Thursday 27th November, I went to wait upon the Emperor's Ambassador's
lady, at her house; upon the 28th, I went to wait upon the Duchess de
Medina de las Torres; and on the 29th, the Emperor's Ambassador's lady
came to visit me. The same day the Duchess de Medina de las Torres
sent an excuse by Don Alonso, one of the Duke's secretaries, that she
could not visit that day, by reason her youngest daughter was fallen
sick of a fever. Sunday the 30th of November, I sent to thank the
Emperor's Ambassador's lady for the visit the day before, and to see
how she did.
Upon the 1st of December, we let our dispense for seventy-two thousand
reals vellon, a year, which, at forty-eight reals a pistole, is one
hundred and twenty-five pistoles a month: he (the contractor) paid me
this sum this day, as he is obliged to do the first day of every
month; and likewise to give me for the arrears of the dispense, which
was near eleven weeks, fourteen thousand reals.
Upon the 15th of December, was seen here at Madrid a very great
blazing star, which to our view appeared with a train of twelve or
fourteen yards long: it rose at first in the south-south-east, about
twelve o'clock at night, but altered its course during the continuance
thereof. Within a fortnight after its expiration, it appeared at six
o'clock at night with the rays reversed; it continued in our view till
the 23rd day of January.
Pages:
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193