[24] The mere admission to the theatre was, and still is in Spanish theatres, paid for separately from the seat. And from the extract quoted it would appear that the bench seats at the time were sometimes booked beforehand, as they may be to-day. The _entrada_ in Spanish theatres gives the right to the run of the house, but nothing more. The noble army of deadheads appears to have been as numerous and unblushing three hundred years ago in Spain, as they are in England at the present time. [25] The side gallery where the women were seated. [26] The men who had only paid for the entrance and stood at the back of the patio (or pit) were so called, but they soon became a recognised paid claque. [27] The rooms in the top floors were called _desvanes_. The attic rooms were often occupied by priests. [28] Contemporary Italian MS. in British Museum, MSS. Add. 8703. "Ritratto della nascitá qualitá ed accioni di Don Juan d'Austria." [29] All are described _ad nauseam_ in the _Soto y Aguilar_ MS. [30] Most of the Spanish kings have been fanatical devotees of the chase in various forms. During the reign of Philip's father it used to be said that "Lerma and the woods were King." Philip IV. spent much time in field sports. In a letter from the Venetian ambassador in Madrid, enclosed in one from Dermond O'Sullivan Bear to an Irish correspondent (March 1628), the following passage occurs: "The King is so inclined to horse exercise and hunting, that Olivares manages to keep him at it all day, thus leaving the King no time to do anything but sign the decisions of the Councils, which suits Olivares perfectly." Record Office, S.P. Spain 34, MSS. {214} CHAPTER VI RENEWED WAR WITH FRANCE LATE IN 1628--RECONCILIATION WITH ENGLAND--THE PALATINATE AGAIN--COTTINGTON IN MADRID--HIS RECEPTION AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH OLIVARES AND PHILIP--FETES IN MADRID FOR BIRTH OF THE PRINCE OF WALES--DEATH OF SPINOLA--TREATY OF CASALE--A "LOCAL PEACE" WITH FRANCE--SPAIN AND THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR--POVERTY AND MISERY OF THE COUNTRY--UNPOPULARITY OF OLIVARES--HIS MONOPOLY OF POWER--HIS GREAT ENTERTAINMENT TO THE KING--HIS INTERVENTION IN PHILIP'S DOMESTIC AFFAIRS--"DON FRANCISCO FERNANDO OF AUSTRIA"--THE BUEN RETIRO--HOPTON IN MADRID--HIS DESCRIPTIVE LETTERS--THE INFANTES--PHILIP'S VISIT TO BARCELONA--DISCONTENT OF THE CORTES--THE INFANTE FERNANDO LEFT AS GOVERNOR--DEATH OF THE INFANTE CARLOS--DEATH OF THE INFANTA ISABEL IN FLANDERS--THE INFANTE FERNANDO ON HIS WAY THITHER WINS BATTLE OF NORDLINGEN--GREAT WAR NOW INEVITABLE WITH FRANCE [Sidenote: Richelieu and Olivares]