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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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