martes, 31 de julio de 1554

Edad:
27 años

Relacion del viaje y boda en Inglaterra del príncipe Felipe

Valladolid,

Our Prince took ship at Corunna in the afternoon of Thursday, 12 July, 1554, and on board his ship went Count Feria, Ruy Gómez de Silva, Don Antonio de Toledo, Don Diego de Córdova, Count Olivares, Gutierre López de Padilla, Don Pedro de Córdova, Don Lupercio de Quiñones, first almoner, Gonzalo Pérez, secretary; together with the Flemings Count Egmont, Marquis de Berghes, Count Horn, captain of the archers, Bernstein (Perttestain) a Bohemian lord, and Don Alvaro de Bazan who was in command of the ship.

The Admiral of Castile led the way, his Highness followed with the main body of the fleet and Don Luis de Carvajal closed the rear; some 125 sail in all. The Duke and Duchess of Alva with many gentlemen sailed in another ship, and on board of others went the Duke of Medinaceli, the Marquis of Pescara, the Marquis of Aguilar, Count Chinchón, Cesar Gonzaga, Count Fuensalida, the Marquis del Valle, Count Castelar, Count Landriano, the Bishop of Cuenca, Don Juan de Acuña, Don Juan Benavides, Ambassadors Don Francisco de Castilla and Menchaca. Other ships carried his Highness's household, horses, artillery and seamen. This night was spent on board.

On Friday, after dinner, his Highness and the whole fleet set sail at 4 o'clock and had a high wind and heavy sea all night and the following day until dinner time, when it grew somewhat calmer. On Sunday it was fine with a good wind and late on Monday Ushant (Ugeti) and the French coast came into view. On Wednesday morning the English shore was sighted: a calm sea and a strong current. On Thursday the Needles were passed and the fleet ran in between Southampton and the Isle of Wight to the sound of mighty salutes from the castles on shore.

The English and Flemish fleets, some forty well-found ships, sailed put of the harbour. His Highness slept on board, and received the English Admiral and his suite, the Flemish Admiral and Alcalde Briviesca.

On Friday morning, the Emperor's ambassadors arrived with the Marquis of Las Navas, Don Juan de Figueroa and several English lords; and when his Highness had finished dinner he and those who came on board his ship stepped into the Admiral's boat and were rowed three leagues to Southampton where many English lords and household officials sent by the Queen were awaiting him, among them a steward, a master of the horse, and a master of the household. Before he set foot on shore he had the Order of the Garter presented to him, and his Highness, dressed in velvet, rode to church on a horse that was standing ready for him, harnessed with crimson velvet embroidered with gold. At the town-gate the mayor was waiting to hand over the keys. From church his Highness repaired to his quarters, which were richly adorned, and supped quietly. That same afternoon the lords and gentlemen began landing from the fleet.

On Saturday he went to mass at a little church opposite the palace, and many English lords came to kiss his hand. Count Egmont went on to visit the Queen, who was staying at a country house two leagues away; and she sent to his Highness a diamond ring and the Bishop of Winchester, her Chancellor.

On Sunday, Ruy Gómez went to visit the Queen and returned, and many English lords arrived with their suites. All these days it rained, without ceasing so much as an hour. The fleet went to Persala (Portsmouth?) and started landing servants and baggage but no horses, for it was supposed that his Highness would proceed to Flanders immediately after his marriage. The reason of this belief was that news had arrived of the King of France's incursion and taking of Marienbourg, thanks to the captain's treachery; also that he besieged Doullens and attacked it twice, finally taking it in spite of the 2,000 men inside, but he was obliged to destroy the fortifications which had suffered so much from artillery fire as to be incapable of defence. Later, news of the enemy's retreat arrived, and the horses were set on shore so that the fleet might sail on to Flanders with the 4,000 foot that were on board. The same day his Highness rose late, received the councillors and the Queen's household officials, and rode to mass at the principal church accompanied by his English master of the horse, who as soon as his Highness's horses from the fleet had landed, took them off to be seen to in his own stables: not a bad attempt at making sure of them for himself later on.

His Highness dined in public, attended by his English officials and served after their fashion. The Duke of Alva did hand him the napkin, but did not act as master of the household nor carry his staff of office. In the afternoon the Queen sent six hacks, and his Highness supped in public as before. Doña Maria de Mendoza was right in saying that we were never going to be in attendance again, for we are all hanging about with nothing to do and might well go and serve his Majesty in this war rather than stay here where we have to pay five and twenty times the proper price for everything.

Ruy Gómez, when he took a ring to the Queen—as the custom is here—was handsomely received.

When the Admiral of Castile appeared with his fleet he was not allowed to enter port until orders arrived from the Council. The Duchess and the other ladies came ashore and stayed at Southampton.

On Monday it rained violently all day. His Highness started for Winchester escorted by a guard of one hundred Englishmen wearing his livery, for of his own guard who came with him and were ready to come ashore none did actually land except the Duke of Medinaceli, the Duke of Alva, Ruy Gómez, Count Feria, the Marquis of Aguilar and a few more, some ten or fifteen in all. His Highness wore an embroidered suit and rode one of the Queen's horses. Four of her pages followed him, and his English master of the horse led his horse by the rein. He went straight to the cathedral, a fine building where there was such a crowd that they all were in danger of stifling, and then proceeded on foot to his quarters, not to the Queen's. He supped quietly with a small company and then went to visit the Queen.

The Queen, surrounded by three or four old councillors and her ladies in waiting, came out to the door of her chamber. The Prince kissed her, for such is the English custom, and hand in hand they sat down and remained for a time in pleasant conversation. He then rose and kissed the other ladies present, and his attendants kissed the Queen's hand. She was dressed in black velvet covered with stones and buttons and adorned with brocade in front. Her headdress was after the English fashion.

That day almost all the gentlemen stayed with the Admiral at Southampton.

On Tuesday, 24 July, his Highness rose very late and the Queen sent to him her tailor with two suits, one of rich brocade adorned with gold thread, pearls and diamond buttons, the other of crimson brocade. He heard mass, put on a coat of purple brocade with silver fringes and a friese cloak with similar trimmings, white breeches and doublet, and dined quietly. In the afternoon he went to speak with the Queen in public, and she met him in a great low hall accompanied by her ladies, not beautiful but very numerous, all dressed in purple velvet with their sleeves lined with brocade. Before them went four maces and the sword, carried by a nobleman. She met him in the middle of the hall; they kissed and walked through two or three rooms, and then stood talking for a long time. His Highness talked with the ladies according to his custom, while we all kissed the Queen's hands in Spanish fashion. I say “all”, though we were not above a dozen. The Prince and the Queen talked pleasantly for some time, and then he went to hear vespers in the cathedral, and she in her chapel.

The ambassadors of the King of the Romans, Don Pedro Laso, and of the King of Bohemia, Don Hernando de Gamboa, went with a great following to present their duty to his Highness. Don Antonio de Toledo and Don Juan de Benavides introduced them, and they received a courteous welcome, for the King took off his bonnet and bade them put on theirs. Don Pedro Laso had with him two counts, eight noteworthy gentlemen and a numerous suite.

That night, his Highness supped in private, and later went to the Queen's palace, accompanied by the Admiral, his son and son-in-law, and Count Olivares, who had not yet seen the Queen. When the Prince and Queen were seated, Figueroa presented to them an instrument by which his Majesty gave to the Prince the kingdom of Naples. Upon this, all present kissed his Highness's hands in recognition of his regal dignity, and his Highness returned to his house.

On Wednesday, the feast of St. James, the King went forth with a brave following of grandees and gentlemen of his court, so magnificently attired that neither his Majesty's nor his Highness's court ever saw the like, such was the display of rich garments and chains, each one finer than the last. So past deficiencies were amply made up for. He entered the church, mounted a raised platform and proceeded to a chapel where he awaited the Queen, who came to him accompanied by her grandees, whom they call the Council, with her sword and mace-bearers going on before, and the King was preceded by similar officers, Englishmen all. In the same chapel, on the platform, was a raised dais covered with hangings of purple, and there stood five bishops with their copes and mitres, among them the Bishop of Winchester, a most christian and catholic man, who is Lord Chancellor of the realm and bishop of this see.

The King and Queen came forward, and the Bishop said in his own English tongue that the King had ratified the marriage articles in Spain, and he held up the articles without reading them. His Majesty, he added, had given to the King his Kingdom of Naples, and he went on to speak what he considered the people ought to hear. Then he read the service in Latin and celebrated the marriage. They then proceeded to the choir, where there was also a platform in front of the high altar; the bishop spoke to the couple as it is also the custom in Spain, the King and Queen retired each to their places and high mass began, the Bishop officiating with two other bishops as deacon and sub-deacon, all wearing mitres, and two more in rich vestments served them. In front of the King's and Queen's places were altars where low masses were said, and at the offertory the royal couple returned to the platform where the Bishop was standing and offered candles and crowns, after which they went back to their places, the King accompanying the Queen to hers. Then, when the priest turned round to give his blessing, they once more appeared on the platform, and when all these ceremonies were over the Bishop finished mass. The King went up to the altar to receive the kiss of peace, which the Bishop gave him on his cheek, after the English custom, and then went to kiss the Queen, to whom he bowed low. All the while, for an hour, she remained with her eyes fixed on the sacrament. She is a saintly woman.

The King and Queen once more in their places and the blessing given, the kings of arms proclaimed his Highness King of England, and to the sound of great rejoicing from the people, the blare of trumpets and other music they walked back under a canopy to the Queen's palace, where a table was laid out in a great hall, with other tables in the lower part of the hall.

The King, Queen and Bishop dined most sumptuously together to the strains of music, at another table sat the ambassadors, and grandees, at another over seventy Spanish and English gentlemen, as many again at another, and at yet another the ladies. All these tables were admirably served, in perfect order and silence.

After dinner they all proceeded to another hall where the ladies danced their dances, and the King with the Queen after the German fashion. Don Pedro Laso, the ambassador, led the dance. When this was over the King retired to his chamber and the Queen to hers, where they supped in private, each in his own chambe

Afterwards the Bishop of Winchester blessed the bed, and they remained alone. What happened that night only they know. If they give us a son our joy will be complete.

The King had on the cloak sent to him by the Queen, who was dressed in a robe; both wore great quantities of jewellery.

The Queen's house is richly adorned with brocades and tapestries woven with gold thread. At table there are always two English lords in attendance, one behind the Queen and the other behind the King, holding up sheathed swords. Those who served were Englishmen all except Don Iñigo de Mendoza, son of the Duke of Infant ado, who bore the cup, and four of his Highness's gentlemen who helped to serve. None of the Prince's own officers have had a chance to serve or use their wands of office, nor is it expected that they will do so in future, neither the controller nor anyone else; so we might just as well be sent away, as we are nothing but vagabonds here.

All that happened on Thursday was that the King rose at seven and then stayed in his chamber until eleven, when he heard mass in his private chapel, and then dined by himself in public. It is not the custom that the Queen should be seen on this day, so she remained in her chamber with her ladies married and single, very well dressed after their fashion, some of them wearing embroideries and gussets, which have finally made their appearance here. The women are tall and slender, their clothes are good and they dress their hair like Frenchwomen, though if they would only imitate unmarried Spanish ladies in this respect they would look much better. Few of them are beautiful, though some are better than others. There are ladies who stay in the chamber, and others who remain outside in the ante-room, dancing or talking with whomever cares to keep them company, and every day is the same as far as this is concerned.

Some of the Englishmen were well dressed on this occasion, and also several Spaniards. The Duchess of Alva came this day from Southampton, arriving here very late, and went straight to her house. The bishop has lodged the friars in a college where they will be safe; and I expect they are sorry they ever came hither. His Highness confessed, and his confessor and Friar Alonso de Castro attended mass at the cathedral. Everyone stared at them; there are no people on earth like the English for gossiping.

On Friday, his Highness began to despatch business connected with the fleet and Flemish matters. The Queen did not appear; the King heard high mass in his chapel, and dined in private. Friar Bartolome de Miranda said mass in the cathedral—a novelty for these folk, some of whom rejoiced while others were sorrowful. We have hopes that the Queen's piety, goodness and constant prayers will succeed in restoring this kingdom to the place it held in Christendom as an obedient daughter of the Catholic Church.

We went to the castle of this town to see the Round Table which belonged to King Arthur. They say he is under a spell. The names of his twelve knights are written where they used to sit round the table.

There are plenty of robbers on the roads here, and they have attacked several persons, among them a servant of Don Juan Pacheco, the Marquis of Villena's son, from whom they stole 400 crowns and all the gold and silver objects he had with him. Not a trace has been found of all this property nor of four chests belonging to his Highness's household, though the Queen's Council do take certain precautions. The wise thing to do here is to imitate the English and go home early.

On Saturday, the King heard mass in his. chapel, the Queen assisting in the upper gallery. In the afternoon the Duchess of Alva went to the palace, escorted by all the lords and gentlemen of the court. Her hair was beautifully dressed, and she wore a black velvet gown adorned with lace and black silk embroidery. The Queen awaited her in the antechamber, dressed in black damask with a stomacher of black velvet embroidered with gold. She was standing when the Duchess entered, and advanced nearly to the door, where the Duchess sank to her knees and begged the Queen to give her her hand to kiss. The Queen bent down almost equally low, embraced her, refused to give her her hand but lifted her to her feet and kissed her on the lips, as Queens of England do to great ladies of their own blood, but to none other. So she took the Duchess by the hand, asking news of her journey and how she had fared at sea, expressing great pleasure at seeing her; and, leading her to a dais on which there stood a high chair, the Queen sat on a cushion asking the Duchess to be seated in the chair. The Duchess implored the Queen to take the chair, the Queen refused, and so two stools covered with velvet brocade were brought, on one of which the Queen sat, asking the Duchess to accept the other, but the Duchess bowed low and sat upon the floor after the English custom, whereupon the Queen left her stool and sat down beside her guest on a cushion, refusing to get up, but the Duchess insisted until the Queen sat once more on her stool; but then the Queen commanded the Duchess to take the other one, which she finally did.

There they stayed talking for a long time, the Marquis of Las Navas acting as interpreter, for the Queen does not speak Castilian, though she understands it. They spoke of the heat and other things, and the Queen asked the Duchess if she would go into her chamber and rest, as she was obliged to receive some ambassadors. When the Duchess answered that she would stay with her ladies the Queen would not allow her to do so, and thus they waited for the ambassadors' coming, but as the ambassadors delayed the Queen sat down again with the Duchess and conversed for a time, after which the Duchess took her leave and returned to her lodging, a long distance to come and go on foot. The Queen ordered her to be accompanied by two countesses and the old ambassador who went to Corunna. The Queen certainly took great pleasure in her society, and will do so more and more, both in hers and in that of the other Spanish ladies who have come hither; and she is so good that we may well thank God for giving us such a bountiful princess to be our Queen. God save her! He has already preserved her through such trials that we may say she remained the one hope and refuge of the Faith in this realm; but now that the Faith is gaining ground day by day, divine worship, established as it was before, will grow ever firmer in its hold on the country with such good catholics on the throne.

News from Flanders say that the French have taken Binche and rased Queen Maria's house to the ground. Fortunately all moveables had been placed in safety or the enemy would have carried them off. The French King is now retreating with the Emperor only three leagues behind him in pursuit, doing his best to make him turn and fight. So our troops and money will arrive just at the right juncture.

This day the King of the Romans' ambassador presented his letters to the Queen, with a diamond jewel worth 32,000 crowns and a very large pearl. The King of Bohemia's ambassador also presented his letters, and Luis Vanegas one from the Princess of Portugal.

On Sunday, July 29, mass was said in the palace as it had been the day before. The King and Queen dined in public, and with them the Earls of Pembroke 'and Arundel, the greatest men of the realm at present, though their incomes are not more than 25,000 ducats, the Bishop of Winchester and the Lord High Treasurer. After dinner they tarried awhile, and then each sought his own chamber.

A messenger from Flanders brought news that the Emperor was within three leagues of the camp of the French King, who was retreating homewards, why, no one knew. Margrave Albrecht has been defeated by the League and escaped with only eight horse, which it is believed will greatly contribute to the quiet of Germany.

The ladies spend their afternoons and nights dancing, and well they may with so many young English and Spanish gentlemen to entertain.

On Monday nothing out of the ordinary occurred. There was mass, and the King dined in public, which the Queen only does on certain days. English officials were in attendance, as usual. His Highness despatched business all day and supped in private.

On Tuesday, July 31, the King and Queen set out after dinner to proceed to a country-house belonging to the Lord High Treasurer, about fifteen miles hence. The King only took with him his own servants, all the rest remaining at Winchester and Southampton with the guards until they are sent for to London. The Admiral stayed behind, for he is to return to Spain with part of the fleet while the other part goes on to Flanders with the money and troops, escorted by Don Alonso Pajon, a Valencian, and Don Luis de Carvajal with their ships, for the purpose of guarding the fleet as Don Antonio Bazán and his galeasses used to guard the fleet coming from the Indies.

All the English gentlemen who are not employed at Court have gone home to their houses, and will appear again when the King enters London. The ambassadors are going at once to London. I will write again when there is more to tell.

Spanish.

Fuentes

Madrid, B. N. X 197.

Printed by Gayangos, Viaje de Felipe Segundo a Inglaterra.

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 13, 1554-1558

Edited by Royall Tyler.

Published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1954.

 

 

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