Herrera, the Spanish historian, records an anecdote in which the choice of a queen entirely arose from her _name_. When two French ambassadors negotiated a marriage between one of the Spanish princesses and Louis VIII., the names of the Royal females were _Urraca_ and _Blanche_. The former was the elder and the more beautiful, and intended by the Spanish court for the French monarch; but they resolutely preferred _Blanche_, observing that the _name_ of _Urraca_ would never do! and for the sake of a more mellifluous sound, they carried off, exulting in their own discerning ears, the happier named, but less beautiful princess. There are _names_ indeed which are painful to the feelings, from the associations of our passions.[22] I have seen the Christian _name_ of a gentleman, the victim of the caprice of his godfather, who is called _Blast us Godly_,--which, were he designed for a bishop, must irritate religious feelings. I am not surprised that one of the Spanish monarchs refused to employ a sound catholic for his secretary, because his name (_Martin Lutero_) had an affinity to the _name_ of the reformer. Mr. Rose has recently informed us that an architect called _Malacarne_, who, I believe, had nothing against him but his _name_, was lately deprived of his place as principal architect by the Austrian government,--let us hope not for his unlucky _name_; though that government, according to Mr. Rose, acts on capricious principles! The fondness which some have felt to perpetuate their _names_, when their race has fallen extinct, is well known; and a fortune has then been bestowed for a change of name. But the affection for names has gone even farther. A _similitude of names_, Camden observes, "dothe kindle sparkes of love and liking among meere strangers." I have observed the great pleasure of persons with uncommon names meeting with another of the same name; an instant relationship appears to take place; and I have known that fortunes have been bequeathed for _namesakes_. An ornamental manufacturer, who bears a name which he supposes to be very uncommon, having executed an order for a gentleman of the _same name_, refused to send his bill, never having met with the like, preferring to payment the honour of serving him for _namesake_.