[Page 1] ON Friday, being the ninth of March, Stilo veteri, about eight of the clocke in the eue­ning, the Prince, and the Lord Marquesse of Buckingham, being all alone with the Po­stillion (as they had rid post together, three daies before) arriued at Madrid, and conueighed themselues with such secrecie into the house of the Earle of Bristoll, his Maiesties Embassador ex­traordinary to the King of Spaine, that for that night, they were hardly knowne by any, but they could not be long concealed. For early vpon the next day being Saturday, there grew a whispering amongst many, as if [Page 2] the Marquesse were come, but not a word of the Prince. The same mor­ning the Conde de Gondomar, was aduer­tised priuatly of the arriuall, not onely of the Lord Marquesse, but of the Prince also, and so hee went instantly to the Earle of Bristowes house. After hee had done reuerence to his High­nesse, and had passed an houre in his presence, and in discourse with his Highnesse, and those Lords, it was desi­red that hee would giue the King his Mastor notice of the arriual of the Mar­quesse; but that he should say nothing of the Prince at that time: at least not in any such sort, as that they might take knowledge of his being there. The Conde de Gondomar vndertooke it, and carried the newes thereof to the Conde de Oliua­res, who is that Kings great Fauorite: and indeed a Person, who for his noble conditions and choise parts, doth well deserue the large portion which the King his Master affordeth him of his [Page 3] estimation and affection: Hee con­ueighed what he knew to his Maiesty, and then withall sent to the Marquesse, desiring earnestly that hee would giue him leaue to goe instantly and visit him. But the Marquesse excused him­selfe, & did expressely refuse it through his desire of concealing the Prince; and so they resolued vpon another meeting place for the afternoone, which fell out to bee the Parke. The Conde there­fore sent a Coach to the Lord Marquesse, and his Lordship tooke with him the Conde de Gondomar, the Earle of Bristoll, and Sir Walter Aston, his Maiesties ordi­nary Ambassador in that Court. The Conde de Oliuares was already expecting the Lord Marquesse, and at length they met, and spent more then an houre to­gether, in great expressions of content­ment and ioy. After this, the Conde con­ducted the Lord Marquesse, and all that Company into the Court, and so vp to the King by a priuate way. At which [Page 4] time, the Lord Marquesse deliuered the King our Soueraignes Letters to the King of Spaine, and so much passed betweene them, as serued to disclose that the Prince was come, and at the Earle of Bristowes house, wherewith the King was extremely taken, and much trans­ported with ioy. His Maiesty sent a hearty salutation to the Prince by the Lord Marquesse, wherewith his Lordship returned to his Highnesse, being extraor­dinarily satisfied, both with that Kings Princely courtesie, and his many noble parts otherwise. The Conde de Oliuares conducted the Lord Marquesse home, & pressing euen beyond his Commission (for he was not yet to take knowledge of the Princes arriuall) to kisse his High­nesse hand, hee saw him, and spake with him. The Prince receiued him no­bly, and like the Prince he is, and was very earnest with him, to put on his hat; but the Conde would by no meanes doe it; although hee bee a Graunde of [Page 5] Spaine, and may therefore bee couered before his owne King.

During this visit, the Marquesse desi­red the Conde, that he would oblige the Prince by getting him a speedy sight of the Infanta his Mistresse; wherein hee promised to doe his best endeuor, though it were in Lent, which hee said was a time of extraordinary re­collection and reseruation, and so they parted for the present, being all in great contentment one with another.

In conformity to the Princes desire, his Maiesty (being that night acquain­ted with it by the Conde) laid aside the consideration of the time, and instant­ly resolued to giue his Highnesse all sa­tisfaction. And so he went abroad the next day, at the houre appointed, which was about three a clocke in the afternoone, and to the Prado being the certaine place agreed vp­on [Page 6] betweene them, his Maiesty con­ducting with him his Queene, his Sister the Infanta, the Infantes Don Carlos, & the Cardinall Don Fernando, his brethren; the Conde de Oliuares, and the Conde de Gondomar, following him with much of the Nobility of that Court, both of Ladies and Lords. The Prince on the other side went disguised in the Duke of Cea's Coach, and was attended in the same Coach by the Lord Marquesse, the Earle of Bristoll, the Conde de Gondo­mar, and Sir Walter Aston. And so both the King and the Prince made diuers turnes and returnes in their seuerall Coaches, and in seuerall parts of the Towne and Prado (which is a place of recreation) where the Nobility is often wont to take the aire; and euery one of them saw each other in a cleare light, not being able to abstaine from salu­ting mutually with the hat as they passed by, though they had agreed to take no [Page 7] kind of notice of one another; and this was all they did for that time. The King and all that royall Company retur­ned by night by a world of Torch­light, which made a most glorious shew.

Immediatly after this, his Maiesty not being content with those single sights of the Prince, sent the Conde de Oliuares, to pray him that they might meet, and embrace, and speake together before they slept. The Prince accepted of the occasion, but there rose a difference be­tweene them about the manner. For the King did much presse the Prince that he would accept of a visit frō himselfe in the Earle of Bristolls house, and really his Highnes had much adoe to refuse it, but yet he would by no meanes admit therof. On the other side, the Prince did offer to goe visit his Maiesty in his Pa­lace, but the King considering that that must needs be to the Princes disaduan­tage, [Page 8] because he had no Equipage, his Maiesty refused expressely, & it grew to be agreed betweene them, that it should be in the aforesaid Prado, and in the euening of the same Sunday when it might be darke. Whereupon the Conde de Oliuares said pleasantly, that he would by no meanes consent that his Master should meet him, and especially by night, but vpon euen termes; that the Prince was a great man at armes, and that euen in the ciuill way hee was strong in Ambassadors and Secretaries, whereas the King was in effect alone, that therefore he desired that the Prince would lend him the Marquesse, and that he might carry him to the Court, and so he might come to that meeting with the King and him, as a Spaniard, and not the Princes seruant for that time. The Prince gaue leaue, with much content, that he should goe, and so he went, and the King brought him and the Conde de [Page 9] Oliuares to the Prado. Now the King being first arriued, sent a priuate mes­sage to the Prince, to let him know that he expected his Highnesse. Thereupon the Prince made much haste, being at­tended by the Conde de Gondomar, the Earle of Bristoll, Sir Walter Aston, and Sir Francis Cottington his Highnesse Se­cretary.

When they were vpon the point of meeting, they all alighted out of their Coaches, and the King embraced the Prince, and made incomparable professi­ons of his loue and affection, and of the streight obligation which the King our Soueraigne and his Highnesse had cast vpon him, by that maine act of confi­dence and fauour.

Then his Maiestie tooke the Prince in­to his Coach, and made him perforce goe in first, and sit vpon his right hand, and so they continued some good time in great sweetnesse of conuersation, [Page 10] the Earle of Bristoll interpreting be­tweene them. At the parting, the King lighted out of his Coach, with the Prince; and vsed much endeuour to haue conducted the Prince to his Coach; but the Prince would by no meanes suffer it, and so they parted in the mid-way.

On Munday the tenth of March, his Highnesse was made acquainted, by the Conde de Oliuares, and the Conde de Gondo­mar, whom the King had sent to visit him, that the King was that morning going in deuotion to a Monastery cal­led the Merçed; and that he would passe the streets on horsebacke. When his Highnesse shewed some willingnesse to be a spectator thereof, the Conde de Oliuares carried him to a conuenient place, where he had a full view of all. That euening, his Highnesse went into the fields by the Riuer side, to take the aire. And the Conde de Oliuares, and the [Page 11] Conde de Monterey, went againe to visit him from the King, and they two wai­ted on him in discourse, aboue an houre.

On Tuesday his Maiesty sent againe to see how his Highnesse did; and withall to let him know, that he could not but acknowledge the good seruice, which the Conde de Gondomar had done him, in printing such a Character of his sin­cere affection, in the heart of the King of great Britaine, and of his Highnesse; as that they should thinke fit to put such a pretious treasure into his hands, as his Highnesse was. And that therefore he could not suffer any subiect of his to be vnaduanced, whom he found so well accepted by the King of Great Britame, and his Highnesse. For which cause he was resolued to make him of his Counsell of State, though hee ac­counted him indeed as an English man. Nay rather that for that respect [Page 12] he would admit him, to the end that both the King of Great Britaine, and his Highnesse, might be more confident of his proceedings; and made priuy to the most inward passages. But the King withall, sent his Highnes word, that he desired him to giue the first notice of it to the Conde, and receiue his thankes. The Prince sent him the newes thereof by Master Secretary Cottington; the Con­de came to cast himselfe at the Princes feet, for so high an honour and fa­uour, and so being addressed by his Highnesse to the Court, was instantly sworne.

In the afternoone of that day, the Prince hauing intimated a desire to see the King, was conducted and attended by the Conde de Oliuares, towards the Palace, through a backe way. But be­fore he could arriue there, hee was pre­vented by the King. Who being atten­ded by the Marquesse of Carpio alone, [Page 13] went downe in priuate manner, thorow a Garden to meet his Highnesse. Where after they had sa­luted one another with a manner of curtesie, which indeed was Princely, the King by the force of his fauour, put him still first into his Coach, and seated him on the right hand, and then entred him­selfe, and sate by him; the Lord Marquesse, and the Conde de Oliuares, sitting at the other end of the Coach, and the Earle of Bristow in one of the sides, and the Mar­quesse of Carpio in the other. Thus they went towards a house of pleasure, belonging to the King, neere Madrid, called the Ca­sa del Campo. Where after they had spent about an houre, the King ma­king extraordinary great professi­ons of his affection to the King our Soueraigne, and the Prince: [Page 14] it was found before they were a­ware, that his Maiesty had brought his Highnesse a mile and a halfe on his way homewards; and indeed almost to the Earle of Bristolls house. The Prince would faine haue attended the King backe towards the Palace, but he would not suffer him.

His Highnesse did then make a little turne another way, and be­fore hee could get to the Earle of Bristolls, the Conde de Oliuares (hauing already left the King) was ready there to attend his High­nesse. Shortly after, the Duke of Infantado, Mayordomo Mayor to the King, did by speciall command­ment from his Maiestie (for with­out order from the King, none as yet did visit the Prince) repaire vnto his Highnesse, to kisse his hands, and offered him his vttermost ser­uice, [Page] with great reuerence, in whatsoeuer hee should bee pleased to command.

On the two next daies being Wednesday and Thursday, there was not much done, of particu­lar and externall note. The mor­nings were spent by his Highnesse in giuing order for his owne pri­uate affaires; and the afternoones, for the most part, in recreating himselfe abroad in the fields; the Earle of Bristoll waiting on him with his hawkes.

Onely vpon the Thursday night after supper, there were sent to his Highnesse to entertaine the time, choice persons both of men and women, selected out of foure companies of Comedians, who dan­ced seuerall kindes of dances before him, and spent about two houres therein, the Condes of Monterey and [Page] Gondomar, being present.

On Friday being the foureteenth, his Highnesse stirred not abroad all the morning; but first sent Master Secretary Cottington, and afterward the Earle of Bristoll, to the Conde de Oliuares: and it should seeme to haue beene not onely a­bout matter of complement, but for some particular businesse. Af­ter dinner the Condes de Monterey and Gondomar, went to his Highnesse, and conducted him againe to the Casa del Campo, where hee found the King, and with his Maiesty the Infantes Don Carlos, and Don Fer­nando the Cardinall, his brothers; whom his Highnesse had not seene before that time. They saluted, em­braced, and striued mutually to kisse the hands of each other; af­ter which they all tooke horse to­gether, and entertained themselues [Page 17] a good while in beholding sundry men, which were disposed there on foot, of purpose to shoot at such kindes of game, as they found in the place. And so there were Hares started, Partridges sprung, and other fowle put vp to wing: they killed of all sorts as they went, either running or flying by them. Vpon the end of which pastime, the King (notwithstanding all the resistance which was in the Princes power to make) brought him a­gaine on his way homeward, to the same place whither hee had ac­companied him on the Tuesday night before; The Condes de Mon­terey, and Gondomar, attending his Highnesse to the Earle of Bristolls house.

Vpon this Friday, (for a further expression of the great ioy which that King had conceiued at the arri­uall [Page 18] of his Highnesse, and for his pre­sence in that place) his Maiesty com­manded, that a generall pardon of all offences should instantly be pro­claimed and published, and that all the Prisoners who were restrained within the whole Kingdome or continent of Spaine, should be re­leased; reseruing onely the rights and interests of third persons, as in the case of Debts and Appeales for murder and the like. By vertue of which pardon and Proclamation some hundreds of Prisoners in Madrid, were then freed, and all the Prisons emptied; diuers offenders who had taken Sanctuary in Chur­ches, and retired to the Ambassa­dors houses (which are highly pri­uiledged in that Court) hauing no­tice thereof before, did by way of anticipation dispose of themselues into the hands of Iustice; and so [Page 19] made a purchase of their liberty by their imprisonment.

Instant order was also giuen, that all the English which were surui­uing in the Gallies, and who had beene condemned to that seruitude, during life, for committing of Piracy, and many other mortall crimes, should bee released with­out delay. And this Grace which his Maiesty manifested in contem­plation of the Prince, hath strangely encreased the generall applause wherewith he is receiued and obser­ued in that Court by all.

Saturday being the fifteenth, was spent at home by his Highnesse in priuate manner, in regard of the so­lemne entry hee was to make the next day, which was designed by the King, to be performed with the same magnificence and splendour, as is vsed at the Coronation of the [Page 20] Kings of Spaine. Onely a little be­fore dinner, the Conde de Monterey went to the Prince, and told his Highnesse that the King had sent two horses thither, and desired him to make choise, vpon which he would be pleased to ride the day follow­ing, for that the King would ride vpon the horse which hee should leaue. Whereupon his Highnesse passed out into a Garden, not farre from the Earle of Bristols house, where, like himselfe, hee tooke paines and pleasure to try them both; to the end that if there were a difference, hee might take the lesse excellent to himselfe, and returne the other to the King.

On Sunday, being the sixteenth, when it was already well towards noone, there went foure Councel­lours of State, Don Augustine Mexia, the Marquesse De Montes Claros, Don [Page 21] Fernando Giron, and the Conde de Con­domar, to waite vpon the Prince at the Earle of Bristols house, and to attend his Highnesse to a famous Mo­nastery, called Saint Ieronimo, neere Madrid; from whence the Kings of Spaine are wont to goe when they make their solemne entry into that towne; and where the King hath a Quarter reserued for the ho­nour and entertainment of his owne royall Person. There was his Highnesse feasted priuatly at din­ner by his Maiesties appointment, but yet as by the Conde de Gondomar, who hath the keeping of that Quar­ter in the said Monastery. The af­ternoone till foure of the clocke, was spent by his Highnesse, in giuing audience to the Inquisidor Generall, and to the seuerall Bodies of Counsels, which doe all reside in that Court, and did all present themselues to the [Page 22] Prince, excepting onely the Councell of State, which neuer maketh any visit in Corps, but all the rest did performe that duty of obseruance, namely the Councell Royall of Ca­stilia, the Councell Royall of Ara­gon, the Councell of Portugall, the Councell of Italy, the Councell of Military Orders, the Councell of the Indies, the Councell of the Treasu­ry, and the Councell of the Exche­quer.

The Corregidor, and the Regidores of Madrid, which are the persons who haue the gouernment of that Towne, did also desire audience of the Prince; for they all had beene commanded by the King to present themselues humbly before his High­nesse. And here it is to be obserued once for all, that all the Subiects of that Kingdome, who had occasion to wait vpon the Prince, did striue [Page 23] with as much earnestnesse as good manners would permit, to haue actually kissed his Highnesse hands. But the Prince was resolute in not accepting that humble token of their loue, as conceiuing it to be fit­ter betweene the naturall subiects and their Soueraigne.

But about foure in the afternoone of that Sunday, the King went to see the Prince, whom his Highnesse receiued at the gate below. They made no very long stay there when once the complements were ended, but all things being put in order for his Highnesse entry, they disposed themselues to be going. And where­as the King with his Nobility came in Coaches thither, the whole Court did then mount on horsebacke, af­ter the example of his Maiesty and the Prince. The King did still put the Prince into a necessity of taking [Page 24] the right hand, and so they passed towards the Palace.

But as soone as they entred vpon the liberties of Madrid, they were expected and attended by foure and twenty Regidores of the towne, who had there a large Canopie of rich Tissue, and it belonged to them by office to carry it ouer the King. They were all apparelled in rich cloth of Tissue, lined with crimson cloth of gold. The King tooke the Prince vnder the Canopie, and kept him still on his right hand. Before them went the Courts and Mini­sters of Iustice, then the Grandes and all the other principall Nobles of that Court in colours and great bra­uery, and they were attended by their followers in seuerall Liueries, which were very rich. Next after the King and Prince went the Lord Marquesse of Buckingham, and the Conde [Page 25] de Oliuares, executing the pla­ces of Masters of the Horse to them both, the Conde giuing the right hand to the Lord Marquesse; and ei­ther of them had a Horse of State, as the ensigne of the place he held.

The Canopy which was to be the fee of the Conde de Oliuares, as Master of the Horse to the King, was presented afterward by the Towne to the Lord Marquesse, with all other fees belong­ing to that office, because he serued that day as Master of the Horse to the Prince, in whose honor the action was performed. Then proceeded the Earle of Bristoll betweene the eldest Councellour of State, and one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Chamber; and Sir Walter Aston af­ter him, accompanied in like man­ner; the rest both of the Counsaile of State, and of the Gentlemen of the Kings Chamber following them. [Page 26] After whom went that goodly Guard which is called de los Archeros, who were brauely clad and arraied.

In the ways as the triumph passed, all the streets were adorned, in some places with rich hangings, in others with curious pictures, and heere and there certaine scaffolds were sprinckled, whereupon the bodies of those Councells sat to see, which for­merly had beene with the Prince to doe him reuerence. And in other streets of the same passage diuers re­presentations were made of the best Comedians dancers, and men of musicke, to giue contentment to that Royall Paire, as they passed by.

As soone as the King and Prince were arriued and had lighted at the Palace, there was great pressing be­tweene them two for the hindmost place; but in fine they went hand in hand, or rather indeed imbracing [Page 27] mutually their bodies with one ano­thers armes, all the while as they were going vp towards the Queenes side, to whom the King was already conducting the Prince. The Queene though shee were in a very large roome, would by no meanes ex­pect the Prince vnder her State; but went downe to within two paces of the very doore to meet his High­nesse; and then conducted him to her cloth of State; where there were set three equall chaires, the Queenes in the middle, with the Prince on her right hand, and the King on the left. The roome was as richly furnished as may well bee imagined: but the chiefe riches thereof consisted in that liuing Tapistry of Ladies and Noblemens Children, called Menines, which stood and garnished all the roome round about close by the walles.

[Page 28] The King from hence conueigh­ed the Prince to the quarter assigned him, and the Queene would needs ac­company him to the doore of the same great roome, bowing very low vnto him at the parting, in such manner as well expressed the value her Maiestie set vpon his person, and the honour shee desired to doe him.

The King in the meane time, was vpon his way to the Princes Quarter; which was all very sump­tuously furnished, and at the en­trance thereof stood the Infantes Dou Carlos, and the Cardinall Don Ferdinando his brothers; so they all three con­ducted the Prince into his bedcham­ber, where the King tooke his leaue for that time. Onely there, his Ma­iestie was content to take the hand of the Prince, because his Highnesse, was now as in his owne proper home. [Page 29] And although the Prince was euen importunatly bent to attend the King backe to his owne Quarter, yet the King would by no meanes suffer that he should returne any fur­ther than to make one only step out of his owne lodgings.

The Prince had not beene there an houre before the Queene sent the Conde de Benauente, who is her Mayor domo Mayor, with sumptuous and cu­rious Presents to his Highnesse; name­ly, a faire great Basen of massie gold, borne by two men, and a curious imbrodered Night-gowne laid dou­ble in it. Besides, her Maiesty sent him 2. great Truncks bound with bands of pure gold, and thick strucke with nailes of gold, & locks and keyes of the same. The couerings and linings whereof are of Amber leather, & the Trunks full of seuerall delicacies of curious Linnen and Perfumes. Be­sides [Page 30] these Trunks, shee sent him a faire rich Deske, euery drawer wher­of was full of rarities. The Coun­tesse of Oliuares sent also a noble pre­sent to the Lord Marquesse of Buc­kingham.

Fireworkes were made, and Tor­ches set in all the Windowes of Ma­drid for three nights together, hauing been so commanded by Proclamati­on. And it is strange to heare with what acclamations and benedicti­ons the voice of the people doth at­tend the Prince, whensoeuer hee is discerned to be abroad, crying, Viua el Principe de Galles, Viua el Principe de Galles. The King hath also comman­ded that his Highnesse bee attended by all Officers and serued in all points as himselfe is. All they who wait vpon the Princes person, are in the rancke or qualitie of Lords. The King hath sent him halfe his [Page 31] owne Guard. Hee hath assigned to his Highnesse for the Mayor domo May­or, or high Steward of his House, the Conde de Monterey, who is brother in law to the Conde de Oliuares, President of Italy, of the Councell of State, and a Graunde of Spaine. Hee hath giuen him besides two other Mayor Domos to serue him, namely, the Conde de Gon­domar, and the Conde de la Puebla. And as for the Conde de Monterey, his Maie­sty hauing obserued the diligent affe­ction which he daily carried to the Princes seruice, did bestow a gilt Key vpon him in contemplation thereof, whereby hee was ipso facto made a Gentleman of tho Kings Chamber, and it was done the rather, for that so hee should bee the better able to comply with his new place of Mayor domo Mayor.

The King did also send two gilt Keyes to his Highnesse, desiring him [Page 32] to bestow them vpon what English he would, to the end that his Palace might be all open vnto them: where­upon his Highnesse gaue one of them to the Lord Marquesse of Buckingham, and the other to the Earle of Bristoll.

His Maiesty hath moreouer impo­sed vpon diuers Councellors of State, that some one of them shall daily attend in the Princes Quarter by turnes, to vnderstand his pleasure from time to time, and that foure Grandes, namely, the Admirall of Ca­stile, the Duke of Cea, the Marquesse of Velada, and the Duke of Yjar be e­uer at hand, to court, accompany and attend the Prince whithersoeuer his Highnesse shall be pleased to goe.

The next day after the Prince was conducted to the Palace, all the Counsailes came to wait vpon his Highnesse, and to let him know that they had receiued expresse order [Page 33] from the King their Master, to per­forme and obey all consultaes and commands, which should come from his Highnesse, were it for the disposing of any offices, Encomienda's, or any other prouisions of Grace, which should happen to fall, during the residence of his Highnesse in that Court, and that as exactly, as if the King himselfe should command any such thing vnder his hand.

There are also said to bee other great Triumphs in preparation, and Letters Mandatory sent to the prin­cipall Nobility of Aragon, that they come and giue attendance at the Court, vpon the Princes pleasure; be­cause they haue the reputation to be excellent men at Armes. And that the Court may appeare in greater lustre and glory, the King hath sus­pended for so long as his Highnesse shall be there, the Edict which his [Page 34] Maiestie lately had caused to be pro­claimed, for the restraint of all ex­cesse in point of apparell.

His Maiestie hath also beene plea­sed to take particular care that the Lord Marquesse of Buckingham be well lodged in the Palace, in a Quarter of his owne, neere adioyning to the Prince, and hath commanded him to be serued with a full and plentifull Diet, and to be also nobly attended; besides many other such demonstra­tions of grace and fauour from that King, with so particular and great re­spects from the Grandes and all the Nobles of that Court, as the like perhaps hath not beene seene impar­ted to any stranger, meerely a subiect.

This is the substance of that which passed at Madrid concerning the reception of the Prince, from the seuenth of March (which was the [Page 35] day of his arriuall in that Court) till the eighteenth of the same Moneth. But that which may put a good full point to this Relation; and withall, fill the hearts of all the King our So­ueraignes obedient and loyall Sub­iects, with much comfort, is, to know that the last messenger which came from his Highnesse, left him in as prosperous and perfect health, as euer hee had beene knowne to enioy; and whereas vertue when it is soundly practised at home, shewes faire abroad; the Comport­ment of his Highnesse in the place where now hee is, hath made such a prospect vpon his Noble and Princely parts, in all respects, as may well giue vs cause to reioyce and to render humble thankes vnto Al­mighty God for the same.