| 19th August. |
93. The Infanta Catalina to the Emperor Charles.
[Archivo General de Simancas. Estado. Castilla. Legajo 8. f. 123.
Autograph. The postscriptum is holograph.]
A Su Magt. de la Señora ynfante. a xix de
Agosto.
S. C. C. Mt.
Yo he escrito a V[uest]ra Magt. algunas cartas y todas aquellas
han seydo como el marques y la marquesa han querido porque
no me han dado ni dan lugar a otra cosa. esta es para que
V. mt. sepa la vida de la Reyna mi Señora e mia en que se
gasta syn que V. Mt. se sirva. y porque a quien yo lo escribo
ara relacion a V. Mt. por amor de dios suplico a V. Mt. le de
credito y lo mande proveer con la brevedad que ser pueda
acordandose que la Reyna mi Señora y yo no tenemos otro
bien ny remedio syno a V. Mt. cuya vida e muy Real estado
nuestro Señor acreciente y prospere y trayga bienaventuradamente
a estos sus Reynos como yo deseo.
de tordesillas a diez y nueve de Agosto.
[de letra de la Infanta.] suplyco a V[uest]ra Mat. me perdone la
mano ajena que no e podido mas.
servydora de V[uest]ra magestad que sus Reales manos besa
la ynfante. [Rubrica.]
[Sobre :] A la Sacra Cesarea Catholica majestad el Emperador
y Rey my Señor. |
(Translation.)
93. To his Majesty. From the señora Infanta.
19th of August.
Sacred, imperial, and catholic Majesty.
I have written several letters to your Majesty, and all of
them have been as the marquis and the marchioness desired,
because they have not and do not give me permission to do anything
else. This [letter] will let your Majesty know in what
manner the life of the Queen my lady and my own are spent
without any profit to your Majesty. As the person to whom I
write will report to your Majesty, I beseech your Majesty, for
God's sake, to believe him, and give your orders immediately,
remembering that the Queen my lady and I have no other
comfort or resource than your Majesty, whose life and royal
state may our Lord augment and prosper, leading you
happily back to these your kingdoms, as I desire.
From Tordesillas, 19th of August.
[Written in the hand of the Infanta.] I beseech your
Majesty to pardon me that this letter is written in a strange
hand. I can no more.
Your Majesty's servant, who kisses your royal hands.
The Infanta. [Sign manual.]
[Addressed :] To his sacred, imperial, and catholic Majesty
the Emperor and King, my Lord. |
|
19th August.
|
94. The Infanta Catalina to the Emperor Charles.
[Archivo General de Simancas. Estado. Castilla. Legajo 8. f. 122.
Autograph. The postscriptum holograph.]
El memorial de la Señora ynfante.
Memorial de la Señora ynfante para Su magestad.
yo se que a V. mt. han escripto que le deservi en tienpo
que la junta estovo en tordesyllas y V. mt. me escrevio sobre
ello mas rezio de lo que yo le merescia. lo que en ello pasa es
que yo los hable y conosci algunos dellos despues que entraron
porque segund con el mando que entraron aunque no queria
hablavan a la Reyna mi Señora y a mi y yo no lo pudiera
escusar. y en lo primero que les hable y una carta que escrevi fue
que el marques y la marquesa me hizieron antes que viniesen
que les escriviese y despues de venydos que les rogase que no
los echasen de alli en que hize lo que pude como si me fuera la
vida en ello. y porque despues que los echaron yo los avlava y
veya, mandando ellos la casa mejor que sy fuera todo suyo, y
porque me fablavan aquellos de quien tenian enojo, y quando
juan de padilla se fue me dieron una carta que firme para que
bolviese porque diz que cunplia al servicio de la Reyna mi
Señora, escrivieron a V. mt. como les cumplia culpandome. la
verdad es que en esto yo no tuve malicia ny lo entendia y que
como yo les escrevia a lerma a escondidas estando la junta
aquy fiziera por ellos lo que pudiera aunque no sabia en que
mundo estava y fuera escusado de escrevir otra yntincion de
la que yo tenia y tengo, porque yo no tengo otro deseo syno
servyr a V. mt. como a dios. y quando me dieron la carta de
V. mt. yo respondiera syno que me la tomaron para enbiar
donde quisieron, y la carta que alla escrevi en respuesta de la
de V. mt. ellos me la dieron fecha para que la firmase.
yo hasta aqui no he querido dar enojo a V. mt. como (fn. 3)
mis cartas cerca de lo que aqui paso con el marques y marquesa
porque trahen tanta guarda sobre my para que no
escryba mas de lo que quisyeren. pero pues dios me dio a V.
mt. por padre y se que es mas servido que sin cabsa yo no sea
maltratada dende que V. mt. los puso en casa de la Reyna mi
Señora, hasta que vinyeron las comunidades yo lo he pasado
por no dar a V. mt. enojo. agora despues que bolvieron como
ellos tienen enojo de todos y no querrian que hablase ny viese
a nadie de los criados y criadas de la Reyna my Señora que
aquy dexaron, a lo menos de los governadores con quien yo
me he criado, porque los ablo aviendome de servyr o me vienen
algunos a visitar, syno vienen por su mano. y porque la condesa
de modica muger del almirante me escryve y yo le escryvo
por las muchas piedades y buen exemplo que aqui me hizo y
dio, me quyere la marquesa sacar los ojos y haze pesquisas
sobre mi quien me lleva o trae cartas de la condesa o sus hermanas,
y me hazen poner guardas para que no me hable ni
escriva, y otras cosas muy fuera de lo que devria hazer comigo,
por que como V. mt. podra saber para my no ay nescesydad y
pluyese a dios que no fuese mas dañosa la conpañia que ellos
me dan que de la que me apartan. y yo no tengo otra cosa que
dar a quien me desea servir syno la palabra y no pienso en
mas de servir a V. mt. como a dios. suplico a V. mt. les escriva
y enbie a mandar que me traten de otra manera y que aya
alguna diferencia de mi a sus hijas en lo publico y provea en
lo que se sygue.
yo no querria otro confesor y maestro salvo al guardian
pues que el Rey Catholico mi Señor y abuelo y V. mt. me lo
dieron y es lo que me conviene por su onestidad y bondad, y
porque ellos le querrian derraygar de aqui y me ynportunan
que tome otros frayles a V. mt. suplico me enbie a mandar que
para maestro y confesor no use de otro.
yten que V. mt. enbie a rogar y mandar al Cardenal por
que tiene mucho cuydado de my que con acuerdo del guardian
mande a una dueña de las de la Reyna my Señora que tengan
mis vestidos y ropa o lo que toviere por que la que V. mt. me
dio para guarda ropa y su marido son criados de la marquesa
y ge lo toman todo y lo gastan y funden y yo no tengo cosa
propia ni me dura y porque para otra cosa que va mas que en
los vestidos la e menester para que este comigo y el guardian
sabe qual es.
yten que de la Ropa blanca y cofias o vestidos o oro o
joyas o otras cosas de la Reyna mi Señora no se saque nada
para mi aunque escriva que lo he menester syno fuere lo que
yo suplicare a V. mt. por carta de mi mano, porque lo que se a
sacado con cedulas de V. mt. a mi no me venia ni lo pedia y
me lo an tomado y se perderia todo.
que si alguna cosa liviana diere por cargo que tengo de
algund criado que no lo maltraten ny afrenten porque lo que
ellos me quieren tomar no me falta poder.
que al guardian le traten bien porque es servidor de V. mt.
la Reyna mi Señora y yo le devemos mucho y que V. mt. se
acuerde del para le hazer merced.
V. mt. hizo merced del oficio de Costurera en lugar de
marya a ysabel sarmiento a mi suplicacion. a V. mt. suplico
que porque es mi maestra de labrar y cabe muy bien en ella
mande al marques que dexe asentarla merced y que aunque el
escriva alla se acuerde que yo suplique por ella.
yten que V. mt. mande al guardian que por ninguna cabsa
dexe de ver y consolar a la Reyna mi Señora quando le
llamare o a el le paresciere y que mande que no ge lo estorven
porque no tiene otro con quien descanse y es buen servidor de
V. mt.
yten V. mt. provea por amor de dios que si la Reyna mi
Señora quisiere pasearse al corredor del Rio o de las esteras o
salir a su sala a recrear, que no ge lo estorven y que sus hijas
ni cryados de la marquesa ni otra persona no pasen al retrete
de my la ynfanta por delante de Su Altesa, syno las personas
que suelen hazer el servicio, porque por andar la marquesa y
sus hijas syn que la Reyna las vea mandan a las mugeres que
no le dexen salir a la sala y corredores, y la encierran en su
camara que no tyene luz ninguna sino con velas y no tiene
mas adonde se retraya de la Camara, y no se saldra aunque la
saquen por fuerça, y quando otra cosa provase estan ay las
mugeres. |
94. Memoir of the Señora Infanta.
Memoir of the Señora Infanta for his Majesty.
I know it has been written to your Majesty that I disserved
you during the time when the Junta was in Tordesillas, and
your Majesty wrote to me on that subject more severely than
I deserved. The truth is that I spoke with and knew some
of them when they came [into this place]. As when they
entered they had the command of everything, I could not
avoid their speaking to me and to the Queen my lady, although
I did not wish it. I spoke with them at first, and wrote
them a letter, because the marquis and the marchioness forced
me to write to them before they had arrived, and when they
were here to ask them not to drive them (fn. 1) away. I did in
this respect all I could, as though my life depended on it.
When they (fn. 1) had been sent away I spoke with them (fn. 2) , and
saw that they commanded the house more absolutely than if
it had been their own. They (fn. 4) spoke to me about those
with whom they were dissatisfied, and when Juan de Padilla
had left, gave me a letter to sign, calling him back, as that
was said to be in the interest of the service of the Queen
my lady. On this account they (fn. 5) wrote to your Majesty
accusing me of complying with their (fn. 4) wishes. The truth is
that I had no malice nor did I intend [to do harm], and, as I
wrote to them (fn. 5) to Lerma in secret when the Junta was here,
I was ready to do all I could for them, although I did not
know in what a world I was living. It was not necessary to
write other sentiments than I had and have, because I have
no other will than to serve your Majesty as much as God.
When they (fn. 5) gave me the letter of your Highness I
should have answered, had they not taken it from me, to send
it where they wished. The letter which I wrote in answer
to that of your Majesty was given to me by them already
drawn up, and I had only to sign it.
Hitherto I have avoided giving annoyance to your Majesty
with my letters about what is going on here, because the
marquis and the marchioness watch me so closely that I
cannot write anything but what they like. God has given me
your Majesty to fill the place of a father, and I know that it is
not in your interest that I should be illtreated in the house of
the Queen my lady, where you have appointed them. Until
the commons came to this place I have suffered all in order
not to give annoyance to your Majesty. Now, since they (fn. 6)
have returned, being angry with everyone, they do not like
me to speak with any of the servants of the Queen my lady,
men or women, at least not with those whom the governors
left here, and with whom I have been brought up. Because I
speak with them when they are attending upon me or some
come to visit me, and because the Countess of Modica, wife of
the admiral, writes to me and I write to her, owing to the
great compassion she had for me, and the good example she
gave when she was here, the marchioness wants to tear
out my eyes, searches me, and makes enquiries by whom I
send and who brings me letters from the countess and her
sisters. They set guards over me to prevent my speaking
or writing and do many other things very different
from what is due to me. Your Majesty must know that
for me such things are not necessary, and would God that
the society which they procure me were not more injurious
than that from which they separate me. I can give nothing
but words to those who wish to be agreeable to me, and think
only of serving your Majesty as I serve God. I beseech your
Majesty to write, and order them to treat me in a different
manner, and that some difference be made in public between
me and their daughters. You ought to provide for what
follows.
I do not wish any other confessor or tutor than the guardian
who was appointed to that office by the Catholic King my
lord and grandfather, and by your Majesty. I like him on
account of his honesty and goodness. As they (fn. 7) wish to
drive him away they importune me to take other friars. I
beseech your Majesty to command me not to take another
tutor and confessor.
Item.—Your Majesty ought to ask and command the cardinal,
who takes great care of me, concurrently with the
guardian, to appoint one of the ladies of the Queen my lady
to take charge of my dresses and apparel or what I may
possess, for the person whom your Majesty appointed for the
place of lady of my wardrobe and her husband are servants of
the marchioness. They take every thing, use it, and spoil it,
so that I have nothing of my own, and nothing lasts me. For
other reasons of greater importance than my dresses, it is also
necessary that she stays with me. The guardian knows who
she is.
Item.—Of the linen, head dresses, dresses, gold, jewels, and
other things belonging to the Queen my lady, nothing ought
to be taken for my use, although I should write that I want
it, unless I ask your Majesty in a letter written with my own
hand. For all that has hitherto been taken in virtue of the
orders of your Majesty has not been given to me, nor did I
ask it. They have taken it from me, and it will be lost.
If I should give some trifles to one of my servants to whom
I am obliged, they ought not to treat him ill and to abuse him.
If they want to take something from me I have the power (fn. 8)
[to give it].
The guardian must be well treated ; for he serves your
Majesty and the Queen my lady, and I owe him much. Your
Majesty ought to remember him and show him favour.
Your Majesty, at my supplication, was pleased to appoint
Isabel Sarmiento to the office of needlewoman in the place of
Maria. As she is my teacher of embroidery, and does it very
well, I beg you to command the marquis to permit her to
receive a reward, and if he writes to you, to remember that I
have recommended her.
Item.—Your Majesty ought to order the guardian on no
condition to discontinue seeing and consoling the Queen my
lady, as often as she calls for him, or as he thinks it proper. Do
command that he be not prevented from doing so, because she
has no other person to comfort her, and he is a loyal servant
of your Majesty.
Item.—Your Majesty ought for the love of God to provide
that, if the Queen my lady wishes to walk for her recreation
in the corridor on the river or on the other side, (fn. 9) or if she
wishes to go to the large room to refresh herself, she be not
prevented from doing so. Further, that the daughters and
servants of the marchioness do not enter my, the Infanta's,
closet before the Queen arrives, but only such persons as are of
the service. For the marchioness and her daughters having
entered the closet without being seen by the Queen, they
direct the women not to let her go to the large room or to the
corridors, but lock her up in her chamber where no other light
enters except candlelight, and there is no room whither she
could retire from that chamber. She would not go out, even
if she were taken off by force, and if it should prove to be
otherwise there would be the women [to prevent her from
leaving the house]. |