[66] The Spaniards were accustomed to call their South American possessions Indias Occidentales.

[67] This narrative was published in Madrid in the year 1763, by Father Henrique Florez, under the title of Viaje de Ambrosio Morales, por orden del Rey Don Felipe II., a los reinos de León y Galicia, y principado de Asturias, para reconocer las reliquias de santos &c.—(Journey made by Ambrosio Morales, by command of King Phillip II., to the Kingdoms of León and Galicia, and the Principality of Asturias, to discover the reliques of saints).

[68] “Spanish Medicine comprised in the common proverbs of our language.”

[69] Meaning persons who speak and understand the Castilian language, which was called the Romance.

[70] El primer comentario del muy ilustre señor, Don Luis de Ávila y Zuñiga, en la guerra de Alemania en el año de MDXLVI, y MDXLVII. Venice 1550, Antwerp 1552, Venice 1553.

[71] This copy of the Buscapié, Ruidiaz says he read many years prior to the date of his letter to Vicente de los Ríos. He states that it belonged to the late Conde de Saceda.

[72] An English translation of this work was published in London, in 1816, under the following title, “The Inquisition Unmasked”; by Don Antonio Puigblanch. Translated from the author’s enlarged edition, by William Walton, Esq.

[73] “The history of the very valiant knight, Palmerin of England, son of King Edward, and of his great prowess; and the history of Floriano of the Desert, his brother; with some account of Prince Florendos, son of Primaleon.”

[74] “Second Book of the History of Palmerin of England, in which is continued and brought to an end the story of his love for the Infanta Polinarda, shewing how he achieved many adventures and gained immortality by his great deeds.” Also the History of Floriano of the Desert, with some account of Prince Florendos.

[75] “A new system of philosophy, concerning the nature of the human frame, not known or touched upon by the great philosophers of antiquity, whereby human life may be prolonged and health improved.” Don Adolfo de Castro states that he does not know the date of the first edition of this work, but that the second edition was printed in Madrid, in the year 1588.

[76] Dialogue between Charon and the shade of Peter Lewis Farnesio, son of Pope Paul III.

[77] Moral Letters by M. Narveza, translated from the French language into Spanish, by Madama Francisca de Passier, dedicated to Don Pedro Enríquez de Acevedo, Count de Fuentes. Printed in 1605.

[78] The book of the Paso Honroso which was defended by the excellent Knight Suero de Quiñones; compiled from an old manuscript book by Juan de Pineda, a monk of the order of San Francisco.

[79] In the early ages of Christianity the Spaniards claimed St. James as their Apostle, and alleged that his remains were interred in Galicia, contrary to the generally received tradition which assigns Jerusalem as his burial-place. Under the appellation of Santiago, St. James is the tutelary saint of the Spaniards.

[80] Ferdinand and Isabella are the Catholic King and Queen here referred to.

[81] Polemic Dialogues between War and Learning.

[82] Eight Plays and Eight Interludes never performed.

[83] The term rufián is still in use in the Spanish language, though it now bears a signification widely different from that attached to it by the dramatic writers of the 16th and 17th centuries. Quevedo’s “Gran Tacaña,” the “Rufián dichoso,” of Cervantes, and the “Rufián Castrucho,” of Lope de Vega, sufficiently show to what class of characters the term was applied, viz., a compound of the thief and the bravo. In short, the meaning attached to the term in the old Spanish dramas seems to correspond precisely with the English word ruffian.

[84] That which bears the title of Auto Chamada da Lusitania. (The Auto called Lusitania).

[85]

[86] History of Portuguese Literature, by Frederick Von Bouterwek.

[87] The Resolute Knight, translated from the French language into the Castilian, by Don Hernando de Acuña; and dedicated to the Emperor Charles V., King of Spain, &c. (Published at Antwerp in the year, 1553.)

[88] “Commentaries on the Spanish war,” and “History of King Philip V.,” surnamed el animoso.

[89] “Extraordinary Life of King Don Pedro of Castile, commonly called the Cruel.”

[90] “The Knowledge of Nations; by Antonio Pérez, formerly Secretary of State to King Philip II.: A political discourse founded on reasons of state and government, and addressed to the King our Lord, Don Philip III., concerning the condition of his realms and dependencies, and those of his friends and his enemies, together with some hints on the mode of procedure and government to be adopted towards both.”

[91] “Maxims of Antonio Pérez, Secretary to King Don Philip II., addressed to King Henry IV. of France.”

[92] “Brief Notice and Eulogium of the Life of King Philip II.”

[93] It may not be unnecessary to explain, for the information of the English reader, that the Spanish word capilla, chapel, signifies also a monk’s cowl or hood. This double meaning is implied in the observation attributed to Constantino. The words, Me robaban la voz estas capillas might be interpreted two ways, viz: These chapels drown my voice, or these monks cowls prevent me from speaking out.

T. R.

[94] A wolf’s head, invented by the monks in order to obtain food for their own rapacity.

[95] The impeachment of Constantino by the Inquisition spread the utmost dismay throughout Spain. When the event reached the ears of the Emperor Charles V., in his retirement in the monastery at Yuste, he observed:—“If Constantino be a Heretic, he is indeed a great Heretic.” (Si Constantino es hereje, es grande hereje.)

[96] The original passage may be transcribed here, as it affords a good specimen of the Spanish octava rima.

The Toledana Discreta is written throughout in the octava rima, a form of Spanish verse which originated with Boscan, who first introduced the Italian style into Castilian poetry.