A RELATION OF SVCH THINGS AS were obserued to happen in the Journey of the right Honourable CHARLES Earle of NOTTINGHAM L. High Admirall of ENGLAND His Highnesse Ambassadour to the King of SPAINE Being sent thither to take the Oath of the sayd King for the maintenance of Peace betweene the two famous Kings of Great Brittaine and Spaine According to the seuerall Articles formerly concluded on by the Constable of Castilla in England in the Moneth of August 1604. Set forth by Authoritie LONDON Printed by Melchisedech Bradwood for Gregorie Seaton and are to be sold at his Shop vnder Aldersgate 1605. To the Reader HAuing collected together many generall obseruations in that Honourable iourney into Spain lately performed by the right honourable and worthy Earle The Earle of Nottingham although amongst many reasons which perswaded me to be therein to my selfe secret and to the world sparing in diuulging this Treatise I found especially and which I must of necessitie confesse mine owne weakenesse in compiling the same and making it fit and worthy of so generall a reading as by this consequence it must vndergoe yet being ouer-weighed with many especiall motiues which I could not well answer or contradict I thought rather to expose my selfe to the fauourable censure of the worthiest best minded who rather respect a plaine and home-bred stile yet true than a tale consisting of eloquent phrases but doubtfull than pleasing my selfe in mine owne fearefull humor giue cause of offence to them whom most I laboured to content The first of these motiues being That many of my friends knowing me to haue been by especiall appointment an Attendant vpon his Lordship in that honourable emploiment and vnderstanding of the care taken by me in obseruing some particulars in the same exceedingly vrged me to giue them a perfect knowledge and satisfaction thereof which as it was a thing likely to be tedious so could they not receiue that contentment by a briefe Report which a more ample Relation and Discourse might better affoord Another was That for that it came to our knowledge how many false and ill contriued reports had beene bruted abroad after our departure from England aswell derogating from that honourable enterteinment we receiued in generall whilest we were in Spaine as from the proceedings of his Lordship and his Company in some particulars I could not but taxing my selfe of dutie to his Lordship and the rest endeuour to satisfie all doubtfull and vnsatisfied minds with relating and declaring the truth thereof But a third and a more especiall cause is That sithence our returne one not well informed hauing vndertaken to know much of the proceedings of that Iourney and mistaking himselfe in his own vnderstanding lately published a Pamphlet of many false and erroneous obseruations therby possessing the Readers with an vntrue Relation of that the trueth whereof they so much desired Vpon these former considerations therfore I was aduised to tender vnto your generous acceptance my wel-meaning endeuors which although they cannot giue that pleasure and content in reading you happily expect yet shall they assure you what they promise That is A true Relation of such things which happened in that honorable Iourney In reporting whereof I had rather be condemned for plainnesse than once suspected for reporting an vntrueth ROB. TRESVVELL aliâs SOMERSET Herauld A RELATION OF such things as were obserued to happen in the Iourney of the right Honourable CHARLES Earle of NOTTINGHAM c. his Hignesse Ambassadour to the King of SPAINE being sent thither to take the Oath of the sayd King for the maintenance of Peace betweene the two famous Kings of GREAT BRITTAIN and SPAIN according to the seuerall Articles formerly concluded on by the Constable of Castilla in England in the Moneth of August 1604. SO soone as the right honorable Charles Earle of Nottingham L. High Admirall of England had taken notice from his Maiesty That it was his will and pleasure to employ him in this great Ambassage to the K. of Spaine calling to minde how honourably and richly the Duke of Fryas Constable of Castilla late Ambassadour for the said king had formerly demeaned himselfe in England presently with a most honourable resolution neither fearing the hazard of his person being now aged nor regarding the expences that so great and honourable an employment should require with what speed he conueniently might endeuoured to performe his Maiesties designes and appointment heerein And therefore by the aduice of the Councell of England he first resolued both what honourable personages and what number of them might be fitting for accompanying and attending him in this his great imployment To whom when as particular Letters from the Councell by his Maiesties especiall commandement were dispatched to giue them notice to prepare themselues to attend the said Noble Earle according as his Highnesse had commanded they seemed so willing and readie to performe their duty and seruice therein that his Lordship was farre more troubled to denie many and that of very good sort who voluntarily tendered their seruice in good will and honour of his Lordship to attend him in this his appointed voyage than he was at first in bethinking what company were necessary to take with him And therefore at last concluding of a competent number not without displeasing many he resolued vpon these whose names heereafter follow The Earle of Pearth The Lord Howard of Effingham his sonne and heire The Lord Willoughbey The Lord Norrys Sir Charles Howard knight his second sonne Sir Thomas Howard knight second sonne to the Earle of Suffolke Sir Iohn Sheffeild knight sonne and heire to the Lord Sheffeild Master Pickering Wotton sonne and heire to the Lord Wotton Sir Richard Lewson knight Admirall of the fleet and Viceadmirall of England Master Thomas Compton brother to the Lord Compton Hans Herman Van Veiscenbach a German and of good esteeme in England Sir Robert Drewry Sir Robert Maunsell Treasurer of the kings Nauy and Vice admirall of the fleet Sir Edward Howard his nephew Sir Thomas Palmer Sir Edward Swift Sir William Smith Sir Iohn Treuor surueyor of the nauy Sir Robert Killegrew Sir Richard Cowper Gentleman-porter of the Kings house Sir George Buc. Sir Guylford Slingsby Sir Adolfus Cary. Sir Francis Howard his Lordships nephew also Sir Sackuyle Treuor Rereadmirall of the fleet Sir Walter Gore Sir William Page Sir Giles Hoftman Sir Thomas Roe Sir Iohn Eyres Sir Phillip Cary. Sir Henry Knowles Sir Iohn Gueuarra Knights Master Giles Porter his interpreter Doctor Marbeck Doctor Palmer Physitians Master Pawlet Master Cary. Master Barret Master Iohn Lewson Lewis Tresham Captaine Thomas Button William Button Iohn Fearne Hierom Laments Henry Butler Iohn Milliscent Bernard Saunders Philip Roper Francis Plomb Roger Tailor Captaine William Morgan Henry Minn Christopher Fredericke Thomas Buc. Captaine William Polewheele Edmond Fittou Walter Grey Iohn Atkinson Dudley Carleton Edward Smith and many other gentlemen of good condition and quality aswell his Lordships priuate Officers and
to take view thereof in passing out of the towne alighted to see the same the house indeed being a very strong castle and hauing in it a very faire gallery with many goodly pictures and pieces of painting both large and costly and also a rich library with many fine rarities in the same After riding foure leagues to a certaine towne called La Ban'esa where in the way comming we were mette with diuers Gypsies as they termed them men and women dauncing and tumbling much after the Morisco fashion continued till we came to the towne Sunday the twelfth day of May we rode eight leagues to a towne called Benavente where a mile without the towne Alcaylde chiefe Officers of the towne met vs bringing with them a company of Gypsies likewise singing and dauncing playing and shewing diuers feats of actiuity conducting his Lordship to the Conde of Benevante his house where he lodged that night Munday we rode forward eight leagues to a certaine towne called Villa Garcia where we were receaued with a morrise daunce of certaine comely gentlemen being in number eight as also with eight Boyes attired like Satyres or Shepheards with Shepheards hookes who as they daunced plaied with the same after the fashion of Mattachyna In this Towne is a very faire Colledge wherein is only taught the rules of Grammar and grounds of the Latine tongue It conteineth about 600. Scholers the Church a very faire Church very richly set out with many goodly peeces of painting the Altar and Quier exceeding rich and faire From hence his Lordship receaued order by the Kings officers to go to a certaine towne called Simancas which though it was rather further in distance than Valladolid yet for that his Lordship should not come late nor his company ouer-wearied this towne was appointed to receiue him before our comming to the Court. Other reasons were giuen that is in the right way between Villa Garcia and Valladolid a bridge was lately broken whereby of necessity we must haue passed and also that the King desired we should enter through the high street and the best part of the towne which we did and therefore appointed our way by Cimancas Accordingly we came to Simancas on Tuesday at night somewhat late being ouertaken with extraordinary foule weather and greatlie annoyed with the same In the way between Villa Garcia and Simancas we passed by a very faire monastery of Monkes of the order of S. Benedick being not long sithence builded but exceeding faire and rich whereunto there is belonging inclosed as much ground as the wal thereof being of stone is in circuit a league or better within which is all kind of game royall as Phesants Partridges Hares Conies and such like The Church heere is very curiously and workemanly built and garnished with many curious peeces of painting with Copes very rich and very curiously wrought That night at Supper his Lordship had notice that it was the Kings pleasure we should rest at Simancas all Wednesday and not till Thursday come to the Court. On Wednesday after dinner there came from the Court Don Iuan de Suniga eldest sonne to the Conde de Villa mediana Ambassadour in England as also Don Pedro de Tassis the new appointed Ambassadour for England accompanied with diuers others who hauing congratulated his Lordship staying with him some halfe houre or there abouts departed That night we vnderstood that it was the Kings pleasure his Lordship should come to Court on Thursday whereupon euery one taking notice thereof made preparation accordingly Thursday being the sixteenth day of May we staid till after dinner expecting to receaue more particular directions from Court at which time there came to attend his Lordship thither The marquesse of Camerassa Don Pedro de Suniga Don Iuan de Tassis Don Blasco de Aragon and diuers other Knights and Gentlemen of the Kings house and chamber bringing with them diuers coches so that his Lordship was intertained by Don Blasco and the Marquesse in the first coch the Ambassadour Leager by some others in the second other Knights and Gentlemen filling aswell the other coches which came along from the Groyne as those which were brought from Court by these Lords After we had trauelled about foure English miles for from Cimancas to the Court it was accounted but six and hauing been met with many of the better sort in their coches his Lordship was moued by Don Blasco and the rest to go into a certain banquetting house which stood vpon the high way to see the delicacy of the orchards and gardens as to tast of the variety of fruits within the same But we rather suppose to make stay for such Nobles as were appointed by the King to giue meeting to his Lordship and were not as then come forward During his Lordships stay in this garden there was a horse presented vnto him from the King which the King himselfe did vse to ride on After they had staied there by the space of a long houre or more there came from the Towne diuers Noblemen the chiefe wherof was the Duke of Fryas Constable of Castilla the Kings late Ambassadour in England the Duke of Infantasgo the Duke of Alberquerques the Duke of Cea the Duke of Sesa the Duke of Pastraua The Marquesse of S. German the Conde of Chincou the Conde of Punion en Rostro the Marq. de Lauanessa the Conde of Aguyllar the Conde de Berosa the Conde de Nieua the Conde de Cornua the Conde de Paredes the Conde de Lodosa the Marquesse del Carpio the Marquessods Tauera the Marquess de Villa Nueua the Conde Apala Conde de Salinas Marq. de Ceralua Marq. de Fuentes Marq. de Alcanes Conde de Galues the Admirall of Aragon and many other Lords and Knights in great number His Lordship setting forward in very good order accompanied with a great multitude of Nobles Knights and Gentlemen as afore is saied The weather being all that time extraordinarily hot suddenly to the great disordering of all the company there fell so great a shewer of raine as the like was not seene of long time before and continuing till the company could get to the towne notwithstanding which his Lordship kept still his horse backe accompanied with many of the chiefe of the company and riding forward to his appointed lodging which was in a very faire house of the Conde of Salinas and not farre distant from the Court an infinite number of people 800. coches filled with Ladies were gotten out of the towne to meet and see his Lordship and his company all which tooke part of this great shewer to their no little discomfort The order of our going into the towne was appointed as followeth First rode two Trumpets all the sumpter and carriages being about two houres before sent into the towne after whom followed certaine Gentlemen seruants to the Knights and Lords as also the Leadger Ambassadours seruants in liueries very faire to the number of sixty Then followed six Trumpeters
towne called Duenas The next day being Sunday we rode 9. leagues to a town called Fromista where for that Don Blasco and others were behind his L. thought good to stay all Munday least the weather being very hot might too much trouble them in riding post and that were to come after That night Don Blasco ouertooke his Lordship at Fromista Tuesday the 11. of Iune his L. dined at Osorno and somwhat late after dinner rode to Herrera to bed where he was lodged in a faire house of the Constable of Castilla Within this house are placed diuers pillars with letters engrauen after the maner of the Romane inscription so they plainly appeare to be monuments of the Romanes and left as reliques of their being in that country Wednesday the 12. of Iune his Lordship rode from thence 8. leagues and lodged at a towne called Aguilar de Campo the Marquesse of Aguilar being Lord thereof Thursday we rode forward 7. leagues to a towne called Rynoso a towne seated in the middest of the mountaines On Friday his L. rode to Villa Concha to dinner being 3. leagues and very ill way after dinner we rode 4. leagues further to a towne called Villa Ciuil to bed being the worst way and the worst place of intertainment we had in the whole country of Spaine being indeed seated amongst moūtains which harbor many beares wolues other wild beasts and wherewith the country round about is much troubled Saturday the 15. day of Iune we came to S. Andreas being distant from Villa Ciuil 7. leagues where his L. was receaued by the Magistrates and officers a mile out of the towne All the streets were strawed with rushes and hearbs and decked with bowes and at his entrance into the towne they gaue him many great ordinance with volly of small shot That night the Ambassador Leadger Don Pedro de çuniga who accompanied the King to Burgos came also to S. Andreas where during the time of his stay his L. expressed his bounty by rewarding Don Blasco the Aposentador and all the Kings other Officers and seruants with great chaines of golde faire iewels of good value and large summes of money to their generall contentment Sunday Munday and Tuesday his Lo. rested at S. Anderas aswell for that the horses sent by the King his L. owne horses the Ambassador Leadgers horses came not till Tuesday as also for furnishing the ships with fresh water and victuals for his returne for England And on Sunday in the afternoone his Lo. inuited the Aposentador Mayor Don Blasco de Aragon and others aboord the ships where he made them a very great banquet and at their going off saluted them with many pieces of ordinance His L. hauing on Wednesday the 19 of Iune with all expedition that conueniently might be shipped the horses and supplied the ships with all needfull prouisions about three of the clocke in the afternoon came aboord his ship called The Beare lying at road a long English mile from the Towne bringing also with him Don Pedro de çuniga who taried and supped with his Lordship that night After supper his Lordship commanded his Barge to conuey him to his appointed lodging which was in the Repulse where he entred the Trumpets sounding and being saluted with many shot of great Ordinance In the same road his L. ancored till Thursday and vpon Thursday we put to sea but for that the tide was spent and the winde falling out contrary after an houre or two sailing we were driuen to cast ancor resting that night till the next tide at which time his Lo hoisted saile and put to sea and with scant winde sailed Friday and Saturday On Sunday the weather fel out very foule and stormy insomuch as the Wast-spight spent in that storme her maine mast but escaped further danger Munday Tuesday and Wednesday we sailed but with very vnconstant windes being many times becalmed On Thursday afternoone the land was descried but very farre off That day and night we sailed within sight of land and vpon Friday about foure of the clocke in the afternoone we came to an ancor before Portsmouth but somewhat farre into the sea That night also came the Waste-spight who made great meanes to come so soone hauing spent her maine-mast as is aforesayd Some of our company made hard shift that night to go on shore enduring the hardnesse of the weather which fell out ill all that euening On Saturday morning early his Lordship went in his Barge to the Repulse wherein Don Pedro was and knowing that the sayd Don Pedro much desired to be on land hauing indeed endured much sicknesse at sea tooke him into his Barge and so with the company of some other Boats and Pynnesses came on shore at Portsmouth before eight of the clock in the morning where they were receiued with many shot of great Ordinance from the Castles Forts and Walles of the Town On the shore stood Sir Lewis Lewkus knight accompanied with the Mayor and Officers of the Towne ready to receiue the sayd Ambassadours being as it should seeme appointed so to doe by the King and Lords of the Counsell That day euery one hastened to get off their luggage from the ships preparing to goe forward likewise on their way toward London The next day being Sunday his Lordship rested there went to the Church and heard a sermon publickly Munday his Lordship hauing aswell by meanes of the Kings officers and seruants who were sent for the purpose thither as by his owne care prouided for all necessaries to supply him in his iourney towards London about eleuen of the clocke set forward riding in his Caroch and taking the sayd Don Pedro along with him and so came that night to Alton where they lodged that night Tuesday the second of Iuly his L. rode from Alton and lodged that night at Guilford hauing taken especiall care both that Don Pedro the Ambassador Leidger whom his Lo. had brought along in company should be respectiuely prouided for himselfe as was fitting as also all other his followers most plentifully supplied for all necessaries in their trauell and that freely without charge or expence to any of them Wednesday they rode forward towards Kingston where the Conde de Villamediana and others stayd expecting the comming of the sayd Ambassadour and where also his Lordship had bountifully prouided for their entertainment in generall Thursday his L. hauing appointed the L. Howard of Effingham and some others of the better sort to accompany the said Ambassadour and the Conde de Villa mediana to London he himselfe with the rest of his company rod for Windsor castle where as then the King lay for his pleasure of hunting who there presenting themselues to his Maiesty were of him most gratiously intertained and welcomed At what time also his Lo. receaued further order from his Highnesse when he would be pleased to giue audience to the said Ambassadour and to admit him to his royal Presence according to