Ingenious and diverting letters of a lady's travels into Spain; describing the devotions, nunneries, humour, customs, laws, militia, trade, diet, and recreations of that people / [Marie Catherine Jumelle de Berneville Aulnoy].

  • Madame d'Aulnoy
Date:
1717
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Ingenious and diverting letters of a lady's travels into Spain; describing the devotions, nunneries, humour, customs, laws, militia, trade, diet, and recreations of that people / [Marie Catherine Jumelle de Berneville Aulnoy]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    117/314 page 107
    it il] that his Mafter would not eat his Olio) anfwered, he had unfortunately’ loft the Key in the Snow, and knew not how to open it. Dow. Frederick, vex'd at this, would, againft my will, go and acquaint the drchbifhop with it, who ordered his Ma- jor-Domo to look after it. He threaten’d the Cook, and the Scene pafs’d fo near my Chamber, that [heard it all ; but that . which I liked beft was the Cook’s Anfwer, who faid, No pue- do padecer la rina, fiendo Chriftiano viejo, bidalea come el Keg y pors mas; which is to fay, I cannot bear the being reprimanded, who am of the Race of Old Chriftians, who are Noble as the King, and [ome- thing more. It is commonly at this rate the Spaniards value themfelves : This fame Blade was not only vain-glorious, but obftinately conceited : And whatever could be done or faid to him, he would not deliver the Key of the Pot, fo that the Olio remain- ed in it untouched for us. We went to bed late, fo that not rifing very early, all that I could do before I fet out, was to finifh this Letter; and to-morrow I fhall begin another, where- in you fhall be informed of the reft of my Travels. From Buitrago, this 13th of March, 1679. LETTER VIL W E can eafily perceive that we are not far from Madrid L the Weather is fair-notwithftanding the Seafon, and we have no more need of Fire: But it feems very ftrange to us, that in the Inns which are the neareft to this great Town, you are worfe ufed than in thofe which are an hundred Leagues diftant; you would think you came rather into Defarts, than near a Town where refides, fo great a Monarch: And I cam affure you (dear Coufin) that in our whole Courfe, I have nor met with an Houfe or Caftle that has pleafed me. I am much amazed at it; for [ thought that in this Country, as in ours, À fhould find fine Walks, and curious Seats; whereas you can fearcely fee any Trees, fave {ome few which grow in fpight of the Soil : And at this time, when I am but ten Leagues from Madrid, my Chamber ftands even with the Stable. It is an ‘Hole that needs a Light at Noon, but what kind of Light think - | you ©
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3