Chapter IX (3)

[23] Her reproaches were curiously framed. Just as after the Queen's death she had tried to reform the extravagance of women's dress by pretending to have seen Isabel's ghost in trouble for her fine garments on earth, so she now appealed to Philip to keep hard at work, by saying that the soul of Baltasar Carlos had told her that he was troubled to see his father surrounded by people who looked after their own interests rather than after those of the nation. _Cartas de Sor Maria_, 30th January 1647.

[24] One of their proposals was to evacuate Catalonia in exchange for Spanish Flanders.

[25] Writing to the nun on 15th July 1648 from Madrid, in reply to her expressions of sorrow at the vice prevalent, he says: "It pierces my heart, too, to see the vicious state at which the world has arrived. I recognise it as clearly as you do, and as I cannot remedy it so quickly as I should like I am greatly troubled; although I do what I can. God grant that I may succeed in remedying it, and that I may begin by my own amendment; for there is no doubt that I need it more than anyone. Pray for me, Sor Maria, ... for I have need of your help against my own frailty." _Cartas de Sor Maria_.

[26] _Ibid._

[27] How deep this feeling was is seen by the courtier Novoa's words at the time (_Memorias_). "The only place where the war was carried on with activity was here in Castile, and that in a most unheard-of way, by disarming subjects and divesting them of their property on the pretext of the war. Even the treasury warrants which had been specially exempt from deduction were again seized and forced to yield a half. When those who had to pay were advised not to do so, because whilst the war lasted so long would the Government cut their purses and would soon take everything, a certain person asked: 'Why do they give habits? (of knighthood).--'Because they are cloth,' was the reply. 'Why do they give keys?' (_i.e._ the office of chamberlain).--'Because they are iron.' 'Why do they give titles?'--'Because they are air.' 'Why do they not give money?'--'Because that is the essence and substance of everything, and they do not wish anyone to have it.' And he added: 'God save us from him who is liberal to vice and stingy to virtue, for the only people now who are comfortable and placed aloft are concubines and the women who look after them, low and common women, and those men who have been base enough to marry them.'" This was pretty plain speaking for a courtier; but, of course, the Memoirs were not made public for many years after.

[28] Egerton MSS., 367, 181.

[29] The "prison of the Court" still stands nearly opposite the Plaza de Santa Cruz, at the end of the Calle de Atocha, and near the entrance to the Plaza Mayor. It was built in 1634 by the same Italian architect who had designed the Buen Retiro, and is a very handsome building. It is now used as the Spanish Foreign Office, which was formerly housed in the basement floor of the royal palace.

[30] A tedious account from day to day of her doings was written by Mascarenhas, Bishop of Leiria, who accompanied her. _Viage de la Serenisima Reina_, etc., Madrid, 1650.

[31] Some days before arriving at Denia the Queen's flotilla had anchored at Tarragona to water, and amongst other ceremonies the Queen was amused during the necessary delay by the representation of a comedy by Roque de Figueroa on the quarter-deck of her vessel. Pinelo, _Anales_.

[32] I have remarked in my _Queens of Old Spain_ that the reason why these wretched villages were often chosen for royal weddings was the custom to free them thenceforward from seigniorial tributes.

[33] Soto y Aguilar gives interminable accounts of the festivities to celebrate the entrance of the Queen into Madrid. The entertainments lasted nearly a month. Novoa says that on the 27th November the King himself took part in a "masquerade" on horseback, as in old times, running in a pair with his first minister and favourite, Don Luis de Haro: "all the nobles and gentles in the realm taking part in this show, which in liveries and splendid appointments surpassed all others. It was indeed a day of marvellous brilliancy. A proclamation was issued by sound of drum, by which the King gave leave to men of business and capitalists trading abroad for them to fit out eighty ships and trade with them in his ports and those of his allies, but not with the French Catalans or Portuguese. Politicians talked much of this, thinking it would be of the greatest advantage to the country." The chronicler, however, says that no advantage was taken of the permission, as merchants thought that the ships would be seized for the King. This shows how completely confidence had been lost in the honesty of Philip's Government, even by his friends.

[34] _Cartas de Sor Maria._

[35] Aersens van Sommerdyk.

[36] Florez relates that at this sumptuous christening the little Infanta Maria Teresa was god-mother, and in drawing off her glove she dropped a very precious bracelet of brilliants. A lady in the crowd picked it up and offered it to the Infanta, who even thus early had learnt the haughty traditions of her house, to take nothing from the hand of anyone but certain officials, made a sign that the lady was to keep the bracelet, _Reinas Catolicas_.

[37] He usually speaks of her in the earlier years as "my niece," not as "my wife," or "the Queen," and very frequently mentions her and his daughter together as "the girls."

[38] Record Office MSS., S.P. Spain 42.

[39] See Hopton's summary of his proceedings in Spain. Record Office MSS., S.P. Spain 42.

[40] MSS. Simancas, _Estado_, 2526; Canovas, del Castillo, _Estudios del Reinado de Felipe IV._

[41] Simancas MSS., _Estado_, 2526; Canovas del Castillo.

[42] Simancas MSS., _Estado_, 2526; Canovas del Castillo.

[43] Canovas del Castillo.

[44] I have remarked elsewhere (_Spanish Influences in English Literature_) the strange approximation of the Spanish mystics (such as Sor Maria) with the English Puritans.

[45] MSS. Simancas, _Estado_, 2526; Canovas del Castillo.

[46] MSS. Record Office. S.P. Spain 42.

[47] _Consultas del Consejo de Estado_, Simancas.

[48] The present narrative is compiled from (1) the details of Ascham's murder, given to the English Council by Laurence Chambers on his return to England (Record Office MSS., S.P. Spain 43); (2) the letters of Fischer, the secretary, in the same packet; and (3) an unpublished manuscript deposition of the prisoners in Bib. Nat., Madrid, i. 325, transcribed by me.

[49] Fischer's letters and full account of his negotiations are in Record Office MSS., S.P. Spain 43.

[50] Fischer to the Council, 26th November 1650. MSS. Record Office.

[51] _Cartas de Sor Maria_, 30th June 1655.

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