Historicall relations of the United Provinces & of Flanders written originally in Italian by Cardinall Bentivoglio ; and now rendred into English by the Right Honourable Henry, Earle of Monmouth.

CHAP. III.

Of the Arch-Dukes Court.

THE Arch-Dukes Court is framed according to the manner of the other Austrian Princes; who have generally instituted their Courts in imitation of that of the house of Burgony in former times. The chief Officers are these three; the Lord high Steward; the Master of the Horse; and the Groom of the Stool. Under the Lord high Steward is comprehended 4 other Stewards of the Hous. Under the Master of the Hors 4 Querries; and all the other Gentlemen of the chamber W^ch attend upon the Archdukes person are under the Groom of the Stool. Upon these Offices many other Orders of inferior persons do depend. The Carvers, Cuppers, and Suers, together with almost all the other houshold Officers are subordinate to the Lord high Steward. As are the pages and all that belong unto the Stables to the Master of the Horse; and those that attend upon the Arch-Dukes Bed cham∣ber, to the Groom of the Stool.

These three are the chiefest Offices, and have no dependency one upon another; and therefore they all three strive for Prerogative; though in the common opinion, the office of Lord high Steward bee the greatest. He hath liberty to enter at all houres into the Arch-Dukes, and also into the Infanta's most privat Lodgings: Hee hath the chief command of the Family, and hath a particular place in all publick Audiences; and in the Chappel at Divine Service. Other Stewards depend chiefly upon the service of the Infanta. With her the first Lady of her Bed chamber hath the first place, and under her are the other Ladies and women servants. The place of chief Chap∣lain is also a place of great esteem, as also those of the Captains of the Guard. Which Guards are of three sorts. One of Archers, one of Halberdiers, and one of Lances and Harquebusses, And this last is the Guard which the Arch-Duke hath, as Generall of the King of Spains Army. These which I have named are the chiefest and princi∣pallest Offices of the Arch-Dukes Court; there be also a great many inferiour Offices.

Count Agnover one of the prime Gentlemen of Spain, and a man of great desert, is at this time Lord high Steward. It is not many months since the Arch-Dukes honoured him with this place; he having been many years Groom of the Stool; which place he still keeps, as also that of Captain of the Guard of Lances and Harquebusses. The place of Master of the Horse is at this present void, by the death of the Count Soldre, Knight of the Golden Fleece, who did injoy it. Den Piedro de Tolledo is chief Chaplain; who was Embassadour from the Arch-Dukes in the Court of Rome.

Baron Barbanson is Captain of the Archers, and Count Frederig de Berg Captain of the Halberdiers▪ both of them Gentlemen of the best rank in those parts. The Infanta's chiefe Lady of her Bed-chamber, is the Lady Schacencourt, who went from France into Spain to wait upon Queen Isabella, the Infanta's Mother. She is now ve∣ry old, so as by reason of her great age her place is in many things officiated by her Niece the Lady Katherina Livia; who is a Lady of excellent parts, and much esteemed in Court: but by her own place the Lady Katherine is Cup-bearer to the Infanta; who is waited upon at the Table by her Ladies as the Arch-Duke is by the Gen∣tlemen

of the Chamber; both of them using to eat together both at Noon and Night.

The Ladies, as also the Gentlemen of the Chamber are all of them principal personages, some of them having the Title of Prin∣ces, and being Knights of the Golden Fleece: so as the Arch-Dukes Court, for what belongs to the service of their own per∣sons, and generally in all things else may v••e with any other the most flourishing and splendid Court in Christendome.

Their Court is the more innobled by the usual residence of the Popes Nuncio, and of divers Princes Embassadors, and Ministers of State; there are three who receive the entertainment of Em∣bassadors; they of Spain, France, and England: though he of France is not styled by his King, with the Title of Embassador, that he may give precedency to him of Spain, as is used in the Court of Flan∣ders.

The Arch-Duke speaks to all Embassadors, as also to all other Lords of how great quality soever they be in the third person, except they be such as are or may be Grandees of Spain, and to those he gives the Title of Signoria. But the Infanta useth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vos generally to all, and follows the Kingly style of Spain, in all things. The Arch Dukes imi∣tate the customes of that Court, likewise in the service in their Chappell, and in the celebration of their publick Feasts. And it may be said in generall, that both these Courts walk in the same steps, unlesse it be that the Court of Brussels may seem in some sort more pleasing and delightful by reason of the Freedome of the Coun∣try, and by the intercourse of so many Nations which by reason of the Army are usually seen there. And in this point the Court of Flanders may doubtesly be said to exceed all those of Europe.