CONSIDERATIONS UPON THE TREATY OF MARRIAGE BETWEEN ENGLAND AND SPAIN.  
THe essential points thereof seem to be the advantages, and disadvantages of such an alliance, and whether both weighed in equal balance, the one will not oversway the other.  
The advantages that England may pretend are these.  
First, a great King's daughter.  
Secondly, much money.  
Thirdly, safety.  
Fourthly, continuance of trade.  
Fiftly, the bridling of the overgrowing greatness of the States.  
Sixtly, the Subjects of Spain will not be so burdensome to England being more remote, as those of France would be that are nearer neighbours.  
Lastly, hindering the Scottish faction for strengthening itself by the alliance of France, which though it be not publicly taken knowledge of, yet hath his place among the reasons that further the match with Spain.  
These and the like benefits and advantages some promise to themselves by running the course of Spain: but of God or his cause hitherto is made no mention at all. And yet unless the Lord build the house, the builders labour but in vain.  

The Answer  
The meanest of the household of faith are much greater than those that are without, for they are borne to a great inheritance: these are their promises.  
First God is their God, and with them hath he made a covenant: nor ought it to be forgotten that the house of spain is stained with incest in the match with the last King & his own sister's daughter, which cannot be but very loathsome to every true Christians heart: and yet to speak according to the world, the estate of England is great enough of itself match it where it will, as it hath done in times past, and as other great Monarches have led the way. And the alliance of France is near, and hath no ill aspect upon England, and is as honourable as that of Spain; that of France will not prove so beneficial, and so neither so dangerous or prejudicial.  
Secondly, money will be soon wasted and melted away, but the price of it will abide still: and let not any flater themselves, spain giveth nothing but for something, and where he giveth much he looketh for a great return: Examine well their actions and proceedings and make use of experience: whether can or ought money to be an essential consideration to sway the weight of so important an Alliance.  
Thirdly, is not England stronger at this time and Spain weaker than heretofore? where then is any cause of fear? But allow that the state of England stood in fear of any danger of spain? will this alliance secure them? the fear is idle and the remedy more idle, unless any could make it good that the love of Spain unto England( the match going forward) would prove the predominant humour in him, that should sway his ambission, whereof the world hath so much experience to the contrary.  
Charles the fifth gave his own sister in marriage to Francis the first: was Francis ever a whit the safer for such an alliance?  
Savoy hath married Spain's sister, who nevertheless doth what he can to swallow him up.  
France and Spain have lastly made a double match, ler it be examined whether Spain hath laboured more to quench or kindle the fire in France; and yet they are both of one and the same religion.  
They err who think there is any thing to be had from a Papist for love rather than for fear, or that Spain will ever dessist from aspiring to the universal Monarchy of Christondome, and particularly the recovery of the wited provinces: for though he often strike sail and put into the harbour in fowl weather yet doth he not neglect to weigh anchor again, and follow his intended course when the season is fit for it. England doth hinder his designs; and therefore would he match with England to have the fitter passage for him: and if he were in quiet possession of all the seventeen Provinces, than would they be made a stable or store-house for all things necessary, in so plentiful and well fitted a situation, for the invading the parts near adjoining, whereof the plots are not new, if England give way unto him, than( disappointed of their defences and Bulwarks) they will stand( as it were) at his mercy and lie open to all manner of batteries: as on the other side if he be crossed, then will things be but where they were, both for continuance and assurance against fear of invasion; nay rather in so much the worse terms, because he shall fail of his expectation, which commonly breeds much harshness even amongst the dearest friends. Let not any cast a mist in others eyes: though Spain had left aside his wont ambition( which none can sufficiently assure) yet will he never lose his hope, or relent in his resolution of recovering the united Provinces, wherein his honour and his reputation are so deeply interessed: nor can such a great scattered body that hath so many irons in the fire be but continually armed, and still in action to the danger both of friends and foes, as he shall find his best advantages and opportunities.  
If England fear Spain, their safety will rather stand in keeping him at the staves end then in receiving such an ambitious and new reconciled enemy and doubtful friend into their bosom, where he shall without blows be able to do them much more hurt by his daily practice and corrupting of the subjects, than he can otherwise by open hostility, which he will be wary enough not to attempt, lest they joining their foarces by sea with those of the united Provinces, should give him too great a shake. Strange intelligence, and correspondence with neighbour friends and allies will always prove a safer refuge for England against Spain. And because all have a common quarrel to his Ambition and greatness, which in him will never give way to any other consideration whatsoever: for there hath ever been and will still continue in Spain an endless ambitious desire of the obtaining the western Monarchy where of a great part of Christendom doth yet bear the scar, and feel the stripes.  
4. Trade will be allowed to continue and as safely without the Alliance of Marriage as with it: for spain doth not only reap a benefit by it; but also will be afraid to scare or discontent England by the evil usage of the Merchants. Else why have they so basely and abjectly begged a peace: whensoever he shall see his opportunity and find a greater advantage to break then to continue in good terms with England, the Alliance will secure the merchants no more, then if it were not at all.  
5. The states may in time grow great, and their greatness may grow dangerous; but spain is both the one and the other already; and this Alliance will add much unto it: there may also grow yealousy and unkindness and thence open enmity betwixt England and them, and so on the other side may the matter be so discreetly carried, as they two may entertain good amity and correspondency one with the other for common defence: for they both profess one religion and their estate and condition seems to unite them together in a necessity of putting out their hands one to another for mutual preservation.  
Do they carry themselves now unkindly or somewhat unrespectiuly? It doth not so urgently prove that they may become enemies hereafter, as there upon to ground a necessity of making an Alliance with a known enemy, which were no other but to run into a present mischief for fear of a future inconvenience. They take an Alarm at England's joining with spain to their hurt; which though it be not so meant by England, yet it is the scope that spain aims at and that may make them perhaps somewhat to neglect England, but remove the cause, and the effect will cease, let them be assured of their friendship and they will prove respectful friends: if they prosper and grow great, who knoweth whether it be not of God, by such weak means to pull down the loftiness of spain? and then to withstand them were to run against a rock: the very first occasion of their liberty was driving them to despair; which made them to take heart and resolution to resist the violence that was offered: wherein being encouraged with good success, and feeling their own strength, they have in time made such further progress as is this day to be seen: better it were for England to make use of a necessary evil, and run a course with them whereby they may have their part in their well speeding, then to join with spain( a religion and state enemy) who Allieth himself to England but for his own ends, and must needs draw after them the overthrow of the cause of religion and ruin the state: and will never prove but a secret Enemy and doubtful friend. And it must not in this place be forgotten that if true professors be justly reproved for going to law before heathen judges, much less may they side themselves with any of those that are without, to the hindrance and hurt one of an other.  
6. If England and France should match together, it doth not therefore consequently follow that the French should become burdensome to the State by reason of their nearness. The laws of England allow no offices or preferments of aliens. The french will have more hope in their own Country where there is without comparison more to be given then in England; the English seek not to make any fortune in Scotland.  
But if the French should be importunate they are also impatient: let them find Visage de Boys, and your coldness should wear out their earnestness.  
7. That the French with the Scottish faction may gather strength by the Alliance of France is but a particular consideration: against which may be opposed the greatness the Spanish faction will grow unto by a match with spain to the danger of the state: this doth greatly lay open the value of such advantages as England doth promise itself by matching with Spain which how dear they would notwithstanding be bought will more perfectly appear, if knowledge be also taken of the inconveniences and mischiefs that would follow: for the better conceiving where of, his ends are to be considered, and seriously examined; for it is not likely that Spain a Religion and State Catholic, who hath both religion and state quarrels against England, will yield to give his Daughter in Marriage to England: nay rather doth offer great sums of money for composing there of; but that he looks for a great return,  
Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.  
The price of this Alliance therefore will be the breaking of the match with France, to the weakening of both England one France, whereby he may have the greater footing in either, and the deviding England from his alices, especially from the States of the united Porovinces, the making way for an other match for his second son( whom he hath a plot to settle in the low Country's, and from thence to promote him( if he can) to the Crown Imperial) with an other daughter of France, which would give so great an Alarm to the whole state of those of the religion, if the pretended match with England come not between, altering in time the state of Religion, whereof if he had no hope, neither would he hearken to the match: for none must think he would treat such an Alliance without the privacy and consent of his divines, or that they will give their consents to that but upon great probability that it shall tend to the furtherance of their catholic faith. The supposed Catholic religion is known to be in Spain one of the fundamental Laws of their estate: and no doubt Spain is a very right Romish Catholic, the further therefore that he spreadeth his religion, the greater satisfaction it is to his conscience, and the more doth he underprop and increase his greatness, namely because those of that religion that are most devout, but especially the greatest part of the Clergy throughout Christendom have their eyes fixed on him, as upon the greatest stay and pillar of their catholic faith: who therefore if he should match with an heretic( for so they term us English) but with a settled purpose by such means to root out heresy, would both wrong his own conscience, and lose his reputation amongst all those of his belief, to the over great weakening of his estate: which error none of sound judgement that knows Spayn, will easily believe that he will commit.  
That a change or toleration should happen in England by means of the intended match, is more to be feared then any can warrant to be impossible: wherein it were well worth the labour to find out what hope spain doth ground upon, and what possibility there is that the same may be disappointed; in the mean time very likely it is in general that there will be no means unattempted, or left on his side, to bring his purpose to pass. And then it must in this place be remembered, first that whatsoever is not of faith is sin, and that sin hath no promise of blessing; nor is this a work of faith. And next that England hath but too much experience of Popery, with in these few years, for want of due execution of the Laws; which hath bread exceeding great boldness in the papists, aswell at home as abroad.  
If the marriage go forward they will take the more heart and greater encouragement, no small number of subjects want teaching, and so are the more easily shaken, many waver, and many are new-fangled the more prepared for a change: & therefore will accordingly be wrought upon. The old serpent will seduce many Eves, and pistols will have free passage every where. The worst is yet, that there will be party children: for the mother will give herself no rest till she have nuzzled some of them in her own religion, which would make the way very plain & easy for a change, because the head once corrupted, the infection will in short time spread itself over the whole body, and true religion is unsociable to sort itself with false worship, and will soon forsake his dwelling place.  
If spain can procure a toleration of religion( which must needs be followed with ruin of the State) he may then assure himself of sides that will always be able either directly or indirectly to divert the state from hindering his designs▪ as well in the low Countries, as wheresoever else, and although he should not prevail at the first by practice, or procure a toleration of religion, which nevertheless the increacing number of Papists will of itself in process of time effect, yet when he hath once a faction on foot and that many of the subjects are perverted in religion, he will notwithstanding be in good hope that the state may be stayed, & hindered from opposing itself against his designs by the working of his faction & the jealousy that will be conceived of the Papists within the realm: and whether his hopes will fail him or no, yet if he should upon such ground make any attempt against those of the united Provinses, that could not but fale out to the great trouble annoyance and danger of the state, especially if he send his forses by sea; for than must England upon any such occasion either rig out there Navy to sea to see that he keep his course, which will always be a matter of great burden and charge, or otherways abide the danger of his landing upon their own cousts, if he have intelligence with the Papists: wherefore it will be always safer in such cases to be somewhat jealous then too secure.  
Now the Alliance with spain will not only scar and discourage in general, the whole side of those of the religion abroad, to the great weakening of the state of England, but also breed a particular jealousy in those of the united Provinses, when they shall see that Popery increaseth, or that spain hath a faction▪ or party in the realm: whereof one of these two mischeives must consequently follow, either that they will make their peace with spain, or keep continually many ships of war in the narrow seas if they be able to hold out, especially upon the coming of any supplies by sea to the Artch Duke during the Truce: which( as they are a people jealous and suspicious enough by nature) may at one time or other by occationes happening grow to some dangerous inconvenience: for between two so near neighbours both potent at sea, if there be not strait amity kept, things cannot long stand without breaking forth into terms of open hostility. And for the state of those Provinses, though strong by sea, Alliance, and situation, yet are not the foundations of it so far sure that England can with safety leave them to themselves▪ for the late sects and questions about matters of religion threaten their disunion; and spain that lies continually in wait for their liberty hath his pensioners and daily practisers amongst them.  
Some do noise much the ancient amity with the house of Burgundy, but that house is changed and hath not kept stroke in the conditions of the Alliance, & so ought the cause to be altered too. It was to weak for France but now it is too strong, and England had then plots against France which now it hath not▪  
The greatest use of Leagues and Alliances is to prevent present mischeives, or to further some necessary enterprise: otherwise reason of state and common experience teacheth to sway even with the weaker, for the bridling of the ambition and greatness of the stronger. They make an idle distinction who to avoid the objections made against spain pretend that marriages are but personal amongst Preinces and not real: for if there be no reality, where is then the good of England? if there be any who is so weak as to think that spain will easily quit his interest in it.  
To allege the exampell of Erance that holdeth correspondency still with his other Allies, and continues to assist them against Sapyn,( notwithstanding his match with spain) is to as little purpose in the judgement of those who do also know how much spain prevaileth in weakening their sinews, and frustrating the effect of such assistance.  
The sum is, that spain hopes by reason of this match so to charm England, as it shall give way to him in his courses: and England chose promiseth itself the honey of the be without danger of being stung: whether of both may come short of their recconing is at the least disputable. For spain on the one side will spare no travel or charge, will use all the means and practices he can, and take the benefit of all occasions, and advantages that shall be offered to bring his purposes to pass: as it may be supposed that England for his part will stand upon his watch, to prevent a mischief that shall threaten the state.  
Spayn's may( by a vigilant care and good foresight) be disappointed: so may England by the contrary be overtaken: for death will wear away these watchmen that are now, and others may succeed that will not be so watchful: nay watchfulness itself over-watched will in time grow drowsy, and overwearied carefulness will grow careless.  
The very best cautions and caveats must needs relent and wax old in time. In all strife and contentions as well of the body as the mind, if one side get ground the other looseth it. Time will bring forth many accidents which may fall out as to the good, so to the hurt of England: who( that may with good reason be feared) will not be watchful nor have his spirits always intent enough to prevent the practices of spain after so straight Alliance, that cannot now so much as foresee them, or resolve to keep out Spayn. Whereupon the question ariseth whether it be a sound course for England( not constrained by any urgent necessity) to put the cause of religion, and their own well doing and safety to so great an adversary, in a matter that stands upon so many contingents. For it is no new experience that the things which we think almost impossible, and therefore fear them least, do nevertheless often come to pass; because neglected, and so not hindered by opposition, they creep unawares upon us as through the mists of security. Well saith the Italian therefore Quell i non volete che sia non fate cosa per che avuenga.  
To conclude, Spayn who of late was thought to decline, weak in the head, and wounded in reputation by those of the united Provinces; yet having never been more weakly balanced then at this present, begins now to resume his spirits, and without timely and strong opposition, will take so deep root, and spread his branches so far, as to overshadow all his neighbours: and deadly dangerous it will be for any one to sleep in such a shade.  
Finis.