Spanish Ambassador's Cup

The Spanish Ambassador, José Pascual Martinez, together with the Spanish Minister and the Director of the Cervantes Institute, recently visited New College.

During their visit the Chattels Fellow brought out from the Treasury one of our exceptional treasures, the “Spanish Ambassador’s Cup”. This cup was presented to the College by the predecessor of Ambassador Martinez, Don Pedro Ronquillo, in 1681. Ambassador Ronquillo had visited Oxford and been hosted at New College during the Oxford Parliament. Following that, one of our Fellows had visited the Embassy in London, during which wine had evidently been drunk! As a result Ambassador Ronquillo presented the College with the cup which we now hold.

A copy of his letter to Warden Beeston exists in the archives, and both it and a translation are shown below, plus a photograph of the Spanish Ambassador with the Warden. 

To the Most Illustrious and Magnificent Dr Beeston, most worthy Warden of the very famous New College in Oxford: Greeting

Such a right, I’faith, to the friendship of your wardenship and your whole college do I claim for myself, noble Sir, that I am eager to celebrate it not only with a letter but also with drinking cups. Wherefore, since today together with Mr Bapton we were drinking a toast to your health and that of your most illustrious colleagues, and also to the prosperity of the college itself, I am resolved to send to you, as proof of my grateful heart towards you, that very wine and that very cup, so that you may make a like for like return. You will find, I swear it, this truth in this wine (it comes from Spain) which shows me most amiable and most devoted to you.

Fare well, most illustrious Sir, and continue our friendship.

Pedro Ronquillo