Archivio Mediceo del Principato, Firenze, Filza 4188
Account of Christmas preparations in a dispatch, sent home
by the Tuscan agent Ottaviano Lotti
. It is dated 12 [i.e.
2] Dec. 1607, and occupies three pages of a single folded sheet (this
extract on pp. 2-3).
12 Dec. 1607
Poiche il Signor Uisconte Adinton, altrimenti Ramesy
si marita con la figluola del Conte di Sussex, il Re per honorar le sue nozze, ha
stimolato le dame della Corte a mostrarsi in questo Natale in qualche bella mascherata,
et la Maesta’ della Regina ne vuol essere la guida, di maniera che in questo tempo
si
ragionerà poco d’altro, et la maggiore occupazione fra le Dame sara’ con i Poeti,
Musici, Ballerini, et spese grandi.
Translation
As the Viscount Haddington
, also known as Ramsay, is going to marry the daughter
of the Earl of Sussex, the King
, to honour the wedding, has encouraged the ladies of the
Court to appear this Christmas in a beautiful masque. Her Majesty the
Queen
wants to
direct them. Hence, there is little talk of anything else at this time, and the ladies
are greatly occupied with poets, musicians, dancers and great expense.
Bibliography
Orrell (1977-78), 163