Chapter 1
recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Curiosities of Literature, Volume 2 by Isaac Disraeli, Charles I. Of his romantic excursion into Spain for the Infanta, many curious particulars are scattered amongst foreign writers which display the superstitious prejudices which prevailed on this occasion and perhaps developed the mysterious politics of the courts of Spain and Rome.
Cardinal Gaetano, who had long been nuncio in Spain, observes that the people, accustomed to revere the Inquisition as the oracle of divinity, abhorred the proposal of the marriage of the Infanta with an heretical prince, but that the king's council and all wise politicians were desirous of its accomplishment. Gregory XV held a consultation of cardinals, where it was agreed that the just apprehension which the English Catholics entertained of being more cruelly
persecuted if this marriage failed was a sufficient reason to justify the pope. The dispensation was therefore immediately granted, and sent to the Nuncio of Spain with orders to inform the Prince of Wales, in case of rupture, that no impediment of the marriage proceeded from the court of Rome, who, on the contrary, had expedited the dispensation. The Prince's excursion to Madrid was, however, universally blamed as being inimical to state interests. Nani, author of A History of
Venice, which according to his digressive manner is the universal history of his times, has noticed this affair. The people talked, and the English murmured more than any other nation to see the only son of the king and heir of his realm's venture on so long a voyage, and present himself rather as a hostage than a husband to a foreign court, which so widely differed in government and religion to obtain by force of prayer and supplications a woman whom Philip and his
ministers made a point of honor and conscience to refuse. Footnote. The prince and duke traveled under the assumed names of John and Thomas Smith. King James wrote a poem on this expedition of which the first and last verses are as follow. A copy is preserved among the Rawlinson Manuscripts Bodleian Library. What sudden change hath darked of late the glory of the Arcadian state? The fleecy flocks refuse to feed, the lambs to play, the ewes to breed. The altars smoke, the offerings
burn, till Jack and Tom do safe return. Kind shepherds that have loved them long, be not too rash in censuring wrong. Correct your fears, leave off to mourn. The heavens shall favor their return. Commit the care to royal pan, of Jack his son, and Tom his man. End of footnote. Hussain observes, the English council were against it, but King James obstinately resolved on it, being over-persuaded by Gondomar, the Spanish ambassador, whose facetious humor and
lively repartees greatly delighted him. Gondomar persuaded him that the presence of the prince would not fail of accomplishing this union, and also the restitution of the electorate to his son-in-law, the Palatine. Add to this the Earl of Bristol, the English ambassador extraordinary at the court of Madrid, finding it his interest, wrote repeatedly to his majesty that the success was certain if the prince came there, for that the Infanta would be charmed with
his personal appearance and polished manners. It was thus that James, seduced by these two ambassadors and by his parental affection for both his children, permitted the prince of Wales to travel into Spain. This account differs from Clarendon. Wickford says that James in all this was the dupe of Gondomar, who well knew the impossibility of this marriage, which was alike inimical to the interests of politics and the Inquisition. For a long time he amused his majesty
with hopes and even got money for the household expenses of the future queen. He acted his part so well that the King of Spain recompensed the knave on his return with a seat in the Council of State. There is preserved in the British Museum a considerable series of letters which pass between James I and the Duke of Buckingham and Charles during their residence in Spain. I shall glean some further particulars concerning this mysterious affair from two English
contemporaries, Howell and Wilson, who wrote from their own observations. Howell had been employed in this projected match and resided during its negotiation at Madrid. Howell describes the first interview of Prince Charles and the Infanta. The Infanta wore a blue ribbon about her arm that the prince might distinguish her, and as soon as she saw the prince, her color rose very high. Wilson informs us that two days after this interview the prince was invited to run at the ring where his
fair mistress was a spectator, and to the glory of his fortune and the great contentment both of himself and the lookers-on, he took the ring the very first course. Howell, writing from Madrid, says, the people here do mightily magnify the gallantry of the journey and cry out that he deserved to have the Infanta thrown into his arms the first night he came. The people appear, however, some time after to doubt if the English had any religion at all. Again, I have seen the
prince have his eyes immovably fixed upon the Infanta, half an hour together in a thoughtful, speculative posture. Olivares, who was no friend to this match, coarsely observed that the prince watched her as a cat does a mouse. Charles indeed acted everything that a lover in one of the old romances could have done. Footnote. In manuscript Harleen, 6987, is preserved Buckingham's letter to James I describing the first interview. Speaking of the prince, he says, baby Charles is himself
so touched at the heart that he confesses all he ever yet saw is nothing to her, and swears that if he want her, there shall be blows. End of footnote. He once leaped over the walls of her garden, and only retired by the entreaties of the old Marquis, who then guarded her, and who, falling on his knees, solemnly protested that if the prince spoke to her, his head would answer for it. He watched hours in the street to meet with her, and Wilson says he gave such liberal presence
to the court, as well as Buckingham, to the Spanish beauties that the Lord Treasurer, Middlesex, complained repeatedly of their wasteful prodigality. Footnote. Though Buckingham and Charles were exigent of jewels for presents, the king was equally profuse in sending until he had exhausted his store. Considerably more than 150,000 pounds worth were consigned to Spain. In a letter from Newmarket, March 17, 1623, preserved in
Harleian Manuscript 6987, he enumerates a large quantity to be presented to the Infanta, and he is equally careful that Prince Charles should be well supplied. As for thee, my sweet gossip, I send thee a fair table diamond for wearing in thy hat. The king ingeniously prompts them to present the Infanta with a small looking-glass to hang at her girdle and to assure her that by art magic, whensoever she shall be pleased to look in it, she shall see the fairest
lady that either her brother's or your father's dominions can afford. End of footnote. Let us now observe by what mode this match was consented to by the courts of Spain and Rome. Wilson informs us that Charles agreed that anyone should freely propose to him the arguments in favor of the Catholic religion without giving any impediment, but that he would never directly or indirectly permit anyone to speak to the Infanta against the same. They probably had tampered with Charles
concerning his religion. A letter of Gregory XV to him is preserved in Wilson's life, but its authenticity has been doubted. Olivares said to Buckingham, you gave me some assurance and hope of the prince's turning Catholic. The duke roundly answered that it was false. The Spanish minister confounded at the bluntness of our English duke, broke from him in a violent rage and lamented that state matters would not suffer him to do himself justice. This insult
was never forgiven, and sometime afterwards he attempted to revenge himself on Buckingham by endeavoring to persuade James that he was at the head of a conspiracy against him. We hasten to conclude these anecdotes, not to be found in the pages of Hume and Smollett. Wilson says that both kingdoms rejoiced. Preparations were made in England to entertain the Infanta. A new church was built at St. James's, the foundation stone of which was laid by the
Spanish ambassador for the public exercise of her religion. Her portrait was multiplied in every corner of the town, such as hoped to flourish under her eye suddenly began to be powerful. In Spain, as Wilson quaintly expresses himself, the substance was as much courted as the shadow here. Indeed, the Infanta, Howell tells us, was applying hard to the English language and was already called the Princess of England. To conclude, Charles complained of the repeated delays,
and he and the Spanish court parted with a thousand civilities. The Infanta, however, observed that had the prince loved her, he would not have quitted her. How shall we dispel those clouds of mystery with which politics have covered this strange transaction? It appears that James had in view the restoration of the Palatinate to his daughter, whom he could not effectually assist, that the court of Rome had speculations of the most dangerous tendency to the Protestant religion,
that the marriage was broken off by that personal hatred which existed between Olivares and Buckingham, and that if there was any sincerity existing between the parties concerned, it rested with the prince and the Infanta, who were both youthful and romantic, and were but two beautiful ivory balls in the hands of great players. End of section one.
