People thought the Baiting fine they carried these two unfortunate Lovers to her unhappy Father's House they both desired to be in the same Chamber and though they had but a little time to live yet beg'd the Favour they might be married accordingly they were married and since they could not live together yet at least were they buried together in one and the same Grave The Story has mightily increased the Aversion I had already conceived against these sort of Feasts and I told Don Ferdinand so after I had thank'd him for his pains in relating it to me Hitherto I have said nothing to you concerning the Spanish Language in which I am endeavouring to make some Progress It pleases me extreamly it is expressive noble and grave Love finds it commodious for its work and can play the fool prettily enough in it The Courtiers speak more concisely than others they make use of such abstracted Comparisons and Metaphors that unless one is us'd to hear them half their meaning is lost I have learnt several Languages or at least understand the first Rudiments of them but yet in my mind it is only our own which exceeds the Spanish I come just now from seeing Ten Gallies which are arriv'd this is somewhat strange in a City that is Eighty Leagues from the Sea but these are Land Gallies for if there be Sea-horses and Dogs why not Land ones They are shap'd like a Chariot but four times longer and have six Wheels three on a side and do not go much slower than a Chariot the upper part is round and is very like a Gally they are covered with Canvas and may contain forty Persons there one sleeps and dresses victuals indeed 't is a Moving-house they put eighteen or twenty Horses to draw it the Machine is so long that it cannot be turn'd but in a field they come usually from Gallicia and Manca the country of the brave Don Quixot they set out eight ten or twelve in a Company to be helpful to one another in case of need For when one overturns it makes a great havock and the best that can happen is a broken Arm or Leg there must be above a hundred to raise it up again In it there is carried all sorts of Provisions for the Country through which they pass is so very barren that on Mountains which are fourscore Leagues broad the biggest tree one meets with is a little wild Tyme there 's in 't neither Inn nor Inn-keepers you sleep in the Gally and 't is a miserable Country for Travellers Monsieur Mollini the Popes Nuncio consecrated the Patriarch of the Indies on Trinity Sunday and the King was there I saw him come in he had a Black Suit and a gold coloured Silk Belt on and little Pearls were set round the flowers his hat was so broad which they never cock here that the Brims laid upon his shoulders and lookt ill I observed that during the Ceremony he eat of something which was held to him in a Paper they told me it was either Leeks or Shallots of which he eats very often I was too far off to see him well he did not return to Buenretiro because of Corpus Christi-day at which Ceremony he would assist In coming out of the Church I knew a French Gentleman whose Name is Juncas he is of Burdeaux where I saw him I ask'd him how long he had been here he told me but a little while and that his first Business had been to have seen me had he not been engag'd at Bayon not to lose a minute's time in the search of a very wicked Fellow which was supposed to be hid at Madrid That it was not the Curiosity to see the Patriarch of the Indies consecrated which drew him to the Hieronimites otherwise the Daughters of the Conception but that having desired to speak with one of the Nuns he was told that he could not see her till the King was gone He added that this was one of the handsomest Women in the World and hath been the cause of a great unhappiness in the Family of Monsieur De Lande I remember to have seen her as I have gone by and intreated him to tell me the matter It is says he too long and melancholy a Mischance to relate presently but if you will see the young Nun I speak of I am persuaded she 'll not be unpleasant to you I willingly accepted his Offer because I have so often been told that they have so much more wit in Monasteries then elsewhere in the world We went into a Parlour which had three such terrible Iron-doors with spikes as made me wonder How is this said I It has been told me that the Nuns in this Country are very amorous but I cannot be persuaded that Love is bold enough to venture over these long Spikes and through these little holes where one must undoubtedly perish You are deceived Madam cri'd Juncas at the Appearances of things if the Lady which is coming can spare me so much time I 'll presently tell you what I learnt of a friend of mine a Spaniard the first Journey I made hither But at the very instant Donna Isidora came into the Parlour I found her much handsomer than I had fancy'd her in my own Mind to be Monsieur De Juncas told her that I was a French Lady which had a great mind to be acquainted with her upon his report of her Merits She thankt me in a very modest manner and afterwards told us that it was very true that the Wretch after whom Enquiry was made had been lately at Madrid but that she was certain he was not now there and that he had even had the Impudence to write to her by the hands of a Man where he lodg'd that the Letter was brought to her after his Departure and that she would not receive it It seems to me said I interrupting of her that he could not be taken supposing he were yet here Sometimes says Donna Isidora Permission is obtain'd from the King There are certain Crimes for which there is no Sanctuary and that is one of them She fell a weeping notwithstanding all her endeavours to hinder her tears and added that thanks be to Heaven she could not reproach her self with any thing in the late Business but yet she could not forbear grieving extreamly that she had been the cause of it We talk'd together a good while longer and I was as much charm'd with her Wit as with her Beauty Afterwards I withdrew I am absolutly yours most dear Cousin be throughly persuaded of it From Madrid this 29 of May 1679. LETTER XI ONE must love you as mightily as I do Dear Cousin to resolve to write to you in a Season when the Weather is so excessive hot Whatever has been told me and whatever I could imagine of it is nothing in comparison to what I now feel To defend my self from the heat I leave open all my Windows all night long
While the King is gone to meet her and the whole Court is absent my Kinswoman will go into Andalousia about some business she has there I might send you a short Relation of our little Journey if I could be assur'd it would please you I most heartily embrace you From Madrid this 30th of September 1679. LETTER XV. THE whole Court is return'd and in my Memoirs you 'll find dear Cousin the particulars of the Queen's Journey The King and she were both together in one Coach and the Curtains being all open I saw her at her arrival here She was drest after the Spanish way and I did not think that she lookt less handsome in this than in her French Garbe but the King was drest a-la-Schomberg which is the Spanish habit for the Country and 't is almost like the French I have heard it told how strangely the Queen was surpris'd the first time she had the Honour to see him he had on a close body'd Coat of grey Barragon very short and wide Velvet Breeches Stockings of Pelo that is raw Silk which they work so very loose that their Skin appears through them this Silk is as small as a Hair and though they be very strait yet the King pulls them on at once and so he 'll tear sometimes twenty pair one after another He had also a very fine Cravat which the Queen sent him but it was ty'd a little too loose His Hair was put behind his Ears and he wore a grey Hat All the Journey which was very long they sat close to each other in a large Coach and seldom could understand one another but by some certain signs for the King cannot speak a word of French and the Queen could speak but very little Spanish Upon their arrival at Madrid they went to sing Te Deum at our Lady d' Atocha attended by all the Persons of Quality and a multitude of the People that made the Air resound with Acclamations of Joy Afterwards their Majesties went to Buen Retiro because the Appartments in the Palace were not yet ready and that the Queen was not to remain there till she had made her Entry This time must needs have been very tedious to her for she saw no body but the Camerera Mayor and her Ladies She 's forc'd to lead a Life so much against her Inclinations that she has need of all that Discretion and Sweetness of Temper she 's possess'd of to be able to endure it She has not so much as the Liberty to see the French Ambassador to be short 't is a perpetual Torment All the Spanish Ladies love her dearly and amongst themselves pitty her I was sometime ago at the Countess of Villambrosa's and in a great deal of Company The Marchioness de la Fuente came in there and as they are extream superstitious in this Country so she told them like one affrighted that being with the Queen who looking her self in a great Glass and laying her hand gently upon 't it crackt from top to bottom and that the Queen beheld it without being in the least mov'd but even laught at the Consternation that all the Ladies about here were in telling them it betray'd a weakness of Mind to take such notice of things and Accidents as might proceed from natural Causes They discours'd and argued a great while upon this matter and with deep sighs said that their Queen would not live long She also told us that the Queen was much more disturb'd at the incivility of the Camerera Mayor who seeing some of her Hairs out of place on her Forehead spit on her fingers to lay them smooth upon which the Queen stay'd her Arm telling her in a Majestick way that the best Essence there was not too good and that taking her Handkerchief she was a great while a cleaning that part of her Hair which this piece of Antiquity had so unhandsomly wet It is no uncommon thing here to wet ones head all over the better to smooth and make the Hair shine the first time my Head was drest after the Spanish Mode one of my Relation's Women undertook this curious piece of work she was no less than three hours tugging and pulling my Head and finding that my Hair which is naturally curling would not comply without saying a word to me she dipt a great Spunge twice in a Bason of Water and baptiz'd me so handsomly that I was laid up with a Cold for a Month. But to return to the Queen it would draw pitty from one to see how this Camerera treats her I am well assur'd that she neither suffers her to have so much as a single Hair curl'd nor to come near her Chamber Windows nor to speak to any body and yet the King loves the Queen with all his Heart and for the most part eats with her and that without Ceremony so that very often when the Maids of Honour are laying the Cloth the King and Queen will divert themselves in helping them one will lay the Cloth and t'other a Napkin The Queen has her Meat drest after the French way and the King his after the Spanish He has a Woman Cook to dress all his Victuals but the Queen endeavours to bring him to like the Ragous that are made for her but he cannot abide them But now you must not imagin that their Majesties are surrounded with their Courtiers when they are at Dinner at the most there 's only some Ladies of the Pallace a few Menins but a great many Male and Female Dwarfs The Queen made her Entry the 13th of January after all the Passages and Avenues of the great Road which leads to Buen Retiro were stopt and all Coaches forbid to come that way there was a Triumphal Arch built and the Queen painted upon 't It was also cover'd with divers Garlands and had several Emblems and other things painted it was set in the way by which the Queen must pass to go into Madrid on each side there was a sort of a Gallery which had places contriv'd in them to shew the Arms of the several Kingdoms under the Spanish Dominion joyning one to another by certain Pillars which supported some gilt Statues every one of which represented Crowns and Inscriptions which had relation to those Kingdoms This Gallery reach'd to the Triumphal Gate on the great Road which was very rich and adorn'd with several Statues where likewise there were four beautiful and young Maids drest like Nymphs waiting for the Queen and holding in their hands Baskets of Flowers ready to strow them on the Ground as she past hardly was one out of this Gate or Arch but a second appear'd and so for a great way one after another was seen These were adorn'd with the King's Council that of the Inquisition the Council of the Indies of Arragon of State of Italy of Flanders and other Places under so many gilt Statues that of Justice was higher rais'd then all the rest A little
for me yet Honour and Friendship with-hold me from making the least Advantage of it What shall I do then O Heavens What shall I do I flatter'd my self that Absence would Cure me Alas this is a Remedy which I have fruitlesly tried I have never cast mine Eyes on her Picture but have found my self more in Love and more Miserable than when I saw her every day I must obey her she commands my Return she desires to see me and she cannot be ignorant of my Passion When I took my Leave of her my Eyes declared to her the Secret of my Heart And when I call to mind what I saw in hers all my Reflections then are to no purpose for I resolve rather to die at her Feet than to live remote from her He parted without any delay and without taking leave of his Friends He left a Gentleman to Excuse him towards them and to order his Affairs He was in such great haste to see the Marchioness that he used such Diligence to be with her that no body but he could have done In arriving at Cagliary Capital of Sardagne he understood that the Marquess and his Wife were at a stately Country-house where the Vice-Roy was gone to give them a Visit with all his Court He learnt moreover that the Marquess de Barbaran prepared for him a great Feast where there were to be held Justs or Turnaments after the Ancient Manner of the Mores He was the Defendant and was to maintain That a Husband beloved is Happier than a Lover Several Gentlemen that were not of this Opinion were preparing themselves to go and dispute the Prize which the Marchioness at the Vice-Queen's Intreaty was to give to the Conquerour 'T was a Scarf embroidered with her own Hands wrought with Cyphers No one was to appear but maskt and disguised to the end all might be freer and more gallant Don Lewis had a secret Despight in comprehending the Marquess so well satisfied He is belov'd said he I cannot but look on him as my Rival and as an Happy Rival but we must endeavour to disturb his Happiness in triumphing over his vain Glory Having formed this Design he would not appear in Town he caus'd to be made a Suit of strip'd Green Satin embroidered with Gold and all his Liveries were of the same Colour to denote his new hopes When he entred into the Lists every body had their Eyes on him his Magnificence and his Air gave Emulation to the Cavaliers and great Curiosities to the Ladies The Marchioness felt a secret Emotion of which she could not discover the Cause He was placed very near the Balcony where she sate with the Vice-Queen but there was no Lady there which did not lose all her Lustre near that of the Marchioness her youthful Air which exceeded not eighteen Years her lovely white and red Cheeks her Eyes so sweet and graceful her Scarlet and little Mouth agreeable Smiles and her Shape which surpast the Fairest made her the Admiration of all the World Don Lewis was so ravish'd in seeing her so charming and to observe yet in her Countenance a languishing sorrowful Air that he flattered himself to have therein a part and this was the first Moment wherein he thought himself Happy When his turn came he ran against the Marquess and smote him so dexterously that he got the Advantage all along of him so that in a word he gain'd the Prize with a general Applause and with every one's good-liking He threw himself at the Marchioness's Feet to receive it at her Hands he altered the Tone of his Voice and speaking to her with his Mask on low enough not to be heard but only by her Divine Person said he to her be pleas'd to observe what Fortune decides in favour of Lovers He dar'd not say more to her and without knowing him she gave him the Prize with this natural Grace with which all her Actions were accompanied He suddenly withdrew himself for fear of being known for this might have been an occasion of Quarrel between the Marquess and him and without doubt he would not have easily pardon'd the Victory he obtain'd over him This oblig'd him to keep himself still conceal'd for some Days The Voice-Roy and his Lady return'd to Cagliary and the Marquess and Marchioness accompanied them thither with the whole Court Don Lewis then shew'd himself he pretended he just then arriv'd and made as if he knew not what had past in the Field The Marquess de Barbaran was transported with Joy in seeing him and Absence had not at all altered the Affection he had for this dear Relation He had no difficult task to find a favourable moment wherein to entertain his amiable Marchioness he had as much liberty in their Lodgings as in his own and you may well judge Madam that he forgot not to mention the Prize he had receiv'd from her fair Hands How wretched am I said he to her that you did not know me Alas Madam I flattered my self that by some secret Pre-sentiments you would learn that no one but I could sustain with such Passion the Cause of Lovers against Husbands No my Lord said she to him with an Angry and Disdainful Air to take away all Hope from him I could never have imagin'd that you could have been Patron of so foul a Cause and I could not have believ'd you could have taken such strong Engagements at Naples that you should come as far as Sardagne to Triumph over a Friend who maintain'd my Interests as well as his own I shall die with Regret Madam said Don Lewis if I have displeas'd you in what I have done and were you more favourably disposed and I might dare to make you my Confident it would be no hard matter for me to perswade you that it is not at Naples I have left the Object of my Vows The Marchioness apprehending lest he should speak more than she was willing to hear and appear livelily toucht with the Reproach she made him she put on a more pleasing Countenance and turning the Conversation into a Tone of Raillery answer'd him He took too seriously what she had said to him He dared not make use of this occasion to declare his Love to her for though he lov'd her above all things yet he respected her no less When he had left her he began to blame himself for his Fearfulness Shall I said he always suffer without seeking any Remedy It was some time before he could meet with a favourable occasion because the Marchioness studiously avoided him but being come one Night where she was he found her alone in an inward Room lying on a Bed in a most lovely manner and most becoming Vndress her Hair being fastned with Knots of Diamonds hung carelesly about her Breasts The Trouble she felt in seeing Don Lewis appear'd on her Countenance and rendred her yet more lovely He drew near her with an Awful and respectful Air fell down on his Knees by
Fountains in the midst Several Knights of St. James live in this Town and the Metropolis which is dedicated to this Saint keeps his Body It is extream stately and prodigiously rich It is pretended you hear a kind of Clattering at his Tomb as if Arms were struck one against another and this noise is only heard when the Spaniards are to undergo any great Loss His Figure is represented on the Altar and the Pilgrims thrice kiss it and put their Hats on his Head for this is the chief part of the Ceremony they have also another very singular one they ascend the top of the Church which is covered with great flat Stones In this place stands a Cross of Iron whereon the Pilgrims ever fasten some Rag or Scrap of what they wear They pass under this Cross by so strait a Passage that they are forced to crawl on their Bellies through it and those who are not slender are in danger of being bursten And there have been some so ridiculous and superstitious that having omitted to do this they have expresly return'd back again three or four hundred Leagues for you see here Pilgrims of all Nations Here is a French Chappel of which great Care is taken It is said the Kings of France have been always great Benefactors to it The Church which is under ground is a better than that above there are stately Tombs and Epitaphs of great Antiquity which exercise the Wits of Travellers The Archiepiscopal Palace is a vast Pile and its Antiquity adds to its Beauty instead of diminishing it A Man of my Acquaintance a great Searcher into Etymologies assured me the Town of Compostella was so called because St. James was to suffer Martyrdom in the place where he should see a Star appear at Compestella It is true continued he that some People pretend it to be thus but the Peoples Credulity and Superstition carries 'em further for you are shew'd at Padron near Compostella an hollow Stone and it is pretended this was the little Boat in which St. James arriv'd after he had past so many Seas in it which being of Stone must have without a signal Miracle sunk to the bottom I suppose said I to him you believe this to be most true He smiled and continued his Discourse I cannot but give you the Description of our Militia They are called together every Year in the Month of October and all the Young Men from the Age of Fifteen are oblig'd to march for should it happen that a Father or any other Relation should conceal his Son or Kinsman and those who are Officers should come to know it they would condemn him who has so offended to perpetual Imprisonment There have been some Examples of this but they are rare for the Peasants are so infinitely pleas'd to see themselves Arm'd and treated as Cavalieros de Nobles Saldados del Rey that they would not for any Consideration be wanting to shew themselves on this occasion You shall seldom see in an whole Regiment any Souldier that has more Shirts than that on his Back and the Stuff they wear seems for its Coarseness to be made of Pack-thread their Shooes are made of Cord they wear no Stockins yet every Man has his Peacock or Dunghil-Cock's Feather in his Cap which is tied up behind with a Rag about his Neck in form of a Ruff their Sword oftentimes hangs by their side tied with a bit of Cord and ordinary without a Scabbard the rest of their Arms is seldom in better Order And in this Equipage they march gravely to Tuy where is the General Rendezvouz it being a Frontier place to Portugal There are three which lie thus the above-mention'd Cindud-Rodrigo and Badajor but Tuy is the best guarded because it is over-against Valentia a considerable Town belonging to the King of Portugal and which has been carefully fortifi'd These two Towns are so near that their Cannon will reach each other and if the Portuguises have omitted nothing to put Valentia out of danger of being insulted over the Spaniards pretend Tuy is in as good a Condition to defend it self It stands on an Hill whose lower part is wash'd by the River Minhio it has good Ramparts strong Walls and good store of Artillery It is here I say where these our Champions bid Defiance to the King's Enemies and in a strutting Bravery declare they do not fear ' em Perhaps something of this may happen in time for here are form'd as good Troops as in any other part of Spain However this is a great loss to the Kingdom the whole Youth being thus taken up for the Lands for the most part lye untill'd and on the side of St. James de Compostella you wou'd think you saw a Wilderness on that of the Ocean the Country being better and more peopled yields greater Profit and all things necessary and convenient as Oranges Lemmons and Pomgranates several sorts of Fruits and excellent Fish especially Pilchards more delicate than those which come from Royan to Bordeaux One of the most remarkable things in my mind in this Kingdom is the Town of Doiense one part of which always enjoys the Sweetness of the Spring and the Fruits of Autumn by reason of several Springs of boiling Water which warm the Air by their Exhalations whil'st the other part of this same Town suffers the Rigors of the longest Winters standing as it does at the Foot of a very cold Mountain so that you find in the space of one only Season all those which compose the course of the Year You say nothing replied I to him of the marvellous Fountain call'd Louzano Who have told you of it Madam answer'd he Persons that have seen it added I. You have been then told continu'd he that on the top of the Mountain of Cerbret you find this Fountain at the Source of the River Lours which has Flux and Reflux as the Sea tho' it be at twenty Leagues distance from it that the greater the Heats are the more Water it casts that this Water is sometimes cold as Ice and sometimes as hot as if it boil'd there being no Natural Cause to be giv'n for it You learn me Particulars I was ignorant of said I to him and this is doing me a great Pleasure for I want not for Curiosity in relation to things uncommon I wish replied he 't was not so late I would give you an account of several Rarities in Spain and which perhaps you would gladly learn I leave you for to Night said I to him but I hope before we come to Madrid we shall have an opportunity of discoursing of them He very civilly made me a Promise and the Play being ended we bad one another good night When I would go to rest I was led into a Gallery full of Beds as you see in Hospitals I said this was ridiculous and that needing only four what occasion was there for shewing me forty and to put me into such an open place to starve
me I was answer'd This was the best place in the House and I must take up with it I caus'd my Bed to be made when scarce was I laid down but some body knockt softly at my Door my Women opened it and remained much surpriz'd to see the Master and Mistress followed by a dozen of sorry creatures and so cloath'd that they were half naked I drew my Curtain at the Noise they made and opened more mine Eyes at the sight of this Noble Company The Mistress drew near to me and told me These were honest Travellers who were coming into the Beds which remained empty How lie here said I I believe you have lost your Senses I should have lost 'em indeed replied she should I let so many Beds stand Empty Either Madam you must pay for them or these honest Gentlemen must lye in them I cannot express my Rage to you I was in the mind to send for Don Fernand and my Knights who would have sooner made 'em pass through the Windows than through the Doors But I considered this could not be done without some Disturbance and therefore I came to Terms and agreed to pay 20 d. for each Bed they are hardly dearer at Fontainbleau when the Court is there These Illustrious Dons or to speak better Tatterdemalions who had the Insolence to come into my Room immediately withdrew having made me several profound Reverences The next Morning I thought to have burst with laughter tho 't was at my Cost when I discovered mine Hostess's Trick to ruin me For you must know in the first place that these pretended Travellers were their Neighbours and that they are accustomed to this Stratagem when they see Strangers But when I would have reckoned the Beds to pay for em they were rowled all of 'em into the midst of the Gallery there were divers wretched Troughs of Straw pull'd out which were hardly good enough to entertain Dogs yet I must pay for each 20 d. Four Pistoles ended our Dispute I was not able to put my self in a Passion such singularity did I find in this Management I would not recount this little Accident to you did it not serve to give you some insight into the Humour of this Nation We set out from Burgos very late the Weather was so bad and there had fall'n in the Night such great quantity of Rain that I tarry'd there as long as I could in expectation of its ceasing In fine I came to a Resolution and ascended my Litter I had not gotten far from the Town but I repented of my leaving it no Track cou'd be seen especially on a very high steep Mountain over which we must necessarily pass One of our Mule-drivers who went before struck too far on the Edge of this Mountain so that he fell with his Mule into a kind of Precipice where he broke his Head and put his Arm out of joynt this being the famous Philip de St. Sebastian the most intelligent of all his Profession and who commonly carries Persons of Quality to Madrid he was therefore much bemoaned and we remain'd a great while before we could hale him out from the scurvy place where he had fall'n Don Fernand was so compassionate as to let him have his Litter The Night came speedily on us and we could have comforted our selves could we have return'd to Burgos but it was impossible the ways were no less covered with Snow on that side than all the rest so that we put in at Madrigalesco which has not above a dosen Houses and I may say we were besieg'd without having any Enemies This Adventure gave us some disturbance tho' we had brought Provisions with us for several Days The best House of the Town has half uncovered and I was scarce lodged there when a venerable Old Man askt for me on the part of a Lady who was just arrriv'd He made me a Compliment and told me He was inform'd this was the only place where there was any tolerable Entertainment and therefore intreated me to spare her some room He added She was a Person of Quality of Andalousia was lately a Widow and that he had the Honour to belong to her One of our Knights named Don Esteve de Carjaval who is of the same Country fail'd not to demand her Name of the old Gentleman He told him she was the Marchioness de Los Rios At this Name he turn'd towards me and spake to me of her as of a Person whose Merit and Fortune were very considerable I readily accepted of this good Company She immediately came in her Litter out of which she had not descended having found no House where she could abide Her Dress seem'd to me very singular had she not been so handsome as she was she could never have appear'd in any sort tolerable Her Gown and Petticoat was of black Serge and over them a kind of Linnen Surplice which reacht down lower than her Knees the Sleeves were long and strait in the Arms which hung over her Hands This Surplice was fastned to her Gown and being not pleated behind it seem'd like a Bib she wore on her Head a piece of Muslin which covered her Face and one would have taken it for a Religiose's Hood this covered her Neck and reach'd down very low There appear'd no Hair on her Head they were all hid under this Muslin She wore a great Mantle of black Taffaty which covered her Heels and over this Mantle she had an Hat whose Brims were very large fastned under her Chin with silken Twist I was told they wear this but only when they travel This is the Habit of the Widows and Duenna's a Dress which is insupportable to my sight and should one meet with a Woman in the Night thus cloath'd one might be startled without Reproach yet the Lady was very beautiful in this Unseemly Dress They never leave it unless they marry and they are oblig'd to bewail the Death of an Husband whom they could not endure when living I was inform'd they pass the first Year of their Mourning in a Chamber hung with Black wherein there is not the least glimmering of Day-light to be seen they fit cross-legg'd on a little Holland-Quilt When this Year is ended they retire into a Chamber hung with Gray they must have no Pictures nor Looking-Glasses nor Cabinets nor fine Tables nor Plate neither must they have any Diamonds or wear any Colours However modest they are they must live so retired that it must seem their Soul is already in the other World This Constraint is the cause that several Ladies who are wealthy and especially in rich Houshold-Goods marry again to have the satisfaction of making use of them After the first Compliments I inform'd my self from this mournful Widow where she was going she told me She had not for a long time seen a Friend of her Mother's who was a Religious at Lashuelgas de Burgos which is a famous Nunnery wherein there is an hundred and
after which I receiv'd him This could not divert him from the design he had of entertaining me How Happy am I Madam said he to find you alone But do I call my self Happy Perhaps I know not what I say for it may be you will not receive a Secret with which I would entrust you I am as yet so young said I to him blushing that I would advise you to say nothing to me unless you would have me impart it to my Companions Alas continued he should I tell you I adore you that all my Happiness depends on the Inclinations you have towards me That I cannot live without some Certainty that I may one day please you will you tell this to your Companions No said I to him in great perplexity I would look on this Confidence as a Railery and not believing it my self I would not hazard its being left to be believ'd by others We were interrupted as I ended these words and he appear'd to me not over-content with the Answer I made him and a while after he found an opportunity to reproach me with it I could not but give a favourable Ear to the Inclinations I had towards him every thing he told me seem'd to me to have its particular Gracefulness And it was no hard matter for him to perswade me that he lov'd me above all things in the World In the mean time the Marquess de Los Rios took such a liking to me and my Person and Behaviour ran so deeply in his Thoughts that he wholly applied himself to please me He was very nice and cautious he could not resolve with himself to owe me wholly to my Parents Authority He well knew they would receive as an Honour the Intentions he had for me but he was for gaining my Consent before he demanded theirs In this Design he said all to me he thought was like to take with me I answer'd him I should always think it an indispensable Duty to obey my Father yet our Ages were so different that I told him I thought 't were better he left off thinking of me that I should have an everlasting Acknowledgment for the advantageous Intentions he had for me and therefore I would esteem him tho I could not love him Having heard what I said he was some time without speaking and immediately taking up a very generous Resolution Lovely Mariana says he you might have made me the happiest Man in the World and if you were ambitious I had therewith to satisfie you But you refuse me and I desire to be anothers I consent to it I love you too well to be in suspence whether you are to be satisfied or I I therefore wholly sacrifice my Happiness to you and leave you for ever In ending these Words he left me and appear'd so afflicted that I could not forbear being concern'd Mendez arriv'd a while after and found me melancholly He was so earnest with me to know the Cause that I could not deny him this Proof of my Complaisance Any one but he would have had a sensible Obligation at the Exclusion I came from giving his Rival But far from seeming to value it he told me He saw in mine Eyes the Regret I had for a Lover who could place me in another sort of a Rank than he was able and that my Proceeding was very Cruel In vain I endeavoured to make him sensible of the Injustice of his but all I could say could not hinder him from charging me with Inconstancy I remain'd vext and surpriz'd at this his way of Dealing and was several days without speaking to him He in fine at last understood he had no Reason to Complain he came to me begg'd my Pardon and testified to me a great Displeasure at his own Jealousie He excused himself as all Lovers do on the strength of his Passion I had so much Weakness as to be willing to forget the Trouble he had given me we made up the Matter between us and he continued on his Courtship His Father having understood the Passion he had for me thought he could not procure him a more advantageous Marriage he took notice of it to him and came afterwards to my Father to open to him the Proposal they had been long Friends he was favourably heard and they easily agreed on the Matter Mendez came to inform me of the News with such Transports as would have seem'd ridiculous to any other than a Mistress My Mother order'd me to look kindly on him telling me this Affair would be advantageous to me and as soon as the India-Fleet should arrive wherein he was greatly concern'd the Marriage should be concluded Whilst matters thus past the Marquess de Los Rios had retired to one of his Country-Houses where he scarcely saw any one He led a languishing Life he still lov'd me but hindred himself from telling me so and from comforting himself by this innocent Remedy In fine his Body could not resist the Heaviness of his Mind he fell dangerously ill and being told by the Physicians there was no hope of his Recovery he pluckt up his Spirits to write me the most affectionate Letter imaginable and sent at the same time to me a Deed of Gift of all his Estate in case he dyed My Mother was in my Chamber when a Gentleman presented this Packet from him she would know what it contain'd I could not forbear at the same time telling her what had past and we were both of us in the greatest surprize at the Marquess's extream Generosity She sent him word that I should go with my Family to thank him for a Liberality which I had no ways deserv'd And in particular she sharply reprehended me for having made a Mystery of a thing to her with which I ought to have immediately acquainted her I threw my self at her Feet I excused my self the best I could and testifi'd such great Sorrow for having displeas'd her that she easily pardon'd me Leaving my Chamber she went to my Father and having learnt him all which had past they resolv'd to go the next morning to see the Marquess and to carry me with them I acquainted Mendez with this in the Evening and the Fear I had lest my Parents should in fine make me marry this old Man if he chanced to escape out of his Sickness However sensible I appear'd to him of this he was so far transported and reproacht me so greatly with it that I must have lov'd him as much as I did not to have broke off with him But he had such an Ascendant over me though he was the Injustest of all Men yet I thought him the most Reasonable We were at the Marquess de Los Rios's his Country-house was not above two Leagues from Seville Dying as he was he receiv'd us with such Joy as was easily observable My Father testifi'd to him his Grief to see him in so low a Condition thankt him for the Donation he made me and assured him If he could find
a fair and just Pretence he would break ofs with Mendez to whom he had engaged his Word That should this happen he promist him solemnly I should be no Body's but his He receiv'd this Assurance in the same manner as if he had receiv'd his perfect Felicity but he knew well the Dolor I conceiv'd thereat I became Pale my Eyes were covered with Tears and when we were about leaving him he desired me to draw near to him he told me with a languishing Tone fear nothing Mariana I love you too well to displease you you shall have Mendez seeing your Affections are engaged to him I answer'd him I had no particular Inclination for him but being commanded to respect him as a Man who was to be my Husband I could do no otherwise however I intreated him to be well This seem'd to me the least step I could take towards a Person to whom I had so great Obligations He appear'd thereat sufficiently satisfy'd attempting to take my Hand and kiss it Remember said he to me you enjoyn me to live and that my Life being your Work you will be oblig'd to conserve it We return'd at Night and the Impatient Mendez waited for us to make me new Reproaches I took 'em as I was wont as Proofs of his Passion and having justified my self I askt him What News there was of the Fleet Alas said he to me my Father has receiv'd such as drives me to Despair I dare not inform you Have you any thing separate from me said I to him looking tenderly on him Would you have me to be reserv'd to you I am too Happy replied he in that you have such favourable Dispositions and being not able to keep any Secret from you I must plainly tell you That the Galion in which is is our whole Estate is split and lost running against a Rock But I should be less sensible how greatly soever I am Interest did I not look on the Vnhappy Consequences of this Loss Your Presence will restore the Marquess de Los Rios to his Health his Sentiments for you are known in your Family he is Rich and a great Lord I become Miserable and if you forsake me my dear Mariana I shall have no more Hope but in a speedy Death I was pierced with Sorrow at this sad News I took one of his Hands and closing it with mine I said to him My dear Mendez do not think me capable of loving you and yet leaving you by the Effects of your good or bad Fortune if you be able to bear up against it believe me so too I call Heaven to witness continued I provided you love me and be faithful to me that I will never forsake you and let it punish me if ever I prove Inconstant He testified all the Acknowledgements he ought me for such affectionate Assurances and we resolved not to divulge this Accident I withdrew very melancholly and shut my self up in my Closet ruminating on the Consequences of this sad Disaster I was still there when I heard some Body knocking softly at the Shutters of my Window I drew near and saw Mendez by the Light of the Moon What do you here said I to him at this time of the Night Alas answer'd he to me I was trying whether I could speak with you before I departed My Father has again lately received News of the Galion and will have me immediately go where she is run a-ground to endeavour to save something It is a great way thither and I shall be a great while without seeing you Ah dear Mariana during all this time will you be as good as your Word to me May I hope my dear Mistress will be faithful to me What Reason have I given you Mendez said I interrupting him to doubt it Yes continued I I will love you were you the most Vnfortunate Man in the World It would be to abuse your Patience Madam to relate to you whatsoever we said in this doleful Separation and though there appear'd no Danger yet our Hearts had a foreboding of what was afterwards to happen to us The Day began to appear and we must bid Adieu I saw him shed Tears which were accompanied with mine I threw my self on my Bed rowling a thousand sad Thoughts in my Mind and I appear'd the next Morning so out of Order that my Father and Mother were afraid I was falling into some dangerous fit of Sickness Mendez his Father came to make them a Visit to excuse his Son 's parting without taking his Leave of them He added He had a Business which required such haste as would not suffer him a Minute's time at his disposal As to my self Madam I was comfortless being insensible to every thing And if any thing could ease me 't was some hours Conversation with my dear Henrietta with whom I freely vented my Thoughts touching the long Absence of Mendez In the mean time the Marquess de Los Rios was out of Danger and my Father went often to see him I observ'd one day great Alteration on my Mother's Countenance she and my Father having been long shut up with Religioses who came to give 'em a Visit and after a Conference of some time they call'd me without my being able to divine the Cause I entred into their Apartment in such Disorder that I knew not what I did One of these good Fathers Venerable by his Age and Habit spake much to me about the Resignation we owe to the Divine Will on his Providence in every thing which relates to us and the Close of his Discourse was That Mendez was taken by the Algerines that he was a Slave and by his Misfortunes these Pyrates had learnt he was a rich Merchant's Son which had occasion'd the setting him at an extraordinary Ransom That they were at Algiers in the time he arriv'd would have willingly brought him along with 'em but the Money which they had for all was not sufficient for him alone That at their Return they had been at his Father 's to inform him of this vexatious Disaster but found he had absented himself and that the loss of a Galion on which was embarkt all his Effects without being able to save any thing had induced him to avoid his Creditors who sought him every-where to throw him in Prison That things being in this Condition they saw no Remedy to poor Mendez his Misfortunes being in the hands of Meluza the most famous and covetous of all the Corsaries and that if I would follow their Advice and that of my Parents I would think of taking another Party I had so far heard this dreadful News in so ecstatic a Condition that I could only interrupt them by sad Sighs but when he told me I must think of another Party I burst out with Tears and Shrieks as made both my Father and Mother and these Religioses compassionate me I was carried into my Chamber as one nearer death than life and Donna Henrietta was sent for
sitting of their Head-dresses and they were whiter than the Snow In spight of their seeming care to hide themselves yet we saw enough to observe their delicate Complexion their brisk Eyes and their Features very regular You may be sure we left them as late as we could and that we conjur'd them to make that Walk happy sometimes with their Presence or else give us leave to wait on them at their House They agreed to nothing and indeed we were several times after that at the Prado and near that Fountain where the first saw them without being able to perceive them Here 's a deal of time lost said we what must we do to pass our Lives in this great want of Employment for we must renounce the thoughts of Ladies whose Access is so difficult This was our Resolution but it held not long for scarcely had we made it but we see come out of the same House the two Incognito's We drew near them full of Respect and our civil Carriage did not displease them Belleville took the least by the hand and I the biggest I endeavour'd to perswade her with what Impatience I expected her I blam'd her a little at which she seem'd somewhat concern'd but taking more courage I discours'd to her of the thoughts she had inspir'd me with and assur'd her that it was in her power to engage me for my whole Life She seem'd extream careful not to give the least mark of Favour At length amongst other things she told me that she was Heiress to a great Estate that her Name was Ines that her Father was a Knight of the Order of St. James and was of a considerable Quality that she which was with her was called Isabella and that they were Cosins All these particulars pleas'd me well finding her a Person of Birth and therein my Vanity flatter'd At parting I begg'd her to give me leave to come see her What you desire of me says she is the Custom of your Country and if I were there I would please my self to observe it but we have different and tho' I do not conceive any Crime in what you ask me yet I am oblig'd to observe certain Rules of Decency which by no means I will transgress I will contrive some other way to see you and of this depend upon me and do not take it ill that I refuse you a thing which is not in my power to grant Adieu continues she I will think of what you desire and will let you know what I can do I kist her Hand and so withdrew extreamly touch'd with her way as well as her Wit and her Prudence As soon as I was alone with Belleville I askt him if he was pleas'd with the Conversation he had enjoy'd He answer'd me that he had great cause to be so and that Isabella seem'd to be of a Nature sweet and amiable You are very happy said I already to have found so much kindness Ines gives me no room to hope for any She 's of a gay Humour and turns every thing I say to her into Jest and I despair ever to make her serious Some days past before we either saw or heard from them But one Morning as I was at Mass an Old Woman hid under a Vail comes up to me and presents me a Billet in which I read these words YOV appear too Amiable to me to see you often and I must needs confess to you that I a little mistrust my own Heart If yours is truly touch'd for me Marriage must be thought on I have told you that I am Rich and I have told you the truth That part which I offer you is not inconvenient to take But consider of it and in the Evening I shall be on the Banks of Mansanarez where you may let me know your thoughts As the place where I was did not allow me to write her an Answer so I contented my self to Note only on my Table-Book these Lines YOV have power to make me take what Journey you please I am very sensible that I Love you too well to be at ease and that I have more cause to suspect my own Weakness than you have to be afraid of yours however I shall be at Mansanarez being resolv'd to obey you whatever you Command me I gave my Table-Book to this honest Messenger which had the looks tho' to steal off the Plates and Clasps before she would deliver it I desir'd Belleville to let me go alone to this Assignation He told me he was very glad of it for Isabella had given him Notice that she desir'd to speak with him alone at the Florid. It was with impatience that we waited for the appointed hour and then we quitted each other after having wish'd our selves good Success in our Adventure As soon as I came to the River-side I carefully lookt at all the Coaches which past by but it was hard for me to discover any thing because they had double Curtains drawn But at last there came one and stopt and I perceiv'd some Women in 't who gave me a sign to approach There was Ines who was more conceal'd than usual and I could not know her but by her Voice How industriously you hide your self said I to her Do you think Madam that the thoughts of not being able to see you and the violent desires I have for it are not enough to kill me with Grief If you 'l come along with me says she you shall see me But for the present I must hoodwink you To be free with you said I to her till now you have appear'd very amiable to me but this Mysterious Carriage which serves to no end but to make me suffer is troublesome If I am so unhappy to be thought by you an unfaithful man you ought not at all to trust me but if on the contrary I am in your good Opinion you ought to declare it by a moâ—e ingenuous proceeding Interrupting me says she you ought to be perswaded that I have strong Reasons for what I do since notwithstanding what you have now told me I alter not my Resolution The thing however is at your choice but for my own part I will not let you come into my Coach but upon that Condition As the Spaniards are naturally obstinate I rather chose to suffer my Eyes to be cover'd than to break off with her I must needs own that these appearances of Good Fortune had fill'd me with some sort of Vanity and I fancy'd my self with some Princess which for the present had no mind I should know her but afterwards that I should find her one of the most perfect and rich Women of Spain This conceit hinder'd me any longer to oppose her will I told her I submitted to her to be hood-wink'd and even to be blinded by her if she could please her self in the Action She ty'd a Handkerchief about my Head so hard that at first she put me in terrible pain I sat me down by
Humour They were all very well dress'd and as I have already told you they have very rich Cloaths and their Jewels are extream fine There were two Tables for the Game of Ombro at which they play'd very high and without any Noise I could not understand their Cards they are as thin as Paper and painted after a quite different way from ours One of those Cards looks as if one held a Letter when they have a good Game in Hand it were easie for a Cheating Gamester to discover several of their Cards if not the whole Game While they play'd they discours'd of News of the Court and the City Their Conversation is free and pleasant and it must needs be confess'd that they have a certain quickeness of Wit which we cannot come up to They are very kind and friendly they love to praise and do it after a gentile way very ingeniously and with great Judgment I am amaz'd to find such strength of Memory joyn'd with so great a degree of Wit and Understanding They are compassionate even almost to a fault They Read little and Write not much but yet by that little which they do Read they improve much and that little they Write is both exact and concise Their Features are very regular and delicate but their excessive leanness offends one that is not us'd to it They are of a brown Complexion and their faces very smooth The Small-Pox must needs not do them so much hurt here as in other Countries for I have seldom seen any mark'd with them Their Hair is as black as Jett and very shining notwithstanding there is cause to think that they comb long with one and the same Comb for t'other day I saw at the Merchioness of Alconnizas who is Sister to the Constable of Castille and whose first Husband was the Count and Duke of Olivares her Toylet spread and although she is one of the neatest and richest Ladies and the Toylet was laid upon a little Silver Table yet it was only furnish'd with a little bit of Callico a Looking-Glass no bigger than ones Hand two Combs and a little Box and in a small China Cup some White of an Egg beat together with Sugar-candy I ask'd one of her Women what she did with this she told me this was to take the dirt off her Face and to make it shine I have seen some whose Faces were so bright that you would wonder One would think that they were Varnish'd over and the Skin is so pull'd and rub'd that I am confident it does a great deal of hurt Most of the Women make themselves Eye-brows and they have only as 't were a little thred of Hair which in my mind looks very ugly but that which is yet worse is they comb the middle of their Foreheads so much till they make their Eye-brows meet and this with them is extream Beautiful But yet there are a great many whose Fancies do not lye this way I have seen some Spanish Women more exact to the Rules of Beauty than our French Women notwithstanding their way of dressing cross-wise and the little Advantage which they give to their faces One may say that they are like things made out of Rule for they have neither Hair nor Cornet nor any Ribbon to set them off and yet what Country can shew such Eyes as theirs They are so very sprightly and declare so much Wit and by them talk to one in a Language so kind and intelligible that if they had no other Charms these alone would make them pass for handsom Women and unavoidably steal away ones Affections Their Teeth are very even and would be white enough if they took a little care of them but they neglect them and besides their frequent use of Sugar and Chocolate does them much hurt They have all a bad Custom here the Women as well as the Men which is to pick their Teeth let them be in what Company they will This they reckon as a Diversion and do it with grave looks They do not so much as know what belongs to having them clean'd by an Artist there is no such Trade there and when they need them to be drawn out they get the Surgeons to do it if they can At my first coming in to Visit the Princess of Monteleon I was surpriz'd to see so many Young Ladies with great Spectacles on their Noses and fastned to their Ears but that which yet seem'd strangest to me was that they made no use of them where it was necessary They only discours'd while they had them on I was disturb'd at it and ask'd the Marchioness De la Rosa with whom I have contracted a dear Friendship the reason of it She 's a pretty sort of Woman and understands how to live She has a neat Wit and is a Neapolitan She fell a Laughing at my Question and told me that it was done to make them look grave that they did not wear them for any need but to draw Respect Do you see that Lady says she to me meaning one that was near us I do not believe that since she was Ten Years Old she ever left them off but when she went to Bed Without lying they both eat with them and in the Streets and Assemblies you can never fail of meeting abundance of Men and Women with their Spectacles Upon this occasion I must needs tell you continu'd she that sometime ago the Jacobite Fryars had a Suit in Law of high Importance the success of which they were too much concerned for to neglect any means One of the Young Fathers of the Convent had some Kindred of the greatest Quality which upon his Account did sollicit very hard on their behalf The Prior assur'd him that if through his Credit and Interest they should get the better of the Suit he could ask nothing that should not be granted him for an Acknowledgment At last they gain'd their Point and the Young Father transported with Joy immediately ran to tell the News and at the same time prepar'd himself to ask a Favour which a long time he had had a mighty desire to obtain But the Prior after having embrac'd him with grave looks and tone said to him Hermano ponga las Ojalas that is to say Brother put on Spectacles The Honour of this Permission filled the Young Monk with a strange Joy he thought himself and his care too highly recompens'd and had nothing else to ask The Marquess of Astorgas Vice-Roy of Naples added she had his Statue to the middle cut in Marble upon which he was very careful to cause his best Spectacles to be put It is so common a thing to wear them that I have heard there are different Spectacles according to the different Qualities and Degrees of Men and Women Proportionably as a Man's Fortune rises he increases in the largeness of his Spectacle-Glasses and wears them higher upon his Nose The Grandees of Spain wear them as broad as ones Hand which for
obstinate humour he pretends that the King of Portugal has usurp'd the Crown from his Family and therefore when he speaks of him he never calls him any thing but Duke de Bragance in the mean while this Man has forty thousand Crowns a year in Portugal of which he does not enjoy a farthing because he will not submit to kiss the King's hand nor to do him homage The King of Portugal hath sent him word that he will dispense with his coming himself provided he will send in his stead one of his Sons either the eldest or the youngest which he will and that he will then let him receive his Rents and moreover will pay him all the Arrears which amount to an immense Sum. The Duke d'Avero will not so much as hear it mention'd He says that seeing he has lost the Crown it would be a shame for forty thousand Crowns a year to submit to the Usurper that the greater evil takes away the sense of the lesser that the Glory the King would receive from his Homage would exceed the profit he gets from his Revenue and that he would have cause to reproach him for having done an honour to him which was not his due The last I reserve for you is the Prince Destillano he hath Places and Commissions to dispose of at the Contratraction in Sevile to the value of fourscore thousand Livres a year He had rather lose them than so much as set his hand to the necessary dispatches saying It is not agreeble to the Generosity of such a Cavallero as he is to trouble himself to sign his Name for so small a matter for you must know that these fourscore thousand Livers are not in one Article it may be there is above thirty and when his Secretary presents to him a dispatch or grant of a Place worth four or five thousand Livres he will refuse to sign it and alledges his Quality always saying Esto es una Mineria that is it is but a Trifle The King however is not so nice in the matter for he fills up the Places for him and receives the profit to himself You 'll say now that the Spaniards are Fools with this their fantastick Grandeur and perhaps you are in the right but for my part and I think I know 'em pretty well I am not of that Opinion yet nevertheless I 'll own that whatever difference can be found in comparing the Spaniards and the French it must be to our advantage but it does not seem fit for me to meddle in determining the matter for my Interest is too much concern'd to let me judge impartially but yet I am perswaded that there are very few rational Persons who would not make the same Judgment There are fewer Strangers that come to Madrid than to any City in the World and they have reason for unless they have somebody to procure them Lodging in some private House they 'll run the hazard of being very ill lodg'd and the Spaniards are not very ready to offer their Houses to any body because of their Wives of whom they are extream jealous I do not know that in all this City there 's any more than two Inns whereof at one of them they eat after the French mode and when these are full which they are very quickly being very little one knows not what to do add to this That there 's no conveniency for passing too and fro in the Town Hackney or hyr'd Coaches are scarce enough but one may have as many Chairs as one will yet it is seldom that Men are carry'd in them unless they be very old or infirm But after all why should Strangers come to Madrid That which is finest and the most amiable is always hid I mean the Women there 's no conversing with them those Women that may be seen are such dangerous Creatures for a Man's Health that it must be a great Curiosity indeed that a Man can resolve to satisfie at so much risque yet in spight of all this the only Pleasure and the sole Enjoyment of the Spaniards is to contract some League even Youths of Quality that are rich begin at the Age of twelve or thirteen years to entertain a Concubine-Mistress which they call Amancebade for whom they neglect their Studies and make away with whatever they can catch up in their Father's House but 't is not long before those Creatures give them cause to repent of their Folly But that which is terrible is That there are few Persons in this Country either of one or t'other Sex and even of those whose Quality distinguishes them that are free from that cursed Disease their Children either bring it into the World with them from their Mother's Womb or suck it from the Nurse a Virgin may justly be suspected to have it and they are hardly perswaded to be cur'd of it they are so certain of falling again into the same Condition But doubtless this Disease is not so dangerous in Spain as in other Countries for they still preserve their Hair very fine and their Teeth very good At Court and amongst the Women of the highest Quality they discourse of it as they do of a Fever or the Meagrim and they all bear the Distemper patiently without so much as troubling themselves one minute about it As they know not but that the most vertuous Women and the youngest Child may have it so they never let blood in the Arm but always in the Foot they 'll let a Child three Weeks old blood in the Foot and this is so constant a Custom amongst them that unless it be some very able Surgeon they know not how to let blood in the Arm. I was indispos'd and was forc'd to make use of the French Ambassador's valet de Chambre to let me blood in the Arm. By all that I have told you it is easie to judge that this is the Nuptial present which a Spaniard makes to his Wife and that though they marry they do not quit their Mistresses be they never so dangerous Every time these Mistresses are let blood their Gallants are oblig'd to give them a compleat new suit of Apparel and yet you must observe they wear ten or twelve Petticoats at a time so that this causes no ordinary Expence The Marquess de Liche understanding that his Mistress was just let blood and so could not tarry till the Tailor made her a suit which he intended for her he sent her one that was just brought home for the Marchioness his Lady who is extream beautiful It is a common saying with him That to be the happiest Man he would only wish a Mistress as handsom as his Wife The great Lords which return very rich from their Governments whether for the most part they go poor enough and where they pillage and extort all they can because they are but for five years time do not lay out their Money when they come home in the purchase of Lands they keep it in