Critical and Historical Essays — Volume 2Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron
History
Critical and Historical Essays — Volume 2
Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron
English literature -- History and criticism; Great Britain -- History
Philip was earnestly pressed by his advisers to remove the seat of
government to Burgos. The advance guard of the allied army was already
seen on the heights above Madrid. It was known that the main body was at
hand. The unfortunate Prince fled with his Queen and his household.
The royal wanderers, after travelling eight days on bad roads, under a
burning sun, and sleeping eight nights in miserable hovels, one of which
fell down and nearly crushed them both to death, reached the metropolis
of Old Castile. In the meantime the invaders had entered Madrid in
triumph, and had proclaimed the Archduke in the streets of the imperial
city. Arragon, ever jealous of the Castilian ascendency, followed the
example of Catalonia. Saragossa revolted without seeing an enemy. The
governor whom Philip had set over Carthagena betrayed his trust, and
surrendered to the Allies the best arsenal and the last ships which
Spain possessed.
Toledo had been for some time the retreat of two ambitious, turbulent
and vindicative intriguers, the Queen Dowager and Cardinal Porto
Carrero. They had long been deadly enemies. They had led the adverse
factions of Austria and France. Each had in turn domineered over the
weak and disordered mind of the late King. At length the impostures
of the priest had triumphed over the blandishments of the woman; Porto
Carrero had remained victorious; and the Queen had fled in shame and
mortification, from the Court where she had once been supreme. In her
retirement she was soon joined by him whose arts had destroyed her
influence. The Cardinal, having held power just long enough to convince
all parties of his incompetency, had been dismissed to his See, cursing
his own folly and the ingratitude of the House which he had served too
well. Common interests and common enmities reconciled the fallen rivals.
The Austrian troops were admitted into Toledo without opposition. The
Queen Dowager flung off that mournful garb which the widow of a King
of Spain wears through her whole life, and blazed forth in jewels.
The Cardinal blessed the standards of the invaders in his magnificent
cathedral, and lighted up his palace in honour of the great deliverance.
It seemed that the struggle had terminated in favour of the Archduke,
and that nothing remained for Philip but a prompt flight into the
dominions of his grandfather.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account