abilities. He returned to England in December, and during his absence
Lady Fanshawe remained in London, where she gave birth to a daughter
in January 1662. On the arrival of the Queen at Portsmouth, Sir
Richard Fanshawe was sent to receive her, and was present at her
marriage, the description of which ceremony is historically valuable.

Early in 1662 he was nominated a Privy Counsellor of Ireland: in
August he was again sent on an embassy to Lisbon, and was accompanied
by his wife and children. Their journey to Plymouth, their voyage,
their arrival at Lisbon, their reception at Court, and the city, are
minutely described. After a year's residence in Portugal, Sir Richard
was recalled: he returned to London in September 1663, and proceeded
to wait on the King at Bath, who was pleased to raise him to the rank
of a Privy Counsellor. In January 1664, he was appointed Ambassador to
the Court of Madrid, and having embarked at Portsmouth, with a
numerous retinue, on board a squadron on the 31st of that month, they
arrived at Cadiz on the 23rd of February.

Nearly the whole of the remainder of the Memoir is filled with an
account of their journey to Madrid, of their splendid reception, of
the manners of the Spaniards, of various places, and of public events
and ceremonies. These descriptions display considerable judgment and
quickness of observation, and contain some valuable information. Many
of the anecdotes which occur are interesting, and like every other
part of the narrative, they are told with a simplicity which renders
it impossible to doubt their accuracy.

At Madrid, Lady Fanshawe gave birth to her son Richard; and the prayer
which she breathes for his prosperity exhibits her piety and affection
in lively colours. Sir Richard Fanshawe went on a mission to Lisbon in