Chapter XI

D. John of Austria never saw Prince Carlos again, or heard from the lips of D. Philip the slightest allusion to his unhappy son. These sad events drew the brothers together, and it must be confessed that D. Philip was at this time a real father to D. John.

At the beginning of May, 1568, he announced to D. John that the hour had come for him to take command of the galleys of Cartagena, first to meet and escort the fleet coming from the Indies, and then to clear the coasts of the Mediterranean of corsairs.

These pirates went far inland with the greatest effrontery, and it was known that their real leader and protector, Selim II, was having galleys and engines of war constructed with the intention of taking them to the Ionian Sea.

The news of the expedition prepared for D. John filled the young nobles with enthusiasm, as formerly the unlucky Maltese one had done, and the flower of them hastened to enlist under his banner.

D. Philip was pleased to see his brother's influence, which might be so useful to his political ends, and, in order to stimulate and inspire warlike ardour in these illustrious volunteers, divided the galleys among parties of four, giving the command of each to a captain, chosen from among them, who afterwards were commonly called "cuatraldos."

As lieutenant to D. John, D. Philip named no less a person than D. Luis de Requesens, Knight Commander of Castille, who was ambassador at Rome, and, as secretaries, Juan de Quiroga, already acting as such, and Antonio de Prado, a man of great parts, who was afterwards a statesman under Philip III.

Among the brilliant band of volunteers who followed D. John the most distinguished were D. Martin de Padilla, who was afterwards Governor of Castille and Captain-General of the Ocean; D. Pedro de Cervellon, D. Juan de Zúñiga, afterwards Conde de Miranda; D. Francisco de Rojas, afterwards Marqués de Poza and President of the Treasury; the brothers D. Jerónimo and D. Antonio de Padilla, D. Luis de Córdoba, D. Juan de Gúzman, D. Alonso Portocarrero, D. Rodrigo de Benavides, D. Mendo Rodriguez de Ledesma; D. Hernando de Gamboa, D. José Vázguez de Acuña, D. Hernando de Prado, D. Pedro Zapata de Calatayud, and D. Hernando de Zanguera.

All these gentlemen accompanied D. John to take leave of the King, who was at Aranjuez, and were received with much attention by all the Court. On saying good-bye D. Philip handed to his brother, for his guidance, the following document, written by his own hand, notable for the great maxims for the rule and conduct of a prince which it contains, and for the fraternal solicitude which it shows on the part of Philip II towards his brother:

"Brother: Besides the instructions which you have been given
respecting the appointment of Captain-General of the Ocean, and
its powers and duties: for the great love I have for you, and
also that in your person, life and manners, you should possess
the estimation and good name persons of your rank should have,
with this end it has occurred to me to give you the following
instructions. First, because the foundation and beginning of all
great things and of all good counsels is God, I charge you much,
that as a good and real Christian, you take this as the
beginning and foundation of all your doings and enterprises, and
that you dedicate to God, as your chief aim, all your business
and affairs, from whose hand comes all the success of your
undertakings, negotiations and labours. And that you will take
great care to be very devout and God-fearing, and a good
Christian, not only in reality, but also in appearance and
demonstration, setting all a good example, that by this means
and on this foundation God may show you grace and your name and
fame may always be increasing.

"Be very particular to go to Confession, especially at Christmas
and Easter and on other solemn days, and to receive the Holy
Sacrament, if you are in a place where you are able to do so;
every day, being on land, hear Mass; and perform your devotions
with fervour at stated times, as a good and very Catholic
Christian.

"Truth and the keeping of one's word and promise are the basis
of credit and esteem on which are founded and built up friendly
intercourse and confidence. This is required, and is the more
necessary for great ones, and those who have important public
duties, because on their truth and integrity depend faith and
public safety. Be sure that in this you take great care and
pains, that it should be known and understood everywhere that
trust may be placed in what you say, as besides its affecting
public matters and your appointment, it matters much to your own
honour and esteem.

"Use justice with impartiality and rectitude, and when necessary
with the severity and example the case requires: as regards this
be firm and constant; and also when the quality of persons or
things permit it, be pitiful and mild, as these are very
appropriate virtues in people of your rank.

"Flattery and words leading to it are ignoble in those who use
them, and a shame and offence to those to whom they are
addressed. To those who make these professions, and treat you
thus, show by your face and manner that they may understand how
little acceptable to you such conversation is. Do the same to
those who in your presence speak ill of the honours and persons
of the absent, that such conversation should not take place,
because, besides being prejudicial and an injury to the third
person, it tends to turn them from your authority and
estimation. You must live and act with great prudence as regards
all that concerns the uprightness of your private life, because
forgetfulness of this, besides being an offence to God, will
bring about inconveniences, and cause a great stumbling-block to
the work and fulfilment of what you have to do, and will entail
other risks which are dangerous and of evil consequence and
example. Excuse yourself, when possible, from games, especially
cards and dice, on account of the example you should set others,
and because, in gambling, it is not possible to act with the
moderation and restraint which is required in persons of your
rank. And it often happens that, through gambling, men in high
positions lose their temper and dishonour themselves. I charge
you, that if at any time you play to amuse yourself, you should
preserve the decorum due to your person and authority.

"Swearing, without the greatest necessity which obliges one to
do so, is very wrong for every man and woman, and takes away
good opinion, but, above all, in men of position, in whom it is
very indecent and goes against their credit, dignity, and
authority, so I charge you to be very careful about swearing,
and never to swear by God or other rare oaths, which neither are
nor should be used by people of your rank.

"As I wish that your table, food and way of living should be
suitable, use the decency, ostentation and cleanliness that is
proper; but also it is well that there should be much moderation
and temperance, because of the example that you have set to all,
and because of the profession of arms which you have to follow,
and because it is good, and it is well for you to show
moderation and temperance, because your table has to settle the
rule and order for the rest.

"Be careful not to say anything rude or injurious to anyone,
that your tongue may be used to honour and do favours, and to
dishonour no one. You should punish those who err or commit
excesses, being just to all. This punishment should not come
from your mouth with haughty words, or from your hand. And also
be very careful that in your usual ways and talk you use modesty
and temperance without ill-temper or arrogance, which are things
that detract much from a person's authority. And at the same
time have a care that your conversation and that which takes
place in your presence is decent and straightforward, as is
required by your rank and person.

"Also be very courteous in your intercourse with every sort of
person, being very affable, quiet and gracious, maintaining the
decency and decorum of your person and office, because
affability gains people's affection, but also preserves the
reputation and respect that are due to you. In winter, and at
other times, when you are not at sea, but on land, do not
neglect the business of your appointment, to which you should
pay great attention; occupy yourself in good exercises,
especially those of arms; in which also those gentlemen who
reside with you should occupy themselves, avoiding by these
exercises, expenses, ostentation and excesses, and that all
should be prepared for the real exercise of arms. The use of
these will make the said gentlemen dexterous and expert in any
occasion that may offer. And also by this means the said
expenses and extravagance in vesture, clothes and everyday life
are avoided, giving an example by what you yourself and your
servants wear.

"This is what it has occurred to me to remind you about,
confident that you will act in an even better manner than what I
have told you.

"It is for you only, and for this, goes, written by my hand.

"At Aranjuez, the 23rd of May, 1568. I, the King."