Source.—Paston Letters, Vol. III., Letter 953. Jan. 17th, 1506.
To the right worshipful Master Roger Darcy and Master Giles Alington, being in the George in Lombard street, be this delivered in haste.
Right worshipful masters, I recommend me unto you, certifying you that the King's Grace and the King of Castile met this day at three of the Clock, upon Cleworth Green, 2 miles out of Windsor, and that the King received him in the goodliest manner that ever I saw, and each of them embraced the other in arms.
To shew you the King's apparell of England, thus it was: his horse of bay, trapped with neddlework; a gown of purple velvet, a chain with a George[4] of diamonds, and a hood of purple velvet, which he put not off at the meeting of the said King of Castile; his hat and his bonnet he doffed and the King of Castile likewise. And the King of Castile rode upon a sorrel hoby,[5] which the King gave unto him; his apparell was all black, a gown of black velvet, a black hood, a black hat, and his horse harness of black velvet....
These be the Spears: Master Saint John upon a black horse, with harness of Cloth of Gold, with tassels of plunkett[6] and white, a coat of plunkett and white, the body of goldsmiths' work, the sleves full of spangles.
John Carr and William Parr with coats alike, the horses gray, of Parr trapped with crimson velvet with tassells of gold and gilt bells. Carr's horse bay with an Almayn harness of silver, an inch broad of beaten silver, both the coats of goldsmiths' work on the bodies, the sleeves one stripe of silver, the other of gold.
Edward Neville upon a gray horse trapped with black velvet full of small bells, his coat the one half of green velvet, the other of white cloth of gold; these to the rutters of the spurs, with other divers well appointed.
Of the King of Castile's party, the Lord Chamberlain the chief, I cannot tell his name as yet; his apparell was sad, and so was all the residue of his company with cloaks of sad tawny black, guarded, some with velvet, some with sarsenet, not passing a dozen in number. It is said there is many behind which comes with the Queen of Castile, which shall come upon Tuesday.
When the King rode forth to Windsor Castle, the King rode upon the right hand of the King of Castile, howbeit the King's Grace offered to take him upon the right hand, the which he refused. And at the lighting the King of Castile was off his horse a good space or our King was alight; and then the King's grace offered to take him by the arm, the which he would not, but took the King by the arm, and so went to the King of Castile's chamber, which is the richestly hanged that ever I saw: 7 chambers together hanged with cloth of Arras, wrought with gold as thick as could be; and as for three beds of estate, no king christened can shew such three.
This is so far as I can shew you of this day, and when I can know more, ye shall have knowledge.