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 E of Bristol to the Lord Bishop of Lincoln, 24. of Septemb. 1623.

My singular Lord,

I Have dispatched this Bearer my servant Greislie with the draught of the temporal Articles, which I hope will be to the King and Prince his satisfaction, and he will let your Lordship have a sight of them.

Since the departure of the Prince, there have every day passed Letters of extraordinary affection between the King, and the Prince; and the love that is here generally born unto the Prince is such, as cannot be well believed by those that daily hear not, what passeth both from the King and his chief Ministers. And to say the truth, his Highnesse hath well deserved it; for in the whole time of his be∣ing here, he hath carried himself with the greatest affability, patience, and constancie, and at his departure-with the greatest bountie, and liberality, that I think hath been known in any Prince in our times. And I protest unto your Lordship as a Christian, that I never heard in all the time of his being here, nor since any one exception taken against him, unlesse it were for being supposed to be too much gui∣ded by my Lord Duke of Buckingham, who is indeed very little be∣holding to the Spaniards for their good opinion of him, and departed from hence with so little satisfaction, that the Spaniards are in doubt, that he will endeavour all that shall be possible to crosse the Mar∣riage: Wherein certainly they are very much mistaken; For my

Lord cannot but be obliged a servant for any particular distastes of his own to crosse the advancement of his Majestie, and the Prince's service, especially in a businesse of so high Consequence as this.

It may be your Lordship will hear many Complaints, and that the Match never was, nor yet is intended; I beseech your Lordship to give little belief in that kind, and the effects will now speedily de∣clare the truth, if the fault be not on our side. It is true that the Spaniards have committed many errours in their proceedings with the Prince; but the businesse is now by the Prince overcome, if we our selves draw not back: For which I confesse I should be heartily sorry, and so I conceive would most honest men; for if this match, and the alliance with Spain hath been so long desired by his Majestie, and that for it he hath been pleased to do so much, and the Prince to take so hazardous a voyage, if all the same r••••sons are yet on foot, which have ever moved the King and Prince to wish the match; if to this may be added, that his Majestie hath overcome all the difficulties on his part, and that both he, and the Prince do stand ingaged for the performance of it, as far as Princes can be, God forbid, that any particular distastes, or misunderstandings (which God knoweth have little relation to the businesse) should be of power to disturb it, espe∣cially now, when the Match is past all danger of miscarrying, the portion, and all temporal Articles settled, and I hope to the Kings Content, and all other good effects that could be expected by this allyance in a very fair way, I hope there will be no cause of doubt in this kind; if there should be, I am sure that your Lordship would put to a helping hand to keep the businesse from being overthrown, since you have done so much for the overcoming of former difficul∣ties, and the bringing it to the passe 'tis now in. If there be no cause of writing this, I beseech your Lordship to impute it to my zeal to the businesse, and my freenesse with your Lordship, upon whose true love and friendship I so much rely, as I shall not forbear to tell you, any of my fears. I hope within 3. daies Sir Francis Cottington will be able to begin his journey towards your Lordship. He will tell you many truths, being on my knowledge, as hearty a servant and friend as 'tis possible for your Lordship to have. He hath told me how much I am bound to your Lordship for your love, and favour, and truly I will deserve it the best I can, and that I think will be onely by loving you, for otherwise I conceive I am like to have little means of meriting at any bodies hands, yet at your Lordships it may be I may, by being a man of honesty, and honour; And such an one I will lu∣bour

to be, and your affectionate friend and servant. And so I kisse your Lordships hands.

Madrid, &c.