National Archives, SP 14/80/4, fol. 7
Letter,
John Chamberlain
to
Sir Dudley Carleton
, 12 January 1615,
London
. One folded sheet, two leaves: the letter occupies pp. 1-2; p. 3, blank; p. 4, subscription.
[fol. 7]
My very goode Lord: the only matter I can aduertise since I wrote the last weeke is
the successe of the maske on twelfe night, which was so well liked and applauded that the king
had yt represented again the sonday night after, in the very same manner, though neither
in deuise nor shew was there any thing extraordinarie but only excellent dauncing,
the choise beeing made of the best both english and scottes: but there fell out an
accident before yt began that had almost marred the play: for the Spanish ambassador
beeing inuited, when he vnderstoode that Sir
Noel Caron
was likewise to be there, he protested against yt, sayeng he was not to be present
where a seruant of his masters vassalls shold be couered, or appeare in qualitie of
an ambassador: against which exceptions there was much dispute twixt him and the Lordes then present, and many
messages passed to and fro between them and the king
, but in conclusion he wold by no arguments nor precedents be perswaded, but saide
yt was contrarie to his instructions, and so retiring himself went backe the same
way he came: wherupon Sir
Noel Caron
was wisht to retire likewise and absent himself. the next day the Spanish ambassador
required audience which was appointed him at three a clocke, and was willed to bring his instructions with
him, but he neither came nor sent that day, which vnmannerly part I know not how he excused at his next audience, which was the monday or tewsday following, nor how he iustified his brauerie which is much spoken of, and like to breed no goode bloude neither here nor in
Holland
, whether Caron made a dispatch the same night. yt is obserued that the Spaniards
braue more nowadayes on the sodain then they haue don of later time, which shewes that they haue some great hopes at hand, or that they presume as much of
others weaknes as of theyre owne strength.
Bibliography
CSPD 1611-18, 269
Chamberlain (1939), 1. 569-70
H&S, 10.553-4 (listed under
Gold. Age
)
Sullivan (1913), 234-5