“Thus ye see how, as long as I want the sweete comfort of my boyes’ conversation, I ame forced, yea, and delytes, to converse with thaime by long letres. God bless you both, my sweete boyes; and sende you, after a successful journey, a joyful and happie returne in the armes of your dear dad, “JAMES R. “Dated from Newmarket, on Saint Patrick’s Day, quho of olde was too well patronized in the cuntrey ye are in.” A few kind and amiable expressions from the Marchioness of Buckingham to her husband reached him too at this time.[450] “I thanke you for sending me so good nuse of our younge mistres. I am very glad she is so delicat a creaturr, and of so sweett a disposicion. Indeed, my Lady Bristol sent me word she was a very fine lady, and as good as fine. I am very glad of it, and that the Prince liks her so well, for the King ses (says) he is wonderfully taken with her. It is a wonderfull good hairing, for it were great pettye but the Prince should have on (one) he can love; because I thinke he’ll make a very honest husband, which is the greatest comfort in this world, to have man and wife love truly. I tould the King of the private message the Infanta sent to the Prince, to wear a great rouffe (ruff). He laft heartely, and seed (said) it was a very good sign.” Footnote 450: Nichols, 817, note. The Prince and Buckingham adopted a practice of writing joint letters; for which Charles, in the next dispatch, apologized. “I hope in writing jointly as we doe,” the Prince wrote, “we plase you best, for I assure your Majesty it is not for saving paines.”[451] To which James answers:—“I wonder quhy ye shoulde aske me the question if ye should send me any more jointe letters or not. Alace! sweet hairts, it is all my comforte in your absence that ye wrytte jointe unto me, besides the great ease it is both to me, and ye neede not doubte but I will be wairie enough in not acquainting my counsel with any secrete in your letres. But I have been troubled with Hamilton,[452] quho, being presente by chawnce at my ressaving both of your firste and seconde paquette out of Madrid, wold needs peere over my shoulder quhen I was reading them, ofring ever to help me to reade any harde words, and, in good faith, he is in this busynesse, as in all things else, as variable and uncertaine as the Moone.” Footnote 451: Nichols, 835. Note from Harleian MSS., 6987. Footnote 452: James Hamilton, second Marquis of Hamilton, in Scotland, upon whom James had conferred, in 1619, the Earldom of Cambridge, a title formerly borne by King Edward IV., before his accession to the Throne. The Marquis was Steward of the Royal Household.—Burke’s Extinct Peerage. A hint from Charles showed that he both feared his father’s indiscretion, and also apprehended opposition from the Council. “I beseech your Majesty,” he now wrote, “advyse as little with your counsel in these busineses as you can.”