| 1501.
End of Dec. |
1. Don Pedro De Ayala, Spanish Ambassador in England,
to Queen Isabel Of Spain.
[The original letter is in the possession of Don Pascual de Gayangos, in
Madrid. Autograph. The passages printed in italics are in the original
written in cipher, and deciphered by the Editor. The orignal key is not extant.]
Muy alta y muy poderosa Reyna e ñra Señora (fn. 1) ,
pocos dias a que escrivi a v[uest]ra alteza con uno mio despues
an subcedido las cosas que creo quando esta llegara ya abra
v[uest]ra magestad savido ansi por las cartas que la señora princesa
a escrito como por las que doña elvira manuel y no
menos por el dottor de puebla que segund he sabido a
enbiado un mensajero, mas aun que las cartas sean llegadas
y V. Al. aya savido lo de aca ansi por las personas dichas
como por otras que se an escrito yo no dexare de dezir
lo que pasa sin mudar nada de la verdad porque V. alteza
entienda y conosca todo como ba para que probea lo que su
servicio sea.
Acabadas las fiestas y partidos ansi los españoles como
yngleses a sus casas el Rey quiso entender en lo que le
cumplia. demando a iohan de cuero le entregase las joyas
e plata quel dottor le abia dicho se le embian de dar en
pago de la ultima paga. Respondiole como no las abia de
entregar sino pesar e apreciar y tomar su carta de pago y
tener las en su poder como hasia. Segund a parescido
pasaron algurias altercaçiones sobrello. e en esto por el
Rey como no se azia a su proposito y le parescia abia rescevido
afrente en demandar esto antes del tiempo rescivio
alguno corrimiento y bino despues de aver quinze dias
pasados sienpre entendiendo en la negociacion a la camera de
la S. p. e en presencia de doña elvira manuel y mia le dixo
estas palabras Señora hija, no dubdo ayays savido yo
demande a v[uest]ro guardaropa me diese cierta plata e ioyas en
la suma de tautos mil descudos que yo tengo de rescebir en
la terzera paga en cuenta y pago de los dozientos mil escudos
que yo tengo de rescevir en la terzera paga en cuenta y pago
de los dozientos mil escudos de v[uest]ro dotte. quiero que vos
sepays como y porque yo los demande. Un dia antes que
yo os biese en el camino a do os desposastes el dottor de
puebla bino a mi e me dixo Señor porque conoscays
como yo no pienso sino en serviros beres lo que he fecho y
obtenido de mis soberanos y es que xxxv. √ ducados
que la ultima paga aveys de aver en perlas y piedras e oro
e plata y tapicerias yo he fecho que luego se entregue segund
por esta carta que Sus Altezas me escriben beres. la qual carta
dize le leyo y contenia lo quel dezia de la qual nueba obo
mucho plaçer e despues de pasadas las fiestas le torno a requerir
si queria rescivir las dichas joyas y como no fue cosa
para recusar que el le dixo era contento y llamo al dicho
guardaropa y benidos al efeuto le dixo como lo que se abia
de azer apreciar y pesar las dichas joyas y plata y tomar
su carta de pago de la tal suma y se abia de quedar en poder
y manos del dicho guardaropa de lo qual el abia sido
maravillado por que razon se le pidiese carta de pago de
lo que no recivia, y como el le avia replicado Señor guarde
me secreto e yo os dire por que causa he procurado como
servidor v[uest]ro esto y es que si v[uest]ra magestad quiere tomar
mi consejo yo are como la princesa quedara con todas
estas joyas e plata y tapicerria y mis principes compliran
con vos a los terminos que les tengo obligados si agora
no rescibe estas joyas y sera desta manera. la princesa
se servira de todo ello este tiempo despues sera verguença
grande de mis soberanos rehusando vos de no recevir lo que
ella a usado para el servicio de su persona y casa de selo
tomar. dexar se lo an y compliran con vos e ya yo he hablado
con la princesa e la tengo di mi parte para que esto asi sea
guiado. yo señora hija aun que conosco que aziendose ansi
como este dize a vos e a mi seria probecho e es cosa hazedera
de procurar que v[uest]ros padres os den las tales cosas para v[uest]ro
servicio e uso sin las contar, yo no soy contento por tales
bias lo aver e pesame mucho en grand manera por yo aver
demandado las tales joyas, mas la causa fue la que yo os he
dicho e no otra, agora veo en esto ay cautela yo no consintire
que se ympute a mi. yo me tengo por contento
con lo que las escrituras rezan y no demando ni demandare
otra cosa mayormente que no la podria hazer aun
que quisiere porque estas joyas son de la ultima paga.
Ruegos escribays a los señores Rey e Reyna como yo os
he dicho lo que oys en que yo no demande ni demandara
nada sino fuese apretado y confortado por el dottor
diziendome lo tenia hecho e asentado asi e agora dize
me que la carta de los señores Rey e Reyna a visto mejor e
dize le mandan tome la dicha carta de pago y que queden
en poder de iohan de cuero y no puedo pensar sino que aya
sido maña suya y que aya dado a entender a sus altezas algo
que no sea verdad ansy como a fecho a mi e. a vos por
nos tener sienpre en pendencias paresceme en (fn. 2) una grande
alebosia que aya de dezir a sus principes e a vos e a mi
las tales cosas. Ruegos señora hija e a vos doña elvira e
a vos don pedro que dello deys abiso a sus altezas porque
no quiero que me tengan por tal persona que aya de
demandar antes de tiempo lo que no me eran obligados.
porque bendito ñro Señor no tengo necesidad para que
siendo menester por amor suyo y v[uest]ro señora hija yo podre
despender un millon de oro sin enpeñarme. mostro tener
muy grand corrimiento por aver demandado le fuese entregado
lo tal y como sele denego y teme sera ymputado por cobdicioso
e ansi se partio de la princesa este dia.
luego el dia siguente me llamo y me dixo como estava
en grand congoxa porque conbenia enbiar al principe en
gales y su consejo e el del principe estaban diferentes porque
abia dos opiniones. los unos dezian era bien la yda de la
princesa en gales los otros no y que cada uno dellos daban a
su opinion buenas razones y no sabia en que determinarse.
le dixese mi parescer yo. se le dixe era la quedada abria
para mejor consejo porque seria para muchas cosas muy
probechosa mayormente que ansy la princesa como el principe
tolerarian mejor el apartamiento y conversacion estando
ella en compañya suya e de la Reyna porque suplirian ellos
toda gravedad que del apartamiento del principe se le hiziese
lo qual no podria asy tolerar estando en su casa en gales y
otras muchas razones que bien pocos dias antes el mismo Rey
me abia dado a mi por que se mobia a tener la princesa estos
dos años benideros en su compañia. otro dia siguente el
mismo ablo con la princesa el qual le dixo lo mismo que a mi
me abia dicho como conbenia la partida del principe y las
diversas opiniones que los de su consejo tenian pero que el ni
lo uno ni lo otro no determinaria salvo aquello que fuese su
voluntad declarandole no haria otra cosa de lo que ella
quisiese. su respuesta fue en esto ni en otra cosa ninguna
boluntad tenia salvo aquella que su alteza tubiese, que de todo
lo que determinase de aquello seria contenta. tornole a replicar
le rogaba no lo dexase a su voluntad del porque podria ser
determinase el pensando azerle plazer de lo que recibiese
enojo. afirmose en su primera respuesta e en esta pendencia
la truxo quatro dias y en este tiempo aziendo quel principe
travajase con la princesa ella dixiese queria mas ir que
quedar y como esto no quisiese decir haciendo demostracio[n]
el Rey de mucho pesar declaro conbenia fuese en gales aunque
era la cosa del mundo que mayor pesar rescebia la qual yda
se puso en obra la biespera de la pa ... (fn. 3) viendo que no se
azia ningund asiento en la casa de la princesa mas de nombralle
quantas personas españolas abia de tener doña elvira
abiendo ya segund paresce muchas vezes ablado con el dottor
en ello e abiendole el dicho como ansy lo que la señora
princesa abia de tener para sostinimiento de su estado como lo
que cada uno de sus servidores y servidoras todo lo tenia
asentado como conbenia aziendo el Rey muchas ofertas a la
dicha doña elvira le dixo ella le suplicaba le quisiese dezir lo
que en esto estaba asentado el qual como lo oyo resce... (fn. 3) grand
alteracion diziendo era cosa muy nueba para el la tal demanda
porque fasta la or[a] destonces nunca en tal se le abia ablado
diziendole como la costumbre desta tierra era l (fn. 3) .. maridos dar
a sus mugeres lo que obiesen necesario lo qual aria el principe
su hijo segund estado y conbenia a su honra y el le
prometia no consinteria fuese ella ni sus servidores sino muy
bien tratados diziendo algunas otras razones e ansi se descabullo
dello. otro dia siguiente el dottor bino al Rey el qual
paresce ser (fn. 4) le dixo palabras no buenas diziendole por que
razon en todas estas cosas que estaban negociadas el abia
tenido cautelas prometiendo o diziendo abia mas de lo que
estaba asentado en las escrituras porque doña elvira le
abia ablado la tal cosa. el qual le respondio que no creyese
su alteza el obiese ablado ni escrito ninguna cosa otra
de lo que las escrituras reçaban mas que aquello que doña
elvira o la princesa o otras personas demandaban o ablaban
todo era a requesta e ynducimiento de don pedro. el Rey le
replico no creya fuese asy salvo que el tenia estas maneras por
entretener a v[uest]ras altezas e a el en pendencias no de buena
disisticion (fn. 7) e otras palabras no muy honestas lo qual fue
delante de su consejo.
la partida de los señores principe e princesa se determino
y puso en obra martes xxi. de diziembre para tener la
tiesta xl millas de aqui lo que despues de su partida alla
oviere pasado e subcediere dalla daran cuenta a v[uest]ra alteza
dello.
agora quiero dizir a V. al. lo que destas cosas yo he
entendido e creo y he fecho. quanto toca a lo de las
joyas el Rey bien quisiera como se le ofrescio se las dieran
y entergaran y a lo que yo creo y por señales he yo bisto
claras todas o la mayor parte de ellas o su equibalencia
el selo diera porque en grand manera a rescevido grandisimo
contentamiento de todo quanto v[uest]ras altezas an hecho
y sobre todo tienese por muy abenturado despues que a
conoscido esta señora ser la que es. y como siempre el
tubiese esperança esto se le abia de entergar nunca
probeyo dar un alfiler a la princesa. allose muy corrido de
lo aver demandado y no darsele y lo que no abia (fn. 8) fecho
lo que con esta esperança abia dexado de azer crese como
aca aya mucha boluntad de adquerir lo que se puede aber
e como le tubiesen ya abisado que usando e traxiendo la
princesa todas estas cosas que trae vuestres altezas avrian
enpacho despues de mandar le fuesen quitadas y entergadas
a el en pago de lo que abia de aver delibero que
la yda de gales se iziese porque seria forçado servirse de
todo lo que traya. por parte mia que algo desto e entendido
no se a dexado de abisar todo lo que se pudiere escusar
de no usarse ni tratarse estas cosas semejantes se escuse
porque es cierto otra niguna razon mas principal no a abido
para la yda porque es muy contra la voluntad del Rey por
otros pensamientos que tiene, y por mi parte e doña elvira
por la suya diximos al Rey creyamos v[uest]ras altezas sabida la
muy tierna edad del principe abrian antes plazer que
pesar por algunos dias no estubiesen juntos. Respondio a
esto como se maravillaba porque una de las cosas porque
se abia determinado azerlo abia sido porque uno de los
principales que v[uest]ras altezas con la Princesa abian enbiado
para su servicio le abia hecho una muy larga abla sobre
este caso y el fin della abia sido por parte de v[uest]ras altezas
como onbre que sabia sus voluntades le rogaba en ninguna
manera del mundo no los separase antes que la enbiase
con su marido porque no aziendose asy v[uest]ras altezas
serian mal contentos e della sabia se desesperia. obo
siendo muy ynterrogado de declarar abia sido alexander
el que esto le dixo con parescer e ynduzimiento del dotor.
la causa porque no se save glosar otra salvo porque obiese
ocasion de usar las dichas cosas a causa de la partida e
biniese a su proposito lo que ordenaba. aun que en este
caso ni en otro ninguno no debria de tener atrebimiento
de dezir a v[uestr]as al. mi simple parescer mas confiando recivra
la boluntad con que lo digo dire como si tiene determinado
esto que aca esta aya de servir para en la cuenta de los
dozientos mil scudos que seria bien luego mandasen se le
entregasen porque creo serviria a dos cosas lo uno a que
no fuese reusado, lo otro que al presente seria en mas
tasado que despues lo seria y no dubdo aprobecharia lo tal
a que el Rey gelo tornase y si se dilata a no darse lo fasta
la ultima paga, creo el dilatara a no talle (fn. 9) ninguna
cosa pues tiene bien lo que a menester ansi para su servicio
como para el del principe al qual tan poco ninguna
cosa de adreço de casa ni vaxilla a dado ni entiende
de dar antes a ordenado esten juntos y coman juntos
porque aya ocasion de servirse con la de la princesa.
quanto toca a esto no se otra causa que dezir pueda.
Bien creo V. Al. ya sabra como he dicho para su estado
ninguna cosa señalada tiene ni menos para sus servidores
ni oficiales acostamientos ni pensiones salvo que aran todo
lo mejor que pudieren segund la renta quel principe tiene
requieren, yo no creo que V. Al. tenga creydo fasta agora que
esto aya de ser asy porque seria sy ansy fuese con determinacion
de la prober cada año de lo que le faltase e si
ansy es deben luego vuestras altezas prover en que se
asiente lo que debe que no aziendose luego a los principios
seria grave despues. la señora princesa me a mandado
algunas bezes entendiese en algunas cosas semejantes. no e
obedescido en este caso su mandamiento pues de vuestra
alteza no le tengo.
[What follows is written in the hand of D. Pedro de Ayala.]
Porque presto entiendo escrevir otra ves a v[uest]ras altesas
no dire aqui asta saber muy cierto algunas cosas que
aca me an dicho se ordena aver. parecermeya como a
vr. alteza escrevi estotro dia luego deve proveer y mandar
los que aca estamas ansy onbres como mugeres nos conformemos
y ninguno sea osado de negociar particularmente
cosa que a el ni a otro cumpla porque cada uno se va
a leer y procura y abla lo que quiere en tal manera que
se açe mas daño que provecho. quando de aqui partio la
Sra. princesa se asento su casa y mandaron a cada uno en
lo que avia de servir y a do avia de entrar y estar ordenaron
no sirviese el maestre sala y davan le oficio de
huxer y a Juan de Cuero ansimismo esto se fiço dezpues
de partidos de aqui. yo no fuy a gales por atender aqui
cartas de v[uest]ras Altesas y aun porque en alguna manera
era menester mi quedada ansi por no estar aun *
[The conclusion of this despatch is lost.] |
(Translation.)
1. Very high and mighty Queen, our sovereign lady,
A few days ago I wrote to your Highness by one
of my servants. What has since happened I think your
Majesty knows already by the letters of the señora Princess,
as well as by those which doña Elvira Manuel and
Doctor de Puebla have written, who, as I am informed,
has sent a messenger. Nevertheless, although the letters
probably have arrived, and your Highness may have heard
what is going on here as well by the persons I have mentioned
as by other (letters) which may have been written,
I shall not omit to state what passes here, strictly adhering
to the truth, in order that your Highness may hear and
learn all that is going on, and provide what your service
requires.
When the feasts were over, and the Spaniards as well as
the English had returned to their houses, the King pleased
to occupy himself with looking after his interests. He asked
Johan de Cuero to deliver to him the jewels and plate
which, the doctor had said, he had been ordered to give
as part of the last instalment. He answered that he had
not to deliver them, but to weigh and to value them, to
ask a receipt for them, and yet to guard them, as he hitherto
had done. It seems that some altercations took place on
this subject. Meanwhile, as the will of the King was not
done, and he thought he had received an affront, having
asked [the jewels and plate] before the time they were due,
he was somewhat ashamed ; and after having continued these
negotiations during a fortnight, he came to the room of the
señora Princess, where he said to her, in the presence of doña
Elvira Manuel and me, the following words : "Señora, my
daughter, I have no doubt that you know that I asked
from your keeper of the wardrobe certain plate and jewels,
worth so many thousand ducats, which I have to receive
as part of the third instalment on account and in payment
of the 200,000 scudos which are due to me as part of
the third instalment on account and payment of the
200,000 scudos of your dower. I wish you to know why
and for what reasons I asked them. One day, before I
saw you on the road where you were betrothed, the Doctor
de Puebla came to me, and said : 'Señor, in order that
you may know how much I take care of your interests,
you shall see what I have done and obtained from my
sovereign Lords. You will learn by this letter from
their Highnesses that the five-and-thirty thousand ducats
which you have to receive in pearls, jewels, gold, silver,
and tapestry, on account of the last instalment, are without
delay to be delivered to you."' This letter he read to
him, and it contained what he had said. He was very glad
to hear this. When the feasts were over he (de Puebla) again
asked him whether he would like to receive the said jewels,
and, not having any reason to refuse them, he answered that
he would. He called the said keeper of the wardrobe, who,
however, when they came to the point, told him that the
jewels and plate were to be valued and weighed, and that
he was to receive a receipt for their value, but that they
were to remain in the keeping of the said keeper of the
wardrobe. When he [Henry] was astonished that he was
expected to give a receipt for what he had not received, he
[de Puebla] said to him, "Señor, keep my secret, and I will
tell you the reason why I, your servant, have arranged
this. If your Majesty will accept my advice, I promise
you to conduct the affairs in such a manner that the
señora Princess shall remain in the possession of all her
jewels, plate, and tapestry, and my sovereign Lords nevertheless
fulfil the obligations to you which I have imposed
on them in case that these jewels be not accepted. The
manner is the following : If the Princess uses all this now,
and you afterwards refuse to accept it, my sovereign Lords
will be ashamed to take from her what she has already
used as her own on her person as well as in her household.
They must then leave it to her, and fulfil their obligations
towards you. I have already spoken with the Princess,
and won her over on my side, so that it may be done
as I have said." "Señora, my daughter, although I know
that, if it is done as he says, it would be advantageous to
you and to me, and although it could thus be arranged
that your parents give you these things for your use without
counting them, nevertheless I am not inclined to
obtain [any advantage] by such means. I am exceedingly
sorry that I have asked for the jewels in question, but the
reason was that which I have stated and nothing else. I
see now that there is a crafty design, and I shall not consent
that it be attributed to me. I shall be content with
what the treaties stipulate, and do not ask nor shall I
ever ask anything else, especially as I could not do it
even if I would, because these jewels form part of the last
instalment. I beg you to write to the King and the
Queen all I have said to you, as you hear it, and [to
tell them] that I have not, nor should on any account
have, proffered the demand without being instigated and
animated by the Doctor, who told me that he had arranged
and settled it in that manner, but now says that, having
read once more the letter of the King and the Queen, he
must confess that they order him to ask the said receipt
and yet leave [the jewels] in the keeping of Johan de
Cuero ; and I cannot but think that it has been an artful
trick of his, and that he has given their Highnesses to
understand something that is not true, just as he has
deceived me and you in order to involve us continually in
difficulties. It seems to me to be a great breach of trust
to say such things to his Sovereigns and to you and to me.
I beg you, Señora, my daughter, and you, doña Elvira, as
well as you, don Pedro, to inform their Highnesses of the
truth, because I should not like to be held for a person
who asks what is due to me before the time. God be
praised, I am not in want, and, if it were necessary, I
could, for love of them and of you, my señora daughter,
spend a million of gold without contracting a debt."
He was evidently much ashamed that he had asked that
the said things be delivered to him, and that his demand
was refused. He is afraid to be thought a miser. In such a
disposition of mind he left the Princess that day.
Next day, having called me into his presence, he told me
that he was very uneasy because it was necessary to send the
Prince to Wales, and his council and the council of the Prince
entertained different opinions. Some said that it would be
good for the Princess to go to Wales, and others said no, and
each of them supported their opinions by such good reasons
that he did not know what to do. He asked my advice.
What I answered was, that I thought it much better that the
Princess should not go, for that would be preferable in many
respects, and especially because the Prince and the Princess
would more easily bear being separated and [their abstinence
from] intercourse if she remained with him and the Queen,
who could alleviate her sorrow for being separated from the
Prince, a thing which it would be much more difficult to bear
if she were to live in his house in Wales, adding many other
reasons which the King himself had given me only a few days
before for retaining the Princess during the next two years
near his person. The following day he (the King) himself
spoke with the Princess, and told her the same thing he had
said to me, viz., that it was necessary that the Prince should
go to Wales, and what difference of opinion existed amongst
his councillors, adding that he would not determine either in
the one way or the other, but do only what she liked, and
declaring to her that he would do only what she wished. Her
answer was, that neither in this nor in any other respect had
she any other will than his, and that she would be content
with what he decided. He replied that he asked her not to
leave the decision to him, because, although wishing to be
agreeable to her, he might nevertheless determine on what
would give her annoyance. She repeated her first answer.
This indecision continued four days, during which he caused
the Prince to use his influence with the Princess, and to
persuade her to say that she preferred rather to go than to
stay, and, as she refused to say it, the King, making show of
great sorrow, decided that she should go to Wales, although
nothing in the world he regretted more. She went on the evening
before ... (fn. 5) her departure nothing was provided for the
household of the Princess, except that it was determined how
many Spanish servants she was to have. As doña Elvira, it
seems, had already oftentimes spoken with the doctor, who
had told her that he had settled how much the señora Princess
was to have for the sustenance of her household, as well as for
every one of her male and female servants, and that the King
had made great offers to the said doña Elvira, she asked him (fn. 6)
to state what had been decided. When he heard this he was
much surprised, and said that such a demand was an entirely
new thing to him, for until then nothing had been mentioned
to him about it, and it was the custom in this country
for husbands to give to their wives all they want, which the
Prince his son would do, according to his rank, and as his
honour required. He would never consent, he said, that
she and her servants were otherwise treated than very
liberally. Adding some other reasons, he dismissed this subject.
The following day the doctor went to see the King, who, it
seems, spoke by no means friendly words to him, asking him
why he had behaved so artfully in all those affairs which had
been negotiated, saying and promising, according to what doña
Elvira had told him, more than really had been settled in the
treaties. He answered, that his Highness ought not to believe
that he had spoken or written anything but what was contained
in the treaties, and that all that doña Elvira and the
Princess and other persons asked or were speaking of was at
the request and persuasion of don Pedro. The King replied
that he did not believe it, but knew that with no good intention
he purposed in this manner to involve your Highnesses
and him in difficulties, adding other words by no means
flattering. This passed in the presence of the council.
The departure of the Prince and Princess was fixed and
took place on Tuesday the 21st of December, in order to pass
the holidays 40 miles distant from here. Of all that, after
their departure, has happened and will happen, they will
inform your Highness from there.
I wish now to tell your Highness what I have heard
and believe, and what I have done concerning this business.
With respect to the jewels, the King would like
that, as they were offered him, they be given and delivered
to him, and that, according to what I believe, and from
unmistakeable signs conclude, all or the greater part of them,
or their equivalent, should be given to him, because he has
received the very greatest pleasure from all your Highnesses
have done, and above all, since he knows what a person the
Señora is, he considers himself a fortunate man. As he always
hoped that these (the jewels, &c.) were to be delivered
to him, he never provided so much as a pin for the Princess ;
but he is much ashamed that he has asked and met with a
refusal, and that he has neglected to do that which he has
left undone, because he had that hope. It is believed that
the best will exists here to acquire all that can be got, and
as he has already been told that, if the Princess uses all
the things which she takes with her, your Highnesses will
find it difficult to order afterwards that they be taken from
her, and delivered to him as part payment of what is due
to him, he has decided that she should go to Wales, because
then she would be obliged to use all she takes with her. On
my part, as I have heard something of this, it has not been
neglected to advise that as much as it can be avoided these
things should not be used. For it is certain that there has
been no other reason of any weight for her journey, which is
very contrary to the wishes of the King in other respects. I,
on my part, and doña Elvira on hers, have told the King
that we believe that your Highnesses, knowing the tender
age of the Prince, would rather be pleased than dissatisfied
if they for some time did not live together. He answered
to this observation, that he was astonished to hear it, for one
of the reasons which had induced him to do it had been
because one of the principal personages whom your Highnesses
had sent with the Princess to serve her had spoken
to him, and asked him, in the name of your Highnesses, as a
man who knows your intentions, that on no condition in
the world should he separate them, but send her with
her husband, and that if that were not done your
Highnesses would be dissatisfied, and she, he knows,
would be in despair. Being much pressed he had
to confess that Alexander had told him this, with the
approval and according to the advice of the Doctor.
His intention, for no other can be found, is to procure
her an occasion to use the said things, in consequence of
her journey, and thus by what he ordered to attain his ends.
Although I ought not to have the boldness to state in this
or in any other case my humble opinion to your Highnesses,
nevertheless, hoping that the good will with which I state
it will be acceptable to you, I shall say that, if it is
determined that that which is here is to be given on account
of the 200,000 scudos, it would be good to order that it
be delivered immediately, because I think it would serve
two purposes, viz., firstly, that it would not be refused,
and, secondly, that it would now be more highly valued than
afterwards, and I do not doubt it would produce so good an
effect that the King would give it back to her ; but if it
were delayed, and not delivered to him until the last
instalment, in such a case I believe he would delay to assign
anything to her, because she has every thing she wants as
well for her own service as for that of the Prince, to whom he
also has given nothing at all wherewith to furnish his
house, nor any table service, nor does he intend to give, but,
on the contrary, he has ordered that they live together and
take their meals together, so that he must use the things of the
Princess. With respect to this subject I know no other
motive that could be alleged.
I think your Highness knows already that nothing has
been assigned for her household, and much less have the
salaries and pensions for her servants and officers been
provided, but they all will manage to live as well as the
revenues of the Prince permit. I do not think that your
Highness has believed that this was to be the case, for if
it were you would have to provide her annually with
what she wants. If I am right, your Highnesses must
immediately take steps that what is due to her be also settled
on her, for if that is not done at the beginning it will be
difficult afterwards. The señora Princess has several times
ordered me to enter into negotiations about such similar
subjects, but I have not obeyed her orders in this, because
I have no power from your Highness.
[The following is holograph of the ambassador don Pedro
de Ayala.]
I intend soon to write again to your Highness, and shall,
therefore, not mention several things which I am told
have been ordered, until I am quite sure of the truth. It
seems to me that, as I have already written to your Highness
the other day, you should without delay provide and
order that all we who are here, men as well as women,
act in unison, and that none be so bold as to entertain
separate negotiations, which neither he nor any other has a
right to do. Now every one reads, and asks, and speaks what
he likes, and thus causes more disadvantages than advantages.
When the señora Princess left, her servants were
appointed for their several places, and every one received
his orders where he was to serve. They have now decided
that the maestre sala should not serve in that quality, and
have given him the office of usher. The same with respect
to Juan Cuero. That was done after their departure from
here. I did not go to Wales, because I here await letters
from your Highnesses, and also, in some other respects, it
is necessary that I remain here, for I am not yet *
(The conclusion of this letter is not extant.) |