Archivio di Stato, Venezia,
XX Inghilterra, Antonio Dona, Girolamo Lando amb., Senato III Secreta, Fa
Report of the performance of
News from the New World
, in a dispatch sent home by the Venetian ambassador
Girolamo Lando, dated 17 Jan. 1619
[i.e. 7 Jan. 1620]
. It is unnumbered, and occupies pages 359-364 (extract on p. 364).
Questa notte e' stato fatto il balletto del Signor Prencipe con
bella comparsa di lui, et di altri dieci Caualieri, fra' quali per primo
Bochingam apparentemente altretanto amato da esso Prencipe, quanto dal
Re' padre. Fu' longa la cerimonia di piu' di 3 hore con concorso
grandissimo di Dame molto
riccamente uestite, et cariche di gioie. U' interuennero
Sua Maesta' molto allegra, et che godeua sopramodo
della legiadria, et della danza del figlio, et del Marchese, quali oltre a' gli altri
a'
gara contendeuano di gratia, di tilatura, e di ambitione, et emulatione di piacere
al
Re', et di gustarlo.Io sono stato per la Vostra
Serenita' con gli Ambasciatori di Francia, et di
Sauoia, trattato, et honorato, come si conueniua, e siamo stati posti tutti a uedere
la
danza sopra ad un palco, et poi seguitando1 il Re' siamo andati a' uedere la Collatione
secondo l'ordinario. Al balletto Sua Maesta' staua sotto il suo
ordinario gran Baldachino circondato da molti Signori, et appresso di
lui staua particolarmente, sedendo pure, il gia' Arciuescouo di
Spalatio; il quale ogni giorno con la stampa di libri, che gustano assai al Re' et
con
altro si acconza a' maggiori gradi di stima, e di amore appresso la Maes
ta' Sua.
Translation
Tonight
the Prince
’s masque was staged, with a beautiful performance by
the Prince
himself and ten other gentlemen. Among them
Buckingham
was the first. He is apparently as much loved by
the Prince
as by the King
, his father. The ceremony lasted more than three hours, with a great gathering of
ladies, very richly dressed and loaded with jewels.His Majesty was there. He was very
cheerful and greatly enjoyed the agility and
dancing of his son and the Marquis, who competed with each other in grace and elegance
for the
King
’s favour, applause, and pleasure. I was there as a representative of Your Highness
along with the ambassadors of
France
and Savoy. I was properly treated and honoured. We all
were placed in a box. After the performance, we followed the King
and went to see the supper, in the usual way. At the masque His Majesty sat under
his usual great canopy,
surrounded by many lords. Next to him sat the former archbishop of Spalato, who daily
rises in His Majesty’s favour and esteem by
printing books which the King
likes very much, and in other ways.
Bibliography
CSPV 1619-1621, 135-8
H&S,
10.597