Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana di Venezia
,
Miscellanea Veneta, It. Classe VII, Codice MCXXII (7451)
A circumstantial report of
Pleasure Reconciled to
Virtue
, written by Orazio Busino, chaplain to the Venetian
embassay. It is dated 24 [i.e. 14] Jan. 1618,
and occupies pages 72-75.
Prima aggionta dell'Anglipotrida
Appresso l'attestatione di molti scrittori, degni di fede,
l'esperienza anco ci insegna, che tutte le Nationi del Mondo sono inclinate alli
Trionfi, et ai bagordi, concorrendo uolentieri ne' publici congressi, si per uedere
a'
rappresentar cose emergenti di nuouo, come ⎡anco⎤ per rammemorar le antiche di
loro gusto: et questa sorte di trattenimenti molto giouano alla quiete di
Stati, et alla conservatione di essi. Onde li saggi Principi sogliono
spesso dar qualche honesta ricreatione alli loro Popoli. Da qui viene,
che in Londra, come capo di un floridissimo Regno, si costumano infiniti
atti scenici per tutto l'anno, in diuerse regioni della Citta', con una frequenza
perpetua di molte persone dedite al buon tempo: le quali uanno la maggior
parte uestiti alla grande, et di colore, che paiono, se potessero esser, tutte Principi,
ma meglio Comedianti.Nella Corte parimente del Re
Serenissimo passato il giorno di Natale, si da'
principio ai sontuosi banchetti, alle ben recitate Comedie, et alli balletti
leggiadrissimi. di Caualieri. et Dame. Uno famosissimo sopra gli altri balletti, s' assetta la
notte segguente della festa de' tre' Maggi, per antico costume di questo Domicilio
Regale; oue in una gran salla accomodata a modo di Theatro, con
sicurissimi palchi d'ogn'intorno, in uista situata la scena, et in faccia
dall' altra parte, ui e' la seggia di Sua Maesta sotto un
amplo baldacchino, et uicino de scagni per li Signori
Ambasciatori de' Principi. Onde quest'anno che fu' alli 16 del mese
corrente di Gennaro Sua Eccellenza
fu invitata a' uedere quest' attione ⎡et ballo⎤ allestiti con
straordinario studio, et apparecchio, douendo esser il capo, et
mantenitor principale, l' istesso unico figliolo della
Maes sta' sua, Principe di Vaglia, et successore uenerando di questo
Gran Regno, d' eta' di 17 anni incirca, giouine disposto, bello et di molta gratia.
Percio' andammo alle 4. hore di notte a Corte, privatamente per la uia
del Parco, et entrati nelle Reggie Stanze, l'
Eccellenza sua fu' trattenuta alquanto da un principale
Caualiere finche le cose fossero perfettamente all'
ordine. et noi altri della famiglia tutti profumati andammo con la scorta del
Suo Maestro delle Cerimonie nel solito Palco dell'
Ambasceria Veneta:doue per mala sorte, stammo cosi stretti et tanto
incommodi, che se non fosse stata la curiosita' che ci trattenea, dal gran fiacco
conueniua cedere o crepare. et ci sopragionse anco il Malanno, d' un Spagnuolo, che
venne nel nostro Palco col fauore del Suo Maestro delle
Cerimonie entrando solo, con dos dicchios de plazza, et non arriuammo
di correre, che staua più commodo di tutti noi altri, per lo giusto Iddio.
... .insomma
con questi corbati me la veggo persa. fu' considerato, ch' erano sparsi per tutte
le
poste principali, L' Ambasciatore appresso il Re. certi gallani, con le
collane al collo fra' li Signori del Consiglio di Stato, altri nel Palco
proprio per custodia dell' Ambasciatrice, et il folletto uene in casa
nostr<a>. Pure il gusto che si hauea mentre si staua attendendo il
Re', in mirare lo apparato, in considerar la bellezza della salla, con due ordini
di
colonne lontane dal muro, quanto importa il corritore, l'un sopra l' altro, il Dorico
che sostiene detto transito, et l' altro Ionico, sopra il quale sta'
appoggiato il uol<to> della salla, il tutto e' di legno intagliato et
dorato, con molto artificio sino lo istesso corpo delle Colonne; et dal uolto pendono
certi fioroni, et angeli di rileuo.Con due fille di lumiere, da
douersi accender' a' suo tempo.
Il concorso poi che vi fu', ancorche fanno
professione di non lasciar entrar se non gl' inuitati fauoriti,
tuttauia ogni palco era pieno, particolarmente di
honoratissime et adobatissime Dame al n° di 600 . et piu', per giuditi o di ogn' uno. Uestite
Dio buono, di cosi uarij habiti, et inuentati colori, inesplicabili certo, con
morbidissi mi penacchi a' trauerso il capo, et nelle mani a' modo di
uentaglio et poi in testa dalla parte dinanzi, coronette di gioie, al collo, al petto,
ne' centi, et nei uestiti, in tanta quantita' che pareuano tante Regine, in maniera,
che nel principio con pochi lumi, a' guisa di un crepuscolo
di prima sera, o' pure dell'Alba, il splendor dei Diamanti et
altre gioie era cosi' brilante, che pareuano tante stelle. et in spatio di due hore
d'
otio, hauemmo tempo di mirar ciascheduna se bene io, rispetto alla mia caligante vista,
non ho' potuto far scientifico giuditi o da lontano. et mi sono rimesso
in tutto e per tutto alli miei Signo ri colleghi, i quali mi hanno
riferito, che scuoprivano dei belli, et molto uaghi aspetti, et ogni tratto andauano
dicendo, o' guardate questa, o' mirate quella, di chi e' moglie questa terza in ordine,
et di chi e' figlia quella gratiosa appresso: Conclusero pero' che fra' il molto grano,
u'era anco della bulla et della paglia mescolata insieme: cioe' delle secchette,
secchette, et delle molto diuote di san Carlo. Ma' che le belle
veramen te sono in superlatiuo grado, et io seben vecchio, et mezo
ciecco ho' sottoscritto all' assai ragioneuole decreto. L' habito uario di queste
signore e' molto bello, a' chi piace, et alcuno d' essi e' buono per
occultar i diffetti della natura, poiche di dietro pende quasi dal collo con certe
manichette lunghe, et strette sino in terra, senza casso, et increspate; et in questo
modo qualsivoglia mostruosa gobba sta nascosta. il Verdugale poi, fa' anco egli la
sua
parte
,
. Le carnute, et grasse portano il petto scoperto purassai, et le
ma ⎡g⎤ re uanno serrate sino al collo, tutte con le sue scarpe da huomo, o'
pure con pianellette molto basse. La
mascheretta in faccia, serue loro, come ne' conuiti il pane; ma in questi publici
spettacoli le mettono da parte uolentieri.
Intorno alle 6 hore di notte, comparue
Sua Maesta' con la sua Corte, ⎡essendo⎤
passata per le stanze doue si tratteneuano li Signori
Ambasciatori et li condusse gratiosamen te seco, cioe'
quello di Spagna con questo di Uenetia, non toccando per questa uolta l' alternatiua
a
quel di Francia, rispetto alla competenza loro.Nell' entrata
della stanza, cominciorno a' sonar li Piffari et i Tromboni, al numero di quindeci
o'
uenti, molto bene, a' modo di ricercate di contrapunto musicale. Messasi a' sedere
Sua Maesta' sotto il baldachino non ui essendo la Regina per esser alquanto indisposta, fece
poi sedere sopra dui
scagni li Signori Ambasciatori et di fuori sedeuano sopra
certi banchi li Signori Titolati et quelli che attendono al Magistrato.
Subito il Suo GranCiamberlano fece far largo et nel mezo della Salla
riusci’ un bello, et spatioso campo qual tutto era fodrato di pano uerde:
fecero cader in un moment<o> una gran Teda,
fatta con pittura a’ modo d’ un Padiglione d’ oro con le sue franze grandi, et nel
uano
c’ era tela azzura tutta tempestata di stelle d’ oro, La qual chiudeua la scena nel
primo aspetto; rimossa questa Comparue prima il Monte di Atlante,
et uedeuasi solo la testa di lui grandissima nella cima sotto l’ istesso
uolto del salone: la qual giraua gli occhi, et se stessa, con assai bell’ artificio.
Et per far poi riuscir tanto piu’ uaggo, et
leggiadro il principal balletto, et mascherata, fecero comparer alcune Momarie nel
primo
atto, come sarebbe a’ dir’ il Dio Bacco grassissimo sopra un carro,
tirato da quattro uestiti alla lunga, li quali cantarono sotto uoce dinanzi a’ sua
Maesta’. C’era un altro a’ piedi, pur grasso uestito de rosso alla
corta, che parlo’, et nel discorso andaua orzando a’ modo d’ imbriacco, con la tazza
in
mano, che rassembraua d’ esser il Coppiere dell’ istesso Bacco, riusci’ assai leggiero,
et goffo questo primo incontro. doppo seguitarono dodeci strauaganti mascherati, uno
posto in una Botte per trauerso, et gli altri, in certi gran fiaschi di uimeni molto
ben
fatti, et ballaron a’ suon di Piffari, et tromboni per un pezzo con gesti uarij et
strauaggantissimi. Doppo uenne un homazzo grande in forma d’ Hercole
con la sua claua, il qual fece la lota con Antheo, et altre cose, poi comparuero dodeci
putti mascherati, che pareuano tanti ranocchi, ballarono similmente con
diuersi gesti sciocchi, et in un momento caduti ciascheduno a’ terra, furono scacciati
dal detto Hercole, piu’ che in fretta. Si apri il Monte con il girar di due porte, et si
uide fra’ monticelli sorger l’Aurora, in capo d’ una prospettiva lontana, sendoui
poste dai
lati alcune finte colonne d’ oro, per far maggiore il sfondo. Comparue
dinanzi al Re’ Mercurio, il qual fece un discorso, et poi uenne un Musico con Chittarone
uestito alla lunga, et sonando canto’ con qualche
dispositione di gorga, dinotando d’ esser qualche nume, et nella scena
poi comparuero molti Musici uestiti alla lunga da sacerdoti di rosso con certe Mitre
d’
oro et inmezo c’ era una Dea uestita d’ habito candido et lungo. Cantarono alcune
cossette, non intese da noi, ben’ e’ uero, che l’ attione non passo’ con molto garbo,
massime a’ gusto nostro, come suogliasi delle gratiose, et sonore musiche d’
Italia.
Comparuero finalmente. ui. Caualieri
Mascherati, uestiti a’ liurea, sei con le calze intiere sguarde, con li braggoni formati
di liste, o’ falde di raso bianco, et fornite d’ oro et d’argento: et sei altri, con
le
braghesse sotto il ginocchio, con le calcette pure incarnatine, et scarpe bianche.
il
giuppone accompagnaua bene, et era fatto a’ modo di corsaletto alla Romana antica,
et in testa haueano capigliera, corona, et penacchiera bianca
molto grande, et nella faccia una mascheretta negra. Tutti questi discessero uniti
dalla
scena a’ modo di piramide, con spuntar sempre primo il solo Principe. fermati a terra,
subito si senti’ la Musica de Uiolini, con le sue parti sonore, al numero certo di
piu’
di 25 o’ trenta, tutti in un palco. fatta la riuerenza a’ Sua
Maesta’ cominciorno a’ ballare con quel medesimo
ordine per un pezzo,
con
molto a’ tempo, et con uarieta’ di cose, et poi s’
andauano muttando in diuerse forme fra di loro, sempre concludendo ⎡il salto⎤
uniti, finito questo, ciaschedun prese la sua Dama, Il Signor Principe s’
accoppio’ con la principal Signora che si ritrouaua fra’ quelle, ch’
erano disposte in ordinanza per ballare; et gli altri di mano in mano; con regolato
termine di far la riuerenza prima a’ Sua Maesta’ et poi
fra’ di loro, con infalibile osseruanza. fecero tutte le sorti di balletti et Danze,
che
si costumano in qualsiuoglia paese, a’ modo di passamezzi, correnti, Canarie,
spagnolette, et cento altri ⎡gesti⎤ fatti a pizzego molto belli. Ballarono
finalmente un’ alla uolta la Spagnoletta con la sua Dama, et perche
erano quasi stracchi andauano sorrando; il Re’ come di natura colerica diede in una
impacienza, et grido’ forte; perche non si balla, a’ che fine m’ hauete fatto uenir
qua’? ⎡
Che
⎤ ’l Diauolo ui porti quanti, sete, ballate. Subito salto’ fuori il
Signo r Marchese di Bocchingha<m>Mignon
fauoritissim o di Sua Maesta’ con una
mano di molto alte, et minutiss<ime>capriole, accompagnate con tanta
gratia et leggiadria, che fece ammirar, et inamorar ciaschedu no della
sua persona nonche habbe forza di placar l’ ira del suo alterato Signo r.
Innanimiti gli altr<i>Mascherati seguitarono a’ far le loro prodezze
un doppo l’ altro, con differenti Dame, concludendo pur con
capriole, et col leuar da terra la sua Diua. furono numerate sino 34 capriole tagliate
una doppo l’ altra da un Caualiere tuttauia niuno arriuo’ alla compita
maniera del Marchese. Il Signo r Prencipe nondime no
supero’ tutti nelle creanze, essendo stato molto appuntato nel far le riuerenze, alla
Maesta’del Re’, et alla Dama con cui danzaua, ne’ mai si uide far un
contratempo nel ballare, como forse alcuni altri han fatto.Per l’
eta’ giouenile, non ha ancora molta lena, con tutto ciò ha spiccato alquante capriole
con assai garbo, fornito il cimento di questi: dodeci uirtuosi
Caualieri doppo hauer superato l’ otio’, et la crapula di Bacco, con
prodezza, il Sig
or Principe ando’ trionfando a’ baciar le mani al
Serenissimo Padre, dal quale fu’ abbracciato, et baciato
caramente, et poi honoro’ il Sig
nor Marchese, con straordinario affetto, toccandoli la
faccia. Si leuo’ da sedere Sua Maesta’ et condusse seco
li Signori Ambasciatori passando per una quantita’ di
Camere et Gallerie, arriuo’ in una salla, doue era preparata la solita colatione per
li
recitanti, facendosi portar un lume innanzi, et dato una occhiata tutto intorno la
tauola parti’: et subito come tante arpie si auentorno gli interessati alla rapina.
La
tauola era coperta quasi tutta di Conditti, con molta poca Confettione di
zucchero. c’ erano alcune figure grandi, ma erano di Carton dipinto per hornamento.
La
robba era posta in alcuni tondi, o’ piatti di uetro, et nel primo assalto
gettarono a terra il tauolone, et nel fragor dei scudelini di uetro, mi rassembraua
appunto di sentire la rottura dei uetri delle finestre, da una gran tempesta nel colmo
dell’ estate. Si fini’ l’ historia due hore doppo meza notte; et mezi stuffi, et
stracchi ritornammo a’ casa. Se le Vostre Signorie si
torzeranno in legger, o’ in sentire questa seccaggine, credino certo, ch’io ancora
ne
sento nausea in rappresentarla: pure metto in consideratione loro, che se
non le piacesse di riceuerla per gusteuol potrida, si compiacino almeno d’ admetterla
per un’ insipida minestra purche’ uadi in tauola. et per fine faccio loro
humilissima riuerenza.
Translation
As many trustworthy writers testify, and as our own experience teaches us, all
nations of the world are attracted to triumphs and revels, willingly flocking to public
gatherings to see spectacles both related to recent events and to recollect whatever
in
the past is to their taste. This kind of entertainment is most conducive to the peace
and preservation of states; therefore, wise princes frequently give such suitable
recreation to their subjects. So in
London
, the capital of a most flourishing kingdom, it is customary to have stage
performances held throughout the entire year in various parts of the city
, and these are always attended by people devoted to pleasure, the most of whom
dress grandly and colourfully so that they seem to be, if possible, more like princes
or, rather, actors.
Similarly, in His Highness’s court after Christmas day a series of sumptuous banquets,
well-performed plays, and
graceful masques of knights and ladies is set in motion. One of the most prestigious
of
the masques is performed the night following the Feast of the Three Kings, according
to
an ancient custom of this royal household. A great hall is arranged like a theatre,
with securely built boxes all around.
The stage is placed at one end and facing it at the other end is His Majesty’s throne,
under a large canopy with stools close by
for the ambassadors of the various princes. On the sixteenth of this current month
of
January, His Excellency was invited to see this performance and masque, which were
conceived and designed with special care, as the chief performer was the only son
of His Majesty,the Prince of
Wales
, the honoured heir to this throne. He is a lively, beautiful, and very graceful
young man of about seventeen years. We went there at the fourth hour of the night,
walking privately through the park. We entered the royal apartments, and His Excellency
was entertained by one of the principal gentlemen until everything was completely
ready.
We others of his retinue, all perfumed, were escorted by the Master of Ceremonies
into
the usual box for the Venetian Embassy. Unluckily, we were so crowded and uncomfortable
that had it not been for our curiosity we would have given up or expired from the
crush.
Moreover, we also had the curse of a Spaniard, who entered our box by courtesy of
the
Master of Ceremonies. He asked for only "two fingers of room"[="caricatured"
Spanish], and in the twinkling of an eye, by God, he placed himself more
comfortably than all of us. In short, I have lost
patience with these crows. It was remarked that they[the Spaniards]were
scattered about in all the most important places: the ambassador next to the King
; other gallants with chains round their necks sitting with the Lords of the
Council, others in their own box attending the ambassador's wife, and this fellow
came
into our place.
While waiting for the King
, we amused ourselves by admiring the decorations, and observing the beauty of the
hall. This has two
orders of columns, one on top of the other, whose distance from the wall is the full
width of the passage. The upper gallery is supported by Doric columns, and above these
the Ionic, which hold up the roof of the hall. It is all of wood, including even the
pillars, carved and gilded with great skill. From the roof hang garlands and angels
in
relief, with two rows of lights, which were to be lit at the proper time.
What a
crowd there was! Although they claim that they do not allow anyone in who has not
been
favoured with an invitation, nevertheless every box was full, especially with most
noble
and richly dressed ladies, six hundred and more in number, according to most poeple's
guess. Good Lord, their dresses were so various and colourful that they cannot be
described; the most delicate plumes on their hats and in their hands as fans; strings
of
jewels on their foreheads and on their necks, on their bosoms, in their girdles, and
on
their garments, in such quantity that they seemed so many queens. At the beginning,
when there were not many
lights, as it were in a twilight of dusk or dawn, the splendour of their diamonds
and
other jewels made them seem like so many stars. During the two hours’ wait, we had
time
to admire them again and again, though my poor vision did not allow me to form an
accurate
judgement from a distance. I therefore relied completely upon my gentlemen colleagues,
who told me that they made out some very beautiful and graceful faces. At every moment,
they would say, ‘Oh, look at this one, oh see that one? Whose wife is that in the
third
row? Whose daughter is that pretty one nearby?’ They concluded that amidst the large
amount of good grain there were also some husks and straw, that is to say, some dried
up
old ladies and some devotees of Saint Charles
, but that the real beauties were of the highest kind. Even though I am old and
half-blind, I can attest to this reasonable judgement.
The dress these ladies wear
is very beautiful, for those who like it. Some of it is good for hiding natural defects,
because in the back it hangs almost from the neck to the ground, with long, tight
sleeves, and no waist, and gathered so that any deformity, however monstrous, remains
hidden. The farthingale also plays its part. The plump and buxom show their bosoms
very
openly, and the lean go muffled up to the throat, all of them with men’s shoes, or
at
least with very low slippers. Face-masks are as important to them as bread at mealtimes,
but they are willing to put them aside when they attend these public spectacles.
At
about the sixth hour of the night,His Majesty
appeared with his court, after having passed
through the room where my lords the ambassadors were waiting. He graciously brought
them
with him, that is the Spanish and Venetian, according to precedence, as this time
it was
not France’s turn. As soon as they entered the
hall, fifteen or twenty fifes[
piffari
]and trumpets began to play, antiphonally and very well.The King
took his seat under the canopy.The
Queen
was not there, as she was indisposed. My lords the ambassadors were made to sit on
two stools, and set apart on some benches were noblemen and magistrates.
The
Lord Chamberlain
promptly cleared the way and a wide and beautiful space, covered with green cloth,
appeared in the middle of the hall. They rapidly dropped down a large curtain painted
to
represent a golden pavilion with a broad fringe, and with a background of blue canvas
sprinkled all over with golden stars. This concealed the stage at the beginning, and
when it was removed,Mount Atlas appeared. At the peak one could
only see his huge head, right under the very roof of the hall. It rolled its eyes
and
moved itself with wonderful artifice. To make the main ballet and masque seem more
lovely and graceful, they had some mummers[
Momarie
]in the first scene, that is, a very fat Bacchus in a chariot, drawn by four men
in long gowns who sang sotto voce before His Majesty. There was another man on foot, also fat and dressed
in a short red costume, who spoke; and during his speech he went reeling about like
a
drunkard, cup in hand, seeming to be Bacchus’s cupbearer. This first scene was very
light and funny. After that, twelve extravagant masquers followed, one with a wine
butt
around his middle, the others in great wicker flasks, very well made. They danced
for a
while to the sound of the fifes and trumpets with a variety of extravagant movements.
After them, a huge man came in. He played Hercules with his club, and wrestled with
Antaeus and did some other things. Then twelve masked boys appeared who looked like
frogs. They danced in that manner with various foolish gestures, and all at once fell
to
the ground, and were quickly driven off by Hercules.Mount Atlas
opened by the turning of two doors, and we saw the dawn rise from behind little hills,
in a distant view; some gilded columns were placed along the sides to make the distance
seem greater. Then Mercury appeared before the
king
and made a long speech. Then a musician with a theorbo[
chitarrone
], and dressed in long robe, played and sang some trills, signifying that he was
some deity. Then many musicians came, wearing long red costumes and golden mitres
like
priests; in the middle was a goddess in a long white garment. They sang some songs
which
we did not understand. It is true that the performance was not very elegant according
to
our taste, in comparison with the graceful and harmonious music of Italy.
Finally six masked gentlemen appeared, dressed in livery, wearing
full hose and breeches with slashes or folds of white satin trimmed with gold and
silver; and six more wearing breeches below the knee, their half hose also crimson,
and
white shoes. Their doublets went well with this, cut in the manner of ancient Roman
corselets; and on their heads they had long hair, crowns, and very large white feathers,
and black half-masks on their faces. These all descended from the stage together in
the
figure of a pyramid, with
the prince
always alone at the apex. When they reached the ground, the music of violins was
suddenly heard, to the number of more than twenty-five or thirty, all in a box. When
the
gentlemen had bowed to His Majesty, they
began to dance in tempo and with a variety of steps, keeping the same figure for a
while, and then changing places with each other in various ways, always ending their
leaps together. After this, each one took his lady.
The Prince
paired with the principal lady among those who were standing ready to dance, and
the others did the same in succession, always making sure that they bowed first to
His Majesty and then to each other.
They
danced all sorts of ballets and dances of every country, such as passy-measures,
corantos, canaries, Spanish dances, and a hundred other beautiful turns to delight
the
fancy. Finally, they danced the Spanish dance each in turn with his lady, and because
they were so tired they began to lag.The King
, who has a choleric temper, grew impatient and shouted loudly, ‘Why don’t they
dance? What did you make me come here for?Devil
take the lot of you, dance!’ At once, the Marquis of
Buckingham
,his Majesty’s favourite minion, sprang
forward, and danced a handful of high and very elaborate capers with such grace and
lightness that he made everyone admire
and love him, and also managed to calm the rage of his angry lord. Inspired by this,
the
other masquers kept on showing their prowess one after another with different ladies,
concluding with some final capers, and lifting their goddesses from the ground. We
counted thirty-four capers cut one after another by one gentleman, but none matched
the
accomplished technique of the Marquis. The
Prince, however, surpassed them all in his
manners, being very formal in bowing both to His
Majesty and to the lady with whom he was dancing, nor was he once seen to dance
out of step, which cannot perhaps be said for the others. Because of his youth, he
does
not yet have much stamina; nevertheless, he took some capers with considerable grace.
When these twelve valiant gentlemen had
completed their performance, after they had overcome the sloth and drunkenness of
Bacchus with their prowess,
the Prince
went in triumph to kiss his royal father’s hands, by whom he was embraced and
warmly kissed.The King
then honoured the Marquis, touching his face with extraordinary affection.The King
rose from his chair and, taking my lords the ambassadors along with him, and with
a light carried before him, he passed through a number of rooms and galleries and
came
to a hall where the usual supper was prepared for the performers. He glanced round
the
table and departed, and at once, like so many harpies, the company fell on their prey.
The table was almost entirely covered with savouries, with very few sugar confections.
There were some large figures, but they were of painted cardboard, for decoration.
The
meal was served in bowls or plates of glass; they threw the table to the ground in
their
first assault. The crash of glass platters reminded me exactly of the windows breaking
in a great midsummer storm. The story ended at two hours after midnight, and we returned
home having had enough and worn out. If your lordships are squirming to read or hear
all
this tedious stuff, you can believe how fed up I am of narrating it. Still, I may
suggest to you that if you do not want to have
this as a tasty stew, at least you may accept it as
a weak soup, so long as it goes on the table. And to finish, I am your humble servant.
Bibliography
CSPV 1617-1619, 111-14
Orgel and Strong (1973), 1.279-84
M. Sullivan (1913),
114-17
H&S,
10.580-4