<P_1.3,169>

<heading:edcomment:LETTER_LORD_KENSINGTON_TO_THE_DUKE_OF_BUCKINGHA
M,_THE_PARTICULARS_OF_HIS_INTERVIEW_WITH_THE_QUEEN_MOTHER_OF_ FRANCE>

{COM:editorial_material_omitted}

<P_1.3,170>

My most deare and noble lord besides that joint Letter to your Lordship
from my collegue and my self , I think fitt to add this particular
accompt of what passed yesterday at Ruel betwixt Queen Mother and me .
Whither going to give her double thanks ; as for the libertie she had
given me of accesse at all tymes to Madame , to enterteyne her
henceforth with a more free and amorous kinde of language from the
Prince , so for having so readily condescended to an humble suite of
myne in the behalf of my Lo. of Carlile for a favorable letter for him
to your Lordship . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,170.5)

She was pleased to oblige me further , in telling me she did it meerly
for my sake . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,170.6)

I redoubled my thanks ; (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,170.7)

and added , that I knew your Lordship would esteeme it one of the
greatest happinesses that could befall yow , to have any occasion
<P_1.3,171> offred wherby yow might witnesse how much yow adored her
Majesties royall virtues , and how infinitely yow were her servant ,
ready to receyve lawe from her whensoever by the least syllable of her
blessed lips or pen she should please to impose it .
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,171.8)

And this I did , as on the one side to gratifye my collegue , who would
be infinitely sensible of the disgrace he apprehends in the misse of
the ribbon , being thus brought upon the stage for it , as also to help
to mesuage that your gracious favor which Mons=r= de Fiatt's letter to
my Lord represents unto him , by giving yow means withall to oblige
this sweet and blessyd Queen , who hath your Lordship in a very high
accompt , and would be glad to finde occasions how she may witnesse it
. (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,171.9)

The mention of my lord of Carlile upon this occasion refreshed her
remembrance of the late falling out betwixt the Cardinal and him ;
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,171.10)

and though she were sufficiently informed of the particulars by the
Cardinal himself , yet she would needs have a relation from me , who in
a merry kinde of fashion obeyed her commaund , and salved every thing
the best I could . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,171.11)

She would needs know my opinion of the Cardinal , who so magnified to
her his wisdome , his courage , his curtesie , his fidelity to her
service , his affection to our buisinesse , as pleased her not a little
. (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,171.12)

Nether did my heart and my tongue differ : (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,171.13)

for I esteeme him such . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,171.14)

This discourse she left to fall upon a better subject , the Prince ;
concerning whose voyage into Spaine , <P_1.3,172> the censure of Italie
, she sayd , was , that two Kings had therin committed two great
errours ; the one in adventuring so precious a pledge to so hazardous
an enterprize ; the other in so badly using so brave a guest .
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,172.15)

The first Madame , answered I , may be excused from the end , the
common good of all Christendome , which then standing upon desperate
termes had need of desperate remedy : (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,172.16)

the second had need of a better advocate than I , to putt any colour of
defence upon it . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,172.17)

But his Highnes had observed as great a weaknes and follye as that , in
that after they had used him so ill , they would suffer him to depart ;
which was one of the first speeches he uttered after he was entred into
his Ship . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,172.18)

But " did he say so ? " said the Queen . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,172.19)

" Yes Madame , I will assure you , " quoth I , " from the witnesse of
my owne eares . " (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,172.20)

She smiled (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,172.21)

and replied ; " Indeed I heard he was used ill . "
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,172.22)

" So he was , " answered I , " (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,172.23)

but not in his enterteynement , for that was as splendid as that
country could afford it ; but in their frivolous delayes , and in the
unreasonable conditions which they propounded , and pressed , upon the
advantage they had of his Princely person . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,172.24)

And yet , " smilingly added I , " yow heer , Madame , use him farre
worse . " (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,172.25)

" And how so " presently demaunded she ? (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,172.26)

" In that yow presse , " quoth I , " upon that most worthy and noble
Prince , who hath with so much affection to your Majesties service , so
much passion to Madame , sought this <P_1.3,173> alliance , the same ,
nay more unreasonable conditions then the other ;
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,173.27)

and what they traced out for the breaking of the match , yow follow ,
pretending to conclude it ; (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,173.28)

very unseasonably in this conjuncture of tyme especially , when the
jealousies that such great changes in state are apt to begett , are
cunningly fomented by the Spanish Embassador in England ; who vaunts it
forth that there is not soe great a change in La Vieuvilles particular
person , as there is in the general affections ; which did but follow
before the streame of his greatnes and credit : thus casting in the
Kings mynde the seed of doubts , whereunto the Conde d'Olivarez in
Spaine has been willing to contribute by this braving speech to our
royall master's Embassador , that if the Pope ever granted a
dispensation for the match with France , the King of Spaine wold march
with an army to Rome and sack it . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,173.29)

" Vrayement nous l'en empescherons bien , " promptly answered she ,
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,173.30)

" car nous luy taglierons assez de besengne ailleurs .
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,173.31)

Mais qu'est-ce qui vous presse le plus ? " (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,173.32)

I represented to her the unfitnesse of the seventh article <paren> even
qualified by that interpretation that it is </paren> and the
impossibility of the last , which requires and prescribes an Oath :
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,173.33)

desired that the honor of the Prince , with whom she pretended a will
to match her daughter , might be deerer to her then to be balanced with
that which could adde nothing to their assurance
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,173.34)

humbly besought her to employ her credit with the <P_1.3,174> King her
son , her authority to the ministers , for a reformation of these two
articles specially , and a friendly and speedy dispatch of all .
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.35)

And if we must come to that extreamity that more could not be altred
then allready was , yet at least she would procure the allowance of
this protestation by the King our master when he should swear them ,
that he intended no further to oblige himself by that Oath then might
well stand with the surety , peace , tranquillity , and conveniency of
his state . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.36)

This she thought reasonable , (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.37)

and promised to speak with the King and Cardinal about it .
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.38)

" And if yow speake , as you can , replied I , I know it $will $be
{TEXT:wilbe} done ; " though when all this is done I knowe not whether
the King my master will condescend so farre yea or not .
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.39)

Here I entreated I might weary her Majestie no farther , but take the
liberty she had pleased to give me in interteyning Madame with such
commandments as the Prince had charged me withall to her .
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.40)

She would needs know what I would say . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.41)

" Nay then ; " smilingly quoth I , (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.42)

" your Majestie will impose upon me the like Lawe that they in Spaine
did upon his Highnes . " (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.43)

" But the case is now different , " sayd she , (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.44)

" for there the Prince was in person , (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.45)

heer is but his deputy . " (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.46)

" But a deputy , " answerd I , " that represents his person . "
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.47)

" Mais pour tout cela , " dit elle , " qu'est ce que vous direz ? "
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.48)

" Rien , " dis je , " qui ne soit digne des orailles d'une si vertueuse
Princesse . " (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,174.49)

" Mais qu'est-ce ? " <P_1.3,175> redoubled she .
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,175.50)

" Why then Madame ; " quoth I , " yf yow will needs knowe , it shall be
much to this effect : that your Majestie having given me the liberty of
some freer language than heretofore , I obey the Prince his
commaundment in presenting to her his service , not by way of
complement any longer , but out of passion and affection , which both-1
her outward and inward beautyes , the vertues of her mynde , so kindled
in him , as he was resolved to contribute the uttermost he could to the
alliance in question , and would think it the greatest happines in the
world , if the successe therof might minister occasion of expressing in
a better and more effectuall manner his devotion to her service ;
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,175.51)

with some little other such like amorous language .
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,175.52)

" Allez , allez . Il n'y a point de danger en tout cela , " smilingly
answered she , (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,175.53)

" je me fie en vous ; je me fie en vous . " (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,175.54)

Neither did I abuse her trust , (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,175.55)

for I varyed not much from it in delyvering it to Madame , save that I
amplified it to her a little more , who drunk it downe with joy ,
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,175.56)

and with a lowe curtesie acknowledged it to the Prince ; adding that
she was extreamly obliged to his Highnes , and would think her self
happie in the occasion that should be presented , of meriting the place
she had in his good graces . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,175.57)

After that , I turned my speech to the ould Ladyes that attended ,
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,175.58)

and told them , that sith the Queen was pleased to give me this liberty
, it would be henceforth fit for them to speake a sutable language :
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,175.59)

<P_1.3,176>

lett them knowe that his Highnes had her Picture , which he kept in his
Cabinet , and fedd his eyes many tymes with the sight and contemplation
of it , sith he could not have the happines to behold her person . All
which and other such like speeches , she , standing by , quickly tooke
up , without letting any one fall to the grownd .
(RICH-E2-P1,1.3,176.61)

But I feare your Lordship will think I gather together too much to
enlarge my Letter thus farre . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,176.62)

But it is , that , by these circumstances your Lordship may make a
perfecter judgement of the issue of our negotiation , which I doubt not
but will succeed to his Majesties , his Highnes's , and your Lordship's
contentment , and so yield matter of triumph to yow , and infinite joy
to me . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,176.63)

Your Lordship's most humble , most obliged , and most obedient servant
Kensington . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,176.64)

Paris (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,176.65)

Aug. 31 1624 st=o=. n=o=. {COM:stilo_novo} (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,176.66)

I beseech your Lordship excuse me that I present unto yow a strange
hand . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,176.67)

I meant your Lordship my owne characters : (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,176.68)

but being hardly yet recovered from the paine of my head , which was my
late sickness , I found my self , even before I had finished a Letter
which I write unto his Highnes , alltogether indisposed and unfitt to
beginne another . (RICH-E2-P1,1.3,176.69)