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 Lord Keeper to the Duke. 12^th. Octob. 1622.

My most Noble Lord,

I Will speak with the Jesuit to morrow, and deliver him his admo∣nition from the King, but do send your Lordship here inclosed a Copie, of the Conference which I procured from him without his privity, onely to make his Majestie, and your Lordship merrie. I have also received a Letter concerning the French Embassador which I will be ready to put in execution as your Lordships servant, and Deputy but not otherwise. Yet your Lordship will give me out of that freedom (which was wont to be well interpreted by your Lord∣ship) to let your Lordship understand, that I find all businesses of restitution of ships, and goods thus taken, to have been handled be∣fore the Councel in Star-cham•••••• all the reigns of Henry 7^th. and H. 8^th. without any contradiction of the Lord Admiral for the time being. But this to your Lordship in secret. I will be very careful of the Earl of Desmond, that neither his cause, nor your Lordships reputation shall suffer thereby. And this is the account I can yet give of your Lordships Letter, save that I humbly expect that answer, which your Lordships own Luckie hand hath promised in the post∣script of one of them. I would ease your Lordship in this place, but to prevent complaint that (peradventure) may be first invented, and then presented. Your Lordship shall heare of a long narrative of our Councel Table dispatches. That passage of our letter, which (as it now goeth) doth hope that his Majestie will spare to confer any suites of moment in Ireland until the return of the Irish Com∣mittee, was a blunt request to the King, to grant no suites there without our advice. Against this (concluded in my absence the first day of the Tearm) I spake first to the Prince privately (who allowed of my reasons) then (when the President would not mend it) at the Table openly, that I did utterly dislike we should tutour his Majesty, how to grant suits especially in Letters, that are to remain upon re∣cord. My Lord of Cantuar and the, Earle Marshal said, they had many Presidents in that kind. I answered, I knew they had none but in the Kings time, and that I wished them (as I do) all torn out of the book and cast into the fire. I concealed my reasons, which now I will reveal unto your Lordship, because this is the third time, I have expressed unto your Lordship under my hand, my dislike of this kind of Limiting his Majestie otherwise then by word of mouth. First if his Majestie (which we see so often done) shall dispose of these suites otherwise, here are so many records remaining to ma∣litious

litious men to observe his Majesties aversenesse from following the advice of the Councel board.

Secondly, if your Lordship shall procure any suit in this kind here are records also in time to come, that you crosse and thwart the go∣vernment of the Kingdom. And I pray God this be but mine own jealousie. The passage in the Letter with my Prating, and his High∣nesse help was altered, and for fear of misreporting, I make bold to relate the truth hereof to your Lordship.

My Lords proceeded very resolutely in those reformations, which concerned other men. The Commission of fees enables the Com∣mittees to call before them all the Judges, as well as their under Officers (which was more then the King exprest at Hampton Court) amongst whom, the Lord Keeper is one, who from the Conquest to this day, was never subjected to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 call of any power in the King∣dom, but the King and the Parliament. And although I have not one Pennie of Fee, which hath not continued above one hundred years, yet for the honour of the Prime place in the state (though now disgraced by the contemptiblenesse of the Officer) I am an hum∣ble suiter unto your Lordship, that my Person may be exempted from the command of Sr. Edwin Sandys, or indeed any man els, besides the King my Master. Otherwise I shall very patiently endure it, but the King hereafter may dislike it. The Justices of the Peace are also appointed, but (if the Judges and my-self be not utterly deceived) to no purpose in the world, nor service to his Majestie. But when their Lordships came to surrender the under Leivtenantships to his Maje∣sties hands, whom the Lord President, and I held fit to be created henceforward by several Commissions under the Great Seal, it was stiffly opposed, and stood upon, that the King should name them in their Lordships Commissions onely (according to a President in the late Queens time) that is, the King shall have the naming, but they still the appointing of them. And now it was pressed, that his Maje∣stie intended not to disgrace his Lords &c: and your Lordship is to have a Letter from Mr. Secretarie to know his Majesties mind here∣in. If his Majestie shall not ordain them to be created by several Pattents, it were better a great deal they should continue as they do. I am very tedious in the manner and (peradventure) in the matter of this Letter I humbly crave pardon &c.