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there, for feare to be fufpected here. Soe, when it pleased God (in the due tyme) to giue vs him, for whom we longed, (and with him fuch a world of happines and ornament, as hath made this Iland like the foun in the firmament,) I held it none of the woorft counfells for booth of vs, to dyfcontynew the ordinarye current of our former entercourfe, vntill fome further tyme might cleere and fatiffye fome vayne and hard impreffions of the grounds of our former correfpondencye.

It remayneth, therefore, now that I acquaynt you, that where a Booke was lately published here, intituled TRIPLICI NODO, TRIPLEX CUNEUS,' there is come from Rome a malicious Pamphlett in anfweare thereof; wherein (amonge other infolent and virulent arguments and pofitions) there is one paffage in it, wherein the Kinge our maifter is charged to haue written to the Pope and certain Cardinalls in her Maiefties tyme. Of which great fcandall, I haue thought it fitt to advertise you for diverse respects: First, because it is the dutye of everye honeft man (much more of men of place and qualitye) to imploye both oleum et operam for preservation of their Maifters perfon and fortune from scandall and false accufation, especially fuch a King, whoe accompteth his greatest strength to confift in his inocencye and finceritye, and in such a cause, as cannot pafs away in filence, without his Maiefties extreeme perill and preiudice. Towards which great and neceffarye woorke, on which his royall hart is foe much fixed, (and vppon foe iuft grounds); though it is trew, that (amonge other of his fervants) his Maiefty may expect from me more perticulerly then from any other, (in respect of my place,) fome fuch indevours as may further his royall

This book was written by King James himself, and the answer to it by Cardinal Bellarmine. Sir George Carew, the English Ambassador, writes from France in 1608: "The book that hath been published by the title of Triplici nodo, triplex cuneus,' was translated into French by some here, without my knowledge. But the Nuncio, hearing of it before it was fully printed, caused the impressions, by the Chancellor's commandment, to be forbidden. Tho' I guess at the author, yet, supposing there was good occasion for omitting his name, I thought it not fit to take any notice thereof publickly, without special direction. But I find that it is marvellously well received here among the learned men of this country, and specially Monsr. de V. and such like, so as I have written to a servant of mine in London to send me over some dozen or twenty copies of the same in Latin, or in French, if that impression be ended, to distribute among them here; for divers haue sent unto me for that purpose."-Sloane MSS. in the Brit. Museum, No. 4160, art, 144.

intentions; yet, (all circumftances confidered), I must be playne with you, my Lord, that I conceaue noe man can be of more vfe to him then you in this particuler. For which purpose I haue thought fitt to make you this dispatch, not doubting but you will willingly contribute to his Maiefties pure and iuft defyres, and cooperate with me, (that am your ould acquayntance and freind,) in the furtherance of the fame; the rather because it fhall appeare vnto you, as well in this particuler, as it hath done formerlye, that I haue been verye vnwilling to runn long in arere for any courtefyes with any man, or intend at this tyme to propound any thing to you, which fhall not be of as good vfe to you as to my felf, when you shall well examyne the fame. First, his Maiefty doth well confider, that there is nothing foe vntrew, but ferues the tourne for the tyme, vntill tyme and truth confute the fame. If this be trew, that his Maiefty hath done what is here reported, then must his Maiefty of neceffitye be held, (as he is the greatest King,) foe one of the greatest diffemblers. A wounde, (I dare vndertake,) more greivous to him then any worldly miffortune, especially when the least note or marke may be fett vppon him, for any weakneffe or doubleneffe in thofe thinges, which haue any afpect to religion or confcience. For avoydance whereof, there is but one of theife two wayes for him to take: the one, by fome difcouverye or correfpondencye from thence, to procure certayne knowleidge whether this be trew or noe, that there are any fuch lettres; and next, how the fame haue been procured, to the intent that the fact it felfe may be conftantly denyed, and the falfhood retorted vppon the authors, if this be one in the nomber of their legeons of lyes; or in cafe they haue any fuch thing to fhew, that there may be fome meanes for his Maiefty to come to the knowleidge of thofe that haue foe notoriously betrayed him, in contriving such a practise, which his Maiefty knoweth can be by noe other meanes then by fome furprifing him vppon fome fodayne, with infertinge thofe lettres vppon other pretences. Having now made you fee how our deare Maifters honor lyes a bleeding, and made you likewife know my owne defyres and ends, which are only to declare my felf noe lefs zealous then fortunate in this cafe, which concerneth him, whoe, for foe fmall meritts, hath multiplyed foe many more benefitts vppon me then is poffible for me to deferue, and by me is held

more precious, and more deare, (if nature can add more to mans affections,) then I carryed to my late Souverayne, towards whom my loue and obligation weare foe great; I think good to remember you of that, which you imparted to me foe particulerly at your being in England, when Sir Richard Preston was here after the 5th of Auguft, concerning the imployment of Mr Dromond and fome others, with lettres from the King to the Pope and the Cardinalls, for the preferment of the Bishop of Vefon, as well to confirme the truth of booth our conceipts at that tyme, that the fame might be gott, by fome practife, from the King; as allfoe to intreat you (that had at that tyme foe particuler notyce of all the circumstances) to acquaynt me by the next dispatch, with as many particulers as you can remember of that matter, ether concerning Dromonds part in it, or any other that had been bufye agents, in obtayning or carrying the fame; by whofe follye, if the King wittinglie had reposed any such trust in them, I remember wee were booth troubled to thinke what would be the effect. From which we fee now their mallice can noe longer hold them. Hereby you shall both add to me fome better grounds to fett my owne intelligence a woorke, and, if I iudg aright, doe noe ill service to your felfe, by making his Maiefty fee fome effect of your endevours, even in this particuler, wherein you haue not scaped fome imputation, by the charitye which some of your illwillers lent you at that tyme, as if you had been one that had dealt in the fame. I haue required this bearer to attend your pleasure, and retourne to me your anfweare, with all speed. And foe, wishing you health and all contentment, I end.

25 7bre 1608.

assured Lobmiye

your ad

LORD GRAY TO THE EARL OF SALISBURY.'

the world, and I think micht fay as mutch as trewlie in this for his Maieftie, as any now haith lyf, his Maiefties felf only exceptit. Bot my health is fo wariable, that I dare nether promit, nor attempt any fuch burding. Bot his Maiefties felf, with a litle cronologicall memoriall, can best informe in that erand of all within this yfl. I leawe, then, to forther occafion and better memorie the pedegre of this malitious defing; and haue anfuerit only to your Lordships firft point direcly, that fuch letteris they haue at Rome, at what tym receauit, and by whom. Now to the fecond, whither or no the maiter be trew or fals, appeirantly his Maieftie can beft refolwe that doubt; for I put it not in question bot he wilbe plaine with yow, feing God haith bliffit him (without all flatterie) with fupernaturall and not comoun wit, to fee as fare in his owin princely affaires as any that evir did rigne in Europe, and in being plaine, no errour can chance to a prince, bot ether may be redreffit or comlie excufit. This practise can not be baptifit a treuth, without his Maieftie, be willing knowledge, hawe accordit to the wryting of futch letteris, the fending of them, and wittingly hawe fignit them. If fo he hawe, then eafie for him is it to remember who gewe his Maieftie fo pernitious a counfell. And for his Maiefties exoneration, Sit malum concilium confultori peffimum qui peccauit in fuum caput: for, indeid, he haith mowit his Maieftie to that inconvenient which long was focht agenft his Maieftie, and yet could never be attenit vnto, nor none that ever haid credit about him durft hazard to motion; albeit it be verie weill knawin to my felf, that dyverfs practifes hawe bene lede for that propos, bothe in the tym I haid credit of his Maieftie, and in tym of my exill, and lykwayis fince.2 Bot for my

1 From the original in the Advocates Library. This letter is unfortunately imperfect, the first sheet being wanting.

2 The Master of Gray, while residing in Italy in 1599, had discovered King James's letter to the Pope, and transmitted a copy of it to Elizabeth.-Robertson's History of Scotland, 8vo., vol. 3, p. 139.

felf, I fand it his Maiefties only weill to follow a contrarie courfs. So I defye all calumnies to tuitch me in that or the lyk cace, and am weill affured his Maiestie will purge me to be cleir of any futch maiter; for I never inclynit once that way, nether in counfell nor action, fince the 83 [1583] that I enterit in the English courfs at his Maiefties commandement, wherin I wes the first that ever brocht it from doubtfulnes and hardnes to that amitie which did in end effectuat all owr happines. And if my fortune be to leiwe, I difpaire not yet to reapt for it my owin thankes: althocht, I protest to God, I am not invyous of any manis happines. Bot I retourne to this practife: if it be fals, one of two, ether a furpryfe, or then a plainly contriuit falfhead. If a furpryfe, eafie it is for his Maieftie to divine who could performe futch a hich attemptat, and who in the 600 [1600] yeir haid authoritie or place about him to do it, for it wes to great a mote for a petit compaigzeon to hawe fwollowit. And if his Maieftie find it a furpryfe, I am perfuadit, fo foun as it fhall come to the notice of the actor, he fhall condemne him felf as for alredy a hangit man, and fo his Maieftie is free. If it be altogither contriuit or conterfit, meitest it is, in my opinion, that all be keipit fecret, and a practyfe layd doun to draw Drommond ether into Scotland or England, which is eafie to do with his Maiefties only connivence, and fo yow fhall decover le pot aulx rofes. Bot my owin opinion is, that altogither it is fals and contrivit: For at my being in Chillinghame, when as her lait Maieftie without her offence wold not permit me to enter in Scotland, till once I fhould come bak to her, and then to go by fea, without any neceffarie ground mowing her to it (God knoweth and your felf) fave her owin pleafur, and I was lothe to displease her; and fo maid promeis and performit; at that tym my wyf came to Chillinghame to me, and at her retourne I commandit her to fay to his Maieftie, that he haid employit verie indifcreit knaifes at Rome; which fche feallit not to fay, Drommond then being in Scotland, bak from Rome: which, all being confiderit, makes me think, if it haid not bene altogither fals, his Maieftie, on the licht I fend him, fould hawe afkit Drommond. So my conceat carieth me to think, that the practifer heth abufit his Maieftie altogither. And if this be trew, his Maieftie then, efter Drommonds tryell, can eafelie not only decerne, bot lykwayis ley it af him felf cum

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