THE COPY OF TWO LETTERS SENT FROM SPAIN: CONTAINING The King's Censure for the rooting out of Vices, Abuses, and all sorts of Briberies and corruptions in his Kingdoms.  
F K  PAX OPULENTIAM. SAPENTIA PACEM.  printer's or publisher's device 
LONDON Printed by F.K. for William Lee, and are to be sold at his Shop in Fleetstreet, at the golden Buck, near Sergeant's Inn. 1621.   

The Copy of the first Letter.  
COnsidering the great Obligation that lies upon me, in that God hath put upon my shoulders the administration and government of so many Kingdoms and Dominions, with the name and style of Catholic King; whereunto appertaineth an ardent zeal and desire of the public good: And that the things which augment these Obligations, are the examples of Christian piety, which did shine so gloriously in the King, my Lord and Father (who is now in glory:) as likewise that notable care and diligence in government, together with the severe discipline of the King my Father, and my Grandfather: I am resolved to settle a kind of censure for the rooting out of vices, abuses, and all sorts of bribery and corruption in these my Kingdoms. And to this end, I ordain and command you, our Precedent, that you firm and order a Junta, or Committee, of these persons following: of whose virtue and zeal I have a particular trust and confidence.  

1. Maestro Fray Antonio de Soto Mayor, my Confessor.  
2. Don Francisco de Contreras, of my Council.  
3. Don Pedro Porto Carrero, Conde of Medelin, of all other the ancientest, Mayordomo, or Chamberlain of my Lord the King.  
4. Don Francisco de Rivera, marquis of Malpica, a Gentleman of the Chamber of my Father and Grandfather.  
5. Don Diego de Coral, of my Council.  
6. Don Francisco de Seiada, of my Council.  
7. Father Hieronymo de Florentia, my Preacher, or Chaplain, and Confessor of the most Illustrious Infanta's my brethren.  
8. Friar Juan de Peralta, Prior of Saint Lorenzo, and Lord Elect of Tuy.  
9 Doctor Alvaro de Villegas, Governor of the archbishoppric of Toledo.  
10. And for Secretary, Pedro de Contreras.   
And this junta or meeting, is to be made in your presence, when your great employments shall not hinder you; and your Sessions shall be every Sunday, for so holy a day ought not to be a hindrance to so holy a work and Christian action. And if you shall think it fit, you may appoint some other day in the week: And the first Session shall be the first Thursday after Easter: And you shall give entrance to this work with a Benediction or thanksgiving to God, desiring him (by the intercession of his blessed Mother) to endue me with his grace, and to give supply to my tender years, that I may hit the mark aright, and govern myself according to his holy Law, and to the general benefit, and public good of all my Kingdoms and Dominions. And that this beginning, being given to so divine a Service, may the better proceed in ordering the business of State, of War, of my Treasury, which requires such a deal of care and vigilancy.  
As for any instructions to be given to this Junta, or Session of yours, it seemeth to me that it cannot be committed to any better than the Committee itself: And therefore your first Session shall be to this effect:  
To frame your Instructions in the best manner you can device, and to send the same unto me, that I may peruse them, and that I may send you them back again.  
Signed with my hand for your second Session. You el Rey.   

The Copy of the second Letter.  
SInce I wrote by the last Post, another History may be made of the changes and alterations of this Court: From the late King's Confessor they have taken all his Offices, and quitted him of his rent, which was a good revenue, amounting to more than 30000. Ducats: Being, beside, commanded to leave the Court, and to retire himself to a Monastery of his own Order, some 20. leagues distant from the Court. As soon as he was gone out of Madrid, they seized upon all that he had; And journeying upon the way, there were certain Officers set of purpose to register what he carried with him, and to strip him of all save his apparel and what was needful for his journey. The selfsame day they banished the Duke of Vzeda, and laid hands on his Secretary, and likewise quitted all his servants and officers from the Palace, which had been placed there by the Duke of Lerma.  
Moreover, his Majesty published a Decree or Schedule, giving commission to Don Fernando Carillo, and other judges, for examining of all those Mercedes or Favours, which the deceased King had conferred on the Duke of Lerma, his sons and servants, to see if there were just cause, and reason sufficient for the bestowing the said favours, and in case that they should not find it to be so, then to proceed according to justice.  
Touching the business of the Duke of Ossuna, there is no good blood in it, it is all very foul; for they have laid to his charge the vildest and most enormous things that ever were heard of, and they have clapped him up in prison, with a very strong guard upon him, and his business (as all the rest of the like nature) is to be weighed in the balance of justice: for the King hath a purpose to repair the reputation of this Monarchy, which was ready to run to ruin, for want of executing justice (which is the prop of estates.) Calderon had been once more put to the torment, if he had not freely confessed all, which they were willing to work out of him; He himself wrote his own confession, containing seven sheets of paper. It is thought, ere it be long, that they will make a riddance of all those that were the Duke's followers, and more particularly, of those that were his household servants (eodem pane & aqua viventes) that had eaten of his bread, and drank of his drink: to so bad a pass is the promotion of the Duke of Lerma now come, that it is great pity to see how dejectedly they walk up and down, like men that are trodden under foot, never to rise again. His Majesty hath nominated a Committee, for the reforming of all the disorders and evil customs of the Court, and once a week they meet for the ordering of what is requisite in this kind: and that business is so fare advanced, that they are come to a repartition, or dividing of all the streets in Madrid, between the Alcaldes, who go from house to house, to know what people lodge therein, and what their business is.  
Father Florentia is of this Junta or Committee, and carries a great hand, not only in this, but in all things else, and the King is well pleased with his counsel and advice: It is now well known that he is Confessor to the two Infanta's, Charles and Ferdinand.  
The people are generally well contented with the new King, and the spirit and mettle which he shows, and he leaneth very much to holy and exemplary persons, in the conferring of Offices, removing those from them which are otherwise inclined: He hath quitted the abuse of the Palace, and of the whole Court, of rising at twelve at noon, and dining at three; rising himself at six, and giving audience very early; dining at twelve, and supping at eight. It is a thing to be wondered at, to see how conversant he is in business, as likewise to consider the wise and discreet answers that come from him.  
On Tuesday last the King's Funerals were solemnised in the Monastery of S. jeronimo, whither he had withdrawn himself since the decease of his Father. Padre Florentia (as his manner is) made a most excellent Sermon: The Tomb was wonderful sumptuous, and cost many Ducats, and there were 3000. lights and torches: At the Mass, there assisted above twenty Bishops, and many other Grandes were in that solemnity, very worthy and seeming, and too long the recounting.  

THere came now news hither to Madrid, of a very disastrous accident which happened at Granado, upon Saint James his day last; for they, having deferred the proclaiming of the new King until then, the more to solemnize it upon their Patron's Feast day, there was such a number of people gathered together, that in their Marketplace, a new house, being overcharged with people (that came to see the sight) fell down, and killed to the number of 300. persons, being all, or for the most part, women; and maimed and lamed near as many more. This we received from an English Gentleman that life's there, that was a spectator of this lamentable chance.  
FINIS.