Challenge at Tilt 12

National Archives, SP 14/75/53, fol. 33

Letter, John Chamberlain to Alice Carleton , 30 December 1613, London . Single unfolded sheet: the letter occupies pp. 1-2. The masque mentioned here was Campion's Masque of Squires.


[fol. 33]

Mistris Carleton: I thought I shold haue had a world of newes to aduertise this weeke, but yt falles out in this as yt doth commonly in other thinges that the speach and expectation goes far beyond the matter. the mariage was vpon sonday without any such brauerie as was looked for, only some of his followers bestowed cost on themselues, the rest exceeded not either in number or expence. she was maried in her haire and led to chappell by her bridemen t a Duke of Saxonie (that is here) and the earle of Northampton her great vncle. the dean of westminster preached and bestowed a great deale of commendation on the younge couple, on the countesse of Salisburie, and the mother-vine (as he termed her) the countesse of Suffolke. the Deane of the chappell coupled them, which fell out somwhat straungely that the same man, shold marrie the same person, in the same place, vpon the self same day (after sixe or seuen yeares I know not whether) the former partie yet liuing: all the difference was that the Kinge gaue her the last time, and now her father. the King and Quene were both present and tasted wafers and ypocras as at ordinarie weddings. I heare litle or no commendation of the maske made by the Lords that night; either for deuise or dauncing, only yt was rich and costly. the maskers were the Duke of Lennox, the earles of Pembroke and Mongomery Dorset and Salisburie, the Lord Walden with his three brethren Sir Thomas, Henry , and Sir Charles Howard , the Lord Scroope, L ord North and Lord Haye. the next day the King Prince bridegroome and others ran at the ringe.

Bibliography
CSPD 1611-18, 217
Chamberlain (1939), 1.496