Baltazar Gerbier Knight to all men that loves truth

Baltazar Gerbier Knight to all men that loves truth

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BALTHAZAR GERBIER KNIGHT. To all men that Loues Truth.

COPIE AND TRVE TRANSLATION OF A LETTER VVRITTEN TO ME BY IAQUES D'ELDIMS, dvvelling in the street S▪ Leu behind La Rue 〈◊〉 Ours, a V•nneger house, dated 4 Apprill 1646, Puril.

COPIE AND TRVE TRANSLATION OF MY ANSVVER TO THE LETTER.

The Reader being come thus farre, may (if he please) remember againe vvhat is said in the first lines of these leaves. Iudgment belongs to God and to none else, for he saith Iudgment is mine.

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BALTAZAR GERBIER KNIGHT TO ALL MEN THAT LOVES TRVTH

BALTHAZAR GERBIER KNIGHT. To all men that Loues Truth.

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THe Diuine p [...]ecopts of Christ forbidd men to Iudge one annother, Iudgment belongs to God, and to none else; for he saith IVDGMENT IS MINE:

It pleaseth God to suffer my Parents to fly the bluddy persecutions in France against those vvhich the Roman Catholikes called then [...] My said Parents left and lost all for that cause;

My Father Anthoine Gerbier vvas a genthleman borne, and had a Baronnie in Notmandie; My Mother vvas Radegonde, daughter jn Ayre to the Lord of Blayet in Picardie;

I vvas borne; att Middelbourg in Zelandt, vvhence I vvas (by one of my Brothers) transported into France, and thence returned; and about [...] tuinty one past (in the company of Noël Caron then Holl [...]ndt Ambassadeur) into England; vvhere I applied myselfe to George Villiers, nevvly become fauorit to King Ieames, the said George Villiers, being immediatly after Baron, Viscount Earle, and aftervvards created Marquis and Duke of Buckingham.

My attendance vvas pleasing to him, bijcause of my seuerall languages, good hand in vvriting:, skill in sçiences, as Mathematicks, Architecture, dravving, painting, contryuing of scenes, Marques, shovvs and entertainments for greate Princes, besides many [...] vvhich I had gathered from diuers rare persons, as likvv [...]e, for making of Engins usfull in vvarre, as I made those vvhich might blovve vpp the Dike that stopt the passage to the Tovvne of Rochell, for it vvas on the same Modell of that of the Prince of Parms vvhen the attempt vvas on Antvverpe;

He did puts to me first, the contryuance of some of his habitations, to chouse fort him rarities, bookes, medals, marble [Page] [...] of mony, of vvhich I neuer vvould hane the managing.

I did keepe his Cifers vvith his jntelligences abroade, vvas sent by him (vvith the king his Masters aprobation) in secret Messages;

No sooner vvere those markes of trust obserued, butt malicious Ignorant persons made glosses theron, according the places vvere I vvas sent:

My first publike inployment abroade vvas a iourney into Holland, to meete theire an Eminent person from Brabant vvho vvas to make ouuertures from Spaine and Germani [...]e for the restitution of the Palatinat; I vvent att that same justant jnto Tessei and assisted Sr. Sackville Trevers, to gett cleere from the Eastindian Company theire dessigne vvhich vvas to stay him vvith the Shipp called the S. Esprit, vvhere vviht he made aftervvards for England:

My second jmployment vvas jn France, to expostulate vviht the Cardinall de Richelieu, concerning large promisses France had made to assist Count Mansfelt, vvhen king Ieames vvas mouued to engage him selfe on theire fai [...]e promisses againts Spaine; vvhich assistance prouued att last butt bare Cabinet discourses, and no reall engagement of that king nor Ministers of state: vvhich seemed to vexc Count Mansfelt art my returne to Douer▪ and semed to mouve him to desire that I should say to King Ieames, that he had keijes to make his one passage through France, iff the king vvould giue him leaue, though it vvas a question vvhether Count Mansfelt ment it, for he neuer had any o [...]ttaine promisse of a reall conjonction nor assistance of the french: his Tresorier then (for shovve) only did passe aquittances to the french; thereby to persuade king Ieames that the jntended vvare for the Palatinat should not vvholly lay on his charge:

I vvas aftervvards jmployed againe jnto Brabant, vvhere I vvas commanded to comune vvith the Marquis Spinola about the reconcilliation betvveene the Crovvne of England and Spaine, on vvhich secret conference the treaty vvas sett on foot; and pursued vntill it vvas braught to à conclusion:

I vvas jmploied jnto France to remonstrate the greate jnconueniencies of theire countenancing of the Spanish trade, for [Page] that theire shipping did transportte all the Spanish Marchandise, and thereby frustrated the king of England of those hopes (during the breach betvveene the tvvo Crovvnes after the desoluing of the tvvo Treaties of the Spanish match, and that of the Palatinat) the Spaniards might haue been pu [...]t to it, and thereby mouued to giue fitt satisfaction on the point of the Palatinat:

I vvas likvveise imployed by the King to remonstrate to the French King and to the then Queene Mother, the mistakes of the French Ambassador Monsieur de Blinuille; vvhen his men vsed violence on the Kings Officers, Constables and others that did theire Duty, to hinder the scandalous resort of English Papists att Durham house:

I did then deliuer to the Cardinall des Richelieu a letter of the Duke of Buckingham, vvhich vvas by some taken for the cause and begining of mis-intellgences betvvene the tvvo Crovvnes of England and France, because those tvvo greate fauorits did then declare theire ressents; vvhich vvere so violently vttered on the Cardinall de Richelieu side, as that hee accompanied them vvith unciuill glosses, vvho gaue ground to some licencious discourses, vvhich did so little vvorck on me (that had not other Northstarre then his Majesties seruices and my duty) as mouued mee to proceed as befitted a person sent on good grounds, and to make apparant to the haughty spiritt of that Cardinall that threats vvere to vveake to driue me from my byas, nor could his compliments aftervvards vvork any other effect on me (vvhen he desired my toturne) then to mouue me to heare him, and to relate his vtterances vvhich concluded vvith compliments that he contented himselfe to knovve the fame of a fauorit so great as the Duke of Buckingham vvas, but for him only to act the part of a single Minister of state; vvho did admire the povver of the Canon of an English Admirall, but that hee him selfe did remaine in th [...] humility of the Canons of that Church vvhereof he vvas a Disciple, and as those vtterances vvhere indeed butt flovvers of Rethorice, they coueted serpents, for he caused men to follovv me to the very port of Bollogne▪ vvhere the foldiers vvere apointed to ceasse on all my papers, butt he vvas disapointed, for I gott safe into England:

I vvas aftervvards commanded tovvards Spaine, on an invitatin [...] [Page] from that King and a Passe sent for my safe Landing▪ In any [...] of CANTABRIA, it vvas to proceede to the intended Treaty of reconcilliation betvvene the tvvo Crovvnes; butt an Irish blee [...]d Eyd Papist Priest vvas sett on by Mr. Endimion Porter to make the Duke of Buckingham beleeue that the Conde-Duch d'Oliuaras the king of Spaines fauorit desired the said Mr. Porter to be sent on that Treaty, vvhich prouued but a plot of the said Mr Porter, as apeared by his proceedings, for after he got the Duke of Bukinghams consent to go allong vvith them and the Abot d'Escaillie (then Amb [...]ssad from the Duke of Savoye) no sooner vvere vvee arriued at Bruxels butt the said Mr. Porter (vvith out knovvledge of the said Abot d'Escalie, lesse of m [...]e) repaired secretly to the Arch Duchesse Infame Isabells, and to Don Carlot Colom [...], to contrice his disguised passage into Spaine, vvithout the said Abot d'E [...]caille and my selfe vvich he undertooke after hee left me on my vvay from Bruxelles to N [...]mur, and his returne to Bruxelles, though he had neither Comission nor any letter of Credence, for I did pocesse them, therefore his said secret journey into Spaine prouued most ridiculous, and his appearance to that Court vvas taken by the Conde-Duca as an argument of vveaknesse in those that had sent him▪ that had no letters of credit.

It vvas from that instant that I became an Eye-sore to the English Spanish faction vvich vvas maintayned by the Lord Cot [...]inghton; some of them caused a most malicious and horride asperssion to be cast on me supposing by theire letters to the Lord of Carlile (his Majesties extraordinary Ambassador in Itallie in the yeare 1628.) that I vvas sent that vvay about (on a pretence to go to Spaine) only to kill him by the vvay; of which horrid asperssion the said Lord of Carlille vvas pleased to giue me notice; and on my just [...]essent declared in his Maiesties presence, that hee neuer had any cause to credit that foulle report: yet did the Authors thereoff continue their malice against mee by theire ill Offices during my Bleuen yeares Residency in his Majesties service in the Court of Bruxels; returning copies to the Spanish ministers off all the of most Important advertissements vvhich I did sent to the King and State.

And as those malicious persons seemed to ayme to haue me and myne distroyed in that Residency, they endeauoured no lesse than the distruction of his Maiesties seruice, his Interest honnor; [Page] that of the Nation, and the interest of the best and most assured Friends and Allies of the State of England.

This they did on diuers notable occasions: First, vvhen by their maintayning the Spanish, scarce any of his Maiesties subiects could get Iustice in the Admirallitie Courts of Brabant and Flandres, vvhen diuers of his Maiesties subiets might haue been timly releast, their perssons and goods freed from distruction, diuers of them suffered therein by the insolency of their aduersse parties fauoured by the Spanish faction in England.

Secondly, They crost many faire occasions concerning the Palatinat, by returning to some of the ill disposed Spanish ministers of state such secret aduertissements as I had sent into England and vvhich I had in confidency from the Emperors Resident, the Du [...]k of Neevv [...]g, the Prince Elector of Treue [...] ▪ and the Resident of Collen: The said English Spanish affected, aduertissed the Marquis d'Ayton [...] that the Infanta Isabella Arch-Duchesse had honnored mee vvith a secret declaration that shee vvould put Franckendall into the Queene of Bohemias hands. This they returned by one Iohn Taylier (an English Papist, vvho formerly had been by the English Spanish faction, imployed into Germanie) by vvhich auertissements the Infants for her good vvill tovvards the Queene of BOHEMIA vvas braught into question, and that businesse vtterly distroyed, vvhich then I did manifest to Old Sir Iohn Coke, then Secretary of State: and that I had vvitnesses hovv the said Iohn Tayler confest his faute for hauing conferred vvith the said Marquis dAyton [...], Contrary to his Instru [...]ions, receaued from the King and the Secretary of State▪ vvich he confest a month after his arriuall att Bruxels, that he had kept sir Iohn Cokes letter to mee in his pocket untill the said busines of Franckendall vvas distroyed, he said that the Cottintoniens had forbid him to go a long vvith me to the Spanish ministers.

Thirdly, They returned to the Court of Bruxels the Copie of a great dispatch vvherein I manifested to the King and to the Secretary of State all vvhat the Catholike States (both Spirituall and Temporall) had resolued in their trance, that those Prouinces vvere in hazard to be conquered.

By vvhich cetu [...]ne of Advertissement vvas vvrought the distruction of the famillies of the Duke of Ascot, Prince of Espinoy, Barbanson, [Page] Duke or [...] and o [...] Count Egmond: One Iean de Viualde (that had been Secretary to van-Malle for the Space of 1 [...] years in England) beheaded on the Marquet place at Bruxels, on the returne of such aduertissements as I had sent unto the State? His sentence in Dutch, bearing the vvords, Vitz. For hauing giuen aduertissments to a publike ministers of a Neigbour Prince.

All vvhich being become publix, the COTTINTONIENS ceassed not to countenance instances done for my recall from that Residency; vvhich the Marquis de Velad [...] and Don Alonzo de C [...] denas did vigourously persue, though his Maiestie did most graciously reject their motions, and vvith matkes of extraordinary exteeme of my fidelity, for he answ wared, it vvas not his custome to disgrace those that dit serue him vvill

Like ill VVillers as the COTTINTONIENS did likvvelse countenance many complaints against mee made by factiona [...]ls about Queene Mother. The Duke d'Elboeuf, and others vvho vvould passe into England against his Majesties vvill, vvhen the vvords of my Instuctions (signed by the Lord Dorchester, then Secretary of State) dit beare, that my [...] vvas in the Sca [...]l [...]e if any one of those dit passe to trouble the English Seas. As it seemed to be indeed vvhich vvay it vvent, since the factionaris about Queene Mother had those in the English Court, as vvell of the French [...] of the Spanish faction (and of others God knovvith) vvllo did sturre an inteconciliable hattered against me for hindering so great a Princesse as Queene Mother, to repaire in time vvhere shee might breath (att rest) the last of her dayes: In fine it proved that to free Queene Mother from such aduertissements as I could and did giue from the place of my Residency [...] factionaris about her ledd her avvay about into Holland, vvhore my confractor Sir Vvilliam Bosvvell could not stop her, though no ruine fell on him for her said passage into England, vvhere [...] selfe being returned I met a Sea of ill [...] of diuers factions, vvho duting my Eleuen yeares Residency at Bruxels, had taken occasion to except against my aduertissements vvhich spared none, nor of Church, nor State, for vvhat vvas manifested to me and by mee found true on the place I did plainely set dovvn, vvithout mincing any thing for feare of [...] nor for allurements, resolved to take things as God [...]evould have [...] [Page] [...], and to make due exteeme of the vvise saying▪ ‘Nolite cansidere Principibus, neque filiis hominum in quibus non est Salus.’ His Majesty indeed vvas often graciously pleased to approve my endeaviours, to expresse his satisfaction thereon, and I may say, (vvithout vanity) a truth, as a marke of my gratitude, that his Majesty vvas so gracious, as to say in publike, that of all those that did then attend His service abroad none vvas more diligent; this vvas vvritten to me by my predecessor Sir Iohn Finet, vvho attended the King at His dinner, vvhen the vvords vvere uttered.

Nor could I thinke so meanly of my indeavours, blessed by Gods assistāce in the discovery of many things, vvhich peradventure divers others vvould haue bin incapable off for vvant of Languages, but that I might have bin thought vvorthy of a better revvard; & better considered euen by the best friends of the State of England, since diuers of my advertissements to His Majesties principall Secretaries of State, did beare particulars vvhereby his best friends could be vvarned to looke to themselves, vvhen foure hundred thousand Crounes vvere disposed for the betraying of Mastricht, that engins vvere prepared against Be [...]gopzom. That one Triboulet, a Bourguinnon, vvas dispatc [...]t from Braban [...] to kill the French King Louis the XIII. All I got for my paines vvas a check from old Secretary Coke; to have named in my publike dispatch the Duke of Bullon, though his name and the thing became aftervvards publique in the streets of Bruxels, the check, I [...], vvas not old Sir Iohn Coke, but came from the English Spanish faction, vvho then constrained Sir Iohn Cokes pen to vvritte as they vvould have it. On the second, the man being discovered by the French King himselfe, a Gentleman belonging to the Duke de Chevreule vvas [...]ent to me, vvith thankes, nor did I looke for more since vvhat I could deserve vvas to put on that masters score, vvho I had the honor to serve. And vvho in conclusion vvas so gracious to mee as to confirme his satisfaction of my seruice in my letter of credence to the late French King, by the vvords, V [...]z. I Do RECOMMEND THIS GENTLEMAN [...] MASTER OF MY CEREMONIES TO YOUR PARTICULAR PROTECTION, FOR THAT HE HATH DONE MEE LONG AND FAITHFULL SERVICE.

This Letter of Credence I sued for, vvhen I vvas persuaded that I could no longer breath vvhere the Cottintoniens had any credit, since I did feele the continuance of their ill offices vvithout intermission [Page] That it vvas most knavvishly susteined to the King that I had de [...] ved to be heinged by my legs, for having to the Lords in Parliament (vvhen I vvas charged by them of my Consience) declared the names of those that did bettray the Kings affaires in forraine parts, though God knovveth I said no more then I could prove, and did but ansvver to the Question, for I never tutcht the string of others, and vvhose rest It vvas not my designe since to trouble; though my Iournals did beare vvhose Pensionnaries they vvere reputed to be, & vvhat Popish Priests vvere theirs. That it vvas likevvise most knavishly represented to the King (vvhen the Prince Elector Palatin to the hearing of Colonell Linzey vvas pleased at Yorckere the Standart vvas let up to request for my Licence, that I might be dismist of my Office to shift for my selfe in some other part of the vvorld) That I had been untrue to my first master the Duke of Buckingham, and this on a most bace, ridiculous and false pretence. VVhich no doubt vvas forstalled by a person, vvho in the Duke of Bukinghams time vvould once put me ill vvith the said Duke, and even at the same instant that he intreated me to get him preferred to a more neere attendance to his person, it vvas one Master Iohn Asbornham, since one of the grooms of the Bedchambre, it vvas for him I spake, the Lady Duchesse (at his earnest sute) required me to do it; I did it in her presence, that she vvas a bed vvith the Duke, vvho mistooke my speech and distickt it, for novv I [...]ust declare the truth (on vvhich I take God to vvitnes) it vvas vvhen the Duke had told me in private that he vvould have me in that place, Sir Sackville Crovv being then on point to be preferred to the place of Tresorier of the Navy. This office in favour of Master Asbornham, though to my one prejudice then, proved so little advantagious to me, as that it vvas supposed to the Duke of Buckingham that I had taken the Lady Porbecks part, to save her from the Officiers that vvould have carried her to prison, from a house in the Strand next to the Venetian Ordinary, vvere then the Savoye Ambassador did lay, and vvhere by accident I then vvas. It being in those dayes that the misunderstanding betvven the Duke and me vvas fomented, God of Heaven knovveth (to vvhose Tribunall I do appeale on that subject and to ansvver for all vvhat is contained in these Lines) that I had no to-respondence at all vvith the Lady Porbeck, nor bad seen her since the dayes that she lived in amity vvith the Duke and all the family of the Villiers. Not had the Abot d'Escaille any premeditated dessigne [Page] vvith her, nor to contribute to her escappe; as vvas supposed on a vvanton [...]-Loosnesse, vvhich vvas acted on a suddayne, vvithout any premeditation vvhen one of the Pages of the Ambassador vvas drest in a vvon as close Monsieur Bron [...], Sir Theodor Mayetnes brother in Lavv being then present and the said Page put in a Coach by the Abott d'Esrailles men, vvho finding the house vvhere the Abott d'Escaillie their Master lay to bee abused by a number of men that brake in to g [...] ouer a pall [...] of his guarden into a next house, vvhere the Lady Po [...]bech vvas said to Lodge, proposed to the Abott (being att dinner) to ridde his house of annoyance, for that his said men did conceaue that all the crevv vvould runne out of dores to stopp the Coach vvherein the Page vvas putt, vvho vvas found to be a Page in effect, as foone the Coach vvas overtaken the length of a street, vvhich did not att all contribute to the escappe of the Lady Po [...]beck, since the house vvherein she vvas remayned pocect vvith Sergeants and store of people.

All vvhich being examined and found true mo [...]ed the Duke of Buckingham to reconcile himselfe vvith the Abott d'Escaille, and to desire that the feast of reconcilliation should be att my house; vvhere the Duke vvas pleased tvvo dayes after to beseech his Maiesties to come vvith the Quene, to accept like entertainment because the manner thereof vvas pleasing.

The imposture, therfore, that I should haue been untrue to the Duke being Manifest, could not butt vvith tvvo much Audacity and busnesse be represented to the Kings most Royal [...] tvvelue yeares after that it vvas clereed, and his Majestie had many proofes of my fidellity and constancy to his seruice, for vvhich I haue many letters of his Royall hand to shue, and vvherein as before said his Majesties hath ben most gratiously pleased to expresse his satisfaction.

I vvas thus contayned to sue for my remoue from the presence of a greate King, in vvhose seruice and in that of the State) I vvould haue thought my selfe happy to end my dayes; yett my licence vvas refused to agreate Prince; vvho (in meere compassion) inclined to speake in my favour, vvhen all meanes of subsistance vvere taken from me, that the Secretary of State then Lord Fackland had hindered some Bishops of paying such monnie to mee as had beene by Tallies struck on them a yeare before, and for vvhich I had [Page] payed the fees in the Exchequer att vvestminster.

Being thus in an Instant deprived of all lively-hood and also frustrated of desbo [...]ssments made both for the transpottation of Queene Mothers trayne from London to Douer, and during the time of my attendance in the office of Master of Ceremonies (after I had consumed my selfe in his Maiesties seruice during my eleven yeares Residency in the Court of Bruxels▪ greate part of my arreares being [...] payed) No vvouder that I tooke then hold on the occasion to passe into France, vvhen I had obtained the letter of Credence as aforesaid▪ vvhich being about the time that a question vvas moved on as intercepted letter sent from London to Oxford fathered on me (though no man could proure the caracter to be myne not to haue his sent directly nor indirectly by me my said departure then did not (as it seemes) satisfy all those that heard of the said letter; not some that haue bin pleased to vent glosses theron; Though, I had to pleade on that subiect first, not guilty:

Secondly, That I vvas charged vvith a letter of Credence to passe a Compliment vvith a King vvho vvas acere the Angonies of death, as it proued; since ere I landed att Callis he vvas deceassed.

Thirdly, that I had a passe from the Parliament, declaring my libertie, to attend his Maiesties seruice, and this vvithout limitation of place; vvhen his Maiestie had full povver on me to command mee to go or to come; That my dependency vvas Manifest and publike; my attendance but a Coremoniall part, vvithout any relation to the dicipline of vvarres.

Fourthly [...] my going from London I vvas in no constraint nor vnder any guarde.

Fiftly, it vvas ten the ClocK in the morning vvhen I did embarke my selfe in the ordinary packett boate att Douer vvhereof one Master VVhi [...] vvas master vvho had Knovvne me many yeares before, I payed the duties, vvhich the Officers there demanded of mee: all men that vvere there did see my face, vvhich vvas not disguised by falce heare nor peruix. Master vvhit vvas at the starren of the Boate and I neuer vvent under deck to hidde my selfe.

Sixtly, that iff the letter could haue been proved to bee mine, yet could it not have argued mee to bee a dangerous man, since I had no voyce in chapter vvith either parties; that I vvas no instrument of the unhappy difference betvven the King and his People for vvhich [Page] I shall praise God vvhille I live; and di [...]rs of my publick dispatchs (vvhich I have made to the King and State during my Residency at Bruxels, as my Iournals can manifest) vvill prouve that I did faithfully relate hovv little the vvorld did reflect on His Majesties povver, so long it vvas not seasoned by an Harmonious concordance of Parliaments; VVhich vvas often cast in my teeth, VVhen I did incist (as my duty vvas, and my Instructions did beare) on the point of the restitution of the Palatinat; VVhich endeauours (besides the pursuance of His Majesties interests) lost me vvith some of the Spanish Ministers, as namely vvith the President Role, vvho vvhen I did demand Iustice for His Majesties subjests, and such possitiue ansvvers as I vvas commanded to put to him insolently questioned vvhetber the King had an Army of fifthy thousand man at his back: VVhich he [...]eered vvith disrespectfull VVords, vvheron I made a just complaint to the Infant Cardinall, vvho did blame the said President Rose for it.

No men vvill vvonder (as I do conceiue) that I did at last sue for my recall from that imploiment; as I did vvhen I had so long vvithstood the violence and malice of the Cottintoniens, vvho by these great Intelligence vvith the most depraued Ministers the King of Spaine had (some of vvhich the said King hath been constrained to shake of) all the good and solid Orders sent to me by His Majesties Principall Secretaries of State, vvere of no force; and all good indeavours destroyed▪ to the prejudice of His Majesties Seruice, Honour, and the reall good and greatnesse [...] the State of England.

No vvonder also, that I did sue for my said recall, vvhen the Kings ennemies made use of Spirits of Dil [...]ion to attempt on the Soules and minds of the first of my family, a perfecution vvhich (vvithout comparaison) Iob neuer felt, for his calamity did not follovv him from one Countrey to another: As sirst it begun against me in Brabant▪ It continued at my returne in England, and follovved me into France, as feemes to finish vvhere it begun vvith my Predecessors.

For no sooner had I gotten in France a Surintendance of an Office vvhich vvould haue proued vvorth to me many thousand pounds a yeare; but vvas pursued by factionnaries, vvho did boldly maintaine in Petitions presented by the Bishop du Puis to the Queen Regent, that She vvas Ipso facto excommunicated, for having conferred such an Office on an Heretique, as they terme all that are not of the Church of Rome: This vvas pursued by libels and mischie [...] [Page] contrivances; in vvhich English Papists had part, as especially those vvho impudently, and most falcoly, did sustaine me to be the man who crost all the King of great Brittains affaires abroad, alledging [...] other ground for their utterances, but vvhat I had openly declared to the Lords in Parliament concerning the Lord Cottington; and ha [...] during my being at Paris, one Sir Thomas Dishington had free accesse to me That the said Sir Thomas Dishingt on should have said that it vvas I vvho disuaded the Queen Regent from sending any Ambassado [...]r into England that had not left a good esteeme there; that the Queen Regent, being graciously pleased to aske my opinion vvhat person seemed most fit for that Ambassage, I said in ansvver (to her most gracious commands) that to me the Mareshall de Bassompie [...]e seemeed the fittest, being a peaceable, graue; good, and vvise noble man, vvho hauing once reconciled the tvvo Nations, might perhaps prou [...] a fit Minister for the reconciliation betvveen the King and his people. That the said Sir, Thomas Dishington had said, that the Lord Lanthian had departed as ill satisfied from the French Court as any man euer could; If I had not represented to the Queene Regent, and to the Cardinall Mazarin the true condition of that Lord; That I had likevvise procured a present of a golden chaine to the said Sir Thomas Dishington, and presented him to the Cardinall Mazarin, before his going for England, vvhich vvas in the yeare one thousand six hundreth fourty foure.

VVeake Objections indeed, and vveake grounds for Master VVilliam Crafts to proceede on, for the utter destruction of my familly, and to take hold on any other occasion to do me mischief, as vvas intended vvith a report that I had since my being in France corespounded vvith some that are not in good intelligence vvith the French: On vvhich point I vvas not bound to ansvver to any man liuing, for as I am a free man borne in Zeeland. It vvas free to me (being not ingaged in any seruice to correspond vvith vvhom I vvould) Yes cannot any man doubt of my Integrity, and Maxime [...] considering the profession I haue made during many yeares, my experience and the cruell persecutions vvhich I have suffered by those that are no reall friends to the State of England, vvith vvhome I vvould correspond (both in publique and priuate) if thereby I could doe good to the said State; because I and my familly haue liued there thirty yeares; that I am of the same Religion that the Church [Page] of England doth professe; and that I haue a particullar affection to the Nation.

For the bruited correspondence in it selfe, vvho, doth it concerne?

IT may concerne the satisfaction of th [...]se that haue [...] this [...] (if they please to confirme themselues in vvhat I do maintaine vvhich is TO TELL TRVTH,) to take the paines to reade the copie of a letter vvhich [...] vvritten so me, at my going from Paris, vvhere I haue novv these nine months, troubled my [...] about recouering three of my daughters, as yet detained from me in a Nunnery; contrary to the Lavves of God, of Nature, the Fundamentall Lavves of the Land; and of Nations in the sight of a most Christian Queens Regent; vvho as Her pious exemplary life, manifests Her to bee a machelesse Miror to all those of Her Se [...]e, and condition) [...] disobedience of Children [...] Patents, &c▪

COPIE AND TRVE TRANSLATION OF A LETTER VVRITTEN TO ME BY IAQUES D'ELDIMS, dvvelling in the street S▪ Leu behind La Rue [...] Ours, a V [...]nneger house, dated 4 Apprill 1646, Puril.

SIR,

I have thought fit to let you knovv, that Monsieur des Champs is come to me, from Monsieur de la Bernadiere and consorts, (Confrators of the Holy Sacrament as they terme themselves to bee employed to convert Huguenots and hath told mee that if you vvill become a Roman Catholicke, Reconcile your [Page] selfe to the Queene of England, and cast your selfe at her feet, it shall bee procured that all your affaires vvill succeede according to your desire.

It behoves you to knovv vvhether your desires and contentments can bee assured by this meanes; and if you do beleeve that your peace is easie to bee compassed vvith the Queene your Mistris; for my part I do give you this advise as it is put to my charge, to let you knovv the same, praying you to vvritte thereon vvhat you thinke fit, and your intention, that I may make Knovvne to have acquitted my selfe of this commission, so Kissing your hands, I rest for ever

SIR.

COPIE AND TRVE TRANSLATION OF MY ANSVVER TO THE LETTER.

SIR,

I do ansvver to your Letter of aduis, for vvhich I thanke you, though I stand not in need of any other Confraternity then that of Christians, vvho haue tvvo Sacraments Instituted by their Cheefe Christ Iesus, It's for that profession my predecessors have shed their blood [...] in the [...] of Monsieur [...], as you may reade: and for mee I have suffered for the same from my mothers VVombe, vvho fled during the persecutions against those of our profession.

And for vvhat concernes the particular title of Roman Catholike, I do ansvver, that the Christian saith all. That of Roman properly belonging but to him that'll borne at Rome, from vvheno [...], as said, seldome good men [...]

[Page] The proposed reconcilliation to the Queen of England seemes as strange to me as the proposed [...], hauing neuer offended her in thoughts, vvords, nor deeds; so that those vvho haue obliged you to notice theire propositions are vvholly mistaken in these tvvo points yet vvill I not forbeare to vvish them all good, and to commende you for your good vvill, vvhich obliges me to tell you that I am the more SIR,

Paris 6 of Aprill 1646.

The Reader being come thus farre, may (if he please) remember againe vvhat is said in the first lines of these leaves. Iudgment belongs to God and to none else, for he saith Iudgment is mine.

And a [...] by so doing, he vvill free himselfe of that just censvver vvhich those deserve that judge arnisse, so vvill he (by the reading of the follovving lines) be throughly informed of the just cause that justly moved me thereunto, and that I could not (vvithout proving criminall to my selfe) obmit to mention the passages contained in the former lines▪ For an Anatomist cannot proceed to the demonstration of the figure of the heart of man except he rips up the skin of the body.

Some kings and Princes (vvho are abused by pernicious) Councellors) vvill not stick to the Obseruation of the Lavvs vvhich they themselues haue made, not to those to vvhich they vvere svvorne, Butt abandonne them selues unto a Licenciousnesse to dispose of the Liues and pocessions of men: But none of them can dispose of the motions of the heart, nor of any mans good fame.

Iff theire be any peculliar Prerogatiue in this vvorld sure selfe defence in the least questionnable, it is the first Lavv of nature. Therefore all men are bound to conclude that those vvho do vvilfully assaille it do make them selffe unvvoorthy of the benefist of the Lavvs of God, the Lavvs of Nature, the fondamentall Lavvs of Empires, and of Nations.

To the heart I haue been vvounded, and attempts haue been made to my soule, and therefore no vvonder that I haue begunne these Lines vvith the names of my Parents, their birth, and their [Page] profession, likvveise vvith my birth, and profession; and consequently vvith some passages that must argue vvhat I haue profest, vvhiest in effet is the ripping upp of the first skin: On vvhich Spirist of Darknesse and Diluzion haue of late endeauioured to put such an infamous stayne, as neither Antiquity nor Moderne times can afforde amorē horride example.

All vvhich the said Spirits of Darxnesse factionnaris and adherents to Cottintoniens haue been contracted in the persson of Mr. VVilliam Crafts, vvho undertooke his taske, to pocesse divers Noble Famillies in Paris, vvith a most false opinion that my Daughters (detained from m [...] in the Nunnery) belong to others: This the Eldest hath declared under her ovvn hand, and that vvhen the said abominable false-hood vvas uttered by the said Master Craft, shee desired a friend to reprove him, he ansvvered it vvas to make her a fortune.

A fortune indeed, vvhich the most vvicked among the Headens vvould on such condition reject, and vvould for ever banish the vvord Fortune from their remembrance.

My selfe and a vertuous Mother proclamed the Keepers of these Children, to have spent their meanes, belonging to others, horride Monsters, that kept children from endeavouring their Salvation; and in conclusion by the said Master Craft's most false relations) become in the Opinion of number of Deluded persons a Monster, that should haue been capable to do that for vvhich I should justly deserve to be forsaken by God, and abhorred of all man-kinde; better had I never been borne, than to be coupable of such a crime; better had I lived all my dayes among brute beasts, and not in sight of the Courts of Princes.

My life hath been vvithout staine, no man ever savv me pocest vvith vvine, and sure no man can say that the place of my birth vvas destroyed by fire and Brimstone, and that I vvas driven vvith my family in a Cave: No man can say of mee (as the VVorld hath just cause to maintaine of the said Master Crafts) to haue svvarued from the Religion in vvhich I baue been borne and bredd, nor for any vvorldly preferments; Meanes to vveake to vvork on a Christian setled m [...]nde; I shall rather chouse to abandonne the Society of mankind, [Page] all vvorldly conforts; Nay, burry my selfe alive, than to yeeld to disordinate povvers; And had it not been the hopes to do some good on my poore seduced Children, I vvould not haue been moved neither by promises of SUFFICIENT ENTERTAINMENT ansvverable to my condition, nor by assurances of Royall favours, subscribed by Eminent Signatures, vvhich Monsieur Brasset the French Resident at the Haghe did peruse ere I vould sturre from thence in August last 1645 to returne into France.

VVhere (as said before) all my labours on my seduced Children haue proued like the vvashing of Black mores, my cares and paynes having produced to me but some letters vvritten by those blinded Virgins, but penned by their blind Leaders, for so theire arguments proues them to be, since they haue sett under theire one hand that they could not hazard to imitatte Ioseph vvhen he rane to his father Iacob to gossen to do theire last duty, but vvith hazard off theire SALVATION, and therefore sent only to me (at my departure) a vvorke Stilled, DISCOVRSE OF AMABLE BOVRZET, a Priest, vvho had dedicated a pack of mouldy ordinary tailles, (a nest of Cob-vvebs) to Prince Edvvard Palatin, Allas deluded Prince! as iff those Lines vvere to proue as fatall as the vvound Achiles receaued in his heele, and (though vvhithout comparaison of quality) consequently to stay me, that I might be vvraught uppon, or constrayned to render my Soule into the snarres of Monsieur Bourzet, vvho teacheth a most damnable doctrine, as disobedience of Children to Parents, especially in things in different; vvhich is to see and to heare Parents in a neuther place, according the Lavvs of the Land, VVhich do ordaine children to see and consulte their parents ere they take any religious orders.

All vvhich being finally seconded by the letter vvritten by Iacques d'Eldime (vvho dvvels as said before at a Vinnegar man behind Saint Leu, La Rue aux Ours in Paris) proued a most brutish farvvell; and a souer comfort, to the vvounded heart of a Father▪

BALTAZAR GERBIER.

Information about this book

Title statement

Baltazar Gerbier Knight to all men that loves truth

Gerbier, Balthazar, Sir, 1592?-1667.

Edition statement

1646

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A85934

ID [STC]

Wing G577

ID [STC]

Thomason E510_1*

ID [STC]

ESTC R205643

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99864963

ID [PROQUEST]

99864963

ID [VID]

117196

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A85934)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 117196)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 80:E510[1*])

Source

— Baltazar Gerbier Knight to all men that loves truth, Gerbier, Balthazar, Sir, 1592?-1667..

Extent

19, [1] p.

s.n.,. [Paris :: 1646]. (Imprint from Wing.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "May 26 Paris 1646".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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