conceit and now I put the full power in your hands, with God's blessing on you both, praying him still, that after a happy success there, ye may speedily and happily return, and light in the arms of your dear dad. JAMES R. The Prince and Duke to James I.1 Dear Dad and Gossip, June 6th, 1623. The pope having written a courteous letter to me your baby, I have been told to write him an answer, without your majesty's leave, the copy whereof is here enclosed; we make no doubt but to have the opinions of these busy divines reversed (for already the Condé of Olivares hath put out ten of the worst), so your majesty will be pleased to begin to put in execution the favour towards your Roman Catholic subjects, that ye will be bound to do by your oath, as soon as the Infanta comes over, which we hope you will do for the hastening of us home, with this protestation to reverse all, if there be any delay of the marriage. We send you here the articles as they are to go, the oaths, private and public, that you and your baby are to take, with the councils, wherein, if you scare at the least clause of your private oath (where you promise that the parliament shall revoke all the penal laws against the Papists within three years) we sought good to tell your majesty our opinions, which is that if you think you may do it in that time (which we think you may) if you do your best, 2 MS. Harl. 6987, art. 46. although it take not effect, you have not broken your word, for this promise is only as a security that you will do your best. The Spanish ambassador, for respect of the Pope, will present unto you the articles as they came from Rome, as likewise for to require that the delivery of the Infanta may be deferred till the spring, his commission is to press for this, but to be satisfied with what we have yielded to here. We both humbly beg of your majesty that you will confirm these articles soon, and press earnestly for our speedy return. So, craving your blessings, we rest, Your Majesty's humble and obedient son and servant, Your letter, by Cottington, hath stricken me dead; I fear it shall very much shorten my days, and I am the more perplexed that I know not how to satisfy the people's expectation here, neither know I what to say to the council, for the fleet that staid upon a wind this fortnight, Rutland and all aboard, must now be staid, and I know not what reason I shall pretend for MS. Harl. 6987, art. 48. This letter relates to the resolution taken by the advice of the ecclesiastical council at Madrid to delay the Infanta's voyage till the following spring, in order to give time for the prince's conversion. the doing of it; but as for my advice and directions that ye crave, in case they will not alter their decree, it is, in a word, to come speedily away, and if ye can get leave, give over all treaty. And this I speak without respect of any security they can offer you, except ye never look to see your old dad again, whom I fear ye shall never see, if you see him not before winter. Alas, I now repent me sore, that ever I suffered you to go away. I care for match, nor nothing, so I may once have you in my arms again. God grant it, God grant it, God grant it; amen, amen, amen! I protest ye shall be as heartily welcome as if ye had done all things ye went for, so that I may once have you in my arms again; and God bless you both, my only sweet son, and my only best, sweet servant, and let me hear from you quickly, with all speed, as ye love my life; and so God send you a happy and joyful meeting in the arms of your dear dad. JAMES R. Prince Charles and the Duke to King James.2 Dear dad and gossip, Though late, yet at last we have gotten the articles drawn up in form, which we sent you by the Lord Rochford, without any new addition or alteration. The foolery of the Condé of Olivares hath been the cause of this long delay, who would wilfully against thee have 1 Here follow five lines blotted so as not to be deciphered. 2 MS. Harl., 6987, art. 52. pulled it out of the Junto's and council's hands, and put it into a wrangling lawyer's, a favourite of his, who, like himself, had not only put it into an odious form, but had slipped in a multitude of new, unreasonable, undemanded, and ungranted conditions, which the council yielded unto, merely out of fear; for when we met the Junto, they did not make one answer to any of our objections, but confessed, with blushing faces, that we had more than reason of our sides, and concluded with us that the same should serve which were between Queen Mary and King Philip, being put to the end of every article which is to be sworn to. By this you may a little guess with what favour they proceed with us, first, delaying us as long as possibly they can, then, when things are concluded of, they throw in new particulars, in hope they will pass, out of our desire to make haste; but when our business is done, we shall joy in it the more we have overcome so many difficulties; in the mean time we expect pity at your hands. But, for the love of God and our business, let nothing fall from you to discover anything of this, and comfort yourself that all things will end well, to your contentment and honour. Our return now will depend on your quick despatch of these; for, thank God, we find the heats of such weight here, as we may very well travel both evenings and mornings. The divines have not yet recalled their sentence, but the Condé tells us he hath converted very many of them, yet keeps his old form in giving us no hope of anything till the business speaks itself. But we dare say they dare not break it upon this, nor (we think) upon any other, except the affairs of Christendom should smile strangely upon them, which will at all times and in all cases guide them. So craving your blessing, we end. Sir, In the midst of our serious business, little pretty Toby Mathews comes to entreat us to deliver to your majesty, which is, as he calls it, a picture of the Infanta, drawn in black and white. We pray you, let none laugh at it but yourself and honest Kate; he thinks he has hit the nail on the head, but you will find it the foolishest thing that you ever saw. Your majesty's humble and obedient son and servant, Our other letter was written before William Crofts came; he hath brought with him letters to our hearts' desire; we have thus far made use of them already. This morning we sent for the Condé of Olivares, and, with a sad countenance, told him of your peremptory command,2 entreating him, in the kindest manner we could, to give us his advice how we might comply 1 MS. Harl., 6987, art. 53. 2 This of course alludes to the king's commanding them to return. |