| 1499.
15th January. |
4. The Sub-Prior of Santa Cruz to Queen Isabel The
Catholic.
[Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Tratados con Inglaterra. Legajo 2.
The original is written in cipher. The deciphering is by Almazan, First
Secretary of State to the Catholic King and Queen.]
Los dias pasados escrebi a V. A. todo el proceso de mi vida
despues que aqui llegue hasta el parto de la Señora Archiduquessa
con un secretario de la princesa madama margarita.
despues que Su Alteza salio a misa le hable algunas veces en
que le dixe todo lo que V. A. me mando con todo lo que mas
me parecio que era razon de decirle en que muchas cosas pasaron
las quales le dixe lo mas benignamente que pude y con
quanto amor V. A. gelo manda decir no en forma de reprehension.
Recebiolo muy bien besando las Reales manos de
V. Al. por la avissar como guiasse su vida y a mi que me lo
agradecia mucho y que habria placer de qualquier cosa que
menos buena me pareciesse si gela dixiesse, no se que tanto
turara (fn. 1) . dixele entre las otras cosas que tenia hun corazon
duro y crudo sin ninguna piedad como es verdad. dixome que
antes le tenia tan flaco y tan abatido que nunqua vez se le
acordava quan lexos estaba de V. Al. que no se hartase
de llorar en verse tan apartada de V. Al. para siempre. passo
esto vigilia de ano nuevo y cuanto a este articulo yo quede
mas contento que de habla que hasta agora le haya fecho y
ahun satisfecho de los descontentamientos passados en verla
con tanta humildad. hay tanta religion en su casa como en
una estrecha observancia y en esto tiene mucha vigilancia
de que debe ser loada ahunque aqua les parece el contrario.
buenas partes tiene de buena cristiana. todo lo que Vuestra
Al. me mando que le dixiesse y otras menudencias que
aqua cogi todo va bueno y de bien en mejor cada dia. hay
aqua dos quexas principales desta Señora la una que son
mal pagados y la otra por que no se entremete en la
gobernacion de la casa. yo gelo digo y responde que muchas
veces habia hablado a los del conseio sobre la paga de su
gente y que le responden que mas se debia a los naturales
de la tierra que a los suyos. dixele que por que no lo
decia al Archiduque. dixo que luego lo decia a los de su
conseio donde le resultaba a ella mucho daño. a lo de la
gobernacion dice que no le dan parte della. esta tan cahareña
y tan sospechosa de mi que sino con pura importunidad
nunqua le he podido sacar una palabra para escribir a
V. Al. agora dixele que V. Al. queria saber su vida asi lo
bueno como lo menos bueno pues tan brevemente escribia
que me comunicase algo para escrevir. dixome que ya queria
emendarse y escrebir muy largo y que por tener que escrebir
no decia nada por agora. algunas veces he escrito a Vuestra
Al. como el Archiduquesa tenia determinado de poner a
doña marina manuel por dama de honor de la Señora su
hija y con mucha gana que quantas veces en este caso
le fable la halle muy puesta en ello y ahun mas dixo
queriendome dar parte dello y para aquel tiempo todos
entenderemos en ello y quiero que se haga por mano de la
Reina mi señora. y turo esta gana desde el mes de agosto que
yo vine aqui hasta el parto por que yo le hable sobrello
dies o doce dias antes que pariesse y estaba meior en ello
que nunqua habia estado y que todavia fuesse por mano
de V. Al. yo dixe que ya era tarde. dixo que haria estar
el obispado vaco hasta que viniesse el mandamiente de
V. Al. escriviole muchas cartas dandole mucha priessa que
se viniesse y assi vino con toda su casa y marido de
assiento y al tiempo del parto en su mano puso alma y
cuerpo y quanto tenia y en el parto con todo su ochavario
no la permitio apartarse della sola un ave maria y ahun
le dixo que el Archiduque le habia dexado en su mano la
provision deste officio, agora cuando le fable halle la tan
fuera desto como si nunqua le hobiera passado por el
pensamiente. quede tan maravillado de tan gran mudanza en
tan poco tiempo y en tal persona que no se que decir.
hanme dicho y no lo creo que lo ha fecho muxica y hay
algun aparencia para ello por que nunqua vi a Su Al. con
gana de facer algo sino solamente esto antes que el viniese
y despues que el vino tiene el contrario por que a este da
mas credito que a todos quantos tiene. y este es todo de
madama de aloyn. y quando yo la aprete diciendo quanto
V. Al. desseaba que tobiese cabe si semejantes personas y
de buena fama y ella tenia el contrario en la de aloyn
dixome que no era tanto como se decia y que la de aloyn
tenia a los del Archiduque y a los de su conseio y assi
la de aloyn y los del consejo del Archiduque y muxica
tienen esta Señora tan atemorizada que no puede alzar cabeza.
esta en tanta necessidad que no alcanza un maravedi para
dar de limosna que ahun ogaño estando preñada pidio a la
tierra que le diesen lo que acostumbran dar a las otras
señoras y respondieron le con. lx. florines pagados en tres
años y segund se dice no vienen a su poder por que los
recibe el receptor del Archiduque mas que en mercedes se
reparten que muxica le pidio agora para el principe de
simay su caballero de honor mill florines sin que lleva cada
año quatro mil de su oficio y ahun se dice que procuran
los mil ducados que V. Al. daba al de biebres. V. Al. no
han menester conseio mas nunqua vi cosa mas perdida sino
en esto que agora passa lo puede V. Al. ver y si esto passa
adelante no se como cosa que V. Al. hayan ganasse puede
enxerir aqui que ahun el sabado despues de los Reyes importunaban
a una persona que suplicasse a la Señora Archiduquesa
que escribiesse suplicando a V. Al. que diessen hun
obispado al preboste de leja y que serviria mucho a Su. Al. de
aqui adelante y ahun el rrey de Ro. le dio agora hun arsobispado
y todo no les basta su avaricia para que no destruyan
estos Señores y les hagan desobedecer a sus padres que ya se
dice que segund el Archiduque es desobediente a V. Al. que
no es verdad a lo menos en la voluntad y el Archiduque
al Rey de Ro. y que van por madama margarita para
casarla en alemaña y que no seria mavilla ser a costa
destos Señores. el Rey de Ro. trabaia quanto puede por
llevarlos a alemaña por sacarlos de poder desta gente no se
lo que podra hacer. el bastardo y doña marina estan aqui
con mucha gana de servir a V. Al. y me han fablado juntos
y cada uno por si diciendome quantas mercedes V. Al. les
han fecho. certifico a V. Al. que al bastardo le saltaban
las lagrimas quando me lo decia. la final conclusion fue que
ellos estan con mucha gana de facer lo que V. Al. les manden
mas dicen que ellos tienen poca renta y no se pueden sustentar
en la corte que si V. Al. entienden mandar darles de comer
sobre lo que tienen que residiran aqui continuo y sino suplican
a V. Al. hayan por bien busquen algun partido con que puedan
sustentarse que ahun de cuatro mil florines que solian
dar aqui al bastardo le han quitado dos mil y de lo otro
no le pagan nada como a todos los otros. y tambien me
dixieron de una pension que V. Al. les solia dar que como era
merced de gracia que V. Al. les hacia y ellos no la podian
servir por no tener en que no la habian osado pedir buena
parte de los años pasados y assi estan en mucha necessidad
y mas que V. Al. podra bien inferir de aqui que tales pueden
estar abatirse a poca presa y estaba ya publico y quedanse
personages ahunque ellos lo dissimulan bien pero no puede
ser tanto segund la qualidad del caso que no se sienta que
ahun el preboste de leja que es su contrario fue a su casa y
les dijo que el Archiduque tenia determinado de dar a doña
marina este cargo ahunque se le hacia poca cosa para quien
ella era y que estaba cierto si por el Archiduquesa no faltase.
y respondio que ahunque menos fuesse haria lo que le mandasen
y madama de Rebastan su cuñada le dixo que lo ficiesse
y que del bastardo no curasse que ella tomaba cargo si
enfermase de curarle en su casa. la Señora Archiduquessa
tiene tanta gana y necessidad della que no se que torvellino
es este que lo estorva como esta Señora no habla comigo claro.
se decir a V. Al. que si el diablo no se atravesara ella estubiera
aposentada en palacio con su cargo, y como no ha osado
poner a doña marina tampoco se atrevio a poner otra.
dicenme que dixo mossior de vergas que pusiesen a quien
quissiessen. yo le dixe muchas cosas de quan mal se hacia
sabiendo quanta gana V. Al. tenia que tubiesse a doña marina
consigo y quanta necessidad della tenia. dixo por eso hare por
ella quanto pudiere en viniendo el Archiduque que es ido
a verse con el Rey de Ro. mas yo no creo ya que haga
nada.
doña ana de beamonte se quexa de la poca honra y menos
provecho que aqui tiene y ciertamente ella sirve bien que
nunqua se quita del Archiduquesa, y es buena muger que salida
ella de aqui queda del todo sola esta Señora y V. Al. la debe
contentar y ahun proveer en alguna cosa. toda esta gente que
aqua esta esta tan perdida que es lastima de ver lo que tan
mal se hace con ellos. muchas veces he escrito a V. Al. que
para este tiempo yo concluiria todo lo que V. Al. me mando
y assi lo tengo fecho y a mi ver mi estada aqua es demasiada
daqui adelante y por no tener aqua mandamiento de V. Al.
quedo hasta haberle.
A la señora Archiduquessa dixe que le suplicaba que si Su
Alteza me mandaba ir que su mandamiento habria por de
V. Al. y no quisso. por que ya esto en la ultima y extrema
necessidad embio este padre que de alla traxe por compañero
por que tenerle aqua es perder tiempo y alla aprovechara y
mas principalmente por suplicar a V. Al. me mande ir y con
que y ahun en que vaya que antes que el mandamiento
venga no solamente las vestias que de alla truxe mas yo
y el compañero y mozo estaremos empeñados por que yo vine
proveydo por vj. meses y son ya jx. y medio y temo seran
mas de xiiijo antes que haya respuesta desta y en esta tierra
mas honra facen por bien beber que por bien vivir y con lo
que aqui me cuesta la posada podria mantenerme en castilla.
a noche bien tarde fue por estas cartas a palacio y me
certificaron como el Archiduque habia dicho a esta por que es
fija pongale el Archiduquessa el estado quando dios nos
diere fijo ponerlo he yo. donde claro parece con la gana y
necessidad que tenia que los sobre dichos le ficieron dar
la vuelta y bien parece en ello que de solo miedo destos
dexo de facer lo que mucho desseaba y con esto pensaba
satisfacer a V. Al. las quexas pasadas y todo no basto resistir
a estos dos.
tambien supe de otros repartimientos que ficieron sin el
Archiduquessa ni lo supo fasta que suplicaron que mexor
dixiera mandaron que firmase. y assi lo fizo y callo y despues
en absencia osa decir ogaño passe mas para otro año no
quiero que hagan mercedes sin mi y assi creo quedara
siempre necesitada y los suyos muriendo de hambre, y assi
passara fasta que V. Al. provean en ello. suplico a V. Al. esta
primera vez que escribiere a Su Alteza haga mincion solamente
del principio desta carta y no mas por que piensa Su Alteza
que solas sus cartas y mias van y confirmaria su sospecha que
en lo otro ya creo no hay remedio.
de bruselas a xv. de Enero de xcjx.
Del Sop~or de Santa |
(Translation.)
4. Days ago I wrote to your Highness the whole course of my
life from my arrival up to the confinement of the Archduchess,
and sent the letter by a secretary of the Princess Madame
Margaret. After her Highness had been to mass I spoke
with her various times, and told her all your Highness had
ordered, and, besides, all I thought it was right to tell her.
Many things were said, but I stated them in the most gentle
way I could, and in that loving manner your Highness has
commanded me to adhere to, and not in a tone of reproach.
She received it very well, thanking your Highness for your
kindness in telling her how she ought to live. She thanked
me also, and [said] she should be glad if I would tell her
everything I thought was not good. I do not know how long
that will last. I told her among other things that she had a
hard and pitiless heart, and was devoid of all piety, as is
the truth. She answered that she was rather weak and lowspirited,
that she could never think of how far she was from
your Highness without feeling the desire to cry, because
she was so far from your Highness for ever. She passed
New Year's Eve in such a manner that, in this respect, I
am more satisfied with her than from any conversation I
have had with her. Seeing her so humble I forgive her all
she has done before. In her house there is as much religion
as in a strict convent. In this respect she is very vigilant
and deserves praise, although here (in Flanders) they believe
the contrary. She has the qualities of a good Christian. In
all I told her in the name of your Highness and some other
trifles which I learnt here, she is improving every day. Here
they have two principal complaints against this lady ; in the
first place that they are badly paid, and secondly that she does
not occupy herself with the government of her household. I
told her, and she answered that she has often spoken with
the members of the Council about the pay of her servants, but
that they answer that more is due to the Flemings (fn. 2) than to
her servants. I asked her why she did not speak to the
Archduke. She said, because he tells it directly to his councillors,
and she receives great injury from it. As for the
government of her household, she says they do not permit her
to take part in it. She is so afraid and suspicious of me that,
except by pure importunity, I should never have succeeded
in getting a single word out of her to write to your Highness.
I told her that your Highness was anxious to know her
[manner of] life, the good as well as the bad, and as I intended
to write very soon, she should communicate to me something
I could write. She said that she would now improve and
write a long letter, and in order to have something to speak
of she would say nothing now. I wrote several times to your
Highness that the Archduchess had decided that Doña Marina
Manuel should be lady of honour to her daughter. As often
as I spoke with her on this subject I found her very decided
about it, and, moreover, she said that she would communicate
with me, and we should all then occupy ourselves in that
affair, "for I wish that it be done by the hand of the Queen,
my lady." This intention lasted from the time of my arrival in
the month of August until her confinement. I spoke with her
concerning it ten or twelve days before her confinement, and
she was more decided than ever that it should be done by the
hand of your Highness. I said it was already late. She said
she would keep the bishopric vacant until the order of your
Highness should arrive. She wrote a great number of letters
to her (fn. 3) instructing her to make haste to come. Thus, she
came with all her household and husband, and during her
delivery she gave herself up to her, soul and body and all she
possessed, and during the confinement she did not permit her
to be absent as much as an Ave Maria, and even told her that
the Archduke had left it to her to provide for that place. Now
when I spoke with her I found her of as quite different
opinion as though the idea had never presented itself to her
mind. I was so astonished at such a great change in so short
a time, and in such a personage, that I cannot express it in
words. I am told, but do not believe it, that Muxica has
been the cause of it. There is nevertheless some probability
of it ; for I never saw her Highness so much decided to do
nothing else but this as [she was] before he arrived, and so
decided to do the contrary as [she is] since his arrival. She
gives him more credit than all her other servants put together,
and he depends entirely on Madame d'Aloyn. When I
pressed her, saying how much your Highness wished that she
should have about her similar persons (fn. 4) of good fame, and
that she had [chosen] Madame d'Aloyn, who was just the
contrary, she answered that she (fn. 5) was not so much (fn. 6) as it
was said, and that Madame d'Aloyn had the servants of the
Archduke and the privy councillors on her side. Thus,
Madame d'Aloyn and the councillors of the Archduke and
Muxica have so much intimidated this lady that she dare not
raise her head. She is so poor that she has not a maravedi to
give alms. This very year when she was pregnant she asked
the state to give her the same grant as it was the custom to
give to other ladies, and they responded to her demands with
a grant of 60,000 florins payable within three years, but
according to what is said she does not get anything, because
the receiver of the Archduke receives them, and they are
distributed as favours. Muxica asks now for the Prince of
Chimay, her gentleman in waiting, one thousand florins over
and above the 4,000 florins a year which he has from his
office, and it is even said that they endeavour to obtain for
him the 1,000 ducats which your Highness had granted to
Monsieur de Bèvres. Your Highness stands in need of no
advice, but I have never seen anything more hopeless than what
is going on here, as your Highness can see. If this continues,
nothing that your Highnesses can do will be of any use
here. Only on Saturday after twelfth night they importuned
a certain person to beg the Señora Archduchess to write
to ask your Highnesses to give a bishopric to the Provost
of Liège, who henceforth would render good services. Although
the King of the Romans has lately given him a bishopric,
all this does not satisfy his avarice, or prevent them from
ruining these señores (fn. 7) , persuading them to disobey their parents.
Although it is said that the Archduke is already disobedient to
your Highness, it is not true, at least as far as his wishes are
concerned, and the Archduke to the King of the Romans. (fn. 8) They
intend to marry Madame Margaret in Germany, and I should
not wonder if these señores (fn. 9) had to pay for it. The King
of the Romans does what he can to induce them to go to
Germany, only to get them out of the power of these people.
I do not know what he will be able to do. The Bastard and
Doña Marina are here. They are very desirous to serve your
Highnesses. They have spoken with me both together, and
each separately, telling me how many favours they have
received from your Highness. I assure your Highness that
the Bastard shed tears when he spoke with me. The conclusion
was that they have the greatest desire to do what your
Highnesses might command them, but they say they have only
small incomes and cannot sustain themselves at court. If your
Highnesses would give them wherewith to pay their meals in
addition to what they possess they would constantly live here,
but if not, they entreat your Highness to permit them to
look out for another employment by which they can maintain
themselves. Out of the four thousand florins which were
formerly paid them, they have deprived them of two thousand,
and the remainder they do not pay to them any more
than to all the other (Spanish servants). They spoke also of a
pension which your Highness was in the habit of paying them,
but as that was only a favour they had not dared to ask it
for many years past, and thus they live in great poverty, even
greater than your Highness can imagine that such persons
can live in. They demean themselves to eat humble meals,
and that is already public, and yet they remain [in the position
of (?)] great personages. (fn. 10) Although they endeavour to conceal,
they cannot do it so well that, considering the importance of
the case, the truth is not known. Even the Provost of Liège,
who is their adversary, came to their house and told them that
the Archduke had determined to give this office to Doña
Marina, and although that was little for such a person as she,
he was sure of it, if the Archduchess did not forsake her. She
answered that, even if it were less, she would do what she was
commanded ; and Madame de Rabastan, her sister-in-law, told
her to do so, and not to be anxious about the Bastard, of whom
she would take care, and cure him in her house if he should
fall ill. The Señora Archduchess wishes so much to have her,
and stands so much in need of her, that I do not know what
whirlwind disturbs this. This lady (fn. 11) does not speak with me
openly. I can tell your Highness that if the devil did not cross
it she (fn. 12) would already be placed in possession of her office in
the palace. As she (fn. 13) has not dared to install Doña Marina,
so she has not the courage to install another lady. I am told
that Monsieur de Vergas (fn. 14) said they may choose whomsoever
they like. I told her [the Archduchess] many things, showing
her how badly she acted, knowing that your Highness
desired that she should have Doña Marina about her person,
and how much she stood in want of her. She answered,
"Therefore I shall do for her what I can as soon as the
Archduke, who is gone to meet the King of the Romans,
returns ;" but I believe she will do nothing.
Doña Ana de Beamonte complains that she gets here little
honour and less profit. Certainly she serves well, never leaves
the Archduchess alone, and is a good woman. If she were to go
away, this señora (fn. 15) would be entirely deserted. Your Highness
ought to satisfy her, and even bestow some favour on her.
All those who stay here are in so entirely hopeless a state, that
it is pitiful to see how badly they are treated. I repeatedly
wrote to your Highness that by this time I should have concluded
all that your Highness has commanded, and so I have
done. In my opinion I am no longer wanted here, but as
I have no orders from your Highness, I shall remain here until
I receive them.
I told the Señora Archduchess that I begged her that
if she should command me to go she would give me her
orders for your Highness, but she refused. Because I am in
the last necessity I send the father whom I took with
me as companion ; to keep him here any longer would be a
loss of time, and he can render better services there, but
especially in order to beseech your Highness to send me the
order to go, and the means to go, and even on what to go (fn. 16) .
For not only the animals which I brought from there, but also
my person, my companion, and my servant are pledged.
I arrived here provided for six months, and now nine months
and a half have elapsed, and I fear it will be more than
fourteen months before I have an answer to this letter. In
this country they think it a greater honour well to drink than
well to live, and on what I pay here for my lodgings I could
live in Castile. Last night I went to the palace for letters,
and was told that the Archduke had said : the Archduchess
may provide for the places in the household of this child,
because it is a daughter ; when God grants us a son I shall
provide for his household. Considering the goodwill she had,
and the need in which she stood (fn. 17) , it is clear from this that
it was the above mentioned persons who caused her to change
her intentions ; and it appears that she was only afraid to do
what she much desired, and what she thought would atone for
that of which your Highness complained. All this was insufficient
to resist these two (fn. 18) .
I heard also of another distribution of money which was
made without asking the Archduchess. She knew nothing
of it until they sent her the paper, asking or rather ordering
her to sign it. She did it and said nothing, but when they
had left her she had the courage to say, "Be it so for this
year, but next year I desire that they do not make grants
without my consent." I think it will be always the same
thing. Her servants die of starvation, and that will continue
until your Highnesses provide for them. I entreat your
Highness not to mention in your next letter to her Highness
anything except what stands at the beginning of this letter,
for her (or your) Highness considers (or may consider) that
only her (or your) letters go (fn. 19) , and would confirm her suspicion.
In all the other things I think there is no remedy.
From Brussels, 15th of January '99.
From the Subprior of Santa Cruz. |