the archdukes, to whom, "to the end that his majesty's intentions in it might be more apparent to the world's view," Salisbury had communicated his proceedings.

It is not necessary to follow Boderie in his narrative of the discontents which his jealousy of the Spanish interest occasioned. The French king constantly claimed a precedence, which the prejudices or the heedlessness of the queen sometimes gave to the ambassador of Spain.

A more important cause of offence was the refusal of Salisbury to enter into a triple league with France, and the Dutch, for carrying on the war against Spain, in case of the renewal of her contest with the States. Cecil made no objection to a general defensive league with France; he would not mention the United Provinces by namet, because he might thereby tempt the states-general, in which prince Maurice had a strong party for war, to reject all overtures for peace.

This refusal to include the Dutch, was given after a reference to James himself; but France ascribed the refusal, and not unjustly, to the fear of offending Spain, and would not enter into the alliance without the States; I own, that except for the specific purpose of maintaining the States, the alliance was undesirable. || Together with this alliance Cecil proposed a double marriage: Henry prince of Wales with the eldest daughter of France ¶ and the dauphin with the English princess. ** The French court now discouraged the whole scheme, but at all events proposed that only one match, that of the English prince and French princess should be accomplished.

A truce for twelve years was concluded in April

Salisbury to Cornwallis, 19th May, 1608. Winwood, ii. 399. Also 31st May, p. 406., and 30th June, p. 413. and 427. 429. 433.

+ Boderie, iii. 366.

Birch, generally favourable to Salisbury, blames king James (Neg. 296.) for this reserve," and for his extreme attention to money matters." I concur in the reasons given for the first, the latter was a continuation of the policy of Elizabeth.

Boderie, p. 413.

See Boderie, iii. 408.

Elizabeth, afterwards the wife of Philip IV. of Spain.

** Elizabeth, afterwards the wife of Frederic V. elector palatine, and ancestress of our Brunswick kings.

1609*, under the mediation of England and France, between the Dutch provinces, recognised as a free state, and the king of Spain and the archdukes. This was all that England could reasonably desire, and quite sufficient for her interests. Though it was not until after Salisbury's death that the final pacification was effected; the independence which he so much desired was effectually established from this time. That independence was with Salisbury an essential condition. He was aware that "there was not at that day any action upon which the eyes of all Christendom looked with so great and so jealous an expectation."+ His despatches, though they did not altogether reject the alternative of war, did certainly lean very much towards peace, nor does he therefore deserve any blame. And he at the same moment protested with much vehemence against the injurious representation of Richardot, the archduke's minister, that England would have abandoned the point of independence. What he says upon this subject is obviously sincere: "After some trouble, he could recollect no better ground for the imputation than his having dropped an opinion which might easily be justified §, that a single truce for twenty years would be better than a continued and fruitless discussion."

Besides the point of independence, the mediators insisted upon securing to the Dutch the trade to the Indies, from which the Spaniards pretended to a right to exclude them. Of this trade England and France gave the States a joint guaranty. ||

On the other hand, the English commissioners sustained the Dutch in resisting the Spaniards upon a point of which they had made a sine quâ non, which was then thought of great importance to England, as the

9th April, Dumont, p. 99 Winwood, ii. 474, 490-8., iii. 1-3. † Letter to lord Shrewsbury, 10th February, 1607. Lodge, iii. 346. Ib. 478.

See lords of the council to the commissioners, 8th October, 1608. Winwood, ii. 433.

Winwood, 11th March, 1608-9, 480. 488. 190. 401. iii. 1-3. Dumont, v. pt. 2. p. 110.

guardian of the Protestant interest. The States would admit no stipulation for tolerating the Catholic religion. And sir Ralph Winwood not only refused to join with the French minister in recommending the Catholics to this indulgence, but made his refusal a point of "his service to his God, and his duty to his king." There is no letter from Cecil on this subject; it is probable that he did not feel so strongly upon it as the English ambassador.

There is abundant evidence in the official conduct of Salisbury, that whatever might have been the professions of James, he had no leaning towards Spanish interests. But he saw very correctly one reason against quarrelling with Spain. "We may say freely to you that the Spanish king hath better means by the way of Ireland, to infest his majesty's estate de præsenti, than he can the French king's; (Ireland having a party to assist Spain) which were an ill accident, until his majesty hath taken breath to fill his coffers; where, on the other side, in France there is a party ready to oppose against Spain, even although they should be coldly affected to their natural sovereign.' This was one of

the grounds upon which the king declared "that in case the sovereignty should be granted without any other pernicious conditions, he dared not make himself the author of a new war by his counsel, whereof he knoweth not the consequence, nor could not assure the States of any assistance, other than shall be subsequent to a breach after a pacification, according to the contents of this treaty.

Surely these were the views of a practical English statesman; and we have seen that the Spanish court thought Cecil much their enemy †, and very hostile to the Romish religion. There were rumours not only in Spain, but in Holland §, of intentions on the part of

* Lords of the council, 7th August 1608, to Winwood, ii. 427.; and see lord Salisbury's private letter to lord Shrewsbury, 10th February, 1607. Lodge, iii. 347.

† And see Cornwallis, 16th October, 1608. ii. 440, 464,

Winwood. ii. 193. 202.

P. 264.

certain Jesuits to assassinate the English minister as their principal enemy. We have not much by way of answer from Salisbury to these intimations. « For myself," he said on one occasion to Cornwallis, "of whose danger by bloody practices you express your care, I can but return my thanks and commend myself to God's protection, and in that confidence assure you that I believe not all, only the more danger is set before me, the more zealous it makes me of God's and my country's service."

I cannot quit this correspondence between Salisbury and Cornwallis, without noticing one letter in which the minister rebukes the ambassador for the insufficiency of some of his reports. He thus prefaces his request of more precise intelligence: -"Although I receive from you many packets by which your care and diligence doth appear, yet, seeing that they bring not at all times that satisfaction which I could wish, not only because those things are not granted which we think just (which no way is imputed to you), but rather because you write so uncertainly of things that are visible in Spain, and of great consequence to us, I have resolved (out of my freedom which your affection deserveth) to impart unto you what I would wish amended; beyond which, be assured I do not go, being loath that you should at any time have cause to think (where I know you endure so great calamity) that I would not rather cover if there was anything amiss, than help to find it: so as therein you may be sure that I have so handled it, as that defect comes under no other man's observation."+ In what good part Cornwallis took this reprehension so worthy of a kind-hearted gentleman, will appear from the commencement of his answer. "Most honourable lord, God will, I hope, ever be pleased to give me grace rather to receive contentment in the reproof of the wise and virtuous, than in the song of the fool and flatterer. I acknowledge myself bound unto your lordship for many sun

17th August, 1606. ii. 253.

Salisbury to Cornwallis, 27th September, 1607. Winwood, ii. 340.

shines of your favour, yet (I assure your lordship) take none of them for so sure an argument of your good affection as this of your reprehension; especially coming so naturally and out of so clean an air, and so much promising continuance of the former fair weather that I have enjoyed.

66

My good lord, I cannot but acknowledge that, in this service, for which I never thought or said myself to have any aptness, I have out of mere inabilities committed many errors; but your lordship's love have hitherto covered the multitude of my misprisions; and your noble nature rather compassionated than complained of the faults proceeding out of inevitable infirmity. Although so true and so perfect a glass hath represented my spots, as I should far forget myself if for such I should not acknowledge them; yet, noble lord, give me leave, I beseech you, with the waters of truth to wash them from mine heart, though infirmity, accident, and impossibilities to avoid them, hath laid an apprehension of aspersion upon my face.” *

In 1608, the lord treasurer † died; a few months before his death, this celebrated statesman and poet made a will, in which he noticed his principal friends and colleagues in the government: to each of the carls of Suffolk, Shrewsbury §, Worcester ||, Dunbar ¶, and North

* 14th October, 1607. Winwood, ii. 348.

† April 19th. Thomas Sackville, first lord Buckhurst, and earl of Dorset, ancestor of the duke of Dorset. Collins, ii. 119. Lodge, part. iv. 5 Till I found a letter from Cecil to Hickes in the Museum, I never heard that the family of this poetical treasurer were venal. "I am very glad you have chosen Mr. Greville, and I will do all I can for you; only believe me that in this place my lord treasurer's voice will weigh down, and being sought without him will never be had, for he will violently cross it. Go therefore, in anywise to my lady Glenham, give her promise of 100%, so she will win her father to you. You must tell Glenham that except you may assure me that her father likes of it, your best friends will not stir. She must deal so directly with the treasurer for the 1007, or else she may cozen you. For the 100. I will find a word to pay it, or 2007. rather than fail." No date. Lansdowne, vol. 88. No. 52. Lady Glenham was Anne, eldest daughter of Dorset, and wife of sir Thomas Glen. ham of Suffolk.

Thomas Howard, see p. 113.

Gilbert Talbot, see p. 73.

Edward Somerset, fourth earl of that name, ancestor to the duke of Beaufort.

1 George Hume, see p. 91.