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 Edward Cecyl to the Duke.

My most excellent Lord,

THere are some Letters of mine, that had come to your Lorships hands, a good many dayes since, had not the wind been contra∣ry and withstood their passage. The substance whereof was onely to shew you how thankful I hold my self to your excellencie for so great and infinite a favour as it hath pleased your excellencie to think me worthie of. But as is it a favour that will set me on work all the dayes of my life: so is it greater then I can ever deserve. How∣soever my resolution is to do my best. And I humbly beseech your Excellencie to believe, that with my diligence, and the best under∣standing I have, I will seek nothing but to please you, and to ho∣nour you; and if God say Amen to make the world speak of your design as much (I hope) as ever our Nation hath given cause. And for the faults of my self, and those I shall bring with me, they shall not be excused, but with our lives, and bloods: for I hope I shall bring none, but such as know what to do, and when they come to it will bite fooner then bark. I do promise my self your Excellencie will have no cause to doubt or repent you of your favours, for I know what men have done, and what they can do in my occupation. But God is God, and men are but men.

All my discouragement is, that the States answer not his Majesties

expectation being fearful (especially since the losse of Breda) to part with any of their old Officers, or old Souldiers; but my hope is now better, for we have put them to another resolution, by answering all their objections. By this disposition of the States to the keeping all their old Souldiers, I wish your Excellencie will be pleased to be as careful in your choice, as you are desirous of great designs. For otherwise the honour, and the charge will both be cast away, as your Excellencie may perceive in some of our latter expeditions, seeing that although there are many called Souldiers in the world, yet but a few there be, that are so: for so long a man must live in the pro∣fession to inable him sufficiently, that many grow unable to perform, what they know, before they have attained to the knowledge of what to perform. The knowledge of war being the highest of humane things that God suffereth mans understanding to reach unto.

I have according to your Excellencies command made as many provisions as I can for the shortnesse of the time, of such things as cannot be gotten in England. And I could have wished I had known of this imployment but some months sooner; for then I could have saved his Majesty somewhat, and have added many things that would very much have advanced the service. For in our profession the pre∣paring of things belonging to the war, doth more shew a mans experi∣ence and judgment, then any thing else, by reason the first errours are the begetting of many more, that afterwards cannot be avoided. Your Exellencie may be pleased to inform your self of all the ex∣ployts, and undertakings of our nation, that none of them hath suf∣fered (for the most part) more then through the negligence of pro∣visions, as in victual, munition, boats for Landing, and for the re∣ceiving of sick men, to keep the rest from infection. In this point of provision, it is not good to trust upon a particular man, for gain is a corrupter where the care is not publique. And in so great an ex∣pedition, one must do with living men, as they do with the dead, there must be overseers and executors to have a true intent well per∣formed.

I have presumed to write thus much, to shew my thankfulnesse to your Excellencie, and my great affection to his Majesties service, whereof I am infinitely possessed. I hear your Excellencie is in France, but my prayers to God are to send you safe, and happie home, for the World holds you the soule of advancing his Majesties affairs, wherein his Honour is ingaged as it is, especially in this action, being the first, and a Great One.

And as for my self, who am now a creature you have made, I know

not what I shall do when I come to England, being your Excellencies shadow only.

I have here attended the wind, and since I cannot force it, I am glad of the opportunitie to send the Letters by Sir Henry Vane, who goes over Land, a Passage I am not capable of, having been so long their enemie. But I hope God will send me soon after, leaving Sir William S^t. Leiger here for the dispatch of that which remains. I have written more particularly to my Lord Conway which I dare not set down here for fear of being tedious, and knowing his Lordship will give your Excellencie an account of it. And so in all humble∣nesse and dutie, I pray God send your Excellency honour, and length of life for his Majestie's affairs, and for the happinesse of

Your Lordships most humble, faithful and obedient servant, Ed. Cecill.

Hagh the 3^d. of June, 1625.