Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 3.djvu/259

 CHARLES I. OF ENGLAND 177 ages, remains the most notable because the most typical of the foundation-stones that underlie the mighty structure of the Republic of the United States of America. CHARLES I. OF ENGLAND BY F. HINDES GROOME (1600-1649) /CHARLES I. was born at Dunfermline, V_x November 19, 1600, was a sickly child, unable to speak till his fifth year, and so weak in the ankles that till his seventh he had to crawl upon his hands and knees. Except for a stammer, he outgrew both defects, and became a skilled tilter and marksman, as well as an accomplished scholar and a diligent student of theology. He was created Duke of Albany at his baptism, Duke of York in 1605, and Prince of Wales in 1616, four years after the death of his dear brother, Prince Henry, had left him heir to the crown of three king- doms. A Spanish match had been mooted as early as 1614 ; but it was not till February 17, 1623, that, with Buck- ingham, his inseparable friend, Charles started on the romantic incognito jour- ney to Madrid, its objects to win the hand of the Infanta, and to procure the restitution of the Palatinate to his broth- er-in-law, Frederick. Both he and his father swore to all possible concessions to the Catholics, but nothing short of his own conversion would have satisfied the Spanish and papal courts ; and on Octo- ber 5th he landed again in England, eager for rupture with Spain. 12