Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- List of Contributors
- Acknowledgements
- List of Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part One Marriage and the Court
- Part Two Marriage and Politics
- Part Three Marriage and War
- Part Four Marriage and News
- Part Five Marriage and Continental Europe
- 15 A Peace in Context: Spanish Change in Italian Affairs
- 16 The Court in Brussels: From Hostility to ‘good vicinity’ (1585–1604)
- 17 The Austrian Match: The Habsburgs’ Dynastic Alternative and European Politics
- Part Six Marriage and Ceremony
- Bibliography
- Index
- Studies in Early Modern Cultural, Political and Social History
15 - A Peace in Context: Spanish Change in Italian Affairs
from Part Five - Marriage and Continental Europe
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 October 2019
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- List of Contributors
- Acknowledgements
- List of Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part One Marriage and the Court
- Part Two Marriage and Politics
- Part Three Marriage and War
- Part Four Marriage and News
- Part Five Marriage and Continental Europe
- 15 A Peace in Context: Spanish Change in Italian Affairs
- 16 The Court in Brussels: From Hostility to ‘good vicinity’ (1585–1604)
- 17 The Austrian Match: The Habsburgs’ Dynastic Alternative and European Politics
- Part Six Marriage and Ceremony
- Bibliography
- Index
- Studies in Early Modern Cultural, Political and Social History
Summary
The group portrait of the delegates at the Somerset House Conference shows the end of eighteen long working sessions, in an attempt to negotiate the end of the Anglo-Spanish War. These sessions were held between 20 May and 16 July 1604. In this picture we see the delegates separated by a table; on the right side English ministers, and on the left, ‘Spanish’ diplomats from the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. There were in fact not two, but three delegations, one representing King James of England and the other two, on the left-hand side, representing respectively the king of Spain and the Archdukes Albert and Isabella, rulers of the Habsburg Netherlands. This event is described in the Annals of Scotland:
About the beginning of this summer, ther arrived at London, commissioners from the King of Spaine, and the Archduckes, to treatte of a peace; viz. from Spaine came, Johne de Velasco, Constable of Castile; Johne Baptiste de Tassis, Earle of Willa Mediana; Alexander Rouidius, Professor of the Law, and Senator of Millane.
From the Archdukes came, Charles, Prince and Counte of Aremberge; Johne Richardot, knight, President of the Counsaill of Estait; Ludouick Verreiken, Principall Secretarey of Estait.
For hes Maiestie of Grate Brittane mett, Thomas, Earle of Dorsett, Lord Thesaurer of England; Charles, Earle of Nottinghame, Lord Admirall of England; Henrey, Earle of Northampton; Robert, Viscount Cranburne, Principall Secretarey of Estait.
This trettey was concludit at London; the 18-day of Agust, this zeire, and drawin vpe in 34 artickells, wich were seignnd and subscriued by all the commissioners, and then solemly proclamed at Chepesyde Crosse by the herauldes. His Maiestie did solemly sueare and subscriue this leauge, one Sunday the 19 day of this same mounthe, in his chapel at Whytehall.
In the Somerset House painting, Juan Fernández de Velasco, the duke of Frías and constable of Castile, who was heading up the Spanish embassy, is seated by the window. Next to him is Juan de Tassis, count of Villa Mediana, and on his right is Alessandro Robida, senator of Milan, looking directly across the table towards the earl of Devonshire. On their right, the observer can see the Netherlands’ commissioners: Charles de Ligne, count of Aremberg; Jean Richardot, president of the Habsburg Netherlands privy council; and Louis Verekyn, audiencier of Brussels and first secretary.
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- Information
- Stuart Marriage DiplomacyDynastic Politics in their European Context, 1604–1630, pp. 243 - 258Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2018