[See MEMOIRS, pp. 168-170.]
Ballecas, one league from Madrid, 7th May, 1664, stilo loci.
My last from Cordova, 29th of March, N. S. 7th of April, carried on
the journal of my great reception and entertainment in my way up to
Madrid, to the day of the date thereof.
What was afterwards in the same city, whilst I remained there, which
was until Tuesday in Easter Week--because those gentlemen would needs
make the King of England's Ambassador a fiesta of canas upon the
Monday, at the rate of taking up their horses from verde, [Footnote:
i.e., From grass. ] on purpose for it; and since, in all other places
proportionably, particularly in Toledo, where there was another fiesta
of bulls given, was every way rather exceeding than inferior to any
thing that was elsewhere before, until my safe arrival at this very
place, which I reckon my journey's end; and by earnest suit to this
Court from Seville, did obtain it might be so esteemed by them;
leaving me here to my own expense and disposal, although I have as yet
no house provided for me in Madrid; notwithstanding all diligence
towards it by the Aposentadores there, upon the King's special
command, and also by such private persons as I myself have employed
not to stick at any just rate for a good one, upon my particular
account, with advance of a year's rent in plata doble, and so to be
continued, as long as the house should be used by me, upon merchant
security: such a dearth there is really of accommodations of this
nature for the present, and for a long time hath been; yet there want
not descants, that there is some great mystery of state in the matter,
which doubtless will fly as far as Paris, if not reach London.
POSTSCRIPT.--Since my arrival in this village, and that my present
want of a house in Madrid is more murmured at there than needs,
considering the King is absent, and moreover, though I am much
straitened in matter of lodgings, yet that I have a very large and
pleasant garden thereunto belonging, to expatiate and refresh myself
and wearied family in, I received a message from Baron Battevil to
this effect, besides general tenders of all manner of service which is
in his power; that he is at present (as in truth he is) sick, or else
would have waited upon me himself in person; but that he will with all
his heart quit his house to me--which I am told is a very fine one, as
he hath made it, with chargeable additions of his own, in the midst of
the Calle de Alcala, with a fair garden to it, and that it is no
compliment at all. This I have thought reasonable to advertise in
England, though not to accept.--Ibid. p.63-66.
FROM THE DUKE DE MEDINA DE LAS TORRES,
TO SIR RICHARD FANSHAWE.
Madrid, 27th of May, 1664.
"The Bull-feast will be on Thursday next; and by reason that your
Excellency seems desirous to be a spectator incognito, I have taken
care to procure you a shady balcony in the first story. I have
likewise ordered a window to be secured for your Excellency's retinue.
If there be anything more wherein I can serve your Excellency, I hope
you will freely command it, as I shall be always forward to serve you.
God keep your Excellency, and grant you the long life I desire."--
Ibid. p. 86.
To MR. SECRETARY BENNET.
Ballecas, 18/28 May, 1664.
The Duke of Aveiro had recovered, by final sentence, the 17th of May,
the two dukedoms of Maqueda and Najara. Maqueda he hath; for Najara he
hath not yet sued, but keeps it in the decks: then Maqueda is a great
deal better worth than I thought, valued by some at sixty thousand
ducats per annum, at forty thousand generally; and moreover his
sister, (as a domestic, who you know, of that family, tells me,) as a
consequent of the late sentence, will recover for, or towards, her
dowry, a deposited arrear of between three or four hundred thousand
ducats. She was lately, in all appearance, very near marriage with the
heir of the Conde de Oropesa; but quite broke off before this
sentence, upon point of alimony, and liberty of rewarding her own
attendants out of her own estate, in case of future dissension. I am
particular in the domestic concernments of this family when they come
in my way, though the passages relate nothing of interest of state, in
regard to that esteem or their persons, [Footnote: The following
passage occurs in Sir Richard's instructions: "You shall visit, in our
name, the Duke of Aveiro and his sister, assuring them of our
friendship and particular concernments for their persons, for the name
and royal blood of which they are descended, and promising them all
effects of it in our power, especially if the agreement between the
two Crowns give us an opportunity to have any part in the restitution
of their estates, with all other good offices, which shall happen to
be in our power."--Ibid. p. 17.] which his Majesty's instruction to me
on that behalf doth express, and knowing yourself to be particularly
an honourer of them.
Upon the 22nd current, Ascension-day at night, [Footnote: In 1664
Ascension-day fell on the NINETEENTH of May] after a play in the
palace, upon a slight occasion of snappish words, unless there were
something of old grudge or rivalship in the case, the Marquis of
Albersan, challenging Don Domingo Guzman, and he fought under the
palace, near the Marquis de Castel Rodrigo's house in the Florida,
where Don Domingo gave the Marquis that whereof he died. The next
morning they that knew the Marquis to be so near and dear to the Conde
de Castrillo as he was, and knew Don Domingo to be the Duke of St.
Lucar's son, knowing withal how well that Conde and Duke do love one
another, and how they do both divide the Spanish world between them in
power, will conclude this private accident hath an influence upon the
public; indeed so great a one, as hath seemed for some days past to
make a vacation in Court, that I may not call it an inter-reign, or
the dividing of a kingdom against itself.
For since, and upon, this accident, all seems of a light flame between
these duumviri, to so high a degree, that each crossing whatsoever the
other promotes, the most of others of quality take sides, and such as
appear neuters with the monarchy a monopoly in either of their hands;
weeping over the graves of the Conde, Duque, and Don Luis de Haro,
because they were absolute and sole favourites in their generations;
attributing to this very cause the seeming disproportion, if not
contradiction, between my reception in, and conduction from, Cadiz,
hitherto, and now my long demurrage so near the Court, for want of a
house in it, and prophesying already that this animosity and emulation
will gangrene into the substance, as well as accidents, of my embassy.
I do not here pretend to paint unto his Majesty the state of Spain,
but the populace of it; asking more time, by a great number of years,
to understand the former, though but in a competent measure, than I
hope his Majesty will give me: and if his Majesty would, God will not.
I have learned by the yet invincible ignorance of some Foreign
Ambassadors to England (an open-breasted country!--how apt they are to
mistake), who (begging the question, in the first place, of their own
personal abilities) can never be convinced that Mas vee el loco en su
casa, que el cuerdo en la agena.--Whilst I am writing, I am called to
entertain the Count de Marcin, [Footnote: John Gasper Ferdinand de
Marcin, Count de Graville, Marquis de Claremont d'Antrague, &c.,
Captain-General of the Spanish Service, was Lieutenant-General of
Charles the Second's forces by sea and land, and was elected a Knight
of the Garter in 1658.] who is upon the way from Madrid to find me out
in this obscurity, contrary to the style of Spain, but suitable to the
freedom of a soldier, and of a subject of his Majesty, as to his most
noble Sovereignty of the Garter.--Ibid. p. 90.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY DENZILL LORD HOLLES,
AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY IN THE COURT OF FRANCE.
FOR HIS MAJESTY'S SPECIAL SERVICE.
[See MEMOIRS, pp. 170, 171]
Madrid, June 10/20, 1664.