348 The Ancient Styles and Designations of Persons. 
and adds, “It is now commonly understood of the godmother. 
Chaucer uses it for godfather ;” and he gives the following quota- 
tions :— 
‘‘Our Christian ancestors understanding a spiritual affinity to grow between 
the parents and such as undertooke for the child at baptisme called each other 
by the name of Godstb, which is as much as to say that they were s¢b together, 
that is, of Aim together through God, and the child in like manner called such 
his godfathers and godmothers.”—Verstegan Rest : of Dec : Intell : 
‘At the christening of George Duke of Clarence, who was born in the Castle 
of Dublin, he made both the Earl of Kildare and the Earl of Ormond his 
Gossips.” —Davies on Ireland. 
A joint letter of Prince Charles, afterwards Charles the First, 
and George Villiers, then Marquis and afterwards Duke of Buck- 
ingham,! written from Madrid, when they were on their tour 
to France and Spain in disguise, in 1623, still remains in the 
Bodleian Library at Oxford.? It is directed on the back, “ from 
his heighnes and my lo: marques to his matie 
ffrome madred the 21 mar. 1623.” 
““Dere Dad and Gossope 
This is to aduertise your Majesty that Mihill Androse is now dispached to 
Rome with a direction to send the nearest way to you so sone as anie resolution 
is taken. he caries with him allso a letter from the Conde de Olivares to the 
Pope’s nephew which wee hope if there be neede will much hasten the business 
—Sir hetherto wee have not receaued a letter from you but to oure greate 
comfort wee here that my Lord of Andeuer’ who will be here to morow hath 
some for uu—We haue receaued so much comfort at the verie news of it, that 
wee must giue you thankes before the receate of them—Wee haue no more to 
trouble you with at this time onelie wee beseech you in the absence of your tow 
boys to make much of oure best dade without whose helth and blessings wee 
desier not to live. 
Your Majestys Humble and obedient sone & servant 
CHARLES. 
Your Majestys humble slaue and doge 
STEENIE.4 
Madrill the 21 of Mar. 1623. 
Be cheerfull goodman of Balangith for wee warrant you all shall goe well for 
wee less repent our jurnei euerie day than other.” 
1 He was created Marquess of Buckingham on the Ist of January, 1618, and 
Duke of Buckingham on the 18th of May, 1623. 
2 Orig. Tan. Lxxiii. 
3 Theophilus Viscount Andover, who became 2nd Earl of Suffolk on the death 
of Thomas the 1st Earl in 1626. 
4 King James the First used to call his son Charles and this Royal favorite 
‘‘Baby Charles” and ‘‘Steenie.” (See Hume’s Hist. of Engl. under date of 1623.) 
