The History of Mary I, Queen of England: as found in the public records, despatches of ambassadors, in original private letters, and other contemporary documentsStone, J. M. (Jean Mary)
History
The History of Mary I, Queen of England: as found in the public records, despatches of ambassadors, in original private letters, and other contemporary documents
Stone, J. M. (Jean Mary)
Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603; Mary I, Queen of England, 1516-1558
Both the Emperor and Renard had taken care to give the Prince good
advice as to his behaviour in England. They dreaded, lest by a
repetition of the contempt he had displayed in Flanders, he should
render the marriage still more unpopular than it already was. They
implored him to make at least a show of cordiality towards the nobles,
and to be affable and condescending to the people. He should force
himself to learn a few words of English, to salute them with, but at
the same time, it would not be amiss, said his mentors, if he wore a
coat of mail under his dress.[452]
On the 19th July, the Spanish fleet being anchored in Southampton Bay,
Philip sent the Prince of Gonzaga and Count Egmont to inform Mary of
his arrival and good health. The next morning, he was landed at
Southampton in the Queen’s yacht. As he stepped on shore, a royal
salute was fired, and the Earl of Arundel invested him with the Order
of the Garter,[453] which was at once put on and fastened by a herald.
A brilliant company had assembled at the landing-place, to receive and
do him honour. “God save your Grace,” was heard on all sides.
Philip presented a gallant enough appearance in his usual costume of
black, with the short Spanish cape worn over one shoulder, and on his
head a berretta with gold chains and a waving plume. Mary had sent him
an Andalusian genet richly caparisoned, and as the reins were handed to
him, Sir Anthony Browne[454] advanced, and made a speech in Latin, to
the effect that he had been appointed equerry to the Prince, and had
taken the oath to the imperial ambassador, and begged to be received
as his Highness’s most humble, faithful and loyal servant. Having
kissed the stirrup, he helped the Prince to mount.[455] As Philip rode
through the town, the spectators remarked with admiration, his graceful
horsemanship and smiling countenance, an indication that he had taken
Renard’s counsels to heart. His first visit was to the Church of the
Holy Rood, where he heard Mass, and returned thanks for his prosperous
voyage and safe arrival.
He was then conducted to the house that had been prepared for his
reception, during his stay at Southampton. Here his apartments were
hung with some famous Flemish arras of immense value, that had belonged
to Henry VIII. A chair of state in crimson velvet, embroidered with
gold and pearls, stood on a daïs, under a canopy in the principal room.
Before dismissing his escort, composed of nearly every member of the
Privy Council, he addressed them in a Latin speech, in which he said
he had come to live among them, not as a foreigner, but as a native
Englishman, and not from want of men or money, but God had called him
to marry their virtuous sovereign; and in thanking them for their
expressions of faith and loyalty, he promised that they should ever
find him a grateful, affable and loving Prince.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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