INTRIGUES TO SECURE ENGLISH NEUTRALITY--HOPTON AND OLIVARES--SOCIAL LAXITY IN MADRID--CHARLES I. APPROACHES SPAIN--THE BUEN RETIRO AND THE ARTS--WAR IN CATALONIA--DISTRESS IN THE CAPITAL AND FRIVOLITY IN THE COURT--PREVAILING LAWLESSNESS--THE RECEPTION OF THE PRINCESS OF CARIGNANO--SIR WALTER ASTON IN MADRID--THE ENGLISH INTRIGUE ABANDONED CHAPTER VIII FESTIVITIES IN MADRID--EXTRAVAGANCE AND PENURY--NEW WAYS OF RAISING MONEY--HOPTON AND WINDEBANK--BATTLE OF THE DOWNS--VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS OF MADRID--REVOLT OF PORTUGAL--FRENCH {xii} INVASION OF SPAIN--REVOLT OF CATALONIA--PHILIP'S AMOUR WITH THE NUN OF ST. PLACIDO--THE WANE OF OLIVARES--PHILIP'S VOYAGE TO ARAGON--INTRIGUES AGAINST OLIVARES--FALL OF OLIVARES CHAPTER IX DEATH OF RICHELIEU AND OF THE CARDINAL INFANTE--PHILIP'S GOOD RESOLUTIONS--HIS CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE NUN OF AGREDA--PHILIP WITH HIS ARMIES--DEATH OF QUEEN ISABEL OF BOURBON--THE WAR CONTINUES IN CATALONIA--DEATH OF BALTASAR CARLOS--PHILIP'S GRIEF--HE LOSES HEART--INFLUENCE OF THE NUN--HIS SECOND MARRIAGE WITH HIS NIECE MARIANA--HIS LIFE WITH HER--DON LUIS DE HARO--NEGOTIATIONS WITH ENGLAND--CROMWELL'S ENVOY, ANTHONY ASCHAM--HIS MURDER IN MADRID--FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN PHILIP AND THE ENGLISH COMMONWEALTH--CROMWELL SEIZES JAMAICA--WAR WITH ENGLAND CHAPTER X MORAL AND SOCIAL DECADENCE IN MADRID--PHILIP'S HABITS--POVERTY IN THE PALACE--VELAZQUEZ--THE MENINAS--BIRTH OF AN HEIR--THE CHRISTENING--THE PEACE OF THE PYRENEES--PHILIP'S JOURNEY TO THE FRONTIER--MARRIAGE OF MARIA TERESA--CAMPAIGNS IN PORTUGAL--DON JUAN--DEATH OF HARO--PHILIP BEWITCHED--DEATH OF PHILIP PROSPER--BIRTH OF CHARLES--FANSHAWE'S EMBASSY--LADY FANSHAWE AND SPAIN--ROUT OF CARACENA IN PORTUGAL--PHILIP'S ILLNESS--THE INQUISITION AND WITCHCRAFT--DEATH OF PHILIP INDEX {xiii} LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PHILIP IV. AT THE AGE OF 55 . . . _Frontispiece_ _From a portrait by_ VELAZUEZ _in the National Gallery, London._ ISABEL DE BOURBON, FIRST WIFE OF PHILIP IV _From a portrait by_ VELAZQUEZ _in the possession of Edward Huth, Esq._ PHILIP IV. AS A YOUNG MAN _From a contemporary portrait in the possession of His Grace the Duke of Wellington, at Strathfieldsaye._ CASPAR DE GUZMAN, COUNT-DUKE OF OLIVARES _From a portrait by_ VELAZQUEZ _in the possession of Edward Huth, Esq._ PRINCE BALTASAR CARLOS ON HORSEBACK _From a picture by_ VELAZQUEZ _at the Prado Museum._ THE NUN SOR MARIA DE AGREDA _From an etching reproducing a contemporary portrait in the Franciscan Convent of St. Domingo de la Calzada._ {xiv} MARIANA DE AUSTRIA, SECOND WIFE OF PHILIP IV. _From a portrait by_ VELAZQUEZ _at the Prado Museum._ THE MAIDS OF HONOUR _Portrait of the Infanta Margaret; from a picture by_ VELAZQUEZ _at the Prado Museum._ {1} THE COURT OF PHILIP IV. CHAPTER I