A TRUE Relation AND JOURNAL, OF THE MANNER OF THE ARRIVAL, and Magnificent Entertainment, given to the High and Mighty Prince CHARLES, Prince of GREAT BRITAIN, by the King of Spain in his Court at MADRID.  
LONDON, Printed by JOHN HAVILAND for WILLIAM BARRET. M. DC. XXIII.   

ON Friday, being the ninth of March, Stilo veteri, about eight of the clock in the evening, the Prince, and the Lord Marquis of Buckingham, being all alone with the Postilion (as they had rid post together, three days before) arrived at Madrid, and conveyed themselves with such secrecy into the house of the Earl of Bristol, his Majesty's Ambassador extraordinary to the King of Spain, that for that night, they were hardly known by any, but they could not be long concealed. For early upon the next day being Saturday, there grew a whispering amongst many, as if the Marquis were come, but not a word of the Prince. The same morning the Conde de Gondomar, was advertised privately of the arrival, not only of the Lord Marquis, but of the Prince also, and so he went instantly to the Earl of Bristol house. After he had done reverence to his Highness, and had passed an hour in his presence, and in discourse with his Highness, and those Lords, it was desired that he would given the King his Mastor notice of the arrival of the Marquis; but that he should say nothing of the Prince at that time: at lest not in any such sort, as that they might take knowledge of his being there. The Conde de Gondomar undertook it, and carried the news thereof to the Conde de Olivares, who is that King's great Favourite: and indeed a Person, who for his noble conditions and choice parts, doth well deserve the large portion which the King his Master affordeth him of his estimation and affection: He conveyed what he knew to his Majesty, and then withal sent to the Marquis, desiring earnestly that he would given him leave to go instantly and visit him. But the Marquis excused himself, & did expressly refuse it through his desire of concealing the Prince; and so they resolved upon another meeting place for the afternoon, which fell out to be the Park. The Conde therefore sent a Coach to the Lord Marquis, and his Lordship took with him the Conde de Gondomar, the Earl of Bristol, and Sir Walter Aston, his Majesty's ordinary Ambassador in that Court. The Conde de Olivares was already expecting the Lord Marquis, and at length they met, and spent more than an hour together, in great expressions of contentment and joy. After this, the Conde conducted the Lord Marquis, and all that Company into the Court, and so up to the King by a private way. At which time, the Lord Marquis delivered the King our Sovereign's Letters to the King of Spain, and so much passed between them, as served to disclose that the Prince was come, and at the Earl of Bristol house, wherewith the King was extremely taken, and much transported with joy. His Majesty sent a hearty salutation to the Prince by the Lord Marquis, wherewith his Lordship returned to his Highness, being extraordinarily satisfied, both with that King's Princely courtesy, and his many noble parts otherwise. The Conde de Olivares conducted the Lord Marquis home, & pressing even beyond his Commission (for he was not yet to take knowledge of the Prince's arrival) to kiss his Highness' hand, he seen him, and spoke with him. The Prince received 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 means do it; although he be a Grand of Spain, and may therefore be covered before his own King.  
During this visit, the Marquis desired the Conde, that he would oblige the Prince by getting him a speedy sight of the Infanta his Mistress; wherein he promised to do his best endeavour, though it were in Lent, which he said was a time of extraordinary recollection and reservation, and so they parted for the present, being all in great contentment one with another.  
In conformity to the Princes desire, his Majesty (being that night acquainted with it by the Conde) laid aside the consideration of the time, and instantly resolved to given his Highness all satisfaction. And so he went abroad the next day, at the hour appointed, which was about three a clock in the afternoon, and to the Prado being the certain place agreed upon between them, his Majesty conducting with him his Queen, his Sister the Infanta, the Infants Don Carlos, & the Cardinal Don Fernando, his brethren; the Conde de Olivares, 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 Marquis, the Earl of Bristol, the Conde de Gondomar, and Sir Walter Aston. And so both the King and the Prince made diverse turns and returns in their several Coaches, and in several parts of the Town and Prado (which is a place of recreation) where the Nobility is often wont to take the air; and every one of them seen each other in a clear light, not being able to abstain from saluting mutually with the hat as they passed by, though they had agreed to take no kind of notice of one another; and this was all they did for that time. The King and all that royal Company returned by night by a world of Torchlight, which made a most glorious show.  
Immediately after this, his Majesty not being content with those single sights of the Prince, sent the Conde de Olivares, to pray him that they might meet, and embrace, and speaked together before they slept. The Prince accepted of the occasion, but there rose a difference between them about the manner. For the King did much press the Prince that he would accept of a visit from himself in the Earl of Bristolls house, and really his Highness had much ado to refuse it, but yet he would by no means admit thereof. On the other side, the Prince did offer to go visit his Majesty in his Palace, but the King considering that that must needs be to the Prince's disadvantage, because he had no Equipage, his Majesty refused expressly, & it grew to be agreed between them, that it should be in the aforesaid Prado, and in the evening of the same Sunday when it might be dark. Whereupon the Conde de Olivares said pleasantly, that he would by no means consent that his Master should meet him, and especially by night, but upon even terms; that the Prince was a great man at arms, and that even in the civil way he was strong in Ambassadors and Secretaries, whereas the King was in effect alone, that therefore he desired that the Prince would lend him the Marquis, 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 Prince's servant for that time. The Prince gave leave, with much content, that he should go, and so he went, and the King brought him and the Conde de Olivares to the Prado. Now the King being first arrived, sent a private message to the Prince, to let him know that he expected his Highness. Thereupon the Prince made much haste, being attended by the Conde de Gondomar, the Earl of Bristol, Sir Walter Aston, and Sir Francis Cottington his Highness' Secretary.  
When they were upon the point of meeting, they all alighted out of their Coaches, and the King embraced the Prince, and made incomparable professions of his love and affection, and of the strength obligation which the King our Sovereign and his Highness had cast upon him, by that main act of confidence and favour.  
Than his Majesty took the Prince into his Coach, and made him perforce go in first, and sit upon his right hand, and so they continued some good time in great sweetness of conversation, the Earl of Bristol interpreting between them. At the parting, the King lighted out of his Coach, with the Prince; and used much endeavour to have conducted the Prince to his Coach; but the Prince would by no means suffer it, and so they parted in the midway.  
On Monday the tenth of March, his Highness was made acquainted, by the Conde de Olivares, and the Conde de Gondomar, whom the King had sent to visit him, that the King was that morning going in devotion to a Monastery called the Merçed; and that he would pass the streets on horseback. When his Highness shown some willingness to be a spectator thereof, the Conde de Olivares carried him to a convenient place, where he had a full view of all. That evening, his Highness went into the fields by the River side, to take the air. And the Conde de Olivares, and the Conde de Monterey, went again to visit him from the King, and they two waited on him in discourse, above an hour.  
On Tuesday his Majesty sent again to see how his Highness did; and withal to let him know, that he could not but acknowledge the good service, 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 Britain, and of his Highness; as that they should think fit to put such a precious treasure into his hands, as his Highness was. And that therefore he could not suffer any subject of his to be unaduanced, whom he found so well accepted by the King of Great Britame, and his Highness. For which cause he was resolved to make him of his Counsel of State, though he accounted him indeed as an English man. Nay rather that for that respect he would admit him, to the end that both the King of Great Britain, and his Highness, might be more confident of his proceed; and made privy to the most inward passages. But the King withal, sent his Highness' word, that he desired him to given the first notice of it to the Conde, and receive his thanks. The Prince sent him the news thereof by Master Secretary Cottington; the Conde come to cast himself at the Princes feet, for so high an honour and favour, and so being addressed by his Highness to the Court, was instantly sworn.  
In the afternoon of that day, the Prince having intimated a desire to see the King, was conducted and attended by the Conde de Olivares, towards the Palace, through a back way. But before he could arrive there, he was prevented by the King. Who being attended by the Marquis of Carpio alone, went down in private manner, thorough a Garden to meet his Highness. Where after they had saluted one another with a manner of courtesy, which indeed was Princely, the King by the force of his favour, put him still first into his Coach, and seated him on the right hand, and then entered himself, and sat by him; the Lord Marquis, and the Conde de Olivares, sitting at the other end of the Coach, and the Earl of Bristol in one of the sides, and the Marquis of Carpio in the other. Thus they went towards a house of pleasure, belonging to the King, near Madrid, called the Casa del Campo. Where after they had spent about an hour, the King making extraordinary great professions of his affection to the King our Sovereign, and the Prince: it was found before they were ware, that his Majesty had brought his Highness a mile and a half on his way homewards; and indeed almost to the Earl of Bristolls house. The Prince would fain have attended the King back towards the Palace, but he would not suffer him.  
His Highness did then make a little turn another way, and before he could get to the Earl of Bristolls, the Conde de Olivares (having already left the King) was ready there to attended his Highness. Shortly after, the Duke of Infantado, Mayordomo Mayor to the King, did by special commandment from his Majesty (for without order from the King, noon as yet did visit the Prince) repair unto his Highness, to kiss his hands, and offered him his uttermost service, with great reverence, in whatsoever he should be pleased to command.  
On the two next days being Wednesday and Thursday, there was not much done, of particular and external note. The mornings were spent by his Highness in giving order for his own private affairs; and the afternoons, for the most part, in recreating himself abroad in the fields; the Earl of Bristol waiting on him with his hawks.  
Only upon the Thursday night after supper, there were sent to his Highness to entertain the time, choice persons both of men and women, selected out of four companies of Comedians, who danced several kinds of dances before him, and spent about two hours therein, the Condes of Monterey and Gondomar, being present.  
On Friday being the foureteenth, his Highness stirred not abroad all the morning; but first sent Master Secretary Cottington, and afterward the Earl of Bristol, to the Conde de Olivares: and it should seem to have been not only about matter of compliment, but for some particular business. After dinner the Condes de Monterey and Gondomar, went to his Highness, and conducted him again to the Casa del Campo, where he found the King, and with his Majesty the Infants Don Carlos, and Don Fernando the Cardinal, his brothers; whom his Highness had not seen before that time. They saluted, embraced, and strove mutually to kiss the hands of each other; after which they all took horse together, and entertained themselves a good while in beholding sundry men, which were disposed there on foot, of purpose to shoot at such kinds of game, as they found in the place. And so there were Hares started, Partridges sprung, and other fowl put up to wing: they killed of all sorts as they went, either running or flying by them. Upon the end of which pastime, the King (notwithstanding all the resistance which was in the Prince's power to make) brought him again on his way homeward, to the same place wither he had accompanied him on the Tuesday night before; The Condes de Monterey, and Gondomar, attending his Highness to the Earl of Bristolls house.  
Upon this Friday, (for a further expression of the great joy which that King had conceived at the arrival of his Highness, and for his presence in that place) his Majesty commanded, that a general pardon of all offences should instantly be proclaimed and published, and that all the Prisoners who were restrained within the whole Kingdom or continent of Spain, should be released; reserving only the rights and interests of third persons, as in the case of Debts and Appeals for murder and the like. By virtue of which pardon and Proclamation some hundreds of Prisoners in Madrid, were then freed, and all the Prisons emptied; diverse offenders who had taken Sanctuary in Churches, and retired to the Ambassadors houses (which are highly privileged in that Court) having notice thereof before, did by way of anticipation dispose of themselves into the hands of justice; and so made a purchase of their liberty by their imprisonment.  
Instant order was also given, that all the English which were surviving in the Galleys, and who had been condemned to that servitude, during life, for committing of Piracy, and many other mortal crimes, should be released without delay. And this Grace which his Majesty manifested in contemplation of the Prince, hath strangely increased the general applause wherewith he is received and observed in that Court by all.  
Saturday being the fifteenth, was spent at home by his Highness in private manner, in regard of the solemn entry he was to make the next day, which was designed by the King, to be performed with the same magnificence and splendour, as is used at the Coronation of the Kings of Spain. Only a little before dinner, the Conde de Monterey went to the Prince, and told his Highness that the King had sent two horses thither, and desired him to make choice, upon which he would be pleased to ride the day following, for that the King would ride upon the horse which he should leave. Whereupon his Highness passed out into a Garden, not fare from the Earl of Bristols house, where, like himself, he took pains and pleasure to try them both; to the end that if there were a difference, he might take the less excellent to himself, and return the other to the King.  
On Sunday, being the sixteenth, when it was already well towards noon, there went four Counsellors of State, Don Augustine Mexia, the Marquis De Montes Claros, Don Fernando Giron, and the Conde de Condomar, to wait upon the Prince at the Earl of Bristols house, and to attended his Highness to a famous Monastery, called Saint jeronimo, near Madrid; from whence the Kings of Spain are wont to go when they make their solemn entry into that town; and where the King hath a Quarter reserved for the honour and entertainment of his own royal Person. There was his Highness feasted privately at dinner by his Majesty's appointment, but yet as by the Conde de Gondomar, who hath the keeping of that Quarter in the said Monastery. The afternoon till four of the clock, was spent by his Highness, in giving audience to the Inquisidor General, and to the several Bodies of Counsels, which do all reside in that Court, and did all present themselves to the Prince, excepting only the Council of State, which never maketh any visit in Corpse, but all the rest did perform that duty of observance, namely the Council Royal of Castilia, the Council Royal of Arragon, the Council of Portugal, the Council of Italy, the Council of Military Orders, the Council of the Indieses, the Council of the Treasury, and the Council of the Exchequer.  
The Corregidor, and the Regidores of Madrid, which are the persons who have the government of that Town, did also desire audience of the Prince; for they all had been commanded by the King to present themselves humbly before his Highness. And here it is to be observed once for all, that all the Subjects of that Kingdom, who had occasion to wait upon the Prince, did strive with as much earnestness as good manners would permit, to have actually kissed his Highness' hands. But the Prince was resolute in not accepting that humble token of their love, as conceiving it to be fit between the natural subjects and their Sovereign.  
But about four in the afternoon of that Sunday, the King went to see the Prince, whom his Highness received at the gate below. They made no very long stay there when once the compliments were ended, but all things being put in order for his Highness' entry, they disposed themselves to be going. And whereas the King with his Nobility come in Coaches thither, the whole Court did then mount on horseback, after the example of his Majesty and the Prince. The King did still put the Prince into a necessity of taking the right hand, and so they passed towards the Palace.  
But as soon as they entered upon the liberties of Madrid, they were expected and attended by four and twenty Regidores of the town, who had there a large Canopy of rich Tissue, and it belonged to them by office to carry it over the King. They were all apparelled in rich cloth of Tissue, lined with crimson cloth of gold. The King took the Prince under the Canopy, and kept him still on his right hand. Before them went the Courts and Ministers of justice, than the Grandes and all the other principal Nobles of that Court in colours and great bravery, and they were attended by their followers in several Liveries, which were very rich. Next after the King and Prince went the Lord Marquis of Buckingham, and the Conde de Olivares, executing the places of Masters of the Horse to them both, the Conde giving the right hand to the Lord Marquis; and either of them had a Horse of State, as the ensign of the place he held.  
The Canopy which was to be the fee of the Conde de Olivares, as Master of the Horse to the King, was presented afterward by the Town to the Lord Marquis, with all other fees belonging to that office, because he served that day as Master of the Horse to the Prince, in whose honour the action was performed. Than proceeded the Earl of Bristol between the eldest Counsellor of State, and one of the Gentlemen of the King's Chamber; and Sir Walter Aston after him, accompanied in like manner; the rest both of the Counsel of State, and of the Gentlemen of the King's Chamber following them. After whom went that goodly Guard which is called de los Archeros, who were bravely clad and arrayed.  
In the ways as the triumph passed, all the streets were adorned, in some places with rich hangings, in others with curious pictures, and here and there certain scaffolds were sprinkled, whereupon the bodies of those Counsels sat to see, which formerly had been with the Prince to do him reverence. And in other streets of the same passage diverse representations were made of the best Comedians dancers, and men of music, to given contentment to that Royal Pair, as they passed by.  
As soon as the King and Prince were arrived and had lighted at the Palace, there was great pressing between them two for the hindmost place; but in fine they went hand in hand, or rather indeed embracing mutually their bodies with one another's arms, all the while as they were going up towards the Queen's side, to whom the King was already conducting the Prince. The Queen though she were in a very large room, would by no means expect the Prince under her State; but went down to within two paces of the very door to meet his Highness; and then conducted him to her cloth of State; where there were set three equal chairs, the Queens in the middle, with the Prince on her right hand, and the King on the left. The room was as richly furnished as may well be imagined: but the chief riches thereof consisted in that living Tapestry of Ladies and Nobleman's Children, called Menines, which stood and garnished all the room round about close by the walls.  
The King from hence conveyed the Prince to the quarter assigned him, and the Queen would needs accompany him to the door of the same great room, bowing very low unto him at the parting, in such manner as well expressed the value her Majesty set upon his person, and the honour she desired to do him.  
The King in the mean time, was upon his way to the Prince's Quarter; which was all very sumptuously furnished, and at the entrance thereof stood the Infants Doughty Carlos, and the Cardinal Don Ferdinando his brothers; so they all three conducted the Prince into his bedchamber, where the King took his leave for that time. Only there, his Majesty was content to take the hand of the Prince, because his Highness, was now as in his own proper home. And although the Prince was even importunately bend to attended the King back to his own Quarter, yet the King would by no means suffer that he should return any further than to make one only step out of his own lodgings.  
The Prince had not been there an hour before the Queen sent the Conde de Benauente, who is her Mayor domo Mayor, with sumptuous and curious Presents to his Highness; namely, a fare great Basin of massy gold, borne by two men, and a curious embroidered Nightgown laid double in it. Besides, her Majesty sent him 2. great Trunks bound with bands of pure gold, and thick struck with nails of gold, & locks and keys of the same. The coverings and line whereof are of Amber leather, & the Trunks full of several delicacies of curious Linen and Perfumes. Besides these Trunks, she sent him a fare rich Desk, every drawer whereof was full of rarities. The Countess of Olivares sent also a noble present to the Lord Marquis of Buckingham.  
Fireworks were made, and Torches set in all the Windows of Madrid for three nights together, having been so commanded by Proclamation. And it is strange to hear with what acclamations and benedictions the voice of the people doth attended the Prince, whensoever he is discerned to be abroad, crying, Viva el Principe de Galls, Viva el Principe de Galls. The King hath also commanded that his Highness be attended by all Officers and served in all points as himself is. All they who wait upon the Prince's person, are in the rank or quality of Lords. The King hath sent him half his own Guard. He hath assigned to his Highness for the Mayor domo Mayor, or high Steward of his House, the Conde de Monterey, who is brother in law to the Conde de Olivares, Precedent of Italy, of the Council of State, and a Grand of Spain. He hath given him beside two other Mayor Domos to serve him, namely, the Conde de Gondomar, and the Conde de la Puebla. And as for the Conde de Monterey, his Majesty having observed the diligent affection which he daily carried to the Prince's service, did bestow a gilt Key upon him in contemplation thereof, whereby he was ipso facto made a Gentleman of though King's Chamber, and it was done the rather, for that so he should be the better able to comply with his new place of Mayor domo Mayor.  
The King did also sand two gilt Keys to his Highness, desiring him to bestow them upon what English he would, to the end that his Palace might be all open unto them: whereupon his Highness gave one of them to the Lord Marquis of Buckingham, and the other to the Earl of Bristol.  
His Majesty hath moreover imposed upon diverse Councillors of State, that some one of them shall daily attended in the Prince's Quarter by turns, to understand his pleasure from time to time, and that four Grandes, namely, the Admiral of Castille, the Duke of Cea, the Marquis of Velada, and the Duke of Yjar be ever at hand, to court, accompany and attended the Prince whithersoever his Highness shall be pleased to go.  
The next day after the Prince was conducted to the Palace, all the Counsels come to wait upon his Highness, and to let him know that they had received express order from the King their Master, to perform and obey all consultaes and commands, which should come from his Highness, were it for the disposing of any offices, Encomiendas, or any other provisions of Grace, which should happen to fall, during the residence of his Highness in that Court, and that as exactly, as if the King himself should command any such thing under his hand.  
There are also said to be other great Triumphs in preparation, and Letters Mandatory sent to the principal Nobility of Arragon, that they come and given attendance at the Court, upon the Prince's pleasure; because they have the reputation to be excellent men at Arms. And that the Court may appear in greater lustre and glory, the King hath suspended for so long as his Highness shall be there, the Edict which his Majesty lately had caused to be proclaimed, for the restraint of all excess in point of apparel.  
His Majesty hath also been pleased to take particular care that the Lord Marquis of Buckingham be well lodged in the Palace, in a Quarter of his own, near adjoining to the Prince, and hath commanded him to be served with a full and plentiful Diet, and to be also nobly attended; besides many other such demonstrations of grace and favour 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 been seen imparted to any stranger, merely a subject.  
This is the substance of that which passed at Madrid concerning the reception of the Prince, from the seventh of March (which was the day of his arrival in that Court) till the eighteenth of the same Month. But that which may put a good full point to this Relation; and withal, fill the hearts of all the King our Sovereign's obedient and loyal Subjects, with much comfort, is, to know that the last messenger which come from his Highness, left him in as prosperous and perfect health, as ever he had been known to enjoy; and whereas virtue when it is sound practised at home, shows fare abroad; the Comportment of his Highness in the place where now he is, hath made such a prospect upon his Noble and Princely parts, in all respects, as may well given us 'cause to rejoice and to tender humble thanks unto Almighty God for the same.  
FINIS.