behaved with great politeness, and was received with much refpect: though, thro' the

means

upon already) according to the ftyle of that court, and the flow progrefs in all things of ceremony, might yet retard the Infanta's voyage into England many months, ⚫ all which would in a moment be removed by his high'ness's own prefence; that it would be fuch an obliga<tion to the Infanta herfelf, as she could never enough • value or requite, and, being a respect rarely paid by any other prince, upon the like addreffes, could pro⚫ceed only from the high regard and reverence he had for her perfon; that in the great affair, that only re<mained undetermined, and was not entirely yielded to, ❝ though under a very friendly deliberation, which was the reftoring the Palatinate, it was very probable that the king of Spain himself might chufe, in the inftant, to gratify his perfonal interpofition, which, in a treaty with an ambaffador, might be drawn out in length, or • attended with overtures of recompence by fome new ⚫ conceffions, which would create new difficulties; however, that the mediation could not but be frankly ⚫ undertaken by the Infanta herself, who would ambitioufly make it her work, to pay a part of her great debt to the prince; and that he might, with her, and by her, present to his majefty the entire peace and re⚫ftitution of his family, which by no other human means could be brought to pass.'

These difcourfes made fo deep an impreffion on the < mind and spirit of the prince, (whofe nature was inclined to adventures) that he was transported with the thought of it, and most impatiently follicitous to bring • it to pass (n).'

P. II, 8vo.

(n) ClarenThus having, with much difficulty, gained the king's don's hiftory confent, his highness, with Buckingham, fet out with very of the rebelfew attendants, unknown to the court, and through lion, vol. i. France travelled into Spain incognito. His arrival being Oxon. 1712. notified to that court, he was treated with all imaginable civility and refpect, and had part of the royal palace fitted up for him.

2

Whilft

(0) Howel's letters, p. 119, 8vo.

Lond. 1705.

(p) Id. p.

20, 21.

means of his favourite, the match was broke off, and a quarrel enfued between the two nations.

Some

Whilft in Spain, he fhewed his gallantry; for underftanding that the Infanta was used to go fome mornings to the Casa da Campo, a fummer-house of the 6 king's on the other fide of the river, to gather Maydew, he rofe early, and, accompanied with one gen'tleman, went thither, and was let into the house and into the garden; but the Infanta was in the orchard, ⚫ and there being a high partition-wall between, and the door double-bolted, the prince got on the top of the wall, and fprung down a great height, and fo made towards her; but the fpying him first of all the rest, gave a fhriek, and ran back. The old marquis, that was then her guardian, came towards the prince, and ⚫ fell on his knees, conjuring his highness to retire, in regard he hazarded his head if he admitted any to her company; fo the door was opened, and he came out under that wall over which he got in (o).' This adventure, so much in the taste of the Spaniards, with his watching an hour together in a close coach in the open street to fee her as the went abroad, the bravery of his journey, and his difcreet comportment, made them much taken with him, and fay, that never princefs was courted with more gallantry (p).' But the Infanta was not deftined for Charles; for notwithstanding the favour with which he was treated by the catholick king, notwithstanding the preparations made for a marriage, the wishes of his father, and his own fond defire and affection, Buckingham (such is the power of a favourite!) found means to prevent it. For his pride and haughtiness were disagreeable to the Spaniards, proud as they themselves were: his carriage was fcandalously indecent *; he difgufted the conde d'Olivares, and, in re

turn,

*In the Cabala there is a letter, ab ignoto, to the king, highly reflecting on Buckingham; and, among other things, his majesty requested to enquire of those that come out of Spain, whether the duke of Bucking

• ham

Some things being dropped by the duke in his narrative of the tranfactions in Spain, which

Lond. 1663.

8vo. Lond.

hiftorical

turn, was difgufted by him: and things were come to fuch an height between him and the Spanish minifters, that they fcrupled not to profefs, they would rather put the Infanta into a well headlong, than into his hands (q). The knowledge of these things highly dif- (2) Cabala, gufted the English favourite, who ceafed not to infpire the P. 98, fol. prince with fentiments different from thofe which occa- Reliquiae fioned his journey. Under pretence of the feafon's being Wottoniafar advanced, the uncertainty of the arrival of the dif- nae, p. 218, penfation from the pope, and the impatience of the 1672. people of England at his long abfence, he determined to Rushworth's depart; tho' not without leaving a proxy behind him to collections, finish the marriage. This being mentioned by the prince vol. i. p. to the king of Spain, he confented to his departure; 263, fol. adding withal, That he would take it for a favour if he Lond. 1659. • would depute him to perfonate him; and ten days after the difpenfation fhould come from Rome, the business 'fhould be done, and afterwards he might fend for his wife when he pleafed (r). Soon after, the king and (r) Howel's, letters, p. his two brothers accompanied his highnefs about twenty miles, and wonderful endearments and embraces paft between them. Prince Charles immediately went on board a royal fleet, which attended for him; and after having been in great danger in the road at St. Andero, fafely arrived in England, where he was received with the utmost

ham did not many things against the authority and reverence due to the moft illuftrious prince [Charles]? Whether he was not wont to be fitting 'whilft the prince ftood, and was in prefence, and also having his feet refting upon another feat, after an indecent manner? Whether, when the prince was uncovered, whilft the queen and infanta looked out at the windows, he uncovered his head, or no? Whether he were not wont to come into the prince's chamber with his clothes half on, fo that the ⚫ doors could not be opened to them that came to visit the prince from the king of Spain, the door-keepers refufing to go in for modefty's fake ? Whether he did not call the prince by ridiculous names? Whether he did not dishonour and profane the king's palace with bafe and contemptible women? Whether he did not divers obfcene things, and used not immodeft gefticulations, and wanton tricks with players, in the presence of the prince?' &c. &c. Cabala, p. 276.

joy

129..

which were thought to reflect highly on the honour of his catholick majefty, by his ambaffadors,

joy and transport. To tell your lordfhip what joy is here for the prince's return,' (fays fir James Palmer, in a letter to Robert earl of Leycefter, dated Roifton, Oct. 13, 1623,) no one man's expreffions can inform you, nor can the preachers in their fermons do enough (though (3) Sidney's 'all strive to outdo one another) in that kind (s).' But ftate-papers, tho' a proxy was left behind in the hands of Digby earl of vol. ii. P. Bristol, to amuse the Spanish court; yet orders were priLond. 1746. Vately fent to him, upon no terms to make use of it, till

357, fol.

P. 112.

further orders were received with relation to it. Soon after the prince's departure the difpenfation from Rome arrived, and it was concluded the marriage would be accomplished. But the immediate reftitution of the Palatinate was now demanded, though that was known to be impoffible, (however by the Spaniards not held unjust) who profeffed the defponforio's paft, the Infanta on • her knees fhould have been a fuitor to the king to re• store the Palatinate, making it thereby her act, and (t) Rushdrawing the obligation wholly to her (t). This breach worth, vol,i. of the intended marriage with Spain was highly acceptable to the English nation, who viewed it with horror; and therefore Buckingham was greatly applauded by all ranks of people, for bringing back the prince in fafety. The popular favour now enabled him to bring about what he had meditated before his return: for in fpight of James his mafter, and contrary to what was well known to those concerned in the transactions to be truth, he averred before the parliament, that the Spaniards never intended to beftow the Infanta on Charles, or get the Palatinate restored to his brother-in-law. To this Charles himself also gave his testimony, before the fame auguft affembly. Whereupon the parliament advised the breaking off the treaties; promised his majefty affiftance; and troops were immediately raised to recover the Palatinate. A rupture likewife with Spain enfued, to the great grief of his majefty: who, fays lord Clarendon,

⚫ when

towards the

baffadors, Buckingham's head was demanded by them; but he had the good fortune to be juftified by the lords, and praised by the king, though, as will appear in the note (u), (u) Note (D) he was greatly offended with him, and me- towa ditated his ruin. However, the Spanish ambaffadors were not difheartened; but found means (by a writing privately conveyed into his hands, as well as by their agents fecretly admitted into his presence) ftrongly to infinuate into the king, that he was befieged by the duke's fervants, and was no more a free man; that he was to be confined to his country-house and pastimes, the prince having years and parts anfwerable to public government; that the duke had reconciled himself to all popular men, and fought to raise an opinion of his own great

when he was informed of what the duke had fo confidently avowed, for which he had not authority, or the leaft direction from him, and a great part whereof • himself knew to be untrue, and that he had advised an • utter breach of the treaty, and to enter on a war with Spain; he was infinitely offended, fo that he wanted "only a refolute and brifk counsellor to affift him in de• ftroying the duke: and fuch a one he promised himself in the arrival of the earl of Bristol, whom he expected every day (w).' Bristol foon arrived, and as foon was (w) Clarencommitted; for Buckingham ruled father and fon, nor don, vol. i. was there a man could bear up against him. So vain a thing is it for minifters to rely on the favour or juftice of thofe mafters, who have meanness enough to fubmit to the rule of favourites, especially when destitute of sense, virtue and learning.

nefs,

P. 22.