We settled now our family and tables in order: our own consisted of
two courses, of eight dishes each, and the steward's of four. We had
our money returned from England by Mr. Goddard, an English merchant
living in Madrid, a very honest man and an able merchant. Tuesday the
24th, we dined at the Casa del Campo, a house of his Majesty's, in the
garden of which stands a very brave statue of Philip the Second, on
horseback. October 4th, we dined at the Prado, another house of his
Majesty's, which is very fine, and hath a fine park well stored with
deer belonging to it.
October ----, we went privately to see Aranjuez, which was most part
of it built by Philip the Second, husband to Queen Mary of England.
There are the highest trees, and grow up the evenest, that ever I saw;
many of them are bored through with pipes for water to ascend and to
fall from the top down one against another; and likewise there are
many fountains in the side of this walk, and the longest walks of elms
I ever saw in my life. The park is well stored with English oaks and
elms, and deer; and the Tagus makes it an island. The gardens are
vastly large, with the most fountains, and the best, that ever I saw
in my life.
As soon as the Duke heard we were gone thither, he immediately sent
orders after us for our entertainment by a post; but we were gone
before. Going home by Esquivias, we saw those famous reputed cellars,
which are forty-four steps down, where that admirable wine is kept in
great tinajas, which are pots holding about five hundred gallons each;
and to let you know how strangely they clear their wine, it is by
putting some of the earth of the place in it, which way of refining
their wine is done no where but here.
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