Philip: but, partly by the suppression of
some facts, partly by the false coloring laid on others, this narrative
was calculated entirely to mislead the parliament, and to throw on the
court of Spain the reproach of artifice and insincerity. He said, that,
after many years' negotiation, the king found not himself any nearer his
purpose; and that Bristol had never brought the treaty beyond general
professions and declarations; that the prince, doubting the good
intentions of Spain, resolved at last to take a journey to Madrid, and
put the matter to the utmost trial; that he there found such artificial
dealing as made him conclude all the steps taken towards the marriage
to be false and deceitful: that the restitution of the Palatinate, which
had ever been regarded by the king as an essential preliminary, was not
seriously intended by Spain; and that, after enduring much bad usage,
the prince was obliged to return to England, without any hopes, either
of obtaining the infanta, or of restoring the elector palatine.[*]

This narrative, which, considering the importance of the occasion, and
the solemnity of that assembly to which it was delivered, deserves
great blame, was yet vouched for truth by the prince of Wales, who was
present; and the king himself lent it, indirectly, his authority, by
telling the parliament, that it was by his orders Buckingham laid the
whole affair before them. The conduct of these princes it is difficult
fully to excuse. It is in vain to plead the youth and inexperience of
Charles; unless his inexperience and youth, as is probable,[**] [57] if
not certain, really led him into error, and made him swallow all the
falsities of Buckingham. And though the king was here hurried from his
own measures by the impetuosity of others, nothing should have induced
him to prostitute his character, and seem to vouch the impostures, at
least false colorings, of his favorite, of which he had so good reason
to entertain a suspicion.[***]

* Franklyn, p.89, 90, 91, etc. Rushworth, vol. i. p. 119,
120, etc. Parl. Hist. vol. vi. p. 20, 21, etc.

** See note EEE, at the end of the volume.

*** It must, however, be confessed, that the king afterwards
warned the house not to take Buckingham's narrative for his,
though it was said before them by his order. Parl. Hist.
vol. vi. p. 104. James was probably ashamed to have been
carried so far by his favorite.

Buckingham's narrative