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My Lord,
VVE have gallant news now abroad, for we are sure to have a new Queen ere it be long; both the Contract and mariage was lately solemniz'd in France; the one the second
of this month in the Louvre, the other the eleventh day following in the great Church of Paris, by the Cardinall of Rochefoucand; ther was som clashing 'twixt him, and the Archbishop of Paris, who alleg'd 'twas his duty to officiat in that Church, but the dignity of Cardinall, and the quality of his Office, being the Kings great Almner, which makes him chief Curat of the Court, gave him the prerogative. I doubt not but your Lordship hath heard of the Capitulations, but for better assurance, I will run them over briefly.
The King of France oblig'd himself to procure the Dispensation; the mariage should be celebrated in the same form as that of Queen Mar∣garet, and of the Dutchess of Bar; her Dowrie should be 800000 Crowns six shillings a peece, the one moitie to be paied the day of the Contract, the other a twelvemonth after. The Queen shall have a Chap∣pell in all the Kings Roiall houses, and any wher else, where she shall recide within the Dominions of his Majestie of great Britain, with free exercise of the Roman Religion, for her self, her Officers, and all her Houshold, for the celebration of the Mass, the Predication of the Word, Administration if the Sacraments, and power to procure Indulgen∣ces from the Holy Father. That to this end, she shall be allow'd 28 Priests or Ecclesiasticks in her House, and a Bishop in quality of Al∣moner, who shall have jurisdiction over all the rest, and that none of the Kings Officers shall have power over them, unless in case of Treason; therfore all her Ecclesiastics shall take the Oath of fidelitie to His Ma∣jestie of great Britain; ther shall be a Cymitier or Church-yard clos'd a∣bout, to burie those of her Family. That in consideration of this mariage, all English Catholics, as well Ecclesiastics as Lay, which shall be in any prison meerly for Religion, since the last Edict, shall be set at libertie.
This is the eighth Alliance we have had with France, since the Conquest; and as it is the best that could be made in Christen∣dom, so I hope it will prove the happiest. So I kiss your hands, being
Your Lordships most humble Servitor, J. H.
Lond. Mar. 1▪ 1625.