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.

To his Sacred Majestie abignoto.

My most Gratious King,

THese things which your Majestie did lately command to be spoken unto you, and now to be repeated in writing, are not such as they can be made bylegal and Judicial proofes, both be∣cause they by whose testimony they may be confirmed, do for fear of a most potent adversarie withdraw themselves. And also because they think it a crime to come into the Embassadours house, yea even they are afraid to do it, who have commandement from your Maje∣stie; but neither was it lawful for the Embassadours themselves to speak these things, especially not to such as they directed, when the order of the affaires required it, because they had never the freedom to speak unto your Majestie, and no audience was given or granted

them in the absence of tht Duke of Buckingham. An example certain∣ly unusual with other Kings, and never to be taken in good part, un∣lesse it be perhaps, when the King himself wanting experience, and being of weak judgment and no wisedom, some one, that is familiar, and inward with the King, a man wise and circumspect, of great judgment and no lesse experience, supplies the Kings place. But here, when all things go preposterously, and the King himself being a most prudent, and experienced Prince, he that is familiar, or favorite doth in all things shew himself, a rash, headie young man, a Novice in managing of businesse, and to the Crown of Spain most offensive. Certainly by all just right, this man was to be kept away from the au∣dience of the Embassadour of the State. We may also be bold to say, that his presence so earnestly desired of him doth argue a great fear in him, and a great distrust in him, as well of his own upright consci∣ence, as also the Kings wisdom. Hence therefore it is come to passe, that your Majesties most faithful Vassals dare not so much as indi∣rectly disclose their minds to the King, though they take it in very ill part, that a very good King should be driven into such streights. And that a man pleasing himself in his own designs, should use the fa∣vours of Princes so sinisterly, that he doth of set purpose stir up breach of friendship, and enmity between most Mighty Kings.

Besides, who can without a discontented mind endure, that the greatest affaires, and of greatest moment (if any in the Christian world can be so tearmed) shall be ordered, or concluded at the plea∣sure of your Parliament, and from thence all things carried on with a headlong violence, at his will and pleasure, and a most deadly war to be preferred before a most happie Peace. When as neverthelesse, I am not ignorant, that not so much the restitution of the Palatinate, as the very claime to it, will very difficultly be obtained, or recover∣ed by force of armes. Let your Majestie exactly consider as it useth to do, whether this be not an evident argument of that I have said, that the conference, or treatie about the Palatinate was taken from the Councel of State, a society of most prudent men, only forthis cause, that almost everie one of them, had with one consent approved the proposition of the most Catholique King, and did not find in it any cause of dissolving that treaty. Hereupon the Parliament of this Kingdom was procured by the Duke, because he thought his plots would be most acceptable to the Puritans, not without great injury to your Councel of State, from which he fled, and disclaimed by way of an appeale, and with such successe, that we may be bold to say, that the Parliament is now above the King; Nay, which is more, that this

daring Duke propounded many things to the Parliament in the Kings name, your Majestie being neither acquainted with them nor wil∣ling to them. Yea and that he propounded many things contrary to your Majesties service. Who is there that doth not see, and com∣mend the royal disposition of the Prince, adorned with so great en∣dowments, of his mind, that he doth not in them all shew, and approve himself to be a very good son, of a very good King. And yet ne∣verthelesse, that the Duke doth so much presume upon his favour, that he contemneth all men, as knowing that those, who are obedi∣ent to his Highnesse, will also subject themselves to his will. I would to God, he did direct those his actions, to the good of the Prince. But that is a thing so far from the opinion of good men, that they rather believe, that he, who hath overthrown the marriage with Spain, will be of no lesse power to the breaking of any other mar∣riage, and that is it which many do prophesie.

They knew in Spain, that very same day, that he had received Letters from the most illustrious Prince Palatine, that he caused the procuration to be revoked, and in a few dayes after, when the com∣ming of the foresaid Princes Secretarie, and the confirmation of his hope of having his Daughter married to her Highnesse son, all things were utterly dashed in pieces. Let your Majestie have a care of your self, and the Prince, and foresee the hurts, and damages, which a man of such a turbulent humour may stir up; whose headie spirit your Majestie saith you have noted, and have desired to mittigate.

A man (I say) that is ambitious of popular ayr, as plainly appear∣ed in Parliament, when the casting of all odious matter upon your Majestie, he did arrogate the thanks of all things that were accepta∣ble, to himself, being stiled the redeemer of his countrie. I say again, a man that hath envied so great a good to the Christian world, and principally to the kingdomes of England and Spain, having used some certain meanes, which do argue, that he aymed at such an end, as many already do fear, and to prophesie in it the worst event that can be, if the Puritans desire a kingdome (which they do against their wills) they wish it not to the most illustirous Prince, the best and true Heir of your Majestie, but to the Prince Palatine, whose spie and Scout Mansfelt is, what shew soever he makes. He that makes these things known to your Majestie dischargeth the part of a good man, as well towards God, as your Majestie, and the illustirous Prince, whom it now standeth in hand to foresee the vengeance of God pro∣vided by the Dukes plots, and the furie of the Parliament, there ha∣ving been so many, and so great testimonies published against Spain contrarie

contrarie to truth, so many, and so frequent infamous Libels begot∣ten and brought forth, and many such other things so full of bitter∣nesse, and ignominie, that they cannot be read even of our enemies, without some taint upon the English Nation.

It is mostapparent, and stories will testifie, that here Leagues have been broken by the will and pleasure of them, whom it especiallie concerneth to provide for your peace, and quiet, and to wish from the bottom of their hearts, that after many, and these most happie, yeares, that Motto of yours (blessed be the Peace-makers) might be verified in Letter of the person of your Majestie, and to pro∣pound the same Counsel to the most illustrious Prince to be imita∣ted, which your Majestie hath done to the whole world to be com∣mended, and admired. A happie Prince will he be, if he comes, and succceeds peaceably into the haereditarie possession of his kingdom, and which will be of no lesse advantage to him, having his peace established with those Princes, whose friendship and amitie your Majestie hath procured, and deserved. He would certainly love and commend those that had given him those Counsels of peace. Peace and tranquillitie are by haereditarie right devolved to the most illu∣strious Prince, in as much as he is born of the Father, who hath with so much industrie procured them, not onely to this Island, but to the continent also, esteeming them at a higher value, then his king∣domes themselves.

Which since it is thus, and that the blood of his Father, which is in him, and the love wherewith he is carried towards your Majestie, and the experience of this your most happie Government, and that great example wherewith your Majestie hath drawn, and won the Christian world to an admiration, and love of you, did all direct the most illustrious Prince with a kind of connatural motion to the same Counsel, and purpose of peace, as might have heretofore been likewise hoped. Certainly this Machination is very strong, violent, and mighty, which doth suddainely labour to turn him into a clean contrarie course.

And questionlesse if the very entrance into a war, the war it self if it want justice, it will want also happie successe. It cannot be un∣known to your Majestie, that the Duke of Buckingham carrieth him∣self so lofty; that he would have all men perswaded that he hath, and doth exercise a kind of dominion over the will of your Majestie, and of his Highnesse. All things shall be made manifest to your Maje∣stie, if you will have them so; for there are not meanes wanting, whereby you may free your vassal from fear and diffidence, who

will otherwise dare nothing, nor say nothing, which certainely ap∣peares so far to be true, that when all things standing as they do, it is an easie matter to find who will speak against your Majestie, yet there is none that dare speak against the Duke.

Let your Majestie call some certain men unto you, and sist out of them, the opinion of the more moderate Parliament, and enquire of those that come out of Spain, who did first give the first cause of fal∣ling out? whether the Complaints against the King of Spain be true, or no? whether that foresaid King were not desirous to satisfie the desire of the Prince his Highnesse? Whether he did not faith∣fully endeavour to effect the marriage? Whether the Duke of Buckingham did not many things against the authoritie and reverence due to the most illustrious Prince? Whether he was not wont to be sitting, whilest the Prince stood, and was in presence, and also ha∣ving his feet resting upon another seat, after an undecent manner? Whether when the Prince was uncovered, whilest the Queen, and Infanta, looked out at the Windowes he uncovered his head, or no? Whether sitting at the Table with the Prince he did not behave him∣self unreverently? Whether he were not wont to come in to the Princes Chamber with his cloathes half on, so that the doors could not be opened to them that came to visit the Prince from the King of Spain, the Door-keepers refusing to go in for modesties sake? Whe∣ther he did not call the Prince by ridiculous names? Whether he did not dishonour and prophane the Kings Palace with base and con∣temptible women? Whether he did not divers obscene things, and used not immodest gesticulations and wanton Tricks with Players in the presence of the Prince? Whether he did not violate his faith given to the Conde O livares? Whether he did not presently commu∣nicate his discontents, offences and complaints to the Embassadours of other Princes? Whether in doing of his businesse, he did not use frequent threatenings unto the Catholique Kings Ministers, and to Apostolical Nuns? Whether he did not affect to fit at Playes presented in the Kings Palace after the manner and example of the King, and Prince, being not contented with the honour that is ordi∣narily given to the High Steward, or Major domo of the Kings house. Besides all these things which have heretofore been told your Maje∣stie, there is yet this more, that is new:

That the Duke of Buckingham (with what intention let others judge) hath divulged in Parliament some secret Treatie negotiated betwixt your Majestie and the King of Spain touching the affaires of Holland; the secresie whereof, neverthelesse your Majestie had so

recommended, that besides the King, and the Coude of Olivares, no man in Spain knew of it.

If the Duke do not appear guilty of all these things, let him be still your Majesties most faithful servant, and let your Majestie yet con∣fer upon him greater Honours, if you can. For I would have these things conceived to be spoken for the securitie of your Majestie; not for the hurt of him, to whom I wish prosperitie, if by him the Christian world might be in prosperitie.

It onely remaineth, that your Majestie will be pleased to take in good part this my service and obedience shewed to your Comman∣dements.