John, of Austria, 1547-1578; Spain -- History -- Philip II, 1556-1598
Luis Quijada left the poor heirs of all his considerable wealth that was
not entailed, and the usufruct of it to Doña Magdalena. He founded
granaries and "monts de piété" in his four towns of Villagarcia,
Villanueva de los Caballeros, Santofimia and Villamayor, founded
schools, endowed hospitals with a special income that the dying should
want for nothing, and added clauses referring to Doña Magdalena in this
tender way: "And if Doña Magdalena thinks it best to join our estates
and found some convent of friars or nuns, provided that they are not the
bare-footed nuns, as it is so cold at Campos that they could not live
there, in this case I give power to Doña Magdalena and my executors,
that joined, she may dispose of and order them, as our wishes have both
been to make a perpetual foundation with her property and mine, and that
we should be buried together and have in death the same good
companionship we had in life."
On the morning of the 23rd Luis Quijada was rather restless from fever,
and a little before noon Jorge de Lima arrived saying that Doña
Magdalena was only one hour behind. D. John went to meet her at the
entrance of the village, and led her himself to Quijada's bedside. In
his delirium Quijada did not know her, but at dawn this disappeared as
the fever lowered, and he had long, loving talks with her. He again
wandered in the afternoon of the 24th, and never again came to himself;
this strong life was ebbing away, little by little, and on the 25th of
February at dusk he quietly expired, as one who passes from the natural
to the eternal sleep. D. John held the hand which grasped the candle of
the dying, Doña Magdalena, on the other side, showed him the crucifix,
and Fr. Christóbal de Molina, kneeling at his feet, commended the
passing soul.
At the moment of death D. John embraced Doña Magdalena, pressing her to
his heart, as if he wished to show that he still remained to love and
care for her; the lady hid her face for a moment in that loyal breast,
and three or four dry, hoarse sobs escaped from her, signs rather of
manly sorrow than of feminine weakness; but she recovered herself at
once, and with great calmness and devotion closed the dead man's eyes,
according to the custom of the times, sealing them with drops of wax
from the candle of the dying; keeping the lids closed with her fingers
and D. John dropping the wax. There were present the Knight Commander D.
Luis de Requesens, the Marqués de la Mota, and the other captains and
gentlemen who filled the poor habitation, the rest grouping themselves
in the street, waiting sorrowfully for the fatal conclusion.
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