British Library, Additional MS 29587
S ir Walter Aston Ambassador for the Kinge of
Furthermore he saith That the Kinge his maister hath
Comaunded him to giue Accompt to your Ma
audience wh
Carlos Colonna they vnder cloake and p
p
a very great coniuration against his p
dignitie. And it was,
That at the begining of the p
of Buckingham had consulted with certaine Lordes, of
the argumentes and meanes wh
the breaking and dissoluing of the treaties of the Pallati=
nate and Match; And their Consultations passed soe
farr, That if his Ma
to their Counsells, they would giue him a house of pleasure,
whether he might retire himselfe to his sportes, in regard
that the Prince had nowe yeares sufficient and parts
answerable for the good gou
The information was of that quallitie, that it was
sufficient to putt impression in him of perpetuall
iealousies; in regard that throughe the Ribbs of the
Duke he gaue woundes to the Prince his sonne and no=
billitie And it is not probable that they could bringe
to effect such designes without departing totally from
the obligation, faith, and Loyaltie wh
p
Culpable, as concealers: And it is not like that the
Duke would hurle himselfe into such an enterprise
without Comunicating first with the Prince and
knoweing his pleasure./
And because this Information might be made
more cleare, he did make many instances to the
said Ambassadors, that they would giue him the
Authors of the said Coniuration; This beinge the
sole meanes whereby their owne honor might be
preserued, and wherebye the great zeale and care they
p
instead of confirminge the great zeale they had
p
him consisted of Argumentes against the discouerie
of the Conspirators. So that for confirmation of the
examination of some of his Counsell of State and prin=
cipall subiectes, wh
take oath euery one p
comaunded that such interrogateries and questions
should be propounded vnto them, that were most p
to the accusation; so that neither partes, p
stance remained, wh
And he found in the Duke and the rest that were accused,
a cleere and sinceere innocency touching the Accusations
and Imputations wherewith they were charged./
This being soe he turned to make new instances
vnto the said Ambassadors, that they should not preferr
the discouerie of the names of the conspirators to the
securitie of his royall p
selues, and the hazard of an opinion to be held and iudged
the raisers of a plott of such mallice, sedition and dainger
But the Ambassadors remained in a knotty kinde
of obstinancie, resoluing to conceale the Authors./
Neuerthelesse afterwardes he gaue them Audience
Wherein the Marquesse of Iniosa tooke his Leave./
Few daies after they demaunded newe Audience pre=
tending that they had something to say that concerned the
publique good, and conduced to the intire restitution
of the Pallatinate. And the Kinge his maister, with
desire to loose noe oportunitie that might lead there=
vnto, and therewith the conseruation and confirmation of
the Frendship with your Ma
fewe daies to giue them Audience, thinkeing, that being
thereby better aduised, they would resolue upon a wiser
course, and declare the Authors of soe
Action: And haueing since made many instances,
and attended the successe of so longe Patience, He sent
Secretarie Conwaye and S
secretarie to the Prince, comaunding them, that they
should signifie vnto the Ambassadors, that he desired
nothinge more then the Continuance of the frendship
twixt both Crownes; And that if so be that they had
anything to say, that they would comunicate it to the
said secretaries, as p
sent to that end; And if they made difficultie of this,
wh
presently repaire vnto them: And if this likewise did
seeme inconuenient to them, that they would send what
they had to say to him in a Letter sealed vp by whome should
best seeme to them, And he would receave it with his
owne handes. But the Ambassadors misbehaueing them=
selues in all that was propounded the said Secretaries
according to the order wh
they being the Authors of an Information so daingerous
and seditious, had made themselues incapable to treate
further with the Kinge their maister, And were it not
for respect to the King his deere and beloued Brother,
and their maister, And in contemplation of their Con=
dition as Ambassadors of such a Maiestie, he would and
could by the Lawe of Nations, and the right of his owne
royall Iustice, proceede against them with such seueritie
as their offence deserued: But for the reasons aforesaid
he would leaue the reparation thereof to the Iustice of
their owne Kinge, of whome he would demaund and require
it./
In Conformitie whereof, the said Ambassador of the
Kinge of Spain great Brittaine saith That the Kinge
his maister comaunded him to demaund refaction and
satisfaction of your ma
de Inijosa and Don Carlos Colonna, making your
Ma
offence wh
the publique right, and expectes Iustice from your ma
in the demonstrations and chastisementes wh
Ma
sake with your Ma
vprightnes and goodnes ought to be accepted./
Furthermore, he saith, That the Kinge, his maister
hath Comaunded him to assure your Ma
till nowe he hath not mingled the Correspondencie and
frendshippe wh
faltes and offences of your ministers, but Leaves and
restraines them to their owne p
ines with your Ma
readie to giue heareing to any thinge that shalbe reason and
to answere thereunto, And when your ma
send your Ambassadors thither he will make them all
good intreatie, and receaue them with that Loue thates
due./
For Conclusion
, the said Ambassador humblie be=
seechteth your Ma
the care and tendernes wherewith the Kinge his maister
proceeded with your Ma
lidgeing them to precepitate resolutions, but giueing
them much time to proue and giue light of that wh
they had spoken, and besides openinge vnto them many
waies, that they might comply with their Authors, if
they had any such: wh
they might well haue giuen satisfaction to the Kinge
his maister, and moderated the so grounded opinion
of their ill proceedinges against the Peace and good
intelligence and Correspondence betwixt the
Crownes./ Madrid the 5.th August: 1624./