But here 's what hastned his ruine applying his Mind only to divert the Queen he wrote a Comedy which every Body likes and the Queen more than others found therein such moving and delicate stroaks in it that she wou'd act apart in it her self on the King's Birth-day It was the Amorous Count who managed and took care of the Festival he ordered the Cloaths and provided Machines which cost him above Thirty thousand Crowns He had caused a great Cloud to be painted under which the Queen was concealed in a Machine He stood very near it and at a certain sign he gave a Man who was faithful to him he set fire to the linnen work of the Cloud The whole House valued at an hundred thousand Crowns was in a manner consumed but he comforted himself when making his advantage of this favourable Opportunity he took his Soveraign in his Arms carry'd her into a little by-place and there stole from her some Favours and that which is much taken notice of in this Country is that he touched her foot A little Page who saw him inform'd the Count Duke of it he did not doubt but when he saw the fire but this was an effect of the Count's Passion He made such an exact Enquiry that he laid before the King certain Proofs of it and his Proofs so greatly enraged the King that 't is pretended he caused him to be shot with a Pistol one night as he was in his Coach with Don Lewis de Haro Here 's a very Tragical end said I to her interrupting her but whilst said she I am speaking to you of Philip the Fourth I cannot but I must tell you that he was vehemently in love with the Dutchess Dalburkerke He cou'd never meet with a favourable opportunity of Entertaining her The Duke her Husband kept strict guard over her and the more Obstacles the King met with the more his Desires increased but when Night came and when he was at play he feign'd to call to mind he had a Letter to write of the greatest consequence He call'd the Duke Dalburkerke who was in his Chamber and desired him to take his place and continue his Game He immediately hereupon entred into his Closet disguised himself and went down by a back Stairs and came to the young Dutchess with the Count Duke his Favorite The Duke Dalburkerke whose mind ran on his Domestick Interests more then on his Game easily believ'd his Master wou'd not have committed it to him without some secret Design He began then to complain of an horrid Collick and uttering Cries and making Faces enough to fright one he gave the Cards to another and without any stop run home The King had only just arrived there without any Train he was then in the Court and seeing the Duke come he hid himself but there is nothing so clear sighted as a jealous Husband He perceiv'd the King and being not willing to have Lights brought that he might not be oblig'd to acknowledge him he made up to him with a great Cane which he commonly walked with Ha! Ha! Villain said he to him thou comest to rob my House and without more words he laid on him with all his strength The Count Duke was no more spared who fearing least worse might happen cried out several times 'T was the King to stop the Duke's Fury but this was so far from effecting it that he redoubled his blows both on the Prince and his Minister crying in his turn That this was a stroak of the greatest Insolence to make use of his Majesty's Name and his Favorites in such an occasion that he could find in his heart to send 'em to the Palace because he well knew the King would cause 'em to be hang'd In all this Fray the King said not a word and at length got away half mad in having received so many blows and not one favour from his Mistress This produced no ill Consequences to the Duke Dalburkerke but on the contrary the King being cured of his Love to the Dutchess made a Jest of it some time after I know not whether I do not abuse your patience by the length of this Conversation added the Countess de Lemos and I fall insensible into the defect of persons of my Age who forget themselves when they tell of things done in their time I saw she was for retiring and having again thankt her for the honour she had done me I took my leave of her and returned to my Inn. The Weather was so foul that we with great difficulty set out but being resolv'd on it we marcht as long as the day lasted falling down and getting up as well as we cou'd We cou'd hardly see four Paces before us the Storm was so great that it blew off several Stones off the Rocks which fell into our way and hurt one of our Company he had been kill'd had he not stept on one side In fine after having made about eight Leagues according to our reckoning we were much astonisht to find our selves at the Gates of Lerma without having advanced or gone back We had still turn'd about the Town without perceiving it as it were by Enchantment sometimes farther sometimes nearer and we were all of us not a little out of humor at having taken so much pains to so little purpose The Hostess transported at the sight of us she who cou'd have been glad with all her heart we shou'd thus Travel as long as we lived to return to lye at her House every night tarried for me at the top of her little Stair-case She told me she was very sorry she cou'd not let me have my Room again but wou'd give me another commodious enough and that mine was taken up by a Seignora the greatest in Spain Don Fernand askt her name she told him she was called Donna Eleonor of Toledo he as soon inform'd me she was his near Kinswoman He cou'd not comprehend by what chance she shou'd come there To be satisfied in the matter he sent his Gentleman to make her a Complement and to know whether his visit wou'd not be troublesome She sent word she had a great Satisfaction at this happy Meeting and that he wou'd do her a great deal of honour He went up immediately to her Chamber and was inform'd by her of several particulars which related to him He came afterwards to me and told me very civilly That where not Donna Eleonar excessive weary and indisposed she wou'd have given me the first Visit I in short desired him to conduct me to her Chamber where she receiv'd me in a most obliging manner and I observ'd in the first moment of our Conversation that she had a great deal of Wit and Politeness I found her very neat and handsome her Eyes were lively and so glistering that one cou'd not without pain endure their brightness Don Fernand told her who I was and that I went to see one of my near Relations at Madrid Her name
Torrents and making the Waters pass that we were only affrighted two of our Mules were drowned my Litters and Cloaths were so soakt in Water that to dry them we were forc'd to tarry one whole Day and this was no easie matter for there are no Chimneys in the Inns they heated the Oven and put my Cloaths in it I can assure you I have not gained any thing in this unhappy Inundation I lay down after this or to speak better I bathed my self my Bed being as wet as any thing else My fellow Travellers thought fit to let me rest a little I have employ'd one part of my leisure time in writing to you Adieu dear Cosin it is time to finish I am ever more yours than any Bodies in the World From Aranda de Duero this 9th of March. LETTER VI. THE Exactness I observe in giving you an Account of things which I judge worthy of your Curiosity puts me often times on Enquiries into several Particulars which I shou'd have otherwise omitted had you not perswaded me that you are a great Lover of Novelties and that you love to Travel without going out of your Closet We parted from Aranda in a time of Thaw which as it rendred the Air warmer so it made the ways more troublesome We came a while after to the Mountain de Samozierra which parts the Old Castile from the New and we Traverst it not without difficulty as well for its height as the quantity of Snow with which the Bottoms were fill'd and into which we sometimes fell as from Precipices believing the way even They call this Pass the Puerto which Name methinks shou'd be only giv'n to a part where one Embarks on the Sea or a River but it is thus they call the Passage from one Kingdom to another and you make your way to your Cost for the King's Officers wait for Travellers in the Road and let 'em not go till they have paid what they require In arriving at Buitrago we were as wet as the night of the Inundation at Aranda and tho' I kept my Litter I felt no less the Incommodiousness of the Weather than if I had been on foot or Horsback because the Litters are so ill closed and made in this Country that when the Mules pass through any Water they throw up with their Feet part of the Water into the Litter which there remains So that I was forced in arriving to change my Linnen and Cloaths afterwards Don Fernand the three Knights my Daughter and my Women went with me to the Castle I had been so often told of It appeared to me as regularly built as that of Lerma not so large but every whit as pleasant The Apartments are better contriv'd and the Furniture is richer and very singular as well for its Antiquity as Magnificence This Castle as well as that of Lerma belongs to Don Rodrigo de Silva de Mendosa Duke de Pastrana and de L'infantada His Mother's Name is Donna Katherina de Mendosa Sandoval Heiress of the Dutchy's of Infantada and Lerma It descends from Father to Son of Ruy Gomes de Silva who was made Duke of Pastrana and Prince of Eboly by King Philip the Second This Princess d'Eboly who has been so much talkt of for her Beauty was his Wife and the King was passionately in love with her They shew'd me her Picture she is represented at her whole length sitting under a Tent fastned to some Boughs of Trees she seems as if she were rising for she has only a fine Linnen-cloth on her which lets one part of her Body be seen If she were as handsome as her Picture makes her and if her Features were so regular she must be judged the most charming Woman in the World her Eyes are so lively and full of Spirit that it seems as if she was about speaking to you her Neck Arms Feet and Leggs are naked her Hair falls down on her Breasts and little Cupids which appear every where about her press on one another to serve her some had her Slippers others are ready to strew flowers on her and some hold her looking Glass Others are seen farther off who are sharpning their Arrows whilst others fill their Quivers with them and bend their Bow A Fawn looks on her through Boughs she sees him and shews him to a little Cupid who is leaning on her Knees and weeps as if he were afraid of it at which she seems to smile I remained a great while looking on this Picture with the greatest pleasure but I was made to pass into a Gallery where I saw her again She was painted in a large Piece attending Queen Elizabeth Daughter to Henry the Second King of France whom Philip the Second King of Spain espoused instead of giving her to Don Carlos his Son to whom she had been promised The Queen made her Entrance on Horseback as 't is the Custom and I found the Princess Eboly less shining near her than she appeared to me when alone You may hereby judge of the Charms of this young Queen she had a blue Sattin Gown but as to the rest just as I represented to you the Countess of Lemos The King stood in a Balcony to see her pass by He had a black Suit with a Collar of the Golden Fleece his Hair reddish and gray long visage pale old wrinkled and ugly The Infant Don Carlos accompanied the Queen he was very white a fine head his Hair of a light yellow his Eyes blue and he lookt on the Queen with so moving an Air that it appear'd the Painter knew the secret of his heart and wou'd express it His Habit was white embroidered with precious Stones he was in his Doublet with his Hat botton'd upon one side and covered with white Feathers I saw in the same Gallery another piece which much affected me which was the Prince Don Carlos dying he was sitting in a Chair leaning on his Arm on a Table before him holding a Pen in his Hand as if he would have wrote something there was a Vessel by him wherein appeared a sort of black Liquor which apparently was design'd for Poyson A little further you see the Bath preparing for him where his Veins were to be opened the Painter had perfectly well represented the Confusion of so sad an Occasion and having read his History and being much affected with it methoughts I saw him really dying I was told these Pieces were of inestimable value I was afterwards conducted into a Chamber whose Furniture had belong'd to the Arch-Dutchess Marguerita of Austria Governess of the Low Countries and it is pretended she had workt it her self there is a neatly wrought Bed of Flowers Woods Animals and Feathers of all Colours the hangings are the same and the different Colours therein do make a very agreeable shew And this is what I found most remarkable in the Castle of Buitrago and it growing late we left it It was several days since I had the pleasure
the Lord and his Creditors All Law-paper is mark'd and costs more than the other There 's a certain time when they make a distribution of Law-Suits they give the Instructions at Madrid but there are few judg'd there all the Papers of one side are put into a Bag and those of the other into another Bag and the Instructions into a third and when the time to distribute the Law-Suits is come they send them to some distant Parliaments so that very often one's Cause is try'd and judg'd without knowing any thing of it It is writ in a Register whether the Cause was sent which is kept very secret When Judgment is given it is sent back to Madrid and is signify'd to the Parties This Method saves a great deal of Trouble and Sollicitations which in my Opinion ought always to be forbidden As to business here it is excessive tedious whether it be at Court or in the City and ruines one in a little time The Spanish Practitioners are great Knaves in their Trade There are several different Councils all compos'd of Persons of Quality and the greatest part are Counsellors of the Sword The first is the Council of State the others are call'd the supream Council of War the Royal Council of Castille the Alcaides of Court the Council of the Holy Inquisition the Council of Orders the Sacred Supream and Royal Council of Arragon the Royal Council of the Indies the Council of the Chamber of Castille the Council of Italy the Council of the Finances the Council of the Croisado the Council of Flanders the Court for the Duty of Horse the Court for his Majesty's Woods and the Courts of the Millions They understand so little how to manage things to the best advantage that when a Father dyes and leaves ready Money and some Children under Age that they lock the Money up in a Chest and never put it out to be improv'd For Example The Duke de Frias whose Widow is marry'd to the Constable of Castille left three Daughters and six hundred thousand Crowns in ready Money they put it into three Chests with with the Name of each Daughter The Eldest was not seven years old she is now marry'd in Flanders to the Prince de Ligne The Guardians constantly kept the Keys of these Chests and never open'd that of the Eldest but to compt it to her Husband Observe what a loss there is of Interest But they tell you it would be much worse if the Principal happen'd to be lost that sometimes when one thinks they have put it securely out it proves quite otherwise That a Bankrupt makes one lose all so that it is better to gain nothing than to hazard the Pupil's Estate It is time to come to an end Dear Cousin I shall be afraid to tire you with a longer Letter I beseech you cause all those I send you to be deliver'd and pardon the freedom I take Adieu I embrace and constantly love you with all my Heart From Madrid this 27th of April 1679. The end of the Second Volume A RELATION OF A Voyage to SPAIN IN Several Letters The Last PART LETTER X. YOU did me a particular Kindness in letting me know that all my Letters come to your hands for I was a little concern'd for the Two last And since you still desire it dear Cousin I shall continue to inform you of every thing that passes and of all that I observe in this Countrey The Royal Palace is built upon a Hill which insensibly descends to the very Banks of the River call'd Mansanarez It looks several ways upon the Country which is very pleasant there One goes to it through the Callemayor that is to say the Great Street which indeed is both very long and broad several considerable Houses add to its Beauty There 's a large open place before the Palace no body of what Quality soever is allow'd to come with a Coach into the Court but they stop under the great Arch of the Porch except it be when Bonefires are made there or when there are Masquerades and then Coaches go in a very small number of Halbardeers stand at the Gate upon my asking why so great a King had so small a Guard why Madam says a Spaniard to me Are not we all his Guards He reigns too absolutely in the Hearts of his Subjects either to fear any thing or distrust them The Palace stands at the end of the City towards the South it is built of very white Stone Two Pavillions compleat the Front the rest is not regular Behind it there are two square Courts each consisting of four sides the first is adorn'd with two great Terrass-walks which run quite through they are rais'd upon high Arches and are beautified with Ballisters and Statues That which I observ'd very singular was that the Womens Statues had Red upon their Cheeks and Shoulders you go through fine Porches which bring you to the Stair-case which is extream large the Apartments are furnisht with excellent Pictures admirable Tapistry most rare Statues stately Houshold Goods and in a word with every thing suitable to a Royal Palace But there are divers of the Rooms dark I saw some which had no Window and receiv'd Light only when the Door open'd those which have Windows are but little lighter because of their smallness they alledge that the Heat is so excessive that they are willing to hinder the Sun from coming in as much as they can But there 's yet another Reason for Glass is very scarce and dear and as to other Houses there are many which have Windows without any Glass and when they would describe a compleat House they 'll tell you in one word that 't is Glaz'd This want of Glass does not appear without because of the Latices The Palace is addorn d with divers gilt Balconies which indeed look very fine All the Councils sit there and when the King has a mind to be present he passes through certain Galleries and little Entries unperceiv'd There 's a great many People perswaded that the Castle of Madrid which Francis the Fifth caus'd to be built near the Wood of Bologn was after the Model of the King of Spain's Palace but 't is a mistake and nothing is less alike The Gardens are not suitable to the Dignity of the Place they are neither large enough nor so well improv'd as they should be the Ground as I have observ'd reaches to the very Brink of Mansanarez the whole is inclos'd with Walls and if these Gardens have any Beauty they owe it purely to Nature They work hard to get the Young Queens Apartment ready for her Reception all her Servants are nam'd and the King expects her with the greatest Impatience The Buen Retiro is a Royal House near one of the Gates of the City the Count Duke caus'd at first a little house to be built there and call'd it Galinera it was for keeping his rare Poultry in which had been presented to him and
authorizes the Fact for every angry Difference for example If one give an other a Box o' th' Ear or strikes him on the Face with his Hat his Handkerchief or his Glove or has wrong'd him in calling him Drunkard or le ts drop any words that reflect on the Virtue of his Wife these things I say must be no otherwise reveng'd than by Assassination but they give this Reason that after such Affronts it would not be just for a Man to venture his Life in single Combate upon equal terms where the Offended might perish by the hand of the Aggressor They 'll keep a Revenge twenty Years together if they cannot sooner meet with a fit Occasion to execute it and if they happen to die before they have got Satisfaction they leave their Children Inheritors of their Resentments as well as of their Estates and the best way for a Man that hath given any Affront to another is for ever to forsake his Country I was lately told of a considerable Man that after he had liv'd twenty Years in the Indies to avoid an ill turn from another to whom he had given some Offence and having understood that not only he but his Son was dead believ'd himself secure He returns to Madrid after he had taken care to change his Name that he might not be known but all this was not able to save him for the Grandson of him that thought himself abus'd though he was but twelve Years old caus'd this Person to be murder'd quickly after his return The Men that committed these horrid Actions are commonly hir'd from Valentia It is a City in Spain whose People are wicked to excess there 's not any Crime which they will not deliberately commit for Money they wear Stillettos and Fire Arms which go off without any noise There are two sorts of these Stillettos one about the length of a short Ponyard but not thicker than a thick needle and made of excellent Steel square and sharp edg'd This Instrument wounds mortally for entring very deep and making no bigger an Orifice than an needle no Blood comes out nay hardly can one perceive the place where it entred and so being impossible to dress it they almost constantly die The other sort is longer and no thicker than the little finger but so hard and strong that I have seen one of them at one blow struck throw a thick Walnut-Tree Table These sort of Arms are forbidden to be carry'd in Spain as Bayonnets are in France neither is it lawful to carry those Pocket-Pistols which fire without noise but yet notwithstanding the Prohibition several Persons make use of them I have been told that a Person of Quality thinking he had a just cause to destroy one of his Enemies went to a Bandolero of Valentia and gave him a Sum of Money to murder him but afterwards he was reconciled to his Enemy and being willing to use a good Conscience he made it his first business to acquaint the Bandolero with what had past that so he might have a care not to kill this Man The Bandolero seeing his Service needless offer'd to return the Money but he that gave it entreated him to keep it Well says he I am a Man of Honour I shall keep your Money and I will kill your Man The other earnestly begg'd him to do nothing seeing they were now friends Look you says he to him all that I can do is to give you your choice whether it shall be you or him for to gain your Money honestly there 's a necessity I must kill one of you And notwithstanding all the Entreaties of this Person he persisted in his design and executed it It had been an easie matter to have seiz'd him but there was too much danger in 't for those Bandoleros are so numerous and united that if any one of them should be executed the Death of him is certainly and quickly reveng'd These Wretches are never without a List of their wicked Actions they have committed and count it an honour to them and when any one would set them on work they shew that and ask whether they desire them quickly dispatch'd or to give them a languishing Wound These are the most pernicious People in the Universe Indeed if I should tell you all the Tragical Stories which I hear every day you would grant that this Country is the very Theatre of the most horrid Scenes in the World Love frequently furnishes the matter either for its Satisfaction or Revenge There is nothing that a Spaniard will not undertake nor nothing that is above either his Courage or Compassion 'T is said that Jealousie is their prevailing Passion yet they do not pretend it so much out of Love as Resentment and Pride for they cannot bear to see another prefer'd before them and every thing which contributes to affront them makes them desparate let these things be how they will one thing is certainly true that it is a most furious and barbarous Nation in this Affair The Women keep not company with Men but yet they very well understand how to write and appoint Meetings when they have a mind notwithstanding the danger is great both for themselves the Lover and the Messenger but in spite of all that by their Wit and their Money they make a shift to deceive the most cunning Argus It is unaccountable that Men who put every thing in practice to satisfie their Revengeful Minds and who are guilty of such abominable Actions should even be scrupulously Religious at the same time they are going to stab their Enemy And that they may not fail in their Enterprize they must forsooth perform their nine days task of Devotion for the Souls in Purgatory and recommend themselves to the Relicks they carry about them which they often kiss I would not be thought to fix this Character upon the whole Nation it may be affirm'd that there 's as good People as in any part of the World and that they are endow'd with a mighty Greatness of Mind I 'll give you some Instances of this last which perhaps though you 'll look upon as Follies for every thing has two handles The Connestable de Castille is for certain one of the richest Lords of the Court in Lands but as he has the same fault as others like him self which is to be careless in looking after his Interest so he is ill furnish'd with Money The Pensions which the King allows him as he is Doyen or Chief of the Council of State Connestable of Castille and Grand Falconer are so considerable as to supply all his wants but he is so haughty that he will not receive any thing upon that Account He gives these Reasons That when a Subject has Estate enough to live upon he ought not to be chargeable to his Prince but ought to serve him and esteem himself happy that to be paid for what he does is mercenary and slavish The Duke d'Arcas alias d'Avero hath likewise another
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
late Court so Yesterday he told me that a famous Astrologer being one day with the late King in the Terrass-walk of the Pallace the King askt him the height of that Place he gaz'd up into the Air and nam'd a certain Height The King priately order'd them to raise the Pavement of the Terrass about three or four fingers and in the Night it was done The next Morning he caus'd the Astrologer to come to him and being upon the Terrass with him says he to him I spoke last night of the height you told me of this Walk but there was some that maintain'd that you were mistaken Sir says he I dare say I was not mistaken But consider it well says the King and afterwards we 'll him asham'd which boasts himself to be a more knowing Man than you Immediately he began again to make his Observations the King saw him change colour and seem to be at a great loss but at last he drew nigh the King and said what I told your Majesty Yesterday was true but to day I find that either the Terrass is rais'd or the Heavens are sunk down a little lower The King smil'd and told him the trick he had put upon him That I may give you an Account of other matters I must tell you that the King has in his Family three Persons which by way of Eminency are call'd the great Officers the Mayor Domo Mayor the Sumiller of the Body and the Master of the Horse These three Places are thus distinguisht the Mayor Domo commands in the Pallace the Business of the Sumiller of the Body is in the King's Chamber and the Master of the Horse orders all things in every Place except the Pallace After these come the Gentlemen of the Kings Bed-chamber they wear at their Girdle for a mark of their Dignity a golden Key There are three sorts of these Keys the first gives the Employment of the Gentleman of the Bed-chamber the second the Entrance with the Employment and the third is call'd Clavae Capona which only gives Entrance into the Anti-chamber The Number of these Gentlemen is great there are Forty of those for Service which take it in turns every day and for the most part they are Grandees of Spain The Mayor Domo that is to say the Steward in Ordinary have the same Access as the Gentlmen of the Bed-chamber The Persons of highest Quality fill up these Places for the most part they are the second Sons of the Grandees they wait in turns every Week and when the High-Steward is absent they are invested with his Power these also introduce Foreign Ministers when they have Audience there are eight of them sometimes more but seldom fewer The King hath three Companies for his Guards but they have not any thing that agrees with one another The Marquess De Falces commands the Flemish or Burgundian Guard it consists of a hundred Halbardiers and although here they call them the Yeomen of the Guard yet they may be call'd the Life Guard the German Guard consists of the same Number Don Pedro D' Arragon is Captain of it the Spanish Guard is also compos'd of a hundred Halberdiers and are commanded by the Count De los Arcos He is likewise Captain of another Company of a hundred Spaniards call'd the Guards of the Lancilla and this never appears but at great Ceremonies and at the Funerals of Kings The Affairs of the State are manag'd by a Chief Minister which they call Privado he hath under him a Secretary of State whose Office is in the Pallace All Business that come to the King and the Minister ought to pass directly through his hands and as he dispatches also whatever the King orders so he is call'd Secretario del despacho Vniversal The Council of State and divers other Councils examine all matters and the King or the Chief Minister afterwards determine them there are a great many Counsellors Here follow the Names of those which at present compose the Council of State Viz. The Constable De Castile of the Family of the Valesaco's is the President the Duke D' Albe the Duke De Medicina Celi Don Pedro D' Arragon the Admiral of Castile the Marquess D' Astorgas the Prince De Stillano the Duke D' Ossona the Count De Chinchon Don Vincent Gouzaga Prince De Guastalla Don Lewis Portocarrero Cardinal Archbishop of Tolledo the Marquess De Liches the Marquess De los Balbares Don Diego Sarmituto Don Melchios Navarra the Marquess De Losveler the Marquess De Mansera and the Duke D' Alburquerque Besides This Council which is the principal there is that of the Inquisition of War of the Orders of Arragon of the Indies of Italy of Hazienda of the Croisado and of Flanders there is also the Chamber of Castile of the Alcaides de Corta of the Contaduria D' Aposento Delos Bosques Reales De Milliones and De Competancias But do not think dear Kinswoman that the Salleries and Profits of those Places are small For instance The Counsellors of the Council of the Indies make from eighteen to twenty thousand Crowns a Year of their Places And here 't is pertinent to tell you that 't is thought no Places are sold in this Countrey at least it is not known in in all appearace they are bestow'd upon Merit or Birth but yet underhand there are such considerable Presents made that to get a Vice Royalty they 'll give Five thousand Pistols and sometimes more That which would be call'd Buying in another Countrey at Madrid is term'd giving a Regalio that is making a Present and one is equivalent to the other with this difference that a Place or a Government which one buys is yours as long as you live and sometimes passes by Inheritance to your Children either by natural Right or the Concession of the Prince but in Spain they enjoy a Place which cost them very dear only three or five Years at most It is easie to believe that those who advance so much are very certain to reimburse themselves both Principal and Interest From this Practice the People are horribly opprest they have perpetually upon them either a new Vice Roy or Governour which comes from draining himself of all the ready-Money which he could either make of his own and sometimes of his Friends to bribe the Court. Thus he comes hungry and he has but a short time to enrich himself and so the poor People are on all hands pillaged without so much as being able to have their Complaints heard But it is yet quite another thing in the Indies where Gold is so plentiful and they are so far from the King and his Ministers It is certain they bring from thence immense Sums as I think I have already intimated to you even the Religious as they call them who are sent to preach there return not without forty and fifty thousand Crowns which they have heap'd up in four or five Years time so notwithstanding
spy'd him and gave him an Opportunity to speak to her After he had occosted her she began to thou him and 't is commonly in this familiar way that the Women in this Country make known their Inclinations He made a Proposal to her which she accepted but upon condition that he should not be desirous either to see her or know who she was he promised he would not and so led her to a Friend of his at their parting he assur'd her that he thought himself the happiest of Men and that Fortune had never been so kind to him before and then gave her a very fine Ring and begged her to keep it for his sake I 'll keep and love it dearly and will meet thee here again when thou wilt says she to him for I had as good have thy Jewels as another When she had ended these words she opened her Vail and the Husband seeing 't was his Wife was in the greatest confusion imaginable at his Adventure but he considered that since she had so well contriv'd the matter as to get out of her House to watch him she might also find a way to play him some other trick less pleasant and therefore to be secure of her he appointed two Duennas constantly to look after her and they never after left her It happens also sometimes that when a Man's House is not near the Place where by chance he meets his Mistress he goes without Ceremony into the next he comes at whether he is acquainted there or no he civilly intreats the Master to let him have a Room to himself because he has now an Opportunity to discourse with a Lady which if he loses he shall not have the like in a long time this is enough to make the Master grant an Accommodation to the Gallant and his Mistress and sometimes I assure you 't is the very Wife of the Fool that goes away so kindly in a word they will venture strangely for an Opportunity of seeing each other though but for a quarter of an hour I remember a French Lady discoursing of a certain Man to one of her Friends said Shew me an amorous Man and I 'll shew you one ruin'd This Maxim is verifi'd here more than in any place in the World a Lover or a Gallant has nothing that he can call his own It is no matter whether she either sees or has a real occasion for a thing 't is sufficient if she does but barely desire it they are never deny'd any thing and the manner of giving it enhaunses their Liberality I find them nothing near so amicable as our Frenchmen but 't is said they know how to love at a greater rate Besides their Behaviour is a thousand times more respectful nay this extends so far that when a Man let him be of what Quality he will presents any thing or gives a Letter to a Lady he kneels upon one knee and he does the same when he receives any thing from her hand I said I would tell you why so many Ladies went to the Dutchess of D' Vzeda's she is very amiable and Daughter to the Duke D' Ossone her Husband has had a Quarrel with the Prince De Stillano about a Lady which they both love they drew their Swords and 't is like to be an ill business The King has caus'd them to be arrested that is they are not made Prisoners but he has confin'd them to their Houses unless they privately go abroad in the Night to pursue their usual amorous Pleasures And that which is strange the poor Wife must not set her foot out of door as long as her Husband is under these Confinements though it is almost constantly for some piece of Infidelity he is guilty of towards her And it is the same also if they be banisht or sent to remain upon some of their own Estates in the Country which frequently happens In all the time of their Absence their Wives keep house without so much as once going abroad I have been told that the Dutchess D' Ossone was a Prisoner after this manner for above two Years this is the Custom but it makes ones Life very dull and tedious But 't is not only the Spanish Ladies who are so tir'd and uneasie here the French find but little diversion We are in a few days to go to Arranjues and Tolledo to kiss the Queen Mothers hand I 'll write you dear Cousin the particulars of that small Journey and I wish with all my Soul I were in a condition to give you more essential marks of my Affection From Madrid this 25 of July 1679. LETTER XIII BY my last Letter I told you Dear Cousin that we were to kiss the Queen Mother's Hand I have had this Honour but before I conduct you thither give me leave to tell you of something else I would not go from Madrid till I had seen the Entry of the Marquiss De Villars he made it on Horse-back which is the Custom here and if a Man be handsom it is very advantagious for him when the Venetian Embassador made his it was happy for him that he was not in his Coach he had one that was worth twelve thousand Crowns which in going from his House was overturn'd and as it was in Winter the Marée which is that nasty black dirt that stands in great puddles in the Streets and through which a Horse goes up to his Girts so spoil'd the Velvet with a Gold ground and the rich Embroidery it was set off with that it could never serve again I thought it strange that for such usual Sights as these Entrees are the Ladies should all be in their Balconies in their rich Apparel and with the same earnestness as if it was to see the greatest King upon earth but they have so little liberty that they are glad to embrace all Occasions to shew themselves and as their Lovers and Gallants hardly ever speak to them so they take care to place their Coaches as near their Mistresses Balcony as they can that so they may the more easily discourse with them by their Eyes and their Fingers this is a Practice that is very useful to them for the understanding one anothers Minds and they do it more readily than with their Voice this silent Language seems to me very difficult unless one were long us'd to it but they are early acquainted with it and but two days since I saw a Girl of about six years old and a Boy of the same Age which understood by this way to tell one another a thousand pretty things Don Frederick De Cordonna who observed them as well as I but understood them far better explained to me every thing they said and if he did not add to the Discourse of these two Children one must needs confess that in this Country they are born for Love and Courtship The Marchioness De Palacio the Mother of Don Fernand de Tolleda is one of my Kinswoman's best Friends she has