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The Spanish trip by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Buckingham led to a
lavish exchange of presents on either side. The Prince was given a massive gold basin set
with precious stones so heavy it required two men to carry, some Spanish and Barbary
horses, muskets and crossbows, bags of amber, three sedan chairs and paintings by Titian,
etc. Not to be outdone in generosity the Prince gave away many rich jewels, some probably
originally belonging to Queen Elizabeth I. The Spanish monarch was given a "a faire
rich sworde fully garnished with dyamondes of several bignes" that formerly belonged
to the late Prince Henry, brother of the Prince of Wales. Also given (to Olivares) was a
great table diamond called the Portugal Diamond with the Cobham Pearl and three other
pearls attached. Pearl necklaces, jewelled hat bands, golden chains, pendants of precious
gems in rare settings, rings of many a curious and unique design also went to Spain.
Perhaps on learning of the Prince of Wales’s
interest in the arts and that he had a collection of Giambologna small bronzes, inherited
from his brother Prince Henry who died in 1612. The Spanish felt a suitable gift to the
Prince would be the Samson and a Philistine, one of the few works in marble by Giambologna
to leave Italy. The statue might have been given first of all to the Duke of Buckingham as
it was given to him by the Prince. The Prince as King Charles I developed into a true
connoisseur of sculpture and commissioned a bust of himself by Bernini based on a triple
portrait by Van Dyck (40).
The trip of the Prince of Wales in 1623 resulted in
the gift of an elephant which its four keepers insisted needed a gallon of wine daily from
September to April. Five camels also came from Spain and in the summer of 1623 were taken
to graze in St James’s Park (41). Although the Prince of Wales did not take back the
Infanta he took back 18 Spanish wildcats instead. To the Infanta the Prince gave a string
of pearls and a diamond anchor as the emblem of his constancy. It did not hold fast for
long, the Prince married Henrietta Maria of France.
The Prince’s trip to Spain ended in acrimony,
it was foolish from the start. The differences in religion could never be overcome and the
choice of the Duke of Buckingham as a companion was unfortunate (42). Showing his disgust
the Prince even gave away to a footman a golden ewer given to him by the Queen of Spain.
If the Prince was given the monkeys at the same time he was given the Samson and a
Philistine he would hardly produce them at court. There is a saying "To make a monkey
out of someone".
James I and
Prince Charles
On his return the Prince had been met everywhere by
a rejoicing populous. England was still anti Catholic and anti Spain and did not approve
of James I’s policy towards Spain (43). Tables were set out in the streets groaning
under all manner of food with whole hogsheads of wine and butts of sack whilst every
street corner had its bonfire. Taylor the Water Poet aptly observed "even the
elements rejoiced". It rained for nine hours. The Prince seemed to use up all this
goodwill and crowds around Charles I did not always rejoice.
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