Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Letter 29
WEE have read your Letters of the 28. of October and the copie of that power which was left by Our deere Sonne, We have examined and approved your reasons, and we doe assure you… that if we had seene the power left by our son before our last Letters, we had not written to you in the forme we did in ours of October the ninth, touching the time of Christmas. For we are so farre from having affection to deferre the Desposorios, or make them fruitlesse, as we desire to hasten them to a speedy good conclusion, being of the like affection with our deere brother of Spaine, with one act to make a match, and an entire friendship according to the Count, of Olivares his ground formerly delivered to our Sonne and Buckingham, and mentioned in your owne letter, for the reall effecting of which we have thought good to command our deere Sonne to deferre the present execution of the powers left, and to renew the power by another herewith sent, that there may bee no fault in us not in our Son, if that King cannot give us satisfaction in the just things we desire, (which will containe the maine ground of our friendship) in so short a time in which the first power should become inualid.
And yet we must tell you, we have almost with astonishment observed one action of so great Checque and contradiction of our hope of the restitution of the Palatinate, as we know not what construction to make of it. The Berkstrot in the Palatinate (the prime flower of our sonne in Lawes Revenue which is the maine motive that causeth us thus carefully and speedily to seeke satisfaction, and urge so earnestly till wee may receive it) and which was taken by the Armes and assistance of Spaine, and as wee are informed in the possession of the Spanish Garison, or under their command, the Country or the revenue thereof (which is a fortifying of their ancient claime) freshly delivered into the hands of the Bishop of Mentz, contrary to the last contract between his Majestie and the Infanta at Bruxelles, and that without forme of justice, upon an old pretence which must imbroyle it the more, especially being to another person then any of these to whom interest or mediation hath beene formerly thought of; These being only the Emperor, Spaine, and the Duke of Bavaria. The consideration of which new difficulties done in the presence, or without the contradiction either of Verdugo, or any other Officer or Minister of the Infanta's, or knowledge given to us, gives us infinitely to thinke, and to finde it requisite to deale clearely and plainely with you, and to charge and require you to deale as plainly with our deare Brother, that we are so much bound in honour, naturall affection, and interest to see our Sonne-in-Law have restitution of his estate and honour; without which effect, wee cannot rest satisfied, as you have often heard the Declaration of our minde in that point: the rather, because it would bee a great discouragement to our Son-in-Law (without whom we can doe nothing) and a great disproportion to receive one daughter in joy and contentment, and leave another in toares and sighes. And to the end we may bee assured of the effects, we require you (before you deliver our deere Sonnes power, or move to any contracting of him) that you procure from that King by act, or answer to you under his hand, or by Letters to us, that he will helpe us to the restitution of the Palatinate and dignity by meditation, or other wise assist us, if mediation faile, and within what time the mediation shall determine, and the assistance of armes begin.
The honourable conditions of restitution (we hope) remaine with you. And to shew you how we desire to comply with our deere Brother of Spaine: We shall bee ready to propound good wayes to satisfie the D. of Bavaria, in point of title and honour, and to continue our negotiation for the match of Our Grand-Child (the eldest sonne of our Sonne-in-Law) with the Daughter of the Emperor.
Our Sonne-in-Laws Letters we send you herewith, and because we know his aversenesse to our Grand-Childs breeding with the Emperor, as we doe the other parts disaffection to have him bred at the Hagh, (which we cannot wonder at) our own care considered for his breeding in Religion, which cannot well bee provided for there,NOTE. we shall be ready to proceed to the conclusion of that Treaty: And so soone as the Infanta shall be arrived in our Court, to bring our Grand-child to be bred with our Sonne and her, and in her presence.
And for the temporall articles which are so meanely presented in those heads you sent us, we forheare to tell you what we thinke of the offers.
And concerning the portion, we absolutely reject both Jewells or yearely revenue (as contrary to the first agreement) and expect the totall summe in Specie, according to such reasonable times as shall be agreed upon. So as we likewise require you punctually to conclude the Temporall Articles before you deliver the power.
At Westminster 13. Novem. 1623. Edw. Conwey.
To this Letter the Earle of Bristoll returnes this answer.