Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Letter 6
RIght trusty, &c. Your dispatch of the ninth of August gave us so much contentment, and so great hopes of satisfaction in all those businesses which you have there to treat with that King, as we could not expect any further difficulties. Notwithstanding by that which hath come unto Our hands immediately after,NOTE. aswell by George Gage from Rome, as from Our Ambassadour Sir Richard Weston at Bruxelles, and our Ministers in the Palatinate; We find that neither the Dispensation is granted for the march, nor the treaty of Cessation so neer a Conclusion as we conceived it would have been, now that the Auxiliaries and all other Obstacles are removed: But on the contrary side, that new delayes and excuses are invented, our Garrisons in the Palatinate in the meane time blocked up, and Heidelberg it selfe actually besieged. Which proceeding though our Ambassadour hath expostulated with the Infanta and the Commissioners as injurious to VsUs, and ill-beseeming their professions hitherto, yet is there not that readinesse shewed to give Us such contentment therein as we might justly expect, but answers still protracted and put off for advantage, whilest our Forces there remaine in great distresse, and the Towne and Castle of Heidelberg likely in a few dayes to be lost, for it cannot hold out longer as we are informed. This dealing seems the more strange unto VsUs, for that the late dispatch of the King of Spaine was (before the newes of this siege, and that our Embassadour had propounded any thing concerning it) come unto the Infanta: But because you shall be particularly informed of the …hole carriage of the businesse, We have given order that Copies shall be sent you … all the dispatch, and then you shall see how these proceedings agree with the hopes and promises which are given Us, from thence. Hereupon therefore Our pleasure is▪ that you shall immediatly and with as much speed as you may, crave audience of that King, and represent unto him the merit which We may justly challenge unto Our Selfe for Our sincere proceedings with the Emperour and Him, in all the course of this businesse, notwithstanding the many invitations and temptations which We have had to engage Our Selfe on Our Sonne in lawes part: That We have had both from the Emperour and Him hopes given us from time to time of extraordinary respect, howsoever Our Sonne-in-law had deserved, which We have attended and expected even to the very last with much patience, and in despight as it were of all the opposition that hath beene made to shake Our resolution in that behalfe, If now when all impediments are removed, and that the way is so prepared, as that the Emperour may give an end unto the Warre, and make some present demonstration of his respects towards Us, in leaving Us the honour of holding those poore places which yet remaine quietly and peaceably untill the generall accommodation, the same shall neverthelesse be violently taken from VsUs; what can we looke for when the whole shall be in his hands and possession? Who am…sing VsUs with a treaty of cessation, and protracting it industriously as We have reason to beleeve, doth in the meane time seize himselfe of the whole Country; which being done Our Ambassadour shall returne with scorne, and we remaine with dishonour. I shall not need to furnish you with Arguments for the unfolding and laying open this unfriendly dealing more plainly unto them, your owne reason and observation will find enough out of the dispatches whereof Copies are sent unto you, as namely, the withdrawing of the Spanish Forces, and leaving the businesse wholly in the hands of the Emperour and the Duke of Bava…ia; the stile of the In…anta in answering Our Ambassadour with recriminations, which was not her manner heretofore; the slight and frivolous answer given by the Marquesse of Bedmar unto Our Ambassadour when he acquainted him with the siege of Heidelberg: The quarrellous occasion taken by the Emperour for calling the diet at Ratisbone contrary to his owne promise, which in his Dispatch to VsUs he confesseth to have broken, as you will see by the Copy. All which and many more which your owne judgement in the perusall of the dispatches, will suggest unto you, doe minister unto VsUs cause sufficient of jealousie on the Emperours part, as you shall, plainly tell that King, although We will not doe him that wrong as to mistrust that he gives the least consent unto it: In this confidence with must earnestnesse We shall still solicite Him, that for the affection He beares Us, and the desire which We suppose he hath, that there may continue for ever a perfect Amity betwixt Us and the whole House of Austria, he will not cease to doe all good office▪ herein; letting him know directly that in these termes We cannot stand with the Emperour, but that if Heidelberg be wonne, and the siege continue, or the Cessation be longer unnecessarily delayed, We must recall Our Ambassadour from Bruxelles and treat no more, as We have already given order, hoping that whatsoever unkindnesse We shall conceive against the Emperour upon these occasions, it shall not be interpreted to re…lect in any sort upon the entire affection that is at this present, and as VVee hope shall alwaies continue betwixt Us and the Crowne of Spaine, And therefore as We have sundry times heretofore promised, in testimony of the sincerity of Our proceedings, and of Our great desire to preserve the Amity inviolable between Us and the whole house of Austria; NOTE.that in case our Sonne-in-law would not be governed by VsUs, that then We would not onelyonly forsake him, but take part and joyne Our Forces with the Emperours against him; so you may fairly represent unto that King, that in like manner We have reason to expect the same measu…e from him that (upon the Emperours aversnesse to a cessation and accommodation) He will likewise actually assist VsUs for the recovery of the Palatmate and Electorall dignity unto Our Sonne-in-law, as it hath beene oftentimes intimated from Spaine. To conclude, We shall not need to say any more unto you touching this point, but to let you see, that Our meaning is to carry all things fa…re with that King, and not to give him any cause of distrust or jealousie, if you perceive that they intend to goe really and roundly on with the Match. Wherein neverthelesse We must tell you, that We have no great cause to be well pleased with the diligences used on that part, when We observe that after so long an expectance of the Dispensation, upon which the whole businesse (as they will have it) depends, there is nothing yet returned but Queres and Objections. Yet because We will not give over Our patience a while longer, untill We understand more certainly what the effect thereof is like to be, wherein VVe require you to be very wary and watchfull, considering how Our honour is therein engaged; VVe have thought …it to let you know how farre VVe are pleased to enlarge Our Selfe, concerning those points demanded by the Pope▪ and set downe by way of Postill unto the Articles agreed upon betwixt Spaine and VsUs, as you will see by the power which Gage brought VsUs from Rome, whereof VVe have sent you a Copy, and Our Resolutions thereupon signed with Our owne hand, for your warrant and instruction. And further then that, since VVe cannot goe without much prejudice, inconvenience and dishonour to Our Selfe and Our Sonne, VVe hope and expect the King of Spaine will bring it instantly to an issue without further delay, which you are to presse with all diligence and earnestnesle, that you may presently know Their finall resolution and what VVe may expect thereupon. But if any respit of time be earnestly demanded, and that you perceive it not possible for them to resolve untill an answer come from Rome, VVe then thinke it fit that you give them two moneths time after your audience, that VVe may understand that King's finall resolution before Christmas next at the furthest.
September 9. 1622. from VVansted.
By this letter the whole world may discerne, how grosly King Iames was abused, and how much the Palsgrave and other Protestant Princes suffered in for…eigne parts without any assistance from England, under pretext of this Nuptiall Treaty.
VponUpon these Letters, the Lord Digby presented this ensuing Memoriall to the King of Spaine, the 3. of October 1622. truly translated out of the Spanish Copy.
SIR, the Baron Digby Ambassadour Extraordinary of the King of great Brittaine saith, that it is neere six moneths since they had treated to make a Marriage between the Prince of Wales, and the Infanta Donna Maria sister to your Majesty.
That it is five moneths since they setled in Spaine the Articles in matter of Religion, His Majesty (now in glory) having first asked the opinions of many learned men, which were joyned to consult upon this businesse.
That the King of great Brittaine dealt clearly in all the Articles, and therein hath complyed in all things, and hath promised by his word and in a letter written the sixth of Aprill 1620. particularly declared, what he would doe in favour of the Catholiques.
That it appeared the businesse was then well founded to aske the Popes Dispensation, and thereupon they dispatched Father Diego de Fuente. for to solicit it in Rome; but now at the end very neere of two yeeres, his Holinesse (without reply hither) hath sent directly for England, NOTE.propounding to the King, not onelyonly many alterations in the said Capitulations, but something new, which the King would by no meanes yeeld unto.NOTE.
That this to the King his Master seemed much different from that which he expected.
First, for that having Capitul…ted the Dispensation should onelyonly move from this place, and the King having not treated at all with the Pope, therefore he expected what the Pope would reply, should be sent unto your Majesty, from whence came the demand of the Dispensation.
Secondly, for that he thought, that with the Agreement and the rest perused, all things concerning Religion had beene setled and that the learned men did think, that upon these conditions they might, and that his Holinesse ought to consent to the Dispensation, and now they demand new things and impossible, which seemes very strange.
Wherefore the King his Master desiring that in this businesse he make short expedition (for that it imports Him and His Kingdom very much that they marry the Prince His onelyonly Sonne presently, going upon 23. yeeres, having fo…borne to marry for six yeeres past onelyonly in respect of this Treaty.) He is commanded to declare plainly to your Majesty, how farre he may condiscend in matter of Religion, and if with this your Majesty be content, to proceed to a conclusion of the Marriage, without more delayes; and if this be not enough to give satisfaction to your Majesty, as he hopes it will seeing he hath yeelded to much more then what was capitulated in the time of the King. Father to your Majesty, now in glory, your Majesty also would be pleased to declare on the part of your Majesty, that without losse of more time his Majesty may dispose of the Prince his sonne, and your Majesty of the Infanta, as you best please.
The same day (Octob. 3. 1622.) King Iames discerning the Emperours and Spaniards strange proceedings in the Palatinate, to gaine the totall possession of … under colour of this Teaty, dspa…ched this ensuing Letter into Spaine to the Lord Digby, and the next day after, this Minute of second Instructions, sent by Master Porter.