Queen Katharine: 1501 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain: Supplement To Volumes 1 and 2, Queen Katherine; Intended Marriage of King Henry VII To Queen Juana. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1868.

Citation:

'Queen Katharine: 1501', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain: Supplement To Volumes 1 and 2, Queen Katherine; Intended Marriage of King Henry VII To Queen Juana, ed. G A Bergenroth( London, 1868), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/supp/vols1-2/pp1-12 [accessed 27 November 2024].

1501



1501. End of Dec.	1. Don Pedro De Ayala, Spanish Ambassador in England, to Queen Isabel Of Spain. [The original letter is in the possession of Don Pascual de Gayangos, in Madrid. Autograph. The passages printed in italics are in the original written in cipher, and deciphered by the Editor. The orignal key is not extant.] Muy alta y muy poderosa Reyna e ñra Señora (fn. 1), pocos dias a que escrivi a v[uest]ra alteza con uno mio despues an subcedido las cosas que creo quando esta llegara ya abra v[uest]ra magestad savido ansi por las cartas que la señora princesa a escrito como por las que doña elvira manuel y no menos por el dottor de puebla que segund he sabido a enbiado un mensajero, mas aun que las cartas sean llegadas y V. Al. aya savido lo de aca ansi por las personas dichas como por otras que se an escrito yo no dexare de dezir lo que pasa sin mudar nada de la verdad porque V. alteza entienda y conosca todo como ba para que probea lo que su servicio sea. Acabadas las fiestas y partidos ansi los españoles como yngleses a sus casas el Rey quiso entender en lo que le cumplia. demando a iohan de cuero le entregase las joyas e plata quel dottor le abia dicho se le embian de dar en pago de la ultima paga. Respondiole como no las abia de entregar sino pesar e apreciar y tomar su carta de pago y tener las en su poder como hasia. Segund a parescido pasaron algurias altercaçiones sobrello. e en esto por el Rey como no se azia a su proposito y le parescia abia rescevido afrente en demandar esto antes del tiempo rescivio alguno corrimiento y bino despues de aver quinze dias pasados sienpre entendiendo en la negociacion a la camera de la S. p. e en presencia de doña elvira manuel y mia le dixo estas palabras Señora hija, no dubdo ayays savido yo demande a v[uest]ro guardaropa me diese cierta plata e ioyas en la suma de tautos mil descudos que yo tengo de rescebir en la terzera paga en cuenta y pago de los dozientos mil escudos que yo tengo de rescevir en la terzera paga en cuenta y pago de los dozientos mil escudos de v[uest]ro dotte. quiero que vos sepays como y porque yo los demande. Un dia antes que yo os biese en el camino a do os desposastes el dottor de puebla bino a mi e me dixo Señor porque conoscays como yo no pienso sino en serviros beres lo que he fecho y obtenido de mis soberanos y es que xxxv. √ ducados que la ultima paga aveys de aver en perlas y piedras e oro e plata y tapicerias yo he fecho que luego se entregue segund por esta carta que Sus Altezas me escriben beres. la qual carta dize le leyo y contenia lo quel dezia de la qual nueba obo mucho plaçer e despues de pasadas las fiestas le torno a requerir si queria rescivir las dichas joyas y como no fue cosa para recusar que el le dixo era contento y llamo al dicho guardaropa y benidos al efeuto le dixo como lo que se abia de azer apreciar y pesar las dichas joyas y plata y tomar su carta de pago de la tal suma y se abia de quedar en poder y manos del dicho guardaropa de lo qual el abia sido maravillado por que razon se le pidiese carta de pago de lo que no recivia, y como el le avia replicado Señor guarde me secreto e yo os dire por que causa he procurado como servidor v[uest]ro esto y es que si v[uest]ra magestad quiere tomar mi consejo yo are como la princesa quedara con todas estas joyas e plata y tapicerria y mis principes compliran con vos a los terminos que les tengo obligados si agora no rescibe estas joyas y sera desta manera. la princesa se servira de todo ello este tiempo despues sera verguença grande de mis soberanos rehusando vos de no recevir lo que ella a usado para el servicio de su persona y casa de selo tomar. dexar se lo an y compliran con vos e ya yo he hablado con la princesa e la tengo di mi parte para que esto asi sea guiado. yo señora hija aun que conosco que aziendose ansi como este dize a vos e a mi seria probecho e es cosa hazedera de procurar que v[uest]ros padres os den las tales cosas para v[uest]ro servicio e uso sin las contar, yo no soy contento por tales bias lo aver e pesame mucho en grand manera por yo aver demandado las tales joyas, mas la causa fue la que yo os he dicho e no otra, agora veo en esto ay cautela yo no consintire que se ympute a mi. yo me tengo por contento con lo que las escrituras rezan y no demando ni demandare otra cosa mayormente que no la podria hazer aun que quisiere porque estas joyas son de la ultima paga. Ruegos escribays a los señores Rey e Reyna como yo os he dicho lo que oys en que yo no demande ni demandara nada sino fuese apretado y confortado por el dottor diziendome lo tenia hecho e asentado asi e agora dize me que la carta de los señores Rey e Reyna a visto mejor e dize le mandan tome la dicha carta de pago y que queden en poder de iohan de cuero y no puedo pensar sino que aya sido maña suya y que aya dado a entender a sus altezas algo que no sea verdad ansy como a fecho a mi e. a vos por nos tener sienpre en pendencias paresceme en (fn. 2) una grande alebosia que aya de dezir a sus principes e a vos e a mi las tales cosas. Ruegos señora hija e a vos doña elvira e a vos don pedro que dello deys abiso a sus altezas porque no quiero que me tengan por tal persona que aya de demandar antes de tiempo lo que no me eran obligados. porque bendito ñro Señor no tengo necesidad para que siendo menester por amor suyo y v[uest]ro señora hija yo podre despender un millon de oro sin enpeñarme. mostro tener muy grand corrimiento por aver demandado le fuese entregado lo tal y como sele denego y teme sera ymputado por cobdicioso e ansi se partio de la princesa este dia. luego el dia siguente me llamo y me dixo como estava en grand congoxa porque conbenia enbiar al principe en gales y su consejo e el del principe estaban diferentes porque abia dos opiniones. los unos dezian era bien la yda de la princesa en gales los otros no y que cada uno dellos daban a su opinion buenas razones y no sabia en que determinarse. le dixese mi parescer yo. se le dixe era la quedada abria para mejor consejo porque seria para muchas cosas muy probechosa mayormente que ansy la princesa como el principe tolerarian mejor el apartamiento y conversacion estando ella en compañya suya e de la Reyna porque suplirian ellos toda gravedad que del apartamiento del principe se le hiziese lo qual no podria asy tolerar estando en su casa en gales y otras muchas razones que bien pocos dias antes el mismo Rey me abia dado a mi por que se mobia a tener la princesa estos dos años benideros en su compañia. otro dia siguente el mismo ablo con la princesa el qual le dixo lo mismo que a mi me abia dicho como conbenia la partida del principe y las diversas opiniones que los de su consejo tenian pero que el ni lo uno ni lo otro no determinaria salvo aquello que fuese su voluntad declarandole no haria otra cosa de lo que ella quisiese. su respuesta fue en esto ni en otra cosa ninguna boluntad tenia salvo aquella que su alteza tubiese, que de todo lo que determinase de aquello seria contenta. tornole a replicar le rogaba no lo dexase a su voluntad del porque podria ser determinase el pensando azerle plazer de lo que recibiese enojo. afirmose en su primera respuesta e en esta pendencia la truxo quatro dias y en este tiempo aziendo quel principe travajase con la princesa ella dixiese queria mas ir que quedar y como esto no quisiese decir haciendo demostracio[n] el Rey de mucho pesar declaro conbenia fuese en gales aunque era la cosa del mundo que mayor pesar rescebia la qual yda se puso en obra la biespera de la pa ... (fn. 3) viendo que no se azia ningund asiento en la casa de la princesa mas de nombralle quantas personas españolas abia de tener doña elvira abiendo ya segund paresce muchas vezes ablado con el dottor en ello e abiendole el dicho como ansy lo que la señora princesa abia de tener para sostinimiento de su estado como lo que cada uno de sus servidores y servidoras todo lo tenia asentado como conbenia aziendo el Rey muchas ofertas a la dicha doña elvira le dixo ella le suplicaba le quisiese dezir lo que en esto estaba asentado el qual como lo oyo resce... (fn. 3) grand alteracion diziendo era cosa muy nueba para el la tal demanda porque fasta la or[a] destonces nunca en tal se le abia ablado diziendole como la costumbre desta tierra era l (fn. 3) .. maridos dar a sus mugeres lo que obiesen necesario lo qual aria el principe su hijo segund estado y conbenia a su honra y el le prometia no consinteria fuese ella ni sus servidores sino muy bien tratados diziendo algunas otras razones e ansi se descabullo dello. otro dia siguiente el dottor bino al Rey el qual paresce ser (fn. 4) le dixo palabras no buenas diziendole por que razon en todas estas cosas que estaban negociadas el abia tenido cautelas prometiendo o diziendo abia mas de lo que estaba asentado en las escrituras porque doña elvira le abia ablado la tal cosa. el qual le respondio que no creyese su alteza el obiese ablado ni escrito ninguna cosa otra de lo que las escrituras reçaban mas que aquello que doña elvira o la princesa o otras personas demandaban o ablaban todo era a requesta e ynducimiento de don pedro. el Rey le replico no creya fuese asy salvo que el tenia estas maneras por entretener a v[uest]ras altezas e a el en pendencias no de buena disisticion (fn. 7) e otras palabras no muy honestas lo qual fue delante de su consejo. la partida de los señores principe e princesa se determino y puso en obra martes xxi. de diziembre para tener la tiesta xl millas de aqui lo que despues de su partida alla oviere pasado e subcediere dalla daran cuenta a v[uest]ra alteza dello. agora quiero dizir a V. al. lo que destas cosas yo he entendido e creo y he fecho. quanto toca a lo de las joyas el Rey bien quisiera como se le ofrescio se las dieran y entergaran y a lo que yo creo y por señales he yo bisto claras todas o la mayor parte de ellas o su equibalencia el selo diera porque en grand manera a rescevido grandisimo contentamiento de todo quanto v[uest]ras altezas an hecho y sobre todo tienese por muy abenturado despues que a conoscido esta señora ser la que es. y como siempre el tubiese esperança esto se le abia de entergar nunca probeyo dar un alfiler a la princesa. allose muy corrido de lo aver demandado y no darsele y lo que no abia (fn. 8) fecho lo que con esta esperança abia dexado de azer crese como aca aya mucha boluntad de adquerir lo que se puede aber e como le tubiesen ya abisado que usando e traxiendo la princesa todas estas cosas que trae vuestres altezas avrian enpacho despues de mandar le fuesen quitadas y entergadas a el en pago de lo que abia de aver delibero que la yda de gales se iziese porque seria forçado servirse de todo lo que traya. por parte mia que algo desto e entendido no se a dexado de abisar todo lo que se pudiere escusar de no usarse ni tratarse estas cosas semejantes se escuse porque es cierto otra niguna razon mas principal no a abido para la yda porque es muy contra la voluntad del Rey por otros pensamientos que tiene, y por mi parte e doña elvira por la suya diximos al Rey creyamos v[uest]ras altezas sabida la muy tierna edad del principe abrian antes plazer que pesar por algunos dias no estubiesen juntos. Respondio a esto como se maravillaba porque una de las cosas porque se abia determinado azerlo abia sido porque uno de los principales que v[uest]ras altezas con la Princesa abian enbiado para su servicio le abia hecho una muy larga abla sobre este caso y el fin della abia sido por parte de v[uest]ras altezas como onbre que sabia sus voluntades le rogaba en ninguna manera del mundo no los separase antes que la enbiase con su marido porque no aziendose asy v[uest]ras altezas serian mal contentos e della sabia se desesperia. obo siendo muy ynterrogado de declarar abia sido alexander el que esto le dixo con parescer e ynduzimiento del dotor. la causa porque no se save glosar otra salvo porque obiese ocasion de usar las dichas cosas a causa de la partida e biniese a su proposito lo que ordenaba. aun que en este caso ni en otro ninguno no debria de tener atrebimiento de dezir a v[uestr]as al. mi simple parescer mas confiando recivra la boluntad con que lo digo dire como si tiene determinado esto que aca esta aya de servir para en la cuenta de los dozientos mil scudos que seria bien luego mandasen se le entregasen porque creo serviria a dos cosas lo uno a que no fuese reusado, lo otro que al presente seria en mas tasado que despues lo seria y no dubdo aprobecharia lo tal a que el Rey gelo tornase y si se dilata a no darse lo fasta la ultima paga, creo el dilatara a no talle (fn. 9) ninguna cosa pues tiene bien lo que a menester ansi para su servicio como para el del principe al qual tan poco ninguna cosa de adreço de casa ni vaxilla a dado ni entiende de dar antes a ordenado esten juntos y coman juntos porque aya ocasion de servirse con la de la princesa. quanto toca a esto no se otra causa que dezir pueda. Bien creo V. Al. ya sabra como he dicho para su estado ninguna cosa señalada tiene ni menos para sus servidores ni oficiales acostamientos ni pensiones salvo que aran todo lo mejor que pudieren segund la renta quel principe tiene requieren, yo no creo que V. Al. tenga creydo fasta agora que esto aya de ser asy porque seria sy ansy fuese con determinacion de la prober cada año de lo que le faltase e si ansy es deben luego vuestras altezas prover en que se asiente lo que debe que no aziendose luego a los principios seria grave despues. la señora princesa me a mandado algunas bezes entendiese en algunas cosas semejantes. no e obedescido en este caso su mandamiento pues de vuestra alteza no le tengo. [What follows is written in the hand of D. Pedro de Ayala.] Porque presto entiendo escrevir otra ves a v[uest]ras altesas no dire aqui asta saber muy cierto algunas cosas que aca me an dicho se ordena aver. parecermeya como a vr. alteza escrevi estotro dia luego deve proveer y mandar los que aca estamas ansy onbres como mugeres nos conformemos y ninguno sea osado de negociar particularmente cosa que a el ni a otro cumpla porque cada uno se va a leer y procura y abla lo que quiere en tal manera que se açe mas daño que provecho. quando de aqui partio la Sra. princesa se asento su casa y mandaron a cada uno en lo que avia de servir y a do avia de entrar y estar ordenaron no sirviese el maestre sala y davan le oficio de huxer y a Juan de Cuero ansimismo esto se fiço dezpues de partidos de aqui. yo no fuy a gales por atender aqui cartas de v[uest]ras Altesas y aun porque en alguna manera era menester mi quedada ansi por no estar aun * [The conclusion of this despatch is lost.]	(Translation.) 1. Very high and mighty Queen, our sovereign lady, A few days ago I wrote to your Highness by one of my servants. What has since happened I think your Majesty knows already by the letters of the señora Princess, as well as by those which doña Elvira Manuel and Doctor de Puebla have written, who, as I am informed, has sent a messenger. Nevertheless, although the letters probably have arrived, and your Highness may have heard what is going on here as well by the persons I have mentioned as by other (letters) which may have been written, I shall not omit to state what passes here, strictly adhering to the truth, in order that your Highness may hear and learn all that is going on, and provide what your service requires. When the feasts were over, and the Spaniards as well as the English had returned to their houses, the King pleased to occupy himself with looking after his interests. He asked Johan de Cuero to deliver to him the jewels and plate which, the doctor had said, he had been ordered to give as part of the last instalment. He answered that he had not to deliver them, but to weigh and to value them, to ask a receipt for them, and yet to guard them, as he hitherto had done. It seems that some altercations took place on this subject. Meanwhile, as the will of the King was not done, and he thought he had received an affront, having asked [the jewels and plate] before the time they were due, he was somewhat ashamed ; and after having continued these negotiations during a fortnight, he came to the room of the señora Princess, where he said to her, in the presence of doña Elvira Manuel and me, the following words : "Señora, my daughter, I have no doubt that you know that I asked from your keeper of the wardrobe certain plate and jewels, worth so many thousand ducats, which I have to receive as part of the third instalment on account and in payment of the 200,000 scudos which are due to me as part of the third instalment on account and payment of the 200,000 scudos of your dower. I wish you to know why and for what reasons I asked them. One day, before I saw you on the road where you were betrothed, the Doctor de Puebla came to me, and said : 'Señor, in order that you may know how much I take care of your interests, you shall see what I have done and obtained from my sovereign Lords. You will learn by this letter from their Highnesses that the five-and-thirty thousand ducats which you have to receive in pearls, jewels, gold, silver, and tapestry, on account of the last instalment, are without delay to be delivered to you."' This letter he read to him, and it contained what he had said. He was very glad to hear this. When the feasts were over he (de Puebla) again asked him whether he would like to receive the said jewels, and, not having any reason to refuse them, he answered that he would. He called the said keeper of the wardrobe, who, however, when they came to the point, told him that the jewels and plate were to be valued and weighed, and that he was to receive a receipt for their value, but that they were to remain in the keeping of the said keeper of the wardrobe. When he [Henry] was astonished that he was expected to give a receipt for what he had not received, he [de Puebla] said to him, "Señor, keep my secret, and I will tell you the reason why I, your servant, have arranged this. If your Majesty will accept my advice, I promise you to conduct the affairs in such a manner that the señora Princess shall remain in the possession of all her jewels, plate, and tapestry, and my sovereign Lords nevertheless fulfil the obligations to you which I have imposed on them in case that these jewels be not accepted. The manner is the following : If the Princess uses all this now, and you afterwards refuse to accept it, my sovereign Lords will be ashamed to take from her what she has already used as her own on her person as well as in her household. They must then leave it to her, and fulfil their obligations towards you. I have already spoken with the Princess, and won her over on my side, so that it may be done as I have said." "Señora, my daughter, although I know that, if it is done as he says, it would be advantageous to you and to me, and although it could thus be arranged that your parents give you these things for your use without counting them, nevertheless I am not inclined to obtain [any advantage] by such means. I am exceedingly sorry that I have asked for the jewels in question, but the reason was that which I have stated and nothing else. I see now that there is a crafty design, and I shall not consent that it be attributed to me. I shall be content with what the treaties stipulate, and do not ask nor shall I ever ask anything else, especially as I could not do it even if I would, because these jewels form part of the last instalment. I beg you to write to the King and the Queen all I have said to you, as you hear it, and [to tell them] that I have not, nor should on any account have, proffered the demand without being instigated and animated by the Doctor, who told me that he had arranged and settled it in that manner, but now says that, having read once more the letter of the King and the Queen, he must confess that they order him to ask the said receipt and yet leave [the jewels] in the keeping of Johan de Cuero ; and I cannot but think that it has been an artful trick of his, and that he has given their Highnesses to understand something that is not true, just as he has deceived me and you in order to involve us continually in difficulties. It seems to me to be a great breach of trust to say such things to his Sovereigns and to you and to me. I beg you, Señora, my daughter, and you, doña Elvira, as well as you, don Pedro, to inform their Highnesses of the truth, because I should not like to be held for a person who asks what is due to me before the time. God be praised, I am not in want, and, if it were necessary, I could, for love of them and of you, my señora daughter, spend a million of gold without contracting a debt." He was evidently much ashamed that he had asked that the said things be delivered to him, and that his demand was refused. He is afraid to be thought a miser. In such a disposition of mind he left the Princess that day. Next day, having called me into his presence, he told me that he was very uneasy because it was necessary to send the Prince to Wales, and his council and the council of the Prince entertained different opinions. Some said that it would be good for the Princess to go to Wales, and others said no, and each of them supported their opinions by such good reasons that he did not know what to do. He asked my advice. What I answered was, that I thought it much better that the Princess should not go, for that would be preferable in many respects, and especially because the Prince and the Princess would more easily bear being separated and [their abstinence from] intercourse if she remained with him and the Queen, who could alleviate her sorrow for being separated from the Prince, a thing which it would be much more difficult to bear if she were to live in his house in Wales, adding many other reasons which the King himself had given me only a few days before for retaining the Princess during the next two years near his person. The following day he (the King) himself spoke with the Princess, and told her the same thing he had said to me, viz., that it was necessary that the Prince should go to Wales, and what difference of opinion existed amongst his councillors, adding that he would not determine either in the one way or the other, but do only what she liked, and declaring to her that he would do only what she wished. Her answer was, that neither in this nor in any other respect had she any other will than his, and that she would be content with what he decided. He replied that he asked her not to leave the decision to him, because, although wishing to be agreeable to her, he might nevertheless determine on what would give her annoyance. She repeated her first answer. This indecision continued four days, during which he caused the Prince to use his influence with the Princess, and to persuade her to say that she preferred rather to go than to stay, and, as she refused to say it, the King, making show of great sorrow, decided that she should go to Wales, although nothing in the world he regretted more. She went on the evening before ... (fn. 5) her departure nothing was provided for the household of the Princess, except that it was determined how many Spanish servants she was to have. As doña Elvira, it seems, had already oftentimes spoken with the doctor, who had told her that he had settled how much the señora Princess was to have for the sustenance of her household, as well as for every one of her male and female servants, and that the King had made great offers to the said doña Elvira, she asked him (fn. 6) to state what had been decided. When he heard this he was much surprised, and said that such a demand was an entirely new thing to him, for until then nothing had been mentioned to him about it, and it was the custom in this country for husbands to give to their wives all they want, which the Prince his son would do, according to his rank, and as his honour required. He would never consent, he said, that she and her servants were otherwise treated than very liberally. Adding some other reasons, he dismissed this subject. The following day the doctor went to see the King, who, it seems, spoke by no means friendly words to him, asking him why he had behaved so artfully in all those affairs which had been negotiated, saying and promising, according to what doña Elvira had told him, more than really had been settled in the treaties. He answered, that his Highness ought not to believe that he had spoken or written anything but what was contained in the treaties, and that all that doña Elvira and the Princess and other persons asked or were speaking of was at the request and persuasion of don Pedro. The King replied that he did not believe it, but knew that with no good intention he purposed in this manner to involve your Highnesses and him in difficulties, adding other words by no means flattering. This passed in the presence of the council. The departure of the Prince and Princess was fixed and took place on Tuesday the 21st of December, in order to pass the holidays 40 miles distant from here. Of all that, after their departure, has happened and will happen, they will inform your Highness from there. I wish now to tell your Highness what I have heard and believe, and what I have done concerning this business. With respect to the jewels, the King would like that, as they were offered him, they be given and delivered to him, and that, according to what I believe, and from unmistakeable signs conclude, all or the greater part of them, or their equivalent, should be given to him, because he has received the very greatest pleasure from all your Highnesses have done, and above all, since he knows what a person the Señora is, he considers himself a fortunate man. As he always hoped that these (the jewels, &c.) were to be delivered to him, he never provided so much as a pin for the Princess ; but he is much ashamed that he has asked and met with a refusal, and that he has neglected to do that which he has left undone, because he had that hope. It is believed that the best will exists here to acquire all that can be got, and as he has already been told that, if the Princess uses all the things which she takes with her, your Highnesses will find it difficult to order afterwards that they be taken from her, and delivered to him as part payment of what is due to him, he has decided that she should go to Wales, because then she would be obliged to use all she takes with her. On my part, as I have heard something of this, it has not been neglected to advise that as much as it can be avoided these things should not be used. For it is certain that there has been no other reason of any weight for her journey, which is very contrary to the wishes of the King in other respects. I, on my part, and doña Elvira on hers, have told the King that we believe that your Highnesses, knowing the tender age of the Prince, would rather be pleased than dissatisfied if they for some time did not live together. He answered to this observation, that he was astonished to hear it, for one of the reasons which had induced him to do it had been because one of the principal personages whom your Highnesses had sent with the Princess to serve her had spoken to him, and asked him, in the name of your Highnesses, as a man who knows your intentions, that on no condition in the world should he separate them, but send her with her husband, and that if that were not done your Highnesses would be dissatisfied, and she, he knows, would be in despair. Being much pressed he had to confess that Alexander had told him this, with the approval and according to the advice of the Doctor. His intention, for no other can be found, is to procure her an occasion to use the said things, in consequence of her journey, and thus by what he ordered to attain his ends. Although I ought not to have the boldness to state in this or in any other case my humble opinion to your Highnesses, nevertheless, hoping that the good will with which I state it will be acceptable to you, I shall say that, if it is determined that that which is here is to be given on account of the 200,000 scudos, it would be good to order that it be delivered immediately, because I think it would serve two purposes, viz., firstly, that it would not be refused, and, secondly, that it would now be more highly valued than afterwards, and I do not doubt it would produce so good an effect that the King would give it back to her ; but if it were delayed, and not delivered to him until the last instalment, in such a case I believe he would delay to assign anything to her, because she has every thing she wants as well for her own service as for that of the Prince, to whom he also has given nothing at all wherewith to furnish his house, nor any table service, nor does he intend to give, but, on the contrary, he has ordered that they live together and take their meals together, so that he must use the things of the Princess. With respect to this subject I know no other motive that could be alleged. I think your Highness knows already that nothing has been assigned for her household, and much less have the salaries and pensions for her servants and officers been provided, but they all will manage to live as well as the revenues of the Prince permit. I do not think that your Highness has believed that this was to be the case, for if it were you would have to provide her annually with what she wants. If I am right, your Highnesses must immediately take steps that what is due to her be also settled on her, for if that is not done at the beginning it will be difficult afterwards. The señora Princess has several times ordered me to enter into negotiations about such similar subjects, but I have not obeyed her orders in this, because I have no power from your Highness. [The following is holograph of the ambassador don Pedro de Ayala.] I intend soon to write again to your Highness, and shall, therefore, not mention several things which I am told have been ordered, until I am quite sure of the truth. It seems to me that, as I have already written to your Highness the other day, you should without delay provide and order that all we who are here, men as well as women, act in unison, and that none be so bold as to entertain separate negotiations, which neither he nor any other has a right to do. Now every one reads, and asks, and speaks what he likes, and thus causes more disadvantages than advantages. When the señora Princess left, her servants were appointed for their several places, and every one received his orders where he was to serve. They have now decided that the maestre sala should not serve in that quality, and have given him the office of usher. The same with respect to Juan Cuero. That was done after their departure from here. I did not go to Wales, because I here await letters from your Highnesses, and also, in some other respects, it is necessary that I remain here, for I am not yet * (The conclusion of this letter is not extant.)