An extract from the notebooks of
Sir John
Finet
, assistant to
Sir Lewis Lewkenor
, Master of Ceremonies at the court of
James I.
[p. 48]
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
[p. 49]
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 a
quarter) were expired; for which demanding an Audience the 16. of March, and having
it
granted (or the next day he after two hours attendance, had it of his Majesty in the
Privie Gallery, and within
few dayes after departed the Kingdome. The ill understanding between his Majestie
and
this Ambassador was an occasion that Master
Secretary Lake
sent for me, and acquainted me with the trouble his Majestie had put himself to,
to make apparent the little reason the French
Ambassador had to except so against his proceeding, which to justifie, his
pleasure was (he said) that Sir Lewes Lewkner Master of the
Ceremonies, and
Sir William Button
, and I, Assistants should search our Notes, and presidents to the purpose of the
Question. Whereabout I presently imployed my self, and sent my Collection (answerable
to
the time of my Service, and of my experience) to
Sir Thomas Lake
then with the King
at Newmarket, but all to little
purpose for his Majesties satisfaction beyond that he was resolved on for the Spanish
Ambassador.
Bibliography
H&S, 10.585-6
M. Sullivan (1913), 239-40
Finet, Finetti philoxenis (1656),3341 48-9