OF PHILIP’S PUBLIC DISEMBARKATION AT SOUTHAMPTON.
Before noon the preparations for the Prince’s reception were complete.
All the houses in High-street had been hung with carpets and costly
stuffs, and otherwise decorated. From the Water-gate to the porch of
Holyrood Church, where high mass was to be performed for the Prince, the
street was kept clear by archers and arquebusiers fully equipped, and
drawn up on either side, their steel caps and breastplates glittering in
the brilliant sunshine.
By-and-by a grand cavalcade of richly-apparelled nobles, well mounted,
and followed by long trains of esquires and pages wearing their
liveries, rode towards the quay. Noticeable amongst these were the Earls
of Shrewsbury, Derby, and Sussex, but the personage who attracted most
attention was the Duke of Norfolk.
This venerable peer, whose long confinement in the Tower, commencing at
the latter part of the reign of Henry VIII., and extending throughout
that of his son, Edward VI., had neither broken his spirit nor impaired
his bodily vigour, rode a high-spirited charger, which he managed with
all the address and grace of a youthful cavalier. Norfolk’s attire was
of almost regal magnificence, being of purple velvet, edged with
miniver, and richly embroidered, and his charger was trapped in cloth of
gold, of red and yellow sheen. Behind him rode eighteen pages, each
mounted on a handsome courser, and each clad in cloth of gold.
After the Duke of Norfolk and his attendants had ridden by, six mounted
trumpeters, with the royal badge on their scarlet surcoats, came on, and
made the welkin ring with the din of their silver clarions. After the
trumpeters walked a troop of lacqueys, sumptuously attired in silk and
velvet. Then came other nobles and gentlemen of the train, all superbly
mounted, and vying with each other in the splendour of their apparel,
and the number of their pages and esquires.
Next came a band of minstrels playing upon tambours and rebecs. Then
more lacqueys in the royal liveries, and after them Sir Edward Hastings,
Master of the Horse, who was followed by two grooms leading a Spanish
jennet, caparisoned in cloth of silver, the bridal, poitral, and saddle
being studded with silver roses. This beautiful animal had been sent by
the Queen for her intended consort.
Next came Sir Robert Rochester, Comptroller, and after him rode the
Marquis of Winchester and the Earl of Arundel. Each of these noblemen
was magnificently attired, and followed by a long train of attendants.
Then came a mounted guard, preceding the town authorities, who marched
two abreast, this part of the procession being closed by the mayor on
horseback.
Passing through the Water-gate, on the summit of which the royal
standard now floated, the whole of the splendid cavalcade crossed the
drawbridge, and proceeded to that part of the quay where it was intended
the disembarkation should take place. A vast concourse had here
assembled, but a wide space near the water was kept clear by the guard,
and within this the procession drew up.
It was now high tide, and close to the strand lay the Queen’s barge,
gorgeously decorated, and having a broad banner embroidered with the
arms of England on the stern.
The Earl of Arundel with the Duke of Norfolk, the Marquis of Winchester,
and the principal nobles, having dismounted, entered this barque, and
were immediately rowed by two banks of oarsmen to the Prince’s ship. In
front of the royal barge stood six trumpeters. Four other gilded barges
followed. The course of these gorgeous barques was watched with
momently-increasing interest by the thousands of spectators on the
quays, on the town walls, and on other points of observation.
With her decks crowded with arquebusiers in their full accoutrements,
and banners floating from her turrets, the “Santissima Trinidada” made a
most gallant show, exciting the wonder and admiration of all who gazed
upon her. Her companions on the right and left were likewise splendidly
decorated, and, indeed, every vessel within sight fluttered with banners
and streamers.
As the royal barge approached the Prince’s ship, loud fanfares were
sounded by the trumpeters, and immediately several officials in rich
habiliments, and bearing white wands, appeared at the head of the
stairs. On gaining the deck, the Earl of Arundel and the other nobles
were conducted with the utmost ceremony to Philip, whom they found
surrounded by the Dukes of Alva and Medina Celi, Don Ruy Gomez, and the
rest of the grandees composing the Prince’s suite.
On this occasion Philip had laid aside his customary black habiliments,
and wore a doublet and hose of crimson silk, with a robe of cloth of
gold. His boots were decked with golden strings, and bordered with
pearls. All the grandees forming his _entourage_ were dressed with
extraordinary magnificence, and made a most splendid display.
Philip received the English nobles with the greatest courtesy, and being
informed that the Earl of Arundel was the bearer to him, from her
Majesty, of the insignia of the most noble Order of the Garter, he
immediately bowed his head, and while the collar was passed over his
neck by the Earl, the Duke of Norfolk buckled on the garter. When this
ceremony had been performed, and an interchange of formal salutations
had taken place between the English nobles and the Spanish grandees, the
Prince was conducted to the royal barge, the English nobles entering it
with him. The Spanish grandees, with various officials, gentlemen, and
pages, in attendance upon the Prince, went ashore in the other boats.
On the part of the quay reserved for the disembarkation, a rich Turkey
carpet had been laid, and upon this stood four henchmen in
parti-coloured attire of crimson velvet and yellow silk, sustaining an
embroidered canopy of red damask, fringed with golden thread. The pages,
esquires, and other officials having first landed, the royal barge was
brought close to the strand, and a railed plank, covered with striped
cloth, being laid upon it, offered an easy passage to the Prince, whose
deportment as he slowly traversed it, was singularly haughty and
majestic.
On the instant that Philip stepped ashore a royal salute was fired from
the castle batteries, the roar being prolonged by every gun in the
English fleet. At the same time vociferous acclamations arose from the
spectators.
“Heaven save your Highness!—welcome to England!” exclaimed a voice from
amidst a group near the canopy.
The voice sounded familiar to Philip, and glancing in the direction of
the speaker, he recognised Rodomont Bittern, who, with his friends, had
managed to obtain a position with the mayor and the town authorities.
Rodomont’s exclamation, uttered in a loud voice, and with unmistakable
heartiness, found many an echo. Pleased by the cordiality of the
welcome, Philip bowed graciously around, and in so doing addressed a
slight smile of recognition to Rodomont.
A brief pause now ensued, but as soon as the grandees had landed, and
ranged themselves behind him, Philip drew his sword, holding it aloft
till he got beneath the canopy, when he again stood still, and returned
the blade to the scabbard. This action surprised all the lookers-on, and
gave rise to many comments.
“By Saint Jude! a strange proceeding!” observed Jack Holiday to his
companions. “Are we to understand that the Prince intends to rule
England with the sword?”
“By the mass! it looks like it,” rejoined Simnel.
“Tut! you are wrong in your surmise,” cried Rodomont. “His Highness
draws the sword in the defence of our country. That I take to be the
meaning of the act.”
Attended by the aldermen, the mayor now advanced towards the Prince, and
reverentially presented him with the keys of the town, laid upon a
velvet cushion.
Philip did not take the keys, but graciously bidding the mayor arise,
said in clear and distinct accents, “I thank you, Sir, and I thank all
those with you for this welcome. You know what has brought me here. I
come not in search of men or treasure, having sufficient of both in the
country I have left. As the chosen husband of your wise and virtuous
Queen, I come to dwell among you, not as a foreigner, but as a native
Englishman. To you, my good lords,” he added to the English nobles, who
were ranged on either side of the canopy, “I am much beholden for the
assurances of loyalty and devotion which you have already proffered me,
and I here publicly declare that you, and all her Majesty’s faithful
subjects, shall ever find me anxious to promote the welfare of the
kingdom, to observe its laws, conform to its customs, and defend it
against all enemies.”
Then, turning to the Spanish grandees, who were standing behind him, he
said, “My lords, you all, I am well assured, share the gratification I
experience at the very friendly reception that has been given me.
Hitherto, you have been strangers to the people of England, but this
must be so no longer. Spaniards and Englishmen must henceforth be
brethren, bound together by ties of strictest amity. It shall be my aim
to encourage and maintain a good understanding between the two nations,
and, seconded by you, and by these noble English lords, I cannot fail in
my design.”
“We are ready to obey your Highness in all things,” said the Duke of
Alva, with a haughty inclination of his head, while the other grandees
made similar professions.
“He may talk till he is tired,” muttered the Lord Admiral. “There will
be no cordial understanding between us.”
This opinion was shared by several others. Indeed, the English nobles
were deterred by the arrogance of the Spanish grandees from making
advances towards them.
“It is my wish to observe all good old English customs,” pursued the
Prince. “If I unintentionally neglect any of them, I hope to be made
aware of the omission. I would fain drink a health to all present.”
“A cup of wine for his Highness!” cried the Earl of Arundel.
“Nay, my good lord, let me have a flagon of English ale,” said the
Prince. “I should prefer your national beverage.”
“As your Highness pleases,” rejoined Arundel, bowing. “A flagon of ale
on the instant.”
The Prince’s choice caused considerable merriment, and warmed many a
heart towards him.
“A cup of ale!” exclaimed Simnel. “This is carrying complaisance to the
highest point.”
“His Highness is resolved to become an Englishman, that I can plainly
perceive,” observed Rodomont, “and takes what he conceives to be the
shortest way to his object. Heaven bless him! he is a most gracious
Prince.”
At this juncture, a silver flagon, filled with ale, was brought on a
salver, and presented by the Earl of Arundel to the Prince, who, taking
the cup, bowed graciously around.
“His Highness drinks to you all, good Sirs!” cried the Earl of Arundel,
in a loud voice.
“To all, of whatever degree!” said the Prince, raising the goblet to his
lips.
Most opportunely, at the moment, another discharge was fired from the
castle guns, followed by a loud flourish of trumpets and drums. From the
shouts that were also raised, it was evident that the Prince was rising
rapidly in popular favour.
“How does your Highness like the beverage?” inquired the Earl of
Arundel, as he took back the goblet.
“It will improve upon acquaintance, I make no doubt,” replied Philip.
“At present, I find it somewhat too potent.”
“A strong head is needed to stand it,” observed the Lord Admiral, with
an ill-disguised sneer.
After this, Philip remained for some little time beneath the canopy,
conversing with the English nobles, and evidently striving to propitiate
them, and he appeared to be successful in his efforts. He showed himself
extremely easy of access, and amongst other persons presented to him was
Rodomont Bittern.
“This is not the first time we have met, Sir,” observed Philip, to the
surprise of most who heard him.
“Since your Highness deigns to recollect the circumstance, be assured I
shall never forget it,” replied Rodomont.
“Nay, you have rendered me a great service,” said the Prince, “and it
shall not pass unrequited. Is Master Tyrrell here?”
“Ay, your Highness,” replied Rodomont. “He is yonder, with the
town-council.”
“Let him come forward. I would speak with him,” said Philip.
Accordingly, the worthy merchant, much to his dismay, was brought before
the Prince. He was so confused that he would have neglected the
necessary obeisance, if he had not been prompted by Rodomont, who,
indeed, half forced him to incline his person.
“I am glad to see you again, good Master Tyrrell,” said Philip, smiling,
“and have to thank you for your hospitable intentions towards me last
night.”
“Your Highness will forgive me. I knew not whom I was addressing,”
stammered Tyrrell. “It is true that I subsequently learnt from my
daughter——”
“That she had rendered me a most signal service, which I trust
adequately to requite,” interrupted the Prince. “No more of that now,
Sir. But rest assured that her Majesty will not be less grateful than
myself to fair Mistress Constance.”
“I am not quite so sure of that,” thought Rodomont.
With further assurances of his consideration, the Prince then dismissed
Master Tyrrell, who retired with Rodomont, both being charmed with his
Highness’s affability.
Though the foregoing conversation was not altogether intelligible to the
Spanish grandees, it caused them great surprise, and even disquietude.
“As I live, his Highness seems to know these people,” observed Alva to
the Duke of Medina Celi. “Where can he have met them?”
“I am as much in the dark as yourself,” replied the other. “But, in my
opinion, he must have gone ashore secretly last night.”
“By my faith! you are right,” rejoined Alva, bending his heavy brows.
“Some idle affair of gallantry, I’ll be sworn. He is ever engaged in
such adventures. I must inquire into the matter, and take him to task
for his imprudence.”
The English nobles, who were somewhat better acquainted than the
Spaniards with the Prince’s proceedings, laughed amongst themselves at
what was passing.
Influenced by their royal master’s deportment, the Spanish grandees
showed a disposition to relax from their stiffness and hauteur, and ere
long engaged in friendly discourse with the English nobles, though their
manner still continued grave and formal.
Meantime, another boat had come ashore, bringing the Bishop of Cuença,
and Father Alfonso de Castro, the Prince’s confessor. On landing, these
ecclesiastics immediately knelt down and recited a prayer, and as he
arose, the bishop pronounced a solemn benediction on the assemblage.
Several other boats followed, filled with Spanish arquebusiers, who,
being very fine-looking men and splendidly accoutred, excited much
curiosity as they ranged themselves on the platform. The object of this
guard was made speedily apparent by the arrival of some thirty large
coffers, each enveloped in a cover bearing the Prince’s escutcheon.
These coffers, supposed to contain gold in bullion, were subsequently
conveyed to the castle under the guard of the arquebusiers. Many
speculations were indulged in as to how this treasure was to be
employed—the general impression being, that it would be used in bribing
certain of the council and of the nobility.
As soon as the treasure was landed, the Prince mounted his jennet, the
Master of the Horse holding the stirrup, and the _cortége_ returned to
the town. Richly-caparisoned chargers were brought for the Spanish
grandees who rode behind the Prince, while the English nobles preceded
him.
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