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.

Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke.

Most Honourable,

NOt to give your Lordship the trouble of often Letters, I render an account of his Majesties Commandments by the same hand I usually receive them. One I had lately by an expresse Letter from his Majestie, accompanied with another from your Lordship, touch∣ing my Lord of Buckleugh, to demand full satisfaction of the States, for all his Lordships pretentions, and to that effect to procure In∣structions and Commission to be sent to Sir Noel Carone to end this businesse.

To which effect I have moved both his Excellencie and the States, and whilest they were treating thereof, Colonel Brogue arrived here out of Scotland: with whom they are now handling to put him to Pension, and to give my Lord the Command of his Regiment in lieu of his Pretensions. Which when they come to calculate, my Lord will find a short reckoning of them, and to send accounts out of their accountants hands, and refer them to others, they will never be mo∣ved.

Wherefore if the course they now take can be gone thorough with (which Colonel Brogue doth most unwillingly hear of) it will be then in my Lords choice, whether he will remain satisfied, or not. And within few daies I hope to return my Lords Secretarie with advertisement of what is done. Mean time I assure your Lord∣ship nothing is omitted in my endeavours to procure him that, which may be most to his contentment.

In the present condition of publique affaires, your Lordship know∣eth well how at this instant we have all buone Parolle out of Spain, and Cattivi-fatti of all the rest of the House of Austria. In so much as these Low-Countrie Troops under the governance of the Infanta, as∣sist in the blocking up of a poor town, all which remaines of his

Majesties only Daughters Jointure in the Palatinate. And the Em∣perour not content with having chased her Husband out of the Em∣pire, in the Proposition of the Diett of Ratisbone, makes this one Arti∣cle, to make war upon these Provinces, because (amongst other quar∣rels) they give refuge to the Prince Palatine. Where will this per∣secution cease? And what place in the world to which they are dri∣ven from hence (and is easily guessed in all their extreamitie, whi∣ther they will be forced to flie) is not subject to the same quarrel? within this week that I now write (betwixt Sunday, and Sunday) we were here in that state, if God had not prevented it, this Countrie had been too hot for them to remain in, and it had been a happinesse for them, if they could have got a poore skeveling boat to have transported them else-where. This Bearer my Nephew will inform your Lordship more particularly thereof.

Now, de agendis, there rests no more, then question of maintaining the Army of Mansfelt, and Brunswick, which is lodged at the present in a place, out of which, it can hardly match, and more hardly be re∣moved. If it have pay, and countenance, it may do good service in Germany; if not, I will tell your Lordship what I conceive may be the consequence. It will be hedged into East-Friseland by Tillie, (whose Troops alreadie draw that way) Cordova and Anholt, against which keeping it self within that Countrie, it will be able to make resistance, as the poore Peasants thereof did heretofore against the Spanish Ar∣mie, by reason of the difficultie of accesse. From this State it will have all assistance, and though it be kept in by land, it will have the Sea open betwixt Griett and Norden, (both which places are in Mans-felts possession) a Haven fit for a Fleet of Gallions. If by that meanes they, with correspondencie with this State may support themselves, it will be very ill for many important consequences. If they and this State, (which will be forced to run a fortune together) be overcome, much worse; for what can keep the rest of Europe from subjection to the Austriaci? Wee see how in Terra firma, the Walloons joyned to Spaniards, both make and maintain their Con∣quests. Joyn the Hollanders to them by Sea, they will reap the like service by them. The fruit we have reaped heretofore of the ship∣ing of these Provinces, both for defence in the year 88. and offence in the Cadiz journey, sheweth what a strong addition this is to a grea∣ter power.

My most honourable Lord, I am so full of such like speculations, that these have broken out ex Plentitudine Cordis, surcharged with grief to see in Plenitudine temporis, that to come to effect in the pub∣lique

affaires which was discovered long since, by the Emperours in tercepted letters sent by the Capuchin into Spain, and to hear the judgment made every where, that the publique opposition of the Spa∣nish Embassadour (D'Ognates) words to the Emperours proceeding de facto, is but a patelinage, with secret understanding to abuse his Majesties goodnesse. Of which it lyeth yet in his Majesties power to vindicate himself; but there is no time to spare. I humbly crave pardon for this libertie of discourse I use with your Lordship, who am

Hague, 31. Jan. 1622.

Your Lordships, most humble, and most faithful Servant, Dudley Carleton.