| 1498.
August |
1. The Sub-Prior of Santa Cruz to Ferdinand and Isabel
The Catholic.
[Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Tratados con Inglaterra.
Legajo 2. Holograph.]
A sus Al. del Sopõr de Santa Cruz.
Martes postrimero de Julio llegamos aqui : el jueves
siguiente fablamos al Archiduque y despues al Archiduquessa.
recibieronnos alegremente a lo que nos parescio. propuse
a la Señora Archiduquesa la causa de mi venida. holgo
mucho, esta tan gentil y tan fermosa y gorda y tan preñada
que si V. Al. la viessen habrian consolacion. el viernes
siguiente torne a hablar a Su Alteza y entre estas hablas
mostro tener alguna turbacion por que de alla supo algunas
cosas que se dixieron alla y por que en tal tiempo me
parecio que era mas razon darle placer que enojo dixele que
Su Alteza habia dexado en castilla tan buen nombre que
nunqua se perderia por lo que de aqua se pudiesse decir
quanto mas que si algo se decia no se decia sino a V. Al.
en quien tenia tan buenos procuradores que no hacia falta
su presencia escusandola con su tierna edad y poca experiencia
y con el grande amor que le conocia todo lo deshacia delante
de V. Al. estas mismas escusas pone por si y ahun por
su marido que algo mas sosegada quedo. no le faltaban
buenas razones para defender su causa que ansi los suyos
della y ella dellos por no osar no han escrito mas largo
hasta qui y esto baste por la segunda vista. doña marina
manuel no esta aqui. enviele las saludes. para los otras
menudencias no me parece que es buen tiempo agora. una
cosa sepan Vuestras Altezas que aqua no dan de comer a
hombre del mundo de manera que si Vuestras Altezas
entienden que me tengo de detener aqua algun dia segund
los gastos de aqua es menester me manden proveer que de
mas de nuestra provision me dio el Rey de inglaterra en
nobles cincuenta y tres ducados y todo ha sido menester.
Del Sop~or de Santa. |
(Translation.)
1. To their Highnesses from the Subprior of Santa Cruz.
We arrived here on Tuesday, the last day of July. The next
Thursday we spoke with the Archduke, and after that with
the Archduchess. They received us with joy, as it seemed.
I stated to the Archduchess the subject of my mission.
She was much pleased with it. She is very gentle, and so
handsome and stout, and so much advanced in her pregnancy,
that it would be a consolation for your Highnesses
to see her. The following Friday I spoke again with her
Highness, who, in the course of our conversation, was somewhat
troubled because she had been informed from there
(Spain) of several things that were said there of her.
As, considering her condition, it seemed to me more reasonable
to please than to cause her trouble. I said to her
here, (fn. 1) especially as, if anything had been said, it was said
only to your Highnesses, who are so good advocates of her
that her presence was unnecessary. Her tender age, her
want of experience, and her great love, of which you were
aware, would excuse all before your Highnesses. She alleges
the same excuses for herself and her husband. She is more
composed. She is not in want of good reasons to defend
her cause, which her servants have not written [when
speaking] of her, or she [when speaking] of her servants,
because they did not dare to be more explicit. This much
for my second visit. Doña Marina Manuel is not here.
I sent her your greetings. For the other small matters the
time is not yet come. One thing your Highnesses ought to
know ; they do not give here anything to eat to any person
in the world, so that if it is the intention of your Highnesses
that I remain longer here, it will be necessary some
day to provide for my expenses. Above what I get for my
expenses, I received fifty-three ducats in nobles from the King
of England. This (money) has been very necessary to me.
The Subprior of Santa Cruz. |
| 16th August. |
2. The Sub-Prior of Santa Cruz to Ferdinand and Isabel
The Catholic.
[Archivo General de Simancas. Negociado de Estado. Patronato Real.
Tratados con Inglaterra. Legajo 2°. Holograph.]
A sus Al. del Sop~or de Santa Cruz. xvj
de Agosto de xcviij.
Martes vigilia de la Asuncion de nuestra Señora hable
tercera vez con la Señora Archiduquessa y demandandome
algo de su vida para escribir a V. Al. me respondio que por
agora no sabia que decir, porque tenia escrito largo a V. Al.
hasta agora no me ha preguntado por persona de toda
españa sino lo que yo le dixe. se decir a V. Al. que no
hubo mucha placer de mi venida y con mucha razon por que
antes que yo llegase le escribieron y creo que fue la condesa
de camina desde bilbao que yo venia por su confessor y
era tan publico que yo venia por su confessor que en inglaterra
hallamos dos cartas dello hasta que yo le afirme lo
contrario con que algo quedo satisfecha. respondiome enfin
que si aqui estoviesse algunos dias veria lo que pedia. yo
le respondi que no venia yo a facer inquisicion sobre su
vida ni para escrebir ni decir cosa que por su boca no
saliese y que viese de que seria mas servida que la visitase
muchas veces o pocas que algo meior le supo y respondio
que todas las veces que yo quisiese hablarle y decir todo
lo que menos bueno me pareciese lo recibiria de buena gana.
y hasta agora no tengo otra prenda suya. no se donde
pararemos al menester que deste no se rezume nada aqua
por carta ni por palabra sino todo se tornara en nada. no
se si mi venida o su poca devocion lo causo que el dia de la
Asuncion aqui acudieron dos confessores suyos y con nenguno
se confesso. hasta agora por mi indisposicion no he podido
frecuentar la visitacion ; ya esto meior bendito Nuestro
Senor : lo que mas se ofreciere facerlo he saber a V. Al. a
xvj de Agosto.
Por la mar escrebi dos juntas y con don Rodrigo otra
y esta agora. suplico a V. Al. manden facer mincion de
todas. Del Sop~or. |
2. To their Highnesses from the Subprior of Santa Cruz,
16th of August '98.
On Tuesday, the eve of the assumption of our Lady, I
spoke for the third time with the Señora Archduchess. I
asked her [to tell me] something of her life which I could
write to your Highnesses, but she answered me that for the
moment she had nothing to say, because she had written
a long letter to your Highnesses. Up to this time she has
not made any inquiry for any person in the whole of Spain,
[and heard] only what I have told her. I can tell your
Highnesses that she was not gratified by my coming, and
that with good reason, for before I had arrived certain persons,
and I believe it was the Countess of Camin, wrote to
her from Bilbao, that I came as her confessor. [The rumour]
that I came as her confessor was so public that we found in
England two letters of that purport. When I assured her of
the contrary she became somewhat more quiet. In conclusion
she answered me, that should I remain some days longer
she would take my demands into consideration. I replied
that I had not come [like an inquisitor] to pry into her
conduct, and would not write or say a word except what
came from her lips. [I begged her] to tell me whether she
would prefer that I should visit her frequently or rarely.
... (fn. 2) She answered that as often as I wished to speak
to her, and to tell her what did not seem right to me, she
would hear it with pleasure. Hitherto I have received no
other pledge from her. I do not know how far we shall
go if necessary. Of this (fn. 3) nothing can be done here,
either by letters or word of mouth, and all will turn into
nothing. I do not know whether my presence or her want
of devotion was the reason that she did not confess on
the day of the Assumption, although two of her confessors
were in attendance. My indisposition has hitherto prevented
me from frequently visiting her, but, God be thanked, I am
already better. Anything that happens I shall make known
to your Highnesses. From the Subprior.
16th of August. |
| 1st Sept. |
3. Fray Andreas to the Archduchess Dõna Juana.
[Archivo General de Simancas. Estado. Legajo 1, f. 366. Holograph.]
Muy alta y muy poderosa y muy escelente Señora princesa,
guarde dios a V[uestr]a Alteza y la alunbre con bien y la aga
bien graciosa y quista con todos porque amen amen de
muchos penetra los cielos. de Çaragoça escrevi a V[uestr]a Alteza a
do fue a ber la reyna nuestra Señora que la alle bien peligrosa
y a dios gracias la dexe buena sana y muy alegre. plega a
dios de la guardar y alunbrar a V[uestr]a Alteza como es tanto
menester a su servicio mucho plazer ovieron todas esas
Señoras comigo y conpli con muchas dellas y a muchas dexe
descontentas porque plugo a dios que al mejor tiempo que me
avian menester las dexe. dizenme que V[uestr]a Alteza se confiesa
con esos frayles questan en paris y que a uno avia dado treynta
florines para azer buenas xiras que andas (fn. 4) por esos bodegones
de paris. mi parescer es que V[uestr]a Alteza no se confiese sino
con frayle que este en su monasterio de la observancia que
no tenga para si un alfiler ni V[uestr]a Alteza le puede dar ni hazer
bien sino para la comunidad y monesterio do estoviere que
sea de observancia y con tales frailes como estos que estan
en monasterio de observancia dara buena cuenta a dios de
su anima. este padre y frayle que la presente dara a V[uestr]a
Alteza es de observancia muy bueno y honesto y de buenas
letras sino fuese tan moço bien descargaria V[uestr]a Alteza su
anima con el y no con esos que no estan en observancia
tantos años como andan alla y es buen predicador y si V[uestr]a
Alteza se quisiere servir algunos tienpos del año quando fuere
menester yo se que V[uestr]a Alteza se contentara de su predicacion.
suplico a V[uestr]a Alteza le aya por encomendado y servira a dios
en ello y si V[uestr]a Alteza tiene enojo de mi como la dexe no es
de tener segun la enfermedad tenia y avia miedo de mi
anima que no sabia adonde avia de yr y tenia quasi ya el
pie en la huesa y temia la sentencia y cuenta que avia de dar
a dios y agora bibo con tal Señor que yamas se morira mas
sienpre bibio y bibe para sienpre y los que le sirven bien los
haze bibir para sienpre y asy hize este troque con V[uestr]a Alteza
y si lo quiere bien mirar como he escrito V. Alt. cierto mas
la (fn. 6) ... no aca que questando alla y mucho mucho quie ...
alla al tienpo de ... to y aun si V[uestr]a Alteza lo
escriviera si dios fuera servido no dexaria de yr alla en tal
tienpo que se que fuera consolacion para V[uestr]a Alteza mas
yo he scrito muchas vezes nunca me ha querido enbiar ni
escrevir como esta. sea como v[uest]ra Alteza mandare. que tales
servicios y tantos años no son de olvidar delante de dios ni
del mundo. a dios gracias crea V[uestr]a Alteza que esto mas
contento en el monesterio que me allo con pan y agua que
V[uestr]a Alteza con quanto tiene y demando perdon que atrebome
a quien tanto amo y sirvo de noche y de dia delante de dios.
esfuerçese y alegre quanto podiere y este su anima pura linpia
con dios y confiesese muy bien y muchas vezes y asi tendra
menos temor que tenia en la carraca, ca yo espero en dios
que la alunbrara y guardara con bien y que ha de parir un
hijo por que asi se demando a dios que la diese prole y
fuese hijo y asi me escriva luego para que le ofresca a dios
y a nuestra Señora y a Santo domingo y a San pedro martir
y despues dios mediante que aya parido el hijo me ha de
enviar un vestidura o una camisa suya por que esta asi prometido
a San pedro martil (fn. 8) . el provincial su fraile de la
merced oy sabado me enbio una carta de Valladoliz que luego
le hiziese saber como esta V[uestr]a Alteza si sabia algunas nuevas
y si escriviese que besara las manos a V[uestr]a Alteza y que presto
esperava de las besar. si V[uestr]a Alteza no me escrive nunca mas
escrivo y esta sera la postrera. dios la aga bienaventurada y
alunbre con bien que asi sera con la misericordia de dios.
oy sabado primero dia de Setienbre. de V[uestr]a Alteza, su
indigno y perpetuo orador que sus reales manos besa. fr.
Andreas mr. Archeducisse.
[Sobre :] A la muy alta y muy excelente poderosa Señora
princesa Archiduquesa mi Señora. |
3. Very high, very mighty, and very excellent Lady and Princess,
May God guard your Highness, give you a good delivery,
and make you gracious, and beloved by all, in order
that amen, amen from the lips of many may reach the heavens.
I wrote to your Highness from Zaragoza, where I went to
see the Queen our lady. I found her in a very dangerous
state, and, thanks to God, I left her in good health and very
joyful. May it please God to preserve her, and to give your
Highness a good delivery, which His service so much requires.
All those ladies were much delighted with me, and I did my
duty towards many of them, although I left a great number of
them discontented, because it was the will of God that just when
they stood most in want of me I left them. I am told that
your Highness confesses to those sort of friars who live in
Paris, and that you had given to one of them thirty florins to
make good cheer, and that thou (fn. 5) livest with those drunkards
from Paris. My opinion is that your Highness should not
confess except to a friar who lives according to the rules of his
convent, who has not a pin of his own, and to whom your
Highness cannot give anything nor show him favour, but
only to the convent in which he lives, which ought to be of
the Observant Friars. Such friars as those who live in a convent
of the Observant Friars will give good account to God of
your soul. The father and friar who will deliver this letter
to your Highness belongs to the Observant Friars. He is
very good and honest, and learned. If he were not so young
your Highness would do well to entrust your soul to his
keeping, and not to that of those who, during many years,
have not been subject to the rules of their convents, and who
are swarming about there [in Flanders]. He is a good
preacher, and if your Highness would, in case of need, make
use of his services at certain times of the year, I know that
your Highness would be satisfied with his preaching. I beg
your Highness to consider him as well recommended to you,
whereby you will render a service to God. If your Highness
is offended with me because I left you, you ought not to be so,
for I was ill, and was afraid for my soul, not knowing where
I had to go to ; I had almost one foot in my grave, and was in
dread of the sentence and the account which I had to give God.
I live now with a Lord who never will die, but always lived and
lives for ever, and who gives eternal life to those who serve
Him well. I have exchanged your service for His, and if your
Highness will well consider what I have written to you, certainly
you will more ... (fn. 7) here than there, and very, very
much I should [wish to go] there at the time of ..., (fn. 7) and
if your Highness should write, with the will of God, I would
not refuse to go there in such a time, if I could comfort
your Highness. But although I have written very often,
you have never sent me a word or written to me. Be this
as it may, and as your Highness pleases to order, but such
services [as I have rendered you] during so many years
ought not to be forgotten, either before God or before
the world. God be thanked, your Highness may believe me
that I am more happy in my monastery, living on bread and
water, than your Highness with all you possess. I ask
pardon that I am so bold with you, whom I love so much, and
serve by day and night before God. Have courage and be as
cheerful as you can, have a pure clear conscience before God, and
confess well and oftentimes. If you do that you will have
less fear than you had in the vessel, and I hope in God that
He will deliver and preserve you well, and that you will give
birth to a son, for I pray to God that He gives you issue, and
[that the child] be a son. Write me directly, so that I may
offer him to God, and to our Lady, and to St. Domingo and
St. Peter the Martyr. If with the help of God you have
given birth to a son, send me a frock or a shirt of his, for that
has been promised to St. Peter the Martyr. The Provincial,
friar of the convent de la Merced, sends me to-day (Saturday)
a letter from Valladolid, asking me to let him know directly
whether I have news from you, and, if I write to you, to tell
you that he kisses your hands, which he hopes soon to do in
reality. If your Highness does not answer me, I shall never
write again, and this will be my last letter. God give you
happiness and an easy delivery. So be it ordered by His
mercy. To-day is Saturday, the first day of September. (fn. 9)
Your Highness' unworthy and constant advocate, who
kisses your royal hands,
Frey Andreas, Magister Archeducisse.
[Addressed :] To the very high, very excellent, and very
mighty Princess Archduchess, my lady. |