duke should afterwards, to one or both houses, as occasion should be offered, make a relation of what had passed in Spain, especially concerning the palatinate: that so putting the houses into some method and order of their future debate, they would be more easily regulated, than if they were in the beginning left to that liberty, which they naturally affected, and from which they would not be restrained, but in such a manner as would be grateful to themselves.

Things being thus concerted, after the houses had been three or four days together, (for in that time some days were always spent in the formality of naming committees, and providing for common occurrences, before they made an entrance upon more solemn debates,) the prince began to speak of the Spanish affairs, and of his own journey thither; and forgot not to mention the duke with more than ordinary affection. Whereupon it was thought fit, that the whole affair, which was likewise to be the principal subject matter of all their consultations, should be stated and enlarged upon, in a conference between the two houses, which his highness and the duke were desired to manage. How little notice soever any body else could take of the change, the duke himself too well knew the hearty resentment the king had of what had passed, and of the affection he still had for the Spanish treaty; and therefore he had [done], and resolved still to do, all he could, to make himself grateful to the parliament, and popular amongst the people, who he knew had always detested the match with Spain, or in truth any alliance with that nation.

So when, at the conference, the prince had made

a short introduction to the business, and said some very kind things of the duke, of his wonderful care of him whilst he was in Spain, and the great dexterity he used in getting him away, he referred the whole relation to him; who made "the true ground "of the prince's journey into Spain, which he well "knew had begot such a terrible panting in the "hearts of all good Englishmen, had been only to "make a clear discovery of the sincerity of the

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Spaniard, and, if his intention were real, to put a speedy end to it by marrying the lady upon the 'place: if he found it otherwise, to put his father "and himself into liberty to dispose of himself in some other place. That the ambassador, in whose hands that great affair was solely managed, when "in one despatch he wrote that all was concluded, in the next used to give an account of new difficulties, and new demands: and, when all things “were adjusted at Madrid, some unexpected scruples discovered themselves at Rome, with which "the councils in Spain seemed to be surprised, "and appeared to be confounded, and not to know "what to say. These ebbs and floods made the 'prince apprehend, that the purpose was to amuse

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us, whilst they had other designs in secret agita"tion. And thereupon, that his highness had pre"vailed with his father (how unwilling soever) to

permit him to make that journey, that he might "make that useful discovery, which could not be "otherwise made in any seasonable time.

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"That they no sooner came to Madrid, than they discovered (though the prince was treated "with all the respect due to his greatness, and the obligation he had laid upon that nation) that

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"there had never been any real purpose that the "infanta should be given to him: that, during so long an abode as his highness made there, they had never procured the dispensation from Rome, which they might easily have done: and that, at last, upon the death of the pope, Gregory XV, the "whole process was to begin again, and would be "transacted with the formalities, which they should "find necessary to their other affairs. That, instead "of proceeding upon the articles, which had been "pretended to be concluded, they urged nothing "but new demands, and in matters of religion so peremptorily, that the principal clergymen, and "the most eminent of that king's preachers, had frequent conferences with the prince, to persuade " him to change his religion, and become a catholic. And, in order to move him the more successfully thereunto, they procured the pope to write a "letter himself to his highness, putting him in mind of the religion of his ancestors and progenitors, and conjuring him to return to the same faith but that it had pleased God not only to "give the prince a constant and unshakable heart in his religion, but such wonderful abilities to "defend the same in his discourse and arguments, that they stood amazed to hear him, and upon the matter confessed, that they were not able to answer him.

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That they would not suffer the prince to confer with, or so much as to speak to hardly, and very rarely to see his mistress, who they pretended he should forthwith marry. That they could never obtain any better answer in the business of the palatinate, than that the restoring it was not in

"the power of that king, though it had been taken

by the sole power of Spain, and the Spanish army, "under the command of the marquis Spinola, who "was then in the entire possession of it: but that "his catholic majesty would use his interposition, "with all the credit he had with the emperor and "duke of Bavaria, without whose joint consent it "could not be done, and whose consent he hoped "to obtain: but that he was well assured, that there was no more real intention in that point of restitution, than in the other of the marriage; and "that the palatinate must not be looked to be recovered any other way than by force, which would easily bring it to pass."

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Throughout his whole discourse he made frequent reflections upon the earl of Bristol, as if he very well knew the Spaniards' purposes in the whole, and concurred with them in it. "That he was so "much troubled when he first saw the prince, who

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alighted at his house, that he could not contain himself, but wished that his highness were at "home again; that he had afterwards, when he "found that his highness liked the infanta, per"suaded him in private that he would become a "catholic; and that, without changing his religion, "it would not be possible ever to compass that marriage."

He told them, "That the king had sent for the "earl to return home, where he should be called to "account for all his miscarriages." Whereas in truth the king had recalled him rather to assist him against the duke, than to expose him to his malice and fury; his majesty having a great esteem of that earl's fidelity to him, and of his great abilities.

The conference ended in a wonderful applause, in both houses, of the prince and duke's behaviour and carriage throughout the affair, and in a hasty resolution to dissuade the king from entertaining any farther motions towards the match, and frankly and resolutely to enter into a war with Spain; towards the carrying on of which they raised great mountains of promises, and, prevailing in the first, never remembered to make good the latter; which too often falls out in such counsels.

and

When king James was informed of what the duke had so confidently avowed, for which he had no authority, or the least direction from him, and a great part whereof himself knew to be untrue; that he had advised an utter breach of the treaty, and to enter upon a war with Spain, he was infinitely offended; so that he wanted only a resolute and brisk counsellor to assist him in destroying him : and such a one he promised himself in the arrival of the earl of Bristol, whom he expected every day.

He had another exception against the duke, which touched him as near, and in which he enlarged himself much more. Lionel Cranfeild, who, though extracted from a gentleman's family, had been bred in the city, and, being a man of great wit and understanding in all the mysteries of trade, had found means to work himself into the good opinion and favour of the duke of Buckingham; and having shortly after married a near ally of the duke's, with wonderful expedition was made a privy-counsellor, master of the wardrobe, master of the wards, and, without parting with any of these, was now become lord high treasurer of England, and earl of Middlesex, and had in truth gained so much credit with the