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 Count Gondomar.

My Lord,

I Thought my hands bound that I could no sooner have occasion to write unto you, being forced against my will to delay my writing from day to day in expectation of the news of your arrival at that Court, assuring my self, that I should then receive from you some ground whereupon to write. But after a long expence of time be∣fore that I could hear of your arrival, and in the Pacquet that his Majesties Embassadour sent thereafter, receiving no Letters nor word from you as I expected, I do now by these break my long filence unto you.

As for news from hence, I can in a word assure you, that they are in all points, as your heart could wish: for here is a King, a a Prince, and a faithful friend and servant unto you, besides a number of your other good friends, that long so much for the happy accom∣plishment of this match, as every day seems a year unto us, and I can assure you in the word of your honest friend, that we have a Prince here, that is so sharp set upon the businesse, as it would much com∣fort you to see it, and her there to hear it. Here are all things pre∣pared upon our parts; Priests and Recusants all at liberty: all the Roman Catholiques well satisfied, and which will seem a wonder unto you, our Prisons are emptied of Priests and Recusants, and filled with zealous Ministers for preaching against the Match; for no man can sooner now mutter a word in the Pulpit though indirectly against it, but he is presently catched, and set in straight prison. We have also published Orders both for the Universities, and the Pulpits, that no man hereafter shall meddle, but to preach Christ crucified; Nay it shall not be lawful hereafter for them to rail against the Pope, or the Doctrine of the Church of Rome further then for edification of ours; and for proof hereof you shall herewith receive the orders set down, and published. But if we could hear as good news from you, we should think our selves happy men; but alas! Now that we have put the ball at your feet, although we have received a comfortable Dispatch from his Majesties Embassadour there; yet from all other parts in the world, the effects appear directly contrary. For Mr. Gage brings us news from Rome, that the dispensation there is at a stand, except a number of new Conditions be granted, which we never dreamed of, and some of them can tend to no other end, but to bring our Master in jealousie with the greatest part of his Subjects; nay

which is strangest of all, we find some points yeelded unto by us, (which would have given the Pope good satisfaction) to be concea∣led from him by the King your Masters ministers there. We were never more troubled to put a good face upon an ill Game, then we were upon Gage's arrival here, which in your phrase is to put a good sauce to an unsavoury dish.

For the whole world being in expectation of bringing the Dispen∣sation with him, we are now forced to make him give it out here to all his friends, that 'tis past in Rome, and sent from thence to Spain. And from Brussels we find, that notwithstanding, both of the King your Masters promises, and undertaking of the Infanta there, who hath long ago acknowledged to have had power from the Emperour for granting of this long-talked of Cessation, yet now after innumera∣ble delayes on her part, Heidelbergh is besieged by Count Tilley, and that at such a time, as his Majestie cannot imagine what ground or shadow of excuse can be found for his Commission. For the Treaty hath been twice reformed at her desire, and all the Auxiliaries such as Brunswick and Mansfelt have taken another course: His Maje∣sties son in law staying privately in Sedan, ready to obey all his Ma∣jesties directions; and the places in the Palatinate, which are not already in his enemies hands, being onely possessed by his Majesties Souldiers. So as now if the War shall continue, it must be directly between the Emperour, and our Master, his Majestie having sent a Commandment to his Embassadour at Brussels, that if Tilley will needs go on with that siege, that he return hither with all speed. For his Majestie in honour cannot endure, that whilest he is treating for a cessation of Arms at Bruxels, the Wars should go on in the Palati∣nate, especially when they have no body to invade, but his Majesties own Subjects and servants; And indeed his Majestie thinks he is very ill dealt withal, for all that great sincerity and candour, where∣with he hath constantly carried himself from the very beginning of this businesse, that no lesse can satisfie the Emperours revenge then the utter extermination of his children both of honour and inheri∣tance, and not without a direct breach of his former promise, avow∣edly set down in his last Letter to his Majestie.

And now let me I pray you in the name of your faithful friend, and Servant, beseech you to set apart all partialitie in this case, and that you would be pleased indifferently to consider of the streights we are driven into, if the Emperour shall in this fashion conquer the Palatinate, the antient inheritance of his Majesties children: what can be expected but a bloudie and unreconcileable war between the

Emperour, and my Master wherein the King of Spain can be an Aux∣iliarie to the Emperour against any other partie but his Majestie. And therefore as my Master lately offered to the Infanta for satis∣faction of her desire, that in case the Auxiliaries would not be con∣tented with reason, but still perturbe the treatie, he offered in that case to assist the Emperour and her against them; so can he in ju∣stice expect no lesse of the King your Master, that if the Empe∣rour will contrarie to all promises both by his Letters, and Embassa∣dours, proceed in his conquest, and refuse the cessation, that the King your Master will in that case, and in so just a quarrel assist him against the Emperour, in imitation of the King my Masters just and reall proceedings in the businesse from the beginning, who never looked (as you can well be witnesse) to the rising, or faling hopes of his son in Law his fortunes, but constantly keep on that course, that was most agreable to honour and justice, to the peace of Chri∣stendom; and for the fastning of a firm & indissoluble knot of amity, and alliance betwixt the king your Master and him, which was be∣gun in the time of the treatie with France, and then broken at your desire, that we might imbrace this alliance with you; you are the person, that many times before your departure hence, besought his Majestie once to suffer himself to be deceived by Spain. We there∣fore do now expect to find that great respect to honour in the King your Master, that he will not take any advantage by the changing of fortune, and successe of time, so to alter his actions, as may put his Honour in the terms of interpretation. You see how all the rest of Christendom, envie and maligne this match and wished conjun∣ction; How much greater need then hath it of a hastie and happie dispatch? And what comfort can the Prince have in her, when her friends shall have utterly ruined his Sister, and all her babes? you re∣member how your self praysed his Majesties wisdom in the election of so fit a Minister, as Sir Richard Weston in this businesse, but you saw what desperate Letters he writes from time to time of their cold and unjust treating with him in this businesse; you could not but wonder at any spark of Patience could be left us here; and to con∣clude this point in a word, we ever received comfortable words from Spain, but find such contrary effects from Bruxelles, together with our intelligences from all other parts of the world, as all our hopes are not only cold, but quite extinguished here. Thus far for the By, and yet such a By, as may put by the main, if it be not well and speedily prevented. As to the Main, which is the match, his Majestie, and we all here, thought we had done our part, and put the ball at your

foot, when wee agreed upon the twentie, and five Atticles more: whereupon as your self often answered, and assured us the best Divines in Spain concluded that the Pope, not only might, but ought to grant a dispensation to this marriage, but now we are surcharged with a number of new Articles from Rome, and in the mean time the Dispensation is as far off as ever it was.

His Majestie hopes that you are not ignorant, that the treatie is be∣tween him, and your Master; He hath no treatie with Rome, neither lyes it in his way to dispute with them upon this question; yet that his readinesse to imbrace your Masters friendship may the better ap∣pear, he is contented to yield to so many of their demands, as either his Conscience, Honour, or safetie can permit, if so the King your Ma∣ster shall think it necessarie. But on the other part we three remem∣ber, that when as you first moved this match unto him, and perswa∣ded him to break off with France, you then promised, that he should be pressed to nothing in this businesse, that should not be agreeable to his conscience, and honour, and stand with the love of his people. As to the particular Articles new added at Rome, I will not clogg this paper with them, which I fear without them, will be too troublesome unto you. For what his Majesties opinion is of them, his Majesties Em∣bassadour there will particularly acquaint you.

But whereas the Pope desires in the end of his Articles, that he may see what ponum publicum, the King our Master will grant unto, that may perswade to grant this dispensation, I will remit it to your conscience and knowledge, whether if the favours his Majestie daily grants to those of his religion, and is resolved still to continue, if not to increase them, if they shall by their good behaviour deserve it, be not a real bonum publicum, considering that if the match should break off (which God forbid) his Majestie would be importunatly urged by his people (to whose assistance he must have his recourse) to give life and execution to all the penal Lawes now hanging upon their heads.

It only rests now, that as we have put the ball to your foot, you take a good, and speedie resolution there to hasten a happy conclu∣sion of this match. The Prince is now two and twenty years of age, and so a year more, then full ripe, for such a businesse: the King our Master longeth to see an issue proceed from his Loins; and I am sure you have reason to expect more friendship from the posterity that shall proceed from him, and that little Angel, your Infanta then from his Majesties Daughters Children. Your friends here, are all discomforted with this long delay: your enemies are exasperated,

and irritated thereby; and your neighbours, that envie the felicity of both Kings, have the more leisure to invent new Plots for the Crosse, and hinderance of this happy businesse; And for the part of your true friend and servant Buckingham, I am become odious already, and counted a betrayer both of King and Coun∣trey.

To conclude all with; I will use a similitude of hawking (which you will easily understand, being a great Faulkoner;) I told you al∣ready that the Prince is (God be thanked) extreamly sharp set upon this Match; and you know that a Hawke, when she is first dressed, and made ready to flie, having a great will upon her, if the Faulko∣ner do not follow it at that time, she is in danger to be dulled for ever after.

Take heed therefore, lest in the fault of your delayes there, Our Prince, and Faulcon gentle, (that you know was thought slow enough, to begin to be eager after the Foeminine prey) become not so dull upon these delayes, as in short time hereafter, he will not stoop to the Lure, though it were thrown out to him.

And here I will end to you my sweet friend, as I do in my prayers to God, (Onely in thee is my trust,) and say as it is written on the out∣side of the Pacquets, Haste, Haste, Post-haste.