sending a new dispensation, in hopes that, during
the prince's residence in Spain, some expedient might be fallen upon
to effect his conversion. The king of England, as well as the prince,
became impatient. On the first hint, Charles obtained permission to
return; and Philip graced his departure with all the circumstances of
elaborate civility and respect which had attended his reception. He even
erected a pillar on the spot where they took leave of each other, as
a monument of mutual friendship; and the prince, having sworn to the
observance of all the articles, entered on his journey, and embarked on
board the English fleet at St. Andero.

The character of Charles, composed of decency, reserve, modesty,
sobriety, virtues so agreeable to the manners of the Spaniards; the
unparalleled confidence which he had reposed in their nation; the
romantic gallantry which he had practised towards the princess; all
these circumstances, joined to his youth and advantageous figure, had
endeared him to the whole court of Madrid, and had impressed the most
favorable ideas of him.[**] But, in the same proportion that the
prince was beloved and esteemed, was Buckingham despised and hated.
His behavior, composed of English familiarity and French vivacity; his
sallies of passion, his indecent freedoms with the prince, his dissolute
pleasures, his arrogant, impetuous temper, which he neither could nor
cared to disguise; qualities like these could, most of them, be
esteemed nowhere, but to the Spaniards were the objects of peculiar
aversion.[***] They could not conceal their surprise, that such a
youth could intrude into a negotiation, now conducted to a period by so
accomplished a minister as Bristol, and could assume to himself all the
merit of it. They lamented the infanta's fate, who must be approached by
a man whose temerity seemed to respect no laws, divine or human.[****]

* Rushworth, vol. i. p. 82. Franklyn, p. 77.

** Franklyn, p. 80. Rushworth, vol. i. p. 103.

*** Rushworth, vol. i. p. 101.

**** Clarendon, vol. i. p. 36.

And when they observed, that he had the imprudence to insult the Conde
duke of Olivarez, their prime minister, every one who was ambitious of
paying court to the Spanish became desirous of showing a contempt for
the English favorite.

The duke of Buckingham told Olivarez, that his own attachment to the
Spanish nation and to the king of Spain was extreme; that he would
contribute to