[See MEMOIRS, p. 179.]
Madrid, Wednesday, 12th of October, 1664, English style.
"Since my last to you of yesterday, the President of Castile having by
the King's special and angry command, gone forth to the neighbouring
villages, attended with the hangman, and whatsoever else of terror
incident to his place and derogatory to his person, the markets in
this town begin to be furnished again plentifully enough, yet so as
that the bullion remaining fallen to the half value, bread, wine, and
other provisions, are held up much higher than they were before in the
numerical money; the reason is, whether upon intelligence or jealousy,
the people that sell, do expect a second speedy fall, in which regard
they rather choose to part with their wares upon trust, as many do and
will, to receive for the same at the rate money shall go awhile hence,
than for present money, though to persons whom before they would have
been very scrupulous to have trusted."--Ibid. p. 265.