this fort o f pulfe,, its fuccefs depends much upon the
weather.,
A new bridge has been lately built over the river
Almarza, whofe banks are lined with poplar and elm ;
half a league further there is-another plain, without a;
tingle tree,, but water is found' at two or three* feet
depth; fo that a very flight plough anfwers the purpofe,,
it being fuffieient to tear away the weeds, to- fecure.- a
good crop o f wheats this is generally the cafe in.
Caftile,. where they have fine* harvefts without being
obliged, to wait for rain to>fow their corn,, the vicinity o f
o f water and ftrong dews being fuffieient to fertilize the
foil, the reverfe of what happens in the fouthern parts,
where the water is deep under ground, the foil dry and
tough,, and ftrong; ploughs-muft be ufed.; beiides waiting
for rain,, or an. appearance- o f its falling, other'*
wife the grain, hardens,, and; is in danger of. being devoured
by birds, infe.&s, or rats.. In thefe plains, the
villages are numerous-, as welf as the vineyards, the’ foil
is fandy,. and yet, by means o f the nearnefs o f water;,
produces plenty of fhumach ; every houfe has its garden,
2nd the fides of the road'are chequered with the-
lychnis, and oak of Jerufalem... Though' the plain I:
have juft mentioned is o f about eight leagues, extent;
without the appearance of a fpring, or a brook, the in habitants.
drink the. waters of. wells and cifterns, without
any bad confequences, or being troubled with agues,
as the water does not ftagnate, but has a current near
the furface, and regains from a higher region, what it
lofcs by evaporation. This accounts for their having
fuch fine grafs and pafture in Caftile, and fo many herds
of cattle, with fuch a variety of game, birds, and wild and.
domeftic animals.
Near Valladolid there are groves o f fir trees terminated
by an extenfive plain, covered' with green wormwood,
oak o f Jerufalem, and thyme, o f that beautiful
fort called thymus legitimus Hifpanicus. The city o f
Simancas (a) appears on the left, about two leagues dif-
tance, as you enter the once famous city o f Valladolid,
| (a) The records o f the kingdom having been-found! to be in great confufion; and a large
colle&ionof valuable papers difcovered at Valladolid, Philip II. ordered his chief archite£ls
Juan de Herrera to conftru<ft proper apartments at Simancas for their prefervation, and they
were, difpofed of in nine gTand divifions, or apartments,, accordingly. In the ftrongeft,
called the Cubo, werethofe relating to Granada, Indies,, right to Naples, Navarre, Portugal,
Vicariate o f Siena, monarchy of Sicily; eftablifllmeht o f the inquifition, wills of kings,,
capitulations of peace with .France,» with Mooriih kings,, with the Houfe of Auftria, marriages
of Catholic kings, grants o f military orders, and: ft late papers from, the time of Ferdinand
V . all which are preferved in wooden ¿afes fixed in the wall. In tlie year 159s-
the king vilited therm A ll the proceedings relating lo the imprifonment and death of Don
Carlos his fon, were depofited here in a. trunk, carefully, locked.. Another apartment was
built for accounts, and other office papers; in another were papers relating to royal*palaces,
law fuits, grants, knights o f military orders, and Indies; another for records o f cdrppra-
tions; and in. another the memorials and letters o f kings,, princes, and dates-, concerning:
Flanders, fince the rebellion*. Vida.de Philipe Hd. PorLuis Cabnera de Cordova.. Madrid,
1.619; The American papers alone fill the largeft apartment of this A rch iv o and are faid:
to compofe 873 large bundles. The profpeil of fuch a treafure had excited the moft ardent
euriofity of the elegant hiflorian of America, but the profped of it was all that he enjoyed.
Preface, to Dr. Robertfon’s hift. of America.
fituatedl