Venice and of Savoy had been placed the Maske night before but were this night placed with their Country-men in the Gallery mentioned At a reading in the Middle-Temple held by Mr. Martin were invited to Dinner the former three Ambassadors Sir Noell â—aron and the States Ambassador also At the Tables end sate the Reader on his left hand on the Bench next the wall sate the French Ambassador beneath him on that side the Savoyard then the Earle of Worcester c. On the Readers right hand on a forme sate first the Venetian beneath him the States Ambassador next him the Lord Lysle c. It was observable that at this time the States Ambassador as appeares made no scruple of quitting the Precedence to that of the Duke of Savoye which they have fince questioned and still stand upon The Ambassador of Savoy comming to the King at New Market Note not the Kings March the second was by me fetcht and conducted in the Lord Chamberlaines Coach with foure Horses in company of the Lord Worceston Sir James Spence and Sir William Austroder from his Lodging two miles out of Towne there to the Presence Chamber where he attended till the Lord Chamberlain comming forth of the Kings withdrawing Chamber brought him to his Audience there This done the Ambassador requested me to moove the Prince for the honour to kisse his hand But it was objected that the demand should have been more seasonably made before the very instant of pretending to it Whereto the Ambassador replyed that he had no spare time for it between that of his Arrivall at Court and his immediate repaire to his Majesty which excuse admitted he was immediately introduced to his Highnesse in his owne Lodgings March the sixteenth I brought the States Ambassador to an Audience at Theobalds after he had attended a while at the Lord Fentons Lodgings and was called up to his Majesty in the privy Gallery A Messenger from Russia came to his Audience at White-Hall the three and twentieth of March who not being qualified with the title of Ambassador I onely with no Lord to receive him met him at the Court gate and brought him to the Councell Chamber he was after an houre and an halfes attendance there sent for by one of my Lord Chamberlains Gentlemen received in the stone Table Chamber by that Lord and in the next admitted to the Presence of his Majesty The foure and twentieth of March being the Kings day of comming to the â—rowne of England and that yeare Sunday a tilting then prepared for was put off till the day following That evening a question falling between his Majesty and some Lords whether some all or no Ambassadors were to be invited The Lord â—hamberlain askt me if I knew whether ever the Spanish Ambassador Sarmiento had been invited to that solemnity I said he had and upon search of my notes found that at the Earle of Somersets Marriage he the Arch-Dukes Ambassador and both their Ladies had been present at a tilting This President brought over-ruld his Majesty who seemed inclined otherwise to invite the French Venetian and Savoyard never before at any tilting and now not willingly called to this because of the troubles that those publique Ministers usually brought by their Puntillios at such incounters Sir Lewes Lewkner was sent the evening before to the French and the Venetian and I to that of Savoy The next day at two of the Clock he received the two first and I the latter at the stayre foote of the Tilt-yard Gallery and conducted them to the Chamber next that of ordinary Audiences where they all attending till his Majesty and the Queen passed that way they were taken along with them to the tilting They were seated thus the French on the left hand of the King with his back to the side of the Balconie window and somewhat sidelong from the Queen that being held the best place after the Princes place on the Kings right hand beneath whom sate the Venetian both their backs to the Balcony and the Savoyard on the other side beneath the French Ambassador St. Georges Feast being come the French Ambassador without notice given to him or from him of his comming to Court for sight of the solemnity was present onely with Sir George … eere a Gentleman usher of the privie Chamber in the Closet of the Chappell for sight of the Procession both without Sir Lewes Lewkners or my attendance as his prepaire to Court was without our knowledge About the middle of the Kings dinner Mr. Secretary Winwood meeting me wisht me to accompany him where he was all alone in the Closet and to bring him to see the King and the Knights at dinner This I performed and conducted him to the Banqueting House where placing himselfe at the left hand of his Majesty dining he entertained discourse with him about an houre and after upon my intimation of the fitnesse of it he descended to the side Table and saluted the Prince and Knights of the order passing along before them and thence returning by the privy Galleries took Coach in the Parke to go to his Lodgings His omission of not making knowne to the King or his Lord Chamberlain as other Ambassadors had been accustomed his desire to see the Feast might have brought him to some inconvenience worse then loosing his dinner which the Spanish Ambassador had the year before as this might also have had at the Lord Chamberlains Table June 21. The King invited by the Earle of Exeter to hunt and dine at Wimbleton as was also the French Ambassador killed a brace of Staggs before he came to the house There I demanded when it would be his Majesties pleasure to give accesse to the Ambassador whom he had not yet seen there It was assigned him for after dinner The Ambassador dined with the Lords and Ladies at a Table placed in the midst of a faire Roome he seated in a Chaire at the upper end at his right hand the Earle of Arundell the Earle of Mountgomery the Lady Elizabeth Hatton the Lady Resse c. At his left the Lady of Exeter the Lady Ann. Tuffton the Marquesse de l'Isle Unckle to the Duke of Retz newly come into England and to that Feast in company of the French Ambassador the Lord Haye Then entered into favour Sir George Villars and others After dinner the Ambassador going to see the house he attended in the Gallery the Kings coming and had there an houres entertainment of discourse with his Majesty The Spanish Ambassador being invited to hunt with his Majesty in Theobalds Parke went thither early Don Diego Sarmiento and after hunting dined with his Majesty in the Privy Chamber The King seated as alwaies in the midst of the Table the Ambassador on his lest hand at the end his Son Don Antonio his Gentlemen and Servants had their dinner provided them in the Councell Chamber where Sir Patrick Murray my selfe and some other of the Kings
him he should if he pleased have it that Evening which was performed after his returne to his Lodging by a private repaire to Court in Barge accompanied only with my Lord of Buckingham when he had the Kings Eare two hours together On Wednesday following being the third of January he was invited to dine with the King at Westminster where his Majestie comming thither by water stayed for him with much impatience Et pâ—ur cause above an hour the Antipaste having been already set upon the Table Being at last come and entring with all his company the higher House of Parliament wherein they dined they so filled the Roome disorderly stuffed before with an unruly intruding multitude as no Officer was able freely to dischage his Service till the King sat down to meate the Extraordinary at a convenient distance on his left hand and the Ordinary at the Tables end the Prince not there The French Noblemen of the best quality were conducted by the Duke of Lenox and the rest by my self to the Court of Requests where the greater number of them taking their places promiscuously at the Table and the Duke leaving them perhaps somewhat abruptly before he had seen five or six of the principall set down at the upper end These begun whisperingly to murmure amongst themselves as those that might seeme neglected to be left so alone without some persons of like quality to accompany them and to invite them to their sitting which I perceiving began to perswade them to what they came for and had prevailed with the Marquess de Money and one or two more of them till my Lord Chancellor Bacon the Lord Treasurer Montague and the Lord Privy Seale Earle of Worcester entring the Roome and passing by them to sit downe as they did altogether at the right hand of the Table without giving other countenance of respect then putting off their Hats or once inviting the French to sit down with them they took their Cloaks and with shews of much discontent departed the Roome to their Coaches whether I and two other Scottish Gentlemen followed them fast with our best perswasions for returne but not able to prevaile we left them Halfe an hour after I went as I had Order upon an invitation I had delivered the day before to the Ordinary French Ambassadors House for his Lady to come that Afternoone to a Dancing appointed at White-Hall but she in her womans haste to be at those Sports being gone thither before I came I there found all the Gentlemen mentioned sitting at Dinner To whom I saying merrily that I was sorry they should eate two Dinners in one day one of their excuses having been that they had dined already and neither of them in the Kings House one of them replied That respecting as they ought the honour of the King their Master and their own quality they would make me their Judge whether when they were left alone by the Duke of Lenox without any person of sort to accompany them at their sitting down to meate and that three Messieurs de robe longue as they with a French scorne termed the three great Officers mentioned who had their Gowns on came and sate themselves down at the upper end of the Table without scarce so much as saluting them they had not reason to leave as they did the Company To which I briefly Answered I was no Judge nor Homme de robe longue neither were those they termed so of inferiour rank to the greatest Lords of this Kingdome so leaving them and going down the Staires I there met the two Marquesses of Buckingham and Hamilton coming to the purpose that I did to conduct the Lady Ambassadrice and Madam elle de St. Luc her Neece to the Ball when giving these two Lords a touch of what had passed least the French might think perhaps they came purposely to them to excuse their Trayctment which had been too great an honour for them they passed with them some few Complements and letting fall a word or two to the former purpose the Lords and I with them returned to Court and finding the Ambassadrice and her Neece in my Lord of Buckinghams Lodging I waited on them there and to the Ball where the Countess of Buckinghams Mother placing her next beneath her Daughter the Marquess Note this manner of placing the Ambassadrice and the Exceptions taken and above her selfe there grew a new quarrell of Exceptions from the other Countesses particularly from the Countess of Dorset that she was set above them The two Ambassadors entring with the King the Extraordinary sate down at his left hand and next him there the Ordinary at his Majesties right hand sate the Prince The day of the Kings Feast the Count d'Alle Son to the Duke d'Angontesme and the Count de Rochford Son to the Duke de Monbason and two or three others absented themselves because they might not be admitted to sit at the Kings owne Table as they affirmed the Count d'Allies Father the Count d'Auvergne d'Angontesme had done they said at Queen Elizabeths when the Marshall de Biron was here in England The next day our English Cavalliers and the French ran at the King whereas the Prince wonne the Prize On Twelfeday following the Ambassador and his cheife followers were brought to Court by the Earle of Warwick to be present at a Maske he seated as before with the King the better sort of the other on a fourme behind the Lords the Lord Treasurer onely and the Marquesse of Hamilton sitting at the upper end of it and all the rest in a Box and in the best places of the Scaffolds on the right hand of his Majesty No other Ambassadors were at that time present or invited The Munday after the Viscount of Doncaster invited the Ambassador and all his company men of note to a Supper prepared and set forth with that State and cost as hath been seldome seene To it were also invited for honour to the Feast and Company the King the Prince and most of the great Lords and Ladies in Towne The Ambassador himselfe went by Coach from Denmark House to Essex House where the Supper was the rest by water in Barges At Supper the King seated at a Table placed crosse the Roome and raised two steps above the Floore had at his right hand with a convenient distance the Prince at his left hand the Ambassador Extraordinary and at the Tables end below the Ordinary At the upper end of another Table reaching from one end of the roome to the other sate on the right hand side the Lady Marquess of Buckingham beneath her a French Nobleman and beneath him the French Ambassadors Lady the rest sate a Lord and a Lady as they held out On the other side sate uppermost the Countesse of Warwick then a French Lord next the Lady of Doncaster so as the Countesse of Dorset thought the Ancienter Countesse whether by choyce because she would not sit immediatly beneath
to it privately by water and after him the French Ambassador for a sight of the manner of his Majesty and the Lords first entrance to that great Work The Ambassadors were placed as in private behinde a Traverse on the Kings right hand which when the King began his Speech was drawn open The Venetian not to loose any of those Rights he was so jealous of and with reason upon so fresh a hazard as he had run sent to me before hand for knowledge of the course designed for the Ambassadors repaire and requested he might be admitted to the sight of it as they should be publick or private Hereat my Lord Chamberlaine made at the first some difficulty as not of Custome he said though once allowed to his Predecessor Landi adding that the French would be there as attendant Domestiques of the Queen that she had been there as was intended but was hindred by her indisposition and that no sit place could be found where he might see unseen but at last the Earle of Arundell acquainting the King with his designes I had directions to bring him by a private back way to the enterance neere the King on his left hand where in the throng he stood concealed The ninteenth of June An Ambassador from the States This was too high and irregular an Extraordinary Ambassage from the States brought Monsieur de Arsennes Monsieur de Joachimi both formerly here and Monsieur Burmania from Gravesend with Sir Lewes Lewkners conduction to Tower Wharffe where received by the Earle of Lincolne they passed on with his Lordship to their Lodging at Generall Cecils House in the Strand their imployment was chiesly to congratulate the Kings marriage The 21. of June Ratification of the Kings marriage the three French Ambassadors were by the Duke of Buckingham with attendance suiting such a Conductour fetcht from Somerset-House and brought to White-Hall by the way of the Guard Chamber Presence and Privy Chamber to the Kings Withdrawing Chamber whence with both their Majesties they entered the Banquetting House Thore their Majesties seated in their chaires of State the Queen on the right of the King the Duke de Cheuereux seated somewhat more forward on the left together with the other two French Ambassadors behind whome stood the Lord Keeper the Earles of Carliel and Holland both there imployd in France for conclusion of that matrimoniall businesse with other great Lords and next besides and behind the Queen the great Ladies and French Lords There was solemnly and distinctly read the Ratification c. After which the King joyning hands with the Queen and kissing her they all with-drew while the Room might be prepared for the Kings dinner the Queen retyring her selfe to her Quarter dined there in her own Presence Chamber the great Ladies by themselves in the Guard Chamber soone after the King with his Ambassadors came to dinner in the Banquetting House where on his left hand with the usuall distance sate the Duke and at the Boards end the two other Ambassadors A Question in the interim growing between the Officers whether the place opposite to the Duke were not the most proper for them which the Master of the Ceremonies affirmed had been the custome of one instant Treatment of three Commissioners but his assertion was not followed for the betterr convenience of the said Officers carving and sewering after Dinner the Roome cleered and cleansed their Majesties with the Ambassadors the Lords and Ladies returned and spent the rest of that Afternoon in revelling c. The Ambassador of Venice who had forborne to request or make so much as an offer to be present in publick or private of the solemne ratification of the marriage where he thought not fit perhaps to bring to question the intent of his pretended Rights of Parity con le teste Coronate was the next day introduced to an Audience of the Queen demanded by her Majesties Lord Chamberlain the Count de Tillieurs late here Ambassador Ordinary with the King and now returned a follower of the Queen After notice given me of this assigned Audience I received the Ambassador at the Court Gate conducted him through the Preaching Court along the long darke winding Entrey up to the Queenes Guard Chamber and into the Chappell Chamber next it whence after notice given by me to her Majesties Lord Chamberlain of his Presence there he passed on was received there at the Presence Chamber doore by the Lord Chamberlain and by him brought to the Queen in her Privy Chamber and thence after his congratulation returned to his Lodging without my attendance The three and twentieth of June the three Commissioners from the States had publick Audience of his Majesty conducted to it by the Earle of Warwick they passed the old Ordinary way up the great stone Staires over the Wooden Terras to the old Councell Chamber then restored to the Ancient use upon the Queens use of the other for her Presence Chamber and were called thence by the Master of the Ceremonies to proceed through the Guard Chamber where the Earle of Holland Captaine of the Guard stood ready in the midst of the Chamber his company ranged on each side of it to receive them and the Lord Chamberlain then absent to introduce them to his Majesties Presence in the Presence Chamber Whence after dismission they turned by the way to the Chappell Chamber into the Queens Guard and Presence Chamber received there by her Majesties Lord Chamberlain and by him brought to their Audience into her Privy Chamber This their Access to the Queen was demanded somewhat late that day but referred therefore to the time of her own pleasure onely intimating that the King had granted them that day an Audience and requesting my Lord Chamberlain to let her Majesty know so much and with all their most humble desires of the like honour from her Majesty but with their due respects of her own best conveniency that day or another at her pleasure Soone after these Audiences Monsieur de Arsennes and Monsieur Burmania taking their leave returned home Monsieur Joachim remaining here with the charge of Ambassador Extraordinary They were at that time presented each of them with a 1000. ounces of gilt Plate The Venetian Ambassador having taken shadow at the carriage or mis-carriage of his service done at King James his Funerall was tender and jealous of every occasion that might touch his State in interest of honour for which regard having received advice from his Prince that an Ambassage Extraordinary was resolved on to be sent from Venice for condolement and congratulation in August or September following he was curious to know by my inquirie from my Lord Chamberlain what would be the manner and extent of their reception About which imploying my selfe I could get no more from his Lordship then that they should be sure of it to the full of former Presidents which he could not learne he said had been ever further off then at
FINETTI PHILOXENIS SOM CHOICE OBSERVATIONS OF Sr. JOHN FINETT KNIGHT And Master of the CEREMONIES to the two last KINGS Touching the Reception and Precedence the Treatment and Audience the Puntillios and Contests of Forren AMBASSADORS IN ENGLAND Legati ligant Mundum LONDON Printed by T. R. for H. Twyford and G. Bedell and are to be Sold at their Shops in Vine-Court Middle Temple and the Middle Temple Gate 1656. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PHILIP Lord Vicount Lisle c. MY LORD I Know well for I know it by Experience that your Lordship hath been trained up from a Youth in matters of Embassyes and Legantine Affaires as wel when you attended my Lord your Father to Denmark and other States of Germany as many yeares after in the French Court Therefore the Dedicatory addresse of this new Peece will not be adjudged incongruous by any discerning Reader but very pertinent considering the quality of the subject which treats of transactions of that nature being the Manuall observations of that knowing Knight and well accomplish'd Courtier Sir John Finett vvho officiated so many yeares in Affaires of that kind Therefore this Peece goes indented vvith many signall Passages of the Reception and Treatments of the Conduct Audiences the Pretences and Precedencies vvith divers Contests and Puntilioes of State between forren Ambassadors Among other parts of Industry vvhich vvere knovvn to be in that Worthy Knight one vvas to couch in vvriting and keep an exact Diary of vvhat things had passed in his Province as Master of the Ceremonies according to the laudable Custome of the Italians and transmitted by them to the high and low Dutch Ministers of State vvith others Moreover these Observations go interwoven vvith divers Historicall Passages and those most faithfully related there being nothing taken here upon trust but all upon his own knovvledge being stil upon the place himself and an Actor in every thing as appeared by the Manuscript he left And thus much out of the conversation I had often vvith him I vvas desired to tell the World Lastly Besides the Motives before mentioned there vvent another Inducement to this Election vvhich vvas the high respects and Honour I professe your Lordship having discovered in you a true Sidneyan Soule vvhich by a peculiar Noble Genius is observed to be extraordinarily inclin'd to the Theory and Speculative part of Vertue as vvell as to the Practicall In vvhich opinion I rest My most Honoured Lord Your very humble and ever ready Servant JAMES HOWELL Holborn this 20. of April 1656. THE Chief Heads and Substance of the ensuing DISCOURSE 1. THe Arch-Dukes Ambassador discontented and the Kings Apologie for his satisfaction 2. The Braveries used at the Lady Elizabeths Wedding 3. Passages of Ambassadors about invitations to the Earl of Somersets Marriage 4. A clash betwixt the Savoy and Florence Ambassadors for precedence 5. Differences at a Mask betwixt the Spanish Ambassadors and the States 6. The Spanish Ambassador excepting against the States for sitting with him in the Kings presence 7. The Spanish Ambassador refusing to be at a Mask 8. The Venetian Ambassador discontented about his Present 9. Foure Ambassadors at a Readers Feast 10. Ambassadors invited to hunt with the King 11. Ambassadors invited to the Princes Creation 12. The rich present of Furres sent by the Emperour of Russia to the King 13. A clash betwixt the Spanish and French Ambassadors 14. Touching Sir Henry Manwayring 15. Exceptions taken by the French 16. The sitting of Ambassadors at a Mask with the King reform'd 17. Differences betwixt the French and Spanish Ambassadors reconcil'd 18. Of the flaunting Embassie of Monsieur Cadenet 19. Exceptions about placing 20. Six in joynt Ambassie at once from the States 21. The Russian Ambassadors puntillio for precedence 22. A great Embassie from the Emperour 23. Questions betwixt the Imperiall and Venetian Ambassadors concerning Titles and Visits the like with the French 24. The young Landgrave of Hessens entertainment 25. The States Ambassadors distasts 26. The Duke of Soubizes Negotiation 27. Exceptions taken by the Venetian Ambassadors 28. Exceptions of the States Ambassadors 29. The Prince his return from Spain 30. The French Ambassador gets ground of the Spanish 31. Difference betwixt the Spanish Ambassadors 32. Reasons for the Master of the Ceremonies to sit in the same Coach with the Ambassadors 33. A clash betwixt the French and Spanish Ambassador 34. Sir Robert Sherley Ambassador from Persia 35. Ambassadors extraordinary from France to treat of a Marriage 36. Death of King James and Solemnities of his Funerall 37. Complaint of the Venetian Ambassador 38. Reason of the Venetian Ambassador for Parity with Crownd heads 39. The King and Queens first interview at Dover 40. The Marquesse of Blamvillés contestations for formalities and his Lodging and Dyet at Court 41. His reason for not assisting at the Coronation 42. The great clash betwixt the Persian Ambassador and Sir Robert Sherley 43. The French cashier'd from Court 44. Difference betwixt the Master of the Ceremonies and Jewell house who is to carry Presents to Ambassadors 45. Bethlem Gabors Ambassadors 46. The Reformation of Ambassadors sitting in publick and eating with the King 47. The Danish Ambassadors complaint 48. The Mantovan Ambassadors Expostulations 49. A new Declaration touching the Treatment of Ambassadors and the value of their Presents abated 50. The Expostulations of the Duke of Savoyes Ambassador 51. Questions and Puntillioes betwixt Regall and Ducall Ambassadors 52. The Lord Majors refusing to give place to the King of Denmarks Ambassador 53. A clash betwixt the Ambassador of Savoy and the Duke of Buckingham because he gave Sanctuary to my Lady Purbeck 54. The States Ambassadors exceptions and complaints how satisfied 55. The notable Plot the Spanish Ambassadors had traced to destroy the Duke of Buckingham With divers other Signall Passages of State and matters of remark wherewith the Discourse is interwoven In page 250. for and machinations read a machination with other small mistakes which the judicious Reader will not stumble at Sir JOHN FINETS OBSERVATIONS Touching Forren Ambassadors c. THE Count Palatine of the Rhone coming to marry the Lady Elizabeth landed at Graves end on Friday night the sixteenth of October and had his first welcom brought him thither from the King by the Lord Haye with the attendance of Sir Lewes Lewkner Master of the Ceremonies and his second on Sunday following by the Duke of Lenox attended by many Lords Knights and Gentlemen the Kings Servants As he passed before the Tower in his Majesties Barges the discharge of the great Ordnance there served for a warning to the Earles of Shrewsbury Sussex Southampton and other Lords to waite on the Duke of Yorke to the Staires of White-Hall for his reception at his landing there and to conduct him to the presence of the King Queene Prince and Princesse in the Banqueting House where having made an humble reverence to his Majesty and passed his first Complement he addressed himselfe to
Alonso was invited as he was now by his Majesty he and Sir Noell Caron were seated in a compartment or place apart and that Don Alonso did except against Carons sitting in the same place neare his Majesty he affirmed also That howsoever it might now passe between the Spanish Ambassador and the States he himselfe would not permit that he should sit allato his own word in even ranck with him but all the Allegations of the Venetian were held to proceed rather from a spirit of disturbance forward as his naturally was to make ill businesse then that what he said was simply truth In fine the Lords returning with this Declaration of the Ambassadors to his Majesty came back soone after with his definite pleasure thus That since he could not accord this difference which troubled him much for the respects he bare to the Spanish Ambassador he had willed them to signifie to him that he might take what course should best please him And that if he would not stay the Maske he would take order that the States Ambassador should likewise depart to avoyd all further question about either of their pretences After this the Ambassador himselfe and the Lords fell to termes of reconciling if it could be possible the difference the Lords offering that the Spanish Ambassador should sit on the right hand of the King and at the Spaniards right hand the Venetian and that at the left hand next the Queene and Prince should sit the States Ambassador this he harkened not yeelded to but with such limitations as were not fit for Sir Noell Caron to admit of as that he should either sit a degree or step lower which the place would not afford or with some distance behind the Queene and that he should not enter with the King but some quarter of an houre after and the like but the conclusion was nothing being agreed on that they would informe the King of his resolution of departure and so left him yet immediately after they returned the third time and after some reasons to no prevaileing purpose I told him againe that the King desired to see the next day his instructions and so had sent him the good night The Lords being departed I stayed behind as was his Majesties pleasure and charge given me to tell him from his Majesty for conclusion thus much That he had not been driven to this streight without his owne fault because if he had made question in season and acquainted the King with the limitation of his instructions in that point there might have been another course had for prevention whereto he replyed that he had found his Majesty in all so gracious as he could not but with all most humble thankfulness acknowledge it and that it might be held indeed a fault in him that he had not before hand declared himselfe to that purpose but no man could foresee all things So haveing merrily requested the Lords before that since his Servants were not Ambassadors and would not strive for places they might be allowed roome to see the Maske he with one Gentleman his Secretary and a footeman I attending him to his Coach departed The King the next day at his dinner discoursing to this purpose brought forth amongst other Arguments this one against the Spanish Ambassador that the Exception or protestation he had made could not be any way made good by him the King of Spaines Agent in regard the Vassallage which the King his Master pretended of the States was not properly his but should belong if to any to the Arch-Dukes to whom he had made a cession of those Provinces and had likewise he said but a poore title to them having at the time of the Treaty of Truce between them agreed to treate with them as with a free State and given them since in severall letters the title and stile they pretend to and which all other Princes and States he said give them of Les Estats confederez de provinces vnies This dispute and difference occurred in the time that the Truce between the King of Spaine the Arch-Duke and the States yet lasted The Venetian Ambassador as soone as the Spanish was departed was conducted by me into the second Roome from the privie Gallerie and there attending till his Majesty and the Qucene came went along with them and was seated on the left hand of the King beneath the Queene and the Prince on the right At the same time the Agent of Florence to whom was sent by the Lord Chamberlaine to invite him Il. Gavallo Francis co Guarolesi no other then an ordinary Messenger of the Chamber as to a Minister inferiour to an Ambassador supped also in the Councell Chamber and followed the King to the Maske with the Venetian but having been ordained his seate in one of the Galleries he intreated me to moove the Lord Chamberlaine that as he understood the great Duke his Masters Agent and the Duke of Savoyes had been he might be placed among the Lords Earle of Suffolke which was assented to and he was placed by the Lord Chamberlaine and the Lord Treasurer there present beneath the lowest Baron the Lord Mordant and above Sir Thomas Howard second Son to the Lord Treasurer 26 of Oct. 1614. An Ambassador from the Emperor of Russia landing at Tower wharfe was there received by the Lord Danvers I and other Gentlemen his Majesties Servants attending his Lordship thither The five and twentieth of Aprill following he haveing been invited to dine with his Majesty at White-Hall was seated on his left hand towards the Corner of the Table and a Secretary that came in Commission with him at the Tables end He had two of his own Servants attending at his Elbow but with little Service the Kings Servants supplying and his other followers bestowed elswhere in the Court apart It was first ordered that the Prince should have dined there also seated at the Kings right hand towards the other end of the Table but this considered to be somewhat short the dishes many and doubted besides whether the Ambassador would have accepted of the place at his Majesties left hand if the Prince should have had the right his Highnesse dined not with his Majesty 1615 On St. Georges day the King of Spaines Ambassador discovered to the Master of the Ceremonies Sir Lewes Lewkner a desire he had to see the order of that Feast of the Garter wherewith the King made acquainted Don Diego Sarmiento his Majesty returned him an assurance of wellcome He was placed for sight of the procession as it should passe by upon the Terras in the window there about the middle of the Brick-wall that divides the first Court and the Cloyster Court and thence had his prospect upon his Majesty and the Knights in their passage who being returned to the Chappell he repaired thither through the Guard Chamber and had his place for sight of divine Service and Offering in the Kings Closet After retyring to the
the Prince being present but unsaluted by him as he had been by me upon demand of his manner of carriage to that purpose directed till he had made an end of speaking to his Majesty and presented in writing the summ of his Negotiation parting thence he requested me to make Tryall whether the Prince would be pleased that Evening to give him Audience at his own Court in regard he held it a Solecisme in good manners to be present at the Tilting appointed for the next day and that sight much affected by him before he had kissed the hands of his Highnesse His Highnesse returned answer that he thankt him for his respects but having some businesse with the King that Evening and the next day being assigned for the Tilting a day or two after might serve for that Complement of visit which he in the meane time accepted as performed The day following he attended the Kings coming forth into the Gallery to waite on his Majestie to the Tilting and there to â—â—and at his Elbow But the Ambassadors in vertue of their former Invitations having already taken up their stands and prepared their Expectations the Kings indisposition and the continuing Tempestuous Weather were causes that all was remitted till the Sunday following when it was yet the third time deferred till the eighteenth of May following and then upon the indisposition also as before for altogether discharged The three and twentieth of Aprill he had his Audience of the Prince at St. Jameses in the Privy Chamber there and was received by me at the great Gate observing there the same stile as when he had access to his Majesty The nine and twentieth of Aprill the Russian Ambassador having not stirred from his home all the Winter and being desirous to take the fresh Aire was by me accompanied to Theobalds attended by as many of his followers as filled foure coaches and that night returned The next day he went with the same Traine and my conduct to the Artillery Garden to see that company trained but their houre not serving till towards the Evening he went in the interim to the Tower where at foure severall Store-Houses of Armes and at the Wardroabe the Merchants Servant that waited on him as his Steward gave to cach but two shillings six pence and to the Warders at the Gate comprehending with these two of them that every where there attended him ten shillings so poorely acknowledging was he for himselfe or the Merchants for him Don Carlos de Coloma Arrived here for Ordinary Ambassor from the King of Spaine in the beginning of May 1622 and foure or five dayes after had his first Audience at White-Hall with the conduct to it from his House in Holborne the Bishop of Eleys and possessed before by his Predecessor of the Marquesse Hamilton the Lords Wentworth and Bruse and about seaventeen or eighteen Knights and Gentlemen so many having been listed when eight or ten would have sufficed for the service in regard of the incumbrance so often growing from their numbers intruding to places in Coaches with the extrusion of strangers The Coaches sent for him were in all nineteen or twenty the greater part with foure Horses His Majesty received him in the Presence after he had been guided thither together with the Conde of Gondemar by an unusuall passage through the great Hall and by the Chappell up to the Councell Chamber in Queen Anns time the Presence there to rest him the former Councell Chamber being converted to a Lodging for the Duke of Lenox and the Banquetting House prepared for a Maske towards Three or foure dayes after the Conde de Gondemar tooke his leave of the King at Greenwich and with an Extraordinary honour dined that day privately with his Majesty On Fryday May the fifth the Ambassador of Russia received from me an Invitation to dine with the King on Sunday following which though with some scruple at first to do so before he had received answer of his business propounded to the Councell he yet thankfully accepted and having appointed him and hired by the Merchants six Coaches whereof one as I had ordained with foure Horses I brought him by halfe an houre after eleaven in the Kings coach accompanied with Sir Francis Kinnerston and Sir Edward Peyto chosen by myselfe as I had order and liberty given me At the Court Gate he was received by my Lord Wentworth at the upper end of the Hall his passage ordered as before to the Spanish Ambassador by the Earle of March after about a quarter of an hours rest in the Councell Chamber he was conducted by the Lord mentioned through the late Queens Lodgings to the Kings privy Gallery his followers returning from the doore thereof to the Guard Chamber where they were to dine and there met by his Majesty the Ambassador following him to the Privy Chamber where after his Majesty had washed and that the Ambassador had been wished to the like by the two Gentlemen mentioned who held the Bason and Towell as the Gentleman Usher had appointed but in his Countrey civility of respects to the Kings Presence had refused it he was called to sit downe at the lower end of the Table and was presented before he did eate by his Majesty with a Roll of Manchet and salt in a salt-seller the Custome of his Countrey challenging the presentation of them as an expression of his welcome without the observation of which Ceremony I was bold merrily to tell his Majesty that it was then in his power to starve the Ambassador who must not cate till it were performed Towards the middle of Dinner his Majesty stood up and bareheaded drank to him the Health of his Emperor till which Invitation of the King he was also by the Custome of his Countrey not to drink soon after to the Health of the Patriarch of his Country who had sent the King a rare Cup for a Present and lastly to the Ambassador himself in a guilded covered Bowle of about twenty pound value which Bowl after the Pledge was to be his own having been provided at the charge of his Majesty though with the Merchants ready money and by a Warrant from my Lord Chamberlaine reinburst to them his Lordship having first made a question whether the King or they were to provide it by the Master of the Jewel-House The Ambassadors Followers were intertained at Dinner in the Guard-Chamber where at the upper end of the Table sate his Nephew a person of greatest respect about him and of each hand of him and next to him sate Sir Francis Kynnerston and Sir Edward Peyto to accompany him beneath whom was a distance left for one mans seate to make a difference between that Nephew his company and the rest of the Ambassadors Followers who might nor did not presume once to touch any Dish that he had tasted of Dinner ended the Ambassador followed his Majesty into the Privy Gallery his Followers going the other way and there taking leave returned
Conway with the cause of my comming and the address I had from my Lord Chamberlaine to him too for my further Government so the 27. of January I was sent to Saxham with the Kings Coach only and five Gentlemen the Kings Servants and parting thence the next morning early in obedience of a Command sent Post to me thither from my Lord Duke after midnight That the King having assigned the Audience for the afternoone would have me bring the Ambassador by ten in the forenoon we came with three Coaches besides the Kings to Court where conducting him immediatly up to the Princes Privy Chamber which in absence of his Highness was purposely hung for honour to the Ambassador he was fetcht thence by the Earle of Anglesey through the Privy Chamber and the Withdrawing-Chamber where the Duke met him into the Kings Bedchamber There having made his two first respects of Approach with his Turbant on his whole habite being Persian at the third he took it off and laid it at the Kings feete and made his Speech of Entrance kneeling till the King willing him to arise and cover he did and presenting his Letters of Credence written in the Persian Language and un-understood for want of an Interpreter no where then to be found in England After this having gratious words and countenances from his Majesty he returned accompanied as he came to the Prince his Lodgings where Master Secretary Conway repairing to him intertained him an hour with discourse concerning the Propositions of his Negotiatiation which he had a little before delivered to him and the Duke in Writing and so returned to Saxham Immediatly upon this Ambassadors Arrivall at Court I acquainted the Duke with his intention to lay his Turbant at the Kings feet though he said he had kept it alwayes on in the Presence of the Emperour and the King of Spaine and thereby made way for his Majesties Allowance of his covering which was otherwise doubted would not have been permitted in regard of his naturall Subjection though in his former imployment into England when he wore his owne Countrey Habite he had been after some question about it allowed to cover in the Kings Presence From the same King The 12. of February he came to London with my attendance in company of his Sister Crofts and others met between Tottenham and Newington with six Coaches whereof one with foure Horses and hired by me at the Kings charge by my Lord Chamberlains permission for that day onely his Lordship saying he had yet no order for it from his Majesty The 14. of February having received an assignation for his Audience of the Prince at Saint Jameses his Highnes Coach and two Horses being commanded to be ready there at twelve of the clock I found there the Earle of Arund Son to the Lord Marquess Hamilton and Gentleman of the Prince his Bed-Chamber with six or seaven more of his Highness Servants that had received Order for his conduction to his presence We went thence to the Ambassadors Lodgings in Fleet-street and there meeting the Lord North and some Gentlemen of his Kindred we brought him to the Prince his Presence Chamber at Saint Jameses where his Hignesse standing ready to receive him the Ambassador entered performing all his reverences with his Turbant on bowing himselfe low at his second reverence and touching the ground with his right hand and then his head when come neere the Prince who stood uncovered he fell on his knee but instantly raised by his Highnesse he fell to the Complementall part and from that to the earnest of his errand which offered to the Prince's consideration in writing he retyred as he entered and returned to his home with the conduction mentioned The five and twentieth of February Mr. Secretary Conway wrote me a Letter to come to speake with me for the Kings Service which obeyed he told me the Duke of Buckingham and he had received notice of two Ambassadors landed at Gravesend from the States of the United Provinces This was when Sir Lewes Lewkner was had in Jealousie for his affection to the Spanish Ambassadors and that they had made choyce of me to be sent thither to receive them I told him after humble thanks for the honour my Lord Duke and his Honour intended me in that imployment that I must in the duty of my place receive my charges from the Lord Chamberlain and that I thought the Master of the Ceremonies had or would have the discharge of that Service committed to him He replied he thought he would rather attend the Spanish Ambassadors then the Dutch and for my Lord Chamberlaine he said he had sought him for that purpose but not finding him he desired me to acquaint him with the Dukes and his choyce of me which when I accordingly imparted to his Lordship he told me that Sir Lewes had been with him that afternoon and received his Directions to go presantly to Gravesend with the Kings Barge to bring them to London The next morning my Lord Wentworth sent me word that he was made choice of to receive them at their landing at the Tower and desired my company with other Gentlemens thither whence he conducted them being two Joynt Commissioners Monsieur d'Arsennes that had been here not long before and Monsieur Jaachimi one of the States Generall of Zealand with the attendance of half a score Coaches half a dozen of the Kings Servants and as many Commanders of the Low Countries whereof Generall Veere was one to their Lodging in Lumberstreet The Sunday following 29. of February the Lord Cavendish had order to bring them to their Audience of his Majesty with him went the Lord de la Ware and other Gentlemen whereof my self one though Sir Lewes had charge of the Service being come to the Ambassadors Lodging we found so many Coaches sent and brought thither to do them service and honour as our whole number all with four horses was thirty Having rested themselves a while in the Councell-Chamber they were introduced to the Kings Presence in his withdrawing Chamber by the back way that leads from the Councell Chamber to the Privie Galleries and not in the Presence Chamber the ordinary place of Audience for Ambassadors Extraordinary quod nota The next day having received an Assignation for an Audience of the Prince and the Lord Compton son to the Earle of Northampton being appointed to conduct him to it at Saint Jameses I went thither about one of the clock with intention only to be present at it when hearing that Sir Lewes Lewkner was not likely to be there for his service I upon request of the Lord Carew Chamberlaine to his Highness attended it accompanying the Lord Compton who had with him two of the Princes Coaches beyond Custome and two of the Lords and on the way in Cheapside meeting them the Ambassadors not expecting as they said a person of honour should be sent for them they there shifted Coaches came to Saint
Jameses and with their Coaches entered the first Court this also beyond Custome only once excepted at an Audience of the Marquess de la Inojosa and had their Audience c. The 23. of March I was sent to them to assigne them an Audience of his Majesty the next day at two in the afternoone but the King the night following taking little rest by reason of a defluction in his foote I was againe sent to them with Excuse and request from the King to spare their paines till the daye after between three or four When entering by the Parke I conducted them to the Ordinary Chamber of Attendance for Audiences and there let them know as I had directions that in regard his Majestie was not yet free from his paines and was then falne to sleep they would be pleased to go and rest themselves a while at Master Secratarie Conwayes Chamber as a place more commodious wherein to pass the uncertain time of his Majesties sleep and that at his waking the Duke would come and fetch them to his Majesty But his Grace being then with the Prince in Exercise at Saint Jameses three hours almost past before his returne to White-Hall where at length comming to them he brought them to the King by the back Stayers into his Bed-chamber whence without entring into Treaty of businesse the houre so late being unfit for it they had a quick dispatch and departed The nine and twentieth of March the two Spanish Ambassadors Inojosa and Coloma were assigned an Audience for two of the clock and the States at foure when to prevent their incounters the Spanish were introduced by Sir Lewes Lewkaer through the Parke and Privy Galleries to the King in his Withdrawing Chamber where they had a lowd and long expostulating Audience and I in the meane time as I had directions received the other Ambassadors of the States at the Court gate and conducting them to the Councell Chamber on the late Queens side they were immediatly upon the Spanish departure called to the Kings Presence in the same place and making their Entry by the other end of the Privy Galleries they had a faire Audience returning as the other did by the way of their enterance 1624 June the fourteenth having understood that the States Ambassadors were to take their leaves of his Majesty at Theobalds and that Sir Lewes Lewkner had neither received order nor intended to conduct them to it I galloped thither and found them dining with Mr. Secretary Conway After dinner I went to the Kings back Lodgings and finding there the Prince presumed to beseech his Highness to be pleased to move his Majesty for their admittance to his Presence whereupon receiving a command to bring them into the Privy Gallery over the Leaden Terras there they had a long and a favourable Audience and also the like of the Prince in his Quarter The 19. they parted thence by Land towards Margate for their imbarking there without provision of Coach or Barge or care taken for either by Sir Lewes Lewkner The little paines which I took in their Service was beyond my expectation acknowledged by them with the gratuity of a peece of Plate worth 30 l. The 21. of June the Marquess de la Inojosa after he had much imbroiled his Masters and our Kings Affaires in the Treaty of Marrriage then on foot between the Prince and the Infanta and had forged as was said certaine reports of the Duke of Buckinghams and some other Lords of Parliament secret Combynation to his Majesties prejudice and to the raysing Apprehensions in him if he would have cherrished them against the Prince his Son was upon his departure hence when demanding Accesse to take his finall leave of his Majesty he was refused it and without any present sent him or Allowance of one of the Kings Ships to convoy him or of other Coaches or carriages on the way other then of his own hiring went together with Don Carlos de Coloma his Colleague in Office not in disposition to imbarke at Dover in a Merchants Ship attended thither by Sir Lewes Lewkner not as Master of the Ceremonies and the Kings Officer but as a private Gentleman accompanying and assisting him of courtesie for prevention of Inconveniences and Affronts not unlikely in their passage to be offered that Nation by some of the inferiour sort of ours especially parting as they did in termes of disgrace and disagreement from his Majesty The French Ambassador Ordinary Count de Tilliers after almost five yeares residence here received from the King his Master an unexpected short warning for the quitting of his charge and for his speedy returne home which remove the World said was of designe carried in such hast that the Count de Tilliers might not make means for his longer stay here while he was known to be no freind to the Match then in proposition between our King and the French Kings second Sister his departure was about the end of June when an Extraordinary the Marquesse de Fiat came hither who had been formerly here in company of the Mareshall de Cadenet and at his Arrivall now at Gravesend was met by the Earle of Warwick and by me conducted to Suffolke House with no great number or lustre of followers to be there Lodged as well as defrayed not without murmur of the Earle of Suffolke forced to a corner of his own House which he could not wholly leave by reason of his lingering sicknesse then upon him Instantly upon his coming thither he sent to demand Audience of his Majesty en courser as he termed it who was then at Windsore and had it given him the very day of his comming thither being Sunday the fourth of July after he had been domestiquely entertained at Dinner by the Marquess Hamilton then Lord Steward of the Kings House-hold having been brought from London to Court by the Lord of Kensington with the company in the same coach of the Master of the Ceremonies and two or three other Gentlemen he was at the great Chamber doore received by the Lord Chamberlain and in the Presence or Privy Chamber both being come there had his Audience with much grace and countenances of Familiarity from his Majestie The Prince at his enterance stood by as a Beholder and after salutations given and returned the King inviting the Ambassador to cover he excused it as long as the Prince should stand as in his Fathers Presence uncovered till at last for these respects his Highnesse retyring he put on presented his Letters and after a good time of entertainment in severall discourses he retyred to his Lodging in the Deans House till Wednesday following and then returned to London This House though within the Castle could not be properly said to be of the Kings See after when Monfier de Chasteauneuf was here for the Peaces Ratification because the Deans though some French for their glory would have had it otherwise held The rest of that Sommer he
Audiences which was made to none but to Emperours and Kings Ambassadors Also that the same quantity of Wine viz. so many Tonns was allowed them here in England free of Impost as was allowed to Kings Ambassadors with a difference of a less quantity to those of inferiour Princes And that he had at the Funerall sent to him from his Majesty the like quantity of Blacks as was sent to the French Ambassador All which and more were Arguments he said of their unquestioned Parity with Crownd Heads He told me further that in Spaine not long before the Emperours Ambassador endeavoring the abatement of the respects given them there made a request to the King that he would alter the Pragmatick of giving the Title of Illustrissimo to the Venetian which the Venetian Ambassador having notice of made it known to the French Ambassador there Resident and intreated him to acquaint therewith the King his Master which he did and had answer returned from the King that if the Title of Illustrissimo given the Emperours and his Ambassadors were to be changed for that of Excellentissimo he should in his name demand that the like alteration might be made for the Venetian otherwise that the already received and used Title of Illustrissimo should be continued answerable to the present Pragmatick as it hath been ever since without change given in Spaine to the Ambassadors of the State of Venice as to all other Kings Ambassadors without difference The 31. of May 1625. Madam Maria Henrietta second Daughter to Henry the Fourth King of France and the then affianced Wife of King Charles being upon her Journey for England his Majesty prepared for her incounter and Reception went by water to Gravesend thence by Post and Coach to Canterbury A day or two before the Master of the Ceremonies had order for the Provision and sending down of thirty two Coaches to serve her Majestie and the Duke de Chevereuxe imployed then Ambassador Extraordinary from that King for his Presence at the Solemziation and finall ratification or consummation of the Marriage The Coaches mentioned to be taken up for the Service were defrayed by the King but Carts and Post-Horses brought in by Warrant sent abroad to the Countrey were to be immediatly paid for at prizes usuall by such as should have use of them The confusion was extraordinary for want of orderly directions in almost all things but especially in the distrbiution of Coaches Carts and Horses he that first laid hand on them possessing them though unworthy when others of far better qualitie and more modest were not at all or ill accommodated His Majesty entering Canterbury was received by the Mayor who had borrowed the Recorder Master Henry Finches mouth for a wellcomming Speech delivered with much Elegancy was lodg'd at the Lord Wootons House parcell of the demolisht Abby of Saint Augustine The great Lords and their Ladies that attended him from London which were Arrundell Excester Devonshire Saint Johns Andever Dacre de la Ware Mordant Wentworth Harvey and others were quartered severally in the City and had their Randezvous for Diet of his Majesties providing at the Bishops Pallace The third day following his Majesty leaving the married Lords and Ladies at Canterbury went to Dover for view and directions of what was fitting for the Queens accommodation about which and in expectation of the newes of her approach he there spent the time from Thursday to Tuesday when Master Robert Tyrrwhit servant to his Majesty returned from France whether he had been purposely sent with the newes of her departure from Amiens and her intention to be on Wednesday at Bolloigne which made the King upon assurance that the Queen Mother indisposed in her health would not come thither with her daughter alter the resolution he had of passing the Seas and the next day returned to Canterbury with the reason of giving to the Queen some time of refreshing after her Sea-distempers before he would see her But on Thursday the Kings Fleet not able for the winds opposition to recover Bulloigne and left for the same cause on Fryday and two dayes after on Munday the 12. of May about nine of the clock the reports of Canons from the French coast and the wind then come faire made us presume of her Majesty then shipping as it did after assure us of her landing at seven in the Evening passing out of her Boat on shore by an artificiall moveable Bridge framed for that use only The newes of her arriveall was by Master Tirwhit within half an hour and six minuits carried to the King at Canterbury Her Majesty rather ill at ease then sick after her Sea motions was carried from the shore to the Town in a Litter there received Wellcome and presented by the the Mayor she went in Coach up to the Castle and had there the next day her best and happiest Reception from the King come that morning from Canterbury May 13. Their Majesties dining that day together the King after dinner gave Audience to the Duke de Chevereux the Duke of Buckingham with my Service introducing him to the Presence Chamber of the Queen whence the King honourd him after his Audience with his company to his Majesties own Presence Chamber for a sight and wellcome of the faire Dutches de Chevercux After this their Majesties set forth for Canterbury and within two or three miles of it on Barrham Down were attended for their meeting and reception by the Lords and Ladies mentioned these latter presenting themselves from a fitting distance where the Queen stood to her Majesty each in their ranke with three low reverences kissing her hand and her Majesty them for their greater honour That night their Majesties supt and slept together Sic consummatū est The next day they removed to Cobham neer Rochester and from thence and Gravesend they came with the lowd wellcome of great Ordinance from the Ships on the Thames and from the Tower to London May 16. Their landing was at the Privy Staires of Whitehall where in the Sheild Gallery stood on each side ranged those Ladies of quality and beauty that had not yet seen the Queen and there they had from her particular respects of satisfaction The Duke de Chevereux and his Lady were lodged at Somerset House and had the next day a Visit sent them from his Majesty by the Earle of Arrundell with two or three Lords with divers Gentlemen attending who after conducted him to his publick Audience of his Majesty in the Presence Chamber Thence he was upon passage to the Queene for the like but word being brought that she was not well at ease he was remitted to another time and returned to his Lodging with the company of the Count de Tremes and the Marquess de Fiat with him joynt Commissioners The next day being that of the Overture of Parliament his Majesty to avoid the danger of the Plague then growing strong by the concourse of people went
Ambassador had his stand as he said he would at the House of Sir Abraham Williams neere the Gate-House of the Pallace-yard in company of the Queen as Bleinvill which was his owne distinction and not as Ambassador where with her Majesty he had a view of the King in his passage from Westminster Hall to the Church and back againe The Queens Reason as it was voyced for not being Crowned together with the King was because she could not they said by her Religion be present at our Church Ceremonies where she must have had divine Service celebrated by our Bishops and not by those of her own Religion as was demanded for her Crowning The ninth of February following the King was to ride to Parliament and though the Venetian Ambassador had assurance from me that the French was to have no other stand appointed him for view of that Solemnity then the company of the Queen as a private Person and not as an Ambassador yet his jealosie of loosing the pretended right of his Re-publick in Parity with Crowned-heads made him apprehend the allowance of an House taken up for him in King-street about the midst of it where also was assigned one for the States Ambassador at the charge of his Majesty to be an Abatement of his respects which he affirmed was that he was to stand in the same House and place with the French Ambassador but in the end pacified he accepted of it In the meane time a difference that fell out about the place for the Queen she affected to stand in the Banquetting House or in the Privy-gallery when the King had given reasons for her better fight in the house of the Countess Mother to the Duke of Buckingham next the Gate in Kings-street was a Subject for some discontent c. so far as the Ambassador Bleinvill seeming to his Majesty to have been the causer of it had the next day a message brought him by the Lord Conway that it was his Majesties pleasure that he should forbeare further accesse to the Kings or Queens Presence which he storming at and excepting against as an indignity offered to his Representative quality demanded by two or three severall messengers Audience of his Majesty for knowledge of the Reasons of his restraint but was refused it with this limiting distinction If he demanded Audience for any particular business concerning the King his Master he should readily have it but if for himselfe to expostulate his own grievances the King did absolutly let him know that if he came to him he would not see him so as the Ambassador replying that he was here for the King his Master and not for himself and that the refusall of his Audience touched the person he represented and not his own He the next day refused the Kings diet and betook him to his own leaving the Lodging taken for him at Durham-House and removing with the chiefe of his Traine to Greenwich whence two days after returning to London he with the Kings permission had a sight of the Queen and the next day went againe to Greenwich He had in the interim dispatched two or three Couriers one following another with an account of all but at Dover the Ports being by Order shut before hand none of them could be allowed passage till after fourteen or fifteen days when Master Walter Mountacue had been purposely sent from the King they were opened and the Ambassador had his liberty of sending his messenger About a moneth or six weekes after this Malantenda this Ambassador receiving Order from the King his Master for composing of his affaires and differences here and for applying of himselfe to his Majesties pleasure he had an Audience or two and peecing up matters took his leave at a solemne Audience at White-Hall Presence conducted to it by the Earle of Holland the Kings Guard attending their Captain through the streets but what congruity as was done before quere and two or three dayes after departed first for a night or two to his private Lodging at Greenwich and thence to Dover accompanied by Sir Lewes Lewkner but undefrayed on the way leaving the Kings Officers and Servants my selfe in particular after my so long and painfull attendance ill satisfied with his none at all or most unworthy acknowledgements About the middle of February The Merchants of the East Indian Company having signified to his Majesty That a Ship long held for lost and then arrived at Portsmouth had brought in her an Ambassador from the King of Persia obtaind his Majesties Coach with the Earle of Warwick the Master of the Ceremonies and other Gentlemen the Kings Servants in it for his Reception at Kingston and transport to London These Merchants with an affected honour beyond that done to the other Persian Ambassador Sir Robert Sherley had procured the Kings Coach to be drawn with eight Horses as with the more grace to the latter to disgrace the former He came to London the 19. of February and was lodgd the Merchants defraying him in the House of Alderman Holliday then deceased There resting himselfe two dayes his Audience was sollicited and assigned for Shrovetuesday following which suspected by Sir Robert Sherley and his friends to be a plot of the Merchants by so hastning an Audience to prevent his repair to Court and to prepossess the King with the new Ambassadors Reports he intreated the Earle of Cleaveland Husband to his Neece to accompany him at a Visite he would bestow on the said Amdassador for his Wellcome and for the declaring of his own quality of Ambassador from the same King from whom he had so long negotiated here under that Title To this purpose the Earle of Cleaveland addressing himself to the Lord Chamberlaine for his favour in procuring from the Lord Conway Principall Secretary the Letters of Credence brought to King James by Sir Robert Sherley The Lord Chamberlaine excepting his medling in it as being he said no duty of his place From him the Earle of Cleaveland went to the Duke of Buckingham and by his meanes obtaind allowance from his Majestie for the Lord Conway to impart them for so much use and sight as might serve the Ambassador Sherleys turne for the others satisfaction so as my Lord Cleaveland having gotten them into his hands he the morning that the new come Ambassador was in the afternoone to have Audience departed with the Kings Coach and seven other eight or nine Gentlemen and my self accompanying him to Sir Roberts Sherleys Lodging on Tower Hill whence being ready to set forth towards the other Ambassadors I propounded the fitness of sending to him before to avoid the incivility as it might be interpreted of a surprise with signification of our instant coming to him to Visite him To this his Answer met us on the way without other complement then that we might come Entring the Hall where he then was sitting in a chair on his legs double under him after the Persian Posture and affording no motion of
come presently along with the Hambourgh Commissioners to the Queen as I had been first appointed In obedience whereof I presently taking Boat with them and landing at the Common-Court Staires we were there met by two of her Majesties Gentlemen-Ushers of her Presence Chamber and by them told that we should not repaire to any place of repose which I had assigned in the Chappell Closet on the Queens side because her Majesty was already staying for them in her Privy Galleries whether going by the passage of the Privy Staires they there had their access the Queen standing at one side of the Gallery amonst the Ladies This succeeded the Eve of the day July 31. that the French were removed from about the person of her Majesty the Kings Order to me ut supra relating to that important business The 13. of August The Ambassador of Denmark went in the Kings Coach his two Coaches defrayed by his Majestie attending to an Audience at None-such in the Privy Chamber there all but the Lords of the Privy Councell excluded he was fetcht to it from his Chamber of Repose such being the Kings pleasure though more then usuall at a private Audience by the Earle of Dorset The 23. of August An Ambassador Ordinary from Venice by name Alanso Coutarim having resided with the States of the United Provinces arrived at Gravesend where he was received by the Master of the Ceremonies was welcomed from the King at his Landing at Tower-Wharffe by the Lord Willoughby Then but a Baron Lord High Chamberlaine of England and by him conducted to his House at Charter-House where intreated to stay Supper an invitation which upon so short warning savoured more of good Fellowship then Courtship his Lordship and those with him had an Royall intertainment The 13. of September The King having received at Theobalds the unhappy news of an Overthrow given the King of Denmark by the Count of Tilly Generall for the Emperor came to London and that morning sent for the Ambassador of Denmark to come to him after Dinner and received him at Denmark-House the Queen then there in the Privy Chamber introduced by Sir George Goring Vice-Chamberlaine to her Majestie and fetcht from the Lord Carews Lodging by the Queens Gentleman-Usher The 21. of September A Messenger formerly sent by the same Ambassador to the King his Master being returned he demanded and had an Audience of his Majesty in the Presence at Hampton Court without reposing any where though the Chappell had been assigned for it That night he returned to London he was pleased to excuse my attendance further then to my House in his way at Twittenham where he had taken me up to his Coach in his passage to his Audience of his Majesty He had demanded this access to his Majesty two or three dayes before by the King his Masters Agent Ma. Belaw but whether it had not been more properly carried to have gone immediatly to Court and there in person to have by the Lord Chamberlaine demanded an immediate Audience considering the neer relation between his Master and the King and the consequence of the newes then brought him of his Masters defeate was by some and may be with reason made a Quere The 22. of September as I was at Supper with the Ambassador of Denmarke one came to me with this message That Monsieur Quadt an Honourable Gentleman sent Ambassador from the Prince of Transilvania Bethlem Gabor being that day arrived here had address by Letters both from the Prince his Master and from the King of Bohemia to Monsieur Rosberf residing here for the affaires of that King but understanding that Monsieur Rosberf was out of Town and my selfe one of the Kings Masters of Seremonies to be there he desired my advise and furtherance for his proceeding I answered the Messenger that my way must be by the Lord Chamberlaine for his to his Majesty and that to that purpose I would repaire presently to his Lordships approbation of my Opinion that Monsieur Rosdrose returne to whom the Ambassador had such a particular address it was unfit and needless to give notice of him to his Majesty I went to him though without Commission and complied with him the next morning where receiving his allowance with thanks for my course taken and advise to stay the returning of Rosdrofe I wrote to this Gentleman how I had procecded and sent my Letter by his Servant In the meane time his Majesty having notice of the Ambassadors arriveall signified his pleasure by my Lord Chamberlaine to Master Rosdrose then returned and to me that the correspondence between the Ambassador and themselves considered and answerable to the proposition made by us two Two Ambassadors Arriving at different times lodged and defrayed in one House and at one Table from themselves the Prince of Transilvanians Ambassador and the King of Denmarks should be lodg'd together in the same house and dieted at the same Table with addition of ten pound per diem to the others eighteen pound The traine of the latet consisting but of four persons and that he should be admitted to his Andience the Tuesday following which was performed accordingly I accompanying to Hampton Court with the service of only two hired Coaches each with four horses He had allowed him by the Lord Chamberlaine one Coach with four horses daily to attend his service but for his Majesties profit and with the Ambassadors likeing I brought it to an attendance at such times only as he should be pleased the Evening before to command it In the mean time I doubting that some of those respects ordinarily given to Ambassadors at their first Audiences might be omitted whereof but that he himfelfe professed to affect privacie it was one not to have a Titular person appointed to accompany him thence to the Court I sent a Groome of the Chamber early that morning to order what my Lord Chamberlaine had left unordered and to have some Nobleman to meete and receive him there at his descent out of his Coach This being incharged to the Lord Compton he received no sooner then at the second Gate and there turning up the great staires through the great Hall and Guard-chamber the King was already under the State in the Privy-chamber expecting him which by suddainnesse of his approach so danted him as though he passed through well with his Latine Oration he forgot to present his Letters of Credence and was forced after his parting from his Majesty to send them back to him with excuse of his Servants absence whom he feyned to have had them about him when he being so suddainly without stay any where introduced and his Secretary left in the Press behind him could not come at them opportunely to deliver them All the time of his Audience he never covered being not invited to it by his Majesty who likewise stood all that time uncovered After he had finished his Oration and that his Majesty by me had given him a breife
bestowed on Ambassadors I carried it and presented it with this complement MOnsieur j'ay l'honneur que par ma main le Roy vous fait present de son purtrait le quel il vous prie poster pur amour de luy en testmoignagede bons agreables services devoirs que vous luy auez rendus pour le Roy vostre Maistre durant vostre Ambassade icy en Angleterre My LORD I have the honour that the King by my hand doth present you with his purtrait which he prayes you to we are for his Love in Testimony of the good and acceptable services and duties which you have rendred him in behalfe of the King your Master during your Embassie here in England Three or foure dayes after he had taken leave he intreated my opinion and Assistance for punishment of one Phillip Weisman a Germane whose cheife Trade of life having been to undertake the conduct and defraying of Gentlemen of his Country at a price agreed on in their Travailing to and in this and other Kingdomes as he had formerly done of Phillip the yong Landsgrave of Hesse and a Duke of Holstein here he made offer of of his service and was entertained for the defraying of this Ambassador while he remained at Paris after the time of that Kings defraying him till his first Audience was past at the rate of five hundred and fifty Crownes a Moneth for Dyet and Lodging of twelve Masters and twelve Servants This Bargaine made but as the fellow pretended much to his losse in regard of the dayly increaseing number of guests at the Ambassadors Table he a while held himselfe silent both at the Ambassadors departure from Paris and on the way where he undertook the whole companies defraying at twenty five Crownes a man till they should come to London but within two dayes after their arrivall here he began to make his demands in so unreasonable a measure and with such touch to his honour as he made complaint of him by me to my Lord Chamberlain who acquainting the King with it his Maiesty was pleased that the Lord President of the Councell the Lord Chamberlain and Vice-chamberlain should heare and determine the businesse Whereupon the said Philip appearing before them together with two or three Gentlemen of the Ambassadors and my selfe the Lords passed on him their sentence which according to the Ambassadors request sent by me to the Lords and as it was the next day repeated by the Lord President and referred to the Ambassadors owne penning in French was as followeth MOunsieur Henry Comte de Manchester President de Conseil prive du Roy de la Grand Brittaigne Phillipe Comte de Montgomery Grand Chamberlan Conscillers du Conseil prive d'estat de la dicte Majeste Commis Depute par sa dicte Majeste pour entendre la potestation que Sieur Rosenkrantz Ambassador extraordinaire pour la Majeste dt Densmark auroit fait a l'encontre de Phillippe Weysman pour quelques injures mesdisances que qu' il auroit proferree escrites contre sa personne au prejudice de reputation du Roy son Maistre de sa bonne renomme ' e en particulier ayants par commandement expres de sa Maieste adiourne examinè le dit Phillippe Wiseman â—nsemble entenduenmesme temps par confrontation quelques uns des domestiques du dit sieur Ambassadour aultres ensemblé lu examiné sa lettre and dit sieur Ambassadour Avons trouvé que le dit Phillippe sans raison hors de propos apres avoir receu beaucoup plus d'argent qu' on ne luy autoii accordé selon sa propre confession auroit malicieusement effrontement mis en avant telles paroles eserits sans avoir esgard a la dignité de la parsonne que le dit Ambassador represente ny a sa qualitè particuliere avons ordonne qu'il soit mis en sure garde jusques a ce qu'il donnera satisfaction au dit Ambassador si ce n'est qu'il troue bon de le fayre mener au Roy son Maistre pour l'estre chastié selon qu'il a merité En foy de quoy nous signons la presente le 14. of April 1627. Manchester Montgomery Carleton My LORD HEnry Earle of Manchester President of the privy Councell of his Majesty of Great Britain Philip Earle of Mongomery great Chamberlaine and of the Councell of State to his said Majesty being Commissioners and Deputies for his said Majesty to heare the Protestation which the Lord Rosenbranck Ambassador Extraordinary to his Majesty of Denmarke shall make against Phillip Wiseman for certaine injuries and calumnies which he should speak and write against his person in prejudice of the honour of the King his Master and of his own particular reputation having by express commandment from his Majestie adjourned and examined the foresaid Philip Wiseman and understood the same time by confrontation of some of the Domestiques of the said Lord Ambassador and others as also examined his Letter to the said Lord Ambassador We finde that the said Philip without any reason or cause having received more monies then were agreed upon according to his own confession hath maliciously and impudently blazed abroad such words and writings without having regard to the honour of the person whom he presents or to his own particular quality therefore we have inordered that he be put in safe Custody untill he give satisfaction to the foresaid Ambassador if he thinks it not fit to bring him before the King his Master to be punished according to his demerit In faith whereof we signe this present Instrument this 14. of Aprill 1627. Manchester Montgomery Carleton The fellow persisting stubborne and most averse from submission was after four or five dayes restraint in the house of a Messenger delivered by Warrant of the Lord President of the Councell and the Lord Chamberlaine from the Messengers hands to the Ambassadors who causing him to be imprisoned in the Counter by vertue of the said Warrant which gave him power to dispose of him he was upon the point of being sent for Hambourgh but his stomach lessening and his submission made with acknowledgement of his fault both by word and writing he was at last set at liberty Five or sixe dayes before Saint Georges Feast was to be kept at White-Hall the Ordinary Ambassador of Venice Contareni desired my Confetence intimated by his Secretary sent to me to the purpose of his best course for his sight of that Solemnity I hereupon repairing to him told him That the manner had ever been except in one or two Exceptions when the King was pleased to send his Invitation for Ambassadors to convey to his Majesties knowledge by the Lord Chamberlaine their desires to have the honour of his right and the solemnitie that day whereupon he desired me to performe that part from him which I did had his Majesties allowance to it and let the
he shewed himselfe carefull in acknowledging the paines taken by the Kings Servants others for his service and having by his own servants inquiry learned of me how other Ambassadors imployed hither had inlarged or streightned themselves to that purpose he thus proportioned his gratuities viz. To my selfe he sent by one of his Gentlemen in a Purse 80 l. sterling to the Marshall of the Ceremonies Walter Brisco 10 l. To the Gentleman Usher that all the time of his stay here gave his attendance he gave 20 l. To the two Quarter waiters each of them 12 l. To the two Groomes of the Chamber each 7 l. To the Yeoman Usher Yeoman hanger Yeoman of the Ward-robes Servants and the Groome Porters Servants amongst them 14 l. To the Kings Coachman that attended him all the time of his first being here 6 l. To two of the Kings Coachmen that attended him after his returne between them 6 l. To the Master of the Kings Barge 2 l. To the eight Rowers of that Barge amongst them 1 l. 4 s. To other two Masters of two hired Barges 11 s. To six men of both those Barges 1 l. 4 s. To the Porters of the Court Gate 3 l. To the two Keepers of the Privy Lodgings 1 l. To two Porters of Saint James Parke 1 l. To six Coachmen of six Coaches hyred at the Kings charge 3 l. To my footman 1 l To the Servants of the House where he was Lodged and fed at the Kings charge amongst them 10 l. To my Lord Treasurers Secretary who had hastned his dispatch of 10000 l. of money paid and due besides a far greater somm a pair of silver pots which cost 21 l. 6 s. To the Master of the House where he had Lodged a Bason and Ewer that cost 18 l. Besides other gifts amounting in the Totall to 260 l. Sterling On Whitson Tuesday Beare-baiting being appointed for the Kings pastime at White-Hall I the day before gave notice of it to the Venetian Ambassador Alonso Contareni Resident and the next morning had his Servant sent to me to signifie his desire to be present at it this imparted to my Lord Chamberlain and by him to his Majesty he was ordained his standing in the Pergola of the Banquetting House on the left hand of that appointed for his Majesty and the Queen with Carpets to leane and tread on and a stoole no chaire to fit on The sport ended the Ambassador that had entered before the King and remained there after him was onely saluted by their Majesties in their passage without further complement at entering and parting Two dayes before the Departure of the Duke of Soubize with my Lord of Buckingham towards Portsmouth for the expedition then in hand to Retz I was commanded to accompany him thither to the seventh of June in company of Monsieur Blancan a brave valiant Gentleman He was refuged hither from France and other his followers himselfe riding in Coach with his Majesty and had his Lodgings taken up by Sir John Jepson and the Majors authority by the former in Houses of Garrison Souldiers by the latter in those of the Townes-men Two nights after his rest there a gang of druncken Marriners fell fowle in the streets with some of the meaner sort of French but after some two or three heads broaken and a sleight wound or two given all was pacified After which for prevention of further mischeif complaint was made by one to the Earle of Denbeigh then aboard as Rere-Admirall the Duke the Admirall and the Earle of Lindsey Vice-Admirall being then absent who sending to all the Fleets for restraint of their Marriners being on shoare at undue hours we heard no more of their insolency especially when within foure dayes after the Dukes returning from London a Guard of a dozen Souldiers of the Garrison were commanded to give their dayly attendance before the Duke of Soubizes Lodging The thirteenth of June going with him to his Majesty at Southwile where the Court then lay foure or five miles from Portsmouth and asking the Lord Stewards Earle of Pembroks opinion in absence of the Lord Chamberlain his Brother what course was to be taken for satisfaction of the Duke de Soubize his host and other of the Town for his followers Lodgings his Lordship gave me for answer that in regard his Lodgings had been defrayed by the King at London it was fit the like should be observed till his departure and that I should make a bill of my disbursements for them leaving his Dyet wood and coale and table linnen to his own provision and discharge as they had been at London The fourteenth of June I had word of two Commissioners styled by them who brought newes of them Ambassadors arrived in the road of the Cowes from Saly in Barbary for my better information whereof I went the day following to Court and had order for my repaire to them but not as with an honour to them of being sent for their reception before or at their landing but to discover what I could of the scope of their Negotiation and to let them know his Majesty had taken notice of their arrivall and proceeding to London they should there at his returne have a fitting time appointed for their Audience but when I came to the Cowes they were parted thence to Southampton whether following them I there performed my charge finding the substance of their Negotiation to be a suit for his Majesties protection and confederation with them against the Spaniard who had expelled them Spaine and the next day returned to Portsmouth About ten dayes before the King went to Portsmouth there came to London from France a Count of Emden second Brother to the cheife of that title and Family after whom his Majesty commanding my inquiry whether he were of the Imperiall party I found him not such and to be come hither onely for sight of England and of his Majesty pretending as I was told that he desired to live here unnoted till he might receive his Horses and Apparrel left in France for his better splendor at Court but the King going his journey before those came he while I was at Portsmouth came thither and not addressing himselfe to me for his Introduction to the King took an uncertain way by another Gentleman who leaving him alone when he came to Court walking in a place unbesitting for him I offered him my service gave his Majesty notice of him and had order for his accesse After which he immediatly without further Ceremony took his leave and dining at the Lord Stewards and Lord Chamberlains Table joyned in company of the Duke and Monsieur de Soubize he after returned to Portsmouth with a Warrant that I at his request obtained for him of the Duke for transport of six Geldings and two stone Horses for which Warrant he supposing because I in absence of the Dukes Secretary drew it that it had been a part of my Office in which till then
me there was a Table to be both served and sit at in State was all on the Queenes side as on the Kings and that if the Agents would come to either of them the first come might make his firstchoyce there was no doubt but his Lordships provident care for their placeing at the Maske would keepe them out of distance and danger of dispute for precedence So they both came but the Savoyard getting the start and siding allwayes close to the Spanish Ambassador was both at the supper and Maske the more conspicuous while the other kept himselfe retyred as Sconosiuto The Spanish Ambassador the Arch-Dukes and both their Ladies were on New-yeares day following invited to the sight of a Tilting the King and Queene there present where I by Command attended them The first of February 1613. Mons de â—uisscaux The Lord Viscount Lysle Lord Chamberlaine to the Queen sent me to invite in his Majesties name the French Ambassador to the Marriage of the Lady Jane Dromond to be Solemnized the next day at Somerset House He accepted the Invitatation with humble thankes as an especiall favour he said done to him by his Majesty but desired if his desire might be presented to her Majesty as that she might not interpret it for a singularity in him or a disobedience to her pleasure which rather then to incurr he would he said lay aside all other respects and submit his reason to her will that he might be excused his comming to Dinner and be present onely at Supper and at the entertainment after it When I had as far as good manners would allow me provoked him to the reason of his request that I might at least glance at it in returning his answer to the Lord Chamberlaine to procure it the better passage he would have made it appeare that a part of his reason was that his Lent was already entered and that to be at two meales of flesh togeather would be too great a sin but when I had removed that Objection with assuring him that at our great Feasts Fish was an especiall provision he came neerer telling me plainly but as to his Freind he said Sub Sigillo confessionis who hee knew would carry it no further that since the Spanish Ambassador had had the precedence of him in his invitation to the marriage of the Earle of Somerset he would not wrong the Master he represented to march in the second place as it would be taken if he should come to Dinner though many dayes had passed since the other and that the Queen and not the King gave this entertainment but if he might be spared he sayd from the Brides Dinner at the like whereof the other the Spanish Ambassador might be though to have done well to have spared his presence in regard neither the King nor Queene were there in person a point that men he said of his representative quality were especially to regard in all such publique solemnities he could not nor would refuse the honour of being there at Supper when both King and Queen would be as he heard present yet he concluded that riterateing his request that I would not communicate the formality of these reasons rather then he would in the least point distast her Majesty he would post-posing all other considerations be there both Dinner and Supper With this signification I returned to the Lord Lysle Lord Chamberlaine to the Queene who communicated it to the Earle of Worcester Master of her Majesties Horse He presented me at my parting with a gold Chayne worth 10 l. that he might convey it to her Majesty as he should go with her in a Coach from White-Hall to Somerset House It hung yet in intention when the Ambassadors Secretary came to me from his Lord with a further exception that howsoever the Queene were pleased that he should be present both Dinner and Supper he would be bold to prefer this condition to her allowance that he might not sit upon a Stoole but in a Chaire in the same manner as the Bride should be seated I answered I thought that would be a matter of no great difficulty But how quoth I if the Prince be there and have but a Stoole to sit on If my Lord Ambassador were sure of that replyed the Secretary I presume he would make no further question but in all beare his Highnesse Company To be resolved of this I went at his request to my Lord Lysle my Lord Worcester and my Lord Carew Vice-Chamberlaine whom I found alltogether and having assurance from them of the Prince his presence with the Bride at Dinner and requesting their Lordships as the Secretary desired me that they would not trouble the Queene any further concerning the Ambassador till the Secretary had been with him and returned with his finall Satisfaction he repaired that Evening to my Lord Lysle and propounding the same demand of a Chayre as he had done to me in the Afternoone it was resolved he should have one with the Prince and so ended that difference The next day he came and the Bride seated at the Tables end which was placed crosse at the upper end of the Hall had the Prince at her left hand as the better place neerest the Wall his Highnesse sitting with his right hand uppermost on her right the Ambassadors both in Chayres and opposite to him beneath the Prince in a little distance sate on a stoole a Duke of Saxonie here at that time to visite his Majesty The Arch-Dukes Ambassador received from me an Invitation the same day that I delivered one to another and accepted it though he were then in earnest sick in his Bed of a cold he had taken both for Dinner and Supper without Scruple or question I will not say without intention not to be at either but his cold increasing that night with a Loosenesse he wrote to me to come to him as I did the next Morning and there desired his absence might be excused to her Majesty His Lady came notwithstanding in the Afternoone as did also the French Ambassadors with her Husband in the Morning and had both of them their places at the Table next beneath the Countesses Seig. Gabellion the Duke of Savoys Agent was also invited and had his place appointed him at Dinner next beneath the Duke of Lenox Too high and at Supper both which might seem to have fallne out chanceably next above the Lord Knowles beneath the Earles and above the Barons The Ambassador of France sate that night at the end of the Table at the right hand of his Majesty with a distance between them of some halfe a dozen persons the Queene sate next the King on his left hand and neer her the Prince It may appeare that the scope and end of this question mooveing from the French Ambassador was that by some addition of honour he might get the start he seemed to have lost of preceeding the Spaniard and which himselfe bragged he had
Councell Chamber he had his dinner provided at his Majesties charge in the Lord Chamberlaines Lodgings therby and conducted thence in the time of his Majesties dinner to the Banquetting House he stood at his right hand intertaining discourse with him all the later part of his Majesties dinner About the beginning of July arrived at London a Young Nobleman of Poland Son to the great Zomoiski the famous Chancellour of that Kingdome he demanded accesse to his Majesty by a Germane one Ryder that then lived in England who speaking in hearing of Sir William Button Assistant of the Ceremonies as if the Master of the Ceremonies had been in great fault to have neglected to presse his desire of presenting his Service to the King was reprooved by Sir William Button for so rashly condemning the Master of the Ceremonies then imployd into Kent to meete and receive the new come French Ordinary Ambassador asking him if Zomoiski were a Prince Soveraigne or an extraordinany Ambassador that he should challenge that respect of a King not to be seene at the pleasure and time of every stranger But this difference quietted with the forward Germanes strikeing saile he had an Audience appointed and given him two dayes after in the Kings withdrawing Chamber The second or third day following the same Zâ—moiski sent to the Master of the Ceremonies to let him know of an invitation he had received from the King by a letter written to him in his Majesties name from Mr. John Murray of the Bedd-Chamber to hunt with his Majesty at Theobalds and asked by his Messenger the Master of the Ceremonies opinion and Counsell touching his intention to be present at Court the next Sunday as his letter intimated at the Audience for that day assigned of the new French Ambassador and touching his manner of carriage at it Answer was returned him by Sir Lewes Lewkner that he would not take upon him to resolve or advise a man of his quality especially having himselfe received no direction from the Lord Chamberlain to the purpose of his Invitation so left him doubtfull but not enough to hinder his repaire notwithstanding to Court on Sunday after dinner though too late to come to the Ambassadors Audience Who that day the second of July had it at Theobalds setcht in the Morning from his House at Charter-House by the Lord Walden appointed with Sir Lewes Lewkner Mons. de Mareth my selfe and halfe a score Gentlemen to accompany him thither whither he had for his transport one of the Kings Coaches and three others at the charge of his Majesty besides two or three of his owne providing Arriving at one of the clock he was brought to rest himselfe in the Councell Chamber and at two was called thence by the Master of the Ceremonies and conducted by the Lord Walden to his Audience in the Presence Chamber where the King standing under the State the Ambassador marcht towards him his owne followers first next the Kings Servants that had accompained him from London next before him Sir Lewes Lewkner and at his side the Lord Walden The Ambassador observing as little respect at his approaches as had been till then seene after some few wordes of Complement he presented his Letters which while his Majesty read he in all that time nor before did so much as cast his eye towards the Prince there present till Sir Lewes Lewkner rounding my Lord Walden in the eare his Lordship stept to him with an admonition for his addresse to the Prince which the Ambassador tooke But whether this admonition were well given or well taken or had been better deferred till the King had read his Letters or best of all perhaps intimated immediately after he had performd his respects to the King it may be a Quere His Majesty invited him once to cover at first but the Ambassador excusing the King put on and the other still stood bare headed till the King having read the Letter his Majesty put off againe and falling to a discourse with him of some length he never after covered till he was out of the Chamber He returned to London with Sir Lewes Lewkner and his followers attendance onely my Lord Walden leaving him at the Court gate and remaining that night not perhaps without a Solecisme in Ceremonie at Theobalds A day or two before his Audience a question fell out between Mr. Secretary Winwood and the Master of the Ceremonies whether the French Ambassador mentioned were or ought to be invited to dine at Court the Court being so far out of London the day of his first Audience Sir Lewes Lewkner said he knew of no such order why then quoth the Secretarie who should know it but his Majesty he added is ill served and ill instructed and those things now a dayes which should be done are not and those not done which should be The other replyed he was none of his Majesties Tutors and for himselfe he was to receive his directions from the Lord Chamberlaine and without them not to undertake any thing in his Office but to answer he said more directly he knew not wherein he had done amisse yes when said Mr. Secretary this French Ambassadors Ordinary was met by you in Kent when he should not and should have had a dinner provided for him in Court the day of his first Audience An errour of the Secretary which was neglected Sir Lewes produced his owne experience against both his assertions affirming he had met such and such Ambassadors on the way at some Towne between London and Dover and extraordinaries at their first landing and that Ambassadors Ordinary had many times to his knowledge had no dinner given them by the King at their first Audience November the first Seignior Barbarigo who about a moneth before came to reside here Ambassador in place of Seignior Foscarini departed his Majesty being at that time absent at Royston was conducted from Charter-house to White-Hall by the Lord Haye for his first Audience attended by many Gentlemen of his Majesties privy Chamber in two of the Kings Coaches and seaven or eight of the Lords besides five or six others hyred by himselfe Being come to White-Hall he had his conduction together with his Predecessor through the first Court up the great Staires by the Guard Chamber into the Councell Chamber where my Lord Haye remaining with him while the Master of the Ceremonies went to give an account that he was come he was after brought to his Majesty in the Presence no other Lord receiving him at the Presence doore the Earle of Somerset Lord Chamberlaine being then in Prison His Predecessor preceding and first speaking he delivered his Letters and a breife speech with a voice audible over all the Roome Whence reconducted by the same Lord and the Gentlemen mentioned to his house they there found beyond expectation a long Table ready covered and many white wax Lights not yet it not being foure of the Clock lighted When my Lord Haye offering
these mentioned alltogether esteemed worth 4000 l. sterling The Ambassadors were received at the Court gate by the Lord Shandoys and on the top of the staire at the enterie to the Guard Chamber by the Earle of Shrewsbury and by these conducted along the Terras immediatly the King allready expecting them with some impatience into the Banquetting House There at the doore they were met by the Lord Chamberlaine and being entred the Roome the exceeding press of the people so hindred their profound Superstitious reverences As stooping and knocking their for cheads against the ground or rather Adorations intended to have been thrice but by that hindrance only once and that close before his Majestie performed by them as it turned much to their discountenance and discontent Those that carried the Present about fifty were after the Ambassador had finished his Speech and Interpretation made of it commanded to pass along on the left hand and in sight of his Majestie by one and one in the Privie Gallery where his Majesty might at leasure in his return take better view of what the press before had hindred The Lord Chamberlain reconducted the Ambassadors after their dismission to the door of the Banquetting House the other Lords to the Stations of the first Reception and I only to their Lodging The fourteenth of December I was sent by the Lord Viscount â—â—sle Lord Chamberlain to the Queen to conduct the Wife of the French Ambassador to the presence of her Majesty at Denmarke House where at the Gate I received her and brought her to a Chamber for her repose at the right hand of the first Court thither after a small time of stay repaired for her entertainment and to accompany her to her Majestie the Lady Blanch Arundell Mistress Barbara Sydney Mistress Southwell of the Queens privy Chamber and Mistress Gargrave one of her Majesties maides of Honour not long after a Gent. Usher bringing word that the Queen was come forth into the Privy Chamber she passed with this Company her Servants going before her towards her Majestie and was met at the Presence Chamber door by the Lord Chamberlain and received by her Majestie without a kiss from her though by some expected This done she returned reconducted by the Lord Chamberlain to the Gaurd Chamber by the mentioned Ladyes to the entrance of the Portico of the first Court and by my self to her Coach The 17. of December by Order of the Lord Chamberlain to the Queen I and two of her Majesties Gentlemen with her Majesties Coach and another attended Sir Thomas Summerset Son to the Earl of Worcester for the Conduct of the Venetian Ambassador to his first Audience of her Majestie we found him ready at his House at the Spittle with two Choaches of his own and some Gent. Strangers to accompany him thence Bringing him first to the Councell Chamber at Denmarke House he was introduced by the Lord Chamberlain to the Queen into the Privie Chamber and after delivery of his Letters and some few words of complement he returned home with the company mentioned Sir Thomas Somerset would have taken leave of him so soone as he entred the fore-Court of his House but I telling him it was the Custome and would be expected that he should leave him in his Chambers he would not be perswaded to pass further then he had which the Ambassador resenting went sodainely from him without so much as offering to accompany him back towards his Coach and not without shewing a countenance of infatisfaction The 28. of November Sir Thomas Spence Lord of Wormstone who had been a Generall in the Wars of the King of Sweden let me know that an Ambassador extraordinary from that King was arrived at Gravesend and there attended Order for his proceeding My Lord Chamberlaine was not then in Town and because I was tender in taking any course without his Lordships directions and that also I knew not whether the Master of the Ceremonies then also out of Town might have already received Order for that Service I wrote to him a Letter signifying my knowledge of that imployment toward for which if he had already Order I might be discharged He wrote answer that he knew it two dayes before and would himself the next day go about it and so did fetching him from Gravesend to his abiding in the Crouchet Fryers The fourth of December Master Secretary Lake sent for me and shewed me a Letter he had then received from the Earl of Buckingham then with the King at Newmarket signifying in Answer of and by him from my Lord Chamberlaine That whereas the Ambassador of the King of Sweden was desirous of an Audience there the King was pleased he should have it but not to be defraied as that which had never yet been done to any of that Kings Ambassadors neither would he bring up any such Custome but that for Coaches and other things usuall his Majesties pleasure was that Order should be taken to furnish him Upon sight of this Letter I desired Sir Thomas Lake to send to the Master of the Ceremonies but he was out of Town as was also the lord Chamberlaine whom when he returned I acquainted with the business At the first he was of Opinion that the Ambassador himself must pay for the hire of his Coaches but I intimating that it was his first Audience he was to go to at which usually his Majesty sent his own Coach for service of Ambassadors he assented that he should have Coaches at the Kings charge but not that he should have carriages so for his Baggages also demanded as being an allowance without president yet this also at the last besides the hire of two horses was yeelded to and we setting forth from London the eight of December came the first night to Puckerage whence I wrote by a Servant sent before with the Ambassadors Cookes to the Earle of Buckingham to signifie our approach and that if his Majesties pleasure were to do the Ambassador any further honour by incounter of some Noble Person on the way his Lordship might have time to take and give directions for it But his Majesty and my Lord being when my letters came allready horsed to ride on hunting all rested without further order till the evening that we arrived at our Lodging whence I went immediately to my Lord of Buckingham my Lord Chamberlain being then at London with the accoumpt of our comming and to solicite the Ambassadors Audience but this being referred for resolution to the next morning I acquainted Mr. Secretary Lake and the Lord Fenton with the Ambassadors desire of dispatch and at eleaven of the Clock before noone obtained the Kings pleasure for accesse at two After noone when the Lord Clifford with halfe a dozen Gentlemen of the privy Chamber his Majesties Coach and the Bishop of Winchesters went to receive him at his Lodging and with the Ambassadors followers in other foure Coaches that brought us from London brought him to Court
a resolutton that the honour which one had the other would no question expect and that threfore both must be alike proceeded with So the next day I was sent to them with the Kings Coach and the Marquesse of Buckinghams with the company of foure or five of the Kings Servants an honour more then usuall at such invitations but the Merchants had made it their request and it was not stood on for satisfaction of that particular Ambassador whose Nation stands so much on Ceremony with order to me to bring them to the Court gate by eleaven of the Clock and this without stay through the Guard Chamber and Presence to the privy Chamber where his Majesty would be seated under the State ready to receive them And that after their Complement should be passed thence I was to conduct them along the privy Gallery to the Councell Chamber for their conference with the Lords about their Negotiation while the King should be at Chappell and after to conduct them along the Terras and by the way they had before passed to the privy Chamber to dinner But all this designed course was inverted by his Majesties impatience to stay so long for them when by reason I had relyed on my Lord Marquesse of Buckinghams assurance over night that he would give order as Master of the Horse for the Kings coach to be ready the next day at the appointed houre and his Lordship had forgotten it we could not come to Court being so retarded till after eleaven so as the King being already gone to Chappell I received a direction different from the former and discending from the Coaches at the Court gate then happened another incongruity the Lord de la ware appointed to receive them there did not appeare at his time so as the Ambassadors Puntillios in their reception made a stand under the Court gate but at last against their Ceremonious stomacks went on as far as the midst of that first Court where they were met by the said Lord and after on the top of the Stone stayres by Richard Earle of Dorset which two Lords conducted them over the Terras into the Councell Chamber kept them company with almost an hours patience till his Majesties return from Chappell they were at last brought through the Stone-Table Chamber where the Lord Chamberlaine met them to the privy Gallery where about the midst of it stood the King and received them and was thence followed by them into the Privie Chamber where the two Ambassadors seared at the Tables end of his Majesties left hand they had their Health drunk to them by his Majestie after their Country manner and the two Cups they drunk in presented to them After this followed their Emperors Health drunk to them by his Majestie Their servants about fifty of them had a Dinner provided in the Guard Chamber where the Guard that waited on them failed not of their accustomed care by soone shifting away their Dishes to keep them from surfeiting The Ambassadors after Dinner were reconducted by the two Lords mentioned to their severall Stations and by me and some of the Kings Servants to their Lodgings Their failing at the time of their assignation as before was a cause that the conference they should then have had with the Councell was deferred till the day following at nine of the Clock which should have been otherwise either immediatly before Dinner or in the afternoon if they had not alleadged for excuse that it was the Custome of their Country that whensoever an Ambassador was to have an Audience of the Prince his Councell they were to see the Prince his Eyes first but in regard that their feasting with the King where they said they hoped his Majestie would allow them the liberty to take their Drink which they must forbear if business were immediatly to follow they desired they might not have their Audience till the next morning and then see his Majesties Eyes before they should see his Councellors This request though unusuall thought reasonable and granted I about nine in the morning fetcht them from their home where the Chancellor took exceptions that he had never a Gentleman sent to sit within his Coach which was the Lord Chamberlaines sent ordinarily then with the Kings as I did with his fellow Commissioner And bringing them by direction through the Park and the Tylt-yard Gallery to the Ordinary Chamber of attendance for Audiences the King saw them only in the next Roome save one to the Privie Gallerie and there with three words and their low reverences left them to the Councell Eight of which having gone before into the Councell Chamber and comming back to meet and receive them in the Stone-Table Chamber they were by them introduced the Ambassador preceding their Business heard they dispatcht brought back by the Councell to the Chamber where the King had seen them and they as they desired his Majesties Eyes and there left to my reconduction which they had to their Lodgings A Mask prepared for Twelftyde wherein the Prince was to be a principall Actor and that his first Exercise in that kinde was a subject for the King to invite to it the Spanish Ambassador and to observe the promise his Majestiy had made him the yeare before to that purpose the rather because a Marriage between the Prince and the Infanta was then in Treaty The French Ambassador in the mean time being left with litle or no regard of satisfaction given or sought to be given him either by private excuse or otherwise At which neglect as he understood it he took such shadow and offence as repairing to Court and demanding as unseasonably perhaps as impatiently Access to his Majesty was entertained by one or two Lords of the Bed-Chamber whom he that instant incountered with as satisfactory reasons as they could frame for diversion but with little effect though Sir Thomas Edmons Comptroller of his Majesties House who had been in France Ambassador were together with the Master of the Ceremonies sent to him immediatly after to the same purpose of modification so as standing first upon his Masters right of Priority before any other Kings particularly before that of Spaine and affirming that he could prove by many Presidents of our own that if the Spanish Ambassador were ever heretofore present at any such entertainment or Solemnity at Court it was by the French Ambassadors permission when either he would not be there or that he was sent to by his Majesty with intreaty to excuse his absence He at last threatned to make protestation against the wrong done his Master in his Ambassadors person But this threatning little it seems regarded by his Majestie who was resolved vpon his course for entertainment of the Spanish was a cause of the French Ambassadors sending his Secretary Post into France with the Account of the Kings and his own proceeding and of the Letters that came shortly after with his Revocation before his three years Residence wanting but
a quarter were expired for which demanding an Audience the 16 of March and having it granted or the next day he after two hours attendance had it of his Majesty in the Privie Gallery and within few dayes after departed the Kingdome The ill understanding between his Majestie and this Ambassador was an occasion that Master Secretary Lake sent for me and acquainted me with the trouble his Majestie had put himself to to make apparent the little reason the French Ambassador had to except so against his proceeding which to justifie his pleasure was he said that Sir Lewes Lewkner Master of the Ceremonies and Sir William Button and I Assistants should search our Notes and presidents to the purpose of the Question Whereabout I presently imployed my self and sent my Collection answerable to the time of my Service and of my experience to Sir Thomas Lake then with the King at Newmarket but all to little purpose for his Majesties satisfaction beyond that he was resolved on for the Spanish Ambassador In March 1617. The Earle of Montgomery Gentleman of his Majesties Bedchamber was pleased to intreat my Service and company with him to the Venetian Ambassador Seig. Contereni his Lordship being sent to him from the King with a Message in the behalfe of Captaine Manwaring which I delivered by interpretation from his Lordships mouth to this purpose His Majesty understanding what present use the State of Venice had of men for their Service and desirous to shew his affection towards them in giving them his leave to raise certain companies here for their War had taken further notice that since they were to have Land-men to be commanded by Sir Henry Peyton and Ships from hence for their Convoy to Venice he thought fit to Recommend for command and conduct of those Ships Captain Manwaring a Gentleman that he had made speciall choice of and held most fit for that Imployment and though the Ambassadormight have heard perhaps that heretofore the said Captain Manwaring had followed the not approved course of a Pirate it was in his unsettled yeares and more desperate fortune but that now his Majesty knew him to be so reclaimed as if he should himselfe have present use of such a Commander he would imploy him as soon as any other of his Subjects and would take it for an Argument of that Common Weales respects to him if they would upon his recommendation entertain him For doing which they should find him more forward hereafter to further and assist them in any the like occasion when he should see that at his request they had made use of so fit a Subject for their Service To this the Ambassador made answer that the Republique was much obliged to his Majesty for his so gracious notice and furtherance of their Assignes and in particular for recommending one to their Service whom he himselfe and the World knew to be so worthy and whom he had already recommended to that State for imployment but had as yet received no answer which dayly expecting he must beg pardon if he did yet attend it without giving his resolution My Lord replyed that the King had been informd that the Ambassador had full Commission and power to imploy whom he should be pleased and that with that liberty he might he thought admit of the Captaine The Ambassador disclaimed that he had any such liberty and said that on the contrary he had order from the State to send the Ships away without any other Commander then such as were to go along with them to governe them in regard they had a Commission with them not to offend or assaile any they should incounter at Sea but if they should be assayled then to defend themselves as they might with the power that was to go along with them In conclusion his Lordship fell to demand that since Captain Manwaring could not have the command that his Majesty thought to prefer him to whether the Ambassador would not let him assure the King as from the Ambassador himselfe and in name of the Republique that if there should be hereafter any other imployment suiting with the condition of Captain Manwaring that he should have the offer of it before any man the Ambassador assured his Lordship he might rest upon that both for the respect that the Republique he knew carryed to his Majesties Recommendation and for the merit also of the Gentleman then Recommended whom he had already as he had said by his Letters presented to the State for his valour and forwardnesse to do them service The Russian Ambassador having received an Assignation the two and twentieth of March for the next dayes repaire to an Audience of the Councell a request was made by some of the Muscovy Merchants as such that well understood their Puntillious humoursthat way that the Ambassadors might have pretending it to be the custome of their Countrey and an honour due to their Emperour a sight of his Majesty before their conference with his Councell which yeelded to I had order to fetch them with one of the Kings Coaches and the Lord Chamberlains which was for their more honour every Audience sent to them in Company of the Kings under title of his Majesties Coach taking with me one Gentleman of his Majesties Servants to accompany me for avoidance of the like exceptions as had been formerly taken by the Chancellour I brought them to the Court at two of the clock and discended at the great gate there before I entered I desired them as I had in charge not to take it in ill part if they found there never a Noble man to receive them since it was I said a Ceremony not performed towards an Ambassador of any Prince whatsoever except onely at his first and last Audience This could not hold them from murmuring and expressing with discontented Countenances their ill Satisfactions yet onward they went following my guidance as my Lord Chamberlain had given me directions up the Stone Steps through the Guard Chamber and Presence to the privy Chamber where after some little time of stay neere the State but not sitting nor having any Stooles for it offered them the Lord Chamberlain came forth and brought them into the privy Gallery where the King seated about a third part distant from the doore there towards the Councell Chamber with his chaire back to the wall on the left hand his Majesty rose up to them at which they made their profound reverences repeated in breife the substance of their errand had a gracious answer and were dismissed to rest themselves in the Stone-Table Chamber till the Councell should be assembled for them who in a short time after passing by them and onely saluting them one of the Clerkes of the Councell called to me to bring them in when comming forwards they made a suddaine stand because they saw none of the Lords to returne forth to me and introduce them till at length that respect also was by three or foure of the principall
Lords given them and they being entred the Chamber and seated in two chayres placed at the upper end of the Table propounded and dispatcht so much of their businesse as the ripenesse of it would give leave and departed by the way of the Audience Chamber through the Privy Garden and the Cloyster or Stone Walke there to their Coach and were thence by me and the other Gentleman conducted to their Lodging The next day being the foure and twentieth of March and the day of his Majesties comming to the Crowne I was sent with a Gentleman to accompany and two Coaches as before to the same Ambassadors to conduct them to a Tylting whither the Merchants had made way for an Invitation by the way of the Park to the end of the Tylt-yard Gallery next it where in the first Window next that entrance were placed for them two Stooles and a Carpet to leane on the Travers drawn between them and the King whom after the Tylting they were admitted to see and salute their Followers of all conditions excepting their Interpreter for their use were bestowed on a Scaffold ordained only for them next the entrance into the Tylt-yard on the Kings left hand where three or four of the better sort of them had a leaning Carpet laid before them and Seats to sit on the rest had a Seate or two and so took as they could their best commodities At the time of these Ambassadors Iast appearance in the Councell Chamber they had an assignation to be there againe the Wednesday sollowing but other business then intertaining the Lords beyond expectation it was deferred for a sevennight longer when I fetcht and brought them attended as before through the Park and Galleries to the Chamber next that of ordinary Audiences where they had not nor affected a sight of his Majesty before their Audience of the Councell as they had done before Thence I go to acquaint the Lords of their being present there and retuning with Answer of their Lordships readiness to receive them They would not be perswaded to move thence till some of the Lords should as at other times come forth to entroduce them which at last they did and brought them giving them the hand of entrance into the Councell Chamber whence after they had obtained a promise of a faire end to their Negotiation the Lords reaccompanied them to the Chamber whete they first received them and there left them to my conduction The French Ambassadot Monsieur de Mareth having been detained here by the indisposition of his wife or rather for fome other cause tending to his more faire loose at his departing three weeks after he had taken leave of his Majesty demanded and had another Audience whereof he had a quick dispatch with no ill countenance from his Majestie or shew of insatisfaction from himself The Russian Ambassadors having received Letters from their Emperor hasting their return demanded Audience of his Majestie and had it the 13. of Aprill attended to it by me as before They expected and desired at the same time as at other when it was always refused or excused to have a Nobleman to receive them at their comming to Court but it was before hand incharged to me to put them from that hope in regard no other Princes Ambassadorswhatsoever were allowed that honour at private Audiences but only at the first and last publike and sometimes when they were invited to dine with his Majesty as they were The 24. of April following when they should have received an Assignation for their last Audience and fiuall dismission but the Signification of it having been incharged to no one particular of the Merchants nor as it out to have been to the Master or Assistant of the Ceremonies it was forgotten or neglected till the very morning of the day assigned for it whereof when I and one Gentleman with me with only two Coaches as formerly came to fetch them they complained as of a disrespect being their last Audience yet they set forth at halfe an hour past two that they might be at the Court by three their hour appointed precisely and by me observed as punctually that neither they might stay against which they ever murmured for the King nor the King which had been most unfit for them At the Court Gate they were received by the Lord Gerrard in the middle of the Court by the Lord Crumwell an honour done them more then for ought I ever heard to any other Ambassador and yeilded to upon their own and the Merchants importunity and on the top of the Stone-Stairs by the Earle of Ormond who with the two other Lords conducting them through the Guard-Chamber a different way from what had been before Ordered for their passage over the Terras to the Banqueting House but suddenly changed with regard to the then appearance of Courtiers which in that larger Roome would have lessened the Majesty of that presence They were received at the Presence Chamber door by the Lord Chamberlain and brought by him to his Majesty there standing under the State who when he had received their thanks and was passing to his last Complement of farewell they fell earnestly to press his Majesty that his Ambassador then nominate for Muscovy might be sent along in company with them and with the money granted to be lent them which was an hundred thousand Marks But the King excusing both saying he was not yet fully resolved upon the choise of the person for that charge who must have time he said to put himself to equipage To this answer they objected their Commission and Instruction which they affirmed to have from their Emperor to this purpose That in case they should obtaine the sending back with them of an Ambassador they should not come away without him so as in conclusion the King upon their much and even unmannerly importunity denied them not that request also whereof they knew so well how to serve themselves as going thence immediatly to the Councell demanding permission for it but at that very instant they would not let go the hold they had gotten of the Kings assent till they were dismissed with the like from their Lordships of sending the Ambassador in their company though this could not succeed without great charge and trouble to the Merchants in so long a stay as must be necessary for the preparatives of the till then but privately nominated Ambassador Sir Dudley Diggs This concluded they left the Lords were reconducted by the three Lords before mentioned to the place of their first reception and by me to their lodging When the next moneth began his Majesties trouble the Lords and the Merchants ended with the dispatch and departure of these two Ceremonious Ambassadors who content neither with the Kings present then sent them and by me delivered having been provided at the Merchants charg though presented in his Majesties name and worth above six hundred pounds between them nor with the Merchants worth well neere
hither from the States of the united Provinces The Prince Palatines Ambassador the Baron of Donowe at that time likewise imployed hither was seated as a domestique but not without consideration of avoyding question uppermost above all the Lords on the fourme usually placed for them 1619 The Count de Tillieurs sent to reside here Ambassador Ordinary from the French King in succession of Monsieur de Maretz though after almost an yeare and an halfes intermission of that charge came towards his first Audience of his Majesty then at Windsor the fifteenth of September and was met at Staines by the Earle of Kelley Groome of the Stoole to his Majesty sent thither to receive and conduct him the Lord North having been the Evening before appointed by the Lord Chamberlain for that service but countermanded the next morning upon maturer consideration of the fitnesse to send to meete him a person of a more eminent place and title then a Baron with the Lord Kelley went in his Majesties Coach my selfe and five Gentlemen of the privy Chamber he had Audience given him in the Presence or privy Chamber one there serving both turnes where having in a gracefull fashion made his approach with three reverences and passed a breife Complement called to his Secretary for his Letters of credence and presented them Which whilst the King was reading he turned towards the Prince then present and passed with him a short Complement which some judicious standers by censured for unseasonable having not yet finished the purpose he had in hand with the King affirming his carriage had been better onely to have bowed to the Prince after he had presented his first respects to his Majesty and not to have spoaken to the Prince till he had fully ended what he had to say to the King After his Majesty had invited him to cover he obeyed but uncovered immediatly holding his hat all the time after except one little instant in his hand that night he returned to Staines with the Lord Kellies conduct who went immediately back to Windsor and the Ambassador the next morning to London The day of the French Ambassadors Audience at Windsor came thither one of the young Dukes of Halstein cozen Germane to the deceased Queen Ann who sending for me to his Lodging desired my assistance for his private accesse to the King He having been here at another time before with his Majesty and that he might have the honour to hunt with him the next morning without further noise or trouble of Ceremony For this I repaired to the Lord Chamberlain and craving his advice and directions had for answer that in regard the Duke came privatly and desired but a private accesse he wished me to addresse my selfe to one of the Gentlemen of the Bedd-Chamber and particularly to the Marquesse of Buckingham that the King might be acquainted with his desires So speaking that night late both with his Lordship and his Majesty I had for answer that the next morning at seven of the Clock his Majesty would be glad of his sight and of his Company in hunting At the houre assigned he and I with him entring the Kings withdrawing Roome while his Majesty was booting himselfe he there received his wellcome and waiting on his Majesty to his Coach he was admitted to sit by him After taking Horse with his Majesty in the Parke he road and I with him the death of a leash of Bucks returning after in Coach with his Majesty to Windsore he went the next day to London A seavennight after his Excellency had my company to his Majesty at Wansted and that night back to London The Count Guido Son to the Marquesse de Villa or as some others stilled him de Sillana who had been here Extraordinary about six yeares before was sent hither Extraordinary from the Duke of Savoy to condole the death of Queen Ann dead halfe a yeare before when our Blacks had been already laid by by which those that he and his followers wore were made the more unsuitable He had his Audience in the Presence at White-Hall More solito brought to it by the Earle And the Sunday following was accompanied to his second and last Audience and to dine with his Majesty at Theobalds He sate with the King in the privy Chamber there at the lower end of the Table the Ordinary Ambassador Gabellione sitting at the side opposite to the King neere the end About the midst of dinner his Majesty dranke the Dukes health bare headed and standing till they both had pledged it After this the Count Guido dranke the Kings health to his Collegue having first demanded leave for it of his Majesty Three or four men of Tille as Count Tispoti and _____ which to do him honour had accompanied him hither dined in the Councell Chamber accompanied by the Duke of Lenox the Earle of Leicester Sir Thomas Edmonds Treasurer of his Majesties Household and other Gentlemen The Baron of Denow eimployed to his Majestie from the Prince Palatine soone after the Crown and title of King of Bohemia was conferred on him by the Election of those States had had after his Arrivall here two or three private Audiences without publique notice or stile of King given him by his Majesty He was afterwards appointed to follow the King to Newmarket whither he came the 27. of January with no other company or attendance but Master Williams Agent here for the affaires of that King or rather for the Queen our Kings only Sister and his own few followers Sir Lewes then remaining at London and expecting the Arrivall of a Spanish Ambassador Don Diego Sarmiento new made Conde de Gondemar some occasions at the same time having drawn me to Newmarket I received there the Lord Chamberlaines Command to do the Ambassador the service of my place so I waited on him to his first Audience there the thirtieth of January when my Lord Marquess of Buckingham the Earl of Montgomery the Lords Viscounts of Purbeck and Doncaster the Lord Gray and divers others of his Majesties better sort of Servants did him the honour on foot to come to his Inn his Majesties Coach walking by accompany him thence on foot to the Court where his Majestie receiving him in the withdrawing Chamber rook him instantly with him into his Inner Lodgings whence after an hour and an halfes conference he was reconducted by all the Lords mentioned on foot as before to his Lodging From that time he had his accesses to Court and to his Majesties Presence as a Domestique without Ceremony and this by the Kings own Signification of his Pleasure to me to that purpose From Newmerket he went along with his Majesty to Royston Theobalds London and with my continuall Attendance Towards the end of February Monfieur Reuinch Hauson Ambassador from the Princes of the Union of Germany came to the King at Theobalds conducted thither by Sir Lewes Lewkner only at his own particular request for avoidance of noyse and
quit the Precedence to any but to Kings Ambassadors and to the Venetians so as if the Sovoy Ambassador should be there he must be absent and so he was but on the day of Tilting the Ambassador of Bohemia and the Venetian both appearing the Savoyard came not though he had that very morning by his promise assured his Presence together with the other two Wherupon the Venetian having already taken his place at the lower end of the Tilt-yard as had also the Bohemian grew to be much unsatisfied and suspicious This taking the hand of the Venetian who gave it him without question that the Savoyard might have cuningly insinuated himselfe into some place neerer the King either with the French Ambassador who perhaps he said might repent himselfe of the refusall he had made and accept of the place first appointed or with the Spanish though that in regard of their then not best Correspondence were much unlikely In either of which Cases the Ambassador of Savoy should to his scorne get the Precedence being so scated with the preceding Ambassadors against which if it were so he must he said protest by his immediate departure but the Savoyard as I have said not coming nor intending it as after appeared laid the fault of his default upon an instant opportunity even then he said offered to him by the French Ambassador of writing by an express of his that day to be dispatched though the true cause of his absence were imagined to be that he was not yet resolved as having no order for it to quit the Precedence to the Bohemian as to a Kings Ambassador in regard as he was Ambassador to the Prince Palatine he had disputed it so as he drove forth the day in feare and doubt till I that night resolved him as I promised him I would by a Letter from my Lord Chamberlains direction that he had that day received no wrong at all by any cuning or indirect carriage of the Savoy Ambassador for any advantage taken by his placing The Axiome before delivered by the Venetian Ambassador that the first place of an inferiour degree Nota. is worse then the last of a superiour was judged upon discourse I had with some of understanding in those Affaires to be of valew in a distinct Company but might be otherwise in a Joynt Assembly as at the conclusion of the Peace at Vervins where the French and Spanish meeting and contending for precedence viz. who should sit at the right hand of the Popes Legat an Expedient was found of sending into France for the Popes Nuntio residing there who scated at the right hand of the said Legat the Legat himselfe sitting at the Tables end the French Ambassador being offered the choyce of the next place he took that at the Legats left hand leaving the second at the right hand to the Spanish who taking it perswaded himselfe to have the better of it sed de hoc quaere December 1620. The French King comming so neer England as Callays and being newly returned thence towards Paris sent hither for his Ambassador Extraordinary the Marquess de Cadenet one of the Mareschalls of France and brother to that Kings Favorite the Duke de Luines He with an Attendance of between fifty and sixty persons of title and mark and of above three hundred others had passed the seas to Dover before any order for his Extraordinary reception was fully resolved on at London so as the Master of the Ceremonies being sent thither scarcely in time to receive him he passed his time there four or five dayes for the better ordering of his occasions After passing on towards London the Earle of Arrundell accompanied with the Lord of Hunsdon and divers Gentlemen of his Majesties Privy Chamber in about twenty Barges went from London the 28. of December and that night visited him in his Majesties name at his Lodging in Gravesend where the Ambassador not meeting his Lordship till he came to the Staire Head of his Chamber door and at his parting accompanning him no further no more then did the ordinary Ambassador the Count de Tillieurs who had been frownd upon by the Marquess for not meeting him sooner then at Gravesend The Earle of Arrundell was much displeased with it as with a neglect of his quality so as the next day in some part to right himself he desired the Master of the Ceremonies to go to the Ambassador and tell him that in regard his Trayne was great and his Lodging little he would not be troublesome to him there but would meet him in the Street and thence accompanie him to his imbarking So he did and on the way incountered another cause of exception in that the Ordinary Ambassador did not so much as offer him the hand my Lord pretending a kind of right to it The most of Opinions are That the Ambassador Ordinary should have of the place he took at the least to have it offered him in the presence of the Extraordinary but of this Quaere Arriveing at Denmark House ordained for the Ambassadors Aboade the Earle landing with him at the Garden Staires and accompanying him not further then to the foot of the first Staire ascending to the Privy Lodgings took his leave and saying there were Gentlemen there that should shew him his Lodging left him This bred much discourse and was with the other reserved proceeding of both the Ambassadors at Gravesend soone conveied to the knowledge of his Majesty who sensible more of the cause given by the Ambassadors then of the measure returned by the Earle of Arrundell stormed much at it till Sir Thomas Edmonds Comptrouller of the Kings House being sent the same night from his Majestie with some formalization to that purpose The Ambassador was said the next day to have made his excuse to my Lord of Arrundell that his indisposition in his Journey and at the time when he came to receive him was a cause that he met him no sooner nor accompanied him no further whereupon the difference was for that time accommodated After one dayes rest the King sent to the Ambassador for conduction to his already assigned Audience the Lord Marquess of Buckingham accompanied with the Earls of Dorset and Warwick four or five Barons and about twenty Gentlemen in the Kings and sixty other Coaches so many appointed but the number was soone increased to above one hundred he passed with his Traine from Denmarke House to Westminster the King there meeting him by Barge from White-Hall and staying his Entrance in the higher House of Parliament where he gave him and with him the Ordinary Ambassador a gracious Audience Besides the higher House of Parliament the Court of Requests and the Painted Chamber the way of his passage were all adorned with rich hangings of Tapistry At the end of his Audience intimating to the King that the haste of his return would make him bold to press his Majesty for another speedy Access His Majesty told
the Ambassadrice or by chance I know not sate beneath two or three Ladies that she in right of ranck should have preceded After Supper they had the entertainment of a Maske presented by nine young Gentlemen whereof the Lord Montjoy and a Son of the Lord Hollis were two c. The Ambassador having remained here about fifteen dayes took leave of his Majesty at White-Hall and was presented with a Chayn of Diamonds being an old Jewell of the Crowne of 300 l. valew which because it was not Plate the King and Councell having upon the sight of so much equivalent to that sum judged it not fit to deprive the Kingdome of it was not brought to the Ambassador by the Master of the Jewell House Sir Henry Mildmay but by the Master of the Ceremonies The Ambassador having been defrayed for his Dyet Lodging and Coaches at the rate as was said of 200 l. per diem went to Gravesend the _____ of January himselfe and some few by Land the rest by water attended thence by Sir Lewes Lewkner onely to his imbarquing at Dover When it was thought that the Spanish Ambassador would have held it an indignity and wrong to his Master to be present at a Maske seen before by a French Ambassador as the last and the same Maske had been by the Mareshall de Cadenet at Twelftide he appeared at it on Shrove-Sunday seated at the left hand of his Majesty under the State different from what had been formerly resolved on that no Ambassador in regard of their troublesome Puntillious should any more sit so with his Majesty and had his family placed over a Box at the Kings right hand in which were placed the Spanish Ambassadors two Sons together with the Arch-Dutchess Agent In January Arrived at Gravesend six Commissioners from the States of the United Provinces viz. Messieurs de Senthusen Carmelin Soneh Bruyning Schot and de Vervow and the Secretary of their Commission Captain Huggins they were Lodged in Lumbarstreet and had their first Audience in the Privy Galleries at White-Hall As being but Deputies which had been enough for Ambassadors fetcht to it by the Lord Clifford and divers Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber in above twenty Coaches Parted from his Majesty they went with the same attendance to the Prince at St. Jameses where before their entrance to his Presence they were too late a ware of a Solecisme they had committed in having delivered the Princess Letters to the King as they had done the Kings Letters yet remaining in their hands to the Prince had they not suddainly cast an eye upon them for which they had no evasion but to make by the Master of the Ceremonies mouth an excuse of then Secretaries mistaking in the obscure light one Letter for another For Shrove-Tuesday following I carried them from the King an Invitation to a Maske of the Gentlemen of the Middle-Temple to be represented in the Hall of the Court whether I was appointed to conduct them in one of the Kings Coaches with order to be in the new Councell Chamber on the deceased Queens side which had been her Privy Chamber at seaven of the Clock without preparation other then of Bread and Wine for Collation I bestowed their followers on a Scaffold on the Kings right hand and in a Box under purposely reserved from them themselves together with Sir Noell Caron the Ambassador The Maske ended I brought them by direction to the King whom they had not yet at that time seen whence following his Majesty without his notice yet taken of them till they came to the Guard Chamber he there saluted them and had their attendance to the Banquet there and after in the Privy Gallery gave them all the good night The twentieth of January I had the Command of the Lord Chamberlain to introduce the six mentioned Commissioners to an Audience of the Councell and bring them for their repose to the old Councell Chamber where they attended the Lords leasure then much busied about the Exceptions taken by some Lords and other of our Nobility against the Creation and precedence given to certain Scotish and Irish Viscounts before English Barons c. The fift of March I received a Command and directions from the Lord Chamberlain the Master of the Ceremonies being then sick to go to Dover and receive there at his Landing an Ambassador Extraordinary from Poland his name and Title Osalinskie Count Palatine of Sindomerskie Hereupon order was given for my receipt of 50 l. imprest out of the Exchequer which in regard of the pressing hast pretended of the Service that would not admit the leasure of procuring a Privy Seale for it was by vertue of a Warrant from the Lord Treasurer Mountague and the Controwler of the Exchequer Sir Fulke Grevell Lord Brooke paid to me the next morning but in the mean time the Master of the Ceremonies having been first sent to by my Lord Chamberlain to speake with him and excusing his coming by his sicknesse supposing his imployment should have been no other then to attend the Spanish Ambassador at that time assigned an Audience was upon better notice and consideration of the businesses with the likelyhood of the benefit to accrew from it resolved to discharge it himselfe and to that purpose went to my Lord Chamberlain about it But I already imbarked in it and repairing to my Lord so maintained mine interest of Primer Seazine as his Lordship needed not perswasion to permit me to preceede as I did the next Morning with one of his Majesties Coaches and three other hired by me to be defrayed by his Majesty The eighteenth of March I came to Dover whence Capt. Buck an old Capt. a Scotish man that came in my Company from London and in the Ambassadors out of Poland went according to the Ambassadors Assignation to meet him at Callayes but the Ambassadors Journey retarded by the illness of the weather and wayes between Amsterdam and Antwerp and at Brussels where he stayed also ten dayes was a cause of the Captains fruitless stay at Callayes and of mine also and the Coaches at Dover cleaven dayes at the end whereof a Post sent from the Post-Master at Gravesend brought me word at Mid-night how the Ambassador was Landed there from Flushing These newes carried me instantly post thither and brought me in seaven hours to his sight and reception there from his Majesty before his rising Towards the Evening Sir Lewes Lewkner sent by the King and the Lord Chamberlain as supposing I could not obtaine time enough to the knowledge of his Landing came thither in Company of Sir Robert Steward and divers other Gentlemen to wellcome him from his Majesty The next Morning the Kings and three other Barges being sent down for his Transport to London we all went thither ranged by Sir Lewes Lewkner for avoydance of confusion at our imbarking the Ambassador and his cozen with eight Knights and two Gentlemen in the Kings Barge his chiefe Gentlemen and
but not _____ to the value of it in ready money he presented me with a Chayne of 30 l. value On S. Georges day Note if it should please him because Ambassadors are not to be in vited but to let the King know their desires to see that Feast the Polonian Ambassador having before received an Invitation to see if it should please him the Solemnity of that Feast was brought to White-Hall by Sir Lewes Lewkner the Lord Gray having been appointed to accompany him but arriving too late after his departure from his Lodging though indeed the sending of a Lord at that time was Supererrogatory and not usuall he rested himselfe in the old Councell Chamber till the Procession when placed in a stand purposely erected for him and his folfowers next the doore at the head of the Stone Stayres he saw the King and Knights pass by and after that the Ceremony in the Chappell from the Kings Closet there that finished he and the Arch-Dukes Agent Van Mab all day accompaning him were treated by the King in the Councell Chamber with the attendance of his Majesties Servants on whom he bestowed by advice of Van Mab about ten pounds in Hungarian Duckets and about the midst of his Majesties Dinner went to see and saluted the King Prince and Knights as they sate at Table and after retyring for a while in the Councell Chamber he departed On Sunday the fifteenth of July this Ambassador together with another of the House of Medici arrived here a little before from the Duke of Florence were invited to dine with the King and there to take their leaves A day or two before the Lord North had order from the Lord Chamberlain to accompany the Florentine while it was questioned what Person of somewhat a preceding quality should accompany the Polonian But most of the great Lords then absent from Towne and both the Kings best Coaches so imployed as they could not be spared severally to carry them there came a Countermand the Evening before for the Company of any Lord so as Sir Lewes Lewkner inone of his Majesties Coaches only attended them they came towards noon to Theobalds were recived at their descent from their Coaches by the Earle of Aubegney and conducted to the Gouncell Chamber neere which each of them had a Chamber appointed for their retraite they were after the Sermon brought to the King in the Privy Chambers and out of them following him to the Presence Chamber they there dined the Polonian at the lower side of the Table on the Kings left hand and the Florentine at the end of it A Count Palatine Cosin to the Polonian and three or four Knights of Malta and of Saint Stephen of the Florentines Traine dined in the Councell Chamber At the end of the Table sate the Count Palatine in a Chaire and for company the Lord Clifford on his right hand the three Knights on the left side and beneath them the rest of the Florentines company on the other side sate the Polonians Gentlemen c. the inferior sort sate not at all there but had the remaines after at the same Table Dinner done the Ambassadors after their retreat to their Chambers had their several Audiences The Polonian first in the Gallery who was after conducted to the Prince by his Highness Gentleman Usher And after him the Florentine in the same place and order The Polonian Ambassador not long after departed having obtained of his Majesty by the cunning assistance of the Count de Gondemar the loane I may say the gift as never to be restored of ten thousand pound sterling The 23. of December three Commissioners Ambassadors from the States being assigned their first publique Audience were conducted to it in the Kings Coach and four or five others by the Lord Clifford from their Lodging in Bread-streete their names were d'Arsen Lord of Somersdyks Bass Stavenets they were received at the Gaurd-Chamber door by the Earle of Warwick as Captaine of the Guard in his Brothers absence and after their Audience of the King in the Presence Chamber had one of the Prince in his Lodgings Twelftide appearing and a Maske being to be presented by the Prince and other Lords and Gentlemen my Lord Chamberlaine gave me in charge to repaire to the Venetian Ambassador Seigniour Girolenio Landi with this message as from himself with request of his Secrecy That whereas he had told him two or three dayes before that no Ambassador should be invited to the Maske as the King had signified to him his intention he perceived that the Spanish Ambassador the Count of Gondemar had under-hand pressed his Majesty to be invited so as not to appear to have doubled with him in what he had told him he bade me let his Excellency know that if he would for forme sake be invited and frame some excuse for his not comming he would himselfe as from his Majesty send him an invitation But if he would be really invited and come his request should be that he would make his way to it by the Marquis of Buckingham When I had delivered this message to the Ambassador in hearing of his Secretary whom he called in he made answer That for excuse of his not comming though for forme invited he would never give that advantage to the Spanish Ambassador to say of him that one day he would be well and annother ill for his satisfaction as he knew some had been as if he stood in awe of him and for the other point of making his way by the Marquis of Buckingham he would never do it since he had alwayes he said made his access to his Majesties Presence by the right door of the Lord Chamberlain and would now enter by no other But since he saw he said what this tenderness meant he desired me to intreat his Lordship in his name that he would be pleased to go directly to his Majesty and by way of remembrance no otherwise put him in mind from him That the last year the French Ambassador Extraordinary Monsieur de Cadenet and the Ordinary Monsieur de Tilliers were invited to the Prince his Maske at Christmas and the Spanish Ambassador to the same Maske repeated at Shrovetide to which he could and might justly have taken Exceptions that he was both times omitted but that the King of Bohemiaes Ambassador being not then no more then he invited he was content to suffer with him but that now though he might in reason expect that he should be as in his turne invited alone he would not be so punctuall but would referre all to his Majesties pleasure yet if any other Ambassador should be invited he would expect the like honour as a respect due to the Prince and State he represented who in all publicke places had and were to have entertaintment al par delle teste Cornate equall with Crowned Kings And as for the Spanish Ambassador he said his presence at the Maske should notbe an Exclusion to him
with whom though he had no correspondency of business nor visits he had yet of Salutation and civill respects which had many times in incounters in the Streets passed between them and might and should pass on his part at the Mask if he should there meete him This message returned by me to the Lord Chamberlaine and seconded at the same time by the Ambassadors Secretary and my Lord conveying it to the King his Majesty was pleased that he should be as he was the next day invited and was at the Maske entertained with the like respect as was the Spanish Ambassador The States Ambassadors were not at the same time invited with respect to the incompatibility between them and the Spanish and the Russian then here might with as little reason expect it in regard he had questioned precedence of all other Kings Ministers The French Ambassador had an Invitation pro forma tantum with a civill request of his next comming to avoid question which it seemes he tooke not with discontent because his Wife and Neece were there present invited In March 16. Sir William Russell a cheife Merchant of the Muscovy company made request in his own name and of the rest of that Society that I would sometimes repaire to the Russian Ambassador a gallant Gentleman of the Emperours Alliance and a great Commander in his Wars by name Thomas Simonwitz with a visit and Complement in his Majesties name I told him the Master of the Ceremonies was already imployed for his attendance and that with the knowledge and order of the Lord Chamberlain or of the Lords of the Privy Councell and I should wrong him and my selfe to undertake it This made him with other of those Merchants to intimate as much to the Councell in the Lord Chamberlains absence So I was by their Lordships appointed to attend that business and had notice given me to that purpose both by Sir William Russell and Mr. Secretary Calvert to whom objecting the Exceptions that might be justly taken by Sir Lewes Lewkner if he were not made acquainted with the imployment cast on me by the Lords in a Service wherein he was already entred I had for my further Satisfaction a messenger sent to Sir Lewes by Mr. Secretary who returned with an uncertain answer no other then that he would himselfe come and speak with Mr. Secretary about it but coming not in five or six dayes after and Sir William Russell and the other Merchants continuing to solicit my repaire to the Ambassador he went himselfe to Sir Lewes and brought me his assurance of satisfaction with acknowledgement of my civill procceding and with profession of his willingnes that I should enter upon the imployment which I did the next day Going to the Ambassadors Lodging in St. Thomas Apostles and signifying as I had instruction from Mr. Secretary that the King had sent me to him c. He professed to be specially contented and pleased that whereas he had hitherto he said had no other but Sir William Russell a Merchant and no Souldier nor Courtier to be his Prestau as he termed him signifying the like Officer as the Master of the Ceremonies he should be henceforth honoured by the visits of a Cavalier and a Courtier attending his Majesty with whom he might and would be more free in communicating whatsoever should concern the Service of his great Lord and Master the Emperour The Eve of the Kings day March the foure and twentieth I was sent to him for my Lord Chamberlain as from the King whose name though his Majesty had nothing of the knowledge nor trouble of it I alwayes used in all or most of my messages and addresses to him to let him understand that the next day I was to attend him to the sight of the Prince at his Tilting with the Service of his Majesties coach and such others as should be needfull for his followers which coaches were to be provided at the Merchants charge though with use of the Kings name but before he accepted of the Invitation onely acknowledging the honour of it he by way of caution demanded if I knew what place he should have and how entertained in regard he said that if his Majesty should not receive him as an Ambassador preceding both the French and Spanish he would rather keep himselfe absent then disturbe the Solenmity by protesting and standing as he must for his Masters right I assured him the care for prevention of that quarrell was already taken by his Majesty and so it was indeed For whereas the French and Venetian Ambassadors were also invited the Spaniard the like but he had excused his absence with his retrait to Highgate to take the fresh aire and merrily saying when he was invited that he had rather keep away then be present at those Excercises of danger to the Prince his person till he should be Father of two or three Children by the King his Masters Daughter those Ambassadors were appointed their places without in the Tilt-yard in a Scaffold or standing erected of purpose and hung with Tapistry on the right hand of the King neere the Gate but the Muscovite had his ordained in the same Gallery with his Majesty but on his left hand and with a Traverse drawn between them till that after the Tilting he was onely to see the Kings face and so depart all which he interpreted to be the greater honour the other Ambassadors letting it pass in the meane time without Exceptions as regarding his remote correspondence and holding themselves not prejudiced by his so placing The French and Venetians followers were ordained their stands under the Gallery Windowes at the right hand of the King the Muscovits at the entring of the Tilt-yard on that side and the States at the neather end All those Stands as before at other times having been taken up by the Master of the Ceremonies or the Assistants order to be defrayed by his Majesty The States three Ambassadors Commissioners were ordained their places at the lower end of the Tilt-yard as the yeare before and this without any of their Exceptions taken at it But the Venetian Ambassador somewhat punctuall in remembrance of his last years Treatment and now expecting the like respects to be given him as he understood were to be given to the French Ambassador for Sir Lewes Lewkner being appointed to conduct him my selfe the Muscovits and Sir Robert Anstroder the States Ambassador he was as it seemes he understood it not thought on to that purpose so as sending to me about it and I acquainting my Lord Chamberlain with his formality his Lordship entreated by me Sir Edward Sackvill the Earle of Dorsets Brother to accompany him which he being the next day ready to have performed the Solemnity was in regard of the Kings indisposition and the fowleness of the weather deferred till the Saturday following and then the like upon the like occasion till after Easter and so longer till at length it was not at all
his proceeding considering that the Emperors Ambassador both affirmed that the Spanish had first vifited him personally wheras the French had by an hasty anticipation only performed it by his Servent and that at another time the same French Ambassador had passed over a subject for the like punctuality without any scruple or question as when the Bohemian Ambassador was here and had first visited the Spanish he was for all that visited by him the French Tthat by the stile held in the Emperors Court the precedence is given to the Spanish and that he was therefore bound to observe it here yet notwithstanding all this the French upon a second offter of visite from the Emperors Ambassador excused his being at home so as there passed no complement of visite at all between them In the mean time the Venetian Ambassador after I had returned as from my self the Emperors Ambassador his answer ut supra wrote to me an ofter to come to my House which preventing by going to his told me he had received a returne of his visite sent by his Servant by a Servant of the others who at the first entrance of his Message giving his own Master the title of Excellenza and him the Venetian of Signioria Illustrifsima said his Excellency hoped to see him before his departure which words though of a double sence of seeing him at his own House or at the others taken as a courtesie he desired me to let him know as I did that he had spared to make Reply to his courtesie by his own the Venetians Servant because the Title likely to be used by the Emperors Ambassador and justly to be returned considering the Republicks paritie with Crownd Heads by the same Servant might perhaps breed further distaste but that I that was neutrall and uninterested might let him know as he desired me I would without danger of offence or ingagement by application of Title that he was most sorry any such difference should hinder the Visite and acknowledgement of respects which he and his Republique owed the Emperor and his Ministers but that if any mean could be found to carry things with indifferencie that he would most readily imbrace it That at the first if he had not expressed himself by those different Titles given by his Secretary he had himselfe personally visited him and without further condition put himself upon his wisdome That regarding the duty he owed the State he represented he would not leave his first hold and finally for his own particular he was his most humble servant c. To this the Emperors Ambassador returned that he was sorry the difference stood so stifely upon between them should keep him from the acquaintance of a person of whom he had received so worthy respects that he could not alter what he had once with good reason resolved never to treate del pare with the Venetian Minister That what he stood upon or had done proceeded not he protested from any Capriccio of his own or command of his Master but meerly as he knew of his own experience according to the Stile and manner held between the Emperors and all Venetian Ambassadors ab antiquo so desired pardon for his freedome presented his love and service c. The last Complement being returned to the Venetian Ambassador the business ended without interview or further question or difference between them The 11. of April this Ambassador had his second private Audience fetcht from Denmark-House by water by the service of six or seven Barges by the Earle of Aubigney and other Lords and Gentlemen landing at the Privy Staires at White-Hall and passing through the Sheild Gallery and the late Queens Lodgings into the Kings Privy Gallery and his withdrawing roome there where the King held discourse with him an hour together Remotis arbitris a day or two after he ran at Tylt in the Prince his company with the Lord Montjoy The Sunday following April 14. he was publickly feasted in the Upper House of Parliament seated on his Majesties left hand at the distance of about three persons between and of one beneath His Barons and principall Gentlemen were placed at a Table set cross at the upper end of the Court of Requests accompanied at dinner by the Lord Treasurer the President of the Councell and the Earle of Rutland who had been that day his conductour from Denmarke House by water After dinner as before he was brought to his Chamber of repose and some halfe an houre after fetched thence by the same Lord his conductour to take leave of his Majesty in the Roome where he had dined and thence went to St. Jameses to take leave also of the Princes Highness On Wednesday the sevententh of Aprill and the eleaventh day of his stay here having been all that time defrayed he deparred hence with all his followers in six of the Kings Barges to Gravesend where he was to imbarke in two Ships of the Merchants appointed by the King but paid by himselfe for Dunkirk At his parting he left his Majesties Officers and Servants little fatisfied with the gratuities being but small Bracelet Chaines to the valew of scarse eight or 10 l. a peece To the Master of the Ceremonies bringing him the Present from his Majesty which was his Picture set in Gold richly inchaced with Diamonds and hung at a Chaine of Diamonds Rubies and Pearles valewed at 1600 l. he gave a small Jewell worth little above eight pound and for all his Travell and attendance a Bason and Ewer not of 30 l. valew To the Guard then waiting being twenty foure he gave 40 l. and to the Clerck of the Check a Bracelet of Gold of about nine pounds valew To me who expected nothing having had no command to attend him he gave a small Chaine of Excellent Workmanship as a rememberance he said not a reward worth ten pound besides the rare fashion of it To the Porters five pound to two of the Kings Coachmen dayly attending him tend pound to the hired Coachmen five pound he took away without leave or demand of him the Bishop of Spalato a fault in him and an indignity offered his Majesty considering what noble Treatment he the Ambassador had received here and the unworthy carriage of that double Apostate Prelate toward this State and Religion His Secretary had from the King a present equalling in valew almost all those he bestowed upon his Majesties Servants being worth above an hundred pounds A second Son of the Lands-grave of Hess by name Phillip _____ sent hither on a Negotiation from his Father was to have an Audience of his Majesty on Easter day Aprill the one and twentieth and though he were not a qualified Ambassador yet regarding his condition I had order to receive him at the Court Gate so conducted him thence to the Privy Chamber whence he was after about an hours stay called for received at the doore of the Privy Gallery by the Lord Chamberlain and had there his Audience
Coaches besides the Kings for himself his Nephew my self and his two Interpreters and descending at the Garden gate he was at the entrance of the open Roome at the foot of the back Privy Staires received by my Lord Wentworth and by him conducted up to the Roome at the end of the Kings Privy Gallery and there took leave reconducted by the same Lord to his Station where meeting by chance with my Lord Cavendish and upon my motion saluted by him I made use of that civility so farre as to tell the Ambassador that that Lord being at the foot of the Staires when he went up and his Interpreters gone up before he could not acquaint him with the cause of his incounter there which was I said by command of his Majesty This officious lye I made least the Ambassador might have expected and found himself disappointed of a second Nobleman of precedent ranke to my Lord Wentworth to receive him according to the former Style of reception of those Russians first and last Audience and as I had the day before written to my Lord Chamlaine that it had been and would be required but his Lordship mistaking it being only an honour he thought proper for his dining with the King and for his first Audience and no other it had been without this devise omitted but this made use of it was by him very thankfully accepted Two or three dayes after he was feasted at his own House as he himself though another place were offered desired by the Merchants of the Muscovy Company whereof Alderman Freeman was Governor with whom with the rest and best of that Company dined my selfe and two or three other Gentlemen that I was intreated to bring with me Dinner being ended and the Table uncovered the Health to his Emperor was begun and pledged round then our Kings the Emperors Father the Patriark then the Princes his own and others Vsque ad ebrietatem after all the Company by their servants brought in their Present to himself viz. a gilded red Bowle a peece of fine skarlet wrapt in Taffaty to make him a Gowne and three other peeces of fine cloath of different colours This delivered there came in other Presents a gilded Bowle and a peece of fine cloath to his Nephew and to each of the Interpreters and a peece of cloath for his Porcest after those to each of his servants a pecce of cloth so all more merrily then soberly parted Three or four dayes after the Merchants requested me to deliver him his Present of Plate in the Kings and Princes names though provided at their charge I received it at Alderman Freemans House neer the Exchange being gilt Bowles of severall sizes only one Bason and Ewer parcell gilt and for distinction of the Kings Present from the Princes by my advice they tied a peece of red silke Ribbin to every parcell of that and a peece of white to this the number of his Majesties peeces being fifteene and of the Princes eight With these bestowed in two Hampers carried by two Porters I went that they might not be suspected if met by any of his Followers to come from elsewhere then the Court and from the King first down to Queen Hithe and the up to the Ambassadors at Saint Thomas Apostles Brought to his House I caused my man after I had finished my feighned complement in name of Majesty and of his Highness to range the Plate orderly each portion by it self on a Table that done the Ambassador with a formall Oration of thanks took one of the Kings Bowles and one of the Princes and drank their Healths in each inviting me the next day to Dinner that he migh he said express his thankfulnese which suddenly at that instant he could not for all my pains The Present he made me the next day and which after Dinner was solemly brought into the Roome by sixe severall men and carried before them consisted of two paire of rich Sables a lining for a Gowne of Sables Bellies a lining for a Iub of white and yellow Fox Bellies a Cup of silver gilded worth five or six pound and a Turkey Bow and two Arrowes worth altogether about thirty pounds The Duke de Soubise refuged hether from France upon miscarriage of some undertakings of his there 30 l. And Merchant 50 l. had an Audience of the King at Greenwich June the fifteenth and the next day one of the Prince given him by his Highnesse in the upper Garden Walkes where he entertained him in discourse above an houre with much respects from his Highnesse to whom he was at his Christning in Scotland a God-Father A day or two after the Russian Ambassador had received his Present he sent to me one of his Interpreters with the request that I would let the Lords know how the fifty pound sent him for his Provisions by Sea was all laid out and that I would intreat their Lordships in his behalfe for some addition Further that whereas in Lent he had forborne to take the first fasting week his Allowance of fish that he might as he had formerly he said requested have an allowance in money equivalent for it Also that their Lordships would be pleased before his departure to order some course about a woman that had deceaved him upon account of worke done for him of 18 l. To these requests the Merchants to whom I repaired for satisfaction the businesse being unfit for the Lords notice intreated me to returne these answers in the name of the Lords as I did That his Lordship the Ambassador might if he had pleased have received his provisions in specie as his Predecessors had done at other times which would have taken away all Subject of further question but since he would have money and himselfe therewith provide Victualls they had sent him 50 l. which for the proportion of his revenew exceeded all former Presidents That they could not exceed that summ if they would prevent future inconveniences from such Presidents but for his want of a weekes allowance their Lordships had appointed the Merchants to let him have 10 l. more and for the Woman that had deceaved him he must be righted by the Ordinary course of Law which if he would leave behind him a Letter of Attorney to prosecute in his absence they would give it their countenance and order for the just dispatch of it These answers returned as if I had received them from the Lords he made little reply to not without shews of insatisfaction onely the money which I delivered to his Interpreter he not unwillingly accepted In the interim of carrying the Present to this Ambassador and his demands mentioned Seignior Valeresso Ambassador Ordinary from Venice in place of Seignior Landi arrived at London fetcht from Gravesend by the Master of the Ceremonies on Fryday the seaventeenth of June and on Munday following had his first Audience at Greenwich conducted to it by Land by the Lord Cavendish Son to the Earle of
Majesty in the same place together with the French and other Kings Ambassadors as also with the Spanish till that Question fell between him and Sir Noell Caron but the intention in truth was that they should not then be invited at least to be ranked in publick as they pretended it to be their due al par delle Teste Coronate and reasons were framed to keep them off from discontent as well as from their apparence there but they might seem not of the Substantiallest As first that the States having given their assistance to the Rochellers against the French King the presence of their Ministers would be distastfull and in a manner incompatible codem loco tempore honore with that Kings Ambassadors but this proved not exclusion the French intended to make no such having as he said to me no order for it neither had the pretended distasts for the States former assistance yet passed he said so far as to publick notice and exception from the King his Master Another exclusion was obtruded upon their pretence of Precedence to the Duke of Savoys Ambassador but no such Ambassador being now in England there wanted ground for that exclusion also Arsennes Stavencts and Basse The last was against their number that they could not all there be conveniently seated together with his Majesty with the other Ambassadors invited but this Bar they removed by their answer that if they might have the honour of an Invitation there should be but one of them present to receive it esteeming that a sufficient honour to the rest absent In a word when neither these reasons nor others would serve to still their Exceptions against their not being invited they were referred to adventure of content or not content and so were not at all invited Onely a dozen of their followers had places assigned them over the Lord Chamberlains Box at the entrance into the Banquetting House from the Princes Galleries Monsieur de' Arsennes Son and their Secretary Sr. Constantine Huggins were placed on the fourme beneath the Lords The French Ambassador that night and the Venetian supped with the Duke of Lenox and entered the Roome with the King both seated there on his left hand the French even with him and the Venetian somewhat more forward The Negotiation of the States Ambassadors with our East-Indian Merchants being brought in appearance to a finall conclusion the Master of the Ceremonies onely without any Titular Person was sent for them with the Kings Coach January the one and twentieth to take their leaves of his Majesty but a new difference in the interim occuring they were sent to at two of the Clock the instant of their setting forth and were stayed their Journey which appointed for the Fryday following they had againe the Kings Coach with the Master of the Ceremonies and one other sent for them and entring White-Hall by the Parke and Tiltyatd Gallery they attended his Majesties time he being then ill at ease in the Chamber of Ordinary Audience next that of the Stone Table whereinto after an houre they were called by Mr. Secretary Conway and being there with the Commissioners for that businesse upon point of signing their generall agreement a new question arose from the Merchants with exception against the validity of their caution which lasting til late at night Mr. Secretary in the mean time passing often between them and the King they had a dismission for the next dayes Audience of his Majesty to which the Earle of Warwick had appointment to conduct them his Lordship having said in the hearing of some of the Lords who after told it to the Lord Chamberlain that it was fit some person of honourable Title not Sir Lewes Lewkner onely should be sent to their Lodgings to accompany them to Court at their last Audience which my Lord Chamberlain excusing as forgotten by him having not been put in mind of it he said by Sir Lewes it was against the next day provided for when the Earle of Warwick accordingly attended with two or three other Noblemen and divers Gentlemen of the Kings Servants in eight or nine Coaches besides the kings brought them to Court where passing through the Guard Chamber and Presence into the Councell Chamber on the late Queens side they there rested till the Lords Commissioners for their businesse came to them and after an hours expence in discourse about some remaining rubs It was finally agreed on and the Lord together with the Ambassador having signed to the accord their Lordships leaving them repaired to the King and after them followed the Ambassadors through the late Queens Lodgings into the Privy Gallery where entring the Kings withdrawing Chamber they there took their leaves the three Ambassadors with Sir Noell Caron first and after the other inferiour Commissioners strangers for that business Monsieur Stavenets was there Knighted and two other having been knighted before viz. Monsieur de Arsennes by the King of France and Monsieur Basse by the King of Sweden The next day being to take leaue of the Prince they had sent for their conduct Sir Robert Car Gentleman of his Highnesse Bed-Chamber with the Kings and Prince's Coaches entring by the Privy Garden Gate at White-Hall and thence by the further end of the long Stone Gallery into the Prince his Lodgings where in his Chamber of presence he gave them their Audience and farewell thence they went to visite and take leave of the Marquess of Buckingham and so home The first of February after they had spent here the full time of fourteen moneths in Negotiating and had had of the King and Councell above sixty Audiences they went in Coaches of their own without the Kings to Tower Wharffe and there imbarked in hyred and borrowed Barges to their Ships which laid not far off and were purposely sent to transport them This default of the Kings Coach and Barge at their parting ever woont at that time to serve Ambassadors proceeded from the Master of the Ceremonies who should have been my Lord Chamberlains Remembrancer for I acquainted his Lordship after with the omission and I had for answer that he knew not of the certaine time of their departure which the Master of the Ceremonies might and ought to have observed if he had not learned overmuch to some others particular satisfaction The Spanish Ambassador or been over partiall c. At ten in the morning when they were all ready to depart the Present from his Majesty was not come which for that slackness they were upon point of leaving behind them but the Master of the Jewel-House Sir Henry Mildmay even then in tempore arriving and personally presenting it as he said his Majesty had particularly cōmanded him though that might seem to have been said ad captandum they received for each of the three Commissionershares five hundred ounces of faire gilt plate and to their Secretary Sir Constantine Huggins a Chaine of Gold of a hundred markes more by twenty pound
desired his acquaintarve and good Correspondence and was sorrey that any thing should hinder it but if it should please him to honour him with a viset he could not exceed the Title which other Ministers of the King his Master had used and so left it to his consideration whether he would or not visit him To a Serjeants Feast at the Middle-Temple the French Ambassador had been invited in the first place and after the Spanish which known to this and interpreted in the sence it ought he excused his Presence with some businesse that he doubted might at that time be brought him from his Majesty The French Ambassador came and with him the Venetian and the States Ambassador who disappointed of the company they were promised of the Master of the Ceremonies I met them there and after dinner brought them to their Coaches The Marquess de la Inojosa who came hither Extraordinary Ambassador long before Don Diego Mendoza doubting that this would challenge precedence as being the last and freshest person of imployment from the King his Master according to the received rule of Ambassadors come the last and of March first wrought by all the cuning meanes he could to lessen his esteem as by entertaining him under pretence of his Allye being of his family and name into the same House with him abating thereby the splendour he should have received if Lodged elsewhere and at the Kings charge as it had been offered and by styling him in his Letters sent to him on his way from Portsmouth thus a Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoza Ambassador Extraordinary de sa Majestate circa la persona del Principe Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoza Ambassador Extraordinary of his Majesty about the person of the Prince All this would not keep Don Hurtado from his pretence which to some appeared to be cleared by his sitting as he did always at the head of the Table in the Marquises House which yet to others seemed but to make him a guest and that place therefore in that right â—nly given him nor from professing as I heard him often that it was his right to preceed and would do so wheresoever he should meet him abroad and in publick not respecting the reasons alleadged for the Marquis that he was Consejero de Estado Vizroy of Navarr and had the Marriage Negotiation c. Don Diego de Mexia Governor of the Castle of Antwerpe Generall of the Ordnance to the Archdutchess and her Ambassador Extraordinary to his Majesty arrived here Novemb. 5. followed by many brave Gentlemen Tituladoes and Souldiers he was received at Gravesend by the Lord of Bellfast late Lord Deputy of Ireland and by him conducted to his Lodging the same with the three Spanish Extraordinaries whether he came on foote after his landing at the Savoy whilst the Kings and Noblemens Coaches sent from Court to receive him at Denmarke-House had a Countermand to take him in at the Tower but the Tyde falling faire otherwise then was supposed to give him safe passage under the Bridge they missed him and returned as is mentioned Don Hurtado de Mendosa after a moneths stay for his Audience during the Kings absence from London received a Message from my Lord Chamberlaine by Sir Lewes Lewkner and by me That since he had had so long a patience in attendance of his Audience here at London his Majesty would not adde further trouble to it but come himselfe hither to give it him So the 13. of November the King being come to Town the day before the Earle of Rutland who had in his Fleet brought him out of Spaine was made choice of for his conduction to Court The Lord attending at Bedford-House where he Lodged the repaire thither of the Gentlemen of the Kings Privy Chamber listed for the Service a Messenger from his Lordship brought them word to White-Hall as they stood expecting his comming thither that there were three Coaches attending them at the Court-Gate to carry them to the Earl of Rutlands House This Message so much displeased them it being in their Opinion an irregular course for them to go to his House when the Custome said they had ever been for the Lords wheresoever sent to take them along with him to White-Hall as some of them refused to go at all others went thither in those sent Coaches and attended his Lordship with the Lord Windsor the Lord Scroope and Sir Thomas Somerset to the Ambassadors at Exeter House followed by twenty Coaches and thence to White-Hall With the Ambassador to present him to his Majesty came the first sent Ambassador Extraordinary Don Carlos the other the Marquiss de lainojosa excusing that part more due and fit as was judged for his discharge with regard to the Question of Precedence mentioned After his Audience of the King the Lord Viscount of Andever being there ready to conduct him to the Prince brought him by the way of the Stone Gallery to his Highness Quarter where after a gratious reception in his Presence Chamber the Ambassador returned as before accompanied to his Lodging The Earle of Kelley well attended with many Gentlemen and Coaches went from White-Hall the 15. of November to fetch the Archdutchess Ambassador from Excester-House supplied there with hired Coaches so many as made the whole number of them at the least fifty After his rest a while in the Councell Chamber disposing the Lackeyes and inferiour sort of Followers to come behinde that their Masters might have the easier and fairer access to his Majesty whereof the Spanish Ambassadors Gentlemen for want of that Order failed the day before he had Audience of his Majesty and thence wnet streight to one assigned him of the Prince he was accompanied to these Audiences by the Marquess de la Inojosa and Don Carlos de Coloma in the same Coach neither of these two questioning Precedence as the Marquess had done of Mendosa who told me the Evening after that that question was resolved by Letters which he had that very day received from the King his Master to his advantage which was ended but feighned as appeared soone after For Sunday the 16. of November Don Hurtado de Mendoza hastening his dispatch had assigned and given him his second and last Audience which my Lord Chamberlaine the day before told me was to be given him in his Majestes withdrawing Chamber by the way of the Park and Privy Gallery as private whereupon I was bold to put his Lordship in mind that that being the last sight he was then like to have of his Majesty it would be expected that according to Custome he should have some Nobleman sent to conduct him which his Lordship apprehending as fit My Lord of Kneighton Captaine of the Guard was appointed for it and with a President Extraordinary and irregular but for his respect to the Ambassador whom it seemed he desired particularly to honour or for the more resplendent attendance of his own person as Captaine of that Band he brought along
grow from the intrusion of multitudes of people by the way of the Galleries if they were left open he desired they would enter the Court by the great Gate and thence pass for their repose to the Marquesses Lodgings till the King should come by and take them along with him This intimation was given also to the two Agents who had the same Order for their Entrance as the former but were likewise diverted and conducted to a Roome apart in my Lord Stewards Lodgins which was so ordered of design to avoid their and the French Ambassadors incounter not with apprehention of strife for place their difference of qualities of Agents and Ambassadors clearing all such question but of distast perhaps to either from their incompatibility a regard taken also in placing their Followers in severall Scaffolds to avoid differences and wranglings that might occurre even amongst those of inferior condition if feated promiscuously together in a Scaffold a provisionable care that the King himself had and expressed it that day at his Dinner The Ambassadors were seated with the King as accustomed and the Agents bestowed amongst the Lords beneath Earles and above Barons Here end the Services of my Place of Assistant Master of the Ceremones under King James who died the 27. of March following SERVICES PERFORMED by Me as Assistant Master of the CEREMONIES The first yeare of King Charles From the beginning of the Raigne of King CHARLES THE thirteenth of Aprill I conducted the Persian Ambassador Sir Robert Sherly from his Lodging at Tower-Hill to an Audience of his Majesty at White-Hall Descending at the great Gate of the Court I brought him William Earle of Pembrick as I had my directions from the Lord Chamberlain through the darke passage from the Sermon Court to the Councell Chamber on the late Queens side whence going to the Kings Privy Chamber I there gave notice of the Ambassadors arrivall to a Gentleman Usher of that Chamber all further passage being begun then to be debarred to all but Privy Councellours and Bed-chamber men who conveying my intimation to my Lord Chamberlain in the Privy Galleries I had a charge returned that conducting him by the way of the late Queens Lodging to his Majesty in his Withdrawing Chamber no other but my selfe should go along with him this obeyed he passed with his Majesty some few words of condoling complement and returned by the way he entered The next day I conducted to an Audience for the same purpose and by the same way Monsieur de Bruneau Secretary Resident as he stiled himselfe for the King of Spaine with whom entered onely into the Privy Gallery one Cosmo sometimes Servant and Secretary to the Conde de Gondemar but I had instantly charge from my Lord Chamberlain upon his sight of him to tell him he must avoid that Roome as he did upon my admonition Three dayes after I performed the like Service and with the like directions and Service for conducting of Monsieur Van Mall Agent for the Arch-Dutches The third of May I introduced the Venetian Ambassador Seignior Pesaro to the like Audience his Secretary notwithstanding my admonition following us into the Privy Gallery and by his example the other followers when hearing me say to the Ambassador that he might be pleased to leave behind him la sua gente the Secretary answered Si si bisoina Leseine la gente as reckoning himselfe being Secretary not de la gente leaving them behind and entering with the Ambassador not onely into the Gallery but into the Presence of his Majesty though not approaching neerer then halfe the way within the Chamber The French Ambassador performing his complement of condoling with conduction of the Master of the Ceremonies Another Extraordinary Ambassador from France The Count de Tremes sent to condole the death of King James arrived at Dover in the beginning of May and was received there by the Master of the Ceremonies with the Service of twenty Coaches hired at the Kings charge for his Transport to Gravesend and thence of an answerable number of Barges to Suffolk-House his appointed Lodging together with the other Ambassador Monsieur de Fyat Resident Extraordinary The day after his arrivall he was brought to his publick Audience in the Presence Chamber by the Earle of Montgomery served by five coaches of the Lords besides that of the Kings all covered with black cloath for mourning his passage was through the Hall to the Councell Chamber and after his rest there to the Kings Presence where in company of his collegue presenting foure Letters to his Majesty one after the other The last of which appeared by the Kings cheerfull countenance at the receipt of it to come from his then affianced Mistresse On Saturday the seaventh of May the Funerall of King James was to be Solemnized and his Body to be attended to Westminster Church by his Son King Charles and by all the other Lords Officers and Servants in their proper rancks as they had by their severall places and charges relation to that last duty For this purpose the generall Rendez-Vous or assembly being to be made at Denmarke-House about nine in the morning and the King himselfe repairing thither between twelve and one many disputes grew between particulers for their pretended rights of Precedence about which while they were in question and I attending the Heraulds call to my place of march either as assistant Master of the Ceremonies together with Sir Lewes Lewkner to precede the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber as the Heraulds told me we were ranckt by the Earle Mareshall or promiscously to go amongst them as sworn Servants of that number I had command from his Majesty to repaire to the two French Ambassadors where they were at that time reposing themselves in a Chamber apart and to waite on them all the way to Westminster Church in ranck next after the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury as in the cheife and highest place that could be assigned them about which That is as by oâ—der of procession before after some questions propounded by them for their better satifactions they were desirous to see the Heraulds Book where their places were ordered which shewed by Sir John Burrowes Norrey King of Armes they took Exceptions at their rancking though it were next the Standard and neerest the Body of all other except the Heraulds Trumpetours and other Officers of necessary Assistance because the King himselfe they said went behind the Body alone with whom as Representants of their Master they pretended an equall ranck and March one on his right hand and another on his left But this not allowed them as being against our received Custome and they having denied it the day before they at length seemed to rest satisfied so set forth at the time having first presented themselves with their respects to his Majesty and took and kept both one even course of Parity and the latter came marching all the way on the right
Gravesend whether a Master of the Ceremonies should be sent with the Kings Barge to meet them and a Nobleman of fitting quality to Tower Wharffe to receive them at their Landing there The eight and twentieth of June a Turkish Chiaus or messenger who came hither about the time of King James his Death having demanded Access to the Queen for congratulation and being allowed it I was the same day sent to for that Service by Monsieur de Tilliers and in absence of Sir Lewes Lewkner who came notwitstanding at the instant of the Audience introduced him to her Majesty in her Privy Chamber where she received him with the interpretation of Sir Lewes Lewkner in French another in English to the Queen of what another said to him in English from the Chiaus his mouth in Turkish About that time the Duke de Cheuereux with his Lady the Dutches tooke leave of their Majesties so did Monsieur de Tremes and the Marquess de Fyas soone after The Duke presented me by his Steward with a chaine of 30 l. valew which was assured me to have been ordained double to that but I had to doe with the unjust Steward The other Ambassadors acknowledged my paines with thanks et nihil ultra These gone the Plague increasing the Court removing to Salisbury and I with my family retiring from the danger of infection in London to the Countrey I rested all the rest of that Summer unimployed In the meane time a Splendid Ambassador N. Oxensterne arrived at Southampton from the King of Sweden was received and conducted by Sir Andrew Kith to the Presence of his Majesty at Salisbury Sir Lewes Lewkner being then under restraint for his carriage towards the Venetian Ambassador and I absent c. for the reasons mentioned Having in October understood of the Treatment of the Ambassador of Sweden at Salisbury and how necessary my Service was and would be at Court during the absence and restraint of the Master of the Ceremonies for the cause before specified I repaired thither making the best way I could through the danger of the sickness then dispersed almost every where over the Countrey and being arrived there found Sir Lewes Lewkner commanded from his attendance on the Marquess de Bleinvill newly come over Ambassador from the French King to his House at Acton neere London upon complaint of the Venetian Ambassador for his pretended interest and partiall carriage towards the said Ambassador at the Funerall of the late King as is before delivered whereupon I received the Lord Chamberlains commands upon his Majesties pleasure signified to that purpose to attend that Service entered on by another one of the Heraulds but quitted upon the charge given me to discharge it so repaired to the Ambassador with the signification of the proper duty of my place and of the command I had from his Majesty to performe it at all his occasions whereof one fell out two or three dayes after when going to see that antiquity at Stonenge I accompanied him The next day going with him to render his visits to the Earle Marshall and Lord Chamberlain I had order opportunely to tast his disposition for his remove the King being assigned his to Windsore and Hampton Court when I finding his ambition to Lodge in the Kings own House there acquainted my Lord Chamberlain with it who had already given order for his Lodging at Kingston and received from his Lordship answer That his Majesty would never allow any Ambassador to be Lodged so neere him whereupon letting the Ambassador know as dexterously as I could what order had been already taken for his residence at Kingston His answer at first was that what was his Majesties pleasure should be his obedience but proceeding he asked the Plague having been as I am told so much and so lately in that Towne may I not be Lodged within the Kings House at Hampton I replyed it had not been the Custome for Ambassadors to be so Lodged yet said he the Duke de Cheuereux had his Lodging in the House at Richmond and so had the Marquesse de Fyat To this I spared then to reply as by way of contestation but conveying his answer to my Lord Chamberlain and he it to the King His Majesty commanded me to carry to the Ambassador this small resolution That the Queen having been desirous for the long acquaintance sake that had passed between her and the Dutches de Chevereux to have her neer her at the time of her the Dutchesses Delivery and lying in then towards would have her lodg'd in the Kings House at Richmond and that she having her lodging there it was fit that the Duke her Husband should have his there also And as for Monsieur de Fiat it concerned both his Majesties profit and his ease to bring him together with the other Ambassador to one House when a second kept for them at London at the Kings charg as was the Dukes at Richmond would be both dangerous in regard of the Sickness troublesome to the Kings Officers by their serving in of provisions for Diet at two severall places and of great expence Besides it was intended that if those Ambassadors should have come to lye at Hampton Court from Richmont the King would have instantly removed to Windsor or to some other of his Houses To this the Ambassador Bleinville answered he knew not that but this he knew he said that Lodgings were marked for the other within Hampton Court and to be made use of there at their pleasure adding that the Earles of Carliel and Holland late Ambassadors to the King his Master when they were with his Majesty at Saint Cermans were quartered neere the Kings House yet would not rest contented with their Lodging till they had gotten within his Majesties own House two or three roomes furnished for their retraite and to lodge in at their pleasure though indeed they spared to make such use of them In conclusion I said that neither his Majevty nor the King his Father had ever lodged any Ambassador in their Houses while they themselves lodged in them and that his Majesty now would be loth to make a President that would hereafter beget him so great a trouble as this was like to be and that therefore his Majesty hoped that the Ambassador would not take it in ill part if desirous to give him satisfaction and to treate him in all as the Representant of the King his Master he did in this not correspond with his desires c. Having said thus much to him as from the King he not without some countenance of insatisfaction and with intimation that he had but propounded it only and would leave it to the Kings consideration and pleasure there was for that time no further question made of it To dayes after desiring me to procure him an Audience I intended the King for it at his return from Hunting and though it were late I was sent to him with his Majesties pleasure for his
but a gracious answer I acquainted his Majesty with his instant desire that it might stand with his Majesties pleasure to have his publick Audience made private by commanding an avoidance of the pressing company or by his Majesties retrait to his more private Lodgings where the Ambassador might have an immediate access to him for communication of some particulars of his Negotiation which required speed in dispatch His Majesty was gratiously pleased to allow of the former and commanding all to stand back but the Ambassador they spake together a good time out of the hearing of any After taking his leave to returne to London and incountring on the way the Duke of Buckingham he caused his coach to turne back after him but in vaine the Duke taking another way but overtaking the Ambassador that night in his more speedie returne he there in the way received his Letters his complement and his request of a speedy dispatch in his businesse The fifth of October he had his Audience of the Queen assigned and given him at Hampton Court without any Person of Title to receive him at the Gate with excuse from the Gentleman Usher upon my remonstrance of their absence for Service of her Majesty the next day in her remove The Queen received him in her Privy-chamber where he after an Invitation or two of her Majesty covered for which he went not away uncensured of the observing Ladies and Lords there present His Majesty having received an account from France of the cold reception and entertainment given his Ambassador Sir Dudley Carleton Lord of Imber-court imployd thither Extraordinary for prevention and accommodation of whatsoever differences that might grow from the late remove of the French from about the Person of the Queen news came soone after to Court of the arrivall at Dover September the foure and twentieth of Monsieur de Bassampierre sent Ambassador from that King about the same businesse whom to entertain answerable to the stile and Treatment of our Kings Ambassadors there it was consulted of and resolved that neither the Master of the Ceremonies nor other Officers of his Majesty should be sent to receive serve him further off then at Gravesend a Nobleman no neerer then Greenwich for his conduction thence by water to Tower Wharffe and to his house hired and furnished by himselfe in Leaden-hall-street for which latter complement was chosen the Earle of Dorset On his way towards his House the Master of the Ceremonies letting fall some words concerning the provision of Diet made for him by his Majesties Order he would by no meanes accept of it answering that if the King would have been pleased to have assigned him a House he would have received also the favour of his Diet but to eate at an other mans charge in his own House as he would be bold to call that hired for him by his his Officers he desired pardon if he refused it so were the Kings provisions that had been allready served in turned back againe For Sunday following September the thirtieth he had his audience assigned him at Hampton Court and came thither in the Kings coach followed by divers Noblemens with the conduct of the Earle of Carliel though some were of opinion that the Earle of Dorset should have been properly his conductour as had been one and the same Person at the reception and first audience of the Lord of Imber-court in France he was brought after his repose in the Councell-chamber where a Dinner had been prepared for him but he came to late purposely it was thought to eate it and a collation set ready on the Table at his comming but remained untasted of by him or any of his followers through the great Hall to the Presence-chamber where both the King and Queen stood under the State to receive him the Lords and Gentlemen ranged on the Kings right hand the Ladies with the Dutches of Fremoville on the left And having presented his Letters to the King and passed other respects with his Majesty he performed the like with the Queen after which parting towards his coach accompanied by the Lord mentioned and others he was in the outward Court told that the Duke of Buckingham was comming after him whereat making a stand till the Duke came they two privatly and apart from the rest discoursed halfe an houre together before they parted the Ambassador dismissing the Kings Coach returned in his owne to London The twentieth of October a Signification from the Lords of the Councell came to the Ambassadors of Denmarke and of Betblem Gabor as also to Monsieur Benica Agent sent hither from the Marquess of Baden that if they would be pleased to come to Monsieur Rosdorss resident here for the King of Bohemia at his Lodging neere White-Hall which they could not but think as they did a bold Invitation for persons of their quality they should have word sent them thither of the time of the Lords readinesse to receive and heare them but when they were all there at the houre assigned one of the Clerks of the Councell brought word that Bethlem Gabors Ambassador and the Envoy from the Marquess of Baden were to have present access but that for the Ambassador of Denmark their Lordships desired his patience till some other time which he not without shew of resentment for such an Exclusion saying the other two were by me introduced first the Minister of Bethlem Gabor and immediatly after his dispatch the other The two and twentieth of October the Ambassador of Denmark had access to the King in his Withdrawing-chamber with my conduct and upon his dispatch I demanded pardon if I gave him not my attendance home because of a charge I had I said instantly tofetch the two Commissioners of Hambrough to their parting Audience so repaired to them where as I had already ordered it they stayed my comming at my House having before sent them to their Lodgings a Noblemans coach for their transport thither I brought them by the way of the Parke and Privy Galleries answerable to the stile of their first introduction in quality of deputies not Ambassadors into the Withdrawing-chamber there thanking his Majesty for his favours and desiring some small addition and cleering to and of their River of Elb blocked up by his Majesties Ships their other demand of transport of Corne Copper and ammunition of War ut supra being with reason denied them they took their leave and two dayes after had their presents of two Gold Chaines each of the valew of 210 l. brought them by two of the under Officers of the Jewell-house who had for their gratuity given them by the hand of one of the Commissioners ten peeces and to their Servants twenty shillings Two dayes after inviting me to dine with them they before Dinner presented me with a purse and fifty peeces Soone after taking their Journey to Dover without my conduction or expectation of it they there imbarqued for France to returne by Paris
were issued out of the Office but he had heard he said the Master of the Jewell-house Carew nobly of himselfe disclaim all pretence of right to carry them when they consisted of Jewels as Rings Chaines of Diamonds Hatbands or the like and that to this he could and would say more of his mind and knowledge if he should be called to it by his Majesty This question thus far cleered Sir Henry Mildmay neverthelesse desisted not to make freinds underhand for maintainance of his Claime till the day and almost houre that the Jewell was to be presented when the Duke of Buckingham that had seemed before to favour him came about for the Master of the Ceremonies and declared his opinion for him so as the Earle of Carliel who had in the interim the Jewell committed by the King to his custody after he had also declared his sentence the same way delivered it to the hands of the Master of the Ceremonies by whom it was that Evening presented to the Ambassador and who the nex day received in gratuity for it and for his attendance and paines taken in this Ambassadors service three hundred peeces immediatly after he had presented it he entering the Kings Withdrawing-chamber to give account to his Majesty how thankfully it was accepted I then standing at the door heard his Majesty say when Sir Lewes thankt him for his most gracious favor in committing it to his carriage that it was the Master of the Ceremonies right and none other to carry and present Jewels to Ambassadors The day of the Ambassadors departure November the fifteenth when he was resolved already and the Kings Barge with two other appointed for his transport to Gravesend the Tide falling late and the wind proving high and contrary he had Coaches hired for him at his own charge and with them and his own coaches went thither by Land the Master of the Ceremonies accompanying him so far but no further answerable to the new Order for conduct of Ambassadors The Marshall of the Ceremonies Walter Brisco only appointed for his service on the way forward as there might be necessary use of it till he should be imbarqued at Dover c. The Ambassador of Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transilvania having received a full satisfaction of his business as the condition of our affaires would permit and his Present of a thousand ounces of guilt Plate brought him by the Master of the Jewell House and two of his Officers with him rewarding these he reserved the gratuitie that might be expected from him by the other to time and consideration In the meane time I having been sought to by a Gentleman the Ambassadors only follower qualified as fit to sit with him at the Table to procure him also a Present as to the Ambassadors Secretary I told him I doubted of good success in that suite in regard not only of the present necessitous condition of the time but also because he had not at any time appeared in the Negotiation between his Master and the Lords which having kept him from notice of his merit would prove I thought a reason for his exclusion as indeed it did when acquainting my Lord Chamberlaine with his ayme his Lordship gave him a negative Answer to that purpose wherewith I quieted him The day after the Ambassador had received his Present recommending the demand of his parting Audience not yet formally given him to the Vicechamberlaine the Lord Carleton in absence of the Lord Chamberlaine then ill at ease and his Lordship demanding it in my hearing I propounded the fitness of his having it given in the Presence Chamber as being his last Audience therefore requisite to be in publique as the first Audience had been at Hampton Court but was answered by the King that he took him to be no man that would stand upon point of Ceremony so would have it he said in his Withdrawing-Chamber and me to introduce him by the way of the Parke which obeying I brought him after Dinner with the Service of two hired coaches the Kings beings excused by him when I offered it because he had not had it he said at his first Audience he was received by no other Nobleman then the Lord Vice-chamberlaine at the entrance of the Privy Gallery and by him brought to the King in his Withdrawing-Chamber whence I after conducted him to the Queen for the like Audience of her Majestie but receiving notice that she was even then gone to Somerset-House to her vespers and would returne for that Ambassadors occasion he likewise went to his Lodging and stayed there till the Queen repassing before his door he followed her to White-Hall and had in her Majesties Privy Chamber Audience and dismission This passed I accompanied him to the Duke of Buckingham for his farewell but the Duke being then absent and I going in his Search to the Privy Galleries found there his Majestie sitting all alone when after demand of pardon for my entrance so at unawares to his Presence I made use of the opportunity to tell his Majesty what had not an hour before passed between me and the Ambassador upon a question moved by Sir Maurice Dromond Gentleman-Usher to the Queen immediatly before his Audience which question he said had been then in his hearing moved by the Queene to the King viz. Whether the Ambassador would or not cover in her Presence and that the King was of opinion he would not cover I answered the Gentleman that I would not resolve him for the future but that for the time passed I knew I said he had covered at his first Audience after the Queen had once or twice invited him to it But for better resolution of this doubt I further told his Majestie with this opportunity I had a little before his said Audience asked the Ambassador as with the pretence of my own satisfaction who had not I said to him sufficiently observed him in that point whether he had at his fiâ—st Audience covered or whether he would now at his leave-taking cover in Presence of her Majesty His Answer was No I will not now cover though I did at first because said he I shall now appeare before her Majesty as comming of my own Errand only to take my leave having no particular Order for it from the Prince my Master but when I came first to her Majesties presence I speak to her my Masters words by my Masters command and so thought fit upon her Majesties Invitation to cover which now I will not do though I should be invited to it as having nothing to say to her from any but my self and this only tending to the leave I am to take of her Majesty Having reported this unto the King and finding him to approve of the Ambassadors reasons as civill I proceeded further to intimate to his Majesty That I had observed both at this Ambassadors first and last Audience that his Majesty was pleased to stand bare-headed all that time as if he would
not have him to cover in his Presence either from his Example or Invitation the King answered that I had well observed and understood it and that he had purposely kept off his own hat least the other might have put on his which for some considerations he was not yet satisfied to be convenient c. During the time of this Ambassadors stay here there passed no visite or other correspondence between him and the Venetian both of them pretending to precedence and not appearing upon the title to be mutually given of Excellenza or because the latter stood upon it that he was not visite first though the other came last being a Representant of a State that pretended to a parity with crowned Heads The fourth of December he took Barge at the Savoy Staires without any conduct though offered perhaps irregularly being no Kings Ambassador and went that night to Gravesend for his further Journey The night before his departure after many complementall Excuses of the length of his Journey and shortness of his provisions for it he presented me with a Purse and in it thirty peeces He gave to the master of the Jewell-House two dayes before a chain of fifteene pound value which was received but coldly as a gratuity beneath expectation and not proportioned to his quality There being a Maske in practice of the Queen in person with other great Ladies for the end of Christmas I three or foure dayes before Twelftide asked my Lord Chamberlain what course would be taken with the Ambassadors here resident Contareni for Venice and Joachimi for the States he answered that the King had already signified his pleasure that if they would come they should be wellcome and have places apart provided for them but that his Majesty was resolved never more to admit any Ambassadors resident to sit next his person under the State no more then to eate with him in publick I replyed that I thought this change in his Majesty from his Fathers manner would draw some Puntillious exception or Cavill from the Venetian unlesse it were seasonably and heedfully carried which to prevent it would not be I thought amiss for his Lordship to send to the Master of the Ceremonies for use of his experience which referred to me I wrote to him about it that morning he came to Court and thence after conference with my Lord went to both those Ambassadors the Venetian and the States This made no question of his comming nor placing other then as the King should command onely he said that if the Venetian should refuse to come he should perhaps doubt whether it would be fit for him to be there alone as out of a kind of Singularity condemning the others absence by his Presence The Venetian desired time for consideration and resolution it being a Novelty and a lessening to him he said of the honour affoarded to his predecessour but in the meane time he prevayled so by his reasons how heavily it might follow him in the Judgement and censure of his Republick when he should be the first of his Predecessours that ever suffered by such an exclusion and had as yet since his imployent here never received publick honour from his Majesty c. as that the King was pleased to let him know by my Lord Chamberlain personally repairing to him under pretence of returning his visit that he should for this once have the respects of being seated next his Majesty in manner as his Predecessours had been before him and with him the States Ambassador whom also my Lord Chamberlain had then visited with the same signification but that neither he nor any other Ambassador were ever to expect the like hereafter and that to confirm and intimate the Kings resolution in this point he as also the other should do well to give account of it to his State least other of their Ministers might hereafter pretend or think to obtain the like honour with importunity and further to take notice that if the King should make another Maske at Candlemas he must be content with a place to be assigned him apart and not next the chair of State if he would be present at it with which plaine intimation he seemed to hold himselfe satisfied and the Moneday seaven night after following after Twelfday he and the States Ambassador were assigned their Rendez-vous at the great Gate of the Court at six in the Evening and with them the States Ambassadors Wife and Daughters with limitation of as few followers as might be and those of the better sort The place for their repose was the Councell-chamber whence they were conducted first the Ladies to a Box reserved for them at the upper end of the Banquetting-house on the Kings right hand and next their followers to a Scaffold over and behind his Majesty then the Ambassadors themselves to the Presence of the King in the Privy-Galleries and after with his Majesty to the Maske the Venetian was seated on the right hand the States Ambassador on the left of his Majesty I understood after that the States Ambassadors Lady and her Daughters took exceptions against their being thrust up in a corner without respects To which I answered that I had brought the Ambassatrice a liberty of election from my Lord Chamberlain whether she would be pleased to sit amongst the great Ladies or apart and she had chosen to sit apart with her own company because she said she wanted Language so the fault was hers not mine if she were unsatisfied Monsieur Rosdorfe after he had resided here foure yeares for the King of Bohemia being called home was to receive his present which was endeavoured by his freinds that it should have equalled if not that Ambassador Baron Donnows of 400 l. in Plate at least that of Monsieur Paule that had been here in the same condition as Rosdorfe without Title of Ambassador and receiving at his parting a Chaine of 300 l. and 50 l besides as an ayudu de costa But Rosdorfe having not been well relished by some particularly by the Duke of Buckingham for his harsh plainnesse had given to him a Chaine worth onely 220 l. as of equall valew upon comparison and instance made with that of the resident of the King of Spaine Monsieur Bruneau and of Monsieur Van Mall Agent of the Arch-dukes While I was at Canterbury for some domestique occasions of my own Her Catz. I received a Letter the eighth of March signifying the arrivall of a deputy from the States and of the dangerous sicknesse of Sir Lewes Lewkner Master of the Ceremonies of whose Office I was the Reversioner These two accounts and their consequence brought me the next day to London Two dayes after I received from my Lord Chamberlain this direction that I should intimate to the States Ambassador and to the deputy newly arrived that whereas they had desired an accesse to the Duke of Buckingham for an enterance to their businesse in hand and that my Lord Duke
judged it not so proper to give them one before their Audience of his Majesty they should be pleased to thinke and resolve of a time for the Latter which if they would demand for that day or the next he doubted not but they should have it the rather because his Majesty was to returne from whence he came but the day before to Theobalds and would not be againe at London till Thursday following That in the meane time their first Audience being past they might Negotiate with the Commissioners appointed for the further prosecution of their businesse This message received I interposed what I thought might be expected by them or be thought fit for the stile of their reception viz. whether to be brought to the Kings Presence by a Nobleman and to have the use of his Majesties coach c. as had been allowed to other of their Country qualified Ambassador To this it was answered by my Lord Carelton Vice-chamberlain that he then knew the Minister new come to be qualified no otherwise then for a deputy though a joynct Commissioner with the other and that he could not nor he thought would expect other Treatment then under that Title with this intimation I repaired to them and after delivery of my message with a touch to he last purpose I had for answer their desire of an Audience the next day which they had of his Majesty in the great Gallery of Somerset House the twelth of March by ten in the morning the Queen being then in her House retyred or not yet risen After Dinner my Lord Duke came to their House the Lord wimbletons to visit them while I that day dined with them I had the newes brought me of the Death of Sir Lewes Lewkner by which in right of his Majesties grant of Reversion by his Letters Patents I became sole Master of the Ceremonies The thirteenth of March the Ambassador of the States had without his Associate the Deputy a private Audience of his Majesty in his Withdrawing-chamber whether I conducted him by the way of the Parke and the Privy-Galleries this being the first time of the States resident Ambassadours accesse to his Majestie by that way they having been allwayes till then accustomed to have their Audiences and accesses given them by the back-stayres without introduction or attendance of the Master or assistant Master of the Ceremonies which was at that time altered with the Kings better service and more convenience for avoydance of Surprises and also to that Ambassadors great honour not unaffected by him in that particular when his silent and private accesses given him before by the back-stayres and other obscurer passages might and did seeme to some an undervaluing of his publique quality and in this of the State he represented though others would have had it understood for a particular respect of his Majesty given to him as a Domestique which yet while his Audiences were never granted nor accesse given him but when at his request it was moved for by a Groome of the Bedd-chamber or by one of the two principall Secretaries it would hardly be so interpreted and so he himselfe expressed to me to conceive of it when upon my introducing him by that new way of the Privy Gallery he fell to discourse with me about it 1627. The Ambassador of Denmark Paule Rosenkrantz having negotiated with the King of France by the space of five Moneths or more returned for England and Landed at Dover in a Holland man of War when he had already written and obtained a grant of for one of the Kings Ships to transport him March the nine and twentieth 1627 the next day he came to London before his Lodging was fitted or order given for it To which purpose for excuse I compleyed with him from the Lord Chamberlain that he would be pleased to have patience for his ill accommodation till the Officers of the Ward-robe might set up his Bedd and directions be given for his Service and attendance as before this performed the next day he began again upon the Kings diet and charge having of his Train by list two and twenty persons Sunday the first of Aprill he had Audience assigned him both from the King and Queen To the first I conducted him without company of a Lord or other then his own followers this being not publick though the first Audience after his return from the Court gate by the Staire that ascends to the Sone-table chamber the way accustomed through the Park and Tiltyard Gallery being restrained by the King pleasure for his more privacy there and reposing himselfe in the next Roome to that Chamber was called forth to his Majesty in his Withdrawing-chamber and had there his Audience After passing through the Councell-chamber over the Terras by the lower end of the Guard-chamber to the Chappell Closet on the Kings side he was met at the Presence doore by Sir George Goring the Queens Vice-chamberlain and brought to her Presence in her Privy-chamber He was censured of too much forwardnesse instantly after he had performed his respects to cover which though he might pretend to have done in right of the King his Master as his representant yet towards a Lady and a Queen to have forborne till he had been by her twice or thrice invited to it or rather not to have covered at all since he would forfeit no place nor pretention by it had been no derogation Before he came to the Presence of the King I asked him if he desired his Gentlemen should kiss his Majesties hands he answered in no sort because quoth he I would not have notice taken of my new train as if I were a new come Ambassadour and for their kissing of the Kings hand they may do it at my departure This passed for a reason against the honour they might have had but was not moved for of kissing the hand of the King remitting it to some other opportunity which was offered the Sunday following Aprill the eighth when the Ambassador having a day before upon signification of his Masters pleasure for his returne demanded Audience for his leave taking of both their Majesties he was fetched from his Lodging in Lumbard-street by the Earle of Barkshire in correspondence of the Earle of Northampton that had accompanied him to his first Audience at Wansted with the company of halfe a dozen Gentlemen of the Privy-chamber c. The Sunday seavennight after this his last Audience my Lord Chamberlain having delivered to my hands a Jewell being a Picture case set with faire Diamonds and the Kings Picture in it to about 800 l. valew but to the Kings cost of 1200 l. it being sould to his Majesty for this use at that rate which his Lordship told me before he had destined to my carriage in observation of the course before established concerning the right pretended to by the Master of the Ceremonies for carriage of Jewells as the Master of the Jewell house doth of Plate to be
I had not served him presented me by one of his Gentlemen with five peeces which I excusing to receive my Servant after accepted of as for his own and to that end in termes of such expression given him An houre before his imbarking his Steward presented me from him as too small an acknowledgment he said for my great paines with twenty peeces I gave the host of his House for his own Bed and Chamber as paid by the King for which and for the rest I was after to pass my account twenty shillings and for foure or five Beds more in his House the like not hindering by this the gratification whatsoever that Monsieur de Soubize should think fit to bestow on him The proportion I held of payment for Beds for his followers Billetted in the Towne was after two shillings the week a standing Bed and fifteen pence a Trundle-bed increasing this somm to some as their good and kind treatment of strangers deserved it The seven and twentieth of June the two Commissioners from Saley had their first Audience of his Majesty at White-hall upon a removing day which served me for excuse of the small appearance then at Court and of their not seeing the King under the State in the Presence-chamber at their first access though being but Representants of a newly formed Republick and no Christians they had no more reason to expect then to have that honour to be done them I conducted them from their Lodging in Fleet-street to the Common Stayres at White-Hall in one of the Kings Barges and thence to their Audience in the Privy Gallery whence his Majesty for further knowledge and debatement of their businesse remitted them to his Councell July the eigh The Ambassador Resident for the States of the United Provinces and their Deputies for the East-Indian busnesse and for accommodation of differences grown lately at Sea parting from London to Lodge at Colebrook were early at Windsore dined with my Lord Conway principall Secretary had their Audience in the Afternoon in the Withdrawing-chamber went that night to Kingston and the next day to London The tenth of July the Deputy being upon his departure I inquired of the Ambassador what might be the disposition of the said Deputy touching his Present from his Majestie whether to receive it in Plate or in a gold chaine and found him indifferent yet intimating withall that if his Majestie would be pleased to Knight him it would make the Present whatsoever more acceptable This made knowne by me to my Lord Chamberlaine and by his Lordship to the King he was that afternoon dignified Sir Jame Catz and after he and seven or eigh more attended the dispatch of some remaining part of his businesse he departed for Gravesend and thence for Holland July the twentieth having the day before presented me with five and twenty peeces but leaving the present ordained him for his Majesty of 500. Ounces of gilt plate allready prepared but reserved in the Goldsmiths hand pour cause to be sent after him as it was being cousened for him by the under Officers of the Jewell House to Monsieur Joachimi two months after the Bringer receiving from him the gratuity of six peeces The Duke of Buckingham being ready for his Expedition to Retz and sollicited by his Servant Master Fotherley for his Signature to the Warrants annually bestowed on Ordinary Ambassadors and Agents for Venison his Majesty appointed the Earle of Dorset for Justice in Eyre during the Dukes absence so the Warrants being by him assigned and I sending for them to Master Fotherley received from him not a refusall a question Whether it were not a part of his charge and a due for him to deliver them to the Ambassadors But this question soon resolved from presidents of Sir Lewes Lewkner I had them and delivered them viz. To the Ambassador of Venice three whereof one he bestowed on me as a right he said of my charge to the Ambassador of the States three whereof one was returned to me to the King of Denmarks Agent two whereof one came to me and to the King of Bohemias Agent two The sixth of August while I was retyred to my Country home at Twittenham I had notice given me that the Marquesse Pompeio Strozzi Ambassador Extraordinary from the Duke of Mantova was arrived at London with ten of his company whereof the Count di son Paulo Nicolo Delfino a Gentleman of Venice and Bartholomeo Amaltheo his Steward were received as men of quality This Ambassador having in his way negotiated with the French King came hither for condolement of the Duke his Master who dyed above five moneths before and for congratulation of the other Duke his Brothers succession to that Dukedome After I had of my selfe with respect to his quality visited him and drawn from him by discourse something of his ends c. I repaired to my Lord Chamberlaine then at his House at Endfield and from him as I had directions to his Majestie then at Winsore having before dispatched this my Officer with Letters to my Lord Chamberlaine But these comming in his Lordships absence were opened and presented by his Secretary to the Earle of Holland and by him to the King who in answer of their contents passed his resolution to be signified by me to my Lord Chamberlaine That the Ambassador should have his publique Audience at Winsore on Sunday following but not to have his Diet defrayed no more then any other Ambassador should from thence forwards nor have any coaches provided for them at his Majesties charge Except at times of publique Audiences I after this speaking with his Majestie for my better warrant concerning this new Order had a confirmation of his pleasure to that purpose and propounding only how fit and acceptable it might be for the said Ambassador if in correspondence of the treatment which I understood he had received in France he might have a dinner provided for him in Court the day of his first Audience it was assented to and his Majesties pleasure for it intimated by me to the Lord Steward of the Houshold the Earle of Pembroke After returning to London I let this Ambassador know his Majesties resolution taken for no more defraying of Ambassadors either diet or coaches whereat he taking no exceptions provided himselfe of two Coaches with six Horses each with which and with the Kings sent thither from Windsore for carriage of his own person he went the eleaventh of August to Bed to Staines and receiving there the next morning his Majesties wellcome by the Earle of Cleaveland was by his Lordship with the attendance of foure or five Gentlemen of the Privy-chamber in the Kings and the Lord Conways coach conducted to Windsore and found there prepared and fairly hanged three Lodgings of the Earle of Worcesters and a Table ready covered for his dinner answerable to what I had propounded to his Majesty and the Lord Steward for avoidance of a greater charge from continuall defraying
were at their Dinner accompanied by the Earle of Holland Sir John North and others the upper end of the Table being found too narrow for both their seats they sate in chaires at the two sides opposite one to the other the preceding Ambassador taking his place with the end of the Table on his left hand as the first place in his opinion These two Ambassadors having another private Audience assigned them at Hampton Court were pleased upon my request to them by Letter to pardon my repaire to their Lodging in London thence to accompany them as I ought to have done in the Kings coach and take me in their way at my House in Twittenham where returning they left me after I had entertained them with a collation c. to their satisfaction Two dayes after they sent my Officer for demand of an Audience to take their leaves which they had granted them for Sunday following and were brought to it from London by the Earle of Cleaveland and foure or five Gentlemen of the Privy-chamber having provided for them a dinner at the Kings charge this being their last Audience as they should have had at the first answerable to the stile then observed but omitted towards them as also to the Mantovan Ambassador for the interruption mentioned before This course of their entertainment at a Dinner I propounded to his Majesty in time of his Supper two nights before by direction from my Lord Chamberlaine intimating the fitnesse of it they having the like at Havering in stead of that they should have had at their first publick Audience but was excused for the reasons as before and had from the King this formall answer O yes yes let them by any meanes have a Dinner At the same time also I propounded with agreement of the Master of the Jewell-House standing by and by direction from the Lord Chamberlain the consideration of having their Presents assigned beyond the proportion of their Predecessours which had been 1500. ounces of gilt Plate and no more making our reason the regard of their not having been defrayed as those other had been c. which his Majesty approving commanded the number of 2000. ounces to be made ready for each of them being soone after brought them by the Master of the Jewell-house himselfe who had from them the gratuity of _____ and his two Officers between them twelve peeces Their Secretary having not appeared in any businesse had no present After Dinner at which their conductour the Earle of Cleaveland and the Lord Gordon and others were guests with them I introduced them to their Audience by the proper way being publick through the Great Hall and Guard-chamber to the presence thence to the Queene in her Privy-chamber whither my Lord of Cleaveland made at the first some scruple to accompany them till my Lord Chamberlain had resolved him of the fitnesse and custome of it but would by no mens returne with them as both he by custome and the Gentlemen with him should have done to London whither I onely served them with my Attendance the rest taking their leaves at the Ambassadors taking coach The eleventh of October while neither their Letters nor present nor 1000 l. which they were to receive by way of defalcation from the great debt due to the King their Master from ours were ready for them they requested me to procure them a private Audience if this might not they said appear a Solccisme after they had had a publick one for their leave taking which I did bringing them to it by the way of the Titlt-yard and Privy-Galleries to his Majesties Withdrawing-chamber c. Neere the time of these Ambassadors departure Animo revertendi my Lord Chamberlain let me know that having received news of the comming of the Abbot de la Seaglia Ambassador from the Duke of Savoy he had written a Letter but not yet sent it to my Lord Major for provision of a House for him in the Citty to be paid for by the Ambassador but after I had intimated to his Lordship that the course had been to receive a signification first from the Ambassador himselfe of his Arrivall and of the number of his traine and accordingly to provide for him that if his House should be taken up before such signification were given and that he should not come in a moneth or more after the charge of it for that time must in reason rest upon his Majesty the House being not taken by his own order and he being to defray himselfe for all as was intended the letter was stayed and the provision of the House for that time respited After it was assured by some passengers in the same Ship with this Ambassador that he was landed and come onward his way as far as Rochester I repaired to my Lord Chamberlain for order of his reception how and where c. went with his Lordship to the King about it and received from his Majesty this formall signification that answerable to the order established and already practised towards the King of Frances Ambassador Monsieur de Bassampierre the the Duke of Mantovas and the King of Denmarks and particularly towards the last his Unckles he would not defray him nor any other except at conclusion of Peace Marriages Baptismes of his Children and such like Extraordinary occasions Upon further discourse that then passed where and how he should be received it was concluded by his Majesty not onely for the present but for the future that neither he nor any other Ambassador under a Kings should be met or received further off then at Tower-Wharffe in the Kings coach after he had been brought thither from Gravesend by the Master of the Ceremonies and that if he were a Kings Ambassador the Master of the Ceremonies meeting him no further off then at Gravesend unlesse his comming for the before excepted purposes might by order carry him further he should be received no neerer London then at Greenwich by a Nobleman out of the Barge that brought him from Gravesend into the Kings Barge and thence by him accompanied to his landing at Tower-wharffe and thence in the Kings coach to his Lodging The day after that this Order was established or rather revived no certaine notice being yet given or taken concerning the Savoy Ambassador for preparation of his House because no follower of his was come immediatly about it Mr. Gerbiere a Gentleman serving the Duke of Buckingham who had passed the Seas in his company and had received some particular direction to that purpose went with me to my Lord Chamberlain and acquainted him with the Ambassadors intentions and desires as of one that agreed not well he said with Journies by water and had brought with him a Coach and Horses of his own to come by land But this desire and design of his was soon diverted by his Lordship after he had pointed at the incommodity of a Noblemans meeting him with the Kings Coach at the end of
both which would be he said a Solecisme in point of visits not approveable amongst Ambassadors especially while one of them was in health and might therefore visit him without the others company This may appea e to be an acknowledgment of precedence from the Venetian which seemed questioned For mine own betterinstruction to the purpose of this Puntillio I went instantly first to the Venetian Ambassador and found him to have forborne that complement expecting the first discharge of it to come from the Danish and that as they should lead he would follow From him I went to the other of Denmark and found him that was in health not excuseing the forbearance of his visits by his Collegues sicknesse but plainly affirming the observation of it to be improper as from the King of Denmarkes Ambassador to a Duke of Savoys Besides that he could plead he said that he and his Collegue having taken their publick leaves of the King their visits of an Ambassador later come were not to be expected To this I replyed with a President I had learned from the relation of an experienced Statesman Her Joachimi Ambassad or for the States how the King of Frances Ambassador at the time that the States of the united Provinces were first acknowledged free and Soveraigne being at Disseldrop and come thither before the States Commissioners Arrivall about a Treaty expected to receive from thâ—m the first visiit as from Representants of an inferiour condition but they standing upon their pretended rights of Ambassadors last come to be first to be visited refused to visit first till at last the French Kings Ambassador the businesse he had in mannage necessitating him to it gave the first visit but this was no prevailing allegation for the Ambassador of Denmark From them I went to the Ambassador of the States and found him not expecting to have those of Denmark for his leaders but onely hindred by a Catharre which past he said he meant to visite the Savoyard and so he did the next day At that time when I purposely cast out some words tending to the question of precedence between the States and the Duke of Savoyes Ambassador the States said he wondered that any man would make that question when it had been adjudged the due of his State by the King of France in particular c. The next day being that of the Lord Majors Annuall Feast and the Ambassador of Savoy desirous to see his Lordship passe through Cheapside he having received no Invitation to the Feast with other Ambassadors perhaps because of his so fresh Arrivall or else to avoid the inconveniency of question likely to grow from precedence between him and the States Ambassador and the Ambassadors of Denmark not looking after it with consideration of their leave already taken of his Majestie I was requested by the said Savoy Ambassador to inquire somewhat further of the Ambassadors of Denmarks reasons and resolution for not visiting him which I did immediately repairing to him Monsteur Tompson where he had taken his stand in Cheapeside for sight of the shew Sconosciato and plainly received it for his resolution that neither he nor his Collegue had any intention to visit him first as having no example of the like done at any time by either the King their Masters Ambassadors or by any other Kings to the Ambassador of the Duke of Savoy and when I after met the Venetian at the Feast wherto he and the States Ambassador were invited I understood the like of his mind and expectation for example to be given him by the Ambassador of Denmark as pretending to doe nothing he said but should be al par delle teste Coronate with which insatisfaction I returned to him of Savoy who could not make good his pretence by any President or example but rather he had one against himselfe which the Venetian Ambassador was said to have suggested to the Ambassador of Denmarke for his forbearance of the French Ambassador the Marquesse de Bleinville who would not give the first visit to the Savoyard when they were both here together in England the Ambassador of France standing upon it that in regard of the honour of so neere allyance as the Duke of Savoy had with so great a King as his Master he ought to give him the first respect as being most due to him But this reason the Ambassador of Savoy retorred to his owne purpose as that therefore the French Kings Ambassador ought first to visit him for the more honour to the King his Masters Sister and with no disparagement to himselfe in regard of the not questionable difference of their rancks But in the end all or the cheife blame of the Savoy Ambassadors want of visit lighted on the Venetian so that of Savoy charged him as on him that having committed a former errour he said not to have visited the Duke of Mantovas Ambassador while he was here from the same reason of difference stood upon by him of Denmark cared not to commit another and a greater errour though he and all the Ministers of that Republick that should negotiate with his Master might be sure by way of retribution as he threatned to suffer for it The consideration of inconveniences which might in likelyhood accrue to the common cause from such ill correspondence amongst Ambassadors our freinds made me the next day after the Lord Mayors Feast to addresse my selfe to the Earle of Carliel as to a person of the most experience in Ambassages for his judgement in these differences this was that the Ambassadors of Denmark and that of Venice were in the wrong and that for Presidents if they stood upon them he himselfe would furnish them with one of his owne having himselfe as he affirmed when he was Ambassador Extraordinary in France given the first visit to the selfe same Ambassador of Savoy Arriving there after him and had observed that the Popes Nuntio and all other Ambassadors then there had done the like yet that for the better information of his owne judgement he would he said instantly goe and so did to the King for his who together with the Lord Steward Earle of Pembrok the Lord Chamberlain and other Lords there present in his Majesties Withdrawing-chamber were all of opinion that the Ambassadors of Denmark were over punctuall and as the King himselfe said so much too blame for standing upon such nice points in a time that required rather care and study to get freinds then for lack of performing complements hazard the losse of any as were they his Ambassadours and should doe so he would chide them well for it The substance hereof I conveyed to the Ambassadors understanding but it would not move them While these Puntillio's were in agitation a Play on all Saints day being appointed at Court to begin Christmas with I was told the day before by the Venerian when he visited me at my House that he was invited to the sight of it and
Officers of Justice a Gentleman came in the morning from the Countess of Buckingham to the Ambassador of Savoy demanding leave of him for the said Officers to pass through his house into his Garden joyned to the Ladies for her more easie apprehension and arrest by that way which though at first he somewhat stuck at as wronging and lesning he thought the respect of his quality to leave his house free of entrance to such persons especially for the surprize and arrest of a fair Lady his Neighbour he at last notwithstanding suffered the Constable to enter it and with convenience to remain in it and in the Garden watching his opportunity till dinner-time when some of the Gentlemen attendants on him contriving a way to be rid of that incumbrance dressed the Ambassadors Page a handsome fair Boy in womans apparrell thrust him suddenly into the Lords Coach as if it had been the Lady making her escape and drove fast with him down the Strand followed by a multitude of people and those Officers not without danger to the Coach-man from their violence but with ease to the Ambassador that had his house by this device cleared of the Constable but himself after charged by the Duke That all this was done of designe for the Ladies escape which in that Hubbub she made to his no small prejudice and scorn in a business that so neerly he said concerned him she being Wife to his Brother and bringing him Children of anothers begetting yet such as by the Law because begotten and born while her Husband was in the Land must be of his Fathering The Ambassador for his Purgation from this charge went immediatly to the Duke at Whitehall but was denied accesse Wherupon repairing to my Lord Chamberlain for his mediation I was sent to him by his Lordship to let him know more particularly the Dukes displeasure and back by the Ambassador to the Duke with his humble request but of one quarter of an hours audience for his disblaming But the Duke returning answer That having alwaies held him so much his friend and given him so many faire proofs of his respects he took his proceeding so unkindly as he was resolved not to speak with him I reported this to the Ambassador and had for his only answer What Reason cannot do Time will Yet after this the Earles of Carliel and Holland interposing the Ambassador hungry after his Peace from a person of such power and regarding his Masters service and the publick affaires he a sevennight after obtained of the Duke an interview in Whitehall Garden and after an hours parley a reconciliation About the same time the Ambassador of Venice Contareni having sent an Express to Dover with a Packet came the Councels Warrant for passage of it to the Denmark Ambassadors attending there their passage for conveyance of it by them to the Venetian Ambassador in France Sir John Hippesley Lievtenant of the Castle under the Duke of Buckingham understanding of it and withall the mind of his Lord and Master mentioned sent to them for a sight of the Packet only as a duty he said of his charge which with some question Quere Whether this were not Pas de Clere in their mystery the Ambassadors yeilding to and sending it to him by their Secretary he refused to return it saying he would have care for the conveyance of it But sent it immediatly to Court to those hands that opened it and taking out as the Ambassador made complaint some particular Letters sent the rest to him whereat he formalizing himself as he did also for another Packer the Duplicate of this sent after it by his Secretary at Dover which delivered to the hand of a Marriner then upon passage was likewise intercepted He demanded Audience of his Majesty made protestation and offer to retire himself to Greenwich till the State he represented should upon the Account of his and their wrong signifie the sense of it and pleasure for his further proceeding But maturer consideration all his Letters being returned and his Majesty having professed to him his high displeasure for such proceeding made him alter his course and digest the pretended injury so far as only to give account of it to his State from whom he not long after received their pleasure that he should spare his access both to King and Councel till he should formally receive some publick satisfaction The usuall course was and is yet for Ambassadors to send to the Master of the Ceremonies a signification of their arrivall And after the said Master to let them know the time when be would repair to them to welcome them and conduct them to London After a long expectation of two Ambassadors Commissioners to come from the States Viz. Monsieur Randwick and Monsieur Pawe they arrived at Gravesend the seventh of February and were there met by Her Joachimi the Resident here Amongst other discourses they had with him as I was informed being then absent concerning the Treatment they might expect from his Majesty A Question was moved whether the Master of the Ceremonies were not to receive them there with the Kings welcome and to know their dispositions for the time of their coming to London before he should come to fetch them thence with the Kings Barge which it was affirmed Sir Lewes Lewknor had at other times done to some of their Ministers This scruple intimated to me at a time when I could discharge neither of those services my Wife being then dangerously sick of the small Pox and in that respect not stirring out of doors I wrot to the Resident Ambassador to this purpose That howsoever some perhaps extraordinary occasion might have begotten at some time such a redoubled course of observance the like whereof had not come under my experience it was no rule that if I my self had as I remembred I had once the Summer before made a first and second Journey to Gravesend to the Ambassadors of Denmark it was in the way of good manners to comply with them at a time of the Kings remote absence from London his Majesty being then in progress while in the interim I attended answer to my Letters for direction about the manner of their Treatment upon the Reformation then newly established for the defraying of Ambassadors which I hoped should serve them for a consideration to keep them from drawing into consequence that or any other former reception different from the Ordinary especially at a time that his Majesty endeavoured more then ever to reduce our formes of Treating Ambassadors to the stile of those practised by other Princes How these reasons prevailed I know not sure I am they had not any man sent to them in my place till the fourth day of their stay at Gravesend when Master Beaulieu Secretary to his Majesty for the French tongue intreated to that Service by me and allowed of upon my recommendation by my Lord Chamberlain brought them in the Kings Barge the twelfth
of February to Tower-wharffe where received by the Viscount of Wimbleton accompanied with halfe a score Gentlemen in five Noblemens coaches with the Venetian and Savoy Ambassador but without the Kings they were brought to their lodgingat the Italian Ordinary there to reside till at more leasure they might find better accommodation without touch at any hand to the purpose of the Kings not defraying them The fayling of the Kings coach proceeded from the forgetfulnesse of my Lord Chamberlains Gentleman of his Horses and became a Subject of no small distast and complaint formerly made by the Resident Ambassador to his Lordship in name of the rest as of a lessening in the respects usually afforded to all other publick Ministers of Princes which to reconcile a meane was thus found It was agreed that the Ambassadors should the third day after returne in their owne coaches by a private way about by London walls to the Tower and after a sight of that place to be fetched thence by the same Lord Viscount of Wimbleton with as many coaches as before attending the Kings coach and the Queens also sent along with it this accordingly performed and they so accompanied through London to their Lodging all was composed to their satisfaction The next Puntillio obtruded was whether at the day of their Audience they should dine in Court as some other Ambassadors particularly the Savoyard had done lately before To remove this rub I wrote to my Lord Chamberlains Secretary a Letter for his Lordships sight and consideration imparting that the Summer before in the progress time the Mantovan and the two Danish Ambassadors had dined in Court the first at his first Audience at Windsor Whereof see the reason as also why the Mantovan dined not in Court at his first Audience the latter at Havering at their second private Audience and that since that the King comming to White-Hall though the Treatment of dineing in Court were not perhaps necessary nor fit to be made to any Ambassador as out of an established course at or in the Kings standing House it having been made elsewhere with regard of inconveniency or want of place fitting with their owne provision to give themselves a dinner at or neere the Court in time of progress his Majesty was yet pleased to comply with them in that point but not to serve for an example to others But now there must a step be made backward to the yeare 1624. at which time there happend a noble traverse reflecting on the two Spanish Ambassadors viz. the Marquesse de Inojosa and Don Carles Columa then Resident here the last of a good disposition the other sower and harsh so that they were compard to oil and vinegar the businesse was thus the Prince of Wales being back from Madrid matters began to gather ill blood twixt England and Spain for the Treaty both of the match and Palatinate were dissolved by Act of Parliament and the Duke of Buckingham made use of Parliament and Puritan who swayed then most in the Houses to compasse this worke The Spanish Ambassadors understanding that the rupture of the matrimoniall treaty proceeded from the Practices of Buckingham they devised a way how to supplant and ruine him they fell into consideration that King James was grown old wherefore the least thing might raise umbrages of distrust and feare in him therefore by a notable way of plotting they informed him at a private Audience that there was a dangerous designe against his Royall Authority traced by the Duke of Buckingham and his confederats the manner of which conspiracy will appear in this following Memoriall or Remonstrance of Sir Walter Ashton left still Ambassador leger in the Court of Spaine which he presented there to the King himselfe which was thus To the King Sir SIr Walter Ashton Ambassador to the King of great Britain saith that the King his Master hath commanded him to represent unto your Majesty the reasons why he could receive no satisfaction by your Majesties answer of the fifth of January and that therby by the unanimous consent of his Parliament he came to dissolve the Treaties of Match and Palatinat He received another answer from your Majesty wherin he found lesse grounds to work upon and having understood that neither by the Padre Marsto or your Majesties Ambassadors who have assisted these daies passed in his Court there was something to be further propounded and declared touching the businesse of the Palatinat wherby he might receive contentment The said Ambassadors to this day have not said any thing at all to any purpose which being compared with other circumstances of their ill carriage he gathers and doubts that according to their ill affections and depraved intentions wherwith they have proceeded in all things but specially in one particular they have laboured to hinder the good correspondence with the so necessary and desired intelligence which should be conserv'd with your Majesty Moreover he saith the King his Master hath commanded him to give an account to your Majesty that in an Audience which he gave to the Marquesse of Inojosa and to Don Carlos Coloma they under the cloak and pretext of zeal and particular care of his Majesties person pretended to discover unto him a very great Conjuration both against his Royall Dignity and person Which was that at the beginning of this Parliament the Duke of Buckingham had consulted with certain Lords and others of the Arguments and means which were to be taken for the breaking and dissolving of the Treaties both of Match and Palatinat and their Consultations passed so far that if his Majesty would not conform himself to their Councels they would give him a house of pleasure whither he might retire himself to his sport in regard that the Prince had now years sufficient and parts answerable for the Government of the Kingdome The Information was of that quality that it was sufficient to make impressions in him of an everlasting jealousie in regard that through the sides of Buckingham they wounded the Prince his Son with the Nobility it being not probable that they could effect such a design without departing totally from that Obligation of faith and loyalty which they owed to his person and Crown because the interessed Lords made themselves culpable as Concealors Nor is it likely the Duke would hurt himself upon such an enterprize without communicating it first to the Prince and knowledge of his pleasure But because the Information might be made more cleer his Majesty did make many instances to the said Ambassadors that they would give the Authors of the said Conspiracy this being the sole means wherby their own honour might be preserved and wherby the great care and zeal they pretended to have of his person might appear But the said Ambassadors instead of confirming the great zeal they made profession to bear him all the answer they gave consisted of Arguments against the discovery of the Conspirators so that for confirmation of the
heads 65 The Ambassador of France denies to be at the Coronation for two reasons 169 An Axiome of State That t is more honour to be last of a Superiour Order then first of an Inferiour 63 Agents from Barbary arrive in England 213 No Ambassador to have his charges defrayed except at conclusion of Peace Marriages or Baptismes 228 An Ambassador of a King to be brought in by an Earle at least ib. An Ambassador of a Duke to be brought in by a Baron ib. No Ambassador except a Kings to be met in the Kings Coach further off then Tower Wharfe ib. Abbot de la Seaglia Ambassador from Savoy 227 B. BOiscot the Arch-Dukes Ambassador discontented 3 Barbarigo the Venetian Ambassador dyes in England 37 Baron Donaw sent Ambassador from the Palsgrave 61 Ballompierre arrives in England refuseth the Kings dyet 188 Benica Agent for the Marquis of Baden 189 The businesse 'twixt the States and our East India Merchants concluded 117 Barham Downe the Rendezvous of the English Ladies to welcome the Queen 153 C. NIne Counts attended the Palsgrave to England 2 A clash 'twixt the Savoy Ambassador and him of Florence 15 A clash 'twixt Gondamar and the States Ambassador 22 The Complaint of the Venetian Ambassador about his Present 39 A clash 'twixt England and France about le Clere 57 Cadenet the French Favorits Brother sent Ambassador Extraordinary into England 67 A Caprichio of some French Lords 70 Cadenet the French Ambassador allowed two hundred pound per diem for his dyet 73 D. THe Duke of Lenox appointed to attend the Palsgrave 1 The Duke of York meets the Palsgrave 2 Donati the Venetian Ambassador recalled for misdemeanour 58 Sir Dudley Carltons cold reception in France 188 A difference 'twixt the Master of the Ceremonies and him of the Jewell-house about the delivery of Presents 194 The difference decided 195 Sir Dormer Cotton sent Ambassador to Persia 177 E. THe Earl of Somersets Marriage c. 12 Exception taken by the French Ambassador 28 Exceptions taken another time 64 The Earl of Arundels revenge of the French Ambassador 68 An Error in the Danish Ambassador 185 The Earl of Rutland sent to transport the Prince from Spain c. 129 The Earl of Dorset Justice in Eyre in the Dukes absence 214 F. THe first Complement 'twixt the Lady Elizabeth and the Palsgrave 2 The French Ambassador stands upon some puntilioes 12 The Florentine Ambassador plac'd beneath the lowest English Baron at Court 24 Foscarini tragically and wrongfully put to death 29 The first rise of the Duke of Buckingham 35 The French Ambassador much discontented 49 The French Lords discontented because they sate not at the Kings Table 71 Fifty pounds sent the Muscovian Ambassador by the Lords of the Councell to pay for his Sea provision 108 G. GOndamars first arrivall in England 12 Gavelone Agent for the Duke of Savoy 15 Gondamar precedes the French Ambassador at the Earl of Somersets Wedding 17 Gondamar casts an aspersion upon the Hollands Ambassador 20 A great clash 'twixt divers Ambassadors 66 The great clash 'twixt the Persian Ambassador and Sir Robert Shirley 174 F. CO Henry of Nassaw accompanies the Palsgrave to England 2 Sir Henry Manwaring recommended to the State of Venice by the King 50 Hamburgh Commissioners deemed to have Audidience of the Queen 183 I. INojosa the Spanish Ambassador clasheth with Don Diego Hurtado an Ambassador also extraordinary from Spain 126 Joachim made Ambassador leger from the States 160 K. KIng James his Apologie to the Arch-Dukes Ambassador 4 The King Knights six Holland Ambassadors at once without paying any sees 78 Kings James his Funerall 174 L. THe Lords make a Supper for the Lady Elizabeth 11 The Landgrave of Hessen comes to England 114 Sir Lewis Lewkner suspected to be of the Spanish faction â—38 The Lord Mayor of London to give place to no other but the King 237 M. THe manner of the Marriage of the Lady Elizabeth 10 Mareth the French Ambassador 53 Monsieur de la Chenay committed prisoner about Sir Walter Rawley 56 Monsieur de Tilliers the French Ambassador hath lodgings at Court but no dyet 165 Tilliers much discontented and his high language 163 The Marquis Pompeo Strozzi Ambassador from the Duke of Mantova 214 A maxime among Ambassadors 232 Meanes found to content the Dutch Ambassador 242 N. A Notable clash 'twixt the Persian Ambassador and Sir Robert Sherley the circumstances thereof 174 A notable high Memoriall the English Ambassador gave the King of Spaine 245 News brought in halfe an hour from Dover to Canterbury of the Queens arrivall 153 O. OSalinskie Ambassador Extraordinary from Poland 74 New Orders at Court touching the treatment of Forren Ambassadors 228 The new Orders practised first upon Ballompierre the French Ambassador 228 P. PResents to Ambassadors lessened 31 A rich Present sent by the Muscovit to the King 39 The Polish Ambassador receives 10000 l. of the King by way of loane 90 The Prince like to be drowned in Spaine 221 A Picture case delivered the Mantoüan Ambassador from the King without his Picture for a Present worth 500 l. 222 The Prince taxed by the Spanish Ambassadors 245 Q. QUadt an honourable person by the Prince of Transilvania 185 She excuseth her presence at the Coronation 169 The Queens arrivall in England and newes brought in half an hour from Dover to Canterbury by Mr. Terhit 153 R. AReformation of Presents given Ambassadors 31 Aremarkable passage for precedence hapned at Vervins 'twixt the French and Spanish Ambassadors 67 Rosdorf Ambassador for the King of Bohemia 197 Rosencrants the Danish Ambassador 180 Sir Robert Shirley laies his Turban at the Kings feet 137 Mr. Robert Tirhit rides in half an houre from Dover to Canterbury S. THe States Ambassador gives place to him of Savoy 32 The Spanish Ambassador countenanced more then the French 48 Six Commissioners in joynt Embassy from Holland Soubizes arrivall in England being Godfather to the last King in Scotland 111 T THe Turks Ambassadors Son touch'd by the King 58 The title of King denied by King James to the Palsgrave 62 The Tarrace at Whitehall falls under Gondamar when he had his first Audience for a match in Spain 63 Two Ambassadors of divers Princes lodged in one house 186 The Co. of Tremes sent to condole King Jame's death 146 U. THe Vicountesse of Effingham clasheth with the French Ambassadors Wife 9 The Venetian Ambassador gives place to the Bohemian 66 The Venetian Ambassador Knighted and the Sword given him 113 The Venetian Ambassador questions the giving of precedence to him of Denmark 207 W. Away found to please the Ambassador of Spain and France 36 A way found out another time to please them 64 A witty answer of the Transilvanian Ambassador 195 Sir Walter Ashtons complaint in the Court of Spaine against the Marquis of Inojosa and Don Carlos Coloma 244 Z. ZAmoiski Son to the Chancellor of Polands arrivall 25 FINIS
by the way and with the conduction mentioned The night following was represented a Maske Acted the Christmas before by the Prince c. At which were present seated with his Majesty the Spanish Ambassadors Don Carlos de Coloma and the Count de Gondemar though this had taken his leave three or four dayes before his Son and other their Followers of quality had their feates neere the King in a Scaffold on his right hand the rest of them were bestowed together with the States and other strangers promiscuously on a Scaffold behind the King over the entrance there on the left hand of his Majesty The young Landsgrave of Hess was brought in by me the back way through the Garden and supping with the Duke of Lenox as did also the Baron of Paperhezin remaining here after the departure of the Emperours Ambassador was seated amongst the great Ladies The French Ambassador Monsieur de Tillier receiving a kind of Invitation by way of offer to be present at this Maske returned answer that he most humbly kissed his Majesties handes for the honour intended him but his stomach would not he said agree with cold meat and desired therefore his absence might be pardoned here by pointing at the Invitation and presence of the Spanish Ambassador in the first place at the same Maske the Christmas before now repeated May the two and twentieth was the day assigned for Sr. Georges Solemnity deferred till then The day before my Lord Chamberlain sent me to Sir Noell Caron to let him know and the rest of the States Commissioners Mess d'Arsen Bass and Stavenets that his Majesty would be pleased with their Presence at the provision and solemne service of that day and that to that purpose they should have their standings for sight of the first in a long window on the left hand almost over the Gate and of the latter in the Chappell Closet on the Queens side the Spanish Ambassador Don Carlos de Coloma being to possess that of the Kings side I delivered this Message by incounter to them all foure being then at the house of Sir Noell Caron neere Lambeth which they thankfully accepted onely Monsieur Stavenets asked whether there would be as much respect in the entertainment for the generall given to them as to the other Ambassador I answered I nothing doubted it but as soon as I was returned to render an account of my service to my Lord Chamberlain I found I had been up and downe sought for to be stayed my Journey but too late for when I came to his Lordship he told me if I had invited those Ambassadors to stand in the Closet of the Queens side I had exceeded my Commission because the Spanish Ambassador he said would never indure them so neere him where there was but a thin Wainscot Board between them and a Window to be opened at either of their pleasures which might be an occasion of scandall and distemper I answered I had done no otherwise then I had directions which his Lordship in part denied and I was not so unmannerly as to contest against But at last I received a new command to repaire to them with this message That there had been a misunderstanding and that the place in the Chappell for the regard mentioned of the Spaniards neerenesse to them was improper But if it would please them to be at the procession in the morning in their appointed stands and in the Evening at the divine Service and Solemnity there which would be all one with that of the Forenoon they should be wellcome This unpleasing message delivered I received for answer from the mouth of Monsieur d'Arsennes That as often as it would please his Majesty to honour them with Invitations to any of his entertainments they should esteem it for an especiall favour and gladly accept it so againe since it now seemed that their presence though they had been once invited might give distast either to his Majesty or to any other meaning the Spanish Ambassador whom he should be pleased more especially to favour they would in that also submit themselues to his pleasure and would be willingly absent but as for being present at either the procession or the Service in the Afternoone they desired since they must not be at that in the Forenoone that they might be excused if they came not all the rather because they were invited to the Earle of Exeters at Wimbleton and if they should stay the procession they doubted they should come thither unmannerly too late to Dinner and returne to Court not soone enough to Evening Solemnity With this message I returned to my Lord Chamberlain and so had the next day the free use of their places at the Procession and of the Closet at the Service for the young Landsgrave and his followers whom I conducted in the Dinner time to the Banquetting House where the Prince supplying his Fathers place his Majesty being then indisposed the Landsgrave stood at his Highnesse left hand as the Spanish Ambassador did on his right most part of the Dinner time The Ambassador of Russia being upon his departure I carried to him fifty pound from the Merchants of the Muscovy company but as sent to him from the Lords of the Councell so as the Company had directed me with this formall message That whereas different from some Ambassadors imployed from his Emperour he had desired money and nor provisions to be laid in in specie for his feeding at Sea that sum of fifty pound was sent him according to President but exceeding in proportion because whereas other Ambassadors whereof one had thirty five men his followers and the other fourscore had not had above forty pounds worth of Victualls for their whole Journey the summ now sent him was fifty pound but he seeming much unsatisfied with so small proportion and saying that Sir John Merrick Ambassador to his Emperour had had above two hundrd pound given him for the like made shew to refuse it whereupon I left him when sending his Interpreter after me downe the Stayres not as I thought to receive the money but desiring me to keep it or leave it with the Steward of the house I refuse it and saying that this was a matter of consequence inferring that either the Lords of the Councell in whose name I was to present the money did not in my Lord Ambassadors opinion understand what they had to do or that the Ambassador did do more then he ought to the dishonour of the King my Master I would have returned up to him to have taken the refusall as I said to the Interpreter it became me from the his Ambassadors own mouth but on the stairs I met one of his servants that brought order from his Master that he should as he did receive it The first of June following I repaired to him with a summons from my Lord Chamberlaine to take his leave the next day at Greenwich whether we went by land in four
into the Downes we went in the Kings coach to Deale where expecting the wind two or three dayes with the patience of an hungry entertainment from a close handed Ambassador as his present to me at his parting from Dover being but an old guilt Livery Pot that had lost his fellow and was not worth above twelve pounds accompanied with two paire of Spanish Gloves to make it almost thirteen made good to my shame and his he at length imbarked for his Transport under the conduct of Sir Richard Ringley Admirall of the nar row Seas in the Ship called Happy Entrance and was there left by me but not so soon by the crosse windes which held him in the Downes almost a seavennight before they would blow him over He was scarse abroad when Letters overtook him sent from Spaine in the Marquess de Inojosa Pack with sharpe reproofes for his resumption to contest about Precedence with the said Marquess who it seemed after the style of Spaine different from ours that gives the last Extraordinary the first place was to have it for the respect of his being Gouncellour of State Vizroy of Navar and formerly Governour of Milan which Letters not onely revoked the Commission he had from the King of Spaine to the Arch-Dutches and the King of France as he should return that way home but commanded also his retrait immediately upon his Arrivall in Spaine to his own House with a kind of Confinement till he should know the King his Masters further pleasure The Arch-Dutchess Ambassador Don Diego de Mexia parted from London about a week after and having pressed hard for liberty to be transported to the Port he came from of Mardick neere Dunkerk could not obtaine it for satisfaction it might seeme to the Hollanders offended and taking Exceptions at the manner and place of his first passage with his Majesties Convoy from that Towne pretended to be then by them at Sea beleaguered so as he was forced to imbark at Dover for his Transport to Callaies in the Kings Ship commanded by Sir Richard Bingley A Maske being prepared by the Prince with the Duke of Buckingham and others c. for Twelfnight a message was sent from his Majesty to the French Ambassador by whom carried I could not learne to this purpose That whereas there was a Maske towards and that his Majesty was desirous that the Marquess de la Inojosa who had not seene any in this Kingdome should be at it he intended to visit him also the French Ambassador and in the first place but would take it as a respect to his satisfaction if to avoid the incounter and question about their Precedence he might before hand know that he would be absent framing some such excuse as he should think fittest To this the Ambassador returning at that instant no satisfieing answer he soone after intreated the Earle of March to present one from him to his Majesty in these words That about two yeares since upon the like occasion he had received the like message but knowing how strongly his Majesty stood then affected to the Allience with Spaine he would give him no distast but with excuse of his indisposition kept himselfe absent that if he should now againe do the like he should in the sight of the world put a scorne upon himselfe and do an unanswerable wrong to the King his Master between whom and the King of Spaine his Majesty knew if he would be pleased to declare his knowledge that there was no question to be made of the right of Precedence that in this regard he humbly beseecht his Majesty to proceed plainely and fairely without useing any more colourable or alternative Invitations as he had done which might imply a Parity in no sort to be yeelded to by the King his Master in whom was the absolute right of Priority That if his Majesty intended to invite him he hoped he would intend also to entertain him with fitting respects for come he would if he should be invited and if he should not and the other should he would protest against it and immediatly returne home to the King his Master with the account of his Treatment That further his Majesty would be pleased to consider that whereas he was at that instant sending a Person of quality to the King his Master he might with reason expect that whatsoever want or omission he the French Ambassador should meet with here it would be returned in France in the same measure This message the substance whereof he repeated to me two or three dayes after was brought little sooner to the King then it was made known to the Marquess de la Inojosa who instantly sent for the Master of the Ceremonies and in a storming manner gave him a message repeating it twice or thrice to be delivered to his Majesty by him in this sence that he knew what respect had been formerly given the King of Spaines his Masters Ministers especially those that had been here Extraordinary and what alternative course of invitation had been used with them and the French that he looked for no less honour to be done to him then to his Predecessors and that since it was both his right and his turne to be now invited he would expect it beseeching his Majesty not underhand to invite the French Ambassadors as he knew he said he was intended but to invite him directly and openly first and only that so if he Inojoso must be made a Subject for gazers abroad it might be to some purpose and that he might have a just and an apparent cause to write to his Master of the wrong done him here in his Minister with other words in an high Spanish Stile to that purpose which when the Master of the Ceremonies had twice or thrice requested him to temper to take time to think better of them and to communicate his intended message with his Collegue Don Carlos he only yeelded to satisfie him in this last of communicating his intention as he did that night with that much more temperate and considerate Gentleman from whom wresting as Don Carlos himself after acknowledged a consent for the carriage of that message to the King by Sir Lowes Lewkner the Maske was thereupon respited c. The nineteenth of January having received directions from my Lord Chamberlaine to repaire to Newmarket for attendence of Sir Robert Sherrley arrived Ambassador from the King of Persia to his Audience which by his Majesties appointment he was to have there with the advantage and commodity of his neere aboad at Saxham his first rest after his Landing and long Travells and whence his sister the Lady Crosts sent to me to London to prepare his access to his Majesty As soone as he was come to Court I sent my man to him with norice of my comming thither to serve him and having received answer of his desireâ— to be dispatcht for his speedy return I acquainted both the Duke of Buckingham and Master Secretary