Almighty God, from our heart, to preserve you in safety, and to grant you all other happiness. From our palace at Hampton Court, the last of September, 1622. Prince Charles to the Duke of Buckingham.' Steenie, This day the Lower House has given the king a subsidy, and are likewise resolved to send a message, humbly to entreat him to end this session before Christmas. I confess that this they have done is not so great a matter, that the king need to be indulgent over then for it; yet, on the other side (for his reputation abroad at this time), I would not wholly discontent them; therefore, my opinion is, that the king should grant them a session at this time, but withal I should have him command them not to speak any more of Spain, whether it be of that war, or my marriage. 2 This, in my opinion, does neither suffer them to encroach upon the king's authority, nor give them just cause of discontentment. I think you will find that all 1 MS. Harl. 6987, art. 96. 24 It was strangely reported also at this time that the Spaniards had promised a restitution of the palatinate to the prince elector, which gave the king great content. It is possible that he, hearing of the successful proceedings of the late parliament, and how much the English desired war, fearing a greater danger, meant really to have performed that promise; but, hearing that it was dissolved, to the great grief and discontent of the whole kingdom, they grew secure of any great action to be attempted from hence, and so altered their former resolution, for to this day they could never be drawn to any such restitution."-Harleian MSS. those of the council that the king trusts most, are likewise of this mind. Sir Edward Cecil wrote me a letter from the army, of much stuff, but it was of fashion; the most of the letter was of reasons why the king should enter into a war for the defence of the palatinate, and trust no more treaties. But the end of it was, that he might be employed in it. Now, in earnest, I wish the gentleman well, but yet I would not have Sir Horace Vere (who has both endured so much misery, and so good service there) either to be discouraged or disgraced; therefore I think the king shall do well to employ Cecil, but I would not have him come over other's head. So, praying you commend my humble service to the king, I rest, Yours more than can be expressed, and as much as can be thought, CHARLES, P. James I. to Prince Charles and the Duke.1 Sweet boys, February, 1623. The news of your going is already so blown abroad, as I am forced for your safety to post this bearer 2 1 MS. Harl. 6987, art. 5. There is an early copy of this letter in MS. Harl. 6011. 2 Lord Carlisle. The consternation in England at the sudden and unexpected departure of the prince and Buckingham was extreme, nor was the public anxiety calculated to be subdued by the reports which were spread abroad, among the most mischievous of which was one that he had been inveigled to enter the Roman Catholic church; and, indeed, it will be seen that attempts were not wanting to convert him after he had been some little time in Madrid. James wrote as follows to the king of Spain I have sent you my son, a prince sworn king of Scotland; you may do with his person what you please; the like with myself and my kingdom-they are all at your service. So God keep you!" after you, who will give you his best advice and attendance in your journey. God bless you both, my sweet babes, and send you a safe and happy return. JAMES R. Prince Charles and Buckingham to James I.1 Dear dad and gossip, We are sure before this, you have longed to have some news from your boys; but before this time we have not been able to send it you; and we do it with this confidence, that you will be as glad to read it as we to write, though it be now our best entertainment. And that we may give the perfecter account, we will begin this where my last ended. First, about five or six o'clock on Wednesday morning, we wish to say, the first that fell sick was your son, and he that continued it longest was myself. In six hours we got over with as fair a passage as ever men had. We all got so perfectly well, when we but saw land, that we resolved to spend the rest of the day in riding post; and lay at Montreuil, three post off Boulogne. The next day we lay at Breteur, eleven post further; and the next to Paris, being Friday. This day, being Saturday, we rest at Paris, though no great need of it; yet I had four falls by the way, without any harm. Your son's horses stumble as fast as any man's; but he is so much more stronger before than he was. He holds them up by 1 Transcript in Rawlinson MSS. Buckingham wrote the body of the letter, the prince merely signing his name. main strength of mastery, and cries still on! on!! on!!! This day we went, he and I alone, to a perriwig-inaker, where we disguised ourselves so artificially, that we adventured to see the king. The means how we did compass it was this:- -We addressed ourselves to the king's governor, Monsieur du Proes, and he courteously carried us where we saw him our fill. Then we desired Monsieur du Proes to make us acquainted with his son, because we would trouble the old man no longer, which he did; and then we saw the queen-mother at dinner. This evening his son hath promised us to see the young queen, with her sister and little monsieur. I am sure now you fear we shall be discovered; but do not fright yourself; for I warrant you the contrary. And finding this might be done with safety, we had a great tickling to add it to the history of our adventures.1 To-morrow, which will be Sunday, we will be (God willing) up so early, that we make no question but to reach Orleans; and so every day after we mean to be gaining something, till we reach Madrid. I have nothing more to say, but to recommend my poor little wife and daughter to your care, [and] that you will bestow your blessing upon Your humble and obedient son and servant, CHARLES. Your humble slave and dog, STEENIE. 1 Wotton's account agrees with the account given in this singular letter:-"At Paris, the prince spent one whole day to give his mind some contentment, in viewing of a famous city and court, which was a Prince Charles and the Marquis of Buckingham while incognito at Paris, to the King.1 Sir, Since the closing of our last, we have been at court again (and that we might not hold you in pain, we assure you we have not been known), where we saw the young queen, little monsieur, and madame, at the practising of a mask that is intended by the queen to be presented to the king; and in it there danced the queen neighbour to his future estates. But for the better veiling of their visages, his highness and marquis bought each of them a perriwig, somewhat to overshadow their foreheads. Of the king they got a sight after dinner in a gallery, where he was solacing himself with familiar pleasures, and of the queen-mother, as she was at her own table; in neither place descried-no, not by Monsieur Cadinet, who saw them in both, and had been lately ambassador in England. Towards evening, by a mere chance, they had a full sight of the queen infanta, and of the Princess Henrietta Maria, with other great ladies, at the practise of a masquing dance, which was then in preparation." 1 MS. Harl. 6987, art. 6. 2 There (at Paris) the prince spent one day to view the city and court, shadowing himself the most he could under a bushy peruque, which none in former times but bald peopie used, but now generally intruded into a fashion; and the prince's was so big, that it was hair enough for his whole face. The marquis's fair face was shadowed with the same pencil, and they both together saw the queen-mother at dinner, the king in the gallery after dinner, and, towards the evening, they had a full view of the queen infanta and the Princess Henrietta Maria, with most of the beauties of the court, at the practise of a masking dance, being admitted by the duke of Montbason, the queen's Lord Chamberlain in humanity to strangers, when many of the French were put by. There the prince saw those eyes that after inflamed his heart, which increased so much, that it was thought to be the cause of setting three kingdoms on fire; but whether any spark of it did then appear is uncertain. If it did, it was closely raked up till the Spanish fire went out; the heat whereof made him neglect one time till he came to Madrid.--Wilson's Life of James I., 1653, p. 226. |