VOX POPULI. OR NEWS FROM SPAIN, translated according to the Spanish copy.  
Which may serve to forwarn both England and the United Provinces how fare to trust to Spanish pretences.  
Imprinted in the year 1620.   

VOX POPULI. OR NEWS FROM SPAIN translated according to the Spanish copy.  
HIs Catholic Majesty had given commandment that presently upon the return of Seigneur Gondomar his Leaguer Ambassador from England, (1618.) a special meeting of all the principal States of Spain (who were of his Counsel) together with the Precedents of the Counsel of Castille, of Arragon, of Italy, of Portugal, of the Indies, of the Treasure, of War, and especially of the holy Inquisition, should be held at Mouson in Arragon, the Duke of Lerma being appointed Precedent, Who should make declaration of his Majesty's pleasure, take account of the Ambassadors service, and consult touching the state and religion respectively, to give satisfaction to his holiness' Nuntio, who was disired to make one in this assembly concerning certain overtures of peace and amity with the English and other Catholic projects, which might engender suspicion and jealousy betwixt the Pope & his Majesty, if the mystery were not unfolded and the ground of those counsels discovered aforehand.  
This made all men expect the Ambassadors return with a kind of longing, that they might behold the issue of this meeting, and see what good for the Catholic cause the Ambassadors employment had effected in England, answerable to the general opinion conceived of his wisdom, and what further project would be set on foot to become matter for public discourse.  
At length he arrived and had present notice given him from his Majesty, that before he came to Court he should give up his account to this assembly. Which command he gladly received as an earnest of his acceptable service, and gave thanks that for his honour he might publish himself in so judicious a presence.  
He came first upon the day appointed to the Counsel chamber (exc. the Secretary) not long after all the Counsel of state and the precedents met, there wanted only the Duke of Lerma & the Pope's Nuntio who were the head and feet of all the assemble. These two stayed long away for diverse respects, The Nuntio that he might express the greatness of his master, & lose the sea of Rome no respect by his oversight, but that the benches might be full to observe him at his approach.  
The Duke of Lerma to express the authority & dignity of his own person, and to show houw a servant put in place of his master, exacts more service of his fellow servants than the master himself. These two stayed till all the rest were weary of waiting, but at length the Nuntio (supposing all the Counsel set) launched forth and came to road in the Counsel chamber, where (after mutual discharge of duty from the company and blessing upon it from him) he sat down in solemn silence, grieving at his oversight when he saw the Duke of Lerma absent, with whom he strove as a competitor for Pomp and Glory.  
The Duke had sent before, & understood of the Nuntios being there, and stayed something the longer that his boldness might be observed, wherein he had his desire, for the Nuntio having a while patiently driven away the time with several compliments to several persons, had now almost run his courtship out of breath, but that the Duke of Villa Hermosa (precedent of the counsel of Arragon) fed his humour by the discharge of his own discontentment, upon occasion of the Duke of Lerma his absence, and beckoned Seigneur Gondomor to him, using this speech in the hearing of the Nuntio after a sporting manner:  
How unhappy are the people where you have been, first for their souls, being heretics; then for their estates, where the name of a favourite is so familiar? how happy is our state, where the keys of life and death are so easily come by, (pointing at the Nuntio) hanging at every religious girdle, and where the door of justice and mercy stand equally open to all men without respect of persons? the Ambassador knew this Ironical stroke, to be intented as a by blow at the Nuntio, but fully at the Duke of Lerma (whose greatness begun now to wax heavy, towards declension) and therefore he returned this answer: your excellency knoweth the state is happy where wise favourites govern Kings if the Kings themselves be foolish, or where wise Kings are, who having favourites whether foolish or of the wijser sort will not yet be governed by them. The state of England, (howsoever you hear of it in Spain or Room) is too happy in the last kind: They need not much care what the favourite be (though for the most part he be such as prevents all suspicion in that kind, being rather chosen as a scholar to be taught and trained up, then as a tutor to teach,) of this they are sure, no Prince exceeds theirs in personal abilities; so that nothing could be added to him in my wish, but this one, that he were our vassal and a Catholic.  
With that the noise without gave notice of the Duke of Lermas entrance, at whose first approach the whole house arose, though some later than other, as envy had hung plummets on them to keep them down, the Nuntio only sat unmooved, the Duke cherished the observance of the rest with a familiar kind of carriage too high for courtesy, as one not neglecting their demeanours but expecting it, and after a filial obeisance to the Pope his Nuntio, sat down, as precedent under the cloth of state, but somewhat lower; then after a space given for admiration, preparation, and attention, he began to speak in this manner.  
The King my master (holding it more honourable to do then to discourse, to take from you the expectation of Oratory used rather in schools and pulpits then in Counsels) hath appointed me precedent in this holy, wise, learned, and noble assembly; A man naturally of a slow speech, and not desirous to quicken it by art or industry, as holding action only proper to a spaniard as I am by birth, to a soldier as I am by professiion, to a King as I am by representation; take this therefore briefly for declaration both of the cause of this meeting and my master his further pleasure.  
There hath been in all times from the world's foundation one chief commander or Monarch upon the earth. This needs no further proof than a back looking into our own memories & histories of the world, neither now is there any question (except with infidels & heretics) of that one chief Commander in spirituals in the unity of whose person the membres of the visible Church are included, but there is some doubt of the chief commander in temporals, who (as the moon to the sun) might govern by night as this by day, & by the sword of justice compel to come in, or cut off such as infringe the authority of the keys. This hath been so well understood long since, by the infallible chair, as that thereby upon declension of the Roman Emperors, and the increase of Rome's spiritual splendour (who thought it unnatural that their sun should be sublunary) our nation was by the Bishop of Rome selected before other peoples to conquer and rule the nations with a rod of Iron, and our Kings to that end adorned with the title of Catholic King, as a name above all names under the sun (which is) under God's Vicar general himself the Catholic Bishop of souls. To instance this point by comparison, look first upon the grand Seigneur the great Turk who hath a large title but not universal. For besides that he is an infidel, his command is confined within his own territories, and he styled not Emperor of the world but of the Turks and their vassals only.  
Among Christians the defender of the faith was a glorious style, whilst the King to whom it was given by his holiness, continued worthy of it. But he stood not in the truth, neither yet those that succeed him. And beside it was no great thing to be called what every Christian ought to be, defender of the faith, no more then to be styled with France, the most Christian King, wherein he hath the greatest part of his title common with most Christians. The Emperor of Russia, Rome, Germany, extend not their limits further than their styles, which are local, only my master the most Catholic King is for dominion of bodies, as the universal Bishop for dominion of souls over all that part of the world which we call America (except where the English intruders usurp) and the greatest part of Europe with some part of Asia and Africa by actual possession, & over all the rest by real & indubitable right, yet acknowledgeth this right to be derived from the free and fatherly donation of his holiness, who as the sun to this moon lends lustre by reflection to this Kingdom, to this King, to this King of Kings my master, what therefore he hath, howsoever gotten, he may keep and hold. What he can get from any other King or Commander by any stratagem of war or pretence of peace he may take, for it is theirs only by usurpation except they hold of him from whom all civil power is derived, as ecclesiastical from his holiness. What the ignorant call treason, if it be on this behalf is truth; and what they call truth, if it be against him is treason: & thus all our peace, our war, our treatises, marriages and whatsoever intendment else of ours, aims at this principal end, to get the whole possession of the world, & to reduce all to unity under one temporal head, that our King may truly be what he is styled, the catholic & universal King. As faith is therefore universal & the Church universal, yet so as it is under one head the Pope, whose seat is & must necessarily be at Rome where S. Peter sat: so must all men be subject to our and their Catholic King, whose particular seat is here in Spain, his universal every where; this point of State or rather of faith, we see the Roman Catholic religion hath taught every where, and almost made natural, so that by a key of gold by intelligence, or by way of confession my master is able to unlock the secrets of every Prince, and to withdraw their subjects allegiance, as if they known themselves rather my master his subjects in truth, then theirs whom their births have taught to miscall Sovereigns. We see this in France and in England especially where at once they learn to obey the Church of Rome as their mother, to acknowledge the catholic King as their father, and to hate their own King as an heretic and an usurper. So we see religion and the state are coupled together, laugh and weep, flourish & fade, and participate of either's fortune, as growing upon one stock of policy; I speak this the more boldly in this presence, because I speak here before none but native persons, who are partakers both in themselves and issues of these triumphs above all those of ancient Rome, & therefore such (as besides their oaths) it concerns to be secret. Neither need we restrain this freedom of speech from the Nuntio his presence, because that besides that he is a Spaniard by birth, he is also a jesuite by profession, an order raised by the providence of God's Vicar to accomplish this monarchy the better, all of them being appropriate thereunto, and as public agents and privy Counsellors to this end, Wherein the wisdom of this state is to be beheld with admiration, that as in temporal war it employs or at least trusts none but natives, in Castille, Portugal or Arragon; so in spirituals it employs none but the jesuites, and so employs them, that they are generally reputed, how remote soever they be from us, how much soever obliged to others, still to be ours, and still to be of the Spanish faction, though they be Polonians, English, French, & residing in those countries & Courts; the Penitents therefore and all with whom they deal and converse in their spiritual traffic must needs be so too, and so our Catholic King must needs have an invisible kingdom, & an unknown number of subjects in all dominions, who will show themselves and their faiths by their works of disobedience whensoever we shall have occasion to use that jesuitical virtue of theirs. This therefore being the principal ends of all our counsels (according to those holy directions of our late pious King Philip 2. to his son now reviving) to advance the Catholic Roman religion, and the Catholic spanish dominion together, we are met now by his Majesty's command to take account of you (Seigneur Gondomor) who have been Ambassador for England, to see what good you have effected there towards the advancement of this work, & what further project shall be thought fit to be set on foot to this end. And this is briefly the occasion of our meeting.  
Then the Embass. (who attended bare headed all the time) with a low obeisance began thus. This most laudable custom of our Kings in bringing all officers to such an account where a review and notice is taken of good or bad services upon the determination of their employments, resembles those Roman triumphs appointed for the soldiers; and as in them it provoked to courage, so in us it stirs up to diligence. Our master converseth by his Agents with all the world, yet with none of more regard than the English, where matter of such diversity is often presented (through the several humours of the State, and those of our religion and faction) that no instructions can be sufficient for such negotiations, but much must be left in trust, to the discretion, judgement and diligence of the incumbent, I speak not this for my own glory, I having beme restrained and therefore deserved 〈…〉 the behalf of others, that there may be more scope allowed than to deal in as occasion shall require. Briefly this rule delivered by his excellency was the card and Compass by which I sailed to make profit of all humours, and by all means to advance the state of the Romish faith, and the Spanish faction together, upon all advantage either of oaths, or the breach of them; for this is an old observation but a true, that for our piety to Rome, his holiness did not only give, but bless us in the conquest of the new world, And thus in our pious perseverance we hope still to be conquerors of the old. And to this end whereas his excellenty in his excellent discourse, seems to extend our outward forces & private aims only against heretics and restrain them in true amity with these of the Romish religion: This I affirm, that since there can be no security, but such princes though now Romish Catholics, may turn heretics hereafter; my aims have ever been to make profit of all, & to make my master, master of all, who is a faithful & constant son of his mother Rome. And to this end I behold the endeavours of our Kings of happy memory, how they have achieved kingdoms and conquests by this policy, rather than by open hostility, and that without difference, as well from their allies and kinsfolks, men of the same religion, and profession, such as were those of Naples, France and Navarre, though I do not mention Poitugall now united to us, nor Savoy (that hardly slipped from us) as of an adverse and heretical faith. Neither is this rule left of, as the present kingdom of France, the State of Venice, the Low-countries, Bohemia, (now all labouring for life under our plots) apparently manifest. This way therefore I bent my engines in England, as your honours shall particularly hear. Neither shall I need to repeat a Catalogue of all the services I have there done, because this state hath been acquainted with many of them here to fore by the intercourse of letters and messengers. Those only I will speak of that are of later edition, done since the return of the Lord Rosse from hence, and may seem most directly to tend to those ends formerly propounded by his excellenty; that is, the advancement of the Spanish State and Romish Religion together.  
First it is well observed by the wisdom of our State, that, the King of England, who otherwise is one of the most accomplisht Princes that ever reigned, extremely hunts after peace, and so affects the true name of a Peacemaker, as that for it he will do or suffer any thing. And withal they have beheld the general bounty & munificence of his mind, and the necessity of the state so exhausted, as it is unable to supply his desires, who only seeks to have that he might give to others. Upon those advantages they have given out their directions and instructions both to me and others, and I have observed them so fare as I was able.  
And for this purpose, whereas there was a marriage propounded betwixt them and us, (howsoever I suppose our State too devout to deal with heretics in this kind in good earnest, yet) I made that a cover for much intelligence, and a means to obtain whatsoever I desired, whilst the State of England longed after that marriage, hoping thereby (though vainly) to settle peace, and fill the Excheaquer.  
Here the Arch Bishop of Toledo▪ Inquisitor general stepped up and interrupted Gondamor▪ saying, that marriage was not to be thought upon; first for religions sake, lest they should endanger the soul of the young Lady and the rest of her company, who might become heretics: secondly for the state, lest by giving so large a portion to heretics they should enrich and in able them for wars, & impoverish and weaken the Catholics.  
To the first objection the Pope's Nuntio answered, that his holiness for the Catholic cause would dispense with the marriage, though it were with a Turk or infidel. 1. That there was no valuable danger in hazarding one for the gaining of many, perhaps of all. 2. That it was no hazard▪ since women (especially young ones) are to obstinate to be removed from their opinions, and abler to work Solomon to their opinions, than Solomon to work them to his faith. 3. That it was a great advantage to match which such from whom they might break at pleasure, having the catholic cause for a colour, and beside, if need were to be at liberty in all respects since there was no faith to be kept with heretics. And if his Holiness may dispense with the murder of such, & dispose of their crowns (as what good Catholic doubts but he may?) much more may he, and will he in their marriages to prevent the leprous seed of heresy, and to settle Catholic blood in the chair of State.  
To the second objection the Ambassador himself answered, saying, that though the English generally loathed the match, and would as he thought buy it off with half of their estates, (hating the nation of Spain, and their religion, as appeared by an uproar and assault a day or two before his departure from London by the Apprentices, who seemed greedy of such an occasion to vent their own spleens, in doing him or any of his a mischief) yet two sorts of people unmeasurably desired the match might proceed. First the begging and beggarly Courtiers, that they might have to furnish their wants. Secondly the Romish Catholics, who hoped hereby at least for a moderation of fines and laws, perhaps a tolleraaion, and perhaps a total restauration of their religion in England. In which regard (quoth he) I have known some zealous persons protest, that if all their friends and half their estates could procure them the service of our Lady (if she came to be married too their Prince) they would freely use the means: faithfully to fight under her colours, when they might do it safely. And if it came to portion, they would underhand contribute largely of their estates to the Spanish Collector, and make up half the portion out of themselves, perhaps more. So that by this marriage it might be so wrought, that the state should rather be robbed and weakened (which is our aim) then strengthened, as the English vainly hope. Besides in a small time they should work so far into the body of the State, by buying Offices and the like, whether by sea or land, of justice civil or ecclesiastical, in Church or State (all being for money exposed to sale) that with the help of the jesuites, they would undermine them with mere wit (without gunpowder) and leave the King but a few subjects whose faiths he might rely upon, whilst they were of a faith adverse to his. For what catholic body that is sound at the heart, can abide a corrupt and heretical head?  
With that the Duke, Medina del rio Secco, precedent of the council of war and one of the council of State rose up and said his Predecessors had felt the force and wit of the English in 88 And he had cause to doubt the Catholics themselves that were English and not fully jesuited, upon any foreign invasion would rather take part with their own King (though a heretic) then with his Catholic Majesty a stranger.  
The Ambassador desired him to be of another mind since first for the persons generally their bodies by long disuse of arms were disabled and their minds effeminated by peace and luxury, far from that they were in 88 when they were daily fleshed in our blood and made hearty by customary conquests. And for the affection of those whom they call Recusants (quoth he) I know the bitterness of their inveterate malice, & have seen so far into their natures as I dare say they will be for Spain against all the world. Yet (quoth he) I assure your Honours I could not imagine so basely of their King and State as I have heard them speak. Nay their rage hath so perverted their judgements that what I myself have seen and heard proceed from their King beyond admiration, even to astonishment, they have slighted, misreported, scorned, and perverted to his disgrace and my rejoicing, magnifying in the mean time our defects, for graces.  
Here the Duke Pastrana precedent of the Council for Italy, steps up and said, he had lately read a book of one Camden's called his Annalles, where writing of a treaty of marriage long since betwixt the English Elizabeth & the french Duke of Andiou, he there observes that the marriage was not seriously intended on either side, but politicly pretended by both States, counterchangeably, that each might effect their own ends.  
There (quoth he) the English had the better, and I have some cause to doubt, since they can dissemble as well as we, that they have their aims underhand, as we have, and intent the match as little as we do; And this (quoth he) I believe the rather because their King as he is wise to consult and consider, so he is a constant master of his word, and hath written and given strong reasons against matches made with persons of contrary religions, which reason's no other man can answer, and therefore doubtless he will not go from or conncell his son to forsake those rules laid down so deliberately.  
Your Excellency mistakes (quoth the Ambassador) the advantage was then one the side of the English, because the French sought the match: now it must be on ours, because the English seeck it, who will grant any thing rather than break off, and beside have no patience to temporize and dissemble in this or any other design as the French have long since well observed: for their necessities will give them neither time, nor rest, nor hope else where to be supplied. As for their King I cannot search into his heart, I must believe others that presume to know his mind, hear his words, and read his writings, and these relate what I have delivered: But for the rest of the people as the number of those that are truly religious are ever the least and for the most part of least account, so is it there, where if an equal opposition be made betwixt their truly religious and ours, the remainder which willbe the greatest number will stand indifferent and fall to the stronger side where there is most hope of gain and glory, for those two are the gods of the magnitude & the multitude, Now these see apparently no certain supplies of their wants but from us.  
Yes (quoth the Duke) for even now you said the general state loathing this match would redeem the fear there of with half of their estates. It is theaefore but calling a Parliament and the business were soon effected.  
A Parliament (quoth the Ambassador) nay therein lies one of the principal services I have done in working such a dislike betwixt the King and the lower house by the endeavour of that honourable Earl and admirable Engine (a sure servant to us and the catholic cause while he lived) as the King will never endure Parliament again, but rather suffer absolute want then receive conditional relief from his subjects. Besides the matter was so cunningly carried the last Parliament, that as in the powder plot the fact effected should have been imputed to the Puritans (the greatest zealots of the Calvinian sect) so the proposition which damned up the proceedings of this Parliament howsoever they were invented by Roman Catholics and by them intended to disturb that session, yet were propounded in favour of the Puritans, as if they had beme hammered in their forge. Which very name and shadow the King hates, it being a sufficien aspersion to disgrace any person, to say he is such, & a sufficient bar to stop any suit & utterly to cross it to say it smells of or inclines to that party. Mareover there are so many about him who blow this coal fearing their own stakes, if a Parliament should inquire into their actions, that they use all their ant and industry to withstand such a council; persuading the King he may rule by his absolute prerogative without a Parliament, and thus furnish himself by warying with us, and by other domestic projects, without subsidies: when, levying of subsidies and tasks have been the only use princes have made of such assemblies. And whereas some free minds amongst them resembling our Nobility who preserve the privilege of subjects against sovereign invasion, call for the course of the common law, (a law proper to their nation) these other time servers cry the laws down and cry up the prerogative, whereby they pray upon the subject by suits and exactions, milk the estate and keep it poor, procure themselves much suspicion amongst the better & more judicious sort, & hate amongst th'oppressed commons, & yet if there should be a Parliament such a course is taken as they shall never choose their shear Knights and Burgesses freely, who make the greater half of the body thereof, for these being to be elected by most voices of Freeholders in the country where such elections are to be made, are carried which way the great persons who have lands in those countries please, who by their letters command their tenants, followers and friends to nominate such as adhere to them, and for the most part are of our faction, and respect their own benefit or grace rather than their country's good, yea the country people themselves will every one stand for the great man, their Lord or neighbour, or master, without regard of his honesty, wisdom, or religion. That which they aim at (as I am assured of by faithful intelligence) is to please their landlords & to renew their lease, in which regard they will betray their Country and religion too, & elect any man that may most profit their particular. Therefore it is unlikely there should ever be a Parliament, & impossible the King's debts should be paid, his wants sufficiently repaired, and himself left full handed by such a course, & indeed as it is generally thought) by any other course but by a marriage with us. For which cause whatsoever project we list to attempt, enters safely at that door, whilst their policy lies a sleep and will not see the danger, I have made trial of these particulars, and found few exceptions in this general rule.  
There by I and their own wants together have kept them from furnishing their Navy, which being the wall of their Hand, & once the strongest in Christendom lies now at road unarmed & fit for ruin. If ever we doubted their strength by sea, now we need not, there are but few ships or men able to look abroad or to live in a storm, much less in a sea fight. This I effected by bearing them in hand the furnishing a Navy bred suspicion in my master & so would avert his mind from this match, the hope of which rather than they would lose, they would lose almost their hope of heaven.  
Secondly all their voyages to the East Indies I permit rather with a colourable resistance than a serious. Because I see them not helpful but hurtful to the state in general, carrying out gold and silver bringing home spece, silks, feathers, and the like toys, and insensible wasting the common stock of coin and bullion, whilst it fills the Custom house and some private purses. who thereby are enable to keep this discommodity on foot by bribes; especially so many great persons (even Statesmen) being ventures and sharers in the gain. Besides this wasteth their Mariners, not one of ten returning. Which I am glad to hear, for they are the men we stand in fear of.  
3. As for their West indian voyages, I withstand them in earnst because they begin to inhabit there and to fortify themselves; and may in time there perhaps raise an other England to withstand our new Spain in America, as this old England opposeth our present State, and clouds the glorious extent thereof in Europe. Besides there they trade for commodities without waist of their treasure, & often return go●ld for knives, glasies, or the like trifles, and that without such loss of their Mariners as in other places. Therefore I crossed whatsoever intendments were projected for Virginea or the Bermudas; because I see they may be hereafter really help full unto them, as now they serve for drains to unload their populous State, which else would overflow its own banks by continuance of peace, and turn head upon itself or make a body fit for any rebellion.  
And so fare I prevailed herein, as I caused most of the Recusants who were sharers to withdraw their ventures & discourage the work, so that beside private persons unable to effect much, nothing was done by the public purse. And we know by experience such voyages and plantations are not effected without great means to sustain great difficluties, and with an unwearied resolution and power, to meet all hazards and disasters with strong helps and continual supplies, or else the undertaking proves idle.  
4. Fourthly. By this means likewise I kept the voluntary forces from Venice, till it was almost too late to set out. And had a hope that work of seacrecy should have broken forth to action, before these could have arrived to secure them.  
5. Fiftly, I put hard for the Cautionary towns (which our late King Philip of happy memory so aimed at, accounting them the keys of the low Countries) that they might be delivered to his Catholic Majesty as the proper owner. And had perhaps prevailed, but that the professed enemy to our State and Church, who died shortly after, gave counsel to restore them to the rebellious States; as one that knew Povillar Common wealths to be better neighbours, surer friends, and less dangerous enemies, than Monarchies; and so by his practice rescued them from my hands, and furnished the exchequer from thence for that tyme. Neither was I much greeved at this; because the Dependency they had before of the English seemed now to be cut off, and the interest the English had in them and their cause to be taken away, which must be sully and finally effected before we can hope either to conquer them or England, who holding together are too strong for the world at sea, & therefore must be disunited, before they can be overcome. This point of State is acknowledged by our most experienced Petioner and sure friund Monsieur Barnevelt, whose succeeding plots to this end, shall bear witness for the depth of his judgement.  
6. But the last service I did for the State, was not the least; when I underwrought that admirable Engine Raleigh, and so was the cause his voyage (threatening so much danger and damage to us) was overthrown, and himself returning in disgrace, I pursued almost to death, neither (I hope) need I say almost, if all things hit right, and all strings hold. But the determination of my commission, would not permit me longer to stay to follow him to execution, which I desired the rather, that by concession I might have wrung from the inconsiderate English, an acknowledgement of my masters right in those places, punishing him for attempting there, though they might prescribe for the first foot, And this I did to stop their mouths hereafter, and because I would quench the heat & valour of that nation, that none should dare hereafter to undertake the like, or be so hardy as to look at our sea, or breathe upon our Coasts. And lastly because I would bring to an ignominious death, that old Pirate, who is one of the last now living, bred under that deceased English Virago, and by her fleshed in our blood and ruin. To do this I had many Agents, first diverse Courtiers who were hungry and gaped wide for Spanish gold; secondly some that bore him at the heart for inveterate quarrels; Thirdly some foreigners who having in vain sought the Elixir hitherto, hope to find it in his head; Fourthly all men of the Romish faith who are of the Spanish faction, and would have been my bloodhounds, to hunt him or any such to death willingly, as persons hating the prosperity of their Country, and the valour, worth, and wit of their own nation, in respect of us and our Catholic cause; Lastly I left behind me such an instrument composed artificially of a secular understanding and a religious profession as he is every way adapted to serve himself into the closet of the heart, and to work upon feminine levity, who in that county have masculine spirits to command and pursue their plots unto death. This therefore I account as done, & rejoice in it, knowing it will be very profitable to us, grateful to our faction there; and for the rest, what though it be cross to the people, or the Clergy? we that only negotiate for our own gain, and treat about this marriage for our own ends, can conclude or break off when we see our time, without respect of such as can neither profit us, nor hurt us; for I have certain knowledge that the commons generally are so effeminate and cowardly, as that they at their musters (which are seldom and slight, only for the benefit of their muster-master) of a thousand soldiers, scarce one hundred dare discharge a musker, and of that hundred, scarce one can use it like a soldier. And for their arms, they are so ill provided, that one corselet serveth many men, when such as show their arms upon one day in one place, lend them to their friends in other places to show when they have use. And this if it be spied, is only punished by a mulct in the purse, which is the officers aim, who for his advantage winks at the rest, and is glad to find and cherish by connivance profitable faults which increase his revenue. Thus stands the state of that poor miserable country, which had never more people and fewer men. So that if my master should resolve upon an invasion, the time never fits as at this present, security of this marriage and the disuse of arms having cast them into a dead sleep, a strong and wakening faction being ever amongst them ready to assist us, and they being unprovided of ships and arms, or hearts to fight, an universal discontentment filling all men. This I have from their mustermasters and Captains, who are many of them of our religion, or of none, and so ours, ready to be bought and sold, and desirous to be my master's servants in fee.  
Thus much for the state particularly, wherein I have bend myself to weaken them and strengthen us, & in all these have advanced the Catholic cause, but especially in procuring favours for all such as favour that side, and crossing the other by all means. And this I practise myself & give out to be generally practised by others, that whatsoever success I find, I still boast of the victory, which I do to dishearten the heretics, to make them suspicious one of an other, especially of their Prince and their best Statesmen, and to keep our own in courage, who by this means increase, otherwise would be in danger to decay.  
Now for religion, and for such designs as fetch their pretence from thence, I beheld the policy of that late Bishop of theirs (Bancroft) who stirred up and maintained a dangerous schism, between our secular Priests and jesuites, by which he discovered much weakness, to the dishonour of our clergy, and prejudice of our cause. This taught me (as it did Barnevelt in the Low countries) to work secretly and insensibly between their Conformists and Non-conformists, and to cast an eye as far as the Orcadeses; knowing that business might be stirred up there, that might hinder proceed in England, as the French ever used Scotland to call home the forces of England, and so to prevent their conquests. The effect you have partly seen in the Earl of Argile, who sometimes was Captain for the King and Church against the great Marquis Huntley, & now fights under our banner at Brussels, leaving the crosses of S. George & S. Andrew for the staff of S. james. Neither do our hopes end here, but we daily expect more revolters, at least such a disunion as will never admit solid reconcilement, but will send some to us, and some to Amsterdam. For the King (a wise and vigilant Prince) labouring for a perfect union betwixt both the kingdoms, which he sees cannot be effected, where the least ceremony in religion is continued, diverse sharp and bitter brawls from thence arising, whilst some striving for honour more than for truth, prefer their own way & will, before the general peace of the Church & the edification of souls) he I say seeks to work both Churches to uniformity, and to this end made a journey into Scotland, but with no such success as he expected, for diverse of ours attended the train, who stirred up humours and factions, and cast in scruples and doubts to hinder & cross the proceed; yea those that seem most adverse to us and adverse from our opinions, by their disobedience and example help forward our plots, and these are encouraged by a factious and heady multitude, by a faint & irresolute clergy, (many false brethren being amongst their Bps.) & by the prodigal Nobility who maintain these stirs in the Church, that thereby they may safely keep their Church live in their hands, which they have most sacrilegiously seized upon in the time of the first deformation, & which they fear would be recovered by the Clergy if they could be brought to brotherly peace & agreement; for they have seen the King very bountiful in this kind, having lately increased their pensions & settled the Clergy a competent maintenance, & beside out of his own means which in that kingdom is none of the greatest, having brought in and restored whole Bishoprics to the Church, which were before in laymen's hands, a great part of the Nobilities estates consisting of spiritual lands, which makes them cherish the puritanical faction, who will be content to be trencher-fed with scraps and crumbs and contributions and arbitrary benevolences from their Lords and Lairds and Ladies, and their adherents and followers.  
But (quoth the Inquisitor general) how if this act of the Kings, wherein he is most earnest and constant, should so far thrive, as it should effect a perfect union both in the Church & Common wealth? I tell you it would in my conceit be a great blow to us, if by a general meeting a general peace should be concluded, and all their forces bend against Rome; and we see their politic King aims at this.  
True (quoth Gondamore) but he takes his mark amiss, howsoever he understand the people and their inclination better than any man, and better knows how to temper their passions and affections; for (besides that he is hindered there in Scotland underhand by some for the reasons before recited, and by other great ones of ours who are in great place & authority amongst them) he is likewise deluded in this point even by his own Clergy at home in England, who pretend to be most forward in the cause. For they considering if a general uniformity were wrought, what an inundation would follow, whilst all or most of theirs (as they fear) would flock thither for preferment (as men pressing towards the sun for light and hear) and so their own should be unprovided; these therefore (I say) howsoever they bear the King fairly in hand, are underhand against it, and stand stiff for all ceremonies to be obtruded with a kind of absolute necessity upon them, when the other will not be almost drawn to receive any. When if an abatement were made, doubtless they might be drawn to meet in the midst; but there is no hope of this with them, where neither party deals seriously, but only for the present, to satisfy the King: and so there is no fear on our side that affections and opinions so diverse, will ever be reconciled and made one. Their Bishop of S. Andrewes stands almost alone in the cause, and pulls upon himself the labour, the loss and the envy of all, with little proficiency, whilst the adverse faction have as sure friends and as good intelligence about the King as he hath, and the same Post perhaps that brings a packet from the King to him, brings another from their Abettors to them, acquainting them with the whole proceed and counsels, & preparing them aforehand for opposition: this I know for truth, and this I rejoice in, as conducing much to the Catholic good.  
But (quoth the Nuntio) are there none of the heretical preachers busy about this match? Me thinks their fingers should itch to be writing and their tongues burn to be prating of this business, especially the puritanical sort, howsoever the most temperate and indifferent carry themselves.  
The truth is my Lord (quoth the Ambassador) that privately what they can, and publicly what they dare, both in England & Scotland all for the most part (except such as are of our faith) oppose this match to their utmost, by prayers, counsels, speeches, wishes; but if any be found longer tongued than his fellows, we have still means to charm their sauciness, to silence them, and expel them the Court, to disgrace them and cross their preferments, with the imputation pragmatic Puritanisme. For instance I will relate this particular; A Doctor of theirs and a Chaplain in ordinary to the King, gave many reasons in a letter against this marriage, and propounded a way how to supply the Kings wants otherwise, which I understanding, so wrought underhand, that the Doctor was committed, and hardly escaped the danger of his presumptuous admonition, though the state knew his intent was honest, and his reasons good. Wherein we on the other side, (both here and with the Arch Duke) have had books penned, and pictures printed, directly against their King and state, for which their Ambassadors have sought satisfaction of us in vain, not being able to stay the print, or so much as to touch the hem of the Author's garment. But we have an evasion, which heretics miss, our Clergy being freed from the temporal sword, and so not included in our treaties and conditions of peace, but at liberty to give any heretical Prince the Mate when they list: whereas theirs are liable to account and hazard, & are muzzled for barking, when ours may both bark and bite too. The Council table, and the star-Chamber do so terrify them, as they dare not riot, but run at the stirrup in excellent command, and come in at the least rebuke. They call their preaching in many places standing up, but they crouch and dare not stand up nor quest, behave themselves like Setters, silent and creeping upon their bellies, lick the dust which our Priests shake from their beautiful feet.  
Now (quoth the Duke of Lerma) satisfy me about our own Clergy how they fare .. For there were here Petitions made to the King in the name of the distressed, afflicted, persecuted and imprisoned Priests, that his Majesty would intercede for them, to free them from the intolerable burdens they groaned under, and to procure their liberties: and letters were directed from us to that end, that you should negotiate this demand with all speed and diligence.  
Most excellent Prince (replied Gondamore) I did your command with a kind of command myself; not thinking it fit to make it a suit in your name or my Masters, I obtained them liberty to walk freely up and down, to face and outface their accusers, judges, Magistrates, Bishops, and to exercise their functions almost as freely altogether as safely as at Rome.  
Here the Nuntio objected, that he did not well to his judgement in procuring their liberty, since they might do more good in prison then abroad. Because in prison they seemed to be under persecution, and so were pitied of others; and pity of the person, prepares the affection further. Besides, than they were careful over their own lives to give no offence: but abroad they might be scandalous in their lives, as they use to be in Rome and Spain, and other Catholic countries; and so the opinion of their holiness which upholds their credit and cause (against the married Clergy) would soon decay.  
But the Ambassador replied, he considered those inconveniences, but besides a superior command, he saw the profit of their liberty more than of their restraint. For now they might freely confer, and were ever practising, and would doubtless produce some work of wonder. And beside by reason of their authority and means to change places, did apply themselves to many persons; whereas in prison they only could deal with such as came to be caught, or were their own before. And this (quoth he) I add as a secret, that as before they were maintained by private contributions to devout Catholics even to excess, so much more now shall they be able to gather great sums, to weaken the State, and furnish them for some high attempt, by the example of Cardinal Woolsey barrelling up gold for Rome. And this they may easily do, since all Catholics rob the heretical Priests and withhold tithes from them by fraud or force, to give to these of their own to whom it is properly due: And if this be spied, it is an easy matter to lay all upon the Hollander, and say, he carries the coin out of the land (who are forward enough indeed, in such practices) and so ours shall not only be excused, but a flaw made betwixt them to weaken their amities, & beget suspicion betwixt them of each others love.  
But amongst all these priests (quoth the Inquisitor general) did you remember that old, reverend, father Baldwin, who had a finger in that admirable attempt made on our behalf against the Parliament house? such as he deserving so highly, adventuring their lives so resolutely for the Catholic cause, must not be neglected, but extraordinarily regarded, thereby to encourage others to the like holy undertake.  
Holy father (quoth Gondamor) my principal care was of him, whose life and liberty when I had with much difficulty obtained of the King, I solemnly went in person, attended with all my train, and diverse other well willers to fetch him out of the Tower where he was in durance. Assoon as I came in his sight I behaved myself after so lowly & humble a manner, that our adversaries stood amazed to behold the reverence we give to our ghostly fathers. And this I did to confound them & their contemptuous Clergy, and to beget an extraordinary opinion of holiness in the person, & piety in us, and also to provoke the English Catholics to the like devout obediency, and thereby at any time these jesuites (whose authority was somewhat weakened since the schism betwixt them and the Seculars, and the succeeding powder-plot) may work them to our ends, as Masters their servants, Tutors their scholars, fathers their children, Kings their subjects. And that they may do this the more boldly and securely, I have somewhat dashed the authority of their high Commission; upon which whereas there are divers Pursuivants (men of the worst kind and condition, resembling our Flies & Familiars, attending upon the inquisition) whose office and employment it is to disturb the Catholics, search their houses for Priests, holy vestments, books, beads, crucifixes, and the like religious appurtenances, I have caused the execution of their office to be slackened, that so an open way may be given to our spiritual instruments for the free exercise of their faculties. And yet when these Pursuivants had greatest authority, a small bribe in the Country would blind their eyes, or a little greater at Court or in the exchequer frustrate and cross all their actions, so that their malice went off like squibs, made a great crack to fright children and new borne babes, but hurt no old men of Catholic spirits. And this is the effect of all other their courses of proceeding in this kind, in all their judicial Courts, whither known catholics (convicted as they style them) are often summoned and cited, threatened and bound over, but the danger is passed assoon as the officer hath his fee paid to him, than the execution goeth no further. Nay upon my conscience they are glad when there are offenders in that kind, because they are bountiful: and the officers do their best to favour them, that they may increase, and so their revenue and gain come in freely.  
And if they should be sent to prison, even that place (for the most part) is made as a Sanctuary to them: as the old Romans were wont to shut up such by way of restraint, as they meant to preserve from the people's fury; so they live safe in prison till we have time to work their liberty and assure their lives. And in the mean time their place of restraint is as a study unto them, where they have opportunity to confer together as in a College, and to arm themselves in unity against the single adversary abroad.  
But (quoth the Inquisitor general) how do they for books, when they have occasion either to write or dispute?  
My Lord, (replies Gondamor) all the Libraries belonging to the Roman Catholics through the land are at their command, from whence they have all such collections as they can require gathered to their hand, aswell from thence as from all the Libraries of both Universities, and even the books themselves if that be requisite.  
Besides I have made it a principal part of my employment, to buy all the manuscripts & other ancient and rare Authors out of the hands of the Heretics, so that there is no great Scholar dies in the land, but my Agents are dealing with his books. In so much as even their learned Isaac Causabons' library was in election without question to be ours, had not their Vigilant King (who foresees all dangers, and hath his eye busy in every place) prevented my plot. For after the death of that great scholar, I sent to request a view & catalogue of his books with their price, intending not to be outvied by any man, if money would fetch them; because (besides the damage that side should have received by their loss, prosecuting the same story against Cardinal Baronius) we might have made good advantage of his notes, collections, castigations, censures and criticisms for our own party, and framed and put out others under his name at our pleasure. But this was foreseen by their Prometheus, who sent that Torturer of ours (the Bishop of Winchester) to search and sort the papers, and to seal up the study: Giving a large and princely allowance for them to the relics of Causabon, together with a bountiful pension & provision for her and hers. But this plot failing at that time, hath of ever done so. Nor had the University of Oxford so triumphed in their many manuscripts given by that famous Knight S. Thomas Bodily, if either I had been then employed, or this course of mine then thought upon; for I would labour what I might this way or any other way to disarm them, and either to translate their best authors hither, or at least to leave none in the hands of any but Roman Catholics who are assuredly ours. And to this end an especial eye would be had upon the Library of one S. Robert Cotton (an engrosser of Antiquities) that whensoever it come to be broken up (either before his death or after) the most choice and singular pieces might be gleaned and gathered up, by a Catholic hand. Neither let any man think, that descending thus low to petty particulars is unworthy an Ambassador, or of small avail for the ends we aim at, since we see every mountain consists of several sands; and there is no more profitable conversing for Statesmen then amongst scholars & their books, specially where the King for whom we watch is the King of Scholars, and loves to live almost altogether in their element. Besides if by any means we can continue differences in their Church, or make them wider, or beget distaste betwixt their Clergy and common Lawyer, who are men of greatest power in the land, the benefit will be ours, the consequence great, opening a way for us to come in between, for personal quarrels produce real questions.  
As he was further prosecuting this discourse, one of the Secretaries (who waited without the chamber) desired entrance; and being admitted, delivered letters which he had newly received from a Post directed to the Precedent and the rest of the Council from his Catholic master, the contents whereof were to this effect.  
Right trusty & well-beloved Cousins and Counsellors, we greet you well: Whereas we had a hope by our Agents in England and Germany, to effect that great work of the Western Empire; and likewise on the other side to surprise Venice, and so encircling Europe at one instant, & infolding it in our arms, make the easier road upon the Turk in Asia, and at length reduce all the world to our catholic command. And whereas to these holy ends we had secret and sure plots and projects on foot in all those places, and good intelligence in all Courts;  
Know now that we have received late and sad news of the apprehension of our most trusty and able Pensioner Barnevelt, and of the discovery of other our intendments; so that our hopes are for the present adjourned till some other more convenient and auspicuous time. We therefore will you presently upon sight hereof, to break off our consultation, and repair strait to our presence, there to take further directions and proceed as the necessity of time & cause should require.  
With that his Excellency and the whole house struck with amazement, crossed their foreheads, rose up in sad silence, and broke off this Treaty abruptly, and without tarriance took horse and posted to Court. From whence expect news the next fair wind.  
In the mean time, Let not those be secure, whom it concerns to be roused up, knowing that this aspiring Nabuchadnezzar will not lose the glory of his greatness, (who continueth still to magnify himself in his great Babel,) until it be spoken, thy kingdom is departed from thee.  Dan. 4.