The History of Prostitution: Its Extent, Causes, and Effects throughout the WorldSanger, William W.
History
The History of Prostitution: Its Extent, Causes, and Effects throughout the World
Sanger, William W.
Prostitution
These examples of corruption influenced alike the people and the clergy.
The middle class imitated their superiors, and indulged in an excess of
luxury equally demoralizing and ruinous. The Archbishop of St. James was
hunted from his see by the indignant populace in consequence of an outrage
attempted on a youthful bride as she was returning from church after the
performance of the nuptial ceremony.[235]
Under the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella a total change was effected.
"They both exhibited a practical wisdom in their own personal relations
which always commands respect, and which, however it may have savored of
worldly policy in Ferdinand, was in his consort founded on the purest and
most exalted principles. Under such a sovereign, the court, which had been
little better than a brothel in the preceding reign, became the nursery of
virtue and generous ambition. Isabella watched assiduously over the
nurture of the high-born damsels of the court, whom she received into the
royal palace, causing them to be educated under her own eye, and endowing
them with liberal portions on their marriage."[236]
Joanna, the second daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, was unfortunate in
her marriage to Philip, son of the Archduke Maximilian, and sovereign--in
right of his mother--of the Low Countries. The couple embarked for
Flanders in the year 1504, and soon after their arrival the inconstancy of
the husband and the ungovernable sensibility of the wife occasioned some
scandalous scenes. Philip was openly enamored of one of the ladies in her
suite, and his injured wife, in a paroxysm of jealousy, personally
assaulted her rival, and caused the beautiful locks which had excited the
admiration of her fickle husband to be shorn from her head. This outrage
so affected Philip that he vented his indignation against Joanna in the
coarsest and most unmanly terms, and finally refused to have any farther
intercourse with her.[237]
Public brothels were established in Spain, as in other countries of
Europe, one of great extent being in existence in Valencia in the
fifteenth century. It constituted a complete suburb in itself, similar to
the Ghetto, or Jews' suburb of most capital cities. Indeed, from its
description, it is doubtful if it was not a rogue's sanctuary, similar to
the well known Alsatia in London. It was surrounded by a wall with one
gate only, at which a warder was stationed. He was a public city officer,
and one of his duties was to warn all comers of the risk their property
ran in visiting such a place. If they wished to leave valuables in his
care they could do so, and receive them on their exit. There were some
hundreds of girls resident in this vast den of iniquity. To add to the
disgrace of the locality, the place of public execution was at its gate.
In 1486, the rents, profits and emoluments of the public brothels of
Seville were assigned to Alonzo Fajardo, the master of the royal table.
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