A PRIVATE AUDIENCE WITH ELIZABETH I
8 Dec 1597
As recorded by Andre Hurault, the French Ambassador. Spelling Modernized
On the 8th of Dec I did not think to be given an audience for that day and
was resolved to make my complaint; but about one hour after noon there came a
gentleman from the Queen who said to me that her Majesty was much grieved that
she had not given me audience sooner, and that she prayed me to come to her that
very hour. He brought me in a coach to take me down to the river where one of
the barges awaited me, and we went thence to the gate of the Queen's palace. At
our landing there came to seek me a gentleman who spoke very good Italian,
called Monsieur Wotton, who told me that her Majesty sent word that I should be
very welcome and that she was awaiting me. He had four or five other gentlemen
with him. As he led me along he told me that the whole Court was well satisfied
to see me, and that they knew well how greatly I loved their nation, and that in
Italy I had done all that I could for them. I told him that I was very sorry
that I had not done more; and that what had been done was by the command of the
King, who wished me in all that concerned the Queen of England to busy myself as
much as in his own affairs.
He led me across a chamber of moderate size wherein were the guards of the
Queen, and thence into the Presence Chamber, as they call it, in which all
present, even though the Queen be absent, remain uncovered. He then conducted me
to a place on one side, where there was a cushion made ready for me. I waited
there some time, and the Lord Chamberlain, who has the charge of the Queen's
household (not as maitre d'hotel, but to arrange audiences and to escort
those who demand them and especially Ambassadors), came to seek me where I was
seated. He led me along a passage somewhat dark, into a chamber that they call
the Privy Chamber, at the head of which was the Queen seated in a low chair, by
herself, and withdrawn from all the Lords and Ladies that were present, they
being in one place and she in another. After I had made her my reverence at the
entry of the chamber, she rose and came five or six paces towards me, almost
into the middle of the chamber. I kissed the fringe of her robe and she embraced
me with both hands. She looked at me kindly, and began to excuse herself that
she had not sooner given me audience, saying that the day before she had been
very ill with a gathering on the right side of her face, which I should never
have thought seeing her eyes and face: but she did not remember ever to have
been so ill before. She excused herself because I found her attired in her
nightgown, and began to rebuke those of her Council who were present, saying,
'What will these gentlemen say' - speaking of those who accompanied me - 'to see
me so attired? I am much disturbed that they should see me in this state.'
Then I answered her that there was no need to make excuse on my account, for
that I had come to do her service and honour, and not to give her inconvenience.
She replied that I gave her none, and that she saw me willingly. I told her that
the King had commanded me to visit her and to kiss her hands on his behalf, and
charged me to learn the news of her well-being and health, which (thanks be to
God) I saw to be such as her servants and friends would desire; and which I
prayed God might continue for long years, and in all prosperity and dignity. She
stood up while I was speaking, but then she returned to her chair when she saw
that I was only speaking of general matters. I drew nearer to her chair and
began to deal with her in that wherewithal I had been charged; and because I was
uncovered, from time to time she signed to me with her hand to be covered, which
I did. Soon after she caused a stool to be brought, whereon I sat and began to
talk to her.
She was strangely attired in a dress of silver cloth, white and crimson, or
silver 'gauze', as they call it. This dress had slashed sleeves lined with red
taffeta, and was girt about with other little sleeves that hung down to the
ground, which she was for ever twisting and untwisting. She kept the front of
her dress open, and one could see the whole of her bosom, and passing low, and
often she would open the front of this robe with her hands as if she was too
hot. The collar of the robe was very high, and the lining of the inner part all
adorned with little pendants of rubies and pearls, very many, but quite small.
She had also a chain of rubies and pearls about her neck. On her head she wore a
garland of the same material and beneath it a great reddish-coloured wig, with a
great number of spangles of gold and silver, and hanging down over her forehead
some pearls, but of no great worth. On either side of her ears hung two great
curls of hair, almost down to her shoulders and within the collar of her robe,
spangled as the top of her head. Her bosom is somewhat wrinkled as well as one
can see for the collar that she wears round her neck, but lower down her flesh
is exceeding white and delicate, so far as one could see.
As for her face, it is and appears to be very aged. It is long and thin, and her
teeth are very yellow and unequal, compared with what they were formerly, so
they say, and on the left side less than on the right. Many of them are missing
so that one cannot understand her easily when she speaks quickly. Her figure is
fair and tall and graceful in whatever she does; so far as may be she keeps her
dignity, yet humbly and graciously withal.
All the time she spoke she would often rise from her chair, and appear to be
very impatient with what I was saying. She would complain that the fire was
hurting her eyes, though there was a great screen before it and she six or seven
feet away; yet did she give orders to have it extinguished, making them bring
water to pour upon it. She told me that she was well pleased to stand up, and
that she used to speak thus with the Ambassadors who came to seek her, and used
sometimes to tire them, of which they would on occasion complain. I begged her
not to overtire herself in any way, and I rose when she did; and then she sat
down again, and so did I. At my departure she rose and conducted me to that same
place where she had come to receive me, and again began to say that she was
grieved that all the gentlemen I had brought should see her in that condition,
and she called to see them. They made their reverence before her, one after the
other, and she embraced them all with great charm and smiling countenance.
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