Doc. 172: Carta del embajador inglés Sir Arthur Hopton al secretario de Estado Sir Francis Windebank
[…] I have sent to Bilbao (to be conuayed into England) the heades his Majestie commanded to bee sent from hence, to witt, of Julius Caesar, M. Marcellus & Hanibal; which had gon longe since, but that I was in dayly hope, to haue the pictures for the Queene our Mistresse which, partly by reason of the Queene’s indisposition, and partly trough the lazynesse of the Painter I could not gett finished. If Your Honour haue any opportunity, I beseech you to make my humble excuse to hir Majestie in this matter, wherein I haue bin in noe fault, nor can I lay any uppon those of the Pallace, where I haue found all readynesse to do hir Majestie this service, which I hould for most certaine wilbe dispatched sudanly for the Kinge commanded the painter to bring to mee his own picture (which required some alteration in the apparel) ant to tell mee that the Queenes & Princes should bee soon out of hand. Madrid. Nouember 20/30, 1639.
