La Gitana

by Carol Ann

  I realized they wanted to kill him but I had another plan entirely. To die is awful; to live is worse.

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  “Spanish people, that I may have a word with Torquemada. Tomas, you are not yet cleansed of your sins. You shall wander the land, homeless, without money, crippled, and a beggar. And you will have to rely on the mercy and kindness of the people, and every day, every day, you will know the pain of your prisoners as you yourself will be in constant pain, physical and spiritual. Gone is your palace and your servants, and your wealth and power. Long live the King and Queen!”

  I, a common gypsy, brought down the odious and fierce Torquemada and ended the Inquisition in Spain. I also forced him to reinstate the prisoner’s land and property.

  I ordered the torture machines to be dismantled. What one can do if one has a mind to. The Lamb of God is fierce as well as merciful.

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  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Our trip to France was delayed as Marie had to attend to ecclesiastical matters.

  The Queen purged the clergy of those who wished to continue the Inquisition replacing them with kind, godly men. Father Pio also appointed a number of prelates and bishops.

  I can still see in my heart his kindly, weathered face and olive colored eyes, and snow white hair.

  He said, “It is up to the Almighty to punish sinners not to men. The clergy must not mete out punishment: they are to guide people and hear confession. That is all.

  God’s love is what we must preach. Our Lord is a forgiving Father who loves all his children.”

  The dismissed prelates wandered the land like a pack of crows, homeless and unloved. And I was well pleased for what could be more horrible than a prison.

  The beautiful puffed clouds, the ease of the shimmering leaves in the trees, clear water running over burgundy stones, and the loss of warm eyes and soft hands of loved ones. A heart will perish and die without love.

  I found myself nervous to meet the Kind of France, Le Roi de Soleil, (the Sun King).

  I began to read everything I could get on him including his own memoirs and the memoirs of St. Simon, and he was truly a miraculous King.

  This quote from His memoirs best describes him:

  “Up to this moment I have been pleased to entrust the government of my affairs to the late Cardinal. It is now time that I govern them myself. You (secretaries and ministers of state) will assist me with your councils when I ask for them. I request and 149

  order you to seal no orders except by my command. I order you not to sign anything, not even a passport…without my command, to render account to me personally each day and favor to no one.”

  He would be an absolute ruler second only to God. He brought both the nobles and the clergy under his total command. I realized that he would applaud what we had done with the clergy. There are two pieces of legislation regarding the clergy which are important. The first is the Chretien et Politique. In this missive he declared that he was second only to God and that the clergy like the laymen were his subjects and therefore subject to taxation.

  In the second, The Declaration of Galican Liberties he declared that popes had authority in spiritual matters only and were subject to the decisions of a secular general council. No Inquisition for King Louis! Do not even think it.

  In my country the nobles had the ultimate power as warrior vassals with estates and armies. He forced the nobles to leave their estates and live in his castle as couturiers That way they couldn’t make war on him, and would be reliant on his favor and good grace. This often forced them to live beyond their means to throw the lavish parties he favored. They waited on him and praised him in what was called “reviews.” Louie loved praise and he loved éclat (splendor) and glory. Living beyond one means became a way of life and the King rewarded well his couturiers.

  After the cessation of the Thirty Years War in 1648, The Fronde, a civil war broke out as the nobles tried to assert their rights to stay on their estates and be independent of the King. It lasted from 1648 to 1653. Louie crushed the rebellion and moved the seat of government from Paris to Versailles.

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  Making war was his way to insure his needs were met. Louis commenced his reign with administrative and fiscal reform. The treasury was bankrupt when at twenty-three he commenced his reign. He appointed Jean Babtiste Colbert as Contreuler General Des Finances in 1665. Colbert remedied the situation by enacting a series of taxes (aides and duanes) customs, Le Gabelle was a tax on salt, and Le Taile, a tax on land. He established and encouraged various industries, intending to decrease imports and increase exports. Industries such as Lyon silk manufacturers and the manufacture of tapestries flourished. Soon Louis was the richest monarch in Europe.

  He modernized the army into a professional, disciplined and well trained force.

  The Thirty Years War was so devastating to Europe because the soldiers had to plunder the villages as they had no financial support from the Crown. Louis improved the lot of soldiers by paying them. In Paris he constructed the Hotel des Invalides, a medical facility for injured soldiers.

  Louis was a patron of the arts and literature. During his reign, The Louve and the Palace of Versailles were constructed under the direction of his chief artist, Charles Le Brun and a team of artists. Louis commissioned hundreds of paintings of himself and when he was unable to attend a meeting a painting was usually positioned in a place of prominence in the room, and a person could not turn his back on the painting. Louis even put his image on coins. His second wife, Madame de Maintenon , former wife of poet, Paul Scarron, greatly influenced Louis in matters of culture and art. She even entered the political sphere giving advice to his ministers in some areas. This is not to say she determined policy but she was an educated woman and her opinions were well respected.

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  In June 1686 on the advice of his secret wife, Madame de Maintenon, Louis authorized the creation of the Institut de Saint Louis at St. Cyr for poor noble girls between seven and twenty. It was the only institute, besides a convent, for the education of girls.

  Louis further impressed me because he surrounded himself with brilliant people and sought their advice while being the sole authority on any action ensuing from these discussions. It was not unusual to see such luminaries as Voltaire or Rabelais at his soires.

  I did not agree with all he did. He revoked the Edict of Nantes which sanctioned the worship of Protestantism on 15 October 1685. He replaced it with the Edict of Fontainbleu, forbidding all worship save for Roman Catholicism. It was the policy of curias region, eius religio. The king’s religion should be the people’s religion.

  In previous years he tried to bribe people to convert but gave up on this policy and starting quartering soldiers in Huguenot homes with orders to misbehave. Most converted: others escaped to England and other countries.

  Marie Luisa came upon me in my readings which I tried to conceal. She asked why I seemed so concentrated in expression. She said I must be reading some naughty books on sodomy and lust.

  And she said, “Don’t We give you enough of those things in our bedroom, or are you trying to find new ways to please Us? Let Us see what you’re reading.” She forced my arms open and looked at the book titles.

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  “St. Simon and my Uncle’s memoirs. Well, Carmen, why does this not surprise me? You always want to be prepared. Isn’t your gypsy magic enough for you to survive a visit with my uncle Louis?”

  No, Marie, it is not. How will he receive me? I’m just a common gypsy.”

  “Gypsy, yes. Common, no.”

  “And how will Madame de Maintenon receive me?”

  “We suspect Uncle Louis will be delighted. He loves intelligent women and he loves rebels, and he knows the many ways you have aided Us, both Carlos and myself.

  As for Madame, she comes from humble origins like you, and is very intelligent like you.

  She married at age fourteen the middle aged poet, Paul Scarron. He told her it was either the
convent or marriage to him. She chose marriage. He was crippled with arthritis and she was his nurse, wife and muse. When he died she became governess for Madame de Montespan, Louis’s mistress then. She caught the eye of the King and later supplanted Madame de Montespan who went to the convent and became very pious. When he asked her to be his mistress, she being both very pious and very shrewd, refused saying it was against the Commandments. So he maintained a platonic relationship with her until his first wife Marie Therese died in 1683. Actually the Queen died in her arms. Marie Therese was a stupid cow with the brain of a goldfish, so don’t ask.

  Anyway he married Madame, as she is called, in 1686, in secret. She had not the lineage to marry a king: it is the most well known secret at court. She’s like you in many ways, and will probably hate you. My uncle is already a fan of yours. He finds you quite amusing. Better worry more about her. She is a rabid Roman Catholic.”

  “I am a Catholic, too, when it suits me to be one.”

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  “That’s just it. She’s shrewd enough to know that. What did you find out about my uncle, Carmen?”

  “Alright, I’ll tell you. King Louis XIV was born 1 September 1638 and took the throne in 1661 when he was twenty three. Previously his mother the Queen regent entrusted Cardinal Mazarin, Richelieu’s successor, to run the government. She made him Prime Minister. She was Ann of Austria, and was barren until she was thirty-eight and got pregnant with Louis. He is called Deodatus, the God given. He believes in the Divine Right of the King to rule and that he supersedes both the clergy and the nobles in authority. It is the policy of absolutism. He requires his nobles to reside in town, in Versailles, instead of working their estates and being feudal overlords independent of Him. Pleasing the King is necessary for their survival. They must attend his every need and be in utter compliance.”

  “And what do you think of that, Carmen.”

  “I think the King is brilliant. He prevents them from declaring war on him. His interests are now their interests too. From feudal vassals to couturiers. A brilliant move.

  On May 4 1643, his father, Louis, died when he was but four years old. Ann of Austria, his mother had his will annulled, made herself regent, and turned the government over to Cardinal Mazzarin. His grandfather was King Henry IV of France and Marie de Medici was his grandmother on the Bourbon side. On the Hapsburg side, his grandparents were Phillip III of Spain, and Margaret of Austria.

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  “And what of his love life. Did you have the courage to investigate that, Carmen.”

  When he was married to his first wife. Marie Therese, he was very unfaithful to her. He usually chose her ladies in waiting or in the case of Madame de Maintenon, a governess. He had children with these women and made sure that the ladies and their offspring were well set even after the relationships ended. He made some of them Marquises and he made advantageous marriages for their children. Madame de Maintenon was the only one clever enough to hold out for marriage. She helps Louis experience the art world and brings in many artists, writers and performers into his circle of influence. She also compels Him to be more religious. He is fifty-one now and makes love to her twice a day and is completely faithful to her.”

  “Carmen, We should behead you for this. You are so bold!”

  “Put my head on a stick, Marie, and use it to scare little children, I’ll give them the mal ojo (evil eye)!”

  “We can never be angry with you. You are so direct. We fear you will not be tactful enough for Madam. The King likes roughness and tenderness in women. He is a very complex man.”

  “I shall deal with her woman to woman. She shall respect me.”

  “We don’t know if that will happen, Carmen. You are a gypsy and she is a rabid Roman Catholic.”

  “Pious people have their points of weakness. You shall see Marie. I can be all things to all people. I am a gypsy, first and foremost.”

  “Sometimes We wonder if I have ever known you. You are so vast, Carmen.” 155

  “Life has made me strong and knowing you, stronger.”

  “We are a good team, you and I,” said Marie.

  “Indeed, yes. I want a kiss from your baby pink lips. I want to smell your hair, and feel your sharp little hip bones pressing into me,” I said.

  Marie held back and said, “We wish to warn you, Carmen. There will be people who know the exact nature of our relationship, and they may jest about it in a minor way using insinuation and cleverness. They will be mindful not to be crude as I am Queen and niece to Louis. You must be gracious while shoving a knife into their hearts. Never appear angry. Louis will be amused by clever word play. You see Monsieur Philippe, his younger brother, is quite queer in his ways. He favors silk and lace and some say he dresses as a woman in his private chambers. You will like Philippe: he is quite clever and always happy like a child. He is called Monsieur.”

  “I feel I shall have a lovely time in France. I feel as though King Louis will be my first real king, a Rom Baru. Strong, vicious, wise and good.” Marie slapped me hard across the cheek.

  “How dare you, Carmen. This is treason. Carlos is your first loyalty and he is a real king. He saved you from Torquemada and ended the Inquisition. And he did it because he loves you. Have you no love, no gratitude, for my poor Carlos? Carlos should be your first loyalty. We know he is sick in mind, and body, and this would hurt him to the core. Get out of my sight! We shall now sleep in separate cabins on this ship.

  Who knows, We might even invite my guard, Hortencia, into Our bed. Her thighs are 156

  very pleasing to me and We know she desires me. Love for mankind may die, humanity may shrivel, but passion endures.”

  I tried to calm her, to apologize, to appeal to her good, sweet heart but to no avail.

  She turned on her heel, and said, “You do great injury to Our sweet Carlos, and We shall not forgive you. Let Us see nor hear from you until We are in France, and think of Us lying sweet and pink in the harshness of Hortencia’s arms. I shall relish the betrayal.” And then she was gone. I spent a lonely time crossing the green turbulent sea. It was violent and angry like my lovely Queen. And no one talked to me on her command.

  Tell the truth but don’t always be telling it. That is the lesson in this.

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  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  We arrived in Versailles and Mare Luisa had the good grace to have Hortencia ride topside with the driver. Neither of us mentioned her wanton behavior with her guard. The scales of wrong and hurt were even though it did occur to me to poison Hortencia but then I realized like me, she was caught in the vat of fate. When one lives around royals one is forced to live their lives.

  Still I kept my gypsy heart away from all of them. I was still astounded by their greed and constant striving for glory. What were wars but men coveting for what their neighbors had. And it was endless, this coveting. They were hungry for glory and splendor and that life would never be plain and unadorned. But it was where fate, St.

  Sara, had cast me and I would play the hand I was dealt well. My gypsy heart perceived them as murderers and thieves for what else was the constant demand for land. And Marie, for as much as I loved her, could be selfish and demanding. King Carlos was the only one who escaped her wrath. She knew he was too weak and feeble to engage in any vicious fighting.

  We arrived to much fanfare and jubilation. The peasants lined the streets to get a glimpse of the Spanish Queen and her gypsy consort. They shouted, “Long live the Queen of Spain,” and “Blessed is La Gitana.” Four white Lipizzaner stallions with red plumes on their heads pulled our gelded coach and the driver was pale as death with his white blond hair and pale eyes. Hortencia was like a hot flame sitting next to him.

  Marie Luisa remarked how they loved our glory. “My Uncle says the peasants like éclat (flash) and gloire (glory, command of oneself, pride) more than they liked a full 158

  belly and reasons why. They do not listen to words and ideas as the nobles do. They just want to see us in jewels an
d silks. Uncle Louis says splendor encourages obedience.” I replied that I was surprised that they did not hate us and envy us our riches and ease of life. After all we lived off their taxes, scanty pesos ripped from hungry hands.

  “Mon amor, (my love),” said Marie, “We see after all this time you are still a gypsy at heart,” as she tossed sovereigns to the crowd.

  “Always, mi corazon (my heart), I am gypsy to the bone. One never forgets poverty.”

  “You must understand, Carmen, that We, the royals, are loved for our wealth and power. It is the splendor that they crave. It is the highlight of their drab, little lives.” I asked if she loved them as well and she replied, “Of course,” with a toss of her chestnut hair. “We stopped the Inquisition, did We not? That is a manifestation of Our love. There are no longer any witch hunts. We have done much for the people of Spain.”

  “But, you still imprison debtors,” I said.

  “They deserve it. One cannot tolerate those who will not pay. Let us not argue, my sweet. We want no more of this,” she said, firmly squeezing my hand.” I said nothing more. There are times to be diplomatic, and I was astounded at the sheer beauty of the palace of Versailles, a vision of heaven on earth. The first thing one sees is a magnificent garden with a fountain in the middle surrounded by thousands of tuberoses of pink, red and yellow. Then there are statues of mythological deities lining the front walkway. At the entrance one sees a gold circular design topped with the Crown. Inside the high ceilings and multiple windows gave the feeling of air and light.

  Paintings of the King appeared all over the palace, as well as battle and hunting scenes.

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  It is said that when the King cannot attend a meeting, he has a portrait likeness of Himself placed in a position of prominence in the room and people must bow out of the room as if He, himself were there. Religious paintings interspersed with gelt designs graced the ceilings. The marble floors were covered with rich Persian rugs to match the dominant color theme of each room. Sun light streamed in from the hundreds of tall, rounded windows throughout the palace.