The happy entrance of the high borne Queen of Spain, the Lady Margarit of Austria, in the renowned City of Ferrara.  
With festival ceremonies used by Pope Clement the eight, in the holy Marriage of their Majesties.  
As also in that of the high borne Archduke Albertus of Austria, with the Infanta Isabel Clara eugenia, Sister to the Catholic King of Spain, Philip the third.  
First translated out of Italian after the Copy printed at Ferrara, allowed by the Magistrates.  
Imprinted at London by john Wolf, and are to be sold at his shop in Pope's head Alley, near to the Exchange. 1599   

The happy entrance of the high borne Queen of Spain, the Lady Margarit of Austria, in the renowned City of Ferrara.  
ON the Thursday at night, being the twelve of the month of November, came the high borne Queen, Lady Margarit of Austria on the Island, a delightful place, at the Bridge of dark Meyrs, nine miles from Ferrara, where she was received, feasted, and served by the household of the Pope. And the morrow following, her Majesty was advertised that at her pleasure she might come into the city of Ferrara: whereupon was presently replied, that she would repair to the city at ten of the clock, to which end his Holiness sent two Legates, which were the illustrious Cardinal Bandino, and the Cardinal of St. Clement, nobly accompanied by many Prelates and Gentlemen, and two bands of Lances, and one of Carabins, and then the Coaches and Litters: all which repaired in good and modest order to the said Island, where (after the dew ceremonies of the Legates were ended) she with her mother the Archeduchesse, mounted in a coach prepared for them, followed with all their suit and retinue, together with the high-born archduke Alberto, the Dukes of Gandia and Vmala, and the great Constable: the governor of Milan, the Ambassador of Spain, and the Prince Don Zanges, D. Maxmilian Tristiani, and a German Princess, with many other lords of name in coaches and Litters, and came thus in fair order towards the gate of Angels, where not far from thence she descended into a house made of purpose of Wood, richly beautified, with a Pavilion and a Chair. There her Majesty stayed until the holy College of Cardinals appeared, clothed pontifically to receive her, and to conduct her to the Palace with their train. The said Cardinals being come, and making a fair show in turning, her Majesty had conference with the Cardinal De Medicis: after which she was saluted of all the rest, and taken between the Cardinals, Sforra and Mont Alto: when coming to the City gate, many pieces of ordinance were discharged. Upon the said gate on the outside were painted three arms, to wit: those of his Holiness in the middle, at the left hand the Queens, and at the right hand those of the Catholic King, with this writing:  Angelii gaudent, mortales exultant, Margaritam Augusti sanguinis pietatis virtutumque omnium splendore lucidissimam, simul laetissime excipiunt. 
Which is in English.  The Angels rejoice, and mortal men make merry and receive with great joy, Margarit of imperial lineage, adorned with the light of godliness. 
Within the gate were likewise painted five arms, in the middle the Popes: on the right hand those of the King of Spain and of the archduke Albertus, and on the left hand those of the Queen of Spain, and of the high borne Infant, wife to the said archduke Albertus, with these verses upon them.  
Vrbem adventus tui lumine illustratum  
Regina, red tuo hospitio gloriosam.  
In this sort came her Majesty happily in, at eleven of the clock with a calm weather, in so much that it seemed that the heaven was cleared by her royal presence: there appeared for her avantguarde (after that a number of Wagons and Carts, laden with sundry goods and baggage were come in, also the coaches and Litters of her Majesty, richly furnished and opened) two companies of Horsemen, the one being shot, and the other Lances, with their Trumpets in mourning apparel, with black Flags at their Lances, which were the men of the great Constable of Milan. After these followeth a great number of Horse of the court: after these followed two companies of Horse of the Guard of the Legate Cardinal Aldobrandino, the one company were shot, the other Lances: then came eight Trumpets and one in the middle, who played on two great Danish Kettel drums. After these followeth the bagadges of the Cardinals, and then many Milanesians and other Gentlemen, all mourning.  
Then followed the Mace bearers of the Cardinals, and the Mules, pontifically clothed in red, and the Cardinals with Purple Caps, to the number of 19, to wit, F●orenza, Ascoli, Montelparo, Boromeo, Camerino Orimontano, Bandino, S. Clement, Baronio, Auila, Branchetto, Cevara, Arrigone, Farnese, Santiquatro, Aldobrandino, and Cesis, with the Pope's Guard of Swissers.  
There appeared the high borne Queen in the middle, between the Cardinals Sforza, and Mont Alto, with her guard of Germans clothed in black Velvet: her Majesty was on a white Palfrey, caparassoned with cloth of Silver wrought with Gold, she being appareled in black with a black silk Cap, and a rich pleasant head-tire, which was open so that one could perceive her fair hair, which resembled threads of Gold. After her, came the high borne Archdutchesse her mother also on horseback, on a Palfrey covered with peach colour Velvet, embroidered with Gold. These Palfreys with their furniture, were sent them by the Pope, on the left hand of the Archdutchesse, road the Archduke Albert clothed in black. For the Réere guard, followed one company of Archers on horse back, with pieces in their hands appareled in black, and after them came the light horse men of his Holiness. And lastly followed an innumberable number of wagons, with Lords, Gentlemen and Gentlewomen belonging to his Majesty.  
In this order they came through the Angel street toward the great Court, and being come to the palace of the Ambassador of the Emperor, there was an upper portal fairly painted and adorned with many garlands: in this portal was a woman holding a great base, on the which were four arms, to wit: those of his holiness, of the Emperor, of the King of Spain, and of the archduke Albertus, which were accompanied and defended by religion and justice, and from the heaven descended victory, who with her hand, pointed to the same Arms. Her Majesty following on still, and coming at the Cathedral Church, she passed through a triumphal Ark, set up before the Court gate very costly, and underset with four Pillars, in the manner of that of Titus in Rome, with an Image on each side, which in the right hand held a garland of Bays with a role, wherein was the word jugum. And on the left hand also was a role wherein was Maritald in the Frontespire. Phillipo & Margarite Austiacis, imperatorum gloria, suaque pietate inclitis, ut Catholicorum Regum soboles propagetur, matrimonio di unitas coniunctis anni multi, liberorum topia, perpetua felicitas.  
Which is.  
Philip and Margaret of Austria, illustrious through the imperial glory, and her own Godliness: to the end that the royal generation might be delated, through the matrimonial estate by God conjoined, God grant long life, store of Children, and a continual felicity.  
In the Nichien were two Images with trumpets, the one signifying Fame, in the uppermost, the arms of his holiness, in the midst on the right side, the King of Spain's, and on the other side the Queens.  
As soon as she was come into the Court, she found a great pair of stairs builded of wood, with leaves, & before on the base were the pictures of the holy Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul, where her Majesty alighted, and went up the said stairs, between the aforesaid two Cardinals: after her the Archduches her mother, with the Archduke, & the rest following, & she was conducted in a certain Chamber, and from thence into the consistory hall, where she reposed herself, until (by the Lord Bernardin Scotto of Milan,) was spoken a short but excellent and eloquent oration to his Holiness, who sat in th' upper end of the Hall, mounted in pontifical robes, and environed with his holy College of Cardinals: at the end of the oration, appeared the Queen with her Mother, the archduke and her Court, with many burning Torches, and coming before his Holiness, kneeled all thrice down, and then kissed his feet, first her Majesty, after her her Mother, and then th' archduke, to the Queen the Pope bowed himself, giving her his benediction, saying certain words, and without other ceremonies he departed with the Cardinals.  
Her Majesty departing went into the new Chambers, which were richly adorned, and especially one (which the Pope had caused of purpose to be made for her Majesty) was rich, sumptuous, and wonderful, which if I should describe, these leaves would not suffice me. The Ladies and Gentlewomen of the queens train, were likewise all royally lodged in Chambers close to the Chamber of her Majesty.  
The Saturday morning after that the Queen had heard the Mass which was celebrated by his Holiness, together with the high borne Mother, & the Archduke, they went to dinner with his Holiness, and the great Constable, served her for Cup hearer, and when she had drunk, th'ambassador of Spain gave her the Napkin, at night the Cardinal Aldobrandino supped with her Majesty.  
The Sunday Morning early, her Majesty appeared like a Bride, richly attired, and accompanied with the Cardinals Farnese and Santiquatro, with all her retinue, appair●lled in rich 〈◊〉, and her German Guard, clothed in Silk and Velvet, red and yllow, also the horsemen with flags of Silver, red and black.  
Being come into the Cathedral Church, which was sumptuously hung and beautified, the marriage was solemnized, with such ceremonies as were requisite, her Majesty was merried to the Archduke in the name of the Catholic King Philip the third. and the same Archduke married the Ambassador of Spain in the name of the Infanta of Spain, the Lady Isabel clara engenia, sister to the King, whom he hath taken to wife.  
The same day after dinner; in token of pleasure and joy, were made many Masks, insomuch that in the place Giudecca, were seen many Knights and Gentlewomen in masks, with so much people in the streets, that the Coaches could give them no way, although they withdrew themselves to the Castle walls, and they came until the Palace of the Illustrious Dame Lady Marsisa: But her Majesty came not there, because that in the Morning she had received the holy Sacrament.  
The same night in the great Hall was held a sumptuous Feast, to which came many Gentlewomen of Ferrara in Masks, very pleasantly furnished and attired: when coming up the stairs, they were saluted by a great number of Trumpets and Drums: and in the Hall, by the music of divers sweet and delightful sounds.  
On the Monday her Majesty went to S. Maria del valdo to see the miraculous blood, from thence to S. Vito, where she heard a most sweet noise of music, of the honourable Lords there.  
Toward the Evening somewhat late, 30. Maids like Sea-nymphs made an assay, for the next day to make a ship chase within the Castle wall with six boats, and were appareled with scarves in liveries, five and five, to wit: Green and Red, Yellow, Yellow and Blue, White, White and Blue, with their hair and leathers of the same colour: some played on cymbals, and other singing made a pleasant noise.  
The same day towards night, in the Hall of the Guard of the Pope, in the Castle, was made a proof of the play of judith and Holophernas in Latin, which the ensuing night was by the jesuit Scholars played before her Majesty.  
Tuesday about 10. of the clock the said women made their ship chase 3. boats at once, which made their course with the sound of trumpets from the Rose bridge, rowing with great swiftness, passing under the Rawline: the first boat which came to the Castle wall on the side of Giude●●, won the price, which was of Red Crimson Satin, and therein were the women with Yellow: the other prize which was of Blue Satin, was likewise won by those in the Yellow and Blue. This ship chase was effected so prettyly and with such pastime, that every one wondered at it, for these women played and sung in those boats, and danced with great nimbleness.  
Hitherto have I briefly set down as much as I could know, there will not hereafter want other high spirits which with more circumstance, and in some sweeter style, will set forth at large what is happened.  
FINIS.