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The Cecil Papers at Hatfield House

CP Volume 153 Folio 89
HMC Volume 1 Page 262 Number 837.
Haynes Page 370-372 Number 374

Transcribed by Samuel Haynes

25 Sept 1561. The Opinion of the Lord Threasurer, the Lord Steward, and the Lord Chamberlaine, touching the Order to be taken for the receyving and intertaynement of the King of Swethen

FIRST they think mete, that the greatyst Personage in the Countrie where the Kyng shall Lande, shall repayre unto the King with suche an honnorable Trayne, as he can make both of his awne and his Frends, and salute the King, and offer hym suche service as he can shewe hym; telling hym that he hath advertised the Quene's Majesty thereof, from whome he doubteth not but to have answer shortly: And if the King shall not lyke the haven Towne, to offer hym sume more convenient lodging nigh to the same; but not to conduct hym hitherwarde, untill he shall receyve Answer.
The same Nobleman shall, as of hymself and not by Direction from the Quene, appere to shewe all those Curtesyes and Reverences unto hym; and shall appoint Harbingers for lodging of his Trayne, and Clerks of the Market or suche lyke for Provision of all Manner of Victuall upon reasonable Prises. He shall also appoint speciall Men to see that the Trayne be well used without molestation of quarrells, or other Inconvenience.
The Quene's Majesty shall doe well, uppon Intelligence to sende sume discrete yong Nobleman, inferior to hym which shall fyrst receyve the King, with Message to the King, that understanding of his arryvall, she is sory that the Countrye is not more commodious for hym and his Trayne; and for that both by the sayd King's Lettres and by his Ambassador it appeareth, that the sayd King meanith to come to hir Courte, she hath appointed N. N. to conduct hym thither: This second Messinger shall direct hym self in the Presence of the King with suche Reverence to the former, that theyr two Degrees require.
Item, If he shall Lande in Norffolke, it is best, that the Duke of Norffolk both fyrst salute hym, and also conduct hym to the Courte at the Tyme appointed, but if he Lande in any other Place, then the Duke to be the last Messenger from the Quene to bring hym to her Presence
Item, It is thought best for hir Majesty to abyde here nine or ten Dayes or shorter whyle, as she shall here of his coming, and then to move to Hampton Courte; and the King to be brought for his resting Place to London: And one Day before that he shall come to the Courte, to be brought to Richemonde, and from thence, the after Dynner to be conducted by the Duke of Norffolke at such Daye, as uppon his Request, &c.
Item, It is mete that hir hole Howse being furnished with all Manner of Officers, in the open Presence of hir Courte, that her principall Officers of the Howseholde mete hym at the fyrst Gate; and that her Majestie being at the upper Ende of the Hall, mete hym there, as it were coming downe from hir great Chamber; and there spending no more Tyme but in Salutation of hym, and the Nobles of his State, to goo with hym to her Chamber of Presence, and in the Bay Wyndowe next hir Estate to here his Communycacion.
Item, It is mete that the same Nobilitie, which brought hym to the Courte, shold returne with hym in convenient Season to Richemonde.
Item, It shall be mete that hir Majesty remove the seconde Day after to Westminster.
Item, It is thought that either St. Jame's or Wynchester Place sholde be mete for hym.
Item, there must be layed in Richemonde certayne proportion of Wyne, Beare, and suche lyke for the Service of twoo Meales at the least.
Item, If is shall not lyke hir Majesty to tarry here longer than hir Majesty maye for avoyding more troble (specially if it shall be thought long before the King will come) that hir Majestie depart the soner from St. Jame's to Hampton Courte, there to abyde at hir Pleasure, except she here certaynly of his landing, in whych case hir Majestie to remove from Hampton Courte to Westminster, and to receyue hym there.
Item, Letters wolde be redy to warne all the Nobilitie with theyr Wyfes whych be mete, to attende for the Furniture of the Courte; and that theye shall repayre upon the next Letters, to be sent from three or four of Counsell, wherof the Lord Chamberlayn to be one.
Item, Bycause the Quene's Majestie is a Mayde, and in this Caase woold many Things be omitted of Honnor and Curtesye, wehych otherwyse were meete to be shewed to hym, as in lyke Caases hath byn of Kings of this Lande to others; and therefore it shall be necessarie that the gravest of hir Counsell doo, as of theyr
From a Minute of Secretary Cecill.
owne Judgement, excuse the lack thereof to the King; and yet on theyr owne Partes offer the Suppliment thereof with reverence.
Item, When it shall please hir Majestie to have the King dyne with hir, there must be two Clothes of Estate, th'one for hyr, thother for hym.
Item, The Mayor of the Citie shall appoint speciall Officers to see that Part well governed, where the King's Trayne shall lye.