YOurs of the twentieth paſs'd came ſafely to hand, and with more ſpeed then ordinary: I ſend you a thouſand thanks for the variety of newes you pleaſe to impart, unto me therein, whereby I have oblig'd the beſt of our Nation in this Countrey, for we may be ſaid to have liv'd here in clouds of ignorance, touching your doings in England, till your Letter gave us ſome light.

To correſpond with you in the like kind, I returne you what this Court affords moſt remarkable, and of thoſe things whereof I have been an ocular witneſſe; the oldeſt men living here ſay, they never ſaw ſuch gallantries and pomp as have been lately here at the entrance of the young Queen, who by ſpeciall diſpenſation was permitted to be married to this King, notwithſtanding that her Mother (the Empreſſe) was his ſiſter by whole blood, and ſhould have been Queen of England, if the Devill had not broken the match; I meane the Infanta Donna Maria, who is going upon her 16. and he 46. both of a faire Auſtrian complexion: Out of theſe late ſolemnities and pomp, you may infer what a prudent and well govern'd Nation this is; for though this Kings Sword be ſo long, that it reacheth every where, and is perpetually out of the Scabbard, although he have actuall warres with the whole power of France, and in Italie, although he have two of his owne Kingdomes in Spaine her ſelfe lately revolted quite from him, I mean Catalonia and Portugall, and that they bait him on both ſides by daily incurſions, yet here in the Court there's no appearance of any war at all, but there is as much bravery, freedome, ſecurity and pleaſure, as if this King had no enemy at all; one can ſcarce ſee a thing call'd a man in buff all the Towne over: Here are at this time at leaſt half a ſcore Ambaſſadors, and among others the grand Seignior ſeems to ſtoop to this King at laſt, and ſeek his friendſhip, the ſubſtance of whoſe Embaſſie I ſend you herewith, together with the ſtately entrance of the young Queen: but for your better underſtanding, I will deduce her journey from the beginning.

After that the Royall Spouſe, the Imperiall Infanta Donna Maria de Auſtria, had departed from the City of Vienna, in a moſt ſplendid equipage, being accompanied with the King of Hungary, and a great number of Attendants, ſhe came to Trent, where there being magnificent preparations made for her beforehand, and many triumphall new Gates and Theaters erected purpoſely to honor her ſhe reſted ſome time: Thence ſhe advanc'd her journey to Breſcia, where ſhe was introduced and welcom'd by the Republike of Venice in mighty great ſtate, and entertain'd all the while an S. Marks charge, the expence of the hoſpitality, amounting to ſeventy thouſand Duckets. From Breſcia ſhe remov'd to the City of Milan, where, with the King of Hungary her brother, and but thirty of her ſervants, ſhe went in privately and unknowne, by reaſon of a great glut of raine which ſtill increas'd; but when the weather grew faire, and the heavens began to ſmile again, ſhe made a very ſolemn entry, being attended by two thouſand five hundred perſons at leaſt: The Venetian State diſcharged her expences all the while for two hundred miles ſpace, there being five and twenty Waggons that were laden with all ſorts of proviſions, and ſix hundred Cuiraſſiers in compleat armor, with four hundred Horſemen beſides, that attended her all along; ſhe beſtowed upon the Lord Capello (Generall to the Venetians) a huge gold chain imboſs'd with rich Diamonds, eſtimated at four thouſand Crownes, and ſhe gave forty gold chaines more amongſt other Officers. Moreover, Generall Capello in the name of His Imperiall Majeſty was created by the King of Hungary, Knight of the Romane Empire; ſhe beſtowed alſo on the Venetian Magiſtrates foure and twenty rich veſts of cloth of ſilver, together with huge gilt Cups, Baſons and Ewers; ſhe gave alſo a great Chriſtall Beaker full of gold, and froſted about with curious workmanſhip, to the Towne for a laſting monument: ſhe her ſelfe was preſented alſo by the Archbiſhop with two Crucifixes of Jaſper, and other precious ſtones, with divers Relikes of Saints, and rare Medaills: There were Tiltings and Horſe-fights, with artificiall fire-works appointed, whereupon the King of Hungary her brother, taking his leave very tenderly of her, and with wonderfull affection, returned back to Germany againe: A little after the Apoſtolicall Nuncio preſented her with the Holy Roſe, and many rare Relikes beſides. From thence ſhe directed her courſe to Finall, the people breaking out into a thouſand good wiſhes for the proſperity of her voyage, and her iſſue, all the way ſhe went: But the Genowayes Ambaſſador was not well intreated by the people, in regard he came late, and without any preſent, for which he was publikely jeer'd at and revil'd, conſidering how infinitely that Republic is beholden to the King of Spain, and that ſhe hath her well-being by him: Nor did the Queen her ſelf look upon him with any grace. From thence ſhe ſet forward for Papia, where ſhe was brought in by the Biſhop with a mighty deal of reverence, under a ſtately canopy, in a rich chaire of State, accompanied by Auguſtus Duke of Turſis, by Sannettino Doria, by the Duke of Anello; by Marquis Spinola, and other Generalls, in a moſt magnificent equipage, and conducted to the palace of Don Diego Alvardi. The next morning betimes ſhe was ſaluted by the Cardinal Doncheus, and four Napolitan Ambaſſadors, the great pieces of Artillery thundring off ev'ry where: Then ſhe imbark'd her ſelf in a Fleet of gallies for Spain, and arriving with wondrous ſpeed at Denia in the Kingdom of Valentia, ſhe was welcom'd aſhore, and entertain'd with much ſplendor, and unutterable joy and applauſes.

But in the Court at Madrid 'tis incredible what endeavors were made, and inventions devis'd to congratulate her coming, in raiſing up triumphant arches with ſuch art and wonderfull artifice, that the like were never beheld (as every one cryed out) by humane eyes ſince the creation. The King ſtir'd himſelf notably, with Donna Maria his daughter, a Princeſſe of about thirteen yeers of age, to receive this new glorious Queen at the Eſcurial, which is eſteem'd the eighth wonder of the world, it being a royall Palace, an Univerſity of it ſelf, and a Monaſtery containing twelve great Quadrangles, where the great Conſtable of Caſtile, with all the Grandees, and a numberleſſe multitude of people attended her all along; and to do homage, or as it were pay their vowes unto her.

Afterwards the nuptiall knot being tied at Navalcarna, four leagues diſtant from Madrid, the Royall Bride was accompanied with a gallant Retinue and Attendants, (glittering with gold and ſilver) all on horſeback, with a ſelect guard of young Noblemen Bachelors all along till ſhe arriv'd at Court; all the ancient Grandees coming in the rear in a ſolemn 'ſtately equipage, ſurrounded with Laquays and Pages clad in ſhining Liveries; they wore maſſie chains and gold hat-bands, being mounted, ſome upon Cordoua Ginets, others upon Napolitan Courſers, who curveted all the way, being as it were ſenſible of joy: The Queen her ſelf had forty Laquays of all ſorts, wearing new ſorts of Mandillions, cover'd all over with gold lace that the watchet velvet underneath could hardly be ſeen: Her common Guard went in veſtments of cloth of tiſſue with rare embroyderies, ſo that the Sun could not behold a more glorious ſpectacle: For, the Spaniard hath this quality, that although his ordinary habit be plain black, yet upon a Feſtivall, or occaſion of any Triumph, there is no nation more gorgeous.

All along the ſtreets, from the Retiro (the new houſe of pleaſure) unto the Palace, the Kings Court, which was above two miles, all the windowes on both ſides of the ſtreets, and all the balcones were hung either with rich Arras, Turky Tapeſtry, or bright colour'd Sattins and Taffata's, which wav'd up and down, to the pleaſure of the Spectator: ſpecially the Plate-ſtreet, or Silver-ſtreet, was ſo embelliſh'd with ſuch various works of Argentry, veſſells of maſſie gold, with ſuch croſſes and crucifixes of precious ſtones, that ev'ry ſhop ſeem'd to be a Conſtellation, which made the Turkiſh Ambaſſador, who was there preſent all the while, being tranſported with a kind of aſtoniſhment and admiration, to burſt out into interjections of wonder, and ſay, that in the whole courſe of his life, he never ſaw ſuch Majeſty, and opulence, ſuch curioſities and magnificence. In the corners of the ſtreets there ſtood eight pyramides, four great, and foure ſmall, ſome round, ſome quadrangular, ſome triangular; their tops very ſharp and ſpiring up, which were ſupported by triumphant arches, whereof four repreſented the four parts of the world, in ev'ry one wherof the King of Spain hath ſom Territories, which no Monarch yet that ever was on earth could ſay, the workmanſhip of thoſe pyramides, and triumphall arches with divers ſorts of theaters beſides, amounted, by a computation that was made, to above 64000. duckets, which was all at the coſt of the Towneſmen; who by a kind of loyall emulation, did ſtrive who ſhould expreſſe his affections moſt to his King: The Poets, and wits of the Court had many new ingenious fancies and devices up and downe, in landskips and imagery inventions, with new motto's appliable to the occaſion. In the middle of the high ſtreet was a vaſt Globe, as it were pendent in the air, wheeling about with a continuall rotation, which repreſented the Univerſe. There were alſo erected four curious fountains, out of which iſſued as the Queen paſs'd by ſuch fragrant odoriferous waters that did perfume the air round about for the time: there were ſundry ſorts of dancers alſo that caper'd up and down the ſtreets with bells, and knackers, with ſundry ſorts of Antiques: before the royall Palace there were divers Theaters, where there were new Comedies acted by women, (who were deck'd like Angells) as well as men. On both ſides of the young Queen were two huge Lions, and two Eagles, garding and conducting her all along; and there were ſuch muſicall voices in ev'ry corner of the ſtreets, that one would think the Angels had deſcended, and with ſuch raviſhing inſtruments, that one would have thought Amphion or Orpheus to have been there. The King came to the upper part of the ſtairs to receive his Queen, accompanied with the Infanta his daughter, who went on the Queens left hand: the whole Town was all night long as bright as if it had been noon-day, by the luminaries which were up and down, and rare inventions of fire-works, with new ſorts of ſquibs, that kept ſuch a noiſe in the air, as if Jove had been darting his thunderbolds all the while. There was a brave eloquent Oration made before the King, the cloſe whereof was, that his Catholique Majeſty might have friendſhip with Germany, Concord with France, reverence with Italy, felicity out of Afia, piety in Africk, and commiſeration towards America.

Their nuptiall joys were advantag'd by the preſence of the Turkiſh Ambaſſador, which then reſided in the Catholique Court, and had receiv'd audience a little before, which I ſhall with faith and punctuality deliver you herewith as followeth.

Hamet Aga Muſtafera embark'd for Spain at Naples, & arrivnig at Valentia, he was receiv'd and entertain'd by the Count of Oropeta; thence he was accompanied to Odonio three leagues diſtant from Madrid; where to refreſh himſelf after his journey, he bath'd himſelf three times after the Turkiſh manner: He is a man of a ſhrew'd penetrating judgment, one who hath ſtudied men, and who underſtands the Spaniſh tongue, though the Italian better.

Being brought to Madrid, he was admitted the next day following to his audience at Court, which was perform'd with that ſolemnity and magnificence, as the Majeſty & grandeur of ſo great a Potentate, whoſe perſon he did repreſent required. Being attended with a numerous gallant train, he was brought to the royall Palace, where through fourteen ſeverall rooms ſumptuouſly garniſh'd, he was brought to the Kings preſence, which room was embelliſh'd with ſuch gemms, and ſparkling precious ſtones, with other ſhining objects, that might upon a ſuddain dazle any beholders eyes. His Catholique Majeſty was ſeated in a high eminent Throne, where Charles the Roman Emperor in former Ages was ſaid to be crown'd, he was incircled round about with his Grandees, with the principall Officers of his Crown; and at the foot of the Throne ſtood his Secretaries, with others of his eight Councells; and the Judges were there in their robes, in a grave decent poſture: The Ambaſſador bowing himſelfe three times, kneel'd on the third ſtair of the Throne, & pronounc'd his Oration; wherein he firſt condol'd the deceaſe of his former Queen, the daughter to France; then he congratulated with expreſsions of a world of good wiſhes, his ſecond Marriage with the Imperiall Infanta; and laſtly he deſir'd ſecret Audience for the reſt of his Embaſſiie: After that he receded downwards, and preſented his Credentiall Letters, (his Commiſſion having been exhibited many daies before) the Letters were originally in Latin as followeth verbatim.

Engliſh'd thus:

In his private inſtructions he propos'd theſe things following: Firſt, the great Emperor will deliver to his royall Catholike Majeſty the Holy Sepulcher, and other ſacred places in Jeruſalem. Secondly, he is willing that a free exerciſe of commerce may flouriſh in all maritine ports, and that Pyrats be not tolerated hereafter any where. Thirdly, he is willing that Don John of Auſtria, whoſe election may be free to ſome Kingdome, may take to wife the Sultana, who may imbrace the Catholike Religion. Fourthly, that the uſe of ſlaves be quite taken off for the future on both fides, and thoſe that are now in quality of Captifs may be freely releas'd, and reſtor'd without ranſome. Now there is intelligence certainly ſent, that the Sultana, who is the grand Turks ſiſter, and ſome five years ſince was taken by the Malteſes, is converted to the Catholike Faith.

To theſe advertiſements, I ſhall adde the preſents which the Turkiſh Ambaſſador brought the King of Spain, and were tendred with much ſolemnity.

Firſt, there were four Lions with golden chains, and collars alſo emboſs'd with pure gold, whereon were engraven the Armes of his royall Majeſty. Secondly, there were twelve Cimiters with maſſie gold hilts, and ſcabbards tied to gold chains, and curiouſly ingraven on the hilts and chapes. Thirdly, there were four cheſts fill'd with Turky knifes, their hafts of maſſie gold, and embroyder'd with pearl of much value. Fourthly, there were twelve Unicorns horns, ev'ry one twelve yards long, inlaid with gold, and engraven with his Catholique Majeſties Arms. Fiftly, there were four and twenty Turky carpets interwoven with gold and ſilk, on which were drawn thoſe victories which his Catholike Majeſty had obtain'd ſince he was King. Sixthly, a Coach of Chryſtall and gold figur'd in form of a triremiary gallie, hung with ſails of ſilk in a ſpecious manner, wherein were drawn the triumphs and victories of his Majeſty. Seventhly, two ſmaller cheſts were fill'd with feathers of high price. Eighthly, there was a great Chriſtal box imbroyder'd with pearl, which contain'd forty fair Bezar ſtones. ev'ry one weighing fourteen ounces. Ninthly, there was a coverlet for a bed, beautified with forty ſtars, whereon Caeſars victories were deſcrib'd. Laſtly, ſix horſes white and black, with ſo many turkiſh ſlaves.

Touching the reality of this Embaſſie, and what the ſucceſſe will be, we yet ſuſpend our judgment, for the tranſactions of things are carried ſo privately, that they are kept from vulgar knowledge, as indeed all great affairs of State ſhould be.

Beſides this Turkiſh Ambaſſador & divers others, there are here two Engliſh Ambaſſadors, one for the King of Scotland, as they term him here, and the other from the States of England: The firſt is the Lord Cottington, who was once your Lord high Treaſurer of England, who hath about twelve in his company, yet hath he a fair Palace, two Coaches attending him, and diet for himſelf and his family, all upon this Kings charge, but he grows daily more and more out of requeſt, as all uſe to do in time when they live upon another mans charge. 'Tis true, that they were here at firſt very ſenſible of your late Kings death, and of the manner of it, and they reſent it ſtill as he was a King and Soveraign Prince, but as he was an hereticall King, as they term'd him here, they were rather glad of it, it being ſuch a brand to the reformed Religion, and an advantage to theirs; people do commonly uſe to deride an Engliſhman when they meet him, ſaying, what's become of your great Defender of the Faith? what's become of your Queen, the daughter of Henry the Great? had ſhe been of the houſe of Auſtria ſhe ſhould not have been left ſo long unrevenged: Our Infanta Donna Maria had not been ſo buſie, and you had proſper'd better by her, but you would have none of her, and ſee what's become of you; Now, who can blame our King to aſſiſt the Subjects of England, conſidering how often your Kings did adhere to the Hollanders, his revolted Subjects, againſt him?

Your Parliaments Agent is but lately arriv'd, and he had all the reſpects and formalities that a Soveraign Miniſter of State could expect, he had two Audiences the three firſt daies he came, one publique, the other private, with Don Luis de Haro the Favorite, who ſwaies moſt; And though this Agent be of a complexion that the Spaniards do hate, for they paint Judas alwaies with red hair, yet there hath not been the leaſt affront or indignity offer'd him yet. 'Tis thought generally here, that this Crown will make a league and confederate with your State, provided they engage with him to recover the Kingdome of Portugall; for Spain hath been obſerv'd to prefer alwaies her own intereſt before any friendſhip. The news here is from Lisbon, that your Parliaments Fleet by hovering upon thoſe ſeas, and half blocking up the mouth of the River, do much infeſt thoſe coaſts, and utterly deſtroy trading, ſo that King John is thought to be in a ſad condition, and cannot tell what Saint to pray unto. The King of France his chiefeſt Confederate, and Protector in a manner, hath written lately peremptory letters unto him, that he ſhould favor and adhere to Prince Rupert, who as 'tis bruited here, is upon ſelling away his Ships unto him.

They give Porto Longone here to be as good as retaken upon the Coaſts of Italy, and they promiſe themſelves great ſucceſſes againſt the French this year, yet they complain againſt the Hollander, that he hath broke the Capitulations of peace in divers things.

There was one attempting to tranſlate your late Kings Book into Spaniſh, but he was ſurpriz'd, the copy ſuppreſs'd, and the Tranſlator hardly eſcap'd the Inquiſition, becauſe it contains ſom paſſages offenſive to the Church of Rome; and had it been publiſh'd, 'tis thought it had run the ſame fate as King James's Confeſsio Fidei did, which was publikely burnt by the Officer of the Inquiſition in times paſs'd.

The Engliſh Roman Catholikes here are in great hopes, that if there be a league ſtruck betwixt this King and your State, the Recuſants in England and Ireland will be better us'd.

There is a freſh report that the young Queen is already with child, though ſom think that this report proceeds rather from hopes then truth; if it prove ſo, and that ſhe be deliver'd of a male, I believe a treaty wil quickly be ſet on foot to match the young Infanta, who is like to be a goodly Lady; till then, ſhe may haply prove a State Maid, before ſhe be ſuffer'd to have a husband.

This is all that the Spaniſh Court affords for the preſent, at leaſt 'tis all that I dare truſt under ſeal; by the next you ſhall hear further from me, provided that you be punctuall in the continuance of this monethly correſpondence; ſo I pray God guard you, and guide you in all your affaires and purpoſes.