him in the Cavalcade which is every year performed to present the Pope with a white Mare and a common Scedule for the Kingdom of Naples which the King of Spain holds in fief of the Holy See His Catholick Majesty's Council had delay'd to regulate this Affair ever since the year 1668. When the Roman Barons perceived that it was not determined in favour of them they searched new occasions to get the sentence revoked and to succeed in their designs they united themselves with the Heads of the Papal Families to write all of them together to Madrid about the Matter When the King was told of it he only answered What is judged is judged The Marquis de Liche Ambassador from Spain at Rome fell sick he sent immediately for the Pope's Physician to come to him and when his Friends demanded of him why he chose him before his own I am so weary of my Life says he that I purposely send for one who will soonest kill me if it were only to please his Master The Pope being informed of this answer sent one of the Gentlemen of his Chamber to visit him and ordered him to tell the Marquis that he desired his Health as much as he did his absence and by that he might judge whether he wished his recovery or no. About the beginning of December there was a great Earthquake in the Province of Salerne as also at Naples and the Places about it nevertheless it did no damage It was commonly said at Madrid that the Queen-Mother had engaged the King to nominate Cardinal Nitard to be Vice-Roy of Naples and that she hoped in a short time to see her two Favorites with her The Cardinal was the first and the Marquiss de Valenzuela the second The Marquiss de los Velez who had no desire to quit his place sent the King in order to six himself in his good Graces a stately Coach of admirable Sculpture and Embroidered all over most delicately But although the King had so many fine Coaches by him I never saw him in any of them he just cast his Eyes upon them and then they were shut up in a Coach-house where time and the dust absolutely spoiled them the King rather loves to ride in great Coaches of green Linnen waxed over made after the same fashion with ours and which a simple Citizen of Paris would not vouchsafe to go in The Marquiss de los Velez sent him likewise some Neapolitan Horses but so finely shaped that nothing certainly ever came near them Few days passed wherein the King and Queen did not go a hunting or else to see a Play they went to Buen Retiro to behold some Dutchmen skate upon the Ice after the fashion of their Country Some Ladies sent to acquaint the Queen that if her Majesty would permit them to appear masked because they had no mind to be known they would show her better sport than she had hitherto seen They were told that they might come if they pleased and immediately they went upon the Ice in short Petticoats fine Shooes and Stockings and Pattins after the Dutch manner they danced a Saraband with Castanets to admiration moving as nimbly as the dance would allow them but the Ice not being equally thick in all Places broke under one of them and let her fall into the water where she had certainly been drowned if People had not come to her help immediately Having lost her Mask by this Mischance they saw she was a veâ—y deformed old Woman who was near threescore years old When the Queen was told of it she smiled and answered That at that Age it was lawful for any one to go masked The two Queens on St. Nicholas's day made a Present of precious Stones to the Dutchess d' Albuquerque because it was her Birth-day She offered them in way of return some Curiosities of great Value and particularly a Prayer-book to the young Queen which was incomparably well painted with golden Clasps and adorned with Diamonds It being now towards the end of the Year I went according to the Custom to wish her Majesty a happy New Year she was drest in a slight Stuff of white Wool and had a prodigious quantity of large Pearls about her she sat near a great Vessel full of Olive stones and turning over the Leaves of the Prayer-book which the Dutchess d' Albuquerque had given her did me the honour to shew it me See says she here are Henry the Fourth and Mary de Medicis on their Knees stretching out their Arms in their Oratory it is certain that this Book was made for one of them I was desirous to know by what accident it came into Spain and told her that perhaps Queen Elizabeth brought it thither Upon this she called for the Dutchess d' Albuquerque and asked her how she came by it The Dutchess told her she could not tell but only that she had received it of her Mother The Queen said to me afterwards Are you not surprized to find me drest in white Wollen 'T is a small sort of Devotion which the King and I perform but no body shall know the reason of it Ab Madam reply'd the Dutchess de Pastrane we all of us take the liberty to divine How says the Queen without mistaking No I am not positive said the Dutchess And for you said she to me have you guess'd at the true cause Yes Madam very easily reply'd I and all Spain joyns its Vows with yours Don't you know says the Queen smiling that this is none of the best Places in the World to play the Sorceress in and that we have a horrible Inquisition here The King entred the Room at that moment so the Queen rising up told him with a chearful Air that she had two Sorceresses to shew him and that the Dutchess de Pastrane and I had divined the Mystery of her white Habit. The King although in all appearance he seemed to be in a good Humour looked so angrily upon us and particularly upon my self whom he knew to be a French-Woman that I made a profound Reverence and went immediately out of the Queen's Apartment An Order was here published to raise the price of Money which was reduced to a fourth part of its value Although the Duke de Medina Celi was indisposed yet he did not neglect to inform himself diligently of every thing that happened and he was not a little troubled to hear that the Plague began to rage again at Port St. Mary The Scarcity and Poverty of this Country was so extreamly great that several Persons died daily for Want And the Duke de Medina-Cidonia was obliged to send Corn from Andaluzia thither The Misery was not less at Naples The Pope's Nuncio by his Holiness's Order Summoned the Superiours of all the Regular Houses hither to oblige them to give the City some Relief in Corn. They granted two in a hundred of their Revenue and it was hoped that what with this Money and what with the
from publick favour and admiration to publick hatred This rule which generally holds aâ— all â—imes and in all places did not fail to be accomplished in the person of Don Iuan. Most people were concerned to see what harsh usage he gave the Queen and could not forbear to accuse his obstinacy for refusing to enter Madrid till the Queen was gone out and on her way to Toledo He was not content with this affront that he put upon her at his first appearance but to humble her still the more he added another that was full as mortifying he descended into a severe examination of her past conduct the particulars of which had not the least relation to the present state of affairs and only tended to defame her This Princess suffered with an incredible grief a treatment so unbefitting her high Quality and so injurious to her reputation but all other ways of shewing her resentments were denied her and she had nothing left to exercise save only her patience and virtue But several persons of Quality that were still linked to her whether out of affection or duty could not without a sensible affliction behold the oppression she lay under They generally spoke of it with heat and indignation and spread abroad a report that altho Don Iuan was no legitimate Prince yet he flattered himself that he should one day become absolute Master of the Monarchy Abundance of people maintained the contrary alledging that he was never guilty of such a design and that if he had been capable of harbouring any such thoughts he might easily have succeeded in them by the assistance of his own party which was very numerous and by his own power that the King was but fifteen years old and besides was equally destitute of authority and experience What occasioned this suspicion was his establishing of some innovations that were never practised by any Minister before him One that made the greatest noise was this that in his Chamber of Audience he would neither give the right Hand nor a Seat to the Ambassadors At first they shewed themselves extreamly disobliged at it but at last the Nuncio and the other foreign Ministers submitted to this Rule and visited him without difficulty The Queen's Creatures made a greater bustle about this affair than even the Ambassadors themselves who were only concerned in it and whether they discoursed of it with too much freedom or Don Iuan only suspected their private sentiments he caused several of them to be banished Among the rest were the Admiral of Castile the Duke d' Ossone the Prince de Stillano the Marquess de Mansera the Count d' Humanez the Count d' Aquillar and the Marquess de Mondejar The last of whom was accused for making the following Verses but they were mistaken in the Author for they were written by the Admiral who was a person of extraordinary wit Vn frayle y una Corona Vn Duque y uâ— Cartelesta An dubleron la lista De la bella Calderona Baylo y alguno blasona Que de quantos han entrado En ' la danca ha averiguado Quien Ilezo el prez del bayle Pero yo atingome al frayle Y quiero perder doblado I have here translated these Verses into English altho it is certain they have nothing of the bel air and Spirit the Spanish have Fair Calderona the pride of the Stage In her youth did with many a Lover engage Dukes Actors and Kings in spight of their state And Monks so demure on her Triumphs did wait The kind coming Nymph as besitted her station Receiv'd the Addresses of half the Creation And very well knew as Sh' had reason enough Who plaid his Cards surest and came the best off As for me without giving my Wherefore or Why The Monk the fat Monk did the business say I. De tan santa Confradia Procidio un hijo fatal Y coco al maâ— principal La pension de la obua pial Claro esta que les diera Lo que qui siesse su Madre Pero no haura a quien no quadro Vna rason que si offrece Mirese a quien parece Porque aquel sera su Padre Sole tiene uâ—a Sefial De nuestro Rey Soberano Que en nada pone la mano Que no le succeda mal A ca perdio a Portugal En las Dunas su aroganciae Dio tantos triumphos a Francia Que es cosa de admiracion Que dar tanta perdicion En un hijo de ganancia Mande pues Carlos secundo Ber si le huvo sin recelo El Rey que viâ—â—el Cielo De unia muger del munda En misterio tan presundo Solo puedo deâ—ir yo Que por suyo le jusgo Mas si contodo es estrasio No sea el primer engasio Que Felipe padecio In this Blessed Conjunction a Bantling was got And the King as best able did pay for the shot He got him nurst up in a little blind quarter And had it been the mode there wou'd have giv'n him a Garter The Politick Dame â—o Iilting well used With a thousand strange stories her Lovers amus'd But we that have no inclinations to flatter Are resolved to be rul'd by our Eyes in the matter And him for the Brat's real Father we 'll find Whom most he resembles in Body or Mind Of our late piouâ— Monarch no marks he retains But a constant ill conduct ill luck and no brains Through him all our hopes were in Portugal crost And Dunkirk alas by his folly was lost The Plague of our Counsels and Cause of our Woes Fresh losses attend him where ever he goos Well Fortune I 'll call thee a Strumpet no more For wer 't thou in truth and in earnest a Whâ—re Thou oughtst to have favour'd him more than another And shown him respect for the sake of his Mother Let Charles send an Envoy to the Mansions above And let the late King all our doubts to remove Tell us whether he 'll 〈◊〉 Don John for his Son Since more were conceâ—â—d as the runner does run His Mother we know was a good natur'd Dance That strove to oblige all Strangers that came If Philip at last in his judgment was gull'd Pray is this the first time that the Monarch was fool'd En sus definios penetro Por una y por otra acion Que no tiem otra entencion Don Iuan que empefiar el Cetro Abrenuncio vade retro Hi de Dame para el Reyno Enrique y a un fiel Noble y valiante le admira Hasta el dia de oy suspira La Lealtad porel cruel OCarlos gran Rey de Espana No te espantes ni te admire Que el mundo todo suspire Con oppression tan estrana Noes porque el pueblo engana El pretexto del rumor Si no que es tanto el aemor De la plebe lastimosa Es solo ana vos quexosa Que les oprime el dolor By his Conduct 't is plain both to Country
altho he was Master of a plentiful Fortune and might have lived after another manner without incommoding his Estate in the least He was a Genoese of the House of Spinola his Grandfather had formerly commanded the Spanish Army and this was likewise a great Captain but whether it were because he was a Stranger or for some other Reason the Grandees of Spain looked upon him as much inferiour to them although he was a Grandee as well as themselves and was of illustrious Birth They despised him because he made Advantage of his Money after the manner of a Banker which is so seldom practised in Spain by Persons of Quality that they cannot endure those that do it His Enemies pretended that he had committed notorious Oversights at the Treaty of Nimeguen and that they daily beheld new Inconveniences arise from his ill Conduct there That this was the Subject of perpetual quarrels between France and Spain because he had neglected to lay down in plain intelligible terms what things were yielded up and their Dependances and that every one made use of this Obscurity to interpret it to their own Advantage It is certain that what they alledged against the Marquess de Los Balbazez had foundation enough but the Constable of Castile was the Man that took the greatest pains to expose his Miscarriages to the World He had no kindness for him for Iuan's sake whose Favourite he had always been and for which Reason the Marquess declared against the Queen This was the true Cause of the Aversion that was between the Constable and him and it increased very much on the side of the former when he saw what a Respect and Esteem the Duke de Medina Celi testified for the other He needed no more than this to revive the Old Grudge he had against the Chief Minister and it proceeded so far that he incessantly heighten'd the Complaints that came from all parts under the Dominion of the King of Spain against the Duke It must be allowed that the Constable was one of the most dexterous prudent Men of his Age and that his Rank and great Abilities gave him vast Advantages over the rest so that whenever he gave his Advice few People were found so hardy as to oppose him The Duke was sensible that he directly thwarted him upon all occasions This together with his other Affairs made him extreamly uneasie to find himself perpetually engaged in a troublesome Combat and to dispute against a Man who as we may say took a Pleasure in chasing himself and who searched all occasions to perplex and disgust him Therefore in this Affair the Duke took the mildest course he courted the Constable's Friendship and made all Advances towards it He knew that he was fall'n ill and that though he was not in a condition to go to the Council he was not so much indisposed but that he might his have Advice in case it were demanded He sent constantly to the Constable's House to consult him upon all important occasions and this mark of distinction flatter'd his Vanity so agreeably that he found himself mightily obliged to the Duke He wanted very little of pretending to be always sick for the time to come as long as the Duke continued to give him so evident a Proof of Deference However 't is very certain that although he was as well as ever he would not stir abroad for a long time only to prolong a thing which filled him with so much Pleasure and Satisfaction He received another Obligation from the Duke which made no less an impression upon him a considerable Benefice happening to be vacant he bestow'd it immediately upon one of his Natural Sons without the Constable's ever demanding it So many unexpected Favours perfectly overcame him and made him desirous to do something on his side so he proposed to submit to a Reference in order to accommodate the business of the Duke Cardonne's Succession The Constable had espoused his Widow and the Duke his Daughter These Two Ladies had great Pretensions and as great Differences therefore they thought it the best way to determine them by the mutual consent of both Parties The Duke was sensible that the Constable who naturally loved long tedious Law-Suits shew'd a great deal of Complaisance in this matter and indeed the Constable was of Opinion that it would be better to put an end to this Affair than be engaged in an everlasting Contest with the Chief Minister This Chief Minister often assisted the King and denied Audience to no body but neither did his Endeavours or Audiences produce any advantageous Effects for the publick Interest and the smallest Affairs were as difficult for him to determine as the greatest The Marquess de Grana knew so well before hand what he was to expect upon this score that he could not be brought to accept the Embassy for Spain till he received express Orders from the Emperour although for his farther Encouragement he had several Relations and Friends at Madrid and that besides his having resided there formerly thâ— consideration of those Favours he might reasonably expect for his Master's sake ought to have overcome the unwillingness he expressed to come to this Court. It is true what served to increase it very much was the secret Advantage which he thought his Enemies and those that envied him might have upon him during his Absence from Vienna But for all this he found he had reason enough to be content with the manner of his usage the King allow'd him a double Franchise and paid all the Charges of his House at his Arrival The Two Queens honoured the Marchioness de Grana and her Daughters with several Presents they favoured him in every thing yet nevertheless he could not forbear to say proudly that he hoped he should not tarry there above a year and that it should not be his Fault if he did not depart sooner He was a fine Gentleman had abundance of Wit Penetration and Conduct but he was of a prodigious bigness and found himself mightily incommoded by it He sometimes could not help changing his Countenance when he happen'd to be in Company with People whom he was not well acquainted with when they looked stedfastly upon him The Court of Spain had such favourable Inclinations for him that they readily granted him whatever he desired but they could not forbear now and then to promise him some things which they never performed and he himself was sensible that they never would He was frequently vexed upon these Occasions saying That it was his Misfortune not to know what he might depend upon He was concerned at the Misery to which all sorts of People were reduced at Madrid and I have heard him frequently say That whatever Idea's a Man might form to himself of the Publick Grievances yet they infinitely fell short of what they really were when he came to see them and that for his part he could not imagine what Remedies they could apply to them It is