The
Marquis de Malpica, mayor-domo of the week, and Captain of the German
guard, in behalf of the Marquis of Salinas, proprietor thereof,
happening to be my conductor, with his guard, did a little expostulate
with those gentlemen, why they came contrary to his Majesty's order;
who replied, their Lord did receive no orders but from his own master,
who had sent him very strict ones to perform, I think he said this
office in particular, at least, in general, all offices of amity to
the Ambassador of the King of England, his Christian Majesty's most
dear brother and ally. In fine, accompany me they did, and very
civilly comported themselves, both unto the palace, which was
customary, but now forbid, and home again, which was never done
before, by the family of any Ambassador, to any other whatsoever in
this Court. They did insist that their Ambassador's coach should
precede my second coach, which was not denied them, being a civil
expedient practised in all or most other courts; the ordinary style of
this, and practised, by these individual French themselves towards
public ministers of the lowest rank, as they avowed to me the same
morning, in the presence both of the Marquis and the Master of
Ceremonies, and expressly a majori, that whenever I should send in the
like case to accompany a new comer from France, the same measure would
never be scrupled towards me.
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