The Purveyor of the Sea Monster,
Shall take the unction of the Sovereign,
Or in six hundred and six in June,
Great joy shall be to the Great ones, and to the Commons,
Great feats shall be after this great Baptism.
ANNOT.
In the year 1606. the 14 of September, instead of which the printer hath put October, the Dolphin of France, Lewis the XIII. son to Henry the IV. was Christened with his two Sisters at Fountainbleau, and because the Ceremonies were extraordinary, and our Author calleth this a great Baptism, it will not be amiss for the satisfaction of the curious Reader, to give here succinctly a description of it.
In the great quadrangle of the Castles Yard, was erected a great Theatre, all spread and hanged with most rich Carpets and Hangings, in the middle of which Theatre was a square of thirty foot on each side, with rails about it, all covered with Carpets, in the front of it was erected an Altar, adorned with the Ornaments belonging to the Order of the Holy Ghost, behind the Table was a Footstool of three steps, spread with Carpets, and in the middle of the Footstool was a kind of a Stand, covered with a Silver Cloth, upon which were the Fount, covered with a most exquisite Towel, and a Canopy over it, on both sides of the Altars were two Scaffolds for two Quires of Musick, and a little lower on the right hand a Bench covered with Carpets for the Prelates to sit, among which were three Archbishops, nine Bishops and three Abbots, on the left hand were the Lords of the Councel, and before the Altar was the Cardinal of Gondy, encompassed with Almoners and Chaplains, and a great multitude of spectators seated upon Benches, in form of a Theatre, round about the Theatre were the guard of Switzers, having every one a Torch in his hand.
The Dolphin and his Sisters were in their Chambers upon Beds of State, with their Robes lined with Hermines, and were brought to the quadrangle, the waiting Gentlemen going before with Torches in their hands, with the Bed Chamber men, and Gentlemen of the Chamber, five Drums, Waits, and Trumpeters, Heralds, and the Knights of the Holy Ghost, with the three Honours; in the first, for the youngest Daughter, the Ewer, the Bason, the Pillow, the Wax Taper, the Chrisme, the Saltseller, were carryed by the Baron, Son to Marshal de la Chastre, by the Lords Montigny, la Rochepot, Chemerand, Liencourt, Fervacques, and the Lady was carryed by the Marshal of Bois Dauphin, followed by Charles Duke of Lorrain Godfather, and of Don Juan de Medicis, Brother to the great Duke of Tuscany, representing Christian, Daughter to the Duke of Lorrain, and Wife of the great Duke. After that followed the Dutches of Guise, the Countesses of Guiche, of Saulx, the Marchioness Monlaur, and other Ladies.
The Marshals of Laverdin, and of la Chastre, the Dukes of Silly, of Monbazon, of Espernon, of Esguillon did the same office for the elder Lady. The Lord of Ragny carryed her for Diana Dutchess of Angoulesme, who did represent the Infanta, Clara, Eugenia, Eusabella, Archidutchess of Austria, followed by the Dutchess of Rohan, Montmorency, Mayenne.