Their women seldom drink wine, their
maids never; they all love the feasts of bulls, and strive to appear
gloriously fine when they see them.
Upon February the 11th, the Emperor's Ambassador's lady visited me.
Upon Thursday the 19th of February, went from us to England, Mr.
Charles Bertie, Mr. Francis Newport, Sir Andrew King, Sir Edmund
Turner, Mr. Francis Godolphin, Mr. Wycherley, Mr. Hatton, and Mr.
Smith, with all their servants. This day likewise we received letters
of the arrival of Mr. Price from Elvas, a gentleman of my husband's,
who had been sent by him on the 28th of January last past to the King
of Portugal, upon business of state.
Upon the 2nd of March, we went to see a country house of the Marquesa
de Liche, who presented me with a dog and bitch, perfect greyhounds,
and I could put each of them in my pocket.
On Thursday the 5th, I returned the visit of the Emperor's
Ambassador's lady. March the 8th, we went to see a house of Don Juan
de Congro, at Chamartin.
On Wednesday the 19th, we went to take the air, and dined at
Vicalvaro. Mr. Price came from Lisbon this day to Madrid.
Upon the 20th of March 1665, stilo novo, upon desire of the Duchess de
Medina de las Torres, who was then sick, and had long kept her bed, I
visited her Excellency, taking all my children with me. After I had
been there a little while, passing those compliments, her Excellency
told me that her Catholic Majesty had commanded her to assure me that
her Majesty had a very high esteem for me, not only as I was the wife
of a great King's Ambassador, for whom her Majesty had much respect,
but for my person, and the delight her Majesty took in my
conversation, assuring me from her Majesty that, upon all occasions, I
should find her most cheerfully willing to do me all possible kindness
in her Court; and for a token thereof, her Majesty had herewith sent
me a jewel of diamonds, that cost the Queen eight thousand five
hundred and fifty ducats, plate, [Footnote: See note, p.
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