first Civilities and informing my self of the News of my Kinswomen whom I believed he knew I askt him of his own Affairs and whether he was content with his Journey Ah Madam speak to me no more of my Journey cry'd he there was never a more unfortunate and had you come some days sooner you might have seen me hang'd How said I to him what do you mean by this I mean said he to me that I had all the fear of it and that this is the most unpleasant Country in the World for Strangers But Madam if you are at leisure and would know more I will relate to you my Adventure It is singular and will fully prove to you what I have told you You will do me a great deal of pleasure said I to him we are here in a place where such a Relation will much divert us he began it then in this manner Some Affairs wherein I was concerned and the desire of seeing a Brother whom I had been away from some years obliged me Madam to undertake this Journey to Madrid I was little acquainted with the Customs of that place I imagin'd one might go to Women without difficulty and that one might play and eat with them but I was astonish'd to learn that every one of them is more retired in her House than a Carthusian in his Cell and that there are Persons who have been mutually in Love for two or three years and yet had never spoke to one another Such singular Manners seem'd ridiculous to me I said thereupon freely whatever came into my Head but I treated the matter more seriously when I understood these Women who were so closely confin'd were the most amiable Women in the World that they had such a Delicacy Vivacity and Manners as are no where to be met with but among them that Love always appeared new that no one would change a Spanish Woman but for another I was in the greatest despair at the difficulties there were to get at them One of my Friends named Belleville who was my Companion in my Journey and who is a brisk Lad was no less troubled on his side than I on mine my Brother who fear'd lest some vexatious Accident should befal us continually inculcated into us how Jealous Husbands are in this Country great Murtherers and no more valued the killing of a Man than a Fly This did not agree very well with two Men who were not as yet weary of living We went into all parts where we thought we might see Ladies we saw some in effect but this did not satisfie us all the bows and cringes we made 'em brought forth nothing we each of us return'd home every Night very weary and disgusted at our fruitless Circuits One Night Belleville and I went upon Design to the Prado which is a Walk adorn'd with great Trees and several Fountains they throw their Water a great heighth and in great gushes it falls into Basins from whence it runs when they have a mind into the Courts to Water them and so to make them fresh and pleasant It was the finest Weather this Evening that one could wish After we had light out of our Coach and sent it away we began to walk softly and having made a few turns we sat us down on the side of one of the Fountains and then began to make our usual Complaints Dear Belleville said I to my Friend shall we never be so happy to meet with one of these Witty and Charming Spanish Women so much boasted of Alas says he I desire it too much but dare not hope it Hitherto we have met with nothing but such ugly Creatures as run after Folks to fright them and who under their white Vails are more Tauny and Loathsom than the Bohemians such as these I swear to you do not please me at all and notwithstanding their sprightfulness I cannot consent to enter into a very near conversation with them At the very instant these words were out of his Mouth we spy'd coming out of a Door hard by two Women they had left off their upper Garments which were always very plain and when they open'd their Manta's the light of the Moon made the glory of their Gold and Precious Stones appear As God's true cries out Belleville here 's at least two Fairies Nay said I let 's be juster and think them not other than two Angels When they came near us we stood up and made them the lowest Bow that ever we did in our lives They past by us softly and with those little Apish Tricks which become the Spaniards so well they lookt at us first with one Eye and then with t'other They went on a little we were in pain what to think whether they would return back the same way or whether we should follow them but while we were deliberating we perceiv'd them to approach us when they were near us they stood still one of them began to speak and askt us if we could speak Spanish I see by your Habits said she that you are strangers But pray tell me of what Country are you We told her we were Frenchmen and that we spoke Spanish ill enough but we had a great mind to learn to speak it well That to succeed therein we were perswaded we must love a Spanish Woman and we heartily wish'd we might find one that desir'd to be belov'd The matter is nice reply'd the other Lady which had not yet spoke and I should be sorry for her who engages in such a Design for I have heard that Frenchmen are not Faithful Oh! Madam says Belleville this was some body which had a mind to do us an ill turn and put us out of your good opinion but it will be easie to wipe off this Aspersion Though I may soon give my Heart to a pretty Woman yet I am very sensible I cannot so easily call it back again What! says she that spoke to me before dare you without further consideration enter into such an Engagement at first sight I should not have quite so good an Opinion of you Oh! Madam cries he why should we lose precious Time If it is good to love at all it is good to begin as soon as 't is possible Hearts that are born to Love languish and decay when they are not exercised therein Your Maxims are fine reply'd she but they seem dangerous it is not only necessary to avoid following of them but even the hearing of them and then indeed they would have been gone but we beg'd them with great earnestness to tarry a few moments longer in the Prado We said all the pretty things to them both which might oblige them to discover themselves and give us the satisfaction of seeing them without their Vails Our Conversation was very brisk and pleasant enough they had abundance of Wit and as they knew how to manage all their Advantages so without affectation they shew'd us their Hands as they had occasion to mend the
about relating to him what I knew when our Hostess entred into the Chamber she came from the two Gentlemen who had given me that Disturbance with the Swords in their Hands intreating me to receive their Excuses She likewise told me That two young Ladies desired they might wait on me and kiss my Hand I answer'd these Civilities as I ought and they soon entred What charming Effects does the Return of Joy produce I found these Gentlemen very well shaped and these Ladies very lovely neither one nor the other had any more on their Countenances the Characters of Despair an Air of Gaiety display'd itself in all their Words and Gestures The Eldest of the two Brethren made the most handsome Excuse as is possible for his Mistake in entring my Chamber he added He had well observ'd the Fear he had caus'd me but told me that in that Moment he was so transported that he was capable of no other Thought but the Rescuing his Mistress You would have been to blame said I to him should you have thought of any thing else However if it be true you are willing to make me Satisfaction for the Alarum you have giv'n me you must not refuse the gratifying my Curiosity With these fair Ladies leave inform we what has reduced all of you to these Extremities you were in He lookt on them as if it were to ask their Approbation which they willingly granted and he thus began We are two Brothers Madam Natives of Burgos and of one of the best Families of this City We were very young when we fell into the Hands of an Vncle who took care of our Education and Estates which are so considerable that we need not envy others on that account Don Diego is our Vncle's Name he had made long since a firm Friendship with a Gentleman living near Blaye whose Merit is far above his Fortune he is call'd Monsieur de Mesignac our Vncle resolving to send us for some time into France he wrote hereupon to his Friend who offered him his House which he joyfully accepted He made us set out and it is a Year since we were receiv'd there with great Civility Madam de Messignac used us as her own Children she has several but of her four Daughters those you see are the most amiable It would have been very difficult to have seen them every day to dwell with them and yet not to have loved them My Brother at first conceal'd from me his growing Passion and I hid mine from him we were both of us very melancholly the trouble of loving without being lov'd again and the fear of displeasing those who caus'd our Passion all this cruelly tormented us but a new Vexation did greatly increase our Disquiet which was a restless Jealousie we had one of another My Brother plainly saw I was in Love and thought 't was with his Mistress I lookt on him likewise as my Rival and we bore such Hatred to one another as might have transported us to the greatest Extremities but that I resolutely determin'd one day to discover my Sentiments to Mademoiselle de Messignac but wanting Courage to speak to her my self I wrote some Verses in a little Book touching my Passion for her and dextrously slid it into her Pocket without her perceiving me My Brother who had always an Eye on me observ'd it and playing with her he took out the Verses and found 'em to contain a respectful and passionate Declaration of Love to her he kept them till Night when being withdrawn into my Chamber with the greatest Inquietude he came to me and tenderly embracing me he told me He was heartily glad at the notice he had of my being in love with Mademoiselle de Messignac I remain'd as one Thunderstruck I saw my Papers in his Hands I imagin'd she had made them a Sacrifice to him and that he came to insult on my Misfortune He saw in my Eyes and Countenance part of what I thought Undeceive your self continued he she gave 'em not to me I have taken 'em without her seeing them I 'll be serviceable to you for the obtaining her be you the same to me in relation to her elder Sister I then embraced him and promis'd him all he desired Thus we mutually rendred good Offices to one another and our Mistresses who were not then acquainted with the power of Love began to accustom themselves to hear talk of it It would be to abuse your Patience to tell you Madam how we came at length by our Cares and Assiduities to win their Hearts What happy Moments what sweet Hours to see without ceasing what one loves and to be beloved to be together in the Fields where an Innocent and Country Life let 's one taste without disturbance the Pleasures of a growing Passion this is a Felicity which cannot be exprest Winter being come Madam de Messignac was at Bourdeaux where she had a House we accompanied her thither but this House was not great enough to ledge us with all our Family we took one near hers Though this Separation was only the Nights yet we had lively Resentments of it we were not now every Moment with 'em our Visits were accompanied with a certain Air of Ceremonies which disturb'd us But our Alarums were much increas'd when we saw two rich handsome Sparks address themselves to Mademoiselles de Messignac and earnestly Court them and that with the Approbation of their Parents Good God how we look'd Their Proceedings went on at a great rate and our dear Mistresses who shared in our Sorrow mingled every day their Tears with ours In fine having throughly tormented our selves by devising a thousand fruitless ways I resolv'd to Address my self to Monsieur de Messignac I spake to him and told him what my Passion inspired me to perswade him to defer these Marriages He answered He accepted with the greatest Acknowledgments the Offers my Brother and I made him but being not of Age what we might do at present might be afterwards Cancell'd That his Honour was dear to him though his Estate was small however should always esteem himself Happy in living without Reproach That my Uncle who had entrusted us to him might justly accuse him of Seducing us and that in short we must no more think of these Matters I withdrew in the greatest Affliction which I shared with my Brother and this was a dreadful trouble among us Monsieur de Messignac to compleat our misfortunes sent an Account to my Vncle of what had past and earnestly intreated him to lay his Commands on us to be gone He did so and seeing no remedy to our Misfortunes we went my Brother and I to Mademoiselles de Messignac we threw ourselves at their Feet We told them what might perswade Hearts already pre-possest We gave them our Faith and Promises Sign'd with our Blood In short Love made an end of vanquishing them they conserted to go with us In fine we took such Measures that our Passage was
Fred. de Cardonne he told me There were two observable things in Catalonia one of which is a Mountain of Salt partly white as Snow and the other part clearer and more transparent than Crystal that there is Blue Green Violet Orange and a thousand different Colours which yet loses its tincture when wetted it continually forms it self and grows there and though commonly the places where Salt is to be found are so barren that you see not so much as an Herb yet there are here Pine-Trees of great height and excellent Vine-yards When the Sun darts its Rays on this Mountain it looks as if it wholly consisted of the most precious Stones in the World but the best of it is that it yields a good Revenue The other Particular he mentioned to me was of a Fountain whose Water is very good and of the same Colour as Claret I have never heard any thing of this said I to him but one of my Relations who has been in Catalonia has assured me there is a Fountain near Balut whose Water is as others are for Colour and yet whatever you put therein appears like Gold I have seen it Madam continued Don Frederic and I remember a Man that was very covetous and more foolish went thither every Day to put therein his Silver hoping in time 't would be chang'd into Gold but he was so far from enriching himself that he was ruin'd for some Peasants more subtle and crafty than he having perceived what he did stood watching a little lower and the Stream of the Water would now and then bring some Pieces to them If you return into France by Catalonia added he you will see this Fountain It is not that which can draw me thither reply'd I but the desire of passing by Montferat wou'd make me undertake a longer Journey It is situated said he near Barcelona and is a place of great Devotion It seems as if the Rock were sawed through the middle the Church stands high is small and obscure By the help of Fourscore and Ten Lamps of Silver you perceive the Image of the Virgin which looks very duskish and is held for Miraculous The Altar cost Philip the Second thirty thousand Crowns and here is every Day seen Pilgrims from all Parts of the World this Holy Place abounds with Hermitages inhabited by Persons of great Devotion These are commonly Men of good Birth who have not left the World till they have well tryed it and who appear much taken with the Sweets of their Retirements though the Place be dismal and 't would been impossible to have had Access to it had not a Passage been cut through the Rocks Yet you find here several agreeable Objects a curious Prospect various Springs Gardens well drest by these Religioses own hands and every where a certain Air of Solitude and Devotion which mightily affects those who come there We have another famous place of Devotion added he and that is Nuestra Senora del Pilar it is at Saragossa in a Chappel on a Pillar of Marble where our Lady holds the Babe Jesus in her Arms. It is pretended that the Virgin appeared on this same Pillar to St. James and the Image is here worshipt with great Reverence It cannot be well observ'd because it stands so high and in a very dark place so that without the Flambeaux it could not be seen at all Here are always Fifty Lamps burning Gold and precious Stones shine here on all sides and the Pilgrims come here in great Sholes But yet says he I may truly say in favour of Saragossa that 't is one of the finest Towns you shall see it is situated along the Ebre in a vast Field is adorn'd with great Buildings rich Churches a stately Bridge fine open Places and the most charming Women in the World who love French and will omit nothing to oblige you to speak well of 'em if you pass by there I told him I had already heard several things spoken of them to their commendation But continu'd I this Country is very Barren and the Souldiers can hardly subsist in it In effect replied he whether the Air be bad or that they want Necessaries the Flemmings and Germans cannot live there and if they do not die there 't is because they run away The Spaniards and Neopolitans are more prone than they to desert these last past through France to return into their Country the others Coast the Pyrences along Languedoc and enter Castille by Navarre or Biscaye This is a Course which the old Souldiers fail not to steer for the new-rais'd ones they perish in Catalonia being not accustomed thereto and 't is certain there 's no place where War is more troublesome to the King of Spain He maintains his Forces here with great Charge and the Advantage which the Enemy gains of him is not small and I very well know they are more sensible at Madrid for the smallest Loss in Catalonia than they would be for the greatest in Flanders or Milan or else-where But at present continues he we are going to be more at our Ease than we have been being expected at Court that the Peace will be lasting because they talk much of a Marriage which will make a new Alliance and the Marquess de Los Balbares Penipotentiary at Nimiguen has receiv'd Orders to pass speedily to France to demand of that King Mademoiselle d' Orleans therefore it is not doubted but the Marriage will be concluded But it is thought very strange Don John of Austria should consent to this Marriage You will do me a singular Pleasure said I interrupting him if you would inform me of some Particularities touching this Prince It is natural for to have a Curiosity in relation to Persons of this Character and when a body comes into a Court where one was never before that I may not appear a Novice I should have some previous Notices He answered me It would be a great satisfaction to him if he could relate any thing might please me and he began thus You will not perhaps Madam think it amiss that I begin at the Original of Things and tell you That this Prince was Son of one of the finest Women in Spain named Maria Calderona she was a Player and the Duke de Medina de las Torres became desperately in love with her This Cavalier had so many Advantages above others that Calderonna lov'd him no less than she was beloved by him In the Heat of this Intrigue Philip the Fourth saw her and preferr'd her to one of the Queen's Maids of Honour and who was so griev'd at this Change of the King whom she really loved and had a Son by that she retired from the World and betook her self to Los del Calsas Reales where she put on the Religio's Habit. As for Calderonne her inclination lying wholly towards the Duke de Medina she would not hearken to the King without the Duke would thereto consent She spake to him of
for the Duke of Medina Celi's Daughter Her Coffin was made of rare Indian Wood put into a blue Velvet Bag and crost with silver Mohair with Cords of silver Thred and the strings were of the same and fastned the Bag at each end like a stuff Cloak-bag The Coffin was in a Hearse cover'd with white Velvet set round with Garlands and Coronets curiously made of Flowers And thus they carried her to Medina Celi the capital City of the Dutchy of that Name Commonly they dress up the dead in the habit of some Religious Order and carry them all bare-fac'd into the Church where they are to be bury'd If it is a Woman they put her on the habit of the Carmelites This Order is in great Veneration here the Princesses of the Blood retire to their Convent The Queens themselves when they are Widows are oblig'd to spend the rest of their Life there unless the King otherwise appointed before his Death as Philip IV. did in favour of Queen Mary Ann of Austria his Wife And in case a Queen is Divorced she must go into a Religious House for Divorced or Widow she has not the Liberty to marry again The Kings of Spain presume so much above other Kings that they will not endure a Princess who has once been their Wife should ever be so to another let her have the greatest Passion in the World Don John hath a natural Daughter a profess'd Carmelite at Madrid She is wonderful handsom and 't is said she had no mind to take the Habit but it was her fate as 't is of divers others of her Quality who like it no more than she They call them the Descalcas Reales which is to say The Royal bare-feet This reaches even to the King's Mistresses whether they be unmarried or Widows when he can love them no longer they must turn Nunns I have seen some of the Works of St. Theresa writ with her own Hand the Character is Legible large and indifferent fair Donna Beatrix Carillo who is her Neece's Neece keeps them very choisely It was she that shew'd them to me They consist of a Collection of Letters I do not believe they were ever Printed there 's a great deal of Perfection in them and throughout one may discover a certain air of chearfulness and sweetness of Nature which sufficiently declares the Character of that great Saint All the time of Lent and even at other times one meets with Preachers at every corner of a street whose Sermons are ill enough contriv'd and do as little good but however in preaching as they do they both satisfie their zeal and their desire Their most constant Auditors are the blind Folks which resemble our fingers upon Pont-Neus Every one of them being led by a little Dog which does it very well they go about singing of Romances and Cacara which are certain old Stories or Modern Events which the People are very glad to know They have a little Drum and a Flute on which they play They often sing a Song on King Francis the First it beginning When the King left France to his Sorrow he left it c. Now I doubt you know it dear Cousin for who does not This Song is sung in very bad French and by Folks that do not understand one word of it All that they understand is That the King was taken by the Spaniards and as this Price was much for their Glory so they are willing to convey the Memory of it down to Posterity There 's a Flower-de-Luce all gilt upon the roof of the Chamber where this King was Prisoner and I must not omit telling you that the Prison is one of the fairest Buildings in Madrid the Windows are as large as those of other Houses There are indeed Iron Bars but they are all gilt and set at a distance great enough to make any one think they were not design'd to hinder escapes I stood amaz'd at the seeming neatness of a Place which in reality is unpleasant enough and I thought that in Spain they had a mind to contradict the French Proverb which says That There 's neither any handsome Prison nor ugly Love Pardon this Proverb I do not love them so well to trouble you often with them All the Houshold-stuff one sees here is extream rich but not so neatly made as ours in France and they come altogether short of our skill It consists of Tapistry Cabinets Paintings Looking-Glasses and Plate The Vice-Roys of Naples and the Governours of the Low-Countries have had most admirable Tapistry the Vice-Roys of Sicily and Sardinia shew most excellent Embroideries and Statues those of the Indies Precious Stones and Vessels of Gold and Silver So that several returning home from time to time laden with the Riches of another Kingdom cannot chuse but to have enrich'd this City with abundance of valuable things They change their Furniture several times a year their Winter-beds are of Velvet trim'd with thick Galoons of Gold but they are so low and the Valens so deep that one is as if they were bury'd in them and when one is in Bed the border of the Valens lying almost upon the Counterpain one can hardly be seen In Summer they have neither Curtains nor any thing else about the Bed this looks very ill Sometimes they hang colour'd Gauze to keep off the Gnats In Winter they have their Appartments very high sometimes in the fourth Story according as the cold encreases to keep them from it At present they use their Summer Lodgings which are low and very commodious All their Houses have a great many Rooms on a floor you go through a dozen or fifteen Parlours or Chambers one after another Those which are the worst lodg'd have six or seven the Rooms are generally longer than they are broad the Floors and Seelings are neither painted nor gilt they are made of Plaister quite plain but so white that they dazle ones Eyes for every year they are scrapt and whited as the Walls which look like Marble they are so well polisht The Court to their Summer Appartments is made of certain matter which after it has had ten Pails of Water thrown upon it yet is dry in half an hour after and leaves a pleasant coolness so that in the Morning they water all and a little while after they spread Matts or Carpets made of very fine Rushes which cover all the Pavement The whole Appartments are hung with the same small Matt about the depth of an Ell to hinder the coldness of the Walls from hurting those which lean against them On the top of these Matts there are hung Pictures and Looking-Glasses The Cushions which are of Gold and Silver Brocado are placed upon the Carpet and the Tables and Cabinets are very fine and at little distances there are set Silver Cases or Boxes fill'd with Orange and Jessemin-Trees In their Windows they set things made of Straw to keep the Sun out and in the Evenings they walk in
Scarcely did I begin to sleep when I heard some-body speak French so near me that I thought at first 't was in my Chamber but having hearkned with more attention I found 't was in a Chamber separated from mine by only some thin Boards and those ill joynted I drew my Curtain and saw Light through the Crevices and at the same time two young Women the eldest of which appeared not to be above Seventeen or Eighteen neither of 'em were of those Beauties without Defect yet were they so pretty spake so sweetly and had such great sweetness on their Countenances that I was much taken with ' em The youngest who seem'd to continue the Conversation said to the other No my dear Sister there is no Remedy to our Misfortunes we must die or get them out of the Clutches of this vilanous Dotard I am resolute for any thing reply'd the other in uttering a deep sigh should it cost me my Life What remains Have we not sacrific'd all for them Then considering a while their Misfortunes they mutually embrac'd and began to weep in a most piteous manner And having consulted a while and spake some other Words the greatest part of which were interrupted by their Sighs they concluded on Writing which they did and here is most of what I heard them read to one another Judge not of my Love and Grief by my Words I have none can express either the one or the other but remember you Ruine me unless you betake your self to the greatest Extremities against him that persecutes us He has now sent me word That if we delay our Departure he will have us seiz'd Consider what he deserves from this base Vsage of us and remember you owe me all seeing you owe me my Heart I think the other Billet was in these Terms Could I secure thee thy Happiness in losing mine I love thee sufficiently to offer thee such a Sacrifice Yes I would fly from thee couldst thou be Happy without me but I know thy Heart too well to believe this Yet thou remainest as Quiet in thy Prison as if I were with thee Break thy Chains without more delay punish the Enemy of our Loves My Heart shall be thy Recompense Having made up these Billets they went out together and I profess I was not a little uneasie for 'em and no less curious to know these poor Ladies Misfortunes This hindred me from sleeping and I was expecting their Return when immediately there was a great Uproar in the House I saw an old Man enter the Chamber attended by a great many Servants He held one of these young Women by the Hair of the Head which he had wound about his Arm and drew her after him as a wretched Sacrifice Her Sister was not treated with less Cruelty by those who led her Perfidious Wretches said he to them not content with the irreparable Injury you do my Nephews you would perswade them to be my Executioners Had I not surprised you with these seducing Letters what might have hapned What dreadful Tragedies might I not have expected But you shall pay once for all as soon as ever the Day appears I will have you punisht as you deserve Ah Sir said she whom he held remember we are Women of Quality and that our Alliance can be no Dishonour to you that your Nephews have given us their Faith and we them ours that in so tender an Age we have left all for their sakes that we are strangers and have no Friends here What will become of us We dare not return to our Relations if you are for constraining us to this or for putting us in Prison let us intreat you rather presently to dispatch us out of the World The Tears which they shed in such abundance wrought in me the greatest Compassion And had the old Man been as tender as I he had soon freed 'em from their Trouble My Women who had heard such a great Disturbance and so near my Chamber arose in the fear of some Mishap towards me I made Signs to them to draw near softly and to behold through the Boards this sorrowful Spectacle We hearkned to what they said when two Men with their Swords in their Hands entred into my Chamber the Door of which my Women had left open They had Despair painted on their Faces and Rage in their Eyes I was so greatly frighted that I cannot express it to you They looked on one another without speaking a word and having heard the old Man's Voice they ran on that side I did not doubt but 't was the two Lovers and 't was them indeed who entred like two Lions into this Chamber They struck these Servants with so great Terror that never a one of 'em dared approach his Master to defend him when his Nephews advance towards him and set their Swords to his Throat Barbarian said they to him can you thus use Women of Quality that are to be our Wives Because you are our Guardian must you therefore be our Tyrant And is not the separating of us from what we love the taking of our Lives from us It 's now in our Power to take a just Vengeance of you but we cannot do it to a Man of your Age who cannot defend himself give us then your Word and swear by all that 's Good and Holy That in Acknowledgment for the Life we give you you will contribute to our Happiness and suffer us to perform what we have promis'd The poor old Wretch was so afrighted that he could hardly make any Answer However he swore more than they would have him he fell on his Knees and kist an hundred times his Thumb laid a-cross one of his Fingers after the manner of Spain Yet he told them whatever he had done was onely in regard to their Interests however he would not in any sort for the future oppose their Inclinations in reference to this Marriage Two of the Domesticks took him under the Arm and rather carried him away than led him Then the Gentlemen seeing themselves free threw themselves in their Mistresses Arms they said to one another whatever Grief Love and Joy do usually inspire in such Occasions But in Troth one must have a Heart as affected and content as theirs to repeat all these things they are only proper to Persons more tender than you are my dear Cosin But I hope you will excuse this Relation I was so tired in having not yet slept that I could scarce hear any more but confusedly and to hear no more I got farther into bed and threw the Quilt over my Head The next Morning Don Fernand de Toledo sent me some choice Wines with great quantity of Oranges and Sweetmeats As soon as he thought it a proper time to Visit me he came Having thankt him for his Present I ask'd him Whether he had heard nothing of what had past in the Night He told me No for he had lain in another part of the House I was
very ridiculous For Example when St. Anthony said his Confiteor which he did often enough all the Spectators fell down on their Knees and gave themselves such rude Mea Culpa's as was enough to beat the breath out of their Bodies Here would be a proper place to speak of their Habits but you had better excuse me till I come to Madrid lest I tire you with Repetitions Yet I must tell you that all the Ladies I say in this Company had a prodigious quantity of Red which begins just under the Eye and passes from the Chin to the Ears and Shoulders to their very Hands so that I never saw any Radishes of a finer Colour The Lady Governess of the Town drew near to me she just toucht my Cloaths and hastily drew back her Hand as if she had burnt her Fingers I bid her in Spanish not to be afraid She at length familiariz'd her self and told me 'T was not through fear of any thing else but of displeasing me that 't was no new thing to her to see French Ladies and that if she might she would gladly dress her self after their Fashion She ordered Chocolate to be brought her with which she presented me which is far better here than in France The Play being ended I took my Leave of her having thanked her for her Civilities The next Morning as I entred the Church to hear Mass I espied an Hermit who had the Air of a Person of Quality and yet begg'd an Alms of me with such great Humility that I was greatly surpriz'd at it Don Fernand having notice of it drew near and said to me The Person whom you behold Madam is of an illustrious Family and of great Merit but his Fortune very Vnhappy You raise in me said I to him a great Curiosity to know more and therefore I must beg your Favour to satisfie it You may command any thing of me replied he Madam but I am not so throughly inform'd of his Adventures to undertake the relating them to you and I believe 't were better I engage him into a Recital of them himself He left me and went immediately to Embrace him with the greatest Civilities and Tenderness Don Frederic de Cardonne and Don Esteve de Carvajal had already accosted him as their old Acquaintance and when Don Fernand had joyn'd them they all earnestly intreated him to come with them when Mass was over He as earnestly excused himself but being told I was a Stranger and much importuned that I might learn from himself what had oblig'd him to turn Hermit he at length consented on condition I would permit him to bring one of his Friends who was perfectly knowing in what related to him Do us Justice continued he and judge whether 't is fit for me to relate such Particularities in this Habit I wear They found he had Reason and pray'd him to bring his Friend which he did a while after I was at my Lodgings He presented a very fine Cavalier to me and taking leave of us very civilly he told him He should be oblig'd to him if he would satisfie the Curiosity which Don Fernand de Toledo had giv'n me of knowing the Spring of his Misfortunes This Gentleman took place by me and began in these Terms I think my self very Happy Madam that my Friend has choshen me to satisfie the Desire you have of knowing his Adventures but I fear I shall not acquit my self so well as I would The Person whose History you wou'd learn has been one of the finest Gentlemen in the World it would be hard to make a Judgment of him now he is buried as it were in his Hermit's Habit. He was an exceeding graceful Person well shaped of an excellent Meine and Noble Air And in fine had all the Accomplishments both Natural and Acquired of a Person of Quality being liberal witty and brave He was born at Cagliari Capital of the Isle of Sardogne one of the most illustrious and richest Families of all that Country He was brought up with one of his Cosin-Germans and the simpathy which was sound in their Humours and Inclinations was so great that they were more strictly united by Friendship than Blood they hid no Secret from each other And when the Marquiss Barbaran was married which was his Cosin's Name their Friendship continued in the same force He married one of the finest Women in the World and the most Accomplisht she was then not above Fourteen She was Heiress to a very Noble Estate and Family The Marquess every day discovered new Charms in the Wit and Person of his Wife which likewise increased every day his Passion He speaks without ceasing of his Happiness to Don Lewis de Barbaron which is the Name Madam of my Friend and when any Affairs oblig'd the Marquess to leave her he conjured him to stay with the Marchioness thereby to lessen the Trouble of his Absence But alas how hard is it when one is at an Age uncapable of serious Reflections to see continually so fair a Woman so young and aimable and to see her with Indifference Don Lewis was already desperately in Love with the Marchioness and thought then 't was only for her Husband's sake Whilst he was in this Mistake she fell dangerously sick at which he grew so dreadful melancholly that he then knew but too late this was caus'd by a Passion which would prove the greatest Misfortunes of his whole Life Finding himself then in this condition and having not strength to resist it he resolv'd to use the utmost Extremity and to fly and avoid a place where he was in danger of dying with Love or breaking through the Bonds of Friendship The most cruel Death wou'd have seem gentler than the Execution of this Design When the Marchioness beginning to grow better he went to her to bid her Adieu and see her no more He found her busied in choosing among several Stones of great price those which were the finest which she intended to have set in a Ring Don Lewis was scarce entred the Chamber but she desired him with that Air of Familiarity usual among Relations to go and fetch her other Stones which she moreover had in her Cabinet He ran thither and by an unexpected good hap found among what he lookt for the Picture enamill'd of the Marchioness in little set with Diamonds and incircled with a Lock of her Hair it was so like that he had not the power to withstand the desire he had of stealing it I am going to leave her said he I shall see her no more I sacrifice all my quiet to her Husband Alas is not this enough And may I not without a Crime search in my Pain a Consolation so innocent as this He kist several times this Picture he put it under his Arm he carefully hid it and returning towards her with these Stones he trembling told her the Resolution he had taken of Travelling She appear'd much amazed at it and chang'd her
for me yet Honour and Friendship with-hold me from making the least Advantage of it What shall I do then O Heavens What shall I do I flatter'd my self that Absence would Cure me Alas this is a Remedy which I have fruitlesly tried I have never cast mine Eyes on her Picture but have found my self more in Love and more Miserable than when I saw her every day I must obey her she commands my Return she desires to see me and she cannot be ignorant of my Passion When I took my Leave of her my Eyes declared to her the Secret of my Heart And when I call to mind what I saw in hers all my Reflections then are to no purpose for I resolve rather to die at her Feet than to live remote from her He parted without any delay and without taking leave of his Friends He left a Gentleman to Excuse him towards them and to order his Affairs He was in such great haste to see the Marchioness that he used such Diligence to be with her that no body but he could have done In arriving at Cagliary Capital of Sardagne he understood that the Marquess and his Wife were at a stately Country-house where the Vice-Roy was gone to give them a Visit with all his Court He learnt moreover that the Marquess de Barbaran prepared for him a great Feast where there were to be held Justs or Turnaments after the Ancient Manner of the Mores He was the Defendant and was to maintain That a Husband beloved is Happier than a Lover Several Gentlemen that were not of this Opinion were preparing themselves to go and dispute the Prize which the Marchioness at the Vice-Queen's Intreaty was to give to the Conquerour 'T was a Scarf embroidered with her own Hands wrought with Cyphers No one was to appear but maskt and disguised to the end all might be freer and more gallant Don Lewis had a secret Despight in comprehending the Marquess so well satisfied He is belov'd said he I cannot but look on him as my Rival and as an Happy Rival but we must endeavour to disturb his Happiness in triumphing over his vain Glory Having formed this Design he would not appear in Town he caus'd to be made a Suit of strip'd Green Satin embroidered with Gold and all his Liveries were of the same Colour to denote his new hopes When he entred into the Lists every body had their Eyes on him his Magnificence and his Air gave Emulation to the Cavaliers and great Curiosities to the Ladies The Marchioness felt a secret Emotion of which she could not discover the Cause He was placed very near the Balcony where she sate with the Vice-Queen but there was no Lady there which did not lose all her Lustre near that of the Marchioness her youthful Air which exceeded not eighteen Years her lovely white and red Cheeks her Eyes so sweet and graceful her Scarlet and little Mouth agreeable Smiles and her Shape which surpast the Fairest made her the Admiration of all the World Don Lewis was so ravish'd in seeing her so charming and to observe yet in her Countenance a languishing sorrowful Air that he flattered himself to have therein a part and this was the first Moment wherein he thought himself Happy When his turn came he ran against the Marquess and smote him so dexterously that he got the Advantage all along of him so that in a word he gain'd the Prize with a general Applause and with every one's good-liking He threw himself at the Marchioness's Feet to receive it at her Hands he altered the Tone of his Voice and speaking to her with his Mask on low enough not to be heard but only by her Divine Person said he to her be pleas'd to observe what Fortune decides in favour of Lovers He dar'd not say more to her and without knowing him she gave him the Prize with this natural Grace with which all her Actions were accompanied He suddenly withdrew himself for fear of being known for this might have been an occasion of Quarrel between the Marquess and him and without doubt he would not have easily pardon'd the Victory he obtain'd over him This oblig'd him to keep himself still conceal'd for some Days The Voice-Roy and his Lady return'd to Cagliary and the Marquess and Marchioness accompanied them thither with the whole Court Don Lewis then shew'd himself he pretended he just then arriv'd and made as if he knew not what had past in the Field The Marquess de Barbaran was transported with Joy in seeing him and Absence had not at all altered the Affection he had for this dear Relation He had no difficult task to find a favourable moment wherein to entertain his amiable Marchioness he had as much liberty in their Lodgings as in his own and you may well judge Madam that he forgot not to mention the Prize he had receiv'd from her fair Hands How wretched am I said he to her that you did not know me Alas Madam I flattered my self that by some secret Pre-sentiments you would learn that no one but I could sustain with such Passion the Cause of Lovers against Husbands No my Lord said she to him with an Angry and Disdainful Air to take away all Hope from him I could never have imagin'd that you could have been Patron of so foul a Cause and I could not have believ'd you could have taken such strong Engagements at Naples that you should come as far as Sardagne to Triumph over a Friend who maintain'd my Interests as well as his own I shall die with Regret Madam said Don Lewis if I have displeas'd you in what I have done and were you more favourably disposed and I might dare to make you my Confident it would be no hard matter for me to perswade you that it is not at Naples I have left the Object of my Vows The Marchioness apprehending lest he should speak more than she was willing to hear and appear livelily toucht with the Reproach she made him she put on a more pleasing Countenance and turning the Conversation into a Tone of Raillery answer'd him He took too seriously what she had said to him He dared not make use of this occasion to declare his Love to her for though he lov'd her above all things yet he respected her no less When he had left her he began to blame himself for his Fearfulness Shall I said he always suffer without seeking any Remedy It was some time before he could meet with a favourable occasion because the Marchioness studiously avoided him but being come one Night where she was he found her alone in an inward Room lying on a Bed in a most lovely manner and most becoming Vndress her Hair being fastned with Knots of Diamonds hung carelesly about her Breasts The Trouble she felt in seeing Don Lewis appear'd on her Countenance and rendred her yet more lovely He drew near her with an Awful and respectful Air fell down on his Knees by
her he lookt on her for some time not daring to speak but becoming a little more bold If you consider Madam said he to her the pitious Condition whereunto you have reduced me you will easily comprehend that it is no longer in my power to keep Silence I could not avoid such inevitable Stroaks as you have given me I have adored you as soon as I saw you I have endeavour'd to Cure my self in flying from you I have offered the greatest Violence to my self in endeavouring to master my Passion You have recall'd me Madam from my Voluntary Exile and I die a thousand times a Day uncertain of my Destiny If you be Cruel enough to refuse me your Pity suffer at least that having made known to you my Passion I may die with Grief at your Feet The Marchioness was some time without resolving to answer him but at length gaining Assurance I acknowledge said she Don Lewis that I am not wholly ignorant of one part of your Sentiments but I was willing to perswade my self 't was the Effects of an Innocent Affection Make me not a Partner of your Crime you commit one when you betray the Friendship due to my Husband But alas you will pay but too dearly for this for I know that Duty forâ—ids you to Love me and in Respect it does not only forbid me to love you but to fly from you I will do it Don Lewis I will avoid you and I do not know whether I ought not to Hate you But alas it seems impossible to me to do it What do you then Madam answer'd he interrupting her being full of Grief and Despair when you pronounce the Sentence of my Death You cannot Hate me say you Do you not Hate me and do you not do me all the Mischief you are able when you resolve to avoid me Make an end Madam make an end leave not your Vengeance imperfect sacrifice me to your Duty and your Husband for my Life cannot but be odious if you take from me the Hopes of pleasing you She lookt on him at this instant with Eyes full of Languishing Don Lewis said she to him you reproach me with what I would deserve In ending these words she arose fearing greatly lest her Affection should triumph over her Reason and notwithstanding his endeavours to with-hold her she past into a Chamber where her Women were She thought she had gained much on her self in forcing her way out of this Conversation without answering so favourably as her Heart could have wisht but Love is a Seducer which must not be in any sort hearkened to if one will not be totally overcome by him From that day Don Lewis began to think himself Happy though he wanted many things to compleat his Felicity The Marchioness in effect had a Principle of Vertue which opposed it self always with Success to the desires of her Lover He had no longer those Scruples of Friendship for the Marquess de Barbaran which had so greatly disturbed his Mind Love had perfectly banisht Friendship nay he even secretly hated him In fine Don Lewis flattering himself that perhaps he might find a favourable moment to affect the Marchioness's Heart with some Pity he carefully sought it and to find it one day when 't was very hot knowing that the Marchioness was wont to retire to Repose her self after Dinner as it is customary in that Country he came to her doubting not but every body was asleep in the House She was in a Ground-Room which lookt into the Garden all was fast and shut close save a little Window whereby he saw on her Bed this Charming Creature She was in a profound Sleep half undrest he had the time to discover such Beauties as still augmented the force of his Passion He approacht so softly to her that she did not awake It was already some moments that he had lookt on her with all the Transports of a Man amazed when seeing her naked Breasts he could not forbear kissing them She arose on a sudden she had not her Eyes open the Chamber was dark and she could never have believ'd Don Lewis could have been so bold I have already told you Madam that he resembled the Marquess de Barbaran She did not doubt then but it was he and calling him several times her dear Marquess and Husband she tenderly embrac'd him He well knew his Error whatever Pleasure it procured him he could have wished to have ow'd this only to his Mistress's Favours But O Heavens how unfortunately it hapned The Marquess came in this dangerous moment and 't was not without the greatest fury he saw the Liberty Don Lewis took with his Wife At the noise he had made in entring she had turn'd her Eyes towards the Door and seeing her Husband enter whom she thought she had already in her Arms it is impossible to represent her Affliction and Astonishment Don Lewis amaz'd at this Accident flatter'd himself that perhaps he was not known He past immediately into the Gallery and finding a Window was opened into the Garden he threw himself out of it and immediately past through a Back-door The Marquess pursued him without being able to overtake him In returning the same way he came he unhappily found the Marchioness's Picture which Don Lewis had dropt as he ran he immediately made most cruel Reflections hereupon This Picture of his Wife which Don Lewis had let fall and the sight of her embracing him all this made him no longer doubt of his Wives Falshood I am betray'd Cry'd he by her whom I loved dearer than my own Life Was there ever a more Unhappy Man in the World In ending these Words he returned to his Wives Chamber She immediately threw her self at his Feet and melting into Tears would have justify'd her self and make known to him her Innocency but the Spirit of Jealousie had so fully possest him that he violently represt her He harkned only to the Transports of his Rage and Despair and turning away his Eyes that he might not see so lovely an Object he had the Barbarity to strike his Dagger into the Breast of the most Beautiful and most Vertuous Woman in the World She offered her self to be slaughtered as an innocent Sacrifice and her Soul issued out in a stream of Blood O God cryed I O Imprudent Don Lewis Why did you leave this Charming Lady to the Fury of an Amorous Husband transported with Jealousie You might have snatch'd her out of his cruel Hands Alas Madam replied this Gentleman he knew not what he did for what would he have done at another time to have prevented such a Misfortune As soon as the unfortunate Marchioness had rendred her last Breath her cruel Executioner shut her Apartment took all the Money and Jewels he had mounted on Horse-back and fled with all the speed he could Don Lewis restless and more Amorous than ever returned thither in the Evening notwithstanding whatever might befal him He was surpriz'd when he
it and offered to withdraw secretly where he would but the Duke fearing to incur the King's Displeasure answer'd her He was resolv'd to yield up to His Majesty a Treasure which he was not in a Capacity to contend for She made him a thousand Reproaches for this she call'd him Traytor to his Love ingrateful towards his Mistress And more-over told him That though he was so Happy as that he could dispose of his Heart as he pleased yet she could not do the same and therefore he must continue to visit her or prepare to see her die with Despair The Duke affected with so great a Passion promised to feign a Journey to Andalousia and to remain with her hid in a Closet he effectually parted from the Court and afterwards shut himself up as it was agreed whatever Risque he ran by so imprudent Conduct The King in the mean time was very Amorous and remain'd very well satisfi'd She had during this Don John d' Austria and the Resemblance he had with the Duke de Medina de Las Torres had made it be thought that he was his Son but tho' the King had other Children and particularly the Bishop of Malaga good Fortune decided in his Favour and he has been only acknowledg'd Don John 's Friends say That 't was by reason of the Exchange which had been made of the Son of Calderonna for the Son of Queen Elizabeth and here 's how they set forth this Change which is a Story made on purpose to impose on the World and which I believe has no ground of Truth They pretend the King being desperately in love with this Player she became big with Child at the same time as the Queen and seeing the King's Passion was so greatly towards her that she might expect any thing she so ordered it that she made him promise her That if the Queen had a Son and she likewise he should put hers in his place What will you lose by this Sir said she Will it not be your Son that will still Reign only with this difference that loving me as you say you do you will love him likewise the better She had Wit and the King could deny her nothing he consented and in effect the Business was manag'd with that Address that the Queen being brought to Bed of a Son and Calderonna of another the Exchange was made He that should have Reign'd and who bore the Name of Baltazar died at the Age of fourteen Years The King was told 't was with over-heating himself at Tennis but the truth is this Prince was suffered to keep bad Company which procured him his Misfortunes it is said likewise That Don Pedro d' Arragon his Governour and Chief Gentleman of his Chamber more contributed to this than any other suffering him to bring into his Apartment a Woman he lov'd after this he was taken with a violent Feaver and conceal'd the Occasion The Physicians who were ignorant of it thought to ease him by frequent Bleedings which put an end to what strength he had and by this means they ended his Life The King knowing but too late what had hapn'd banisht Don Pedro for not hindring this Excess or for not having timely discover'd it In the mean time Don John of Austria who was brought up as the Natural Son chang'd not his Condition though this ought to have been had he been indeed the lawful Son yet notwithstanding this his Creatures affirm He so exactly resembles Q. Elizabeth that she needs no other Picture of her Likeness And this Opinion fails not of gaining Belief with the People who run violently after Novelties and who so passionately loved this great Queen that they bewail her still as if she was but now deceas'd It is true that if Don John of Austria would make his Advantage of the favourable Dispositions of the People he has met with several Opportunities of extending his Fortune very far but his only Aim is to serve the King and to keep his Subjects in those Sentiments of Fidelity they ought to have for him To return to Calderonna The King surprised one day the Duke de Medina with her and in the excess of his Rage he ran to him with his Poynard in his Hand he was about to kill him when this Woman placed her self between telling him He might strike her if he would Having the most extream Passion for her he could not but Pardon him contenting himself only with banishing him But understanding she continu'd to love him and write to him he studied only how to get a new Passion when he had one strong enough not to apprehend the Charms of Calderonna he sent word to her to retire into a Monastery as is customary when the King forsakes his Mistress She put it not off writing a Letter to the Duke to bid him Adieu And she receiv'd the Veil of a Religio from the Hand of the Apostolick Nuncio who became since Innocent X. It is very likely the King believ'd Don John was his real Son seeing he loved him so dearly One thing will appear to you very singular which is that a King of Spain having Natural Sons owned by him they never entred Madrid during his Life So Don John was brought up at Ocanna which is some Leagues distant from it The King his Father came oft thither and he made him come even to the Gates of the Town where he went to meet him This Custom comes from that the Grandees of Spain dispute the Rank which these Princes would hold Don John before he went into Catalonia remain'd commonly at Buen Retiro which is a Royal Seat at one of the farthest parts of Madrid a little without the Gate And he shew'd himself so little that he was never seen at any Publick Feast during the Life of the late King but since Times have chang'd and his Fortunes stand on a different bottom Whilst the Queen Maria Ann of Austria Sister to the Emperour and the King's Mother Govern'd Spain and her Son was not yet of Age to hold the Reigns of the State She would have always Don John keep from the Court and more-over found her self so capable of Governing that she had a mind to ease her Son for a long time of the Burden of Ruling She was not troubled to see him ignorant of whatever might give a desire of Reigning but though she brought the greatest Precautions to hinder him from feeling he was under too strict a Tutelage and suffered no Persons to come near him but those she was well assured of yet this hindred not but some of the King 's Faithful Servants hazarded themselves by giving him to understand what he might do for his Liberty He follow'd the Advice was given him and in fine having taken Measures accordingly he stole away one Night and went to Buen Retiro He as soon sent from thence an Order to the Queen his Mother not to stir out of the Palace Don John is of a middle Stature
a Year That the Vice-Royalty brought in no Revenue being a Place of Honour fit only for great Lords to bear the Expence of it to maintain their Ranks and keep the People under who are Naturally Fierce and Imperious not Affable to Strangers and so little desirous of making Acquaintance that they chuse rather to stay at Home alone all their Life-time than stir out to procure Friendships That here is a severe Inquisition who have a stately Palace and a most Rigid Court of Justice Yet this does not hinder great Troops of Robbers call'd Bandoleros from Ravaging and dispersing themselves over all Spain who give no Quarter to Travellers snatching up sometimes Women of Quality whom they afterwards set at Ransom for their Parents to Redeem but when they are Handsome they keep them And this is the greatest Misfortune can happen to 'em being forc'd to spend their Days with the Worst of Men who keep them in dreadful Caves or carry them along with them on Horse-back being so furiously jealous of 'em that one of their Captains having been lately set upon by Souldiers sent into the Mountains to seize on him being mortally wounded and having his Mistress with him who was of the Marquess de Camaraza a Grandee of Spain's Family When she saw him in this Condition she thought only of making Use of this favourable Opportunity of saving her self which he perceiving dying as he was he catch'd hold of her Hair and struck his Dagger into her Breast being not willing said he that another should possess a Treasure which had been so dear to him And this is what himself acknowledg'd to the Souldiers who found him and saw this sad Spectacle The Beautiful Marchioness here held her peace and I return'd her all due Thanks for the Favour she did me in informing me of these Curiosities and of which perhaps without her I might have been Ignorant all my Life I do not think Madam said she to me you owe me such Thanks I rather fear the having deserved Reproaches for so long and tiresome a Conversation I would not let her leave me to eat elsewhere and I obliged her to lye with me she having no Bed So Civil and Courteous a Proceeding made her much my Friend She assured me of this in such Affectionate Terms that I could not doubt of it for I must tell you the Spanish Women are more Caressing than we and are far more Kind and Tender to those they profess Friendship In fine I could not forbear telling her That if she had all the Kindness for me she made profession she must be so complaisant to inform me What made her seem so melancholly That I had heard her fetch deep Sighs in the Night and appear'd very Restless and Disconsolate That if she could find any Comfort in sharing her Grief with me I offered my Service to her as a most faithful Friend She embraced me with great Affection and told me without delay she would immediately satisfie my Curiosity which she did in these Terms Seeing you are desirous to know me I must without disguising to you any thing acknowledge my Weaknesses to you and by my Sincerity and Open-heartedness deserve a Curiosity as obliging as yours I come not of such a Family as may claim Nobility my Father's Name was Davila he was only a Banker but he was in good Credit and was moderately Wealthy We are of Seville Capital of Andalousia and we have ever dwelt there My Mother knew the World she saw many People of Quality and having no Children but me she took great care of my Education It did not appear ill-bestowed on me for I had the good Fortune to get the good Will of most that saw me We had two Neighbours who came often to our House who were very welcome both to my Father and Mother Their Condition and Age were in no sort alike One was the Marquess de Los Rios a Person Wealthy and Noble he was a Widower and well advanced in years the other was the Son of a great Merchant who traded to the Indies he was Young and Handsome he had Wit and a very graceful Behaviour his Name was Mendez He was not long before he fell passionately in Love with me so that he omitted nothing which might please me and gain my Affections He was in all places where he knew I was to pass he spent whole Nights under my Windows to sing Verses which he had composed and set to my Praise which he had very well accompany'd with his Harp But seeing his Attendancies had not all the Effect he expected and having past some time in this manner without daring to mention his Affection to me he at length resolv'd to make use of the first occasion to acquaint me with it I avoid ed him ever since I had a Conversation with one of my Friends who had more Experience and Knowledge of the World than I I had felt that Mendez's Company gave me Joy and that my Heart had an Emotion for him which it had not for others That when his Affairs or our Visits hindred him from seeing me I grew restless and loving this young Woman above others and being as dear to her she observ'd I was not so free and gay as I was wont and that my Eyes were sometimes attentively fixed on Mendez One Day when she rally'd with me about it I said to her very innocently My dear Henrieta define to me the Sentiments I have for Mendez I know not whether I ought to be afraid of them and whether I ought not to defend my self from them I feel I know not what sort of Trouble and Pleasure arising in my Breast She began to laugh she embraced me and said to me My dear Heart you are in Love Who I in Love reply'd I in amaze You joke with me I neither am nor will be in Love This depends not always on us continued she with a more serious Air our Stars decide this before our Hearts But in earnest what is it so much startles you Mendez is in a Condition equal to yours he deserves well a good comely Man and if his Affairs go on with the same success as they have done hitherto you may live very happily with him And whence should I learn reply'd I interrupting her that he will be happy with me and that he so much as thinks this O take my Word for it answer'd she whatever he has done has its Designs for Men are not wont to pass Nights under Windows and the Days in following a Person for whom they have nothing but Indifferency After some other Discourse of this Nature she left me and I resolv'd maugre the Repugnance I felt in me to give Mendez no opportunity of speaking to me in particular But one Night as I was walking in the Garden he came towards me I was perplext to see my self alone with him and he had the opportunity of observing it on my Countenance and in the manner
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
Spaniards are naturally Lazy and love to rise late and these Two were yet in Bed Her Husband gave us such a frank and civil Reception as sufficiently testifi'd how much he was pleas'd that we came to see him He went to walk in his Gardens whose Exactness yields in nothing to ours I accompanied him without delay for the Weather was very inviting and the Trees in this Country are as forward in the Month of March as they are in France at the latter end of June Indeed this is the most Charming Season for the Enjoyment of what they call La Prima Vera that is to say the Beginning of the Spring For when the Son begins to have more Force and Heat it scorches and withers the Leaves as if they had passed through Flames These Gardens of which I speak were adorn'd with Bowling-Greens Fountains and Statues and Don Augustin was not backward to shew us all the Rarities He is much taken with them and values not spending Money thereon for he is very rich He led us into a Gallery where there were divers Tables of Cedar Wood set full of Books He immediately led us up to the Biggest of them and told us they contain'd an inestimable Treasure and that there was a Collection of Plays of the best Authors Heretofore continued he Vertuous persons could not think fit to go to Plays there was nothing to be seen but Actions contrary to Modesty they heard Discourses which were offensive the Actors made honest people asham'd there Vice was flatter'd and Vertue condemn'd the Scenes became bloody with Combats the weakest was always opprest by the strongest and Custom gave continuance to Crimes But since Lopes de Vega hath so successfully labour'd to reform the Spanish Theatre there is now nothing suffer'd contrary to good Manners Both the Favourite the Footman and the Ploughman without disguise keeping to their Native Simplicity and making that pleasant by an ingenious turn find the Secrets to cure our Princes and even our Kings of that common Disease to hear Truth when their own Faults are represented It was he who gave Rules for these Ascents and who taught them to divide their Plays into Three Jornada's or Acts. Since his time we have seen flourish the Mount alvanes the Mendoza's the Rojas Alarcones the Veles the Mira de Mescuas the Coellos and the Villaizanes But above all Don Pedro Calderone excell'd as to the Serious and Grave Part and even in the Comick Part he surpass'd all those that went before him I could not forbear telling him That at Victoria I saw a Play which to me seem'd bad enough And if I might speak my Judgment freely I would not have them intermix with Holy Tragedies which require great Respect and according to their Subjects should be worthily manag'd any idle or silly Jests He reply'd That by this I had said to him he knew the Genius of my Countrey that he had seldom observ'd the French to like what the Spaniards did and as this Thought carry'd him to some displeasing Reflections I assur'd him That Naturally we have no Antipathy for any Nation That we even thought our selves oblig'd to do Justice to our Enemies And as to Plays though I had yet found none to my Fancy it did not follow but that there might be others much better and more agreeable to me The manner of my talking to him did a little compose him so that he desired me to go into his Wife's Apartment which was at the end of the Gallery Don Fernand de Tollede and the Three other Knights tarry'd there because it is not the Custom in Spain for Men to go into Womens Chambers while they are in Bed A Brother has not this Privilege unless his Sister be sick Donna Theresa receiv'd me in as kind and obliging a manner as if we had been long acquainted And this must be confess'd in praise of the Spaniards that nothing of that sort of Familiarity which comes from want of or a mean Education appears in their Entertainments for with great Civility and Earnestness they are very careful to pay what they owe to others and at the same time do not forget what 's due to themselves She was in Bed without any Coif or Cornet her Hair was parted in the middle of her Forehead ty'd behind with a Ribbon and wrapt up with Carnation-colour'd Taffety Her Shift was very fine and of so vast a largeness that it lookt like a Surplice the Sleeves were as big as Mens and button'd at the Hands with Diamonds Instead of narrow Point at the Neck and Hands she had hers wrought with Blue and Flesh-colour'd Silk in Flowers her Ruffles were of White Taffety Pinkt She had several little Pillows ty'd with Ribbons and trimm'd with very broad and fine Lace she had Basses all of Flowers of Point de Spain in Silk and Gold which lookt very pretty Her Bed was all of Copper Gilt with little Balls of Ivory and Ebony her Bed-Head was adorn'd with four Rows of little Copper Ballisters very well wrought She ask'd me leave to rise but when she came to put on her Stockings and Shooes she caus'd the Key to be taken out of the Door and that to be bolted I enquir'd the Reason of this Barricading She told me That she knew there was with me some Spanish Gentlemen and that she had rather lose her Life than they should see her Feet I broke out into Laughter and begg'd her to let me see them for that I could not apprehend that the thing was of that moment It is true indeed that for their Littleness they are something extraordinary for I have seen Children of six Years old have as great As soon as she was up she took a little Cup full of Red and with a good big Pencil she laid it on not only upon her Cheeks her Chin under Nose above her Eye-brows and the Edges of her Ears but she also be-daub'd the inside of her Hands her Fingers and her Shoulders She told me That every Night at going to Bed and every Morning at rising they laid this Colour on That she did not paint and that she was willing enough to leave the use of this Red but that it was such a General Custom that it could not be dispensed with for let one be of never so fresh a Colour they would look pale and sickly when they were near others if they did not use this Red. One of her Women perfum'd her from Head to Foot with excellent Pastils the Smoak whereof she made to ascend to her another took Orange-Flower-Water in her Mouth and dexterously through her Teeth she sprinkled it like Rain upon her and this they call Roussia She told me That there was nothing that spoil'd the Teeth more than this was of squirting it but that the Water smelt better for it Of this I doubted and I thought it very ugly that an Old Woman such as that was which I saw there should come and spurt Water
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
are made only of a thin stuff hung upon a wooden frame these stuffs are always mixt with Gold and Silver and are very rich they have in them three great Glasses and the top is made of a very thin Leather lin'd as the rest and it opens upwards that so one may go in and out more conveniently to every Chair there 's four Bearers which relieve one another and a Footman carries the Hat of the foremost for let it be what Weather it will he must not be cover'd before his Mistress The Lady is set as fast in her Chair as a Diamond-stone in a Ring she either wears no Mantle or Vail then or if she does it has a black English Lace set on it half an Ell deep very fine and dear this is becoming enough she has also a Coach with four Mules in those long Traces I have formerly mentioned which follows softly after the Chair that is commonly fill'd with old Gentlemen-Ushers and five or six Pages for every body has these my Banker's Wife has two The Ladies never take any of their Women with them and though several of them are going the same place yet they each of them take a Chair to themselves and do not go together in any one of their Coaches I happen'd t'other day to be in a stop there was in a Street and there came by me fifty Chairs and as many Coaches one after another they came out of the Dutchess De Frias and went to the Dutchess D' Vzeda's House I 'll tell you why they went thither when I have first told you that when the Lady is come to her House whom she goes to visit the Chairmen carry her as far as the Anti-chamber the Stairs are made purposely very wide and low for the greater ease assoon as she is set down she sends away all her People and her Coach and appoints them what hour to come and fetch her home which is usually between ten and eleven a Clock for their Visits are long enough to tire the greatest Patience There never comes any Men where they are met a jealous Husband would have little to do to seek his Wife among them he would be laught at and they would not vouchsafe to give him any other Satisfaction than telling him That she is where he is not The good Women are cunning enough and they make use of this liberty for you must know that every House has its back doors by which they can steal out and never be seen Besides this every one has a Brother at her Sisters a Son at her Mothers or a Nephew at her Aunts and this is another pretence they make use of to see their Lover Love in this Country is very ingenious nothing is neglected to gratifie their Passion and the Mistress meets with Fidelity there are Intrigues that last one's Life and yet there has not been an hours time loss to accomplish them all Opportunities are improv'd and there needs no more after seeing and liking one another I was some days ago at the Marchioness D' Alcannizas she 's one of the greatest and most vertuous Ladies of the Court discoursing of these things she very freely said to us I must needs confess that if a Cavallero should be convenienly alone with me half an hour and did not ask me all that a Man could ask I should resent it so briskly that I would stab him if I could And would you grant him all the Favours he might ask you interrupted the Marchioness De Liche who is young and handsome That does not follow replied my Lady D' Alcannizas on the contrary I have reason to believe that I should grant him nothing at all but then I could not reproach him with any thing whereas if he made no attempt upon me I should conclude he despised me There are few I believe but what are of the same opinion in this matter There 's one thing I find very odd and not to look well methinks in a Catholick Kingdom and that is The tollerating of Men that keep Mistresses so openly without the least disguise it is very true that they are forbid by the Laws but they value not the Laws and only obey their own Inclinations and yet no body offers to call them to account or to reprove them in the least These Mistresses are called Amancebades though a Man is married yet he must have one of these Creatures and often the natural Children are brought up with the legitimate in the sight of the poor Wife who patiently bears all this without so much as speaking a word It is very seldom one hears of any Differences between Husband and Wife and yet seldomer that they separate as in France Of an infinite number of Persons that I know here I have only seen the Princess Della Rocea that does not live with her Husband but in a Convent the Courts of Justice are not much troubled here with domestick Quarrels It seems extraordinary to me that a Lady who loves and is belov'd by a Cavallero is not jealous of his Amancebada she looks upon her as a second Wife and believes she cannot stand in competition with her so that a Man has his Wife his Amancebade and his Mistress this last is generally a Person of Quality 't is she that is visited in the Night and for whom they venture their Lives It happens sometimes that a Lady cover'd with her great plain Mantle or Vail and not shewing any more of her Face than half an Eye and being ordinarily drest because she would not be known and having no mind to take a Chair walks afoot to the place of Rendezvous either her being little us'd to walk or very often her manner and way distinguishes her a Cavallero follows and begins to talk to her uneasie to have such a Companion which it is hard to get rid of she addresses her self to the first she meets and without further discovery of her self I conjure you says she to him to hinder this importunate Man to follow me any longer his curiosity may injure my affairs this Request amounts to a command with a brave Spaniard he asks him against whom the Lady complains why he will press upon her against her mind and if he meets with an obstinate Person the Sword must be drawn and sometimes they kill each other without knowing for whom they have so expos'd themselves In the mean while the Lady makes the best of her way leaves them fighting together and goes where she 's expected but the jest is that very often this proves either to be the Husband or the Brother that asserts her Cause and by defending her from the Pursuit of the inquisitive gives her an Opportunity to enjoy the embraces of her Gallant Some time ago a young Lady who dearly lov'd her Husband being inform'd that he did not live so regularly as he should disguis'd her self put on her Vail and standing in a Street he us'd often to pass through she