National Archives,,
SP 14/12/6, fols. 8v-9
Letter,
Dudley Carleton
to
John Chamberlain
, 7 Jan. 1605,
London
. One folded sheet, two leaves: the letter occupies pp. 1-3; p. 4 blank.
[fol. 8v]
yesterday in the morning the little
Charles
was made great Duke of yorke. The ceremony was performed in the hall, and himself with his ornaments caried by nine Earles. There were 11 knights of the bath besides
Si
r
Charles
himself; and all of the kings choyse as namely the Lords Willoby, Shandoes, Cumpton, and Norreys; William Cecyll,
Allen Percy
, Francis
Maners, T
homas Somersett, Clyfford,
Howard
, and Harrington. They were all lodged and feasted in the Court for three dayes, and
yesterday a publike diner was made in the great chamber, where was a table for the
little Duke and the Earles; and an other a part for these new knights. The maske at night requires
much labor to be well described; but there is a pamflet in press which will saue me that paynes. meane time you shall onely know that the Actors were
the Queen the Ladies Bedford, Suffolke, Darby, ⎡
Rich
⎤
southampto
,Harbert, Effingam, Susan, Elizabeth
Howard
, Beuell, Walsingam, and Wroth. The presentati on of the maske at the first drawing of the trauers was very fayre, and theyr apparel
rich, but too light and curtisan-like; Theyr black faces, and hands which were painted and bare vp to the elbowes, was a very lothsome sight, and I am sory
that strangers should see owr court so strangely disguised. The Spanish and venetian
Ambassadors were both there, and most of the French abowt the towne. The confusion
in getting in was so great, that some Ladies lie by it and complaine of the fury of
the white stafes. In the passages through the galleries they were shutt vp in seueral
heapes betwixt dores, and there stayed till all was ended. and in the cumm ing owt, a banquet which was prepared for the king in the great chamber was ouerturned table and all before it was skarce touched. It
were infinit to tell you what losses there were of chaynes, Jewels, purces,
[fol. 9]
and such like loose ware. and one woeman amongst the rest lost her honesty, for which she was caried to the porters lodge being surprised at her busines on the top of
the Taras. The Court comes towards you on wednesday next, and you will haue these
accidents more particulerly related.
Bibliography
CSPD 1603-1610, 186
H&S, 10.449
Carleton (1972), 67-8
Nichols (1828), 1.470-76