that might ensue upon a war, though he know eth not what is aimed at in that particular, yet he is most confident, out of the integrity of his, own conscience, that he hath neither said or advised any thing but what befitted a faithfu! counsellor and an ambassador; which was truly to deliver his opinion as he understood it upon the present occasion: and as for the affirming that his majesty's quiet should be disturbed, and he not permitted to hawk or hunt, he remembereth not what discourse he may have had or written to any person how fit it might be, upon the being embroiled in so great a war, seriously to attend it, and make it our whole work: but as he is confident it will appear, that what discourse soever it may have been, it wanted not the true zeal and affection which he hath ever borne to the king's service: so he hopeth it will be found not to want that due respect and reverence, on his part, which he ought to shew to so gracious a master; neither can it be conceived, that the considerations of hunting, hawking, or ease, should be considerations worthy so great and prudent a king, to withhold him from a war for the good of Christendom and his kingdoms, if he should be unjustly provoked thereunto.

"IV. To the Fourth Article the said earl saith ;—That he did not any thing contrary to his duty and allegiance, or contrary to the faith and trust of an embassador, as by the Article is alledged; but did endeavour the service and honour of his late majesty, and no corrupt or sinister ends of his own, or his own advancement, as by the Article is alledged. And as for the conference which is pretended he should hold concerning the Treaty, that being told there was little probability that the said Treaties would or could have good success, and that he should acknowledge as much; and yet say that he cared not what the success thereof would be, but that he would take care to have his instruetions perfect, and to pursue them punctually; and would make his fortune thereby, or words to that effect; he doth not remember to have held any such discourse, though it is true, that the time hath been, many years since, when he thought the Match very unlikely to be effected, in regard of the unequal Answers which were given in prince Henry's time, and the unlikelihood of accommodating the differences of religion and faith. Further, as to the reviving of the said Match for his majesty that now is, that in the first he wished and advised a Protestant Match; but, in the duty of a servant, understanding that both their majesties really desired the Match with Spain, he did seriously and faithfully intend the service and honour of their majesties, and effectually endeavoured to procure their ends; and it is very likely he might say he would get his instructions perfect, and to pursue them punctually, as he conceiveth was lawful and fit for him to do; but for the latter part of this conference, that he should say he would make a fortune by it, or any words to that effect, he was in the year 1621, and ever since, of that rank and quality, both

in regard of his employment, fortunes, and his master's favour, that he assureth himself he did not; and dare answer so far for his own discretion, that it was impossible for him to hold so mean and unworthy a discourse.

"V. To the Fifth Article the said earl saith; -That he did not intend or resolve, that if the Marriage in the former Articles mentioned should have been effected, that thereby the Romish religion or the professors thereof should be advanced; or the true religion and the professors thereof discouraged or discountenanced, as by the said Article is alledged; nor did he, to any such end or purpose or otherwise, at any time, counsel or persuade the late king's majes ty to set at liberty the Jesuits and priests of the Romish religion; or to grant or allow unto the Papists and professors of the Romish religion a free toleration or silencing of the laws made and standing in force against them, as in the said Article is also alledged; but contrarily, upon all occasions, to the utmost of his power, did labour to prevent all the inconveniences in point of religion, that might come by matching with any princess of a differing religion; as well appeareth by a Paper of his own opinion, That his majesty should marry with a lady of his own religion, as hereafter mentioned in his Answer to the 7th Article: and for further proof thereof he saith, that in the whole Treaty with Spain he ever stood stricter in point of religion than by his instructions he needed to have done, as will appear by the testimony of sir W. Aston, and his dispatches 12th December 1622, and other dispatches, which he desireth may be read: and as for counselling or persuading to set at liberty Jesuits or priests, he utterly denieth to have done any such thing, as before he hath answered; although it be true that the embassage of Spain being far different from em- ~ ployments in other places, where there is a body of our reformed religion, and where his majesty hath kindred and allies, whereby his majesty's ministers may be informed of the necessary occurrents of state, without the help of a priest or Jesuit; but in Spain there being none but Roman Catholics, nor any other manner of correspondency or intelligence but by them, the ainbassadors must make use of all sorts of people, especially of Jesuits and priests; and to that purpose ambassadors thither have always a particular warrant under the king's hand, to treat and make use of priests, Jesuits, and all other sorts of men, unless it be such as be preclaimed rebels; and divers times the ministers employed in Spain, to gratify some whom they there employed for the king's service as he believeth, at their particular suit, moved his majesty to extend grace and favour to some particular friend or kinsman of theirs, being a Roman-Catholic and imprisoned in England; and this he remembereth to have happened to others, but doth not remember to have written himself to his late majesty in that kind : and, as concerning his advice and counsel to set at liberty Jesuits and priests, the granting to the Papists a toleration, or a silencing of the

lege in Oxon, (all of whom were his majesty's chaplains in Spain) as well for the frequent use of the sacrament, and constant profession and exercises of religion; and the testimony also of such catholics as are known to have been his ancient acquaintance and friends, and to examine them upon oath, whether either publicly or privately, in Spain or in England, they have known him in any kind to make shew, or so much as forbear upon all occasions avowedly to declare the religion that he professeth; and that the said Mr. Frewen and Mr. Wake, his now chaplains, may be also examined, whether in extremity of several sicknesses, whereunto he hath of late years fallen, he hath not ever settled his conscience with them towards God, and made a confession of his faith, resolving as befitted a Protestant and a good Christian.

must be of necessity for the exercise of her religion for herself and family, within your highness's courts, and thereby by degrees these two different religions shall grow to an equality of power; it will be great hazard and disquiet to the state, and not to be redressed without great danger, and courses of 'more violence, than is usual for this state to put in practice. But in case his majesty out of his wisdom and consideration best known to himself, hold it fittest that your highness match with France or Spain or any other catholic, either for that the present time affordeth no protestant princess, who is for years or blood suitable for your highness, or that 'cam in any considerable measure by the portion, supply his majesty's present wants, I then conceive that the match by which this ⚫ state shall suffer least inconveniency and cum'bers, and whereby his majesty's necessities shall by the greatness of the portion be the 'most relieved, is with Spain, if such a match may be made with such conditions of religion, as other catholic princes will contract themselves withal. Thus much I thought fit humbly to present unto your highness, for that I see my employment liable to the censure of many worthy persons, with whom, though I concur in my opinion, yet I seem much to differ from them many ways; for that it is more proper to me to be true to my master's ends and services, than by the declaring this, to procure their satisfaction: Only to your highness I thought fit to make this declaration, and shall be a suitor to you for your favour, as you shall see me really labour to put this in effect. And if his majesty shall, either upon motion of parliament, or any other 'proposition that can be made unto him, think fit to proceed with a protestant match, as I shall wish as well unto it as any man living, so, I hope, in such sort to manage the present business that I have in hand, that it shall rather much further, than any way cross or hinder it. But in case his majesty shall not be drawn to any proposition for a protestant match, I then conceive, that your highness both doth, and will approve, that I really and effectually labour to procure a match for your highness in Spain, upon such conditions, in point of religion and portion, as to his ma'jesty shall seem fit.'

"Besides which declaration of the said earl's opinion, he hath all his life, in all places, lived and avowed himself a Protestant, never having done the least act that was not suitable to the same profession; and that in all his foreign employments, for the space of fourteen years, of more than 500 persons of all qualities that have attended him, there was never any one perverted in his religion, save two Irish footmen, who in Ireland had been bred Papists: and he humbly desireth the testimony of Dr. Mawe and Dr. Wrenn, and of Mr. Sampford, one of the prebends of Canterbury, Mr. Boswell, parson of St. Lawrence in London, and Mr. Frewen, divinity-reader in Magdalen-Col

VOL. II.

"VIII. To the Eighth Article the said earl saith:-That he did not at any time, or in any place, endeavour to persuade the prince to change his religion, and to become a Roan Catholic, or to be obedient to the usurped authority of the pope of Rome; neither did the said earl, to that end or purpose, or otherwise, use unto his majesty, then prince, the words in the Article mentioned, viz." That the state of England did never any great thing, but when they were under the obedience of the pope of Rome, and that it was impossible they should do any thing of note otherwise," as in the said Article is charged: but the said earl acknowledgeth, that upon occasion of a letter, which came to his majesty then prince, putting his majesty in mind of the great actions of his royal progenitors in the Holy Wars; and that the great kings of those times did not only employ their forces, but, in their persons, went into the Holy Land; the earl believeth, that, by way of discourse only, and not otherwise, he may have said, that in regard of the difference of religion, it were of more difficulty to undertake such great actions now than in former ages; and it might well be instanced in the present Treaty of Marriage, wherein the pope's consent was to be obtained; and to this effect, and upon the like grounds, he was confident there were very many that have, nay few of nearness about his late majesty that have not often heard his majesty say, that he was the true martyr, that suffered more for his religion than all the princes of Christendom besides; instancing in divers particulars, but especially in that he could not match his children with kings of their own rank, without the pope's leave. But the said earl saith, That he never alledged any such thing to other purpose, than to shew that only conscience and love to truth, (in which regard protestants suffered much) and not any temporal respects, made us constant and zealous to the profession of our religion; by which discourses he ever attributed much to the sincerity and honour of the protestant religion; but never used it as an argument to persuade, as in the accusation is insi nuated. Besides, he conceiveth, that, by way

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