An extract from the notebooks of
Sir John
Finet
, assistant to
Sir Lewis Lewkenor
, Master of Ceremonies at the court of
James I.
[p. 91]
Twelftide appearing, and a Maske being to be presented by
the Prince
and other Lords and Gentlemen, my
Lord Chamberlaine
gave me in charge to repaire to the Venetian Ambassador, Seigniour Girolenio
Landi, with this message as from himself (with request of his Secrecy) That
whereas he had told him two or three dayes before that no Ambassador should be invited
to the Maske (as the King
had signified to him his intention) he perceived that the Spanish Ambassador (the
Count of
Gondemar) had under-hand pressed his Majesty
to be invited, so as not to appear to have doubled with him in what he had told him,
he
bade me let his Excellency know, that if he would for forme sake be invited and frame
some excuse for his not comming, he would himselfe (as from his Majesty) send him
an invitation. But if he would be really
invited and come, his request should be, that he would make his way to it by the Marquis
of
Buckingham
. When I had delivered this message to the Ambassador in hearing of his Secretary
(whom he called in) he made answer, That for excuse of his not comming (though for
forme
invited) he would never give that advantage to the Spanish Ambassador to say of him,
that one day he would be well,
and annother ill for his satisfaction (as he knew some had been) as if he stood in
awe
of him; and for the other point of making his way by the Marquis of
Buckingham
, he would never do it, since he had alwayes (he said) made his access to his
Majesties Presence by the right door of the
Lord Chamberlain
, and would now enter by no other.
But since he saw (he said) what this tenderness meant, he desired me to intreat his
Lordship in his name, that he would be pleased to go directly to his Majesty, and
by way of remembrance (no otherwise)
[p. 92]
put him in mind from him, That the last year the French Ambassador Extraordinary
Monsieur de Cadenet
, and the Ordinary Monsieur de Tilliers
were invited to
the Prince
his Maske at Christmas,
and the Spanish Ambassador to the
same Maske repeated at Shrove-tide, to which he could and might justly have taken
Exceptions, that he was both times omitted, but that the King
of Bohemiaes Ambassador, being not then (no more then he) invited, he was content
to suffer with him; but that now (though he might in reason expect, that he should
be
(as in his turne) invited alone, he would not be so punctuall, but would referre all
to
his Majesties pleasure, yet if any other Ambassador should be invited, he would expect
the like honour, as a respect due to
the Prince
and State he represented, who in all publicke places had, and were to have
entertaintment al par delle teste Coronate equall with Crowned Kings. And as for the
Spanish Ambassador (he said) his
presence at the Maske should not be an Exclusion to him) with whom though he had no
correspondency of business nor visits, he had yet of Salutation and civill respects,
which had many times in incounters in the Streets, passed between them, and might
and
should pass on his part at the Mask, if he should there meete him: This message returned
by me to the
Lord Chamberlaine
, and seconded at the same time by the Ambassadors Secretary, and my Lord conveying
it to the King
, his Majesty was pleased that he should
be (as he was the next day) invited, and was at the Maske entertained with the like
respect as was the Spanish
Ambassador. The States
Ambassadors were not at the same time invited with respect to the
incompatibility between them and the Spanish, and the Russian then here might with
as
little reason expect it, in regard he had questioned precedence of all other Kings
Ministers. The French Ambassador had an
Invitation pro forma tantum, with a civill request of his next comming to avoid
question, which it seemes, he tooke not with discontent, because his Wife and Neece
were
there present invited.
[p. 105]
The night following was represented a Maske, Acted the Christmas before by
the Prince
, &c. At which were present (seated with his Majesty) the Spanish
[p. 106]
Ambassadors
Don Carlos de Coloma, and the Count de Gondemar, though
this had taken his leave three or four dayes before, his Son and other their Followers
of quality had their seates neere the King
in a Scaffold on his right hand; the rest of them were bestowed together with the
States, and other strangers promiscuously on a Scaffold behind the King
, over the entrance there on the left hand of his Majesty. The young Landsgrave
of Hess was brought in by me the back way through the Garden, and supping with
the Duke of Lenox (as did also the Baron
of Paperhezin remaining here after the departure of the Emperours Ambassador) was
seated
amongst the great Ladies.
The French Ambassador Monsieur de
Tillier receiving a kind of Invitation, by way of offer, to be present at this Maske,
returned answer, that he most humbly kissed his Majesties handes for the honour intended
him; but his stomach would not (he said) agree with cold meat, and desired therefore
his
absence might be pardoned, hereby pointing at the Invitation and presence of the Spanish
Ambassador in the first place
at the same Maske the Christmas before now repeated.
Bibliography
Nichols (1828), 4.735, 760-1, 763
M. Sullivan (1913), 243-5
H&S, 10.638-40
Finet, Finetti philoxenis (1656), 91-2, 105-6