miércoles, 3 de octubre de 1554

Edad:
27 años

Carta de un acompañante de Felipe en viaje a Inglaterra

London,

I do not believe you will object to my writing again to you, and indeed one who is your most devoted servant ought to have done so before. God knows how delighted I was to receive your letter in this strange land, for you are one of the worthiest gentlemen with whose acquaintance God has blessed me, and I am most happy that you should deign to command me as one of your humblest servants.

In my letter from Richmond I gave you an account of everything that had happened since my landing, and I am now writing again in obedience to your commands, and will be exceedingly happy to do so as often as you wish. Indeed, were you not to ask me I should feel injured. The news I now have to give you are that most of the Spaniards who came hither with his Majesty have been indisposed, and some of them really ill, apparently because of the change of climate.

Certain of the household servants have been at death's door, but thank God they have all recovered. Such are the misfortunes that await one in this country. May Our Lord help us and send us good health! The country, it is true, is a good one, but we are surrounded by the worst people that ever lived, at any rate in a Christian land. The English hate us Spaniards, which comes out in violent quarrels between them and us, and not a day passes without some knife-work in the palace between the two nations. There have already been some deaths, and last week three Englishmen and a Spaniard were hanged on account of a broil.

On St. Michael's eve (28 September) the King and Queen left a castle where they had been staying for some days and came to London, which I believe to be the largest and finest city in the realm. They are to stay here a few days on account of some celebrations organised by the Spaniards, who have got up a very fine bout at cane-play in which I hear over eighty gentlemen, all richly adorned in silver and gold, are to take part. I have seen their costumes, all of velvet of various colours, and I believe it will please the Queen and consequently all the English people, whose interest will be keen as the sport is unknown here.

There is certainly much to be seen in this country, especially in the great and populous cities like London, where we now are—a capital full of magnificent things, grand buildings and noteworthy achievements of industry. It is true I had always heard that the marvels described in books of chivalry fell far short of what was to be seen here. The Queen is well served, with a household full of officials, great lords and gentlemen, as well as many ladies, most of whom are so far from beautiful as to be downright ugly, though I know not why this should be so, for outside the palace I have seen plenty of beautiful women with lovely faces. The women here do not wear the hoods and veils so common in Spain, but walk about town uncovered and even travel in the same way, though some of them, when abroad in London, cover their faces with veils like those worn at home by nuns who wish not to be seen. All the women wear short skirts, and most of them very tight fitting black stockings and slashed shoes like the men's; indeed they dress in a manner which I am unable to approve of, and I do not think any Spaniard would differ from me.

We Spaniards move among the English as if they were animals, trying not to notice them; and they do the same to us. They refuse to crown our Prince, though he is their King, for they do not recognise him as such or as in any way their superior, but merely as one who has come to act as governor of the realm and get the Queen with child. When she has had children of him, they say, he may go home to Spain. Would to God it might happen at once! for it would be a good thing for him and I believe he would be very glad; we certainly should all be delighted to get away from these barbarous folk.

The Queen is said to be with child, though we know nothing more than what is being said in the palace. The King has paid her debts to the tune of over 250,000 ducats, and has also distributed over 30,000 ducats worth of pensions among the Council and great lords in order to keep them contented, and all these pensions are to be paid in Spain. So you see the profit Spain is going to realise from this marriage; and even after all this these English will have none of us. My own conviction is that were it not that Our Lord is watching over us in answer to the ceaseless prayers and processions which letters we have received tell us are being held in Spain, we should all be dead by now; for these barbarous English heretics are void of soul or conscience, fear neither God nor His saints, and refuse obeisance to the Pope who, as they say, is a man like themselves and has no right to order them to do this or that; so the only Pope they recognise is their King, or as at present their Queen, who may command them to do or not to do anything she pleases.

There are many thieves here, who live on nothing else but the fruits of their thefts. We have been warned to go home before it gets dark and stay within doors; for otherwise we have to be very careful if we do not wish to lose our cloaks and our lives. And this is the sort of life we lead here, though the officers of justice severely punish as many robbers as they can catch. Think of it, only the other day they hanged an Englishman here for stealing fourteen pence, which by Castilian reckoning amounts to about 84 maravedies, less than two reales and a half, for the penny (dinero) they use here is worth about six of ours. And in spite of all this severity, there are so many thieves that as I have said no one must walk the streets after night-fall. Another great drawback here is the dearness of everything, for all prices have risen hugely of late years, especially those of food. So the gentlemen who came with his Highness and thought that ten, for instance, would be enough, find that they need a hundred or more, and are obliged to face enormous expenses.

It is repeated here and taken to be perfectly true that the Prince (i.e. Philip) will go next spring (God willing) to take over the crown of Naples, which kingdom his Majesty has granted him. The Marquis of Pescara has already gone to take possession of the realm. God grant that it may all contribute to the welfare of Christendom and the glory of the crown of Castile! His Highness has given the Count of Olivares a post of great honour, for it is believed he is to be Viceroy of Peru. You may be certain that I will keep you informed of everything of importance that happens here.

Fuentes

Copy. Spanish. Madrid, B.N.K.165.

Printed by Gayangos, Viage de Felipe II a Inglaterra.

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 13, 1554-1558

Edited by Royall Tyler.

Published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1954.

 

 

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