EEBO page image 922 The cardi|nals statelie sitting at ta|ble like a prince.First yée shall vnderstand, that the tables were set in the chamber of presence iust couered, & the lord car|dinall sitting vnder the cloth of estate, there hauing all his seruice alone: and then was there set a ladie with a noble man, or a gentleman and a gentlewo|man throughout all the tables in the chamber on the one side, which were made and ioined as it were but one table, all which order and deuise was doone by the lord Sandes then lord chamberleine to the king and by sir Henrie Gilford comptrollor of the kings ma|iesties house. Then immediatlie after the great chamberleine, and the said comptrollor, sent to looke what it should meane (as though they knew nothing of the matter) who looking out of the windowes into the Thames, returned againe and shewed him, that it séemed they were noblemen and strangers that arriued at his bridge, comming as ambassadours from some forren prince.

The cardinall knew not that the king was in the number.With that (quoth the cardinall) I desire you, bi|cause you can speake French, to take the paines to go into the hall, there to receiue them according to their estates, and to conduct them into this chamber, where they shall sée vs, and all these noble personages being merie at our banket, desiring them to sit downe with vs, and to take part of our fare. Then went he incontinent downe into the hall, whereas they receiued them with twentie new torches, and conueied them vp into the chamber, with such a noise of drums and flutes, as seldome had béene heard the like. At their entring into the chamber two and two togither, they went directlie before the cardinall, where he sate and saluted him reuerentlie.

The cardinall reuerentlie sa|luted of the maskers.To whom the lord chamberleine for them said: Sir, for as much as they be strangers, and can not speake English, they haue desired me to declare vnto you, that they hauing vnderstanding of this your trium|phant banket, where was assembled such a number of excellent dames, they could doo no lesse vnder sup|port of your grace, but to repaire hither, to view as well their incomparable beautie, as for to accompa|nie them at mum-chance, and then to danse with them: and sir, they require of your grace licence to accomplish the said cause of their cõming. To whom the cardinall said he was verie well content they should so doo. Then went the maskers, and first salu|ted all the dames, and returned to the most worthie, and there opened their great cup of gold filled with crownes and other péeces of gold, to whome they set certeine péeces of gold to cast at.