The King of Spain, far from interposing any obstacles in the way, only treated them with greater and higher marks of respect as the time of their separation from his court drew nigh. He arranged great and pompous ceremonies to honor their departure. He accompanied them, with all the grandees of the court, as far as to the Escurial, which is a famous royal palace not far from Madrid, built and furnished in the most sumptuous style of magnificence and splendor. Here they had parting feasts and celebrations. Here the prince took his leave of the Infanta, Bristol serving as interpreter, to translate his parting speeches into Spanish, so that she could understand them. From the Escurial the prince and Buckingham, with a great many English noblemen who had followed them to Madrid, and a great train of attendants, traveled toward the seacoast, where a fleet of vessels were ready to receive them. [Illustration: THE ESCURIAL.] They embarked at a port called St. Andrew. They came very near being lost in a storm of mist and rain which came upon them while going out to the ships, which were at a distance from the shore, in small boats provided to convey them. Having escaped this danger, they arrived safely at Portsmouth, the great landing point of the British navy on the southern shores of England, and thence proceeded to London. They sent back orders that the proxy should not be used, and the match was finally abandoned, each party accusing the other of duplicity and bad faith. King James was however, very glad to get his son safe back again, and the people made as many bonfires and illuminations to celebrate the breaking up of this Catholic match, as they had done before to do honor to its supposed completion. As all hope of recovering the Palatinate by negotiation was now past, the king began to prepare for the attempt to conquer it by force of arms. CHAPTER III. ACCESSION TO THE THRONE. 1625 James prepares for war.--He falls ill.--Suspicions.--Death of James.--Accession of Charles.--Different ideas of the nature and end of government.--Hereditary succession illustrated by an argument.--Property and prerogatives.--Hereditary succession an absolute right.--Three things hereditary in England.--The Stuarts.--Parliament.--The Legislature in the United States.--The nature of Parliament.--The nobles.--The House of Commons.--Its humble position.--The king's power over Parliament.--His responsibility.--An illustration.--James's message to Parliament.--Its high tone.--Privileges of the House of Commons.--The king's prerogatives.--Charles's contest with Parliament.--Present condition of the Commons.--Its vast influence.--Old forms still retained.--Will probably be changed.--Effects of a demise of the crown.--All offices expire.--Westminster.--The Strand.--Temple Bar.--Somerset House.--James's funeral.--Marriage of Charles.--Imposing ceremonies.--Arrival of the bride at London.--Her residence.