A Letter which Monsieur Desdiguieres Constable of France, hath sent to the King his Master, to persuade him by pregnant Reasons to make Peace with the Rochellers, and the other Protestants which live in his Dominions, and to show how necessary it is that the King of France enter in league with the Protestants and other Potentates, Princes and States of Christendom to make war against Spain to hinder the King of Spain from the universal Monarchy to which he aspireth. The lading of two Hollandish Ships which are come from Porto Ricco, which Town the Hollanders have taken in the West Indies. The censure and condemnation of a Book (lately written by a jesuite, De Potestate Papa●) by the Court of Parliament, which hath been since publicly burned at Paris. The strange death of Peter Cotton a jesuite. The new Admiralty which is to be erected both in Spain and the subdued Provinces of the Low-countries to the great hurt and damage of several Potentates, Princes and States of Christendom, unless they look in good time to themselves. Printed for Mercurius Britanicus. 1626. A Letter which Monsieur Desdiguieres Constable of France hath sent to the King his Master to persuade him by pregnant reasons to make peace with the Rochellers, and the other Protestants which liue in his Dominions, and to show how necessary it is that the King of France enter in League with the Protestants and other Potentates, Princes and States of Christendom to make war against Spain, to hinder the King of Spain from the Universal Monarchy to which he aspireth. SIR, THe Baron of Copet having informed me few days ago of the present state of the affairs of Rochel, and Arsen● the Extraordinary Ambassador which the States have sent to your Majesty, having added to it the dispatch which I send with this present, I have thought myself bound, both by reason of the importance of the matter, & in regard of the affection which I have had always to the good of your service, to supplicate and beseech your Majesty, that you will be pleased to find good that I show unto you, with all the respect I can, that although the obstinacy of this people is excessive, & that it seemeth that nothing can be added to their hardness, your prudence may nevertheless keep back the effects of the resolutions, which a just anger hath made you to 〈◊〉, and make you to defer them till an other occasion, to show the displeasure and discontent which you have conceived against them: for I assure you that it is as true as the light shineth, that if your Majesty will 〈◊〉 dissension to grow in your State, that he giveth the game won to the Spaniards, and openeth unto them the gate to the Universal Monarchy. It is you Sir that can hinder them from coming to it, and this same reason moveth all other powers of Christendom to rely upon yours: without the aid which they have, and expect from you in this occasion, all their resistance is in vain. And if according to the aim and scope of this common Enemy, the domestic occupation divert you from it, they shall be in danger to carry the yoke which they shun, and your Majesty's self shall put your State in ha●d to fall into great inconveniences. I writ 〈◊〉 this to excuse them in any manner, ●●ose disobeisance hath made them guilty, 〈◊〉 for as much as concerneth the Rochellers, 〈◊〉 not to condemn them with all the rigours of the World. For it is certain that they have committed a crime, of which after your Majesty, God hath reserved the vengeance unto himself. For I hold Sir, that they ought to acknowledge you absolutely, and with an obeisance without any condition, & that they are bound to do unto you all endeavours of good, and faithful subjects. But it is likewise certain, that as you are one of the wisest Kings of the World, you may use in this matter your Royal prudence, and practise this necessary course, which seemeth to be a part of the Royal Functions. Now forasmuch as concerneth your state, to kindle the war in the same, is to open the gate unto the Spaniards, and (I beseech you Sir) doubt not that they labour with all their power to increase it. The like causes have in former times brought it into such confusions that the end of them hath hardly been seen after the expiration of fifty years: The same hath at other times caused all the disorders & mischiefs, which could not otherwise be remedied then by the valour of the late king your Father. I doubt not but that amongst them which have the honour to come near to your Majesty, there are some which will labour to make suspect the advice and counsel which I give, and will metamorphose my sincerity into a secret support of the Rebels. But I give thankes unto God, that your Majesty will not be carried away with false impressions, which others will conceive to the prejudice of your Majesty's loyal servants. The time itself justifieth enough that my counsel have no other scope than your Majesty's service. But neither that which may he said to disguise and disgrace my faithful intentions, nor that which may be invented ●w●ll minded persons, who labour to make me unprofitable and unserviceable, shall ne●●● 〈◊〉 able to hinder me from giving your 〈◊〉 to understand (as I am bound) my 〈◊〉 mind: And I shall not leave to protest 〈…〉 my conscience) that such as will 〈◊〉 your Majesty to bear arms against 〈◊〉 and to kindle the war, which will 〈◊〉 become a general war, do neither w●ll maunsell or serve your Majesty. For al● it is believed, that it will come nei●●●● ●●ngued●ck nor in Guienne, the contra●● 〈◊〉 seen. And I am sure that your Majesty knoweth that which is done in one of those Provinces: In another occasion if they do not mend themselves, you shall always have the same power, yea, (if it may so be spoken) you shall have better means, and it may be that in the mean time they shall come to the acknowledgement of their endeavours. Moreover, I may say that your Majesty having achieved with glory the affairs of Italy, you may triumph at one time over two enemies; namely, the domestic and Foreign, in lieu that if you will rather expel the other, then subdue these, you shall lose the present advantages which never had any of all the Kings your Predecessors. It may please your Majesty to pardon me, and to attribute the freedom of my discourse to the affection which I bear to your Majesty. I expect your answer concerning this matter, and pray God that he will replenish you with all manner of graces and favours. Your Majesty's most humble most obeisant and most faithful subject, and servant, DESDIGVIERES. Turin the 24. of December 1625. The lading of two Hollandish Ships, which are come from Porto Ricco with good prizes. In the one Ship are twelve bags with 2400. Rials of eight. 1. bag with three pounds of Silver. 1. A Cross of Silver. 51. Chests with Sugar. 40. Last, or eighty tons of Ginger. 12 Hides. 23. Chests with Tobacco. 6 Chests with Money of Brass. 6. Basins of Copper. ●. Chest with Copper. In the other are 2200. Hides. 172. Bales of Ginger. 4. Double Chests of Sugar. 18. Iron Pieces of Ordnance. 1. Barrel with steel. 2. Chests with Frankincense. 1600 Rials of eight. The new Admiralty which is to be erected both in Spain and the subdued Provinces of the Low-Countries, to the great hurt and damage of several Potentates, Princes, and States of Christendom, unless it be timely prevented. I. SEeing that it is the mind and will of our gracious Lord & King, to use all means, which may tend and serve to increase the traffic and trading betwixt our Subjects of the kingdoms of Spain, and them of his Majesty's hereditary Netherlands, intending to erect and augment thereby both the old and new workmanships, and such as may yet be found out, and to further the sale of them which shall be made in those Lands, which are under his subjection: As likewise to hinder that the workmanships and merchandizes of the Rebels be not brought and sold in the Lands of Spain by deceit, or any colour, or pretext whatsoever. His Majesty hath found good and fitting to ordain, that all the goods, wares, manufactures and merchandizes of these Lands, shall be laden in the ports of the same, to be carried thence into Spain. II. And to do this conveniently, & with more security, and that the goods of Spain may in the same manner be brought into the Ports of the aforementioned Lands which are under his Majesty's subjection; his Majesty hath been pleased to grant by a Patent (dated Octob. 4. 1624.) to his faithful subjects of these Lands, both to them which dwell in Spain and here, that they may erect & make a Company for trading and traffic, under the name and title of Admiralty. III. That they shall have leave to arm, & set forth under the same name & title of Admiralty, in the first beginning of it, the number of 24 men-of-warre, to serve them in the aforesaid trading and traffic. FOUR In which ships only such shall have power to lad their goods, and none else, as shall have contributed to the setting forth of them, and be enrolled in the Company, or Admiralty▪ with this advantage, that the danger of the Sea and enemy, shall be at the general charge of the Company, upon condition, that the owners of the goods shall pay such a praemio or reward to the Company, as in reason shall be appointed by common voices. V It is his Majesty's will, that all the manufactures which shallbe laden or embarked in these Lands, in the ships of the aforementioned Admiralty, arriving in Spain, shall be esteemed and received as free goods, & true manufactures of these Lands which are under the subjection of his Majesty, so that in Spain there shall not be made any search, inquiry, trouble or hindrance to them, considering that the diligence and care which shall be taken in these Lands shall be accounted sufficient to avoid all manner of deceit. VI The same shall likewise be observed in regard of all other wares and merchandizes, which shall here be laden in the aforementioned ships of the Admiralty. VII. And no manufactures of these lands which shall not be laden or embarked in the Ports which are under his Majesty's subjection, but be sent through other Lands, shall be admitted into Spain, but to the contrary, be arrested and confiscated. VIII. To aid this design, and to ease the said Admiralty of the charges of the aforesaid ships, which it is to undergo, and to repair the damages and losses which may now and then happen, his Majesty hath consented that the Admiralty shall receive and take one in the hundred of all the goods which shall either come in or go out of the ports of Andalusia, and of the Kingdom of Granado, which shall either he carried Northwards, as namely towards France, England, Flanders, East land, etc. or be brought thence into the aforesaid ports of Spain. IX. Which one in the hundred, amounteth now (notwithstanding there is but little trading to about 90000 Ducats per Annum, and may be augmented and increased to 3. ● the hundred▪ when the aforesaid Comp●ny 〈◊〉 Admiralty shall be settled within this 〈◊〉 X. Moreover, his Majesty giveth to the 〈◊〉 Admiralty forty thousand of Ducats 〈…〉 the which sum, is to be found and p●●● according to the content of the said ●●●nt XI. And the Admiralty shall likewise have power to lay such a taxation and charge upon the goods that shall be embarked in these Lands, as shall be thought reasonable in consideration of the customs, charges, and impositions which the same goods are to bear when they are sent through France, etc. XII. Also, the fraughts of all the goods, which shall be transported to what place soever by the ships of the Admiralty, shall belong to the Company. XIII. Besides all this, it is the intention of his majesty, to transport to the said Admiralty, by a contract the Merchandizes called in Spvine, Mercaderias de Rey, as namely, Salt, Spices, Cochineil, Wool, Hides, and other, or such sort, and part as the Admiralty shall think fit to accept of, and all the gain that shall be made by them, shall be for the good of the company of the Admiralty. XIIII. Which several parcels of revenues and profits shall fare exceed the yearly charges for the maintenance of the aforementioned four and twenty ships. XV. Without making any account of the confiscations, & other advantages which his Majesty is granting to the said Admiralty, by the said Grant, or Patent. Among which advantages, it is no small thing to be accounted, that it is his Majesty's will and desire, that his subjects of these his obeisant Lands, and their children, which shall have part in this Company or Admiralty, shall be preferred to all dignities and offices, which shall be vacant in these Netherlands, and sort with their quality; if they shall demand them, & serve them in their own persons. XVI. In such manner, that they which cause themselves to be enrolled in this Company may expect both profit and honour. XVII. For the erecting of which the Netherlanders which are resident in Sivil, have made a beginning, by forming of their College (or Court) and in setting forth diverse good ships, for the service of the general Company. XVIII. So that to bring this Admiralty to a full effect, and a beginning of Navigation may be made, there wants nothing else, but ●at here in these Lands there be made a Company of all such as will come into it, and have their part and share therein, who may henceforth declare themselves, to the intent that out of them may be chosen such a number as shallbe necessary for the direction and administration of the said Admiralty, which shall have her chief College in the City of Antwerp. XIX. Which Directors or Deputies shall with the consent of the Deputies that are in Sivil, & after communication with the common participants in the Company, ordain a form and manner how they may keep their correspondency, and divide the profits of the said Company. XX. This being done to the full contentment of every one, and a good order made for the government of the said Admiralty, and not before, shall such persons which will be declared as participants declare how much they will contribute and lay in it, the which may not be less, but more than the sum of