indignation and to that an irreconciliable disunion The Prince deserted him and went to the Pope who having interdicted Frederick for his Attempts against the Ecclesiastical See offered Henry to make him Emperour though his Father was still living and certainly the Condition he required was but reasonable it was only that he should marry Constance of Sicily his Niece he told him that without that security he could not relye upon the word of the Prince But in short the Intrigues of his Niece were come to his knowledge and he found it troublesom to conceal them and as certain it is Henry would been have glad if the Popes Generosity had been entire without terms He loved Constance most passionately but every one knows MAXIME VIII Howe're one loves before the very name Of Wedding mentioned gravely does rebate His edge no doubt checks his consuming flame And brings the Martyr to his former state The thought of Marriage to a thoughtful mind Opens his nerve and shows'em he was blind But his Holiness was not affrighted at this Doctrine and less at the difficulty of granting a Dispensation for her who had been four years a Professor But Prince Henry was under a necessity of submitting however to comfort himself by the consideration of having Companions he proposed to the three persons who were Gallants to Constances three Confidents to follow his Example They had made Love as furiously as he he promised them considerable advantages and the Pope was in so good an humour at that time he would have given Dispensations to the whole Covent if his Niece had desired it But they who were his Camarades in his Amours would by no means bear him Company in his Marriage They told him that if they were as accomplisht as he they might undertake any thing upon confidence of their Merit but for them who had not been so great Favourites of Nature they could not but fear the Laws of Wedlock might be as casily violated as the Rules of a Covent That in so tender a point one could not be too cautious and that if the worst happened that could be and they must marry they desired to do it upon his terms and have an equivalence to the Empire of the West for their Wives Portion The Prince did not think it convenient for his Chaity to the Nuns to renounce his possession of the Empire He left them unkindly in their Monastery to deplore the ingratitude of the Gallants and launcht himself alone into that Gulf in which his Associats had represented so many difficulties He married Constance and was crowned Emperour by the Name of Henry the Fourth A famous Abbot in those times who dyed not long after and left a great Reputation of his Sanctity behind him declaimed bitterly against this Marriage and indeed the misfortunes which followed turned his Imprecations into a Prophesie But let him say what he please Those ways which lead a man to the chief place in the World are always counted the best paths one can walk in And now let us take our leave of our new Emperour and Empress and take a fresh turn about the World to see if we can find any new Adventure in that Age that may be fit to close up our Annals of this year James King of Arragon indued with much natural Chastity and as much Experience as sixteen years of age could confer was married to Eleoner of Castile Aunt to the King which reigned in that Kingdom at that time who for the number of her years and her own inclination was as well skilled in matters of Love as her young Husband was ignorant This Princess had an Amour with a Castilian Lord whom she loved most passionately She had past her Faith to him and attended it with so many oaths and imprecations she might justly fear the Justice of Heaven would follow her if she transgressed For this reason she did what she could not to marry the King of Arragon She cast her self a thousand times at the King of Castiles feet though he was but her Nephew She wept she sob'd she threatned to starve her self but her tears and her prayers were to as little purpose as her threats The Marriage was concluded by the Counsels both of Castile and Arragon to be advantagious to both Nations Eleonor used her utmost to prevent it But Princesses of her Quality are as so many Sacrifices to the Policy of their Countries and never to be disposed of by their own inclinations The new Queen seeing her self forced upon a Match which gave her so many scruples she considered of a way by which she might like a constant Mistress continue faithful to her Gallants She suborned an ancient Physician to insinuate into her young Husband that he could not marry Eleonor that there were invincible obstacles in the way which opposed its Consummation The young Monarch who was scarce got out of his Infancy had never seen Woman as it were but his Queen Mother his Governesses and Nurses and had been always told that Eleonor was a sprightly Princess believed what was told him very honestly and remembring that he had heard it wisht several times that he would provide Successors for the Crown he understood it a great shame and misfortune for him to be unable to satisfie the desires of his Subjects This consideration rendred him so melancholy he could not indure the sight of any body He shut himself up whole days together in his Closet if he went walking it must be alone and having read in the Histories of that Kingdom what sorrow some of his Predecessors had conceived for want of Issue and what ill Consequences had followed the default of Heirs in several Kingdoms the good Prince who had an apprehension above his Age began to look upon himself already as the object of his Subjects hatred and contempt Those who had the care of his Person perceiving his humour and Complexion changed intreated him many times to tell the reason of his Melancholy but he answered with nothing but sighs and the Queen confirming him daily in the Errour he was plunged he proposed it himself that Eleonor should take her own liberty The Queen had in her Train a young Lady called Theresia de Bidaura witty and handsom and to whom the Person of the King was not so indifferent as to the Queen She was originally of Castile and brought along with the Princess Eleonor out of Arragon This Lady finding the young Monarch exactly according to her mind had studied all his actions and took all the care she could possibly to please him She invented sundry Dances and other Pastimes with her Companions on purpose to divert him If he did her the honour to speak to her at any time she would be sure to make him smile with the wittiness of her answer and kindness producing usually the like Bidanra became by degrees as dear to the King of Arragon as the King of Arragon had appeared amiable to Bidaura The first
Wives fancy nothing impâ—â—lible that may ease them We have left our Country upon these terms and are now present in your Court But see Madam and admire the unconstancy of my Stars the liberty I now enjoy of parting with Nogaret makes me begin to think our separation insupportable I beseech you therefore most Excellent Princess continued Mariana throwing her self at Margarets feet obtain of Duleinus in my behalf that Nogaret may not have that permission which I know he demands As I imitated him in his disgust it is possible he may do as much for me in my return The necessity of our Loves begat our Antipathy and who knows but the liberty to hate may revive our affections Mariana was not out of the way when she dissed in this manner She had scarce ended her Petition but Dulcinus came in to desire Margaret in the behalf of Nogaret to grant to such permission to Mariana In short this Couple took one another again and loved one another as entirely as when they were married at first Their Example was so good that being followed by several others it carried many a good man and his Wife back again into France who renounced the Priviledge of Divorce and demonstrated to the World That liberty to change takes away the desire to do it That did well and like wise men to carry themselves so they would have been constrained otherwise by force to what they did willingly for Pope Clement the Fifth having intelligence of what past in Lombardy and finding this new Law inconformable to the Laws of Christianity raised a strong Army and sent it against Dulcinus under the Command of a Legat his Nephew The Legat overcame him forced him to renounce his Errour and rescued his Subjects from that Libertinism in which they began to be plunged Vnhappy days unhappy War whose rage Swallowed whole Countries cost so many lives Wer 't to be fought again in this our Age We'd pull down Pope rather than keep our Wives Whilst Margaret was bewailing the success of the Legat and some Husbands apprehending the Consequences of that War hasted very prudently to gain the benefit of that Priviledge Don Pedro King of Castile applied himself to the Establishment of that Custom in his Kingdom which was so unfortunately supprest in Lombardy He had sent Ambassadours into France to negotiate a Marriage for him with Blanche the Daughter of Peter Duke of Bourbon a near Kinsman to Philip of Valois the first King of France of that Race The Castillians are a flegmatick people in matters of Negotiation and those whom Don Pedro had imployed about this driving at the advantage of the Kingdom more than the particular interest of the King they were so tedious in concluding upon their Conditions that Don Pedro began to be weary of their delay He was as violent as they were cautious when he sent to make that Overture about Blanche he had prepared his patience for no longer expectation than was necessary for a Journey betwixt Burgos and Paris and finding that elapsed and no intimation when the Wife was to come he began to think of easing his impatience by some gentle diversion for by that name it is all beginnings of Love are Christned that which makes oftentimes the greatest affair of a mans life is lookt upon at first but as a transitory fancy and whilst one thinks but to play and dally with Love as with a Child the least of his scratches become incurable and mortal At this rate it happened to our young Monarch He discovered his inclinations to Nugnez de Prade Grand Master of the Order of Callatrava and the chief of his Favourites Such kind of Confidences as these are not very honourable in themselves but the favour ennobles them It is always good to be imployed in the Secrets of ones Master let the part he be to act be what it will Nugnez thought himself much honoured that the King of Castile had made choice of him to serve him in his Amours and to acquit himself honourably of his Trust he gave himself up entirely to the finding out a Mistress for Don Pedro. This is an imployment which requires no great trouble Ladies are generally very well inclined when they are desired for a Prince but Nugnez could not accommodate with all that was offered him He was as dutiful a Subject as he was a dextrous Sollicitor and not being willing give the King any more than a bare diversion it cost him some trouble to find out a Person handsome enough to please him and yet not so compleat as to work him into a passion He thought he had met with one according to his mind in the person of Maria de Padilla one of the Maids of Honour to the Dutchess of Albuquerque This young Lady was witty and lively she was young and handsom and though she was neither of Beauty nor Quality sufficient to give any obstruction to the Marriage intended yet she was well enough to satisfie his impatience till the Princess arrived To relate the Formalities of our Monarch towards this Virgin or the Virgins to the King would be to charge our Annals with an impertinent Circumstance Lovers of Don Pedro's Rank are not subiect to the Punctilioes of a Romance They carry their Mistresses by absolute Power and it is not for them the Loveforms were devised Nugnez told Padilla the King likes you very well and Padilla replied What will his Majesty command me but this bargain made with so much expedition and consummated with so much ease had not a conclusion suitable to its beginning Padilla had athousand qualities capable of making a Lover happy more than indifferent persons could discern The vivacity of her Wit animated all her actions her humour and complacency supplied the defects of her Beauty and the Kings Magnificence making her eminent for a natural inclination to neatness Don Pedro at the very first found that his Mistress which the Grand Master hoped he would never have discovered He prest his Embassadours no more to dispatch and the little concern he had for her return making him think it precipitate when they did he scarce believed the Princess was come out of Paris when advice was brought that some body was to be Deputed to receive her upon the Frontiers These tydings both surprised and afflicted him He could have wisht never to have heard it whilst he lived but the Marriage of Kings being no jesting matter there was a necessity that Don Pedro should pretend to be content He dispatcht Nugnez de Prade to attend the new Queen and advancing himself some three days Journey from Burgos in order to meet her he resolved to content himself in this business as well as he could but his Love for Padilla would by no means concur her absence though but for three days seemed an Age to him He must needs return to her he could not endure the thoughts of marrying Blanche and looking upon his lawful
in the Story The Sedition of the Guelphs â—â—d the Gibelins and the Marriage of Henry IV. with Conâ—â—ance who had been four years a Nun is no less authenâ—â—ck The Galantrie of the Cloister is taken out of private â—emoires and some are of opinion Constance was Niece to â—â—lement III. and not to Alexander But besides that that â—â—rcumstance is uncertain and not positively to be decided 〈◊〉 is of so little importance to our Annals I think it not â—â—orth the time to dispute it The Amours of James King of Arragon Hist Hisp. Reg. Ferdinand IX Castil Reg. An. Dom. 1228. This Story is taken almost word for word out of that â—hronicle That that is added is only a little piece of Galâ—antry to bring in the Articles of Marriage The Fraticelles This History is taken out of so many famous Authors so many Memoires and Manuscripts that it would take up a whole Table to recite our Authorities Platus hath a whole Chapter upon them Baronius is so particular in â—heir debaucheries I dare not expose them to a modest â—eader I confess Hortensia is the Daughter of mine own â—ancy but there was a necessity of some person which might â—ive occasion for the declaration of their Doctrine If it was not to this Hortensia they spoke what is mentioned in my Annals it was to some body else for by consent of all Authors that was their thoughts If any of my Readers be scandalized with that liberty I refer him to my Preface The Extravagance of Dulcinus King of the Lombards and of Marguerite his Wife Annal. Eccles 1310. S. Anth. Arch. of Flor. lib 20. Abr. de Turcel Reg. Hen. VII This Extravagance is in History represented so horridly I thought it my duty to give it a better shape Dulcinus and Marguerite introduced a custom of promiscuous injoyment in all sorts of people without choice or distinction I have moderated that and turned it to the changing of Husbands and Wives which though it be contrary likewise to the Laws of the Church yet among Persons of Honour I think it would be more excusable than the other As to Nogaret there was a man of that Train at that time accompanied by Sara Colonna into Italy and supposing there was such an Examen of Husbands discontented and Wives not satisfied it is not improbable but their Arguments and Impeachments might be of that nature Don Pedro Rex Castil XIV Hist Spain Regn. ejusd Anno 1344. ad 1360. This Story is well-near word for word only the Amour of Nugnez is suppositious If the fidelity of this Table be suspected I only desire the Readers to suspend their Judgments till they know the Author when they know who it is they will believe in good breeding he deserves some connivence and perhaps some of them may confess there is more in his Annals than they expected from him THE ANNALS OF LOVE THE FIRST PART LOVE is agreeable in all forms and hath its influence upon all persons We have seen Queens in Love with the meanest of their Officers it reigns in the dull and almost dead eye as well as in the brisk and sparkling nor is there any Condition of Mankind from the Prince to the Pilgrim but stoops to that yoke and may become an Ornament of its Triumph Of this the Countess of Castile is a most pregnant Example She was descended from the Illustrious Family of the Vermandois she was a great Beauty and married to a Count whose Estate since that time hath composed a considerable Kingdom His Court was numerous and the Castilian Gallantry the most remarkable in all Spain But it was not with the Charms of a Courtier the Countess was to be won her Vertue was impregnable as to Magnificence or Spruceness it must be a Hat with large brims a Rochet set with shells must work upon her The Lustre of that Diadem to which her Husband Don Garcia Fernandez was born made less impression upon her heart than the counterfeit humility of a Pilgrim of S. James This Hero travelling to Compostella through the Kingdom of Castile and understanding the Countess was originally French and particularly gracious to that Nation he resolved to have his share of it as well as the rest of his Country-men He got himself presented by the Master of the Hospital at Burgos where being received and the excellence of his Meen piercing through the obscurity of his habit the Countess found him immediately so compleat she retarded the accomplishment of his Vow for some weeks she conjured him to repose himself for some time at her Court in Castile and because his Equipage was not likely to render him considerable she found out a pretence to furnish him more nobly her self There was not a Family in France to which he said he was allied but was akin likewise to the Countess so covering the real indigence of her Pilgrim with the Mask of voluntary Penance he was introduced into the Court under the Name of Hugo d'Anjou descended from the Counts of Guien first Cousins to the Countess and that out of an excess of Devotion he was marching in Pilgrimage to Compostella He could not have had better Titles to recommend him in that Country for Don Garcias loved his Wife very well and the Castilians are a people naturally sensible of any act of Devotion Thus far therefore our Hugo is happy being lodged in the Counts own Palace and reverenced by his whole Court for the profound humility which they supposed in him His change of Habit could be no disadvantage to him it is not to be imagined but he was as graceful to the eyes of the Countess in the Fashion of a French Lord as in the Weeds of a Pilgrim She made him tell her the Adventures of his Voyage and pressed it with as much importunity as was possible she would not suffer him to omit the least Circumstance and for as much as good Lodging is a rare Commodity among Pilgrims and he had occasion sometimes to mention the unkindness of the Servants where he lay the good Lady was so tender-hearted and so sensible of his sufferings she could not forbear blurting out â—nto tears As sly Aeneas told his mournful tale To gentle Dido and so plaid his part Not only for belief he did prevail But riggled himself into the Ladies heart So our Land-Pilgrim understood so right To explicate h troubles by the way That not a stumble or a start in th' night But spoiled the Countess's Eyelids all that day How great is Love and arbitrary all Follows the mighty dictate of his will Interest Honour what we Generous call Ambition truckle to his Scepter still Religion which I 'd thought would ne're submit Stoops with the rest and kisses Cupids feet Hugo d'Anjou the Pilgrim perceiving by the compassion the Countess exprest in the beginning of his disasters that she was favourably disposed towards him resolved to give her better occasion than the bare relation of his Pilgrimage He was
Duke Otho had not been bound in honour to have made him away The Emperour ought not to be comprehended in the Revenge he might be innocent for ought she knew and if he were guilty he might have married her and ransomed his life I must confess this objection is not altogether impertinent But in affairs of Love all men persue Their proper fancies and the man whose Fate Directs him to a means legitimate Is just and happy though his way be new For when the heart 's indued with Grace and fear Of Heaven what e're it does what e're it will Is but a Sacrifice to Honour still Yet sometimes when no sense of that appears Vice eggs them on as furiously to kill As all thy Vertue in the World were there The Dutchess of Modena was necessitated by her Stars and her Revenge justified by her Conjugal Love and perhaps she would have done as much for her Servant had she had one for minds as tender and as constant as hers are capable of great Enterprises but marching under the Standard of Duty that which at another time had been furious and criminal was at this an Example of Vertue But let us leave her in the injoyment of a passion whose violence was a vertue and proceed to an Accident of no such Constancy and Resolution THE ANNALS OF LOVE THE SECOND PART THE Chronology of History not according exactly with the Chronology of Love there are some years in which no amorous Intrigues are to be found and there are others in which all the considerable Accidents are Love My Annals containing only matters of Courtship I cannot be strict in the observation of Times but shall presume upon occasion to put the passages of the same Age into the Amours of the same year and so skip from one Age to another in my Description of Years I shall begin therefore this third Annal by the Reign of a Prince who lived about a hundred years after the Emperour I mentioned before Castile being a Country too flourishing to continue long under the denomination of a County Don Garcias Fernandez of whom we spake in the beginning of our Annals was the last of its Counts It took the Title of a Kingdom under Sanchyle Grand next Successor to Garcias Fernandez and having past in that way to the time of Sanchy III. it devolved by his death to his Brother Alphonso King of Leon who was from that time called King of Castile At the beginning of his Reign this Prince was perplext with several Wars the Mores and the Sarracens infested him so that he was forced to implore the aid of the King of Fance against those Enemies of Christianity Many Knights and Reformades repaired to him from all parts But the French as the more Martial were most kindly received Raymond the Son of William Duke of Burgundy Raymond Earl of Toulouse and Henry Lorraine Son to William Earl of Boulogne Brother to Godfrey of Boulogne performed such eminent Exploits that Alphonso believed he could do nothing more for the advantage and security of his Crown than to continue those three Captains in the Command of his Armies He had three Daughters two of them natural and the other legitimate The eldest called Vrraca he married to Raymond of Burgundy and gave him in Dowry the Principality of Galicia Theresia the eldest of the two naturals married Henry of Lorraine and had for her share the Conquests in Portugal and the youngest Elvira much handsomer and better beloved by her Father than either of the other was married to Raymond of Tholouse with secret ingagement from Alphonso to assure to him the Kingdoms of Castile and Leon after his death And thus I have given you the Commencement of this year not so eminent for Love as it promised in appearance These six persons had almost no sooner seen one another but they were married and no soouer married but they differed so that this place would be more proper for an Historical Abridgment than the Introduction of an amorous Intrigue But bold determine not Loves ways are strange He had his private and peculiar Laws Nothing is so remote but he can change And bend it to the Model of his Cause He makes the Lady fair the Statesmen great Though one be old the other near so mean And when he please can both of them defeat And throw them down to their old state again When he 's dispos'd to sport himself the man 'S unhappy let him be as happy as he can Elvira was so obsequious to her Father and he so transcendently kind to her that Vrraca being his only legitimate Child and by consequence had best right to that preference began much to resent it She had private advertisement every day that Alphonso designed the Kingdoms of Leon and Castile for his Daughter Elvira and judging it necessary that either the Prince her Husband or her self should be constantly about his Majesty to have the better eye upon his actions they consulted together to resolve which of the two was most proper for the Journey and it fell to Prince Raymond Never did French man of his Age and Spirit and married for interest as he was refuse any opportunity of travelling Vrraca in the mean time continued in Galicia to govern that new Territory in the absence of her Husband and the Prince set forth for the Court of Castile The pretence of his Journey being a concern for the Kings health it is easie to imagine he was not unwelcome at his Arrival There was no noise but of Entertainments and Balls Raymonds business there was not to complain he came thither to discry and make advantage of his observation The young Elvira was much pleased with Divertisements and indeed at her age who is it that hates them She was extreamly delighted with those her Brother-on-law gave her and she wanted neither Civility to invite nor kindness to press him to stay at that Court as long as he could And to speak the truth she had no hard task to perswade him to stay This Countess was one of the greatest Beauties in the World Raymond had always thought her much handsomer than his Wife And though Elvira had scarce seen the Prince before he was married yet she also esteemed him more compleat than the person she married But Persons of their Rank are the least guided by their own inclinations The advantages Raymond purposed by his Marriage with Vrraca made him prefer her to Elvira and Alphonso's Election happened upon the Count de Tholouse for his youngest Marriages in this nature do seldom suffer the Husbands to consider the vertue of their Wives Hence it was the Prince of Galicia found his Sister-in-law as charming under the Title Countess of Tholouse as he had judged her when she was but Elvira of Castile Behold them therefore in perfect intelligence the Countess took singular satisfaction in the Company of the Prince and the Prince was as much pleased with the Commands of te
No man can tell its power till he hath tryed it and no man that hath tryed is fit to describe it Henry de Lorraine the Husband of Theresia of Castile and Prince of the Conquests in Portugal being of a Family to which life and Generosity were connatural with great sorrow understood the distraction of the Royal House of Castile Any body but he would have made his advantage of them the displeasure of the Father against two of his Daughters must needs be of great importance to the third But the Princes of his Race are not capable of so mean a thing as private interest He departed from Lisbon immediately went directly to his Father-in-law the King of Castile and undertook to mediate betwixt his two Brothers-in-law But for as much as new Acquisitions are more tottering and uncertain than what are anciently establisht Henry apprehending his absence might give opportunity to new Commotions he kept his Journey very close and leaving Fernandez Paw a Portugal to assist his Wife in the Government of that Kingdom he departed so suddenly for Castile that Theresia had scarce time to write two lines to her Father But for the making the occurrences at Castile at the Arrival of Prince Henry perspicuous it will not be amiss if we insert what passed in Portugal before he set out This Fernandez Paw whom he had left chief Counsellor to the Princess in his absence had long since possest himself of that Character in her heart Henry was a young Prince more enamoured of the Quality than the Person of Theresia This Paw admired her for both and it is a great satisfaction to a Woman to have her Dominion founded upon her own Excellence Paw therefore had got an intimacy with the Princess upon that score and having managed it very discreetly Prince Henry had gotten no notice of it Paw served his Prince so well in his Foreign Affairs he was not the least suspected at home Theresia carried herself with as much modesty as could be expected but by misfortune the day before Henry was to depart there had been some Letters past betwixt Theresia and Paw the Princess was subject to some Christian reflexions which had put her Gallant into some confusion He had writ to her upon that subject and Theresia was so prest by her Husband to close up her Pacquet to Castile that she sealed up Paws Letter instead of one to her Father This mistake was not discovered till three or four hours after the Prince was departed They had been imployed all that time in instructions pro and con But when the Princess was alone and had a mind to read Paws Letter which she believed she had left sealed upon the Table she was much surprized to find the Letter she had writ to her Father Alphonso in its place That she sigh 't and wept and tore her hair is no great difficulty to imagine Nothing could serve but she must dye Fernandez could not comfort her and to speak truth he himself wanted no little consolation But there was no remedy but patience The Example of her other Sisters gave his some relaxation she could not do worse than they had done before her In the mean time Henry arrived at Burgos with Paws Letter instead of his Fathers The good Alphonso was much revived at the sight of his dear Son-in-law and looking now upon Theresia as the sole Inheritrix of that Love of which Elvira and Vrraca had rendred themselves unworthy he observed the tears drop down his venerable Cheeks at the sight of the Letter the Prince presented him from her He opened the Pacquet with great joy and supposing there was nothing in the heart of his Daughter to which her Husband might not be privy he began to read it aloud but recollecting immediately that it was not Theresia's hand he stopt at the first line and then looking upon the Superscription to see how it was directed he found it For the King of Castile and that the Superscription was written by Theresia her self he concluded then that she might have some reasons which he did not know to make use of a Secretary and then stepping to the Window he read these Lines which to accommodate our selves to all sorts of Readers we have taken the pains to translate our of Spanish Ah my dear Princess how insupportable are you grown with your remorses have I not told you a thousand times that there is nothing owing to Husbands but the conservation of their Honours That the great discretion lyes in chusing a friend who by the prudenee of his Conduct would keep them from scandal and these Formalities being observed there is no more due from you to Prince Henry Courage Madam overcome this unseasonable compunction and that it may be nipt in the bud permit that I may wait upon you this night with new Arguments against it Never was any man so surprized as Alphonso at the reading of this Letter It was to be his common custom to see his Daughters disloyal Elvira had taken that liberty in private Vrraca did it publickly and the old King of Castile was so good a Father as to impute all to the imprudence of his Sons-in-law He could not believe it was their temperament or natural inclination which disposed them to so unnatural actions The one was debaucht by the Jealousie of her Husband the other by her desire of Revenge but for Theresia he had nothing to say in her defence Henry was accomplisht in himself he had setled the French oeconomy in his Family and Theresia lived at Lisbon as she would have done at Paris He was liberal frank and faithful so that Alphonso was so much transported at the injury done to this Prince that he could not master his first resentments However it had been but prudence in him to conceal the exorbitance of his Daughter but the good man was so transported with choler that he threw the Letter upon the ground cast up his eyes to heaven as a person under some eminent affliction and answering his own thoughts as it had been his Daughter he cryed out You shall dye unhappy Child you shall dye if your Husband should be so merciful to forgive you I would tear you in pieces with mine own trembling hands rather than your infidelity should go unpunisht The Prince of Portugal had like to have swounded at this transport he could not conceive the Contents of the Letter nor the cause of Alphonso's disorder and asking him in his surprise what infidelity it was he charged upon Theresia the King took up the Letter again and delivering it into his hand here says he see what reason I have to be disturbed and confess I have brought Monsters not Daughters into the World Henry took Paws Letter from the King he knew the hand and reading it half out was so astonisht at the Contents he could scarce tell whether he was waking or asleep His conversation in the World had not been so small but he
knew a Womans vertue was not to be warranted without good counter-security He understood the Sex by experience and was not ignorant that the best friends are usually they which disparage the Husband But to consider that he should be the Porter of that unfortunate Letter was a Pill he could not swallow nor digest His misfortune was too common to be incredible but the Circumstance with which it was accompanied was beyond all belief and it was not so much Paws Letter that affected him as that it was his Destincy to deliver it This consideration stownded him for some time and the transportation of his Father-in-law added fuel to his fire but at last the storm was blown over In that Age as it is in this the Tilte of Cuckold was so common it was scarce any trouble to be so The disgrace lyes only where it is known when a Womans inconstancy is publick nothing is greater dishonour to her Husband where it is managed with secrecy nothing is so trivial Henry lookt upon it as no point of discretion to publish the infirmities of his Wife and therefore gave himself some few days to digest his resentment But the Examples of his Brother-in-law having learnt him some Wit he came one morning to the Kings Chamber and said to him You see Sir by the Letter I have brought you that your Daughters have no reason to upbraid one another They were born under the same Constellation and if any thing discriminated me from the Prince of Galicia and the Count of Tholouse it is this that their unhappiness is known and mine is a secret I have no inclination to publish it and if you please you may conceal the Letter you shewed me Send word to your Daughter that you kept it from me and I will never convince her of her errour In giving me Theresia your Majesty gave me also a Province which I hope in time to improve into a Kingdom I have Children already which may succeed me hereafter There is no necessity the Portugals should suspect whether they be mine or Paws Conceal the dishonour of your Daughter with as much care as I and by the Example of your Family we will demonstrate that it is the discretion of the Husbands which makes the difference betwixt the Women which are prudent in appearance and those which are really irregular The King of Castile took this Proposition very kindly He began to repent himself of what he had done insomuch that magnifying the Generosity he had exprest he seconded his Counsels with several Examples and most irrefragable Arguments and the troubles in Castile being appeased by the death of the Count of Tholouse and the interpostion of the King of France Henry returned into Portugal without any mark or token of that he knew The truth is he found out a pretence to send Paw out of the World and I have been told he had another to make his Wife more obsequious for the future But as he presaged very judiciously his Posterity have reigned several years in Portugal whereas the younger Sons of the Royal Family of Castile have always disputed the Crown with the Children of Vrraca MAXIME V This I 'le affirm let things to how they can The marri'd's really the happiest man Let her be what she will I 'le lay my life His owns more faithful than this Neighbours Wife But shall we never have done with these Daughters does no other condition of life but the married afford matter for our Annals Yes certainly History is so fertile in amourous accidnets she supplies us with variety About the same time while things were in this agitation in Spain Love which had laid about him so in the Royal Family of Castile was not idle in the Court of the Emperour of the West This Empire was then under the Dominion of Frderick Barberossa a valiant and ambitious Prince He had signalized the beginning of his Reign by remarkable Victories so that there was nothing discoursed of in all Europe so much as his Power and Greatness He kept his ordinary Residence in Rome as well because the Climate agreed with his body as upon certain secret Designs he had upon the Lands of the Church and because his remoteness from the heart of his Empire caused him to apprehend some Mutiny in the Towns of Germany he obliged Prince Henry his Son to continue in that Province the greatest part of the year This young Prince was extremely hopeful the people of the Empire loved him entirely So that his Father conceiving some Jealousie lousie thereupon took the pretence of his Coronation to recal him to Rome They past the Winter very lovingly together and the Emperour having a mind to pry into the Conduct of Alexander the Third who was then Pope and in possession os the Patrimony of S. Peter he ordered his Son to visit him frequently The Prince in obedience to his Father waited upon him as often as he was visible He attended him in all his devitions and among other places to a Monastery of Nuns where his Holiness had a Niece he loved most entirely She was descended from the Blood Royal of Si ily and her Uncle the Disposer of all Ecclesiatical preferments but as yet she was not of years to be an Abbess and therefore at Rome was known by no other name but Madam Gonstance She was as handsom as was possible to wish and besides several other good qualities she had a good voice and sung incomparably well at one of the Solemnities of that Covent the Prince heard her one day and being a great Lover of Musick he had a great ambition to see her the dignity of her relation to the Pope authorizing his desire he askt leave to see Constance when the Ceremony was ended He was much transported at the sight of her and had never seen so many graces in one Assembly before Till that day he was free his soul was his own and he seemed born for Mars's not Venus Wars But he was not the first man hath become a Captive to the simplicity of a Nun. There is a sort of people not to be captivated but in this shape and there have been Letters seen in our days which have taught us that of all people in the World none make Love with that confidence and freedom as the Nuns The Monastical Gallantry hath its Laws and Rubricks apart There are no elegant Entertainments no Assiduities nor publick Attendances all things within the Cloister are so carried privately and with discretion nevertheless their Religious Civility is so great they will not discourage any mans affection and there is but few which attempt them but they arrive at their designs The Imperial Prince was a handsom Person and a fine Gentleman Constance had taken a Monastick life upon her more in obedience than choice and in vows of this Nature there is something always reserved to direct the intention Thus have we brought them into Cupids High-way The Prince seconded his
duty as a desertion of his Mistress he left the new Queen to shift for her self and returned to his Padilla for consolation When Nugnez understood the King had given Order for his Equipage to march back towards Burgos he thought he had been misinformed replied immediately to his Majesty and finding him ready to take Horse Why Sir said he in great astonishment will you quit our new Queen before you see her Consider I beseech you you are but a days Journey from her I know not replied Don Pedro whether that be enough for her but I am sure 't is too much for me Is it Sir replied the Grand Master that you have not found her as you had reason to have hoped or that ill instructed in the obedience she owes you she hath No Nugnez replied Don Pedro interrupting him 't is nothing of all that 't is only this Don Pedro of Castile is not born for Blanche de Bourbon Those who contrived this Meeting knew neither of us both and tob e short she may return to France as she came if her design be to be Queen of Castile for she is nothing to me now and never will be more The faithful Nugnez discomposed exceedingly with this resolution did what he could to make Don Pedro consider of what importance it might be he represented the Power of the Duke of Bourbon by the accession of the Family of Valois to the Crown of France the general interest of all Princes to vindicate an Affront to a Princess so nearly related to the most Puissant of all the Christian Kings the dissatisfaction of the Apoll stolick See the murmures of the people and the injury he would do to his own Honour and Renown but all these remonstances were in vain Don Pedro departed without vouchsafing the Grand Master an Answer leaving him to repent at leisure what-ever e had recommended Padilla to be Mistress to the King This faithful Favourite beholding at one Prospect the evils which this action would bring upon Castile resolved as much as he could to divert it by cajolling the new Queen He prepared an eloquent Discourse to excuse her Entertainment and after he had perused it and was well satisfied with the Contents he desired Audience of Blanche and endeavoured what he could to justifie Don Pedro He pretended indisposition of body and some imaginary Affairs of State to apologize for his departure but there was no need he should trouble himself so far Blanche was a Princess but of small Experience in the World she had been brought up in a Monastery where they make a scruple of opening their very Eyes and she believed it was sufficient to have been married by Don Pedro's Ambassadours to make her Queen of Castile When Nugnez perceived this Errour he was very much surprised The King had given him to understand the Marriage was not consummate he attended to see the Princess mortally dissatisfied with her mistaken and upon this point it was his Harangue was principally to insist but whatever he could say to explain himself and what address soever he used to eradicate that opinion out of Blanche reserving the respect he ought to her Person he found her invincibly perswaded she was Don Pedro's Wife already and she blusht when she said it as much as another Woman would have blusht at a far greater Crime So profound an ignorance is rare in a Person of her Age Nugnez could not contemplate it without astonishment and adding pity to his wonder by degrees both the one and the other produced sparkles of Love which brake out at length into a most pernicious flame Blanche was young and of an excellent humour and to be handsom she wanted nothing but a desireto please insomuch as our Grand Master fell in Love at a time when it was least suspected and with the Person in the World he had the least design upon In brief his fidelity to his Master seemedto have shut up all the avenues of his heart against so criminal a passion never was Subject more zealous for his Prince and he had given a thousand instances of his affection But what is it that Love cannot do nugnez found Charms in the Innocence of Blanche which Don Pedro lookt upon as faults he took no pleasurebut in the Company of the Princess and the pretence of perswading his Majestyto his duty giving him opportunity of frequent and long Conferences with the King his passion increasedso fast by occasion of those Enterviews he had scarce power to dissemble it Had he consulted his own heart about the successof his Negotiation he would have done what he could possibly to have caused it to miscarry Which way soever he lookt upon the Kings aversion for Blanche it could not be but advantagious to nugnez First it threatned Castile with a dangerous War and the Grand Master being chief Minister that Menace must needs be grateful to him Moreover it furnisht the Courtiers with an opportunity of flattery of which a Favourite may make a marvellous use and if his Policy accommodated with this Divorce the Reader may easily believe his Love would not be against it But this generous Castillian being in reality more a Person of Honour than a Lover or interested Subject did as much to reduce his Master to what was just as he had been to have received no advantage by his pertinacity He conferred with the Duke of Albuquerque Husband to Phidilla's old Mistress and Nugnez particular Friend The misfortune this Duke conceived it to have brought up the Person in his House who was like to be the destruction of the Royal Family of Castile made him more passionate for the interests of Blanche than any other of the Grandees in that Kingdom They went together to Padilla they desired her as Friends that she wouldimploy all her Wit and Capacity with the King to prevail with him to use Blanche as he was in duty obliged but perceiving that under the Title of Friends they were not regarded they changed their Character they began to speak with authority and threatned her with the resentment of the whole Kingdom if she stopt not the course of an injustice of which she was lookt upon as the Author Padilla was proud and witty she discovered by the consequence how much she was nettled at this threat but thinking that no time to hint her displeasure she promised the Duke and the Grand Master she would contribute her utmost to Blanches satisfaction But she had a care of being as good as her word she had too much pride and ambition to make any serious prayers so contrary to her vanity and her hopes Nevertheless the Castillians not being able to endure such an injury to their Nation as the violation of their Faith solemnly engaged by publick Authority and the most confident persons amongst them murmured highly against the injustice of it The Grandees fell into Cabals the Common-people into Factions all things were tending to a Revolt Leonora Queen
to her and she running with them immediately to the King possest him highly against their innocent Love and blackned his passion with such formidable Colours that had the King followed the first motions of his anger he had sent to have had Nugnez put immediately to death But as he loved him very well and could not easily forget the Services he had done him he restrained himself in spight of his natural impetuosity The Queen was at that time in the Castle of Maqueda where Nugnez to remove her out of the sight of her Enemies had caused her to be shut up The Governour of the Castle had been put in by the Grand Master and he had reason to believe he would be faithful to him but there is no friendship nor acknowledgment proof against the Authority of ones natural Prince Don Pedro sent for the Governour to him he ordered him to receive certain Troops privately into the Castle to be sure Nugnez knew nothing of them and flattering his fidelity with as many fair promises as he threatned his indiscretion with punishments if he refused he caused the Garrison to be insensibly changed and no Souldiers left of whom he was not secure When he had used all this preliminary precaution he ordered word to be brought him when the Grand Master was with the Queen and being desirous to evict him by his own Eyes he repaired privately to Maqueda forbad the Governour upon penalty of his life to give the Grand Master any notice and being conducted by Jane de Castro into a Closet near the Princesses Chamber where that young Virgin was used to listen to their discourses the King heard Blanche tell him Were there yet in these Flowers you send me any Serpent concealed or were they impregnated with any poysonous quality that might put a speedy end to my miseries I should say your heart began to mollifie towards me But I see well enough this Present is but a politick piece of Civility wherewith you season the injuries you do me and which you would not practise without doubt were it not to rob me of the feeble consolation of complaining on you in all things Nugnez was so much affected with a reproach he merited so little that his patience was overcome Why Madam said he to the Princess with his voice quite changed would you more willingly receive poyson from my hands than these small Presents wherewith I endeavour to divert your sad thoughts Yes without doubt replied the Queen I should look upon the poyson as a token of your sincerity whereas I consider all now but as so many tokens of your dissimulation Certainly Madam replied Nugnez transported with sorrow I have then complied very ill with your desires for I have exposed my life and fortune and do expose them every day in not giving you that poyson you are so earnest to have and then his Love overflowing his fidelity and resolution he began to discover to the Queen the discourse he had had with the King the secret of his Conduct which she had not perceived and finding himself insensibly ingaged to speak of his affection be began to make a perfect declaration But Don Pedro prevented him for that giving him no leisure to go through he cryed out Arm Arm and entring into Blanches Chamber with the Officers of his Guards he caused Nugnez to be stab'd in his own presence immediately The Queen would have run the same Destiny if his opinion that he could convict her of Amours betwixt Nugnez and her had not made him reserve her for more publick Justice He caused her to be removed and kept close in the Castle of Siquenca and resolving to cut her off with more formalities than her Gallant he returned to Burgos as well satisfied with his Journey as if he had gainned some considerable Victory The mischievous Padilla heapt her Congratulations upon him for so noble an action Fernandez flattering himself with the hopes of the Grand Masters place in the favour of the King could not satisfie his expectation with less than some eminent Dignity But see the vanity of humane designs Don Pedro who had never lookt upon Jane de Castro but with eyes prepossest by Padilla being at that time disposed to a change he became enamour'd of her when he saw her in the Castle of Maqueda His heart was tender Jane was amiable and what had past lately in Castile having given Don Pedro a relish of injustice and impunity he regarded not his Marriage with Blanche as an obstruction to his new desires he gained two of the Bishops of his Kingdom to declare that his Marriage with the Queen not being consummate it was lawful for him to take another as he pleased and upon their bare Authority he married Jane de Castro publickly without any scruple It is easie to judge Padilla and Fernandez de Hyvestrosa were nettled to the quick by this sudden Wedding This ambitious Mistress who could not endure so much as the shadow of a Queen upon the Throne of Castile found it now in the full possession of an absolute Queen beloved by the King and Fernandez who flattered by the promises of his Niece had been the secret Instrument of Nugnez's death received no other fruit of his inhumanity than a Banishment from the Court and the loss of his Mistress which he loved above the World Had that Mistress of his been as sensible of Fernandez despair as he had reason to hope she would have refused the Crown which was offered her but that Age was like ours they stood not much upon Constancy the Glory of being a Queen outweighed the shame of infidelity and let Lovers say what they will a Crown is better than a Garland In the mean time the unfortunate Blanche was alone in the Castle condoling the loss of her Grand Master she understood then but it was too late the difference betwixt her past and her present Captivity and the Image of Nugnez stab'd in her presence for her sake caused such bitter remorses in her mind she had much ado to keep her self alive But we will leave her to mode her Complaints as she please and prepare her self for that Poyson which was given her some few days after to give some relaxation to our Pen. The principal parts of these Annals having been mentioned before it ought to be allowed us to repose after so rapid a Carieer The rest of the Reign of Pedro de Castile is so repleat with Murders and Cruelties of all sorts that I could not describe them without falling into a Tragical recitation which I have always carefully avoided THE ANNALS OF LOVE THE FIFTH PART JOhn Paleologus Emperour of Greece sirnamed Calos which in that Language signifies Fair lived about two hundred years since His Son Emanuel being gone with Supplies to the Emperor of Trebisonde his Ally whom Mammomas Prince of Peloponesius had invaded with a formidable Army fell in Love with the said Emperours Daughter and