+Source.+--_Paston Letters_, Vol. III., Letter 953. Jan. 17th, 1506.
_To the right worshipful Master Roger Darcy and Master Giles
Alington, being in the George in Lombard street, be this delivered in
haste._
Right worshipful masters, I recommend me unto you, certifying you that
the King's Grace and the King of Castile met this day at three of the
Clock, upon Cleworth Green, 2 miles out of Windsor, and that the King
received him in the goodliest manner that ever I saw, and each of them
embraced the other in arms.
To shew you the King's apparell of England, thus it was: his horse of
bay, trapped with neddlework; a gown of purple velvet, a chain with a
George[4] of diamonds, and a hood of purple velvet, which he put not
off at the meeting of the said King of Castile; his hat and his bonnet
he doffed and the King of Castile likewise. And the King of Castile
rode upon a sorrel hoby,[5] which the King gave unto him; his apparell
was all black, a gown of black velvet, a black hood, a black hat, and
his horse harness of black velvet....
These be the Spears: Master Saint John upon a black horse, with
harness of Cloth of Gold, with tassels of plunkett[6] and white, a
coat of plunkett and white, the body of goldsmiths' work, the sleves
full of spangles.
John Carr and William Parr with coats alike, the horses gray, of Parr
trapped with crimson velvet with tassells of gold and gilt bells.
Carr's horse bay with an Almayn harness of silver, an inch broad of
beaten silver, both the coats of goldsmiths' work on the bodies, the
sleeves one stripe of silver, the other of gold.
Edward Neville upon a gray horse trapped with black velvet full of
small bells, his coat the one half of green velvet, the other of white
cloth of gold; these to the rutters of the spurs, with other divers
well appointed.
Of the King of Castile's party, the Lord Chamberlain the chief, I
cannot tell his name as yet; his apparell was sad, and so was all the
residue of his company with cloaks of sad tawny black, guarded, some
with velvet, some with sarsenet, not passing a dozen in number. It is
said there is many behind which comes with the Queen of Castile, which
shall come upon Tuesday.
When the King rode forth to Windsor Castle, the King rode upon the
right hand of the King of Castile, howbeit the King's Grace offered to
take him upon the right hand, the which he refused. And at the
lighting the King of Castile was off his horse a good space or our
King was alight; and then the King's grace offered to take him by the
arm, the which he would not, but took the King by the arm, and so went
to the King of Castile's chamber, which is the richestly hanged that
ever I saw: 7 chambers together hanged with cloth of Arras, wrought
with gold as thick as could be; and as for three beds of estate, no
king christened can shew such three.
This is so far as I can shew you of this day, and when I can know
more, ye shall have knowledge.
From Windsor this Saturday, at five of the Clock,
By your,
WILLIAM MAKEFYN.
[Footnote 4: = figure of St. George, _i.e._ part of the insignia of
the Garter.]
[Footnote 5: = horse.]
[Footnote 6: = lead green.]