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1522.
25th January.
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96. The Marquis Of Denia to the Emperor Charles.
[Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Comunidades de Castilla.
Legajo 5. f. 293. Autograph. The deciphering is by the Secretary of State
Covos.]
A su Magd. del Marques de Denia. a xxv.
de Enero.
Sacra Cesarea Catta. Magt.
tres cartas de V. mt. he Recibido a que no he respondido
una de xxvj y otra de xxvij de Julio y otra de xxvj de
Setienbre y otra para que se derribase la fortaleça desta villa.
sea nuestro Señor loado que V. Mt. esta con la salud que sus
rreynos y vassallos desseamos. asy sea sienpre.
la Reyna Nuestra Señora esta de su indispusicion como
suele y aun pareceme que cada dia sele acrecienta. de lo demas
asy de bestirse como de linpiarse esta mas hordenada que
nunca.
(fn. 1) muchas vezes me habla Su Alt. para que haga llamar
grandes e que quiere hablallos y saber de las cosas del Reyno e
entender en ellas. yo le he dicho que estan todos ocupados en
cosas que conviene a servicio de Su Alteza y de V[uest]ra Magt. y que
no pueden venir, que quando yo viere que estan desocupados
los llamare de su parte. algunas vezes se satisfaze y otras riñe
porque no vienen luego. en esto yo terne toda la dilacion y
buena maña que conviene a v[uest]ro servicio pero crea V[uest]ra Magt.
que quedo tan mal vezada de las platicas que aqui con Su
Alteza tuvieron despues que entramos en esta villa y tan
ufana de los ofrecimientos que le hazian que no esta onbre syn
mucho trabajo. y asy por apartar a Su Alt. desta vezindad
como porque este lugar no ha sydo ni es tan leal a vuestro
servicio como devria yo he sydo y soy de parecer que V[uest]ra
Magt. mandase determinadamente que Su Alt. se fuese a arevalo
porque es buen lugar y fuerte y han sydo buenos servidores
de V[uest]ra Magt. y segund las cosas que han pasado en este rreyno
y las que pasarian si oviese lugar, lo que dios no quiera, no se
deve esto dilatar. y tenga V[uest]ra magt. por determinado que no
se puede hazer con voluntad de Su Alt. porque quien no tiene
voluntad para hazer ninguna cosa de las que convienen a su
vida ni a su alma syno al reves no se como la ha de tener
para esto. y en verdad que hazerle V[uest]ra mt. premia en muchas
cosas serviria a dios, y a Su Alteza haria servicio y muy buena
obra porque las personas que estan en su dispusicion asy lo
quieren. ya la Reyna su ahuela asy le sirvio y trato la Reyna
Nuestra Señora su hija. V[uest]ra Magestad haga lo que le pareciere
que aquello sera lo mejor.
(fn. 3) la manera que me parece que se devria tener para la
mudança de Su Alteza daqui es probar por todos los buenos
medios que pudiere ser para que Su Alt. lo haga de su voluntad
y quando no bastare que veniese el presydente del consejo con
mandamiento de V[uest]ra Magt. para toda la gente que aqui esta. y
que tome a Su Alt. y la ponga en una leytera a prima noche
y que ande sin parar hasta arevalo. y digo que venga el presidente
porque se que hara esto y todo lo que V[uest]ra Magt. le
mandare al pie de la letra. y con el devrian venir dos o tres del
consejo porque pareciese que se hazia con parecer del consejo
y de todo el Reyno. y esto yo lo terne aparejado todo, pero
haviendo yo de estar en servicio de Su Alteza no convernia
que yo pareciese en esto porque quedaria en mucho desgrado
de Su Alt. y crea V. Mt. que conviene que esto se haga porque
las cosas deste Reyno estan oy con tan mala voluntad como
quando la ponian en obra. y siempre que puedan hablar a Su
Alt. hallaran aparejo para hazer mayores yerros y por esto V[uest]ra
Magestad deve procurar y querer que Su Al. este en parte
donde este muy bien servida y a muy buen recabdo y apartada
destos inconvenientes y de otros muchos que puede aver que
aun no se deven fiar de carta puesto que sea en cifra.
(fn. 5) la noche de Navidad estando diziendo los maitines en la
capilla salio a buscar a la Señora infante que los estava oyendo
y començo a dar bozes que se quitase el altar y todo lo que
estava puesto. tornamos a Su Alt. con el acatamiento que era
razon y con harto trabajo. y asimismo muchas vezes se pone
a su corredor que sale al rio y llama a algunos para que le
llamen la gente y capitanes que aqui estan para que maten a
los unos y a los otros, asy que estando Su Alt. en esta dispusicion
V. Mt. puede ver lo que conviene a su servicio y lo que
pasamos los que aqui estamos.
(fn. 5) el Cardenal y el Condestable y el almirante me han escripto
sobre esta mudança de Su Alteza, yo les he respondido lo que
me parece y que yo escrivo a V. Mt. la forma que se debe de
tener.
[Lo demas de la carta claro.] yo he hecho relacion a V.
Mt. de todo lo que aqui pasa y de lo que conviene para servicio
de Su Alt. y de V[uest]ra Mt. y de la Señora ynfante y de lo que se
debe haser en el castigo y gratificacion de los desta casa. a esto
no me ha respondido V[uest]ra Mt. ni he visto que lo aya mandado
proveer. a V[uest]ra Mt. suplico que lo mande proveer por lo que
conviene a su servicio.
Arzeo despensero mayor de Su Alt. y Carquiçano rebolvieron
todas las maldades desta casa e fueron causa que juan de
padilla y los otros traydores viniesen aqui y un hijo de Carquiçano
andava en todo esto con su padre que es ya onbre.
soltaron y perdonaron a estos dos como tengo escripto a V. Mt.
y dan cartas cada dia para que se torne a su hijo de Carquiçano
el oficio de repostero de plata yo no las he cunplido por que
se que este herro en las culpas de su padre y porque pareceria
mal quel hijo del traydor tuviese oficio en esta casa aun quel
no hubiese herrado quanto mas siendo culpado, que aun quando
juan de padilla y los otros traydores estaban en Torrelobaton,
el hera carcelero de los servidores de V. Mt. que alla prendian.
V. Mt. mande en esto lo que se ha de hazer.
asimesmo suplico a V. Mt. a mi me mande haser justicia de
Arçeo y de Carquiçano porque pensando yo que ellos havian
de ser castigados por las trayciones que hizieron en vuestro
deservicio, no he hablado hasta agora en lo que a mi me toca,
aunque esto toca a V[uest]ra Magt. pues por servir yo a V. Mt.
hizieron ellos lo que hizieron. a V[uest]ra Mt. suplico los mande
castigar conforme a justicia y que esta se vea en su consejo o
por los alcaldes de su corte syn sospecha porque lo que aqui se
hizo fue a voluntad de partes y no conforme a justicia.
asymismo ya V[uest]ra Magt. sabe como embio a mandar a los
governadores que no entendiesen en las cosas desta casa y lo
que se ha seguido en algunas cosas por haver hecho lo contrario
no ha sydo servicio de V. Mt. el almirante proveyo del oficio
de despensero mayor a un criado suyo y el licenciado polanco
procuro un oficio de aposentador para otro criado suyo e asy
proveyeron otros oficios lo qual yo no he cunplido ni cunplire
hasta que V. Mt. lo mande. en esta casa no devria aver syno
criados de V. Mt. e muy leales e gratificados de vuestra propia
mano y no de otra ninguna, y quando criados de otros hubiese
de aver mas razon seria que los mios lo fuesen asy por la
confiança que V. Mt. hase de mi en servirse de mi en esto
como por lo que yo y ellos avemos trabajado y padecido por
vuestro servicio. a V. Mt. suplico no sea servido que criados
de otros entren aqui que demas de que yo recibiria agravio
recebirleya mayor porque no conviene a servicio de V. Mt.
agora he sabido que los governadores han dado cedulas
para los oficiales de la casa, pasen y asienten las albalaes que
dieron de los oficios que proveyeron el Cardenal y el Almirante
aqui no enbargante que yo no los admita aviendoles yo mostrado
las letras de V. Mt. en que me mando a mi que en lugar
de aquellos pusiese otros en los oficios necesarios para el
servicio de Su Alteza, y abiendolo yo hecho asy e V. Mt.
mandado a ellos que no se enpachen en cosa daqui suplico a
V[uest]ra Mt. mande enbiarme cedula en que mande a los dichos
oficiales que no asienten los tales albalaes y cedulas no enbargante
que los governadores ge lo manden, y si las ubieren
asentado se den por ningunas y no sean pagadas ni libradas
aquellas personas ni admitidas en los tales oficios. y crea V. Mt.
que asi en esto como en todo conviene que lo que mandare se
cunpla al pie de la letra.
sobre estas cedulas que dan o han dado ya enbie a hablar
al Cardenal que se le acordase lo que V. Mt. les tiene mandado
a ellos y a mi en esto. Respondio que no obedeciese yo en esto
lo que ellos mandasen. pareceme que fuera mejor que ellos
cunplieran el mandamiento de V. Mt. que no darme a mi
ocasion para que yo no cunpla lo que ellos hasen, aunque yo
me tenia por dicho de haserlo asy hasta que V. Mt. mande lo
que sea servido.
en lo que Vra Magt. dise que mi suplicacion sobre la encomienda
de Monrreal para don hernando mi hermano llego
tarde aca he sabido que V. Mt. hizo merced della al marques
de villafranca y esta tengo yo por merced como si a my se me
hiziera por que todas las que V. Mt. hiziere al duque dalva y
a sus hijos syendo ellos tan leales servidores de V. Mt. es para
mi muy gran merced.
sobre otra encomienda para mi hermano he escripto a
V. Mt. le haga mr~d della, y de la quel tiene a don hernando
de tovar mi sobrino. y la verdad es que demas de aver muy
bien servido con su persona ha gastado de su hazienda todo
lo que tenia de manera quel pudiera aver conprado tanto de
patrimonio como lo que pedia de por vida.
en lo que a mi me toca V. Mt. lo remite a su buena venida
a estos Reynos. la verdad es que esta conviene tanto que por
la obligacion y voluntad que tengo a vuestro servicio con sola
ella me ternia por gratificado y pagado de todo lo que he
servido e gastado, pero pues esta se alarga con las ocupaciones
que V[uest]ra Magt. alla tiene y se le ofrecen suplico a V[uest]ra Magt. no
sea servido que yo acabe de destruyr mi casa porque en verdad
que yo he dexado de casar a mi hija doña madalena porque lo
que tenia para ello he gastado en servicio de V. Mt. con hartos
mas dineros que he gastado y devo.
los cinco quentos trecientos setenta y cinco mil mr~s que
V. Mt. me mando librar en la coruña en el servicio que estos
rreynos concedieron a V. Mt. tanpoco se me pagan porquel
servicio no se paga. a V. Mt. suplico pues esta es deuda
averiguada de descargo de las animas de los rreyes catolicos
aguelos de V. Mt. que ayan gloria V. Mt. me lo mande librar
en las rentas hordinarias destos Reynos en este año para que
con esto yo pueda casar mi hija pues como tengo dicho lo que
para esto tenya he gastado en servicio de V. Mt.
la Señora ynfante esta buena y escrive a V. Mt. y en verdad
que Su Alteza lo hase todo muy bien y como deve y si algo ha
habido de falta mas ha procedido y procede de algunas personas
que de Su Alteza.
aca he sabido que a V. Mt. han escripto que la marquesa
e yo no servimos y tratamos a Su Alteza con el acatamiento
que devemos y sy esto fuese asy seria mayor culpa nuestra que
en otras personas asy por la voluntad y obligacion que tenemos
a su servicio como a hija y nieta de sus padres y aguelos como
por ser hermana de V. Mt., y tambien porque segun lo que ha
servimos a Reyes no podriamos desir que no sabemos la manera
que se deve tener en su servicio. V. Mt. puede creer que havemos
servido y servimos a Su Altesa en todo lo que es vuestro
servicio y suyo y si algo se ha dexado o dexa de haser en
contentamiento de Su Alt. ha sydo por servir mas a V[uest]ra Mt.
y a su Alteza. y asy espero en dios que quando Su Alteza
tenga mas hedad lo conocera y desto yo no quiero otra merced
de nuestro Señor syno que Su Alteza sea en todo hija y nieta
de sus padres y aguelos y hermana de V. Mt.
quando el año pasado se hizo el apuntamiento para librar
las cosas necesarias desta casa, señalaban dos mil ducados para
Su Alteza, yo dixe que bastarian mil ducados y asy se libraron
el dicho año. Su Alteza dios la guarde esta ya muger y es rason
que V. Mt. le acreciente la merced y ayuda y que Su Alteza
y todos conozcamos que la mr~d se recibe de mano de Vt. Magt.
el respeto que yo tuve estonces fue que la mr~d y acrecentamiento
que en esto ubiese de aver fuese de mano de V[uest]ra Mt.
sera bien que V[uest]ra Mt. si fuere servido le mande acrecentar a
cumplimiento de dos mil ducados por agora hasta que en buen
hora V[uest]ra Magt. venga a estos sus rreynos diziendole come V[uest]ra
Magt. ha sabido por mis cartas la buena manera que tiene asy
en lo que conviene al servicio de V[uest]ra Magt. como en lo que
toca a su persona de que Vra Magt. tiene mucho contentamiento
y que asy le ruega que siempre lo continue.
Su Altesa ha sentido el fallecimyento del Rey de portugal por
la perdida de la Señora Reyna su hermana y por que V. Mt.
ha perdido buen hermano en el. ha enbiado Su Alt. al maestro
fray Miguel que esta aqui por predicador en lugar de villegas
a visytar a Su Alteza, y por los mismos repetos yo he sentido
y siento mucho su fallecimiento y sino fuera por la ocupacion
que aqui tengo en servicio de la Reyna nuestra Señora y de la
Señora ynfante yo fuera a visytar y a servir a Su Altesa en su
trabajo. V. Mt. deve procurar de conservar el deudo del Rey y
de aquel Reyno porque para lo destos es mas provecheso que
otro. yo encomende al maestro fray Miguel que supiese por
todas las vias que pudiese sy avia alguna inteligencia en
portugal de francia y las personas que estan cabe el Rey y
quien son y a que parte estan ynclinadas, y que todo lo que
supiese desto escriviese a V. Mt. y me lo escriviese para que yo
lo escriviese tanbien. yo creo quel Rey procurara la buena
gracia y amistad de V. Mt. porque le esta muy bien, pero
V. Mt. deve de haser lo mesmo.
la fortaleza daqui se avia derribado quando la carta de
V. Mt. llego y porque yo sabia que esto estava mandado
muchos años ha y porque convenia asi a servicio de V. Mt. yo
lo ubiera hecho antes si los governadores me ubieran dexado.
pero ella esta ya como conviene y por cedula de los governadores.
aqui me han dado una cedula de V. Mt. en que manda que
se reciba por capellan de la Reyna nuestra Señora un vecino
daqui. aqui ha habido pocos que hayan sido buenos servidores
y este no ha sido dellos y es muy moço y de poca autoridad
que aun para moço de capilla no es. obedeci (fn. 9) la cedula de V[uest]ra
Mt. y no la he cunplido por esto, y porque demas desto podrianse
agraviar los que han servido mas que el y sus deudos de
ver que ellos no reciben merced y la reciben los que no han
servido. V. Mt. mande en esto lo que es servido que yo soy
obligado a desirle lo que conviene a su servicio y cunplir lo
que V. Mt. mandare.
aca he sabido de cierta traycion que diz que en la cocina de
V. Mt. se queria haser. todos damos gracias a nuestro Señor
porque no ubo efecto lo que los malvados querian, y pues V[uest]ra
Magt. tiene tantas causas para dargelas no solo por los rreynos
que le dio mas por dalle tanta virtud y prudencia use V. Mt.
della escogiendo y eligiendo buenas personas para su servicio,
que sy asy lo haze no solo en la vida mas en el estado se le
parecera. plega a nuestro Señor que lo guie todo como V[uest]ra Mt.
desea.
aca se han hecho y hasen muchisimas capitanias de onbres
darmas. suplico a V[uest]ra Magt. sea servido que lo que se monta
en los cient estradiotes de mi capitania se hagan de onbres
darmas y demas desto que de las otras conpañias se saquen
algunas lanças para que se cunpla a numero de ciento, pues esta
ha de estar y esta aqui con la rreyna nuestra Señora. y tambien
suplico a V[uest]ra Magt. enbie a mandar a los governadores que no
remueban la gente questa aqui que son cient lanças y noventa
escopetas y ciento cinquenta soldados de la conpañia de
vernaldino de Carvajal y que toda esta gente sea bien pagada,
que en verdad hasta agora no lo es y yo paso gran trabajo con
ellos. esta cedula se me enbie a mi para que yo la enbie a los
governadores.
sabido he lo que ha subcedido en el ducado de Milan en
fabor de V. Mt. y asimesmo se dise que V. Mt. ha tomado a
Tonay y hecho mucho daño en otros lugares de francia. doy
muchas gracias a nuestro Señor por ello y plegale que en todo
de bitoria a V. Mt. y pues V. Mt. ha hecho tantos cunplimientos
con el Rey de francia quantos se deven haser antes
que se comiense a haser guerra de Christianos y el es y ha
sido sienpre tan perturbador de la paz, apriete V. Mt. lo que
tiene començado de manera que parezca la diferencia que ay
de vuestro estado al suyo, que yo espero en nuestro Señor quel
ayudara a V. Mt.
yo tengo un sobrino clerigo hijo de mi hermana dona elvira
de Rojas. suplico a V. Mt. me haga mr~d de recebille por su
capellan.
V. Mt. hizo merced a pedro de Arayz mi criado del oficio
de repostero de plata de la Señora ynfante y el albala se
despacho en la coruña en blanco para hinchir la quitacion e
llevo la covos. este es oficio necesario y no se puede sostener el
que le sirve sin quitacion. Suplico a V[uest]ra Magt. mande despachallo
conforme a los que se da a los de la Reyna nuestra
Señora, y porque don hernando de tovar mi sobrino hablara
y suplicara a V. Mt. de mi parte algunas cosas suplico a
V. Mt. le mande oyr y creer. Ruego a nuestro Señor guarde
vuestra Cesarea y Catolica Mt. con acrecentamiento de Su Real
corona bienaventuradamente. de tordesyllas a xxv de enero
1522.
de vuestra Cesarea Magestad umil syervo y vassallo que
sus Reales manos veso. el marques.
[Sobre :] A la Cesarea Sacra Catolica magt del enperador y
rrey de rromanos y despaña de las dos Secilias de Jerusalen
nuestro Senor, etc. |
(Translation)
96. To his Majesty. From the Marquis of
Denia. 25th of January.
Sacred, imperial, and catholic Majesty,
I received three letters from your Majesty which I
have not yet answered, one of the 26th, another of the 27th
of July, and the third of the 26th of September, besides
another commanding that the fortress of this place be demolished.
Our Lord be praised that your Majesty enjoys
the health which your kingdoms and vassals desire. Be it
always so.
The indisposition of the Queen is the same as usual,
although it seems to me that it daily increases. As for the
rest, concerning her dressing and keeping herself clean, she is
more orderly than ever.
[Cipher]. Her Highness speaks often with me, and tells
me to call the grandees into her presence, because she wants
to speak with them, and to be informed of the affairs of the
kingdom and despatch them. I answered that they are all
occupied in affairs which concern the service of her Highness
and of your Majesty, and that they cannot come. As soon
as I should learn that they are unoccupied, I would ask them
in her name to come. Sometimes she is satisfied, but at
other times she scolds because they do not come immediately.
In this respect I shall use all the delay and artfulness
which your service requires. But your Majesty may
believe me she is so much spoilt by the conversations which
they (fn. 2) had with her Highness since we came to this place,
and so haughty in consequence of the offers which were made
to her, that there is no man who has not great difficulty with
her. In order to remove her Highness from this neighbourhood,
and because this town has not been so faithful to your
service as it ought, I have been and am of opinion that your
Majesty should command peremptorily that her Highness
should go to Arevalo, which is a good town, strongly fortified,
and they have been loyal servants of your Majesty. Considering
what has happened in this kingdom, and would
happen again if any occasion offered, which God forbid, this
affair ought not to be delayed, and your Majesty may take it
for granted that it cannot be done with the consent of her
Highness. For as she refuses to do anything required for
her life and her soul, and does exactly the contrary, I do not
know how she can consent to this. In truth, if your Majesty
would apply the torture (fn. 4) it would in many respects
be a service and a good thing rendered to God and to her
Highness. Persons who are in her frame of mind require it,
and the Queen your grandmother served and treated in this
way the Queen our lady, her daughter. Your Majesty may
do what seems best in this case.
The manner in which the removal of her Highness from
here should be effected seems to me to be this. First, all
means of persuasion ought to be employed in order to see
whether her Highness would not do it of her own will, and
if that does not suffice the President of the council ought to
come with an order from your Majesty to all the persons who
are here. He is to take her Highness, to put her by night
into a litter, and to carry her without stopping to Arevalo.
I say the President, because I know that he would do this
and anything else your Majesty may command au pied de la
lettre. Two or three councillors should also come with him,
that it may seem as though it were done with the consent of
the whole council and the whole kingdom. I shall keep
everything ready, but as I am to remain in the service of
her Highness it would be inconvenient for me to take part
openly in this affair, because I should thus be much disliked
by her Highness. Your Majesty may believe me that this
ought to be done, for the disposition of this kingdom is now
as bad as it was when they showed it by their deeds, and
whenever they have opportunity to speak with her Highness
they will find means to commit greater errors. For these
reasons your Majesty ought to procure and to wish that her
Highness live in a place where she is very well attended and
very well watched, and out of the way of these and many
other inconveniences which might arise. Even now one ought
not to confide in a letter, notwithstanding it be written in
cipher.
On Christmas eve, when matins were celebrated in the
chapel she came out [of her room], took away the señora
Infanta, who was hearing them, and cried out that the altar
and all that had been erected should be taken away. We led her
Highness back with all courtesy, but with great difficulty.
Sometimes she goes to her corridor which has the river aspect,
and calls upon some people to go and fetch the soldiers and
the captains who are here that they might kill one or the
other. Her Highness being in this condition your Majesty
can judge for yourself what is convenient for your service and
what we suffer who are here.
The Cardinal, the Constable, and the Admiral have written
to me about the removal of her Highness. I have answered
what I think is right, and told them that I am writing to
your Majesty about the measures which ought to be used.
[Common writing.] I have reported to your Majesty all
that passes here and all that the service of her Highness, of
your Majesty, and of the señora Infanta requires ; and also
about the punishments and rewards of those who are employed
in this household. To that letter your Majesty has sent me
no answer, nor do I know what you have commanded. I
beseech your Majesty to command that orders for what is
required for your service be given.
Arzeo, the chief butler of her Highness, and Carquizano,
stirred up all the disturbances of this house, and were the
instigators of the coming of Juan de Padilla and the other
traitors, and a son of Carquizano, who is already grown up,
took part in all that his father did. They set the two at
liberty, as I have already written to your Majesty, and write
letters every day that the son of Carquizano may be restored
to his place of keeper of the plate. I have not obeyed them
because I know that he committed the same offences as his
father, and it would not appear well if the son of a traitor
held an office in this household, even if he had not committed
any fault, and how much more so being guilty of
having been the jailor of the servants of your Majesty who
had been taken prisoners when Juan de Padilla and the
other traitors were in Torre Lobaton. Your Majesty will
command what is to be done in this matter.
I likewise beseech your Majesty to command me to punish
Arzeo and Carquizano. Believing that they were to be
punished for the treasons they had committed against you, I
did not speak until now of what regards me, although that
also concerns your Majesty. For what they did was done
because I served your Majesty. I beseech your Majesty to
order that they be punished according to law, and that the
case be decided either by your council or by the alcaldes
of your court without partiality. For the decision which
has been come to here has been an arbitrary one of partisans,
and not according to law.
Your Majesty will remember that you have ordered the
governors not to meddle in the affairs of this household, and
the consequences of some contraventions are not favourable
to the service of your Majesty. The admiral has given the
place of chief butler to a servant of his, and the licentiate
Polanco procured the place of butler for one of his servants,
and in a similar way other offices have been given away. I
have paid no respect to these nominations, nor shall I do so
until your Majesty gives your orders. In this house there
ought to be only servants of your Majesty, very trustworthy
ones, rewarded by your own hands and by no one else. But
if others are to be employed, it would be more just to employ
my servants on account of the confidence which your Majesty
has in me, as well as because I and they have laboured and
suffered in doing our duty. I beseech your Majesty not to
permit that servants of others enter this house, for not only
should I be aggrieved thereby, but you also would be more
so, as it is incompatible with the service of your Majesty.
I have learnt now that the governors have given orders
about the offices of this household. They despatch and register
the letters patent concerning the offices which the cardinal
and the admiral gave away when they were here, although I
do not accept them as valid, having shown them the letters
of your Majesty by which you command me to appoint others
to the offices which are necessary for the service of her Highness.
As I have done this, and as your Majesty has commanded
them not to meddle in these affairs, I beg your Majesty to
send me an order commanding the said officers not to register
such letters patent, notwithstanding the orders of the
governors, and if they have registered them to declare them
null and void, and that the appointed persons shall not be
paid or receive warrants, nor be admitted to their offices.
Your Majesty may believe me that in this as in all other
respects it is necessary that your commands be executed to
the very letter.
Concerning the decrees which they give or have given, I
have already sent to the cardinal asking him to remember
what your Majesty has commanded them and me. He answered
that I should not obey what they order. It seems
to me it would be better for them to obey the commands of
your Majesty than to give me occasion to disobey what they
decree, although I think I am right to do so until your Majesty
decides what your servants are to do.
Your Majesty informs me that my petition for the knight
commandership of Monreal for my brother Don Hernando
arrived late. I have learnt that your Majesty bestowed it on
the Marquis of Villafranca, and have received it as a reward
bestowed on myself. For every favour your Majesty shows
to the Duke of Alba and his sons, who are such loyal servants
of your Majesty, is a very great favour shown to myself.
I have written to your Majesty about another knight commandership,
begging you to give it to my brother, and that
which he holds now to Don Hernando de Tovar, my nephew.
It is only the truth to say that he has served very well with
his person, and spent all the property he had with which he
could have bought estates worth as much as what he now
begs to have given him for life.
With respect to myself your Majesty postpones your decision
until your arrival in these kingdoms. It is true that
it [the arrival] is so necessary that, owing to my obligations
and the goodwill I bear to your service, I should consider
myself rewarded and paid by it [the arrival] for all my services
and expenses. As it [the arrival], however, is delayed
by the occupations your Majesty has there and which occur,
I beseech your Majesty not to permit that I entirely ruin my
family. For it is the truth that I have not married my
daughter Madalena because I have spent her marriage portion
in the service of your Majesty, and much more money which
I have spent and still owe.
The five millions three hundred and seventy-five thousand
maravedis (fn. 6) which your Majesty ordered to be paid to me in
Coruña out of the grant which these kingdoms conceded to
your Majesty are not paid to me because the grant is not
paid. As they constitute a recognised debt for the relief of
the souls of the catholic King and Queen, grandparents of
your Majesty, who are in glory, I beg your Majesty to command
that they be paid to me this year, out of the ordinary
revenues of these kingdoms, so that I may marry my
daughter, whose marriage portion, as I have stated, I have
spent in the service of your Majesty.
The señora Infanta is well, and writes to your Majesty.
In truth she behaves in every respect very well and as she
ought. If she has committed some errors it was and is more
the fault of other persons than of her Highness.
I have been told that letters have been written from here
to your Majesty that the marchioness and I do not serve and
treat her Highness with the respect which is due to her. If
that were the case, it would be a greater fault in us than in
other persons, on account of the goodwill and obligation we
have to serve her, being the daughter and granddaughter of
her parents and grandparents, and sister of your Majesty.
Besides, having attended upon royal personages during so long
a time, we cannot excuse ourselves with saying that we do
not know how to behave in their service. Your Majesty may
believe me, we have attended and are attending to her Highness
in everything that is for your service and hers, and if in
some respects her Highness has not been and is not satisfied
with us, the reason has been that we wished the better to serve
your Majesty and her Highness. I hope in God that when her
Highness is of riper age she will acknowledge it herself, and I
ask no other reward from our Lord, but that her Highness
may be in every respect the daughter and granddaughter of her
parents and grandparents, and the sister of your Majesty.
When last year the estimate was made for the necessary
expenses of this household, two thousand ducats were assigned
to her Highness. I said that one thousand ducats
were sufficient, and last year this sum only has been paid.
Her Highness is, God be thanked, already a woman, and it
is reasonable that your Majesty should increase her revenue
and allowance. Her Highness and all here must know that
she receives that favour at the hands of your Majesty. The
reason which I then had was that the favour and the increase
of it should come from the hand of your Majesty. It would
be good, if your Majesty is pleased, to order that her
allowance be now increased to the sum of two thousand
ducats until the happy time when your Majesty comes to
these your kingdoms, and to tell her that your Majesty has
been informed through my letters of her good conduct with
respect to the service of your Majesty as well as to her own
person, and that your Majesty is well satisfied with her, and
begs her thus to continue.
Her Highness (fn. 7) has felt very much the death of the King
of Portugal on account of the loss to the Queen her sister, and
because your Majesty has lost in him a good brother. Her
Highness has sent the maestro Fray Miguel, who is preacher
here in the place of Villegas, to visit her Highness (fn. 8) For
the same reasons I have been and am very sorry for his
death, and if it were not for my occupations in the service
of the Queen my lady and the señora Infanta, which detain
me here, I should go and visit and serve her Highness in her
troubles. Your Majesty ought to take measures to preserve
relations with the King and with that kingdom, because it is
more advantageous to these [kingdoms] than any other. I
have recommended to the maestro Fray Miguel to ascertain by
all means possible whether France entertains intelligence with
Portugal, and who are the persons near the King, what
their persuasions are, and towards which party they are
inclined. [I have told him] to write all he can learn about
this subject to your Majesty and to me, that I may write it
also. I believe the King will seek to obtain the goodwill and
friendship of your Majesty, because it suits him well, but
your Majesty ought to do the same.
The fortress was already demolished when the letter of
your Majesty arrived. As I knew that it was ordered many
years ago, and that it was suitable to the service of your
Majesty, I should have done it earlier, if the governors had
permitted it. But now it is already reduced to its proper
state in consequence of an order of the governors.
I have received a decree of your Majesty ordering that an
inhabitant of this town be appointed chaplain of the Queen
my lady. There are few here who have been loyal servants,
and this one is not of their number. He is very young, has
little authority, and would not be sufficient to fill the place of
a boy of the chapel. I have [not] obeyed and carried out the
order of your Majesty for these reasons, as well as because
others who have served better than he and his relations
would think themselves aggrieved if they learn that they
receive no favours, whilst those receive them who have done
no service. Your Majesty may order what is for your
interest. Although I am obliged to tell you what is compatible
with your service I shall do what your Majesty
commands.
We have been informed here of a certain treason which is
said to have been intended in the kitchen of your Majesty.
We all praise our Lord that what these diabolical people
attempted was not carried into effect. As your Majesty has
such good reason [to thank our Lord] not only for the kingdoms
He gave you, but also for so much virtue and prudence,
your Majesty ought to make use of it [your prudence] and select
and choose good persons for your service. If you do so the
effect will be visible not only in things which regard your life,
but also in those of your states. May our Lord be pleased
to ordain everything as your Majesty wishes.
A great many companies of men-at-arms have been formed
here. I beg your Majesty to be pleased to order that instead of
one hundred light horse my company is to consist of the same
number of men-at-arms, and, moreover, that a certain number
of lances be draughted from the other companies in order to
complete the number of one hundred, as it is now, and is to
remain, with the Queen our lady. I likewise beseech your
Majesty to command the governors not to relieve the garrison
which is here, consisting of 100 lances, 90 sharpshooters, and
150 foot of the company of Bernardino de Carvajal. All
these troops ought to be well paid, which, to tell the truth,
has not been done hitherto, and I have had many difficulties
with them. This order ought to be sent to me, that I may
forward it to the governors.
I have learnt the successes of your Majesty in the
Duchy of Milan, and it is also said that your Majesty has
taken Tournay, and done great injury to other towns in
France. I have thanked our Lord much for it, and may He
be pleased to give your Majesty victory everywhere, as your
Majesty has made all the offers to the King of France which
ought to be made before beginning war with Christians, and
he is and always has been the disturber of peace. Your
Majesty should continue with great energy what you have
begun, so that the difference between you and him may
become apparent. I hope in our Lord that He will help you.
A nephew of mine, son of my sister Doña Elvira de Rojas,
is a priest. I beg your Majesty to appoint him your
chaplain.
Your Majesty appointed my servant Pedro de Arayz keeper
of the plate of the señora Infanta. In Coruña the letter
patent was despatched in blank, and Covos took it with him
to fill up the amount of the salary. The office is indispensable,
and he who holds it cannot maintain himself without pay.
I beseech your Majesty to command that [the letters patent]
be despatched in the same form as those [of the servants] of
the Queen our lady. My nephew, Don Hernando de Tovar,
will speak with your Majesty, and ask you some things in
my name. I beg your Majesty that he may be heard and credit
given to him.
I pray our Lord to guard your imperial and catholic Majesty,
and increase your royal crown with many blessings.
From Tordesillas, 25th of January 1522.
Your Majesty's humble servant and vassal kisses your royal
hands.
The marquis.
[Addressed :] To his imperial, sacred, and catholic Majesty,
the Emperor and King of the Romans, of Spain, the two
Sicilies, and Jerusalem, our lord, &c.
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