and Town That his â—aughty designs tend all to the Crown But durst he aspire and make such a pother If he 'd ever reflect on the Strumpet his Mother â—ave Henry 't is true tho a Bastard did reign â—ut tho his exploits are so famous in Spain So seldom to serve our true Prince we have fail'd That in spight of the Tyrant Don Pedro's bewaild Awake mighty Charles and thy Sceptre assume Let the Arrogant Wretch feel the weight of his doom And be not amazed that the People thus cry Vnder all the oppressions and burdens they lie Though too loudly they rail at the Plague of the Age Their Zeal to thy Person excuses their Rage And if they Repine and are heard to Complain It proceeds from the smart and excess of their Pain Don Iuan found these Verses upon his Toillette and in several other places of his Chamber he was more concerned at them than in reason he ought to be for certainly he could never be so vain as to imagine that he was equally acceptable to all the world These resentments having sowred and exasperated his spirit he observed that the conversation of the Count de Monterey diverted the King this was enough to render him suspected and altho this Nobleman had set himself at the head of a party which declared for the Prince's return yet all his services were forgot and the prejudices of jealousie which are sometimes too headstrong to be mastered made Don Iuanâ—end â—end him to command in Catalonia He afterwards banished him and what is more ordered a Trial to be commenced against him about the affair of Puicerda thus the unfortunate Count saw himself all in a moment removed from Court where he flattered himself long to continue in the King 's and Princes favour But that Monarch was young and destitute of experience and besides laboured under the ill effects of a bad education for a Minister that regards nothing in the world but what has a particular relation to his own interests will be sure to keep back those lights from his Prince that may help him afterwards to discover by what an ill conduct he is managed Don Iuan was very well acquainted with the policy of this Maxim and accordingly took care to conceal the affairs of State from the King with as much precaution as the Priests keep their mysteries from the people To make himself always necessary to him he never instructed him in the art of governing but perpetually amused him with some little insignificant diversions that possessed his tender years with a spirit of laziness which could never fail to produce ill consequences afterwards and never gave him leave to stir a foot out of the Palace but in his own company The people that are never sensible of events but at the very moment when they feel the smart had perhaps looked upon the banishment of the Lords and the captivity of their King with an indifferent Eye if they had not been sufferers themselves But the great scarcity of provisions that were daily inhanced the irregular administration of justice and the disorderly management of the Finances made them soon sensible that the changing of Masters is not always for the better And as it is natural to run headlong from one extream into another and the just limits of carrying on a reformation are known but to very few persons so they began to disrelish the Regency and to show a dissatisfaction that might easily have been improved into an insurrection but that the anger of the people of Spain is generally weak and feeble and 't is not only upon these occasions that the apparent fierceness of that Nation goes off and vaniâ—hes For 't is very true that the people content themselves there with railing and murmuring so that if there was any thing to be feared it was from the Grandees who notwithstanding their banishment left very considerable Relations and Friends behind them at Court These being concerned to see them exiled began privately to join and associate for the same Cause they proceeded so far as to signifie to the Queen that they passionately desired her return and that she ought to attempt something on her side as they were resolved to do something on theirs and in short they took an occasion to discourse the King about the matter They made him sensible that he was under a slavish ignominious dependance and confirmed him in his natural inclinations to take the government of the State into his own hands He relished very well the overtures they made him and the Queen likewise received her informations not without pleasure but it was not enough to wish well something of Action was necessary for the King was young wanted assistance and every one shifted it off from himself to another The pleasures of the Court and that laziness which is so peculiar to the Spaniards made them advance so slowly in their affairs that Don Iuan had leisure enough to destroy in one day the foundations they had been laying for several weeks The Queen for her part was under a confinement which held her chained to the place so that she could attempt nothing without being discovered She was afraid too of finding Traitors among her own Servants and drawing new disgraces upon her whilst she endeavoured to free her self from those she lay under at present What was past instructed her in some measure to fear and avoid what was to come As she is naturally of a slow disposition so after long reflections upon the matter she was of the opinion that she ought not by any precipitate actions hazard the future repose of her life Don Iuan on his side was alarm'd with continual fears and jealousies and having abundance of Spies about him he was instructed of what he did not care to hear the unwearied designs that were daily formed against him Notwithstanding the great authority and power with which he was invested he could not forbear very sensibly to apprehend the bad consequences of an aversion that began to be entertained so generally against him He was in a manner responsible for all the good and all the bad successes of the State and the weight of so cumbersom a Monarchy hung very heavy about him He sometimes considered with regret the tranquility he had formerly enjoyed in Flanders and Arragon in fine his spirit was not in its natural sphere and we may say of him that he even overbought the pleasure of making so great a figure on the Theatre of the World The war that was kindled 1672. between France and Holland interested several Princes of Europe who took their sides in it either according to their several inclinations or else the particular engagements they had to the powers that were then at variance Spain which is always inseparable from the interests of the Empire neither spared her Mony nor Forces upon this occasion when the Hollanders made a peace with France first in the year 1678. The Emperor and
Iuncta that was erected to determine the Affair between the Nuncio and Don Iuan de la Puente y Guebarra President of the Council of Castile decided it on the 12 th of April He was sentenced to be banished and turned out of his Office The Nuncio demanded of them that they would oblige him to go to Rome to take off the Suspension he had incurred but they thought they had punished him sufficiently Abundance of people said That these great Names he took upon him did not belong to him and that his true Name was Don Iuan de Montesillo and that he was barely a Gentleman of the Province of Castile He finished the Course of his Studies at Salamania and afterwards was made Canon of Toledo His Behaviour mightily pleased the Archbishop of Toledo who was at that time Cardinal of Arragon and taking a delight in his Conversation trusted him with the Management of all his Affairs He acquitted himself so well in this Station that the Archbishop took care to recommend and make him known to Don Iuan of Austria whom he extreamly pleased by the Suppleness of his Carriage and the Vivacity of his Genius And whether that Prince had any particular Designs upon him or only intended to prefer him to acquit himself of the Promise he had made to the Cardinal he made him President of the Chancery of Valladolid Some time after the Count de Villambrosa who was President of Castile happening to die the Prince gave his Place to Don Iuan de la Puente To say the truth he only executed that Office by a Commission but it was a very great Post and could not fail to draw the Envy of several Persons upon him And so it really did for few people were concerned at his Misfortunes They looked upon him as one of the Creatures of Don Iuan and those that were always looking out for an Object for their Hatred when that Prince was gone vented all their Spleen and Indignation upon him The people accused him of all their Grievances and pretended that he was the Cause of crying down the Money That being in a Place which rendered Chief of Justice and the Civil Government he might if he had been so minded have found out some way or other to relieve so many different Persons that suffered according to their Condition But the Complaints of private Men nay even those of the Publick in general could not have been able to hurt him if there had not been a necessity at that Juncture to oblige the Pope by reason of the Apprehensions they had of the Designs of the most Christian King upon Italy Although the Office of the President of Castile is the next in Dignity to that of the Chief Minister yet all People have not an equal desire to possess it Don Iuan Ascensio Bishop of Avila whom the King nominated to it refused it An Order was sent to him to come immediately but he desired the Duke de Medina Celi to excuse him and leave him in his Diocess He had formerly been a Religious of the Mercy and General of his Order However as it is a hard matter to resist the Will of one's Prince especially when it happens to be so advantageous as this was he obey'd the Second Order that was sent him and came without any delay He was a Person of great Discretion and 't is certain a Man cannot have too much to qualifie him for the Exercise of so considerable a Place for the Council of Castile regulates all the Affairs that respect the Government of the States of Castile it was first created in the Year 1245. by St. Ferdinand King of Castile it is composed of a President and sixteen Counsellors The President never makes any Visits and at his House gives the Right Hand to no body They summon to this Council the Chanceries of Granada and Vailladolid and the Courts of Judicature of Sevil and Gallicia which are the Four Seats of Justice where they determine by way of Appeal all the Suits that are judged by the Corrigidors in the Cities and by the Alcades in the Villages When the King speaks of the Council of Castile he barely calls it Our Council The Court was exceedingly troubled at the Advices they received That the Vice-Roy of Naples having with no small pains heaped together the Sum of two hundred thousand Crowns part of which he had borrowed to send to Piombino Portolongone Orbitelle and some other places which the King of Spain possesses on the Coasts of Tuscany the Money being embarked in a Felouque Eight Slaves found the opportunity to carry off the Vessel Two small Vessels and a Gally were sent after them to bring them back but they were gone too far to be recovered So all the pains of the Marquess de Los-Velez tended only to set Eight Slaves at liberty and enrich them for the remainder of their Lives The Ambassador of Venice seeing that he of France received Satisfaction upon the occasion of the Franchises and Immunities redoubled his Instances to have Justice done him upon the Alguazils who had killed two of his Attendants He received Satisfaction on the 17 th of April The Alcalde who led them on was banished and the Alguazils were sent to Prison and were not enlarged but by his Intreaty If the Count de Monterey was sensibly affected with Joy to be preferr'd to the Prince de Astillano as to the Presidentship of Flanders he was not a little disgusted to see several Persons made Counsellors of State before him and notwithstanding he earnestly desired to be one of the number he was disappointed The King named the Duke de Albuquerque General at Sea the Count Doropesa who was very Young and had no other Dignity as yet the Marquess de Los Velez Governour of Naples the Duke de Villa Hermosa Governour of Flanders Don Melchior Navarra who had been formerly Vice-Chancellor of Arragon the Marquess de Mansera Mayor Domo Major to the Q. Mother and the Inquisitor General to be Members of this Council It was commonly believed that the Q. Mother had a great influence in naming most of these Lords The Council of State was instituted by Charles the Fifth in 1526. Here it is that they examine the Merits and Services of those Persons that pretend to be made Vice-Roys or to possess any other great Employments They regulate the most important Affairs of the Monarchy the King only is the President of it and the number of the Counsellors is not fixed Most People were surprized that Don Carlos Ramirez de Arrellano was made President of the Finances on the 8 th of April after he had been so long chained and shut up for his Lunacy and Madness He was chosen in the room of Don Antonio de Monsalve No body could imagine for what Reason the Duke de Medina Celi thought fit to trust him with a Post of that Consequence for he had none of those Qualities that are necessary to make a Man
without any great trouble yet he did not fail to raise several secret enemies upon himself who envied his growing Fortune They beheld with a great disdain and impatience the extraordinary confidence that the Queen reposed in him for she determined nothing without advising with him and so great was his credit and interest with her that he durst offer to resolve things of the greatest importance without speaking a word about them to the Queen Don Iuan was one of those that was the most offended at the advancement of Father Nitard He was sensible that they would turn him out of all by little and little upon this score he gave way intirely to the Father Confessor whom the Q. had made Counsellor of State he then retired to Consuegra the ordinary residence of the Grand Prior of Castile of the order of Malta and said very imperiously that after he had seen himself President of the Privy Council of the King his Father he could never endure a Companion that was so much his inferior But the Queen who was wholly busied in advancing her chief Minister never disquieted her self with thinking what reflections people might make upon him so that without taking the least notice of Don Iuan's discontent she suffered him to depart and he continued a long time without visiting the Court until the Queen sent him particular orders at Aranjues whither he was gone to divert himself to come immediately for Madrid upon some important affairs which she was willing to communicate to him He was the natural Son of King Philip IV. and a certain Actress whose name was Maria Calderona He was privately brought up at Ocana near Madrid and of all the natural Sons that King had he only acknowledged him whether it were because he loved his Mother better than any of his other Mistresses and to say the truth she was the most charming person in the world or because Count d' Olivarez procured this good Fortune for him for 't is commonly given out that the Count had a Son named Don Iulian de Gusman whom he had a mind to own and therefore used this artifice of perswading the King to begin with Don Iuan that so he might follow his Example Whatever the matter was Philip loved this young Prince very tenderly altho some people suspected he was the Son of the Duke of Medina of the house of Gusman who had formerly been passionately in love with the young Calderona and was in his time the most accomplisht handsom Cavalier in Spain and Don Iuan very much resembled him But if some persons were of this opinion others could never believe it especially when they considered the great kindness and fatherly affection that the King had for him and besides reflected upon his extraordinary good qualities which declared him to be worthy to be the Son of so great a Monarch He was brave even to a contempt of all dangers whatever gallant and agreeable well-shaped obliging liberal and a person of great honour he had abundance of wit and was master of a Genius that extended it self to all Arts and Sciences As there is ne're a Court in Europe where natural Sons are treated with such advantageous distinctions as they are in Spain so this Prince could scarce perceive that the unhappiness of his birth did in the least prejudice his advancement and 't is indeed a certain truth that we see in this Country the legitimate Sons bred up with those that are not so in the same Father's house without any distinction between one and the other But this custom is not altogether observed with relation to the natural Sons of the Kings of Spain For example they never bestow the title of Infante upon them and Don Iuan who passionately desired to have it used his utmost efforts to accomplish it but had not the fortune to succeed in his designs From the year 1643 the King had given him the Government of the Low Countries of Burgundy and Charolois and he always enjoyed it excepting the time when the Arch-duke Leopold governed there Don Iuan contributed very much towards the reducing the Kingdom of Naples to the Spanish Obedience He took Piombino and Portolongone and in all his Campaigns he performed a world of actions that equally testified his bravery and conduct The King his Father having conceived no less an esteem than tenderness for him communicated to him the most weighty affairs of State and chose him to be chief of an Assembly of the chief Ministers of his Kingdom He was scarcely arrived at Madrid but a Council was held where he came to be informed that the King of France was resolved to espouse the interests of his Queen to whom Brabant and some other states of the Low Countries escheated by right of devolution upon the death of the Infant Don Balthazar her Brother that his most Christian Majesty had published a Manifesto wherein he proved the justice of his claim and that not thinking himself obliged to consume any time in unprofitable contestations he had turned his arms towards that side of the Country that he had matched his Troops with incredible diligence and made considerable conquests as soon as ever he appeared Upon a serious examination of the present state of the Monarchy they were convinced that it was impossible at the same time to maintain a war against France and Portugal and that it was necessary for them to lay hold of a certain conjuncture that made a very plausible appearance that Don Alphonso King of Portugal having by his extravagant conduct lost the hearts of his people was dispossest of the Government and his Subjects freed from the Allegiance they ow'd him that the Infanta Don Pedro his Brother had taken upon him the administration of affairs that things of this considerable importance could neither be begun nor ended without some disturbance during which they must have occasion for their own Troops and therefore if it was judged expedient they should lay hold of this opportunity to advance proposals for a peace After every one had delivered his own opinion of the matter the Queen came to this conclusion A Letter was dispatched to the Marquiss de Liche who was at that time Prisoner of war at Lisbon wherein he had all necessary instructions given him In fine he managed the affair so dexterously that the Regent Don Pedro listened favourably to the proposals and so a treaty of peace was concluded on the 13th of Ian. 1668. This news was entertained at Madrid with a great deal of satisfaction because the affairs of Flanders grew every day worse and worse and it was necessary to take some speedy measures to preserve it or else to abandon it for good and all New levies of Souldiers were ordered in Gallicia and elsewhere and the Queen cast her eyes upon Don Iuan to send him thither to command the Troops for besides that no body was more capable of so great a trust than he was she had observed that
in manner of a nitch they threw in a few Mats and there the poor Marquess was shut up It being very well known that the Marquess was retired into the Convent there was no place or corner left unsearcht by Don Antonio de Toledo and those that accompanied him They had so small a respect to the most holy places that they almost turned every thing in the Church upside down But their search was to no purpose and Don Antonio could not tell what to resolve upon He had been upon the hunt there several days to find out Valenzuela who as he now began to imagine had certainly found the means to save himself When the unhappy Marquess beinâ— almost stifled in the Hole for want of air and besides disordered with his late afflictions fell so dangerously ill that there were little hopes of his life Finding himself therefore in this desperate condition he cared not what became of him But the Father Prior having first taken the Chirurgion of the Convent's word to keep the secret inviolably sent him to the Marquess to let him blood This treacherous Villain within a quarter of an hour after discovered the whole mystery to Don Antonio who had been it seems in the Cell where poor Valenzuela lay immured almost every day since he began to make the search after him He then immediately entred the Convent and all on the sudden commanded the Pannel which covered the Marquess to be taken down He fâ—â—nd him fast asleep but very much altered by his indisposition and misfortunes his arms lay ready by him and if he had been awake there is no question to be made but that he had resolutely defended himself being a person of great courage and bravery And besides what would not a man attempt in so deplorable a condition He was conducted to the Castle de Consuegra which belongs to the Grand Priory of Castile of the order of Malta Don Iuan chose to make this the scene of his confinement because the Castle depended upon him Valenzuela lay there dangerously sick and often said in the hearing of his Guards Oh heavens and there is no hope then that I shall dye immediately must I still live after I have endured so many afflictions When he was somewhat better he was removed to the Castle de los Puntales at Cadiz where he suffered a very close imprisonment nevertheless heshowed a great deal of constancy and resolution in the midst of all his ill usage and disgraces At last he was imbarked in a Vessel to be sent to Chile in the Philipines These are certain Islands in the extreamest part of the East-Indies almost adjoyning to China 'T is a long and tedious Voyage thither and they generally transport their most notorious Criminals in Spain to those places where they are forced to work in the Quicksilver mines They seldom tarry above two years in that slavish employment but they die or at least are troubled with a general trembling in their limbs which makes them suffer infinitely more than death it self Valenzuela was inâ—ormed before his departure that he was degraded from all his honours and that the King had taken away all his Offices leaving only his bare name to him I perceive then says he very pensively that I am under more unfortunate circumstances by far than when I first came to Court and the Duke de l' Infantado took me for his Page But tho they took care to acquaint him with what related particularly to himself yet he could learn nothing of the Queen's destiny or what became of his Wife and Children They had shut up her Majesty together with them in a Convent at Talavera de la Reine and strictly commanded the Abbess not to let them stir abroad or speak to any body 'T is commonly reported that at the time when he was at the Port of Cales ready to embarque a woman of an extraordinary size handsomly drest and covered with her veil as it is the Spanish Fashion bustled through the Guards close up to him Take courage Valenzuela says she to him thy Enemy will die and thou shalt once more see Spain Those that heard her say so would have stopt her but she found out means to make her escape What she told him afterwards proved in effect to be true for Don Iuan died and one of the first graces that the Queen Mother begged of the King at her return to Madrid was to have Valenzuela recalled home So a Vessel was sent to the Philippines to bring him back but he found to his sorrow that d' Eguya hindered his return altho the Queen so earnestly desired it The Pope having received information of what had passed as well in the Church as in the Convent when they dragged Valenzuela by force out of the Escurial excommunicated all those that were concerned in the fact so that before the Lords could prevail to have the Ecclesiastical Censure taken off which by this violation of the Churches Liberty they had incurred they were obliged in white Sheets and Halters about their Necks to walk to the Imperial Colledge where Cardinal Mellini who was then Nuncio at Madrid made each of them undergo some blows of Discipline All the Kingdom testified an extraordinary satisfaction to to see Don Iuan enter upon the Government and we may safely say that all the hopes and expectations of Spain were lodged in him As he was master of a great deal of wit and vivacity so that it was natural to believe that the different emplâ—â—mâ—â—ts of his life whether in peace or war rendâ—â—ed him extreamly capable of repairing the breaches and reforming all the irregularities of the State Several of the Grandees had entred into a sort of an Association for his return and now they had leisure to make severe reflections upon the weakness of the late Government where they found nothing but private intreagues and little factions that were extreamly disadvantagious to the Publick Interest A German Queen an Infant King a Foreigner Chief Minister of State and Confessor Valenâ—uela made a Favourite and Minister without birth and without capacity raised upon the sudden by a strange caprice of Fortune and thrown down again into his primitive nothing In fine all their hopes centred in Don Iuan and they had long expected him almost to a degree of impatience but when he was once arrived and they beheld him at a nearer view presently all those great and glorious Ideas which they had conceived of him vanished away like a dream This is commonly the fate and destiny of all great Ministers the high place they possess only serves to expose them the more to the envy of their inferiours Even those persons that took the greatest pains to place them in that condition think they have laboured all the while for an ungrateful wretch and if he fails to showr down all his favours upon them will be sure to give him less quarter than any men else So small a distance there is
into his ear Don Melchior Navarra who had formerly been Vice-Chancellor of Arragon and whom Don Iuan banished to Cienpuzuâ—los was called home at the intreaties of the Queen Mother Nay it was even believed that the King would give him the Place of President of Castile in case the President who was then embroyled with the Nuncio were turned out of his Place The King and Queen had the pleasure of hearing Mass celebrated at the Jesuits College in the Chaldean language by a Priest of the City of Muzal which was heretofore called Ninive After it was over the Queen who was always desirous of informing herself in matters of Curiosity sent for him to come to her and by the means of an Interpreter she asked him several questions and amongst the rest whether the women were as severely lock'd up at Muzal as they were at Madrid This question altho there was nothing criminal in it was so maliciously explained by the Dutchess de Terra nova that the King was observed to look upon her with a great deal of Coldness for some days after This did not hinder the Queen Mother from going to visit her who assured her with all the Tenderness imaginable how sensibly she was concerned at these ill Offices that were done her They went together to St. Marie la Royalle where was celebrated the Beatification of Torribio Alphonso Mogrobejo Second Archbishop of Lima The Musick of the Chappel was there their Majesties were informed at their return that the Great Arch Deacon of Madrid was dead The Queen Mother seemed to be desirous of seeing this Dignity filled by one of her own Creatures and the Young Queen proposed to send to Cardinal Portocarero to demand it of him But now it was too late for the Cardinal to prevent all Sollicitations upon this point made haste to gratify his Nephew Don Pedro Portocarero with it In the mean time whilst these small things happened News was brought that a Squadron of French men of War commanded by the Marquess de Valbelle was arrived before the Isle of Majorca to demand of the Viceroy some Merchantmen that had been taken by the Corsairs since the peace and Monsieur Valbelle had in his hands an Order of the King of Spain for their Restitution The Viceroy would not restore these prizes alledging That the Persons who had taken them had already shared and divided them and that they were not all of them Majorcans that theEffects were all consumed and gone and for his part he demanded Damages for certain hostilities which these Corsairs had suffered Valbelle continued his instances but seeing they had no Effect he declared that he would not forget to make use of the Right of Reprisals That the Subjects of the King of Spain whenever he met them on the Sea should find it to their cost that the King his Master had reason to complain of the usage he found at their hands That several Governors and Viceroys dependant upon the King of Spain had taken liberty to commit all injustices against the French that it was almost to no purpose to demand satisfaction from those at Madrid where the Councils were filled with persons who had played the same Tricks when they were in the like posts and consequently durst not condemn and punish others for the very same crimes they had committed themselves that he was assured this was the reason that occasioned this impunity and all their frivolous pretences In a word that he was going to take another course with them and do himself Justice These Menaces one would have thought were sufficient to alarm those persons that were concerned in them but they have this Maxim in Spain that provided the danger is a little remote they never fear it whether this happens through insolence or temerity and they rather chuse to suffer the disorders that always fall out in military executions than give themselves the trouble to do justice upon the complaints that are made But before I finish the first part of my Memoirs I think it will not be altogether amiss to say something of the Councils of Spain according to the best information I have received concerning them The Council of State The number of these Counsellors is not â—ixed they don't observe the right of Seniority amongst themselves but take their Places as they happen to come into the Chamber The King administers the Oath to them and they sit as the Secretaries of State do upon benches with backs to them every man has his Cushion the Counsellors are in the middle near the Table the Secretaries of State at both ends When the King assists there he has a Table above that of the Counsellors who for that time have only places and the Secretaries of State stand This Council is held twice every Saturday and but once on Mondays and Tuesdays all of them are called his Counsellors and they deliberate here upon affairs of the greatest importance such as Peace and War Leagues and Truces Here they likewise treat of the Marriage of the Kings and Princes of the Royal Family and distribute the Viceroyships and all the Governments of the Provinces that are under the Obedience of the King of Spain and altho other affairs are examined in other Councils yet the Counsellors of State don't for all that omit to give the King their advice about them Behold a List of those that compose this Council at present The Constable of Castile who is the Dean of it The Duke of Alva Don Pedro d' Arragon The Admiral of Castile The Marquess d' Astorgas The Duke D' Ossone The Prince de Stillano Don Vincente Gonzaga Prince de Guastallo Don Lovis Portocarero Cardinal and Archbishop of Toledo The Marquess de Liche TheMarquess de loz Balbazez Don Diego Sarmiento The Prince de Ligne The Duke de Villa Hermosa Don Melchior Navarra The Marquess de los Velez The Count d' Oropesa The Marquess de Mansera And the Duke d' Albuquerque The Council Royal of Castile This Council is the chief of all and to distinguish it from the rest by a Title of Honour the King calls it Our Council It was established by St. Ferdinand the third of that name in the year 1246. There are in this Council a President Sixteen Counsellors a Fiscal Six Reporters Six Secretaries a Register and a Keeper of the Registers a Receiver of the Fines due to the Council another of the Fines adjudged to particular persons a Treasurer a Deputy and a dozen Porters The Council assembles every Friday in the Palace towards Evening the King comes there The Kings Don Ferdinand the Fourth and Don Alonzo the last of that name established this Custom This Council is divided into four Chambers where they distribute those Affairs that are under their Jurisdiction in Castile One of them goes by the name of the Chamber of the fifteen hundred Pistoles because such a Sum is to be consigned before any man can get a review of a process which
General and the Counsellors the Apostolick Inquisitors They are named by the Pope and there are in Spain above twenty thousand Officers belonging to the Holy Inquisition whose business it is to seize the persons of Criminals Every Council consists of six Inquisitors the word signifies Enquirers the Fiscal who is the Accuser two Secretaries and Alguazil Principal two Reporters a Receiver of the Fines four Porters and a Sollicitor The Inquisition keeps its Tribunals at Madrid at Toledo at Granada at Sevil at Cordova at Murcia at Guenza at Logrono at Lierena in Gallicia and at Vailladolid The Council of Orders This was erected in the year 1489. The Duke de Sessa of the House de Cordonne is now the President of it he has two Counsellors of the Order of St. Iago two of Calatrava two of Alcantara a Fiscal and a Secretary who are all Knights The King is Grand Master of these three Orders and is called the Perpetual Administrator of it This Council take Cognizance of the Temporal and Spiritual Government and of the Civil and and Criminal Justice of these Orders There are also Religious Men and Religious Women of it who bring their proofs and carry the mark of the Order 'T is in concert with this Council that the King examines those of his Subjects who are capable of filling the places and vacant governments that depend upon the Order The Sacred Royal and Supream Council of Arragon The King Don Ferdinand established this Council at Madrid in the year 1590. Charles the Fifth confirmed it in the year 1522. and appointed new Regulations of it in 1543. when he passed through Catalonia to go into Italy The Chief of this Council is called the Vice-Chancellor who at present is Don Pedro d' Arragon and the Prince de Stillano is Treasurer General This place is hereditary to the Family of the Duke de Medina de las Torres and this Duke is the Head of it Three of the Councellers are to be Natives of Valentia three of Arragon three of Catalonia a Protonotary a Fiscal four Secretaries four Scriveners a Procurator General nine Commissaries for the great Registers five for the little one for Letters four Porters and an Alguazil The Isles of Majorca Minorca Sardinia and Innica are under the jurisdiction of this Council they take cognizance of every thing that happens within the extent of their Authority and deliberate with the King about Ecclesiastick and Military Affairs Vice-Roy-ships Bishopricks the Finances and in short about whatsoever relates to the Civil Government The Council Royal of the Indies The Spaniards having had the good fortune to find out this part of the world which was unknown before and to reduce it under the Dominion of Spain His Catholick Majesty in the year 1511. established a Council of the Indies at Madrid Charles the Fifth in 1524. added a clause to it about the preserving of Religion and ordained that it should be composed of a Lord Chancellor a President eight Councellers of the Long Robe and four of the Sword with a Deputy to the Chancellor a Fiscal a Treasurer four Contadores an Alguazil Mayor two Secretaries who have each a dozen Commissaries under them two Agents to the Fiscal five Reporters one Historiographer one Geographer one Chaplain one Sacristan one Advocate and one Proctor for the Poor ten Porters one Scrivener and a Counceller of the Contratation at Sevil this last is commanded to preserve and keep together all the Ordinances and Laws for the Indies There is a Chief and an Under Commissary and four more under him This Council together with the King takes cognizance of every thing that has relation to the several Kingdoms and Provinces in the Indies of Navigation of War of Peace and of Civil and Criminal Affairs Philip the Fourth created a Chamber for the Indies in the year 1644. Before the Duke de Medina Celi was made Chief Minister he was President of the Council he still retains the Profits as well as the Title of it but he has placed in his room Don Vincente Gonzaga Councellor of State by a Commission He is called the Governor of the Council of the Indies The Council of Italy Charles the Fifth first erected this Council in the year 1555. and afterwards Philip the Second did cast it into a new Form It is composed of six Councellors and a President which Office at present is filled by the Duke of Alva of the House of Toledo They are called Councellors Regent and there are two for the affairs of Milan two for those of Sicily and two for those of Naples Of this number three are to be Spaniards and three Italians The last of these reside upon the place where their District is and have a Fiscal a Secretary two Reporters and four Porters The President has no voice in the Affairs of Justice His business is to propose persons to the King for military Employments This Council takes cognizance of matters of State of Grace and of Justice that lie within the reach of their jurisdiction as also of the Affairs of the Treasury They consult with the King about the disposing of Bishopricks and places of Justice as well as those of the Finances and the Civil List and in short about all Governments of places except some few that belong to the Council of State as for example the Castle of Naples does They deliberate about the Government of the Mildnese Naples and Sicily The Council of the Finances named de Hazienda Philip the Third in the year 1602. established this Council It consists of four Tribunals Don Carlos Ramirez de Atellano is President of it eight Councellors of the Sword and the President compose this Council Their chief business lies in the recovery and administration of the Finances in the raising and augmenting of the Rents Graces Priviledges and Concessions of the King They make Treaties for defraying the expence of the Houshold and of the Armies When there is occasion for advance-mony they are to find out people to do it The President signs all the expeditions alone by himself after he he has received the King's Order and the consult of the Council for all Gratifications Appointments Assignments Profits Pensions Ordinances and advances of Uundertakers Their expeditions are made in two Offices in each of which there is a Chief Commissary two Seconds and two that are called Entretenus There are a dozen Contadores that keep the Registers and Accounts of this Council The last Contador is called Ecrivain Major which signifies the Register of his Majesty's Rents They all go the Council of the Finances where they cover themselves after they have stood bare for some time They give them a sign to go when the Secretaries have a mind to come in In the regard of the Affairs and Trials belonging to the Tribunal of the Oydores and the Council of the Finances there is a great number of inferiour Officers whose Places are sold and four Reporters that are named