A short view of the life and reign of King Charles (the second monarch of Great Britain) from his birth to his burial.

1622.

On Tuesday the eighteenth of Febru∣ary, Anno 1622. Accompanied with the Duke of Buckingham, M. Erdimion Por∣ter, and M. Francis Cottington; he took ship at Dover, arrived at Bulloign in France, and from thence rode Post to the Court of Spain.

The occasion this; Frederick Prince Elector Palatine had inconsiderately ta∣ken on himself the Crown of Bohemia, An. 1619. and for so doing, was by the Emperor deprived of his Ancient Patri∣mony; the Electorall dignity together with the upper Palatinate being confer∣red on the Duke of Bavaria, and the lo∣wer on the K. of Spain, who possest him∣self of all of it except the towns of Hei∣delberg, Frankendale, and Manheim, well manned and Garrisoned by the Eng∣lish. For the preserving of which places, and the recovery of the whole, when all means else had proved inef∣fectuall, it was held most expedi∣ent to negotiate a Marriage betwixt

Prince Charles and the Daughter of Spain. Which being first managed by the Leiger Embassadors in both Courts, was after∣wards prosecuted with more particular instructions by John Lord Digby (well verst and studied in that Court) whom the King sent as his Embassador extra∣ordinary to conclude the match. But Digby being fed with delaies from one time to another, it was resolved by King James, without making any of his Coun∣cel acquainted with it, that the Prince himself should go in Person, that he might either speed the Businesse, or break off the Treaty.

According to this Resolution he be∣gan his journey, no otherwise accom∣panied or attended then with those three persons above mentioned, all of them passing in disguise, to avoid dis∣covery. Being come to Paris, they adventured to see the Court, where at a Mask, he had a view of that most ex∣cellent Princesse whom he after marri∣ed. But no sooner had he left the Ci∣ty,

then the French King had Advertise∣ment of his being there, who thereupon dispatcht away severall Posts to stay him in his journey, and bring him back; but the Prince had past beyond Bayonne, the last Town in France, without being overtaken by them, and posting speedily to Madrid, entred the Lord Embassadors Lodging, without being known to any but his Confidents onely.

News of his safe Arrivall there be∣ing brought to the King, there was a present order taken for the sending of some of his Servants of all sorts, to at∣tend upon him in that Court, that so he might appear amongst them in the greater Lustre. But this lessened not the Cares and Feares of the English Subjects, who could not be more glad to hear of his safety, then they were afraid of the danger which he had incurred. For having put himself into the power of the King of Spain, it was at the Cour∣tesie of that King whether he should e∣ver return or no: it being a Maxime

amongst Princes, That if any one with∣out leave sets foot on the Ground of an∣other, he makes himself his Prisoner.

Philip the first of Spain and Duke of Burgundy, being cast by Tempest on the Coast of England, was here detained by King Henry the seventh, till he had delivered up the Earle of Suffolk, who had fled for Refuge to his Court: and Mary Queen of the Scots, being for∣ced by her Rebellious Subjects to fly into this Realm, was presently seized on as a Prisoner, and so continued till her lamentable and calamitous death. So in like manner Richard the first of England, passing in disguise through some part of the dominions of the Arch-Duke of Austria, was by him took Pri∣soner, and put unto an heavy Ransome; and not long since Charles Lodowick the now Prince Elector Palatine posting through France, in hope to get the Command of Duke Bernards Army, was stayed in the middle of his jour∣ney by the Kings command, and kept

so long under Restraint, that he lost the opportunity of effecting his pur∣prose.

This, though it was the generall Fear and apprehension of the English Sub∣jects, yet no body durst acquaint the King with it, but Archee the fool, who going boldly to the King, as he found him once in a good humour, told him that he was come to change Caps with him. Why, said the King? Marry, saies Archee, because thou hast sent the Prince into Spain, from whence he is ne∣ver like to returne. But said the King, what wilt thou say when thou seest him come back again? Marry, saies Archee, I will then take off the fools Cap which I put upon thy head, for sending him thither, and put it on the King of Spains, for letting him return. At which words, it is reported, that the King became ex∣ceeding pensive, never before so much apprehending the Danger of that Ad∣venture, as then and afterwards he did.