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An
Audience with Elizabeth I
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by
Andre Hurault, December 8 1597 |
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Andre
Hurault was the French Ambassador and had been waiting for some time
for a private audience with the Queen. His detailed description of
Elizabeth I in old age is invaluable. Note that her behavior (fussing
over the fire, etc.) while seeming arbitrary actually serves to keep
visitors off balance. |
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 On
the 8th of December 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and withdrawn from all the Lords and Ladies that were present, they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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