Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Letter 30 – Letter 31
May it please your most Excellent Majestie;
I Have received Your Majesties Letters of the 8. of October, on the 21, of the same month, some houres within night, and have thought fit to dispath backe un-Your Majestie with all possible speed, referring the answer to what Your Majestie hath by Letters commanded mee, to a Post, that I shall purposely dispatch when I shall have negotiated the particulers with this King and his Ministers, wherein God willing all possible diligence shall be used.
But for as much as I finde both by Your Majesties said Letters, as likewise by Letters which I have received from the Prince His High…esse, that you continue your desires of having the match proceeded in, I held it my duty, that Your Majestie should be informed, that although I am set free in as much as concerneth the doubt of the Infantaes entring into Religion, for the delivering of the powers left with mee by his Highnesse, yet by this new direction I now receive from your Majestie, that the Desposorios should be deferred untill Christmasse, the said powers are made thereby altogether uselesse and invalid, it being a clause in the body of the said powers, that they shall onelyonly remaine in force untill Christmas and no longer; as Your Majestie will see by the Copie of them, which I send here inclosed: Your Majestie, I conceive, will be of opinion, that the suspending of the execution of the powers, untill the force and validity of them be expired is a direct and effectuall revoking of them, which not to doe how fa…re his Highnesse is in Honour engaged, Your Majestie will be best able to judge by viewing the powers themselves.
Further if the Date of these Powers do expire (besides the breach of the Capitulations) although the Match it selfe should not by jealousies and mistrusts be hazarded, yet the Princesses comming at the spring into England will be almost impossible; for by that time new Commissions and Powers shall be (after Christmas) granted to the Prince, which must be to the satisfaction of both parties, I conceive so much of the year will be spent, that it will be impossible for the Fleets and other preparations to be in a readinesse against the Spring; for it is not to be imagined that they will here proceed effectually with their preparations, untill they shall be assured of the Desposorios, especially when they shall have seen them severall times deferred on the Princes part, and that upon pretexts that are not new nor grown since the granting of the Powers, but were before in being, and often under debate, and yet were never insisted upon to make stay of the businesse, So that it will seem, that they might better have hindred the granting of them then, then the execution of them now, if there were no staggering in former Resolutions: which although really there is not, yet cannot it but be suspected, and the cleating of it between Spain and England will cost much time, I most humbly crave your Majesties pardon if I write unto you with the plainesse of a true-hearted and faithfull servant, who ever have co-operated honestly unto your Majesties ends, if I knew them. I know your Majesty hath long been of opinion, that the greatest assurance you could get that the King of Spaine would effectually labour the entire restitution of the Prince Palatine, was, that he really proceeded to the effecting of the March, and my Instructions under your Majesties hand were to insist upon the restoring of the Prince Palatine, but not so to annex it to the treaty of the Match, as that thereby the Match should bee hazarded, for that your Majesty seemed confident, they here would never grow to a perfect conclusion of the Match, without a setled resolution to give your Majesty satisfaction in the businesse of the Palatinate; the same course I observed in the carriage of busines by his Highnes, and my L. Duke at their being here, who though they insisted upon the businesse of the Palatinate, yet they held it fit to treat of them distinctly, and that the Marriage should preceed as a good pawne for the other. Since-their departure my Lord Ambassador, Sir Walter Aston, and my selfe have much pressed to have this Kings resolution in writing concerning the Palatinate, and the dispatches which your Majesty will receive herewith concerning that businesse were written before the receipt of these your Majesties Letters, and doubtlesse it is now a great part of their care that that businesse may bee well ended before the Infantaes, comming into England; And his Highnesse will well remember that the Conde de Olivares often protested the necessity of having this businesse compounded and setled before the Marriage, saying; otherwise, they might give a Daughter and have a War within three moneths after, if this ground and subject of Quarrell should be still left on foot, The same language he hath ever since held with Sir Walter Aston and my selfe, and that it was a firm peace and amity, as much as an allyance which they sought with his Majesty, so that it is not to be doubted, but that this King concluding the Match, resolveth to employ his utmost power for the satisfaction in the restitution of the Prince Palatine.
The question now will be, whether the Prince Palatine, having Relation to many great Princes that are interessed therein (living at a great distance) and being indeed for the condition and nature of the businesse it selfe impossible to be ended, but by a formall Treaty (which of necessity will require great length) whether the conclusion of the Match shall any way depend upon the issue of this businesse, which I conceive to be lat from your Majesties Intention, for so the Prince might be long kept unbestowed, by any aversnesse of those that might have particular Interest in the Princes remaining unmarried, or dislike of his Matching with Spaine: But that which I understand to be your Majesties ayme, is only to have the conclusion of this Match accompanied with as strong engagements as can be procured from this King, for the joyning with your Majesty, not only in all good offices for the entire Restitution of the Prince Palatine, but otherwise if need require, of his Majesties assistance. Herein I have these dayes past laboured with all earnestnesse, and procured this Kings publike answer, which I am told is resolved of, and I shall within few dayes have it to send unto Your Majesty, as likewise a private proposition which will bee put into your hand, and shall not faile further to pursue Your Majesties present directions of procuring this Kings declaration in what sort your Majesty may rely upon this Kings assistance in case the Emperour or the Duke of Bavaria shall oppose the entire restitution of the Prince Palatine; But I conceive it to bee Your Majesties intention, that I should procure here first this Kings peremptory answer, in the whole businesse, and how he will be assistant unto your Majesty, in case of the Emperors, or Duke of Bavaria's aversenesse, and that I should send it unto your Majestie, and receive againe your answer, before I deliver the powers for the Desposorios, the match would thereby if not be hazarded, yet I conceive the Infanta's going at Spring would bee rendred altogether impossible; for if upon the artivall of the Popes approbation, which is hourely expected, the Powers be demanded of me, according to the Princes publike Declaration, and the agreement in the Temporall Articles, by which the Desposorios, are to be within 10. dayes after the comming of the said approbation, I cannot refuse them but upon some ground… If I alleage you Majesties desire of having the Desposorios deferred untill Christmas, they know as well as my selfe, that his Highnesse Proxie is then out of dare (besides the infringing of the Capitulations) and they will judge it as a great scorne put upon this King, (who ever since the Princes granting of his Powers, hath called himselfe the Infanta's Desposado, and to that effect the Prince hath written unto him in some of his Letters:) besides it will be here held a point of great dishonour unto the Infanta, if the powers called for by her friends they should be deteyned by the Princes part, and whosoever else may have deserved ill, she certainly hath deserved neither disrespect nor discomforts: Further, upon my refusall to deliver the powers, all preparations which now goe on cheerefully and apace, will be stayed, and there will enter in so much distrust and so many jealousies, that if the maine businesse runne not hazard by them, at least much time will be to cleere them.
I must therefore in discharge of my dutie, tell Your Majestie, that all your businesses here are in a faire way. The match and all that is capitulated therein, they professe punctually to performe: in the businesse of the Palatinate, they protest that they infinitely desire and will to the utmost of their powers, endevour to procure His Majesties satisfa…tion. The Prince is like to have a most worthy and vertuous Ladie, and who much …oveth him, and all things else depending on this match are in a good and a hopefull way.
This is now the present estate of your Majesties affaires as it appeareth unto me and to Sir Walter Aston, with whom I have communicated this dispatch, as I doe all things else concerning your Majesties service: And I must cleerely let your Majesty understand, that I conceave by reteyning of the powers when their King shall call for them, and offering to deferre the Desposorios untill Christmas, that your Majesties businesses will runne a great hazard, what by the distasts and distrusts that will be raised here, and what by the art and industry of those which are enemies to the Match, whereof every Court of Christendome hath plenty; That therefore which I presume with all humility to offer unto your Majesty is, that you would be pleased to give mee order with all possible speed, That when the businesse shall come cleered from Rome, and that the powers for the Marriage shall bee demanded of mee on the behalfe of this King, that I may deliver them, and no wayes seeke to interrupt or suspend the Desposorios, but assist and help to a perfect conclusion of the match. And that for the businesse of the Palatinate, I continue my earnest and faithfull endeavours to engage this King as farre as shall be possible, both for the doing of all good Offices for the Prince Palatines entire restitution, as likewise for this Kings Declaration of assistance in case the Emperor or Duke of Bavaria shall oppose the said restitution. Herein I will not faile to use all possible means, and I conceive the dispatch of the match will be a good pawn in the businesse, and the help and assistance which the Princes being once betroathed would be able to give in this Court to all Your Majesties businesses, would be of good consideration. So fearing I have already too far presumed upon Your Majesties patience, I humbly crave Your Majesties pardon, and recommend you to the holy protection of God, Resting
Your Majesties most humble Subject, and Servant, BRISTOLL, Madrid: 24. Octo. 1623.
About the beginning of December the Dispensation from the new Pope arrived at Madrid from Rome; *Mercur Fran. Tom 9. An. 1624. p. 34, 35, 36, 37.whereupon the King of Spaine to satisfie his Oath made to the Prince of Wales before his departure, (to make the espousalls within tenne dayes after the arrivall of the dispensation, caused Bonfiers of joy to be made throughout all Spaine on the 9th of Decem. intending that on this day the assiances should be made at Madrid, with the magnificence of the Court there. All things seemed then disposed to a conclusion of this great businesse which had been in treaty eight or nine yeares. But the Princes forementioned) suspention of the procuration, and the demand of those new conditions arriving in Spaine, the newes of them seemed very strange and unseasonable. To which the King of Spaine, promising to give a resolution in due time, signified to the Earle of Bristoll, that he should in the meane time present no more Letters to the Infanta, nor demand any more audience, and that from thenceforth, none should stile the Infanta, Princesse of England, or Wales. VponUpon this there was a resolution taken by our Lords of the Councell to breake both the Match and Treaty with Spaine, and to gaine the Palatinate and Electorship by force of Armes; to which end a Parliament was summoned at London to begin, Feb. 12… 1623. but put off till Febr. 16. On Febr. 24. The Lord Duke of Buckingham made a large Relation of the whole Negotiation with Spain about the Princes Mariage, to both Houses of Parliament, recorded in the Lords Iournall & enrolled in the*Prima pars Pet: 21. Iac: n: 21: Rolls; wherein most of the premises are related to the full, and some of them concealed: which the dishdent Author of the Answer to the Royall Popish Favourite, (who so much *Page 34, 44.undervalues the French Mercury, and other histories, who have written any thing of this Match,) may peruse at his leasure, to satisfie his judgement, Conscience in the verity of the premises, and of this Mercury to.
The Parliament upon this relai…on ad…vised the King to breake off the Spanish treaty and to proclaime an open warre with Spaine for recovery of the Palatinate and defence of the protestant Religion:Se the Lords Iournall, And Archbishops Diary March 23. whereupon the King on the 23 of February; declared to a Committee of Parliament appointed for that purpose; That he would send a Messenger presently into Spaine, to signifie to that King, that his Parliament advised him to breake of the Treaties of the Match and the Palatinat, and to give his reasons of it, and so proceed to recover the Palatinate as he might. Hereupon Bonefires were made in the City by the forwardnesse of the people, for joy that we should breake with Spaine.
In this Parliament to maintaine the war in which they had engaged the King,*See 21, Iac. c. 32. 33. the Clergy granted him four intire Subsidies of foure shillings the pound: and the Temporalty three intire Subsidies, and three fifteens and tenthes; The end of granting them is expressed in the Prologue of the Temporalities Act of Grant.
MOST*21. lac c. 33 Gratious Soveraigne, we your Majesties most humble, faithfull and loving Subjects, by your Royall Authority now Assembled in your High Court of Parliament, having entred into serious and due consideration of the weighty and most important causes, which at this time more then at any other time heretofore, doe presse your Majesty to a much greater expence and charge then your owne Treasure alone can at this present support and maintaine, and likewise of the injuries and indignities, which have beene lately offered to your Majesty and your Children, under colour, and during the time of the Treaties for the Mariage with Spaine, and the restitution of the Palatinate, which in this Parliament have beene clearely discovered and layde open unto us; and withall what humble advice with one consent and voyce, we have given unto your Majesty to dissolve those Treaties, which your Majesty hath beene gratiously pleased (to our exceeding joy and comfort) fully to yeeld unto, and accordingly have made your publique declaration for the reall and utter dissolution of them, by meanes whereof your Majesty may happily be ingaged in a suddain Warre. Wee in all humblenesse most ready and willing to give unto your Majesty and the whole world an ample testimony of our dutifull affections, and sinceere intentions to assist You therein, for the maintenance of that Warre that may hereafter ensue, and more particularly for the defence of this your Realme of England, the securing of your Kingdome of Ireland, the assistance of your Neighbours, the States of the united Provinces, and other your Majesties Friends, and Allies, and for the setting forth of your Royall Navy, we have resolved to give for the present the greatest ayde which ever was granted in Parliament, to be levied in so short a time, &c.
In this Parliament the Commons presented a sharpe Petition to the Lords against Popish,NOTE. Recusants, desiring the Lords to joyne with them in it to the King; of which King Iames having notice, writ with his owne hand this following letter to Secretary Conway, which I have truely extracted out of the very originall.
I doubt not but you have heard what a stinging Petition against the Papists, the lower House have sent to the higher House this day, that they might joyntly present it unto me: ye know my firme resolution, not to make this a Warre of Religion. And seeing I would be loath to be Connycatched by my people, I pray you stay the Post that is going to Spaine, till I meet with my Son, who will be here to morrow morning, do it upon pretext of some more letters ye are to send by him and if he should be gone, hasten after him to stay him upon some such pretext, and let none living know of this, as ye love me: and before two in the afternoone to morrow you shall with out saile heare from me: Farwell.
Iames R.
This Petition was sent up to the Lords (as appeares by their*3 Apr… 1624. Iournall Booke) upon the 3. of Aprill 1624. the Coppy whereof is therein recorded in forme following.