[89] “Extraordinary Life of King Don Pedro of Castile, commonly called the Cruel.”
[90] “The Knowledge of Nations; by Antonio Pérez, formerly Secretary of State to King Philip II.: A political discourse founded on reasons of state and government, and addressed to the King our Lord, Don Philip III., concerning the condition of his realms and dependencies, and those of his friends and his enemies, together with some hints on the mode of procedure and government to be adopted towards both.”
[91] “Maxims of Antonio Pérez, Secretary to King Don Philip II., addressed to King Henry IV. of France.”
[92] “Brief Notice and Eulogium of the Life of King Philip II.”
[93] It may not be unnecessary to explain, for the information of the English reader, that the Spanish word capilla, chapel, signifies also a monk’s cowl or hood. This double meaning is implied in the observation attributed to Constantino. The words, Me robaban la voz estas capillas might be interpreted two ways, viz: These chapels drown my voice, or these monks cowls prevent me from speaking out.
T. R.
[94] A wolf’s head, invented by the monks in order to obtain food for their own rapacity.
[95] The impeachment of Constantino by the Inquisition spread the utmost dismay throughout Spain. When the event reached the ears of the Emperor Charles V., in his retirement in the monastery at Yuste, he observed:—“If Constantino be a Heretic, he is indeed a great Heretic.” (Si Constantino es hereje, es grande hereje.)
[96] The original passage may be transcribed here, as it affords a good specimen of the Spanish octava rima.
“Sobre gruesas columnas levantadas
De cristal más que el vidrio transparente,
Basas y capiteles de apurada
Plata, que siempre está resplandeciente
Sobre todos los arcos fabricada
Estaba una alta puerta y eminente,
Por donde ningún hombre entrar podía
Sino quien los secretos entendia.”