Cabala, mysteries of state,: in letters of the great ministers of K. James and K. Charles. Wherein much of the publique manage of affaires is related. / Faithfully collected by a noble hand.

The Prince of Wales his Reply to the Popes Letter.

Most Holy Father,

I Received the Dispatch from your Holinesse with great content, and with that respect which the pietie and care wherewith your, Holinesse writes, doth require: It was an unspeakable pleasure to me to read the generous exploits of the Kings my predecessours, in whose memorie, posterity hath not given those praises and Elogies of honour as were due to them: I do believe that your Holinesse hath set their examples before my eyes, to the end I might imitate them inall

my actions, for in truth they have often exposed their estates and lives for the exaltation of the holy Chair; and the courage with which they have assaulted the enemies of the Crosse of Jesus Christ, hath not been lesse then the care and thought which I have, to the end that the peace and intelligence which hath hitherto been wanting in Christendom, might be bound with a true and strong concord: for as the common enemy of the peace watcheth alwaies to put hatred and dissention amongst Christian Princes, so I believe that the glory of God requires that we should endeavour to unite them: And I do not esteem it a greater honour to be defcended from so great Princes, then to imitate them in the zeal of their piety. In which it helps me very much to have known the mind and will of our thrice honoured Lord and Father, and the holy intentions of his Catholique Majestie to give a happy concurrence to so laudable a design: for it grieves him exceedingly to see the great evils that grow from the division of Christian Princes, which the wisdom of your Holinesse foresaw, when it judged the marriage which you pleased to design between the In∣fanta of Spain and my self, to be necessary to proture so great a good; for 'tis very certain, that I shall never be so extreamly affectionate to any thing in the world, as to endeavour alliance with a Prince that hath the same apprehension of the true Religion with my self: There∣fore I intreat your Holinesse to believe, that I have been alwaies very far from Novelties, or to be a partisan of any faction against the Ca∣tholick, Apostolick Roman Religion: But on the contrary, I have sought all occasions to take away the suspition that might rest upon me, and that I will imploy my self for the time to come, to have but one Religion and one Faith, seeing that we all believe in one Jesus Christ. Having resolved in my self, to spare nothing that I have in the world, and to suffer all manner of discommodities, even to the hazarding of my estate and life, for a thing so pleasing unto God: It rests onely that I thank your Holinesse, for the permission you have been pleased to afford me, and I pray God to give you a bles∣sed health and his glory after so much pains which your Holinesse takes in his Church.

Signed, Charles Steward.