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
Servants kept them company Don Antonio fitting on a stoole at the end of the Table gave subject of exception to one of the Kings Gentlemen ushers as being he said irregular and unusuall that place being ever wont to be reserved empty for State but this as a superstition of a Gentleman ushers was neglected After his Majesties dinner the Ambassador introduced by the Vice Chamberlain to the Presence of his Majesty in the Privy Gallery had there his Audience Sir John Digby and as he was parting the Lord Lysle Ghamberlain to the Queen asked me and I the Ambassador whether he had any intention to visite her Majesty he answered he thought it ill manners and a kind of disrespect at so short a warning to venture the trouble of her Majesty November the first Towards the time of Solemnity of Prince Charles his Creation for Prince of Wales the King advised with some of his Lords which of the Ambassadors French or Spanish were first to be invited to it The Spaniard had by a private and silent way offered himselfe to an Invitation The French had been earnestly pressed for by some Lords his favourous neere about the King And had he but two dayes before when he had an Audience of his Majesty made offer of his presence at the Feast his Majesty had perhaps been put to some plunge how to have excused it But on Sunday night the Eve of the Feast a resolution to invite neither was taken and I sent to the Spanish Ambassador with this Message that his Majesty thankt him much for the offer he had made to honour the Prince his Creation with his presence that some of his Majesties Servants neere him had earnestly solicited him to invite the French Ambassador but his desire having been as it should be ever to give content to all Ministers of Forren Princes he hoped and requested that he would not take it in ill part if he should not be at all invited no more then the French Ambassador should be to that Solemnity assuring him that to the next whensoever he should be invited before any The Ambassador returned him for answer that he most humbly kissed his Majesties hands and desired he would in all proceed with him as with an English man and his Servant that whensoever it should be his pleasure to do him the honour to invite him it should be his happinesse and an especiall contentment to him So againe when his Majesty should think fit he should be absent it should content him also as being his Majesties pleasure to have it so At my parting he was earnest to know whether there were not the like message and excuse sent to the French Ambassador whereof though had it been so it had been neither reason nor duty for me to discover when I assured him there was none he expressed much the greater Satisfaction About this time Cavalvere Guaratesi Agent here for the Duke of Florence being assigned an Audience of his Majesty was by mistake brought in by whom I know not by the way of the Parke and privy Gallerie and had a fire made him in the Chamber of the Ambassadors Ordinary Audience Sir Lewes Lewkner at the same time told me of him and wisht me to go to receive him but neither was that Service to be performed by me to the Person of an Agent and therefore by me declined neither was any Agent to be admitted to that place by that way but by the way of the privy Chamber November the first 1617. The Ordinary Ambassador of Venice Seignior _____ Barbarigo dying here Seignior _____ Contareni came hither Extraordinary and was brought to his first Audience at White-Hall by the Lord Clifford accompanied with halfe a score Gentlemen his Majesties Servants in his Majesties Coâ—ch and three of the Lords Coaches His house was at the Hospitall where he had attending our coming the French Ambassaâ—ors Coach the Masters of the Ceremonies who had dined with him and five or six of the Ambassadors owne and others providing After his rest in the Councell Chamber he was conducted to his Majesties Presence in the Presence Chamber and there after a breife speech Nota. and delivery of his letters of credence which before he had made an end of speaking he took not from the Secretary who held them in his hand he returned to his home in company of the Persons mentioned An Ambassador with his assistant Commissioner Chancellour of Museovey sent from that Emperour to his Majesty was the fifth of November 1617. received at Tower Wharfe by the Lord Compton having been first met at Gravesend by Sir Richard Smith and others sent in name of the City and brought up in their Barges The Kings Coach and five or six others tooke them in at Tower Wharfe but with such disorder of Gentlemen come from Court more then were appointed that too soone pressed into them as without my care and boldnes to displace some must of the better sort of Musfes have walked on foote to their Lodgings They were wellcomd at their Landing with a volley of great Ordinance from the Tower and shippes and were incountered on Tower Hill by the Aldermen of the City in their Scarlet Gownes and other Citizens in their Velvet Coates and Chaines of Gold all on Horse-back and thence conducted to their House in Bishopsgate-street where they were Lodged and defrayed at the charge of the Muscovey Company On Saturday the eight of November the Lord Chamberlain let me know his Majesties pleasure for my repaire to the French Ambassador with an assignation for his demanded Audience the next day at one of the Clock and with an excuse of unfitnesse of the houre in regard the King intended to depart that day betimes to Theobalds He came according to appointment and being introduced to his Majesties Presence I with demand of Pardon left him and taking with me the Kings Coach which together with the Lord Chamberlains attended that Service at the Court gate went without any Lord or other to accompany me to Bishopsgate-Street to setch thence the Muscovit Ambassadors to their Audience All their Servants of less esteem marched all the way on foot before him the rest in Coaches provided by the Merchants each of those on foot carrying before them with ostentation to open view some parcell of the various Present sent to his Majestie from the Emperour This consisted of Sable Furres black Foxes Ermynes Hawkes with their Hoods and Mantles covering their backs and wings all enbroydered with Gold and Pearle two lining Sables a Persian dagger and knife set with Stones and Pearles two rich Cloath of Gold Persian Horse-clothes a Persian kettle Drum to lure Hawkes with c. Besides many other Sables and black Fox furres sent the King from three of the principall Nobles of the Emperors Court and besides some presented to his Majesty from the Ambassadors and the Chancellour The Queene and Prince had likewise their severall presents of furrs from all
now recovered and was indeed judged so to have done by the three Lords mentioned when dineing with the Bride he had the honour of the Princesse Company and Supping of both their Majesties neither of these having fallne to the Spanish Ambassador at the Marriage of the Earle of Sommerset The 5. of January 1614. The Earl of Sommerset then Lord Chamberlain notwithstanding he understood how the yeare before the Spanish and Arch-Dukes Ambassadors had been invited to the Marriage of him the Earle of Sommerset and not the French nor the Venetian for the reasons elsewhere appeareing gave me directions to invite the Spanish and the Venetian not usually coupled ut supra to a Maske of Gentlemen set forth at the charge of his Majesty and to come at an houre about six in the Evening to a Supper that should be prepared for them in the Councel Chamber They both with one question of what Ambassadors would be there and my assurance that I understood of none besides themselves as indeed then I did not accepted the Invitation and came the next day at the time appointed A little before Supper the Spanish Ambassador taking me aside desired me to deale freely with him to tel him whether Sir Noell Caron the States Ambassador were invited and if invited what place was intended him whether in publique neere his Majesty or in private in some Corner of the Roome I answered that I knew then and not before that he was invited and would be there But in which of those conditions publique or private I could not resolve him Hereupon he requested me immediately to go to my Lord Chamberlain for clearing of this doubt wherewith acquainting his Lordship and he his Majesty I returned with this assurance That Sir Noell Caron was invited and should be placed within the Barres neare the King as Ambassadors used to be To this he made his replye desiring me to convey it to the Lord Chamberlaine that if Sir Noell Caron should be togeather with him at Supper or in any other place then in the Kings presence he would use him with all the respects of civility but in so honourable a place as that where the sacred persons of the King Queene and Prince were to be present he should never with patience see the Representant of his Masters Vassalls and Rebells so he called them hold an equall ranck with him That it was directly against his Instructions to concurr with him in any publique Act as an Ambassador and that therefore it would be better for him as he intended with the favour of his Majesty to retire himselfe betimes without noise then to be forced as he must to discharge his duty by publique exception and protestation against the presence of him Sir Noell Caron to the disturbance of so royall an Assembly and whereupon I told him as from my Lord Chamberlain that his Lordship was informed his predecessor Don Alonso de Velasco had stood upon no such Puntillio when Sir Noell Caron had at another time been invited as now and sate as it was now determined he should he said he was most assured there never had been such a concurrence so as returning from him with this answer I fortuned to deliver it in the hearing of my Lord Treasurer and received from his Lordship an assurance that upon his knowledge and in his sight his predecessor Don Alonso de Velasco had indured without any exception the placing of the States Ambassador at the left hand of the King while he Don Alonso sate on the right But this neither would satisfie him nor hold him from affirming that not to contradict he said my Lord Treasurer who yet might forget or mistake in some circumstances he would ingage his head to be cut off if there ever had been any such placing which being againe reported by me to my Lords Chamberlain and Treasurer they both went to the King and debating the businesse with his Majesty first in presence of sundry of the Bedd-Chamber and after more in private with halfe a dozen of other Lords my Lord Treasurer my Lord Chamberlain my Lord of Worcester and I to attend them were sent to him into the Councell Chamber and there intreating first the Venetian Ambassador to pardon them if they did awhile leave him alone taking onely the Ambassadors Interpreter and my selfe with them into a little Roome there by my Lord Treasurer delivered the Kings mind to this purpose That his Majesty having invited him to the Maske with a mind to give him all content was sorry that this question should grow to disturbe it That his Majesty went upon grounds of former presidents of the like concurrence in the time of the Ambassadors predecessors and that the had for witnesses of it besides his owne memorie the Queene the Prince and sundry of the Lords who affirmed they had seene it That his Majesty having heretofore intertained Sir Noell Caron in that manner and now invited him as an Ambassador he left it to his consideration what injury he should do to abate of his accustomed respects towards him That whereas the Ambassador affirmed it was formally his Instructions not to concurr with him in any publique Act his Majesty wondred that his predecessor should not have the like Instructions or having had such should forget or neglect to stand upon it that if he had any such his Majesty requested him that reserving other matter which he in no sort desired that he should communicate besides that purpose he might have a sght of it for his fuller satisfaction To this the Ambassador replyed with many acknowledgments of the honour his Majesty had done him c. That first the witnesses his Majesty had produced were so substantiall as should he with his owne eyes have seene the contrary he should not have trusted them in opposition of their Testimony That if it should be known to the King his Master that Don Alonso had committed such errour it would be enough to make him loose his head That it was true that in his generall instructions received from the hand of the King his Master it was not intended but that upon his Arrivall in England finding in what condition of respect Sir Noell Caron was held here he wrote particularly to the King for his pleasure about his manner of carriage towards Sir Noell Caron in case he should be put to it upon any incounter of Negotiation or otherwise whereunto he had received by letter from his Majesty his will intimating That in concurrence of ordinary civill respects he should use him with courtesy but in no case admit concurrence with him in or to any publique Act and that his Majesty should be an eye witnesse of the letter at his pleasure The Venetian who remaind in the meane time in the Councell Chamber having been by the Spanish Ambassador before the Lords entrance made acquainted with the difference like to grow had affirmed to him That he could himselfe remember that when Don
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
Councell Chamber he had his dinner provided at his Majesties charge in the Lord Chamberlaines Lodgings therby and conducted thence in the time of his Majesties dinner to the Banquetting House he stood at his right hand intertaining discourse with him all the later part of his Majesties dinner About the beginning of July arrived at London a Young Nobleman of Poland Son to the great Zomoiski the famous Chancellour of that Kingdome he demanded accesse to his Majesty by a Germane one Ryder that then lived in England who speaking in hearing of Sir William Button Assistant of the Ceremonies as if the Master of the Ceremonies had been in great fault to have neglected to presse his desire of presenting his Service to the King was reprooved by Sir William Button for so rashly condemning the Master of the Ceremonies then imployd into Kent to meete and receive the new come French Ordinary Ambassador asking him if Zomoiski were a Prince Soveraigne or an extraordinany Ambassador that he should challenge that respect of a King not to be seene at the pleasure and time of every stranger But this difference quietted with the forward Germanes strikeing saile he had an Audience appointed and given him two dayes after in the Kings withdrawing Chamber The second or third day following the same Zâ—moiski sent to the Master of the Ceremonies to let him know of an invitation he had received from the King by a letter written to him in his Majesties name from Mr. John Murray of the Bedd-Chamber to hunt with his Majesty at Theobalds and asked by his Messenger the Master of the Ceremonies opinion and Counsell touching his intention to be present at Court the next Sunday as his letter intimated at the Audience for that day assigned of the new French Ambassador and touching his manner of carriage at it Answer was returned him by Sir Lewes Lewkner that he would not take upon him to resolve or advise a man of his quality especially having himselfe received no direction from the Lord Chamberlain to the purpose of his Invitation so left him doubtfull but not enough to hinder his repaire notwithstanding to Court on Sunday after dinner though too late to come to the Ambassadors Audience Who that day the second of July had it at Theobalds setcht in the Morning from his House at Charter-House by the Lord Walden appointed with Sir Lewes Lewkner Mons. de Mareth my selfe and halfe a score Gentlemen to accompany him thither whither he had for his transport one of the Kings Coaches and three others at the charge of his Majesty besides two or three of his owne providing Arriving at one of the clock he was brought to rest himselfe in the Councell Chamber and at two was called thence by the Master of the Ceremonies and conducted by the Lord Walden to his Audience in the Presence Chamber where the King standing under the State the Ambassador marcht towards him his owne followers first next the Kings Servants that had accompained him from London next before him Sir Lewes Lewkner and at his side the Lord Walden The Ambassador observing as little respect at his approaches as had been till then seene after some few wordes of Complement he presented his Letters which while his Majesty read he in all that time nor before did so much as cast his eye towards the Prince there present till Sir Lewes Lewkner rounding my Lord Walden in the eare his Lordship stept to him with an admonition for his addresse to the Prince which the Ambassador tooke But whether this admonition were well given or well taken or had been better deferred till the King had read his Letters or best of all perhaps intimated immediately after he had performd his respects to the King it may be a Quere His Majesty invited him once to cover at first but the Ambassador excusing the King put on and the other still stood bare headed till the King having read the Letter his Majesty put off againe and falling to a discourse with him of some length he never after covered till he was out of the Chamber He returned to London with Sir Lewes Lewkner and his followers attendance onely my Lord Walden leaving him at the Court gate and remaining that night not perhaps without a Solecisme in Ceremonie at Theobalds A day or two before his Audience a question fell out between Mr. Secretary Winwood and the Master of the Ceremonies whether the French Ambassador mentioned were or ought to be invited to dine at Court the Court being so far out of London the day of his first Audience Sir Lewes Lewkner said he knew of no such order why then quoth the Secretarie who should know it but his Majesty he added is ill served and ill instructed and those things now a dayes which should be done are not and those not done which should be The other replyed he was none of his Majesties Tutors and for himselfe he was to receive his directions from the Lord Chamberlaine and without them not to undertake any thing in his Office but to answer he said more directly he knew not wherein he had done amisse yes when said Mr. Secretary this French Ambassadors Ordinary was met by you in Kent when he should not and should have had a dinner provided for him in Court the day of his first Audience An errour of the Secretary which was neglected Sir Lewes produced his owne experience against both his assertions affirming he had met such and such Ambassadors on the way at some Towne between London and Dover and extraordinaries at their first landing and that Ambassadors Ordinary had many times to his knowledge had no dinner given them by the King at their first Audience November the first Seignior Barbarigo who about a moneth before came to reside here Ambassador in place of Seignior Foscarini departed his Majesty being at that time absent at Royston was conducted from Charter-house to White-Hall by the Lord Haye for his first Audience attended by many Gentlemen of his Majesties privy Chamber in two of the Kings Coaches and seaven or eight of the Lords besides five or six others hyred by himselfe Being come to White-Hall he had his conduction together with his Predecessor through the first Court up the great Staires by the Guard Chamber into the Councell Chamber where my Lord Haye remaining with him while the Master of the Ceremonies went to give an account that he was come he was after brought to his Majesty in the Presence no other Lord receiving him at the Presence doore the Earle of Somerset Lord Chamberlaine being then in Prison His Predecessor preceding and first speaking he delivered his Letters and a breife speech with a voice audible over all the Roome Whence reconducted by the same Lord and the Gentlemen mentioned to his house they there found beyond expectation a long Table ready covered and many white wax Lights not yet it not being foure of the Clock lighted When my Lord Haye offering
to parte but invited to stay at Supper though unseasonably perhaps at so short a warning for a person of his quality after some importunity of the Ambassador yeelded but with excuse to indeare it might seeme his invitation over suddaine and familiar that he must first returne to White-Hall to waite on his Majesty promising to returne speedily as he did with such Gentlemen of his Company as would accompany him The supper was sumptuous excellently ordered and of five severall Services The guests at it were thus ranged At the Tables end my Lord Haye alone at his right hand the old Ambassador and beneath him the new at his left hand Sir Henry Wotton then nominated Ambassador for Venice and beneath him Sir Henry Rich the rest in their places Within few weekes after the Ambassador Foscarini departed who after at Venice being a man free full of fancy of a stirring Spirit and undertaking was accused to the State of holding intelligence with the Spaniard by three or foure conspiring Villaines for what ends either of malice to him or advantage to themselves I know not and condemned and strangled in Prison but not long after being found guiltless by his Accusers Confession his Body was disinterred buryed with Solemnity and his Family that after the course of that severe State suffered were restored to their suspended charges in that Republique The fifth of November the day of the Powder Treason his Majesty had invited the Arch-Dukes Ambassador Monsieur de Eoiscot to dine with him He was conducted into the privy Gallerie Chambers somewhat before dinner and thence to the Kings presence His Majesty dined in the privy Chamber where as soon as he was set the Ambassador having washed apart sate down also at the Boards end at the left hand of the King rising at the end of dinner an instant before his Majesty he followed him back into the privy Lodgings His Secretary and other Servants two onely left to attend him at the Table had at the same time ten or twelve dishes of meate served them in the Chappell Chamber on the Kings side He demanded after dinner Audience of the Prince but whether his Highnesse had such businesse with the Queen his Mother as his excuse carryed or that he thought the demand of the Ambassadors Audience unseasonable and too familiar with so short a warning he had it not till the next day when he came purposely for it at the houre of his Assignation The Venetian Ambassador Foscarini being after some five or six yeares time of his residence to returne for Venice a day or two before he had desired for his departure his Majesties present of Plate being brought to his House he addressed himselfe to Sir Dudley Carleton then newly returned from his Ordinary Ambassage at Venice with a complaint that whereas his Secretary Muscorus with whom he had had a long and harsh difference had been presented at his departure above halfe a yeare before with a chayne of Gold of an 100 l. value being he said more by 40 l. then any of this place had before received he an Ambassador that had resided here the time of a double Ambassage was unproportionably rewarded adding That if he knew how to carry it without discovery he would at his owne charge make up the ordinary value the present as he affirmed consisting of not above 600. ounces of gilt plate To cleere the mistaking deceit or intention of this proceeding I went for better satisfaction of the Ambassador and of Sir Dudly Carleton who thought himselfe in regard of his late imployment bound to stir in it to Mr. Seymer one of the Officers of the Jewell House under Sir Henry Carewe Mr. of it and was assured by him that it was of the Kings own ordinance and regulating if the value of the Present prooved lesse then accustomed his Majesty haveing he said been informed that his liberality towards Ambassadors in the Presents bestowed on them at their parting exceeded that of other Princes to his Ambassadors so as he was resolved upon a defalcation And whereas the French and Spanish Ordinaries were wont to have bestowed on them each 4000. ounces of gilt Plate his Majesty had begun with the French Ambassador Monsieur de Buisseaux and had sent him but two thousand ounces the like course he said he held not long after with Monsieur de Boiscot Ambassador for the Arch-Duke whose predecessors having before had sixteen hundred ounces he was assigned and received but eight hundred So answerably the Venetian Ambassadors having usually received at their departures two thousand ounces this had ordered him after the proportion of the other but a thousand ounces and for so much the said Officer affirmed he would justify the weight of his Present which might in reason have kept him from murmur in regard he was by that proportion honoured with the gift of 200. ounces more then was the Arch-Dukes Ambassador who had stood with him in competition for precedence The King being desirous that the French Venetian and Savoyard Ambassadors should all be invited to a Maske at Court prepared for New-years night an exception comming from the French was a cause of deferring their invitation till Twelfe night when the Maske was to be re-acted This French Ambassador having demanded Audience by the mediation of the Lord Haye and not obtained it as he affected haveing not taken the due course of accesse by the Chamberlain the Earle of Pembrooke or being perhaps forgotten was offended that the Spanish Ambassador who had demanded one before the Kings remoove to Royston but was referred to his conveniency at his returne thence should have as he had an Audience before him With this consideration and not without his Majesties sence of such formality he was not invited till for the Twelfe night when he with the other two mentioned were received at eight of the Clock the houre assigned no Supper being prepared for them as at other times to avoid the trouble incident and were conducted to the privy Gallery by the Lord Chamberlaine and the Lord Danvers appointed an honour more then had been formerly done to Ambassadors Ordinary to accompany them the Master of the Ceremonies being also present They were all there placed at the Maske on the Kings right hand not right out but Byas forward first and next to the King the French next him the Venetain and next him the Savoyard At his Majesties left hand sate the Queene and next her the Prince The Maske being ended they followed his Majesty to a Banquet in the Presence and returned by the way they entered the followers of the French were placed in a seate reserved for them above over the Kings right hand the others in one on the left The Spanish Ambassadors Son Seig. Van Mall and the Agent of the Arch-Duke who invited himselfe were bestowed on the forme where the Lords sit next beneath the Barons English Scotish and Irish as the Sonns of the Ambassador of
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
these mentioned alltogether esteemed worth 4000 l. sterling The Ambassadors were received at the Court gate by the Lord Shandoys and on the top of the staire at the enterie to the Guard Chamber by the Earle of Shrewsbury and by these conducted along the Terras immediatly the King allready expecting them with some impatience into the Banquetting House There at the doore they were met by the Lord Chamberlaine and being entred the Roome the exceeding press of the people so hindred their profound Superstitious reverences As stooping and knocking their for cheads against the ground or rather Adorations intended to have been thrice but by that hindrance only once and that close before his Majestie performed by them as it turned much to their discountenance and discontent Those that carried the Present about fifty were after the Ambassador had finished his Speech and Interpretation made of it commanded to pass along on the left hand and in sight of his Majestie by one and one in the Privie Gallery where his Majesty might at leasure in his return take better view of what the press before had hindred The Lord Chamberlain reconducted the Ambassadors after their dismission to the door of the Banquetting House the other Lords to the Stations of the first Reception and I only to their Lodging The fourteenth of December I was sent by the Lord Viscount â—â—sle Lord Chamberlain to the Queen to conduct the Wife of the French Ambassador to the presence of her Majesty at Denmarke House where at the Gate I received her and brought her to a Chamber for her repose at the right hand of the first Court thither after a small time of stay repaired for her entertainment and to accompany her to her Majestie the Lady Blanch Arundell Mistress Barbara Sydney Mistress Southwell of the Queens privy Chamber and Mistress Gargrave one of her Majesties maides of Honour not long after a Gent. Usher bringing word that the Queen was come forth into the Privy Chamber she passed with this Company her Servants going before her towards her Majestie and was met at the Presence Chamber door by the Lord Chamberlain and received by her Majestie without a kiss from her though by some expected This done she returned reconducted by the Lord Chamberlain to the Gaurd Chamber by the mentioned Ladyes to the entrance of the Portico of the first Court and by my self to her Coach The 17. of December by Order of the Lord Chamberlain to the Queen I and two of her Majesties Gentlemen with her Majesties Coach and another attended Sir Thomas Summerset Son to the Earl of Worcester for the Conduct of the Venetian Ambassador to his first Audience of her Majestie we found him ready at his House at the Spittle with two Choaches of his own and some Gent. Strangers to accompany him thence Bringing him first to the Councell Chamber at Denmarke House he was introduced by the Lord Chamberlain to the Queen into the Privie Chamber and after delivery of his Letters and some few words of complement he returned home with the company mentioned Sir Thomas Somerset would have taken leave of him so soone as he entred the fore-Court of his House but I telling him it was the Custome and would be expected that he should leave him in his Chambers he would not be perswaded to pass further then he had which the Ambassador resenting went sodainely from him without so much as offering to accompany him back towards his Coach and not without shewing a countenance of infatisfaction The 28. of November Sir Thomas Spence Lord of Wormstone who had been a Generall in the Wars of the King of Sweden let me know that an Ambassador extraordinary from that King was arrived at Gravesend and there attended Order for his proceeding My Lord Chamberlaine was not then in Town and because I was tender in taking any course without his Lordships directions and that also I knew not whether the Master of the Ceremonies then also out of Town might have already received Order for that Service I wrote to him a Letter signifying my knowledge of that imployment toward for which if he had already Order I might be discharged He wrote answer that he knew it two dayes before and would himself the next day go about it and so did fetching him from Gravesend to his abiding in the Crouchet Fryers The fourth of December Master Secretary Lake sent for me and shewed me a Letter he had then received from the Earl of Buckingham then with the King at Newmarket signifying in Answer of and by him from my Lord Chamberlaine That whereas the Ambassador of the King of Sweden was desirous of an Audience there the King was pleased he should have it but not to be defraied as that which had never yet been done to any of that Kings Ambassadors neither would he bring up any such Custome but that for Coaches and other things usuall his Majesties pleasure was that Order should be taken to furnish him Upon sight of this Letter I desired Sir Thomas Lake to send to the Master of the Ceremonies but he was out of Town as was also the lord Chamberlaine whom when he returned I acquainted with the business At the first he was of Opinion that the Ambassador himself must pay for the hire of his Coaches but I intimating that it was his first Audience he was to go to at which usually his Majesty sent his own Coach for service of Ambassadors he assented that he should have Coaches at the Kings charge but not that he should have carriages so for his Baggages also demanded as being an allowance without president yet this also at the last besides the hire of two horses was yeelded to and we setting forth from London the eight of December came the first night to Puckerage whence I wrote by a Servant sent before with the Ambassadors Cookes to the Earle of Buckingham to signifie our approach and that if his Majesties pleasure were to do the Ambassador any further honour by incounter of some Noble Person on the way his Lordship might have time to take and give directions for it But his Majesty and my Lord being when my letters came allready horsed to ride on hunting all rested without further order till the evening that we arrived at our Lodging whence I went immediately to my Lord of Buckingham my Lord Chamberlain being then at London with the accoumpt of our comming and to solicite the Ambassadors Audience but this being referred for resolution to the next morning I acquainted Mr. Secretary Lake and the Lord Fenton with the Ambassadors desire of dispatch and at eleaven of the Clock before noone obtained the Kings pleasure for accesse at two After noone when the Lord Clifford with halfe a dozen Gentlemen of the privy Chamber his Majesties Coach and the Bishop of Winchesters went to receive him at his Lodging and with the Ambassadors followers in other foure Coaches that brought us from London brought him to Court
He was conducted without stay any where to the Presence Chamber where his Majesty was already come forth to receive him Having delivered his letters of credence he made an Oration to the purpose of the Kings Princely Office of mediation for Peace between the King of Denmark and Sweden of almost an houre long Which finished and breifely answered by his Majesty in the same Language the Ambassador turned to the Prince and beginning to him another formall speech the King left him so did the Ambassadors after a while the Prince and returned to his Lodgings This was on Thursday The Saturday following about ten of the clock at night came to my Lodging one of the Pages of the Bedd-Chamber to tell me from his Majesty that his pleasure was I should invite the Ambassador to dine with him the next day which I performed in the morning and had his Majesties Coach no more attending at the Court gate about Noone when the King having ordered that a Noble man should fetch him from his Lodging it was held by others needlesse and except at his first Audience now past and at his last I onely might serve the turne for his conduction which was allowed of and I with Sir James Spence onely brought him through the Presence into the withdrawing Chamber where the King within a while entering he took him with him to dinner in the Presence Chamber About the midst of the Table as accustomed sate the King at his left hand the Prince and at the Tables end beneath the Ambassador who had for his Carver none but the Princes and for his cup one of his own Gentlemen Before dinner a question grew which was diversly argued according to opinions whether the Prince were to fit covered at dinner or no in Presence of his Father seeing the Ambassador as a Kings representant was not to sit uncovered Some affirmed they had seene the Prince sit bare headed when an Ambassador had his hat on others otherwise But the King cleared all when after I had given him an hint of the question and that himselfe had sate a while uncovered he put on and willed the like to be done by the Prince and the Ambassador The Ambassadors Gentlemen had no Table appointed for them by the Kings expresse order because he said the young Prince of Anhaults Gentlemen who had been with him the weeke before had none though the reason might not seem to serve for one as for the other the different qualities of their Masters considered but were sent two or three of the cheife of them to the Table of the Groome of the Stoole the Lord Fenton the rest dined after with the Princes Waiters When dinner was done the King retyred himselfe and left the Ambassadors there in the withdrawing Chamber to attend there his returne which was an houre after and then holding with him a private conference his Servants were after admitted into the roome with whom I entring his Majesty drew out my Sword and knighted with it the Ambassador From thence the Ambassador went by assignation from the Prince who would save him he said his offered paines of going to his Inn and returning streight to his Highnesse Lodgings and after a short Audience tooke his leave His Majesty by the mediation of Sir James Spence was pleased besides giving him a Patent for confirmation of his Knight-hood to add a marke of honour to his Coate of Armes The next day we left New-Market dined at Cambridge saw the best Colledges there lay the first night at Newport neare Audley end which rare Building of the Earle of Suffolks the Ambassador also saw lodgd the next night at Waltham and after ten dayes absence were againe at London There after the Ambassador had rested a day or two he demanded Audience of the Queene but her Majesty refused to give it without other reason or excuse then that the King his Master had not written to her and why should she then she said see his Servant Towards the day of his parting the King being then returned to London and he having already taken leave of his Majesty at New-Market it was held by some of the Lords that his Majesty neede send him no present his businesse they said little concerning us here and his Master a remote Prince of little or of no necessary correspondence with us Besides he was sent hither with that Kings interest onely as with a demand of aid against the King of Poland and to solicite his Majesties mediation for freindship between him and the King of Denmarke and sinally to thank his Majesty for the good and beneficiall Office he had done the King and State of Swethland in composing by his Ambassador the bloody differences between them and the Russians with other the like reasons too frugally perhaps alleadged for sparing of a Present But I intimating to my Lord Chamberlain that seeing he had not been here defrayed by his Maâ—esty further then by his Coaches and Carriages had been otherwise well looked on and graced by his Majesty had fairely carried the businesse he came for of expressing of thankefullnesse and was the first Ambassador that ever came from that King since his coming to the Crown of Swethen His Lordship moved his Majesty in it and so prevailed as that he sent him by me a Diamond Ring and his picture inclosed in it worth about 2000 l. sent to him I said when I presented it as a private Toaken without publique Ceremonie to be worne by him not for the value but for the senders memory A day or two after he departed without any attendance or convoy of Barges or Coaches to Gravesend and there tooke Shiâ—ping I moved my Lord Chamberlain for the Ambassadors use of the Kings Barge to Gravesend but his Lordship answered me he knew of no such custome and could therefore give no such directions But his Lordship was herein mistaken both for the extent of his owne power and the Ambassadors right the custome having ever been for the Lord Chamberlain to command and for Ambassadors especially extraordinaries to use his Majesties Barges to and from Gravesend as at their coming so at their parting January 5 1617. My Lord Chamberlain acquainting me with the pleasure of his Maâ—esty for an Invitation already in charge to Sir Thomas Smith cheife of the Muscovey company to be delivered to the Ambassador and Commissioner of that Emperour for their dining the next day with his Maâ—esty his Lordship added that he had given order to the Jewell house for a faire guilt cup to be provided which when his Maâ—esty had drunke in to the Ambassador it was upon his pledge after the custome of that Country to be left to him as a present of the Kings favour whereupon I was bold to demand of his Lordship how he thought it would be apprehended if the Chancellor his Collegue should not receive the like honour this moved his Lordship to send to the Merchants for their opinion which brought forth
a resolutton that the honour which one had the other would no question expect and that threfore both must be alike proceeded with So the next day I was sent to them with the Kings Coach and the Marquesse of Buckinghams with the company of foure or five of the Kings Servants an honour more then usuall at such invitations but the Merchants had made it their request and it was not stood on for satisfaction of that particular Ambassador whose Nation stands so much on Ceremony with order to me to bring them to the Court gate by eleaven of the Clock and this without stay through the Guard Chamber and Presence to the privy Chamber where his Majesty would be seated under the State ready to receive them And that after their Complement should be passed thence I was to conduct them along the privy Gallery to the Councell Chamber for their conference with the Lords about their Negotiation while the King should be at Chappell and after to conduct them along the Terras and by the way they had before passed to the privy Chamber to dinner But all this designed course was inverted by his Majesties impatience to stay so long for them when by reason I had relyed on my Lord Marquesse of Buckinghams assurance over night that he would give order as Master of the Horse for the Kings coach to be ready the next day at the appointed houre and his Lordship had forgotten it we could not come to Court being so retarded till after eleaven so as the King being already gone to Chappell I received a direction different from the former and discending from the Coaches at the Court gate then happened another incongruity the Lord de la ware appointed to receive them there did not appeare at his time so as the Ambassadors Puntillios in their reception made a stand under the Court gate but at last against their Ceremonious stomacks went on as far as the midst of that first Court where they were met by the said Lord and after on the top of the Stone stayres by Richard Earle of Dorset which two Lords conducted them over the Terras into the Councell Chamber kept them company with almost an hours patience till his Majesties return from Chappell they were at last brought through the Stone-Table Chamber where the Lord Chamberlaine met them to the privy Gallery where about the midst of it stood the King and received them and was thence followed by them into the Privie Chamber where the two Ambassadors seared at the Tables end of his Majesties left hand they had their Health drunk to them by his Majestie after their Country manner and the two Cups they drunk in presented to them After this followed their Emperors Health drunk to them by his Majestie Their servants about fifty of them had a Dinner provided in the Guard Chamber where the Guard that waited on them failed not of their accustomed care by soone shifting away their Dishes to keep them from surfeiting The Ambassadors after Dinner were reconducted by the two Lords mentioned to their severall Stations and by me and some of the Kings Servants to their Lodgings Their failing at the time of their assignation as before was a cause that the conference they should then have had with the Councell was deferred till the day following at nine of the Clock which should have been otherwise either immediatly before Dinner or in the afternoon if they had not alleadged for excuse that it was the Custome of their Country that whensoever an Ambassador was to have an Audience of the Prince his Councell they were to see the Prince his Eyes first but in regard that their feasting with the King where they said they hoped his Majestie would allow them the liberty to take their Drink which they must forbear if business were immediatly to follow they desired they might not have their Audience till the next morning and then see his Majesties Eyes before they should see his Councellors This request though unusuall thought reasonable and granted I about nine in the morning fetcht them from their home where the Chancellor took exceptions that he had never a Gentleman sent to sit within his Coach which was the Lord Chamberlaines sent ordinarily then with the Kings as I did with his fellow Commissioner And bringing them by direction through the Park and the Tylt-yard Gallery to the Ordinary Chamber of attendance for Audiences the King saw them only in the next Roome save one to the Privie Gallerie and there with three words and their low reverences left them to the Councell Eight of which having gone before into the Councell Chamber and comming back to meet and receive them in the Stone-Table Chamber they were by them introduced the Ambassador preceding their Business heard they dispatcht brought back by the Councell to the Chamber where the King had seen them and they as they desired his Majesties Eyes and there left to my reconduction which they had to their Lodgings A Mask prepared for Twelftyde wherein the Prince was to be a principall Actor and that his first Exercise in that kinde was a subject for the King to invite to it the Spanish Ambassador and to observe the promise his Majestiy had made him the yeare before to that purpose the rather because a Marriage between the Prince and the Infanta was then in Treaty The French Ambassador in the mean time being left with litle or no regard of satisfaction given or sought to be given him either by private excuse or otherwise At which neglect as he understood it he took such shadow and offence as repairing to Court and demanding as unseasonably perhaps as impatiently Access to his Majesty was entertained by one or two Lords of the Bed-Chamber whom he that instant incountered with as satisfactory reasons as they could frame for diversion but with little effect though Sir Thomas Edmons Comptroller of his Majesties House who had been in France Ambassador were together with the Master of the Ceremonies sent to him immediatly after to the same purpose of modification so as standing first upon his Masters right of Priority before any other Kings particularly before that of Spaine and affirming that he could prove by many Presidents of our own that if the Spanish Ambassador were ever heretofore present at any such entertainment or Solemnity at Court it was by the French Ambassadors permission when either he would not be there or that he was sent to by his Majesty with intreaty to excuse his absence He at last threatned to make protestation against the wrong done his Master in his Ambassadors person But this threatning little it seems regarded by his Majestie who was resolved vpon his course for entertainment of the Spanish was a cause of the French Ambassadors sending his Secretary Post into France with the Account of the Kings and his own proceeding and of the Letters that came shortly after with his Revocation before his three years Residence wanting but
as much murmured that they could have with them but a third part of 100000 Markes yeelded to be lent their Emperour and for which notwithstanding they knew not how to give one Marks worth of sufficient Security c. They went within few dayes after accompanied with Sir Dudley Digs his Majesties Ambassador to the Emperour of Russia downe to Gravesend and thence North-ward in such Ships as the Merchants of the Muscovy company had provided for their returne and for the continuance of the re-established Traffick of those parts In September 1618. The Lords of the Councell had committed to a Justice of Peace his House in nature of close Prisoner one Monsieur de la Chenay a French Gentleman late one of the followers of Monsieur de Mareth and now a domestique of Monsieur de Clere left Agent here after the departure of the Ambassador for having confessed upon examination before the Lords that he had an hand by the said Agents imployment in an escape that Sir Walter Rawleigh would have made into France for some disservice to his Majesty The Agent being hereupon sent for and appearing before the Lords assembled in the Councell Chamber refused to answer unto Interrogations till he should be proceeded with as others qualified as he was had been alleadging further that Mr. Bercher at the same time Agent for his Majesty in France had at an Audience before the Councell of State there pretended and claimed a right and honour done to his Representative quality viz. Not to propound his businesse till they the Lords Councellours should stand up as he did and be uncovered as he was in that place Ambassador he said being allowed to sit and be covered as they the Councellors also were at the time of their Audiences This le Clere affirmed had been yeelded to by the King his Masters Councellors and that he had reason to challeng the like from their Lordships The Lords Answer was that severall Countries had severall formes and that the manner of proceeding in France was no rule for ours in England where custome had made it otherwise But this answer would not serve to draw any from le Clere for satisfaction of their demands till at length the Lords neither to yeeld to him nor to force his resolution thought good to retyre themselves and him with them into another Chamber and there as by way of private discourse where the place being no Councell Chamber no odds of observance were given or taken they examined him upon his followers la Chenays confessions and actions he twice with great oathes denied all knowledge of them till at length la Chenay brought further to confront him acknowledging and confessing as he had done to the Lords before the truth of his imployment for Sir Walter Rawleighs escape le Clere could no further out-face it but with shame confessed it Whereof as soon as his Majesty was informed he was in his Majesties name commanded by the Lords to surcease from all further negotiation or exercise of his charge and not to come in presence of his Majesty till a messenger sent instantly post to France should returne with signification of that Kings pleasure for the avowing or dissavowing of his Ministers actions About a moneth after a letter came in answer with particular charge as the Agent pretended that he was to deliver it himselfe to the Kings own hand To which purpose posting to Royston where his Majesty then was and making offer himselfe to present his Letter he could not be admitted but being referred for delivery of it to one of the Lords that then attended his Majesty he refused it and said he would personally as he had command or not at all performe that Service So as returning to London and thence in few dayes to France with the same Letters undelivered and the account of his proceeding the Revocation of his Majesties Agent followed c. A Chiaus or messenger from Turkey being arrived at Gravesend was received there October the thirteenth by the Lord Rich accompanied with his Brother Sir Henry Rich the Master of the Ceremonies my selfe and halfe a score other Gentlemen that Lord entertained noblie at his owne charge all the company went the next morning from his owne Inn to the Chiauses and thence conducting him to the Kings Barge and two others come down for his Service and Landing him at Tower Wharfe we there entred the Lords Coach and other of his friends and of the City the Kings Coach not then serving and brought him to his Lodging defrayed as was also his diet during his stay here by the Turkey Merchants He had within few dayes after his publique Audience of his Majesty in the Banquetting House purposely hung for him with rich hangings where his Majesty touched one of his followers said to be his Son for cure of the Kings Evill useing at it the accustomed Ceremony of Signing the place infected with the crosse but no prayers before or after An Ambassador from Venice Seignior _____ Donati being come to reside here in place of Seignior _____ Contareni recalled by the Republique was brought to his first Audience the first of November by the Lord Clifford the Master of the Ceremonies seven or eight other nominated Gentlemen and my selfe as voluntary the Kings Coach the Lord Marquesse of Buckinghams and three other serving he was taken into them at the house of his predecessor mentioned and their places taken up by themselves in the Coach both on one side the Ancienter having the right hand next the Horses and the other side left to the Lord Clifford and the Master of the Ceremonies There came with us fifteen or sixteen Coaches to the Court The Ambassadors guided over the Terras to the Councell Chamber and after halfe an hours repose there back to the Guard Chamber were at the Presence doore received and introduced by the Lord Chamberlain for their Audience c. This Ambassador Donati was not long after revoked by his Prince for misdemeanors in his charge whilst he was Ambassador in Savoy and Seignior Geronime Landi sent to reside here in his stead A Maske of certain Lords and others being prepared for Twelfe night and to be represented in the Hall at White-Hall the Banquetting House having been burnt a little before gave occasion to his Majesty who had been often troubled with the Puntillious differences of Ambassadors about invitations precedencies and the like to take advantage of this more quiet time then accustomed while no French nor Spanish Ministers were here and to begin a new course at least pretended if not intended no more to admit of Ambassadors to sit with his Majesty under the State and to this purpose gave order for a Box or seate to be made apart with Stooles Cushions and leaning Carpets to be bestowed in it on his Majesties right but somewhat obliquely forward and therein were placed without exceptions from any of them the new come Venetian Ambassador Donati and foure Commmissioners sent
the Ambassadrice or by chance I know not sate beneath two or three Ladies that she in right of ranck should have preceded After Supper they had the entertainment of a Maske presented by nine young Gentlemen whereof the Lord Montjoy and a Son of the Lord Hollis were two c. The Ambassador having remained here about fifteen dayes took leave of his Majesty at White-Hall and was presented with a Chayn of Diamonds being an old Jewell of the Crowne of 300 l. valew which because it was not Plate the King and Councell having upon the sight of so much equivalent to that sum judged it not fit to deprive the Kingdome of it was not brought to the Ambassador by the Master of the Jewell House Sir Henry Mildmay but by the Master of the Ceremonies The Ambassador having been defrayed for his Dyet Lodging and Coaches at the rate as was said of 200 l. per diem went to Gravesend the _____ of January himselfe and some few by Land the rest by water attended thence by Sir Lewes Lewkner onely to his imbarquing at Dover When it was thought that the Spanish Ambassador would have held it an indignity and wrong to his Master to be present at a Maske seen before by a French Ambassador as the last and the same Maske had been by the Mareshall de Cadenet at Twelftide he appeared at it on Shrove-Sunday seated at the left hand of his Majesty under the State different from what had been formerly resolved on that no Ambassador in regard of their troublesome Puntillious should any more sit so with his Majesty and had his family placed over a Box at the Kings right hand in which were placed the Spanish Ambassadors two Sons together with the Arch-Dutchess Agent In January Arrived at Gravesend six Commissioners from the States of the United Provinces viz. Messieurs de Senthusen Carmelin Soneh Bruyning Schot and de Vervow and the Secretary of their Commission Captain Huggins they were Lodged in Lumbarstreet and had their first Audience in the Privy Galleries at White-Hall As being but Deputies which had been enough for Ambassadors fetcht to it by the Lord Clifford and divers Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber in above twenty Coaches Parted from his Majesty they went with the same attendance to the Prince at St. Jameses where before their entrance to his Presence they were too late a ware of a Solecisme they had committed in having delivered the Princess Letters to the King as they had done the Kings Letters yet remaining in their hands to the Prince had they not suddainly cast an eye upon them for which they had no evasion but to make by the Master of the Ceremonies mouth an excuse of then Secretaries mistaking in the obscure light one Letter for another For Shrove-Tuesday following I carried them from the King an Invitation to a Maske of the Gentlemen of the Middle-Temple to be represented in the Hall of the Court whether I was appointed to conduct them in one of the Kings Coaches with order to be in the new Councell Chamber on the deceased Queens side which had been her Privy Chamber at seaven of the Clock without preparation other then of Bread and Wine for Collation I bestowed their followers on a Scaffold on the Kings right hand and in a Box under purposely reserved from them themselves together with Sir Noell Caron the Ambassador The Maske ended I brought them by direction to the King whom they had not yet at that time seen whence following his Majesty without his notice yet taken of them till they came to the Guard Chamber he there saluted them and had their attendance to the Banquet there and after in the Privy Gallery gave them all the good night The twentieth of January I had the Command of the Lord Chamberlain to introduce the six mentioned Commissioners to an Audience of the Councell and bring them for their repose to the old Councell Chamber where they attended the Lords leasure then much busied about the Exceptions taken by some Lords and other of our Nobility against the Creation and precedence given to certain Scotish and Irish Viscounts before English Barons c. The fift of March I received a Command and directions from the Lord Chamberlain the Master of the Ceremonies being then sick to go to Dover and receive there at his Landing an Ambassador Extraordinary from Poland his name and Title Osalinskie Count Palatine of Sindomerskie Hereupon order was given for my receipt of 50 l. imprest out of the Exchequer which in regard of the pressing hast pretended of the Service that would not admit the leasure of procuring a Privy Seale for it was by vertue of a Warrant from the Lord Treasurer Mountague and the Controwler of the Exchequer Sir Fulke Grevell Lord Brooke paid to me the next morning but in the mean time the Master of the Ceremonies having been first sent to by my Lord Chamberlain to speake with him and excusing his coming by his sicknesse supposing his imployment should have been no other then to attend the Spanish Ambassador at that time assigned an Audience was upon better notice and consideration of the businesses with the likelyhood of the benefit to accrew from it resolved to discharge it himselfe and to that purpose went to my Lord Chamberlain about it But I already imbarked in it and repairing to my Lord so maintained mine interest of Primer Seazine as his Lordship needed not perswasion to permit me to preceede as I did the next Morning with one of his Majesties Coaches and three other hired by me to be defrayed by his Majesty The eighteenth of March I came to Dover whence Capt. Buck an old Capt. a Scotish man that came in my Company from London and in the Ambassadors out of Poland went according to the Ambassadors Assignation to meet him at Callayes but the Ambassadors Journey retarded by the illness of the weather and wayes between Amsterdam and Antwerp and at Brussels where he stayed also ten dayes was a cause of the Captains fruitless stay at Callayes and of mine also and the Coaches at Dover cleaven dayes at the end whereof a Post sent from the Post-Master at Gravesend brought me word at Mid-night how the Ambassador was Landed there from Flushing These newes carried me instantly post thither and brought me in seaven hours to his sight and reception there from his Majesty before his rising Towards the Evening Sir Lewes Lewkner sent by the King and the Lord Chamberlain as supposing I could not obtaine time enough to the knowledge of his Landing came thither in Company of Sir Robert Steward and divers other Gentlemen to wellcome him from his Majesty The next Morning the Kings and three other Barges being sent down for his Transport to London we all went thither ranged by Sir Lewes Lewkner for avoydance of confusion at our imbarking the Ambassador and his cozen with eight Knights and two Gentlemen in the Kings Barge his chiefe Gentlemen and
Pages in the Lord Chamberlaines and in the two other the rest He was received at Tower-Wharrfe by the Earle of Warwick accompanied with the Lord Cromwell and sundry of his Majesties Servants And in the Kings and seven or eight Coaches was conducted to his Lodging in Crutchet Fryers ordained for him and defrayed as was also his diet at a certaine rate agreed upon per diem without attendance of any of the Kings Servants His landing at Gravesend and his so speedy repaire to London was a cause that the Lord mentioned met him no sooner The next day being Sunday and his Majesty desirous for three or four dayes to leave the Town his Publike Audience was assigned and given him at White-Hall with the Conduct of the Earle of Essex and the like number of Gentlemen and Coaches as before where in the Presence there he presented Letters with a long Elegant Oration in Latine to his Majesty The Tuesday following he was accompanied to his Audience of the Prince at Saint Jameses by the Lord Danvers the Master of the Ceremonies and my selfe with other Gentlemen The 24. of March the day of the Kings comming to the Crowne having been invited to a Tylting of the Prince and other Knights he was fetcht thither in the Kings Coach by Sir Lewes Lewkner but before he came the French Venetian and Savoy Ambassadors were seated in their and his appointed stand hung and covered with Tapistrie over the Gate or Porters Lodge entring into the Tiltyard on the right hand of his Majestie These three other I was sent for to conduct from where they all dined together at the French Ambassadors Sir Edward Sackvill having been appointed to conduct the Venetian but he was parted from home before Sir Edward came thither The French Ambassador at his entrance into the Stand casting his Eyes about him and asking which was the better place that on the right hand as of Custome or the other on the left as of Respect and nearest to the King The Venetian Ambassador forwardest with his Answer said where ever the French Kings Ambassador sits there will be the best place To which the French Ambassador making no reply This may resolve which is the upper end of a Table in the midst of a roome when the best man sits at the end of it though the placing of the Chimney may perhaps and doth sometimes as here in England alter it but sitting down uppermost on the left hand from the Kings right the other two sate by him in their Order till the Polonian comming they made him roome to take as he did the second place The Tylting ended and not before they had all of them a Salutation given them by the King from the place where he sate so parted without further Ceremony then with my recommendation The six Commissioners of the States and the Ambassador Ordinary Sir Noell Caron with the Secretary of their Commission were conducted by Sir Edward Cceill to the Chamber next the Gate at the lower end of the Tyltyard and there with his company saw the Tylting These Commissioners about the beginning of Aprill demanded a finall Audience and dispatch from his Majesty and had for Answer that the Sunday following his Majesty was pleased they should dine with him and then take their leaves but soone after a disinvitation was brought by the Lord Kelley with this excuse That his Majesty having since received the news of the King of Spaines death and intending that day as the most fit to assume his habite of mourning supposing that this and Feasting would not accord so if they would be pleased to stay their Journey till the time of mourning should be expired which would be at Saint Georges Day about a fortnight after they should have a day assigned them for the honour of eating with his Majesty In the mean time their demanded Audience should be given them on Sunday in the afternoon which accepted of and the other excused with the reason of their pressing haste to be at home they came then to Court in his Majesties Coach perhaps too high for their qualification of Deputies as by the place of their last Audience they might seeme to be taken for no more introduced by the Earle of Kelley to his Majesties presence in the Chamber of private Audiences there took their leaves and received all sixe of them the Order of Knight-hood Upon which grew a question from some of the Kings Servants interessed concerning payment of their fees accounting from each of them to receive forty foure pound sixteen shillings these being demanded by one Mr. Agher their Collectour and at the first not refused by them to be paid the next day when they came to take their leaves of the Lord Chamberlain a doubt being made of the duenesse of their payment in regard they were publique Ministers and a resolution asked of his Lordship he absolutely affirmed to their Secretary there present that it was unfit they should pay any Fees and that if they were againe demanded they should use his name for their discharge of payment yet notwithstanding this Signification from his Lordship the Collector ceased not to solicite in the name of the Gentlemen Ushers and others protesting against the Lord Chamberlains power to give away or withhold their rights till finally at their departure April 14. they left behind them this Order upon the importunity of the Collector and my interposition that if his Majesty should be pleased himselfe to say to the Lord Chamberlain or to the Officer that challenged the Fees that they should not be paid they had no reason to loose the honour of his Majesties free favour but if otherwise his Majesty should say they ought to be paid that the Ambassador Ordinary Sir Noell Caron should ingage himselfe as he did to me the same day by his promise for their payment I understood after from my Lord Chamberlain that his Majesty signified his pleasure to him From that time to the yeare 1635 none such have paid that those Fees should not be paid as being not properly to be exacted from Ministers of Forren Princes or such as should have any Ordinary relation to them The Commissioners went hence the fourteenth of Aprill to their Shipping at Gravesend in one of his Majesties Barges and were followed the next day in an other by the Baron of Donow Ambassador for the King of Bohemia he also having about the same time had his dismission and that day mine and some other Gentlemens company to their imbarking before Tilbury The States Commissioners were presented as I was informed with 3000 ounces of gilt Plate equally divided amongst them and their Secretary Constantine Huggins with a Chayne of Gold 45 l. valew The King of Bohemias Ambassador had assigned him for his present 1160 ounces of guilt Plate but this being not then presented but with assurance to be sent after him he two or three years after returned hither to recover it and did
but not _____ to the value of it in ready money he presented me with a Chayne of 30 l. value On S. Georges day Note if it should please him because Ambassadors are not to be in vited but to let the King know their desires to see that Feast the Polonian Ambassador having before received an Invitation to see if it should please him the Solemnity of that Feast was brought to White-Hall by Sir Lewes Lewkner the Lord Gray having been appointed to accompany him but arriving too late after his departure from his Lodging though indeed the sending of a Lord at that time was Supererrogatory and not usuall he rested himselfe in the old Councell Chamber till the Procession when placed in a stand purposely erected for him and his folfowers next the doore at the head of the Stone Stayres he saw the King and Knights pass by and after that the Ceremony in the Chappell from the Kings Closet there that finished he and the Arch-Dukes Agent Van Mab all day accompaning him were treated by the King in the Councell Chamber with the attendance of his Majesties Servants on whom he bestowed by advice of Van Mab about ten pounds in Hungarian Duckets and about the midst of his Majesties Dinner went to see and saluted the King Prince and Knights as they sate at Table and after retyring for a while in the Councell Chamber he departed On Sunday the fifteenth of July this Ambassador together with another of the House of Medici arrived here a little before from the Duke of Florence were invited to dine with the King and there to take their leaves A day or two before the Lord North had order from the Lord Chamberlain to accompany the Florentine while it was questioned what Person of somewhat a preceding quality should accompany the Polonian But most of the great Lords then absent from Towne and both the Kings best Coaches so imployed as they could not be spared severally to carry them there came a Countermand the Evening before for the Company of any Lord so as Sir Lewes Lewkner inone of his Majesties Coaches only attended them they came towards noon to Theobalds were recived at their descent from their Coaches by the Earle of Aubegney and conducted to the Gouncell Chamber neere which each of them had a Chamber appointed for their retraite they were after the Sermon brought to the King in the Privy Chambers and out of them following him to the Presence Chamber they there dined the Polonian at the lower side of the Table on the Kings left hand and the Florentine at the end of it A Count Palatine Cosin to the Polonian and three or four Knights of Malta and of Saint Stephen of the Florentines Traine dined in the Councell Chamber At the end of the Table sate the Count Palatine in a Chaire and for company the Lord Clifford on his right hand the three Knights on the left side and beneath them the rest of the Florentines company on the other side sate the Polonians Gentlemen c. the inferior sort sate not at all there but had the remaines after at the same Table Dinner done the Ambassadors after their retreat to their Chambers had their several Audiences The Polonian first in the Gallery who was after conducted to the Prince by his Highness Gentleman Usher And after him the Florentine in the same place and order The Polonian Ambassador not long after departed having obtained of his Majesty by the cunning assistance of the Count de Gondemar the loane I may say the gift as never to be restored of ten thousand pound sterling The 23. of December three Commissioners Ambassadors from the States being assigned their first publique Audience were conducted to it in the Kings Coach and four or five others by the Lord Clifford from their Lodging in Bread-streete their names were d'Arsen Lord of Somersdyks Bass Stavenets they were received at the Gaurd-Chamber door by the Earle of Warwick as Captaine of the Guard in his Brothers absence and after their Audience of the King in the Presence Chamber had one of the Prince in his Lodgings Twelftide appearing and a Maske being to be presented by the Prince and other Lords and Gentlemen my Lord Chamberlaine gave me in charge to repaire to the Venetian Ambassador Seigniour Girolenio Landi with this message as from himself with request of his Secrecy That whereas he had told him two or three dayes before that no Ambassador should be invited to the Maske as the King had signified to him his intention he perceived that the Spanish Ambassador the Count of Gondemar had under-hand pressed his Majesty to be invited so as not to appear to have doubled with him in what he had told him he bade me let his Excellency know that if he would for forme sake be invited and frame some excuse for his not comming he would himselfe as from his Majesty send him an invitation But if he would be really invited and come his request should be that he would make his way to it by the Marquis of Buckingham When I had delivered this message to the Ambassador in hearing of his Secretary whom he called in he made answer That for excuse of his not comming though for forme invited he would never give that advantage to the Spanish Ambassador to say of him that one day he would be well and annother ill for his satisfaction as he knew some had been as if he stood in awe of him and for the other point of making his way by the Marquis of Buckingham he would never do it since he had alwayes he said made his access to his Majesties Presence by the right door of the Lord Chamberlain and would now enter by no other But since he saw he said what this tenderness meant he desired me to intreat his Lordship in his name that he would be pleased to go directly to his Majesty and by way of remembrance no otherwise put him in mind from him That the last year the French Ambassador Extraordinary Monsieur de Cadenet and the Ordinary Monsieur de Tilliers were invited to the Prince his Maske at Christmas and the Spanish Ambassador to the same Maske repeated at Shrovetide to which he could and might justly have taken Exceptions that he was both times omitted but that the King of Bohemiaes Ambassador being not then no more then he invited he was content to suffer with him but that now though he might in reason expect that he should be as in his turne invited alone he would not be so punctuall but would referre all to his Majesties pleasure yet if any other Ambassador should be invited he would expect the like honour as a respect due to the Prince and State he represented who in all publicke places had and were to have entertaintment al par delle teste Cornate equall with Crowned Kings And as for the Spanish Ambassador he said his presence at the Maske should notbe an Exclusion to him
with whom though he had no correspondency of business nor visits he had yet of Salutation and civill respects which had many times in incounters in the Streets passed between them and might and should pass on his part at the Mask if he should there meete him This message returned by me to the Lord Chamberlaine and seconded at the same time by the Ambassadors Secretary and my Lord conveying it to the King his Majesty was pleased that he should be as he was the next day invited and was at the Maske entertained with the like respect as was the Spanish Ambassador The States Ambassadors were not at the same time invited with respect to the incompatibility between them and the Spanish and the Russian then here might with as little reason expect it in regard he had questioned precedence of all other Kings Ministers The French Ambassador had an Invitation pro forma tantum with a civill request of his next comming to avoid question which it seemes he tooke not with discontent because his Wife and Neece were there present invited In March 16. Sir William Russell a cheife Merchant of the Muscovy company made request in his own name and of the rest of that Society that I would sometimes repaire to the Russian Ambassador a gallant Gentleman of the Emperours Alliance and a great Commander in his Wars by name Thomas Simonwitz with a visit and Complement in his Majesties name I told him the Master of the Ceremonies was already imployed for his attendance and that with the knowledge and order of the Lord Chamberlain or of the Lords of the Privy Councell and I should wrong him and my selfe to undertake it This made him with other of those Merchants to intimate as much to the Councell in the Lord Chamberlains absence So I was by their Lordships appointed to attend that business and had notice given me to that purpose both by Sir William Russell and Mr. Secretary Calvert to whom objecting the Exceptions that might be justly taken by Sir Lewes Lewkner if he were not made acquainted with the imployment cast on me by the Lords in a Service wherein he was already entred I had for my further Satisfaction a messenger sent to Sir Lewes by Mr. Secretary who returned with an uncertain answer no other then that he would himselfe come and speak with Mr. Secretary about it but coming not in five or six dayes after and Sir William Russell and the other Merchants continuing to solicit my repaire to the Ambassador he went himselfe to Sir Lewes and brought me his assurance of satisfaction with acknowledgement of my civill procceding and with profession of his willingnes that I should enter upon the imployment which I did the next day Going to the Ambassadors Lodging in St. Thomas Apostles and signifying as I had instruction from Mr. Secretary that the King had sent me to him c. He professed to be specially contented and pleased that whereas he had hitherto he said had no other but Sir William Russell a Merchant and no Souldier nor Courtier to be his Prestau as he termed him signifying the like Officer as the Master of the Ceremonies he should be henceforth honoured by the visits of a Cavalier and a Courtier attending his Majesty with whom he might and would be more free in communicating whatsoever should concern the Service of his great Lord and Master the Emperour The Eve of the Kings day March the foure and twentieth I was sent to him for my Lord Chamberlain as from the King whose name though his Majesty had nothing of the knowledge nor trouble of it I alwayes used in all or most of my messages and addresses to him to let him understand that the next day I was to attend him to the sight of the Prince at his Tilting with the Service of his Majesties coach and such others as should be needfull for his followers which coaches were to be provided at the Merchants charge though with use of the Kings name but before he accepted of the Invitation onely acknowledging the honour of it he by way of caution demanded if I knew what place he should have and how entertained in regard he said that if his Majesty should not receive him as an Ambassador preceding both the French and Spanish he would rather keep himselfe absent then disturbe the Solenmity by protesting and standing as he must for his Masters right I assured him the care for prevention of that quarrell was already taken by his Majesty and so it was indeed For whereas the French and Venetian Ambassadors were also invited the Spaniard the like but he had excused his absence with his retrait to Highgate to take the fresh aire and merrily saying when he was invited that he had rather keep away then be present at those Excercises of danger to the Prince his person till he should be Father of two or three Children by the King his Masters Daughter those Ambassadors were appointed their places without in the Tilt-yard in a Scaffold or standing erected of purpose and hung with Tapistry on the right hand of the King neere the Gate but the Muscovite had his ordained in the same Gallery with his Majesty but on his left hand and with a Traverse drawn between them till that after the Tilting he was onely to see the Kings face and so depart all which he interpreted to be the greater honour the other Ambassadors letting it pass in the meane time without Exceptions as regarding his remote correspondence and holding themselves not prejudiced by his so placing The French and Venetians followers were ordained their stands under the Gallery Windowes at the right hand of the King the Muscovits at the entring of the Tilt-yard on that side and the States at the neather end All those Stands as before at other times having been taken up by the Master of the Ceremonies or the Assistants order to be defrayed by his Majesty The States three Ambassadors Commissioners were ordained their places at the lower end of the Tilt-yard as the yeare before and this without any of their Exceptions taken at it But the Venetian Ambassador somewhat punctuall in remembrance of his last years Treatment and now expecting the like respects to be given him as he understood were to be given to the French Ambassador for Sir Lewes Lewkner being appointed to conduct him my selfe the Muscovits and Sir Robert Anstroder the States Ambassador he was as it seemes he understood it not thought on to that purpose so as sending to me about it and I acquainting my Lord Chamberlain with his formality his Lordship entreated by me Sir Edward Sackvill the Earle of Dorsets Brother to accompany him which he being the next day ready to have performed the Solemnity was in regard of the Kings indisposition and the fowleness of the weather deferred till the Saturday following and then the like upon the like occasion till after Easter and so longer till at length it was not at all
performed The third of Aprill I had Order from my Lord Chamberlain that the Master of the Ceremonies being imployed to Dover with the Kings Coach and fourteen other at his Majesties charge to bring up the Emperours Ambassador Suartzenberg and that the said Ambassador was in the interim landed at Gravesend I should take one of his Majesties Barges and hasten thither to receive him and excuse that crosse incounter letting him know that the Marquesse of Hamilton was to come downe to receive him that Evening With which order I tooke Barge when the Tide was far spent rowed downe till we met a flowing water and a strong contrary wind at Woollwich so was forced to Land there and finding no Horses to go on foot five miles to Darford where taking Post to Gravesend I found there Sir Lewes Lewkner returned from Canterbury and delivered my message from his Majesty to the Ambassador That Evening my Lord Marquesse Hamilton accompanied with the Lord Wentworth Lord Bruse and about twenty Gentlemen came to his Lodging and was met by him in the Entry almost at the street doore of the Inn conducted by him to his Chamber the Ambassador after some little refusall preceding though in his own House and after brought back by them to the Street doore The next Morning my Lord Marquesse againe repaired to him with the Company of the Lord Viscount Doncaster then on his way Ambassador Extraordinary for France and a while after the Ambassador repayed their visits at the Marquesse Inn when the Tide serving we all came to London in ten Barges The Ambassador the Marquesse the two English Lords three Dutch Lords and the Master of the Ceremonies in the first Barge Two Dutch Barons my selfe and foure or five English in the second and the rest in the rest as they incountred Landing at Denmarke-House Garden-staires the Marquesse accompanied him to his Chamber there and was by the Ambassador re-accompanied to his Coach The Sunday following Aprill seaven the same Lord Marquesse accompanied with the Earle of Montgomery the Lords Candish This not usuall for one person twice to conduct one and the same Ambassador Bruse two other Lords and about twenty Gentlemen listed with divers Voluntaries in neere forty Coaches besides other hyred at the Kings charge to attend dayly fetcht him from Denmarke-House to his Audience in the Higher House of Parliament where he made his Oration in high Dutch interpreted by Sir Robert Anstroder to whom it had been the day before imparted in writing he was conducted by the Marquesse and the rest to the Prince at St. Jameses with whom he passed his Complement in Italian whereto the Prince called me for interpreter and thence returned with the same attendance to his Lodging at Denmarke-House Having remained here about six dayes defrayed by his Majesty and attended by his Officers and Servants the Venetian Ambassador Landi came to my House and acquainted me with some distasts he had to this purpose That the first day and almost houre of the Emperors Ambassadors comming to Denmark-House he had sent his Secretary to visit him and to congratulate his Arrivall who giving him the Title of Excellenza he had not corresponded but returned him the Ambassador that of Signioria Illustrissima wherefore his request to me was that I would in some manner let him know by way of discourse as if I had incountred him somewhere by chance that I had asked him whether he had yet made his visit to the Emperours Ambassador and that he had answered me he forbeare yet to visit him in regard that whereas the Republique had ever been accustomed to be treated al par delle Teste Coronate the Stile of Excellenza had not been given him but that of Signioria Illustrissima which for his Princes respect he must not let pass without tendring il pare the like of whatsoever title should be given him That unlesse it were of late the Kings of Spaines Ambassador all Ambassadors residing here had given him l'Excellenza but that the Emperours Ambassador had not onely not given him his due in Title but in personall honour also having not rendred him the visit of his Secretary by one of his Servants The substance of these Doleances I the next day imparted to the Emperors Ambassador and received for Answer that he would never treate del pare with him there being so great a difference between the Emperours his Masters quality and that of the Republick of Venice that the King of Spaines Minister would he knew stand upon the same termes of difference That if any other Kings Minister for I had told him the French Kings speaking Italian gave him alwayes Excellenza should do otherwise that should be no rule for him to be governed by That the Venetian Ambassadors Secretary had but once at the first given him Excellenza and had for the rest made use of the third Person ella c. That at his parting it was true that he the Emperors Aâ—mbassador had given him but Signuria Illustrissima but that if the Venetian Ambassador should style him so he would returne him onely Signuria to express the difference that ought to be put between their two tepresentative conditions That if he had not repayed the vifit sent by the Venetians Secretary by one of his Servants it was because that Secretary had said to him that his Lord would Quanto prima visite him which if he had done as he had promised he would after have first visited him by his Servant and then by himself This was the substance and even the particulars of his Answer which when I had returned to the Venetian he only said If hereafter he aske you any thing concerning my Reply let him know I pray upon those terms I will never visite him c. The Ambassador of Venice then told me that such another Puntillio had passed between this same Ambassador and the French Kings who having given him the first Welcome by his Secretary even at his landing at Somerset-House and the third day after personally visited him he the French expected a returne of both especially of the later to him before to any other Ambassador but that he the Emperors breaking the Law of Visites ever to be returned as they are made in time person and order had visited the Spanish before him In which regard when the Emperors Ambassador had sent to know if his leasure were that he might visite him that afternoon He returned a plain answer by the same Messenger That the weather had been long foule and he meant to make use of that faire day to take the fresh Aire abroad which was light sufficient for the others understanding to let him see the French was sensible of what had been done and would not receive a visite after the Spanish Ambassadors having given the first cause he said to be first served in returne of that complement But some were of Opinion that the French Ambassador had been too quick and too plain in
by the way and with the conduction mentioned The night following was represented a Maske Acted the Christmas before by the Prince c. At which were present seated with his Majesty the Spanish Ambassadors Don Carlos de Coloma and the Count de Gondemar though this had taken his leave three or four dayes before his Son and other their Followers of quality had their feates neere the King in a Scaffold on his right hand the rest of them were bestowed together with the States and other strangers promiscuously on a Scaffold behind the King over the entrance there on the left hand of his Majesty The young Landsgrave of Hess was brought in by me the back way through the Garden and supping with the Duke of Lenox as did also the Baron of Paperhezin remaining here after the departure of the Emperours Ambassador was seated amongst the great Ladies The French Ambassador Monsieur de Tillier receiving a kind of Invitation by way of offer to be present at this Maske returned answer that he most humbly kissed his Majesties handes for the honour intended him but his stomach would not he said agree with cold meat and desired therefore his absence might be pardoned here by pointing at the Invitation and presence of the Spanish Ambassador in the first place at the same Maske the Christmas before now repeated May the two and twentieth was the day assigned for Sr. Georges Solemnity deferred till then The day before my Lord Chamberlain sent me to Sir Noell Caron to let him know and the rest of the States Commissioners Mess d'Arsen Bass and Stavenets that his Majesty would be pleased with their Presence at the provision and solemne service of that day and that to that purpose they should have their standings for sight of the first in a long window on the left hand almost over the Gate and of the latter in the Chappell Closet on the Queens side the Spanish Ambassador Don Carlos de Coloma being to possess that of the Kings side I delivered this Message by incounter to them all foure being then at the house of Sir Noell Caron neere Lambeth which they thankfully accepted onely Monsieur Stavenets asked whether there would be as much respect in the entertainment for the generall given to them as to the other Ambassador I answered I nothing doubted it but as soon as I was returned to render an account of my service to my Lord Chamberlain I found I had been up and downe sought for to be stayed my Journey but too late for when I came to his Lordship he told me if I had invited those Ambassadors to stand in the Closet of the Queens side I had exceeded my Commission because the Spanish Ambassador he said would never indure them so neere him where there was but a thin Wainscot Board between them and a Window to be opened at either of their pleasures which might be an occasion of scandall and distemper I answered I had done no otherwise then I had directions which his Lordship in part denied and I was not so unmannerly as to contest against But at last I received a new command to repaire to them with this message That there had been a misunderstanding and that the place in the Chappell for the regard mentioned of the Spaniards neerenesse to them was improper But if it would please them to be at the procession in the morning in their appointed stands and in the Evening at the divine Service and Solemnity there which would be all one with that of the Forenoon they should be wellcome This unpleasing message delivered I received for answer from the mouth of Monsieur d'Arsennes That as often as it would please his Majesty to honour them with Invitations to any of his entertainments they should esteem it for an especiall favour and gladly accept it so againe since it now seemed that their presence though they had been once invited might give distast either to his Majesty or to any other meaning the Spanish Ambassador whom he should be pleased more especially to favour they would in that also submit themselues to his pleasure and would be willingly absent but as for being present at either the procession or the Service in the Afternoone they desired since they must not be at that in the Forenoone that they might be excused if they came not all the rather because they were invited to the Earle of Exeters at Wimbleton and if they should stay the procession they doubted they should come thither unmannerly too late to Dinner and returne to Court not soone enough to Evening Solemnity With this message I returned to my Lord Chamberlain and so had the next day the free use of their places at the Procession and of the Closet at the Service for the young Landsgrave and his followers whom I conducted in the Dinner time to the Banquetting House where the Prince supplying his Fathers place his Majesty being then indisposed the Landsgrave stood at his Highnesse left hand as the Spanish Ambassador did on his right most part of the Dinner time The Ambassador of Russia being upon his departure I carried to him fifty pound from the Merchants of the Muscovy company but as sent to him from the Lords of the Councell so as the Company had directed me with this formall message That whereas different from some Ambassadors imployed from his Emperour he had desired money and nor provisions to be laid in in specie for his feeding at Sea that sum of fifty pound was sent him according to President but exceeding in proportion because whereas other Ambassadors whereof one had thirty five men his followers and the other fourscore had not had above forty pounds worth of Victualls for their whole Journey the summ now sent him was fifty pound but he seeming much unsatisfied with so small proportion and saying that Sir John Merrick Ambassador to his Emperour had had above two hundrd pound given him for the like made shew to refuse it whereupon I left him when sending his Interpreter after me downe the Stayres not as I thought to receive the money but desiring me to keep it or leave it with the Steward of the house I refuse it and saying that this was a matter of consequence inferring that either the Lords of the Councell in whose name I was to present the money did not in my Lord Ambassadors opinion understand what they had to do or that the Ambassador did do more then he ought to the dishonour of the King my Master I would have returned up to him to have taken the refusall as I said to the Interpreter it became me from the his Ambassadors own mouth but on the stairs I met one of his servants that brought order from his Master that he should as he did receive it The first of June following I repaired to him with a summons from my Lord Chamberlaine to take his leave the next day at Greenwich whether we went by land in four
Devonshire with the Lord Bruse and others in twenty five Coaches attending his Majesty he rested himselfe in the Councell Chamber and there entring the Presence was at the doore receiued by the Lord Chamberlain there presented by his Predecessor Seignior Landi he spake breifely and departed Having visited his Predecessor the Saturday before and after at the same time himselfe something unseasonably perhaps before he had had his Audience Seignior Landi seemed to complaine as of a neglect cast upon his Successor that he had not yet received a wellcome from his Majesty by some person of Title as had been he said the Custome of proceeding towards all his Predecessours Wherewith I acquainted my Lord Chamberlain brought for an answer from his Lordship that he understood not but that the Complement of wellcoming Ambassadors from the King upon their Arrivall had been-onely used at such times as their Audience was excused for having been deferred for reason of some instant pressing affaires of his Majesty but that for this time the interim would be so small between his Arrivall and his Audience as that the visit would hardly be given or at the least would be excusable if omitted which answer passed for currant both with him and the other as he professed to me when I first visited him after his Audience onely he desired that my Lord Chamberlain would but intimate his reason to him personally when he would next see him that he might receive the more honour from his own Testimony as he did after to his satisfaction His Predecessour next day after his Audience took leave of his Majesty accompanied to it at Greenwich by the Lord North And also the girdle and hang er when he received the honour of Knighthood from his Majesty and had the day after according to Custome the Sword wherewith he was Knighted sent to him from his Majesty and two or three dayes after an addition to his Armes in memory of his imployment hither June the thirteenth the Russian Ambassador being upon his departure after I had the day before assured my Lord Chamberlain whereof he doubted that Ambassadors from those parts had usually at their parting as at their first Arrivall some person of Title to accompany them to their imbarking I went in my Lord Chamberlains name as for his Majesties Service to the Lord Stanhop who accepted of it we went together the next day in the Kings Coach to the Ambassadors House and thence with five other to the Tower Wharffe where his Lordship leaving the Ambassador This entred the Kings Barge his followers in an other and with the Company of Sir John Merrick Alderman Hammersley and other Merchants we came to Gravesend Lodged at the Christopher were there Feasted that night by the Muscovy Company and the next morning making use of the Kings Barge to carry us to their Ships riding foure miles off at Tilbery he there imbarkt and we returned that night to London The 24. of June The Venetian Ambassador Ordinary Seignieur Girolomo Lando parted from London without the Master of the Ceremonies attendance to Gravesend his Company spared them as not of use or Custome for an Ordinary at departure neither had he the Kings Barge appointed for his Transport whereat the chiefe Barge-Master Warner respecting his Interest murmured as at a course unusuall and with wrong to the Ambassadors quality But herein he was mistaken the use being as hath bin said otherwise The Thursday before his parting on the Monday when it was not known but that he would be gone the Saturday he had received not one word to the purpose of his Present when it should be brought him Inso much as glancing in discourse with me at the affront as he called it like to be put upon him in his particular but in the generall upon his Republick Meaning Sir Lewes Lewkener who could never relish that States Ministers as Troppo steretti dimano not unlike to proceed he said from some ill affected to it I wrote to my Lord Chamberlaine about it and his Lordship with some passion recommending the consideration of it to the Lord Treasurer Order was given and the business effected after the proportion as my Lord Chamberlaine told me of 1200. ounces of gilt plate being two hundred more then were given his Predecessor Forscareni as with more respect to his better merit and to his nobler fashion of carriage here towards persons of all conditions beyond any or most of his Predecessors After the young Prince Landsgrave of Hessen had made about three moueths stay in England in which time he made a posting Journey to see Scotland he went in Coach with my company to Windsor there to take leave of his Majesty the sixth of July but could not have his Audience being remitted with reason of his Majesties then pressing affaires till Tuesday when after the Sermon whereat he was present entring with my conduction by the door of the Terras Staires into the Presence I received command to bring him through the Princes Lodgings into a Back-withdrawing Roome there behinde the Kings Privy Lodgings whence the King comming to him he with his two Assistants Councellors to his Father Master Klingelbuck and Master Zoble had his Audience and Farewell of the King and of the Prince also in the same place Thence he returned to London and the sixth of July imbarqued for Gravesend whether I accompanied him though without Order or without use of the Kings Barge or other respect of Extraordinary Honour by Present or the like only I moving the Lord Admirall the Marquis of Buckingham for a Ship of his Majesty to transport him in regard of some hazard to his person not unlikely to come from the Dunkerkers if they should light on him at Sea he being then in the States pay Commander of a Company he had assigned him a Lesser of two Ships then riding in the Downes 24 pouud which by directions of Sir William Saint Johns Vice-Admirall was to take him in at Dover A Mask to be presented by the Prince the Marquis of Buckingham and other Gentlemen on Twelfnight 1622. was for that day and a second remitted till Sunday the ninth of January principally with regard to his Majestes indisposition but as some thought not without expectation that the States Ambassadors would first be gone to avoide the distaste that might be taken from their not Invitation whereto it seemed his Majesty for some Spanish respect as was thought had no great affection But they staying their business with the Merchants about composing the East-Indian differences being not yet concluded divers underhand passages and discourses for and against the sight of the Maske were carried to and fro as much as might be to content them and not displease others For first they had an offer made them to have a Boxe appointed them apart and by themselves only which they absolutely refused Ambassadors Ordinarie before having had said they the honour to sit with his
Majesty in the same place together with the French and other Kings Ambassadors as also with the Spanish till that Question fell between him and Sir Noell Caron but the intention in truth was that they should not then be invited at least to be ranked in publick as they pretended it to be their due al par delle Teste Coronate and reasons were framed to keep them off from discontent as well as from their apparence there but they might seem not of the Substantiallest As first that the States having given their assistance to the Rochellers against the French King the presence of their Ministers would be distastfull and in a manner incompatible codem loco tempore honore with that Kings Ambassadors but this proved not exclusion the French intended to make no such having as he said to me no order for it neither had the pretended distasts for the States former assistance yet passed he said so far as to publick notice and exception from the King his Master Another exclusion was obtruded upon their pretence of Precedence to the Duke of Savoys Ambassador but no such Ambassador being now in England there wanted ground for that exclusion also Arsennes Stavencts and Basse The last was against their number that they could not all there be conveniently seated together with his Majesty with the other Ambassadors invited but this Bar they removed by their answer that if they might have the honour of an Invitation there should be but one of them present to receive it esteeming that a sufficient honour to the rest absent In a word when neither these reasons nor others would serve to still their Exceptions against their not being invited they were referred to adventure of content or not content and so were not at all invited Onely a dozen of their followers had places assigned them over the Lord Chamberlains Box at the entrance into the Banquetting House from the Princes Galleries Monsieur de' Arsennes Son and their Secretary Sr. Constantine Huggins were placed on the fourme beneath the Lords The French Ambassador that night and the Venetian supped with the Duke of Lenox and entered the Roome with the King both seated there on his left hand the French even with him and the Venetian somewhat more forward The Negotiation of the States Ambassadors with our East-Indian Merchants being brought in appearance to a finall conclusion the Master of the Ceremonies onely without any Titular Person was sent for them with the Kings Coach January the one and twentieth to take their leaves of his Majesty but a new difference in the interim occuring they were sent to at two of the Clock the instant of their setting forth and were stayed their Journey which appointed for the Fryday following they had againe the Kings Coach with the Master of the Ceremonies and one other sent for them and entring White-Hall by the Parke and Tiltyatd Gallery they attended his Majesties time he being then ill at ease in the Chamber of Ordinary Audience next that of the Stone Table whereinto after an houre they were called by Mr. Secretary Conway and being there with the Commissioners for that businesse upon point of signing their generall agreement a new question arose from the Merchants with exception against the validity of their caution which lasting til late at night Mr. Secretary in the mean time passing often between them and the King they had a dismission for the next dayes Audience of his Majesty to which the Earle of Warwick had appointment to conduct them his Lordship having said in the hearing of some of the Lords who after told it to the Lord Chamberlain that it was fit some person of honourable Title not Sir Lewes Lewkner onely should be sent to their Lodgings to accompany them to Court at their last Audience which my Lord Chamberlain excusing as forgotten by him having not been put in mind of it he said by Sir Lewes it was against the next day provided for when the Earle of Warwick accordingly attended with two or three other Noblemen and divers Gentlemen of the Kings Servants in eight or nine Coaches besides the kings brought them to Court where passing through the Guard Chamber and Presence into the Councell Chamber on the late Queens side they there rested till the Lords Commissioners for their businesse came to them and after an hours expence in discourse about some remaining rubs It was finally agreed on and the Lord together with the Ambassador having signed to the accord their Lordships leaving them repaired to the King and after them followed the Ambassadors through the late Queens Lodgings into the Privy Gallery where entring the Kings withdrawing Chamber they there took their leaves the three Ambassadors with Sir Noell Caron first and after the other inferiour Commissioners strangers for that business Monsieur Stavenets was there Knighted and two other having been knighted before viz. Monsieur de Arsennes by the King of France and Monsieur Basse by the King of Sweden The next day being to take leaue of the Prince they had sent for their conduct Sir Robert Car Gentleman of his Highnesse Bed-Chamber with the Kings and Prince's Coaches entring by the Privy Garden Gate at White-Hall and thence by the further end of the long Stone Gallery into the Prince his Lodgings where in his Chamber of presence he gave them their Audience and farewell thence they went to visite and take leave of the Marquess of Buckingham and so home The first of February after they had spent here the full time of fourteen moneths in Negotiating and had had of the King and Councell above sixty Audiences they went in Coaches of their own without the Kings to Tower Wharffe and there imbarked in hyred and borrowed Barges to their Ships which laid not far off and were purposely sent to transport them This default of the Kings Coach and Barge at their parting ever woont at that time to serve Ambassadors proceeded from the Master of the Ceremonies who should have been my Lord Chamberlains Remembrancer for I acquainted his Lordship after with the omission and I had for answer that he knew not of the certaine time of their departure which the Master of the Ceremonies might and ought to have observed if he had not learned overmuch to some others particular satisfaction The Spanish Ambassador or been over partiall c. At ten in the morning when they were all ready to depart the Present from his Majesty was not come which for that slackness they were upon point of leaving behind them but the Master of the Jewel-House Sir Henry Mildmay even then in tempore arriving and personally presenting it as he said his Majesty had particularly cōmanded him though that might seem to have been said ad captandum they received for each of the three Commissionershares five hundred ounces of faire gilt plate and to their Secretary Sir Constantine Huggins a Chaine of Gold of a hundred markes more by twenty pound
desired his acquaintarve and good Correspondence and was sorrey that any thing should hinder it but if it should please him to honour him with a viset he could not exceed the Title which other Ministers of the King his Master had used and so left it to his consideration whether he would or not visit him To a Serjeants Feast at the Middle-Temple the French Ambassador had been invited in the first place and after the Spanish which known to this and interpreted in the sence it ought he excused his Presence with some businesse that he doubted might at that time be brought him from his Majesty The French Ambassador came and with him the Venetian and the States Ambassador who disappointed of the company they were promised of the Master of the Ceremonies I met them there and after dinner brought them to their Coaches The Marquess de la Inojosa who came hither Extraordinary Ambassador long before Don Diego Mendoza doubting that this would challenge precedence as being the last and freshest person of imployment from the King his Master according to the received rule of Ambassadors come the last and of March first wrought by all the cuning meanes he could to lessen his esteem as by entertaining him under pretence of his Allye being of his family and name into the same House with him abating thereby the splendour he should have received if Lodged elsewhere and at the Kings charge as it had been offered and by styling him in his Letters sent to him on his way from Portsmouth thus a Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoza Ambassador Extraordinary de sa Majestate circa la persona del Principe Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoza Ambassador Extraordinary of his Majesty about the person of the Prince All this would not keep Don Hurtado from his pretence which to some appeared to be cleared by his sitting as he did always at the head of the Table in the Marquises House which yet to others seemed but to make him a guest and that place therefore in that right â—nly given him nor from professing as I heard him often that it was his right to preceed and would do so wheresoever he should meet him abroad and in publick not respecting the reasons alleadged for the Marquis that he was Consejero de Estado Vizroy of Navarr and had the Marriage Negotiation c. Don Diego de Mexia Governor of the Castle of Antwerpe Generall of the Ordnance to the Archdutchess and her Ambassador Extraordinary to his Majesty arrived here Novemb. 5. followed by many brave Gentlemen Tituladoes and Souldiers he was received at Gravesend by the Lord of Bellfast late Lord Deputy of Ireland and by him conducted to his Lodging the same with the three Spanish Extraordinaries whether he came on foote after his landing at the Savoy whilst the Kings and Noblemens Coaches sent from Court to receive him at Denmarke-House had a Countermand to take him in at the Tower but the Tyde falling faire otherwise then was supposed to give him safe passage under the Bridge they missed him and returned as is mentioned Don Hurtado de Mendosa after a moneths stay for his Audience during the Kings absence from London received a Message from my Lord Chamberlaine by Sir Lewes Lewkner and by me That since he had had so long a patience in attendance of his Audience here at London his Majesty would not adde further trouble to it but come himselfe hither to give it him So the 13. of November the King being come to Town the day before the Earle of Rutland who had in his Fleet brought him out of Spaine was made choice of for his conduction to Court The Lord attending at Bedford-House where he Lodged the repaire thither of the Gentlemen of the Kings Privy Chamber listed for the Service a Messenger from his Lordship brought them word to White-Hall as they stood expecting his comming thither that there were three Coaches attending them at the Court-Gate to carry them to the Earl of Rutlands House This Message so much displeased them it being in their Opinion an irregular course for them to go to his House when the Custome said they had ever been for the Lords wheresoever sent to take them along with him to White-Hall as some of them refused to go at all others went thither in those sent Coaches and attended his Lordship with the Lord Windsor the Lord Scroope and Sir Thomas Somerset to the Ambassadors at Exeter House followed by twenty Coaches and thence to White-Hall With the Ambassador to present him to his Majesty came the first sent Ambassador Extraordinary Don Carlos the other the Marquiss de lainojosa excusing that part more due and fit as was judged for his discharge with regard to the Question of Precedence mentioned After his Audience of the King the Lord Viscount of Andever being there ready to conduct him to the Prince brought him by the way of the Stone Gallery to his Highness Quarter where after a gratious reception in his Presence Chamber the Ambassador returned as before accompanied to his Lodging The Earle of Kelley well attended with many Gentlemen and Coaches went from White-Hall the 15. of November to fetch the Archdutchess Ambassador from Excester-House supplied there with hired Coaches so many as made the whole number of them at the least fifty After his rest a while in the Councell Chamber disposing the Lackeyes and inferiour sort of Followers to come behinde that their Masters might have the easier and fairer access to his Majesty whereof the Spanish Ambassadors Gentlemen for want of that Order failed the day before he had Audience of his Majesty and thence wnet streight to one assigned him of the Prince he was accompanied to these Audiences by the Marquess de la Inojosa and Don Carlos de Coloma in the same Coach neither of these two questioning Precedence as the Marquess had done of Mendosa who told me the Evening after that that question was resolved by Letters which he had that very day received from the King his Master to his advantage which was ended but feighned as appeared soone after For Sunday the 16. of November Don Hurtado de Mendoza hastening his dispatch had assigned and given him his second and last Audience which my Lord Chamberlaine the day before told me was to be given him in his Majestes withdrawing Chamber by the way of the Park and Privy Gallery as private whereupon I was bold to put his Lordship in mind that that being the last sight he was then like to have of his Majesty it would be expected that according to Custome he should have some Nobleman sent to conduct him which his Lordship apprehending as fit My Lord of Kneighton Captaine of the Guard was appointed for it and with a President Extraordinary and irregular but for his respect to the Ambassador whom it seemed he desired particularly to honour or for the more resplendent attendance of his own person as Captaine of that Band he brought along
with him ranckt all the way through the Strand in head of the Coaches the Company of the Kings Guard to the number of sixty which in my hearing the Ambassadors Followers did interpret as an honour done their Master never done before to any other and when to undeceive them I said the Guard marched in that manner for attendance of their Captaine They replyed their honour was the greater to have such a Lord for company that had attending him such followers so apt are strangers to make use of all to their own advantage This Ambassador having finished his Audience of the King which lasted at the least an hour as he told me himselfe passed between them from first to last in Latine a Language that he was farre more bold then perfect in he regarding neither Grammer nor congruity he took leave also in the same place of the Prince his Highness The Captaine of the Guard and his brother the Lord Montjoy not leaving him till they brought him with the same Attendance to the Dining Roome of his lodging Here I think good to insert for suture occasions and use to the Master of the Ceremonies that Sir Lewes Lewkner reported to me that when he came from Dover in conduct of the Archdutches Ambassador Don Diego de Mexia Mr. Van Mall Agent here for her Highnesse perswaded him to take his place in one of the hired Coaches with some of the Ambassadors Gentlemen and with it to leade the way leaving the Ambassador to come in the Kings Coach in Company of such persons of Court Eminency as himselfe should be pleased to make choyce of which though Sir Lewes and he stumbled at he at last allowed of but being come to London he let Van Mall know it had been ever the manner and with good reason that the Master of the Ceremonies imployed from the King for the Ambassadors honour and to receive him at the Sea side or elsewhere in his way to Court was to have place with him in his Coach unlesse perhaps some Noble person were withall imployed in that Service which assertion confirmed by him with divers Persidents and Reasons the Marquess de la Inojosa and Don Carlos de Coloma acknowledging that they had both severally received him into their Coaches at their first Arrivall into this Kingdome the Arch-Dukes and Van Mall with acknowledgment of their Errour allowed it for requisite One Reason given then for the fitness of the Master of the Ceremonies sitting in Coach with Ambassadors on the way was that his Presence so at hand was most usefull and necessary for avoydance of disturbing incounters from passengers or otherwise in the way another that it was fit the Ambassador should have the Master of the Ceremonies alwayes neere him for discourse and satisfaction upon Questions concerning the Countrey c. And lastly for the honour of the Master that sends such a one to do honour by his conduct to the Person of the Ambassador Preparetion being made November the eighteenth for a great Feast by the Duke of Buckingham to entertain principally Don Diego de Mendoza and with him Don Diego de Mexia the Arch-Dukes Ambassador and his followers of quality The Marquess de la Inojosa it was intended should have been at it as was Don Carlos de Coloma but for the difference mentioned of Precedence between him and the other Extraordinary but the day before the Duke sending to him Sir George Goring with a message that he was sorry to understand he would be absent from the entertainment he intended because of some inconveniences c. The Marquess returned answer that he knew of no such inconveniences but that if it had or should please the Duke to invite him he would come to his Feast c. In sequell hereof the next day at Evening somewhat before the invited Ambassadors should set forth and were attending the person that should come to conduct them the Duke sent a Gentleman of his Chamber Mr. Endimion Porter which a Regalo of three large Flaskets full of Provision of the choisest of three Courses of Cates intended for the Feast One full of cold meates for the Antepasto another with fat fowle raw and ready for spit of all sorts and a third of the best and rarest sweet-meates all presented with this message that the Duke kissed his hands and would have held it an honour and an happinesse to have had his Company but since he would not have it he desired him to tast of what he had provided for him at that at the tasting of it at his Supper he would be pleased to drink the health of the King of England as he would at the same drink the health of the King of Spaine The Marquess immediate answer to this message was no more but this For the happinesse my Lord Duke sayes he should have had in my Company he might have had it if it would have pleased him to command it After returning thanks for his Present and saying it was easie to conceive what the Feast would be when a tast of it was so rare and plentifull he gave the bringer fifty Crownes bad the Company good night and went to Supper privately in his Chamber Soone after the Earle of Northampton being sent for conductor to the invited Ambassadors These after their reception at Yorke House the Dukes they were there thus placed at the Table On the left hand of his Majesty who was there as a guest inviting himselfe sate with a convenient distance Don Diego de Mendoza at the Tables end below Don Carlos de Coloma and the Arch-Dukes Ambassador at the other end of the Table on the right hand of the King sate the Prince At a long Table not halfe filled with guests placed long wayes the Roome sate the Tituladoes and Cavaliers that came with Don Diego de Mexia the other Don Diego Mendoza having with him no followers of quality worthy of that place and Company and none of the Marquesses de inojosa then appearing with regard to their Cheefes absence After Supper there was a Maske with a faire appearance of Ladieâ— at it and after the Maske a most sumptuous Banquet The one and twentieth of November Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoza set forth for his departure with my attendance towards Dover and being by me provided at the Kings charge with foure Coaches besides the Kings coach with foure Horses and a day or two before his goods being sent thither in the weekly returning Waggon at the rate of five shillings six pence per cent all the way by land at the Kings charge We laid the first night at Rochester the next at Canterbury and came the next day to Dover where the wind standing contrary after he and one Don Pedro de Aldeberandino Nephew to Pope Clement the eight glad to take the advantage of the Kings Ship for passage had in a small Boat set forth the Haven and were forced back againe as the Kings Ship at the same time was
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
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
almost continually attended his Majesty in the Progresse allwayes lodged and defrayed Towards the end of Novembâ—r upon order from my Lord Chamberlain for reception of another Extraordinary from France Monsieur dâ— Villiaueler Secretary of State there and hither sent about the same businesse of Marriage with Pr. Maria Henrietto Sir Lewes Lewkner went to Dover with the Kings coach and fourteen other hired but much sooner then he needed for the Kings profit though not alltogether by the fault of his forwardnesse but of Letters to that purpose from Mr. Secretary Conway for when he was come thither no news certain could assure him of the Ambassadors yet arrivall at Callayes In the meane time the other Ambassador allready here hastning likewise his incounter more then he needed pressed my Lord Chamberlain for two more to other two attending hired Coaches which he had already to meet him as he intended at Rochester when my Lord imposing on me late at night the Service of procuring them I with much a doe got them ready by eight the next Morning which done repairing to my Lord with the account of the Ambassadors Accommodation and readinesse to depart Letters came from Sir Lewes of the others not yet Landing or so much as knowledge of his approach this known to the Marquesse de Fyat could not stay or turne his resolution of going that night to Rochester whither he said he must go or fast having sent his cook and provisions before him so as parting the three and twentieth of November he had too much and perhaps to little reason both for respect of the Kings charge and of President as one Extraordinary to meete another so far off with no more difference of quality between them he went as far as Dover whether no sooner then six dayes after came the other from his place of Landing the Downes forced thither by the windes and the next day after to Canterbury the next to Sittingborne the next to Rochester and the day after to Gravesend where he was that day received by the Earle of Dorset Edward accompanied with five and twenty Gentlemen the Kings Servants and others come downe thither with two and twenty Barges These with regard of the Tides unfitnesse were commanded to attend at Tower Wharfe about Noone and his Lordship hastning thither by Land in Coach we rowed two hours against the Tide and comming to our Inn in the Evening waited on his Lordship to the Ambassadors Lodging where in the midst of the entery towards the Staire foore my Lord was met by the Marquess de Rothelin brother in Law to Monsieur de Valliauiler and Monsieur de Massy his other brother in Law and received by him and his Collegue on the top of the Staires no sooner Thence after a long contention the Earle of Dorset entred first the Chamher after him Monsieur de Villeaviler next him with the like strife Sir Edward Harbert not long before Ambassador Ordinary in France and then Monsieur de Fiat At his Lordships returne the Ambassadors enforcing likewise upon him the Precedence brought him to the Street door In the time of my Lords Supper the Ambassador sent a Gentleman to know of him his commodity of imbarquing the next morning and had the like complement returned from my Lord by a Gentleman with the good night and the liberty of his time to imbarque howsoever the Tyde would invite him to be ready against a eleaven of the clock the next day and after some question from his Lordship whether he were againe to repaire to the Ambassadors if he did not personally returne his Visite the next morning and a resolution hereupon from the Master of the Ceremonies Sir Edward Harbert that had been an Ambassador my self and ethers there that though they should faile of their Complement he must not of his to fetch them from their Inn to their imbarquing he performed it and with the two Ambassadors the Marquess de Rothelin Sir Edward Harbert Monsieur de Massey and the Master of the Ceremonies in the first Barge some other principall persons and my selfe in the second we came to our landing at Suffolk-House ascended with my Lord of Dorset alwayes fored to the Precedence to the newest Ambassadors Lodging but after much contenrion could not keep off the Ambassadors company till taking leave and Coacht at the street Gate his Lordship and the rest departed In the time of this Monsieur de Villiavilers stay here which was about a moneth the King then at Newmarket his Majesty invited him to his Audience to be given him at Cambridge where received and defrayed all the way out and home and presented from his Majesty with a Diamond Ring of 4000 l. valew so the Ambassador himself that pretended much knowledge in Jewels esteemed it and with one from the Prince of above a thousand pound valew he there took his leave but had after at Theobalds and London severall Audiences and on Newyears-Eve departed towards Dover the other Ambassador accompanying him to Rochester with an intention to have gone with him as farte as Dover but that Sir Lewes Lewkner with regard to the irregularity of his Journey further then had been formerly by president from other Ambassadors Collegues undertaken and with respect of his Majesties charge for two more then for one he diverted it with intimation silently given the King of Monsieur de Fiats changeable intention and signification thereupon from his Majesty to the Ambassador that he must speedily speak with him which brought him back from Rochester to his home at Suffokle-House the day following Both these Ambassadors were defrayed to Rochester but no further The fourth of January I received Order for the invitation of the French Ambassador the Marquess de Fiat the Venetian Seignior Pesaro not long before arrived here in place of Seignior Valeresso and two Agents Monsieur Brumeau for the King of Spaine and Monsieur Van Mal for the Archdutches to a Maske of the Prince with certaine Lords and Gentlemen on Twelfnight I propounded and obtained of the Venetian that he would Sir Lewes Lewkner being then absent call in his way to Court and accompany thither the French Ambassadors that I might with one labour attend them both and introduce them as I had directions by the Parke through the Galleries at eight of the clock at night the place and hour assigned also the Agents but being the next morning assured by the Prince himself that the Maske was to be put off till Sunday the ninth of January I was upon his Highness intimation sent to disinvite them all which I performed with the French personally and with the rest by Letter But on Saturday reinvited them for the next day when about four of the clock the Marquess Hamilton Lord Steward of his Majesties Household then supplying the place of the Lord Chamberlaine indisposed gave me in charge to repaire to the Ambassadors and to let them know that in regard of the inconveniency that would
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
his Kitchin there or any other Lodging for any of his followers except for some such as were of necessary Service about his Person That Carliel and Holland being in France had never any such favour done them there and that he would have Monsieur de Bleinvill know he valewed their condition not lesse then his rather more regarding the businesse they then treated on being of an higher quality then that he now had in mannage that notwithstanding all this he intended no such distinction of Lodging him there as a private Person with wrong to his publick quality that he would in all respects treat him so the free use of his House reserved and that he hoped he would not press him further to what was against his likeing and which he intended not to grant him so desired him to rest satisfied Having carried this his Majesties pleasure to the Ambassador he made no further answer then this That he saw his Majesty had bestowed a favour on him which he meant he should not make use of in giving him a lodging to lye in and no Kitching to dress his meate in and without eating he could not live That he would onely take himselfe to my Lord of Carlile for justification of what he had told him of his Majesties intention that he should be lodgd in Court not as was told him by his Esquire as a private Person but as an Ambassador and so might expect all Termes answerable that in the stile of an Ambassador he expected and had order from the King his Master to expect and stand upon his Treatment in all things as his Minister and that if he failed of this he would demand of his Majesty a particular Audience for his satisfaction to that purpose When I had conveyed all this to the Kings knowledge by my Lord Chamberlain and that the Ambassador had personally conferred about it with his Lordship and with my Lord of Carliel also I knew not how it come about by those Lords satisfaction when perhaps they saw no other remedy or rather by the Queens once more mediation with the King in the Ambassadors behalfe he had at length all he craved both for his Kitchin in Court part of his Dyet being deducted out of that allowed him at Kingston and for inlargment of his Lodgings having all those assigned him next the River in the Garden where sometimes Lodged the Lady Elizabeth but he could not obtaine allowance for any of his Gentlemen to be Lodged there except onely such Servants as were of immediat Attendance The next day he had an Audience but for other businesse this being cleered and the two and twentieth of November following another By this time Sir Lewes Lewkner Master of the Ceremonies had by his freinds in Court so sollicited his returne to the Service of his charge as the Venetian Ambassador satisfied with a kind of acknowledgement from him was no hindrance to his re-attendance upon this and other Ambassadors as there was occasion The Coronation being ordained for the second of February two dayes before it my Lord Chamberlain sent Sir Lewes Lewkner to this Ambassador for knowledge of his finall resolution having made some question of it whether or no he would be present at the Solemnity when I meeting Sir Lewes neere the Ambassadors House we went both together to him and after some small time of conference between them two part I called too by the Ambassador we both received from him this answer That he would not be present at the Coronation for two or three regards the one was that his religion tied him not to assist at our prayers and Church Ceremonies but herein he said he was not so scrupulous as that he would not be content pour le respect du Roy de la grand Britaine de vouloir faire quelque petite bresche a sa conscience But that which most prevailed with him for his absence was he said that he had not been proceeded with in his Invitation as became the Person and quality of the King of France's Ambassador and as he understood the King of Spains Ambassador had heretofore been in a larger and more noble measure That he was not before hand called as the other had been at other Solemnities towards to confer and to be made acquainted with the style and condition of his Treatment and placing at the solemnity whereof he had received hitherto no other notice or allowance then what was given and to be given to the Venetian and States Ambassadors That further for him to be a Spectator where the Queen his Masters Sister excused her presence and her participation of the Solemnity of Crowning would be an incongruity with other the like exceptions to this purpose amongst which one was which he said he had reason to take against his Treatment here as not agreeable to his quality Whereat I interposed this question whether his complaint in that regard extended to that particular of his Invitation or to his Treatment in generall he replyed it extended onely to that of his Invitation and that for the rest of his Treatment he had received such respects and usage from his Majesty as he could not except against it Parting with this answer we incountered the Venetian Ambassador where he then was at the Lodging of Mr. Rossorfe the King of Bohemias Agent and could not in a long time drive him from the suspition of the Ambassadors earnest that all this was to deceive and amaze him that he might not come to the Coronation but by his absence run the hazard of the like affront as was put upon him at King James his Funerall till resolved in the Evening he made that appeare which he had before intimated at his House that he durst not be present at the Coronation if the French Ambassador were not not he said for scruple of conscience as the French pretended since he professed to understand it as an Act of State and not of Religion but for the scandalls sake which might grow with censure to him for assisting in one of our Churches at our Churches Ceremonies in company of the States Ambassador reckoned an Heretique during a Solemnity whereat the French Ambassador a Catholick had refused his Presence So as neither of both the Ambassadors came though the Venetian by question examined all wayes possible how he might have a sight of it without notice of any man in some corner but none found allowable and I excusing my attendance on him as being a publick Officer that should thereby discover him for a publick Minister if I should be seen neere and serving him There was onely present the States Ambassador whom Sir Lewes Lewkner fetching from his House in the morning while I accompanied his Wife and Daughters by water from the Savoy Staires we were all let in at a little posterne door on the South side of King Henry the sevenths Chappell upon a Scaffold there and there beheld the whole Solemnity The French
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
respect to any of us Sir Robert Sherley gave him a salutation and sate downe on a stoole neer him while my Lord of Cleaveland by an Interpreter signified in three words the cause of the Ambassador Sherleys and his and our comming to him but with little returne of regard from him till I informing the Interpreter of the new Ambassador what my Lords quality was he let fall his Trust-up-leggs from his chaire and made a kinde of respect to his Lordship This done Sir Robert Sherley unfoulding his Letters and as the Persian use is in reverence to their King first touching his eyes with them next holding them over his head and after kissing them he presented them to the Ambassador that he receiving them might performe the like observance when he suddenly rising out of his chaire stept to Sir Robert Sherley snarcht his Letters from him toare them and gave him a blow on the face with his Fist and while my Lord of Cleaveland stepping between kept off the offer of a further violence the Persians Son next at hand flew upon Sir Robert Sherley and with two or three blows more overthrew him when Master Maxwell of the Bedchamber and my Lord of Cleaveland nearest to him pulling him back while we of the company laid hands on our Swords but not drawing them because not any one Sword or Dagger was drawn by the Persians my Lord of Cleaveland remonstrated to the Ambassador the danger and insolencie of the Fact saying that if he and the Gentlemen there with him had not borne more respect to that King whom he represented then he the Ambassador had done to the Letters shewed him for justification of the others quality neither he nor those about him that had committed that insolency should have gone alive out of that place After these words he made some shew of acknowledgment and said he was sorrey he had offended his Lordship and us by his Act which he had performed transported with extreame rage against a Person that had dared to counterfeit the King his Masters hand which was alwayes he said set on the top of his Letters when these Letters he had shewed had it on the back-side and to heare as he had done that so meane a fellow and an Imposter should presume to say he had married the King his Masters Neece To this Sir Robert Sherley who was in the meane time retyred behind the company amazed and confounded with his blow and Treatment stept in and answered That he never said he had married the Kings Neece but the Queens kinswoman and that for the manner alleadged of signing his Letters it was true that the King of Persia in all imployments of his own Subjects to Forren Princes or in writing to them used to signe above in the front of his Letters but that when he imployed a stranger to any Forren Prince his signature was usually affixed on the back side of his Letters that before their opening they might shew who sent them To this the Ambassador replyed with scornfull looks onely we all with little or no respects to him departed and conducting Sir Robert Sherley to his Lodging accompanied the Earle of Cleaveland instantly to Court where finding the Duke of Buckingham in the Presence-chamber the King being even then come forth to Dinner his Lordship acquainted his Majesty with our adventure and I received present order to let Sir Lewes Lewkner know that he should instantly repaire to the new come Persian Ambassador and tell him that his Audience for that afternoone was thought fit to be snspended and remitted to another day that his Majesty might be particularly informed of the causes of the disagreement and disorder happened The greatest blot and fault of this adoe was cast upon Sir Robert Sherley for his default in his resolution not to returne with blows or words at least the affront done him which had he done would have confirmed the truth of his representative quality and not given subject from such weaknesse and want of Spirit discovered by him to the Merchants to dispute as they confidently did and to his own freinds to defend _____ the soundness of his commission yet at length he writing to his Majesty and beseeching him to send him into Persia with his two Letters tyed about his neck for tryall whether they were true or false the world began to have a conceit of his unjust sufferance and the King to charge it home to the Merchants with his command and especiall pleasure signified to them that he should be senr a long in their Fleet then ready to part for the East Indies and be by them Landed in Persia there to make his Purgation which they though unwillingly assented to and pressing for the other Ambassadors Audience he had it after eight or ten dayes delay assigned and given him the sixth of March fetcht to it by the Earle of Warwick c. Entering the Banquetting House where his Majesty stood under the State to receive him without one looke or gesture of respect till coming close to the Kings person he clapt his Letters to his cyes one after the other kissed them and presented them to the hand of his Majesty but not so much as bowing his Body at their delivery onely having finished his little Ceremony he in his retrait after some twenty paces made with his back to the King turned about and waving his hand on each side imperiously as commanding a prospect hindred by the multitude that pressed in between his sight and the Kings he made a kind of a stoopping reverence so a second and a third and departed When understanding that the Queen was gone abroad whom he meant to visite he imployed the time a while in a walke with all his coaches about Saint Jameses Parke and returning saw her Majesty The next day I brought the other Ambassador Sir Robert Sherley to a private Audience of his Majesty in his Withdrawing-chamber After many Contestations between the Merchants and the Ambassador Sherley whether he were to be defrayed by them as the King required or by the King since his Majesty had intimated his resolution that he should be transported to Persia in the Fleet that was to pass for the East Indies at the beginning of May and in them also the other Ambassador that time being come of their departure they both arrived too late at the place of their imbarking the Downs for performance of that voyage in that season the Fleet that could no longer stay for them being already gone though Sir Robert Sherley had gotten the start of the other and imbarked in a Pinnace of the Fleet together with Sir Dormer Cotton imployed by his Majesty at the same time Ambassador to the King of Persia both for truth whether Sherley were or not an Imposter and also to fix a Trade there which the other Ambassador came to Negotiate so as they were all forced to returne to London and there attend the opportunity of departure in
the King desired speedily to give him because of his intended remove the week following to Wansteed This had been assigned for Sunday the ninth of July had not the Master of the Ceremonies intimated that it would prove improper in regard that the two Venerian Extraordinaries were that day to have their parting Audience at two of the clock and to alter their houre by anticipation or this to come after them might beget distaste his Majesty would have appointed the next day being Saturday but that being judged too precipetate so to surprize an Ambassador before he could recollect himself so soone after his Arriveall and he also apprehending it in that sence it was by me made known to him that he should have his Audience the Tuesday following July 11. at Wansted In the meane time I received Order from my Lord Chamberlaine to hire two Coaches of the Kings providing besides his Majesties own Coach for his and his Followers daily use The 16. of July I was to waite on him to his Audience assigned at Wansted with the conduct of the Earle of Northampton but his Majesty altering the hour of two after to ten before Dinner I was put to it at nine of the clock the night before to command an Assembly for the altered houre so brought him at his due houre to his Audience The 9. of July the two Extraordinary Venetian Ambassadors took leave of his Majesty in the Banquetting House purposely prepared for it and hung with the rich Hangings introduced by the Earle of Mongomery their repose having been first in the Councel Chamber whether they came by the way of the Park a suddaine extream shower having made the ordinary way through the Sermon-Court impossible Then after took leave of the Queen also July the 17. They parted to Gravesend in Barges of the Kings providing and so farre the Master of the Ceremonies attended them but leaving them there as at the limits of all Ambassadors conduct or reception in observation of the new Order resolved on as before they were served only by Walter Brisco Marshall of the Ceremonies for the readier hire of their Carriages at their own charges as was also all their Coaches the Kings for their personall use excepted to their lodging the next day at Sittingborne to their Dinner the day following at Canterbury and to their imbarquing at Dover in two Ships of his Majesties for their landing at Callis Though I had done little or no Service they sent me a Chaine of twenty two pound valew having towards the rest of the Kings Servants carryed themselves as Italian Lesnianti without superfluity but not without the others murmurs The day that the Denmark Ambassador had his publick audience of the King at Wansted he having exprest to me his desire for the conveniency of admitting and returning visit of particulars before he had seen the Queen with an over-nice curiosity having allready seen the King I wrot to Sir Morris Dromond a Gentleman Usher of her Majesties Privy-chamber that he would help me to the knowledge of her Majesties pleasure for his Audience which he did by Letter upon communication both with her Majesty and her Lord Chamberlain Monsieur de Tilliers with signification that I should bring him the next day between one and two in the Afternoon so as late that night I wrote to my Lord Chamberlain for better assurance from Errour what order I had received from Sir Maurice Dromond and touched upon the course usuall of fetching the Ambassador at his first publick Audience from his home by a Person of Title but that the shortnesse of the time and the two Courts divisions hindring this I thought I said it would be sufficient if the Count de Cipierre Master of the Horses to her Majesty should receive him at his Landing at Greenwich so that morning I conducted him in the Kings coach and two other hyred to his imbarking at Tower Wharffe thence to the incounter at Greenwich Bridge of the Count mentioned to his repose in the Councell-chamber and after to the Queen in her Privy-chamber the Ambassador speaking to her French having upon my advise changed his first purpose of speaking to her in Latine c. The next day hastning his private Audience of his Majesty he sent the King his Masters Agent Master Below to Wansted and obtained it for the day following July the fourteenth introduced by a private stayre to a Chamber where he might attend the Kings time of admittance which instantly succeeding his Majesty in the Gallery there no Privy Councellours or other neere gave him his eare for above halfe an houre and dismist him for his returne to London The two Commissioners from Hambrough They had brought no Letters to her Majesty yet demanded and had Audience contrary to that when the Ambassador of Sweden demanded and was refused of Queen Ann because he had brought her no Letters being desirous to kiss the Queens hand as an honour they said which other imployd from their State before them had received of the Queen deceased they requested me to make their way which I did repairing for it to her Majesties Lord Chamberlain but he then instantly gone for France I addrest my selfe to the Bishop of Mando and between him and Madam de Saint George Groome of the Stoole to her Majesty got their Audience to be assigned for the next day the thirtyeth of July between foure and five after Vespers But about two that Afternoon I was told by Sir William Gordon Gentleman Usher to the Queen that the King would speak with me presently about a businesse of importance when repairing to his Majesty in his Privy-Gallery he commanded me that I should without any noise or notice to any go instantly to the deputies of Hambrough and let them know that whereas they were assigned their Audience of the Queen that day her Majesty being ill at ease could not give it them till the next I perceiving this alteration to be without her Majesties knowledge and for some particular cause best known to the King went without further question about the Service but first told Sir William Gordon that it might happen as I guessed by some directions doubtingly given me by the King that he would alter his mind and that the Audience should proceed at the houre first appointed for it upon which consideration I would go I said to the Commissioners where they then Lodged at the Still-yard and discharge them of their expectation but not so fully as that I would not leave them in some opinion that the Queen might perhaps so recover of her indisposition as to send to them to come to her that day this I performed and entertaining them in doubt whether they should go or not having perswaded them to dismisse their allready prepared coaches and if they should be sent for to make their passage by water I after an hours expence of time with them had a messenger sent to me from the King that I should
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
Bruxells the Hague and Hambourgh The Ambassador of Denmark had the fifth of November a private Audience of his Majesty in the Withdrawing-chamber and was after it by me conducted over the Terras crosse the lower end of the Guard-chamber to the Queens Closet in her Privy-chamber for the like Audience of her Majesty to signifie the King his Masters pleasure of imploying him on a posting Journey into France with intention and command of his speedy returne hither But foure or five dayes after as he was upon the instant of his departure Letters came from his King which for a while retarded him till others comming he the sixteenth of November wrote to me to procure him another Audience of his Majesty with all possible speed allwayes regarding he said his Majesties convenience This in absence of my Lord Chamberlain I moved for and obtained within two hours after he comming to Court by water the Kings Coachman being not to be found for his so immediate Service The eighteenth of November after he had the day before prepared for his silent departure he in the morning early went in a Barge of his own hiring to Gravesend and by coach also at his own cost to Dover leaving behind him some murmurs of the Kings Servants that having done him the Service of their places expected their satisfaction and would not beleive but that they should be deceived of it he parting so suddainly without notice given or leave taking except some few dayes before of the King Queen and certaine Lords though his intention of his speedy returne were not undiscovered to some besides my selfe whom he trusted with it The day of his departure Monsieur Bonika sent from the Marquesse of Baden about important businesse having taken leave and received for his present a Chaine of Gold of 150 l. valew posted after for his company and safer passage to Paris On Sunday the fifteenth of November the Duke of Buckingham having prepared a sumptuous entertainment of a Supper and a Maske at York-house for the French Ambassador Monsieur Bassampierre had his Feast honored with the Presence of both their Majesties the King sitting towards the end of the Table with the Queen at his right hand the Ambassador was as soone as they were set invited by his Majesty to sit downe at the end of the Table on that hand which might seeme to be the upper end but was held the lower because next the doore and furthest from the fire he had a wet Towell to wash which given him by the Duke who stood by to serve him all the time of the Supper and would not be put from him nothwithstanding the Ambassadors many excusing refusall of such service c. the Ladies and strangers invited had a plentifull supper in the great Hall of the House while the King and Queen were retyred during some preparations for the Maske in that Roome where their Majesties were Feasted who that night lodged at Somerset-House and had the next day a continuance of their and the Ambassadors entertainment of Feasting Dancing c. The sixteenth of November the Queen prepared for him a Maske represented by the Duke of Buckingham the Earle of Holland Sir George Goring her Viz-Chamberlain and other her Majesties Servants at Somerset-house whereto he came from White-Hall in company of their Majesties by water and had made for him after the Maske a most sumptuous Banquet He should have had by assignation his publick parting Audience but the King with an intreating complement of letting him know and leaving it to his consideration how seriously the Queen was at that time applying her self to her Masking businesse drew him to have it deferred till the Sunday following when towards foure of the clock the Earle of Carliel with the Kings best coach and another of his Majesties fourteen of the Lords Coaches following six or seaven of the Kings Servants onely in them to leave the more place for strangers brought him for his repose to the Councell-chamber where Wine Bread Beere c. usually served in by the Guard was for that time spared as a custome of improper use towards the French and from thence over the Terras to the Banquetting-house where both their Majesties standing ready to receive him and the Ladies ranged in order of their qualities on the left hand of the King all along the Roome and the Lords and Gentlemen on the right The French that marched before the Ambassador being made to stay and be placed on that side for the fairer passage and prospect to their Majesties he there took publick leave of them both but after followed them along the Privy-galleries as far as to the Withdrawing-Roome and was thence conducted by the Earle of Carliel to his Lodgings to Supper in company of divers great Lords and Ladies with whom after Supper returning to the King and Queen he was present with them at a Play in the great Hall which ended and their Majesties waited on by him to the Kings Withdrawing-chamber he there took a second leave and returned late to his Lodgings Two dayes before his departure it being talked of in Court that the Master of the Jewell-House Sir Henry Mildmay had made his meanes to the Duke of Buckingham and other neere about the Kings person for carriage and delivery of the Present designed to the Ambassador which was a rich Jewell of foure great Diamonds with a great Pearle pendant at it alltogether esteemed by Jewellers at a Merchants rate to be worth seaven thousand pounds the Master of the Ceremonies understanding of these endeavours to the others profit and his disadvantage both present and future from president came to my house as to one whom it highly concerned he said in my right of reversion after his death or in case of his sicknesse or absence when I was to carry the like Presents to those Ambassadors that I had attended or done Service to whom they should be formerly presented with Jewels from his Majesty and intreated me to go with him to the Lord Chamberlain the Earle of Montgomery To whom when we came his Lordship upon the first overture of the difference resolved it to be an undue claime of the Master of the Jewell-house and professed he would to his power oppose him From his Lordship we went both together to the Earle of Pembrok then Lord Steward of his Majesties House-hold and but a small time before Lord Chamberlain and he with expression even of passion condemned the pretence of the Master of the Jewell-House saying no man could better speake to that question then he could who had been present when it was moved before the Lords of the Councell and King James himselfe for their decision By Sir Henry Carew and Sir Lewes Lewkner which had most right to the carriage of Presents the Master of the Ceremonies or the Master of the Jewell-house this latter pretended indeed he said to their carriage when they consisted of Plate or chaines of gold and
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
Kings to conduct him of Mantova we altogther having besides the service of three hired coaches for the first and two for the latter all at their own charge parted from London on Tuesday morning and were by two after Dinner at Oaking where after a brief Complement passed between the Ambassadors that had not till then seen one anothers The Mantovan having alwaies kept behind to let it be seen he was of another company and imployment and bringing them for their rest to two severall chambers I first introduced those of Denmark whose complement dispatched Letters delivered and themselves reconducted to their chamber I after brougth in the Mantovan for his farewell This passed and he returned to the place of his repose I again conducted the other two to a private Audience after their publick and leaving them with his Majesty accompanied the Mantovan to his coach and returned to the other whose private Audience finished we went that night to Winsore the next morning to Hampton court and were that evening as the Ambassador of Montava likewise was by another way at London whether both this and the other were accompanied by the Lords their conductors to their severall lodgings with a course and trouble to me beyond example of bringing two Ambassadors at once in one day to their Audiences so far from the ordinary standing court of his Majesty The next day August the twentyninth when the Ambassador of Mantova had before hand immediatly upon his return sollicited and obtained Assignation for a parting Audience of the Queen then come to Somerset house at two of the clock after noon and that I had received the desires of the Ambassadors of Denmark to have likewise their Audience of her Majesty with her first conveniency I received from the Earl of Carliel her Majesties pleasure That at the same hour those of Denmark should be admitted and the Mantovan an hour after and that to this purpose I should repair to the Earl of Dorset for his company with the former and to the Lord Morley for the latter But this Lord being indisposed I was driven to my former shift of procuring a Nobleman for the Service The Earl of Dorset undertook and discharged his part fetching the two Danes from their lodgings to Somerset house there entring the court with the Queens coach their other coaches staying in the street and accompanying them in the Councel chamber till their time of admission to the Queen and dismission back whither his Lordship went with them to their lodging In the mean time only attending them to the Gate of the court was arrested there by the necessity of my service for the introduction of the Mantovan who for want of a Nobleman to accompany him was fetch from thence by Sir Robert Ayton Secretary to the Queen and in one of her Majesties coaches brought to court where after a publick Audience given him in her privy chamber she gave him a more private one in her withdrawing chamber and at his leave taking presented him with a Diamond Ring from her own finger of four hundred pounds value which giving him exceeding satisfaction was an occasion taken by me for preparation of his better acceptance of the Kings Present to come of a thousand Ounces of gilt Plate as if both their Majesties had understood one another in the consent of so presenting him that the publick and ordinary rates present might pass with the better acceptation more out of danger to become a Prefident for the Kings greater charge hereafter But while I was thus provident for my Masters honour and profit a Message was brought me from my Lord Chamberlain then at Court intimating that wheras his Majesty was pleased by likelyhood from the Queens perswasion to correspond with her in the quality of their gifts That this Ambassadors present should have consisted of Plate He was now resolved to convert it to a Jewell and to add to the value proportioned as above And that to this purpose I should respite the presenting of the other till I should understand further from his Majesty This I did accordingly and the day after the Kings arrivall at London I received from the hand of the Earl of Holland the Lord Chamberlain being then going out of Town and leaving with me such order a Jewel being a Picture-case set with four Diamonds of about five hundred pounds value but no Picture in it for which his Majesties complement was for my delivery That his Picture wanting there because one could not be so suddainly provided and fitted to it it might be supplyed with that which the Ambassadors would he said preserve of him in his memory About the same time one of his Gentlemen whom he had made now and then use of for his Pen and had withall carried the Title and sometime executed the Office of Steward having heard of our custome heretofore to present Ambassadors Secretaries with Chains at their parting expected the like and made one Sir Francis Biondi his means to me by his Letter to that purpose whom I answered by Letter with reasons as before when Bethleem Gabors Secretary petended to the like favour from his Majesty but was refused it and so was this I having first acquainted the Ambassador himself with his pretence and with our course of limitation here for presenting Secretaries onely when they were as the Venetians Secretaries of the Embassage or had been for some especiall affaires imployed and noted for Assiduall Negotiators The fifth of September this Ambassador parting hence in the Kings Barge with no more Barges or Boates that one being capable of his Traine I accompanied him to Gravesend where presenting me with sixty double Pistoles I left him in his way to Dover for his imbarking c. He was not visited during the time of his stay here by the Venetian Ambassador no more then this by him The two Moores Commissioners from Saly having long attended the Kings returne to London and found little fruit of their Negotiation with the Lords demanded and had at last an Audience of his Majesty in the Privy-gallery comming to Court from their Lodging at Sir Abraham Williams in Westminster in a coach of their own hyring without my conduction onely I received them at the Court Gates brought them to the Councell-chamber thence to their Audience back to their coach and there left them The ninth of December the Ambassadors of Denmark went to an Audience of his Majesty at Havering with the Kings coach and two others hyred by themselves onely my selfe and no Nobleman accompanying them their Audience being to be private Arriving there towards Noone we found a Table covered for their dinner at the Kings charge whereto they sate down immediatly after the King was set to his and were served by the Guard for whom at their parting they gave to the hand of a Gentleman Usher Quarter-waiter 10 peeces After dinner they had their Audience in the Privy-chamber and that night returned to London They
to a Supper by the Countess of Denbigh as was the Savoy Ambassador at the same time by the Earle of Carliel understanding thus much I did to prevent all inconveniences that might happen by any suddain incounter let fall a word or two in hearing of the Savoy Ambassador for his knowledge of it who answerably took his course in such sort as that after the Venetian was before the Kings comming into the Hall entered there leading the Countesse of Denbigh and seating himselfe uppermost at the end of the Lords seat towards the Kings right hand next above the Lady mentioned the Ambassador of Savoy entered with the King passing promiscously amongst the Lords and as I had before prepared the Dutches of Buckingham were seated next above her the other great Ladies the Lord of Carliel sitting next above the Ambassador but sidewayes upon another seate on the Kings left hand neit er of these Ambassadors so much as looking one towards another much lesse saluting either entering or parting that of Savoy going our as he entered after the King leaving the Dutches and the other of Venice after those were gone following with the Countesse Whiles one of the Ambassadours of Denmarke Monsieur Tompson attended the recovery of the others sicknesse Monsieur Brabe and both of them the payment of a thousand pounds promised them by way of defalcation but after intimated to them by me from the King to be intended as a guift to them in lieu of their not having been defrayed he sent my Lord Major word Sir Hugh Hammersley that he would dine with him and bring with him three or foure of his Gentlemenâ— his Lordship returned an acceptation both by the Ambassadors messenger and by a Servant of his own but when I hearing of it had let him know by Master Wolfin his Masters Agent that if he were not informed already touching the manner of his personall Treatment for the place he should do well to inquire whether the Lord Major would give him precedence which he had never yet given to any person of whatsoever quality under the King the Ambassador changed his mind made his excuses of an unexpected businesse and onely sent his Gentlemen with whom I sending my Officer to accompany them and to sound what he could of my Lord Majors disposition for the place in case the Ambassador himself had come to him he made a plain profession which I also after received from himselfe That he meant to maintain the Lord Majors Right and ancient Custome of preceding all men within the City but the King himself So as without this prevention of mine there might have followed perhaps some scandall or difference to the insatisfaction of the Ambassador and the trouble of the Lord Major not without subject of discourse for other Ambassadors c. These 2 Ambassadors being at length possessed of their long unpaid thousand pounds which should have been presented them as had been intimated in lieu of their not having been defrayded and not by way of defalcation as they demanded it and it was carried They prepared for their departure and the day before sent their Secretary to the Ambassador of Savoy with a complement of their offer of service c. which he the next day returning by one of his Gentlemen it was all the correspondence which during their abode here had passed between them The two and twentieth of December having the seruice of the Kings Coach and two other hired by themselves to their imbarquing at Tower-wharff they went thence in the Kings Barge with one more I accompanying them to Gravesend where they presenred me with a Purse and fifty peeces and were there left by me to the guidance of my Officer Walter Briscoe to their shipping at Dover On the way to Gravesend I fell in discourse purposely with Monsieur Tompson concerning their not visiting the Duke of Savoys Ambassador and found by his Ejaculations that they repented them of their puntillioes professing to me That if they had at first understood that the King and since the Duke who had made a visit to them five or six daies before their departure on no other errand then touching that visit would have taken such notice of it they would have dispensed with their own reasons for want of examples and have made a visit to him but as that now so were their departure would have been unseasonable so they had left it to the hazard of whatsoever inconvenience might follow I replyed they might have discovered by my diligent endeavours the affection of his Majesty to have had that Complement performed as requisite for entertainment of the correspondence between their King and that Prince and others in times that needed it but that having no formall command from his Majesty to meddle in it I had reason to be so reserved as I had been At last I pressed him to acquaint me with the truth of what was held I said at Court that the Venetian had been the first moving cause of their not discharging that visit with the reasons mentioned before But Monsieur Tompson protested to me that he was charged wrongfully having been rather he said a perswader of them by Sir Francis Biondi sent to them by the Venetian to that purpose with assurance that they beginning the Complement he would not fail to second them then that he had ever used one word to disswade them With this acknowledgment I after acquainted the Savoy Ambassador and had for answer That it was now too late for them to amend the faults they had made he having he said given account of their proceedings to the Duke his Master and was for himself he said resolved that if they should make a return as they intended to England he would never he said receive any visit from them though they should with acknowledgment of their error make offer of it The two Commissioners from Saley in Barbary Mehemets Bensayd Hamet Naxuaez having obtained Letters from the King to their State with grant and for setling of a correspondence between us and them and to Sydi-Hamet-Laynshi a Saint as they termed him much reverenced amongst them for his holiness and descent from a Race of qualified Saints and of great power for force of Horse to be levied at his pleasure They went hence the twelfth of November to Dover there to embarque in a Ship fraughted for Barbary and to be conveyed till within a daies fail of their Port by the Fleet for Turkie then bound thither His Majesty having defrayed them for the time of their abode here at forty shillings per diem Dyet and Lodging presented each of them after they had taken their leaves in the privie Gallery with a Gold Chain of a hundred pounds value they presented me at their parting with thirty peeces In time of Christmas the Viscountess of Purbeck having for execution of a sentence pronounced against her in the high Commission Court her house beset by a Serjeant at Armes with other
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
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
Venise en toutes telles ocasions comm ' aussy celuy d'Espagne et des Archiducs Et quant a ce qu' on pretend qu' ayant esté conuié le dit Ambassadeur des Archiducs le Mardy Gras jour dernier des magnificences on pourroit faire construction qu' on faisoit quelque trait d'honneur a la Republique de Venise par dessus les Archiducs Sa Majesté dit qu' ayant este tousjours tres-curieux d'esquiuer toutes sortes d'offences a ses Amis en Subject de ceste condition le dit sieur Ambassadeur s' il luy plait d'y bien penser trouuerá que le fait de sa Majesté en cecy ne porte point de preiudice a sa Majesté Carestant la solemnité du Mariage un Acte continué combien qu' executè en plusieurs iours il ne contient ny prius ny posterius en soy ains se doit entendre que tous les iours ont pareille dignité voire si l'on y vouloit argumenter il se pourroit soustenir que le dernier jour seroit a prendre pour le plus gran iour comm'il s' ontend en plusiours autres cas et nommement aux festes de Noel que le Jour des Roys qui est le dernier se prend pour le plus gran jour et en plusjours places en la solemnite du Caresme prenant le Merdy Gras se prend aussy pour le plus grand Mesme au fait present le Ballet de la cour composé de Conseillers et des plus Grands de la Noblesse tant seigneurs que Dames auoit este assigne au Mardy comm ' au plus gran jour de la Feste Mais pour ne se trouuer d'accord la Noblesse de Colleges de Droict du jour enfuynant le dimenche on á este contraint d'ordonner celuy de la Cour au dit jour antrement se deuoit faire le Mardy cousm ' an plus gran jour Mais sa Majesté qui ne se porte pour Juge des differences qni naissent entre les Princes ne dit cecy pour rien resoudre de part eu d'autre Mais seulement pour monstrer les raisons qu' elle á eu de son coste au quel elle pense n' auoir foit tort a personne HIs Majesty perceiving that the Ambassador of the most serene Arch-Duke hath taken some exceptions that he was not invited to the solemnities of Madam his Majesties sole Daughter and of the most Illustrious Prince the Elector Palatine on Sunday the day of the Nuptialls whereas the Ambassador of the most serene Republicke of Venice was invited thereunto that day he hath thought good that the said Lord Ambassador and the Princes whom he serves should understand that his Majesty never intended to do any thing in prejudice to the pretences of either Prince or State in all procedures since his accesse to this Crown but alwayes declind to comport himselfe as judge of their competitions in this case leaving them both entire in what appertaines to them and treating them in a free generall way as his freinds Now touching the present businesse reflecting upon the Ambassador of Venice his Majesty lets the said Ambassador of the Arch-Dukes to understand that the said Ambassador of Venice having fourteen or fifteen dayes before the Wedding day informed his Majesty that he had order from the Republicke to congratulate the said Nuptialls he desired that he might perform the said office the very day of the solemnity and that he might do it with a better grace as also for a more open manifestation of the honour which the said Republicke doth beare unto his Majesty he was appointed Extraordinary allowance for the pomp and to put his men in liveryes accordingly upon the publicke charge an honour which his Majesty had not received of any Prince it being Extraordinary and not usuall among Princes Therefore his Majesty had all reason to correspond with the said Republicke in like civilities for so signall demonstrations of respect Add hereunto that the Spanish Ambassador not finding himselfe in case to assist and be present the first day of the Nuptialls and his Majesty being incertain whether he would be at any other day of the Solemnities his Majesty according to former custome commanded that the said Ambassador of Venice should be joynd with him of his most Christian Majestyes who had been invited for the same day according to the course that was allwayes observed to couple upon such solenmities the Ambassadors of France and Venice as also those of Spaine and the Arch-Dukes And whereas it is pretended that whereas the Ambassador of the said Arch-Dukes being invited upon Shrove-Tuesday the last day of the solemnity one might inferr that a greater shew of honour was made thereby to the Republicke then to the Arch-Dukes his Majesty sayeth that he having allwayes been most curious to avoid all sorts of offences among his friendes in matters of this kind the said Ambassador if he please to consider of it well will find that this doth not carry with it any prejudice at all to his Master in regard that the solemnity of the mariage being but one continued Act though performd divers daies admitted neither prius nor posterius in it selfe but it is to be understood that each day had the like dignity Nay if one would Argumentize thereupon it might be alledged that the last day should be taken for the greatest day as it is underslood in many other Coses and particularly upon the Festivalls of Christmas wherein the Twelfe day or the Festivall of the three Kings which is the last is taken for the greatest day And in many places Tueseday is taken for the chiefest day of Shrove-tide wherefore the Mask at Court compos'd of Noble men and Ladies was assign'd for that day as being the greatest of the Festivalls but his Majesty who doth not undertake to be Iudge of differences arising in this nature twixt the Ministers of Princes doth not speake this as to determine any thing on either side but onely to shew the reasons which he hath on his behalfe in this particular wherein he thinks not to have done any body wrong This being read by the Ambassador I demanded his answer which he said he could little inlarge beyond the former And then telling him I was by command to returne the paper suiteable to his owne and his Servants proceeding with his Majesty when he last sent his mind in writing he affirmed peremptorily that he neither asked nor had any paper back againe And in this regard he must be pardoned if he returned no answere since quoth he if I had received a message by word I had answered by word If by writeing by writeing But taking this message for neither I may I suppose be silent Wherewith when I had acquainted the Lord Chamberlaine his Lordship was semewhat moved as for his owne personall interest and
taking Sir William Button my Collegue assistant of the Ceremonies to witnesse what he had said and done his Lordship willed me to returne and affirme to him the contrary with confidence But halfe the wordes which I had to say to this purpose when I came to him were scarce uttered when he confessed the Action yet not without blaming his Servants mistaking and forgetfullnesse to deliver back to him the paper At this time the French and Venetian Ambassadors invited to the Marriage were not free from Puntillios That made an offer to precede the Prince This stood upon it that they were not to sit at the Table without Chaires though the Prince The King not present had but a stoole the Count Palatine and the Princess onely for the honour of the day having Chayres and insisting upon a formality that the Carver was not to stand above him but neither of these prevailed in their reasonlesse pretences Neither was the Wife of the French Ambassador cleere of these disputes for when I had ushered her up amcungst the Countesses and left her there to the raniging of the Lord Chamberlaine he ordered shee should be placed at the Table next beneath the Countesses and above the Baronesses But the Viscountesse of Effingham standing to her womans right and possest allready of her proper place as she called it would not moove lower so held the hand of the Ambassatrice till after dinner the Ambassador her husband informed of the difference and opposition tooke it for an indignity and calling for his Wives Coach that by her departure it might be seen he was sensible she was by others perswasions stayed and was at supper placed beneath the Countesse of Killdare and above the Viscountesse of Haddington who made no scruple of it the Lady of Effingham in the interim forbearing with rather too much then too little Stommach both her supper and the Company The Ambassador of the united Provinces Sir Noel Caron kept himselfe all this while quiet without question of Prius or Posterius or thrusting for publique Note being a continually entertained guest during the solemnitie of the Marriage the carriage whereof on the day of it was this Between the howers of eleaven and twelve after that the Bride and Bride-groom had in manner of a procession passed along through the first Court at White-hall on a raised Terras conspicuous to all the first entered the Chappell was the Prince Palatine attended by the Batchellrie of the Nobilitie and after him the Princess apparrelled in white her haire layed out at length in Curls over-spreading her shoulders and Crowned with a Coronet of rich pearles and Diamonds followed by a dozen of choice Virgins Bcauties all cloathed in white who with her Highnesse ascended by six or seaven stepps an eelevated place purposely framed in the midst of the Chappell shee was encountered thereon by the Prince Palatine who ascended by the other end After these came up the King Queene and Prince seating themselves the King on the one side next whom at his right hand stood the Earle of Arundell carrying the sword and next him the Prince On the side opposite sate the Queen next her the Princesse then the Lady Baronesse Harington her late Governesse and last of that company Count Henry of Nassaw on the Kings side standing that place being voyded of all others The Sermon began preached by the Deane of the Chappell Bishop of London Doctor King and this ended the formall wordes of the Marriage with all Ceremonies in use were read by the Arch-Bishop of Canterburie and in place where it was requisite repeated by the Prince Palatine in English In conclusion a joy pronounced by the King and Queen and seconded with congratulation of the Lords there present which Crowned with draughts of Ippocras out of a great golden Bowle as an health to the prosperitie of the Marriage beg an by the Prince Palatine and answered by the Princess After which were served up by six or seaven Barons so many Bowles filled with wafers so much of that worke was consummate the Bravery and riches of that day was incomparable Gold and Silver laid upon Lordes Ladies and Gentlewomens backs was the poorest burthen Pearles and coastly Embroyderies being the commonest weare The Kings Queenes and Princes Iewells onely were valued that day by his Majesty himselfe upon occasion of discourse happening to the purpose of the Braverie then appearing at nine Hundred Thousand poundes sterling The next two dayes came behind in time not in cost to the former and an open Court was for that time kept with intertaining Tables and free admittance to them of all worthy commers English or strangers The one and twentieth of February following there was a great supper prepared by the King but at the cost of certain Lords who lost it for their ill running at the Ring against his Majesty and his party in a large roome built of purpose for the time over the North-Terras next the first Court of White-Hall The King and Prince onely were seated at a crosse Table placed at the end of the Roome next the Banqueting House The Prince Palatine the Lords Ladies and the Gentlemen of the Inns of Court that had been at the Marriage Maskers or Assistants to the Maske whereof there were of both about forty sate at another Table placed longwayes the Chamber Passages at the Marriage of the Earle of Summerset 1613. THe three and twentieth of December 1613 I was sent to the Ambassador of Venice Seig. Foscarini Sir William Button having been sent at the same time and on the same Errant to the Ambassador of France with this formall Message Mons. de Buisseaux that according to his Majesties most Royall disposition and desire to give all due content to Ministers of Forrain Princes whereof he himselfe the Ambassador had the yeare before received a particular Testimony having been then invited togeather with the French Ambassador to the Marriage of the Princess Palatine I was now sent to signifie his Majesties pleasure to this purpose That his Majesty was perswaded and with all desirous that his Excellencie would not passe any Mis-construction upon his proceeding if the Spanish Ambassador newly come into this Kingdome and who had not yet been present here at any entertainments of Court were togeather with the Arch-Dukes Ambassador invited to the Marriage of the Earle of Summerset Don diego Sarmiento de Acunna and not he the Ambassador of Venice that if he would be pleased to honour with his presence the Maske of Gentlemen of the Inns of Court to be performed on Twelfe night a time amongst us of the solemnest observance he should be most wellcome to it and in the meane time I was further to let him know that there was an intention he should be invited to the Marriage of the Lady Jane Dromond first Lady of the Queenes Bedd-Chamber at Candlemas To this his Answere was a question whether the King intended the Solemnitie towards