RICHARD CHANCELOR a.d. 



1553- 



himselfe sate much higher then any of his nobles in a 



chaire gilt, and in a long garment of beaten golde, with 

 an emperial crowne upon his head, and a staffe of 

 Cristall and golde in his right hand, and his other hand 

 halfe leaning on his chaire. The Chancelour stoode 

 up with the Secretary before the Duke. After my 

 dutie done and my letter delivered, he bade me welcome, 

 & enquired of me the health of the King my master, 

 and 1 answered that he was in good health at my 

 departure from his court, and that my trust was that 

 he was now in the same. Upon the which he bade 

 me to dinner. The Chancelour presented my present 

 unto his Grace bareheaded (for before they were all 

 covered) and when his Grace had received my letter, I 

 was required to depart : for I had charge not to speake 

 to the Duke, but when he spake to me. So 1 departed 

 unto the Secretaries chamber, where I remayned two 

 houres, and then I was sent for againe unto another 

 palace which is called the golden palace, but I saw no 

 cause why it should be so called ; for I have seene many 

 fayrer then it in all poynts : and so I came into the 

 hall, which was small and not great as is the Kings 

 Majesties of England, and the table was covered with 

 a tablecloth ; and the Marshall sate at the ende of the 

 table with a little white rod in his hand, which boorde 

 was full of vessell of golde : and on the other side of 

 the hall did stand a faire cupborde of plate. From 

 thence I came into the dining chamber, where the Duke 

 himselfe sate at his table without cloth of estate, in a 

 gowne of silver, with a crowne emperiall upon his head, 

 he sate in a chaire somewhat hie : There sate none 

 neare him by a great way. There were long tables set 

 round about the chamber, which were full set with such 

 as the Duke had at dinner : they were all in white. 

 Also the places where the tables stoode were higher 

 by two steppes then the rest of the house. In the 

 middest of the chamber stoode a table or cupbord to 

 set plate on ; which stoode full of cuppes of golde : and 



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