Palace Archive. Centre Borja, Sant Cugat del Vallès.

Letter from Estefania de Requesens i Roís de Liori (1526 ? – Barcelona 1546), to her mother Hipòlita Roís de Liori, countess of Palamós, where she tells of various personal, family and economic matters typically pertinent to the relationship between mother and daughter.

Estefania de Requesens i Roís de Liori, wrote to her mother, Hipòlita Roís de Liori i de Montcada, countess of Palamòs, in the period between 1533 and 1540, a great amount of letters, of which 124 have been conserved.

Hipòlita and Estefania were two women of the nobility, between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the first, a widow from a very young age, had to look after the administration of the extensive family properties in absolute freedom. Estefania, who had a shorter life, and only survived her mother by a few years, who was the only heir to her father, Lluís de Requesens i Joan de Soler, and to her mother, lived differently. She married Juan de Zúñiga i Avellaneda, son of the count of Miranda, in the year 1526, when she was between 18 and 25 years old. Her first son, Lluís de Requesens i Zúñiga, kept up the lineage of his maternal grandfather, in inheriting the surname through his mother; he played, as did his father, an active role in the Castilian court. Estefania moved to that court in the year 1535 and from there wrote most of the letters that she sent to her mother.

Estefania’s letters to her mother are an extraordinary source; accounts written from what we would call setting out from the self that allow us, through reading them, to learn of the developments of her life, and of that of the people that surrounded her, in a way that is so direct and close that they draw you in and make you feel that you have entered a private space.

Whilst it is true that the letters provide information about political events, matters of the court, and other aspects of which history concerns itself widely with what is “public”, the interest of the epistolary lies in the fact that it is “private”, that is to say that it gives us elements with which to construct history from other perspectives, amongst them, that of personal relationships, like the practice of relationship between women.

From the letters that Estefania wrote to her mother, I have chosen one, although I refer to others in the course of my essay.

Most dear lady,

On the XII of this month I received a letter from your ladyship that I believe was from the XXX of the last, even though the date was XXII. And on the next day don Guillem and dona Constança passed through here, due to which I wrote to your ladyship briefly, both in order to to attend to them and because that same day, don Juan, my lord, arrived, from Barcelona, where he has been for eleven days, which I also hold to account for the other absences. What I missed out in that one I will make up for in this by responding at length to that of your ladyship.

In relation to my pregnancy, it is improving, I am already eating much better than I was and do not have an upset stomach, or any other problem, praise be to God. And that is as your ladyship says, that those that she has wanted to take have been better brought up, that I count on getting revenge with whippings and that your ladyship will allow them as she does with those of Lluïsico.

I do not think that it is two, but even if it is, do not lose heart, your ladyship, I feel myself strong and hope of God that, through the blessings and prayers of your ladyship, I will give birth as you desire. I keep from excesses and eat good meats and I will use raisins, that I know well are very good.

The wife of the rational teacher was right in what she said about the arrival of the marquess, as I wrote of at more length in another letter to your ladyship. And no doubt you can believe that I was happy in the extreme to see her and kiss her hands here, but howver, she took us by surprise, and so, in order to comply with what we ought, we had a little work. But, in the end everything went reasonably well. She was very grieved not to find your ladyship here. And she even thought that she would not find us after having been so solicitious as to come this way only to see us. They come so well accompanied and in such a way that they seem a court. And she comes with such delicious dresses that I have not seen on the Empress anything similar. She walked through Barcelona with all her gala and has visited churches, where everyone got on very well with her. She was visited by the ladies with whom she met there. From here, she wrote to your ladyship; I sent it with the chaplain of don Francisco de Rebolledo.

Without swearing to it I will believe that your ladyship spends time thinking about my person and discourse, and thus I have been right in what we have done until now. And what we think to do until the welcome arrival of your ladyship is to be here until Easter week and read the Vita Christi instead of sermons; and then go to Montserrat, where I have the hope of kissing the hands of your ladyship and receiving your presence after my arrival here, that being in Monzón it seemed to me that I would find you where I left you. May the Lord direct the business in such a way that soon and with great health and joy your ladyship might return to her house.

The consolation was considerable on finding Lluïset, when we arrived, so handsome and healthy, and thus is he now, thank God, and so well brought up, as I have written to your ladyship, that he does not need whipping or a cross face, but rather to be given blessings and praise in everything that he does, everything is well done and he learns, which is a marvel. And, even so, he has made his father very angry, although I would want to whip him, I think he would not bear it, especially after your ladyhsip ordered it in your letter, all the more because truly he has not needed it, as I say, since I have never seen such a change, both in complexion and condition; he is grown but not much, but he is fatter than he used to be.

His teacher perseveres marvelously, and these days I was afraid of losing him because the abbess of Valldonzella wanted to offer him the chaplaincy of that house, which is a life position and a very good one, and he, the good man, as your ladyship had left him here with this charge, did not want to accept. I, as I saw the letter that they sent him, I told him that if it was something that was to his satisfaction, that he should not forgo it, that although it would grieve me greatly to lose him, I would be happy for his situation. And with this he went to talk to the abbess to clarify it and, according to what he has told me, he has determined not to accept it. Write to him your ladyship thanking him for it, it is right that we all should, since he does it so well.

I am happy that your ladyship has talked alone with sor Requesens and is hopeful of talking to her again, and also that she is so prepared to obey your ladyship in all the things that, doing it thus, she cannot err and it is no doubt that with this she obliges her to have her as a daughter of her own and in this account we will all do the same. The nuns have done it all badly, but as your ladyship is on top of it, I am sure that all will be resolved as you say, please be to God that it is so and soon.

Concerning that of sor Custòdia, they have not been able to give her the veil without her making a summary declaration that she is not married, and because of this it is necesary that the other part swears before a judge that she has never had this intention, as she swore many times to the Abbot of Montserrat and other people. We will try in Monzón that Mr Martí Sunyer take the oath and, after having promised that she would do it, she has said that she did not want to swear more than she had sworn. And from that Mr Camós took some hope of the ones he wants to have, although he hides it, and has taken the papers that without that oath can be declared. They will not be able to be finished, we have to work on it but the mother schemes so much that I think also she will upset it as she has until now, especially as her husband fails to shut her up at all.

I have not seen the nun because I haven’t been in Barcelona except for the three Christmas feast days and with the guests I had not time for myself. From here I have written exhorting her continuously; I do not know what use it will be. She has sessions every day. Eight or ten days ago I sent her the pears and pomegranates that she asked for.

As His Majesty left Monzón so unhappy, the consultation of Catalonia was not made. Now, since the XXIIII has done as he should, I think that it will be made, and thus the business of the archdeacon Margarit, and that of don Jeroni, may he be commended, and his Majesty and the high command, very informed of the goodness of people. And now, with the post that went with the conclusion of the Courts, don Juan, my lord, has written, reminding him and begging him again, that, thanks to God, he continues to have the happiness of being appreciated by all, that all of those from Barcelona were very happy to see how well he negotiated with the XXIIII, and I think that His Majesty will be so too. The senior advisor went to visit him, after they had closed, to ask for advice about some things that happened to them.

Despite all these tasks, he is very well from his accidents, may God keep him, and gives gifts to the pregnant one as he is accustomed to doing.

The lady aunt is in Barcelona and is very well.

The letter for dona Juana de Beamont I haven’t seen, as since the sheet arrived in Barcelona before here, they gave it to her there and then.

Here we are hurrying to plant the vineyard and we have a very good season. It has rained a lot these past days and the river has grown greatly, but praise be to God, only until the floodgate. The mill here has very little to grind with such abundance of water. The one in Martorell has hardly ground anything since we have been here because the irrigation has suffered two floods and the one of the last rains is very big, and the river has broken a piece of the irrigation, which will cost a lot to put right; they are already seeing to it diligently.

I would like to begin to produce silk this year, given that my idea is to be here until San Joan. I beg your ladyship to have sent to me with the first two ounces of good seed, and we will see how I manage it the first time.

I also beg your ladyship to have sent to me grafts of salatin lemons and the chicks for caste that I wrote of to you before. And if there are any plants of trees that we don’t have here, those too.

The mayor of Abrera has asked me to remind your ladyship of her business of the recotory of Abrera and that, if it seems to her that he has to come there to negociate it, that you should advise him, that straight away he will come.

Lluïset I believe will write to your ladyship, that is why he does not greet you here; mine I will order to be given to sor Requesens.

And I end in begging our Lord that He protect the most dear person of your ladyship and that your state might prosper, as I desire and have need of.

From Molins de Rei, XV day of January.

Of your ladyship your greatest servant and most obedient daughter who kisses your hands.

Molt egrègia senyora,

A XII d’aquest rebí una lletra de vostra senyoria que crec era del XXX del passat, encara que la data era XXII. I l’endemà passarem per ací don Guillem i dona Constança, ab los quals escriguí a vostra senyoria breu, així per hospedar a ells com per ser aquell mateix dia arribat don Juan, mon senyor, de Barcelona, a on ha estat XI dies, que també’ls pose en compte de les altres absències. Lo que en aquella falti esmenaré en aquesta responent llarg a la de vostra senyoria.

Quant al meu prenyat, ell se va adobant, que ja menge molt millor que solia i no tinc sollevament de ventrell, ni altre ningun accident, llaors a Déu. I així és com vostra senyoria diu, que los que ella s’ha volgut pendre són estats més ben criats, que fas compte que’m venjaré ab assots i que vostra senyoria’ls consentirarà com fa los de Lluïsico.

No crec que sien dos, però encara que’n sien, no desmaie vostra senyoria, que jo’m sent bon esforç i espere en Déu que, per les benediccions i oracions de vostra senyoria, me deslliurarà com ella desija. Jo’m guarde de fer excessos i menge bones viandes i usaré les panses, que bé sé que són molt bones.

La muller del mestre racional acertà en lo que dix de la venguda de la marquesa, com més llargament ho tinc escrit ab altra a vostra senyoria. I sens dubte, pot creure que he folgat en extrem de veure-la i besar-li les mans ací, sinó que ens pres descuidadament, i així, per complir ab lo que devíem, tinguérem un poc de treball. Però en fi, tot anà raonablement. A ella li ha pesat molt no trobar a vostra senyoria ací. I encara pensava no trobaria a nosaltres aprés d´haver treballat a tota sa requesta de venir per aquest camí sols per veure’ns. Venen tan ben acompanyats i ab tan gran estat que par un cort. I ella ve ab tan riquíssims vestits que no he vist a l’emperatriç cosa que s’hi acoste. És-se passejada per Barcelona ab tota sa gala i visitat esgrésies, per on resten tots molt bé amb ella. Fou visitada de les senyores que allí’s trobaren. Des d’ací, escrigué a vostra senyoria; ab lo capellà de don Francisco de Rebolledo la envií.

Sens jurament creuré que despèn vostra senyoria temps en pensar en nostre ésser i discurs, i així ha acertat en lo que fins ací havem fet. I lo que pensam fer fins a la benaventurada venguda de vostra senyoria és estar-nos ací fins a la Setmana Santa i llegir lo Vita Christi en lloc de sermons; i per a llavors anar a Montserrat, a on tinc esperança de besar les mans a vostra senyoria i cobrar sa presència aprés que só arribada ací, que sent en Montsó me paria que l’havia de trobar a on la deixí. Plàcia a nostre Senyor encaminar los negocis de manera que prest i ab molta salut i alegria torne vostra senyoria en sa casa.

No fou poca la consolació de trobat a Lluïset, com arribàrem, tan bonico i sanet, i així està ara, llaors a Déu, i tan ben criat, com tinc escrita a vostra senyoria, que no ha menester assots ni mala cara, sinó dar-li benediccions i lloar-li tot quant fa, que tot és ben fet i aprèn que és meravella. I ab tot acò, ha fet passar les bravures a son pare, que encara que jo’l volgués assotar, crec que no ho sofriria, especialment aprés que vostra senyoria ho manà en sa lletra, quant més que en veritat no n’ha menester, com dic, que mai he vist tal mudança, així en la complexió com en la condició; par-me que és crescut però no molt, però està més grosset que solia.

Son mestre persevera meravellosament, i estos dies haguí por de perdre’l perquè l’abadessa de Valldonzella li volia dar la vicaria d’aquella casa, que és cosa de vida i molt bona, i ell, lo bon home, per haver-lo deixat vostra senyoria ací ab tal càrrec, no ho ha volgut acceptar. Jo, com viu la lletra que li feien, li diguí que si era cosa que li satisfés que ho ho deixàs, que encara que’m pesaria molt perdre’l que folgaria de tota sa endreça. I ab açò ell anà a parlar ab l’abadessa per a dar-li raó i, segons m’ha dit, ha determinat de no acceptar-ho. Escriva-li vostra senyoria agraint-lo-hi, que raó és que ho façam tots, puix ell ho fan tan bé.

Molt folgue haja parlat vostra senyoria a soles ab sor Requesens i que tinga esperança de parlar-li altra volta, i també que ella estiga tan posada en obeir a vostra senyoria en totes coses que, fent-ho així, no pot errar i no és dubte sinó que ab això l’obliga a tenir-la per pròpia filla i en aquest compte la tendrem tots. Les monges ho han fet tot mal, però puix vostra senyoria hi té les mans, tinc per cert que s’adobarà tot com diu, plàcia a Déu que sia així i prest.

Quant al de sor Custòdia, no s’ha pogut acabar que li donassen lo vel sens que no’s faça una sumària declaració que no és matrimoni, i per ad açò és menester que l’altre part jure davant jutge que mai és estada tal sa intenció, com ho ha jurat moltes voltes a l’abat de Montserrat i a altres persones. Procuràrem en Montsó que misser Martí Sunyer prengués lo jurament i, aprés d’haver promès que’l faria, ha dit que no volia jurar-ho més del que ho havia jurat. I d’açò pres mossèn Camós alguna esperança de les que ell vol tenir, encara que ho dessimula, i ha portat papers que sens aquell jurament hi poden declarar. No se’ls porà acabar, treballar-hi hem, però la mare trama tant que també crec que ho embarassarà com fins ací, especialment que son marit no li calla res.

A la monja no l’he vista perquè no estiguí en Barcelona sinó les tres festes de Nadal i ab los hostes no era de mi mateixa. Des d’ací li he escrit exhortant-la totstemps; no se lo que aprofitarà. Té sessions cada dia. Ha VIII o X dies he-li enviat les peres i magranes que demanava.

Com Sa Majestat partí tan descontent de Montsó, no’s féu la consulta de Catalunya. Ara puix la XXIIII ha fet lo que devia, crec se farà, i així lo negoci de l’ardiaca Margarit, com lo de don Jeroni, resta molt comanat, i sa Majestat i’l comanador major, molt informats de la bondat de les persones. I ara, ab lo correu que és anada la conclusió de les Corts, ha escrit don Juan, mon senyor, recordant i suplicant-ho de nou, lo qual, gràcies a Déu segueix sa bona ditxa de ser benvolgut de tothom, que tots los de Barcelona resten contentíssims de veure quant bé ha negociat ab la XXIIII, i també crec que ho estarà sa Majestat. Lo conseller en cap l’anà a vesitar, aprés que hagueren clos, per a pendre son consell sobre algunes coses que’ls ocorrien.

Ab tots estos treballs, està molt bo de sos accidents, guard-lo Déu, i regala a la prenyada com bé té acostumat.

La senyoria tia és en Barcelona i està molt bona.

La lletra per a dona Juana de Beamont no he vista, que com arribà lo plec a Barcelona primer que ací, des d’allà la hi donaren.

Ací’ns donam pressa en acabar de plantar la vinya i tenim molt bona saó. Ha plogut estos dies passats molt i lo riu és vengut molt gran, però llaors a Déu, no ha fet sinó molt bé en la reclosa. Lo molí d’ací té molt poc que moldre com hi ha tanta abundància d’aigua. Lo de Martorell no ha mòlt escassament res des que som ací perquè ha fet lo rec de dos sosiades i la de les darreres aigües molt gran, i lo riu ha trencast un tros de rec, que costarà molt a remediar; ja s’hi entén ab diligència.

Jo voldria començar a fer seda enguany, puix pense estar ací fins a Sant Joan. Suplic a vostra senyoria me mane enviar ab lo primer dos unces de llavor que sia bona, i vejam com me sabré deseixir la primera volta.

També suplique a vostra senyoria me mane enviar los empelts de llimons de satalí i los colomins per a la casta que ab altra li he escrit. I, si aquí hi ha algunes plantes d’arbres que ací no tingam, també.

Lo batle d’Abrera m’ha pregada que recordàs a vostra senyoria que son negoci de la rectoria d’Abrera i que, si li par que ell dega anar aquí per negociar-ho, que’l ne mane avisar, que en la mateixa hora, partirà.

Lluïset crec que escriurà a vostra senyoria, per ço no pose ací son besamans; lo meu manarà dar a sor Requesens.

I acabe suplicant a nostre Senyor la molt egrègia persona de vostra senyoria guarde i estat prospere, com jo desige i he menester.

De Molín de Rei, a XV de giner.

De vostra senyoria major servidora i més obedient filla que les mans li besa.