Curiosities of Literature, Vol. II | Page 3

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
some time afterwards he attempted to revenge himself on Buckingham,
by endeavouring 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, Howel 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.

DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.
The Duke of Buckingham, in his bold and familiar manner, appears to
have been equally a favourite with James I. and Charles I. He behaved
with singular indiscretion both at the courts of France and Spain.
Various anecdotes might be collected from the memoir writers of those
countries, to convince us that our court was always little respected by
its ill choice of this ambassador. His character is hit off by one
master-stroke from the pencil of Hume: "He had," says this penetrating
observer of men, "English familiarity and French levity;" so that he was
in full possession of two of the most offensive qualities an ambassador
can possess.
Sir Henry Wotton has written an interesting life of our duke. At school
his character fully discovered itself, even at that early period of life. He

would not apply to any serious studies, but excelled in those lighter
qualifications adapted to please in the world. He was a graceful
horseman, musician, and dancer. His mother withdrew him from school
at the early age of thirteen, and he soon became a domestic favourite.
Her fondness permitted him to indulge in every caprice, and to cultivate
those agreeable talents which were natural to him. His person was
beautiful, and his manners insinuating. In a word, he was adapted to
become a courtier. The fortunate opportunity soon presented itself; for
James saw him, and invited him to court, and showered on him, with a
prodigal hand, the cornucopia of royal patronage.
Houssaie, in his political memoirs, has detailed an anecdote of this
duke, only known to the English reader in the general observation of
the historian. When he was sent to France, to conduct the Princess
Henrietta to the arms of Charles I., he had the insolence to converse
with the Queen of France, not as an ambassador, but as a lover! The
Marchioness of Senecy, her lady of honour, enraged at seeing this
conversation continue, seated herself in the arm-chair of the Queen,
who that day was confined to her bed; she did this to hinder the insolent
duke from approaching the Queen, and probably taking other liberties.
As she observed that he still persisted in the lover, "Sir," she said, in a
severe tone of voice, "you must learn to be silent; it is not thus we
address the Queen of France."
This audacity of the duke is further confirmed by Nani, in his sixth
book of the History of Venice; an historian who is not apt to take things
lightly. For when Buckingham was desirous of once more being
ambassador at that court, in 1626, it was signified by the French
ambassador, that for reasons well known to himself, his person would
not be agreeable to his most Christian majesty. In a romantic threat, the
duke exclaimed, he would