sensible to those injuries and insults, fail to avenge themselves as often as in their power, on the invaders of their liberties, or to take new measures for their future security. This much is certain : but, whether the commons were at first admitted into parliament through the indulgence of the prince, or in consequence of an original right to sit there, and what they claimed as their constitutional province are matters of more intricacy, and less moment. That subject however, I have had occasion to consider in deducing the effects of the Norman revolution, and in tracing the progress of society in Europe4°. It will, therefore, be suff cient here to observe, that the English government was never a mere monarchy; that there was only a parliament or national assembly; that the commons, or third estate, had very early, and as soon as they were of any political importance, a place in that assembly: and that the privileges, for which they now contended, were essential to enable them to act with dignity, or indeed in such a manner as to be useful to the community, either in their deliberative or legislative capacity. The subsequent transactions of James's reign were neither numerous nor important. They afford us, however, a precious picture of the weakness and extravagance of human nature; and therfore deserve our attention, as observers of the manners as well as of the policy of nations, and of the vices and follies, no less than of the respectable qualities of men. The Spanish match was still the king's favourite object. In order to facilitate that measure, he dispatched A. D. 1622. a gentleman of the name of Digby, soon after created earl of Bristol, as his ambassador to the court of Madrid, while he softened at home the severity of the laws against popish recusants. The same religious motives which had hitherto made the Spaniards averse against the marriage, 40. Part 1. Let. XXII. and XXX. now now disposed them to promote it. They hoped to see the Catholic church freed from persecution, if not the ancient worship re-established in England, by means of the Infanta : and so full were they of this idea, that Bristol, a vigilant and discerning minister, assured his master, that the Palatine would not only be restored to his dominions, but what was still more agreeable to the needy monarch, that a dowry of two millions of pesoes, or about five hundred thousand pounds sterling would accompany the royal bride41. This alliance, however, was still odious to the English nation; and Buckingham, becoming jealous of the reputation of Bristol, by a most absurd adventure contrived to ruin both him and the negociation. On purpose to ingratiate himself into the favour of the prince of Wales, with whose candid turn of mind he was well acquainted, he represented to him the peculiar unhappiness of princes, in commonly receiving to their arms an unknown bride; one not endeared by sympathy, not obliged by services; wooed by treaties alone, and attached by no ties but those of political interest! that it was in his power, by going into Spain in person to avoid all these inconveniencies, and to lay such an obligation on the Infanta, if he found her really worthy of his love, as could not fail to warm the coldest affections; that his journey to Madrid, so conformable to the generous ideas of Spanish gallantry, would recommend him to the princess under the endearing character of a devoted lover, and daring adventurer; and, at the same time, would afford him a glorious opportunity of choosing for himself, and of examining with his own senses the companion of his future life, and the partner of his bed and throne42. 41. Rushworth, vol. i. The marriage and the restitution of the Palatinate, we are assured, by the most undoubted tes:imony, were always considered by the court of Spain as inseparabic. Parl. Hist. val. vi, p. 66. Franklin, p. 71, 72. 42. Clarendon, vol. i. These A. D. 1623. These arguments made a deep impression on the affectionate temper of Charles. He obtained, in an unguarded hour, his father's consent to the Spanish journey and off the two adventurers set, to the great uneasiness of James; who, as soon as he had leisure for reflection, became afraid of bad consequences resulting from the unbridled spirit of Buckingham, and the youth and inexperience of his son. His apprehensions were but too well founded; yet, for a time, the affairs of the prince of Wales wore a very promising and happy appearance at Madrid. Philip IV. one of the most magnificent monarchs that ever sat on the Spanish throne, paid Charles a visit immediately on his arrival, and expressed the utmost gratitude for the confidence reposed in him. He gave him a golden key, which opened all his apartments, that the prince might, without any introduction, have access to him at all hours. He took the left hand of him on every occasion and in every place, except in the apartments assigned to Charles ; a distinction founded on the most perfect principles of politeness: "For here," said Philip, "you are at "home!" He was introduced into the palace with the same pomp and ceremony that attend the kings of Spain at their coronation. All the goals were thrown open, and all the prisoners received their freedom, as if the most fortunate and honourable event had happened to the monarchy43. Independent of his enthusiastic gallantry toward the Infanta, and the unparalleled confidence which he had placed in the honour of the Spanish nation by his romantic journey to Madrid, the decent reserve, and modest deportment of Charles, endeared him to that grave and formal people, and inspired them with the most favourable ideas of his character; while the bold manner, the unrestrained freedom of discourse, the sallies of passion, the levity and the licentiousness of Buckingham, rendered him odious to the whole court. The grandees could not conceal their surprize, that VOL. III. 43. Franklin. p. 74. such such an unprincipled young man, who seemed to respect no laws divine or human, should be allowed to obtrude himself into a negociation, already almost conducted to a happy issue, by so able a statesman as Bristol: and the ministry hinted a doubt of the sufficiency of his powers, as they had not been confirmed by the privy council of England, in order to prevent him from assuming the merit of the matrimonial treaty. He grossly insulted, and publicly quarrelled with Olivares, the prime minister; a circumstance that drew on him yet greater detestation from the Spanish courtiers, who contemplated with horror the Infanta's future condition, in being exposed to the approaches of such a brutal man44. Sensible how much he was hated by the Spaniards, and dreading the influence which the court of Madrid would acquire in England, in consequence of the projected marriage, Buckingham resolved to poison the mind of the prince; and yet, if possible, to prevent the nuptials from taking place and he effected his purpose. But history has not informed us by what arguments he induced Charles to offer so heinous an affront to the Spanish nation, after such generous treatment, and to the Infanta, whom he had gone so far to visit, and for whom he had hitherto expressed the warmest attachment. In regard to those we are totally in the dark. For although we may conjecture, from his subsequent conduct, that they were of the political kind, we only know this certainty, That when the prince of Wales left Madrid, he was firmly determined to break off the treaty with Spain, notwithstanding all his professions to the contrary: that when Buckingham arrived in England he ascribed the failure of the negociation solely to the insincerity and duplicity of the Spaniards; that by means of these false representations, to which the king and the prince of Wales meanly gave their assent, he ingratiated himself into the fa 44, Clarendon, volk in Rushworthy volis vour of the popular party; and that the nation eagerly rushed into a war against the Spanish monarchy, in order to revenge insults it had never sustained45. The situation of the earl of Bristol, at the court of Madrid, was now truly pitiable; nor were the domestic concerns of that court a little distressing, or the king of England's embarrassment small. To abandon a project, which had, during so many years, been the chief object of his wishes, and which he had now unexpectedly conducted to so desirable a crisis: a rupture with Spain, and the loss of two million of pesos, were prospects by no means agreeable to the pacific temper, and indigent condition of James: but finding his only son averse to a match which had always been odious to his people, and opposed by his parliament, he yielded to difficulties which he wanted courage or strength of mind to overcome. It was now the business of Charles and Buckingham to seek for pretences, by which they could give some appearance of justice to their intended breach of treaty. They accordingly employed many artifices, in order to delay or prevent the espousals; and these all proving ineffectual, Bristol at last received positive orders not to deliver the proxy, which had been left in his hands, until security was given for the full restitution of the Palatinate46. The king of Spain understood this language. He was acquainted with Buckingham's disgust, and had expected that the violent disposition, and unbounded influence of that favourite, would leave nothing unattempted to embroil the two nations. Resolved however, to demonstrate to all Europe the sincerity of his intentions, and to throw the blame where it was due, he delivered into Bristol's hand a written promise, binding himself to procure the restoration of the elector Palatine. And when he found that this concession gave no satisfaction to the 45. Clarendon, voi. i. Rushworth, vol. i. ~46, Rushworth, vol. i, Kennet, p. 776. court |