vice: This the King forefaw might produce a War with Spain, which he was very unwilling to undergo that Engagement; and yet. his Council represented unto him how Heartbreaking a Thing it would be to his People to lose the poffeffion of fo great a Trade, and thofe other immenfe Advantages they had by that Treaty: And that it would be judged an irrecoverable Error in Policy if Portugal fhould be fuffered again to be fwallowed up by Spain. However, the King was refolved not precipitately to engage himself in fuch a Treaty as might be attended with fuch an Inconvenience, but to take time fully to confider of it; and this Delay the Portugal could not be pleased with, and fo the Ambaffador · return'd Home to his Mafter.

About this time the Houfe of Commons fent up a Bill to the Lords for the annexing Dunkirk and Famaica to the Crown of Eng land; which feemed to have the most univerfal Confent and Approbation from the whole Nation that ever any Bill could be attended with; yet the fame Confideration which retarded the Treaty with Portugal, made the King lefs warm towards the advanc ing of that Bill: and the Spanish Ambassador was as follicitous to obftruct it, as he hath been fince to obftruct the Match with Portu gal. This being the Cafe, and the Portugal Ambaffador returning with fuch particular Overtures to the King for a Marriage with the

Daugh

Daughter of that Crown, that both in refpect of Portion, and many other tranfcendent Advantages for the Advancement of the Trade and Empire of this Kingdom, the like hath not been offered in this Age: And His Majefty having received as full Information and Satisfaction in the Beauty and Excellency of that Renowned Princess, as can be had without a Personal Interview, (a Circumftance very rarely admitted to Princes,) it was not in His Majesty's Power to be without fome Ap probation and Inclination to this Alliance: Yet even then he would not truft himself in this great Affair, which fo nearly and fo dearly concern'd himself, and himself above all others; tho' the Benefit and Advantage could but appear the fame upon further Confultation, yet there might poffibly be fome Mischiefs or fome Inconveniences difcerned which he had not foreseen: He refolves therefore to call his Council, tells them fome Days before, that he had an Affair of great Importance to impart to them, and to receive their Advice in, and therefore appointed an extraordinary Day, that they might all appear, (and truly I think there was but one Lord abfent, who was then indifpos'd in his Health.) In this Council he ftated the whole Matter, all that was offered of Benefit and Advantage, all that occurr'd of Hazard or Inconvenience, without the leaft discovery of his own Inclinations, further than that you would have believed he had

feen

feen the Picture of his Miftrefs, it having been a Speech he hath often accuftomed himfelf to, That he would not Marry a Woman he had not fome reason to believe he could love, tho' fhe could bring him the Empire of the World. He did not conceal from my Lords what the Spanish Ambaffador had offered against this Marriage (who is not overreferved in giving Counfel, nor in communicating the Counfel he gives,) what Proffers he had made of others, what Threats of War in one Cafe, what advantage of Dowry in another; that he is follicitous for the Advancement of the Proteftant Religion, that he had offered feveral Proteftant Princeffes, to whom his Master fhall give a Portion, as with the Infanta of Spain. And truly, less than the Univerfal Monarch could not dispose of fo many Princeffes, without the leaft Confent or Privity of their own. His Majefty commanded all my Lords to deliver their Countel and Advice freely, upon a full Profpect of what might appear good and happy for his People, as well as for himfelf: Affuring them, as he hath done you now this Day, That as he never did, fo he never will do any Thing of great Importance without confulting with them. You will believe that my Lords of the Council are follicitous enough for the advancement of the Proteftant Religion, upon which the Welfare of this Kingdom fo much depends: But they were very appreBb henfive

hensive that the firft Proteftant Daughter that ever any King of Spain had, would not probably bring fo great Advantages to it as was pretended.

They have no mind to encourage the King to a War, we have had War enough; but they do not think he fhould fo much fear a War, as out of the Dread of it to be at the difpofal of any other Prince; and that when he hath freed his own Subjects from Wardships and from Liveries, that he should himself become a Ward to the King of Spain, and not Marry without his Approbation and Confent. They obferved, that in the fame Memorials (1 do not mean that which he laft printed, but a former) in which the Spanish Ambaffador threatens War if the King marries with Portugal; he preffeth very earneftly the delivering up of Dunkirk and Jamaica; and it is plain enough he would have that Recompence for the Portion he would give; and, in truth, whoever is against the Match with Portugal, is for the Delivery of Dunkirk and Jamaica; a War being as fure to follow from the latter as from the former, and from neither, till the King of Spain finds it convenient for himself, which I hope he will not yet do. I will not enlarge upon the many Reafons, the King had told you the Conclufion. There was never a more unanimous Advice from any Council, not one Diffenting Voice, in the befeeching His Majefty to make this Marriage, and to finish it

with all the Expedition imaginable. Upon this he fent for the Portugal Ambaffador, declared his Refolution to him, hath writ himfelf to Portugal, and is preparing his Fleet to fetch home our Queen. And I hope now he hath deferved all your Thanks, both for the Matter and the Manner; and that not only ourselves, but the Ages that are to fucceed us, fhall have caufe to blefs God and His Majefty for this Refolution that he hath taken, and that he hath declared to us this Day, and hath reserved for this Day, having obliged his Council to Secrecy, that he might himself communicate it to his whole Kingdom at

once.

There are fome other particulars of Weight, but he will not mingle them with this great important one, which muft fo much fill your Hearts and your Heads, but will referve them till he fees you again, after you have chofen your Speaker, which he now leaves you to do, and to repair to your House for that purpose, that you may prefent your Speas ker unto him at Four of the Clock upon Friday.