The life and times of George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, Volume 1 (of 3): From original and authentic sourcesThomson, A. T., Mrs.
History
The life and times of George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, Volume 1 (of 3): From original and authentic sources
Thomson, A. T., Mrs.
Buckingham, George Villiers, Duke of, 1592-1628
Such was the commencement of Charles’s residence in Spain. It was
decreed that he should be attended only by nobles, and served and
addressed as a King; The Condé de Gondomar and the Condé de Plueba
were to act as Majordomos; the Condé de Monterey, brother-in-law of
Olivares, was to be his chief Majordomo. The most delicate attention
of all was, however, the King’s giving two gilt keys to the Prince,
requesting him to present one of them to those of his attendants
whom he most preferred, in order that the whole of the palace might
be open to him or his retinue. The keys were, of course, given to
Buckingham and Bristol.
Whilst such delicate hospitality was being manifested in Spain,
James, at home, was collecting all the jewels he could with any
propriety send, and some which he had no right to give away, to add
to the grandeur of Babie and Steenie. His letter, on this occasion,
is most characteristic of his infatuation for the Spanish match, and
of his easy conscience on matters connected with religion.[446]
Footnote 446:
Nichols, 832, note.
He writes thus:—
“MY SWEETE BOYES,
“I wrytte nou this sevint (seventh) letre unto you upon the
sevinteent of March,[447] sent in my ship called the Adventure, to
my tuo boyes, adventurers, quhom God ever blesse! And now to
beguinne with Him:—A Jove principium—I have sent you, my babie, two
of youre Chaplains, fitted for this purpose, Mawe and Wrenne,
together with all ornaments and stuffe fit for the service of God. I
have fullie instructed them in all theyre behavioure, and theyre
service shall, I hoape, prove decent and agreeable to the puritie of
the Primitive Churche, and yett as near the Romane forme as can
lawfullie be done, for it hath ever been my way to goe with the
Church of Rome, _usque et aras_. All the particulars hereof I
remitte to the relation of youre before-named chaplens.”
Footnote 447:
17th March, 1622-23.
The King then mentions that he sent the robes of the Order of the
Garter. “Quhache,” he says, “you must not forgette to wear on St.
George’s Day, and dine together in thaime,” if they arrived in time,
which he hoped to God would be the case, for it would be “a goodlie
sight for the Spaniards to see my two boyes dine in thaime.”
The King next enumerates the jewels he despatched:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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