THE LAST

MEMORIAL OF THE SPANISH AMBASSADOR,

FAITHFULLY TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH.

London, printed for Francis Smith, at the Elephant and Castle, near the Royal Exchange, in Cornhill, 1681. Folio, containing two pages.

SIR,

DON

ON Pedro Ronquillo, Ambassador of Spain, saith, that, by a memorial, which he presented to your majesty, the fifteenth of December, he did set forth the infractions which the most Christian King hath made since the peace of Nimeguen, from the month of September, after the difference was agreed about the title of the Duke of Burgundy, which was alledged for a pretence to suspend the conference at Courtray, according to the fifteenth article of that treaty; in order to the adjusting in an amicable way all the limits, pretensions, and differences of the two crowns, which should result from that treaty: and your majesty was pleased by your royal order of the fifteenth of December, to order your envoy extraordinary, at Paris, to put in execution what was contained in the said memorial. By the last post, the said ambassador received letters of first instant, from the Marquis de la Fuente, who is ambassador at Paris, in which he gives an account of the complaints he had made to the Christian King, about the exces ses and infractions, which are committed against the inhabitants of Fontarabia, and in the Low Countries, and particularly about a message, which the governor of Tournay sent to the Prince of Parma, pretending, that not one pallisado should be laid at Bovignies, which incontestably hath been a separated state, and comprehended in the country of Namur. After many violent contestations, the answer of the most Christian king was, 'That he did not doubt, but that the catholick king would give order to his commissioner at Fontarabia, to proceed in the treaty, leaving each party in the possession, which, at present, they hold; as if a violent usurpation, under the surety of the good faith of the conference, could, in one day, be concluded to be an actual possession; that, for what relates to the Low Countries, he cannot abstain from taking possession of that, which, he supposes, doth appertain to him, according to what he shall declare at the conference of Courtray.' To this violent, as well as undecent answer, the Marquis de la Fuente, with the strength of the undoubted justice and reason, which the king my master hath, concluding he did not receive the same, not knowing how to impart it to his catholick majesty, and that he beseeched him to resolve what was just; to which reply it was answered: That he would consider it.' And, at the same time, his most Christian ma

jesty hath ordered his forces to enter in the Spanish Low Countries, to hinder the fortifying of Bovignies.

This proceeding doth exceed all limits, and cannot be reasonably endured; for the most Christian king will, by force of arms, be arbitrator, and command in the dominions of the catholick king, thereby hindering him, from fortifying a place, which is his own; when, by the article of Nimeguen, it is allowed to be done, by both parties. And when the French King himself hath made use of the same article, in order to have the course of the waters stopped, that they may not hinder the fortifying his towns; as it was more particularly done at Mennin, causing the river Lisse to be lowered, that they might, with more facility, fortify that town, a place, which was wholly open, and which, the French King is fortifying and enlarging in extent, much more than it was before: so that now, Sir, these are not infractions, but a declared war: The designs of the French being publick, that, they intend to besiege Luxemburg, and that, from thence, they will go to Namur, when the fact of hindering the fortification of Bovignies, which is upon the Mose, almost over-against Dinant, makes it clear and past doubt; especially, the most Christian king having possessed himself of all the towns, that are upon the river Mose, from Charlemont, and of the most part of the territory between that river, and the Sambre, in such a manner, that they have gotten almost all the country of Namur, as well as that of Luxemburg; and, thereby, those two provinces are left without communication.

By these infractions, and clear beginnings of war, the under-written ambassador doth apply himself to your majesty as a mediator, that you would cause what was agreed, by the peace of Nimeguen, to be observed; and as an ally, that you would defend it, and resist the violence of France; your majesty being obliged to the one, and to the other, by the treaties; in which consideration, he cannot omit saying, that although the frontiers of Spain by Cantabria and Catalonia are infested, and by the treaty of Cassal, between the French king and the Duke of Mantua, the dominions of Italy are in apparent danger, and no less the Indies, where Count d'Estre is with a squadron of ships, all which are the countries, that do compose the greatest power of the Spanish monarchy; notwithstanding this, his catholick majesty has postponed these his greatest concerns, to the defence of that little, which remains to him, in the Low Countries; although it be lessened of a great part of territory, which the French bave violently possessed themselves of, since the peace of Nimeguen, which hath been the only cause, that we have not been able to keep that country in a better posture; for each unjust usurpation, of the French, had broken the measures which were taken, and reduced us to seek others; and, therefore, his majesty hath already sent considerable supplies to Flanders, and appointed the Prince of Parma, governor thereof, as an experienced soldier, and one who hath been viceroy of several kingdoms, thereby to encourage those subjects, with these endeavours; and that they may be governed by a grandson, and of the same name of Alexander Farnese, whom, with so much love, they reverence.

All this, Sir, hath been done, in hopes that the union and interest

of England with Spain, will produce mutual effects of conveniences to both crowns; for no good Englishman can doubt, that, if there be no opposition made to the present great power of France, it is impossible, but that, in a few days, they should possess themselves of the Low Countries; and that the states-general should subject themselves, by reason of the impossibility of resisting the powerful. And afterwards, your majesty and England shall be the first in perceiving this mischief; to remedy which, it will be then impossible; and at present, nothing is capable to suppress these evils, but the power of England, at this time, the only in Europe, that can restrain the torrent of France. The differences, which are at present in England, do occasion these bold attempts of the French king, and encourage him in the continuation of his vast designs; upon the whole so apparent already, that there is no clear-sighted understanding, but will apprehend them. All the princes and powers of Europe, as also, his most Christian majesty, are in expectation of the success of this parliament, and of the agreement of England; the first, to take measures, in order to shake off the yoke, which they are like to be made subject to and the most Christian king hath also for a time restrained his ambition, and at present nothing doth encourage him to deliver himself up to it, but the differences, which he sees, breaking out here, giving it out as well within as without this kingdom,' That he is assured, they will not be reconciled; and that, in the mean while, he may make up the conquest of the Low Countries, which is the master-key of the universal monarchy.' And the first door, which he will open with it, shall be that of England, without further trouble, than that of maintaining the differences, with great promises, and with a small charge; and whatsoever he shall find most for his advantage, will be first invaded by him.

That this disunion is the chief encouragement of the design and enterprises of the most Christian king, in the Low Countries, is apparent; and there are so great proofs of this truth, that it is blindness not to see them and the ambassador will only acquaint your majesty, with one late instance, which doth manifest the same, which is, That his most Christian majesty sees the emperor is mak ing considerable levies; as also, the Elector of Saxony, and other princes of the empire; that the Electors of Bavaria, and Branden. burgh, have declared, that they will not suffer his proceedings against the empire, and the princes of the same, and that they will oppose it with all their power.'

His most Christian majesty, after so many violent answers, which he himself had made, and also his ministers, to all the princes of Germany, hath now answered the emperor's Envoy Extraordinary, That he doth agree in appointing a conference, in one of the imperial cities, to decide and explain the ambiguous points of the articles of the peace of Nimeguen, concerning the possessions taken in Alsatia; and that, as soon as the commissioners are met, the chamber of Metz shall cease its proceedings, and all manner of no

velty, and that they will hear such a person, as shall treat for the Duke of Lorrain. And, although it is evident, that this is intended to lay asleep the minds, as well of the emperor, as of the other princes concerned, and that they may cool the vigour of their preparations, which they are making for their defence, it is also known, that this is in order to work with more safety, against the Low Countries; for, at the same time, that he offers to suspend the attempts in the empire, he continues in possessing himself of all the Spanish open country, executing acts of open war, by hindering the fortification of Bovignies; which is the same thing, as blocking up of Luxemburg and Namur; so that it is made evident, that, if he saw the dif ferences of England appeased, and united to its own defence (for such ought to be reputed that of the Spanish monarchy, and, in particular, that of the Low Countries) it is infallible and certain, that he would moderate his designs, and limit his resolutions, as it appears he doth in Germany; seeing that the emperor, and all the body of the empire, do unite for its defence.

The ambassador doth very well know, that the agitation of this kingdom is great, and that the pretensions seem to be distant; but he is sorry, and it makes his heart bleed to see, that there is no way opened to an union; and, as there is nothing impossible in human things, his pain doth increase, seeing there is no step made to quench these heats. If England was not so much threatened with ruin, by the exaltation of the French, as the Low Countries are, the pretensions and rights might be followed to the uttermost point; but running the same fortune with the monarchy of Spain, because Flan ders is a battery to England and Spain, and the Indies the treasure of its riches, and the chief strength of its commerce, beyond all places, where this nation doth trade; and, therefore, it doth not allow that their interest should be considered as a foreigner, nor that the distractions, in which all are now involved, should be calmed by the same methods, which could be done in a secured tranquillity; so that the ambassador doth promise himself, that, considering these reasons, and that France being at this time a gangrene, which doth penetrate to the very heart of England, all grounds of differences shall cease, and that it will not, with its own ruin, involve the rest of Christendom in the same fate.

Therefore, the ambassador doth pray your majesty, that, as a mediator, or as an ally, you would effectually apply yourself to prevent the loss of the Low Countries, and consequently of all the rest, hoping from your majesty's great prudence, that you will make choice of the most efficacious means to that end, and to the establishing of the quiet of Europe.

HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

OF

THE CHURCH OF IRELAND,

During the Reigns of King Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Queen Mary;

Wherein are several material passages, omitted by other historians, concerning the manner how that kingdom was first converted to the protestant religion; and how, by the special providence of God, Dr. Cole, a bloody agent of Queen Mary, was prevented in his designs against the protestants there: set forth in the life and death of George Browne, sometime Archbishop of Dublin, who was the first of the Romish clergy in Ireland that threw off the pope's supremacy, and forsook the idolatrous worship of Rome; with a sermon of his on that subject.

Printed at London, and sold by Randal Taylor, 1681. Quarto, containing twenty pages.

The Reformation of the Church of Ireland, in the life and death of George Browne, sometime Archbishop of Dublin, &c.

EORGE BROWNE, by birth an Englishman, of the order of St.

der in England, being a man of a meek and peaceable spirit, was preferred to the Archiepiscopal See of Dublin by King Henry the Eighth, and consecrated, before his arrival into Ireland, by Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, two other bishops assisting him, viz. John, then Bishop of Rochester, and Nicholas, then Bishop of Salisbury, on the 19th of March, Anno 1535.

The Reverend James Usher, late primate of Armagh, amongst his memorials of Ireland, gives this holy father this description: George Browne was a man of a chearful countenance, in his acts and deeds plain downright, to the poor merciful and compassionate, pitying the state and condition of the souls of the people, advising them, when he was provincial of the Augustine Order in England, to make their applications solely to Christ; which advice coming to the ears of Henry the Eighth, he became a favourite, and upon the decease of John Allen, late Archbishop of Dublin, became his successor. Within five years after he had enjoyed that see, he (much about the time that King Henry the Eighth began to demolish the priories, abbies, and monasteries, formerly built by the Romish clergy within these his majesty's dominions of England and Ireland) caused all superstitious relicks and images to be removed out of the two cathedrals in Dublin, and out of the rest of the churches within his diocese; he caused the ten commandments, the Lord's prayer, and the creed, to be placed, being gilded and in frames, about the altar in the cathedral of Christ Church in Dublin. He was