsUs of all these things, in the meane time, &c.
White-hall, 7. Ian. 1622.
After this, Secretary Calvert writ this ensuing Letter to the said Earle having some relation to the Match, and the use the Spaniards made of it.
My very good Lord,
YOu will understand before these come to your hands by Master Secretary Digby who was dispatched away from hence with much Diligence, that Master Porter was safely arrived here, and to the dispatch which he brought with him, your Lordship by Master Digby receives full and particular answer to all points that required it; neverthelesse upon the hazard of one mans person, I have sent your Lordship herewithall by the Ordinary, Duplicats of that dispatch.
Yours of the 20. of the last monethmonth old stile, came safely into my hands, and for the matter of Orm…, his Majesty hath commanded me to tell you, that he had heard of it before by a flying report, but never the certainty thereof till now, wherefore his Majesty would have your Lordship to let the King of Spaine understand, that he is very sensible of the accident, desiring him to rest assured, that he will doe his utmost endeavour to discover the verity of the fact, and upon the discovery thereof will afterwards proceed as a just Prince ought to doe, and as a faithfull friend to that King.
Within these few dayes here hath happened an accident that hath put VsUs into some disorder: The Prince taking notice of two of his Musicians Angelo, an Italian, and Drew an English man, that were at the Spanish Ambassadours on Christmas-Eve assisting with their voices and musick at the midnight Masse; (at which his Majesty and his Highnesse were much displeased) turned them both out of his service: The Spanish Ambassadour mediated for them by an earnest Letter which he writ unto his Highnesse, but could not at first prevaile, though since, as I understand, he hath obtained remission for them; it was not well done of them to goe, and an ill fortune I doubt that so much notice is taken of it.
Upon a complaint of the said Ambassadour in his Majesties name of certaine spoyles and depredations, as he termes them committed by his Majesties Subjects trading into the East Indies, upon the Portuguesses there, and thereupon demanding justice; he obtained a Commission directed to some seven or eight of the Counsell under the great Seale of England, to examine upon oath the verity of the accusation, and informing his Majesty thereof, a legall course afterwards to be directed for the further proceeding and sentencing the fact. Of this Commission amongst divers others of the Board I am one, and we have met once or twice about it: Yesterday my Lord Admirall representing unto his Majesty how derogatory this course of commissioning was to the Jurisdiction of his Court of Admiralty, as in truth I think it be, his Majesty hath given order, that there shall be no further proceeding upon it, but the businesse left to a legall tryall in that Court to which it appertaines, and I am commanded to speake with the Spanish Ambassadour to that purpose; I pray God I may give him satisfaction, howsoever I shall doe my best; and so kissing your Lordships hands I rest.
White-hall, 14. Ian, 1622.
The Articles concerning Religion being thus concluded and signed by the King and Prince; the Lawes against Jesuits, popish Priests and Recusanis by promise suspended for the future, all imprisoned Roman Catholiques of all sorts enlarged throughout his Majesties Dominions, the free exercise of their Religion without molestation, promised in expresse termes, and the Marquesse of Buckingham hereupon then writing into Spaine (as theaTom. 9. An. 1624. pag. 29. French Mercury informes us) That our Informers, Pursevants, Prisons, should from thenceforth serve no more but for our owne Ministers and other persons zealous of our Religion, (which hath ever since experimentally proved most true) King Iames made no doubt at all,NOTE. but that the Pope would presently grant the Dispensation, and the Spaniard without more delayes consummate the marriage. To hasten which King Iames (as the samebTom. 9. p. 485. &c. Mercury records, and I have credibly heard the same from others) assembling his Privy Counsell together, Febr. 25. 1622. made a long Oration to them (which he recites at large) the summe whereof was this: That the Roman Catholiques in England had sustained great and intolerable surcharges, NOTE.imposed upon their goods, bodies, consciences, during Queen Elizabeths reigne, of which they hoped to be relieved in his; that his Mother suffered martyrdome in this Realme for the profession of the said Catholique Religion; a Religion which had been publiquely professed for many ages in this Realme, confirmed by many great and excellent Emperours, and famous in all Ecclesiastical… Histories, by an infinite number of Martyrs, who had sealed it with their blood: That the Catholiques well knew that there was …n him a grand affection to the Catholique Religion, insomuch that they beleeved at Rome that he did but dissemble his Religion to obtaine the Crowne of England. That now he had maturely considered the penury and calamities of the Roman Catholiques, who were in the number of his faithfull Subjects, and was resolved to relieve them; and therefore did from thenceforth take all his Roman Catholike Subjects into his protection, permitting them the liberty and intire exercise of their Religion, and liberty to celebrate the masse, with other divine offices of their Religion without any inquisition, processe, or molestation from that day forwards; and likewise will and ordaine that they shall be restored to all their estates, lands, fees & cignor…es and re-established in them; commanding all his Magistrates, Instices, and other Officers whatsoever in this behalfe to hold their hands; and for what cause soever it be, not to attempt hereafter, to grieve or molest the said Catholiques, neither in publique nor private, in the liberty of the exercise of their Religion, upon pain… of being reputed guilty of high treason, and disturbers of the Kingdoms peace and repose; this being his will and definitive sentence.
But notwithstanding all these compliance… and favours to the Roman Catholiques, those crafty Machiavillians had a further deeper plot, both upon King Iames, the Prince, the old and young Prince Palatine▪ and Protestant Religion, which they must effect by delayes; namely, to betray the Prince into the Spaniards power, by engaging him in a private journy into Spaine, upon pretence to expedite the Match; and there by force or slattery to pervert him in his Religion, and induce him publiquely to professe himselfe a Roman Catholique, and likewise to put the young Prince Palatine into the Emperours hands, under pretext of a match with his Daughter, and to traine him up in his Court in the popish Religion, and by this hellish policy to scrue up King Iames, and the old Prince Palatine to whatever conditions the Pope, Spaniard, or Emperour should propose unto them, for the advancement of Popery, or of their owne temporall greatnesse.
In pursuance of this infernall design, theaMercure …ancius, Tom 9. p. 471, 472, &c. Prince and the Marquesse of Buckingham accompanied with Cottington and Porter, on the 17. day of Febr. 1622. departed privately from the Court disguised to Dover, and posted through France into Spaine: to what desperate purposes and by whose procurement,The B…eviate of the Arch. bishops li…e, pag. 3. these ensuing Articles of the Earle of Bristoll exhibited to the Lords against the Duke of Buckingham (whom he accused of high-treason upon them in open Parliament) May 1. 1626. with the crosse Articles exhibited against the Earle of Bristoll in Parliament, by Sir Robert Heath the Kings Attourney generall, by his Majesties speciall command, May 6. 1626. (both of which you may find recorded in the Lords Parchment Journall of that Parliament) will most cleerly discover to all the world, to the deserved infamy of these detestable Projectors.