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
Seruants as diuers whose names are not heerein remembred The ships appointed to attend his Lordship and his company for transportation of themselues the followers and necessaries were these The Beare being shippes royall The Dew-repulse being shippes royall The Wast-spight being shippes royall The Mary-Anne The Amity The Resistance The great Hoy called the George According to appointmēt the said Lords Knights and Gentlemen prepared themselues to giue their attendance whensoeuer his Lordship should take his iourney and therefore vnderstanding that he intended to take leaue of the king on Thurseday the one and twentieth day of March according to the computation of England the greatest number of them being very richly apparelled themselues and extraordinarily appointed for their seruants gaue their attendance at Nottingham house the said one and twentie day of March his Lordship hauing appointed many barges and boates for conueying himselfe the said lords and knights and their company to the Court the Kings Highnesse then being at Greenwich the said Earle hauing ordained his owne company to be in number as followeth Six Trumpeters clad in Orange colour Damaske with cloakes of cloth of the same colour and Banners of Damaske with his Honours armes thereupon Six Footemen in Orange Tawny veluet alike suted Six Pages clad likewise in veluet of the same colour with their cloakes suteable Thirty gentlemen with cloakes of blacke veluet Fourescore yeomen well apparelled with liuery cloakes of Orange Tawny cloth garded with siluer blew silk lace The said noble Earle being thus prepared went with his said company from Nottingham house the said Thursday about noone so shooting the bridge arriued at Greenwich immediatly after dinner and there presenting himselfe and his company vnto his Maiestie was most acceptably and graciously enterteined After some time spent in receiuing his Highnesse commandement aswell concerning himselfe in his owne particular as also touching the conducting and presenting of Sir Charles Cornwallys knight who was appointed for to be his Maiesties liedger Ambassadour with the king of Spaine The said Ambassadours Lords Knights and Gentlemen humbly taking their leaues of his Highnesse were for that night dismissed euery one taking himselfe to his lodging there remaining and expecting his Lordships further pleasure to be knowen when they should prepare to set forward on this iourney His Lordship hauing now dispatched his priuate counsels and intendments with his Maiesty and the Lords of the Councel gaue warning to his said company and followers to be ready against Tuesday morning being the six and twentieth day of the said moneth of March Which time he gaue to prepare themselues for that day he intended to set forward On which said day being both mindfull and forward for his intended Iourney he was early vp in the morning and taking the time of the tide and such company as were ready being to the number of 80. persons in diuers barges and boates passed from Nottingham house to Grauesend and there dined staying for much of the company which followed After dinner they rode from Grauesend to Chatham where he lodged that night The same night the Earle of Marre came from the court of purpose to congratulate with his Lordship and do such like priuate offices of friendship The next day being wednesday his Lordship would haue gone to the ships which were then fallen so low as Quynborow there riding at Anchor and staying our comming but the weather fell out somewhat foule and the wind contrary so that he rested at Chatham that night The next day being Thursday the eight and twentieth of March before seuen of the clocke in the morning his Lordship hauing commanded to be ready diuers barges and pinnesses to carry himselfe and his followers aboord the ships tooke his barge and about tenne of the clocke the same day entered the ship called the Beare lying in Quynborow Road as afore is said together with the Dew-repulse and the Wast-spight which three shippes kept company together and lay of purpose to transport his Lordship the Ambassadour Lidger and the other Lords Knights and Gentlemen that were of the company and traine Now what by reason of staying for some of the Lords and Gentlemen as yet not come a boord for the better disposing and ordering all things concerning the voyage as also for placing and appointing to euery man his roome accordingly The weather likewise being not very faire to put to sea we Anchored before Quinborow till Sunday morning being Easter day and the last day of March. At which time the wind comming about to the West and standing faire to put to sea his Lordship commanded to wey and to set saile which was done accordingly Sailing as farre as the tide would giue them leaue which was to a certaine Road between the Sands neere to the Shoe Beacon where they rested that night The next day being very foule and the wind contrary they were faine to ride it out til Tuesday morning being the second of April At what time the weather fell somewhat faire and his Lordship being desirous to take all aduantage that might forward the iourny commanded to wey againe and put to sea but the wind being very slacke he was becalmed and so driuen to a flatte neere the Spitts where for that the tide was much spent and the flood comming on they cast Ancor about one of the clocke in the afternoone there staying in expectation of wind till Wednesday morning when although there was little or no wind stirring yet his Lordship set forward tiding it as far as they could that night The next day being Thursday early in the morning the wind comming somewhat towards the North his Lordship caused to wey Ancor and so with expence of time and much pains the shippes recouered Douer Road where they ancored aswell for the receauing in of many of the company as also for taking in fresh water and victualls So soone as the fleet was discouered and comming neere Douer Road aswell the forts and blockehouses as the castle of Douer saluted them with many shot his Lordship answering them againe both out of his owne ship and out of the rest also with the like That night the Lordes and Gentlemen for whom they made stay at Douer came aboord and that night also his Lordship minded to haue set forward had not the Hoie called the George by spending of her Mast in her passage from Quynborow to Douer caused a longer aboad Now for that the saide Hoie was appointed to carrie prouision and necessaries for the fleete and could not be so soone made ready againe for seruice as was desired and for that the winde standing at North-east was a faire and fitte winde for going forward His Lordship aduised with Sir Richard Lewson the Admirall of the fleet that some course might be presently had to forward the iourney Sir Richard therefore with great care and extraordinarie paines labouring all that night being seconded by Sir Iohn Treuor Surueyor of the Nauie vnladed the saide
there was set vp of purpose for a more close and conuenient passage a very large Scaffold adioining to the end of a long Gallery and to the Church likewise the timber whereof was all couered with cloth of Gold very rich and the Scaffold being high was a good meanes to giue sight to all the people The manner of their comming to Church was in this sort The Kings Trumpets were placed neere and before the Church in seuerall companies alwaies sounding and one answering other about foure of the clocke in the after noone there appeared descending by the Scaffold afore mentioned to go into the Church of S. Paules which as is likewise said adioining to the scaffold the Knights Lords and Grandes going before and some Dukes of especiall name bearing diuers ceremonies likewise as the Salera or Salt borne by one the Taper of wax by another the Chrisome by another then the Crown borne by the Constable before whom went the King of Armes The Prince was borne by the Duke of Lerma in his armes but tied to him with a rich scarfe or Band he was assisted by the Prince of Sauoy and the Conde of Miranda Then followed the Infanta in a chaire as it should seeme made for that purpose and borne by diuers Gentlemen of the Kings bed and Priuy chamber on their shoulders assisted by the yonger Prince of Sauoy At the Church doore the Cardinal staied for them in his Pontificalibus accompanied with three Bishops and other especiall officers of the Church the singing men going before and so conducting them to the Font which was richly prepared and couered with a Canapy of cloth of gold the Cardinall performed all the ceremonies according to the order of their Church and so with Church musicke noise of Trumpets and many other wind Instruments they finished their ceremonies returning in such maner as they went being accompanied also with most of the great Ladies of the kingdome and those of the Court. He was Christened Phillippe Domingo Victor His Godfather was the elder Prince of Sauoy of whom he tooke his name Victor His Godmother was the Infanta his Sister His Lordship was placed conueniently in the house of the Conde d' Rubadauia in the morning both to see the procession as also the going of the Prince to Christening But so soone as they were passed by he with some other were priuately conueied through a gallery on the backeside of a Monastery into the Church into a place appointed of purpose for him and the Lords that were of his company On Munday in the after noone the Ambassadour Leadger was by his Lordship presented to the King and by him gratiously receaued and allowed That day in the after noone came diuers Ambassadours to visit his Lordship as first Don Francisco de Meschite Ambassadour for the state of Venice as also the French Ambassadour Monsieur Baron de Barault Cheualier who after some short stay departed At the time of the French Ambassadours being there came likewise the Ambassadour resiaunt for the Emperour His Lordship euer shewing much affability and curtesie and accompanying them on their way to their coches with kind behauiour of his being greatly obserued caused an extraordinary respect and an exceeding loue of all men towards him That night also came to visit his Lordship the Cardinall of Toledo being a very stately Prelate well discended very rich in his cariage very curteous and in his expence liberall as by the apparelling of his pages and seruants and by his rich Sumpter cloths hangings and such like might well appeare Tuesday the one and twentieth of May his Lordship was conducted by Don Blasco vnto the church called S. Maries to see the ceremony and state of the Queenes churching whither the King and Queene came together the King riding on horsebacke the Queene in a very rich chariot of cloth of gold drawen by foure horses all trapped and harnessed with cloth of golde in which chariot likewise sat the Infanta Next followed in another chariot the yoong Prince in the armes of an ancient Ladie After followed two other caroches of blacke veluet wherein sat diuers Duchesses Countesses and other great personages widowes Then followed foure other caroches all of one fashion wherein sat seueral Ladies the Queenes Maids This was the first day of the Queens going abroad and as we accounted of it her Churching day This day his Lordship was inuited to dinner to the Constables where he was accompanied by the Duke of Alberquerque the Duke of Cesa and others The maner of feasting being not vsuall in Spaine and our company being many could not all receiue that contentment which the Constable desired to giue in generall For the countrey considered it is much to be maruelled how they could do what they did but it plainly appeared nothing was left vndone for want of cost and that all preparation was made that the countrey could any way affoord for their enterteinment Wednesday his Lordship was visited by the Conde de Lemos accompanied with diuers Noblemen and men of good quality That day likewise and Thursday his Lordship visited aswell the Ambassadors afore mentioned as also diuers other Lords and Ladies in the towne Friday the foure and twentieth day of May Thomas Knoell Esquire his Highnesse seruant and Messenger for the deliuerie of certaine Presents to the King of Spaine expecting and attending the Kings pleasure therein was sent for by Don Blasco to come and bring the sayd Presents into a priuate Garden belonging to the Duke of Lerma where the King and Queene came in person to receiue the same The Presents were six Horses three for the King and three for the Queene with saddles and clothes very richly imbroidered and costly two Crosbowes with sheifs of Arrowes foure Fowling-pieces with their furnitures all very richly garnished and inlayed with fine plate of golde and one couple of Lime hounds of an extraordinary goodnesse Which Presents were acceptably receiued the King and Queene very much obseruing and admiring the richnesse and fashion thereof On Saturday the fiue and twentieth day of May there came to visit his Lordship the Bishop Salustius Taernsius Bishop of Montepolitan in Hetruria and Ambassador for the Duke of Florence After dinner came likewise to visit his Lordship D. Iuan de Bourch Conde de Figaroa President of Portugall with his foure sonnes That day also came to visit him together with the Constable the Conde de Oliuares accompanied with diuers Marquesses and Earles This Conde was one of them that was in England in the time of Queen Mary The same day in the afternoon his Lordship visited the Queen and deliuered her a faire rich Iewell as a token from the Queen of England Sunday and Munday his Lordship went abroad to visit diuers Nobles that had formerly been with him as also spending some part of the same time in concluding with the Councell of Spaine of matters concerning his Ambassage and of all things necessary for the effecting and