Upon the 1st of January, I received of our Dispensero, as was my due,
six thousand reals, for the month's dispense, and six thousand more in
part of arrears. Upon the 4th of January I waited on the Queen,
Prince, and Empress, to give them the buenas pascuas [Footnote:
Compliments of the season.] as the custom of this Court is.
On the 5th, here came, among other diversions of sports we had this
Christmas, Juan Arana, the famous comedian, who here acted about two
hours to the admiration of all that beheld him, considering that he
was near upon eighty years of age. About this time the Duke of Alva
sent my husband a fat buck; I never eat any better in England. We do
take it for granted in England that there is nothing good to eat in
Spain, but I assure you the want is money alone.
The 11th of December, the President of Castile gave a warrant to an
officer to execute upon Don Francisco de Ayala, to carry him prisoner
for some offences by him committed. This gentleman lived in a house
within the protection of my husband's barriers, very near to his own
dwelling-house; for which reason, no person can give or execute a
warrant for what crime soever, without the leave of the Ambassador;
but notwithstanding, the officer who executed this warrant, being
backed by the President of Castile, did seize the person of Don
Francisco de Ayala in his own house, and carried him to prison.
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