A RELATION OF SVCH THINGS AS were obserued to happen in the Journey of the right Honourable CHARLES Earle of NOTTINGHAM L. High Admirall of ENGLAND His Highnesse Ambassadour to the King of SPAINE Being sent thither to take the Oath of the sayd King for the maintenance of Peace betweene the two famous Kings of Great Brittaine and Spaine According to the seuerall Articles formerly concluded on by the Constable of Castilla in England in the Moneth of August 1604. Set forth by Authoritie LONDON Printed by Melchisedech Bradwood for Gregorie Seaton and are to be sold at his Shop vnder Aldersgate 1605. To the Reader HAuing collected together many generall obseruations in that Honourable iourney into Spain lately performed by the right honourable and worthy Earle The Earle of Nottingham although amongst many reasons which perswaded me to be therein to my selfe secret and to the world sparing in diuulging this Treatise I found especially and which I must of necessitie confesse mine owne weakenesse in compiling the same and making it fit and worthy of so generall a reading as by this consequence it must vndergoe yet being ouer-weighed with many especiall motiues which I could not well answer or contradict I thought rather to expose my selfe to the fauourable censure of the worthiest best minded who rather respect a plaine and home-bred stile yet true than a tale consisting of eloquent phrases but doubtfull than pleasing my selfe in mine owne fearefull humor giue cause of offence to them whom most I laboured to content The first of these motiues being That many of my friends knowing me to haue been by especiall appointment an Attendant vpon his Lordship in that honourable emploiment and vnderstanding of the care taken by me in obseruing some particulars in the same exceedingly vrged me to giue them a perfect knowledge and satisfaction thereof which as it was a thing likely to be tedious so could they not receiue that contentment by a briefe Report which a more ample Relation and Discourse might better affoord Another was That for that it came to our knowledge how many false and ill contriued reports had beene bruted abroad after our departure from England aswell derogating from that honourable enterteinment we receiued in generall whilest we were in Spaine as from the proceedings of his Lordship and his Company in some particulars I could not but taxing my selfe of dutie to his Lordship and the rest endeuour to satisfie all doubtfull and vnsatisfied minds with relating and declaring the truth thereof But a third and a more especiall cause is That sithence our returne one not well informed hauing vndertaken to know much of the proceedings of that Iourney and mistaking himselfe in his own vnderstanding lately published a Pamphlet of many false and erroneous obseruations therby possessing the Readers with an vntrue Relation of that the trueth whereof they so much desired Vpon these former considerations therfore I was aduised to tender vnto your generous acceptance my wel-meaning endeuors which although they cannot giue that pleasure and content in reading you happily expect yet shall they assure you what they promise That is A true Relation of such things which happened in that honorable Iourney In reporting whereof I had rather be condemned for plainnesse than once suspected for reporting an vntrueth ROB. TRESVVELL aliâs SOMERSET Herauld A RELATION OF such things as were obserued to happen in the Iourney of the right Honourable CHARLES Earle of NOTTINGHAM c. his Hignesse Ambassadour to the King of SPAINE being sent thither to take the Oath of the sayd King for the maintenance of Peace betweene the two famous Kings of GREAT BRITTAIN and SPAIN according to the seuerall Articles formerly concluded on by the Constable of Castilla in England in the Moneth of August 1604. SO soone as the right honorable Charles Earle of Nottingham L. High Admirall of England had taken notice from his Maiesty That it was his will and pleasure to employ him in this great Ambassage to the K. of Spaine calling to minde how honourably and richly the Duke of Fryas Constable of Castilla late Ambassadour for the said king had formerly demeaned himselfe in England presently with a most honourable resolution neither fearing the hazard of his person being now aged nor regarding the expences that so great and honourable an employment should require with what speed he conueniently might endeuoured to performe his Maiesties designes and appointment heerein And therefore by the aduice of the Councell of England he first resolued both what honourable personages and what number of them might be fitting for accompanying and attending him in this his great imployment To whom when as particular Letters from the Councell by his Maiesties especiall commandement were dispatched to giue them notice to prepare themselues to attend the said Noble Earle according as his Highnesse had commanded they seemed so willing and readie to performe their duty and seruice therein that his Lordship was farre more troubled to denie many and that of very good sort who voluntarily tendered their seruice in good will and honour of his Lordship to attend him in this his appointed voyage than he was at first in bethinking what company were necessary to take with him And therefore at last concluding of a competent number not without displeasing many he resolued vpon these whose names heereafter follow The Earle of Pearth The Lord Howard of Effingham his sonne and heire The Lord Willoughbey The Lord Norrys Sir Charles Howard knight his second sonne Sir Thomas Howard knight second sonne to the Earle of Suffolke Sir Iohn Sheffeild knight sonne and heire to the Lord Sheffeild Master Pickering Wotton sonne and heire to the Lord Wotton Sir Richard Lewson knight Admirall of the fleet and Viceadmirall of England Master Thomas Compton brother to the Lord Compton Hans Herman Van Veiscenbach a German and of good esteeme in England Sir Robert Drewry Sir Robert Maunsell Treasurer of the kings Nauy and Vice admirall of the fleet Sir Edward Howard his nephew Sir Thomas Palmer Sir Edward Swift Sir William Smith Sir Iohn Treuor surueyor of the nauy Sir Robert Killegrew Sir Richard Cowper Gentleman-porter of the Kings house Sir George Buc. Sir Guylford Slingsby Sir Adolfus Cary. Sir Francis Howard his Lordships nephew also Sir Sackuyle Treuor Rereadmirall of the fleet Sir Walter Gore Sir William Page Sir Giles Hoftman Sir Thomas Roe Sir Iohn Eyres Sir Phillip Cary. Sir Henry Knowles Sir Iohn Gueuarra Knights Master Giles Porter his interpreter Doctor Marbeck Doctor Palmer Physitians Master Pawlet Master Cary. Master Barret Master Iohn Lewson Lewis Tresham Captaine Thomas Button William Button Iohn Fearne Hierom Laments Henry Butler Iohn Milliscent Bernard Saunders Philip Roper Francis Plomb Roger Tailor Captaine William Morgan Henry Minn Christopher Fredericke Thomas Buc. Captaine William Polewheele Edmond Fittou Walter Grey Iohn Atkinson Dudley Carleton Edward Smith and many other gentlemen of good condition and quality aswell his Lordships priuate Officers and
there was set vp of purpose for a more close and conuenient passage a very large Scaffold adioining to the end of a long Gallery and to the Church likewise the timber whereof was all couered with cloth of Gold very rich and the Scaffold being high was a good meanes to giue sight to all the people The manner of their comming to Church was in this sort The Kings Trumpets were placed neere and before the Church in seuerall companies alwaies sounding and one answering other about foure of the clocke in the after noone there appeared descending by the Scaffold afore mentioned to go into the Church of S. Paules which as is likewise said adioining to the scaffold the Knights Lords and Grandes going before and some Dukes of especiall name bearing diuers ceremonies likewise as the Salera or Salt borne by one the Taper of wax by another the Chrisome by another then the Crown borne by the Constable before whom went the King of Armes The Prince was borne by the Duke of Lerma in his armes but tied to him with a rich scarfe or Band he was assisted by the Prince of Sauoy and the Conde of Miranda Then followed the Infanta in a chaire as it should seeme made for that purpose and borne by diuers Gentlemen of the Kings bed and Priuy chamber on their shoulders assisted by the yonger Prince of Sauoy At the Church doore the Cardinal staied for them in his Pontificalibus accompanied with three Bishops and other especiall officers of the Church the singing men going before and so conducting them to the Font which was richly prepared and couered with a Canapy of cloth of gold the Cardinall performed all the ceremonies according to the order of their Church and so with Church musicke noise of Trumpets and many other wind Instruments they finished their ceremonies returning in such maner as they went being accompanied also with most of the great Ladies of the kingdome and those of the Court. He was Christened Phillippe Domingo Victor His Godfather was the elder Prince of Sauoy of whom he tooke his name Victor His Godmother was the Infanta his Sister His Lordship was placed conueniently in the house of the Conde d' Rubadauia in the morning both to see the procession as also the going of the Prince to Christening But so soone as they were passed by he with some other were priuately conueied through a gallery on the backeside of a Monastery into the Church into a place appointed of purpose for him and the Lords that were of his company On Munday in the after noone the Ambassadour Leadger was by his Lordship presented to the King and by him gratiously receaued and allowed That day in the after noone came diuers Ambassadours to visit his Lordship as first Don Francisco de Meschite Ambassadour for the state of Venice as also the French Ambassadour Monsieur Baron de Barault Cheualier who after some short stay departed At the time of the French Ambassadours being there came likewise the Ambassadour resiaunt for the Emperour His Lordship euer shewing much affability and curtesie and accompanying them on their way to their coches with kind behauiour of his being greatly obserued caused an extraordinary respect and an exceeding loue of all men towards him That night also came to visit his Lordship the Cardinall of Toledo being a very stately Prelate well discended very rich in his cariage very curteous and in his expence liberall as by the apparelling of his pages and seruants and by his rich Sumpter cloths hangings and such like might well appeare Tuesday the one and twentieth of May his Lordship was conducted by Don Blasco vnto the church called S. Maries to see the ceremony and state of the Queenes churching whither the King and Queene came together the King riding on horsebacke the Queene in a very rich chariot of cloth of gold drawen by foure horses all trapped and harnessed with cloth of golde in which chariot likewise sat the Infanta Next followed in another chariot the yoong Prince in the armes of an ancient Ladie After followed two other caroches of blacke veluet wherein sat diuers Duchesses Countesses and other great personages widowes Then followed foure other caroches all of one fashion wherein sat seueral Ladies the Queenes Maids This was the first day of the Queens going abroad and as we accounted of it her Churching day This day his Lordship was inuited to dinner to the Constables where he was accompanied by the Duke of Alberquerque the Duke of Cesa and others The maner of feasting being not vsuall in Spaine and our company being many could not all receiue that contentment which the Constable desired to giue in generall For the countrey considered it is much to be maruelled how they could do what they did but it plainly appeared nothing was left vndone for want of cost and that all preparation was made that the countrey could any way affoord for their enterteinment Wednesday his Lordship was visited by the Conde de Lemos accompanied with diuers Noblemen and men of good quality That day likewise and Thursday his Lordship visited aswell the Ambassadors afore mentioned as also diuers other Lords and Ladies in the towne Friday the foure and twentieth day of May Thomas Knoell Esquire his Highnesse seruant and Messenger for the deliuerie of certaine Presents to the King of Spaine expecting and attending the Kings pleasure therein was sent for by Don Blasco to come and bring the sayd Presents into a priuate Garden belonging to the Duke of Lerma where the King and Queene came in person to receiue the same The Presents were six Horses three for the King and three for the Queene with saddles and clothes very richly imbroidered and costly two Crosbowes with sheifs of Arrowes foure Fowling-pieces with their furnitures all very richly garnished and inlayed with fine plate of golde and one couple of Lime hounds of an extraordinary goodnesse Which Presents were acceptably receiued the King and Queene very much obseruing and admiring the richnesse and fashion thereof On Saturday the fiue and twentieth day of May there came to visit his Lordship the Bishop Salustius Taernsius Bishop of Montepolitan in Hetruria and Ambassador for the Duke of Florence After dinner came likewise to visit his Lordship D. Iuan de Bourch Conde de Figaroa President of Portugall with his foure sonnes That day also came to visit him together with the Constable the Conde de Oliuares accompanied with diuers Marquesses and Earles This Conde was one of them that was in England in the time of Queen Mary The same day in the afternoon his Lordship visited the Queen and deliuered her a faire rich Iewell as a token from the Queen of England Sunday and Munday his Lordship went abroad to visit diuers Nobles that had formerly been with him as also spending some part of the same time in concluding with the Councell of Spaine of matters concerning his Ambassage and of all things necessary for the effecting and
came Don Blasco to conduct his Lordship and the rest through a priuate Gallerie of the Kings which ioined to his Lordships lodging to the appointed place which was the new built banquetting house formerly spoken of by them termed the Grandsala where was appointed very conuenient roome for his Lordship and the rest of his Followers The roome was garnished with three hundred and twenty lights of wax al set in standerds of siluer of diuers fashions some great and some small After two or three seuerall songs song by diuers voices in parts placed seuerally in the same hall for that purpose the maske appeared and began as followeth First came thirty Musitions clad in long garments of red Taffaty garnished well to the shew playing on seuerall instruments After whom followed six Virgins dauncing one bearing in her hand a Sunne another a braunch of Oliue-tree another an Ancor another a Sword with two points on either point a bunch of flowers Then followed a Charriot made of an Antike fashion being drawen by two liue horses but exceeding little In the vpper part whereof sate the Infanta with a scepter of gold in her hand with the picture of a doue on the vpper end thereof at her feet sate two other Virgins who attended her On either side went diuers Pages bearing Torches of white wax At the vpper end of the Hall was appointed a very rich State all of Masons worke ascending vp by degrees richly gilded and garnished with diuers statues all gilt ouer in which were planted three chaires two great and one lesser and that between the other two In which middle chaire the Infanta being taken out from her Charriot was placed The two Virgins neere her and the other six vpon the degrees at the foot of the Estate At the neather end of the said hall stood the Maskers in a Gallery contriued for the purpose who vpon the drawing of a Curtyn appeared as it were in clowds The number of them were eight and twenty Knights and Ladies beside torch bearers wherof the King and Queen were two the rest all Grandes and men of great Honour The Ladies were all the Queens Maides The said Gallery being built in manner of an arch and fully set with looking glasses with the light of the torches shone as if it had been garnished with infinite number of starres The musicke playing the Maskers descended by foure and foure at a time in a stage made in fashion of a clowde and so dauncing to the vpper end of the Hall before they could returne backe other foure appeared and so ioined altogether vntill the number were come forth and then daunced altogether in good forme and measure After diuers daunces and measures appointed of purpose for this shew the King and Queen and so likewise all the company vnmasked themselues the King and Queen taking their seats in the places and chaires before mentioned before whom were diuers Galiards daunced by the seuerall Lords and Ladies vnmasked The Earle of Perth and the Lord Wiloughby were inuited and daunced likewise The King and Queen diuers times salied out from their chaires of Estate and daunced openly At last they began a Calling daunce which was begun by the Duke of Lerma holding a torch lighted in his left hand The maner was euery man called forth 2 women chusing one especiall conducted the other to her place and left the chosen to call out 2. men who likewise deliuering the torch to one especiall conducted the other to his seat Thus it passed to and fro amongst many of the great Lords and Ladies at last the King was called and his L. likewise but the torch being deliuered to the King his L. was againe brought to his seat The King called forth the Queen and another and after a few trauerses when the time came he should haue chosen and deliuered vp his torch he deliuered it to a Page standing by and so the sports ended Friday the seuenth of Iune his L. was appointed to take leaue of the King and so to set forward on his iourney for England therefore taking notice of his L. desire of returne ordered he should haue audience in the after noone In the meane time his Highnesse sent by Don Pedro çuniga and some other diuers chaines of gold to the number of 14. or thereabouts to some of the Kings seruants his L. chiefe officers hauing likewise before sent by Don Pedro çuniga vnto the Lords and many other Knights and especial men of his L. company and traine seuerall Iewels and chaines very rich About foure of the clocke in the after noone his Highnesse sent to his L. a very rich present of Iewels both for himselfe and his Lady which were presented to him by Don Blasco and brought by the masters officers of the Iewel house who were by him well gratified and rewarded Not long after the Constable and others came to giue his L. knowledge of the conueniency of the time for our comming to the Court whereupon his L. accompanied with the Lords Knights Gentlemen of his traine in seueral coches went to the Court where they were receaued by diuers Lords and Officers of the Court at the Pallace gate from whence the Kings guard made a passage euen to the kings Chamber The King staied to receiue his L. in a gallery which was long but narrow with whom his L. had conference in priuate by the space of three quarters of an houre and fearing to giue offence by tediousnesse made motion to his Highnesse that the lords and others of his company might likewise take their leaues The king very well pleased therewith the Lords Knights Gentlemen took their leaues being generally well respected of his Maiesty To conclude all his L. tooke his leaue also receauing many gratious and kind words from his Maiesty as also a ring with a Diamond said to be of the valew of 3000. pounds which he put vpon his L. finger and as he said in tokē of wedding him in true loue perpetually commanding the Duke of Infantadgo to conduct his L. and the rest to the Queen in like manner to take their leaue of her Maiesty Being brought to the Queen where she sate vnder a cloth of Estates with the Ladies Maids of honor about her for that it was late his L. made no long stay after a short time spent in complement tooke his leaue of her Highnesse as also so did all other the Lords and Knights of his traine to whom the Queen most respectiuely bowing her selfe with much fauor and grace gaue them a kind Farewell His L. being now throughly furnished of all conuenient meanes for his iourney about 5. of the clocke the same day being Saturday and the 8. day of Iune set forward being accompanied in his coch with the Constable diuers other noblemen in other coches accompanying his L. a mile or more out of the town where they taking their leaues departed That night we rode 6. leagues to a