James 1. to the Prince and Duke.1

My sweet boys,

2

Whitehall, 21st of July, 1623.

Even as I was going yesterday in the evening to the ambassador's, to take my private oath, having taken the public, before noon, with great solemnity, Andover came stepping in at the door like a ghost, and delivered me your letters. Since it can be no better, I must be contented; but this course is both a dishonour to me, and double charges, if I must send two fleets; but if they will not send her till March, let them, in God's name, send her by their own fleet. The ambassadors speak broadly against this delay, and plainly say that it is senseless, and swear they will write earnestly with Cottington to persuade the change of that resolution; but, if no better may be, do ye hasten your business, the fleet shall be at you so soon as wind and weather can serve, and this bearer will bring you the power to treat for the palatinate, and the matter of Holland; and, sweet Baby, go on with the contract, and the best as

amongst them and flirts out what he lists." Archy was a celebrated court jester, and is mentioned by Ben Jonson as a "sea monster," in allusion to this journey.

1 MS. Harl., 6987, art. 59.

2 There was both a public and a private treaty sworn to concerning the Prince's marriage. The first stipulated that the marriage should be celebrated in Spain, and then confirmed in England; that the mother should have the care of the children till they were ten years old; that the infanta and her attendants should freely exercise their religious duties; and that her chaplains should be Spaniards and Roman Catholics. The private treaty contained four articles in favour of the same religion, and was sworn to by the king in the house of the Spanish ambassador, before four witnesses.

surance ye can get of sending her next year; but, upon my blessing... not with her in Spain, except ye be sure to bring her with you, and forget not to make them to keep their former conditions anent the portion, otherwise both Baby and I are bankrupts for ever. And now

I must tell you miracles: our great primate 2 hath behaved himself wonderfully well in this business, insomuch as my lord keeper 3 will love him the better while he lives for it; and my lord chamberlain hath gone beyond all the council, in clear and honest dealing in this business; as all other things I remit to the sufficiency of this bearer, whom Steenie hath so earnestly recommended unto me. And so God bless you, my sweet children, and send you a happy, joyful, and speedy return in the arms of your dear dear dad. Amen.

JAMES.

Prince Charles and the Duke to James I.

Dear dad and gossip,

Madrid, 29th July, 1623.

After a long expectation of Grisley, he arrived yesterday morning, with the good news of your health,

1 "After dinner," says Arthur Wilson, "the king, retiring into the council-chamber, took another private oath to observe certain articles in favour of Roman Catholics, for the free exercise of their religion in all his dominions. And thus was the great business accomplished (seemingly), which gave our king so much content, that, being transported with an assurance of the match, he was heard to say, Now all the devils in hell cannot hinder it.' So secure was he of it in his own opinion. But one that heard him said to others standing by, 'That there was never a devil now left in hell; for they were all now gone into Spain, to make up the match.''

and the despatch of our business. We are sorry that there arose in your conscience any scruples, but we are very confident, when we see your majesty, to give you very good satisfaction for all we have done; and had we had less help, we had done it both sooner and better; but we leave that till our meeting. Sir, we have not been idle in this interim; for we can now tell you certainly that, by the 29th of your August, we shall begin our journey, and hope to bring her with us; but if they will not suffer her to come till the Spring, whether we shall be contracted or not, we humbly beseech your majesty to leave it to our discretions, who are upon the place, and see things at a nearer distance, and a truer glass than you and your council can there; for marriage there shall be none, without her coming with us; and, in the mean time, comfort yourself with this, that we have already convinced the Condé of Olivares in this point, that it is fit the infanta come with us before the winter. He is working underhand with the divines, and, under colour of the king's and prince's journey, makes preparation for hers also: her household is a settling, and all other things for her journey; and the Conde's own words are, he will throw us all out of Spain as soon as he can. There remains no more for you to do, but to send us peremptory commands to come away, and with all possible speed: we desire this, not that we fear we shall have need of it; but in case we have, that your son (who hath expressed much affection to the person of the infanta) may press his coming away, under the colour of your command, without appearing an ill lover. I, your

baby, give you humble and infinite thanks for the care you have expressed, both to my person and honour, And I, your slave and dog, who have most cause, give you none at all, because you have sent me no news of my wife, and have given her leave to be sick, and I conclude it the more dangerous, because you dare not write me news of it. We hope you have sent the rest of the navy towards us by this time; if you have not, we beseech you to use all the speed you can, as we shall do, to cast ourselves, with an increase of your fleet.

So we crave your blessing.

Your majesty's most humble and

obedient son and servant,

CHARLES.

Your majesty's most humble slave and dog,

STEENIE.

James I. to Prince Charles and the Duke.1

My sweet boys,

In your last letter by Clark, ye keep me still, as formerly ye did, betwixt hope and despair of the infanta's coming this year. I 'like well two of the three ways ye have offered them for hastening her coming home; but the third, of sending to the pope, will delay all this year, and lose the season; especially considering that the pope is dead, and God knows how long they will be of choosing of another; and how he will be affected when he is chosen. And, therefore, I pray you, put us

2

1 Harleian MSS. in the British Museum.

2 Gregory the Fifteenth.

out of this lingering pain one way or other. But, if she come not this year, the disgrace and my charges will prove infinite.

All is performed and put in execution here, to the ambassador's full satisfaction. If ye can bring her home with you, strive by all means to be at home before Michaelmas; for after, it will be dangerous being upon the sea. If otherwise, I hope you will hasten you home, for the comfort of your old dear dad. But yet after the contract, go as far as ye can, before your parting, upon the business of the Palatinate and Holland, that the world may see ye have thought as well upon the business of Christendom as upon the [other] point.

I protest I know not what to do, if she come not this year; for this very refreshing of my fleet with victuals hath cost me eight thousand pounds; and therefore ye had need to hasten the payment of the dowry, after the contract. And, if ye come without her, let the marriage at least be hastened, as soon as can be after your parting, to be performed by commission in your absence; but I pray God ye may bring her with you. And so, God bless you, my sweet children, and send you a happy and comfortable return in the arms of your dear dad; and that quickly.

Bromame, the last of July.

JAMES R.