RICHARD CHANCELOR a.d. 



1553- 

 Court and Palace, it is not of the neatest, onely in 

 forme it is foure square, and of lowe building, much 

 surpassed and excelled by the beautie and elegancie of 

 the houses of the kings of England. The windowes 

 are very narrowly built, and some of them by glasse, 

 some other by lettisses admit the light : and whereas 

 the Palaces of our Princes are decked, and adorned 

 with hangings of cloth of gold, there is none such there : 

 they build and joyne to all their wals benches, and that 

 not onely in the Court of the Emperour, but in all 

 private mens houses. 



Nowe after that they had remained about twelve dayes 

 in the Citie, there was then a Messenger sent unto them, 

 to bring them to the Kings house : and they being after 

 a sort wearied with their long stay, were very ready, 

 and willing so to doe : and being entred within the 

 gates of the Court, there sate a very honorable companie 

 of Courtiers, to the number of one hundred, all appar- 

 elled in cloth of golde, downe to their ankles : and there- 

 hence being conducted into the chamber of presence, 

 our men beganne to wonder at the Majestie of the 

 Emperour : his seate was aloft, in a very royall throne, 

 having on his head a Diademe, or Crowne of golde, 

 apparelled with a robe all of Goldsmiths worke, and in 

 his hand hee held a Scepter garnished, and beset with 

 precious stones : and besides all other notes and appar- 

 ances of honour, there was a Majestie in his countenance 

 proportionable with the excellencie of his estate : on the 

 one side of him stood his chiefe Secretarie, on the other 

 side, the great Commander of silence, both of them 

 arayed also in cloth of gold : and then there sate the 

 Counsel of one hundred and fiftie in number, all in like 

 sort arayed, and of great state. This so honorable an 

 assemblie, so great a Majestie of the Emperour, and of 

 the place might very well have amazed our men, and 

 have dasht them out of countenance : but notwith- 

 standing Master Chanceler being therewithall nothing 

 dismaied saluted, and did his duetie to the Emperour, 



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