51.
Vox Cœli, or Newes from Heaven, of a Consultation there held by the High and Mighty Princes, King Henry 8, King Edward 6, Prince Henry, Queene Mary, Queene Elizabeth, and Queene Anne; wherein Spaine's ambition and treacheries to most kingdomes and free estates of Europe are unmask'd and truly repesented, but more particularly towards England, and now more especially under the pretended match of Prince Charles with the Infanta Dona Maria. Whereunto is annexed two letters written by Queene Mary from Heaven, the one to Count Gondomar, the ambassadour of Spaine, the other to all the Roman Catholiques of England. Written by S. R. N. I. Printed in Elisium. 1624.
Votivæ Angliæ, or the desires and wishes of England. Contayned in a patheticall discourse, presented to the King on New Yeares Day last. Wherein are unfolded and represented manie strong reasons, and true and solide motives, to perswade his Majestie to drawe his royall sword, for the restoring of the Pallatynat and Electorat to his sonne in lawe Prince Fredericke, to his onlie daughter the Ladie Elizabeth, and theyr Princelie Issue, against the treacherous usurpation and formidable ambition and power of the Emperour, the King of Spayne, and the Duke of Bavaria, whoe unjustlie possesse and detayne the same. Together with some aphorismes returned (with a large interest) to the Pope, in answer of his. Written by S. R. N. I. Printed at Utrecht, MDCXXIIII.
These books were written by Mr. Reynolds, Viscount Fielding's tutor, and for so doing he was imprisoned. They displeased the king much.[35]
In a letter from John Locke to Carleton, dated July 11th, 1624, the writer says "A poor man is in trouble for printing a book called Votiva Angliæ; the Commission Court were about to liberate him, when the king ordered him to be remanded and to pay £1000 fine, as he was said to have gained £1000 by the book."
In or about the year 1626, Reynolds, who was then a prisoner in the Fleet, addressed a petition to the Council in which he stated that he was forced from France by order of the late king, and on his arrival in England was committed to prison for being the author of the "Votiva Angliæ," in which he deplored the loss of the Palatinate, and desired its restitution, which "every true hearted Englishman ought to wish and pray for;" and that he had been imprisoned full two years, during which time he incurred a debt of £300 for his maintenance; also that he owed sixty and odd pounds for which he was surety, and was threatened to be arrested for the same as soon as he was at liberty; and he concludes by praying for protection against arrest for one year.[36]
52.
A game at Chaess, as it was acted nine days together at the Globe on the Banks side. (By Thomas Middleton.) 1624.
The title is engraved, and contains figures of a fat bishop (the Bishop of Spalatro), a black knight (Count Gondomar), and a white knight (the Duke of Buckingham). For writing this play the author was committed to prison. In a letter written by Sir Francis Nethersole on August 14th, 1624, he refers to this play thus: "A new play, the plot of which is a game of chess, in which the whole Spanish business is taken up, and Gondomar brought on to the stage, is so popular that the players gain £100 a night."[37]
This play gave great offence to the king, for the players were very speedily called before the Council and forbidden to play until they had appeared before his majesty;[38] and on August 21st the Council sent the following letter to Secretary Conway.