The life and times of George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, Volume 2 (of 3): From original and authentic sourcesThomson, A. T., Mrs.
History
The life and times of George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, Volume 2 (of 3): From original and authentic sources
Thomson, A. T., Mrs.
Buckingham, George Villiers, Duke of, 1592-1628
The character of Charles, composed, as Hume remarks, “of decency,
reserve, modesty, sobriety, virtues so agreeable to the manners of the
Spaniards;”[40] the reliance he had placed on their honour, his romantic
gallantry, the invariable courtesy of his demeanour to every person,
whether prince, or peer, or the lowest groom of his household; a
courtesy springing from a gentle nature, elevated and refined by careful
culture; these attributes were strongly contrasted with the impetuous
temper of Buckingham. There are moments when sincerity becomes
insolence; and when Buckingham, at his last interview with Olivares,
told him that his attachment to the Spanish nation, and to the King, was
extreme, and that he should use every endeavour in his power to cement
the friendship between England and Spain, but that, as for him, the
Condé Olivares, “he need never consider him as a friend, but must ever
expect from him every possible opposition and enmity,” he was well
reproved by the grave and lofty answer, “that Olivares very willingly
accepted what was offered him.” Thus they parted.[41]
Footnote 40:
Confirmed by State Papers, vol. cliii., No. 44.
Footnote 41:
Hume, from Rushworth’s Collection’s, vol i., p. 103.
There were, however, many who approved this defiant manner, and called
the conduct of the Duke “brave and resolute;” and certainly there was
much in the character of Olivares to extenuate the bitterness of
Buckingham’s dislike. Lord Bristol, however, imputed all the mistrust
and failure that ensued to Buckingham. “The Prince,” he said, "had left
men’s hearts set upon him." “And the leave-taking,” adds the ambassador,
“betwixt him and the King, was with as great profession of love and
affection as could be, of which I was a witness, being interpreter
betwixt them.”[42]
Footnote 42:
Nichols, p. 913. From Haddwicke State Papers, vol. i, p. 476.
Every possible demonstration of honour was proffered to the Prince and
Duke at their departure. To the last, the pages of the Condé Olivares
attended, as they had done all along, on Buckingham--there was no
apparent change of feeling, nor diminution of respect.
The farewell presents, too numerous to be fully recited, were
magnificent. Among them were, given to the Prince by the King, eighteen
Spanish jennets, six Barbary horses, six mares, and twenty foals. These
superb animals were covered with cloths of crimson velvet, guarded with
gold lace; one of them being distinguished by a saddle of fine
lamb-skin, the other “furniture” being set with rich pearl; among a
number of cross-bows which were given, those used by the Dukes of Medina
Sidonia and Ossunia, in the wars, were peculiarly valuable to the
Prince.
To Buckingham’s share, among others, were several Spanish jennets, and
Barbary or Arabian horses, and a splendid diamond girdle, worth thirty
thousand crowns.
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