Archivio Mediceo del Principato, Firenze,
Filza 4193
Report of Pleasure Reconciled in a dispatch sent to Florence by
Francesco Quaratesi
, on 17 Jan. 1617 [i.e. 7 Jan. 1618]
. It occupies 2 pages in a single folded sheet (extract on fol. 2), bound into a collection
of letters dated 4 Jan. 1618-20 Dec. 1620. Quaratesi had recently been replaced as
Tuscan agent by Amerigo Salvetti
, and went to the masque in a private capacity; the official report was filed by Salvetti.
Hieri sera si fece il balletto solito, doue la Regina non interuenn e, sfuggendo adesso Sua Maesta líessere uista, per essere indisposta, oí piuí presto poco conteta, Li Amb
asciato ri di Spagna et Uenetia furono inuitati solamente di che sí eí doluto quello di Francia, et a questi Sig
gno ri del Consiglio eí parso che non ne hauessi occasione, poicheí eí stato inuitato
li due anni precedenti. Fui conuitato aí cena la sera dalla Sig
nora Contessa di Arandell et dipoi con Sua Eccellenza andai aí uedere il balletto.
Translation
Yesterday evening the usual masque was performed.The
Queen
did not attend it as she is now avoiding appearing in public, being indisposed or,
rather, discontent. Only the ambassadors of
Spain
and Venice were invited. The French ambassador complained about this and the Lords
of the Council thought he had no reason for being disappointed, because he had been
invited the two preceding years. I was invited to dinner by the Countess of Arundel
and then went to see the masque with her Excellency.
Bibliography
Orrell (1977-78),
176