Gypsies Metamorphosed 9

Bibliothèque nationale, Paris, MS fr. 15989, fol. 140

Dispatch of Tannequy Leveneur, Count of Tillieres , recording the king 's behaviour at Buckingham 's house. The dispatch was partially encoded, but has been deciphered by a secretary. The secretary has also noted that the dispatch was received on 13 [i.e. 3] October 1621.



pour celui qui voudroit reprezenter toutes les extrauagances qui ont este faictes au progrez dernier Il faudroit non seullement vne lettre mais des volumes tous entiers, ce qui sy est passe de plus remarquable et considerable ça este en la maison de monsieur de Bouguinham cest le seul acte de toute la farce que je representeray apres auoir protesté que Je scay que ce sont actions que je scay estre indign destre escrites mais seullement pour ni mancquer a lobeissance que je vou s doibz
Le Roy de la Grande Bret agne pensant honorer la maison dudite Marquis de bouqinquan Il feroit hausser le temps a plus que de Coustume se mist a boire a bon escient et quand Il commencea destre en lestat que lon appelle en france entre deux vins Il se leua de sa table prist le prince de Galles par la main et alla a celles des seigeura et dames qui estoit toute proche et la commencea a dire qu' entre lui et son filz il y auoit une grande dispute scauoir lequel des deux aymoit dauantage le Marquis de bouquinquan et la dessus allegua plusieures raisons tant pour luy que pour lautre qui pouuoient vnider ce different apres Il tira des vers de sa pochette que auoit faist son poette nomme Janson a la louange de Monsieur de Bouquinquan.

Translation:

To describe all the extravagances that occurred during the last progress would need not only a letter but entire volumes. The most considerable and remarkable thing that happened took place in Lord Buckingham 's house. It is the only act in the whole farce that I will describe, after having protested that I know these are actions not worthy to be written about, but I do so only so as not to fail in the obedience I owe to you.

The King of Great Britain, thinking to honour the house of the said Marquis of Buckingham by being merrier than usual, started drinking hard, and, when he began to be in the state that in France we call 'entre deux vins', he rose from his table, took the Prince of Wales by the hand and went over to that of the lords and ladies who were close by, and began to say to them that there was a great argument between himself and his son about which of the two of them loved the Marquis of Buckingham more. And thereupon he put forward several reasons, for himself and for his son, which could resolve this difference. Afterwards, he pulled from his pocket the verses made in the praise of Lord Buckingham by his poet called Jonson .

Bibliography
H&S, 10.614