Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"Tradition has it that the first theorbo ever seen in England was brought into the country by the architect and connoisseur Inigo Jones, around 1605. Jones designed many of James I's masques, and was the major artistic presence at the early Stuart Court. He returned from one of his Italian artistic sorties with a theorbo. One account has it that 'at Dover it was thought some engine brought from Popish countries to destroy the king', and that 'he had it sent up to the Council Table'. With such advance publicity the instrument cannot have failed to make an impact at court." -- Matthew Spring, The Lute in Britain: A History of the Instrument and Its Music (2001, Oxford University Press)

[Thanks to fidhle for mentioning the story, which I then Googled.]