shall say to be necessary for my being saved; so that what I omit doing will be placed to your account, as I am ready to acquit myself of all that shall be ordered to me."

Is there in the records of history a more glaring instance of the idea which a good Catholic attaches to the power of a confessor than the present authentic example? The most licentious philosophy seems not more dangerous than a religion whose votary believes that the accumulation of crimes can be dissipated by the breath of a few orisons, and which, considering a venal priest to " Occupy the place of God," can traffic with the divine power at a very moderate price.

After his death a Spanish grandee wrote with a coal on the chimney-piece of his chamber the following epitaph, which ingeniously paints his character in four verses.

Siendo moço, luxurioso;
Siendo hombre, fue cruel;
Siendo viejo, codicioso;
Que se puede esperar del ?

In youth he was luxurious;
In manhood he was cruel;
In old age he was avaricious;

What could be hoped from him?

CHARLES THE FIRST.

Or his romantic excursion into Spain for the Infanta, there are many curious particulars. Some

observations, and some anecdotes are scattered amongst foreign writers; they will display the su perstitious prejudices which prevailed on this occasion, and perhaps develope the mysterious politics of the courts of Spain and Rome.

Cardinal Gaetano, who had long been nuncio in Spain, observes, that the people accustomed to revere the inquisition as the oracle of divinity, abhorred that proposal of marriage of the Infanta with an heretical Prince; but that the King's council, and all wise politicians, were desirous of its accomplishment. Gregory XV. held a consultation of cardinals, where it was agreed that the just apprehension which the English catholics entertained of being more cruelly persecuted, if this marriage failed, was a sufficient reason to justify the Pope. The dispensation was therefore immediately granted, and sent to the nuncio of Spain, with orders to inform the Prince of Wales, in case of rupture, that no impediment of the marriage proceeded from the court of Rome, who, on the contrary, had expedited the dispensation.

The Prince's excursion to Madrid was however universally blamed, as being inimical to state interests. Nani, author of a history of Venice (which, according to his digressive manner, is the universal history of his times) has noticed this affair. "The people talked, and the English murmured more than any other nation to see the

only son of the King and heir of his realms venture on so long a voyage, and present himself rather as a hostage than a husband to a foreign court, which so widely differed in government and religion, to obtain by force of prayer and supplications a woman whom Philip and his ministers made a point of honour and conscience to refuse."

Houssaie observes, "The English council were against it, but King James obstinately resolved on it; being over persuaded by Gondomar, the Spanish Ambassador, whose facetious humour and lively repartees greatly delighted him. Gondomar persuaded him that the presence of the prince would not fail of accomplishing this union, and also the restitution of the electorate to his son-in-law the Palatine. Add to this, the Earl of Bristol, the English ambassador extraordinary at the court of Madrid, finding it his interest, wrote repeatedly to his Majesty that the success was certain if the Prince came there, for that the Infanta would be charmed with his personal appearance and polished manners. It was thus that James, seduced by these two ambassadors, and by his parental affection for both his children, permitted the Prince of Wales to travel into Spain." This account differs from Clarendon.

Wicquefort says, "that James in all this was the dupe of Gondomar, who well knew the impossibility of this marriage, which was alike inimical

to the interests of politics and the Inquisition. For a long time he amused his Majesty with hopes, and even got money for the household expences of the future queen. He acted his part so well, that the King of Spain recompensed the knave, on his return, with a seat in the council of state." There is preserved in the British Museum a considerable series of letters which passed between James I. and the Duke of Buckingham and Charles, during their residence in Spain.

I shall glean some further particulars concerning this mysterious affair from two English contemporaries, Howel and Wilson, who wrote from their own observations. Howel had been employed in this projected match, and resided during its negociation at Madrid. Wilson has written the life of James the First.

Howel describes the first interview of Prince Charles and the Infanta. He says, "The Infanta wore a blue ribband about her arm, that the Prince might distinguish her, and as soon as she saw the Prince her colour rose very high."Wilson informs us that "two days after their interview the Prince was invited to run at the ring, where his fair mistress was a spectator, and, to the glory of his fortune, and the great contentment both of himself and the lookers on, he took the ring the very first course." Howel, writing from Madrid, says "The people here do

mightily magnify the gallantry of the journey, and cry out that he deserved to have the Infanta thrown into his arms the first night he came." The people appear, however, some time after. to doubt if the English had any religion at all. Again, “I have seen the Prince have his eyes immoveably fixed upon the Infanta half an hour together in a thoughtful speculative posture." Olivares, who was no friend to this match, coarsely observed that the Prince watched her as a cat does a mouse. Charles indeed acted every thing that a lover in one of the old romances could have done. He once leapt over the walls of her garden, and only retired by the intreaties of the old Marquis who then guarded her, and who, falling on his knees, solemnly protested that if the Prince spoke to her his head would answer for. it. He watched hours in the street to meet with her; and Wilson says he gave such liberal presents to the court, as well as Buckingham to the Spanish beauties, that the Lord Treasurer Middlesex complained repeatedly of their wasteful prodigality.

Let us now observe by what mode this match was consented to by the courts of Spain and Rome. Wilson informs us that, Charles agreed "That any one should freely propose to him the argurnents in favour of the Catholic religion, without giving any impediment; but that he