court of England, he ordered the Infanta to lay aside the title of Princess of Wales, which she had borne after the arrival of the dispensation from Rome, and to drop the study of the English language; commanding, at the same time, preparations for war to be made throughout all his extensive dominions47.

Bristol, who, during Charles's residence in Spain, had always opposed, though unsuccessfully, his own wise and well tempered councils to the impetuous measures suggested by Buckingham; and who, even after the prince's departure, had strenuously insisted on the sincerity of the Spaniards in the conduct of the treaty, as well as on the advantages which England must reap from the completion of it, was enraged to find his successful labours rendered abortive by the levities and caprices of an insolent minion. But he was not surprized to hear that the favourite had afterward declared himself his open enemy, and thrown out many injurious reflections against him, both before the council and parliament. Conscious, however, of his own innocence, Bristol prepared to leave Madrid on the first order to that purpose; although the Catholic King, sorry that this minister's enemies should have so far prevailed as to infuse prejudices into his master and his country against a servant who had so faithfully discharged his duty to both, entreated him to fix his residence in Spain, where he should enjoy all the advantages of rank and fortune, rather than expose himself to the inveterate malice of his rival, and the ungovernable fury of the English populace.

Bristol's reply was truly magnanimous. While he expressed the utmost gratitude for that princely offer, he thought himself obliged, he said, to decline it; that nothing would more confirm all the calumnies of his enemies than remaining at Madrid; and that the highest dignity in the Spanish monarchy would be but a poor compensation for the

47. Rushworth, vol. i

loss

loss of that honour, which he must endanger by such exaltation. Charmed with this answer, which encreased still farther his esteem for the English ambassador, Philip beg ged him at least to accept a present of ten thousand ducats, which might be requisite for his support, until he could dissipate the calumnies of his enemies ; assuring him at the same time, that his compliance should forever remain a secret to all the world, and could never come to the knowledge of his master. "There is one person," replied the generous nobleman, "who must necessarily know it: he is the earl of 6 Bristol, who will certainly reveal it to the king of Eng"land48 !"

The king of England was unworthy of such a servant. Bristol, on his return, was immediately committed to the Tower. In vain did he demand an opportunity of justifying himself, and of laying his whole conduct before his master. Buckingham and the prince of Wales were A. D. 1624. inexorable, unless he would acknowledge his misconduct; a proposal which his high spirit rejected with disdain. After being released from confinement, he was therefore ordered to retire to his country seat, and to abstain from all attendance in parliament49.

In consequence of the rupture with Spain, and the hostile disposition in the parliament, an alliance was entered into, as we have formerly had occasion to notice5o, between France and England, in conjunction with the United Provinces, for

48. Franklin, p. 86.

49. Rushworth, vol. i. James perhaps is more to be pitied than blamed for his ungenerous treatment of Bristol after his return. Supported by the prince of Wales, as well as in the popular party in parliament Buckingham exercised the most cruel despotism over the king, always timid, and now in the decline of life. Yet when Buckingham insisted on Bristol's signing a confession of his misconduct, as the only means of regaining favour at court, James had the spirit, and the equity to say, That it was "an horrible tyranny to make an innocent man declare himself guilty." Id. ibid.

50. Part. I. Let. LXXIV.

restraining

restraining the ambition of the house of Austria, and recovering the Palatinate. A treaty of marriage was about the same time negociated between the prince of Wales and Henrietta of France, sister to Lewis XIII, and daughter of Henry IV. an accomplished princess, whom Charles had seen and admired in his way to Madrid, and who retained, during his whole life, a dangerous ascendency over him, by means of his too tender and affectionate hearts1.

This match was highly agreeable to James; who, although well acquainted with the antipathy of his subjects against any alliance with Catholics, still persevered in a romantic A. D. 1625. opinion, suggested by hereditary pride, that his MARCH 27. son would be degraded by receiving into his bed. a princess of less than royal extraction52. He did not live, however, to see the celebration of the nuptials; but died in the fifty-ninth year of his age, soon after the failure of the expedition under count Mansfeldt, for the recovery of the Palatinate, which I have formerly had occasion to mention, in treating of the affairs of Germany 53.

That James was contemptible as a monarch must perhaps be allowed; but that he was so as a man, can by no means be admitted. His disposition was friendly, his temper

51. A secret passion for this princess, had perhaps induced Charles, unknown to himself, to listen to the arguments of Buckingham, før break ing off the Spanish match. And if Buckingham had discovered that passion, he would not fail to make use of it for accomplishing his purpose. Such a supposition forms the best apology for Charles's conduct in regard to the Infanta, 52. Rushworth, vol. i.

53. Part. I. Let. LXXIV. The troops under Mansfeldt's command, consisting of twelve thousand foot, and two thousand horse, were embarking at Dover; but sailing over to Calais, he found no orders yet arrived for their admission. After waiting in vain, for such orders, he judged it necessary to sail towards Zealand; where the troops were again detained, as proper measures had not been taken for their debarkation. Meanwhile a pestilential distemper had crept in among the English soldiers, so long cooped up in narrow vessels. One half of the men died while on board; and the other half, weakened by sickness, appeared too feeble a body to march into the Palatimate. Rushworth, vol. i. Franklin, p. 194.

benevolent

benevolent and his humour gay. He possessed a considerable share of both learning and abilities, but wanted that vigour of mind, and dignity of manner, which are essential to form a respectable sovereign. His spirit, rather than his understanding, was weak; and the loftiness of his pretensions, contrasted with the smallness of his kingly power, only perhaps could have exposed him to ridicule, notwithstanding the ungracefulness of his person, and the gross familiarity of his conversation. His turn of mind inclined him to promote the arts, both useful and ornamental; and that peace which he loved, and so timidly courted, was favourable to industry and commerce. It may therefore be confidently affirmed, That in no preceding period of the English monarchy was there a more sensible increase of all the advantages which distinguish a flourishing people, than during the reign of this despised prince.

Of six legitimate children, borne to him by Anne of Denmark, James left only one son, Charles I. now in the twentyfifth year of his age; and one daughter, Elizabeth, married to the elector Palatine.-We must carry forward the history of our own island, my dear Philip, to the unhappy catastrophe of Charles, before we return to the affairs of the continent.

LETTER

LETTER III.

ENGLAND, FROM THE ACCESSION OF CHARLES I. TO THE ASSASSINATION OF THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM, IN 1628.

As Charles and Buckingham, by breaking off the Spanish match, and engaging the nation in a war for the recovery of the Palatinate, had acquired the favour of the popular party in the house of commons, the young king was eager to meet the representative body of his people, that he might have an opportunity of shewing himself to them in his new character, and of receiving a testimony of their dutiful attachment. Thus confident of the affection of his subjects, and not doubting but the parliament would afford him a li beral and voluntary supply, he employed no intrigue to influence the votes of the members. In his speech from the throne, he slightly mentioned the exigencies of the state, but would not suffer the officers of the crown, who had seats in the house, to name or solicit any particular sum; he left the whole to the generosity of the commons. But the commons had no generosity for Charles. Never was prince more deceived by placing confidence in any body of men. Though they knew that he was loaded with a large debt, contracted by his father; that he was engaged in a difficult and expensive war with the whole house of Austria; that this war was the result of their own importunate solicitations and entreaties; and that they had solemnly engaged to yield the necessary supplies for the support of it :-in order to answer all these great and important ends, and demonstrate their affestion to their young sovereign, they granted him only two subsidies, amounting to about an hundred and twelve thousand pounds'.