Earl of Bristol

At last Buckingham proposed to Charles that they two should set off for Spain in person, and see if they could not settle the affair.

Buckingham's motive was partly a sort of reckless daring, which made him love any sort of adventure, and partly a desire to circumvent and thwart a rival of his, the Earl of Bristol, who had charge of the negotiations.

it may seem to the reader that a simple journey from london to madrid of a young man for the purpose of visiting a lady whom he wished to espouse was no such extraordinary undertaking as to attract the attention of a spirited young man to it from love of adventure The truth is, however, that with the ideas that then prevailed in respect to royal etiquette, that there was something very unusual in this plan.

The Prince and Buckingham knew very well that the consent of the statesmen and high officers of the realm could never be obtained, and that their only alternative was, accordingly, to go off secretly and in disguise.

They, of course, immediately became private citizens and dispersed to their homes.

After trying some ineffectual attempts to raise money by his own royal prerogatives and powers, the King called a new Parliament, taking some singular precautions to keep out of it such persons as he thought would oppose his plans.

The Earl of Bristol, whom Buckingham had been so jealous of, considering him as his rival, was an influential member of the House of Peers.

Charles and Buckingham agreed to omit him in sending out the royal writs to summon the Peers.