1621 to 1623. Diego Velázquez (age 21). Portrait of Philip IV King Spain (age 15) in Brown and Silver.

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 25 Aug 1622. On Sunday, the 25th day of this month, preached one Mr. Claydon, (minister of Hackney, near London,) at St. Paul's Cross [Map]; and cited a story out of our Chronicles, of a Spanish sheep, brought into England in Edward the First's time, which infected most of the sheep of England with a murrain, and prayed God no more such sheep might be brought over from thence hither; at which many of his bearers cried out "Amen." So much generally did all men fear that Prince Charles should marry¹ the King of Spain's (age 17) [his sister] sister (age 16), as they ever hated that nation. He lay awhile in prison for his sermon, but was soon after set at liberty by the mediation of Sir John Ramsey (age 42), Knt., a Scotchman, Earl of Holderness, whose chaplain he was.

Note 1. In MS. Egerton 783, is a curious paper, entitled "A Private Consideration of the intended Marriage between Charles, Prince of Woles, and Mary of Austria, Daughter of the late Phillip the Third king of Spain."It commences as follows: - "The House of Parliament should once have been blown up, and now is supposed to be broken up for the averseness of the Commons to the Spanish match, for expressing their fears of danger and loss to the kingdom, both daily confirmed and increased by the acquires of the King of Spain, and prooeedings of the Spanish action; by our treative complements with Spain, and for protesting to preserve their rights and privileges." The proposed articles of marriage are given in the same volume.

1623. Diego Velázquez (age 23). Portrait of Philip IV King Spain (age 17).

Around 1628. Gaspar de Crayer (age 43). Portrait of Philip IV King Spain (age 22) in armour.

Evelyn's Diary. 22 Sep 1641. I went again to Rotterdam to receive a pass which I expected from Brussels [Map], securing me through Brabant and Flanders, designing to go into England through those countries. The [his brother] Cardinal Infante (age 32), brother to the king of Spain (age 36), was then governor. By this pass, having obtained another from the Prince of Orange, upon the 24th of September I departed through Dort; but met with very bad tempestuous weather, being several times driven back, and obliged to lie at anchor off Keele, other vessels lying there waiting better weather. The 25th and 26th we made other essays; but were again repulsed to the harbour, where lay sixty vessels waiting to sail. But, on the 27th we, impatient of the time and inhospitableness of the place, sailed again with a contrary and impetuous wind and a terrible sea, in great jeopardy; for we had much ado to keep ourselves above water, the billows breaking desperately on our vessel: we were driven into Willemstad, North Brabant, a place garrisoned by the English, where the Governor of had a fair house. The works, and especially the counterscarp, are curiously hedged with quick, and planted with a stately row of limes on the rampart. The church is of a round structure, with a cupola, and the town belongs entirely to the Prince of Orange, as does that of Breda [Map], and some other places.

1644. Diego Velázquez (age 44). Portrait of Philip IV King Spain (age 38).

1656. Diego Velázquez (age 56). Portrait of Philip IV King Spain (age 50).

Pepy's Diary. 13 Feb 1663. Took my wife home, and I to my office. Find myself pretty well but fearful of cold, and so to my office, where late upon business; Mr. Bland sitting with me, talking of my Lord Windsor's (age 36) being come home from Jamaica, unlooked-for; which makes us think that these young Lords are not fit to do any service abroad, though it is said that he could not have his health there, but hath razed a fort of the King of Spain (age 57) upon Cuba, which is considerable, or said to be so, for his honour.

Pepy's Diary. 01 Jul 1663. Thence home, and my clerks being gone by my leave to see the East India ships that are lately come home, I staid all alone within my office all the afternoon. This day I hear at dinner that [his illegitimate son] Don John of Austria (age 34), since his flight out of Portugall, is dead of his wounds: (not true) so there is a great man gone, and a great dispute like to be ended for the crown of Spayne, if the King (age 58) should have died before him.

Pepy's Diary. 26 Oct 1663. Thence Creed and I to the King's Head ordinary, where much and very good company, among others one very talking man, but a scholler, that would needs put in his discourse and philosophy upon every occasion, and though he did well enough, yet his readiness to speak spoilt all. Here they say that the Turkes go on apace, and that my Lord Castlehaven is going to raise 10,000 men here for to go against him; that the King of France (age 25) do offer to assist the Empire upon condition that he may be their Generalissimo, and the Dolphin (age 1) chosen King of the Romans: and it is said that the King of France (age 25) do occasion this difference among the Christian Princes of the Empire, which gives the Turke such advantages. They say also that the King of Spayne (age 58) is making all imaginable force against Portugall again.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Oct 1665. This day I hear the Pope is dead; [a false report] and one said, that the newes is, that the King of France (age 27) is stabbed, but that the former is very true, which will do great things sure, as to the troubling of that part of the world, the King of Spayne (deceased)¹ being so lately dead. And one thing more, Sir Martin Noell's (deceased) lady is dead with griefe for the death of her husband and nothing else, as they say, in the world; but it seems nobody can make anything of his estate, whether he be dead worth anything or no, he having dealt in so many things, publique and private, as nobody can understand whereabouts his estate is, which is the fate of these great dealers at everything. So after my business being done I home to my lodging and to bed,

Note 1. Philip IV., King of Spain (deceased), who succeeded to the throne in 1621, died in 1665. He was succeeded by his son [his son] Charles II (age 3).

Pepy's Diary. 11 Feb 1666. Lord's Day. Up, and put on a new black cloth suit to an old coate that I make to be in mourning at Court, where they are all, for the King of Spayne¹. To church I, and at noon dined well, and then by water to White Hall, carrying a captain of the Tower (who desired his freight thither); there I to the Parke, and walked two or three turns of the Pell Mell [Map] with the company about the King (age 35) and Duke (age 32); the Duke speaking to me a good deal. There met Lord Bruncker (age 46) and Mr. Coventry (age 38), and discoursed about the Navy business; and all of us much at a loss that we yet can hear nothing of Sir Jeremy Smith's fleete, that went away to the Streights the middle of December, through all the storms that we have had since, that have driven back three or four of them with their masts by the board. Yesterday come out the King's Declaration of War against the French, but with such mild invitations of both them and the Dutch to come over hither with promise of their protection, that every body wonders at it.

Note 1. Philip IV., who died September 17th, 1665.