He’s telling me now about the Holy Roman Emperor,
Charles bought the crown with money from the Hanseatic League.
The pope gives thanks to god for the gold of the Fuggers;
usury is forbidden to muslims so they rely
on the House of Mendes, Jews thrown out of Spain
by Charles’ father — light travels easily through the crystal of the state.
Never call that donkey an emperor —
the vizier was a little touchy when it came to titles,
he had a crown made in Venice to rival Charles’ gaudy helmet.
The water of a fountain is more brilliant than heaven
but Spaniards are dazzled by silly things — crystals, gems —
he had to translate everything into a language they could understand.
He signed treaties. He wrote letters:
Laurence O’Dwyer | A Letter to Charles V of Spain
Contents | Mudlark No. 75 (2023)