[336] ff. Cf. Historical Introduction.
[434]. cruz de Santiago: a red cross to represent a sword with fleurs-de-lis at hilt and guard, on a field of white. The order of St. James was founded in the twelfth century as a combatant order to fight the Moors. Later membership in the order was purely honorary. It carried with it an encomienda or estate from which income was derived.
ACTO II, STAGE DIRECTION. el palacio del Buen Retiro: built by Olivares to flatter the whims of Philip IV. It stood beyond what were then the eastern limits of Madrid. Work on it was begun in 1621, and in 1632 Olivares presented the keys of the new palace to his sovereign amidst great rejoicing. During the French occupation of Madrid after 1808 it was used as a fortress by the troops of Napoleon. The palace and buildings were destroyed later by the French. What were the palace grounds now form the nucleus of the Parque del Retiro.
[627-634.] An allusion to Philip's suspicion of Doña Isabel's guilt in the affair with Villamediana. Cf. Historical Introduction.
[687]. ese escrito: cf. Historical Introduction.
[707]. Y con su propia sangre: cf. Historical Introduction.
[765]. van ya muchos años: Villamediana was murdered in 1622.
[782]. el príncipe heredero: Don Balthasar Carlos received a separate establishment in 1643. A boy of rare promise, his early death in 1646 was a serious blow to the hopes of Philip and of the Spanish people.
[793-800]. It was customary for members of the nobility to have lodgings in the palace, especially those who enjoyed honorary positions as personal servants to the sovereign. In this passage no particular significance attaches to the names mentioned other than that their hostility to Olivares was the cause of their removal. For this episode cf. Historical Introduction.
[926]. letrilla: a letrilla is usually divided into strophes at the end of each of which the central thought of the whole composition is repeated as a refrain. This form was effectively used by Quevedo as a vehicle for satire.