An extract from the notebooks of
Sir John Finet
, assistant to
Sir Lewis Lewkenor
, Master of Ceremonies at the court of
James I.
[p. 19]
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 near 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,
[p. 20]
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
[p. 21]
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 he 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 sight 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
[p. 22]
their Testimony; That if if 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 betweeen 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
[p. 23]
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 Coache) departed.
The King
the next day at his dinner discoursing to
[p. 24]
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. [marginal note]
[
Il. Gavallo Francisco Guarolesi
.
] 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 Queene 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, 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, which was assented to, [marginal note]
[
Earle of Suffolke.
] 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.
Bibliography
H&S, 10.554-7
Sullivan (1913), 231-4
Finet, Finetti philoxenis (1656), 19-24