John, of Austria, 1547-1578; Spain -- History -- Philip II, 1556-1598
After an absence of five years Philip II at last returned to Spain and
disembarked at Laredo on the 8th of September, 1559. Six days later he
made his entry into Valladolid, and the following day his sister
Princess Juana made over to him the government of the kingdom, and
retired to the convent of Abrojo, about a league away. She and Philip
were not long separated, as on the 21st, the first anniversary of the
Emperor's death, he caused solemn services for the eternal repose of the
Emperor's soul to be celebrated in the same convent.
Meanwhile Luis Quijada awaited at Villagarcia with real anxiety the
King's promised decision about Jeromín, which would so much affect the
whole family. But the King settled nothing, and the former steward,
accustomed to the promptness of the Emperor, who with the inspiration of
genius saw, ordered, thought and resolved all in a second, that which
more common intelligence would require months to decide, began to
despair and could not reconcile himself to D. Philip's slow parsimony.
Philip, however, had not forgotten his brother, as is proved by the
famous state council of which Antonio Pérez speaks in one of his letters
to Gil de Mesa: "That they were so divided, having taken sides on the
subject, these great councillors, each to his own end, but with
arguments about the service of the King, whether the Catholic King
Philip ought to follow his father's wish about the position of his
brother." This last an invention, no doubt, of the crafty secretary
Pérez, as none of the councillors, much less Philip II, could quibble in
any way about what the Emperor had not _counselled_ but _ordered_ in his
will with regard to his bastard son.
At last Luis Quijada received a message from the King ordering him to go
to the mountain of Torozos on the 28th of September, making hunting the
excuse, and taking Jeromín with him, dressed as usual like a peasant;
that they were to go towards the monastery of the Espina, and that about
midday he would meet them between the monastery and the forester's
tower. He also told Quijada to say nothing to the child to enlighten
him, as he wished to do this himself.
What generally happens befell Luis Quijada: the realisation of that
which we have most desired fills us with sadness and disappointment.
Certainly for him had come the hour of reward, for the Emperor, who was
never very generous, had not granted him any favour, leaving only the
recommendation to his son to pay, in his name, this very real debt. But
at the same time had come the hour for separating from Jeromín, and
tearing him from Doña Magdalena who adored him, while as for himself, he
had become accustomed to seeing the boy the object of his affection and
care, and the living recollection of the Emperor, reincarnate in this
attractive little figure, capable for this reason alone of winning all
hearts. At this thought the eyes of the fierce victor of Hesdin filled
with tears.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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