HIs Catholique Majestie had given cōmandement that presently upon the return of Seigneur Gondomar his Leiger Embassador from England, (1618) a speciall meting of all the principal States of Spaine (who were of his Counsel) togither with the Presidents of the Counsel of Castile, of Arragon, of Italy, of Portugall, of the Indies, of the Treasure, of Warre, and especially of the holy Inquisitiō, should be held at Mouson in Arragon, the Duke of Lerma being ap­pointed President, Who should make declaration of his Ma­jesties pleasure, take account of the Embassadors service, and consult touching the state and religion respectively, to giue sa­tisfaction to his holynes Nuntio, who was disired to make one in this assembly concerning certaine overtures of peace and a­mitie with the English and other Catholike proiects, which might ingender suspition and jealousie betwixt the Pope & his Maiestie, if the mistery were not unfolded and the grond of those counsels discovered aforehand.

This made all men expect the Embassadours returne with a kinde of longing, that they might behold the yssue of this mee­ting, and see what good for the Catholike cause the Embassa­dors imployment had effected in England, answerable to the generall opinion conceived of his wisdome, and what further proiect would be set on foot to become matter for publike dis­course.

At length he arrived and had present notice given him from his Majestie, that before he came to Court he should give up his account to this assemblie. Which command he gladly recei­ved as an earnest of his acceptable service, and gave thanks that for his honour he might publish himself in so judicious a pre­sence.

He came first upon the day appointed to the Counsell cham­ber (exc. the Secr.) not long after all the Counsell of state and the presidents met, there wanted onely the Duke of Lerma & [Page] the Popes Nuntio who were the head and feet of all the assem­ble. These twoo stayed long away for divers respects, The Nun­tio that he might expresse the greatnes of his master, & loose the sea of Rome no respect by his oversight, but that the ben­ches might be full to observe him at his approach.

The Duke of Lerma to expresse the authoritie & dignitie of his owne person, and to shew houw a servant put in place of his master, exacts more service of his fellow servants then the master himselfe. These two stayed til all the rest were weary of wayting, but at length the Nuntio (supposing all the Coun­sel set) launched forth and came to roade in the Counsel cham­ber, where (after mutuall discharge of duetie from the compa­ny and blessing upon it from him) he sate downe in solemne silence, grieving at his oversight when he saw the Duke of Ler­ma absent, with whom he strove as a competitor for Pompe and Glorie.

The Duke had sent before, & understood of the Nuntios being there, and stayed something the longer that his boldnes might be observed, wherein he had his desire, for the Nuntio having a while patiently driven away the time with severall complemēts to severall persons, had now almost run his court­ship out of breath, but that the Duke of Villa Hermosa (presi­dent of the counsel of Arragon) fed his humor by the discharge of his owne discontentment, upon occasion of the Duke of Lerma his absence, and beckned Seigneur Gondomor to him, using this speech in the hearing of the Nuntio after a spor­ting manner:

How unhappie are the people where you have been, first for their soules, being heretiques; then for their estates, where the name of a favourite is so familiar? how happie is our state, where the keyes of life and death are so easely come by, (poyn­ting at the Nuntio) hanging at every religious girdle, and wher the doore of justice and mercie stand equally open to all men without respect of persons? the Embassador knew this Ironi­call stroke, to be intented as a by blow at the Nuntio, but fully at the Duke of Lerma (whose greatnes begā now to wax heavy, towards declension) and therfore he returned this answer: your excellencie knoweth the state is happie where wise favorites [Page] governe Kings if the Kings themselves be foolish, or where wise Kings are, who having favorites whether foolish or of the wijser sort will not yet be governed by them. The state of Eng­land, (howsoever you heare of it in Spayne or Roome) is too happie in the last kinde: They need not much care what the favorite be (though for the most part he be such as prevents all suspition in that kinde, being rather chosen as a scholler to be taught and trayned up, then as a tutor to teach,) of this they are sure, no Prince exceeds theirs in personall abilities; so that no­thing could be added to him in my wish, but this one, that he were our vassayle and a Catholique.

With that the noyse without gave notice of the Duke of Ler­mas entrance, at whose first approch the whole house arose, though some later then other, as envie had hung plummets on them to keep them downe, the Nuntio onely sate unmooved, the Duke cherished the observance of the rest with a familiar kind of carriage too high for courtesie, as one not neglecting their demeanors but expecting it, and after a filiall obeysance to the Pope his Nuntio, sate down, as president vnder the cloath of state, but somewhat lower; then after a space given for ad­miration, preparation, and attention, he began to speake in this manner.

The King my master (holding it more honourable to doe then to discourse, to take from you the expectation of Orato­rie used rather in schooles and pulpits then in Councels) hath appointed me president in this holy, wise, learned, and noble assembly; A man naturally of a slow speach, and not desirous to quicken it by art or industrie, as holding action onely pro­per to a spaniard as I am by birth, to a souldier as I am by pro­fessiion, to a King as I am by representation; take this therefore briefly for declaration both of the cause of this meeting and my master his further pleasure.

There hath bene in al times frō the worlds foūdatiō one chiefe commander or Monarch upon the earth. This needs no further profe thē a bak loking into our own memories & histories of the world, neither now is there any questiō (except with infidels & heritiques) of that one chief Cōmander in spirituals in the unity [Page] of whose person the membres of the visible Church are inclu­ded, but there is some doubt of the chief cōmander in tempo­ralls, who (as the moon to the sun) might govern by night as this by day, & by the sword of iustice compell to come in, or cutt off such as infringe the authoritie of the keyes. This hath been so well understood long since, by the infallible chaire, as that thereby upon declension of the Romane Emperours, and the increase of Romes spirituall splendor (who thought it un­naturall that their sun should be sublunary) our nation was by the Bishop of Rome selected before other peoples to conquer and rule the nations with a rod of Iron, and our Kings to that end adorned with the title of Catholike King, as a name above all names under the sunne (which is) under Gods Vicar generall himself the Catholike Bishop of soules. To instance this point by comparison, looke first upon the grand Seigneur the great Turk who hath a large title but not universall. For besides that he is an infidel, his command is confined within his owne territories, and he styled not Emperour of the world but of the Turks and their vassals onely.

Among Christians the defender of the faith was a glorious stile, whilst the King to whom it was given by his holynes, con­tinued worthy of it. But he stood not in the trueth, neither yet those that succeed him. And beside it was no great thing to be called what every Christiā ought to be, defender of the faith, no more then to be stiled with France, the most Christian King, wherein he hath the greatest part of his title commō with most Christians. The Emperour of Russia, Rome, Germany, extend not their limits further then their stiles, which are locall, onely my master the most Catholike King is for dominion of bodies, as the universall Bishop for dominiō of soules ouer all that part of the world which we call America (except where the English intruders usurp) and the greatest part of Europe with some part of Asia and Africa by actual possessiō, & over al the rest by real & indubitable right, yet acknowledgeth this right to be derived frō the free and fatherly donation of his holynes, who as the sun to this moone lends luster by reflection to this Kingdō, to this King, to this King of Kings my master, what therefore he hath, howsoever gottē, he may keep and hold. What he can get from [Page] any other King or Cōmander by any stratageme of war or pre­tence of peace he may take, for it is theirs onely by usurpation except they hold of him from whom all civill power is derived, as ecclesiasticall from his holynes. What the ignorant call trea­sō, if it be on this behalf is truth; and what they call truth, if it be against him is treason: & thus all our peace, our warre, our trea­tises, mariages and whatsoever intendement els of ours, aimes at this principall end, to get the whole possession of the world, & to reduce all to unitie under one temporall head, that our King may truely be what he is stiled, the catholicke & universal King. As faith is therfore universal & the Church universall, yet so as it is under one head the Pope, whose seate is & must neces­sarily be at Rome where S. Peter sate: so must all men be subject to our and their Catholique King, whose particular seat is here in Spayne, his universall euery where; this point of State or ra­ther of faith, we see the Romane Catholike religion hath taught every where, and almost made naturall, so that by a key of gold by intelligence, or by way of confession my master is able to un­lock the secrets of every Prince, and to withdraw their subjects allegiance, as if they knewe themselves rather my master his subjects in truth, then theirs whom their birthes have taught to miscall Soveraigns. We see this in France and in England especially where at once they learne to obey the Church of Ro­me as their mother, to acknowledge the catholique King as their father, and to hate their owne King as an heretique and an usurper. So we see religion and the state are coupled to­gether, laugh and weep, flourish & fade, and participate of eit­hers fortune, as growing upon one stock of policy; I speake this the more boldly in this presence, because I speake here before none but native persons, who are partakers both in themselves and issues of these triumphs aboue all those of ancient Rome, & therefore such (as besides their oathes) it concernes to be se­cret. Neyther need we restrain this freedome of speach from the Nuntio his presence, because that besides that he is a Spaniard by birth, he is also a Iesuite by profession, an order raised by the providence of Gods Vicar to accomplish this monarchy the bet­ter, all of them being appropriate thereunto, and as publike agents and privie Counsellers to this end, Wherein the wis­dome [Page] of this state is to be beheld with admiration, that as in temporal warre it employes or at least trusts none but natives, in Castile, Portugall or Arragon; so in spirituals it imployes no­ne but the Iesuites, and so imployes them, that they are gene­rally reputed, how remote soever they be from us, how much soever obliged to others, still to be ours, and still to be of the Spanish faction, though they be Polonians, English, French, & residing in those countries & Courts; the Penitents therfore and all with whom they deale and converse in their spirituall traf­fique must needs be so too, and so our Catholique King must needs have an invisible kingdome, & an unknowne number of subjects in all dominions, who will shew themselves and their faiths by their works of disobedience whensoever we shal have occasion to use that Iesuiticall vertue of theirs. This therefore being the principal ends of all our counsels (according to those holy directions of our late pious King Philip 2. to his sonne now reviving) to advance the Catholike Romane religion, and the Catholike spanish dominion together, we are met now by his Majesties command to take account of you (Seigneur Gondomor) who haue been Embassadour for England, to see what good you haue effected there towards the advancement of this worke, & what further project shall be thought fit to be set on foot to this end. And this is briefly the occasion of our meeting.

Then the Embass. (who attended bare headed all the time) with a low obeisance began thus. This most laudable custome of our Kings in bringing all officers to such an account where a review and notice is taken of good or bad services upon the determination of their imployments, resembles those Romane triumphs appointed for the soldiers; and as in them it provo­ked to courage, so in us it stirres vp to diligence. Our master converseth by his Agents with all the world, yet with no­ne of more regard then the English, where matter of such di­versitie is often presented (through the severall humors of the State, and those of our religion and faction) that no instructi­ons can be sufficient for such negotiations, but much must be left in trust, to the discretion, judgment and diligence of the in­cumbent, I speake not this for my owne glory, I having beē re­strayned [Page] and therfore deserved [...] the behalf of others, that ther may be more scope alovved thē to deal in as occasion shall require. Briefly this rule delivered by his excellency was the card and Compas by which I sayled to make profit of al humors, and by all meanes to advance the state of the Romish faith, and the Spanish faction togither, upō all advantage eyther of oathes, or the breach of thē; for this is an old observation but a true, that for our pietie to Rome, his holynes did not onely give, but blesse us in the conquest of the new world, And thus in our pious perseverance we hope stil to be conquerours of the old. And to this end wheras his ex­cellentie in his excellent discourse, seemes to extend our out­ward forces & private aimes onely against heretiques and re­straine them in true amitie with these of the Romish religion: This I affirme, that since there cā be no security, but such prin­ces though now Romish Catholiques, may turne heretiques hereafter; my aimes haue ever been to make profit of all, & to make my master, master of al, who is a faithful & constant son­ne of his mother Rome. And to this end I behold the ende­vours of our Kings of happy memorie, hovv they haue achie­ved kingdomes and conquests by this policy, rather thē by opē hostility, and that without difference, as wel from their allies and kinsfolks, men of the same religion, and profession, such as were those of Naples, France and Navar, though I doe not mē ­tion Poitugall now united to us, nor Savoy (that hardly slipt frō us) as of an adverse and heretical faith. Neyther is this rule left of, as the present kingdome of France, the State of Venice, the Low-countries, Bohemia, (now al labouring for life under our plots) apparantly manifest. This way therfore I bent my engins in England, as your honours shal particularly heare. Neyther shal I need to repeat a Catalogue of all the services I haue there done, because this state hath been acquainted with many of them here to fore by the intercourse of letters and messengers. Those onely I will speak of that are of later edition, done since the returne of the Lord Rosse frō hence, and may seeme most directly to tēd to those ends formerly propounded by his Ex­cellentie; that is, the advancement of the Spanish State and Romish Religion togither.

[Page]First it is well observed by the wisdome of our State, that, the King of England, who otherwise is one of the most accōplisht Princes that ever raign'd, extreamly hunts after peace, and so affects the true name of a Peacemaker, as that for it he wil doe or suffer any thing. And withall they have beheld the gene­rall bountie & munificence of his minde, and the necessity of the state so exhausted, as it is unable to supply his desires, who onely seeks to haue that he might giue to others. Vpon those advantages they have given out their directions and instructi­ons both to me and others, and I haue observed thē so farre as I was able.

And for this purpose, wheras there was a marriage propoun­ded betwixt them and us, (howsoever I suppose our State too devout to deale with heretiques in this kinde in good earnest, yet) I made that a cover for much intelligence, and a meanes to obtaine whatsoever I desired, whilest the State of England longed after that mariage, hopeing thereby (though vainely) to settle peace, and fill the Excheaquer.

Here the Arch Bishop of Toledo ▪ Inquisitor generall stept up and interrupted Gondamor▪ saying, that maryage was not to be thought vpō; first for religions sake, lest they should indan­ger the soule of the younge Lady and the rest of her company, who might become her [...]ticks: secondly for the state, lest by gi­ving so large a portion to heretiques they should inrich and in able them for warres, & impoverish and weaken the Catho­liques.

To the first objection the Popes Nuntio answered, that his holynes for the Catholique cause would dispense with the mar­riage, though it were with a Turke or infidel. 1. That there was no valuable danger in hazarding one for the gaining of many, perhaps of all. 2. That it was no hazard▪ since women (espetial­ly yong ones) are to obstinate to be removed from their opini­ons, and abler to worke Solomon to their opinions, then Solo­mon to work them to his faith. 3. That it was a great advan­tage to match wich such from whom they might break at plea­sure, having the catholique cause for a colour, and besides, if need were to be at liberty in all respects since there was no faith to be kept with heretiques. And if his Holynes may dispēce [Page] with the murther of such, & dispose of their crownes (as what good Catholique doubts but he may?) much more may he, and wil he in their mariages to prevent the leprous seed of heresie, and to settle Catholique blood in the chaire of State.

To the second objection the Ambassadour himselfe answe­red, saying, that though the English generally loathed the matche, and would as he thought buy it off with halfe of their estates, (hating the nation of Spain, and their religion, as appe­ared by an uproare and assault a day or two before his depar­ture from London by the Apprentices, who seemed greedy of such an occasion to vent their owne spleenes, in doing him or any of his a mischiefe) yet two sorts of people unmeasurably desired the match might proceed. First the begging and beg­garly Courtyers, that they might haue to furnish their wants. Secondly the Romish Catholiques, who hoped hereby at least for a moderation of fynes and lawes, perhaps a tolleraaion, and perhaps a total restauration of their religion in England. In which regard (quoth he) I haue knowne some zealous persons protest, that if al their friendes and halfe their estates could procure thē the service of our Lady (if she came to be maried too their Prince) they would freely use the meanes: faithfully to fight under her colours, when they might doe it safely. And if it came to portion, they would underhand contribute largely of their estates to the Spanish Collector, and make up halfe the portion out of themselves, perhaps more. So that by this mari­age it might be so wrought, that the state should rather be robd and weakened (which is our ayme) then strengthened, as the English vainely hope. Besides in a small tyme they should worke so far into the body of the State, by buying Offices and the like, whether by sea or land, of Iustice civil or ecclesiastical, in Church or State (all being for money exposed to sale) that with the helpe of the Iesuites, they would undermine them with meere wit (without gunpowder) and leave the King but a fewe subjects whose faithes hee might rely upon, whilst they were of a faith adverse to his. For what catholique body that is sound at the hart, can abide a corrupt and heretical head?

With that the Duke, Medina del rio Secco, president of the [Page] councel of warr and one of the councel of State rose up and sayd his Predecessors had felt the force and wit of the English in 88. And he had cause to doubt the Catholiques themselves that were English and not fully Iesuited, upon any forreigne invasion would rather take part with their owne King (though a heretique) then with his Catholique Majestie a stranger.

The Ambassadour desired him to be of another minde since first for the persons generally their bodies by long disuse of ar­mes vvere disabled and their mindes effeminated by peace and luxury, far from that they were in 88. when they were dayly flesht in our blood and made hearty by customary conquests. And for the affectiō of those whom they call Recusants (quoth hee) I know the bitternes of their inveterate malice, & haue seē so farr into their natures as I dare say they will be for Spaine against all the world. Yet (quoth hee) I assure your Honours I could not imagine so basely of their King and State as I haue heard them speake. Nay their rage hath so perverted their judgements that what I my self haue seen and heard proceed from their King beyond admiration, even to astonishmēt, they haue slighted, misreported, scorned, and perverted to his dis­grace and my reioycing, magnifying in the meane time our de­fects, for graces.

Here the Duke Pastrana president of the Councell for Italy, steps up and sayd, he had lately read a booke of one Camdens called his Annalles, where writing of a treaty of mariage long since betwixt the English Elizabeth & the french Duke of An­diou, he there observes that the mariage vvas not seriously intē ­ded on eyther side, but politickly pretended by both States, counterchangeably, that each might effect their owne ends.

There (quoth he) the Englisch had the better, and I haue so­me cause to doubt, since they can dissemble as vvel as wee, that they haue their aymes underhand, as we haue, and intend the match as little as we doe; And this (quoth he) I beleeue the rather because their King as he is wise to consult and consider, so he is a constant master of his word, and hath written and gi­ven strong reasons against matches made vvith persons of con­trary religions, which reasons no other man can answere, and therefore doubtlesse he wil not go from or conncell his sonne [Page] to forsake those rules layd down so deliberately.

Your Excellency mistakes (quoth the Ambassadour) the ad­vantage was thē one the side of the Englisch, because the Frēch sought the match: now it must be on ours, because the English seeck it, who will grant any thing rather thē breake off, and be­sides haue no patience to temporize and dissemble in this or any other disigne as the French haue long since wel obserued: for their necessities will giue them neither time, nor rest, nor hope els where to be supplyed. As for their King I cannot se­arch into his hart, I must beleeve others that presume to know his minde, heare his words, and read his writings, and these re­late vvhat I haue delivered: But for the rest of the people as the number of those that are truely religious are ever the least and for the most part of least accompt, so is it there, where if an equall opposition be made betwixt their truely religious and ours, the remainder which wilbe the greatest number will stand indifferent and fall to the strōger side where there is most hope of gaine and glorie, for those two are the gods of the magnitu­de & the multitude, Novv these see apparantly no certain sup­plyes of their wants but from us.

Yes (quoth the Duke) for even now you sayd the general state loathing this match vvould redeme the feare there of with half of their estates. It is theaefore but calling a Parliament and the busines were soon effected.

A Parliament (quoth the Ambassadour) nay therein lies one of the principal services I haue done in working such a dislike betwixt the King and the lower house by the endeuor of that honourable Earle and admirable Engine (a sure servant to us and the catholike cause while he lived) as the King will never indure Parliament againe, but rather suffer absolute want then receive conditionall relief from his subjects. Besides the matter was so cunningly caried the last Parliament, that as in the powder plot the fact effected should haue been imputed to the Puritans (the greatest zelots of the Calvinian sect) so the proposition which damde up the procedings of this Parliamēt howsoeuer they were invēted by Romane Catholiques and by thē intēded to disturbe that session, yet were propounded in fa­vor of the Puritans, as if they had beē hāmered in their forge. [Page] Which very name and shadovv the King hates, it being a suffi­cien aspertiō to disgrace any person, to say he is such, & a suf­ficient barre to stop any suite & utterly to crosse it to say it smels of or inclines to that partie. Mareover there are so many about him who blovv this cole fearing their owne stakes, if a Parliament should inquire into their actions, that they use all their āt and industrie to withstād such a councell; perswading the King he may rule by his absolute prerogative without a Parliament, and thus furnish himself by warying with us, and by other domestick projects, without subsidies: when, levying of subsidies and taskes have been the onely use princes haue made of such assemblies. And wheras some free mindes amōgst thē resembling our Nobilitie who preserve the priviledge of subjects against soveraign invasion, call for the course of the com­mon lavve, (a lawe proper to their nation) these other tyme ser­vers cry the lawes down and cry up the prerogative, wherby they prey upon the subject by suites and exactions, milk the estate and keep it poore, procure themselves much suspition amōgst the better & more judicious sort, & hate amōgst th'op­pressed commons, & yet if there should be a Parliament such a course is taken as they shal never choose their sheere Knights and Burgesses freely, who make the greater half of the body thereof, for these being to be elected by most voices of Free­holders in the countrey where such elections are to be made, are caried which vvay the great persons vvho haue lands in those countries please, who by their letters command their tenants, followers and friends to nominate such as adhere to them, and for the most part are of our factiō, and respect their owne benefit or grace rather then their countries good, yea the countrey people themselves will every one stand for the great man, their Lord or neighbour, or master, vvithout regard of his honesty, wisdome, or religion. That which they ayme at (as I am assured of by faithful intelligence) is to please their lād­lords & to renue their lease, in which regard they will betray their Countrey and religion too, & elect any man that may most profite their particular. Therefore it is unlikely there should ever be a Parliament, & impossible the Kings debts should be payd, his vvants sufficiently repaired, and himselfe [Page] left ful handed by such a course, & indeed as it is generally thought) by any other course but by a mariage with us. For which cause whatsoever proiect we list to attēpt, enters safely at that dore, vvhilst their policie lies a sleepe and will not see the danger, I haue made triall of these particulars, and found few exceptions in this generall rule.

There by I and their ovvne wants togither haue kept them from furnishing their Navy, which being the wal of their Hand, & once the strongest in Christendome lies now at roade unar­med & fit for ruine. If ever vve doubted their strength by sea, now vve need not, there are but few ships or men able to looke abroad or to live in a storme, much lesse in a sea fight. This I effected by bearing them in hand the furnishing a Navy bred suspition in my master & so would avert his mind from this match, the hope of vvhich rather then they would loose, they would loose almost their hope of heaven.

Secondly all their voyages to the East Indies I permit rather vvith a colourable resistance then a serious. Because I see them not helpful but hurtfull to the state in generall, carying out gould and silver bringing home spece, silks, feathers, and the like toyes, and insensible wasting the common stock of coyne and bullyon, whilst it fills the Custome house and some private purses. who thereby are inable to keep this discommodity on foot by bribes; especially so many great persons (even States­men) being venturers and sharers in the gaine. Besides this wasteth their Mariners, not one of ten returning. Which I am glad to heare, for they are the men vve stand in feare of.

3. As for their West indian voyages, I withstand them in earnst because they begin to inhabit there and to fortifie them­selves; and may in tyme there perhaps raise an other England to withstand our new Spaine in America, as this old England opposeth our present State, and cloudes the glorious extent therof in Europe. Besides there they trade for commodities vvithout wast of their treasure, & often returne go [...]ld for knives, glasies, or the like trifles, and that without such losse of their Mariners as in other places. Therefore I crost vvhatsoe­ver intendements were projected for Virginea or the Bermu­das; because I see they may be hereafter really helpe full unto [Page] them, as novv they serve for draines to unloade their populous State, which else would overflow its own bancks by continu­ance of peace, and turne head upon it self or make a body fit for any rebellion.

And so farre I prevayled herein, as I caused most of the Re­cusants vvho were sharers to withdraw their venters & discou­rage the vvork, so that besides private persons unable to effect much, nothing was done by the publike purse. And we know by experience such voyages and plantations are not effected without great meanes to sustaine great difficluties, and with an unwearied resolution and power, to meete al hazards and disa­sters with strong helpes and continuall supplies, or else the un­dertaking proues idle.

4. Fourthly. By this meanes likevvise I kept the voluntary forces from Venice, till it vvas almost too late to set out. And had a hope that work of seacrecy should haue broken forth to action, before these could haue arrived to succour them.

5. Fiftly, I put hard for the Cautionary tovvnes (which our late King Philip of happy memory so aymed at, accounting thē the keyes of the low Countries) that they might be delivered to his Catholike Majestie as the proper owner. And had perhaps preuayled, but that the profest enemy to our State and Church, vvho dyed shortly after, gave counsell to restore them to the rebellious States; as one that knew Pouillar Common wealthes to be better neighbours, surer friends, and lesse daun­gerous enemyes, thā Monarchies; and so by his practise rescued them from my handes, and furnished the Excheaquer from thence for that tyme. Neyther vvas I much greeved at this; because the Dependancy they had before of the English see­med novv to be cut off, and the interest the English had in thē and their cause to be taken avvay, vvhich must be sully and fi­nally effected before we can hope eyther to conquer them or England, who holding togither are too strong for the world at sea, & therefore must be disunited, before they can be over­come. This point of State is acknowledged by our most ex­perienced Petioner and sure friund Monsieur Barnevelt, vvhose succeeding plots to this end, shall beare witnes for the depth of his judgement.

[Page]6. But the last service I did for the State, was not the least; when I underwrought that admirable Engine Raleigh, and so was the cause his voyage (threatning so much daunger and do­mage to us) was overthrowne, and himselfe returning in dis­grace, I pursued almost to death, neither (I hope) need I say al­most, if all things hit right, and all strings hold. But the deter­mination of my commission, vvould not permit me longer to stay to follow him to execution, vvhich I desired the rather, that by concession I might haue wrung from the inconsiderate English, an acknowledgement of my masters right in those places, punishing him for attempting there, though they might prescribe for the first foot, And this I did to stop theit mouthes hereafter, and because I would quench the heate & valour of that nation, that none should dare hereafter to undertake the like, or be so hardy as to looke at our sea, or breathe upon our Coastes. And lastly because I would bring to an ignominious death, that old Pyrat, who is one of the last now living, bred under that deceased English Virago, and by her flesht in our blood and ruine. To doe this I had many Agents, first divers Courtiers who were hungrie and gaped wide for Spanish gould; secondly some that bare him at the heart for inveterate quarrels; Thirdly some forreigners who having in vaine sought the Elixer hitherto, hope to finde it in his head; Fourthly all mē of the Romish faith who are of the Spanish faction, and would haue been my bloodhounds, to hunt him or any such to death willingly, as persons hating the prosperitie of their Country, and the valour, worth, and wit of their owne nation, in respect of us and our Catholike cause; Lastly I left behinde mee such an instrument composed artificially of a secular understanding and a religious profession as hee is every way adapted to serue himself into the closet of the heart, and to worke upon femi­nine leuity, who in that county haue masculine spirits to com­mand and pursue their plots unto death. This therefore I ac­compt as done, & rejoyce in it, knowing it vvill be very profi­table to us, gratefull to our faction there; and for the rest, what though it be crosse to the people, or the Clergy? vve that onely negotiate for our owne gaine, and treate about this mariage for our owne ends, can conclude or breake off when we see our [Page] time, without respect of such as can neither profit us, nor hurt us; for I haue certaine knowledge that the commons generally are so effeminate and cowardly, as that they at their musters (which are seldome and slight, onely for the benefit of their muster-master) of a thousand souldiers, scarce one hundred dare discharge a musker, and of that hundred, scarce one can use it like a souldier. And for their armes, they are so ill provi­ded, that one corselet serveth many men, when such as shew their armes upon one day in one place, lend them to their frēds in other places to shew when they haue use. And this if it be spied, is only punished by a mulct in the purse, which is the offi­cers aime, who for his advantage winkes at the rest, and is glad to finde and cherish by connivence profitable faults which in­crease his revenue. Thus stands the state of that poore misera­ble country, which had never more people and fewer men. So that if my master should resolve upon an invasion, the time ne­ver fits as at this present, securitie of this mariage and the disuse of armes having cast them into a dead sleepe, a strong and wa­kening faction being ever amongst them ready to assist us, and they being unprovided of shippes and armes, or hearts to fight, an universall discontentment filling all men. This I haue from their muster-masters and Captaines, who are many of them of our religion, or of none, and so ours, ready to be bought and sould, and desirous to be my masters servants in fee.

Thus much for the state particularly, wherein I haue bent my selfe to weaken them and strengthen us, & in all these haue advanced the Catholicke cause, but especially in procuring fa­vours for all such as favour that side, and crossing the other by all meanes. And this I practise my selfe & give out to be gene­rally practised by others, that whatsoever successe I finde, I still boast of the victory, which I doe to dishearten the heretiques, to make them suspitious one of an other, especially of their Prince and their best Statesmen, and to keepe our owne in cou­rage, who by this meanes increase, otherwise would be in dan­ger to decay.

Now for religion, and for such designes as fetch their pre­tence from thence, I beheld the policie of that late Bishop of theirs ( Bancroft) who stird up and maintained a dangerous [Page] schisme, betweene our secular Priests and Iesuites, by which he discovered much weaknes, to the dishonour of our clergie, and prejudice of our cause. This taught me (as it did Barnevelt in the Low countries) to worke secretly and insensibly betweene their Conformists and Non-conformists, and to cast an eye as far as the Orcades; knowing that busynes might be stirred up there, that might hinder proceedings in England, as the French ever used Scotland to call home the forces of England, and so to prevent their conquests. The effect you haue partly seene in the Earle of Argile, who sometimes was Captaine for the King and Church against the great Marquis Huntley, & now fights under our banner at Bruxels, leaving the crosses of S. George & S. Andrewe for the staffe of S. Iames. Neither doe our hopes end here, but we daily expect more revolters, at least such a dis­union as wil never admit solid reconcilemēt, but will send some to us, and some to Amsterdam. For the King (a wise and vigi­lant Prince) labouring for a perfect union betwixt both the kingdomes, which he sees cannot be effected, where the least ceremony in religion is continued, divers sharp and bitter brau­les from thence arising, whilst some striving for honour more then for truth, prefer their owne way & wil, before the general peace of the Church & the edification of soules) he I say seekes to worke both Churches to uniformitie, and to this end made a journey into Scotland, but with no such successe as he expec­ted, for divers of ours attended the traine, who stirred up hu­mors and factions, and cast in scruples and doubts to hinder & crosse the proceedings; yea those that seeme most adverse to us and adverse from our opinions, by their disobedience and example helpe forward our plots, and these are incouraged by a factious and heady multitude, by a faint & irresolute clergie, (many false brethrē being amōgst their Bps.) & by the prodigal Nobilitie who maintaine these stirs in the Church, that there­by they may safely keepe their Church livings in their hands, which they haue most sacrilegiously seased upon in the time of the first deformatiō, & which they feare would be recovered by the Clergy if they could be brought to brotherly peace & agre­ment; for they haue seene the King very bountiful in this kind, hauing lately increased their pēsiōs & setled the Clergy a cōpetēt [Page] maintenance, & besides out of his owne meanes vvhich in that kingdome is none of the greatest, having brought in and resto­red whole Bishopriks to the Church, which were before in lay­mens hands, a great part of the Nobilities estates consisting of spirituall lands, vvhich makes them cherish the puritanicall fac­tion, who will be content to be trencher-fed with scraps and crummes and contributions and arbitrary benevolences from their Lords and Lairds and Ladies, and their adherents and fol­lowers.

But (quoth the Inquisitor generall) how if this act of the Kings, wherein hee is most earnest and constant, should so far thrive, as it should effect a perfect union both in the Church & Common wealth? I tell you it would in my conceite be a great blowe to us, if by a generall meeting a generall peace should be concluded, and all their forces bent against Rome; and we see their politick King aimes at this.

True (quoth Gondamore) but he takes his marke amisse, how­soever hee understand the people and their inclination better then any man, and better knowes how to temper their passions and affections; for (besides that he is hindred there in Scotland underhand by some for the reasons before recited, and by other great ones of ours who are in great place & authoritie amongst them) hee is likewise deluded in this point even by his owne Clergie at home in England, who pretend to be most forward in the cause. For they considering if a generall uniformitie were wrought, what an inundation would follow, whilst all or most of theirs (as they feare) would flock thither for preferment (as men pressing towards the sunne for light and heare) and so their owne should be unprovided; these therefore (I say) how­soever they beare the King fairly in hand, are underhand against it, and stand stiffe for all ceremonies to be obtruded with a kin­de of absolute necessitie upon them, when the other wil not be almost drawne to receive any. When if an abatement were made, doubtlesse they might be drawne to meete in the mid­dest; but there is no hope of this with them, where neither party deales seriously, but onely for the present, to satisfie the King: and so there is no feare on our side that affections and opinions so divers, will ever be reconciled and made one. Their Bishop [Page] of S. Andrevves stands almost alone in the cause, and puls upon himself the labour, the losse and the envie of all, with little pro­ficiencie, whilst the adverse faction haue as sure friends and as good intelligence about the King as he hath, and the same Post perhaps that brings a packet from the King to him, brings ano­ther from their Abettors to them, acquainting them with the whole proceedings and counsels, & preparing them aforehand for opposition: this I know for truth, and this I reioyce in, as conducing much to the Catholick good.

But (quoth the Nuntio) are there none of the hereticall prea­chers busie about this match? Me thinkes their fingers should itch to be writing and their tongues burn to be prating of this busynes, especially the puritanicall sort, howsoever the most temperate and indifferent cary themselves.

The truth is my Lord (quoth the Ambassadour) that private­ly what they can, and publiquely what they dare, both in Eng­land & Scotland all for the most part (exc [...]pt such as are of our faith) oppose this match to their utmost, by prayers, counsels, speeches, wishes; but if any be found longer tongued then his fellowes, we haue still meanes to charme their sawcinesse, to si­lence them, and expell them the Court, to disgrace them and crosse their preferments, with the imputation pragmaticke Pu­ritanisme. For instance I will relate this particular; A Doctor of theirs and a Chaplaine in ordinary to the King, gaue many reasons in a letter against this mariage, and propounded a way how to supply the Kings wants otherwise, which I understan­ding, so wrought underhand, that the Doctor was committed, and hardly escaped the danger of his presumptuous admoni­tion, though the state knew his intent was honest, and his rea­sons good. Wherein wee on the other side, (both here and with the Arch Duke) haue had bookes penned, and pictures printed, directly against their King and state, for which their Ambassadours haue sought satisfaction of us in vaine, not be­ing able to stay the print, or so much as to touch the hem of the Authors garment. But wee haue an evasion, which here­ticks misse, our Clergie being freed from the temporall sword, and so not included in our treaties and conditions of peace, but at libertie to give any hereticall Prince the Mate when [Page] they list: whereas theirs are liable to accompt and hazard, & are muzled for barking, when ours may both barke and bite too. The Councell table, and the star-Chamber do so terrifie them, as they dare not riot, but run at the stirrop in excellent cōmād, and come in at the least rebuke. They call their preaching in many places standing up, but they crouch and dare not stand up nor quest, behaue thēselves like Setters, silent and creeping upon their bellies, licke the dust which our Priests shake from their beautifull feete.

Now (quoth the Duke of Lerma) satisfie me about our owne Clergie how they fare.. For there were here Petitions made to the King in the name of the distressed, afflicted, persecuted and imprisoned Priests, that his Maiestie would intercede for them, to free them from the intollerable burdens they groned under, and to procure their liberties: and letters were directed from us to that end, that you should negotiate this demand with all speed and diligence.

Most excellent Prince (replyed Gondamore) I did your com­mand with a kinde of command my selfe; not thinking it fit to make it a suite in your name or my Masters, I obtained them li­bertie to walke freely up and downe, to face and outface their accusers, Iudges, Magistrates, Bishops, and to exercise their functions almost as freely altogether as safely as at Rome.

Here the Nuntio objected, that he did not well to his judge­ment in procuring their libertie, since they might doe more good in prison then abroad. Because in prison they seemed to be under persecution, and so vvere pittied of others; and pittie of the person, prepares the affection further. Besides, then they were careful over their owne lives to give no offence: but abro­ade they might be scandalous in their lives, as they use to be in Rome and Spaine, and other Catholik countreys; and so the opi­nion of their holynesse which upholds their credit and cause (against the maried Clergie) would soone decay.

But the Ambassador replyed, he considered those inconve­niences, but besides a superior command, he saw the profit of their libertie more then of their restraint. For now they might freely conferre, and were ever practising, and would doubtlesse produce some worke of wonder. And besides by reason of [Page] their authoritie and meanes to change places, did apply them­selves to many persons; wheras in prison they onely could deale with such as came to be caught, or were their owne before. And this (quoth he) I adde as a secret, that as before they were maintained by private contributions to devout Catholiques even to excesse, so much more now shall they be able to gather great summes, to weaken the State, and furnish them for some high attempt, by the example of Cardinall VVoolsey barrelling up gold for Rome. And this they may easily doe, since all Ca­tholiques rob the hereticall Priests and withhold tythes from them by fraud or force, to give to these of their owne to whom it is properly due: And if this be spied, it is an easie matter to lay all upon the Hollander, and say, he carries the coyne out of the land (who are forward enough indeed, in such practises) and so ours shall not onely be excused, but a flawe made betwixt them to weaken their amities, & beget suspition betwixt them of each others loue.

But amongst all these priests (quoth the Inquisitor generall) did you remember that old, reverend, father Baldwin, who had a finger in that admirable attempt made on our behalfe against the Parliament house? such as he deserving so highly, adven­turing their lives so resolutely for the Catholique cause, must not be neglected, but extraordinarily regarded, thereby to in­courage others to the like holy undertakings.

Holy father (quoth Gondamor) my principall care was of him, whose life and libertie when I had with much difficultie obtai­ned of the King, I solemnly went in person, attended with all my traine, and divers other well willers to fetch him out of the Tower where he was in durance. Assoone as I came in his sight I behaved my self after so lowly & hūble a maner, that our ad­versaries stood amazed to behold the reverence we giue to our ghostly fathers. And this I did to confound them & their con­temptuous Clergie, and to beget an extraordinary opinion of holinesse in the person, & pietie in us, and also to provoke the English Catholiques to the like devout obediencie, and there­by at any time these Iesuites (whose authoritie was somewhat weakened since the schisme betwixt them and the Secu­lars, and the succeeding powder-plot) may vvorke them [Page] to our ends, as Masters their servants, Tutors their schollers, fa­thers their children, Kings their subiects. And that they may doe this the more boldly and securely, I haue somewhat dasht the authoritie of their high Comission; upon which whereas there are diverse Pursevants (men of the worst kinde and con­dition, resembling our Flies & Familiars, attending upon the inquisition) whose office and imployment it is to disturbe the Catholiques, search their houses for Priests, holy vestments, bookes, beades, crucifixes, and the like religious appurtenances, I haue caused the execution of their office to be slackned, that so an open way may be given to our spirituall instruments for the free exercise of their faculties. And yet when these Purse­vants had greatest authoritie, a small bribe in the Countrey would blinde their eyes, or a little greater at Court or in the Excheaquer frustrate and crosse all their actions, so that their malice went off like squibs, made a great crack to fright childrē and new borne babes, but hurt no old men of Catholique spi­rits. And this is the effect of all other their courses of procee­ding in this kinde, in all their iudiciall Courts, whither knowne catholiques (convicted as they stile them) are often summond and cited, threatned and bound over, but the danger is past as­soon as the officer hath his fee payd to him, then the execution goeth no further. Nay upon my conscience they are glad when there are offenders in that kinde, because they are bountifull: and the officers doe their best to favour them, that they may increase, and so their revenue and gaine come in freely.

And if they should be sent to prison, even that place (for the most part) is made as a Sanctuary to them: as the old Romanes were wont to shut up such by way of restreint, as they meant to preserve from the peoples fury; so they live safe in prison till we haue time to worke their libertie and assure their lives. And in the meane time their place of restraint is as a study unto them, where they haue opportunitie to confer together as in a Col­ledge, and to arme themselves in unity against the single adver­sary abroad.

But (quoth the Inquisitor generall) how doe they for boo­kes, when they haue occasion either to write or dispute?

My Lord, (replyes Gondamor) all the Libraries belonging to [Page] the Romane Catholiques through the land are at their com­mand, from whence they haue all such collections as they can require gathered to their hand, aswell from thence as from all the Libraries of both Vniversities, and even the bookes them­selves if that be requisite.

Besides I have made it a principall part of my imployment, to buy all the manuscripts & other ancient and rare Authours out of the hands of the Heretiques, so that there is no great Scholler dies in the land, but my Agents are dealing with his bookes. In so much as even their learned Isaack Causabons library was in election without question to be ours, had not their Vigilant King (who foresees all dangers, and hath his eye busie in every place) prevented my plot. For after the death of that great scholler, I sent to request a view & catalogue of his bookes with their price, intending not to be out-vyed by any man, if mony would fetch them; because (besides the da­mage that side should haue received by their losse, prosecuting the same story against Cardinall Baronius) we might haue made good advantage of his notes, collections, castigations, censures and criticismes for our owne party, and framed and put out others under his name at our pleasure. But this was foreseene by their Prometheus, who sent that Torturer of ours (the Bishop of VVinchester) to search and sort the papers, and to seale vp the [...]tudy: Giving a large and princely allowance for them to the [...]elicks of Causabon, togither with a bountifull pension & pro­ [...]ision for her and hers. But this plot fayling at that time, hath of ever done so. Nor had the Vniversitie of Oxford so trium­phed in their many manuscripts given by that famous Knight S. Thomas Bodly, if eyther I had been then imployed, or this course of mine then thought upon; for I would labour what I might this way or any other way to disarme them, and eyther to translate their best authours hither, or at least to leave none in the hands of any but Romane Catholiques who are assured­ly ours. And to this end an especiall eye would be had upon the Library of one S. Robert Cotton (an ingrosser of Antiquities) that whensoever it come to be broken up (eyther before his death or after) the most choice and singular pieces might be gleaned and gathered up, by a Catholique hand. Neyther let [Page] any man thinke, that descending thus low to pettie particu­lars is unworthy an Ambassadour, or of small avayle for the ends we ayme at, since we see every mountayne consists of se­verall sands; and there is no more profitable conversing for Statesmen then amōgst schollers & their books, specially where the King for whom we watch is the King of Schollers, and lo­ves to live almost altogether in their element. Besides if by any meanes we can continue differences in their Church, or make them wider, or beget distaste betwixt their Clergy and commō Lawyer, who are men of greatest power in the land, the bene­fit will be ours, the consequence great, opening a way for us to come in betvveene, for personall quarrels produce reall que­stions.

As he was further prosecuting this discourse, one of the Se­cretaries (who wayted without the chamber) desired entrance; and being admitted, delivered letters vvhich he had nevvly received from a Post directed to the President and the rest of the Councell from his Catholike master, the contents whereof vvere to this effect.

Right trusty & vvelbeloved Cousens and Counsellors, we greete you wel: Wheras vve had a hope by our Agents in Eng­land and Germany, to effect that great vvorke of the Westerne Empire; and likewise on the other side to surprize Venice, and so incircling Europe at one instāt, & infolding it in our armes, make the easier roade upon the Turke in Asia, and at length reduce all the vvorld to our catholique commaund. And whe­reas to these holy ends vve had secret and sure plots and pro­iects on foot in all those places, and good intelligence in all Courts;

Know now that vve haue received late and sad newes of the apprehension of our most trusty and able Pensioner Bar­nevelt, and of the discovery of other our intendements; so that our hopes are for the present adjourned till some other more convenient and auspicuous time. We therefore will you pre­sently upon sight hereof, to breake off our consultation, and re­paire straight to our presence, there to take further directions and proceed as the necessity of time & cause should require.

With that his Excellencie and the whole house strook with [Page] amazement, crost their foreheads, rose up in sad silence, and brake off this Treaty abruptly, and vvithout tar­riance tooke horse and posted to Courte. From vvhence expect newes the next fayre vvinde.