Tudor Books, Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2 Dudley Carleton to Mr Winwood Jan 1605
Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2 Dudley Carleton to Mr Winwood Jan 1605 is in Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2.
Jan 1605. Dudley Carleton (age 32) to Ralph Winwood (age 42)
Sir
I had written unto you at this time, though I had not been invited by your Letters I received by Captain Doyly. For in Mr. Chamberlain's Absense, I come in quarter, and have waited so diligently at Court this Christmas, that I have Matter enough, if the Report of Masks and Mummings can please you.
On St. John's Day we had the Marriage of Sir Philip Herbert (age 21) and the Lady Susan (age 18) performed at Whitehall, with all the Honour could be done a great Favourite. The Court was great, and for that Day put on the best Bravery. The Prince (age 11) and Duke of Holst (age 26) led the Bride to Church, the Queen (age 31) follow'd her from thence. The King (age 39) gave her, and she in her Tresses, and Trinketts brided and bridled it so handsomly, and indeed became her self so well, that the King said, if he were unmarried he would not give her, but keep her himself. The Marriage Dinner was kept in the great Chamber, where the Prince and the Duke of Holst, and the great Lords and Ladies accompanied the Bride. The Ambassador of Venice was the only bidden Guest of Strangers, and he had place above the Duke of Holst, which the Duke took not well. But after Dinner he was as little pleased himself; for being brought into the Closet to retire himself, he was there suffered to walk out his Supper unthought of. At Night there was a Mask in the Hall, which for Conceit and Fashion was fuitable to the Occasion. The Actors, were the Earle of Pembrook (age 25), the Lord Willoby, Sir Samuel Hays, Sir Thomas Germain, Sir Robert Cary (age 22), Sir John Lee, Sir Richard Preston, and Sir Thomas Eager. There was no smal Loss that Night of Chaines and Jewells, and many great Ladies were made shorter by the Skirts, and were well enough served that they could keep cut no better. The Presents of Plate, and other Things given by the Noblemen, were valued at £2500, but that which made it a good Marriage, was a Gift of the King's of £500 Land for the Bride's Joynture. They were lodged in the Councill Chamber, where the King in his Shirt and NightGown gave them a Reveille Matin before they were up, and spent a good time in or upon the Bed, chuse which you will believe. No Ceremony was omitted of Bride-Cakes, Points, Garters, and Gloves, which have been ever since the Livery of the Court; and at Night there was sewing into the Sheet, casting off the Bride's left Hose, with many other petty Sorceries.
New-Years-Day past without any Solemnity, and the exorbitant Gifts that were wont to be used at that time are so far laid by, that the accustlomed Presents of the Purse and Gold was hard to be had without asking.
The next Day the King plaid in the Presence, and as good or ill Luck seldom comes alone, the Bridegroom (age 20), that threw for the King, had the good Fortune to win £1000 which he had for his Pains; the greatest part was lost by my Lord of Cranborne (age 13).
On Twelfth-Day we had the Creation of Duke Charles (age 4) now Duke of York; the Interim was entertained with making Knights of the Bath, which was three Days Work. They were eleven in Number, besides the little Duke, all of the King's Choice; namely, the Lords Willoby, Compton, Chandois, and Norres; William Cecyll, Allen Percy, Thomas Somerset (age 26), Francis Manners (age 27), Clifford, young Howard, second Son of my Lord Chamberlaine, and Harrington. The Solemnity of the Creation was kept in the Hall, where first the Duke was brought in accompanyed with his Knights, then carried out againe, and brought back by Earles in their Robes of the Garter. My Lord Admiral bare him, two others went as Supporters, and six marched before with the Ornaments. The Patent was read by my Lord of Cranborne (age 13), and drawn in most eloquent Law Latin by Mr. Attorney; but so, that we have a Duke of York in Title, but not in Substance. There was a publick Dinner in the great Chamber, where there was one Table for the Duke and his Earls Assistants, another for his Fellow Knights of the Bath.
At Night we had the Queen's Maske in the Banqueting-House [Map], or rather her Pagent. There was a great Engine at the lower end of the Room, which had Motion, and in it were the Images of Sea-Horses with other terrible Fishes, which were ridden by Moors: The Indecorum was, that there was all Fish and no Water. At the further end was a great Shell in form of a Skallop,wherein were four Seats; on the lowest sat the Queen (age 30) with my Lady Bedford (age 25); on the left were placed the Ladies Suffolk (age 41), Darby (age 29), Rich (age 42), Effingham (age 30), Ann Herbert (age 22), Susan Herbert (age 17), Elizabeth Howard (age 22), Walsingham (age 36) and Bevil (age 39). Their Apparell was rich, but too light and Currizan-light for such great ones. Instead of Vizzards, their Faces, and Arms up to the Elbows, were painted black, which was Disguise sufficient, for they were hard to be known; but it became them nothing so well as their red and white, and you cannot imagine a more ugly Sight, then a Troop of lean-cheeked Moors. The Spanish and Venetian Ambassadors were both present, and sate by the King in State; at which Monsieur Beaumont quarrells so extreamly, that he saith the whole Court is Spanish. But by his Favour, he should fall out with none but himself, for they were all indifferently invited to come as private Men, to a private Sport; which he refusing, the Spanish Ambassador willingly accepted, and being there, feeing no Cause to the contrary, he put off Don Taxis, and took upon him El Senor Embaxadour, wherein he outstript our little Monsieur. He was privately at the first Mask, and fate amongst his Men disguised; at this he was taken out to dance, and footed it like a lusty old Gallant with his Country Woman. He took out the Queen, and forgot not to kiss her Hand, though there was Danger it would have left a Mark on his Lips. The Night's Work was concluded with a Banquet in the great Chamber, which was so furioufly assaulted, that down went Table and Tresses before one bit was touched. They say the Duke Holst will come upon us with an after reckoning, and that we shall see him on Candlemas Night in a Mask, as he hath shewed himself a lusty Reveller all this Christmas.
The Spanish Ambassador about a Fortnight since invited the Duke, and the whole Court to a great Feast. The Service was set out in the Dutch manner with Banners and Streamers, and Presents were given the Ladyes of Spanish Gloves and Fans. But after Dinner he came home to us, with a Play and a Bankquett.
The King (age 38) is gone to Huntington where he will stay till towards Candlemas. The Queen (age 30) goes to Greenwich, Kent [Map] this Week, to give Whitehall some Ayre against that time; and presently after the King goes back sur ses brisees, and the Queen returns to Greenwich to lay down her great Belly, which is iook'd for about three Months hence.
The Lords of the Councill are tyed to Attendance at the Queen's Court, and they have a Letter from the King to be more diligent in his Affairs; for which purpose, Wednesdays are appointed for Meetings, to dispatch ordinary Suiters. There hath a great Cause troubled them often and long, betwixt the Lord Zouch and the Lord Chief Justice; the one standing for his Privelidges of the King's Bench, the other for his Court of Presidency in Wales, which do sometimes cross one another. The Prerogative finds more Friends amongst the Lords, but the Judges and Attorney plead hard for the Law. The King stands indifferent, & adhuc sub judice lis eft. The Earle of Cumberland's Office upon the Borders is dissolved, and Authority of Oyer and Terminer given to certaine Commissioners on both Parts.
There was lately an Apparition near Barwick of Armies and fighting Men on Holydown Hills, which gave the Alarm to the Town, and frighted those of the Scottish Border: And that you may have all our Wonders at once, our Neighbours at Thistleworth took last week a Seale which they discovered a Fortnight before, and the like is not remembred in fresh Waters. Those which are Weatherwise make great Divination of both these; and for the first, apply it, as they did in old time, Armorum fonitus, &c. to a Prediction of War; but for the other, methinks they need trouble themselves no further, then to think it came in Company with the Sea-Fishi that drew in our Lady-Moors, and carrying a waiting Gentlewoman and some Baggage.
Our Lords Ambassadors begin now to prepare towards their Journeys, my Lord Admiral with great Pomp, and my Lord of Hartford (who with much Importunity hath accepted the Charge to the Archduke) faith, he will be as frank as another. The Duke of Lenox went into France very slenderly accompanied; and we doubt, because of the Misfortune of his Friends there, will be as coldly entertained. He had an ill Passage, for being bound for Diepe he was driven by foul Weather almost as high as Graveling, and there landed on the Strand; from whence his whole Traine was faigne to march on foot as far as Calais, and from thence over-land with many Incommodities. Sir Thomas Edmonds hath gotten the full Allowance of Ambassador, and Promise to have that mended; methinks this should be no ill Presage for you, and it behoves us to have our Minister with the States, as strong as the Archdukes.
Sir Richard Spencer was brought to the King the Morning he went from London, and kneeling down had this ill Encounter, to light with his Knee on a Pin, which lamed him for the present and ever since. They say, malum omen in principio lapsus; and methinks it should be no good signe, to be pinn'd to the Ground at his Entry into his Charge. Upon Complaint that our Merchants were molested in Spaine, Wilson, who is newly come from thence was appointed to return thither, and had Allowance assigned of 30s a Day: But there came News of Reformation, and his Journey was stayed. He is to go with my Lord Admirall, and to remaine there as a Consul for our Merchants. Sir Henry Maynard prepares for France. Sir Thomas Bodeley hath been much laid to by my Lord of Cranborne (age 13) to accept the place of Secretary, and I doubt not but you hear how he refused it. This offer is made an Act so meritorious, that it is brued a son de trompette in all Places, but some malicious Fellows talk as fast of Sir Walter Cope, as if he were designed to that Place, and that the other was only ad faciendum populum. Sir Henry Neville fits by all this while unthought of, but 'tis hoped by many honest Men, the Necesslty of the Time will lay the Place upon him.
The next Place that shall be void in the Councill Chamber, will be supplyed by John Corbet, and other Demylances are spoken of the rest, which are of that pitch of Preferment. For my part, I am wish'd to get my Heart at rest, for I have taken a wrong Course; pol me occidistis amici non fervastis; But how could you imagine that great Mens Jealousy could descend so low? The best is I was never better, and were it not more for a necessity that is imposed by the Expectation of Friends, not to stand at a stay and senescere whilst a Man is young, then for Ambition, I would not complaine my self of my Misfortunes. But enough of this Theame.
Your Friends are well, Mr. Chamberlaine at Knebworth, Mr. Gent in London. Sir Henry Nevill went yeslerday from thence. There is a tragical Accident happened hereby at Hanworth, where a Son of Sir Maurice Barkley's, and a Daughter of Sir Thomas Germains, their only Darlings, lighting by chance upon Ratsbane, and taken it for Butter, eat of it in great Quantity, the Daughter is dead, but the Son with much vomiting like to escape.
I send you a Proclamation for the proroguing of the Parliament; I know not how you will allow of the Reasons, but if there were added the bringing in of the Privy Seals which are yet most behinde, the avoiding of the Clamor of Puritan Ministers, who are now sur le bureau, and giving time to the great Union-makers to play upon the Bitt, you had as well the Cloth as the Colour. And thus I leave you with my hearty Wishes for your Health and Welfare.
Tours most assured to serve you,
Dudley Carleton (age 31).