CHAP. III. 1624. Nov. ness of James. Mansfeld was not to be used at Breda, it was difficult. to say how he could be used at all. Even if the French had been more than half-hearted in the matter, it would have been premature to send him into Germany without any previous arrangement with the German Princes. And why, the French ministers might well argue, should James object? Six thousand soldiers were already serving in his pay under Maurice against Spain, and why should not twelve thousand under Mansfeld do the same? It was perhaps hard to meet Unwilling the logical difficulty. But James drew a line between assisting the Dutch against Spain, and sending an independent force with the same object. He had fallen back upon the belief that he could escape a war with Spain after all. The fleet, which in the beginning of the summer had been gathering in the Spanish harbours, had been called off across the Atlantic by the news that San Salvador, in Brazil, had been captured by a Dutch force, and there had, in consequence, been the less necessity for proceeding hastily with the equipment of the English navy. Lest Spain should take umbrage at what little had been done, James explained to the Infanta's agent that the ships which he was preparing were intended to convoy the French Princess to England, and to make reprisals on the Dutch East India Company for the massacre of Amboyna. At the same time he repeated his assurance that Mansfeld should not attack Spanish territory.2 16 1 The Infanta Isabella, writing to Philip IV., Nov. 18, argued that the troops must be intended for Breda, for it was not the season of the year to begin war in Germany. The greater part of the troops would perish before they could reach that country. Brussels MSS. 2 This was probably said about Nov. 19. The declaration is printed without a date by Villermont, E. de Mansfeldt, ii. 242. The order for reprisals on the Dutch had really been given. Conway to Carleton, Nov. 4; S. P. Holland. THE PRIVATE ENGAGEMENT. 119 CHAP. III. 1624. Dec. 12. riage treaty When Ville-aux-Clercs arrived, his first task was to obtain the ratification of the marriage treaty. The King was at Cambridge, suffering from a severe attack of the gout. His hands were so crippled that, like The marHenry VIII. in his old age, he had been obliged to ratified. make use of a stamp from inability to sign his name. On December 12, however, though still suffering, he was sufficiently recovered to be able to join his son in ratifying the articles of marriage. Much to the discontent of the Privy Councillors, not one of the number, excepting Buckingham and Conway, were allowed to be present at the ceremony. engage There remained the private engagement to be The private signed: "I the undersigned Charles, Prince of Wales," ment. so ran the words finally agreed upon, "after having seen the promise of the Most Serene King of Great Britain, my very honoured Lord and father, and in conformity with it, promise on the faith and word of a Prince, both for the present and the future, in everything that is and shall be in my power, that, in contemplation of the Most Serene Princess Madame Henrietta Maria, sister of the Most Christian King of France, I will promise to all the Roman Catholic subjects of the Crown of Great Britain the utmost of liberty and franchise in everything regarding their religion, which they would have had in virtue of any articles which were agreed upon by the treaty of marriage with Spain, not being willing that the aforesaid Roman Catholic subjects should be disquieted in their persons and goods for making profession of their aforesaid religion, and for living as Catholics, provided, however, that they use the permission modestly, and render the obedience which as good and true subjects they owe to their King. I also promise, through kindness to them, not to constrain them to any oath contrary CHAP. III. 1624. Dec. 12. Charles's probable motives. Dec. 24. Suspension of the Re cusancy Laws. to their religion, and I wish that my engagement, which I now sign, should be attested by a Secretary of State."1 Then followed the signatures of Charles and Conway. It was not a transaction upon which they had any reason to be proud. The edifice of toleration, founded upon a breach of one promise, might easily be overthrown by the breach of another. But in truth neither Charles, nor Buckingham, who was the main instigator of his offence, cared about toleration at all. What they wanted was to make the French marriage and the French alliance possible, and we may well believe that they swallowed the necessary conditions without enquiring too closely into the possibility of fulfilling them. The explanation which Charles afterwards gave, that he had signed the engagement without intending to keep it, because he was aware that the King of France wished him to do so in order to deceive the Pope, finds no countenance from any source of information now open to us. Whatever Charles's motives may have been, the French ministers required him to act at once upon the engagement he had taken. On December 24 the Courts were forbidden to admit any further prosecution of the Recusants under the Penal laws.2 On the 26th an order was issued to the Lord Keeper to set at liberty all Roman Catholics in prison for offences connected with their religion. At the same time the two Archbishops were directed to stop all proceedings against them in the Ecclesiastical Courts, and the Lord Treasurer was commanded to repay all fines which had been levied from them since the last Trinity Term. For the future the fines, instead of passing into the Exchequer in the ordinary course, were to be paid over to two 1 Secret engagement, Harl. MSS., 4596, fol. 144. 2 Conway to Williams, Dec. 30; S. P. Dom., clxxvii. 39. RICHELIEU AND OLIVARES. who persons especially appointed for the All that he had asked for But the very concession to France as well as to 121 СНАР. III. 1624. Dec. Richelieu's If Charles had not strengthened his position by Value of the step which he had taken, Richelieu had still less success. cause to congratulate himself. He had indeed gained a great diplomatic success. had been conceded to him. was fraught with future evil England. If neither he nor Lewis had aimed at so much as had been aimed at by Olivares and Philip; if France had been content with the protection of the English Roman Catholics, whilst Spain aimed at the restoration of the Papal authority in England, even the lesser demand was more than one sovereign could wisely make to another. It introduced an element of discord between the two nations which would more than counterbalance the family connection which was about to join the two kings. The marriage treaty was the first link in the chain of events which in two short years was to lead to war between France and England. 1 The King to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dec. 26; The King to the Lord Keeper, Dec. 26; the King to the Lord Treasurer and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Dec. 29; S. P. Dom., clxxvii. 25, 29, 37 ; Banishment of Priests, Dec. 24; Rymer, xvii. 644. 122 CHAP. IV. 1624. Dec. I. Ville-auxClercs to ask feld might pass through CHAPTER IV. THE LAST DAYS OF JAMES I. To obtain from James the ratification of the marriage treaty was only part of Ville-aux-Clercs' mission. He had also to obtain permission for Mansfeld to attempt to succour Breda, and to contrive if possible to embroil that Mans James in open war with Spain.1 James, indeed, had already taken one step in the direction in which the Frenchman wished to guide him. On the 14th of James con- December he had issued an exposition of his former prohibition to Mansfeld. That commander was to ask leave from the Infanta to enter Flanders, but, in the event of a refusal, he was to force his way through the Spanish territory.' 2 Flanders. Dec. 14. sents. Further demands of France. As yet the name of Breda had not been mentioned either by Ville-aux-Clercs or James, though the relief of Breda was plainly intended by the French. James's difficulties were only beginning. He had been given to understand that Mansfeld would land in French territory, and that he was to march at once to the French frontier in order to demand a passage. But now Richelieu took alarm, or pretended to take alarm, at James's former declaration that Mansfeld should not enter the Spanish Netherlands. Before the interpreta 1 Ville-aux-Clercs and Effiat to Lewis XIII., Dec. 1, Harl. MSS., 4596, fol. 144. 2 Explanation by the King, Dec. 14? Ibid. fol. 187. |